RTHK: Putin recognises breakaway Ukrainian regions Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the independence of two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in an emotional address on state-run television, despite warnings from the West this could trigger sweeping sanctions. "I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," he said. State television then showed Putin signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin. At the end of an hour-long speech, Putin asked Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council to "support this decision". The Russian leader also demanded that Ukraine end military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern part of the country, or face more possible bloodshed. "We demand an immediate end to military operations," Putin said. "Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine," he added. The West had repeatedly warned Putin not to recognise Ukraine's rebels, a move that effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict. But the Russian leader ignored these pleas. He told French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly before his address was aired that he would recognise them. Putin spoke for over an hour in a speech heavy with historical references questioning Ukraine's right to sovereignty and alleging the West had cheated Moscow. "Modern Ukraine was entirely and completely created by Russia," Putin said. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-02-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. International air routes to 20 countries, territories reopened Vietnam has so far reopened air routes to 20 countries and territories, compared to 28 in the 2019 winter flight schedule before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, a transport official has said. Planes park at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) On February 15, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) sent notifications to foreign aviation authorities and issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) to airlines to inform about the removal of restrictions on regular and charter international flights. So far, international air routes to 20 countries and territories have been reopened, namely Cambodia, Hong Kong (China), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Turkey, the UAE, Laos, China, France, Germany, the UK, Australia, Russia, and the US. Eight others to which air routes havent been resumed consist of Brunei, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Macao (China), Finland, Italy, and Switzerland, Tran Bao Ngoc, Director of the Transportation Department at the Ministry of Transport (MoT), told a press meeting on February 22. There are currently 370 international flights from/to Vietnam per week each way, compared to 4,185 in the 2019 winter flight schedule, he noted. Meanwhile, six carriers, namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Vasco, are operating 56 domestic air routes with 2,570 flights per week each way, down two routes and 217 flights from the flight scheduled in the 2019 winter. Road and railway transport has basically come back to normal, but the passenger traffic hasnt recovered due to concerns about the pandemic, Ngoc added. Republican candidate for governor Kelly Schulz announced that Jeff Woolford, a Maryland Department of Health official, will join her ticket as running mate for lieutenant governor. Woolford, a first-time candidate, is the chief medical officer and an assistant secretary for the agency. He previously held several other roles under Gov. Larry Hogan, a fellow Republican, including a stint in 2020 as chief of staff for the Department of Human Services. Advertisement Woolford is a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and flight surgeon and is a lieutenant colonel in the Maryland Air National Guard. Schulz served in Hogans cabinet since the two-term governor first took office in 2014. Schulz first served as secretary of labor, licensing and regulation, then in 2019 became commerce secretary, a post she held until resigning the position last month to focus on her campaign. Advertisement She previously served as a Republican delegate from Frederick County. Maryland Policy & Politics Weekdays Keep up to date with Maryland politics, elections and important decisions made by federal, state and local government officials. > Schulz praised Woolfords professional experience, personal character and life story in announcing his addition Tuesday to her ticket, including his instrumental role in helping lead the states response to the coronavirus pandemic. She told The Baltimore Sun that her campaign spent several months vetting potential picks. It is a tremendous honor to be part of this ticket and to run alongside Kelly Schulz as we continue to work toward a brighter future for all Marylanders, Woolford, a Baltimore native who lives in Carroll County with his wife and two children, said in a statement. Over the last seven years, Maryland has made a lot of progress, and I am committed to making sure we continue in the same direction. Republican gubernatorial candidate Kelly Schulz is pictured in 2019. (Karl Merton Ferron / Baltimore Sun) The selection of a fellow Hogan appointee particularly an official involved in the Hogan administrations COVID-19 response sharpens the Republican primary showdown for the nomination against Frederick County Del. Dan Cox. He has helped file numerous unsuccessful lawsuits to overturn coronavirus restrictions and called for Hogans impeachment earlier this month. Other Republican lawmakers dismissed Coxs impeachment effort, and a Hogan spokesman has called Cox a QAnon conspiracy theorist. Former Republican President Donald Trump endorsed Cox in the race while taking shots at Hogan, a bitter intraparty rival with whom he has feuded repeatedly. Hogan denounced Trump numerous times through the years and said in 2016 and 2020 that he wouldnt vote for Trump. Hogan, who is term-limited and is not running for reelection, has repeatedly expressed his support for Schulz and touted her candidacy in response to attacks from Cox and Trump. Maryland voters lean heavily Democratic, backing President Joe Biden 2-to-1 over Trump in 2020, and Democrats hold most statewide offices. But Republicans have won three of the past five gubernatorial elections in the state. Hogan has maintained strong approval ratings in most polls after cruising to reelection in 2018 over Democrat Ben Jealous. Perennial anti-tax candidate Robin Ficker and Baltimore County resident Joe Werner have also filed to run for the Republican nomination in the June 28 primary. Ten candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination. East High Schools interim principal said students who filmed a fight between classes at school on Monday could face out-of-school suspension and she called the number of students who watched and filmed the incident unacceptable. Police were called because of the fight between two students between periods 5 and 6 on Monday, interim Principal Mikki Smith said in an email to families. School officials are deciding what consequences the students should face, Smith said. Her email said first responders were also called as a precaution. I want to remind students that intentionally being a spectator to such conflicts is unsafe, unhelpful and can cause the situation to become more volatile and dangerous to our students and staff, Smith said. Smith added that any students who record and share video of fighting could face punishment up to out-of-school suspension. This behavior is absolutely unacceptable and has no place in our school, Smith said. We will be working to identify and follow up with students who engaged in taunting, baiting and inciting the altercation. Madison police are investigating the fight, Smith said. Police have responded to multiple fights inside and outside East High School this school year, including one in which police deployed pepper spray to break it up. At La Follette High School on Jan. 13, a group of students reportedly beat a classmate so badly that he will need dental reconstructive surgery. Three students have been arrested or ordered into court for the fight. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Though popular with Midwestern farmers and long hailed as an environmentally friendly alternative to imported oil, ethanol made from corn isnt actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a new study finds. But UW-Madison researchers say there are home-grown alternatives being developed at laboratories in Madison. Corn-based ethanol, which accounts for virtually all U.S. biofuels, doesnt really reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is likely making climate change even worse than simply burning fossil fuels, according to the paper published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. While not surprising to some scientists, the findings represent the first empirical analysis of the nations 15-year-old renewable fuel mandate and could inform debates over which types of alternative fuels should be favored going forward. Instead, the authors suggest, the government should encourage the use of fuels derived from non-food plants like grasses that trap carbon in the ground, keep topsoils in place and dont require chemical fertilizers. It basically reaffirms what many suspected, said Tyler Lark, a scientist at UW-Madisons Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center and lead author of the paper. Corn ethanol is not a climate-friendly fuel, and we need to accelerate the shift toward better renewable fuels. First enacted by Congress in 2005 and expanded in 2007 in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on imported oil, the Renewable Fuel Standard requires transportation fuel to contain a minimum amount of renewable fuel. While the law calls for increasing use of advanced biofuels, nearly all the renewable fuel used is corn-based ethanol, which the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared with gasoline. This is the final year in which the Renewable Fuel Standard spells out specific biofuel volumes. Going forward, the EPA will take over the role of determining how much and which types of biofuels are needed. Its a pivotal moment for deciding what this policy and our landscape should look like moving forward, Lark said. About five years ago, Lark and UW-Madison geographer Holly Gibbs assembled a team of economists, agronomists and other researchers to evaluate the accuracy of the EPAs carbon footprint estimates. Its really the first time weve taken a retrospective empirical analysis, Lark said. We were more clearly able to estimate what happened versus what would have happened. What they found is that in the 15 years since it was adopted, the renewable fuel standard boosted corn prices by about 30%, leading farmers to plant more corn often on pasture and other marginal lands and apply more fertilizer than they would have without an ethanol mandate. The carbon released by these landscape changes offset any reduction in tailpipe emissions and may actually produce more greenhouse gasses than simply burning fossil fuels. And that doesnt include the upstream carbon emissions that come from making more fertilizers. Any time you plow up a perennial grassland thats sequestering carbon on the landscape you emit a lot of carbon from the soil back into the atmosphere, Lark said. Those emissions, when accounted for, have a really big role in offsetting the net benefits of ethanol. Ethanol trade groups called the findings completely fictional and erroneous while pointing to a disputed industry-funded study that concluded ethanol has less than half the carbon intensity of gasoline. It is so disappointing that our own land grant university can miss the mark so badly, said Erik Huschitt, president of the Wisconsin Biofuels Association. Mapping tool aims to ease clean energy, wildlife conflicts The Site Renewables Right tool provides a way for developers and communities to advance the clean energy transition while minimizing harm to habitats and species being threatened by climate change. Make way for corn Industry groups note that total U.S. cropland has actually decreased since the passage of the ethanol mandate, which the American Corn Growers Association falsely claims invalidates the findings. But both can be true: Even as some fields were lost to urban sprawl, farmers were also plowing up grassland, releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Whats important for folks to consider is what would have happened in the absence of corn ethanol development and the renewable fuel standard, Lark said. Larks team found almost 5 million acres of natural lands were brought back into production between 2008 and 2016, and farmers planted about 7 million more acres of corn than would be expected without the economic pressures created by the ethanol mandate. And the impacts werent just limited to the atmosphere. Those additional acres of corn required 8% more fertilizer, which led to more phosphorus washed off the land, contributing to algal blooms and aquatic dead zones, and more nitrate seeping into groundwater. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services estimates at least one in 10 private wells has high levels of nitrate, which is hazardous, especially to pregnant women and infants. And while the ethanol mandate boosted corn prices, Lark said that has also resulted in higher feed and rental costs for dairy farmers. What might be good for one commodity crop and interest group often comes at a cost for others, Lark said. Its often the largest agribusinesses that are able to take advantage and the smaller ones that get squeezed out. Report: Warming climate threatens Wisconsin way of life The past two decades have been the warmest on record, and the 2010s the wettest, with sharp increases in extreme storms that lead to loss of life, property and agricultural production. Next generation biofuels Lark argues that to achieve true reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the renewable fuel standard should encourage development of next generation biofuels made from native grasses and other non-food plants grown on land less suited for conventional agriculture. Hundreds of researchers at the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center in Madison are working to make that possible. Established in 2007 with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the GLBRC is an interdisciplinary research center focused on economically viable and environmentally sustainable biofuels and other products. Researchers at the center are working to develop ways of turning plants like switchgrass, sorghum and poplar into alcohol-based chemicals that can fuel car, truck and airplane engines as well as be converted into products like plastic and nylon that are currently derived from petroleum. Were using energy crops crops that you would grow specifically to make transportation fuels and chemicals, said Tim Donohue, a microbiologist who directs the center. These crops are not being grown on acreage thats currently used to produce food. With deep root systems, native grasses are able to hold soil in place and actually suck carbon from the air and trap it underground. And because they are perennial, once established a crop doesnt have to be replanted and fertilized every year. The center has generated hundreds of patents and licenses and spun off five startup companies, including the Madison-based Virent, whose plant-based fuel recently powered a commercial airline test flight. But Donohue said commercial-scale production could be at least five years off because advanced biofuel refineries can cost as much as $400 million to build. Despite its unintended consequences, Lark said the Renewable Fuel Standard demonstrated that its possible to replace petroleum with plant-based fuels, setting the stage for more environmentally friendly replacements. Corn ethanol was a technology that was ready, initially, and probably filled a good role as an example of how we could get a renewable fuel blended into our transportation fuel supply, Lark said. That really can set an example of how we can use these next-generation fuels and other alternatives that are more climate-friendly. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Dane County Board is considering a plan to raise the salary of the sheriff by more than $11,000 and that of the clerk of courts by more than $9,000 by 2026. The County Boards Personnel & Finance Committee on Monday voted to recommend the wage increase plan to the full Board for approval. A simple majority of the Board is needed to approve it. Introduced by Sup. Patrick Miles, 34th District, the proposal would enact the raises in 2023 when a new term for the two positions begins. Two years ago, the Board approved similar increases for the county clerk, treasurer and register of deeds. Its going along with the rate of increase weve had over time, Miles said. Sheriff Kalvin Barrett and Clerk of Courts Carlo Esqueda have both announced they plan to seek reelection this year, and no one has registered yet to run against them, according to the Dane County Clerks website. This years general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Barretts current salary is $156,784 and Esquedas is $113,354, according to the resolution. Under the plan, whoever holds the post of sheriff would get a raise between $2,700 and $2,900 each of the next four years and eventually make $168,050 by 2026. The person who is elected as clerk of courts would get a raise between $2,000 and $2,100 over each of the next four years and make $122,338 by 2026. Miles noted that these posts are paid a little higher than average for the position around the state. The need to set salaries higher in Dane County is due to its larger size, the greater responsibility that the offices present and a need to compete with private sector employers, Miles said. The Board is required to set compensation for elected officials before the earliest time for filing nomination papers for office, the resolution states. For the sheriff and clerk of courts, that deadline is on June 1. The salary for the two posts also cannot be changed during an elected term. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BOISE A bill that would boost the amount Idaho residents can recover annually on grocery sales taxes passed the full House in the Legislature last week. The bill, which has now been referred to the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee, proposes a $20 tax credit increase from $100 to $120 for each individual and from $120 to $140 for seniors. The food sales tax credit is in place to offset the 6% sales tax on groceries. Idaho is one of 13 states imposing a sales tax on groceries and one of just seven states to tax at the full rate. The increase to $120 per person will help Idahoans a little, but is it enough? Alejandra Cerna Rios, director of the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy, previously told the Statesman in an interview that a more realistic number to fully offset the annual grocery tax paid would be $160 per person. A family (of four) thats spending $888 a month which we think is more similar to what families realistically spend they would pay $640 in grocery tax, Cerna Rios said in that interview. So that means to fully offset that $640, the credit (per person) would need to be $160. With that number in mind, where are Idahoans shopping regularly and how much are they spending there? Comparing Idahos favorite stores Idahoans favorite grocery store is Walmart, with on average more than 140,000 people visiting the retail giant per month between January 2019 and January 2022. Costco is the states second-favorite store for groceries, followed by WinCo Foods, Albertsons and Fred Meyer, respectively, according to data from SafeGraph. A visitor to the store is classified by someone who stays at the location for at least four minutes. Its unclear whether shoppers who visited the stores for items other than groceries were included in the count. Along with WinCo, Walmart and Costco rank within the top six cheapest grocery stores in America, according to the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index, which tracks global customer data. Walmart and Costco also benefit from being two of the top three largest grocery chains in the nation. Idahoans may be on to something in going to Walmart. A study from Bank of America in 2019 found that Walmart is the cheapest grocery store on the market, with an average price of $119.44 at checkout for a single trip. Online coupons and deals aggregator Koopy also conducted a comparison price last June between Walmart and Costco Idahos top two grocery stores by foot traffic. The comparison found that Walmart was drastically cheaper for perishable groceries ($82.16 compared to Costcos $113.75 for a cart of perishable goods). But the two stores are both approximately $79 for nonperishable groceries. The Statesman also compared prices of some items for Idahos top five grocery stores. A 12-count of LaCroix, a brand of sparkling water, costs $4.99 in Walmart, while two 12-counts can be bought at Costco for $10.69 ($5.35 each). Fancy some ranch dressing? A 24-ounce bottle of Hidden Valley at Walmart will cost you $3.98; the only option at Costco is a two-pack of 40-ounce bottles for $10.99 ($5.50 each). Looking further down the list, a 24-ounce bottle of ranch from Albertsons runs $5.19, while a 12-pack of LaCroix costs $5.49 both options more expensive than Walmart and Costco. WinCo sells LaCroix for $3.48 for a 12-pack, but doesnt list its ranch prices online. Lastly, Fred Meyer lists its 24-ounce bottle of Hidden Valley ranch for $4.29 and a 12-count box of LaCroix for $4.49. But for bulk items, Costco wins out. A 60-pack of Quaker granola bars runs for $10.99 in Costco (just over $0.18 each), while the same amount at Walmart will put you out $14.90 (nearly $0.25 each). Although not making the top five list in Idaho, Whole Foods remains a popular choice for those in the Treasure Valley looking to shop in a high-end grocery store. But with a high-end option comes high-end prices. An average trip to Whole Foods costs $167, according to the Bank of America study, and a single basket of produce items costs $25, compared to a similar basket costing $19 at Walmart. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 BOISE Idaho could add hundreds of new electric vehicle charging stations across the state in the coming years through dedicated federal infrastructure dollars to expand the nationwide network. The state is eligible for more than $4 million toward the effort in the first year of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act program, President Joe Bidens administration announced earlier this month. In total, Idaho could receive as much as $30 million over the next five years to ensure that resident commuters and road-trippers have more convenient access to electric hookups along the states highway system. The $1.2 trillion federal infrastructure law passed last year with bipartisan support that included Idaho U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both Republicans. The spending package offers $5 billion through 2026 for states to build on the burgeoning public electric vehicle power sources that would replace traditional gas stations at highway offramps. We are modernizing Americas national highway system for drivers in cities large and small, towns and rural communities, to take advantage of the benefits of driving electric, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a press release announcing the five-year plan. The bipartisan infrastructure law is helping states to make electric vehicle charging more accessible by building the necessary infrastructure for drivers across America to save money and go the distance, from coast to coast. Idaho residents have so far been slow to adopt electric vehicles. Through the end of 2020, the state ranked in the bottom-10 in the nation for EV registrations among states that participated in a U.S. Department of Energy survey. But those numbers are on the rise. Through December, the Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles reported the state now counts 3,250 registered electric vehicles a 41% increase from the previous year. That total is on top of nearly 30,000 other gas-electric hybrids, of which about 1,000 are plug-in models. For electric vehicle owners in the state, however, as well as would-be buyers, finding a hookup to recharge has remained an obstacle. Idaho has about 100 public EV charging stations statewide, according to the U.S. Energy Department. That total represents less than a half of a percent of the countrys 100,000-plus chargers as of March 2021. Biden and his Democratic administration aim to reach a half-million chargers across the U.S., and 50% zero-emission vehicles, by 2030, including through the infrastructure law funds dedicated to the network expansion. The law sets aside another $2.5 billion over which states will compete to fund additional electric vehicle infrastructure, including charging stations, as well as other alternative fuel vehicle needs, senior administration officials said in a press briefing. Gov. Little makes $6 million budget request To access the guaranteed federal funds, states must submit for approval their plans for electric vehicle charger deployment to the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation before August. The federal program first prioritizes installing and upgrading stations every 50 miles along the highway system, before adding public chargers on state roadways, and within cities and rural communities in future years. Idaho plans to participate in the program, according to Jillian Garrigues, an Idaho Transportation Department spokesperson. Gov. Brad Little has included $5.9 million of the federal funds as part of his budget recommendations, now under review by the Idaho Legislature, for the states initial EV charger build-out. Idaho still has the majority of its $2.6 million share left of a 2017 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Act violation settlement with Volkswagen to install charging stations in the state, Garrigues said. Crapo, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, trusts the states leadership to decide how much of the $30 million Idaho needs from the allocated federal funds for new charging stations over the next five years, spokesperson Melanie Lawson told the Idaho Statesman by email. Congress passed the infrastructure law with support from 18 Republican senators and 13 GOP House members. Idahos U.S. Reps. Mike Simpson and Russ Fulcher both opposed the package. Regardless, President Bidens signature on the bill in November provides Idaho up to $2.5 billion for upgrades to its roads and bridges, airports, water infrastructure and broadband and public transit systems. Simpson said he backs the state securing the funds toward its EV charger build-out, despite voting against the bill in November largely based on Democrats pursuit of the bill in tandem with a social spending package that never came up for a vote in the Senate. Electric vehicles are obviously becoming more popular, and I support the infrastructure investment needed to support this growth, Simpson said in a written statement to the Statesman. With Idahos large percentage of public lands as well as our rural geography, it is very appropriate that we accept the funding so that these types of vehicles can be available and usable for all who want them not just those near major towns. Fulchers office did not respond to emailed requests for comment. Rischs office said he was unavailable for comment last week. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 What does it take to get a prescription-drug bill to the U.S. Senate floor? Not much if you are Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Democrats are in control. All he had to do was essentially take warmed-over ideas in the failed Build Back Better Act, put it in the form of a new bill, and its done. No need to take it before a committee, where Republicans are sure to muddle it up. If you are Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo and part of the minority party, its not so easy. He has a bill with a nice name (Lower Costs, More Cures Act) that basically is collecting dust in the Senate Finance Committee. The only sure way that bill will see the light of day on the Senate floor is if Republicans regain a majority in the Senate in this years mid-term elections and Crapo becomes chairman of the Finance Committee. He sees some hope for bipartisan support, if the bill gets up for committee discussion. But for now, with Democrats in charge, forget about it. None of that sits well with Idahos senior senator, although he shouldnt be surprised about the politics after serving more than 20 years in the Senate (Republicans are equally obnoxious when they are in control). Crapo recently expressed his frustrations on the Senate floor. The Sanders bill, Crapo said, is thoroughly unvetted, showing no signs of technical assistance or practical feasibility. It has not received a (Congressional Budget Office) score, or even informal analysis, or a committee hearing. It did not advance through a regular process in the Senate. Crapo says all the price controls in Sanders bill would change the health care landscape for the worse. We would move closer to a government-run health care system, where bureaucratic price controls like these would become the norm. Crapo says there are countless studies showing that massive price controls would slash new drug discoveries in the years to come, jeopardizing some of the highest-risk projects in particular. The senator says hes all for improving prescription drug access and affordability. We can agree on that. But hes looking more toward common sense, free-market solutions, opposed to socialistic price controls. Crapo has some government price fixing in his bill. He wants to cap out-of-pocket spending for all Medicare Part D enrollees and set the cost of insulin at $35 a month following up on an executive order issued during the Trump administration. Crapos bill also promotes insulin affordability for those in the workforce enrolled in high-deductible health plans. Kudos to the senator for what hes trying to accomplish with insulin; theres no reason why prices should keep skyrocketing. But what Crapo is calling for fits the definition of price fixing government taking action that the makers of insulin refuse to do on their own. He also calls for the creation of a new chief pharmaceutical negotiator who would be tasked with combatting foreign freeloading, ensuring the best trade deals possible for domestic job creators and consumers. In other words, its another layer of government bureaucracy. Just because a new government program is created doesnt mean it will work. And think about who that negotiator would be dealing with: Drug companies that swim in billion-dollar profits and the high-paid lawyers and lobbyists who ensure that the drug companies continue to rake in the dough. Crapo probably doesnt spend his evenings watching television, but if he did he would see how the drug-company hucksters are operating. The airwaves are flooded with drug commercials and not just over-the-counter pain relievers. These are so-called life-changing drugs that cost consumers hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars with each one containing a long list of potentially dangerous side effects. These are todays version of cigarette ads, which back in the day glamorized smoking and put hundreds of millions of people into early graves. Todays drug ads promote pills that people cant possibly live without while sending consumers to the poor house in the process. So, instead of focusing on Democrat or Republican bills that are likely to go nowhere, Congress should take a closer look at those TV ads. Even senators who are as far apart politically as Crapo and Sanders can agree that something needs to be done to contain that form of drug peddling. Chuck Malloy is a longtime Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Syrias government says it supports Russian President Vladimir Putins decision to recognise two Moscow-backed separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad says Syrian government will cooperate with the two Moscow-backed separatist-held regions. In comments carried by the state-run Syrian News Agency, Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad was quoted as saying that the government of President Bashar al-Assad will cooperate with the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LNR). Seven bilateral cooperation agreements have been signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Turkey in the security and economic fields at the end of a brief visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the DRC, official sources said on Monday. We mutually reaffirmed our will to develop bilateral cooperation and in total, seven agreements were signed between Turkey and the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Erdogan said on Twitter. A military framework agreement, a protocol on financial aid and a cooperation agreement on the defense industry have been concluded, said Congolese sources. The other memoranda of understanding concern the construction of the Kinshasa Finance Center, infrastructure and river transport on the Congo River and its tributaries and finally the construction of 1,083 km of highway and a railway line. On Monday, the Congolese Minister of Urbanism and a Turkish official launched the works of the Kinshasa Finance Centre which will house the Ministry of Finance and its various departments, in a concession located not far from the Turkish school, in the business commune of Gombe (north). Zambian courts declared illegal the 2016 closure of the countrys main independent newspaper, the Post, under the repressive regime of former President Edgar Lungu. The Post was closed two months before the presidential election on the orders of the tax authorities, which blamed it for several million euros in unpaid taxes. It was then placed in liquidation. We find that the actions of the liquidator before and after the purported liquidation of the Post Newspaper Limited are without legal effect, Supreme Court Justice Mumba Malila said in a ruling based on technical details of the proceedings. However, it remains unclear whether the publication, which employed 1,500 people, will be reopened. Edgar Lungu lost the presidential election last August to opponent Hakainde Hichilema. Hichilema has since sought to attract international donors with his ambition to clean up public finances and restore Zambias democratic reputation. The NGO Amnesty International published a report accusing Mr. Lungu of rule by fear and repression and of various human rights violations, including the closure of the Post, arrests of opposition leaders and killings by the police. Two people were killed and a dozen injured in the January 24 coup that toppled elected President Roch Marc Christian Kabore in Burkina Faso, the Burkinabe presidency announced Monday, ordering an investigation. Following the events of January 23 and 24, 2022, which led to the advent of the Patriotic Movement for the Safeguard and Restoration (MPSR junta), the Head of State Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, has instructed the relevant departments to open an investigation for the purpose of taking stock of the collateral damage caused, said a statement from the Presidency. It states that the reported toll () is two deaths and a dozen injured civilians by the effect of stray bullets. In presenting his condolences to the bereaved families and his wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel Damiba immediately instructed that actions be taken with the families of the victims in order to support them morally and to take charge of the wounded. On January 23, shots were fired in several barracks in Burkina Faso by mutinous soldiers demanding the replacement of army commanders, appropriate means in the fight against the jihadists who have struck the country since 2015, as well as better care for the wounded victims of this fight. The next day, while shooting was still going on in one of the capitals barracks, soldiers announced on national television that they had taken power without bloodshed and arrested President Roch Marc Christian Kabore, who was placed under house arrest in Ouagadougou. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain People with a history of allergic-like reactions to iodinated contrast media, which is used in a variety of X-ray-based procedures, such as CT and angiography, are susceptible to similar reactions from commonly used MRI contrast agents, according to a large, eight-year study published in the journal Radiology. The study also found that premedication or switching to a different MRI contrast agent may reduce risk in patients who have had previous contrast agent reactions. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) have long been used to improve visualization of organs, tissues and blood vessels on MRI and provide a more accurate depiction of disease. Although GBCA are relatively safe, recent studies have reported several adverse reactions related to their use, including allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions, such as rash and flushing. The incidence of these reactions is increasing with the widespread use of GBCA, prompting an urgent need for research into risk factors, according to the study's senior author Hye-Ryun Kang, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Internal Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. Dr. Kang and colleagues recently analyzed more than 330,000 cases of GBCA exposure in 154,539 patients over an eight-year period at the Seoul National University Hospital. There were 1,304 cases of allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions, for a rate of 0.4%. In patients who had a previous GBCE reaction, the average recurrence rate was 15%. Acute allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions, or those that occur within one hour of contrast administration, accounted for 1,178 cases, while a far smaller number of 126 cases were delayed allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions, or those that occur beyond the first hour and mostly within one week after exposure. The risk of allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions to GBCAs was higher in those with a history of similar reactions to iodinated contrast media. Traditionally, a history of iodinated contrast media hypersensitivity was not considered as a risk factor for hypersensitivity to GBCAs and vice versa, owing to the structural and compositional differences between the two. "The results of our study challenge this idea," Dr. Kang said. The increased risk may be the result of an underlying predisposition to drug allergies in susceptible patients, Dr. Kang said, rather than any cross-reactivity associated with structural similarities between iodinated contrast media and GBCA. In fact, the risk of hypersensitivity reactions to iodinated contrast media was also higher in those who previously experienced a similar reaction to GBCA. "Thus, physicians should be aware that patients with a history of hypersensitivity to one of iodinated contrast media or GBCA are at greater risk of developing hypersensitivity reactions to the other," she said. Analysis of the data showed that premedication, typically with steroids and antihistamines, and changing the GBCA showed preventive effects in patients with a history of acute allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions. Patients who received premedication and before MRI or were switched to a different GBCA showed the lowest rate of recurrence. Only premedication significantly reduced the incidence of reactions in patients with a history of delayed reactions. "As the most important preventive measure is avoidance of the culprit agent, a precise record of previously used GBCA should be kept for all patients," Dr. Kang said. "Physicians should discuss appropriate premedication strategies with their patients prior to MRI procedures." Dr. Kang emphasized that contrast-enhanced MRI examinations are invaluable in the diagnosis and follow-up of various diseases, and the overall risk remains low. "As most of these reactions are mild, we believe the benefits of MRI outweigh the potential risks associated with GBCA use," she said. Dr. Kang advises that in all patients receiving an MRI with GBCA exposure, a detailed history of previous hypersensitivity allergic reactions be conducted, and when necessary, appropriate prevention measures such as using premedication and switching to different types of GBCA should be implemented. The researchers hope to conduct future studies with larger populations to identify possible risk factors and effective preventive strategies for delayed hypersensitivity reactions to GBCA. Explore further Genetics may play a role in reaction to CT contrast agents More information: Yoon Hae Ahn et al, Allergic-like Hypersensitivity Reactions to Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: An 8-year Cohort Study of 154 539 Patients, Radiology (2022). Journal information: Radiology Yoon Hae Ahn et al, Allergic-like Hypersensitivity Reactions to Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: An 8-year Cohort Study of 154 539 Patients,(2022). DOI: 10.1148/radiol.210545 A new observational study has found that the American Medical Association (AMA) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) new billing guidelines immediately affected the distribution of evaluation and management (E/M) patient visits but have had no impact on the amount of time providers spend writing notes in the electronic health record (EHR) or the overall length of notes. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. Extensive documentation for reimbursement combined with low EHR usability contributes to high rates of physician burnout and job dissatisfaction. To combat this, the AMA and CMS recently made optional the history and physical examination elements of the physician note. The AMA also streamlined the logic in applying E/M visit codes based on medical decision making to facilitate less ambiguous synthesis of the complexity of problems, complexity of data, and risks for complications in each visit. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania conducted an observational study of 303,547 advanced practice providers and physicians across 389 organizations. The authors collected provider-level measures of weekly E/M billing and measures of EHR use between September 2020 and April 2021 from the Epic Systems Signal data warehouse. The authors analyzed eight measures of E/M visit volume and seven measures of EHR use to determine factors including the proportion of weekly E/M visits, total weekly new and established E/M patients, total active time per visit spent in the EHR, and EHR documentation length. The authors observed an overall increase in new and established patient E/M visits billed to levels 4 and 5, and a decrease in visits billed at level 3. However, the policy responses across specialties differed, with some specialties demonstrating substantially larger shifts in E/M billing. The authors also observed no overall change in time spent in the EHR or documentation length. According to the authors, their findings suggest that the effects of the policy have thus far been limited to modifications of billing practices, despite the explicit intent to simplify reimbursement and reduce documentation burden. They also note that observing changes in billing practice without meaningful improvement in measures of EHR burden highlights a continued opportunity to identify and scale practices that more directly address salient pain points of EHR usability. An editorial from the AMA argues that note length and active EHR time is not a perfect proxy of physician burden, and that the reason for a lack of change in active EHR time and note length cannot be known from the study. The author suggests that further studies on the quality of notes, along with qualitative interviews of physicians, will help determine which type of billing is used, whether cognitive burden was reduced, and why documentation time and note length have not yet been affected as intended. More information: Nate C. Apathy et al, Early Changes in Billing and Notes After Evaluation and Management Guideline Change, Annals of Internal Medicine (2022). Nate C. Apathy et al, Early Changes in Billing and Notes After Evaluation and Management Guideline Change,(2022). DOI: 10.7326/M21-4402 Editorial: www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-0355 Journal information: Annals of Internal Medicine Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Heading into the third year of a wearying pandemic, America's health care workers report significant levels of burnout and even anger about the complications of politics and rising incidents of abuse from patients and their families. But three-fourths of them still say they love their jobs, an exclusive U.S. TODAY/Ipsos Poll of doctors, nurses, paramedics, therapists and others finds. It is a show of resilience, not without some costs, among those who have been on the front lines of fighting COVID-19. "The pandemic has actually made me realize how important this career is, and how I really do make a difference," said Christina Rosa, 33, a mental health counselor from central Massachusetts who has had to close her office and see patients remotely. "I still love it." Even so, one in four report they are likely to leave the health care field, an exodus that would represent an enormous loss of medical expertise. Half say they are burned out. One in five report feeling angry. "We're trying to help people here, and we are getting verbally and physically abused for it," said Sarah Fried, 53, of Santa Clara, California. A nurse for 25 years, Fried now cares for leukemia and lymphoma patients in a hospital oncology unit. Like flight attendants who have been confronted by belligerent passengers, nurses at her hospital have been defied and even attacked when they tried to enforce COVID rules, including limits on those who can visit patients. Sometimes they have had to call security officers to help. "Early in this pandemic, people were clapping for us and calling us heroes," Fried, a respondent to the survey, said in a follow-up interview. "And what happened to that? What happened to them appreciating what nurses are doing?" Now 43% of health care workers say they are anxious, but 59% also say they are motivated and 56% are optimistic. While 59% feel hopeful, that is a significant drop from the 76% of health care workers who reported feeling that way last year in response to the same question in a KFF/Washington Post survey. Some warn that the health care system is "on the verge of collapse." In the poll, 39% agreed with that statement. Only 32% disagreed. The U.S. TODAY/Ipsos Poll of 1,170 health care workers, taken Feb. 9-16, has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points. The survey was conducted using Ipsos's probability-based online panel. Those surveyed included doctors and dentists, registered and licensed nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics, physician assistants, home health aides, therapists, technicians, dental hygienists and others who work in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes, clinics, patients' homes and elsewhere. "Even before the pandemic, in this field we have constant levels of burnout when you sit back and listen to other people's difficulties all day long, but I would say it worsened with COVID," said Tosha Honey, 33, of Hot Springs, Arkansas. A licensed professional counselor, she works with children who have behavioral and emotional problems. "I'm feeling a little burnout, but I just try to do what I can to recharge and get back in it." Younger workers report significantly higher levels of stress than older caregivers. Among those under 30, nearly a third, 31%, feel angry. Twice as many, 61%, feel burned out. Those emotions are less prevalent among those 50 and older, although they are still high: 18% feel angry and 45% burned out. "For health care workers joining the sector in the last five to seven years, COVID provided a brutal exposure to the intensity of life on the front lines," said Steve Girling, president of Ipsos Health Care. Workers of all ages "were pushed to the brink of despair by COVID, delta and omicron variants. They are also some of the most resilient workers in the U.S. economy." Overall, 23% of all health care workers say they are likely to leave the field soon. As in other fields, COVID-19 has prompted some workers to decide to change careers in what has been dubbed the Great Resignation. One-third of those surveyed, 34%, aren't sure whether they would decide to go into health care if they could choose a career again. That could signal problems ahead for attracting new health care workers in the post-pandemic world. No light at the end of this tunnel In many aspects of American life, pandemic restrictions are being eased as the number of cases of the omicron variant drop. Schools districts have reopened for in-person learning, and governors and mayors across the country are dropping mask mandates. Among these health care workers, though, only one in five say the pandemic is entirely or mostly under control; just as many say it is "not at all under control." Most of those surveyed, 56%, take a middle ground, saying the virus is now "somewhat" under control. That assessment is a bit worse than the one health care workers made in the KFF poll a year ago. There is a consensus on this: By 2-1, 61%-31%, they say most Americans are not taking enough precautions in their daily lives to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "I just wish that everybody would practice what they have been encouraged to do, practicing social distancing and hand-washing, all those types of things so that we can get a handle on this thing, then get back to some form of normalcy," said Sherrita Harrison, 47, a mental health therapist in Memphis, Tennessee. "Will masks be incorporated into our lives indefinitely? Who knows?" Patients who refuse to get vaccinated are the source of particular frustration. Nine in 10 of the health care workers themselves have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly two-thirds have gotten two doses plus a booster shot. But more than half of those surveyed say they have treated COVID-19 patients they know were unvaccinated. Two-thirds say those patients have continued to express skepticism of or opposition to the vaccine. About four in 10 have heard them regret not having gotten the vaccine. The health care workers give their employers high marks, 75% approval, for responding to the pandemic. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gets a net positive rating: 54% approve, 34% disapprove. But assessments of the Biden administration are split down the middle, 41%-40%. The news media get a dismal grade, disapproved by 61%. Ranked at the bottom is the way the American public have responded: 68% disapprove, 18% approve. "I think it's kind of crazy that we're still here," said Reagan Stinson, 31, a physical therapy assistant from Forth Worth, Texas. "Almost two years later, I wish that people would have taken it more seriously from the beginning." COVID-19 at home and on the job Among those who have seen COVID-19 patients, half have treated a patient who died. "I really wish that the public could see what it's like in an ICU, to see we still have people in the ICU with COVID who now have tracheotomies, who've been on these ventilators for weeks, months," said Fried, the nurse from California. "It's horrific." "I lost two co-workers at my job to COVID-19," said Luke Howard, 42, of Toledo, Ohio. He is a psychiatric attendant at a state hospital. "We lost a 49-year-old nurse who had no underlying conditions. She was healthy; she wasn't a smoker; she wasn't overweight, and she had an embolism in her lung from COVID-19 and passed away. And then we lost another co-worker, an older guy who had just retired like seven or eight months ago." Howard has found it all hard to fathom. "He was on a respirator for a long time and didn't make it." Health care workers have faced a double whammy during the pandemic. They not only find themselves dealing with COVID-19 and its toll at their workplaces, but they also have the same stress and worry as everybody else at home. And some have feared they might carry the virus from work and infect their families. "I didn't really have to decompress after work before the pandemic," said Shannon Jackson, 38, an optometrist from the town of Washington in rural Georgia. "Now it seems like every day we would really have to stop and take a break to let it all go before we go home." Four in 10 say they've been irritable and report that their sleep has been disturbed, either because they are sleeping too much or having insomnia. Nearly 3 in 10 report frequent headaches or stomachaches. One in 10 report increased alcohol and drug use. "We have families and we have personal lives, and we also are stressed and have our own health issues and our own concerns," said Rosa, the mental health counselor from Massachusetts. She and her co-workers feel overwhelmedjust as many of their patients do. "We relate to a lot of our clients and our patients, and we're just humans, too, and we're trying to do the best that we can do. And we know that you're frustrated that you can't get seen right away or that you have longer wait times," she said. "But we're trying our best." 2022 USA Today. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Neurologist Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology, inspects a mass spectrometry machine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Using mass spectrometry, Bateman and colleagues have developed a blood test that is up to 93% accurate at identifying people at risk of Alzheimer's dementia. Credit: Matt Miller/Washington University A blood test developed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has proven highly accurate in detecting early signs of Alzheimer's disease in a study involving nearly 500 patients from across three continents, providing further evidence that the test should be considered for routine screening and diagnosis. The study is available in the journal Neurology. "Our study shows that the blood test provides a robust measure for detecting amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, even among patients not yet experiencing cognitive declines," said senior author Randall J. Bateman, MD, the Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology. "A blood test for Alzheimer's provides a huge boost for Alzheimer's research and diagnosis, drastically cutting the time and cost of identifying patients for clinical trials and spurring the development of new treatment options," Bateman said. "As new drugs become available, a blood test could determine who might benefit from treatment, including those at very early stages of the disease." Developed by Bateman and colleagues, the blood test assesses whether amyloid plaques have begun accumulating in the brain based on the ratio of the levels of the amyloid beta proteins A42 and A40 in the blood. Researchers have long pursued a low-cost, easily accessible blood test for Alzheimer's as an alternative to the expensive brain scans and invasive spinal taps now used to assess the presence and progression of the disease within the brain. Evaluating the disease using PET brain scansstill the gold standardrequires a radioactive brain scan, at an average cost of $5,000 to $8,000 per scan. Another common test, which analyzes levels of amyloid-beta and tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid, costs about $1,000 but requires a spinal tap process that some patients may be unwilling to endure. This study estimates that prescreening with a $500 blood test could reduce by half both the cost and the time it takes to enroll patients in clinical trials that use PET scans. Screening with blood tests alone could be completed in less than six months and cut costs by tenfold or more, the study finds. A commercial test based on Bateman's research was certified in 2020 under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program. The CLIA certification program is run by the Food and Drug Administration in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Known as Precivity AD, the commercial version of the test is marketed by C2N Diagnostics, a Washington University startup founded by Bateman and his colleague David Holtzman, MD, the Barbara Burton and Reuben M. Morriss III Distinguished Professor of Neurology. Bateman and Holtzman are inventors on a patent the university licensed to C2N. CLIA certification makes the test available for doctors in the United States. It is intended to provide information that will aid the medical evaluation and care of patients who already have symptoms of cognitive decline. A similar certification makes the test available in Europe. The test is not yet covered by most health insurance. The current study shows that the blood test remains highly accurate, even when performed in different labs following different protocols, and in different cohorts across three continents. Scientists didn't know if small differences in sampling methods, such as whether blood is collected after fasting or the type of anti-coagulant used in blood processing, could have a big impact on test accuracy because results are based on subtle shifts in amyloid beta protein levels in the blood. Differences that interfere with the precise measurement of these amyloid protein ratios could have triggered a false negative or positive result. To confirm the test's accuracy, researchers applied it to blood samples from individuals enrolled in ongoing Alzheimer's studies in the United States, Australia and Sweden, each of which uses different protocols for the processing of blood samples and related brain imaging. Findings from this study confirmed that the A42/A40 blood test using a high-precision immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry technique developed at Washington University provides highly accurate and consistent results for both cognitively impaired and unimpaired individuals across all three studies. When blood amyloid levels were combined with another major Alzheimer's risk factorthe presence of the genetic variant APOE4the accuracy of the blood test was 88% when compared to brain imaging and 93% when compared to spinal tap. "These results suggest the test can be useful in identifying nonimpaired patients who may be at risk for future dementia, offering them the opportunity to get enrolled in clinical trials when early intervention has the potential to do the most good," Bateman said. "A negative test result also could help doctors rule out Alzheimer's in patients whose impairments may be related to some other health issue, disease or medication." Explore further Researchers make significant step toward blood test for Alzheimer's disease More information: Yan Li et al, Validation of Plasma Amyloid- 42/40 for Detecting Alzheimer Disease Amyloid Plaques, Neurology (2021). Journal information: Neurology Yan Li et al, Validation of Plasma Amyloid- 42/40 for Detecting Alzheimer Disease Amyloid Plaques,(2021). DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013211 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Women who conceive with assisted reproductive technology (infertility treatment) may be at increased risk for vascular and pregnancy-related complications, according to new research published today in a special Go Red for Women issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. Assisted reproductive technology, also known as ART, is the umbrella term for infertility treatments in which eggs or embryos are handled to improve the odds of pregnancy. These treatments may involve administering medication to control timing of ovulation, as well as procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, during which a woman's eggs are surgically retrieved and fertilized in a laboratory before being implanted back into her uterus. According to 2019 statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of assisted reproductive technology has more than doubled during the past decade. More than 2% of infants born in the U.S. every year are conceived with assisted reproductive technology. Since 1978, ART has contributed to the birth of more than 5 million infants worldwide. "Older women are increasingly turning to assisted reproductive technology. However, advancing maternal agespecifically being age 35 and olderincreases the risk of having or developing conditions, such as chronic high blood pressure, that increase the risk of pregnancy complications," according to study author Pensee Wu, M.B.Ch.B., M.D., senior lecturer and honorary consultant obstetrician and subspecialist in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Keele University School of Medicine in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. "Adverse pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure during pregnancy have now been established as risk factors for future cardiovascular disease," Wu said. "All of this has raised concerns about adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with assisted reproductive technology, yet studies on the topic are few and have inconsistent findings. A better understanding of the potential impact of assisted reproductive technology on women's risks for cardiovascular- and pregnancy-related outcomes will help inform women considering assisted reproductive technology and is valuable after birth to develop cardiovascular risk reduction strategies." For this study, researchers examined data from the U.S. National Inpatient Sample, which contains all hospital discharges between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2016. They extracted records for all delivery admissions and specifically records that noted the use of assisted reproductive technology, as well as cardiovascular and pregnancy-related complications. The researchers also evaluated hospital costs, length of stay and more. The study included more than 106,000 deliveries conceived with assisted reproductive technology and more than 34,167,000 deliveries conceived without ART. The analysis found: Women who conceived with assisted reproductive technology were older, at an average age of 35 years compared to 28 years for those who conceived without ART. Those who conceived with assisted reproductive technology also had more pre-existing health conditions, such as chronic hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Women with assisted reproductive technology-conceived pregnancies were more than 2.5 times more likely to suffer acute kidney damage, also known as acute kidney failure, and they were also found to have a 65% higher risk for arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Assisted reproductive technology-conceived pregnancy was associated with a 57% greater likelihood of placental abruption, a serious complication in which the placenta separates from the lining of the uterus; a 38% increased risk of Cesarean delivery; and a 26% higher risk for preterm birth. The increased risks were present even among the women having ART who did not have pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors. Hospital charges for women who conceived with assisted reproductive technology were an average $18,705 compared to $11,983 for those who conceived without ART. "We were surprised that assisted reproductive technology was independently associated with these complications, as opposed to being associated with only the existence of pre-existing health conditions or only among older women undergoing infertility treatment," Wu said. The study highlights the importance of counseling patients who are considering assisted reproductive technology about health and pregnancy, as well as postpartum-related risks. "Especially patients with existing cardiovascular risk factors should be counseled about the potentially long-term cardiovascular implications and risks associated with ART," Wu said. "It's important for women to know that assisted reproductive technology carries a higher risk of pregnancy complications, which require close monitoring, particularly during delivery. Primary and specialist health care professionals should ensure these risks are communicated and strategies to mitigate them are discussed and implemented." A study limitation is its retrospective nature, meaning it is an examination of data that was recorded for reasons other than research, therefore, there may be errors, such as misclassification or misdiagnosis. "Future research should examine how optimizing cardiovascular risk prior to assisted reproductive technology impacts pregnancy complications and long-term cardiovascular health," Wu said. Explore further Reproductive changes among women in their 40s Sandeep Hasinthara, a research technician based at the University of Ruhuna, collects a water sample from a CKDu impacted well in Balayawewa, Sri Lanka. Water samples were collected by using pitchers attached to rope. Credit: Duke University As an undergraduate chemistry major at Union College, Jake Ulrich studied abroad in Vietnam, where water wasn't safe to drink straight from the tapit either had to be boiled first or bought. An internship with a local non-governmental organization that studied and reported on the water quality of the lakes within the city of Hanoi piqued his interest in environmental systems. He wanted to learn more. At the same time, Ulrich began applying to graduate schools, Lee Ferguson's lab was rising to national prominence. Ferguson, a civil and environmental engineering professor at Duke University, is an analytical chemist. One of his areas of expertise is mass spectrometry, which can identify contaminants and trace them back to their source. After a polyfluorinated alkyl substance called GenX was discovered in 2017 in the drinking water supply for Wilmington, North Carolina, Ferguson helped design and implement a program to test every public drinking water source across the state for these "forever chemicals." Ulrich joined Ferguson's lab as a Ph.D. student in 2017, wanting to build on his analytical instrumentation skills, specifically in mass spectrometry. Five years later, this expertise detoured his laboratory work to a plane bound for Sri Lanka to investigate a cluster of chronic kidney diseasesa trouble widely believed to be tied to pollutant mixtures in the region's drinking water. "The existence of this disease is common knowledge in Sri Lanka," said Nishad Jayunsundara, an assistant professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment. Jayasundara began working on the problem as a postdoctoral researcher in professor Rich Di Giulio's lab at the Duke Superfund Research Center, with initial support from the Duke Global Health Institute. But to really understand the cluster's origins, Jayasundara believed the Ferguson lab's expertise in analytical chemistry could serve as a powerful tool. He proposed collaborating on the project, and for Ulrich, it was a perfect fit. A well located next to a rice paddy in Abepura, Sri Lanka. "The agrochemical treatment of the fields happens right next to their drinking water source," observed Ulrich. Credit: Duke University "We decided to attack from two sides," said Ulrich. "Professor Jayasundara's lab will focus on toxicology, and the Ferguson lab will look at chemistry. We can harmonize the data to see if we can get a clear picture of what's in the water and how it might be impacting the health of the people in Sri Lanka." Ulrich spent several years designing and planning a large water sampling program, then spent six weeks with Jayasundara implementing it in Sri Lanka. Along with guides and University of Ruhuna collaborators, they piled into a van between midnight and 2:00 AM each day to arrive at their rural destinations a sliver of sun past daybreak. They collected well water alongside urine samples and demographic information from people in these communities over multiple days in a campaign that, by its end, encompassed more than 200 different wells across several regions. Each of the hundreds of well water samples started at around a liter in volume, but Ulrich developed some processing techniques to make the logistics of transport more manageable. Processing of the samples began at the University of Ruhuna, using a vacuum filtration system to pull the suspended solids out of the well water. A small, commercially available cartridge then captured the organic chemicals contained in the sample with a special polymer, retaining them for later analysis. "Instead of dealing with hundreds of liters of water, we were able to bring back hundreds of cartridges, which weigh much less and take up less space," explained Ulrich. Back at Duke, he could remove the material on the cartridges with solvents and use mass spectrometry techniques to identify them. In most environmental assessment cases, chemical contaminants are targeted one by one. "A lot of the wells in this region are located in the middle of fields used for farming, which is why we are especially concerned about individual exposure to agrochemicals, surfactants, and additives typically found in pesticides used in farming," said Ulrich. Credit: Duke University But high-resolution mass spectrometry's superpower lies in the breadth of different molecules it's able to consider at once and its unerring ability to identify them based on their molecular weight, even at very low concentrations. "We've really been working to broaden that window so that instead of using a laser beam to illuminate the landscape, we're using a spotlight," said Ferguson. "The idea is to catch as many molecules as possible that might be of concern in a sample so that we can look at chemical mixtures." "What is most exciting about this collaboration is that we now have a trove of chemistry data that can be linked back to kidney toxicity assays we conduct using animal models in the lab," said Jayasundara. "This will help to identify specific chemical mixtures that may pose the most risk to human health and follow up with laboratory studies to identify markers of disease initiation and progression." In the case of the chronic kidney disease cluster in question, there is one main suspect; the literature indicates that the chemical glyphosate, an herbicide, could be responsiblebut not on its own. Sri Lanka has hard water, and glyphosate interacts with it to form complexes that persist in the environment instead of breaking down quickly, as it does in soft water. Human kidneys suffer damage when they encounter this complex. Whether or not glyphosate is caught red-handed, the non-targeted analysis will allow the team to get a comprehensive look at everything else in the water, too. "It's chemical discovery," said Ulrich, who expects the investigation to continue for several months after the glyphosate analysis wraps up later this spring. "If the glyphosate contamination is not as significant as we think, there will be other directions to explore." Explore further Chemists discover a range of environmental contaminants in fracking wastewater Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Remember alpha, the first COVID-19 variant? It first appeared in Great Britain in late 2020. Alpha put the world on alert that mutations can change everything we thought we knewwithin mere weeksabout what to expect from COVID-19. Back then, Carolina economist Peter Reinhard Hansen was skeptical of reports that alpha was 50% more infectious than the original coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. "I was surprised and wondered if the high number, which was based on simple methods, could be true," said Hansen, the Henry A. Latane Distinguished Professor of Economics in the University of North Carolina College of Arts & Sciences. So Hansen began crunching the numbers himself. Building on statistical methods from econometricswhich he typically applies to models of financial volatilityhe built a model, outlined in a paper under review, to estimate the infectiousness of new viral variants and better predict case numbers once a new variant emerges. Hansen used health data available from Denmark to calculate a value known as the reproductive number (R0) for alpha. This value characterizes the average transmissibility of an infectious disease in a susceptible population with little to no immunity. (Back when alpha was spreading, vaccines were not yet widely available in Denmark.) "Everything I had read in the early reports turned out to be true," Hansen said. "It was about 50% more infectious. The data were compelling." Denmark engages in more testing and genetic sequencing per capita than the United States. This means their health data more accurately reflect a week-to-week snapshot of the viral variants present, and in what proportion. Using a method called maximum likelihood estimation, Hansen used Denmark's fine-grained data to also calculate the infectiousness of the delta and omicron variants. The framework makes it possible to predict case numbers of a new variant before the variant has been determined in positive tests. After incorporating up-to-date health data, Hansen's model showed that the delta variant was about two times more infectious than alpha, and that omicron was about three times more infectious than delta in the Danish population. There are some caveats, however. By the time omicron began spreading in Denmark, about 82% of its population was fully vaccinated. Because of this, the model is estimating the advantage of omicron in a population with a high level of vaccine immunity. Because the Danish population has a higher proportion of vaccinated people than the U.S, or even North Carolina, it is difficult to draw a direct comparison for forecasting omicron's infectiousness here. "In North Carolina, about 35% have not received their first shot," said Hansen. "Which means we have more susceptible people here than in Denmark and the advantage omicron has over delta could be different here." Forecasting the infectiousness of viral variants is crucial to developing public health mitigation strategies, and for allocating resources in health care settings, Hansen said. After finishing his analysis, a new version of omicron, called BA.2, has emerged and "it appears to be 33% more likely to infect others, compared to the original omicron variant, BA.1, that my analysis was based on," said Hansen. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Neuroscientists have recorded the activity of a dying human brain and discovered rhythmic brain wave patterns around the time of death that are similar to those occurring during dreaming, memory recall and meditation. Now, a study on these findings published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience brings new insight into a possible organizational role of the brain during death and suggests an explanation for vivid life recall in near-death experiences. Imagine reliving your entire life in the space of seconds. Like a flash of lightning, you are outside of your body, watching memorable moments you lived through. This process, known as "life recall," can be similar to what it's like to have a near-death experience. What happens inside your brain during these experiences and after death are questions that have puzzled neuroscientists for centuries. However, a new study suggests that your brain may remain active and coordinated during and even after the transition to death and may even be programmed to orchestrate the whole ordeal. When an 87-year-old patient developed epilepsy, Dr. Raul Vicente of the University of Tartu, Estonia and colleagues used continuous electroencephalography (EEG) to detect the seizures and treat the patient. During these recordings, the patient had a heart attack and passed away. This unexpected event allowed the scientists to record the activity of a dying human brain for the first time ever. Findings 'challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends' "We measured 900 seconds of brain activity around the time of death and set a specific focus to investigate what happened in the 30 seconds before and after the heart stopped beating," said Dr. Ajmal Zemmar, a neurosurgeon at the University of Louisville, US, who organized the study. "Just before and after the heart stopped working, we saw changes in a specific band of neural oscillations, so-called gamma oscillations, but also in others such as delta, theta, alpha and beta oscillations." Brain oscillations (more commonly known as "brain waves") are patterns of rhythmic brain activity normally present in living human brains. The different types of oscillations, including gamma, are involved in high-cognitive functions, such as concentrating, dreaming, meditation, memory retrieval, information processing, and conscious perception, just like those associated with memory flashbacks. "Through generating oscillations involved in memory retrieval, the brain may be playing a last recall of important life events just before we die, similar to the ones reported in near-death experiences," Zemmar speculated. "These findings challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends and generate important subsequent questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation." A source of hope While this study is the first of its kind to measure live brain activity during the process of dying in humans, similar changes in gamma oscillations have been previously observed in rats kept in controlled environments. This means it is possible that, during death, the brain organizes and executes a biological response that could be conserved across species. These measurements are, however, based on a single case and stem from the brain of a patient who had suffered injury, seizures and swelling, which complicate the interpretation of the data. Nonetheless, Zemmar plans to investigate more cases and sees these results as a source of hope. "As a neurosurgeon, I deal with loss at times. It is indescribably difficult to deliver the news of death to distraught family members," he said. "Something we may learn from this research is: although our loved ones have their eyes closed and are ready to leave us to rest, their brains may be replaying some of the nicest moments they experienced in their lives." Explore further Olfactory processing in three distinct neural waves More information: Raul Vicente et al, Enhanced Interplay of Neuronal Coherence and Coupling in the Dying Human Brain, Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2022). Raul Vicente et al, Enhanced Interplay of Neuronal Coherence and Coupling in the Dying Human Brain,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.813531 Graphical abstract. Credit: DOI: 10.15252/embr.202152904 Adelaide researchers have discovered a new method to treat the rare and crippling blood cancer, myelofibrosis, that could have the potential to greatly extend lifespan while also significantly improving quality of life. Myelofibrosis affects 1 in 100,000 Australians and while symptoms can currently be controlled with the use of oral tablets, they cause side effects and do not actually remove the cancer cells. Over time the disease commonly evolves into leukemia or complete marrow fibrosis, with deadly impact on patients. Dr. Daniel Thomas, leader of the Myeloid Metabolism Lab at SAHMRI and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Adelaide, led the study recently published in EMBO Reports, in collaboration with Professor Angel Lopez at SA Pathology. Dr. Thomas says it was a stroke of luck that led to the extraordinary find. "We were actually trying to make a tool to study myelofibrosis. We didn't realize the antibody we made would have therapeutic properties," Dr. Thomas said. "Our drug blocked the growth of cancer cells in a very aggressive live model of the disease, significantly increasing survival rate without noticeable negative side effects," Dr. Thomas said. Co-lead author and biochemist Dr. Denis Tvorogov generated antibodies using a peptide fragment called "neoepitope" that's only present within the cancer and not on any normal tissues. What he didn't expect was for the antibody to kill cancer cells when he tested it on patient samples, working with an early career scientist Dr. Chloe Thompson-Peach. "What is really exciting is that many other cancers have similar peptide fragments that we could also target by harnessing the immune system," Dr. Tvorogov said. "These fragments are created by the insertion or deletion mutations within the cancer. We've found they not only drive cancer growth but also vulnerable for targeting without side effects." It's become standard practice to treat myelofibrosis with the drug Ruxolitinib. However, it hasn't proven effective at destroying cancer and is known to cause uncomfortable side effects. The new antibody is currently being prepared for early phase clinical trials set to run in South Australia later this year, supported by local biotech company, AusHealth. Managing Director, Greg Johansen says the group is excited to be supporting Prof. Lopez and Dr. Thomas through the next phase of the process. Pre-clinical models have shown the drug is effective at shrinking tumors and Dr. Thomas is confident the antibodies will prove to be safe and effective in humans. "We estimate there are at least 12,000 Australians living with cancer or having had cancer that express a recurrent neoepitope similar to what is found in myelofibrosis, that could be curable with an immunotherapeutic approach," Dr. Thomas said. "This discovery brings us a fresh perspective. We need to build cell therapies and antibody therapies against these fragments as fast as possible." Dr. Thomas is now building a computational algorithm to detect the fragments that will help pathology companies and doctors to link to clinical trials. "With the new proton therapy facility being built, a raft of Biotech companies and an outstanding track record in clinical trial recruitment, South Australia is poised to lead in a new wave of life changing cancer therapeutics," Dr. Thomas said. Explore further Discovery suggests potential new treatment for deadly blood cancer More information: Denis Tvorogov et al, Targeting human CALRmutated MPN progenitors with a neoepitopedirected monoclonal antibody, EMBO Reports (2022). Journal information: EMBO Reports Denis Tvorogov et al, Targeting human CALRmutated MPN progenitors with a neoepitopedirected monoclonal antibody,(2022). DOI: 10.15252/embr.202152904 Provided by South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) +9.5 Ets motif mitigates lethality induced by chronic stress.(A) Mice were given multiple doses of pI:C (10 mg/kg) or vehicle control as per Walter et al. (37). Treatment cycles were repeated every 56 days. (B) Survival [PBS: WT (n = 10), +9.5(Ets)/ (n = 14); pI:C: WT (n = 14), +9.5(Ets)/ (n = 20) from two experiments] (log-rank test). (C) Number of cells per single hindlimb. n = 5 to 10 per condition, Tukeys multiple comparisons test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. (D) Representative hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of femurs. Each panel represents a single mouse. Scale bars, 50 m. Credit: DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk3521#.YbS5dxzbaTs.twitter Some genetic mutations linked to leukemia are less than useful guides to making treatment decisions for patients. A new study from the University of WisconsinMadison suggests a group of clinical signs that can be paired with genetic testing to better inform the timing of more aggressive treatment. Studies of leukemia, which is cancer of the blood and blood-forming cells, have revealed alterations in genes that can be associated with the disease, and these genetic changes can be passed from one generation to the next. In certain cases, these alterations give doctors a way to gauge disease risk. For others, the consequences remain obscure. Even when the link between a particular genetic red flag and disease is strong, it may be difficult to pinpoint when serious stages of the disease may begin. "That can be extremely variable. In a family that shares a common mutation, a grandfather might not present with symptoms until leukemia abruptly emerges," says UWMadison cancer researcher Alexandra Soukup. "By contrast, one of their grandchildren with the same genetic alteration may have serious symptoms starting at age sevenlike lymphedema, which is severe swelling in the arms and legs, or low blood cell levels called cytopenia, which can cause life-threatening infections. We want to know what environmental and genetic factors trigger the disease presentation." Clinicians treating patients with genetic mutations likely to cause leukemia would like to know as well, because their options range from light-handed monitoring or drugs to invasive procedures including radiation, chemotherapy and stem cell transplants. "Right now, the gold standard for treatment is a bone marrow transplant," Soukup says. "But those occur when there's already relatively severe disease presence, elderly patients are often not eligible for a transplant, and there can be life-threatening reactions to transplants." The complications of leukemia, which causes the bone marrow to make too few blood cells or abnormal blood cells, can be triggered by exposure to a pathogen or toxin, requiring the body to ramp up production of new blood cells. Soukup, a UWMadison cell and regenerative biology professor, and Emery Bresnick, director of the Wisconsin Blood Cancer Research Institute, and collaborators exposed mice harboring a genetic mutation associated with leukemia to "triggers" that created a model for bone marrow failure. This often precedes the development of leukemia. The researchers published their findings recently in the journal Science Advances. "These mutations have little to no impact on the steady-state production of blood cells, and the mice containing the mutation might seem normal most of the time," says Soukup, a scientist in Bresnick's lab. "It's just when you expose them to other stresses that severe defects emerge." The researchers stressed the mice in one of three ways, to mimic in a short time the sort of environmental and immunological challenges humans may face over longer termswith a common chemotherapy drug, a component in bacterial cell walls that causes inflammation, or a drug used to ramp up stem cell division before human transplants. They wanted to see how the mice's bone marrow would respond. In healthy marrow, stem cells should divide and mature into new blood cell producers to pick up the slack in times of trouble. "In all of our cases, the stem cells seemed relatively normal, but they failed to respond or were extremely impaired in their response to expand," Soukup says. "With the chemotherapeutic, you'd expect the stem cells to expand greatly and blood cells to regenerate, replacing what was destroyed by the chemotherapy. My mutant animals failed to mount a response." Without the stem cell expansion, the animals were overcome by bone marrow failure. By exploring the ways in which the mutant mice responded to these stressors, the researchers can understand the sorts of human health issueslike recurring infectionsthat may bring on a life-threatening leukemia. "Our mouse model provides a unique system to discover what may trigger severe disease presentations in humans, and we can use this system to develop strategies to counteract or nullify the triggering. We would want to apply such strategies to patients," Soukup says. "If you've already presented with X, Y and Z, and you've been exposed to these risk factors, this may enable medical decisions to avoid the crisis scenario in which severe disease rapidly emerges." Explore further Woman appears to be cured of HIV after treatment with umbilical cord blood More information: Alexandra A. Soukup et al, Conditionally pathogenic genetic variants of a hematopoietic diseasesuppressing enhancer, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Alexandra A. Soukup et al, Conditionally pathogenic genetic variants of a hematopoietic diseasesuppressing enhancer,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk3521 Ending mask mandates and other safety precautions could increase COVID rates, but whats unacknowledged is that the deaths will fall unequally, affecting some communities more than others, says Assistant Professor Ramnath Subbaraman. Credit: Shutterstock For the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted virtually every facet of life. Now, some people are ready to ditch the masks and other precautions. COVID will eventually transition from pandemic to endemic, the argument goes, so we might as well let it spread and get to endemicity sooner. The textbook definition of endemic is when an illness is always present in a given population, but at predictable levels, unlike the waves of COVID cases we've seen in the pandemic. But what does "endemic" for COVID-19 look like? And what's the best way to get there? Ramnath Subbaraman, an assistant professor at Tufts University School of Medicine, cautions against simply "declaring that we're done." To learn more about endemicity, Tufts Now recently spoke to Subbaraman, who is the associate director of the Tufts Center for Global Public Health and an infectious disease physician specializing in tuberculosis, which is considered endemic in certain parts of the world and was the leading infectious cause of death worldwide before COVID-19 arrived. Tufts Now: What is the definition of endemic? Ramnath Subbaraman: To me, endemicity for COVID-19 means that we reach a stage where we can make a shift to normalcy and are not facing social disruption. My major concern is: endemic for whom? Are we going to base endemicity on some people having low individual riskthose who are vaccinated with low comorbidities? Or are we going to set thresholds at which the vast majority of people in our society are safeincluding older individuals, people with multiple comorbidities, immunocompromised people, and communities of color? Across the country, communities of color have been much more vulnerable and suffered considerably greater deaths. It's been almost a completely different pandemic for them. Through September 2021, 1 in 1,300 white people had died of COVID-19 as compared to 1 in 480 Black people, 1 in 390 Latinos, and 1 in 240 Indigenous people. Black and Indigenous children have been 2.7 and 3.5 times more likely than white children to die of COVID-19. Are those communities going to be left behind when we move toward endemicity? The implication around the debate is we should end mask mandates and back off on surveillance testing knowing there could be a consequence of increased transmission. What's unacknowledged is that the deaths will fall unequally, affecting some communities more than others. Why are some communities more vulnerable? People in low-income communities and communities of color are often essential workers who can't work from home. Children of Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian families are much more likely to live in multigeneration families so if they get infected at school, they may infect older family members, with bad outcomes. When infected, these Black and Latino people were less likely to receive therapies that prevent bad outcomes, like monoclonal antibodies. More privileged people got quicker access to vaccines. Although Black and Latino adults are catching up with the original vaccine series, children are behind on the initial series, and adults in many communities of color are behind on boosters. How can we get to endemicity in a way that doesn't leave anyone behind? I don't feel comfortable achieving endemicity by just declaring we're done. If we do that, some communities will do OK and some won't. The way I would like to achieve endemicity is to maximize our use of tools that can drive down transmissionvaccination, masking when the rates of COVID are higher, a constant scale-up of testing, and contact tracing. The tools are in our hands if we really want to invest in public health to achieve endemicity. For example, while many states are setting arbitrary dates for removing mask mandates in schools, recent modeling studies suggest that we need to achieve far lower community rates of COVID-19 than we have right now to be able to let up on masking without increasing transmission among students, staff, and families. Is closing schools one of those tools? No, I'm not talking about shutting down schools or society. What Tufts and other universities have done is we've maximized the use of the tools we have, like masking and frequent testing, to allow the undergraduate experience to continue. How will we know when COVID surges and peaks are behind us? It's a struggle to determine when that moment happens. Over the last two years, there are multiple points where we thought we were reaching that stage. One example was last summer when our CDC director Rochelle Walenskywho is a brilliant infectious disease doctor, widely renowned across the infectious disease communitybacked off masking for vaccinated individuals, and our president declared a moment of freedom, and it wasn't. In India, at that time, there was an enormous number of deathsthe highest number we've seen anywherefrom the emergence of delta. I had two relatives who died in the same week in India, and I'm wondering: how are we talking about taking off our masks? It shows how challenging it is to try to define a certain moment. I would just say we need to acknowledge that the future is unpredictable. The positive thing is we have many effective tools available. Any move towards normalcy should acknowledge that we will only get there by ensuring equitable access to these tools. Now that omicron is declining and so many Americans have some level of immunity from vaccines and/or infection, aren't we on the verge of endemicity? That's the trillion-dollar question. I have two takes on that. One take is that any increase in population immunity is helpful. As people gain more immunity, they have greater protection against hospitalization and death if they get reinfected, so that leaves me with some optimism coming out of omicron. With that said, we've clearly seen new variants emerge that can reinfect us, like omicron. It may be less potent, but when it infects a lot more people, it kills more people too. In Massachusetts, the peak of deaths from omicron last month was higher than the peak of deaths we experienced during the wave last winter, before there was wide accessibility of vaccines. We don't know whether future variants may have some level of immune escape that will put us back in our original position. How can we protect against future variants? We need global vaccine equity so we're less likely to see variants that keep us in the pandemic stage. Right now, if you look at the UN and WHO Vaccine Equity Dashboard, 2 in 3 people in high-income countries have been vaccinated compared to 1 in 8 people in low-income countries. With both delta and omicron, our very slow roll-out of vaccines globally really harmed us and put us in situations where infection rates rose again. To me, it's dumbfounding that the global vaccine rollout is not on the front page every day. Rural household raised above floodwater in Myanmar. Credit: Leon Espira, University of Michigan Scientists have extensively studied water and sanitation interventions to decrease the transmission of pathogens and disease prevention. But a new University of Michigan study suggests a broader approach that includes looking at the environmental transmission of pathogens both in soil and water to help improve our understanding of the spread of these pathogens and better inform strategies to mitigate it. The study, researchers say, adds to a growing understanding of soil being an underappreciated pathogen reservoir and of how traditional water, sanitation and hygiene interventions might not be sufficient to lower the burden of disease, especially in urban areas. "We have to think more about pathogen transformation via different mediums and understand in which areas different transmission pathways occur," said Leon Espira, who conducted the study as a doctoral candidate at U-M's School of Public Health. "For a very long time, our focus has been water, water, water. We're showing that we have to think more broadly about the environment." Joseph Eisenberg, professor of epidemiology at U-M's School of Public Health and corresponding author of the paper agrees. "Historically, water and sanitation has had a much stronger rural focus," he said. "Now that we're seeing this very sharp increase of people moving into more of an urban space, we need to rethink what kinds of mitigation and interventions are going to be effective in more urban settings." Chasing pathogens around the world Espira has been studying the transmission of pathogens in water for years in Mexico and Ethiopia. Then, Pam Jagger, an associate professor at U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability, reached out to ask if he was interested in looking at pathogens in Myanmar. Jagger is a co-investigator on a grant from the National Geographic Society's Sustainable Cities Program focused on air quality and sustainable energy transitions in Yangon, Myanmar. The team wanted to add a water quality dimension to the study to highlight the range of environmental health issues urban residents face. "Myanmar is very understudied and the Yangon Region is very unique," said Espira, who is currently a research fellow at the Center for Global Health Equity. "You basically have parts of the city that are flooded during the monsoon, so the houses are on stilts and after monsoon season the water recedes. It's a really unique environment. I was pretty excited to go to a part of the world that not a lot is known about." Espira also knew the work would be relevant for the country's health. In Myanmar, diarrea is the fourth leading cause of death among children under 5. And hospital surveillance studies have shown that rotavirus has been a major cause of that disease in children. "Identifying the sources and the pathways of these pathogens into children's environments can help determine better interventions to stop the spread of disease," he said. For the study, Espira and his team picked three urban sites in Yangon and two rural sites outside of Yangon. They tested samples for a range of bacteria, parasitic worms and viruses. "The main question I had was how pathogen numbers compare in soil and water. And is there a difference in the pathogens that you pick up in the soil? And then the second question that comes up is: What are the environmental drivers of these differences?" Espira said. The research team picked the Yangon region, which has a population of about 7.4 million people, and is predicted to attain mega-city status in the coming years . The sites were Hlaingtharyar, within the city of Yangon, and Htantabin, an adjacent predominantly rural area. In their sample collection, conducted in September-October 2019, the researchers collected data on environmental characteristics such as the presence of man-made wastewater drainage, standing bodies of water, presence and state of sanitation facilities, presence of animal and human feces, and presence of uncollected domestic garbage in trash piles. After a six-month delay because of the pandemic, the team analyzed the results. The researchers found that in soil, bacterial pathogens were associated with elevation and drainage ditches, while viral gene counts were associated with the sanitation facilities within 50 meters of the collection point. In water, pathogen and bacterial countsincluding enterococcus faecaliswere associated with drainage ditches. The findings suggest that ditches are acting as accumulators of contamination within the urban areas, while the lack of association between drainage ditches with viral gene counts suggests that stagnant water might be more important for the transmission of viruses like rotavirus, Espira said. "Historically, we only focused on indicator bacteria that provides some information on contamination, but now we have the capability of actually measuring pathogens in the environment and so we have a much, much greater specificity of what pathogens are contaminating the environment," Eisenberg said. "Knowing which pathogens are present can help us think about how to mitigate and clean up that contamination." The study was published in Environmental Science and Technology. Explore further New weapon in the fight against gastrointestinal disease in informal settlements Patient youths have between a 17 and 21% greater chance of surviving their 65th birthday than their more impatient classmates. Credit: STILLFX / Shutterstock Patient people are at lower risk of dying before the age of 65 and suffer, on average, from fewer hospitalizations and diagnoses during their adult lives than more impatient individuals. In her dissertation in economics, Lisa Norrgren analyzes a unique data material where thousands of Swedes have been followed from the age of 13 and throughout their lives. What would you prefer: Getting SEK 100 now or SEK 1,000 in five years? This was one of many questions that 13,000 youths aged 1213 were asked in 1966, in a unique survey where the respondents were followed through life to this day. Your answer to the question says something about your time preferences, that is, how you value the present in relation to the future. "There is really no bad or good alternative, it is just a matter of preferencesdo you prefer to get something now or to wait for a bigger reward later," says Lisa Norrgren, who in her dissertation in economics at the School of Business, Economics and Law, examines the connection between time preferences, education, health and death. 20% greater chance of becoming 65 Her results show that the patient youths, who chose to receive SEK 1,000 in five years, have between a 17 and 21% greater chance of surviving their 65th birthday than their more impatient classmates. They are also admitted to hospital less frequently, receive fewer diagnoses as adults and are to a lesser extent diagnosed with so-called lifestyle diseases. "When I investigate other factors that might explain the difference between the groupssuch as gender, month of birth, age of father and mother, parents' income, parents' education, school absence, parental mortality, children's cognitive ability, municipality, educationit makes no major difference. Time preferences remain an important and stable factor," says Lisa Norrgren. More likely to invest in their future health One explanation to the results is that people who choose to receive SEK 1,000 in five years have a low discount rate, that is they believe that immediate and future payments are about equally valuable, which makes them more likely to invest in better future health. On the other hand, a person with a high discount rate thinks that immediate outcomes are much more valuable than future ones. There are previous research results where time preferences play a role in such things as smoking or obesity, but this type of long-term study over a lifetime is unique. "To die before the age of 65 is a very serious outcome, you disappear long before both you and your close relatives probably counted on. In order to tackle certain public health problems, one may need to take into account that impatient individuals are more exposed to health risks and create systems that focus on costs and rewards today instead of far into the future. One example is the labels on tobacco packages, which are mainly about the risk of cancerperhaps it would be better to emphasize bad breath or that it is expensive to smoke," says Lisa Norrgren. What it is that makes some people focus more on their future selves, or whether you can learn to be more patient is not entirely clear, according to Lisa Norrgren. "In another study in the dissertation, we see that there is a connection between the children's and mothers' time preferences, but I cannot say if it is genetic or if you are socialized into it." Explore further Understanding who commits which crimes More information: Carpe Diem or Seize your Health? The Economics of Time Preferences, Health, and Education. Carpe Diem or Seize your Health? The Economics of Time Preferences, Health, and Education. gupea.ub.gu.se/handle/2077/70095 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As states loosen COVID-19 restrictions across the country, masking, particularly in schools, remains a controversialand confusingissue. While it is true that COVID-19 case rates are dropping after the omicron surge, hospitalizations remain high in many parts of the country, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Biden administration say it is premature to lift mask mandates in schools. (The CDC continues to recommend that everyone wear a high-quality, well-fitting mask in all indoor places.) Those in favor of unmasking in schools, however, say transmission among school children has never been well-studied and point to the social and emotional burden of masking, particularly in young children who benefit from seeing their teachers' facial expressions. Given these various points of view, it's no wonder that many parents are tornand frustratedas an increasing number of governors, including Connecticut's, have set a date to lift mask mandates in schools, leaving the decision up to local authorities. If your child's school makes masks optional and you aren't ready for them to be removed, should you make your child continue to mask up? What do we know about how masks prevent COVID-19 transmission in schools? "Local governments are saying one thing, and the CDC is saying another. How can both of these things be true?" asks Jaimie Meyer, MD, MS, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases expert. "It seems that we are arbitrarily saying, 'Hey, it's time to take off the mask.'" We talked more with Dr. Meyer and a fellow Yale Medicine expert to help make sense of this latest stage of the pandemicand how best to navigate itas sanely and as safely as possible. Why are mask mandates in schools an issue? The move to unmask started in early February when several states announced plans to ease many pandemic restrictions as the omicron surge began to recede. It was a loosely coordinated effort that came on the heels of public health discussions and focus groups that began after the November election. In Connecticut, the impending expiration of the governor's pandemic-related executive orders, including a mask mandate in schools, brought the topic to the forefront. The state legislature voted to extend the mask mandate in schools until Feb. 28, after which the decision will fall to individual schools, towns, and cities. Dr. Meyer notes that there is nothing from a health metrics perspective that is "magical" about this date. "Why now? Why this moment? That's pure politics. It is just executive orders expiring," she says. "But I also think people don't like mandates. They are tired of being told what to do. I think that really frustrates people." Ending mask mandates: a science- or politics-based decision? As Connecticut prepares to end its mask mandate, Dr. Meyer says she would prefer to see concrete metrics that prove it's time to end them. "Sometimes, mandates are needed for public health and safety," she says. "So, it would be helpful to have a plan in place where we said that, for example, once the hospitalization rate is X and the vaccination coverage is Yand when we're able to better ventilate our spaces and spend more time outsideit would be OK to take the mask off. But to arbitrarily pick a date makes absolutely no sense to me. This virus will dictate what the right date is." Similarly, when the mandates are removed and you're left only with personal choice, there should be metrics that allow us to say that certain measures are recommended or required for certain groups of people, she says. Unfortunately, those markers are proving difficult to find. For example, it used to bebefore vaccination was availablethat schools relied on test positivity rates. "There were metrics, and it was dynamic. You're in a red zone, a yellow zone," says Dr. Meyer. "It may have been hard to follow, but at least you knew where you stoodand there was a reason for the increase in protection measures." But we can't rely on those same metrics as easily now, Dr. Meyer explains. "Look at positivity rates, for example. Lots of people are home testing now, and they aren't required to report it to the Department of Public Health," she says. "There's also the increased transmission of omicron, and the fact that overall it was still relatively mild compared to earlier variants. We care more about hospitalization and vaccination rates now, not just the number of infections." Eugene Shapiro, MD, a Yale Medicine pediatric infectious diseases specialist, says that mask mandates are a thorny topic. "We are getting into politics when we talk about a mask mandate as opposed to recommending them. I will be wearing a mask for a long timefor as long as the virus is with us," he says. "It's not unreasonable to wear a mask, but a mandate is something different, with all the legalese involved." Rather, Dr. Shapiro says he would separate the mandate from information about the benefits and downsides of wearing a mask. "To me, it's not that onerous to wear one, and there's a reason we wear them when we go into rooms in the hospital where someone has a respiratory illness," he says. "What are the adverse side effects of masks? In that, you get into a lot of sociology and politics." While it's clear that masks reduce both the risk of spreading and the likelihood of contracting COVID-19, the question remains of how much, Dr. Shapiro adds. "Right now, the incidence of disease is going down, but in a month and half, it might go back up," he says. "There could be a new variant. There is just so much uncertainty, and what is right this week might not be right next week." Messaging on masking should be clearer A persistent problem throughout the pandemic has been messaging, Dr. Meyer says. "Communication needs to be clear and consistent if you want people to follow it. The White House shouldn't be doing something different from the CDC, which is different from the governor, who's doing something different from the school superintendent," she says. "This is why people don't trust the science." Specifically, the messaging problem is the "all-or-nothing" approach to COVID-19 precautions, she says. "Masks are being pitched as a switch. We turn on the switch and we have mask mandates. Everyone masks all the time in public places and in schools," she says. "Then, the executive privileges end and we turn off the switch, and no one will be wearing masks. The CDC is basically saying, 'Hey, time out. No, we should still be wearing masks.'" Instead of a switch, precautions should be thought of as more like a dial, Dr. Meyer adds. "Mandates are the extreme version of the dial. We had to crank it up to 10 when we were in the midst of a surge, especially if we wanted our kids to be able to stay in school," she says. "Masks are effective in schools. They're the reason why outbreaks in schools that have mask mandates are so rare, especially when paired with vaccination for staff." So, it's appropriate, as the omicron surge ends and more people become vaccinated, that the dial gets turned down, Dr. Meyer says. "We give people back some autonomy and give them the right to wear a mask or not wear one. But we are turning the dial to a sevennot a zero," she says. "Plus, some people still need to mask up. If you have ongoing community transmission or if you have underlying health conditions that make you more at risk for severe disease, you're still going to need to wear a mask. It's not all or nothing." Does masking in schools affect transmission? Several CDC studies released in September 2021 highlight the importance of universal masking, layered with other prevention strategies, to stop the spread of COVID-19 transmission in schools. The studies show that school districts that did not have a universal masking policy were more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks. But it's important to note that masks were one of many mitigation measures, including vaccination and social distancing, which makes it difficult to assess effectiveness. "When you're trying to say whether or not an intervention of any kind is effective, you want to look at that intervention in isolation. And there's no way to do that," Dr. Meyer says. "Places that have mask mandates in place were also places that have higher vaccination coverage. In Connecticut, we often have vaccination requirements for educators. It was a part of a 'package of intervention.' It's therefore hard to disentangle what works best." Instead, it's a matter of association, not causation, Dr. Meyer explains. "We can at least see that in the places that had high masking participation or mask mandates in school, there were much lower infection rates among school-aged kids. There were fewer outbreaks," she says. "But whether it was the masks, the vaccinations, or the cleaning and the distancing, we just don't know. It was probably all those things." On the other hand, Dr. Meyer says she hasn't seen any data saying that masks do not work in schools. "From just a purely public health, infectious disease mindset, removing masks makes absolutely no sense to me. It's a droplet-borne infection," she says. "If you prevent it from leaving someone's nose and mouth, and entering the nose and mouth of another person, then it will prevent infection. That's why we see such low rates of flu this year and last year, because everyone was masked." What should parents do when mask mandates in schools end? As states and schools iron out their masking policies in public places and in schools, it remains to be seen if the CDC updates any of its guidelines. In Connecticut, the Departments of Public Health and Education have the right until June 30 to put a mask mandate back in schools, if deemed necessary. In the meantime, parents of children in schools where mask mandates are taken away face a personal decision. "As if parenting through a pandemic wasn't hard enough, what's really stressful for parents is the whole individualized risk assessment," Dr. Meyer says. "There are some instances that are clear. If your childor other people in your immediate household or familyhas an underlying health condition that puts them at risk for severe diseaseyou're going to have to take extra precautions." But other factors should also be at play, including vaccination status. "Maybe if case rates and hospitalizations were low enough, vaccination would be sufficient," Dr. Meyer says. "Otherwise, I would err on the side of caution. I'm going to have my kids wear masks, for example." Vaccination rates are low in the youngest group (ages five to 11) now eligible, with the CDC reporting that only about a quarter of this population is fully vaccinated. But vaccination can also be enough of a protective factor for some families, she adds. "I think vaccinating yourself and your family is an empowering thing to make you feel ready to unmask," she says. "I also think that if your comfort level isn't there yet, it's okay for your kids to mask." At the end of the day, now is not the time to completely ditch masks, Dr. Meyer says. "As more and more people are vaccinated and immune, and as we head into warm weather, we can open windows and be outside," she says. "I think when all of this happens, those extra precaution measures with masks will become less and less important." But if virus circulation increases again and hospitalization rates increase, then the dial needs to go back up, she cautions. "That's the problem when it's considered a switchpeople don't want to turn the switch back on," Dr. Meyer says. "But when there's a dial, we can be flexible. We have lived through a pandemic now. We have to be flexible enough to add measures back, when necessary." It's important to remember that masking is just another protective layer, and one that families can still choose to use, Dr. Meyer explains. "My kids are going to be wearing a KN95 for a long time, until I'm ready for them to come off," she says. Explore further Should your child keep wearing a mask at school? UNLV Department of Psychology neuroscientist Rochelle Hines (right) and student Betsua Garcia-Trujillo are members of a research team that studied the gene and brain proteins that contribute to adverse symptoms among people with intellectual disability syndrome. Credit: Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services Science is one step closer to developing targeted drug therapies that may reduce seizures, sleep disorders, and related symptoms common in people with intellectual disabilities. Research led by a team of UNLV neuroscientists has shown the potential to zero in on the root-level cause of a host of adverse symptoms associated with unique subtypes of neurodevelopmental disorders, work that could one day improve the lives of millions worldwide. The study, published Feb. 15 in the Nature journal Molecular Psychiatry, builds on previous research by UNLV neuroscientist Rochelle Hines and collaborators, which discovered that two key proteinscollybistin and the GABAA receptor 2 subunitcontrol the firing of brain cells and contribute to epileptic seizures, learning and memory deficiencies, sleep disturbances, and other symptoms frequently associated with various forms of intellectual disability including Down syndrome, autism, and ADHD. The team's newest findings unveiled that mutations in ARHGEF9the gene that codes for collybistinlead to intellectual disability through impaired 2 subunit function. The team further showed that 2 is a central hub for many of the adverse neurological symptoms characteristic of multiple intellectual disability subtypes. "Seizures and sleep deficits are two of the most common and most disruptive symptoms in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and sleep deficits in particular are not well treated and can impact the entire family," said Hines, who partnered with UNLV faculty and undergraduate and graduate student researchers, as well as scientists from Tufts University and Boston Children's Hospital. "This research gives new hope to patients that we can now develop drug therapies and provide more precise interventions." In addition to patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, researchers said their study has the potential to improve the quality of life more broadly for people who grapple with sleep dysfunction, epilepsy, anxiety, hyperactivity, and other neurological abnormalities. More information: Dustin J. Hines et al, Human ARHGEF9 intellectual disability syndrome is phenocopied by a mutation that disrupts collybistin binding to the GABAA receptor 2 subunit, Molecular Psychiatry (2022). Journal information: Nature , Molecular Psychiatry Dustin J. Hines et al, Human ARHGEF9 intellectual disability syndrome is phenocopied by a mutation that disrupts collybistin binding to the GABAA receptor 2 subunit,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01468-z (a) Comparison of bio-tendons generated from GFP-iPSC-MSCs and Mkx-iPSC-MSCs. (b) SEM images of the surface layer of GFP-bio-tendon and Mkx-bio-tendon. Credit: Department of Systems BioMedicine, TMDU Tendons are tissues that connect muscles to bones and are important for movement and locomotion. Injuries to tendons are quite common, with millions of peopleparticularly athletesaffected worldwide, and can often take many months to recover from, significantly impacting quality of life. Furthermore, while many options for treatment exist, none of them are perfect cures and many result in pain, immunogenicity, or long-term treatment failure. Therefore, a novel therapeutic strategy for tendon repair is needed. In a study published in the Journal of Tissue Engineering in January 2022, researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU) have successfully induced human stem cells to create artificial tendon-like tissue that mimics tendon properties and offers significantly improved tendon reconstruction in a mouse tendon-rupture model. Human induced pluripotent stem cells, or hiPSCs, are special stem cells that can be derived from any adult cells and can be differentiated into any specialized cell-type. "Using hiPSCs with Mohawk (Mkx), we could produce artificial tendon tissue." explains Hiroki Tsutsumi, lead author of the study. Mohawk is a transcription factor that promotes the expression of genes involved in tendon-formation and thus drives differentiation of stem cells into tendon cells. These Mohawk-expressing stem cells were then put in a specialized 3D culture system that exerts mechanical force on the cells while they are growing. This simulates the conditions for tendon development and enhances the cell alignment and organization, allowing them to create tendon-like tissues. Next, the research team tested the artificial tendon in a mouse model of tendon rupture. The results were exciting. Six weeks after the implantation, the artificial tendon had similar mechanical properties to a normal undamaged mouse tendon. In addition, the implanted tendon-like tissue was able to recruit and mobilize tendon cells from the host that can further participate in the repair process. This confirmed a good integration of the tissue. "We demonstrated that the bio-tendons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells have similar mechanical and biological properties to normal tendons and can be fully integrated relatively quickly after a transplant surgery in a mouse model, making them an attractive strategy for clinical application in tendon injuries. The next step towards clinical translation would be to test them in large animal models to assess their capacity as a biomaterial on a larger scale," concludes Hiroshi Asahara, lead author of the study. These promising results suggest that a novel medical strategy for tendon repair may be clinically available in the future. Explore further Scientists unveil the enigma of the vulnerability of Achilles tendon More information: Hiroki Tsutsumi et al, Generation of a tendon-like tissue from human iPS cells, Journal of Tissue Engineering (2022). Hiroki Tsutsumi et al, Generation of a tendon-like tissue from human iPS cells,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/20417314221074018 Provided by Tokyo Medical and Dental University Credit: TommyStockProject/Shutterstock Getting a good night's sleep can sometimes be a challenge, but inflammation may make it even more difficult. While the relationship between inflammation and sleep alteration has been previously shown, researchers in Japan have now identified a potential method to overcome sleep disturbance associated with systemic inflammation. In a new study published in Journal of Sleep Research, researchers at the University of Tsukuba examined the effect of sevoflurane, an anesthetic agent used to maintain unconsciousness during surgery, on sleep recovery in a mouse model of systemic inflammation. Systemic inflammation has been shown to affect sleep quality by reducing the amount of time spent in the rapid eye movement (REM) and waking states and increasing the amount of time spent in the non-REM state. Previous animal studies have illustrated the protective effects of sevoflurane on organs, including the brain, but the relationship between sevoflurane and sleep has not been explored under inflammatory conditions. Using a model in which mice are injected with the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation throughout the body, the research team evaluated the effects of sevoflurane on altered sleep patterns associated with systemic inflammation. "We hypothesized that preconditioning with sevoflurane prior to inducing inflammation by LPS would promote sleep recovery," says main author Professor Takashi Kanbayashi. The research team exposed mice to sevoflurane prior to LPS injection ("preconditioning") and also examined the effects of sevoflurane exposure after LPS injection ("postconditioning"). Control mice without systemic inflammation were exposed to either sevoflurane or air and received either sterile saline or LPS injection. The researchers monitored the sleep patterns of the mice using electroencephalography and collected brain tissues for histological analysis. "We found that mice that were preconditioned with sevoflurane showed a significant increase in REM sleep after LPS injection," says Professor Kanbayashi. "This effect was not observed in mice that received postconditioning." Examination of brain tissues from mice treated with LPS alone revealed a reduction in neurons expressing the neuronal activation marker Fos in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus and laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (PPTg/LDTg), which is an area of the brain involved in the regulation of REM sleep. However, the mice that received sevoflurane preconditioning before LPS treatment maintained similar levels of Fos-positive neurons as those observed in the control mice. These results demonstrate that maintained activation of neurons in the PPTg/LDTg region may represent a potential mechanism underlying the effect of sevoflurane on sleep reintegration under inflammatory conditions. The findings of this study indicate a potential application for sevoflurane in the treatment of sleep disturbance associated with systemic inflammation. Explore further Anesthetic may affect tau spread in the brain to promote Alzheimer's disease pathology More information: Tsuyoshi Nemoto et al, Effect of sevoflurane preconditioning on sleep reintegration after alteration by lipopolysaccharide, Journal of Sleep Research (2022). Tsuyoshi Nemoto et al, Effect of sevoflurane preconditioning on sleep reintegration after alteration by lipopolysaccharide,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13556 TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Construction workers may bring home more than the bacon -- they may also be exposing their families to toxic metals, a new study reveals. Toxic contaminants unintentionally brought from the workplace into the home are a public health hazard, but the majority of research to date has focused on problems related to lead. Much less is known about take-home exposures to other harmful metals. To learn more, researchers collected and analyzed dust samples from the homes of 27 workers in the greater Boston area. The study focused on construction workers but also included janitorial and auto repair workers. Construction workers had higher levels of lead, arsenic, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and tin dust in their homes than janitorial and auto repair workers. "Many professions are exposed to toxic metals at work, but construction workers have a more difficult job implementing safe practices when leaving the worksite because of the type of transient outdoor environments where they work, and the lack of training on these topics," said study lead author Diana Ceballos. She directs the Exposure Biology Research Laboratory at Boston University School of Public Health. The investigators also found that higher concentrations of toxic metals in the home were associated with lower education; not having a work locker to store clothes; mixing work and personal items, and not having a place to launder clothes. Not washing hands after work and not changing clothes after work were also tied to higher metal concentrations. The study was published online recently in the journal Environmental Research. It highlights the need for improved measures to reduce take-home exposure among construction workers, according to the authors. "Given the lack of policies and trainings in place to stop this contamination in high-exposure workplaces such as construction sites, it is inevitable that these toxic metals will migrate to the homes, families and communities of exposed workers," Ceballos said in a university news release. Adding to the problem, many construction workers live in disadvantaged communities or substandard housing that may already contain toxic metals, Ceballos said. "Given the complexity of these issues, we need interventions on all fronts -- not only policies, but also resources and education for these families," she concluded. More information There's more on toxic metals at the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. SOURCE: Boston University School of Medicine, news release, Feb. 18, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Sexual assault and workplace sexual harassment may increase women's long-term risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, a new study suggests. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, which is the leading killer of U.S. women, accounting for one in three deaths. Sexual violence or harassment aren't recognized as risk factors for heart disease, but these findings suggest that screening for them could benefit women's heart health. "Reducing sexual violence against women, which is important in its own right, may also provide a strategy for improving women's lifetime cardiovascular health," said study author Rebecca Lawn, a postdoctoral researcher at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Her team conducted a seven-year follow-up (2008 to 2015) of more than 33,000 women (average age 53) in an ongoing U.S. health study. At the start, none had a history of high blood pressure. But about one in five had developed high blood pressure by the end of the follow-up. The findings also showed that, in their lifetime, 23% of the women had been victims of sexual assault; 12% had experienced workplace sexual harassment; and 6% had experienced both. Compared to those with no history of sexual assault or harassment, the risk of high blood pressure was 21% higher among women who had experienced both; 15% higher among those who experienced workplace sexual harassment; and 11% higher among sexual assault victims. The findings were published Feb. 22 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. "We know that experiences of sexual violence in the form of sexual assault and workplace sexual harassment are common, and that women are disproportionately victims of such violence, with 13% to 44% of women reporting sexual assault and up to 80% of women reporting workplace sexual harassment," Lawn said in a journal news release. "However, exposure to sexual violence is not widely recognized as a contributor to women's cardiovascular health." The researchers found no increased risk of high blood pressure among women who had a history of other types of trauma and not sexual violence. That suggests that increased high blood pressure risk does not appear to be associated with all trauma exposure, she added. "These results suggest that screening for a broader range of experiences of sexual violence in routine health care, including sexual harassment in the workplace, as well as verbal harassment or assault, and being aware of and treating potential cardiovascular health consequences may be beneficial for women's long-term health," Lawn said. More information For more on heart disease and women, go to the U.S. Office on Women's Health. SOURCE: Journal of the American Heart Association, news release, Feb. 22, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. TUESDAY, Feb. 22, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Remember when everyone was downing zinc supplements at the beginning of the pandemic, in hopes of guarding against a severe case of COVID-19? New research suggests that folks may have wasted their time and effort: Taking zinc, vitamin C or vitamin D supplements doesn't lower one's risk of dying from COVID-19. "A lot of people have this misconception that if you load up on zinc, vitamin D or vitamin C, it can help the clinical outcome of COVID-19," but that "hasnt been shown to be true," said lead study author Dr. Azizullah Beran, an internal medicine resident at the University of Toledo's College of Medicine and Life Sciences in Ohio. Beran and his colleagues analyzed 26 peer-reviewed studies that were conducted worldwide and included more than 5,600 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Those treated with vitamin D, vitamin C or zinc did not have a lower risk of death than those who didn't receive the supplements. And while vitamin D was associated with lower rates of being put on a ventilator and shorter hospital stays, more rigorous research is needed to confirm that finding, according to the study authors. They also analyzed a small subset of patients who had been taking vitamin D before infection with the coronavirus, and found no lower risk of death in that group. "It's important for people to understand that taking a lot of these supplements does not translate into better outcomes," said study senior author Dr. Ragheb Assaly, a professor of medicine at the University of Toledo. "The other important message is that the answer to this disease is the vaccine," Assaly said in a university news release. "Micronutrient supplements will not offset the lack of vaccination or make you not need the vaccine." It's possible that some COVID-19 patients who are malnourished may benefit from taking supplements, but that's because their bodies already lack essential nutrients, not because vitamin D or vitamin C are effective against the virus, the researchers noted. "What we're saying is this: If you don't medically need these supplements, don't take them thinking they're protective against COVID-19," Beran said in the release. "They're not going to prevent you from getting it and they're not going to prevent you from dying." The findings were published recently in the journal Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. More information For more on COVID-19 treatments, see the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SOURCE: University of Toledo, news release, Feb. 17, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Winter returned to the Missoula Valley early Monday morning, when trash cans started banging in the 20 mph arctic wind and the temperature dropped 25 degrees in a couple of hours. The abrupt chill collided with a moist Pacific weather front and caused flash-freezing in several spots across western Montana, including Lookout Pass on the Montana-Idaho border and numerous roads in Flathead County. Continued snowfall drifting in strong winds remained in the forecast for Tuesday. Wind chill warnings for the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys issued on Monday said perceived temperatures could feel as cold as 15 to 25 below zero through 11 a.m. Tuesday. At that extreme, exposed skin can get frostbitten within 30 minutes. Montana Highway Patrol reported a handful of non-injury crashes and vehicle slide-offs on I-90 west of Missoula near the St. Regis area on Monday. There was one crash at mile marker 30 of I-90 westbound, but it was cleared before 1 p.m., Trooper Steve Spurr said. As of about 1:15 p.m., there were no lanes shut down or blockage reported. Spurr described the road conditions as very bad, saying with the temperature dropping as quickly as it is ice is building up, making driving hazardous. The Highway Patrol asks people to be diligent about using chains and driving cautiously. As of Monday afternoon, there had not been any jack-knifed semi-trucks in the St. Regis or Lookout Pass areas of the interstate. Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort had to close all its upper-mountain chairlifts on Monday due to blasting winds and low temperatures. The base area recorded 5 inches of new snow, but considerably less on the summit where winds kept blowing the gauge readings around. A website comment described conditions as Like were in a snow globe and someone knocked us off the table and were rolling down the stairs. The swirling snow will also be a traffic hazard for drivers with reduced visibility and icy pavements. Conditions were expected to be especially difficult in the Kalispell and Bad Rock Canyon areas along Highway 2 Monday afternoon and evening, where wind gusts were predicted to top 40 mph. Those winds should persist through Wednesday as a second wave of Canadian cold air pushes south and spills over the Continental Divide. Areas along the mountain crest could experience especially strong wind chills of 30 to 40 below zero, including the Seeley-Swan Valley, Glacier National Park and parts of southwest Montana. And conditions should stay frigid through at least Wednesday. Temperature lows could drop to 10 or 15 below zero for most of western Montana, with dips to 15- or 20-below in the Seeley-Swan Valley. Lows are forecast to stay in single-digit range through Saturday morning. Were getting reports of about 10 inches of snow around Whitefish and Hungry Horse, National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Leach said in Missoula on Monday. Tuesday should have some more cloud cover and then clear out Tuesday night. So well see some near-record temperatures for the Missoula and Kalispell areas. The current record is around -10. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When the Missoula Montana Airports new $67 million terminal building opens in early May, itll feature a new Black Coffee Roasting Co. cafe, a KettleHouse Brewing bar, a new restaurant and the only working escalators in western Montana. On Tuesday, airport officials dedicated the building located next to the existing terminal, which was built in 1941. The airport has seen immense growth in passenger numbers in the last decade and now serves about 880,000 passengers every year, according to Adriane Beck, chair of the airports board. These numbers will only continue to grow as Montana has been discovered, she said. Our goals for this project were to create a modern standard, make a firm plan and prepare MSO for future growth. We made a commitment to our tenants and the community to build a world-class facility without increasing taxes or increasing tenants rent to pay for it. The new building will feature spacious bathrooms, improved Wi-Fi, seats with chargers, more concourse space and 20,000 square feet of huge glass windows with sweeping unobstructed views of the mountains. We believe we are delivering a truly state-of-the-art facility, with everything from an automated baggage system, geothermal heating and cooling, LED lighting, electric window glazing (to reduce glare and heat) and escalators, Beck said. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester was on hand for the ceremony, and Beck credited him with voting for several federal stimulus bills, including the American Rescue Plan Act, that she said helped airports weather the COVID storm. Missoula has experienced unprecedented growth in the last decade, and the airports new terminal will provide more folks with the opportunity to experience Montanas natural beauty while supporting our $7.1 billion outdoor economy, Tester said. Im proud to have helped secure the resources for this project, which will allow Montanans to stay connected with the world, bring more opportunities for affordable travel and help sustain good-paying jobs across our state. Construction began on the new three-story, 175,000-square-foot facility in 2018. Its being paid for by a $31 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration, user fees from airlines and other sources, including a federal low-emissions grant. After it opens in May, the airports terminal expansion project will continue with Phase 2, which is the east concourse extension. That means the current older terminal will be razed to make way for construction of additional aircraft gates, restrooms, an expanded baggage claim and a rental car center. That project could start this fall and may be completed in the summer of 2025 depending on funding availability. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 34-year-old North Dakota man has been identified as the snowbiker killed in an avalanche near Cooke City on Saturday. Nathaniel Wolfe, of Bismarck, was killed when he was swept down a gully and off a waterfall, according to the Park County coroner the Associated Press has reported. Wolfe was partially buried with his arm and airbag visible and his head under a foot of snow, according to the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. The slide broke two feet deep, 800 feet wide and ran 1,200 vertical feet. The debris was up to 15 feet deep. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. Park County Search and Rescue evacuated the victim. The fatality occurred in the Sheep Creek drainage north of Cooke City. Wolfe was riding with three snowmobilers and another biker, GNFAC reported. The two snowbikes were high on a slope near Miller Mountain when one stopped on a small ridge and the other climbed higher, triggering the large avalanche. Wolfe is the 10th person killed in an avalanche in the United States this year and the fourth to be killed in Montana. Earlier this month, a snowmobiler was swept downhill in the Lionhead area near West Yellowstone and died. On Dec. 27, 2021, two snowmobilers were killed in a slide near Cooke City on Scotch Bonnet Mountain. Last year, 37 avalanche fatalities were recorded in a record-setting year. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 In a blow to public access advocates that has drawn national attention, a federal court judge has recommended ruling in favor of the Custer Gallatin National Forest and private landowners on the west side of the Crazy Mountains in a long-running dispute over four historic trails. On Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan issued a 28-page finding granting the two defendants cross motion for summary judgment. The groups have 14 days to file an objection. Then it is up to U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters to make the final ruling. If Watters upholds Cavans decision it would halt an attempt to force the Forest Service to defend historic trail access rights for the public across private lands. The lawsuit was filed by the Friends of the Crazy Mountains, Enhancing Montana's Wildlife & Habitat, the Skyline Sportsmen Association and Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. "This is not the end Judge Cavans recommendations are only one step in the whole process," said John B. Sullivan III, chairman of the Montana chapter. "We are currently evaluating his recommendations and look forward to submitting our reply for Judge Watters' review." History The case dates back to 2019 when the groups asked a judge to halt the Forest Service from moving ahead with rerouting the Lowline Porcupine Trail on the west side of the mountains. A judge ruled against the injunction, and this past fall the new trail was completed and opened to the public. The trail moved about five miles from private land onto mostly federal land between the forests Porcupine and Ibex rental cabins. In addition, an easement was signed for crossing a portion of the private property. When the first attempt to halt the project failed, the groups amended their complaint and argued that the Forest Service violated three federal acts by not analyzing the environmental impacts of the trail reroute and by not complying with the 2006 Travel Plan for the forest. The groups also asserted the Custer Gallatin had failed to protect public use on two historic east side trails in the Crazies Sweet Grass Trail (No. 122); and East Trunk Trail (No. 136, formerly No. 115), as well as Elk Creek Trail (No. 195) on the west side. The court was asked to vacate the Porcupine-Ibex project, and void the easement agreement the Forest Service had negotiated. The M Hanging Lazy 3 Ranch and Henry Guth joined on the side of the Forest Service to defend the trail reroute. The conservation groups also asked the judge to require the federal agency to restore, repair, reinstall, and manage the trails for public use. In his findings, Cavan wrote that he was required to determine whether the Forest Services actions were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law. He noted the arbitrary and capricious standard is narrow, and the court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. He was therefore required to decide whether the Forest Service had considered the relevant factors or made a clear error of judgment. Conflict Important to public access advocates was the Forest Services decision not to fight to maintain public access along the historic trails where they cross private land. In 2002, landowners signed and blocked the trails on the west side. Correspondence entered into the court filings show the agencys own local officials challenging the landowners blockage of the trails at the time, as the agency had for decades. Then there was a policy shift by the Forest Service, highlighted by the reassignment of the Livingston District ranger in 2017 following a dispute over the east side trails. The Montana Farm Bureau Federation and nine Sweet Grass County landowners lobbied Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to investigate the ranger for instigating conflict and encouraging criminal actions. They based their claims on an email the ranger sent to his employees, consistent with past forest actions, that was posted on an access groups Facebook page without his knowledge. Easements To establish a prescriptive easement under Montana law, the Forest Service would have been required to show, by clear and convincing evidence, that use of the trails were open, notorious, exclusive, adverse, continuous and uninterrupted for the complete statutory period of five years, Cavan wrote. In addition, because the Landowners disputed and blocked public access for many years, the Forest Service would have also been required to show that any prescriptive easement had not been extinguished by reverse adverse possession. In Montana, a prescriptive easement is extinguished by acts that evidence a distinct and positive assertion of a hostile right to the publics claimed prescriptive easement, such as through locked gates and no trespassing signs, for the statutory period of five years. The access groups argued that, like the Wonder Ranch case in the Madison Range near Ennis, the Forest Service and public had used the trails for so long that a prescriptive easement across the private land was long established. However, on that trail the Forest Service had filed an easement interest with the county. The case certainly does not stand for the proposition that a mere claim, or belief, that an easement exists equates to a legally valid interest, Cavan wrote. Analysis On the issue of not analyzing the environmental impacts of the Porcupine-Ibex Trails reroute, Cavan said the Forest Service did an adequate job in its 2009 environmental assessment. He said the groups did not point to any environmental issue raised during scoping and public comment that was not addressed by the Forest Service. The checkerboard land ownership in the Crazy Mountains is unique, dating back to when the Northern Pacific Railroad was deeded more than 50,000 acres by the federal government when the rail line was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The access groups argued those deeds guaranteed a public easement where trails and roads existed. Judge Cavan wrote the groups failed to establish that these deeds are connected to any parcel of land at issue in this matter. In response to claims that the Forest Service had violated the National Forest Management Act by not protecting the publics existing access rights as directed by the 2006 Travel Plan, Cavan wrote the plan only applies to federal lands. Since the Forest Service didnt attempt to seek an easement interest by prescription, and instead negotiated, the agency therefore had no legally valid interest in the trail where it crosses private property. Lastly, Cavan ruled against the groups' attempt to compel the Forest Service to defend public access to the historic East Trunk and Sweet Grass trails on the east side of the Crazy Mountains. Citing previous rulings, the judge said courts are confined to 'situations where an agency has ignored a specific legislative command. Again, the fatal flaw to Plaintiffs argument is that there are no existing established rights for the Forest Service to protect, Cavan wrote. The Forest Service did not establish a valid legal interest in its potential easement interests. Hence, the Forest Service has not established that public use of the portions of trail crossing private property was a proper and lawful purpose. Cavan noted the Forest Service has discretion as to how it will accomplish the policy objective and the courts are not to interfere in abstract policy disagreements. Sullivan, of the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, said regardless of the court's decision his group will continue to fight for public access and will urge agencies to protect access. New access The Custer Gallatin National Forest is currently reviewing a proposal by east side landowners to negotiate a new trail easement from Big Timber Canyon to Sweet Grass Canyon that would provide public access. The proposal, submitted to the agency in July, would swap 4,114 acres of Custer Gallatin National Forest inholdings for 5,763 acres of private land. The landowner group has also proposed building, at its own expense, a new 22-mile trail to create a public route from Big Timber Creek to Sweet Grass Creek. The trail would tie into existing forest trails to create a 40-mile loop. Only one public access point exists on the southeast side of the Crazies, which is at Big Timber Creek. An old Forest Service trail up Sweet Grass Creek, to the north, is contested by the landowners Caroccia Ranch Limited Partnership. If the proposal passes muster, it would then go through a technical review called a feasibility analysis, which would take several months to complete. Also last year, the Forest Service finalized a land exchange in the southern Crazy Mountains. Two Rock Creek Ranch sections of land were acquired along a proposed new route for the Cottonwood Lowline Trail No. 272. In exchange, the forest is giving up a forested mountainside above Rock Creek and an isolated parcel along Duck Creek. The Wild Eagle Ranch acquired an isolated Forest Service section in exchange for its 640 acres east and north of the parcels that the Forest Service is exchanging to the Rock Creek Ranch. Senate attention Emphasizing the national attention the access issue has raised, in a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing earlier this month, Sen. Martin Henrich, D-New Mexico, specifically mentioned the Crazy Mountains in comments. He said to Forest Service Chief Christopher French that he continue[s] to be concerned with what I think are inconsistencies in the Forest Services approach to public access. Heinrich cited a 2015 letter by Custer Gallatin National Forest Supervisor Mary Erickson that the agency held unperfected prescriptive easement rights up Sweet Grass Creek based on a history of maintenance with public funds and administrative use. But in current litigation, the Forest Service and Department of Justice is now saying there is not a prescriptive easement. These decisions affect access in every state in the nation, the senator said. Why is the Forest Service and DOJ changing its position on public rights of access on that trail in particular, and what does that mean for trails everywhere in the U.S.? French responded it is the Forest Services intent to defend access in all the places we can. However, in the case of the Sweet Grass trail he said the Forest Service was unable to defend its easement citing state law and based on the action of the landowners. Its very complicated, French said. I know this is a concern of yours. It is not a broad policy. We handle these things on a site by site approach. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Montana Technological University cut programs and faculty in recent years in response to enrollment declines. Still, the university has grappled with a deficit of about $600,000 that the Butte-based school attributes to a tuition shortfall. Montana Tech, like many colleges and universities nationwide, has been hit by slumping enrollment tied in part to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many other schools, Montana Tech hoped for a solid rebound in enrollment in the fall of 2021. Chancellor Les Cook said he and other school administrators were cautiously optimistic about enrollment experiencing a solid bump up. Yet fall enrollment in 2021 totaled 2,339, compared to 2,583 in the fall of 2018. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported in November that a review of national trends found nettlesome numbers for higher education: Roughly two months into the second fall semester of the pandemic, postsecondary enrollment is now running 2.6 percent below last years level, for a total 5.8 percent drop since 2019. Cook said COVID-19 hasnt been the only dynamic affecting enrollment trends. People are having fewer children or no other children at all. Some parents and young people question the value of a college education, he said. High school students who might have been college-bound in decades past decide they want to go directly into the job market. People want to make money, Cook said. He referenced a book, The Agile College, that describes demographic challenges facing schools and offers thoughts on strategic responses. A description of the book notes that colleges are already grappling with the consequences of declining family size due to low birth rates brought on by the Great Recession. Cook said there is a lot of conversation about the relative value of a college education. Montana Tech students often leave the university with knowledge and skills sought by high-paying employers. Our students are in high demand, Cook said. Meanwhile, Montana Tech said Thursday that the shortfall will be addressed with a $128,000 enrollment contingency fund and $480,000 in salary and benefit savings already accumulated in anticipation of the need to balance our budget. Salary and benefit savings accumulated over the course of the year due to open/vacant positions, the university said. Cook said Montana Tech is in the early stages of planning for fiscal 2023. There are challenges ahead, he said. Still, based on applications for the fall semester, Cook said he feels optimistic. Montana Tech has been an affiliate of the University of Montana since 1994. During leadership changes at both the University of Montana and Montana Tech, the reporting lines were adjusted temporarily and the chancellor at Montana Tech reported director to the Commissioner of Higher Education. Last summer, the reporting lines returned to the president of the University of Montana, who is Seth Bodnar. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In the state of Montana, privacy is a value that is deeply embedded in our ethos, so much so that it is written into the state Constitution. Montanas Supreme Court has repeatedly, and as recently as 2018, recognized that this constitutional right to privacy encompasses a right against forced pregnancy. Now, some politicians in Montana are trying to take this precious right from you and your family. Here in Montana, our special and unique Constitution guarantees that private decisions made between a health care provider and a patient should remain just that private. It is important for Montanans to understand that if the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade, which protects the right to abortion under the federal Constitution, is overturned, Montanas right to abortion will remain intact. Thats because the Montana Constitution protects this right, independently of what federal law provides. After nearly 50 years of protecting the right to abortion, Roe v. Wade may soon be overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court. If that happens, many states are worried that they will soon face abortion bans. In Montana, however, politicians eager to ban abortion know that Montanas special constitutional privacy protection stands in the way of them being able to force pregnancy on Montanans against their will. Montanas governor and attorney general have been vocal in their blatant disdain for Montana's constitutional privacy protections and the ability to get the care they need. They are plotting ways to bypass, change, or outright eliminate the states strong right to abortion. Gov. Greg Gianforte recently appeared at anti-abortion rallies in support of efforts to strip away individual rights and impose draconian laws that will dictate our most private decisions. Attorney General Austin Knudsen recently asked the Montana Supreme Court to reverse its earlier decisions recognizing that Montanas constitutional privacy provision protects the right to abortion. The ACLU has consistently opposed attempts by politicians to infringe on peoples autonomy and privacy in making medical decisions. As far back as 1965, the ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Griswold v. Connecticut, which addressed a state prohibition on the prescription, sale, or use of contraceptives, even for married couples. In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the prohibition and recognized a right to privacy that surrounds intimate medical and family planning decisions. This case laid the groundwork for Roe v. Wade, a decision now in peril. We need to ensure that Montanas own, unique state constitutional protection of privacy in medical decision-making is preserved, even should Roe be overturned. As we have for more than half a century, the ACLU will continue to fight to prevent politicians from interfering in personal family matters and to ensure that the dignity of the individual is protected and upheld. We must all come together and speak up against the politicians who wish to debase, devalue, and degrade our constitution. You can join us in the fight by writing letters to Gov. Gianforte and Attorney General Knudsen. Tell them you will not stand to see our constitution and our access to essential health care attacked. You can talk to your family members, friends, and neighbors and remind them that privacy is a Montana value that must remain embedded in our state ethos. Caitlin Borgmann is executive director of ACLU Montana. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 6 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 A small group of politicians is asking other legislators to sign a letter requesting an expensive special session. I oppose this wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars on a session that lacks merit and on what seems little more than a taxpayer-funded campaign tour. Here is why I am opposed. First, there is the scheme to hurriedly redraw the Public Service Commission (PSC) districts rather than wait a mere 10 months for the 2023 Legislature do so in full session. Senator Duane Ankney, 16-year legislative veteran, current chair of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, and the legislator most familiar with the PSC said in his statewide editorial, A hastily called special session will do more harm than good, especially as there are legislators that will work to extend the session to include their pet topic. This will waste tax dollars and stick the public with 10 more years of questionable PSC policy decisions. The current call for a special session is the final act of individuals who repeatedly chose to ignore their statutory obligations. As such, I adamantly oppose the call. I agree. The second part of the special session call is a request to concoct and fund a special election oversight committee. This is more taxpayer-funded political theatre. The 2021 Legislature took election integrity seriously, jumping ahead of most states by passing seven key pieces of election legislation. HB 176 (Greef) ended same day voter registration. HB 429 (Jones) removed executive authority to suspend election laws. HB 530 (McKamey) requires the secretary of state (SOS) to assess election security and adopt needed rules. HB 651 (Bertogilo) requires paid ballot gathers to register with the SOS. SB 93 (Vance) allows poll watchers to be located at all places where mail ballots are deposited. SB 169 (Cuffe) tightens requirements for registration and voting. And finally, SB 170 (Kary) requires annual maintenance of registration lists. The 2022 primary and general election will operate under these new laws. In addition, Montana already has a State Administration and Veterans Affairs Committee charged with reviewing and monitoring the operations of the Secretary of State and elections. As a supporter of the conservative values of election integrity and fiscal responsibility, there is little to be gained for Montana from adding another expensive committee. This call for a special session has more to do with political theatre and trying to gain some election advantage than pursuing policies that benefit our state. Savvy political operatives understand that earned media helps win elections, and what better way to get on television or in the paper than through a taxpayer-funded special session. This veteran legislator will not support our special session tool being turned into a taxpayer-funded campaign event. I will vote to let taxpayers keep this money in their pockets and continue to focus on issues like improving public safety, work force shortages and on having less government in your lives, not more. Frank Garner, of Kalispell, represents House District 7. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " Lorrine Paradela poses for a photograph in Stockton, California, on Feb. 7, 2020. Paradela, a 45-year-old single mother was one of the 125 Stockton residents receiving monthly cash disbursements under a pilot universal basic income. NICK OTTO/AFP via Getty Images Near the end of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, he turned his attention to fighting poverty and became convinced that "the simplest approach will prove to be the most effective," he wrote in "Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos Or Community?" "[T]he solution to poverty is to abolish it directly by a now widely discussed measure: the guaranteed income." Over half a century later, one in eight Americans (38.1 million people) are still living below the poverty line, according to the Census Bureau. Millions more jobs threatened by automation and artificial intelligence, yet MLK's notion of a guaranteed income writing a monthly check to every American adult, no questions asked remains a radical idea in many economic and political circles. We spoke with Stacia Martin-West, a professor of social work at the University of Tennessee and co-principal investigator (with Amy Castro Baker of the University of Pennsylvania) of the Stockton Economic Power Demonstration (SEED), one of the only active programs testing guaranteed income, also known as universal basic income, on real Americans. Under the SEED program, 125 residents of Stockton, California, were given a guaranteed income of $500 a month, for 18 months to see how this cash payment affected their lives. Researchers hope to release SEED's first round of findings in March 2021. As Martin-West explains, universal basic income (UBI) holds tremendous promise for alleviating not only the financial burden of poverty, but also the damaging ripple effects of economic insecurity on health and family. Yet she admits that the very idea of a federal program paying poor Americans hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month faces tremendous political opposition, not only for its cost but because of the pervasive, if unproven, belief that "free government handouts" discourage people from working and foster dependence on the state. Advertisement How Universal Basic Income Works If you are poor in the United States, there already exists a "safety net" of both state and federal programs designed to help struggling individuals and families, but all of those programs are "means-tested," which means that they come with certain strings attached. To receive SNAP food benefits or housing assistance, for example, you need to prove that your income is below a certain threshold. To collect unemployment benefits, you need to show that you're actively looking for work. To collect Social Security retirement benefits, you need to have worked for a minimum number of years. That's why universal basic income is such a radical departure from the existing "welfare" programs. There is no means testing or "proof" required to qualify. Under a UBI scheme, every single American adult would receive a check $500 or even $1,000 a month with absolutely no strings attached. The cash is unconditional, leaving it up to the individual or family to decide how best to use it. (In other countries, UBI grants are sometimes linked to recipients getting medical checkups or sending their kids to school.) Recipients of UBI could use the extra money to pay for groceries, cover rent or mortgage, or buy clothes for the kids. They could also choose enroll in an online class or job skills program, take time off to raise a baby or care for a sick parent, or invest it in starting up a new business. The key is that even at $1,000 a month, universal basic income wouldn't fully replace earnings from a job, but it would provide a much-needed cushion for underpaid, overstressed workers who have never had the luxury of financial security. "UBI is 'basic' in that it meets your basic needs, and it's 'guaranteed income' in that you know that it's coming," says Martin-West. With the pilot SEED program, Martin-West and her collaborators are testing whether those two income characteristics, basic and guaranteed, are powerful enough to change people's lives. Advertisement The Potential Pros of Universal Basic Income Andrew Yang deserves a lot of credit for popularizing the notion of universal basic income during his 2020 presidential run. Yang pitched his $1,000-a-month Freedom Dividend as a way of protecting American workers from the impending robot takeover of millions of jobs over the next decade. While Martin-West understands the concerns about automation and AI in the future, she feels there are plenty of other urgent reasons to implement a UBI plan today. " " A man carries a sign supporting Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang's plan for a $1,000 monthly universal basic income during a rally in Washington Square Park, May 14, 2019 in New York City. Drew Angerer/Getty Images "There are people dying from capitalism now," says Martin-West, like the millions of Americans who work physically taxing jobs with unpredictable pay and hours. "The inability to predict what your paycheck is going to be from week to week or month to month has pretty devastating impacts on a person's stress levels and manifests in poor health outcomes like cardiovascular health decline, increased rates of diabetes, and more." Stockton resident Tomas Vargas was one of those chosen to receive a $500 check every month through the SEED program. His shifts at a warehouse job were unpredictable, says Martin-West, so Vargas had to work odd jobs late into the night to support a family he hardly had a chance to see. With the extra $500, he was able to skip a shift at the warehouse and interview for a new job with better pay and fixed hours, freeing him to spend more time with his family. UBI proponents like Martin-West argue that this is one of the secondary effects of guaranteed income: A cushion of $500 or $1,000 makes workers feel less desperate to take any job that comes along, even if the pay is bad and working conditions are lousy. "Nobody cares more about labor supply than these big companies that tend to not treat their employees very well," says Martin-West. "If you have employees saying, 'I can do better than this and now I have this bargaining power,' then you may see improved working conditions." By far one of the biggest benefits of universal basic income is that it would provide a steady paycheck to people currently doing critical work for free, namely stay-at-home parents and other unpaid caregivers who are far more likely to be women. "With a guaranteed income, we're essentially compensating women for the work they do in support of capitalism that's gone unpaid," says Martin-West. Advertisement Criticisms of Universal Basic Income The biggest criticism of UBI is how much it would cost. Under Yang's "Freedom Dividend" plan, each of America's 236 million adults would receive $12,000 a year for a total of $2.8 trillion, which is more than half of the 2020 federal budget. Yang's plan allows older Americans the option of keeping their current Social Security and Medicare benefits, while other UBI proposals vow to replace the entire welfare state with one guaranteed monthly check. Even though some of the money could be offset by doing away with other "entitlement" programs, the federal government would have to raise taxes substantially to pay for a UBI program. Some of those taxes would target the wealthiest 1 percent and the very technology companies that are making human workers obsolete, but regular Americans would get hit, too. For example, Yang and others propose a "value-added tax" (VAT) of 10 percent on all manufactured goods. Yang also thinks that his Freedom Dividend would produce more economic growth, therefore increasing the tax base. "It is more likely that his overall plan would reduce the long-run size of the economy and the tax base, The three major taxes in his plan (VAT, carbon tax, and payroll tax increase), while efficient sources of revenue, would tend to reduce labor force participation by reducing the after-tax returns to the working," wrote Kyle Pomerleau at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation website. "We estimate that one option to make his proposal sustainable would be to raise the VAT rate to 22 percent and reduce the cash transfer to $9,000 per year." UBI supporters like Martin-West agree that a nationwide guaranteed income program would be enormously expensive, but disagree that it's not worth the investment. "Like all the decisions this country makes, it really comes down to, 'What is our priority?'" says Martin-West. "If our priority is to let people waste away in poverty, have ill health, have their work not be valued, then we won't prioritize a guaranteed income as part of our national budget. But if we do, in fact, honor the social contract that we have in the U.S., that means we should likely look at something like a UBI." Which leads to the second and arguably more difficult obstacle to creating a national UBI program the belief, deeply held by many Americans, that a guaranteed income is just another form of government "handout" that encourages people not to work. There have only been a few real-world studies so far on universal basic income. For instance, people involved in a UBI trial in Finland reported less stress and greater feelings of wellbeing compared to people who didn't receive the extra cash. But they weren't more likely to seek out employment, even though they wouldn't lose the benefit if they did, reported the Guardian. The truth is that we won't know if UBI schemes work until there is more data from experiments like SEED and a half-dozen more pilot programs being launched by a group called Mayors for a Guaranteed Income. "As one of the leaders of guaranteed income research, I'll be the first to say that we're only at the beginning of studying UBI in this country in the modern macroeconomic landscape," says Martin-West. She adds that even if the data from the Stockton SEED program show a strong positive outcome from those $500 checks, the American public will only be convinced if they "hear stories from people who look like themselves." That's why the Stockton initiative includes a "storytelling cohort," people who are comfortable sharing their personal stories, including detailed spending data, to show how all lower-income Americans could benefit from the extra cash in different ways. Now That's Interesting Tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates are some of the most vocal supporters of a guaranteed income scheme paid for, in part, by "robot taxes." Most Wanted List Those who have a new or gently used copy of any of the Top 10 Titles and would like to donate it to the library, it would be most appreciated. To date, the library has received 938 of the most wanted books. Current BCPL Top 10 Holds 1. The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich 13 holds 2. Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb 6 holds 3. The Horsewoman by James Patterson 6 holds 4. Steal by James Patterson 5 holds 5. Calder Grit by Janet Dailey 4 holds 6. City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman 4 holds 7. The Missing Piece by John Lescroart 4 holds 8. Wyoming Homecoming by Diana Palmer 4 holds 9. The Judges List by John Grisham 3 holds 10. Show Me the Bunny by Laurien Berenson 3 holds Current New York Times Best Sellers and NC Cardinal Consortium Holds 1. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover 126 holds 2. Verity by Colleen Hoover 19 holds 3. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid 96 holds 4. Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 23 holds 5. The Maid by Nita Prose 258 holds 6. The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles 478 holds 7. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig 49 holds 8. Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson 65 holds 9. The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood 31 holds 10. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave 64 holds Adult programming Burke County Public Library is pleased to announce a virtual author visit with N.C. author, Donna Everhart, Saturday, Feb. 26, at 1 p.m. Everhart will be discussing her new book, The Saints of Swallow Hill, which is out now. Thornwell Books will be partnering with the library for the event and will have copies of the book available for purchase with a discount for those attending the event. Those interested in participating can register via the link on the library webpage at bcpls.org/adult, or by calling 828-764-9269. A valid email is required to attend. Young adult programming Its time to wrap up this month, and YAS is doing it in style! Tuesday at 6 p.m. is a pop-up craft night on the Discord server, Thursday is a murder mystery party at 5 p.m. online via Zoompre-registration is required to attend this event. We end the week with a virtual trivia night on Friday at 6 p.m. online via Zoom, and an all-day D&D @ the library program on our Discord server from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (pre-registration is required to participate in the D&D campaign). For more information, pre-registration or to get connected, contact Lizzie at lizzie.whisnant@burkenc.org! Childrens programming Library storytimes are still happening, and we would love to see your family this month. We have groups for all ages from birth through fifth grade as well some multi-age groups meeting on Zoom on a monthly or weekly basis. If you would like more information on any of the offerings at any of our three locations, please visit our website at www.bcpls.org/kids or give us a call. If you are longing for an in-person experience again, the Valdese Public Library is hosting a special in-person Winter Friends storytime for 2-5 year olds on Monday, Feb. 21, at 10:30 a.m. We will have snow much fun playing with snow, snow painting and of course some snow stories! Masks are encouraged for the storytime. If you would like to register, call the Valdese Public Library at 828-874-2421. eBooks @ your library There are 3,638 Burke County Public Library users registered to use the librarys digital collection available through the e-iNC consortium and NC Kids Digital Library. This digital collection includes eBooks, audiobooks, and streaming video available to Burke County Public Library cardholders. Apps are available for download for a variety of devices including Kindle, iPhone, and Android phones. Go to http://omc.overdrive.com to see the apps. To access the collection and download items go to http://e-inc.lib.overdrive.com and follow the instructions to set up an account. You will need to know your library card number and your PIN. Please contact the library if you need any assistance. Find us on the web Go to www.bcpls.org for a list of programs and events. Unless noted otherwise, all library programs are free. Some programs have pre-registration and age requirements. MOSCOW President Joe Biden ordered heavy U.S. financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs Tuesday, stepping up the Wests confrontation with Moscow, even as Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside their country. Biden, in a brief address from the White House, accused Putin of flagrantly violating international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and promised that more sanctions would be coming if Putin proceeds further. The president joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine. Germany also announced it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy. None of us will be fooled by Putins claims about Ukraine, the U.S. president said. Biden said he also was moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia. The prime minster of Estonia and presidents of Latvia and Lithuania on Friday had made a direct plea to Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. to step up its presence in their countries. Biden said the U.S. would impose full blocking on two large Russian financial institutions and comprehensive sanctions on Russian debt. That means weve cut off Russias government from Western finance, Biden said. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either. Russian invasion The president announced what he called a first tranche of sanctions as Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin said he was recognizing the areas independence Monday. It was unclear how large the Russian deployment was, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops were already fighting in the region, allegations that Moscow always denied. Members of Russias upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly after, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He added: Its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action. It will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. EU sanctions The European Union soon followed, with a first set of sanctions aimed at the 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking world. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Biden had said would result in severe sanctions against Moscow. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The Biden administrations rhetoric hardened considerably in less than 24 hours. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel-region Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending troops to eastern Ukraine. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about the sanctions targeting the breakaway region, noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. The administration initially resisted calling the deployment an invasion because the White House wanted to see what Russia was actually going to do. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Biden on Tuesday said he was authorizing the redeployment of some U.S. troops who are already stationed in Europe to bolster the security of NATOs Baltic allies, particularly in light of Russias troop build-up in Belarus. Biden said, These are totally defensive moves on our part and the U.S. has no intention of deploying its forces in non-NATO-member Ukraine. But Biden also said the U.S. and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO. The organizations mutual-defense pact considers an attack on one member to be an attack against all. Troop buildup For weeks, Western powers have been bracing as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Putin said Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in the borders that existed when they declared their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under separatist control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While Washington clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But he added: I wouldnt say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Kremlins ambiguity The Kremlin hasnt confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didnt confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasnt immediately clear if they were Russian. The White House issued an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The Russian moves pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. If Putin pushes further into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay, he said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. He warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. Ukrainian steadiness Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy sought to project calm, saying in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, is in Washington to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the crisis and describing Ukraines bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. Ukraines membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russias security, he said. ARCHIVED - One of the biggest sailing competitions in Spain returns to Aguilas The 20th Carnival Regatta is taking place off the coast of the Murcian town this week A regional round of one of the most important sailing competitions in Spain is currently being held in Aguilas with the return of the Carnival Regatta - VIII Estrella de Levante Trophy, a race for the ORC Cruiser class which began last Sunday and ends on Saturday February 26. The Cruiser Cup event, organised by the Club Nautico de Aguilas, the Juan Montiel Marina, the Royal Spanish Sailing Federation, RCR Cartagena and the Murcia Sailing Federation, was postponed last year due to the Covid pandemic. But this year, 37 boats representing Murcia, the Valencia Region and Andalucia are competing. The competition began with a series of windward-leeward races, putting on a show for locals and visitors to the town, and will culminate with a coastal race between Cabo Cope and the Andalucian border at the weekend. According to competition organisers, the provisional classification ORC 2 class is dominated by a Finnish crew Sopu Tres, skippered by Susanna Edelman from the Real Club Nautico de Torrevieja. ORC 3 class is currently led by Peneque Pro, skippered by Raul Valenzuela from Club Nautico San Jose, Andalucia. ORC 4 class leader is the Enewtec boat skippered by Francisco Jimenez from CN La Isleta, Murcia. And ORC 5 class is dominated by Luis Fuentes Serrano's boat, Urkesken, representing Puerto Deportivo Juan Montiel, Murcia. The 20th edition of the Carnival Regatta, an emblematic event in the Murcia calendar and key to the Carnival of Aguilas being declared of International Interest, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Club Nautico de Aguilas. Image: Federacion de Vela de la Region de Murcia ARCHIVED - Vaccination campaign in Spain hits a ceiling Vaccination rate drops as the pandemic situation improves in Spain After getting off to a stellar start, the vaccination campaign in Spain has slowed noticeably in recent weeks and appears to have reached a plateau, with 91% of the population over the age of 12 now double jabbed. While this figure is comparable with many other European countries, it has hardly budged at all in the last 10 days, leading experts to believe that the campaign has reached a ceiling. On the surface, a 91% coverage might seem relatively impressive, but when one considers the entire population of Spain, the number drops significantly, meaning that 20% of people arent immunised. Of course, children under the age of 5 arent eligible and the Spanish government is pushing for the introduction of Novavax for those who are unable to take the other jabs , but that still leaves a good percentage of people who are choosing to avoid inoculations for various reasons. According to the president of the Spanish Society of Immunology, Marcos Lopez Hoyos, the ideal is to be able to vaccinate 100% of the population, but he acknowledges that this will be an almost impossible feat. The 9% of people that remain are difficult to convince, he admitted. The biggest fear of the experts is the emergence of a new variant just as Spain is emerging from under the cloud of the sixth wave. The fact remains that while Omicron is widely believed to cause less serious symptoms, more deaths have still been reported as a result of this variant than during other waves, and that those becoming very ill are largely unvaccinated. The data actually show that the rate of unjabbed people aged 30 to 59 who were admitted to the ICU since December is seven times higher than vaccinated. Conflicting information and moving goalposts have no doubt sown a seed of distrust, and the uptake on the booster jab is even more dismal, even though several communities are now offering the shot without appointment at walk-in centres. According to the European Centre for Disease Control, 49.5% of the Spanish population have received the third jab, the vast majority of whom are older or vulnerable. The numbers drop off sharply among young adults, who also register the worst figures for the second dose. Image: Archive article_detail By Deonte Turnley | Feb 22, 2022 Cherokee State Resort Historical Park of Aurora, KY, Inc. (CSHRP) and the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Student Leadership & Inclusive Excellence (OMI) are hosting a groundbreaking symposium on leisure, recreation and segregation on Friday, Feb. 25th MURRAY, Ky. Cherokee State Resort Historical Park of Aurora, KY, Inc. (CSHRP) and the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Student Leadership & Inclusive Excellence (OMI) are hosting a groundbreaking symposium on leisure, recreation and segregation on Friday, Feb. 25 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Curris Center Theater at Murray State University. Cherokee State Park opened in 1951 as the only state park for African Americans in Kentucky during a time when public accommodations were segregated. It became a popular Green Book site during this separate but equal era. The park closed in 1964 when segregation was outlawed. The historic importance of Cherokee State Park was recognized with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places on Jan. 1, 2009. For 20 years, CSHRP has been working with the Kentucky Parks Department to promote, preserve and restore the park and its history. In July, the organization received a $50,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservations 2021 African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. This grant will help protect and restore 40 important Black landmarks around the country, including Cherokee Park. As part of the grant, CSHRP is working with OMI to offer this unique symposium on the issue of segregation and recreation. Presenters include a lineup of nationally renowned scholars and advocates for increasing diversity in outdoor spaces: Dr. Ronald Stephens, Purdue University; Dr. William OBrien, Florida Atlantic University; Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson, The Getty Conservation Institute; Dr. Brian Clardy, Murray State University; Dr. Nancy J. Dawson, CSHRP; Ms. Henrietta Shelton, Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation; and Mr. Gerry Seavo James, Outdoor Roundtable. The moderator for the days activities is Dr. SG Carthell, Executive Director for the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Student Leadership & Inclusive Excellence. The event is free and open to the public. To register in advance, visit bit.ly/Register4Cherokee and for additional information, contact the Office of Multicultural Initiatives, Student Leadership & Inclusive Excellence at 270-809-6836 or visit murraystate.edu/omi. WASHINGTON Justin David Rapier, 41, of Marion, a former Highland High School teacher, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee, a Class D felony. A jury trial has been scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. June 14. A pretrial conference is scheduled for June 6 in the Washington County Courthouse. Rapier submitted a written plea of not guilty on Feb. 8. He also waived his right to a speedy trial. According to court records, Rapier is free on a $5,000 bond. A no-contact order has been issued between Rapier and the alleged victim in the case. Rapiers attorney, Cory Goldensoph of Cedar Rapids has made a motion for discovery. The arrest report says Rapier, a language arts teacher with the Highland district, allegedly had a sexual relationship with a student while the student was attending the school. During the investigation, officers determined the girl was a juvenile at the time. It was also discovered Rapier communicated with her by text messages and other means of social media from 2017 through 2021. If convicted, Rapier could face up to five years in prison. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MUSCATINE While the remaining members of local band Lefty & the Spinners hope to carry on the music, many of the bands supporters hope to carry on the memory of those members who have passed. This week, residents will have the opportunity to do just that while also helping a cause near and dear to the band and its founder. Melissa Hendriks Wolfe, daughter of the late Scott "Lefty" Hendriks, started a fundraiser selling Lefty & the Spinners T-shirts, sweatshirts and tank tops at $25 each through Custom Ink. All of the profits will go directly to The Salvation Army of Muscatine County. The apparel is available for sale through Custom Ink through Sunday. After retiring from law enforcement, Hendriks worked part-time at Muscatines Salvation Army, allowing him a closer look at the work the organization does and how much of a difference it made in the community. "Because he was often there before, during and after so many events, he could see the impact that The Salvation Army had on families and children of all walks of life," Wolfe said. "I wanted the T-shirt sales to not only honor the joy that my dad had a role in bringing into the lives of so many people through music, but to be able to carry on an act of stewardship on his behalf through the money raised from these T-shirt sales." As of Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser has sold 39 shirts for a total of $410. Wolfe said that she felt both humbled and proud to know that so many people want to celebrate her fathers life and his band while at the same time supporting a great cause. "We may not be able to raise thousands of dollars through these shirts, although that would be amazing, but as we all know every dollar makes a difference," she said. Wolfe said she was inspired to sell the shirts after being approached by individuals who attended a celebration of life event for her father at the Salvation Army. Wolfe had ordered some replica custom shirts of the band for family and friends to wear at the service, and many of those who attended later reached out to her and asked about purchasing a shirt. "Friends, family, complete strangers that I didnt even know but who enjoyed Lefty & the Spinners at different events throughout their lives all of them wanted to get a shirt," she said. "So I thought that it would be a great idea to get some more shirts made that people could order directly and at the same time raise money for the Salvation Army of Muscatine County." Wolfe said he hoped those who show see a Lefty & the Spinners shirt will think not only of her father and the band, but the great work the Salvation Army has done and continues to do in the community. "To me, that would be the best way to honor my dad, she said. To order a Lefty & the Spinners shirt or donate to the fundraiser, go to https://bit.ly/3h5K2lN. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Researchers rely on the archived pages of the Muscatine Journal to reveal much of what can be known about our local history. Whenever we honor Alexander Clark, we can thank the editor and publisher who led this paper for half a century. Clark starts appearing in John Mahins paper in 1857. February 6: We are indebted to A. Clark of this city for the proceedings of a convention of the colored people of Iowa held here. It was resolved to petition the Constitutional Convention to extend the right of elective franchise to native born negroes and to bestow upon them all the rights and privileges of citizenship. But then theres this, on February 10: A frame building on Seventh Street, near Iowa Avenue, was destroyed by fire last night. Excepting the owners of the building, the one who will feel his loss most severely is Richard Cain, the pastor of the African M.E. Church, who occupied one of the apartments. Besides most all his household furniture, he lost a library worth not less than $150. Thats almost $5,000 in 2022. The fire is supposed to have originated from some defect in the chimney. Theres no suggestion of arson, but how curious that the pastor had just hosted a gathering extolled by historians as Iowas first of many colored conventions. April 17: IntoleranceThe Tipton Democrat devotes over a column to the abuse of R. Cain, a colored preacher of Muscatine, who dared to address the citizens of Tipton on the subject of Human Rights, one night last week. August 4: The colored citizens of Muscatine, with a number from other parts of the State, met at the A.M.E. Church, at 10 oclock A.M., August 3d, and with the Sabbath School connected with the Church, formed in a line and with the African Brass Band at their head, marched through the city to Hoops Grove, and listened with great attention to an oration delivered by the Rev. R.H. Cain, which was a masterly effort. The occasion was the congregations annual event celebrating the abolition of slavery in Jamaica in 1834. The report also mentions an address by A. Clarklong before he would gain renown as the Colored Orator of the West. From the U.S. House of Representatives website: In 1844, Cain entered the Methodist ministry; his first assignment was in Hannibal, Missouri. In 1848, frustrated by the Methodists segregated practices, he transferred to the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Cain then served as a pastor in Muscatine, Iowa, where he was elected a deacon in 1859. Remember when President Obama sang Amazing Grace at the memorial service for the victims of the prayer-meeting slayings at Charlestons Mother Emanuel A.M.E. church? Thats the church Cain rebuilt in 1865. He was elected to the South Carolina legislature and then to Congress for two terms, and he was a newspaper publisher and college president. Richard Harvey Cainof Muscatine. Recall his name when observing Black history, when learning United States historymaybe relearning. November 1877: Hon. Hiram Price, our member of Congress, occupies a seat next to Richard H. Cain, a full-blooded negro member from South Carolina. Cain will be remembered by some of our old settlers as pastor of the African Methodist Church in Muscatine twenty years ago. He is a creditable representative of his race. June 1880: Our fellow townsman, Alex. Clark, was highly honored by the late General Conference of the African M.E. church in St. Louis, which appointed him one of the twelve delgates from America to the Ecuminical [sic] Convention to meet in London in August, 1881. Bishop R.H. Cain, formerly pastor of the A.M.E. church of Muscatine but now of South Carolina, is one of the alternates. Iowas equal-rights pioneer might have made his mark in the world anyway, but John Mahins increasing publicity throughout Clarks career surely helped. We learn from a 1911 county history that young John Mahins predecessor and mentor at the paper, Nelson L. Stout, was an abolitionist and despite threats, despite the unpopularity of such a course in those early times in Mississippi river towns, openly and boldly denounced slavery. From Stout he learned to fight for the principles he considered right, no matter what the cost, wrote historian Irving B. Richman. Is it coincidence that the Clark family plot at Greenwood Cemetery adjoins the Mahins? The Mahins share space with the family of Johns wife Anna, whose father was the Journals business manager, John B. Lee. And the Lees resided in Clarks duplex at West 3rd and Chestnut. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. So far in the 2022 legislative session, Ive seen little progress that will fix the Reynolds Workforce Crisis. Our state is sitting on a record surplus thanks to federal relief funding, but Republican politicians are turning a blind eye to real solutions. Ive been pushing for a $300 million investment in our K-12 schools, while Governor Reynolds has proposed a $300 million corporate tax giveaway. Tax dollars should be invested in our communities and future, not given away to wealthy, out-of-state shareholders. Iowa ranked 40th for increasing per-pupil spending from 2014 to 2019way below the national average. A solid boost would help ensure smaller class sizes, competitive salaries and benefits, and more resources to cover the rising costs of equipment, materials, utilities and busing. Unfortunately, legislative Republicans voted down the school funding proposal that I supported and sent a bill (HF 2316) to the Governor that doesnt keep up with rising costsespecially after years of inadequate supportand will force many school districts to make big budget cuts, and even raise property taxes. These and other Republican attacks on public education are driving teachers out of the classroom, and ratcheting up Iowas workforce crisis. Some Republican senators are demonizing teachers by claiming they have a sinister agenda and are threatening to throw them in jail. These threats are not going to solve the workforce crisis in our schools. In a recent survey by the National Education Association, more than 50% of teachers said they want to leave the profession, and fewer college students are training to enter teachinga field that has become high-stress with dwindling rewards. School districts across Iowa also have thousands of open positions for paraeducators, substitute teachers, bus drivers, nurses, librarians, hall monitors, custodians and more. Districts need more money to attract, hire and retain staff. Ill continue to fight on their behalf. Contact information State Senator Zach Wahls can be reached at 515-281-3901 or zach.wahls@legis.iowa.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Salesforce has appointed two South African leaders and announced its expansion plans for the country. The two new leaders Zuko Mdwaba as head of sales and Linda Saunders as head of solution engineering are the companys first to be based in South Africa. I am delighted to welcome Zuko Mdwaba and Linda Saunders to Salesforce to lead our growth in South Africa by working with our customers, partners, and the broader ecosystem, Salesforce senior area vice president for emerging markets Robin Fisher said. Africa has a great talent pool, and we intend to collaborate closely with our partners and local institutions on programmes that provide skills and job opportunities to meet the continents high demand for Salesforce skills, while also recognising Africas potential as a global talent hub. Saunders has extensive experience in helping organisations along their digital transformation journeys, and in her new position, she will support Salesforce customers to develop their businesses digital capabilities. Saunders will also take on a leadership role supporting these organisations and individuals to learn digital skills through Salesforce initiatives such as Trailhead. Mdwaba will front Salesforces growth and expansion in the market. He has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles at technology companies in the country and will be Salesforces first South African-based executive. Before joining Salesforce, he occupied leadership roles at Atos, Oracle, SAS and Workday South Africa. I have seen the success of Salesforce in South Africa, where adoption of cloud services has significantly accelerated over the last two years, supporting businesses to adapt to the digital world and deliver outstanding services and experiences to their customers, Mdwaba said. According to Salesforce, it wants to expand in South Africa due to the countrys swiftly developing, youthful market. It said that it had grown its presence in the country over the past ten years, and IDC estimates revealed that it will create 31,800 new jobs and generate R77 billion in new revenue in South Africa between 2020 and 2026. The companys growing customer base has been fuelled by businesses accelerating their digital transformation and partnering with Salesforce, the company said. Now read: Tencent denies regulatory crackdown fears behind tech wipeout Research News Chatbot provides safe space to learn about sexual, reproductive health By BERT GAMBINI Its not just a random visual representation of a human. Thats important because this avatar is connected to powerful stories seeded with accurate information modeled by positive characters. Our research team looked exclusively at SnehAIs effectiveness with regard to SRH, but Im confident that the chatbots design can be easily adapted for different purposes, in different countries. In fact, I know our partners have developed similar applications to address domestic violence in South Africa. The latest version of SnehAI will also include child protection, says Wang. The findings from Wangs instrumental case study appear in the Journal of Medical Internet Research . Many AI technologies today are motivated by profit, but we must also be aware that AI can be leveraged in ways that facilitate social and behavior change, says Wang, who specializes in entertainment-education and storytelling as instruments for health promotion. SnehAI is a powerful testimonial of the vital potential that lies in AI for good. Working with the Population Foundation of India (PFI), Helen Wang, associate professor of communication, College of Arts and Sciences, examined the user-centered design and engagement of SnehAI, the first Hinglish (Hindi and English) chatbot purposefully developed for social and behavioral change. An innovative chatbot designed for sharing critical information about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) with young people in India is demonstrating how artificial intelligence (AI) applications can engage vulnerable and hard-to-reach population segments. SnehAI's chatbot avatar is based on the protagonist of a popular television drama in India. Graphic courtesy of the Population Foundation of India. The interface of SnehAI (pronounced SNAY-ha eh-eye) is an avatar based on a popular television drama in India. The show presents themes that include gender equality and family planning. After two successful seasons, the PFI, with a technical partner, developed the chatbot in order to extend the shows reach from rural and adult populations to include urban youth in ways that promoted SRH and advocated for the well-being of women and girls. About 18% of the worlds population lives in India. Thats 1.4 billion people, about half of whom are under the age of 25. Despite policy commitments and some recent progress, the SRH needs of young people in India are lacking, according to Wang. Quality education about SRH is highly limited, contraceptive practices are heavily skewed toward female sterilization, and unsafe abortions are rampant, she says. SRH misinformation compounds existing problems, with young people often unware of contraceptive options and the dangers of sexually transmitted infections. Embarrassed or uncomfortable, young people remain silent, or direct their questions and acquire information through often unreliable web-based platforms. But Wang says SnehAI provides whats perceived as a safe space. Its an intelligent bot that provides a non-judgmental arena that arouses no concern from users about how questions might be received. The avatar is based on the protagonist in the drama, a trusted medical doctor and a champion for health and social issues in society, says Wang. Its not just a random visual representation of a human. Thats important because this avatar is connected to powerful stories seeded with accurate information modeled by positive characters. But the chatbot itself always clearly explains to its users, as soon as they launch the app on Facebook Messenger, that there is no human behind the avatar. Some people might ask: Who wants to talk about sensitive personal issues with a machine? But we observed the opposite effect, says Wang. There was no concern for how someone might react to a question. Chatting with an intelligent being without having to worry about embarrassment, shame and guilt in this case actually helps build confidence and trust, especially when the users are informed about what data may be recorded and their rights to protect personal privacy. Over five months, SnehAI interacted with almost 120,000 unique users, especially young men, with more than 8 million messages. About half of those messages were deeply personal questions and genuine concerns regarding SRH exchanged through texts and handled by the chatbots natural language processing capacity. Overall, SnehAI successfully presented itself as a trusted friend and mentor across 15 areas representing opportunities for engagement and action, says Wang. In particular, it fostered curiosity about SRH and a willingness to ask questions. And 71,211 is the number of visits to the helplines feature of the chatbot, which demonstrates how transmedia storytelling from a television drama to social media and then an AI chatbot can inspire users to take action. SnehAI is a significant representation of the potential impact of AI technologies for social good. Wangs collaborators for the study include Sneha Gupta, a UB doctoral student in the Department of Communication; Arvind Singhal, an endowed professor of communication and director of the Social Justice Initiative at the University of Texas at El Paso; Poonam Muttreja and Sanghamitra Singh of Population Foundation of India; and Poorva Sharma and Alice Piterova of AI for Good UK. South African technology journalist and software developer Paul Furber has denied that he is behind the mass global political movement QAnon. Furbers denial comes after the New York Times reported that two teams of forensic linguists concluded that he is behind early messages from QAnons kingpin, Q. Furber is well known in South Africas technology industry, and many journalists who were his peers have fond memories of him and his work, especially the charitable work he did in the space. QAnon began on the anonymous imageboard 4chan when an account identifying itself as Q Clearance Patriot claimed that Hillary Clinton was about to be arrested. However, Q soon moved to a different imageboard called 8chan, where they continued to post cryptic Q drops for followers to decode. One of the core conspiracies fuelled by Q is that the United States political and social elite are a cabal of Satan-worshipping child sex traffickers and cannibals. QAnon supporters also believe that former US President Donald Trump was cracking down on this cabal, and that there was a conspiracy to depose him as a result. To try and unmask the authors of these Q drops, Swiss startup OrphAnalytics and French computational linguists Florian Cafiero and Jean-Baptiste Camps conducted stylometric analyses on Qs posts. According to the researchers, they compared over 100,000 words contained in Qs posts to at least 12,000 words by each of thirteen different writers. Academics used similar techniques to identify that Harry Potter author JK Rowling had written Cuckoos Calling under a pseudonym. Cafiero said they found that, at first, most Q drops were written by Furber. However, Furbers text signature decreased during the first few months and was overtaken by another player in the drama Ron Watkins. The analyses appear to confirm allegations in the 2020 Reply-All podcast episode Country of Liars. The podcast interviews 8chan creator Fredrick Brennan, who believes that Furber created Q. Brennan said that Q was later hijacked by Ron Watkins, an 8chan board administrator and the son of businessman Jim Watkins. Jim Watkins acquired 8chan from Brennan in 2014. Brennan said that following the acquisition, he grew concerned about the toxicity on 8chan and in 2016 tried to get Watkins to shut the site down. He ultimately quit 8chan but continued to work for Watkins on an older project, 2channel, which Watkins allegedly seized from its creator and original owner. Hes not a maker; hes a taker. He took 2channel. He took 8chan. And now hes taken Q. Its a pattern with him, Brennan stated. Ron Watkins is running for the United States House of Representatives (Congress) as a Republican in Arizonas 1st congressional district. When asked about Watkinss alleged hijack of Q, Furber pointed MyBroadband to his book, Q: Inside the Greatest Intelligence Drop in History. In a chapter titled The Hijack, Furber said that it took over two years of digging, including a conversation with Brennan, before he realised that the Watkins father-son team had deliberately hijacked the Q operation to drive traffic to 8chan. Furber believes that while the fake Q posted a lot of nonsense after the hijack, someone occasionally fed them real information. Despite my whining from the sidelines, the Q movement was gaining real traction. It had taken on a life of its own, Furber wrote. I eventually realised that we were in for a much longer haul than I had been assuming in January 2018, possibly even another couple of years. And President Trump wasnt going to alienate a passionate part of his support base by disavowing Q in any way. If he could bite his tongue for the greater good then I sure could too. I am not Q. Watkins and Furber have both denied being Q. Furber said that you wouldnt find his name or his nickname Baruch the Scribe anywhere on 4chan during the period when Q posted there. For starters, I had a full-time job working as a DevOps guy during the first three months of Qs drops on 4chan and 8chan /cbts/, Furber told MyBroadband. CBTS is an acronym for calm before the storm, and /cbts/ refers to the boards Furber operated on 4chan and 8chan. Furber invited MyBroadband to confirm his employment at a prominent education technology company in Pretoria, where he had handled DevOps at the time. MyBroadband contacted the company, which confirmed Furber was employed there until 2018. The company has requested that it not be mentioned in articles relating to Furber. During that time, I developed a multithreaded daemon for them to simulate a live TCP connection over MQTT messages something that hasnt been done before, I believe, Furber stated. It was bloody hard to get right, and I only got it working in the first week of December 2017. Furber said he would come home and browse 4chan to see the latest drops from Q. I consider wasting other peoples time to be a shooting offence. Furber also holds firm that the original Q provided hardcore proofs that he was who he said he was by successfully predicting the Saudi coup in November 2017, putting out a hit on Lynn de Rothschild that failed, predicting Trumps tweets, and predicting the Popes alteration to the Lords prayer. Reply-All pokes fun at the claim that Q predicted the change to the Lords prayer. At the end of a series of posts on 14 November 2017, Q included the King James version of the Lords prayer. In December 2017, the Pope suggested that the line lead us not into temptation should be translated differently to avoid implying that God induces people to sin. The Pope approved the change in June 2019 to do not let us fall into temptation. It should be noted that Qs post includes the original line with no clear prediction that the Pope would modify it. To further refute the claims that he is Q, Furber said he did his own stylometric analysis of the Q drops and compared it to his writing using the stylo package in R. The green cluster is a selection of pieces written for Brainstorm, the book.md is the first eight chapters of [my book], and qtext is the first 400 Q drops, he explained. Ill be writing a Substack piece about this analysis and showing all my working, unlike the scientists who used deep learning to discover I was Q. Furber responds to New York Times article Furber provided MyBroadband with a lengthy response to the New York Times article (NYT). It is published here in its entirety. NYT: The outlandish claim made perfect sense to Mr. Furber, a South African software developer and tech journalist long fascinated with American politics and conspiracy theories, he said in an interview. He still clung to Pizzagate, the debunked online lie that liberal Satanists were trafficking children from a Washington restaurant. He was also among the few who understood an obscure reference in the message to Operation Mockingbird, an alleged CIA scheme to manipulate the news media. Furber: Pizzagate has not been debated in the media in any shape or form, let alone debunked. Operation Mockingbird is a matter of public record. [Editors note: Furber linked to infogalactic.com. We replaced it with a link to Wikipedia.] NYT: The studies provide the first empirical evidence of who invented the toxic QAnon myth, and the scientists who conducted the studies said they hoped that unmasking the creators might weaken its hold over QAnon followers. Furber: What studies? Where are they published? Can anyone get the data and reproduce the result for themselves? If not, then these people are not practicing science. Ive done my own forensic linguistics analysis which shows that I didnt write the Q drops. Ill be making my data and results available for anyone who wants to check. None of this explains quite how I personally managed to predict the Saudi upheaval, to take original photos from Air Force One, to put out a hit on Lynn de Rothschild, to know the internal workings of the Vatican, to know in advance what the President would be tweeting and to string 4chan /pol/ along for six hundred threads all while having a full time job on the other side of the world. NYT: Instead of relying on expert opinion, the computer scientists used a mathematical approach known as stylometry. Practitioners say they have replaced the art of the older studies with a new form of science, yielding results that are measurable, consistent and replicable. Sophisticated software broke down the Q texts into patterns of three-character sequences and tracked the recurrence of each possible combination. Their technique does not highlight memorable, idiosyncratic word choices the way that earlier forensic linguists often did. But the advocates of stylometry note that they can quantify their softwares error rate. The Swiss team said its accuracy rate was about 93 percent. The French team said its software correctly identified Mr. Watkinss writing in 99 percent of tests and Mr. Furbers in 98 percent. Furber: Very impressive. Lets see the data. Give it all to me so I can fire up R and stylo and check for myself. Otherwise, what do they have to hide? Did they take any of the 300+ available articles from Brainstorm online for a completely neutral analysis or did they cherry pick long Twitter threads where I interpret Q drops? Did they feed in my entire book about Q and leave in all of Qs posts? What a crock of sh*t. NYT: Id buy it, said Patrick Juola of Duquesne University, a mathematician who identified Ms. Rowling as the author of Cuckoos Calling. Whats really powerful is the fact that both of the two independent analyses showed the same overall pattern, Dr. Juola added. Furber: This hurts. Ive used Juolas tool JGAAP quite a few times before for forensic linguistic purposes. The American Canyon man who was shot Friday on Highway 29 in south Napa continues to recover in the hospital and may be released midweek, a relative said Monday. Robert Abreu, 57, underwent surgery Sunday at an out-of-county hospital for a gunshot wound to the head and may be released as early as Wednesday, according to his niece Nina OBrien. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Abreu was driving north on Highway 29 when he was shot by another motorist near the junction with Highway 221 at about 6:40 a.m. Friday, according to Napa County Sheriffs Office. According to OBrien, Abreu was on his way to his job as a hardwood flooring installer when the assailant fired through the rear passenger window of his work truck. Tuong Nguyen, a 42-year-old man with no listed address, was arrested by deputies later Friday morning on Highway 221 in connection with the shooting of Abreu and a carjacking in downtown Napa. He remains held without bail in the Napa County jail on suspicion of attempted murder, carjacking, and firearm possession by a felon. Abreu and Nguyen did not know each other, and there was no interaction between the men before the attack, OBrien said. A GoFundMe page opened to help cover Abreus medical expenses had raised more than $42,000 as of Monday afternoon. OBrien said the fundraising effort was made necessary by her uncles lack of health insurance, as well as the need to cover the costs of surgery and an air ambulance to the hospital, which her family declined to identify. We don't want him to have worry about getting back to daily life any time soon, as we want him to focus his energy solely on his recovery and healing, the GoFundMe page says of Abreu, a father to three daughters and the grandfather of six. The community can donate to the GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/f/ptap3m-robs-medical-bills EU: Poland fines in rule of law dispute now top $170 million Putin and Lukashenko discuss ongoing situation Greece and Bulgaria say new LNG terminal will help reduce dependence on Russia German vice chancellor calls for rapid construction of LNG terminals Rally of Resistance Movement takes place in France Square Robert Kocharyan takes part in opposition march Mario Draghi calls on EU to abandon requirement of unanimity in making foreign policy decisions Finland and Sweden not yet decided whether to join NATO Croatian president uses veto power to block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO Slovakia will seek exemption from the EU embargo on Russian oil imports NEWS.am digest: Blinken meets Mirzoyan in US, people detained during protests in Yerevan Turkish Foreign Ministry on meeting of special envoys in Vienna Opposition rally in central Yerevan starts with Sirusho's performance Italy to face serious issues in winter if Russian gas supplies are cut off now Johnson announces new military aid to Ukraine in amount of 300 million euros Resistance Movement rally on France Square in Yerevan EU hopes to adopt sixth round of sanctions against Russia at next EU Council meeting Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Spitak Spain extends OVID-19 entry restrictions Vayk joins demand for Nikol Pashinyan's resignation Putin and Macron discuss Ukraine Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block road from Vayots Dzor to Yerevan Peaceful rallies of disobedience held in Vanadzor demanding PM's resignation Citizens demanding Pashinyan's resignation block Gyumri-Yerevan highway Sirusho: Today I will join our compatriots in France Square Third meeting of Armenia and Turkey special representatives held in Vienna Dollar rises slightly after long decline, euro also goes up in Armenia Civil disobedience actions in regions: Yerevan-Goris highway blocked Azerbaijan settling occupied Armenian Hadrut, Shushi cities of Artsakh New colors and new services: Team Telecom Armenia completes rebranding Armenia legislature speaker receives France-Armenia Friendship Group delegation France senator: We are leaving for Armenia with Senate group Putin signs decree on economic measures against unfriendly countries Armenia legislature speaker: Authorities have repeatedly proposed dialogue to opposition Backpack action of protest being held outside Armenia parliament (PHOTOS) Armenia defense ministry: Azerbaijan MOD statement does not correspond to reality Armenia defense minister receives Kansas National Guard delegation Armenia Police: Yerevan-Sevan motorway reopened Ned Price: Mirzoyan-Blinken meeting will launch US-Armenia strategic dialogue Mirzoyan, Nuland discuss Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement process Civil disobedience actions are carried out in some Armenia cities Armenia 2nd-President Kocharyan, ex-deputy PM and now lawmaker Gevorgyan trial to resume Pashinyan to Morawiecki: This year we mark 30th anniversary of Armenia-Poland diplomatic relations No new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Armenia Central Bank leaves refinancing rate unchanged at 9.25% Demonstrators demanding PM Pashinyan's resignation block Sevan-Yerevan motorway Police: 117 demonstrators apprehended in Yerevan Kansas National Guard leadership visiting Armenia Bloomberg: EU new gas partners Armenian member of Turkey legislature says he was thrown at table of wolves Italian PM slams Lavrov for his 'Hitler' statements in interview with local television South Korea and US plan to start air force exercises on May 9 Police special forces apprehend Armenia ex-president Robert Kocharyans son Police: 70 people apprehended from Yerevan streets World Press Freedom Index 2022: Journalism as a profession is humiliated in Armenia Newspaper: Armenia ruling party MPs are worried Borrell speaks on possible disconnection from SWIFT of new Russian banks Cyprus becomes first EU country with full 5G coverage Police apprehending participants of civil disobedience actions in Yerevan State Department: Deepening US-Armenia cooperation in nuclear energy will strengthen bilateral relations Peaceful disobedience actions resume in Yerevan early morning Mirzoyan: Armenia appreciates US support for developing energy sector Blinken underscores US commitment to help Armenia, Azerbaijan find sustainable peace, prosperity Eurozone economic sentiment falls much more than expected in April Apple faces big fine Armenia ex-president joins discussion in France Square Poland wants the EU to set a clear date for stopping Russian oil imports Armenia FM meets with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Armenia FM meets with Director of USAID Samantha Power Ann Linde says Finland will almost certainly apply for NATO membership Police beat reporters, obstruct their work in Yerevan European Commission may relieve Hungary, Slovakia of embargo on Russian oil purchase Resistance Movement to continue large-scale civil disobedience actions on 3 May in Yerevan and regions EU countries to continue to pay in euros or dollars for Russian gas Resistance Movement participants return to France Square Russian and Turkish defense ministers discuss current situation in Ukraine Ukrainian intelligence accuses Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan of helping Russia evade Western sanctions NEWS.am digest: Turkey says they have agreements with Armenia on border clarification Toivo Klaar informs about meeting of Armen Grigoryan and Hikmet Hajiyev in Brussels PACE initiates resolution on threats to journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan Diplomat kidnapped in Haiti Hungarian president asks Orban to form new government Georgia PM hands over first part of questionnaire answers for accession to EU Resistance Movement participants march in central Yerevan Half of Japanese oppose change of peaceful constitution Resistance movement rally on France Square in Yerevan Blinken and Armenia FM sign memorandum on strategic cooperation in nuclear energy Another earthquake registered on Armenian-Georgian border FLYONE ARMENIA launches regular direct flights between Yerevan and Tbilisi Georgia abolishes requirement to wear masks in closed spaces One dollar drops below AMD 450, euro also falls in Armenia Georgia PM receives Justice Minister of Armenia Armenia MFA says there is no discussion, agreement on re-demarcating border with Turkey Cavusoglu claims there is agreement to clarify Armenia-Turkey border Azerbaijan president receives Brice Roquefeuil Armenia ex-defense minister: These authorities are able to use force inside the country Police: 244 people apprehended in Yerevan as of 2pm Incident involving disobedience march participants occurs at Armenian State Pedagogical University Yerevan Police apprehend opposition MP Police: 199 people apprehended in Yerevan as of noon YEREVAN. After the 44-day war [in the fall of 2020], Armenia has chosen the way out of the internal political crisis by holding snap parliamentary elections. Maria Karapetyan, a member of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, said this at Tuesdays sessionin the capital Yerevanof the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA). According to her, the ruling political force of Armenia speaks about the rule of law in domestic policy and the establishment of peace in foreign policy. "In the last process, the restoration of [regional] communications, their reopening is considered a priority. This refers not only to the road infrastructure, but also to safety. We believe that interdependence will help us solve the existing problems more effectively," Karapetyan explained. According to the MP, the armed forces of Armenia and Azerbaijan should leave on the principle of mirror withdrawal of troops from the border. According to her this will enable to start the process of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border. To note, an Azerbaijani delegation is also attending the aforesaid Yerevan session of the Euronest PA. YEREVAN. The creative approach should always be welcomed. Azerbaijan has its own brand of creative approach, which ignores the existing problems and issues. Hayk Mamijanyan, a member of the Armenian delegation and the secretary of the opposition "With Honor" Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, said this at Tuesdays sessionin the capital Yerevanof the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA). According to the Armenian MP, those in Azerbaijan think that there is no conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). "They think that there are no [Armenian] prisoners of war [in Azerbaijan], that there was no use of prohibited weapons and ammunition during the 2020 44-day war [in Artsakh], there was no destruction of the Armenian cultural heritage, that it does not happen as of today, that there were and there are no terrorists in our region. Moreover, they claim that their armed forces are not currently in the sovereign territory of Armenia. This, of course, is a very serious approach to solving the problem. You just need to not notice it," Mamijanyan said ironically. Also, he recalled the Madrid principles, adding that Azerbaijan will hardly be able to ignore them. In addition, the Armenian lawmaker pointed to the resolute determination of the people of Karabakh to protect their legal rights. "The future is becoming inevitable. Also, on behalf of the former President of Armenia, who is now being persecuted by the dictatorial regime of Azerbaijan, I would like to state that Artsakh will never become part of Azerbaijan," concluded Hayk Mamijanyan. To note, an Azerbaijani delegation is also attending the aforesaid Yerevan session of the Euronest PA. Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tonight Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 43F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Tomorrow Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High near 55F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. YEREVAN. The Karabakh issue is not resolved. The Armenian side will engage various international forces to resolve the issue. Maria Karapetyan, a member of the Armenian delegation and of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, said this at Tuesdays sessionin the capital Yerevanof the committees of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA). According to her, this will enable to ensure long-term peace in the region. In her address, the Armenian MP touched also upon the issue of the return of the Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan, as well as the preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage in the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) territories that have come under the control of Azerbaijan. "International organizations should have the opportunity to enter the region. It will enable to provide the necessary oversight," Karapetyan explained. In addition, according to her, Armenia is now considering the possibility of reopening the Turkey border, which Ankara had closed. To note, an Azerbaijani delegation is also attending the aforesaid Yerevan session of the Euronest PA. I did not vote in favor of the adoption of the draft statement. Maria Karapetyan, a member of the Armenian delegation and of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, told reporters thisand when asked whether the sessionin the capital Yerevanof the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly had adopted a statement condemning Russia in connection with its policy on Ukraine. Karapetyan informed that this draft statement was put into circulation a few days ago and was adopted Monday. She added that this statement will be publicized later. Also, the Armenian lawmaker expressed hope that peace will be maintained. "We [i.e., Armenia], as a country that has gone through the devastation of the 2020 war, can have no other opinion," added the MP. As for Armenia's position, Maria Karapetyan emphasized that the Armenian legislators have not yet had time to discuss Monday's political and geopolitical events. "I will not comment on anything yet. There is a need to wait until a [respective] position is formed," the Armenian lawmaker concluded. The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, the Republic of Artsakh, lauds the recognition of the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic by the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Artsakh Foreign Minister David Babayan told this to Armenian News-NEWS.am. "The official statement of the President of the Artsakh Republic has already been made about that. We [i.e., Artsakh] believe that the process of self-determination of peoples, creation of new states is inevitable, especially in the conditions of the existence of existential threats of this or that people. The Artsakh Republic is a country that has been fighting for its secure future for more than a hundred years already. We understand the importance of achieving independence and the legal and geopolitical wording of its path. There is no opposite way for the peoples who have stood on the path to achieve independence and built democratic states, passing the former metropolises on many issues, and they definitely must be recognized. Yes, there are cases in history when the countries that could not build a state gained de facto independence and found themselves in a chasm of chaos and arbitrariness. But when the people have built a state with the attributes of a government that works effectively, meets civilized standardseven if unrecognized, there can be no way back for such states. Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic is a historic event, which should also be perceived as a serious attempt to prevent the geopolitical crisis of Ukraine. The Artsakh Republic also has all the grounds for the recognition of its independent statehood. These are historical, legal, ethical, and ethical-academic bases. Moreover, we have proved in practice that we have built a democratic state which is much ahead of Azerbaijan in its democratic development. Therefore, we believe that we should also be recognized by the international community. And we declare again that we will never be a part of the state of Azerbaijan, where a mortal danger threatens us. We will never be a part of a country where genocide is a national policy and strategy, and Armenophobia is a philosophy of state-building. We wish the people of Donbas peace, prosperity, and all the best," the Artsakh FM added. India has expressed deep concern over the escalating tensions along Ukraine's border with Russia, calling for restraint and intensified diplomatic efforts to find a mutually amicable solution to the crisis in Eastern Europe, Hindustan Times reported. T. S. Tirumurti, India's permanent representative to the UN, presented the country's position at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council convened by Ukraine along with the US and Britain, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced recognition of the regions' independence. We have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including developments along the eastern border of Ukraine and the related announcement by Russia, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tirumurti said. His remarks came at an emergency UNSC meeting on the situation in Ukraine Monday night. He further said, The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. The wording of the accusation is not clear to me from the moment of filing the accusation. Second President Robert Kocharyan stated this at Tuesdays Yerevan court hearing on the criminal case against him and former deputy prime minister Armen Gevorgyan, who is now an MP of the opposition Armenia Faction in the National Assembly of Armenia. Earlier, defense lawyer Hayk Alumyan submitted a motion to the courtand with a request to petition to the Constitutional Court. Kocharyan noted that he had told the investigator as well about the ambiguity of the accusation against him, to which the investigator had replied that he was not obligated to explain. "It is not a secret, and I have always said that I do not understand what they are accusing me of. I say this, as you somehow insinuated that you need to clarify. I have told the [defense] lawyers as well that it is not clear. They are some accusations, but my role [in them] is incomprehensible. The lawyers say that they do not understand either. The lawyers, by not understanding, how should they defend?" the ex-president asked the court. Also, Kocharyan considered a formality the situation when the court and the prosecution do not understand either, but ask whether the accusation is comprehensible to the defense and the defendant? "So, there is something missing. If a question is asked, it implies an answer. [But] there is no answer. This is the essence of motion," Kocharyan concluded. To note, Robert Kocharyan and Armen Gevorgyan are accused of taking bribesand based on the respective testimony of businesswoman Silva Hambardzumyan. Amid the escalation of tensions in Ukraine, the Iranian Foreign Ministry has urged all sides to show restraint and take the political path to resolve the problems, Tasnim reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday that Iran is closely following the developments in Ukraine. "The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on all parties to exercise restraint and believes that any action that could further escalate the tensions should be avoided," he said. The spokesman also urged all parties to opt for resolving issues through dialogue and peaceful means. He also said that NATO's intervention and provocative measures led by the US unfortunately made conditions in the region more complicated. The Russian president signed a decree recognizing the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent republics, ordering the Russian Defence Ministry to deploy troops to the two regions. Announcing his recognition, Putin signed treaties of friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance with Donetsk and Luhansk leaders. Putin also ordered the Russian Defence Ministry to deploy troops into the two regions to "maintain peace" in a decree issued shortly after they declared their independence from Ukraine. The decree stated that Russia now had the right to build military bases in these regions and that the task of the troops would be to maintain peace. The European Union must give an unequivocal and targeted political assessment to the actions of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Anna Grigoryan, a member of the Armenian delegation and an MP of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in the National Assembly of Armenia, stated this at Tuesdays meetingin the capital Yerevanof the Committee on Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. According to her, security challenges in the South Caucasus are still maintained. At the same time, Azerbaijan thinks that the Karabakh issue has been resolved after the 44-day war in the fall of 2020. "About two years ago, Azerbaijan decided that it could use force to resolve the Karabakh conflict, which in itself is a violation of the basic principles guaranteed by the UN Final Acts and the Helsinki Act. The war brought disasters, but did not solve the problem. It exists to this day. Enmity and the spread of Armenophobia undermined the prospects for signing a peace agreement in the region," Grigoryan said. She asked how it would be possible to enter into a political dialogue with Baku when Armenian prisoners of war and captive civilians are still being held in Azerbaijan, and there are subjected to inhuman treatment every day. According to her, Azerbaijan is committing violence, bloodshed, and is destroying the Armenian cultural heritage in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). "How can we talk about security when there are daily threats from Azerbaijan of using force? A brazen propaganda is being carried out; belligerent rhetoric and xenophobia are being voiced there. Moreover, at present the Azerbaijani military continues to occupy the sovereign territory of Armeniain Syunik Province," the lawmaker said. In her opinion, such a policy of Baku does not allow thinking about the formation of a safe environment in the South Caucasus. Addressing her colleagues, Grigoryan stressed that Europe's silence and indifference in this regard complicate everything. "Double standards and selective approaches must be rejected," Anna Grigoryan concluded. Baltimore states attorney candidate Roya Hanna has introduced a multifaceted plan to reduce crime in the city, looking to distinguish herself from States Attorney Marilyn Mosby and touting tougher prosecution of gun crimes, as well as diversion programs for those accused of minor offenses. Hanna said she intends to prosecute drug possession and prostitution. Mosby has discontinued such prosecutions, arguing that pursuing low-level offenses disproportionately hurts the citys minority neighborhoods. Advertisement A defense lawyer and former assistant states attorney, Hanna contended those cases didnt send the defendants to jail time to begin with and offer an opportunity to direct the people charged to diversion programs, like drug court. The release of Hannas crime plan came as Baltimore endured a deadly and violent start to the new year. As of her announcement Tuesday, police had recorded 11 more homicides than the same date last year. There had been 100 nonfatal shootings, compared with 72 at the same point in 2021, according to police. Advertisement Hanna and defense attorney Ivan Bates, whos also challenging Mosby in the June 28 Democratic primary, have consistently described crime as the focal point of their campaigns to be Baltimores top prosecutor. Bates filed to run Tuesday; he also sought the job in 2018. Mosby hasnt officially filed to run for what would be her third, four-year term. Baltimore states attorney candidate Roya Hanna discusses her plan to reduce crime in the city. (Alex Mann/Baltimore Sun) If elected, Hanna said, shed seek stiffer punishments for those who wield guns and she would collaborate more closely with federal prosecutors to ensure those accused of carrying guns are prosecuted in whichever court they could face the longer sentence. The U.S. attorneys office already pursues firearm offenses, but Hanna says promoting tougher gun prosecution and the potential of federal cases will serve as a deterrent to gun possession and yield fewer spontaneous shootings and killings. Under my administration, gun crime will mean jail time, Hanna said. Hanna said she would prioritize strengthening violent crime cases by expanding the unit in the states attorneys office tasked with reviewing cases when theyre first charged, so that there are enough prosecutors to review body camera footage and witness statements and identify weaknesses in cases. Like others around the country, Mosbys office has been battered by attrition that accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic. Afternoon Update Weekdays Updating you on the day's biggest news before the evening commute. > Hanna has seized on what she describes as a lack of experienced line attorneys as a campaign issue. She said she plans to provide prosecutors more training on scientific evidence, like DNA, and match to younger prosecutors with more experienced attorneys for mentorship. You cant throw people into very serious cases and not give them enough feedback and supervision and hand-holding, to a certain extent, Hanna said. Advertisement If elected, Hanna hopes to establish a Womens Empowerment Court to help women charged with crimes. Baltimore already has drug, veteran and mental health courts. These diversion dockets serve those charged with low-level offenses and refer defendants to resources for drug or mental health treatment. Hanna points to research that suggests the majority of incarcerated women having a history of physical or sexual abuse. As I envision it, the womens court will make sure they are getting counseling and also do other things, like provide them with job training, Hanna said. Hanna also hopes to require some people charged with minor crimes to complete community service by tidying vacant lots, citing a study from Philadelphia backed by the National Institutes of Health that found that gun assaults and other types of crime decreased around vacant lots that were cleaned up. EU ambassadors have agreed on sanctions against the recognized Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, the Politico website quoted its sources among European diplomats as saying. In addition to restricting trade relations, the EU will not recognize the passports of Russian citizens who have been issued in the territory of Donbas. It is specified that the sanctions were drafted under restrictions on the Crimean republic in 2014. Diplomatic sources in Europe also told Politico about the non-recognition of documents that had been issued on the territory of the DPR and LPR. The extraordinary meeting of EU diplomatic representatives and foreign ministers on Tuesday will consist of a discussion on the current situation in Ukraine. This is expected to serve as a basis for formal approval of a package of restrictive measures. The protest against the arrival of Azerbaijani MPs in Yerevan to take part in sessions of the Bureau and Commissions of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly has ended. The protesters attempted to highlight the anti-Armenian policies of Azerbaijan and Turkey, the Armenian prisoners captured in the war, and the cultural genocide being perpetrated in the occupied territories of Karabakh. The situation escalated at one point when one of the protesters, Manuel Manukyan, called on police officers to allow him inside to see the Azerbaijanis. On Monday Azerbaijani MPs arrived in Yerevan to take part in the meetings of the Bureau and Commissions of Euronest Parliamentary Assembly. Neither Qatar nor any other country has the ability to replace Russian gas supplies to Europe with liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the event of interruptions due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. The United States and its European allies are going to announce new sanctions against Russia after the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Sanctions may affect the flow of Russian gas to Europe. Russia [provides] I think 30-40 per cent of the supply to Europe. There is no single country that can replace that kind of volume, there isnt the capacity to do that from LNG, minister Saad al-Kaabi told reporters at a gas conference in Doha. Qatar, one of the world's leading LNG producers, recently received an offer from the US to divert gas supplies to Europe in the event of a Russian attack on Ukraine and US sanctions against Moscow. Most of its volume is locked into long-term contracts, mainly for Asian buyers, but it also ships to Europe. Kaabi said that for Qatar, the volume of redirected contracts that can be sent to Europe is only 10-15%. Russian President Vladimir Putin, at talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Moscow, said that before the visit of his foreign counterpart, he spoke with the head of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, according to Putin, relations between Russia and Kazakhstan confirm that Moscow is strengthening the sovereignty of its neighbors, RIA Novosti reports. According to Putin, this is the second very good example of the fact that Russia only supports the sovereignty of our neighbors and strengthens it in every possible way. Kazakhstan's example confirms our policy. "At the request of the Kazakh leadership, we supported them within the CSTO in connection with the external aggression of international terrorism. And as soon as this problem was gone, at the request of the leadership of Kazakhstan, we withdrew all our armed forces within the CSTO contingent and continue to cooperate with Kazakhstan in all areas of work, which, of course, benefit both Russia and Kazakhstan, Putin added. Sri Lankan authorities are imposing intermittent power outages across the island nation as a deepening financial crisis leads to fuel shortages and disrupts the power grid, AP reported. The public utilities commission of Sri Lanka said it would cut off the country's electricity grid for two hours on Tuesday, following a similar shutdown the previous day. Electricity will be switched off alternately in different regions from 16:30 to 22:30, officials said. The depletion of gold and foreign exchange reserves has caused the most severe economic crisis in Sri Lanka in decades. The currency crisis is hindering the import of fuel and other necessities from abroad, including milk powder, cooking gas and gasoline. The pandemic has dealt a heavy blow to Sri Lanka's economy, which relies heavily on tourism and trade. The government estimates that over the past two years, the losses amounted to $14 billion. Two Harford County residents are among 15 Notre Dame Preparatory School students who earned regional recognition in this years Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Notre Dame Prep students earned a total of 23 awards in creative writing and fine arts categories, according to a news release from the school. Lauren DeCourcey, 22, from Jarrettsville, earned honors for photography and writing portfolio; and Brooke Mackley, 23, of Fallston, was awarded a Silver Key in both short story and poetry. Advertisement Congratulations to these stellar artists and writers, whose creativity and quality of expression have earned outstanding recognition, said Sister Patricia McCarron, headmistress of Notre Dame Prep. Deep appreciation is also given to the outstanding teachers who guided these students through both this competition and the educational journey which has allowed them to discover new interests and hone God-given talents. " The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nations longest-running recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. These winners are among 1,300 teens from Baltimore and the surrounding regions who submitted 3,000 works of visual and literary art. The candidates work is judged by local visual artists, novelists, poets, playwrights, educators and editors. Advertisement Each piece is judged based on originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice. All entries are considered for Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mention, American Visions Nominee and American Voices Nominee awards. These are presented to students along with celebration ceremonies and exhibitions in each region. The contest gives [the students] a concrete way to share their talents and put themselves out there, Notre Dame Prep Middle Level English Teacher Erin McNamara said. In writing and art, we strive to help the girls develop their own voices through pen and paint, and this contest encourages and allows them to share those voices with the world. Notre Dame Preparatory School is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school in Baltimore for approximately 800 girls in grades 6-12 founded in 1873. The School Sisters of Notre Dame sponsor the school, and the school is dedicated to educating young women to transform the world. For more information on the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, visit https://www.artandwriting.org/. Germany may send more troops to Lithuania and other countries on NATO's eastern flank after Russia formally recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Tuesday, Reuters reported. It is clear that we need to apply stronger containment measures, Lambrecht said at a joint press conference with her Lithuanian counterpart at the Rukla military base. Germany is now evaluating reinforcement needs and will make a decision in the near future, Lambrecht said. The deployment of troops will not be limited to Lithuania. German soldiers make up about half of the 1,100-strong NATO battlegroup in Lithuania, which includes troops from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. Possible reinforcements will add about 360 German soldiers, while Norway has announced plans to increase its participation by 50-60 soldiers. The UK is reinforcing the British-led NATO Battle Group in Estonia with 800 troops. Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of top news as of 22.02.22: The Russian president signed a decree on Monday recognizing breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent republics, telling Russias defense ministry to deploy troops into the two regions to "keep the peace. The president made the announcement live on TV after an emotional address in which he referred to eastern Ukraine as ancient Russian lands managed by foreign powers. Announcing his recognition, Putin also signed treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual aid with Donetsk and Luhansk leaders. The Federation Council has already ratified the treaty. The Russian leader also took a swipe as Western powers which support Ukraine, saying, they are not interested in peaceful solutions they want to start a blitzkrieg. Putin also accused Ukraine of extreme nationalism, and Russophobia. The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, convened a Security Meeting on Monday and today noted that the issue of breaking diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Russia will be considered soon. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Berlin on Tuesday that commissioning of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is on hold since the situation is extremely tense now. The international community reacted to the Russian presidents decision to recognize the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent republics. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of continuing to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine and trying to stage a pretext for an invasion. The EU has also slammed the recognition noting that the EU and its partners will respond to this with unity, firmness and determination in solidarity with Ukraine. The UN, in turn, noted that this decision is fraught with regional and international consequences. This came as the OSCE said that the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the regions contradicts the Minsk agreements. Meanwhile, the UK PM Boris Johnson noted that Putin's decision to recognize Ukraine's separatist states is a bad omen, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the decision unacceptable. And Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] FM David Babayan, in turn, lauded the recognition of the independence of the regions. The Artsakh Republic also has all the grounds for the recognition of its independent statehood. These are historical, legal, ethical, and ethical-academic bases, he added. The meeting was also attended by the Acting President of the country Alen Simonyan. Issues related to overcoming the challenges facing Armenia and the processes taking place in the international arena were discussed at the meeting. Before the talks there were reports that Russia intends to officially raise relations with Azerbaijan to alliance level. The sides touched upon the issue of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Putin noted that there are already certain agreements on the development of trade and economic ties. There are disputes, but we will do everything to ensure that the process proceeds peacefully, Putin noted. Putin noted that certain agreements have been reached on the development of trade and economic relations in Nagorno-Karabakh. He said that there are also disputes, but Moscow will do everything possible for the settlement process to proceed peacefully. Aliyev, in turn, noted that Russia played a very important role in ending the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Kremlin Mondays statement said that following the talks, a declaration on allied cooperation would be signed, taking relations between Russia and Azerbaijan to the allied level. Russian president Vladimir Putin also had a phone talk Monday with the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan. The sides exchanged views on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Russian president has officially invited the Armenian PM to pay an official visit to Moscow in the spring. The Armenian PM, in turn, invited Vladimir Putin to Armenia. Maria Karapetyan, a member of the ruling majority Civil Contract, chaired the meeting. One of the topics of today's discussion was an increase of Russia's military presence on the Ukrainian border. Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine did not participate in the meeting. However, two Azerbaijani MPs also attended the sessions in Yerevan. They were the only MPs who had entered the building with the security officers. One of them, Soltan Mammadov, seems to have a provocative behavior as his Twitter thumbnail reads: Karabakh is Azerbaijan. And during the sitting, the MP noted that "the Karabakh conflict has been resolved within the international law and Azerbaijan's internationally recognized borders." By the way, protests were being held since Monday in Yerevan since Azerbaijani MPs had come to Armenia. The demonstrators expressed their protest and indignation at the representatives of the European delegations for not reacting to Azerbaijan's Armenophobic actions. Meanwhile, Maria Karapetyan, noted that as part of the discussions, the issue of the return of Armenian prisoners of war was raised at the sitting. The BA.2 is more contagious than the previous subvariant, and according to a number of studies, it may have a more severe course of the COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia has reached 416,510 and the death toll is 1,593. According to the National Center for Disease Control, most patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and admitted to intensive care units have not been vaccinated. About 47.8% of the Armenian population has received the first dose of vaccine. Vaccines approved for use in Armenia included Sputnik, AstraZeneca, CoronaVac and Pfizer. Putin signs decrees recognizing two "independent republics" in east Ukraine's Donbass Xinhua) 07:58, February 22, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin signs documents recognizing "the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics" at the Kremlin in Moscow on Feb. 21, 2022. (Kremlin press release) After recognizing the independence of the LPR and the DPR, Putin instructed the Russian armed forces to ensure peace in the two "countries." MOSCOW, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. At a ceremony held in the Kremlin, Putin also inked the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and the LPR and the DPR respectively with the heads of the two "republics," a Kremlin statement said. "I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision -- to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and the LPR," Putin said in a televised address to the nation. "Russia has done everything to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine" by fighting for the implementation of 2015 Minsk agreements, but all the efforts ended up in vain, he told the public. According to Putin, nearly everyday there is Ukrainian shelling of settlements in Donbass and "there is no end in sight." Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address to the nation in Moscow, Russia. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) The crisis of European security occurred due to the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has led to the loss of mutual trust with Russia, Putin stressed. He called it just "a matter of time" for NATO to accept Ukraine as a member state and then build facilities on its territory so that the level of military threats to Russia will rise dramatically. As Moscow asked the United States and NATO for security guarantees, the Western countries precisely ignored Russia's fundamental concerns and nothing has changed in their position, Putin noted. In such a condition, Russia "has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security," the president said. Putin said he is aware that the West is trying to "blackmail" Russia again with sanctions, but he believes that sanctions will continue just because Russia exists, regardless of the situation in Ukraine. After recognizing the independence of the LPR and the DPR, Putin instructed the Russian armed forces to ensure peace in the two "countries." Earlier in the day, the Russian Security Council held an extraordinary meeting, when the country's top officials supported the recognition of the two "republics." On Monday evening, Putin had phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who "expressed their disappointment" with Putin's plan to recognize the LPR and the DPR, but meanwhile they showed readiness to continue contacts, according to a Kremlin statement. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) 1300 block of Tyler Ave., proximity of the woods to the area where two children, a boy and a girl, were shot indiscriminately around 7 p.m. Monday in the Robinwood neighborhood off of forest Drive in Annapolis, according to police. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Capital Gazette) After a double-shooting of two children in an Annapolis public housing community Monday night, Mayor Gavin Buckley said that one of the victims was paralyzed by a gunshot wound. As Annapolis police continue to investigate the shooting of a 15-year-old boy and 11-year-old girl who were playing outside around 7 p.m. in the Robinwood public housing community, Buckley said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference that the boy had been paralyzed. Advertisement Police officials would not confirm the status of the boys health beyond saying he was in stable condition in the hospital Tuesday. He was taken to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center after the shooting. Last night, somebodys 15-year-old son was paralyzed from a gunshot. Somebodys daughter is traumatized and was lucky to survive, Buckley said. We are asking people who know anything about this to come forward. Advertisement Bob Mosier, a spokesperson for the Anne Arundel County Schools, confirmed the boy was a student at Annapolis Middle School. An additional police presence was deployed to the school out of an abundance of caution and not because of any threat, Annapolis Middle Principal Casey wrote in a letter to parents on Tuesday. 1300 block of Tyler Ave., proximity of the woods to the area where two children, a boy and a girl, were shot indiscriminately around 7 p.m. Monday in the Robinwood neighborhood off of forest Drive in Annapolis, according to police. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Capital Gazette) According to police, a suspect emerged from a wooded area on the 1300 block of Tyler Avenue and began firing several shots, striking the children about 100 yards away, police said. The 11-year-old girl, who was taken to Johns Hopkins Childrens Center, has been released from the hospital, according to police. She is a student at Eastport Elementary School, Mosier said. A third victim was injured while running away from the incident but wasnt hit by gunfire, Annapolis Police Capt. Amy Miguez said. Annapolis Chief of Police Edward Jackson addresses the media in regards to a shooting that occurred on Monday evening in the Robinwood neighborhood, during a press conference at the Annapolis Police Department office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Two children were the victims of the shooting which transpired near a wooded area off Tyler Avenue. (Brian Krista/Capital Gazette) Police have no information about a suspect or a motive yet, Annapolis Police Chief Ed Jackson said. Police said they believe the suspect entered the community on foot and left the same way. Investigators are collecting evidence from the scene, including camera footage in Robinwood and at surrounding businesses, Miguez said. Police have not yet identified how many suspects there are or how many guns were involved, but they believe the gunshots came from one direction, Miguez said. Flanked by Buckley as well as other community leaders, Jackson repeated his frustrations about violent crime, honing in on the societal issues that have plagued the city for decades. Jackson implored the community to come together to bring a suspect to justice. Advertisement When family, faith and education fail, youre going to police, courts and corrections, Jackson said. Its not a police problem, its a social problem. The shooting is indicative of the handgun problem we have, Jackson said Monday night. What happened this evening is very tragic, he said. Its frustrating for me and for my entire department because we dont like to see these things happen. We have a real serious handgun problem in America that really needs to be addressed. Annapolis mayor Gavin Buckley addresses the media in regards to a shooting that occurred on Monday evening in the Robinwood neighborhood, during a press conference at the Annapolis Police Department office on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Two children were the victims of the shooting which transpired near a wooded area off Tyler Avenue. (Brian Krista/Capital Gazette) In addition to Jackson and Buckley, other attendees included Anne Arundel Councilwoman Lisa Brannigan Rodvein, Housing Authority Director Melissa Maddox-Evans, Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell-Charles, Joanna Tobin, Annapolis representative on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education and members of Annapolis faith institutions. Advertisement Anyone listening right now that has a heart for children should know at this moment. This means war, said Bishop Craig Coates, an Annapolis pastor who also serves as a police chaplain. It is time for us to use our voices and restore confidence, hope and peace to our communities. Maddox-Evans called the incident a very difficult day for the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. Robinwood is one of two public housing properties that hosts a police substation where officers are occasionally stationed to have more of a presence in the community, Maddox-Evans said. Our residents, the people that actually live there, welcome increased police presence, they welcome the opportunity to feel safe in their community, she said. And we want to encourage more presence in our community, not just after an incident happens, but constantly so that residents can feel that theres someone they can go to if they do have information to present. No officers were stationed at the Robinwood unit at the time of the shooting, Miguez said. Jackson said his department is considering ways to utilize the station to increase police presence in the neighborhood. Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, parents stood along Tyler Avenue with their children waiting for the school bus to pick them up. Advertisement Several residents approached by The Capital Tuesday morning declined to talk about the shooting. Those who did refused to disclose their names, but described feeling unsafe in the neighborhood. As she put her children on the bus, one resident said she doesnt let her three children leave the front porch when she isnt with them. I dont trust this neighborhood, she said. A multiple victim shooting took place in the 1300 block of Tyler Avenue, Annapolis on February 21, 2022. (Jeffrey F. Bill) Another resident said her eighth grader at Annapolis Middle knew one of the victims and was devastated when he was told about the incident. She declined to be identified for fear of retribution. He started crying and was like, Why is this happening to my friend? she said of her son. They play together. They ride dirt bikes together. My son was devastated. He didnt even want to go to school Tuesday. Additional officers have been called in to help prevent retaliatory violence, Jackson said. Advertisement Three hours after the shooting, police were called at 10:05 p.m. Monday to the 1900 block of Copeland Street in the Bywater Homes community for reports of shots fired, said Patti Norris, an Annapolis police spokesperson. A second report of shots fired in the area of Bens Drive was reported around 1 p.m. Tuesday, just minutes before the news conference was set to begin. No injuries were reported at either location and detectives have no information at this time as to whether the two incidents are related, Norris said. Jackson confirmed that the Anne Arundel County Police Department is assisting in the Robinwood shooting investigation. Additional mental health services are being provided to students at Anne Arundel County Public Schools located near Robinwood, Mosier said. At Tuesday afternoons news conference, Rodvein, who is also an Anne Arundel County teacher, warned whoever shot the children that they are lucky that the young people survived. Daily Top Stories Daily Get the day's top news, sports, opinion, features and local events. > Do the right thing now and turn yourself in because I know this police department and they will find you, she said. Make it easier on yourself. Advertisement Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman said the shooting upsets me and upsets a lot of people. When kids cant go outside and play and be safe, our whole society has really got to wake up and do something about it, Pittman said at a Tuesday morning news briefing. Joshua Hatch, a member of the Caucus of African American Leaders challenged community members to stop passing the buck to the police and to the faith community and start saying enough is enough. There are avenues to address these occurrences so our children can be safe, Hatch said, urging people with information to reach out to a pastor to share what they know. Where are you going to draw the line? Anyone with any information is asked to call 410-260-3439. Anonymous tips can be made to 1-866-LOCKUP. Baltimore Sun reporter Alex Mann contributed to this story. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Russia is taking military action against Ukraine and condemned Moscow's decision to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics, AP reported. Stoltenberg called the move "a serious escalation by Russia and a flagrant violation of international law". The NATO chief also described the military action as a "further invasion" of Ukraine by Russia, "which has already invaded its neighbour's territory in 2014". He added that there was "every indication" that Russia was continuing to plan a full-scale attack on Ukraine. Stoltenberg said NATO allies have more than 100 military aircraft on high alert and more than 120 warships at sea from the Arctic Circle to the Mediterranean Sea. He said the NATO Response Force remains on high alert but not yet deployed, although some Allies are moving troops, ships and aircraft to the Baltic states and near the Black Sea to protect other NATO members. Face2Face with Lily Bolka: star of Netflix documentary 'Found' Media Contact: Bailey Stacy | Communications Coordinator, Marketing & Communications | 405-744-2700 | bailey.stacy@okstate.edu There are a lot of questions when you dont know about your past. Being adopted can stir up feelings of abandonment and curiosity about your family history. Wondering if you look more like your mom or dad, if you have any siblings, cousins, aunts or uncles. Searching for answers may take a lifetime, but if youre lucky youll find one person or maybe two who know exactly how you feel because they are wondering too. Lily Bolka is an Oklahoma State University accounting senior who was adopted as a baby from China and discovered through DNA testing she has two cousins who were also adopted and in the U.S. Together they embark on a journey to find any connections to their birth families in China. Bolka and her cousins, Chloe Lipitz and Sadie Mangelsdorf, star in the Netflix documentary, "Found." Filming for "Found" wrapped in early 2020 and missed out on being entered into film festivals due to the pandemic. Netflix was interested in the film and won the bid. "Found" premiered in October 2021 on Netflix to positive audience and critical reviews. The film maintains high praise from movie critics for the "New York Times," "The Hollywood Reporter," "The Chicago Tribune," "The L.A. Times," as well as websites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic. During high school, Bolka was curious about her past as emotions and feelings began to reveal themselves as she grew older. She took a DNA test and was satisfied with the results, not expecting to uncover any more family history. A few months later, she was contacted by a film director who told Bolka she has two cousins around her age living in the U.S. who were also adopted. The film director, Amanda Lipitz, is the aunt of Chloe Lipitz. Bolka was raised in Oklahoma City by a single mother as an only child, Mangelsdorfs family lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and Lipitz lives in Phoenix. The cousins were all adopted from the south China region of Guangzhao. Bolka and Lipitz were at the same orphanage only a few years apart. The cousins met for the first time through a video call coordinated by the film crew. As they grew closer, all of their calls stopped being filmed and they had a chance to really get to know each other. Bolka filmed throughout her college career and the film crew often came to the Stillwater campus during game days, as well as Oklahoma City to film with her mom. Bolka experienced highs and lows during filming and battled with the desire to find her birth family and get the answers to questions she had long been asking all while balancing school and other responsibilities. Bolka often had to miss class to film and travel. Filming could sometimes be tedious and took a toll on her emotions, but she found her professors to be very accommodating to her schedule and her mental health. One of the things that stood out to me was when [Professor Rachel Dominick] asked how my mental health was during a Zoom meeting. I had never been asked that by a professor, Bolka said. For me, [filming] was really scary sometimes but I just got so used to it. So it was really nice that she made sure that I was OK and checked in on me. The cousins worked with genealogist and private investigator Liu Hao, who works in China finding answers in identity and possibly finding DNA matches with families who had to give up their children because of Chinas one-child policy. Between 1979 and 2015, China implemented the one-child policy to help curb the countrys seemingly exponential population growth. The one-child policy meant many second children were abandoned because of the nations strict enforcement of the law. Parents who did not adhere to the law were expected to pay expensive penalties and fines, ranging anywhere between three to six times a familys annual income. Female babies were disproportionately given up. Males inherit the family name and property and are traditionally responsible for caring for the elderly. The number of babies that have been given up is unknown. It is thought to be anywhere from the hundreds of thousands to millions, according to research conducted by Daniel Goodkind. The one-child policy continues to have major repercussions on Chinese culture and its people. Lower birth rates and even loss of fertility in women have affected the current population in China, raising concerns for who will look after its aging population and the shrinking workforce. The cousins and their families traveled to China where they spent the 2019 winter holidays together. Each cousin was able to go to the place where they were discovered as babies and the orphanages where they spent their early days. They met nannies and aunts and spent time together as their families reminisced. The trip also gave each of them a chance to visit the tourist spots in China like the Great Wall and temples. Bolka and her cousins were aware that the chances of finding any relatives would be slim, but they wanted to learn about where they were born and their culture. Traveling to China brought back memories and emotions that could only be understood by those who have had similar experiences. Having Lipitz and Mangelsdorf by her side made the hard moments easier, Bolka said. We are all really close now and got closer while we were in China, Bolka said. We had to do some pretty hard things, emotionally. It was something all three of us understood being adopted. We could rely on each other. On her ancestral journey, Bolka learned the genealogist had found a potential match for her birth family and was waiting for DNA results. Bolka was apprehensive about finding her birth family for fear of meeting a family who had abandoned her. Although the DNA did not end up being a match, Bolka and her cousins met the family while they were in China. It was something I never thought I would be doing in my life, Bolka said. It was a little sad not just for me but for them, too. It brought on a lot of emotions that I didnt know how to handle, but it was really good having Chloe and Sadie there with me as a support system because it was something I couldnt talk about with my mom or the film crew. Bolka is exploring her options to continue her education with a masters in accounting and studying for the CPA exam. Bolka and her cousins remain close and are in the early stages of partnering with the Asian American Girl Club and Blue Shift Education. They are also collaborating with Chef Kristen Kish to promote the film and share their story. Bolka is not currently pursuing finding her birth family. She maintains a typical OSU student lifestyle and joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Beta Alpha Psi, an accounting fraternity. Her DNA is available to any family looking for her but, for now, she is soaking in her last few months as an OSU student and looking forward to the future. Intrado Thomas Flohr Vista Founder & Chairman Aircraft AIR HAMBURG Embraer Lineage 1000E Aircraft AIR HAMBURG interior VISTA ACCELERATES INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION WITH THE ACQUISITION OF AIR HAMBURG, EUROPES LEADING CHARTER OPERATOR Acquisition of AIR HAMBURG strengthens Vistas position across European and Middle Eastern markets; On a combined basis, the transaction would see Vista increase flight hours by ~30% globally, and have a ~15% market share of the global charter market; 44 additional aircraft available to Members across VistaJet and XO fleets, bringing Vistas total global group fleet to over 240 aircraft, including owned and managed; Experienced AIR HAMBURG management team remaining in positions; Transaction expected to be completed in the first half of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals; Follows the recent successful integrations of Red Wing Aviation, Apollo Jets and Talon Air into Vistas global infrastructure. Dubai, February 21, 2022: Vista Global Holding (Vista), the worlds leading private aviation group, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire AIR HAMBURGs operating platform and maintenance services. Founded in 2006, AIR HAMBURG has become one of the most well-established full-service private aviation companies, flying to over 1,000 destinations in Europe alone. It is the largest private jet operator by number of flights across Europe, organizing over 18,800 flights for its clients in 2021, and it is second only to Vista in terms of hours flown, recording over 35,000 hours in 2021. As a result, Vista expects an increase of around 30% in flight hours (on a combined basis) globally following the completion of the transaction. Thomas Flohr, Vistas Founder and Chairman said: Todays announcement brings a renowned institution of the European private aviation market into the Vista group and complements our growth and service offering across Europe and the Middle East. AIR HAMBURG is an impressive, well-established and profitable business with a long-standing track record in best-in-class client service like Vista, it is known for its reliability and consistency throughout a scaling fleet and high utilization. Vistas leading flying solutions, with a business model based on a floating fleet, allows us to implement a quick, seamless integration. This is yet another demonstration of Vistas unrivaled commitment to ensuring all our Members have access to the best value flying solutions across the world at any given moment. It is incredibly exciting to welcome over 650 highly-skilled new colleagues to become part of the Vista family of experts at one of the most exciting times for our industry. It has been an absolute pleasure to work closely with the leadership team to ensure both companies capitalize fully on the global opportunities within the expanding private aviation market. The acquisition will augment Vistas scale and fleet offering across key strategic regions and brings together two long-established reputable companies with the shared vision of delivering the most reliable and consistent flying solutions and best experiences to their Members. The merger is the latest step in Vistas relentless transformation of the highly fragmented business aviation ecosystem. Following strong global demand for private aviation services from new and existing clients, the move builds on the recent integrations of Apollo Jets, Talon Air and Red Wing Aviation. In addition to a thriving charter business, Vista will integrate AIR HAMBURGs world-class EASA Part 145 maintenance hub at Baden Baden Airpark, along with its Executive Handling division and VIP lounge at Hamburg Airport which will be available for Vista Members to use. Floris Helmers, AIR HAMBURGs CEO and Managing Director said: This is an incredible opportunity to remain at the top of the growing business aviation market. Over the last three years we have experienced strong growth, significantly increasing our market share across Europe and beyond. This cooperation between two of the largest operators means increasing our stability and securing further growth for our business, while allowing our team to showcase their strength and competencies to the most sophisticated clientele. We are looking forward to this next chapter in joining the Vista group. AIR HAMBURGs growing private jet operation complements Vistas owned fleet services, and its 44 contracted aircraft, including Lineage 1000E, Dassault Falcon 7X, and Embraer Legacy models, will be available to all Vista Members. Ends About Vista Vista Global Holdings (Vista) subsidiaries provide worldwide business flight services. A global group headquartered at the DIFC in Dubai, Vista integrates a unique portfolio of companies offering asset-free services to cover all key aspects of business aviation: guaranteed and on demand global flight coverage; subscription and Membership solutions; and cutting-edge mobility technology. The Groups mission is to lead the change to provide clients with the most advanced flying services at the very best value, anytime, anywhere around the world. Vistas knowledge and understanding of all facets of the industry deliver the best end-to-end offering and technology to all business aviation clients, through its VistaJet and XO branded services and duly licensed carriers. Vista is not a direct air carrier and does not operate or charter flights. More Vista information and news at www.vistaglobal.com About AIR HAMBURG Since April 2006, the AIR HAMBURG Group has been a full-service aviation provider based in Hamburg, Germany, employing more than 650 people and consists of: AIR HAMBURG PRIVATE JETS AIR HAMBURG Private Jets is the main group and the largest European charter airline. Its fleet of 44 jets consists of: Lineage 1000E, Falcon 7X, Legacy 600/650/650E, Legacy 500, Praetor 600, Cessna Citation XLS+, Phenom 300/300E as well as Cessna Citation CJ3. Over the past three years, the company has experienced strong growth, welcoming around 10 new jets per year, and significantly increasing market share. Its exceptional service has been recognized by industry bodies including the ACA Excellence Award for best executive passenger charter operator, and IS-BAO and Wyvern-Wingman certifications. With a floating fleet business model, its private jets are strategically positioned around the world to provide the most streamlined service possible. Regardless of where clients are in the world, AIR HAMBURG Private Jets can have a jet with them in no time, ready to fly to any destination, even at short notice, and in hard-to-reach areas. Its Operations Control Center takes care of everything while passengers relax or plan their next meeting. More information and news at www.air-hamburg.de AIR HAMBURG TECHNIK Where the ultimate efficiency and the highest standards meet. When it comes to the Embraer Lineage 1000E, Legacy 600/650/650E, Praetor 600, Legacy 500/450, the Cessna Citation XLS+ aircraft and the Embraer Phenom 300/300E AIR HAMBURG TECHNIK are the team to call. Private aviation is a 24/7 business that requires speed and flexibility. Maintaining AIR HAMBURG Private Jets fleet of more than 40 aircraft has bolstered experience in highly responsive support. The EASA Part 145 maintenance organization is based at Karlsruhe/Baden EDSB airport. Located in the heart of Europe, the base has hangarage, line and heavy maintenance, aircraft special tooling, testing equipment, and a parts logistics centre. More information and news at www.ahtechnik.de Contacts press@vistaglobal.com Vista Global Holding Limited (Vista) does not own or operate any aircraft. All flights are performed by FAA-licensed/DOT-registered EASA or U.S. certified Vista group direct air carriers and/or partner operators. Vista holds non-controlling minority stakes in XOJET Aviation, GMJ Air Shuttle, Red Wing Aviation and Talon Air. Attachments New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI/PNN): ITC Engage, one of India's leading fragrance brands, has launched its latest trendsetting innovation - Engage L'amante Click & Brush Perfume Pen for women, a new perfume paintbrush that doesn't actually look like a perfume as we know it. The brand known for playful chemistry and romance brings alive an innovative design concept that blends sensuality of the category and practicality of application. The Click & Brush approach makes perfuming on-the-go effortless anytime, anywhere and with its soft precise brush applicator reverses the known concept of spritz before you accessorise. The genesis of this design format was the inevitable spill on fine jewellery or clothing while spritzing, especially out-of-home. Engage L'amante Click & Brush Perfume Penin classy gold is a sleek, elegant and easy to carry accessory, ideal for fragrant touch-ups throughout the day. The convenient yet stylish gel-based perfume pen enables women to directly apply on pulse points without the worry of spritzing perfume on fine jewellery or clothing. It introduces a new perfuming gesture to adapt to on-the-go. The scent is fresh and lively, inspired by Tahiti. It is reminiscent of white driftwood by the shore to draw out the joyful expression of love. Inspired by the thought that each woman is an artist who has the freedom to embody different style strokes, the innovative, artistic perfume marries the varied style and grooming needs of millennial women. The application is easy and convenient, can be applied on the wrist, neck or back of the ears. It consists of Bergamot & Frangipani as top notes mixed with notes inspired by the flavours of berries and blackcurrant at the heart of the fragrance. The addictive ylang-ylang notes infused with sandalwood makes the fragrance lingering and sensual. Speaking about the launch, Sameer Satpathy, Divisional Chief Executive, Personal Care Products Business, ITC Limited, said - "Engage since its inception has continuously pushed boundaries to reinvent the fragrance category with innovative formats, communication and fragrances. Insight-based design thinking is at the core of this refreshingly new Click & Brush format which not only makes for a trendsetting style statement but also brings to the fore the convenience of application and the ease of portability. The unique perfume pen brings together the consumer need for precision-based on-the-go application as well as the desirability that defines this category. The innovation is set to change the way women engage with fragrances out-of-home while keeping it playful and stylish." Tara Sutaria, Brand Ambassador, Engage, adds, "I love fragrances but it's difficult to sometimes carry my favourite perfume with me wherever I go. Try the Engage L'amante Click and Brush Perfume Pen! This gives carrying your scent with you a totally different spin! Carry it in your handbag to use anytime and anywhere!" Engage L'amanteClick and Brush Perfume Penis exclusively available at Nykaa and ITC E-store at INR 1299/-. Brand Engage was launched in 2013 and is one of India's leading fragrance brands. Engage brings to bear the exciting proposition of playful chemistry between a man and a woman and this has been pivotal in communicating a distinctly differentiated brand story. Mix elements at every touchpoint, including packaging, variant nomenclature for each product and communication, everything embodies the spirit of playful chemistry. Launched with a range of deodorants, Engage augmented its portfolio with Engage Cologne Sprays, a range of internationally designed perfume sprays for men and women and was the first brand to introduce the category of pocket perfumes with Engage ON. Engage L'amante is the most recent addition to the repertoire of fragrances and with L'amante Click & Brush it heralds in a new way of perfuming. For more information visit www.engagedeo.com | www.facebook.com/Engage | @Engagedeo This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Jakarta (Indonesia) [India], February 22 (ANI/PR Newswire): Shipsy, a leading SaaS-based smart logistics management platform provider, will be setting up its regional headquarters (HQ) in Indonesia to strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia (SEA). The regional HQ will enable the organization to provide faster, better and localized support to existing customers and drive new business growth in Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. Southeast Asia is witnessing rapid growth in the retail, eCommerce, express logistics and on-demand delivery space. According to reports, eCommerce sales will nearly double to $254bn by the end of 2026. The region's online food delivery industry is already expected to treble in the coming five years and reach $28bn in transactions. The regional presence will help Shipsy tap into these growing opportunities. "We are thrilled with the response we received in SEA. We have partnered with several large manufacturers and new age retailers in the past couple of quarters. A regional HQ will enable us to make these customers successful with local teams. Retail, eCommerce and on-demand delivery markets are booming. The region will witness an acute need for optimizing, enhancing and automating last-mile logistics operations. Also, to make logistics sustainable, businesses will see themselves embracing smart logistics management tools," says Soham Chokshi, CEO and Co-founder, Shipsy. Shipsy highlighted that the organization would aggressively increase its talent pool by onboarding professionals from Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. In 2021, to support a growing customer base in the Middle East, Shipsy established its regional HQ in Dubai. The company also clocked a growth rate of 2.5x in the topline and grew its customer base by 75 per cent. Shipsy is already working with customers across Southeast Asia in the manufacturing, express logistics, retail, food delivery and quick commerce industries. Some of these include the world's largest tyre manufacturers, the biggest manufacturer and distributor of confectionery, a leading quick commerce grocery provider, an international pizza delivery chain, a Fortune 100 global retailer, amongst others. Shipsy enables express logistics providers, restaurant chains, quick commerce brands and retailers to reduce last-mile delivery costs by 25 per cent, reduce delivery TAT by 30 per cent, increase net promoter score by 18 per cent, and curb order allocation time by 45 per cent. It's empowering enterprises to ensure sustainable logistics operations and lower carbon emissions by reducing distance traveled and trip volumes by 5 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. The SaaS provider is also enabling manufacturers and exporters/importers to reduce freight costs by 10 per cent, reduce person-hours invested in shipment handling by 75 per cent and provides end-to-end visibility around container movement, thereby curbing incidental costs by up to 90 per cent. Shipsy empowers businesses across the globe to automate domestic and cross-border freight movement. This helps reduce delivery costs, enhance logistics visibility, improve driver management, leverage automation, shrink carbon footprint and boost customer experience. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PR Newswire) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI/PNN): CapiticoPRG is a Delhi-based education consulting firm that now has an exclusive alliance with the ALTE University for the admissions of medical (MBBS/ MD& Dental) aspirant students. ALTE University aims at boosting medical admission access and affordability and facilitating new academic research across the entire medical education ecosystem. Alte University, with more than 20 years of experience in the academic domain, has now stepped into the Georgian and International educational market with a new brand name and concept. Alte University is the new name of Tbilisi Open University and is an innovative educational institution wherein students meet their ambitious goals in the field of medicine. This alliance is directed by the CapiticoPRG CEO, Parul Goel. Through her experience of leading different businesses in various countries for the last three decades, she also played a significant role in the education business, which has helped her to further this agenda of CapiticoPRG. As a strategic alliance partner with ALTE University, CapiticoPRG will aid in the process of recruitment of medical students. Goel's extensive experience and the organization's footprint in several regions would certainly assist ALTE University to establish a name in the global market. ALTE University is a highly ranked, prestigious & authorized medical institution in Georgia, offering one-stop Medical & Dentistry programs to international students. The University's mission is to equip students with knowledge and skills to create sustainable values through advanced teaching standards, enhanced critical thinking, innovation, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. Salome Pataridze, the Head of Student Recruitment of Alte University Georgia, has more than eight years of experience in student recruitment. She graduated in BBA & MBA from Georgia and has worked for multiple international companies as an educational consultant. On this alliance, Salome quoted, "We are elated with our alliance with Capitico PRG and are sure that this relationship will go a long way". All courses at ALTE University are taught in the English Language, and the university already has more than 400 students from India. The programs offered by ALTE University are: I) Medical Doctor Program (6 years) Degree Awarded: Medical Doctor II) Dentistry Program (5 years) Degree Awarded: Doctorate in Dental medicine Criteria for Admissions: The University follows a six-staged admission process for the recruitment of students- Stage 1: Online Application Stage 2: Document Verification Stage 3: Online Personal Interview Stage 4: Recognition of Foreign Education Stage 5: Enrollment Stage 6: Tuition fees Submission The alliance aims at supporting students to grab the opportunity to study from distinguished medical faculties at a medical destination highly equipped with all the modern techniques and devices to help them emerge as outstanding professionals in their fields. CapiticoPRG has initiated the process of collaborating with area-wise partners/consultants in India to expand the awareness of the MBBS / Dental courses as well as the recruitment process. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) Pune (Maharashtra) [India], February 22 (ANI/ATK): Cast India, a Pune-based startup is bridging the gap between creative professionals associated with an assortment of Film and Television, Media, Advertising, Public Relations, and Events. These industries are interrelated, share a symbiotic relationship and rely on each other to move forward. The platform CastIndia.in works as an aggregator between employers and aspirants where the duo can connect and build a creative bond with each other. Cast India is an integrated platform where an employer and an aspiring professional can connect seamlessly with multiple people, explore profiles and opportunities with various tools for seamless execution at the same time. It is an interactive medium that will connect those who seek a break and those who seek talents and resources for maximizing their growth potential Praddyumna Bapat, Founder and CEO, Cast India, informed, "Since the launch of CastIndia.in on February 4, we have over 800 registrations from aspirants and 35 employers within a fortnight. There are over 100 openings available at present." Son of a senior Air Force officer, Bapat began his career as an advertising professional with a clean slate. His enthusiasm towards the world of films and television made him realize that advertising is one way to catapult oneself amongst the bigwigs in the industry. He added, "Cast India's objective is to reach out to multi-talented professionals over urban and rural geography and provide them with an ideal platform where they can showcase their talents which can be seen by the world." During his decade long experience in the industry, Bapat realized that finding an appropriate candidate was an uphill task. "The platforms available, to find the right talent, were either not industry-specific, were recruitment portals or casting agencies. I had to face the same challenges and obstacles my predecessors faced, and still face them today. I interacted with professionals in different domains, and realized, these problems are faced by everyone in multiple industries. After understanding these problems, I felt the need for a single platform where one can Get, Give, Execute and Deliver jobs or projects, that could potentially solve the issues. By coming up with something which cannot only give and receive jobs but also help people to connect and interact with each other, the idea of Cast India came into vogue," he explained. He recalls that the initial years were full of struggle and he was always greeted with kindness and compassion from people around him. He always looked for ways to reciprocate it in some way. "I wanted to create Cast India with the thought of giving back to the society as I believe that good people make the project output better", Bapat says. He hopes that through the platform, he will be able to help the industry people in the same way people helped him in his struggling days. His partner Pulkit Jain, who is the chief technology officer (CTO), describes Cast India as a service-oriented platform, which will provide services in both ways; physical and digital. Unlike other digital platforms, Cast India focuses more on local talents, he says. According to statistical analysis, the advertising industry is expected to grow by 11%, Media, Film and Television are expected to see a growth of 9%, the public relations (PR) sector will grow by 10.50% and the Events industry will grow by 11% by 2024. This rise will generate opportunities for aspirants in the market. Cast India will work as a platform that will create awareness and deliver these opportunities to the aspirants. In this way, the platform will bridge the gap in the industries. This is a tremendous opportunity for aspirants to look for jobs in their niche. In the coming future, Cast India is planning to have its application that will help users to directly connect with the choice of opportunity they want and also give them a different and new way of hustle-free working and managing the business chores, Bapat further added. This story is provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 22 (ANI/BusinessWire India): HDFC Bank under its ESG commitment is proud to be associated with Indore Clean Energy Private Limited (ICEPL) for the development of 550 tonnes/day of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant - the largest Bio-CNG plant in Asia. Indore Clean Energy Pvt Ltd (ICEPL) is promoted by Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), which is the largest climate impact fund in India with anchor investors like NIIF & Government of UK. Earlier on February 19, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the municipal solid waste based Gobar-Dhan plant and dedicated it to the citizens of Indore City, Madhya Pradesh. The plant has the capacity to treat 550 tonnes/day of wet organic waste and produce 17,000 kg/day of CNG and 100 tonnes/day of organic compost. This is the largest waste to energy project funded by HDFC Bank under its ESG commitments and the plant is expected to treat 50 per cent of municipal waste generated in Indore City and convert to 100 per cent green products (biogas and manure). ICEPL has a 20-year concession agreement with Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) for procurement of municipal solid waste and converting it to CBG. "As India's largest private sector Bank, we have always stayed strong in our commitment to positively impact the environment and the community at large. Our core value of sustainability has guided our ESG practice and is now part of our DNA. This funding is a part of our commitment to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and make the bank carbon neutral by 2031-2032" said Rakesh Singh, Group Head - Investment Banking, Private Banking, Marketing & Products at HDFC Bank. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) Utah (Salt Lake City) [US], February 22, (ANI/NewsVoir): Innovecture LLC, a Global Technology and Management consultancy company announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a patent, for an invention titled 'Communicating payments'. The 'Communicating payments' patent introduces new method of transacting with a point-of-sale device during an in-person payment transaction. This invention avoids sending payment information to the point-of-sale device thus removing the security concern of the payment information theft. The 'reverse authorization' algorithm replaces the traditional bi-directional communication between Point-of-sale and payment gateway with an IoT based communication. This algorithm completes the transaction even if the point-of-sale is offline which is beneficial specifically to the unattended systems such as kiosks or vending machines. Innovecture has built a mobile commerce platform 'SimPayX' based on this patent and a beta version is launched in Salt Lake City where many restaurants are participating in the pilot launch. Shreyas Kamat, Patent Inventor and Innovecture CEO commented, "We are particularly excited about the grant of this patent. This patent, which is our 3rd patent in the payments space, is a result of our continued focus on innovation for delivering best value to our customers. The future of payments should be to provide a simple, convenient and secure payment experience to the consumers and this patent provides a revolutionary foundation to provide that experience." With offices in the US, Europe, and APAC, Innovecture provides consulting, technology research services and products to its customers. Innovecture has an impressive track record to be a major contributor in Digital and Agile Transformation projects for several Fortune 500 clients and is privileged to receive multiple recognitions as a MWCN Utah 100 and Inc. 5000 fastest growing company. For more information, please visit the Innovecture website and LinkedIn. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday chaired a post-budget meeting with heads of banks, Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFCs) and other financial institutions. During the meeting, the Finance Minister exhorted all the banks to sign up to the Account Aggregator model which would facilitate seamless flow of credit for small borrowers and promote digital lending. The Minister directed that pilots for Account Aggregator model and cashflow-based lending may be replicated in different regions around the country including in the North Eastern Region, on the lines of the initiative by two banks in Varanasi district, according to an official statement released by the Ministry of Finance. The meeting deliberated on the various budget announcements in the context of PM GatiShakti, Defence, Telecom, Manufacturing & exports, Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) and tax concessions to new manufacturing units and start-ups, which offer new opportunities to the financial sector. The meeting discussed various schemes/programmes such as subordinated debt to MSMEs, KCC, Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Schemes and credit outreach programme which provided immediate relief to the borrowers and the banks, from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ECLGS, which has been enhanced to Rs 5 lakh crore and extended up to March 31, 2023, was also discussed. "It was emphasised that digital banking, digital payments and fintech innovations are an opportunity for banks to find new ways to reduce the cost of intermediation and provide cost-effective services and that the benefits of digital banking should reach every nook and corner of the country in a consumer-friendly manner. It was further stressed that banking industry should target to open accounts of unbanked adults under Jan Dhan Yojana and ensure Insurance/Pension coverage to all eligible adults," the Finance Ministry said. It was highlighted in the meeting that with a record profit of Rs 1.22 lakh crore in the financial year 2020-21 and Rs 0.79 lakh crore in the first half of 2021-22, declining Gross NPA figures to 6.90 per cent (as on September 2021) from all-time high of 11.20 per cent (as in March 2018) and sufficient buffers with all time high CRAR of 16.5 per cent (as in September 2021) against the regulatory mandate of 11.5 per cent, banks are in a strong position to support future growth, enabling the country's economy for a take-off, the Finance Ministry noted. "The way forward for stepping-up the lending activity and building a conducive credit environment for businesses and individuals was also stressed upon in the meeting," it said. (ANI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday rising crude oil prices amid escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions pose threat to India's financial stability and the government is closely monitoring the situation. Talking to media persons after the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) meeting here, Sitharaman said the situation is worrisome and India has called for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine-Russia crisis. On the challenges posed by the rise in crude oil prices to the Indian economy, the Finance Minister said, "It is difficult to say how it will go. Even today, in the FSDC, when we were looking at the challenges which are posed for the financial stability, crude was one of the things." Crude oil prices surged close to $100 per barrel in the international markets on Tuesday after tensions between Russia and the United States and major European countries over the Ukraine issue escalated. The United States and its European allies are set to impose new sanctions on Russia after President Vladimir Putin formally recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Russia has also troops in the breakaway regions. The move is likely to further escalate the tensions in the region. Asked about the Government of India's plan to deal with the economic challenges posed due to the growing Ukraine-Russia tensions, Sitharaman said, "we are keeping a watch." The Finance Minister earlier chaired the 25th meeting of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) The Council noted the need for a constant vigil on financial conditions and the functioning of financial institutions in the country. "The Council deliberated on the various mandates of the FSDC and major macro-financial challenges arising in view of global and domestic developments," Finance Ministry said in a statement. The Council noted that the Government and all regulators need to maintain a constant vigil on the financial conditions and functioning of important financial institutions, especially considering that it could expose financial vulnerabilities in the medium and long-term, it said. The Council also discussed measures required for further development of the financial sector and to achieve an inclusive economic growth with macroeconomic stability. Nirmala Sitharaman is on a two-day post-Budget outreach visit to Mumbai, where she is meeting with representatives of industry, financial market functionaries and bankers, the Finance Ministry said. The Council chaired by the Finance Minister also discussed operational issues relating to currency management. It also took note of the activities undertaken by the FSDC Sub-Committee chaired by the RBI Governor and the action taken by members on the past decisions of FSDC. The Financial Stability and Development Council has been set up by the government in consultation with financial market regulators, to strengthen and institutionalise the mechanism for maintaining financial stability, enhance inter-regulatory coordination and promote financial sector development. Without prejudice to the autonomy of regulators, the Council monitors macro-prudential supervision of the economy, including the functioning of large financial conglomerates, and addresses inter-regulatory coordination and financial sector development issues. It also focuses on financial literacy and financial inclusion. (ANI) India and Bangladesh are expected to roll out the process of negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to deepen trade and economic ties during the visit of a high-level team from Bangladesh from March 1-4, 2022 after a Joint Study Group (JSG) for examining the feasibility of the CEPA submitted its recommendations. The JSG comprising negotiators and trade experts from both sides are likely to start discussions on Wednesday towards finalizing a report which will examine the prospects of the treaty and prepare recommendations over the next few days, a source close to the development told ANI. The CEPA with Bangladesh is one of the agreements that India is prioritizing. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit in March 2021, the two sides had agreed to enhance trade and the joint statement underscored the need for the removal of non-tariff barriers, need for predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures. There is a strong economic reason for India to prioritize the CEPA given the fast-growing trade relationship. In November 2021, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said India was looking to advance a CEPA with Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has recently observed that the two-way trade has witnessed a quantum jump with exports from Bangladesh, for the first time, expected to cross USD 2 billion this year. "Early conclusion of a CEPA is vital to enhancing this momentum in trade," he noted at an interaction with a Bangladesh delegation at the 10th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue. As a build-up to increasingly multifaceted cooperation in the recent few years, Prabir De, Professor, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), said, "For the first time, Bangladesh's exports to India crossed USD 1 billion mark in 2018-19, a record 52 per cent jump, compared to 2017-18. Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh has grown steadily over the last decade catapulting Bangladesh to India's biggest trade partner in South Asia. Our bilateral trade potential is USD 40 billion." The CEPA holds out rich dividends for both. India and Bangladesh already have a goods agreement under the aegis of the 2006 agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) which govern the tariff regimes for trade. Under SAFTA, India has granted duty-free quota-free access to Bangladesh on all items except alcohol and tobacco. The missing middle is an agreement on services trade and Bangladesh, with an economy driven predominantly by agriculture and services, would be keen on an agreement that brings in the services component and investment. A series of pacts and projects signed and finalised during the visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in October 2019 set the stage for expansion of the bilateral relations and expeditious commissioning of a joint study on the prospects of entering into a bilateral CEPA. A rising and emerging Bangladesh and a prospering India have huge synergies and are good for each other, note experts. There are plenty of economic dynamics flowing out of Bangladesh's imminent graduation out of Least Developed Country status and India's robust economic fundamentals and proven credentials as Bangladesh's biggest development partner. Already, three Special Economic Zones have been set up in Bangladesh for Indian investors and Indian companies are investing in various sectors including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and automobiles sectors in Bangladesh. These are seen as offering a significant backdrop to the more intense bilateral engagements in trade and investment that India and Bangladesh are chalking out through the CEPA. (ANI) Actor Courteney Cox candidly spoke about how much "pressure" her 'Friends' co-star Matthew Perry put himself under while playing Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom. In a recent interview with a media outlet, the 57-year-old star opened up about Perry after he was criticised for slurring his speech during HBO Max's 'Friends: The Reunion' special last May, reported People magazine. It was reported at the time that Perry had undergone an emergency dental procedure shortly before filming the reunion special. "He's just struggled for a while. I think he's doing great now," Cox said. In the past, Perry has been open about alcoholism and addiction. "It wasn't my intention to have a problem with it," Perry told People magazine in 2002 of his use of Vicodin. "But from the start, I liked how it made me feel and I wanted to get more," he added. Years later, in 2016, Perry admitted that he didn't remember filming some of the 'Friends' seasons. "I don't remember three years of it," Perry told a media outlet. "I was a little out of it at the time -- somewhere between seasons three and six." Then, during HBO Max's 'Friends' reunion special last year, Perry admitted that his portrayal of Chandler Bing, and the audience's reaction to his performance, greatly affected his mental health. "For me, I felt like I was going to die if they didn't laugh," he said. When asked about Perry's remark from the reunion, Cox said recently, "That was a lot of pressure he put on himself. That's a lot to think how much he relied on that for his own self-worth." As for Cox, the 'Friends' reunion "was fantastic to see everybody again, reminisce and realize how much fun we had," she said. "Every now and then I'll see an episode and [think] this is still relevant and still funny," the 'Shining Vale' actor also shared in her recent interview, later adding, "I'm glad that [Friends] has gone through this many years and people still love it. If they stopped caring I would feel worse." Perry is set to release an autobiography in November, titled 'Friends, Lovers and The Big Terrible Thing', reported People magazine. "So much has been written about me in the past," he said. He added, "I thought it was time people heard from me. The highs were high, the lows were low. But I have lived to tell the tale, even though at times it looked like I wouldn't. And it's all in here. I apologize it's not a pop up book." Cox reunited with Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Lisa Kudrow for the 'Friends: The Reunion' special, which was hosted by James Corden and aired in May 2021. (ANI) Hollywood actor Sebastian Stan has revealed that he had assumed he was one-and-done in the Marvel Universe after 'Captain America: The First Avenger'. According to The Hollywood Reporter, going over his career timeline for a magazine on Monday, the actor revealed that a change made on the day of a major scene signalled that Bucky Barnes was a one-shot deal. Of course, fans know now that was not the case, but Stan explained that in 2011, there was still a healthy amount of uncertainty about the future of superhero projects. "I certainly did not know that I would be playing the role for 10 years," Stan told the outlet, adding, "I remember going in for the Steve Rogers [Chris Evans] role and not getting it. And then being told about this role and where it could go. But it didn't seem like there was any commitment, really." As Stan told, Bucky was to lose his arm in 'Captain America: The First Avenger', which gave him some level of confidence that he would be back in the future, as the lost arm was a setup for Bucky's transformation into the Winter Soldier character. Then, there was a sudden change of plans on the day Stan shot a scene in which Bucky falls off a train to his apparent death. "I knew at the end of the story, I was going to fall off this train, and then I was going to be given this green sleeve [for CGI purposes]. That was the only indication I had that I could potentially be coming back. But no one said anything to me," Stan explained. As per The Hollywood Reporter, he continued, "Then, on the day we were shooting that scene, they were like, 'Yeah, we're not going to be doing that green sleeve.' And I just thought, 'Oh. That's it. I'm just going to die on that train. There's no coming back.' But they just didn't know what arm they were going to use or something, and it kept going from there." Stan went on to reprise the character seven more times in Marvel Cinematic Universe films, both in main stories and in end-credit cameos. He also played Bucky in the Emmy-nominated Disney Plus series, 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'. (ANI) After being felicitated by Binaya Pradhan, the Indian High Commissioner in Tanzania, Paul took to his Instagram handle and shared photographs from his recent visit to the Indian Embassy's office. Alongside the pictures, he wrote, "I'm so happy being honoured by the HIGH COMMISSIONER OF INDIA IN TANZANIA its a pleasure meeting u Sir and thanks to everyone there for being nice with me and I love u my Indian supporter without u I wouldn't be here more to come JAI HIND." Pradhan too posted the same images with Paul on Twitter, and wrote, "Today had a special visitor at the @IndiainTanzania; famous Tanzanian artist Kili Paul has won millions of hearts in India for his videos lip-syncing to popular Indian film songs #IndiaTanzania." Paul and his sister Neema have earned a special place among Indian internet users and he has over 2 million followers on Instagram. He shot to fame after his lip-sync video on the song 'Raatan Lambiyan' with sister Neena Paul went viral on social media last year. Currently, Paul is followed by several celebrities from India including Richa Chadha, Gul Panag, Ayushmann Khurrana, among others. (ANI) According to Deadline, currently filming in the Toronto area, the movie follows Faye, a woman who attempts to replace her newly deceased husband, Evan, with an android simulant (SIM). Although SIM Evan appears like human Evan in every way, Faye does not feel the same love for SIM Evan as it does for her. SIM Evan tries to win Faye back while at the same time being on the run from a government agent chasing down SIMs who have become "conscious" and could potentially be a threat to humankind. April Mullen is directing from a script by Ryan Christopher Churchill. Producers are Tim Doiron and James van der Woerd in association with their production company Wango Films, with Myriad's Kirk D'Amico an executive producer. Canadian actor Liu, star of the CBC and Netflix comedy series 'Kim's Convenience', gained global fame as the superhero in Marvel blockbuster 'Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings'. As per Deadline, he stars alongside Mark Wahlberg in the upcoming film 'Arthur The King'. (ANI) Fat tissues play a pivotal role in human health. However, with age, they lose function and can lead to type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer and other ailments. High levels of lifelong exercise have the potential to counteract this deterioration, according to research at the University of Copenhagen, where biologists studied the link between ageing, exercise and fat tissue function in Danish men. The study was published in 'The Journals of Gerontology'. How well does your fat function? This isn't a question that one gets asked very often. Nonetheless, research in recent years has suggested that the function of our fat tissue, or adipose tissue, is central to why our bodies decay with age, and strongly linked to human diseases like diabetes 2, cancer as obesity often develop and fat cells undergo functional changes as we get older. Thus, overall health is not just influenced by the amount of fat we bear, but about how well our fat tissue functions. The University of Copenhagen led study demonstrated that even though our fatty tissue loses important function with age, a high volume of exercise can have a significant impact for the better. "Overall health is closely linked with how well our fat tissue functions. In the past, we regarded fat as an energy depot. In fact, fat is an organ that interacts with other organs and can optimize metabolic function. Among other things, fat tissue releases substances that affect muscle and brain metabolism when we feel hungry and much more. So, it's important that fat tissue works the way it should," explained Assistant Professor Anders Gudiksen of the University of Copenhagen's Department of Biology. Gudiksen and a group of colleagues looked at the role of age and physical training in maintaining fat tissue function. Specifically, they studied mitochondria, the tiny power plants within fat cells. Mitochondria convert calories from food to supply cells with energy. To maintain the life processes within cells, they need to function optimally. The researchers compared mitochondrial performance across a range of young and older untrained, moderately trained and highly exercise-trained Danish men. The results demonstrate that the ability of mitochondria to respire -- i.e., produce energy -- decreases with age, regardless of how much a person exercises. However, Anders Gudiksen explained, "Although mitochondrial function decreases with age, we can see that a high level of lifelong exercise exerts a powerful compensatory effect. In the group of well-trained older men, fat cells are able to respire more than twice as much as in untrained older men." Just as a car engine produces waste when converting chemicals to usable energy, so do mitochondria. Mitochondrial waste comes in the form of oxygen free radicals, known as ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species). ROS that isn't eliminated damages cells and the current theory is that elevated ROS can lead to a wide range of diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's. Therefore, the regulation of ROS is important. "The group of older people who train most, form less ROS and maintain functionality to eliminate it. Indeed, their mitochondria are better at managing waste produced in fat cells, which results in less damage. Therefore, exercise has a large effect on maintaining the health of fat tissue, and thereby probably keeping certain diseases at bay as well," said Gudiksen. The researchers can also see that the older participants who exercised most throughout life have more mitochondria, allowing for more respiration and, among other things, an ability to release more of the fat-related hormones important for the body's energy balance. "Our results show that you can actually train your fat tissue to a very high degree -- but that you needn't cycle 200km a week to achieve a positive effect. What you shouldn't do, is do nothing at all," concluded Anders Gudiksen, who hopes that the research world will focus more on what people can do to maintain the health of their fatty tissue. (ANI) Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness and other systemic damage. Every year, about 20,000 children are diagnosed with it. Now, a new study has reported that the time of day for providing the drug may be crucial to the effectiveness of such treatments. The study was published in 'Science Advances'. Duchenne primarily affects males and is usually diagnosed by age 4. While a variety of therapies can slow progression and extend life expectancy, the disease has no cure yet. Those born with Duchenne seldom live beyond their mid-20s. In 2017, researchers learned that weekly doses of prednisone, a widely prescribed steroid, appear to provide better support for weakening muscles compared to daily doses while also reducing the significant side effects induced by daily intake. Mattia Quattrocelli, PhD, a researcher with the Heart Institute at Cincinnati Children's, is the study's corresponding author. Co-authors included lab team members Michelle Wintzinger and Karen Miz of Cincinnati Children's and Northwestern University researchers Daniel Levine, PhD, Clara Peek, PhD, Joseph Bass, MD, PhD, and Elizabeth McNally, MD. The findings represented another advance in the growing field of chronopharmacology, which examines how medications work in sync -- or in conflict -- with the circadian rhythms of our bodies. A number of important findings in this field have been led by experts at Cincinnati Children's, which recently launched the country's only clinic dedicated to childhood circadian sleep disorders. Confirming a clear time-based influence for the use of prednisone among Duchenne patients very likely will help improve outcomes for affected children, but it also raises questions about the time of day for other uses of the steroid. More than 2.5 million Americans use prednisone and similar drugs to manage inflammation for conditions ranging from allergy treatment to preventing organ transplant rejection. "Our internal clock system is quite complex. Not only do we have our central circadian rhythm dictated by a special region in our brain, but all our tissues -- for instance, muscle -- have their own internal molecular clock constantly ticking," Quattrocelli said. "We are beginning to learn much more about the importance of the timing of drug administrations for their effects in our tissues." "In this study, we have focused on the interaction between the muscle clock and drug-activated molecules. But it will require considerably more research to determine how these findings may extend beyond the specific use of prednisone that we studied," he said. In mice, the researchers found that once-weekly prednisone doses administered at the start of the light period (approximately 7 am) promoted muscle function. The team observed that the treatment boosted nutrient utilization and strengthened mitochondrial bioenergetics in muscle. It also increased endurance and improved muscle mass and muscle force. However, these responses were lost when dosing occurred in the dark period. With mice being primarily nocturnal, their circadian clocks vary considerably from humans, so the specific time of day that achieves the most beneficial effect would be different for humans than for mice. However, Quattrocelli and colleagues reported that many of the time-based mechanisms involving muscle cell activity are conserved between mice and humans, which suggested that timing also will matter for treating people with muscle diseases. If confirmed in future human studies, the findings suggested that precision drug timing may maximize the drug benefits while avoiding side effects that may be more likely when a drug is given at the wrong time of day. That might help improve the efficacy of treatment and possibly quality of life for a range of muscle conditions, from muscular dystrophy to ageing to metabolic stress. This study focused exclusively on prednisone and muscle tissue. The time-based effectiveness of other synthetic glucocorticoids, such as dexamethasone and vamorolone (currently in trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (NCT03439670)) remained to be determined. Another pilot clinical trial with once-weekly prednisone in non-Duchenne forms of muscular dystrophy is ongoing at Northwestern University (NCT04054375). This trial is adapting the time of drug intake based on the new findings reported here. Patients were instructed to take the drug in the evening after their last meal (between 7-9 pm) in a first attempt to mirror the positive findings found in mice. "Results from the trial are still pending and hopefully will inform our refinement of chronopharmacology approaches for muscular dystrophies and other conditions," Quattrocelli said. Aside from differing drug characteristics, various tissues have their own internal clocks. So more research will be needed to determine if the day vs. night effects of prednisone also apply when treating conditions affecting other organ tissues. Notably, most uses of prednisone are related to controlling inflammation, often in immune conditions rather than muscle diseases. Time of day studies for treating immune conditions have only just started. "Every tissue of our body has an internal clock and this work reports on the fact that we can exploit the internal clock of muscle to interact with time-specific drug dosing to boost the positive effects of the drug on energy and function. However, more studies are required to precisely translate these findings to humans," Quattrocelli said. "Besides the obvious difference that mice are nocturnal animals while humans are mainly diurnal, we must consider many factors that will inevitably affect chronopharmacology in our population. For instance, people have far more complex patterns of eating, working, playing and sleeping compared to mice. All these differences would need further exploration to translate mouse-based learning to human medical care." (ANI) A second booster dose of Covid vaccine will be offered to all adults over-75 and the most vulnerable over-12s in the UK this spring. The UK's vaccines advisers said an extra dose would help top up their protection against severe Covid-19, BBC reported. Many of the oldest received their latest shot back in September and immunity may now be waning, it said. Until now, only people with severely weakened immune systems had been eligible for a fourth dose. But now adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults, individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, or have weakened immune systems are eligible for the fourth shot. While adults will be offered a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, children aged 12-18 will receive Pfizer. This will include about 7.2 million people in the UK aged over 75, who have already had their primary course of Covid vaccines, followed by another half a million people who are immunosuppressed. These are people with diseases such as blood cancer or who've had an organ transplant or are receiving chemotherapy. The second booster will be administered six months after the third dose, the report said. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said vaccinating these groups was a "precautionary" move and did not mean there was any current danger to their health. But because people in these groups are at higher risk from Covid-19, have weaker immune systems than other people and were last vaccinated in September or October 2021, their protection from vaccines might be waning more quickly. Data suggests that older people who have had two doses of a Covid vaccine have about 45 per cent protection against hospital admission with Omicron, rising to 90 per cent straight after their first booster. Ten weeks later, that protection has dropped to about 88 per cent. "Last year's booster vaccination programme has so far provided excellent protection against severe Covid-19," Prof Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid vaccination at the JCVI, was quoted as saying. "To maintain high levels of protection for the most vulnerable individuals in the population, an extra spring dose of vaccine is advised ahead of an expected autumn booster programme later this year." Other countries who have rolled out fourth Covid booster for immunocompromised include Israel, the US, Chile and South Korea. Israel now also plans to roll out the fourth jab for all adults. --IANS rvt/vd ( 423 Words) 2022-02-22-19:16:02 (IANS) Slamming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath over his remarks "linking" Samajwadi Party with father of one of the convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast case, former state Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said on Tuesday that there was no need for him to give clarification and more such allegations would be made in the coming days as BJP is "being rejected by people". Speaking to ANI, Akhilesh Yadav also hit out at the BJP government, saying "the industrialists who eloped after looting banks are also linked with someone, the whole country knows". Yogi Adityanath on Sunday has accused Akhilesh Yadav of "silence" over "links" of the father of one of the convicts of 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast with Samajwadi Party. He had also sought clarification and apology from Akhilesh Yadav over the photo showing the 'links". Yadav, who was campaigning in Rae Bareli, said BJP leaders were making such remarks as they are "sensing a defeat" in the polls. "Why should I give an explanation? Central agencies should investigate. I sit in the Lok Sabha where big leaders and ministers sit. The people have shocked Bharatiya Janata Party (with their votes) and they are making such allegations. You will see many such statements in the coming days against Samajwadi Party," Yadav told ANI. "The industrialists who eloped after looting banks are also linked with someone, the whole country knows. I saw a BJP MP meeting one such industrialist with such gratitude, it felt as if he was touching the feet of Pakistan's PM," he added. A special court in Gujarat last week sentenced 38 people to death for the 2008 Gujarat bombings. Yogi Adtiyanath said on Monday that eight of those convicted had connections with Azamgarh and a father of the convict is an active Samajwadi Party worker. "A Gujarat court has convicted 38 people in Ahmedabad blasts case. Of these, 8 have a connection with Azamgarh. Of these 8 convicts, a convict's father is an active Samajwadi Party worker. SP Chief should give clarification and apologise before the public," the Chief Minister said at a public meeting in Hardoi. Votes have been cast for three of seven phases in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Voting for the remaining phases will be held on February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said on Monday that the police have arrested three persons in connection with the killing of Harsha (26), a Bajrang Dal activist who was stabbed to death in Shivamogga on Sunday night. Meanwhile, the situation in Shivamogga continues to be volatile with protesters torching a police bus on Monday. The procession march organised for Harsha turned violent as incidents of stone pelting, and torching of vehicles were reported from Shivamogga, forcing the police to use tear gas and lathi charge against the protesters. Meanwhile, the Bajrang Dal has called for a state-wide bandh on February 23 condemning the killing of one of its activists. The police have arrested a person named Kasif in connection with the murder. Based on the information provided by him, two other accused have been arrested from Bengaluru. After committing the murder, the accused came to Bengaluru while Kasif stayed back to avoid suspicion,the police said. The accused have told the police that a gang of five people had killed Harsha and the police have launched a hunt to arrest the two absconding accused. Jnanendra said that there no decision has been taken as such to impose ban on any organisation. "We will see what can be done in this regard. I am not in a position to share any information on the investigation," he said. "The mother of the deceased has asked me to punish those responsible for the killing of her son. It will prevent other children from getting killed," Jnanendra added. Meanwhile, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, K.S. Eshwarappa, said that this was an act of outsiders and he would seek an investigation by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) into the matter. --IANS msk/arm ( 306 Words) 2022-02-21-20:18:02 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday called for developing 'Bangaru Bharat' (golden Bharat) saying the country has the potential to become more prosperous than the United States. Rao reiterated that he will play a key role in the national politics and urged people to continue their blessings in this fight to transform India into 'Bangaru Bharat' the same way Telangana was turned into 'Bangaru Telangana'. Addressing a public meeting at Narayankhed in Sangareddy district after laying foundation stone for two lift irrigation projects, he said even seven decades after Independence, India has not achieved the development which it should have. He blamed the wrong policies pursued by successive governments at the Centre for the country not developing to its full potential. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief was addressing the public meeting a day after his visit to Mumbai, where he met Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar as part of his renewed efforts to cobble together an anti-BJP front. "Should we go to Delhi and take the country ahead on the path of progress?" he asked the audience and said the goal can be achieved with the blessings and support of people. KCR, as the TRS leader is popularly known, said some forces were provoking and dividing people in the name of religion and caste. He claimed that Telangana has demonstrated before the nation how a government can ensure welfare of all sections of people and ensure peace and harmony. The chief minister claimed that India has all the natural and human resources to become more prosperous than the United States. "Our students and professionals today go to the US but we can take India to a stage where people from other countries will come here," he said. KCR listed out how Telangana achieved all-round progress in a short span of time. He recalled that many doubts were expressed during the Telangana movement. "Some people used to say that Telangana will plunge into darkness and the industries will be shut down. Today the same people who said this are facing electricity shortage," he said without naming Andhra Pradesh. The TRS chief claimed that Telangana is the only state in the country which is supplying 24-hour quality power to all sectors. He said Telangana with drinking water supply to every household, monthly pension to widows, senior citizens, differently abled, welfare of farmers and various other schemes has become a role model for the entire country. He claimed that no other state in the country has schemes like 'Rythu Bandhu' and 'Rythu Bhima'. Under Rythu Bandhu every farmer is getting investment support at the rate of Rs 10,000 per acre every year while under 'Rythu Bandhu' Rs 5 lakh is being paid to the family of a farmer within a week after his death. KCR said Uddhav Thackeray told him that farmers in Maharashtra districts bordering Telangana were demanding him to introduce schemes like 'Rythu Bandhu' and 'Rythu Bhima'. Earlier, the chief minister laid the foundation for Sangameswar and Basaveswara lift irrigation projects, which will be constructed at a cost of Rs 4,427 crore. The state government called it another historic event in Telangana's irrigation sector. The projects have been taken as part of efforts to reach the goal of irrigating one crore acres of land in the state. The two projects will irrigate 3.84 lakh acres in Andol, Narayankhed, Sangareddy and Zaheerabad Assembly constituencies in Sangareddy district. --IANS ms/skp/ ( 587 Words) 2022-02-21-20:32:03 (IANS) Speaking to ANI, Superintendents of Police (SP) Shivamogga Laxmi Prasad BM said, "We have requested the DC to impose a curfew starting tonight till tomorrow morning." "Everything is peaceful after the procession ended. The total deployment of police forces will be more than 500 in number," he added. Minister in charge of Shivamogga district KC Narayana Gowda further said that the incident of Bajrang Dal activist's murder cannot take place without support. "A scuffle took place between the accused and the deceased. Three people have been arrested so far in the case and two other accused will be apprehended," he informed. A compensation of Rs 2 lakh has also been announced for the kin of Harsha by MP Renukacharya, BJP MLA from Honnali, Karnataka. A 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha was allegedly murdered on Sunday night in Shivamogga. Security was tightened in the city following the incident. (ANI) Delhi Police has arrested a 65-year-old man for duping more than 14 investors to the tune of Rs 2.41 crore by enticing them to invest in his company which, according to him, offered lucrative returns. The accused was identified as Ravinder Kuar Aggarwal, a resident of Gurugram, Haryana. Furnishing details, Joint Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) Chhaya Sharma said complainant Girish Kumar Jain and 13 other victims filed complaint against Prayag Polytech Pvt Ltd and its directors alleging that directors of this company lured them to invest money in their company on the pretext of handsome returns. The alleged directors misrepresented that their company accepts money from the general public and they will earn a handsome return on their investment. The scheme offered by the accused person was very attractive and they were made to believe that the accused company and accused persons could take deposit from general public and they would fulfill their promises and commitments. "Victims were promised that their money was being taken as fixed deposit and interest would be paid and the principal will be returned within a week as and when demanded by the victims," the Jt Commissioner said. Through this modus operandi, the accused persons managed to collect deposits of Rs 2,41,50,000 from 14 investors. Based on this complaint, the police, accordingly, registered a case under sections 409, 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code at the Economic Offences Wing police station. The probe revealed that Prayag Polytech Pvt Ltd, the accused company and its directors accepted money from the victim on the promise of fixed return and acted as an NBFC, whereas, the alleged company was neither registered as NBFC with either RBI or it can take deposits from the general public. Any infusion of money in Pvt Ltd Company could only be through procedure laid down in the Companies Act and as per the rules and regulations framed by the RBI. "The victims were issued Promissory Notes against their investments and they were assured that their money was secure. However, after paying interest for a very short time, accused persons stopped paying and also usurped the principal amount. The alleged persons started avoiding the victims and finally absconded," said the senior official. Subsequently, a police team was constituted and the accused was arrested. "He has been interrogated to probe the role/involvement of other co-accused persons and to identify property and other assets, in which the cheated amount has been invested," said Sharma. Further investigation of the case is in progress, the official added. --IANS uj/skp/ ( 439 Words) 2022-02-21-21:00:02 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will deploy an additional 455 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) for the rest of the four rounds of polling in the UP assembly elections, sources in the ministry said. This additional deployment of 455 companies will have personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal. The sources said that these CAPFs companies will be relieved from Uttarakhand and Punjab where the one day polls were conducted on February 14 and 20 respectively. As of now around 60,000 security personnel including 6860 Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors are already deployed in the state. The Ministry has decided to deploy around over 80,000 of the security personnel for poll duty in various sensitive areas during the fourth phase on February 23, fifth on February 27, sixth on March 3 and the last phase on March 7. Sources in the security grid also said that over 200 CAPFs' companies which were stationed in the state in January this year before the first phase of polling on February 10 will return to their respective frontiers and will be replaced by this additional deployment in Uttar Pradesh. The Union Home Ministry has asked nodal officers of para-military forces' to coordinate with the UP government and district authorities for their respective deployment as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. The MHA has also asked the security forces to keep 50 companies of para-military forces located in UP on standby in case the need arises during the rest of the four rounds of polling. In the first week of January this year, the MHA had given a green signal for the first movement of CAPFs to election-bound states. A total of 225 companies of different CAPFs moved to Uttar Pradesh in January for area domination. --IANS ams/bg ( 325 Words) 2022-02-21-21:14:03 (IANS) The ED had on Friday arrested Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaskar in the case - the first arrest in the politician-underworld nexus case. Kaskar is in the ED's custody till February 24. Earlier, Salim Qureshi, an aide of Chota Shakeel, was interrogated by the team of the centre probe agency. The sources said that it was learnt that Qureshi went to Pakistan several times on the basis of a forged passport. He also allegedly works at behest of Dawood and Shakeel. The ED has collected information regarding his bank accounts, properties and other income sources. Sources claimed that the accused used to collect extortion money, and also earned through "settlements" - solving disputes they created themselves, and through drugs. Later this money was allegedly being used for terror activities across India. The Thane police had arrested Kaskar in 2017 in connection with an extortion case. An FIR under section 384 (extortion), and other relevant sections of the IPC was lodged by Thane police against Kaskar, Anees Ibrahim, and others. The ED took all the documents from Thane police pertaining to the case and initiated a probe of money laundering. The National Investigation Agency, too, had lodged a case of terror activities on the basis of the FIR of the Thane police and other relevant documents. The ED lodged an ECIR of money laundering on the basis of the case it had lodged. --IANS atk/vd ( 272 Words) 2022-02-21-22:12:04 (IANS) The Pegasus panel, appointed by the Supreme Court, is learnt to have submitted an interim report appraising the apex court about the progress on the probe. According to sources familiar with the development, the panel has submitted an interim report in the apex court. A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli will take up the petitions in the matter on February 23. The panel had earlier said that only two people submitted their mobiles phones with it for forensic examination. On October 27 last year, the top court said it was compelled to take up the cause to determine the truth, as it appointed an independent expert technical committee supervised by a retired top court judge, Justice R.V. Raveendran, to probe the Pegasus snooping allegations. The top court had authorised the technical committee to devise its own procedure to effectively implement and answer the terms of reference. The committee can hold an investigation it deems fit and take statements of any person in connection with the inquiry and call for records of any authority or individual. Justice Raveendran is overseeing the functioning of the technical committee and he is assisted by Alok Joshi, former IPS officer and Dr Sundeep Oberoi, Chairman, Sub Committee in International Organisation of Standardisation/International Electro-Technical Commission/Joint Technical Committee. The three members of the technical committee are Dr Naveen Kumar Chaudhary, Professor (Cyber Security and Digital Forensics) and Dean, National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Dr Prabaharan P., Professor (School of Engineering), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kerala, and Dr Ashwin Anil Gumaste, Institute Chair, Associate Professor (Computer Science and Engineering), Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. A batch of petitions including those by advocate M.L. Sharma, CPI-M MP John Brittas, journalist N. Ram, former IIM professor Jagdeep Chokkar, Narendra Mishra, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Rupesh Kumar Singh, S.N.M. Abdi and Editors Guild of India were filed seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus snooping allegations. --IANS ss/vd ( 339 Words) 2022-02-21-22:18:02 (IANS) "He will have to come to the police station to record his statement along with relevant documents on February 23 (Wednesday)," Thane Police said. Meanwhile, Wankhede has moved the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of FIR by Thane Police against alleged fraudulent bar licence. The court has fixed the hearing in the matter on February 22. He has moved another petition in the Bombay High Court seeking restoration of cancelled bar licence by Thane Collector. An FIR was filed against Wankhede on Sunday for forgery in Mumbai's Thane for allegedly obtaining a licence for a hotel by willful misrepresentation of his age, said the Kopri police on Sunday. The action was taken following the complaint of State Excise Department official Shankar Gogavale who alleged that Wankhede was below 18 years of age in 1996-97 while obtaining a licence for Sadguru Bar in the city. Thane collector had issued an order to cancel the licence of the bar. As per the FIR, the former zonal NCB director was not eligible to do these agreements but he claimed to be a major on a Stamp paper in his agreement deed for Sadguru Hotel of Thane. (ANI) Mishra, who was serving as Additional Superintendent of Police, Communication, was recently arrested by the Vigilance Department for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income. While conducting raids at 11 properties of Mishra and his family members, the vigilance team had found disproportionate assets worth Rs 9 crore which includes four several plots, flats, and expensive cars. So far, the Odisha government has dismissed 152 corrupt and incompetent officials from services, official said. --IANS bbm/vd ( 103 Words) 2022-02-21-22:48:01 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which on Monday conducted raids at the offices of Indiabulls Housing Finance in Mumbai and Delhi in connection with a PMLA case lodged against the company and its promoter Sameer Gehlaut in April 2021, has reportedly recovered a few incriminating documents. The ED also questioned the Indiabulls officials about a few clients. Their data was provided to the ED by the Indiabulls officials. Now the company has once again written to the National Stock Exchange to brief them on the ongoing matter. Speaking to IANS, the officials of Indiabulls confirmed the raid and the ED asking about a few clients. The ED's investigation is based on an FIR lodged in Palghar, Maharashtra, in April 2021. The FIR was filed by a person named Ashutosh Kamble. "The company and its officials have provided the data of clients to Enforcement Directorate," said an Indiabulls official. The officials alleged that Kamble was part of an extortion and blackmailing racket. "The FIR is a copy-paste of earlier several patently false, vexatious and malicious complaints that the blackmailers have been circulating for the last three years now; similar allegations in a petition under the name of Abhay Yadav was dismissed by the apex court in 2019. The company had immediately approached the Bombay High Court seeking quashing of the false and malicious FIR filed against the company in Palghar last year. The division bench of Bombay High Court on April 27, 2021 passed a detailed order staying all investigations in the matter," read a statement from the company. Earlier, Indiabulls had approached the National Stock Exchange on April 28, 2021, when it wrote a letter to NSE regarding clarification about the ongoing matter. The ED had earlier recorded the statement of a Puna-based businessman who deals in real estate in connection with the matter. The ED officials held a meeting on Sunday regarding Monday's raid. Separate teams were formed to recover a few incriminating documents. Delhi High Court had issued an order barring the ED to stall the investigation against the company. It had also asked the ED not to take coercive action against the company. --IANS atk/arm ( 370 Words) 2022-02-21-22:56:03 (IANS) After a push by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), Chhattisgarh has finally embarked on an exercise to identify significant wetlands across the state and pick a few of them for preparing an environment management plan. Incidentally, despite having more than 35,000 wetlands (of which 28,000-odd are less than 2.5 acres), as per 2011 data, there is not a single Ramsar Site in the state and the government machinery is now gearing to fill the void. "Since 2017, after it notified the Wetlands (Conservation & Management) Rule 2017, the Centre has been pushing states to identify wetlands and plan for environment management. In 2019, it had also introduced the 'Wetland Mitra' scheme for training local community members for engaging in the protection of wetlands. In connection with a 2019 case, even the NGT had directed for status of compliance with the environmental norms in respect of significant wetlands. Chhattisgarh had not done any of these works," said a Delhi-based official. Officials from Chhattisgarh that IANS spoke with could not explain why there was hardly any work done earlier. Lagging several other states, Chhattisgarh had, on December 17 last year, finally notified a newly constituted Chhattisgarh State Wetland Authority that met on January 10 this year for the first time and immediately embarked on the work expected. And finally, it was only on February 11 that the state government declared the Forest and Climate Change Department as the nodal department for the management of wetlands. Current Member Secretary, Arun Kumar Pandey said: "Based on the 2011 Wetlands Atlas, we have to first demarcate on ground the wetlands of different scales/sizes. We have already identified 25-odd significant wetlands that are 400-500 acres in size." "After receiving the necessary approvals from the state government, in the first phase, those significant wetlands of the state that are essential from the avian biodiversity/aquatic biodiversity point of view and other essential reasons will be given priority in work," the first meeting had decided. The new Authority has also demanded budget approvals for itself and also to prepare the inventory of the wetlands by a state agency using satellite images, in the first phase. It has also taken upon itself to push at least one wetland for Ramsar Site status (wetland of international significance, named after the Iranian city of Ramsar where the convention was signed and adopted by comity of nations 50 years ago.) --IANS niv/vd A ( 413 Words) 2022-02-21-23:04:02 (IANS) The wooden toys industry of Punjab is seeking government support post the COVID pandemic to help the industry flourish again. One of the many toys shops on the way to Sangrur from Chandigarh is that of Gurpreet Singh. He both makes and sells these wooden toys at his shop. In conversation with ANI, Gurpreet said that his family has been making wooden toys ever since 1994, but "due to COVID, 90 per cent of work was stopped." "We are now getting back to normal but 50 per cent is still not on the line. The government needs to approve and recognize this work; only then we will ace the field," said the toy merchant. Claiming that wooden toys are not found anywhere in the world, Gurpreet said that Punjab can manufacture and export them as brand India. "We have exported to the United States on our level, on-demand, but we need a regulatory. This work should be brought under GST," he said. Coming from a backward village, Gurpreet reiterated that if the government supports them, then every youth of Punjab can gain from the business. Courses and workshops should also be started, this field of work can feed a whole village. I can spend my life teaching this skill, said the toy merchant. "China has a toy business worth thousands of crores in India but the situation in Punjab is that we have more wooden toys in every house than Chinese toys; we are China in terms of toys," he added. (ANI) "If there is no action on the government's behalf (on withdrawal of pending criminal cases lodged against Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti members during 2015 Patidar reservation agitation) before March 23, a statewide agitation will be held," Patel said. Hardik Patel emerged as the leader of the agitation demanding reservation for the Patidar community in Gujarat in 2015. (ANI) Kerala Congress unit chief K Sudhakaran condemned the murder of a CPI(M) worker in Thalassery in Kannur district on Monday and said police is responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, he said, "This kind of incidences is happening daily in the state. Police don't have any control over law and order in the state. The Kerala police do not have any power to curb the violence in the state." On the directive of Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to stop pension to ministers' personal staff, the Congress leader said, "It is totally illegal. We don't support his statement. The Governor does not have the right to give the direction. The government should decide and the treasury is not owned by the governor." A CPI(M) worker was allegedly hacked to death at New Mahe in Thalassery on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday.(ANI) Last week Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had released its election manifesto for the 2022 Manipur assembly polls and promised host of 'freebies' while focusing on the protection of territorial integrity and preserving the rights of the indigenous people of Manipur and its rich culture. Among the BJP's top promises are two free LPG cylinders to be provided annually to all the PM Ujjwala beneficiaries of the state. Free scooty would be provided to all meritorious college-going girls of the state. Girls from EWS and backward sections will be provided with an incentive of 25,000 under the Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi Scheme. Manipur will go to the polls in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Amid the ongoing Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, BJP has intensified its campaigning for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh phases of the election. Home Minister Amit Shah will also hold roadshows today in the Raniganj, in Koraon, and in the western, northern, and southern parts of Prayagraj. Along with this, Home Minister may also campaign in Prayagraj (Gangapar). National President JP Nadda will be campaigning in Prayagraj's western, North and South parts of the metropolis today. The seven-phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. As voting for 172 of 403 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has been completed in the first three phases, another 60 constituencies will go to the polls in nine districts in the fourth phase. Polling for subsequent phases will take place on February 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Folkston, GA (31537) Today Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early will become more isolated after midnight. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early will become more isolated after midnight. Low 63F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. A day after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath claimed that the father of a convict in the 2008 Ahmedabad blast case is an active Samajwadi Party worker, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) General Secretary Hannan Mollah on Monday said it is immoral to drag culprit's family in the case and called it an attempt to put allegations on opposition party for political benefits. He also lashed out at the Chief Minister for not fulfilling any of his promises in the past five years. Speaking to ANI, Mollah said, "It is disgusting to put this kind of allegations. If someone committed a crime a few years ago, then it is not the right way to connect his entire family, parents, with him in the case. Whoever is the culprit was caught, and got the punishment. But it is not right to punish his entire family and run a campaign." "This is the way of the RSS and a ploy to take political advantage during Assembly elections. Adityanath himself did not fulfil even a single promise that he had made in the last five years. He is an expert in telling lies. So there is no need to pay attention to his allegations," he added. On July 26, 2008, as many as 21 bomb blasts had rocked Ahmedabad within a span of 70 minutes, leading to the death of 56 people and injury of over 200. The Islamic militant group, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, had claimed responsibility for the attacks. A special court in Gujarat on Friday pronounced the death sentence to 38 out of 49 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blast case. Reacting to the verdict, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister claimed that a convict's father is an active Samajwadi Party worker in this bomb blast case. "A Gujarat court has convicted 38 people in Ahmedabad blasts case. Of these, eight have a connection with Azamgarh. Father of one of the convicts is an active Samajwadi Party worker. The SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should give clarification and apologize," Adityanath said. (ANI) Astha Sindha, who came back from Ukraine, spoke to ANI and said, "I am happy to be back home as my parents were really stressed. I used to stay and study in the western part of Ukraine, which is deemed to be safe as of now." "The Indian Embassy is very prompt in assisting students, be it via e-mails or calls. They had issued the advisory thrice for us to leave the country temporarily," she said. Father of Astha, Arvind, said, "As parents, we were very concerned for our daughter's safety. The Indian Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs helped us get the air-fares reduced from about Rs one lakh to Rs 50,000 and taking the benefit my daughter came back home." Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Ukraine asked its citizens, particularly students, whose stay is not essential, to leave temporarily amid the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine. Tensions over Ukraine have increased in recent months, with Russia and NATO accusing each other of amassing troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border. The United States and Ukraine accuse Russia of planning for the invasion. But Moscow continues to deny such claims and maintains that it has no intention of attacking any country. (ANI) The special flight of Tata-owned Air India (AI) will take back Indian nationals, including students, who had registered for safe return from Ukraine (Boryspil) airport tonight. "The first special flight of Air India (AI-1946) out of the three to be operated from Ukraine to India will fly tonight with Indian nationals tonight," an airline official told ANI on the condition of anonymity. An Air India ferry flight on Monday left for Ukraine to take back Indians who wished to return home. Air India had already announced that a total of three flights from Ukraine to India would operate for Indian nationals, including students, during the state of war in Ukraine. "Air India is operating three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26," Air India said. The Boeing Dreamliner AI-1947 flight from Delhi has taken off as part of the special operation for Ukraine. It has a capacity of over 200 seats. "A Dreamliner Boeing B-787 took off from Delhi airport for Ukraine (Boryspil) in the morning," an airport official told ANI. Concerned over the escalating tension along the border of Ukraine with Russia, India on Tuesday strongly emphasized in the special meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. This statement was made at the UNSC in the backdrop of Russia's recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk of Ukraine. The United States and allies requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Russia's recognition of separatist territories in Ukraine as Independent. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with Russia has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. Tirumurti called for restraint on all sides. "The immediate priority is a de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said. The Indian representative emphasized that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. (ANI) The police had arrested one accused from Versova and three were arrested from the Borivali area. The accused have been identified as Naresh Kumar Ramavatar Pal (29), Salim Gulab Sayyed (30), Abdul Gulab Sayed (24) and Aman Subhash Barnawar (22). The Crime Branch said that all the four accused were on the run since the registration of the case. "One of the arrested accused is a casting director, while the other three are his associates. These accused are accused of forcing the models to shoot porn films," the police added. Crime Branch received information that Naresh Kumar was hiding in Goa. The Police received the tip-off about his arrival in Versova, after which police laid a trap and arrested the accused from the Versova area of Mumbai. In December last year, the Supreme Court granted four weeks' protection from arrest to businessman and Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra in connection with one of the cases involving allegations of producing and streaming pornographic content. On September 20 last year, Raj Kundra was granted bail by a Mumbai Court in the pornography case on a surety of Rs 50,000. Raj was arrested on July 19 along with 11 other people on charges related to the alleged creation of pornographic films. Allegations were levelled against Kundra for allegedly producing and distributing porn films using a subscriber-driven mobile app called 'Hotshots'. On the other hand, Kundra has refuted all the charges levelled against him by saying that he has been falsely implicated. (ANI) Several sugarcane farmers in Uttar Pradesh are shifting to the banana plantation. Farmers are taking to the banana plantation after facing payment delays and rising input costs in sugarcane cultivation. More than 35 lakh farmers roughly are stated to be engaged in sugarcane cultivation. However, the farmers after opting for banana cultivation noted satisfaction with the profit margins. In the Lakhimpur Kheri district, nearly 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land is under banana cultivation that yields two types of bananas G9 and Cadila. At present, the state is engaged in more than 68000 hectares of banana cultivation and every year produces more than 30 metric tonnes of bananas. Lakhimpur Kheri leads in banana production, which is followed by Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Allahabad and Kaushambi. The cost of fertilizers for sugarcane is around Rs 5,000 per acre, said the farmers, adding that the cost of banana plant cultivation is Rs 15,000 per annum but the profit is much more. Moreover, the sugarcane farmers who took a loan or somehow arranged money for sugarcane told ANI that they had to wait for a year or more for their payments of even Rs 25,000, making survival difficult. Hence, banana becomes the only option for them where the result and profit are immediate, said the farmers. Bhuwan Kumar, "How can we survive like this? All the struggle and then waiting for meagre payment of Rs 35,000 for months. This makes our survival difficult." Sone Lal, who shifted from sugarcane to banana farming, said, "Sugarcane's only issue is delayed payments. Hence, banana becomes the only option for us where the result and profit are immediate." The Lakhimpur Kheri villages Semeisa, Persia, Lakhun, Amitiya, Behta have turned into a hub of banana plant cultivation. Also, Sesaiya, Shnkarpur and more than 35 villages are shifting from sugarcane to the banana plantation. The farmers told ANI that it seems within a year more than 100 villages will get into a full-fledged banana plantation. But interestingly due to this fast shift in banana plantations the sugarcane mills have started clearing the long-pending dues of the sugarcane farmers. Pramod Kumar, earlier a sugarcane farmer, who launched a successful Start-up of banana fiber said, "I have started this since last year. Our BDO Arun Kumar Singh introduced us to the idea and helped us in getting the machines from Gujarat which cost Rs 2 lakhs." At present Pramod is also engaging women of Samaisa through the "Ma Saraswati self-help group (SHG)" in making the banana fibre through the stem. Also, the women get a share of the profit margin, he added. "Women get Rs 300 each and also at times they get a share of profit which varies around Rs 400 to 500 per kg. The cost of producing per kg fibre is Rs 100 to 110 and is sold for Rs 180 to 200 per kg. The fibre amounts to Rs 20,000 per quintal," said Kumar. He gets the order from all over India, mostly through online mode. Each banana tree yielded about 100 grams of fibre, which can be extracted in 20 minutes. In the month of October last year, Lakhimpur Kheri had sent 20 metric tonnes of bananas to Iran. The district will go for polling on February 23. (ANI) The investigation will be headed by the Additional Director General of Police of CID Gyanwant Singh. Further, SIT will submit its report within 15 days, the official order by the West Bengal government stated. Days after protests erupted over the death of the student from Aliah University, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday gave the direction for the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Director-General of Police. Anis Khan, a student of Aliah University, was found dead outside his home in Howrah's Amta area on Friday night. His parents have alleged that he was thrown off the roof of the building by four police officers, who had come to search for their son. The police, however, have denied the allegations. Addressing a public gathering in Howrah, Banerjee said, "I have asked for an SIT headed by DG, with the report within 15 days. A thorough enquiry will be done and culprits will be punished." The Chief Minister requested people to not fall prey to misinformation on the matter. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the work done by the BJP's double engine government has laid the foundation for the development of Manipur over the next 25 years. Addressing an election rally in Manipur's Heingang, the Prime Minister said that the BJP will again form government in the state. "In the last 5 years, BJP's double engine government worked towards the overall development of Manipur. You have seen BJP's good governance and good intentions. Our work in the last 5 years has laid the foundation for the next 25 years. You have witnessed BJP's good governance as well as a good intention," said PM Modi. Taking a dig at Congress, the Prime Minister said that after decades of Congress rule in Manipur, the state has only witnessed only inequality. "Last month, Manipur completed 50 years of its formation. The state has witnessed several governments in the last few decades. After decades of Congress rule, Manipur had got only inequality," he said. He further said that the BJP government has made the impossible possible adding that every region of Manipur has had relief from bandhs and blockades. "Congress, on the other hand, had made bandhs and blockades the main feature of Manipur," he added. The Prime Minister also appealed to the youth and the first time voters to exercise their franchise saying that the youth has given up arms and is coming forward to lead the development surge. "I'd like to appeal to the youth and the first-time voters - your vote is your active participation in this government and you become a part of the decision-making," he said. Lauding the work done by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, PM Modi said that his government has written a new chapter of change for Manipur, taking everyone forward. He further said that the BJP government has taken care of the state well during COVID. "Everyone is being provided free vaccine in Manipur. If a pandemic such as this had arrived pre-2017, what would've happened?" he added. PM Modi said that every 7 out of 10 Manipuri is now benefiting from the free ration. "Manipuri women had led a historic battle against foreign forces. Former governments never made the lives of Manipuri women easy. Only the NDA governments understood their problems and worked towards making their lives better," said PM Modi. The next phase of voting in Manipur is scheduled for March 5, and the counting will be held on March 10. (ANI) Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is moving towards a thumping majority in the state. Speaking to ANI, the Minister said the BJP has "progressed rapidly in every round of last three-phase elections in Uttar Pradesh. It's going to break the record of the last polls in 2017". The fourth phase of Assembly polls in the state is slated for tomorrow. "The BJP is moving towards a thumping majority and there is no problem anywhere... And the dreams of Opposition parties will turn to dust," Pathak said. The Minister accused the Opposition parties of taking support of goons and mafias to grab power. "With the help of goons and mafia, the Opposition parties want to grab power, which the people of Uttar Pradesh will not allow," he said. The minister alleged that the opposition parties have a bunch of goons, mafia, and anarchic elements. "There is a gang due to which their dream of coming to power will never be fulfilled," he added. He said that PM Modi led government has ensured an all-around development when asked that people have more aspirations than the state government running bulldozer on houses of goons. "The maximum number of expressways are in Uttar Pradesh. Schools and colleges are being constructed in each district. We have built AIIMS, airports and metros. We have given free ration to people twice a month," he said. "Toilets have been built in the homes of 12 crore people and new houses have been given to 45 lakh homeless people. We have given 1.18 crore electricity connections," said Pathak. The Minister, who is in the fray from Lucknow Cantonment seat, said the BJP government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has carried out a number of developmental works and that "if we start counting, the whole day will pass". The Minister said the BJP government wants to "raise the standard of living of the people of UP". On Prime Minister Modi's attack on Samajwadi Party on Sunday that bombs were planted on cycles in 2008 Ahmedabad blast, which is coincidentally the election symbol of the SP, the Minister said: "It is not hidden from anyone that bombs were put inside pressure cooker on cycles... These blasts took place in Ayodhya, Kashi and Lucknow too." Pathak hit out at the SP and alleged that "when the party formed the government in 2012, it took its first decision to withdraw cases registered against those accused in bomb blasts". The Minister said the Supreme Court "intervened and refused to withdraw cases". "Our government has ensured that terrorists have been punished," he said. "It is known that the SP has been supporting terrorists, goons and mafias," said Pathak. "The son and nephew of an evil bandit like Dadua are contesting the elections in the SP tickets. Goons, mafias, rapists and even accused in money laundering cases are contesting elections from the party," said Pathak. On his changing the seat from Lucknow West to Lucknow Cantonment, the Minister said, "It was the decision of the BJP". He rejected the claims that the BJP has a tough task in the ongoing polls. "The BJP will get a thumping majority in UP. There was a similar rumour in 2017 when people used to say that two boys (Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi) will change the face of the state," added Pathak. He stated that the "Opposition alliance will prove to be a thugbandhan". On hijab controversy, Pathak said that the students should abide by the uniform policy in educational institutions. The minister also rejected the contention that Brahmins in the state are not happy with the BJP. "Only the BJP can take forward the culture of India and Uttar Pradesh's cultural heritage, and Brahmins have done everything to save the culture of India," added Pathak. Three of the seven phases of UP Assembly elections have been completed and the voting for the remaining phases will be held on February 23, February 27, March 3 and March 7. The counting would take place on March 10. (ANI) Homer's epic poem Odyssey mentions the 'Lotus Eaters' who after taking a bite of this seductive flower forgot family and friends. Past memories were erased and they wasted away in a trance-like stupor. Though the addictive lotus hasn't been positively identified, it has contributed to the mystique of edible flowers. How easily we forget that many vegetables we consume are flowers albeit lacking in hallucinogenic power. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Artichoke buds. And, the most expensive spice in the world, saffron is yielded by the crocus flower. Trend-setting chefs abroad had realised long ago that flowers are much more than eye candy on the plate. They not only add rainbow tints but also contribute delicate fragrant flavours to the dish. This has made those working in Indian kitchens to sit up, take notice and emulate. They are getting excited about Thai and Vietnamese dishes that are flower-based. This is ironical as we in this land have always consumed a variety of flowers. Mocha (Banana blossoms) are cooked as a stir-fried vegetable and cutlets in Bengal. In the same state, pumpkin flowers lightly dipped in batter are deep-fried as fritters. Moringa (drumsticks) flowers are commonly added to curries here and in adjacent Jharkhand. There are other regional favourites. Turmeric flowers are cooked with pork in Nagaland and in the hills of Uttarakhand and Himachal, sherbet with buransh (rhododendron) is prepared to keep cool in the summers. In Rajasthan, the phog (flowers of a desert shrub) are added to raitas and kadhi. In the desert where not much grows pho flowers were mixed with millet flour seasoned with salt as a meal by the poor when famine struck. Buds of neem (margosa) are very bitter but are prized for exceptional medicinal properties. They are chopped and dried, cooked mixed with ghee and eaten in small quantities with rice. In Tamil Nadu, a special variety of rasam uses the neem flowers. Other floral bitters that are considered beautiful are orange blossoms called teeta phool in Assam. The Saraswat community dwelling on the western coastal belt celebrates Gudi Parva (New Year) with stir fry red neem leaves and flowers flavoured with pepper, cumin seeds and sugar. Ayurvedic compendia like Bhavpraksh Nighantu devote a separate section to flowers that could be consumed beneficially. Supa Shastra, which documents the culinary practises of medieval Karnataka refers to chuchhuroti, made with palmyra flowers ghee, sugar and fragrant edible camphor. The Nematnama, a fascinating text compiled in the same period, provides a long list of edible flowers--roses, jasmine, water lilies and many more. An exotic recipe mentions blue water lilies stuffed with boiled rice and, then steamed in a pot. Descriptions of mouth-watering pickles prepared with horse radish flower and oils infused with floral fragrances and subtle tastes are also provided. Maharaja Digvijay Singh of Sailana has shared in his celebrated cookbook a recipe for tesu ka phool ki tarkari (Flame of the Forest aka Palash). The petals are first boiled and then cooked in sesame oil with onion, garlic and spices such as cumin and mango powder to make a dry curry of sorts. Other flowers like semal (red silk cotton tree) and buds of kachnaar (Camel's Foot Tree) till a generation back were used similarly. In Awadh, some kayasath families employed it to prepare vegetarian kaleji (liver) and in Delhi, kachnarkali ka salan was a popular seasonal delight. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the flower preferred to tickle the palate is kundrum (roselle). The leaves of this plant are called gongura and have a sharp sour taste while the blossoms have an attractive flushing pink colour and a pleasant tang. Kundrum flowers enliven many vegetarian lentil soups and non-vegetarian curries. Sun-dried kundrum flowers are now being sold in the cities --marketed by enterprising NGOs working with self-help groups in villages. Besides refreshing chutneys, these are now being used as infusions, sherbet and preserves. Mahua flowers are widely used by tribal children of forest--Gond, Korwa, Bhil, Baiga, Santhal and Munda. Not only did these blossoms provide an intoxicating beverage inducing a pleasant high but were a major source of food in times of scarcity. Deep-fried mahua flowers are relished as a snack. In Chhota Nagpur region, Asur khichdi is prepared with rice mixed with flour obtained from dried mahua flowers. The traditional recipe for latta blends mahua flour and parched millets with molasses. In arid Bundelkhand, mahua incorporating gram flour and linseed is considered a delicacy. Mahua Poda Pitha is popular in villages settled in the forests of Orissa. Mahua laddoos have a long shelf life and are believed to have exceptional tonic properties. We sincerely hope that the revival of interest in edible flowers is not restricted to celebrity chefs and inspires home chefs to reclaim this unique heritage. Disclaimer: The views expressed in the above article are that of the writer and do not reflect that of ANI. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the Manipur will become an important centre for East Asia connectivity after the highway connecting Myanmar-Thailand is completed. "Rail connectivity will improve tourism in the region. It will provide the youth with employment opportunities. National highway connectivity has also witnessed unprecedented work in the last few years. Under the last govt, only 1 NH project was worked upon. Manipur will become an important centre for East Asia connectivity after the highway connecting Myanmar-Thailand is completed," said PM Modi at a rally in Manipur's Heingang. Slamming Congress over lack of development and poor connectivity in the region he said the BJP government had brought Manipur on the rail map of the country. "A few days ago when the first goods train arrived at Rani Gaidinliu station, I was very happy with all of you. The day is not far when the train will come till Imphal, you will be connected to the whole country through rail," he said. "For us, this entire region including Manipur is the gateway to India's trade and business with East Asia. That is why the BJP government has brought Manipur on the rail map of the country. It has been five-six years since Jiribam has been associated with the Railways," added PM Modi. He further said that the BJP government is promoting bamboo farmers, bamboo industry, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and the government has also changed the law related to bamboo. "The Mission Oil Palm started by our government will also benefit the farmers of Manipur. We have also promoted organic farming practices in the state," he said. "The policy of the BJP government is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayaas. That's why we connect every person, every class, every area with development. Manipur BJP has also prepared a very good and far-reaching manifesto which will make the state flourish," he added. PM Modi also said that the government has decided to celebrate the 15th of November every year as Tribal Pride Day. "Our tribal society has played an important role in the freedom struggle. The BJP government has honoured this contribution. Our government has decided to celebrate the 15th of November every year as Tribal Pride Day. It is also the pride of every tribe of Manipur and their identity. Our government is also building a museum in Manipur in the name of Rani Gaidinliu," he said. The Prime Minister said that before the Har Ghar Jal Mission was started, Manipur had just 25,000 households with piped water connections but today, this has gone up to nearly 3 lakh houses. He also said under the PM Awas Yojana, more than 60 thousand houses are being built in Manipur and most of them are owned by women. Voting in Manipur is scheduled for February 28 and March 5, and the counting will take place on March 10. (ANI) Renukacharya said, "I am clearly stating that the Congress party is responsible for the murder of Harsha. DK Shivakumar, BK Hariprasad and other Congress leaders his murder. I urge the home minister to transfer the case to the NIA. I will give compensation of Rs 5 lakh to family members." He further said, "Those who are involved in the murder should be killed. Earlier also there were attempts to murder him. The police failed to give security to Harsha. I am against the Muslim community but SDPI and PFI should be banned." A 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha was allegedly murdered at around 9 pm last night in Shivamogga. The security was tightened in the city following the incident. Three people were detained from Bengaluru over the killing of the Bajrang Dal member which triggered violent protests across Shivamogga. (ANI) Does a person's tolerance level to the people and situations around him have a bearing on his urge to commit crimes? A recent study has suggested so. The study, titled 'Preferences predict who commits crime among young men' was published in the 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'. There is a broad belief that some people have stronger social and financial incentives to commit crimes than others do. Yet, people who face the same incentives can also make different choices because they have different preferences. This means that they weighed the costs and benefits of committing a criminal action differently. In general, however, there is a lack of knowledge about the role of people's preferences in relation to the risk of ending up committing a crime. Researchers from Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality at the University of Copenhagen, therefore, tested the assumption that character traits such as risk tolerance and impatience are more prevalent among criminals. "In addition to looking at the importance of cognitive skills and socio-economic background, we have also examined a number of personal preferences in relation to criminal behaviour. And we can clearly see that certain preferences play a key role," said Professor Claus Thustrup Kreiner. According to the researchers, willingness to take risks turned out to be a key characteristic of many criminals. "The propensity to commit crime is twice as high for the most risk-tolerant individuals compared to the least risk-tolerant," emphasised Claus Thustrup Kreiner. The importance of the individual's willingness to take risks in predicting criminal behaviour corresponds to half of the importance of cognitive abilities, which is the strongest predictor for the propensity to commit a crime. "If we look at different types of crime, willingness to take risks is particularly relevant when it comes to predicting property offences, such as theft. If we are talking about violent, drug or sexual offences, problems with self-control are common among the individuals," explained Claus Thustrup Kreiner. The study included data from economic experiments, where more than 7,000 young Danish men were invited to participate on an online platform. The participants received an average payoff of approximately DKK 250 for participating, but the amount depended, among other things, on their patience in the experiment and willingness to take risks with the possibility of a major benefit. The study was in line with other economic studies, which have examined the importance of preferences for differences in people's economic outcomes. Data from the experiments was anonymized and linked to administrative data, which, in addition to describing the socioeconomic conditions of the participants, also included information about the crime. "We have chosen to focus on crime among young men aged 15-20 because it is a group where a lot of crime is committed compared with other men and women in general," explained Claus Thustrup Kreiner. The combination of experimental and administrative data also gave Claus Thustrup Kreiner and the other researchers a unique set of control variables. "We have gathered information such as school performance, residential area, immigration status, family size, birth order, parental socioeconomic status, criminal activity of parents and stress factors such as parental divorce or unemployment," he said. One of the main functions of the criminal justice system is to deter people from committing crimes. The new research results implied that exactly the people who are most likely to commit crimes are also those who respond least to increased enforcement and stricter sentences. The risk of future penalties has a much smaller preventive impact on a person who is impatient and willing to take risks. "Our study may be able to help explain why there is limited empirical evidence that increasing punishment works to reduce crime," said Claus Thustrup Kreiner. The inadequate effect of punishment highlights the importance of work on crime prevention. Here, Claus Thustrup Kreiner also believes that their results are relevant. He elaborated, "Our study clearly shows that preferences such as risk tolerance, impatience and altruism predict the propensity to commit crime. Other research suggests that it is possible to influence these behavioural parameters in children and young people, which can be very important in relation to the development of criminal behaviour." (ANI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Maharashtra government to completely hold back the ongoing investigation against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh over the allegations of misconduct and corruption. A bench of Justices SK Kaul and MM Sundresh expressing concern over the "messy state of affairs" highlighted by the ongoing legal battle between Singh with the state administration, said that "it is a very very unfortunate situation". The top court said, "It has the propensity of unnecessarily shaking confidence of people in the police system. Process of law must be carried in a manner." The apex court said that it will take a call on whether the FIRs lodged by Maharashtra police against Singh be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or not and asked the state government to keep its hands off from those cases till it decides the issue. It recorded in its order that the state government has given its assurance to put the matter on hold while the top court is considering the matter. It asked the parties to file written synopsis and posted the matter for hearing on March 9. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, told the bench that it is in the interest of things that all cases herein be investigated by the central probe agency. Earlier, the bench had allowed Mumbai Police to carry on the investigation against Singh but restrained it from filing charge sheets on the FIRs against him over the allegations of misconduct and corruption. It had also been observed that it was a "disturbing scenario" that Singh does not have trust in the police force which he headed once and the Maharashtra government has no faith in the CBI. The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Singh seeking protection from coercive steps by Mumbai police in the cases registered against him. On the last date of hearing senior advocate Puneet Bali, appearing for Singh, had told the bench that the former Mumbai Police Commissioner is being targeted and the State government is trying to scuttle the probe. Cases were registered against Singh over allegations of misconduct, corruption and extortion and apex court had sought CBI's view on probing the cases as they are interlinked with the matters already under the investigation of the central agency. The apex court had also granted interim protection to Singh from arrest. Singh had approached the top court against the September 16, 2021 judgment of the Bombay High Court which dismissed as not maintainable his pleas challenging the two enquiries orders issued by the State Home Ministry for allegedly violative service rules and the second over allegations of corruption. The apex court had also expressed concern over the ongoing fight between Deshmukh and Singh saying the matter has become "curiouser and curiouser". Singh's counsel had told the apex court that six cases of corruption and extortion were filed against Singh after he wrote letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray levelling corruption and misconduct against the then Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh. Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner on March 17 and was made the General Commander of Maharashtra State Home Guard after he levelled allegations against Deshmukh. On November 18, the bench had asked Singh to disclose his whereabouts while making it clear that no protection can be granted to him against arrest until his location is known. Singh was declared as a absconder by a Mumbai Magistrate after his non-appearance in an extortion case. (ANI) Chhattisgarh government has appointed Ganesh Misra, Liason Officer (Chhattisgarh Bhawan, Delhi) as Nodal officer. He is in constant touch with the Ukrainian government. The government has also issued helpline no. 01146156000, fax-01146156030, and mobile no. 9997060999. The Indian embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday again advised students to temporarily leave Ukraine rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities amid the growing tensions in the region. This latest advisory comes against the backdrop of Russia's decision to recognize the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Tensions rose dramatically after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his address to the nation on Monday.Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conducted a meeting on the preseChhattisgarh govt appoints Nodal officer to help state's people, students in Ukrainent tensions following a request from the United States and allies on Monday. Condemning Russia's move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to the table for negotiations as well as immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops. India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. (ANI) Aam Aadmi Party leader Durgesh Pathak on Tuesday slammed Delhi chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Adesh Gupta over the announcement of regularisation of sanitization workers in the national capital. Stating that the BJP has been deceiving people, Pathak said that "their time is now over in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)". Delhi unit of the BJP chief had earlier said that the regularisation of the sanitization workers has begun in the MCD. Speaking to media persons, Pathak said, "Yesterday, the BJP held a press conference and Gupta looked nervous about the imminent defeat in the MCD polls. They themselves know about their upcoming defeat. Many sanitation workers called me and complained about their (BJ) lies. They said that the BJP has made these promises many times but never fulfilled them. It's been around 30 years that these workers are being deceived." The AAP leader said that the time for the BJP is now up in the MCD. "I would like to tell the sanitation workers to take revenge and defeat the BJP," he added. Taking a jibe at the BJP, Pathak said that the ruling party starts mentioning their works ahead of Municipal Corporation's elections in Delhi. The MCD polls are likley in the next few months. (ANI) Opposition in Kerala Assembly on Tuesday staged a walkout after Speaker M V Rajesh rejected the request for an adjournment motion to discuss Lokayukta Amendment Act. Opposition member Sunny Joseph brought an adjournment motion demanding discussion on the amendments made to Lokayukta Act recently. While speaking in the Assembly, state Law Minister P Rajeev said, "No power has been removed from the Lokayukta Act. Section 14 of the Lokayukta Amendment act was not common with similar laws in other states. That is why it has been amended. The issue is sub-judice and it can not be discussed. Adjournment motion can bring only at the time of presentation of the bill." Speaker rejected the permission following which the Opposition staged a walkout. Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan alleged that four cases are pending against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. They tried to make the major amendments in the Lokayukta Act to protect the interests of the Chief Minister, added Satheesan. "Fear has gripped the Chief Minister and hence the government put forward this amendment. Our problem is that now it seems there is no mechanism to prevent corruption in Kerala. The Governor was not ready to address the House," Leader of Opposition said. The Budget session of the Kerala Assembly will be held in two parts, from February 18 to February 24, and from March 11 to March 23. (ANI) Before the release of the film by producer-director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, it has been taken to Bombay HC by Congress' Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Amin Patel, alleging that it misrepresents Kamathipura area as a red-light area and maligns the name of the Kathiawadi community. The HC will hear the plea on Wednesday. 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', which is helmed by ace filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, revolves around a maiden sold by a suitor into prostitution and how she becomes a prominent, celebrated figure in the underworld and Kamathipua red-light district. The film marks Alia Bhatt's first collaboration with Bhansali. 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' film had its international premiere at the Berlin Film Festival and will be released in theatres on February 25. (ANI) It was just a fine Tuesday morning when people were waking up and preparing themselves for the day when suddenly everyone's phones started beeping... Unlike the usual 'Good Morning' thoughts and eye-opening unwanted quotes, this time, the messages were about 22.02.2022 being a palindrome and an ambigram! A palindrome is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of characters that reads the same backward as forward. This solved the mystery of the new word added to our dictionary on 22.02.2022 (pun intended). Words like 'madam', 'refer', 'dad', 'redivider' etc., are some examples of a palindrome. But what about the other new entry to our dictionaries, ambigram? Well, an ambigram means a visual that is the same even upside down. It is a rare occurrence in calendars compared to a palindrome. It was indeed a special day as 22.02.2022 also happened to be on a 'Tuesday'. Hence, the people on Twitter had a field day connecting the dots and declaring the day as 'TWO's Day! While some people posted generic reactions, defining and celebrating the special day, others were simply having fun. One Twitter user posted a famous comic strip from 'Spiderman', in which three Spidermans pointed at each other. Another user took a mathematical dig on the date. Telecom giant Vodafone's UK handle also joined the bandwagon. The official handle of Delhi Police posted a precautionary tweet, smartly gelling in Two's Day in it. Other hilarious memes were: Celebrities also took to their social media handles to celebrate the day. Samantha Ruth Prabhu, posted a hilarious poster, with plenty of 'two' references, from her upcoming film, 'Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal', along with a song, which coincidentally had the lyrics "two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two, I Love you really I love you too", signifying two lovers of the male hero. Raveena Tandon posted about the significance of the day on her Instagram Story. Neha Dhupia, who was recently seen in 'A Thursday', posted a beautiful photo of herself with her two children while wishing everyone a happy 'Two's day'. There are 12 Palindrome Days in the 21st century in the MM-DD-YYYY format. The first one was on October 2, 2001 (10-02-2001) and the last one will be on September 2, 2090 (09-02-2090). The last double (both a palindrome and ambigram) was on February 12, 2021. The next double will apparently be on Feb 8, 2080, which is, safe to say, 'too' far away. (ANI) Shiv Sena will take care and bear the expense of the education of the five-year-old child who survived the Worli chawl fire incident, said Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Tuesday. Three persons of a family succumbed to burn injuries in the fire incident that took place on November 30. The child who was badly injured in the incident was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday after more than two months. "A fire broke out after a gas cylinder exploded in a chawl in Mumbai's Worli area on the morning of November 30. Four people of a family were badly injured in this accident. A few days later, three of them succumbed to injuries. The five-year-old child whose condition was also critical had been admitted to Kasturba Hospital for two months. The child has been discharged today," said Kishori Pednekar. "We have adopted the child. He will now stay with his maternal grandfather in Pune. We have created a fund Rs 15 lakh in the name of the child. Every month Rs 5,000-10,000 will be sent to his account. We will also bear the cost of his education. The child now belongs to Shiv Sena. We will raise him," she added. (ANI) "As DMK led UPA alliance are winning with huge margins, I thank people. This is a certificate given to the last 9 months of our governance. This is a reorganisation for the Dravidian model," said Stalin. The local body elections across were held Tamil Nadu almost after nine months of 2021 assembly polls in which DMK won 133 seats on its own in the 234-member assembly. Meanwhile, as per the state election commission, DMK is leading 128 wards out of the results declared for 164 wards in Greater Chennai Municipal Corporation, followed by AIADMK (15), Congress (9), INDPT (4), CPI (M) (2), MDMK (2), CPI (1), BJP (1), among others in 200 wards constituency. The urban local body elections in Tamil Nadu were held on Saturday for 12,607 posts in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 490 town panchayats. There are 57,778 candidates contesting for 12,607 posts. (ANI) Revolution MacInnes believes that disinformation about COVID-19 killed his father. In recent years, MacInnes dad began subscribing to conspiracy theories. His father spent a lot of time on Facebook, and believed posts that claimed COVID-19 vaccines were harmful and lining the pockets of government officials, MacInnes said. He believes his father may have been mentally ill, and the conspiracy theories helped him feel engaged. Advertisement His dad refused to get vaccinated. In late January, the Oswego man began having trouble breathing. Within a few days, he was in the hospital with COVID-19. Soon after, he had a heart attack, his lung collapsed and he was on a ventilator, MacInnes said. He died Feb. 8 at the age of 76. Advertisement The reason he didnt get vaccinated is because he had been told a series of things around the dangers of vaccines, said MacInnes, 55 of Andersonville, who described his dad as one of his closest friends. He was seeing all this nonsense. Revolution MacInnes recalls the circumstances of his father's death from COVID-19 on Feb 16, 2022. MacInnes blames his death on misinformation. His dad believed vaccines were harmful based on what he saw on Facebook. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) False information about COVID-19 has proliferated throughout the pandemic, and now a number of groups and states are grappling with how to handle misinformation spread by one unlikely group in particular: doctors. Though the vast majority of doctors are in agreement that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, some physicians and physician groups are saying the opposite, often on social media sites such as those frequented by MacInnes dad. About two-thirds of state medical boards across the country have reported an increase in complaints related to doctors spreading false or misleading information, according to the Federation of State Medical Boards. Some say doctors who spread misinformation about COVID-19 should lose their medical licenses while others are pushing to prohibit punishments against them. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation released a notice in November saying that doctors can face disciplinary action for failing to give advice or treatment in line with evidence-based medicine and standards of care. That includes giving patients exemptions from wearing masks when theres no medical need, and prescribing ivermectin for COVID-19, the department said. Its also encouraging anyone who hears Illinois doctors spreading misinformation about COVID-19 to file a complaint with the department. Other states are taking the opposite approach. The Federation of State Medical Boards is now tracking 28 bills in 15 states that would prohibit discipline against doctors who prescribe certain nonapproved treatments for COVID-19 or spread misinformation. A bill in Florida, for example, would prohibit discipline against any health care practitioner for exercising his or her constitutional right of free speech, including, but not limited to, speech through the use of a social media platform, unless it can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the speech physically harmed a patient of that provider. Bills in Iowa and Indiana would prohibit disciplining doctors for prescribing ivermectin and/or hydroxychloroquine. Tennessee and North Dakota have already passed similar bills, and their governors have signed them into law. Ivermectin is a drug used to treat people with infections caused by some parasitic worms, but it is not approved for the treatment of COVID-19, as it has not yet been shown to be safe or effective, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Hydroxychloroquine is a malaria medication that received emergency use authorization to treat COVID-19 in 2020, but the FDA later revoked that authorization because the drug was not found to be effective against COVID-19 and the FDA determined its benefits did not outweigh the risks, including potential heart rhythm problems. The risks are low and the potential gains are high, Rep. Curt Nisly said of ivermectin, in a statement. Nisley is the lawmaker sponsoring the Indiana bill. Hoosiers should be able to care for their health safely and effectively. Advertisement But the federation, which represents medical boards across the country, and many other doctors find such bills troubling. We see the effects of patients coming in unvaccinated and the unnecessary suffering and death that is caused by the conspiracy theories and disinformation that is being spread by this small number of very vocal physicians who are far outside of the medical consensus but causing a great deal of harm to a population who is mostly confused, said Dr. Nick Sawyer, a California ER doctor and executive director of No License for Disinformation, a group pushing for physicians who spread false information to be disciplined. What theyve done is they have co-opted the trust that the public places in physicians, Sawyer said. An unconscionable violation of physician trust Its unclear how many physicians may be warning against vaccines, or prescribing nonapproved treatments in the privacy of their own offices. But several groups of doctors including Americas Frontline Doctors and the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance have been advocating the use of certain nonapproved treatments on social media and/or questioning the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. In late November, Americas Frontline Doctors posted on Facebook that COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of heart attacks by more than twofold, and that vaccinated adults under age 60 in England were more likely to die than those who were unvaccinated. Facebook tagged both of those posts with warnings either saying they were false or referring people to Facebooks COVID-19 information center for facts about COVID-19 and vaccines. In this video titled "The Lesser Known Ultraviolet Killer" posted to YouTube on May 5, 2008, Dr. Joseph Mercola talks about "the dangers of sun exposure and how you can prevent yourself from cancer." About a dozen influential anti-vaxxers including Chicago-born and trained physician Dr. Joseph Mercola were responsible for nearly two-thirds of anti-vaccine content on social media, according to a report released by the Center for Countering Digital Hate last year. (YouTube) Some individual doctors have also gained prominence in recent months for their stances. About a dozen influential anti-vaxxers including Chicago-born and trained physician Dr. Joseph Mercola were responsible for nearly two-thirds of anti-vaccine content on social media, according to a report released by the Center for Countering Digital Hate last year. Advertisement In response to increasing misinformation about COVID-19 spread by doctors, the Federation of State Medical Boards released a statement in July saying that physicians who spread misinformation or disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines risk having their medical licenses suspended or revoked. At least 15 states, including Illinois, followed suit, publishing their own statements on the issue. The federation has no power over state medical boards but is a nonprofit organization that represents state medical boards, which deal with matters involving physician discipline. The Chicago-based American Medical Association also adopted a policy in November aimed at combating disinformation spread by health care professionals. My experience is people trust me with their most valuable possessions, their health and the health of their loved ones, and to deliberately mislead them with inaccuracy, thats an unconscionable violation of physician trust, said Dr. Gerald Harmon, president of the American Medical Association. How much discipline is enough? Exactly how to deal with those doctors, however, remains a topic of discussion even among those who agree that what theyre doing is wrong. At least a dozen state medical boards had disciplined medical professionals for spreading false information, as of this past fall, according to the federation. Some, however, say that number is not nearly high enough. Advertisement Medical boards are supposed to enforce provisions in state medical practice acts, and theyve failed to do that, said Sawyer, with No License for Disinformation. Theyve failed to protect the public from these dangerous disinformation doctors, and that has now metastasized into this issue where you have a large number of disinformed people who believe in the conspiracy theories. Harmon, with the American Medical Association, said: Im encouraged that some action is being taken. Im not satisfied that we have enough action at this point or we have not reached a point where misinformation seems to have been reduced. Its possible that more disciplinary action hasnt been taken because investigations into complaints, and the due process for the doctors involved, can take time, said Lisa Robin, chief advocacy officer for the Federation of State Medical Boards. Its difficult to know how many states may be now investigating complaints because many medical boards dont publicly confirm investigations. Boards can take a number of actions against doctors who spread misinformation about COVID-19, depending on their state laws and rules. Actions can range from simply sending the doctor a warning letter to suspension or revocation of a doctors medical license. Revolution MacInnes recalls the circumstances of his father's death from COVID-19, while speaking at his Chicago home on Feb 16, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) A statement issued by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in November said that it is a violation of state law to engage in dishonorable, unethical, or unprofessional conduct of a character likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public. The department said it was aware of licensed health care professionals providing misinformation regarding COVID-19 mitigations and treatment. The department, however, at this point, has not taken any public disciplinary action against doctors in Illinois for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, spokesman Chris Slaby said in an statement. He noted that complaints and investigations are confidential until the department takes an enforcement action or publicly disciplines a person. He did not answer questions about how many complaints, if any, the department has received. Advertisement MacInnes, whose father died of COVID-19 earlier this month, would like to see doctors who spread false information about COVID-19 and vaccines online punished severely. The misinformation his dad saw online likely came from a number of sources, said MacInnes, who owns a media production company and hosts livestream shows. But false information that comes from doctors is especially dangerous, given that theyre not average people, he said. Theyre supposed to be experts. They need to lose their licenses, and they need to do jail time, MacInnes said. If you go against science and youre a doctor, my opinion is you dont get to be a doctor. In a tweet he wrote, "Files seeking Guv approval for Annual Financial Statement for 2022-2023; Supplementary Estimates for 2021-22, Supplementary Grants for 2021-2022 and Budget Grant 2022-2023 remitted back as could be constitutionally considered only after assembly is duly summoned." The Governor further stated that the financial matters would only be addressed after the state Cabinet decides to summon the assembly and issue a publication of notification in the Kolkata Gazette for the same. "After receipt of Cabinet Decision to summon assembly & publication of Notification in Kolkata Gazette, these financial matters will be addressed", tweeted Dhankhar. He also sought compliance of the note issued on January 21, 2022 seeking information, including diversion of funds from the state Consolidated Fund. Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee on Monday claimed that the Governor is "unnecessarily delaying government's work by not signing the bills on time." "Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar has been holding files and thus delaying the state government's work. He has not been signing the bills on time," Banerjee told while addressing a press conference. (ANI) With Manipur going to polls next week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the northeastern state on February 23. This will be his first visit to the north-eastern state after the dates for the Assembly elections were announced in January this year. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state on Tuesday and addressed election rallies in Imphal. As part of his agenda, Shah is scheduled to address two public meetings in the tribal-dominated Churachandpur Assembly constituency in Manipur and he will also have lunch at the district party office-bearers' home. The second venue for his rally is Kangpokpi Assembly constituency, which is home to a significant Gorkha population. This shall be followed by a door-to-door campaign by Shah in Yaiskul Mandal and Bhamon Leikai. Even though this region is inhabited mainly by Naga population, it also has a significant number of Gorkhas who are residing here. The former BJP national president will also be holding a meeting with the state party leadership later in the evening to assess the progress of campaigning before heading back to Delhi. Speaking on the Union Home Minister's visit BJP Manipur election co-incharge Ashok Singhal told ANI: "We are expecting a huge turnout for the Union Home Minister's visit because BJP is committed to a peaceful and prosperous Manipur." Singhal, who is also the Urban Development Minister of Assam, took a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his comment that the 'BJP and the RSS do not understand Manipur's culture' and said, "Those who do not have any understanding and culture of their own should not lecture us." Manipur goes into elections in two phases -- February 28 and March 5. Chief Minister N Biren Singh-led BJP is seeking a second term in the office with an absolute majority that the party is targeting. BJP has ditched all its previous alliances and is fighting on all the 60 seats alone. (ANI) "Apart from that, 50-bed hospitals under PM Ayushman Bharat Yojana will be opened in five locations across the state and a 100-bed hospital at Sualkuchi," said Sarma. Chief Minister made the following comments while chairing a high-level meeting with senior government officials in Guwahati to discuss various issues related to Assam Secondary Healthcare Systems Reforms Project. Assam Chief Minister directed officials to expedite online booking for OPD at medical colleges and opening Green Corridor for emergency cases with adequate parking space to make health delivery hassle-free. He also reviewed the progress of ongoing construction work of five District Hospitals at newly created districts in the state. The Assam Chief Minister discussed steps taken at State Cancer Institute, GMCH under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke and also approved the utilization plan for the same. "There will be a single admissibility board headed by CEO of Atal Amrit Abhiyan Society and CEO's office will take steps for verification and other procedures related to release of admissible amount," Sarma said. He asked officials to introduce portal-based submission of medical bills for all government employees and to develop a portal and prepare appropriate guidelines to ensure a seamless experience for the patients and their families. (ANI) Notably, Pawar was scheduled to appear before the panel on February 23 to record evidence in connection with the January 2018 violence at a war memorial in the Pune district of Maharashtra. An application has been filed before the Commision on behalf of the NCP chief seeking time to file an additional affidavit before the Koregaon-Bhima judicial inquiry Commision informed Pawar's Advocate Ashish Satpute. Speaking to ANI, Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI, "Pawar in written told the Commission that he will appear before it next time and this time he cannot come. Whatever information he has he will surely keep it before the Commission in future." Maharashtra government-appointed inquiry Commission is probing the 2018 Bhima-Koregaon violence. On January 2, 2018, violence erupted at an event to mark 100 years of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, leaving one dead and several injured, including 10 policemen. The police had filed 58 cases against 162 people during a state-wide shutdown in January following clashes in Bheema-Koregaon. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi while hitting out at the Samajwadi Party on Tuesday said that the Parivarvaadis showered love on terrorists. Taking a swipe at the SP, he added, "These 'Parivarvaadis' showered love on terrorists who are guilty of many blasts in Uttar Pradesh. They were conspiring to release those terrorists from jail. The Samajwadi government was even against banning terrorist organizations. They're quiet on the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts verdict. Everyone knows who was helping whom. Those who cannot think about the country's security can never do any good to UP." Attacking the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government, he said, "From 2014 to 2017 I have seen very closely the work, their business, their exploits of these Parivaarvadis. It is sad when the Parivaarvadi governments sacrifice the interest of the people for their selfish motives." He added that the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) win in Uttar Pardesh in 2022 will be a 'Jeet Ka Chowka'. "This time we are going to hit a 'Jeet Ka Chowka' (Victory 4). First in 2014, then 2017, 2019, and now 2022. People of Uttar Pradesh have decided to topple 'Parivaarvadis'", said PM Modi. He said that each and every vote in Uttar Pradesh for BJP will make the country strong. "You can see how much turmoil is there in the world at this time. In such a situation, it is very important for India and the entire humanity to be strong today. Today your every vote will make India strong. One vote of each people from Suheldev's land will strengthen the country", said the PM. "Yogi government is making every effort for the last 5 years, to make people's lives better. 80 crore people all over the country are getting free ration for almost two years. In Uttar Pradesh, 15 crore people have got free ration", said the PM. Speaking about the schemes in Uttar Pradesh, he said, "Understanding this plight of the poor, our government had started Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana. Through these schemes, we have given security cover of Rs 2 lakh each to the poor." "Today more than 4.5 crores poor people of UP are getting benefited from these schemes." According to the PM, a total of Rs 1,000 crore has been given to the poor families of Uttar Pradesh directly in their accounts. "80 crore people all over the country are getting free ration for almost 2 years and in Uttar Pradesh, 15 crore people have got free ration." Speaking on the vaccines, Modi said, "These people (Parivaarvadis) demotivated you saying that COVID-19 vaccine is BJP's vaccine. Just as you did not listen to them while taking the vaccine, do not listen to them in the election also." Reacting to the Opposition blaming BJP for farmers' protest, the PM said, " Today these 'Parivarvaadis' have started talking about the farmers while they themselves got dozens of sugar mills closed in Uttar Pradesh. These are the people who used lathis on farmers for urea and fertilizer. During the previous government, only 75,000 farmers of Bahraich were able to get the benefit of government purchase. Whereas under the BJP government it is 2 lakh farmers in Bahraich itself who benefitted from the government purchase." Voting for the remaining three phases of the seven-phase UP elections will take place on February 27, March 3, and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (ANI) Hyderabad Police organized an awareness campaign against drugs at a community centre in Seethaphal mandi area on Tuesday. Chandana Deepti, Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Zone attended the programme. Students from schools and colleges have attended the event. Speaking to ANI, DCP Chandana Deepti said, "Drugs addiction carries wide-ranging implications. if we see at a larger level there are bigger networks and those will lead to crimes like terrorism and smuggling of weapons. We have youngsters who have a bright future. They are being addicted to drugs beyond repair." "We are vigilant and wherever the drugs is found to be transported or consumed or being grown as plants or being sold, action will be taken strictly under the NDPS act. We will utilize the provisions and make sure the culprit gets the punishment. The message to the youth is that prevent yourself from the drug menace. De-addiction becomes very difficult for addicted people. Prevention is very important and this campaign is part of it," she added. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice to Delhi Government and others on a plea challenging installation of Closed Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) cameras inside classrooms of Government schools and the consequent live-streaming of such video footage to third persons. The division bench of Justice DN Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh on Tuesday issued notice in a petition filed by the Delhi Parents Association and the Government School Teachers' Association, Delhi against the Government of NCT Delhi and four other respondents (including private firm - Technosys Security System Private Limited) and listed the matter for March 30, 2022 for further hearing. The Petition challenges the installation of 1.5 lakh CCTV cameras inside classrooms of Government and private schools and the dissemination of the live stream footage emanating from the same to unauthorized persons, it stated. The Petition challenges the cabinet decision of the Delhi government for allegedly being violative of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India. The Petitioners were represented by counsel Jai Anant Dehadrai, Sidharth Arora, Jaskaran Singh Chawla and Soujanya Ketharaj. The petition highlighted three fundamental violations of privacy inherent in the impugned decision. First, the installation of CCTV cameras inside classrooms, without obtaining specific consent from either the students and their parents and the teachers is a gross and direct violation of the Fundamental Right to Privacy as held in the 9-Judge Constitutional Bench decision of the Apex Court. Such consent must be informed, specific and thus cannot be a one-time broad-based and all-encompassing parental authorization. Second, the act of live-streaming footage, similarly without specific consent, is a further violation of the Fundamental Right to Privacy. Third, in the complete absence of a data protection regime or any other statutory/regulatory framework to protect citizens' data, the twin acts of obtaining and then storing children's data on private computer servers is fraught with danger and is thus also violative of the Fundamental Right to Privacy. It stated that the petitioners before the Court are directly affected by the impugned decisions, in as much as they transgress not only their own Fundamental Rights but also those of the students they teach. The plea further stated that the petitioners are especially concerned with the storage of the video-footage of their wards, in the absence of a secure infrastructure and they are opposed to the idea of cross-sharing classroom footage with other parents and inevitably with unauthorized third persons. (ANI) As the meet comes just a week later after the recently concluded Uttarakhand assembly polls on February 14, the two leaders discussed the elections, among other issues. "Met Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar at his Chandigarh residence today. We had a discussion on various political and social issues," tweeted Pushkar Singh Dhami A total of 65.37 per cent polling was recorded in the recently concluded single-phase Uttarakhand Assembly polls, in which women have voted 67.20 per cent, while men have voted 62.60 per cent. According to the State Chief Electoral Officer, there were a total of 81,72,173 general and 94,471 service voters in the voting for the state assembly. A total of 53,42,462 voters exercised their vote out of the general electorate, which is 65.37 per cent of the total electorate. The votes cast for the 70-member assembly will be counted on March 10. (ANI) During the operation, the zonal commander of CPI (Maoist) Balram Oraon was also arrested. His arrest carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh. "Nine Naxals of the rank of zonal commander, subzonal commander and area commander have been arrested in 'Operation Double Bull' that was launched on February 8, in the jungles of Bulbul area in Lohardaga and neighbouring districts," said Jharkhand Police. 'Operation Double Bull' came to an end on February 21. Besides Oraon, the other arrested Naxalites have been identified as Dashrath Singh Kherwar, Markesh Nagesia, Shaileshwar Oraon, Mukesh Korwa, Viren Korwa, Shailendra Nagesia, Sanjay Nagesia, Sheela Kherwar. During the 12 days of operation, the police have had 10 fierce encounters with the Naxals. Three CoBRA personnel were also injured while a Naxal was gunned down during the operation. A huge cache of arms and ammunition, explosives, detonators and other Naxal related materials have been recovered. (ANI) The sleuths of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption cell of Assam police on Tuesday caught red-handed an employee of the health department while was he was allegedly accepting a bribe. The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption team arrested Bhupen Borah, Dealing Assistant, who is posted in the office of the Joint Director Health Services, Sonitpur, Tezpur. Rajib Saikia, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Assam police said that on the basis of a complaint alleging demanding of bribe, a trap was laid in Tezpur on Tuesday at around 12.35 pm by a team of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, Assam and caught Bhupen Borah red-handed after he accepted the demanded bribe from the complainant. "The tainted bribe money was recovered from the possession of Bhupen Borah in presence of independent witnesses. Bhupen Borah had demanded bribe from the complainant for providing the Form-16 Certificate to the complainant. He had also demanded bribe from many Grade-III employees of Sonitpur district under the administrative control of the Joint Director Health Services, Sonitpur," Rajib Saikia said. A case has been registered in Anti-Corruption Bureau Police Station under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended 2018) against Bhupen Borah. The apprehended accused person is being brought to the ACB Police Station for further action as per law. The Assam police CPRO said that the investigation of the case is in progress. (ANI) I love film music. I love the good stuff, anyway, the music that lifts a good film into greatness and a great film into the stratosphere. I love the visual-aural experience of a film score performed live to picture, whether its solo piano bringing Buster Keaton in Sherlock, Jr. to life or, as several hundred of us learned anew on a recent Sunday afternoon at Symphony Center, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Max Steiners score for Casablanca, the most recent presentation of the popular CSO at the Movies series. Advertisement Next up for the series is Jurassic Park in Concert, the latest of the CSOs ongoing devotion to the music of John Williams written for the films of Steven Spielberg. Conspicuously unavailable for this type of presentation: Lincoln, featuring one of Williams subtlest scores for one of Spielbergs grandest recent films. Also unavailable, and equally tantalizing in a Henry Mancini vein: Williams jazz-based Catch Me If You Can. Whats the holiday perennial the CSO and many fellow U.S. orchestras count on for a live-to-picture go-to title? Two words: Home Alone. Music by John Williams. No one could plausibly put that particular score in the Top 20 of the composers career. Still, the CSO and programming director Jim Fahey arent in a position of arguing with what the public wants. After they get to Jurassic Park in March, theyll be doing Return of the Jedi in late June. Advertisement I dont know a lot about programming options in this niche of the orchestra world, but Fahey and others shared some knowledge (and a few off-the-record frustrations) regarding the gradually expanding but currently limited films and film scores available for use. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra await the start of the Feb. 13, 2022 performance of Max Steiner's score for "Casablanca." (Chicago Tribune / Chicago Tribune) The CSO at the Movies series started informally as Friday Night at the Movies in 2004, with Charlie Chaplins silent feature City Lights accompanied by a large contingent of CSO musicians. Fahey credits that success with getting the ball rolling, at a time when the conventional film music approach in premier concert halls stuck with the music alone, or film music backed by still photos and, occasionally, film clips on a screen. There were exceptions, and they had a way of sticking with people for decades. In 1987, film producer John Goberman put together the formidable combination of Sergei Eisensteins Alexander Nevsky; composer Sergei Prokofievs thundering score; and the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Andre Previn. Two years earlier in 1985, I had the thrill of hearing and seeing the Minnesota Orchestra tackle the shorter, more propulsive Eisenstein classic, The Battleship Potemkin, score by Edmund Meisel, who died tragically young. (If he hadnt he very likely mightve joined the emigres who fled Europe in the 1930s to help create the sound, and the soul, of classical Hollywood film scoring.) Check out the Potemkin climax with Meisels music sometime on YouTube, and then imagine it swallowing you whole in a concert hall. The recent Casablanca CSO screening wasnt that sort of experience. It wasnt trying to be: Its a familiar, reassuring favorite, and Steiners score does the job. On the other hand, even Steiner didnt think much of it. He hated the Herman Hupfeld tune As Time Goes By he was ordered to interpolate into the score. Until rehearing it earlier this month at Symphony Center, Id forgotten that Steiners score is fully one-third comprised of variations on As Time Goes By, while studio workhorse Steiners original contributions settle for functional dramatic stings. Its not great film music, in other words. Neither is Home Alone (dont get me going on the movie, for the record, unless you have lots of time), but that title sells, too. Even amid pandemic variants, the most recent Home Alone screenings in the CSO at the Movies series in November 2021 were near-sellouts. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman will always have Paris in "Casablanca." The most recent "CSO at the Movies" presentation featured a live-to-picture screening of the 1943 film, with composer Max Steiner's scored played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. (
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
) CSO programming director Fahey cherishes the orchestras long and fruitful relationship with composer and, until recently, guest conductor John Williams. But he reminded me that the pool of available live-to-picture titles for lease remains finite. Its not like we can just say we want to do Laurence of Arabia, Fahey said. Its an amazing Maurice Jarre score, but its not converted yet for the live-to-picture format. Its three-hour, 42-minute length runs into considerable overtime for musicians in rehearsal, and performance. Advertisement And, as Fahey said, hes reliant on what the producers in the live-to-picture business have made available. Steven Linder is one of those producers, with the Los Angeles-based Film Concerts Live. He started with Home Alone in a 2013 Cleveland Orchestra event. The companys current crop of available films goes heavy on the Williams titles, along with an array of titles spanning Apollo 13, Shrek 2 and the recent addition of Mark Knopflers score for The Princess Bride. The response to that one, Linder said, has been overwhelming. Both men and women literally squeal when they hear its available. And, because its a film score originally composed for synthesizers and guitar and then newly adapted for a full orchestra, The Princess Bride represents a way toward broadening the menu of live-to-picture offerings. It expands the field of possibilities, Linder said. The Film Concerts Live slate includes the beguiling Oscar-winning Ludovic Bource score for The Artist, which gives an orchestra a lot of music to keep it busy flavorful, inventive music, even with its shameless interpolation of Bernard Herrmanns Scene dAmour from the brilliant Vertigo score. Tellingly, though, orchestras havent jumped on that particular title. Its a spectacular score, Linder said, and an absolute showcase for the orchestra, because its an almost entirely silent movie. But, he said, its not connecting. Advertisement Thats my frustration with so much of the live at the movies programming across America. Audiences know what they want, and they turn out for the movie first and the score a distant second. Fahey noted there are plenty of classic Hollywood titles, such as The Best Years of Our Lives, which would likely draw a crowd. Many of those films, Best Years included, feature rich and interesting scores. But theyre not available for rental. And some of them, Best Years included, have running times requiring extra rehearsal and performance time and money. In the old days, Fahey said, the CSO made do with a single three-hour rehearsal prior to a live-to-picture performance. More recently they adjusted the budget to allow for five hours. Another conspicuous issue with whats available: Its white, white, white, because the world of film composition has only recently opened its gate slightly wider to include front-rank talents such as composer Michael Abels. His work with filmmaker Jordan Peele, which includes the upcoming Nope, has every chance of becoming as important as the Spielberg/Williams partnership. In 2019 Abels conducted his Get Out score live-to-picture in a Chicago Sinfonietta presentation. Fahey pointed out that Ava DuVernays excellent Selma, with a score by Jason Moran, is available. He said too that the CSO at the Movies programming hasnt all been family-oriented, middle-of-the-road blockbusters. They sold out two screenings of composer Nino Rota and The Godfather, for example, though Fahey acknowledged theres not all that much across the running time of that classic to occupy the musicians. Also, Fahey said, Weve thought about There Will Be Blood. Thats undeniably a major and remarkable score, from Jonny Greenwood. The Brooklyn-based Wordless Music outfit focuses on contemporary film scores for live-to-picture performance. Theirs is an enticing list of titles, including Blood, as well as Under the Skin (though Mica Levis rivetingly strange electronica would send the average CSO subscriber to the nearest spa for recovery) and Moonlight. Advertisement There Will Be Blood and Moonlight are both marvels of modern film composition. If the CSO ever made the move to mount an unapologetically R-rated CSO at the Movies film slate, the possibilities even among the currently available titles are mouthwatering. For now, ambitions are necessarily held in check depending on title availability, and subscriber preferences. Fahey said there are a slew of Disney films, including Ratatouille and Up with first-rate, widely admired and loved scores by composer Michael Giacchino, available and waiting, though he wonders theyd be a tougher sell than a nostalgia titan such as Casablanca. I hope theres room for more. And someday, maybe well have the programmers option and the orchestral interest to see and hear Max Steiners maniacal King Kong score, which set a precedent in 1933 and was described by Oscar Levant as a concert of Steiners music with accompanying pictures on the screen. More to the Chicago point, if CSO audiences ever get to hear Ennio Morricones score for The Untouchables in a live-to-picture CSO event, thatll be an event, all right. Next up for CSO at the Movies: Jurassic Park in Concert, 7:30 p.m. Fri. March 25 and 3 p.m. Sun. March 27, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $69-$295 at cso.org Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. Advertisement mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune 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. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt co-chaired the Apex Committee meeting for DefExpo-2022 at Gandhinagar on Tuesday. DefExpo-2022 is Asia's largest exhibition on land, naval and homeland security systems which will showcase India's defence manufacturing capabilities and includes participation from world's top defence manufacturing companies, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement. This 12th edition is being held in the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar from March 10-14 this year and the ministry said that it is the "biggest ever so far." Reviewing the planning and arrangements for the event, Bhatt expressed that DefExpo would give a great opportunity to investments being sought for defence based industries, especially in Gujarat. He brought out that there would be wider participation as the government is very keen in indigenization of defence manufacturing sector. India is heading towards becoming self-reliant in terms of Defence production and is now on the path to being recognized as a net defence exporter. The Minister appreciated the arrangements made by Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat for the smooth conduct of DefExpo-2022. This mega event will provide an opportunity to major Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to collaborate with the Indian Defence industry and help promote 'Make in India' initiative envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhatt said that the 12th Edition of DefExpo-2022, the premier Defence Exhibition to be conducted under the aegis of Ministry of Defence, will be magnificent in many aspects as it is in line with the celebrations of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' where we are commemorating 75 years of progressive India. The theme for the event 'Path to Pride' will showcase the glorious history of India's people, culture and achievements. The Gujarat Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for giving the opportunity to host this mega event in Gujarat and applauded the Prime Minister for his vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. He termed it as a matter of pride to host DefExpo-2022 in Gujarat and assured that his Govt would extend its full support to Ministry of Defence for the successful conduct of the event and make it a grand success. During the meeting, Chief Secy of Gujarat, Pankaj Kumar briefed on various initiatives of Gujarat Govt. Senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Gujarat Govt, Top officials from all Armed Forces viz Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Coast Guard & Paramilitary officials from CISF, CRFP, NDRF, NSG, BSF & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - the nodal agency of event also attended the meeting. Total 973 exhibitors including 121 foreign Exhibitors from 63 countries have already registered and numbers are likely to increase in the coming days with relaxation in COVID-19 restrictions. DefExpo-2022 will be held in hybrid format, with stalls in both physical and virtual realms to ensure greater engagement as the exhibitors will be able to cater to both physical and virtual attendees. Exhibition is being planned in a three venue format - exhibition at the Helipad Exhibition Center (HEC); Events and Seminars at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Center (MMCEC) and live demonstration for public at Sabarmati Riverfront. Safety protocols as instituted by Health Ministry will be ensured and followed. (ANI) According to an official statement, troops of 97 battalion of BSF under Meghalaya Frontier seized the consignment worth more than Rs 50 lakh which was accumulated on the Indian side of the border taking benefit of darkness and dense vegetation. "Seven drivers were found on the spot, facilitating such an illicit act, were also detained by BSF and were handed over to Umkiang police station of West Jaintia Hills for further disposal," said a BSF officer. The surge in 'dry pea' smuggling from Bangladesh to India has been a worrying issue since 2019, informed the officer. "BSF had seized more than 1300 ton of dry pea amounting Rs 12 crore in last three years and handed over the seized dry pea to local Customs office," reads the official statement. (ANI) A Delhi Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Union of India, Archaeological Survey of India and others on an appeal moved against the order of a Civil Judge which rejected a civil suit and sought the restoration of 27 temples in the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli. Additional District Judge Pooja Talwar on Tuesday admitted the appeal and issued notice to all respondents. The matter is deferred to May 11 for the next hearing. The appeal has been filed by Jain deity Tirthankara Lord Rishabh Dev, Lord Vishnu (Principal Deity, Temple Complex) and others through Advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Ranjana Agnihotri and Jitender Singh Vishen. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain and Amita Sachdeva appeared for the appellant before the additional district judge. Civil Judge Neha Sharma on November 29 last year, while rejecting the suit had said, "Nobody has denied that wrongs were committed in the past but such wrongs cannot be the basis for disturbing peace of our present and future." She also said, "There is a presumption of correctness in every official act." "A notification dated January 16, 1914 has not been challenged till date. Even plaintiffs have not challenged the validity of the said notification. Consequently, it stands valid. Hence, as per the provisions of the act, the ownership lies with the Government and the plaintiffs have no right to claim restoration and right to religious worship in the same without challenging the notification itself," she added. "The suit was filed to preserve and protect the religious and cultural heritage of India and to exercise the right to religion guaranteed by Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution of India by restoring 27 Hindu and Jain temples with respective deities which were dismantled, desecrated and damaged under the command and orders of Qutub-Din-Aibak, a commander of invader Mohammad Ghori, who established slave dynasty and raised some construction at the same very place of temples naming it as, Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque," the suit said. It claimed that according to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) 27 Hindu and Jain temples were demolished and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque was raised inside the complex reusing the materials and sought to "restore" the demolished temples. The suit sought to declare that Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesh, Lord Sun, Goddess Gauri, Lord Hanuman, Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishab Dev have the right to be "restored" within the temple complex at the site of Quwwatul Mosque Complex, Mehrauli, south-west Delhi "after rebuilding it with the same honour and dignity". It also sought to issue an injunction directing the Central government to create a trust, according to the Trust Act 1882, and hand over the management and administration of the temple complex situated within the area of Qutub Complex in Mehrauli after framing a scheme of the administration to such trust. "Pass a decree in the nature of a permanent injunction, restraining the defendants permanently from interfering in making necessary repair works, raising construction and making arrangement for the pooja, darshan and worship of deities in accordance with Sections 16 and 19 of 'The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958' by a trust, to be created by the Central government within the area," the suit said. (ANI) The Moga police has registered a case against Bollywood actor Sonu Sood under Section 188 for violation of Model Code of Conduct on the day of assembly polls in Punjab, informed local police. "Case lodged against actor Sonu Sood under Section 188 for violation of Model Code of Conduct," said Jashandeep Singh Gill, Deputy superintendent of police, Moga. Actor's sister Malvika Sood contested 2022 assembly elections from Moga constituency from Congress' ticket. On Sunday, the day of voting, Sood was stopped from entering the polling booth by the poll officials. "Sonu Sood was trying to enter a polling booth. During this, his car was confiscated and he was sent home. Action will be taken against him if he steps out of his house," said Pradbhdeep Singh, PRO, Moga district on Sunday. Later, clarifying his stand over the incident. Sood had said, "We got to know of threat calls at various booths by the opposition, especially the people of Akali Dal." "Money being distributed at some booths. So it's our duty to go check and ensure fair elections. That's why we had gone out. Now, we're at home. There should be fair polls," he had said. Voting on 24,740 polling booths for 117 constituencies in Punjab took place on Sunday. In Punjab, over 2.14 crore voters decided the fate of 1,304 candidates who are in the fray. Punjab is witnessing a multi-corner contest this time with Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance, and the coalition of Bharatiya Janata Party-former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress party as key players. In the 2017 Punjab Assembly polls, Congress won 77 seats in the 117-member House whereas Shiromani Akali Dal could win only 18 seats. On the other hand, AAP emerged as the second-largest party with 20 seats. The counting of votes will be done on March 10. (ANI) Taking a dig at the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the death of a student Anis Khan from Aliah University, CPI-M leader and Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya on Tuesday said that the Chief Minister should have resigned immediately if she had any political and constitutional morality. Talking to ANI, CPI-M Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya said, "Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should have resigned immediately if she had any political and constitutional morality. She knows if she resigns from the government, then whatever corruption cases that she has on her will come to the fore. She is afraid. The chief minister herself is responsible for this incident as she is in charge of police in the state." The Rajya Sabha MP further said, "Mamata Banerjee is in charge of police in the state as she is the home minister, she should resign immediately. There is no law and order in Bengal. Every day there is violence somewhere or the other. A police officer was also murdered but he also didn't get justice. When someone is murdered the Chief Minister goes to his house and promises job and compensation and making attempt to buy the witness. Our Bengal police officers do not have the courage to take any action on this." Bhattacharya said that he has also taken up this matter in court. Following which the court has taken Suo Motu Cognizance in the case. "It is our appeal to the court that any investigation done from the government side will not be correct and they will try to hide the real incident. They will try to save murderers, so we do not have confidence in the investigation that will be done by the government. Even Anis' father doesn't have confidence in the investigation. He has requested us to do something so that his son gets justice." The CPI M leader said, "Never ever Bengal has seen such violence and murder. Anish, a young boy from the minority community who is educated and had hatred for TMC was murdered. Anis had even got life threats earlier but he didn't take it seriously. According to me, a conspiracy was hatched to kill Anish and the political party and administration was part of it." "At 12:00 in the night, when everyone is fast asleep, people dressed as civic volunteers and policemen went to his house. They said that they had come from Amta police station and entered his house on the pretext of talking to Anis. After that, he was beaten to death. When murderers were sure that Anish was dead, they took his body to the roof and threw it down." "This incident seems to be a complete organized political crime and it is a planned murder. It happens only when there is no law and order in Bengal. Our only demand is that there should be such an investigation in which there is no influence of CM Mamata government. It can be CBI or independent investigation by the court and the court can also form a special investigation team", said Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya. He said that the SIT formed by the Mamata government is absolutely a hoax. "The officers under whom the SIT has been formed does not have a good record and these officers have no self-respect. Mamta Banerjee herself scolds them in public meetings. I have never seen the IPS and IAS officers tell Mamata Banerjee that we are selected officers and tell her not to talk to them badly. The officers who do not even have the slightest self-respect can not work with their heads held high." "Today, three policemen have also been suspended, which means that the police are connected to this incident. What can the constable and ASI rank officers do if they have been asked to do this? Unless and until he has been ordered to commit the crime, a constable would not have the courage to do such thing", said Bhattacharya. (ANI) Guwahati (Assam), February 22: SSB personnel rescued eight persons including minor girls and minor boys from Gujarat and handed them over to Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Kamakhya railway station in Guwahati on Tuesday. According to SSB, the rescued people belong to the Daranga Kalipur area of Assam's Baksa district. A gang took them to Gujarat on the pretext of providing them jobs. Alok Sharma, an official of the 24 Battalion of SSB, Rangia on Tuesday said, "We have rescued eight persons including minor girls and minor boys from Gujarat and took them in Gandhidham Express from Gujarat to Guwahati. The gang had taken one year's salary of Rs 5 lakh from them and took them to a fish packaging company in Gujarat.""The rescued persons are belonging to poor families who are living in the border areas of Assam. The gang led by a lady named Manjana had cheated them. The family members of the victims requested us to rescue them and finally, we have rescued them," Alok Sharma said. He said that the accused Manjana will be caught soon and an FIR has been lodged. The family members of the victims had lodged complaints against the alleged gang at the Kumarikata police station in Baksa district following which the rescue operation began.On Tuesday, the victims reached the Kamakhya Railway Station and the SSB personnel handed over them to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Kamakhya railway station. (ANI) Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K Annamalai on Tuesday said the results of Tamil Nadu local body polls are a great victory for the party as they show that the party has made inroads in constituencies where it had no presence earlier. "Today the results of urban local body election came. BJP got a great victory. It has made inroads in the places where party did not had presence earlier. We are making Lotus bloom in every nook and corner of the state," said Annamalai. "BJP has emerged as the third party in Tamil Nadu. I thank the leaders who worked hard for the victory of our candidates. Though we didn't win, the vote percentage we got makes me happy," he added. Slamming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over his comments that "DMK's lead is a recognition of Dravidian Model, " BJP state chief said "Stalin should first clarify what does this model really means," adding that "BJP has won on the model of development portrayed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi." As per State election commission, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is leading in 867 seats out of a total a 1,347 seats of corporations that went to poll. It was followed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on 156 and BJP on 21 seats. With regards to 3,843 seats in Municipalities, DMK is leading on 2,352 seats, followed by AIADMK on 636 and BJP on 56. DMK is also leading on 4,388 panchayat seats out of 7,621 seats, followed by AIADMK on 1,206 and BJP on 230. The urban local body elections in Tamil Nadu were held on Saturday for 12,607 posts in 21 corporations, 138 municipalities, and 490 town panchayats. There were 57,778 candidates contesting for 12,607 posts. (ANI) Amid the hijab row, Advocate General Prabhuling Navadgi appearing for the state told Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that there is no discrimination on the ground of religion. Advocate General Navadgi countered the arguments of the petitioners that there was discrimination on the basis of religion and said it is not correct. A bench of the three judges, comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice JM Khazi, was hearing various petitions challenging the ban on hijab in educational institutes in the state on Tuesday. Advocate General, who cited various judgments to justify his arguments including Sabrimala issues, submitted before the Karnataka High Court that central force of any interpretation is human dignity. Human dignity involves liberty, which involves choice to wear or not to wear. "The entire claim of the petitioner is to make compulsion, which goes against the fundamentals of Constitutional interpretation," Navadgi said. He further added that there is no prohibition on hijab but it cannot be made compulsory and should be left to the choice of concerned women. He also apprised the Court that in the military, the right of growing of beard was declined on the ground that institutional discipline required not to exhibit individual choices. Advocate General also clarified that as far as private unaided minority institutions are concerned, the State is not interfering with the uniform code and has left it to the institutions to decide. Navadgi said, "For a large number of petitioners who represent women organisations, I am making a statement that dignity of the women must be kept in mind." While opposing the plea of petitioners challenging dress code in educational institutions, Advocate General said in the light of law laid down by the Supreme Court in Sabarimala, would it be possible to accept the principle of hijab on the point of Constitution morality and individual dignity? Advocate General further added that if somebody is coming for a declaration, that we want every woman of a particular faith to wear, would it not violate the dignity of that person, whom we are sitting down and subjugating. Advocate General said it is a compulsion of an attire which we want to impose on that person, which according to me is impermissible in this day and age. Advocate General said, "In France, I am told, there is total prohibition of hijab in public life but I do not think anyone can say there is no Islamic religion in that country." Advocate General also informed the Court while concluding his argument that in the morning when he was coming to the Court, he heard a beautiful song of Sahir Ludhyanwi....."Naa munh chhupake jiyo...." The Karnataka High Court will continue hearing on Friday various petitions challenging the ban on headscarves in educational institutes. The hijab protests in Karnataka began in January this year when some students of Government Girls PU college in the Udupi district of the state alleged that they had been barred from attending classes. During the protests, some students claimed they were denied entry into the college for wearing hijab. Following this incident, students of different colleges arrived at Shanteshwar Education Trust in Vijayapura wearing saffron stoles. The situation was the same in several colleges in the Udupi district. The pre-University education board had released a circular stating that students can wear only the uniform approved by the school administration and no other religious practices will be allowed in colleges. (ANI) Speaking to media persons here today, Jaleel said, "He (Cyriac Joseph) has interfered in the Abhaya case and tried to sabotage the course of investigation of the case because of the relation with a culprit of the Abhaya case, Father Kottoor." Dr Malini, Assistant Director of SFL Bangalore, had given a statement to CBI that then Karnataka chief Justice Cyriac Joseph had visited their lab where the narco analysis test had been conducted. Dr Malini was the 91th witness in the Abhaya case. Jaleel alleged that Joseph influenced police officials to destroy evidence in the case. The LDF MLA accused that Father Kottoor is a close relative of Justice Cyriac Joseph. "Justice Cyriac Joseph should either resign or proceed with legal action against many including him. He should state facts related to these allegations," the ex-minister said. Sister Abhaya, 21, was murdered and her body was dumped inside the well of a convent in Kottayam in March 1992. Among those convicted is Father Kottoor, who was a Vicar and taught Sister Abhaya psychology at college. The case was first investigated by local police. Later, CBI took over the case. (ANI) The Kerala High Court on Tuesday asked the prosecution in the 2017 actress assault case as to why they have not completed the investigation and has asked them to file the final report. The prosecution informed the court that it will take three more months to complete the probe. This is in a plea submitted by the accused Malayalam actor Dileep seeking to suspend the further investigation into the case. The High Court also considered the impleading application submitted by the survivor actress which contended that further investigation is necessary to arrive at the truth. A single bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath said, "We have to consider that the Supreme Court has extended the deadline to conclude the trial four times already. It cannot be extended one month after another." The prosecution further informed the court that 20 individuals have been examined as of now and that some digital evidence has been collected so far. "The difficulty faced by the prosecution in winding up the trial soon was due to the time it takes to get reports from experts and due to the petitioner's non-cooperation. Dileep is extremely influential everywhere. He influences minds and has massive clout," they said. In the plea, Dileep alleged that further probe was a willful attempt to protract the trial in that matter. "A series of vindictive acts were being carried out by the police under the guise of further probe. Further probe was not permissible as a final report had been filed in November 2017, charges were framed in January 2020 and only one prosecution witness remained to be examined," the plea read. Dileep is the eighth accused in the 2017 actress assault case for alleged conspiracy. The case pertains that an actress who worked in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu films was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. (ANI) Tia Brown gets a hand from her daughter Alani, 6, while cooking dinner at home in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood on Feb. 12, 2022. Brown, who works as a teacher in the West Side and was also raised there, purchased a home on the South Side more than 10 years ago because it was more affordable. Brown's story is one of 15 shared by Chicago-area residents, all experiences that shed a light on the citys legacy of segregation and its ongoing effects. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Tia Brown, a 4th grade Chicago Public Schools teacher and mom of three, was born and raised on the citys West Side, where she and her husband hoped to buy their first home when they began looking in 2011. Advertisement They tried hard, she said. We were forced to look elsewhere, further out on the South Side, Brown said. They bought in Chicago Lawn eventually. But everything we do is out West. We work out West. We have nonprofit organizations that are out West. Everything we do is out there. Its very much an inconvenience that we live South and we didnt know anything about out South. We felt that we were forced to do it if we wanted to purchase a home that was of quality for our family. Advertisement During their search for a home, Brown recalls a homeowners apprehension about African American people living there. While viewing a house, when Brown and her husband were given the codes to unlock the door, they didnt work. When they called the owner, he wouldnt pick up the phone. Brown said the owner picked up the call from their Hispanic Realtor and told him this may not work out. I was just in awe, Brown said. It was still out South, in a Black neighborhood so I didnt know who he was expecting. ... But it wasnt us. Maybe he thought we were Hispanic because (our Realtor) was the one that he initially talked to. They moved on to other properties. Its a story told in the new season of Firsthand: Segregation, WTTWs digital documentary series. Browns story is one of 15 shared by other Chicago-area residents, all experiences that shed a light on the citys legacy of segregation and its ongoing effects. Segregation is one of those subjects thats always in the background in Chicago, said the series executive producer, Dan Protess. I think theres some misconceptions about segregation in Chicago. One is that segregation is in the past and Chicagoans are free to live where they want. The other misconception is that the problem of segregation is simply that we live apart. The problem with segregation is not just that were apart but that separate is unequal in Chicago. Its not just the segregation of people; its the segregation of resources. In sharing stories like Browns, Protess hopes to illuminate how segregation continues to affect so many. Sitting down with the research, including the Metropolitan Planning Councils 2017 report on the cost of segregation released a few years ago (which found that segregation cost the region $4.4 billion in lost income, 83,000 fewer bachelors degrees, and about 200 lives cut short by homicides every year), Protess said segregation was an inevitable topic for his team. It is one of the defining issues of Chicago, unfortunately, he said. This seemed like an opportunity to have the uncomfortable conversation that we all should be having. Firsthand has pointed its lens at some of Chicagos most pressing social issues in its past three seasons, from coronavirus to gun violence to living in poverty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Segregation interviewees are part of the yearlong multiplatform WTTW initiative that includes community discussions with experts and talks with those doing work and offering perspectives around segregations impact and a discussion guide by Maria Krysan, a professor of sociology at the University of Illinois at Chicago who focuses on racial attitudes and housing segregation. Soren Spicknall, a data engineer and hobby photographer, offers an experience with segregation in a nine-minute taped talk called Unlearning the Bad Advice That Segregates Chicago. In it, Spicknall says a history of living primarily in largely homogenous white, upper middle-class communities led to stereotypes of those that werent similar. When he moved to Chicago to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology, peers and others on campus would say not to go south of 35th Street on campus. Despite my best intentions, or my idea that I knew about things like segregation, I still fell prey to those same patterns because I lacked firsthand experience, Spicknall said in a phone interview. It took a process of slowly getting to know the neighborhood around my campus at IIT and then slowly getting to know the broader South Side of the city to unlearn a lot of what I had been told and to understand that having an academic understanding of something like segregation is very different from having a detailed real world conception of a place because youve actually been there and experienced it. Even if you understand segregation at some level, you can still enact it in your daily life without meaning to, without realizing it, Spicknall said. It takes active work and firsthand experience in the communities that you might think about when you think about segregation, in order to have a really detailed, meaningful conception of those communities. Advertisement John Nance, now a Country Club Hills resident, was raised in Evanston. In his video, he shares his familys decadeslong history there and his reasons for leaving. Evanston received national attention for its reparations plan for years of codified discrimination. But Nance criticizes having to qualify for credit and putting in an application to receive reparations: What does that have to do with repairing anything youve done to me? he asks in his video. Looking back, Nance said Evanston integration didnt mean economic opportunity. I dont know of anything that repairs anything that requires a credit report, Nance said. Give me the money. Let me determine what I need to do if you are going to give me anything. Its scab on top of scab and they keep piling up. The wound never really heals. The Brown family prays before dinner at home in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood Feb. 12, 2022, in Chicago. The Browns bought a home on the South Side because it was more affordable than a home on the West Side, where Tia Brown, bottom, was raised and now works as a teacher at Willa Cather Elementary School. The Browns' eldest child is away at college. (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) Prices pushed Brown from buying where her family really wanted to put down roots and race impeded her family from getting their dream home. She said her South Side neighborhood is a rocky one. Who lives on the block can change the whole aura of it. During their time there, Brown said her younger two children have seen a man get shot in the back near them at a bus stop. Violence has already effected the kids at the ages of 10 and 6. And the couple still has to drive to the West Side to work, play and interact with their family. Its still happening now where people are being forced into certain neighborhoods that they wouldnt normally pick if we could really pick and choose where we wanted to live, Brown said. The family is looking for another residence out west again, possibly in the suburbs. This was all planned way before our time and its still panning out. You dont want to come home and know that your neighbors are secretly hoping for your demise just so that you wont be in their neighborhood. I dont think other races really have to think about that as much as Black people. We really have to think about that when were purchasing a home because anything can happen if you have ... neighbors that dont want you there. Advertisement Protess hopes viewers see that there is a role that everyone can play in disrupting segregation. Henry Shelton is a Lawndale native with over 20 years of experience rehabbing homes in Chicagoland. He said hes done about 50 projects in Brookfield, La Grange and the South and West sides. He just completed the 1,000th property at 3838 W. Adams St. in West Garfield Park with the help of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. Shelton said its a great feeling to be from the community and help with the housing situation. He hopes the community appreciates his efforts. Henry Shelton in the second floor unit's kitchen of a building he redeveloped at 3838 W. Adams Street in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood on Feb. 16, 2022. The home sat vacant for at least five years before Shelton purchased it from the Cook County Land Bank Authority, looking for a way to give back to the West side communities. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune) A lot of people that live on the West Side want to stay on the West Side and they want to buy here, he said, but segregation is always present. For instance, if this place was up in Logan Square, this place will probably be almost a million dollars. Where it is, its at $400,000. Thats the difference and thats not even that many miles away. Appraisers, money lenders, the neighborhood getting a bad rap, Black and brown people are getting the back end of it. Im trying to change that with the help of the Land Bank. Visit wttw.com/firsthand to stream the digital series and explore all Firsthand content. Firsthand executive director Dan Protess will moderate a virtual conversation about segregation in Chicago and the toll on its residents at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The event is free but RSVP is required. Chicago Tonight will present a WTTW News special episode dedicated to the topic of segregation in Chicago at 7 p.m. drockett@chicagotribune.com What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. Sign up for our Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter here. The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Nagaland government over not responding to the request of the Election Commission in the state's urban local bodies and said that an important aspect of gender equality seems to be getting postponed. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh noted that the state government is not responding to the request of the Election Commission, and said, "We may also note that as per the State Election Commission the aforesaid processes may require six months time before taking up the election exercise." "We note with great regret that an important aspect of gender equality seems to be getting postponed and a decade has passed on that behalf," the top court said. The apex court said that on the perusal of note filed by the respondent, the Nagaland State Election Commission, it has been noted that "the report is once again a reflection on the lackadaisical attitude of the state government even in furtherance of assurances given to this Court apart from the fact of the legal mandate which they are required to follow." The Nagaland government had earlier assured that they will amend the mandate of the Act and a report of the Committee is expected in about a month's time. The Counsel for the Nagaland submitted that the Committee has completed the exercise. But the counsel for the appellants expressed some reservation as to the result of the deliberation as according to him the recommendations are that the men will nominate the women, something naturally not acceptable. The Counsel for the state submitted that due to his indisposition, he could not visit Nagaland and would like to be part of the final deliberations before the state government. At his request, the apex court granted six weeks' time for the said purpose. "We make it clear that a date has to be pointed out to us on the next date for completing the exercise and within the next two weeks the letters of the Election Commission must positively be responded to and we direct the Chief Secretary to do so. Any non-compliance would be treated as a violation of the Order of this Court," the top court said and listed the matter for directions on April 12, 2022. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) concerning local body elections in the state. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence on his Monday address to the nation. This is a key development after Putin on the same day signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians. After the announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent." "As we said when the Duma first made its request: this decision represents a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the White House in a statement. President Biden will sign an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" Russia claims the surge of forces has always been for military exercises and that it poses no threat to Ukraine or any other nation, but has refused to offer any other explanation for the biggest build-up of military might in Europe since the Cold War. (ANI) Leader of Opposition in Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani on Monday said that the Imran Khan government is trying to harass media through draconian laws. He said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) will challenge the amendments to the social media defamation laws, calling them 'draconian' and an attempt to silence Opposition and media. "They want to harass media, civil society and social media activists. The Parliament cannot be ignored in any way," Gillani said, reported The News International. He was opposing the promulgation of the presidential ordinances amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, (PECA) 2016, and the Elections Act, 2017. He criticized the Imran Khan government saying, "They want to restrict media through draconian laws. They want to intimidate their opponents by making such laws," adding that "Those who have made the law will be the first to face it." Notably, under the ordinance, the definition of a "person" has been broadened to include any company, association, institution, organisation, authority, or any other. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person's "identity" will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years. The ordinance also states the informant or the complainant shall be "aggrieved person, his authorised representative, or his guardian, where such person is a minor or a member of the public in respect of a public figure or a holder of public office," reported the newspaper. Cases falling under PECA will be supervised by a high court and the trial court will have to conclude the case within six months. "The court shall submit a monthly progress report of any pending trial to the concerned high court and shall give reasons for the inability of the court to expeditiously conclude the trial," says the ordinance. (ANI) US President Joe Biden spoke with France President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday about the ongoing escalation along the borders of Ukraine and condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the independence of Ukraine's breakaway regions. All the leaders further discussed how they will continue to coordinate their response on the next steps. Biden, in a separate call, also spoke with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reaffirmed US commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty. In his phone call with Zelenskyy, Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine. Biden also strongly condemned Russian President Putin's decision to purportedly recognize the "independence" of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. Notably, Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians. After the announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent." President Biden will sign an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" "As we said when the Duma first made its request: this decision represents a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the White House in a statement. Putin has also ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. (ANI) The conversation comes at a time when Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of Ukraine breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Biden updated Zelenskyy on the United States' response, including US' plan to issue sanctions. In his phone call, Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine. Biden also strongly condemned Russian President Putin's decision to purportedly recognize the "independence" of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. After Putin's announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent." President Biden will sign an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" "As we said when the Duma first made its request: this decision represents a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," said the White House in a statement. In another development, Putin has ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. (ANI) Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "Nice meeting with FM Jan Lipavsky of the Czech Republic. Engaged him on EU related issues as part of the Trio. Appreciate his commitment to facilitating an expanded relationship." Furthermore, after meeting Korean FM Jaishankar tweeted, "Met with FM Chung Eui-yong of Republic of Korea. Agreed to strengthen our bilateral cooperation. Facilitating ease of travel is a shared priority. Also discussed regional issues of common concern." Jaishankar, during his France visit, also met with EU Commissioner for International relationships Jutta Urpilainen. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said, "A warm interaction with EU Commissioner for International relationships Jutta Urpilainen. A positive discussion on working together in Africa, enhancing green partnerships and on promoting connectivity. India-EU cooperation is advancing across many fronts." Jaishankar is on a three-day visit to France to attend EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. During his visit, Jaishankar also met with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian and French Defence Minister Florence Parly. He also met his New Zealand counterpart and exchanged perspectives on Indo-Pacific. Moreover, Jaishankar met his Bangladeshi counterpart Dr AK Abdul Momen and said that 2021 was a great year for the India-Bangladesh relationship. (ANI) The United States and Allies on Monday requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Ukraine to be held on Monday, a source told ANI. Earlier in the day, President Biden signed an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" Notably, Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Putin made this announcement during a televised address to Russians. After the announcement, the US said that it will soon impose sanctions on two Russia-backed separatist regions in Ukraine. The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent." US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield supported Ukraine's call for an Urgent Meeting of the UN Security Council. "Today, Russia announced that it will recognize as "independent states" parts of the sovereign territory of Ukraine in its Donbas region, which is currently controlled by Russia's proxies. This is an unprovoked violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said in a statement. "We support Ukraine's call for an urgent meeting of the U Security Council. The Security Council must demand that Russia respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, a UN Member State. The Kremlin's actions today are a wholesale rejection of the Minsk agreements and a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2202 (2015)," she added. She criticized Russia's announcement and said that it is "nothing more than theatre, apparently designed to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine." "Every UN Member State has a stake in what comes next. Russia's actions threaten the international order that since World War I, has stood for the principle that one country cannot unilaterally redraw another country's borders. This principle is enshrined in the U Charter which all Member States pledge to uphold. We must all stand with Ukraine in the face of this brazen attempt to usurp Ukraine's sovereign territory. There can be no fence-sitters in this crisis," her statement read. Notably, Putin has also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. "We are going to be looking very closely at what they do over the coming hours and days and our response will be measured according again to their actions," a senior US administration official told ANI. "Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step," the official said adding, "Russia has had forces in the Donbas for the past 8 years." (ANI) The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Marija Pejcinovic Buric called on Russia to refrain from escalating the situation around Ukraine, urging Moscow to revoke its recognition of the pro-Russian separatist Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR). "We call on the Russian Federation to reverse this decision and abstain from further aggravating the situation. We insistently call our member states to solve their disagreement through dialogue based on respect of the principles enshrined in the Statute of the Council of Europe, and in the European Convention on Human Rights," Pejcinovic Buric said in a statement released on Monday. Earlier today, US State Secretary Antony Blinken said Russia's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics (DPR and LPR) means a complete rejection of commitments under the Minsk agreements and contradicts Russia's commitment to diplomacy. "We strongly condemn [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin's decision to recognize the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' as 'independent.' As we said when the Duma first made its request: this decision represents a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Blinken said in a State Department statement. Yesterday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. Later, The United States and Allies requested an urgent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on the situation in Ukraine. The recent tensions are a result of Russia's build-up of around 150,000 troops just over the border from the Donbas region in the east, in Belarus to the north and Crimea to the south, which began in the autumn. (ANI) The United States on Tuesday said it is sending all of its diplomats in Ukraine to Poland out of security fears. This comes following Russia's recognization of the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk which has increased tensions in the region. The US State Department said that the action was taken for the safety and security of U.S. citizens, including our personnel. "For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland. Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services," the State Department said in a statement. The statement added that Washington will continue to support the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government, coordinating on diplomatic efforts. "We strongly reiterate our recommendation to U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine immediately. The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice," the statement added. The state department said there is a strong likelihood that any Russian military operations would severely restrict commercial air travel. "Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment," it added. Western countries accuse that the recent tensions are a result of Russia's build-up of around 150,000 troops just over the border from the Donbas region in the east, in Belarus to the north and Crimea to the south, which began in the autumn. (ANI) UN chief Antonio Guterres said that Russia''s decision to recognize Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. This comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognized separatist regions in Ukraine''s east as independent states. In a statement issued by Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief calls for "the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015)". Moreover, Guterres considers Russia''s decision to be "a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations". Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country''s borders. The Secretary-General is urging all relevant actors to focus their efforts on "ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine and prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues peacefully". Dujarric assured that in line with the relevant General Assembly resolutions, the UN remains fully supportive of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders. The UN chief was planning to make an official visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in light of the deteriorating situation regarding Ukraine, he has cancelled the visit. (ANI) URBANA, Ill. University of Illinois authorities are investigating reports of anti-Semitic flyers left across the Champaign-Urbana campus this weekend. The News-Gazette reports that a campus wide email sent Sunday by Chancellor Robert Jones said officials received multiple reports of anti-Semitic and hateful flyers this weekend. Advertisement The email said the flyers were left on and around campus inside plastic bags filled with small rocks. Jones did not give more information about the content of the flyers. He called the messages a cowardly and craven way to spew hate and division in our community. Advertisement Campus police asked anyone with information to contact the department. This phone call comes in light of Russia's recognization of the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine which has increased tensions in the region. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with PRC State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi about developments in the DPRK and Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The Secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. The United States has strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as "independent," calling this decision a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements. Meanwhile, China has urged all parties involved in tensions in Ukraine to continue the dialogue and seek a diplomatic solution. Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, media reports say that the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country's borders. UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over Russia's decision on the status of certain areas of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In a statement issued by Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief calls for "the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015)". (ANI) Pelosi made these remarks after meeting several rights activists including Nathan Law and Rahima Mahmut. "As a longtime leader in fighting the PRC's human rights abuses, it was a privilege to meet with @Nathan Lawkc, @MahmutRahima & @AngelaGui_, fighters for freedom, human rights and the rule of law. Congress' commitment to human rights in China is bipartisan, bicameral and lasting," Pelosi tweeted. Pelosi had earlier said that China has orchestrated a campaign of terror and repression. "From the genocide of the Uyghur people most recently, to aggression against the culture, religion and language of Tibet, to crackdowns against the basic freedoms in Hong Kong, to the jailing of journalists, activists and dissidents throughout mainland China, and intimidation of Taiwan and more," she said in testimony at the Congressional-Executive Commission. Earlier this month, Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand had expressed grave concern over the suppression of independent media in Hong Kong by the Chinese authorities. "The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition express their deep concern at the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities' attacks on freedom of the press and their suppression of independent local media in Hong Kong," the joint statement signed by the governments of more than 21 countries stated. (ANI) Denouncing the law placing fetters on the fundamental rights of citizens, representatives of media and journalist organizations in Pakistan on Monday, walked out of a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, reported local media. Vehemently opposing the Imran Khan government's blatant attempt to curb freedom of expression through a Presidential ordinance, the representatives decided not to hold any further meeting with the ministry until the withdrawal of the new law, reported the Dawn newspaper. Following the walkout of the media's Joint Action Committee (JAC), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed their solidarity with the media "for freedom of expression." Notably, Imran Khan government's efforts to regulate social media through amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) received flak from the opposition parties as well as various media and journalists' bodies in Pakistan for trying to stifle the defiant voices in the country. Expressing their objection to the amendments, the two major opposition parties of Pakistan- the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)- described the presidential ordinance as 'unconstitutional', reported the Pakistani newspaper. The JAC, in a statement, termed the meeting with the government a "farce" and declared all discussions suspended until the 'draconian amendments' to PECA were revoked. "The information minister is toying with the media fraternity in the guise of engagement and keeps passing ordinances against freedom of speech while giving the impression that media fraternity is being engaged," the publication reported citing JAC's statement. "There is a grave trail of examples where the ministry of information is tampering with freedom of speech, muzzling the journalists' right to report, financially crippling media to influence journalism," the statement added. Under the ordinance promulgating the amendments to PECA, the definition of a "person" has been broadened to include any company, association, institution, organization, authority, or any other. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person's "identity" will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years. Another amendment to the country's election laws allows any person holding any office under the constitution or any other law, to visit or address public meetings in "any area or constituency". (ANI) The Islamabad High court on Monday, lambasted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), for wrongly invoking the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca to arrest journalist, Mohsin Jameel Baig. During the hearing, Justice Minallah issued a show-cause notice to the Federal Investigation Agency's cybercrime wing director for "wrongly" invoking the draconian Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) sections against Baig, reported The Dawn. "The threat to free speech or abuse of oppressive and draconian powers having the effect of stifling the rights of the people cannot be tolerated in a democratic society governed under the Constitution," observed Justice Minallah as quoted by the publication. "Do you think there is no rule of law?" Justice Minallah further questioned. "Has a martial law been imposed in this country?" Last Friday, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) had expressed its 'deep concern' over the arrest of senior journalist Mohsin Jamil Baig under the Anti-Terrorism Act after an alleged 'cybercrime complaint' was lodged by Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed Baig. Notably, the Imran Khan government recently made amendments to the PECA, where the definition of a "person" has been broadened to include any company, association, institution, organization, authority, or any other. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person's "identity" will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz on Sunday lashed out at Imran Khan over the amendments. Taking to Twitter she said, "These laws will ultimately be used against Imran and company." The media Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspaper Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA) and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND) has outrightly rejected the draconian amendments to the PECA, saying it is a flagrant move to undermine the freedom of the press, speech and defiant voices in the country. Meanwhile, Senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir said that Pakistan has become the most dangerous country in the world for journalists while addressing a gathering held to mark the 13th death anniversary of journalist Musa Khankhel on Friday. (ANI) Slamming the former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's upcoming visit to Taiwan next month, China has said that Taipei, in seeking independence by soliciting US support, is "playing with fire." China continues to regard Taiwan as a breakaway province even after decades of separate governance. It has repeatedly issued threats against the island and vowed to militarily take over the island. "Mike Pompeo has long been sanctioned by China for his anti-China remarks and actions. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan, in seeking independence by soliciting US support, is playing with fire and will end up being consumed by it," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin at a briefing on Monday. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Monday had announced that Pompeo will visit Taiwan next week to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen. Pompeo will be on a four-day visit to Taiwan from March 2 to 5. During his visit Pompeo and his wife will also meet Vice President Lai Ching-te and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, and attend banquets hosted by them, Focus Times reported citing the ministry's statement. MOFA described the upcoming trip of former United States Secretary of State as an indication of Washington's strong bipartisan support for Taipei. On March 4, Pompeo has been invited to give a speech by the government-affiliated Prospect Foundation, the ministry said. The ministry further said it welcomes the upcoming visit of Pompeo, who it called a long-term friend of the country who promoted closer Taipei-Washington relations during his tenure in the administration of President Donald Trump, Focus Times reported. As secretary of state from April 2018 to January 2021, Pompeo facilitated US government approval of numerous arm sales to Taiwan, strengthened bilateral exchanges with the establishments of new platforms and agreements, and ended the State Department's restrictions on how U.S. officials interact with Taiwanese counterparts, the ministry said. He has also openly supported Taiwan's freedom and democracy even after leaving the post of secretary of state, the ministry added. (ANI) As the political leadership in Nepal continues to debate over the US-backed USD 500-million infrastructure grant project, China-inspired Nepal parties have continued to protest against the US-backed project. Media reports say these protests by some of Nepal's Communist parties against the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact is inspired by China. Its protracted lobbying efforts are aimed at blocking infrastructure grants to Nepal. The MCC is a US Foreign Assistance Agency that aims to fight poverty. Nepal was the first country in the region to qualify for the program and an agreement to this effect was signed in September 2017. Dozens were injured in a violent protest against the US grant assistance agreement on Sunday as the Nepal government tabled it in Parliament seeking its ratification. The violent clash which occurred near Parliament since the morning of Sunday, left 17 personnel from Nepal Police and 7 from Armed Police Force injured, both the security agencies confirmed. "Dozens of protestors have also been injured in clashes as they breached the perimeter and entered restricted zone near the parliament. We have arrested over four dozen protestors from the site as well," Santosh Singh Rathore, spokesperson at the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari told ANI over the phone. The violent mob that marched towards the parliament pelted stones on police sloganeering against the government and US aid pact which was tabled during Sunday's parliamentary meeting. In order to control the situation, the police also used 115 shells of tear gas as well as 30 rounds of rubber bullets as the protest continued for about 8 hours. Apparently driven by disinformation, the public in Nepal are made to believe the MCC, a US Foreign Assistance Agency aiming to fight poverty, is a military pact. The subsequent effort of the US mission in Nepal also has failed to quell it down. The government under Sher Bahadur Deuba's leadership, however, on Sunday tabled the MCC proposal formally opening the doors for parliamentary discussion and endorsement. The European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS) in its commentary said Nepal's political elite continues to prioritize its own personal political and economic interests and prospects over those of the country and its people. Citing the local news, the Amsterdam-based think tank said the unfortunate, avoidable, and artificially created controversy over the MCC grant has, been stoked and fanned by a concerted Chinese propaganda campaign revolving around an imaginary breach of Nepalese sovereignty. (ANI) UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday outlined England's roadmap to ending all legal COVID-19 restrictions and start "living with Covid," reported CNN. Johnson has revealed plans to end self-isolation rules and the provision of free coronavirus tests in England. Notably, this came a day after the announcement of Queen Elizabeth II testing positive for COVID-19. Though hailing the end of restrictions, Johnson and other UK officials clarified that the pandemic is not yet over. The British PM said that the government will continue to monitor the situation and keep certain infrastructure in place to identify any mutations of the virus as "Covid will not suddenly disappear", reported CNN. The end of restrictions in England will happen in a phased manner and will be subject to approval in parliament. The legal requirement for self-isolation post a positive COVID report will end on February 24 and the vaccinated contacts of those who have tested positive will not be required to test for seven days now and unvaccinated contacts will not be required to isolate, reported CNN. In view of the changes, the UK government will roll back some of the financial support for those who have been unable to work from home if tested positive. This will be implemented with effect from March 24.No free rapid tests will be provided by the government from April 1. However, the government will continue its vaccination programme and continue a domestic surveillance system that tracks the spread of the virus and sequencing that might catch any new variants, reported CNN. (ANI) Oversees members of the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party have allegedly paid their annual party membership fee through stolen credit cards, said a report on Tuesday. Over 70 per cent of PTI's members in Italy have paid their annual membership fee through stolen credit cards, reported The News International. It further asserted that the receipts of payments clearly reflect a sham payment method, as in some cases only a single person paid the membership fee on behalf of more than 70 workers. However, instead of raising any objection to such dubious transactions, the party's finance department not only accepted the payment but issued them the party's Member Coordinator numbers. Notably, PTI Organisation of International Chapters (OIC) Secretary-General Abdullah Riar in an interview on a YouTube channel on Sept 7, 2021, had reportedly claimed that in 2021 the party's overseas membership was recorded up to 35,000 and it is expected to reach 50,000 next year. The party has 14,000 registered members in South Africa where none of the top leadership ever visited in the recent past. Citing a former office-bearer of the party in Italy, the publication reported that there are huge financial anomalies in the party's South African chapter. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill and PTI's former chief organiser Senator Saifullah Niyazee reportedly did not respond to the questions sent by the publication. Recently, a multi-national money laundering and human trafficking racket run by Pakistanis was busted in Paris. The French authorities discovered at least twenty legal companies involved in the construction business that was linked to a large network of "taxi" companies, which were used to redirect the funds to nearly 200 bank accounts opened with false papers. The developments are especially noteworthy in light of the FATF plenary and working group meetings that began on Monday. All eyes will be on Pakistan as it would look to exit the "grey list" of the global anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering watchdog. (ANI) The Indian embassy in Kyiv is organising additional flights out of Ukraine in view of the continued tensions between Ukraine and Russia, the embassy informed on Tuesday. This advisory was issued by the Indian embassy amid escalating situation at the Russia-Ukraine border. "In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised," the Indian embassy said in an advisory. The advisory further listed the available flights from Kyiv to New Delhi with the booking procedure. A total of four flights are scheduled to depart between February 25 and March 6.Scheduled flights of Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, etc are continuing to operate their routine flights from Ukraine to India. Tensions rose dramatically after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his address to the nation on Monday. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conducted a meeting on the present tensions following a request from the United States and allies on Monday. Condemning Russia's move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to the table for negotiations as well as immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops. India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. (ANI) "There is talk of a second resistance, we ask all the people of Bamiyan to work with us so that the security of Bamiyan is not compromised," said Allah Mohammad Bakhtyar, head of Planning and Operations of Taliban's Fifth Brigade of Mansouri Corps as quoted by Tolo News. A number of Bamiyan residents are criticizing the persecution of the people by the Talibani forces. "Everyone who came here, created checkpoints, nobody listened to the governor's speeches, the people were harassed," Tolo News cited an elder of a tribe as speaking. There have also been reports of increased resistance against the Taliban regime in the provinces of Panjshir, Kapisa and Parwan. Taliban officials maintain that they will counter the activities of the resistance. On February 7, armed clashes broke out between residents and the Taliban in Panjshir province after a Taliban vehicle was hit by a mine explosion. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated drastically since the Taliban took control of Kabul last year in mid-August. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets and international sanctions on the Taliban have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) Championing economic globalization, despite countercurrents Xinhua) 08:01, February 22, 2022 Photo taken on Jan. 2, 2021 shows the light show at the Lujiazui area in east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The picturesque Swiss town of Davos is celebrated for hosting the World Economic Forum (WEF). It has also been a witness to China's endeavor to champion an open, cooperative and mutually beneficial world economy. On his first trip to attend the annual WEF meeting in 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "Whether you like it or not, the global economy is a big ocean that you cannot escape from." Five years later, at the 2022 WEF virtual session, Xi said, "Economic globalization is the trend of the times. Though countercurrents are sure to exist in a river, none could stop it from flowing to the sea." Despite the countercurrents of protectionism and unilateralism, China has been consistently committed to promoting win-win cooperation and common development through its opening-up drive and has injected confidence and momentum into a world afflicted by uncertainties. Back in 2013, Xi proposed a significant initiative to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, also known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In less than nine years since then, over 140 countries spanning different regions, cultures and stages of development, as well as more than 30 international organizations, have signed BRI cooperation documents with China. Scholars and experts have expressed their appreciation for the initiative's role in boosting connections across the globe, particularly in an economic sense. In December 2021, the China-Laos Railway, a flagship BRI project, started operations. With a total length of 1,035 km, the electrified passenger and freight railway helps convert Laos from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. Thanks to the BRI, many more people in the world now have access to clean water, safe electricity and modern transportation. Kenya saw its first modern railway put into operation, the Maldives has built its first inter-island bridge, and Belarus is able to produce passenger vehicles... Apart from the BRI, China has also been exploring new channels to contribute to world development. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which was launched in 2016, is a prime example of such channels. In his address at the AIIB inauguration ceremony, Xi said, "The initiative to establish the AIIB is a constructive move. It will enable China to undertake more international obligations, promote the improvement of the current international economic system and provide more international public goods. This is a move that will help bring mutual benefits and win-win outcomes to all sides." Surely enough, other than providing international public goods, China is also committed to sharing the development opportunities its large market brings with the rest of the world. In 2021, for the fourth consecutive year, Xi delivered his keynote speech via video at the opening ceremony of the China International Import Expo. Through his speech, an unequivocal message was sent to the world that China will steadfastly advance high-level opening-up. To make good on the commitment, China has advanced the construction of 21 pilot free trade zones, initiated the high-caliber development of the Hainan Free Trade Port, and shortened the negative list for foreign investment. It has also prompted the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and officially filed an application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. Today, openness has become one of the hallmarks of the world's second-largest economy. In 2021, China's foreign trade exceeded 6 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time and its economy expanded 8.1 percent year on year. Contributing over 30 percent of global growth in recent years, China has become a key anchor and driver for the world economy. "The WTO would not be the World Trade Organization without China," WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said at a recent high-level forum on the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO. China's persistent efforts to push win-win cooperation and common development for the world attest to its simple but meaningful aspiration: to secure good livelihoods for its own people and promote happiness and well-being in other parts of the world. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Feb. 22, 2022, as she announces the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that Chicago will drop its mask mandate for most settings, as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor establishments, at the end of the month, reflecting a renewed hope for normalcy in the city as COVID-19 cases continue dropping from alarming highs. The moves bring Chicago in line with Gov. J.B. Pritzkers announcement earlier this month that he will lift his mask requirement for most indoor public places at the end of February should the states most recent and largest COVID-19 surge continue to subside. Advertisement [Read more] Masks are staying in Chicago Public Schools, but some parents demand to know where is the COVID-19 off-ramp? Cook Countys public health department, which covers most of the countys suburbs, announced it would follow suit, lifting its general mask mandate and proof-of-vaccine requirement on Monday, as well as its requirement that employees of establishments such as restaurants and gyms be vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 testing. Advertisement Face masks on the Chicago Riverwalk last year. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Under the statewide and newly announced city rules, face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation. In making the announcement Tuesday, Lightfoot thanked residents who have complied with the rules and acknowledged the hardships that have resulted from the pandemic and resulting restrictions, citing the restaurant industry in particular. [ Illinois will end its indoor mask mandate for most public places on Feb. 28. Heres what we know and what it means for schools, Chicago and the suburbs. ] Lightfoot said she will not hesitate to impose new rules and mandates to protect public health in the future but said her goal is to never shut down our economy again. Lightfoots announcement was widely expected. The city had said lifting the mandate will require three out of four COVID-19 metrics to fall to the lowest or second-lowest category of risk and remain there for two consecutive weeks. City officials later said, however, that they would consider going forward with dropping the mandate even if they hadnt hit those totals to avoid confusion for residents. As of Tuesday, the citys test positivity rate of 1.5%, was in the low transmission category, while its rate of occupied hospital and ICU beds was in lower transmission. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was still at substantial transmission at 283 cases, but all those categories were decreasing. The head of the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Allison Arwady, said that in a gathering of 50 people, there is now a 1-in-5 chance that someone in that group has COVID-19, versus a 1-in-2 chance a week ago. Similarly, hospitalization rates are a fraction of what they were at the height of the omicron surge, when more people were admitted to hospitals than at any time during pandemic most unvaccinated, she said. Advertisement Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, holds a face mask while speaking on Feb. 22, 2022. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The risk is down to a point where it is appropriate to lift the mandates, Arwady said. Many school districts around the state have already gone mask-optional following recent court rulings school that temporarily suspended the mask rules for children whose families sued. But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on a resolution at Wednesdays monthly board meeting that would ratify district COVID-19 safety measures including universal masking of students and staff; testing for unvaccinated employees; and directing those who test positive or have been exposed to the virus to temporarily stay home. Through the resolution, the board would also reaffirm CPS CEO Pedro Martinezs authority to change district COVID-19 policies in consultation with public health officials and other stakeholders, which presumably include the Chicago Teachers Union. Universal masking in CPS is part of an agreement with the teachers union that was sealed following its January work stoppage that resulted in five days of canceled classes. Advertisement We have made great progress in recent weeks against this virus, and we do not want to jeopardize that progress by moving too quickly, CPS said in a release. We look forward to the day when we can be mask-optional at CPS, but we still need to get more students vaccinated across our district, and we still need to work with our public health and labor partners on the best way to preserve a safe in-person learning environment for all. More than half of CPS students 12 and older are fully vaccinated, but for students ages 5 to 11, less than one-third have received at least one vaccine dose. Asked at an unrelated event in Chicago about the citys decision to end its mask rule Monday, Pritzker said that date seems like a great day for everybody to follow suit. But, the governor continued, I will add that there are local governments that have imposed stricter mitigations, and theyre welcome to do so. Lightfoot announced the latest move as the national trend turns against masking and other restrictions due to broader social desires to return to normal, though some doctors and activists caution against people dropping their guard. Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has walked a fine line between tough measures and keeping the city open. She has encouraged residents to get vaccinated and warned about possible restrictions if the city sees spikes. Advertisement But she also has made a point of emphasizing her desire to keep the city as open as possible. At times, it has led to some mixed messaging and conflict with the state. As cases rose in October 2020, for instance, she regularly warned about tighter restrictions being forthcoming then criticized Pritzker for again shutting down indoor dining. Lightfoot resisted proof-of-vaccine mandates until Jan. 3, long after other cities such as New York had implemented similar policies. In September, for instance, she dismissed a proposal for such a mandate from Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members. Mayor Lori Lightfoot announces Feb. 22, 2022, that the city will be ending its indoor mask requirement in most locations on Feb. 28. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) As Lightfoot lifted her mandates, she told residents to respect the wishes of businesses that choose to require masks or proof-of-vaccination. Thats their choice and obviously thats their right, Lightfoot said. Advertisement She also said she will continue to wear a mask in public. Particularly in a restaurant setting, where I have no idea now whether the people sitting around me are vaccinated, Ill be wearing a mask, Lightfoot said. Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, called Tuesdays announcement an encouraging sign of better times ahead for Chicagos restaurant community. This is a meaningful step that will increase consumer confidence and keep our restaurants on a steady path to recovery. Chicago Tribunes Alice Yin, Tracy Swartz and Clare Spaulding contributed. gpratt@chicagotribune.com The Indian embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday again advised students to temporarily leave Ukraine rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities amid the growing tensions in the region. This latest advisory comes against the backdrop of Russia's decision to recognize the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. "Embassy of India is receiving a large number of calls asking about the confirmation of online classes by Medical Universities. In this regard, as informed earlier, Embassy is engaged with respective authorities for streamlining of education process for Indian students. Students are advised, in the interest of their safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities," the Embassy said in a statement. Last week, the Indian Embassy had advised its citizens to leave Ukraine temporarily in view of the continued high levels of tensions and uncertainties. The advisory issued on Sunday further asked Indian students to contact the associated persons for flights back to India. Amid escalating situation at the Russia-Ukraine border, the Indian embassy in Kyiv is organising additional flights out of Ukraine. "In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised," the Indian embassy said in an advisory. During the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine on Tuesday, India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti reiterated that the safety and security of civilians are essential to India. "More than twenty thousand Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us," he added. Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country's borders. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all relevant actors to focus their efforts on "ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure." He asked all sides to prevent any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine. (ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is set to begin his two-day maiden visit to Russia from Wednesday, the first such trip by a Pakistani prime minister in 23 years. Imran Khan will also meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit. This is the first time a Pakistani prime minister will be visiting Russia since 1999. This comes after reports emerged last month that Moscow and Islamabad are in talks to finalise a plan for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit this year. The Pakistani newspaper had said Putin's visit was under discussion for the last two years but could not materialise because of several reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Moscow also wants that there must be "big-ticket projects" or other initiatives that the Russian president would announce when he finally undertakes the trip to Pakistan. Ahead of Imran Khan's visit to Russia, a Pakistani geopolitical analyst had pointed out that the visit did not come at a suitable time. Analyst and Balochistan politician Jan Achakzai said the most prominent aspect of this visit is that Russia did not invite, rather an invitation was sought. "And more so in an environment where Putin has already called PM Modi to express gratitude for India's support to Russia in the UN Security Council -- a temporary position India has because the diplomatic consensus in Islamabad had voted for Delhi to be so," Achakzai wrote in the Pakistani newspaper The News International. Achakzai noted that Russia didn't seek Pakistan's support, nor did the US stop Pakistan from going to Moscow. "Is it Pakistan's irrelevance or a clear reading of the US that we will come back from Russia empty-handed and will beg for financial concessions from Washington in forums like IMF, FATF, etc, from a position of further weakness?" he had asked. According to Achakzai, Russia is not going to give Pakistan anything because Moscow losing India for the sake of Islamabad's support is not an option. "Pakistan's support comes at the cost of frequent requests for aid and loans." (ANI) The defence wing of the Indian embassy in Nepal on Sunday celebrated the 74th Indian Army Day. The embassy of India in Nepal said in a statement that the Nepal Army Chief General Prabhu Ram Sharma attended the function as the Chief Guest while former Army Chiefs of Nepal, other serving and retired army officers, officers from the diplomatic community, officials from the government of Nepal, members of think tanks and the press corps were also present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador of India to Nepal, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, recalled the deep historical linkages between the Indian Army and the Nepali Army, binding the two countries in a strong bond of fraternal ties. Expressing gratitude for the selfless service and sacrifice of Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army, he reiterated India's commitment to the welfare of pensioners and their families residing in Nepal. Kwatra also paid tribute to the late Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat who lost life along with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 other ranks in a chopper crash on December 8, 2021. General Prabhu Ram Sharma also conveyed his greetings to Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane on the occasion of the 74th Indian Army Day. He highlighted the close ties and long-standing cooperation between the two Armies and appreciated the Indian Army's support to the Nepali Army for its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and assistance towards the modernisation of the Nepali Army. He also felicitated gallantry award-winning Gorkha soldiers of the Indian Army. The Indian Army Day is commemorated in recognition of Field Marshal Kodandera M Cariappa, who took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army from General Francis Bucher, the last British Commander-in-Chief of India on January 15, 1949. (ANI) Imran Khan government bringing in the amendment in the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, PECA (2016) through an ordinance is a clear indication of the government's desperation to avoid any parliamentary discussion on a law that has direct implications on political speech, reported local media. The amendment, focusing to increase the ambit of PECA to cover companies, organisations and any other bodies established by the government, demonstrates the intensity with which the Imran Khan government seeks to stifle the voice of dissent, The News International reported. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person's "identity" will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years. Additionally, the offence would be made non-bailable and cognisable. Thus, a negative tweet about a government representative, a body or a decision, in a way that evokes criticism will get a person to be arrested without a chance of bail and face up to five years in prison, the publication reported. Notably, in a report submitted to Islamabad High Court by the Federal Investigative Agency (FIA), the main investigating agency for PECA, the number of cybercrime complaints under PECA were reported at 72,000 in 2019 as opposed to 1600 in 2016. This is yet another example of the Imran Khan government's continuous efforts to place fetters on freedom of expression. "Like the PML-N in 2016, the PTI in 2022 appears to have lost all political foresight and is moving to create a legal framework that would make it increasingly difficult for anyone to be critical of those in power," the media outlet reported citing Sadaf Khan, a media and digital rights activist. Meanwhile, the amendment to media law has received widespread criticism from opposition parties and media and journalist bodies in Pakistan, who have termed the amendment an effort to restrain the fundamental rights of the citizens. (ANI) Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is facing heavy criticism from the opposition, journalists and judiciary alike over the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016. The new laws were passed by the means of an ordinance, signed by President Arif Alvi on Sunday, after cabinet approval. Under the ordinance, the definition of a "person" has been broadened to include any company, association, institution, organization, authority, or any other. Furthermore, anyone found guilty of attacking a person's "identity" will now be sentenced to five years instead of three years. Amendment was also made to the country's election laws allowing any person holding any office under the constitution or any other law, to visit or address public meetings in "any area or constituency". Condemning the law, the opposition parties, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) said that the legislation through ordinance amounts to denying a national debate and depriving Parliament of its constitutional right of legislation, reported The News International on Monday. Tweeting in Urdu, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz said, "Whatever laws this government is making are meant to silence the media and the opposition, but these laws are going to be used against Imran & Company. Don't say that you hadn't been warned." PPP Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman said that this is not about regulating fake news, but shutting down criticism. "The PTI has created a republic of fear with its draconian and suppression of democratic rights and freedom of expression," the media outlet quoted her as saying. Denouncing the law placing fetters on the fundamental rights of citizens, representatives of media and journalist organizations in Pakistan, walked out of a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. On the same day, The Islamabad High court on Monday, lambasted the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), for wrongly invoking the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca to arrest journalist, Moshin Jameel Baig. "Do you think there is no rule of law?" asked Justice Minallah, asking further, "Has a martial law been imposed in this country?" Meanwhile, the opposition parties in Pakistan are planning to bring a no-confidence motion to oust the Imran Khan government. (ANI) Russia moving troops into Ukraine's two breakaway regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, for peacekeeping missions might give rise to a situation similar to the 2014 annexation of Crimea, said defence expert Retired Major General PK Sehgal on Tuesday. Speaking to ANI, Sehgal said that Russian President Vladimir Putin declaring Donetsk and Luhansk as independent regions and calling Ukraine a colony of the US with a puppet regime are two scary statements. "Contrary to international norms and regulations, Putin did exactly the way he annexed Crimea as he is now moving troops in Donetsk and Luhansk for a peacekeeping mission," stated Sehgal. He stated that there could be a possibility of war if Putin moves forward. "There might be a war and it will be detrimental to Europe and others as well as such a situation has not occurred after World War II," he added. Speaking on Ukraine's stand on the situation, Sehgal said that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has clearly stated that Ukraine will protect its sovereignty at any cost. "He clearly said that Russia violated international norms and regulations by trying to annex regions of Ukraine and thwarting every effort for peace negotiations," Sehgal said. Sehgal further said that contrary to the US' warning of imposing sanctions if Russia aggravates the situation, it did not act. The sanctions were imposed against Donetsk and Luhansk and a few properties of Russians in these regions were attached, he said, adding that "this may not cause any concern whatsoever to Russia or those two independent identities". Speaking on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting held today to solve this crisis, Sehgal said, "This month, Russia is the president of UNSC and also being a permanent member and having veto power, it will not let any resolution be passed against itself. However, there will be talks on Ukraine situation as everyone will want a peaceful solution." Tensions over Ukraine have increased in recent months, with Russia and NATO accusing each other of amassing troops on the Russian-Ukrainian border. The United States and Ukraine accuse Russia of preparing to invade. Meanwhile, Moscow denies the claims and maintains that it has no intention of attacking any country. The conflict in Donbas between Ukraine's government and the breakaway Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics has been going on since 2014. The Minsk Agreements, designed to find a political resolution to the conflict, was negotiated by the leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine -- the Normandy group -- in February 2015. However, the agreement has so far not been observed and sporadic clashes continue. However, Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the Independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. He also said that Ukraine was entirely created by Russia under Communist rule but radicals take credit for its Independence. He blamed Ukraine's authorities to have "outdone their western sponsors and invented sanctions against own citizens." He also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions. (ANI) Expressing their ire over the US' decision to preserve billions of frozen assets for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, a number of Afghan men and women held protests on Monday, reported local media. Urging the United States court to reject any decision over Afghanistan's assets, a group of Afghan women in Kabul gathered near the United Nations office. The demonstrators demanded the return of the assets to Afghanistan, Tolo News reported. "This money is Afghans' money, not money to pay as compensation by Joe Biden. The money should be surrendered to Afghanistan," the Afghan news agency quoted Arzo, a protester, as saying. Another protester, Shogofa Nejta, said that the money can change the situation in Afghanistan, where people are struggling with poverty. Residents of Bamyan province also held demonstrations to urge the release of Afghanistan Central Bank's assets held in the US and other countries. Several Afghan teachers at Shaikh Zayed University in Khost province also staged a protest and called Biden's decision 'unfair'. "This is a cruelty, they do not have the right to hold Afghanistan's money as compensation," Tolo News reported quoting Rabani Wahdat, a teacher. Afghan currency will dramatically lose value if the frozen assets are spent for any purpose and not returned to Afghanistan, the media outlet reported citing experts. Earlier, the Taliban had warned that it will 'reconsider' policy towards the US if it does not receive full USD 7 billion frozen assets. US President Joe Biden on Friday decided to split USD 7 billion of the frozen Afghan assets to fund humanitarian relief in Afghanistan and compensate victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Taliban ruled Afghanistan, at the time of the September 11 attacks, harboured Osama bin Laden, the head of the Al-Qaida terrorist network and mastermind of the US attacks. A US-led invasion of Afghanistan weeks after the attacks overthrew the Taliban after they refused Washington's demands to surrender Bin Laden. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan last August ended the nearly 20-year war, but the United Nations and other international relief groups say Afghanistan faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, which stems from more than four decades of conflict and natural calamities, reported Voice of America (VOA). More than half of the country's poverty-stricken population, or an estimated 24 million Afghans, face an acute food shortage and some one million children under five years of age could die from hunger by the end of this year, according to UN estimates following the US withdrawal from the country. (ANI) Underlining the importance of the Indo-Pacific, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the region is at the heart of the multipolarity and rebalancing that characterizes contemporary changes. Jaishankar made these remarks during his three-day visit to France to attend the EU Ministerial Forum for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Speaking at the opening session of the EU Ministerial Forum on Indo-Pacific, he said, "Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the multipolarity and rebalancing that characterizes contemporary changes. But it is essential greater power and stronger capabilities led to responsibility...This means respect for international laws and territorial integrity and sovereignty." "It means economics, free of coercion and politics, free from the threat of the use of force. It means observing global norms and practices and refraining from making claims on the global commons," he added. Noting that France was among the first country to recognize the strategic geography of the region, the minister said that France is resident power in the Indo Pacific. "Today, we see challenges... with the clarity that proximity brings. And believe me, distance is no insulation. The issues we confront in the Indo Pacific will extend beyond even to Europe. We, therefore welcome, the EU's commitment to contribute to the security of the region," he added. Jaishankar further noted that this remains a maritime century and tides of the Indo-Pacific region will help shape the future. Last week, EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell Fontelles had said the EU has built a strategy, especially for the region because the members of the 27-member bloc believe the history of mankind will be written in this region. He made these remarks at the panel discussion in Germany on the importance of the Indo-Pacific. Last year, the EU adopted its Indo pacific strategy intending to increase engagement in the region. Through the policy, the bloc wishes to deepen its engagement with partners in the Indo-Pacific to respond to emerging dynamics that are affecting regional stability. Speaking on the topic "Earth and Water: Intersecting Politics of Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific", Fontelles said, "when we talk about the emergence of the Indo-Pacific... the EU believes this emergence is nothing new. Indo Pacific has been in history for centuries." (ANI) This comes a few days after India delivered 2.5 tons of medical assistance and clothing to Afghanistan as part of its fifth batch of medical assistance under humanitarian aid to the crisis-torn country. "We have come from Afghanistan...I am very happy..," said one of the Afghans who are in India for transporting the wheat. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week met members of the Sikh-Hindu delegation from Afghanistan and assured the community of continuous support in the future to resolve all issues and difficulties. Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that the Indian government is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people. In a virtual weekly media briefing by the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi had said, "Government is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people comprising food grains, COVID vaccines, and essential life-saving drugs." He also informed that in the last few weeks, 3.6 tonnes of medical assistance and 5,00,000 doses of COVID vaccines have been supplied to Afghanistan. (ANI) Speaking in Ballia after addressing a rally, Singh said, "As far as the Ukraine issue is concerned, India only wants peace in the region and issues should be resolved through talks only." Expressing confidence that there could be a solution if US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin hold talks, he said, "If they talk, then I am confident that some solution will definitely be found." Tensions rose dramatically after Putin ordered the Russian Armed Forces to move into Ukraine's breakaway regions after recognizing their Independence in his address to the nation on Monday. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held a meeting on the present tensions following a request from the United States and allies on Monday. Condemning Russia's move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to the table for negotiations as well as immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops. India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. (ANI) A 3-year-old boy was injured during a shooting in the West Garfield Park neighborhood Tuesday morning and he was taken to an area hospital for treatment in a private vehicle, officials said. Chicago police and fire officials said both agencies were called to the 4500 block of West Congress Parkway Tuesday around 8:30 a.m. Chicago police said the boy and a 36-year-old woman had been inside a vehicle at that address when a white SUV pulled up alongside them and someone inside the SUV began shooting at their vehicle. Advertisement Police said the 3-year-old suffered injuries to (the) right side of his eye and he was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. Authorities did not say whether the child had been shot or if he was injured by shattered glass or something else. The 36-year-old woman wasnt hurt. Chicago police investigators work at the scene where a 3-year-old boy was injured in a shooting near the corner of West Congress Parkway and South Kolmar Avenue Feb. 22, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Fire officials said they were called to the same location regarding a shooting, but when they arrived there was no shooting victim and firefighters were told a young child had been shot and someone drove the child to an area hospital in a private vehicle. But because the Fire Department didnt transport anyone, officials also said they could not provide additional information about the time of the call or any information about a possible victim. Advertisement Initially, authorities said officers were on scene around 9:45 a.m. but they had not passed along any information to a police spokeswoman regarding what they found there. The spokeswoman said she could not immediately confirm the time of the call or what it was regarding. Check back for updates. Japan and ASEAN are joining hands to enhance economic stability and security related issues. Dr Rizal Sukma, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta said, "We, of course, really rely on this security and stability in the Indo Pacific. I think an open Indo-Pacific will benefit not only Indonesia but also benefit other countries as well because this is the most important condition for trade to take place, which is the sea routes, the maritime domains must be secured and also must be stable." "ASEAN really expects Japan to play a more active security role and I think ASEAN Outlook on the Pacific will provide a new platform for ASEAN and Japan to work and cooperate on security methods even more. ASEAN and Japan now should really expand their cooperation to include much more activities in the security area as well, not only on economic cooperation. Because we do have common challenges we are facing in the Indo-Pacific," Sukma said. Thailand authority analyses the concept of Free Open Indo Pacific. Dr Pongphisoot Busbarat, Assistant Professor at Chulalongkorn University said, Japan's contributions to economic development and connectivity in the region and in Thailand in particular so tremendously you know helped these countries emerge as emerging economies and could play important roles in the world economy. "I believe the concept has a great prospect to be welcomed by Thai policymakers and Thai people within the Thai public. The perceptions of Japan is very positive and I believe in other countries as well. And I think the promotion of FOIP by Japan will even improve and confirm these public perceptions of Japan's constructive role in the region at large. Thai Japanese relations in particular, is always warm and friendly. So Japan's constructive role throughout more than Thailand's economic development will pave a strong and solid background and foundation for our relationship," Busbarat said. Free and Open Indo-Pacific concept is expanding widely from Southeast Asia, India to Africa. It guarantees safety, peace, economic prosperity, and a strong human tie. (ANI) Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla on Tuesday flagged off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay. "We are extending our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, in the form of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. We are flagging off our first consignment of 2,500 tonnes in 50 Afghan trucks, today. It'll be delivered to the World Food Program for dissemination," said Shringla. "This consignment will go from Attari ICP, Jalalabad, via Pakistan; many such consignments will be sent to fulfill the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the next 2 to 3 months," added the Foreign Secretary. In a ceremony held at Amritsar, Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan. In response to appeals made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Government of India has decided to gift 50,000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. The supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from ICP Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters. The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. In this regard, the Government of India signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat within Afghanistan, read the Ministry of External Affairs release. The Government of India signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat within Afghanistan. India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan. In this endeavor, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of COVAXIN, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul, added the release. In response to the humanitarian aid sent to the Afghan people, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay thanked the Indian government. "I want to thank the Government of India. India has always come forward to help Afghanistan. Friendly relations between India and Afghanistan have a long history. Afghanistan has also stood by India whenever it is needed," said Mamundzay. "As per WFP 20 million people require food in Afghanistan and India being a big brother is helping us through food aids and we are thankful for that," added Mamundzay. He said that 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat will be delivered in a month to the country and will be distributed to Afghan people facing food scarcity. Talking about the delay, Afghanistan's Ambassador said, "We (Afghanistan) were in great need of food grains in November and December but Pakistan took a long time to allow the use of its roads/roads which we are saddened. India has given medicine to Afghanistan and even the Corona vaccine has helped Afghanistan in its fight against the pandemic". (ANI) "Now the UK and our allies will begin impose the sanctions on Russia that we have already prepared," Johnson told the parliament. The prime minister said that the five Russian banks to face sanctions are the Rossiayaz Bank, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank. He also said that three "very high net worth individuals," including Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg, will have their assets in the UK frozen, and will also be banned to travel to the UK. (ANI/Sputnik) India is keeping up with its commitment of unconditional support to the people of Afghanistan who are grappling with acute food and medicines shortages. India today has sent the first tranche of 2500 metric tonnes of wheat loaded in 50 trucks to Afghanistan. The first convoy consisting would hand over the consignment to World Food Programme at Jalalabad (Afghanistan). The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. In this regard, the Government of India signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan. India has been insisting that aid should be distributed evenly to all the needy irrespective of caste and creed. Each bag is stamped with the following text - "Gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan" in English, Pashto and Dari. In a ceremony held at Amritsar on 22 February 2022, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli, flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan. The sacks are double bagged for the preservation of the consignment from moisture and any infection. The shelf life of the wheat is a minimum of one year from the date of dispatch and necessary information would be clearly mentioned on the bag. Fumigation of the consignment has been undertaken before handing over for transportation in order to cater for long passage time. Guidelines for necessary precautions to preserve the consignment during passage would be given to the Afghan transport agency. The packaging is done in double gunny with the inner being Jute and only outer packing alone being HDPE/PP. The net weight of wheat in each bag would be 50 Kgs. FCI is providing necessary phytosanitary and fit to consumption certificate before handing over. Furthermore, India is also getting the wheat quality tested by WFP approved laboratories. India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan. In this endeavour, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of COVAXIN, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision on Monday to recognize Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities has escalated the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Here is a timeline of the events. Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Russia has been trying to keep the country in its orbit of influence since then. Minsk Agreements In 2014, a separatist insurgency started in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland Donetsk Basin. In February that year protesters in Ukraine overthrew President Viktor Yanukovych, who was friendly to Russia's interests. During the protests, more than 100 people were killed. Following fighting and violence that broke out as Russia-backed separatists seized territory in eastern Ukraine, Minsk I agreement was reached that also involved Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). However, the agreement reached in September 2014 broke down. Minsk II agreement was then reached in February 2015 requiring the participants to adhere to various points including withdrawal of heavy weapons by both sides. The interim government that followed the "pro-Western revolution" eventually signed a trade agreement with the European Union, which was seen as the first step towards membership of the bloc. In March 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In April pro-Russian separatists in Donbas region declared independence. The war continued in the eastern Ukrainian region and then spread westwards. Roughly 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians eventually died in the conflict. The front lines have barely shifted for years. Russia's tensions with the West deepen In April 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian, was elected by a large majority as President of Ukraine on a promise to restore Donbas to the country. The crisis deepened in January 2021, when Zelensky appealed the US President Biden to let Ukraine enter NATO. In the spring of 2021, Russia started massing troops near Ukraine's borders in what it said were training exercises. Russia stated that its troop deployment is in response to NATO's steady eastward expansion. It argued that its moves are aimed at protecting its own security considerations. Troop build-up Russia, in autumn last year, mobilized around 1,00,000 troops on its border with Ukraine. It sought assurance from the US that Ukraine shall not be inducted in NATO. This escalated tensions between Russia and the West which have been supportive of Ukraine. The US has assured Ukraine that it will "respond decisively" in case of an invasion by Russia. In December last year, Russia asked NATO to pull back its military deployments to the 1990s level and prohibit the deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the bordering areas. But the US ruled out changing NATO's "open-door policy" which means NATO would continue to induct more members. The US also said that it would continue to offer training and weapons to Ukraine. Germany also warned Russia that the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would be stopped if Russia were to invade Ukraine. The US threatened Russia of new economic sanctions in case of attempts of invasion against Ukraine. No narrowing of differences US and Russian diplomats failed to narrow differences on Ukraine and in January this year a cyberattack warning Ukrainians to "be afraid and expect the worst" hit Ukrainian government websites. Washington in late January this year presented a written response to Russia's security demands, repeating a commitment to NATO's "open-door" policy while offering "pragmatic" discussions of Moscow's concerns. The Russian President said that Moscow's main security demands have not been addressed. Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk. He made this announcement during a televised address to Russians. UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that Russia's decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent is a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. US President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by US persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics." (ANI) Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi on Tuesday expressed its gratitude to India for giving the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to the war-ravaged nation at a time when the country is facing major food insecurity. "The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi expresses its gratitude to the government and people of India for the timely assistance of 50000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan at a time when the country is facing a major food insecurity," Afghan embassy said in a statement. In a ceremony held at Amritsar, Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan. "The remaining amount is expected to be shipped in a month's time and as per the agreement between the government of India and the World Food Program (WFP), the wheat will be distributed by WFP within Afghanistan," the statement said. In response to the humanitarian aid sent to the Afghan people, Mamundzay thanked the Indian government. "I want to thank the Government of India. India has always come forward to help Afghanistan. Friendly relations between India and Afghanistan have a long history. Afghanistan has also stood by India whenever it is needed," Mamundzay told ANI. "As per WFP 20 million people require food in Afghanistan and India being a big brother is helping us through food aids and we are thankful for that," said Mamundzay. He said that 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat will be delivered in a month to the country and will be distributed to Afghan people facing food scarcity. Talking about the delay, Afghanistan's Ambassador said, "We (Afghanistan) were in great need of food grains in November and December but Pakistan took a long time to allow the use of its roads/roads which we are saddened. India has given medicine to Afghanistan and even the Corona vaccine has helped Afghanistan in its fight against the pandemic". (ANI) Norrullah, brother of Habibullah Abshar, the former commander of a police special unit in Khost province, said he was asked to bring his brother to the 3rd police district of Khost city, where he--Norrullah--was tortured for a week, TOLOnews reported. "They closed my eyes and beat me, released me by a guarantee for four days," said Norrullah. He has urged the local tribal elders to address this issue, TOLOnews reported. The Taliban took over Afghanistan after entering Kabul in August 2021, leading to the collapse of the Ashraf Ghani led government and mass evacuations. A combination of a suspension of foreign aid, the freezing of Afghan government assets, and international sanctions on the Taliban, have plunged the country, already suffering from high poverty levels, into a full-blown economic crisis. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba late on Tuesday evening held discussions with opposition leader KP Sharma Oli as the deadline of MCC, a 500 Million USD grant assistance approaches near. The two leaders from ruling and opposition parties have been intensifying discussions as ruling coalition partners are polarized over the United States grant Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Incumbent Prime Minister Deuba is struggling to garner majority in support of the pact which needs to be endorsed before February 28. As per the media expert for Oli, the opposition party chair reached Baluwatar to hold talks with Nepali Congress (NC) President and Prime Minister Deuba this evening. Last week, PM Deuba and first lady Arzu Rana had reached Balkot to meet the opposition leader. "The two leaders have met and discussed MCC, the 500 Million USD grant. Along with other political issues also were discussed between the two," Ram Sharan Bajgain, press expert of Oli confirmed to ANI over the phone. During the meeting opposition chair Oli reiterated his demand of dissolution of alliance as main term to co-operate with Nepali Congress on issue of MCC. Today's meeting is viewed significantly, as the NC has been indicating that the coalition partners will quit the government if they do not support the government-tabled MCC grants. The Maoist Center and CPN-Unified Socialist have said that they would vote against MCC in parliament and this has created friction in the ruling coalition as the NC looks to ratify the agreement. As parties on board government decided to go against the tabled proposal, General Secretary of Nepali Congress, who has been leading the coalition has said that the opposing CPN-Maoist and Unified Socialist should quit the government. General Secretary Gagan Thapa reacting over the decision of two ruling coalition members said both parties should quit government if they do not vote in favour of MCC. Thapa said that the existence of the coalition would end the day the ruling parties vote against the government-tabled MCC agreement in the parliament. Furthermore he said that it would be unethical to vote against government's proposal and remain in the government. "One cannot say I am out of the coalition for a particular day and the next day say the coalition is intact," Thapa said as he interacted with media at Bharatpur Airport in Chitwan District. (ANI) Washington [US], February 22 (ANI/Sputnik): The United States has discussed with its allies whether Secretary of State Antony Blinken will move forward with meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later this week in the wake of Moscow's decision to recognize the self-proclaimed republics of Donbas, US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told MSNBC. "Whether Secretary Blinken goes ahead with his meeting with Sergey Lavrov is something we've been discussing overnight with our partners and allies, and I'll leave it to the State Department to determine whether or not that meeting goes forward," Finer said Tuesday. On Monday, President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, saying that the decision was long overdue. The US and the European Union have vowed "significant" sanctions on Russia. A State Department spokesperson told Sputnik the same day that the United States has nothing to announce at the moment about possible changes in Blinken's plans to meet with Lavrov in Geneva on February 24. (ANI/Sputnik) Amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Kiev, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday said that Britain will immediately institute a package of economic sanctions targeting Russian economic interests. "President Putin has violated Ukrainian sovereignty and international law by sending troops into eastern Ukraine. We will immediately institute a package of economic sanctions targeting Russian economic interests," tweeted UK PM. All the evidence show that Russian President Vladimir Putin is bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an independent, sovereign European country. Let's be clear, that would be catastrophic, read the UK Government release regarding updates on Ukraine. "If Vladimir Putin continues down this track of violence, aggression and full-scale invasion, then it's absolutely vital that conquest should not succeed and Putin should fail. That is what we will be exerting ourselves to ensure is the outcome," said Johnson. He said that Putin has violated Ukrainian sovereignty and international law, adding that "UK had a COBR meeting about the situation in Ukraine, particularly in the Donbas region, where plainly, Russian President Vladimir Putin has now violated Ukrainian sovereignty. He has sent troops in, he has broken international law, he has repudiated the Minsk Agreement and torn up the understanding from Budapest in 1994 that Ukraine's territorial integrity would be respected. He has completely torn up international law." Regarding economic sanctions, the UK PM said that Britain will not just target entities in Donbas, in Luhansk and Donetsk, but Russia itself. "Targeting Russian economic interests as hard as we can and we will, I will be setting out a bit later in the House of Commons what we are going to do," he said. Johnson also said that at every turn in this crisis, the UK's pessimistic predictions have been vindicated. "We said that there would be false flag operations and there have been false flag operations, we said that there would be provocations in the Donbas, and that's exactly we are now seeing," Johnson said. However, he insisted on discussions, adding "And I think that, let's be absolutely clear, I think it would be absolutely catastrophic, there will, of course, be pressure for continued conversation for negotiations, and that's right. Whilst there is still a discussion to be had, of course, a discussion should be had and the UK will be engaged actively in diplomacy at all levels to try to find a way forward other than through the violence that President Putin seems to be proposing." Meanwhile, Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal welcomed the German decision to suspend the NorStream2 certification. "The civilized world must give a consolidated response to Russia's actions immediately. I'd like to welcome the prompt decision of the Federal Chancellor of #Germany @OlafScholz to suspend the #NordStream2 certification. The project should be ultimately halted," tweeted Shmyhal. "Russia's decision to recognize the so-called "L/DPR" is another attempt to violate Ukraine's sovereignty & territorial integrity. It's a violation of the basics of international law. With our partners, we'll take all measures to ensure a decisive response to this step of aggression," added the Prime Minister of Ukraine. Further, President Putin blamed "accomplished a coup d'etat" led Ukraine "into an impasse." "President #Putin: Maidan did not bring Ukraine any closer to democracy and progress. Having accomplished a coup d'etat, the nationalists and those political forces that supported them eventually led #Ukraine into an impasse, pushed the country into the abyss of civil war," tweeted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. (ANI) A missing man who fell off an ice shelf into Lake Michigan Monday was identified Wednesday as Bryce Dunfee, a 22-year-old from Indianapolis, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. What began as a rescue attempt at Indiana Dunes National Park Monday afternoon had been deemed a body recovery mission by the following morning and it remained ongoing Wednesday, Department of Natural Resources officials said. Advertisement Wave conditions here are poor at best, ]Indiana Conservation Officer Alex Neel said Tuesday as the recovery mission was launched. The search was ongoing Wednesday morning, and Dunfees family has been notified, according to a Department of Natural Resources news release. Dunfee was last seen wearing a gray shirt with black sleeves, khaki pants and black shoes. Advertisement A GoFundMe campaign for funeral services appeared to have been set up on Dunfees behalf by a relative and had raised about $750 as of Wednesday afternoon although he had not been found or pronounced dead. Officials had initially planned to conduct a surface search on boats and to search nearby beaches, but a sonar search might be hindered by the waves, Neel said Tuesday. The Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. National Park Service were both on the scene Tuesday morning, he said. Indiana conservation officers, park rangers, multiple fire departments, a sheriffs department and the U.S. Coast Guard were all involved in the rescue effort Monday evening, according to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. We were definitely in rescue mode (Monday) night, with a helicopter and having everyone out, Neel said. But the effort had been deemed a recovery mission meaning there was little hope of locating Dunfee alive due to factors including low water temperature, the elapsed time since he went missing and search delays in unfavorable conditions, he said. Dunfee had been in a group of five people who had walked onto the ice shelf when it began to crack, the news release said. The rest of the group made it back to shore, but Dunfee fell in. Group members tried to reach their friend but couldnt due to large waves and unstable ice, officials said. First responders were dispatched to West Beach in the national park around 5:30 p.m. Conservation officers warned people to stay off the unpredictable and extremely dangerous ice shelf. Good to meet FM @jmalbares of Spain on the sidelines of the EU Ministerial Forum on Indo-Pacific. Welcomed his enthusiasm and commitment on our bilateral ties. Look forward to welcoming him in India," Jaishankar tweeted. Jaishankar also met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias and discussed the current global situation. "Great to catch up with my friend FM @NikosDendias of Greece. An insightful conversation on the current global situation," Jaishankar tweeted. Earlier, speaking at the opening session of the EU Ministerial Forum on Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said, "Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the multipolarity and rebalancing that characterizes contemporary changes. But it is essential greater power and stronger capabilities led to responsibility...This means respect for international laws and territorial integrity and sovereignty." "It means economics, free of coercion and politics, free from the threat of the use of force. It means observing global norms and practices and refraining from making claims on the global commons," he added. Noting that France was among the first country to recognize the strategic geography of the region, the minister said that France is resident power in the Indo Pacific. Jaishankar further noted that this remains a maritime century and tides of the Indo-Pacific region will help shape the future. (ANI) As India flagged off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to a war-ravaged nation, Former foreign secretary Shashank on Tuesday said that Afghanistan is an important neighbour and New Delhi should continue to take care of the interest and basic needs of the Afghan people. Talking about the current Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the Former foreign secretary told ANI that India is very disturbed with the change of events in Afghanistan and "we remain concerned that the Afghanistan-Pakistan region should not once again become spewing ground, the preparatory ground for the terrorist elements to travel around outside the Pakistan-Afghanistan region and affect India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, many other countries, Nepal etc." "So, therefore, that remains a major interest for India. Only thing is that Indians are regarded as the best friends of Afghan people at one time. And therefore we have to continue to take care of the interest and basic needs of the Afghan people," Shashank said. The former foreign secretary noted that India had spent about 2 billion or over USD 2 billion in Afghanistan for social infrastructure and for other infrastructure development projects, not for hurting the interest of the Afghan people. "So, we have to continue to give them food assistance and others," he said. He also talked about the different routes via Chabahar port to reach out to Afghanistan. He said, "we have the Chahabar port agreement with Iran, which is the strategic trilateral agreement with Afghanistan, Iran and India..." "Afghanistan is an important neighbour for us. The only issue which we have in mind is to somehow continue to give food assistance to people in Afghanistan, and to make sure that whatever connectivities we were trying to develop earlier through Afghanistan at least they are not hurt and we can have alternative connectivity routes through Chabahar port..," he added. Earlier today, Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla flagged off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay. In a ceremony held at Amritsar, Shringla along with Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan. (ANI) Chinese schools that have been rolling out facial recognition systems since 2019 as part of a government "smart campus" campaign, are facing a backlash as some parents argued that the technology is endangering their children's privacy, said a media reported. On Thursday, a parent surnamed Tan posted a complaint on a government website in Badong County, a remote part of the central Hubei province. The post accused a local middle school of forcing students to use facial recognition scanners to make purchases on campus, a Shanghai-based Sixth Tone media outlet reported. The media outlet reported that Jingxin Youyi Middle School has been making students pay via the system, which is operated by Chinese financial technology giant Alipay, since December, according to the post. Tan also posted a complaint on the government website when the scanners were first installed, arguing the system could present a privacy risk if the students' facial data leaked. Several Chinese media outlets have published stories about Tan's complaint in recent days, with critics arguing the potential privacy issues created by such facial recognition systems outweigh the benefits, Sixth Tone reported. According to Alipay, the facial recognition system -- named "One Face Pass" -- is designed for use in primary and middle schools. The technology can be used to verify students' verifies and process payments, with students needing to provide their facial data and their parents' bank information, Sixth Tone reported. It further reported that facial recognition has become a lucrative industry in China over recent years. Schools use the technology to monitor students, police use it to detect potential suspects, and gaming companies apply it to prevent minors from playing late at night. The number of face scanners installed in China grew 30 per cent per year on average between 2010 and 2018, according to an industry white paper. The market is predicted to be worth 10 billion yuan (USD 1.6 billion) by 2024, Sixth Tone reported. (ANI) Afghan truckers who came to Attari integrated check-post (ICP) to carry the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan praised India for the kind gesture. Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, the situation in Afghanistan is critical and millions of people are suffering from hunger and food crisis. Most of the people of Afghanistan are living below the poverty line, in such a situation, the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan by India is like a ray of hope. Arif, an Afghan truck driver told ANI the help that the Indian government is providing to Afghanistan by sending wheat will bring a lot of relief. "The situation in Afghanistan is still not good but now gradually there is hope that everything will be fine. There is a lot of poverty in Afghanistan, people are suffering from hunger and they do not have food grains. India helped our people," Arif said. Another truck driver Baba Gul, who is a resident of Kabul city, lauded the move by India. "The food grains that India is sending to the poor people of our country is a big relief because the situation in Afghanistan is not good and the pockets of the people of Afghanistan is empty. There is no money, the people of Afghanistan have no work," said Baba Gul. Rahimsha, who is also a truck driver, said that the people of Afghanistan need help for more things, in which medicine is also one. "India has helped our people, we are happy," he said. In this endeavour, India has already supplied 500,000 doses of COVAXIN, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul. Foreign Secretary of India, Harsh V Shringla on Tuesday flagged off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, in the presence of Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay. "We are extending our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, in the form of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. We are flagging off our first consignment of 2,500 tonnes in 50 Afghan trucks, today. It'll be delivered to the World Food Program for dissemination," said Shringla. "This consignment will go from Attari ICP, Jalalabad, via Pakistan; many such consignments will be sent to fulfill the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the next 2 to 3 months," added the Foreign Secretary. In response to appeals made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Government of India has decided to gift 50,000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. The supply will be effected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from ICP Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters. The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. "We have received information from other agencies including the United Nations that the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is very serious, there is a shortage of food grains, there is a shortage of medicines, in view of all these things, this humanitarian aid has been sent from India to the people of Afghanistan," said Harsh V Shringla. "India has a historical relationship with Afghanistan. India and the people of Afghanistan have a people-to-people contact. India has already sent the COVID-19 vaccine including, lifesaving medicines to Afghanistan. The next thing depends on how much and what things Afghanistan needs going forward, India will be ready to help considering the humanitarian aspect," added the Indian Foreign Secretary. (ANI) China's social media platform Weibo has become a new front in Russia and Ukraine tensions with two hashtags trending on it. At number 7 is "#Ukraine released a statement on Weibo" which has a post from the Weibo account of the Ukrainian Embassy in China releasing a statement condemning the decision of the Russian Federation to recognize the independence of pseudo organizations in temporarily occupied territory. With the sudden announcement of Russia recognizing "the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states, the Ukraine Embassy to China released a statement concerning the issue in Chinese on Tuesday, bringing the issue to a top trending topic on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo, reported Global Times. Another is "#Ukraine" under which the news is reported in a fairly non-partisan way till now just stating the facts. State media Weibo accounts are putting independence inside quotation marks. Following Ukraine's statement, the embassy of Russia in China posted that Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the Executive Orders on the Recognition of "DPR" and "LPR," and inked Treaties of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and the two parties. It also shared Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya's statement at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, who said, "I remind that by the moment the Minsk Agreements were signed, the LPR and DPR had already proclaimed independence. The fact that Russia recognized this independence today makes no changes to the list of sides to the Minsk Agreements, because Russia is not a side thereto." Nebenzya added that "Another point is that Ukraine, under the Western patronage, has long been openly sabotaging the Minsk Agreements that were supposed to start being implemented back in 2015." The ''Ukraine issue'' became a hot topic on Weibo on Tuesday, with some 900 million views and prompting nearly 200,000 discussions, reported Global Times. "Another chess piece played by the US. It's pathetic," commented a netizen under the post of the Ukrainian Embassy to China. Others joked that "the Ukrainian war has been moved online because of the pandemic, and please forgive for any inconveniences." (ANI) It's been over 10 days that garbage from corners and collection centres of Kathmandu hasn't moved by an inch as road leading to deposition site has been blocked by locals. Major streets of Kathmandu and Lalitpur Metropolitan City are now littered with piles of garbage dumped by households, shops, hotels, businesses and offices giving rise to a foul smell. Locals along the Pasang Lhamu Highway, the road leading to Sisdole landfill site, have been obstructing garbage disposal since 13 February, putting forth demand to upgrade the highway. "Garbage contributes to the increased infection and contamination in human body. It is a shame to see it being dumped in various locations in capital Kathmandu," Nira Rawal, resident of Kathmandu told ANI. With locals residing on the way to the landfill site protesting, the door-to-door garbage collection facility of valley remains obstructed in the areas like Patan, Bhaisipati, Kalimati, Baneshwor, Lazimpat, Gaushala, Kamapokhari, Ratopul, among others. Tons of solid waste in many parts of the valley has been putrefying in the open. Due to the growing waste crisis, many residents are used to simply flinging trash onto the ground and roadsides. The residents of the valley have complained that the roadside of the houses and market areas are stinking because of piling heaps of garbage. The Landfill Site Division of KMC earlier issuing a release said the garbage collection was halted due to obstruction caused by locals from Tinpiple to Mukhu Bhanjyang, forwarding demands to blacktop Pasang Lhamu Highway. The locals have been preventing lorries carrying garbage from reaching the site. "The KMC has been constantly asking the Road Division and the construction company to speed up the project. However, the project has been left in the lurch despite extension of the deadline time and again," the release stated. The garbage from 18 local levels of the Kathmandu Valley is being dumped at the landfill site at Sisdole for the past 13 years. At least 1,200 metric ton garbage is dumped at Sisdole landfill site daily from valley. Every day, 200 vehicles, both private and public, transport garbage to Sisdole from the valley. The landfill site of Sisdole has already run out of space, while the alternative to this landfill site Banchare Danda, Nuwakot, is still in limbo. Sisdole was originally meant to be a temporary dumping ground for three years. However, this landfill site has been serving as an only place to dump the wastes generated by the valley since 2005. The KMC generates over 500 tonnes of wastes daily while the valley generates double that amount. (ANI) With the escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, former foreign secretary Shashank has said that the immediate priority for India is to make sure that about 20,000 Indian students in Ukraine remain safe and are out of "conflict zone" in case of any hostilities. He told ANI that Ukraine wants to move rapidly towards alliance with the West but this is not acceptable to Russia. Shashank also said that the world is witnessing a very difficult phase in international relationships. Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision on Monday to recognize Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities has escalated the ongoing tensions between the two countries. Shashank said the focus of geopolitics has shifted to Europe, especially Eastern Europe and very close to Russia. "There is a feeling that Russia is perhaps no longer the same as the old Soviet Union, and so, perhaps, it should make peace with the stronger neighbours in the West, and particularly with the United States. Russia is not willing to accept that situation. And, therefore, we are in a position where Russia does not want any NATO soldiers or NATO armoury or technical support very close to its borders," Shashank told ANI. He said India has made its stand on the present situation clear at the meeting of United Nations Security Council on developments in Ukraine. India on Tuesday strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. "We have two important roles. We have about 20,000 Indian students studying in Ukraine. We have to make sure that they remain safe, they are out of the conflict zone if there is a conflict. Second, they continue to get all kinds of consular support from the Indian mission and from the local government wherever they are living," Shashank said. The former foreign secretary said the European countries will suffer the most if there's a conflict in eastern Europe and "Ukraine will be the centre of this conflict". He said that Ukraine thought that they would be able to get full support from NATO and western Europe and so they were taking a strong position that "Russia has to abide by the Ukrainian interest". Shashank said after developments in Crimea, Ukraine wanted "to move rapidly towards alliances with the West and this is not acceptable to Russia". Ukraine gained independence in 1991 after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The former foreign secretary said more countries closer to Russia's borders have been making friendship with the Western countries and seeking to join security alliances which is not acceptable to Moscow Shashank said Indians who are not able to take direct flights out of Ukraine, can at least move to some of the neighbouring countries from where they can take flights. He recalled the role played by former foreign minister Sushma Swaraj in evacuation of Indians and also of nationals of some other countries from conflict zones. An Air India flight took off from Delhi for Kyiv's Kyiv Boryspil International Airport on Tuesday morning. Air India will operate two more special flights between India and Ukraine on February 24 and 26. (ANI) Shedding light on Russia and Ukraine tensions, Defence expert Alok Bansal said that any alliance between Moscow and Beijing threatens India in a very big way. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Bansal said, "We have a border dispute with China and we would not want a huge grouping to emerge on our north and if there is going to be a conflict between democracies and autocratic regimes, India would not want to be a frontline state in this new conflict." Regarding the safety and security of Indian citizens and students, the defence expert said that most of the Indian citizens and students reside in the western part of Ukraine. "They are very far from the arena of conflict and they are actually virtually completely safe. There are, however, some students living in the eastern part of Ukraine, but the number is very, very limited," said Bansal. He said that in accordance with Indian Embassy in Kiev, travel advisory which advised Indian nationals to leave Ukraine temporarily should be respected and he urged Indian Missions in eastern part of Ukraine to make available commercial flights, and charter flights for orderly and timely departure. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti had reiterated that the safety and security of civilians are essential to India. "More than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us," said Tirumurti. Earlier on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of two separatist republics in eastern Ukraine - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent countries. He also termed Ukraine as a US colony with "a puppet regime", in a televised address. Sharing his thoughts on the above event, Bansal said that has aggravated the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. "Donetsk and Luhansk were already separated from Ukraine as far as practically concerned. It was under the control of the separatist elements who were controlling these two provinces," he said. "This could enable Russian President Vladimir Putin to get Russian troops to move into those territories by having recognized them and by the government requesting for Russian support, the troops could move into this region. Here we need to understand a few things," added the expert. Regarding US President Joe Biden Executive Order "blocking property on certain persons and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to continued Russian efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine", Bansal said, "President Biden is taking steps to pressurize and punish Russia. But what we have seen is that America does not have the wherewithal or the gumption to go for a fight. And after Afghanistan, the US reliability as an ally is a serious question mark." "And if the conflict aggravates, it will be a very tough conflict and will create problems both for Russia, Ukraine, and Europe as a whole. It will also have a huge impact on the global economy and will push Russia closer to China, which is not in the interest of either Europe or America," he added. (ANI) Pakistan is one of the top ten emigration countries in the world with around 6 million emigrants, representing 3 per cent of the total. Pakistan's poor economic development, lack of education, employment opportunities, fragile security scenario, were some of the reasons behind the exodus. There is a huge backlog of pending applications and Pakistani authorities have taken up this issue with the Canadian Minister of Immigration and Citizenship. Notably, there have been cases of illegal activities by Pak migrants in Canada. In one incident of 2018, Wajid Ali, a former Canadian House of Commons Member and another Pakistani were charged with fraudulent borrowing of over Canadian USD 1.1 million by Canadian authorities, reported Islam Khabar. Furthermore, some Pakistani nationals have also been arrested in 2018 for trying to travel to Canada on fake visas. Every year an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Pakistanis attempt illegal passage to Europe via Iran and Turkey. Canada remains the world's fourth-biggest destination for international students however a variety of these reasons have led to the rejection of visas of Pakistani students by the Canadian authorities. (ANI) Noting that diplomatic efforts are the only way to reach an amicable solution acceptable to all in the situation prevailing between Russia and Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said that India has been clear there should be the de-escalation of tensions. "We have been in touch with all concerned. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was at Munich Security Conference, he met a lot of our interlocutors. Our approach has been- to de-escalate, de-conflict. Diplomacy is the only option. We don't want to see anything that results in further escalation of the situation," Shringla told reporters after flagging off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan. "This morning we made a statement at UNSC. We've been clear there should be the de-escalation of tensions, that the world can't afford another conflict, that diplomacy and diplomatic efforts are the only way to reach an amicable solution acceptable to all," he added. India on Tuesday strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. This statement was made at the UNSC meeting over developments in Ukraine in the backdrop of Russia recognizing Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. Meanwhile, Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi said there is no need to panic and India has issued an advisory to its citizens. "There is no need to panic, the Government of India has issued an advisory. All Indians, stay in touch with our embassy," she said responding to a query about Russia-Ukraine tensions. (ANI) Iris Chavez wipes away tears after viewing a video during a news conference Feb. 22, 2022, showing her sister Irene Chavez's interactions with Chicago police in December. Chavez's family and attorneys announced a lawsuit into the circumstances of her December suicide during a mental health crisis while in police custody. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) Irene Chavez stood handcuffed, wearing a Green Bay Packers beanie, outside a South Shore gay bar in December. She had been kicked out for being too drunk and punching a security guard, but her friend pleaded with police officers to take her to a hospital instead of jail as Chavez cried out that she was a veteran with PTSD. Instead, the officers were seen on body camera footage laughing, cussing at her and singing along to You Are My Sunshine with her as they took her to the Grand Crossing police district station for a misdemeanor battery charge. About an hour later, they found Chavez unconscious in the lockup with her shirt tied around her neck. Advertisement Tuesday morning, attorneys filed a 55-page lawsuit in federal court in Chicago on behalf of the family of Chavez, 33. She died at a hospital after being removed from the cell where she was found slumped over with one end of the shirt tied around her neck and the other secured to a metal bar, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit names the city of Chicago and several Chicago police officers and alleges that officers failed to recognize that Chavez was experiencing a mental health crisis and did not properly monitor her while she was in a police holding cell. Advertisement Police violence is often thought of as a gun or a punch, but Irene died from police violence, attorney Sheila Bedi said at a news conference held to announce the lawsuit. Its an act of violence to arrest someone who is clearly no threat to public safety and who is begging for mental health services. It is an act of violence to house someone in crisis alone in a jail cell that practically invites self-harm. Her cause and manner of death were still pending as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Cook County medical examiners office. Chicago police reported the incident as an attempted suicide when she was found, according to official reports. The citys Law Department declined to comment on pending litigation. Chavezs family and friends also attended the news conference. Chavez was a decorated military veteran who served time in combat zones and studied to be a paramedic, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement What we know is Irene Chavez was a bright light in her community, with her friends and with her family. At the memorial service, I remember seeing Irenes friends wearing Green Bay Packers jerseys and memorabilia, attorney Andrew Stroth said. And I laughed because I said, even in Chicago Bears country, Irenes light was very vibrant. What we know, though, is that Irenes bright light, and promising light, and engaging spirit was extinguished by the unjustified actions and inactions of the Chicago Police Department. Attorney Andrew Stroth speaks Feb. 22, 2022, during a news conference at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law about the death of Irene Chavez. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) The lawsuit alleges that in video already released to the public from the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the agency investigating the death, Chavez is heard making several statements, including that she is not alright and that she is a veteran with PTSD. In addition, the lawsuit filed Tuesday alleges her friends told officers Chavez was in distress during her arrest. An arrest report that was released by COPA said Chavez was taken into custody after she was accused of punching a security guard at the bar in the face after he asked her to stop trying to play music on a broken jukebox. After the security guard restrained her and took her outside to wait for police, she spat in the face of a second security guard, the report said. The security guards requested she be charged with a misdemeanor and not a felony. Not only did CPD officers refuse to accommodate Irenes disability during arrest, but they intentionally escalated the situation by mocking Irene and her friend, and using foul, aggressive language, the complaint reads. The familys attorneys pointed to an exchange captured on police body camera of an officer engaging with her as she was being handcuffed and after her friends had said she was a homeless veteran. Advertisement Chavez, who had been drinking, according to her attorneys, turns to the officer, who is asking a question and observing the arrest by another officer. Chavez appears to respond by saying she is talking to another officer. She then tells the officer to shut up and says, (expletive) you. Go (expletive) yourself, the officer yells back at Chavez. The officer then said, you aint talking to me like that. I dont know who you think I am, according to details in the lawsuit. Officer Doe #1 knew or should have known that Irene was in a mental health crisis and yet escalated the situation in a threatening and aggressive manner, entirely disregarding Irenes mental health, the lawsuit reads. An image from body-worn camera video shows Irene Chavez's interaction with Chicago police officers in December 2021 outside the Jeffrey Pub. (COPA) The lawsuit cited instances when concerns about the Chicago Police Departments response to those in crisis has been documented, including in the 2017 U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the department that led to a sweeping court-ordered mandate to reform it. When asked at the news conference about the videos, Iris Chavez, Irene Chavezs older sister, seemed to point to what these policing experts found: a lack of professionalism and commitment to protect someone they were responding to. Advertisement I wasnt trained. I didnt go to school to be a paramedic or doctor, none of that, Chavez said. But just looking at the video and (I am) saying to myself, Why arent they doing this instead? Why didnt they do this? Why is he talking to her like that? All I see is people who wear cool outfits ... and getting a check, there was no care there. There was no remorse. No one even questioned, Do you think we should do this instead? After the arrest at the bar, officers failed to take Irene Chavez to a hospital or provide medical care, instead transporting her to the Grand Crossing district lockup, which had two obvious suicide hazards, according to the lawsuit. One hazard was two metal bars that were low to the ground. Second, the observation window to the lockup was partially covered with paper. The paper blocked the window and prevented officers from visually observing people detained in the cell, the lawsuit noted. An image from body-worn camera video shows Officer Jose Gutierrez climbing onto the desk to look into the cell where Irene Chavez was handcuffed after being transported to the Grand Crossing district station following her arrest in December. Paper partially covering the viewing window can be seen at right. (U.S. District Court filing) Once alone in the cell, Irene repeatedly cried out for helpreasserting that she was a veteran who lived with PTSD and needed to see her therapist, the lawsuit alleges. Multiple CPD Officers heard Irenes cries for at least 45 minutes and each one ignored her. After Irene was quiet for a few minutes, an officer climbed on a desk to peer over the paper obscuring the window to the holding cell. The CPD officer then saw Irene slumped over with one end of her shirt tied around her neck and the other secured to the metal bar. Medical professionals removed an unconscious Irene from that cell, and she was later pronounced dead at the hospital. According to the lawsuit, COPA documented the paper obscuring the view and notified the department, instructing them that this practice posed a danger to people in its custody. Advertisement In an incident report on her suicide attempt, which was also released by COPA, officers noted that while on the scene, Chavez didnt make threats to harm herself. She also said that she had about three drinks while at the bar. According to the report, Chavez was belligerent during processing, repeatedly shouting It was self-defense! Im a veteran, I have PTSD! Talk to my therapist! When taken into the lockup, officers removed her belt and shoe laces and handcuffed her to a bench. Just after 1 a.m., she shouted, This isnt funny! and threw one of her boots at the holding cell window, the report said. She became quiet for about five minutes until one of the officers looked through the window of the lockup and saw that her short-sleeved button-down shirt was off and wrapped around her neck, the report said. Body camera videos show that the shirt was tied to the metal bar that she was handcuffed to above the bench, which appears to be a couple of feet off the ground. Officers checked her pulse, performed CPR and called for EMS, according to the videos and report. Officers were able to feel a faint pulse while they did chest compressions. Advertisement Emergency responders said she did not have a pulse before taking her to the University of Chicago Medical Center, according to the report. At the hospital, she was able to begin breathing on her own but remained in critical condition. An image from police body-worn camera shows Irene Chavez in a holding cell after being arrested in December and transported to the Grand Crossing district station. At right, circled, is the metal bar that Chavez's shirt was wrapped around when she was later found unconscious. She was later pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center. (U.S. District Court filing) According to the Cook County medical examiners office, she was pronounced dead at 9:49 a.m. at the hospital after the incident had occurred at 1:09 a.m. at the lockup. Chavez was described in the lawsuit as a native Chicagoan and a queer Afro-Latina woman. Bedi said after the news conference that the fact that Chavez was gay, Black and Latinx played a role in how officers treated her. After her discharge from the Army, she lived in Texas and completed paramedic courses at Central Texas College. She took a solo backpacking trip through Central America as a way to reflect on what it means to become better, the lawsuit said. Chavez moved back to Chicago in mid-2018. The lawsuit also notes Chavezs documented struggles, pointing to her diagnosis of PTSD after serving two tours and suffering two concussions. Chavez had told her sister she didnt feel normal anymore, that she felt like a robot. And in October 2021, military affairs caseworkers developed a suicide safety plan for her, the lawsuit said. Advertisement Chavez struggled with drinking as well, committing to her sobriety in the months before the incident. She had relapsed, the lawsuit said, by December 2021. Chavez also struggled during the pandemic and became reclusive and paranoid and lost a job. She was also disinterested in activities that she loved such as playing sports with her nephews, going to the lakefront, attending LGBTQ+-centered events with friends, and volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Her loved ones remember her as smart, funny, and loving with a commitment to making the world a better place, the lawsuit reads. After her honorable discharge from the military, Irene developed serious post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and struggled with alcohol dependency. Irene dreamed of healing her trauma, farming on her family land in Mexico, and traveling the world. But on December 18, 2021, the actions and inactions of Chicago Police Department (CPD) Officers and the City of Chicagos policy and practice failures cut Irenes life tragically short. Marking the International Day of Mother Tongues on Monday, the Sindh United Party blamed the Pakistan government for intentionally eliminating the Sindhi language. Leaders, activists and supporters of the SUP took part in demonstrations, rallies, seminars and conferences in 40 cities and towns of Sindh and said that Sindhi is being 'officially' wiped out, reported Dawn. The main event was held in Sachal Library, Sachal Goth, in Karachi where Syed Zain Shah, Aijaz Sameto, Agha Qamar, Khwaja Naveed, Ghulam Shah, Asghar Baghi, Bedil Masroor, Taj Joyo and others highlighted the importance of Sindhi. They accused the federal and Sindh governments of intentionally eliminating the Sindhi language from this province, reported Dawn. Zain Shah pointed out that signboards, plaques and other such things in the Sindhi language were being removed from government buildings and offices, highways and roads, as well as other public places which showed that the language was being eliminated in an organized manner jointly by the federal and Sindh governments. He said that Sindhi was a language spoken in this region for centuries and had been spoken and written in different civilizations. "Still it is the mother tongue of around 25 million people," he said, adding that the rulers of Pakistan would have to grant it the status of a national language. He described the denial of this status to Sindhi after the creation of Pakistan as the biggest loss suffered by the Sindhi nation, reported Dawn. "Pakistan is a multination and multilingual part of this region," he said and stressed that every major language spoken in the country should have the status of a national language. This would ensure the stability and strength of the country, he said. (ANI) Air India special flight AI 1946 landed at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from Ukraine's Boryspil airport with over 240 Indian citizens on Tuesday night amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. "Air India special flight AI-1946 landed at Delhi airport with around 242 passengers at 2330 Hrs," an Air India official told ANI. On Tuesday, Air India's special flight AI-1947 operated for Ukraine to bring back Indians from Ukraine. More than 20,000 students from India are currently studying in different parts of Ukraine. "Feeling relieved," said an Indian student pursuing a medical course in Ukraine after landing at Delhi airport amid the Ukraine crisis. Another Indian student, Krish Raj who is pursuing MBBS in Ukraine after landing at Delhi airport, said, "I was staying far from the border area so the situation was normal there, returned after the advisory issued by Indian Embassy." Air India will operate a total of three flights from Ukraine to India. Air India is the only airline in India to operate flights from Ukraine during the impending war in the country. The Indian Embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday organised additional flights out of Ukraine in view of the continued tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The embassy issued an advisory amid escalating situation at the Russia-Ukraine border. "In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised," read the advisory. The advisory further listed the available flights from Kyiv to New Delhi with the booking procedure. A total of four flights are scheduled to depart between February 25 and March 6. Scheduled flights of Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, etc are continuing to operate their routine flights from Ukraine to India. Tensions rose dramatically after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the sending of Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his address to the nation on Monday. Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) conducted a meeting on the present tensions following a request from the United States and allies on Monday. Condemning Russia's move to recognize regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Nations demanded Moscow to return to the table for negotiations as well as immediate and complete verifiable withdrawal of occupation troops. India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. (ANI) US President Joe Biden on Tuesday (local time) announced new sanctions against Russia and called President Vladimir Putin's moves in eastern Ukraine the "beginning of a Russian invasion". This comes after President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk and ordered Russian troops there. Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine crisis from the White House, Biden also called Putin's moves the "beginning of a Russian invasion" of Ukraine as he announces new sanctions against Moscow. "We are implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions: VEB and their military bank," Biden said adding, "We are implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russia's sovereign debt. That means we have cut off Russia's government from Western financing. It can no longer raise money from the West and can not trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either." "Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbours?" Biden asserted from the White House podium. In his remarks, Biden, further said, "We will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well," adding, "We have worked with Germany to ensure that Nord Stream 2 will not ... move forward." Following Putin's announcement, Biden on Monday signed an Executive Order that will prohibit all new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics". The US strongly condemned Putin's decision to recognize the "so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" as "independent." US Ambassador to UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield supported Ukraine's call for an Urgent Meeting of the UN Security Council. She criticized Russia's announcement and said that it is "nothing more than theatre, apparently designed to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine." Notably, Putin has also ordered the sending of the Russian Armed Forces to Ukraine's breakaway regions after recognizing their independence in his Monday address to the nation. Notably, in March 2014, Russia invaded and then annexed the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In April pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region declared independence. The war continued in the eastern Ukrainian region and then spread westwards. Roughly 13,000 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians eventually died in the conflict. In April 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian, was elected by a large majority as President of Ukraine on a promise to restore Donbas to the country. The crisis deepened in January 2021, when Zelensky appealed the US President Biden to let Ukraine enter NATO. In the spring of 2021, Russia started massing troops near Ukraine's borders in what it said were training exercises. Russia stated that its troop deployment is in response to NATO's steady eastward expansion. It argued that its moves are aimed at protecting its own security considerations. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday offered prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Earlier in the day, Shringla flagged off the first consignment of humanitarian aid of 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan in the presence of Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, Farid Mamundzay. "We are extending our humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, in the form of 50,000 tonnes of wheat. We are flagging off our first consignment of 2,500 tonnes in 50 Afghan trucks, today. It will be delivered to the World Food Program for dissemination," said Shringla. "This consignment will go from Attari ICP, Jalalabad, via Pakistan, many such consignments will be sent to fulfil the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan in the next 2 to 3 months," added the Foreign Secretary. In a ceremony held at Amritsar, Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying 2500 MT of wheat assistance from India to Afghanistan via Pakistan. In response to appeals made by the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, the Government of India has decided to gift 50,000 MT of wheat to the people of Afghanistan. The supply will be affected by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and transported from ICP Attari (India) to Jalalabad (Afghanistan) by Afghan transporters. The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of India to supply 50,000 MT of wheat for the people of Afghanistan. The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. In this regard, the Government of India signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat within Afghanistan, read the Ministry of External Affairs release. (ANI) Pakistan railway line project, Main Line (ML-1), is hanging in the balance owing to the financial delays by Exim Bank of China. There is a bone of contention between Pakistan and China regarding the maturity period for loans. Beijing wants to cut short the tenure of the loan to 15-20 years and finance an 85 per cent share of the project while Islamabad proposes a 25-year tenure. Another major issue lying in Pakistan's path is the unskilled workforce that cannot handle a modernised rail system based on the latest technology. Meanwhile, China has shown readiness to finance the project using RMB (Chinese Currency) to internationalise the currency. Junaid Akbar, Chairman of National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, with sight to pressurize Beijing, said, if financial negotiations with China did not conclude successfully, Islamabad would turn to Russia or any other country. However, the likelihood of any other country to invest a large amount seems negligible, reported Islam Khabar. Pakistan's economy is already under stress and the delay in this project is going to be a setback to Islamabad's claim of direct employment for 20,000 locals. Islamabad has also been proposed to hand over the project to Chinese companies to run for a period of three to five years. "The biggest question arising before the policymakers was that who will run the modernised railways after the completion of ML-1," according to an official. Pakistan Railway is already dependent on government subsidies and the Railways is plagued with the problem of insufficient revenue. The railways' departmental deficit during the current Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government increased to PKR 46 billion in 2021 and total losses amounted to PKR 1.19 trillion, mainly due to low traffic, both passenger and goods. Similarly, the number of freight carriages was reduced from 16,159 to 14,327. On viability count, PR has suffered an estimated loss of PKR 1.2 trillion during the past 50 years. Its losses in the FY 2017 were approximately PKR 40 billion. Pak media reports indicate that 57 passenger trains had been shut down so far and now only 85 trains were available for various routes across the country, reported Islam Khabar. (ANI) The Africa CDC will ask that all Covid-19 vaccine donations be paused until the third or fourth quarter of this year, the director of the agency told POLITICO. John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said the primary challenge for vaccinating the continent is no longer supply shortages but logistics challenges and vaccine hesitancy leading the agency and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust to seek the delay. It makes sense to say, Look, lets pause and avoid the risk of sending so much that it gets expired, and then clear this and put our efforts in taking these ones up so we can now see how many people have actually been immunized and then maybe now you can look at the next wave of donations,' he said. The request marks a shift in the challenges Africa faces from not having enough doses to not being able to quickly get those doses into arms. Its not to say that donations are not important, he said. Its just to say lets not just do it at once. Nkengasong said the available dose supply is no longer the main barrier to immunizing the continent. As the supply of doses has become more predictable, African leaders have been able to better plan distributions and make sense of how many they need for a certain period of time. Its like buying a whole basket of foods and just to put it on your kitchen counter, he said. If you cannot use any, it will rot. But if you do that in smaller pieces, then you still get to the end goal with the same amount of food on your kitchen table but at least you dont have any waste. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations has begun working to tailor Covid-19 vaccine dose supplies to countries needs trying to offer choices in which vaccines are sent and when they're administered. At the time of a pandemic, we don't want waste. There's always waste in vaccines campaigns, but we want to minimize that as much as possible, Seth Berkley, the CEO of Gavi, said in a recent interview with POLITICO. Early on, people wanted whatever they could get. But now we're moving to a much more sophisticated place. Story continues Gavi has acknowledged the give-and-take between donors and recipients of Covid-19 vaccines, noting the shifting supply and demand. COVAX has supplied over half a billion donated doses to low income countries, and not a single dose has been shipped without first being accepted by the recipient country," a Gavi spokesperson said in response to the Africa CDC's plan. "Dose-sharing will remain an important aspect of the global vaccination effort as we strive to close the vaccine equity gap. It is important, in this respect, that we ensure supply remains aligned with demand and that shipments to countries continue to match country needs and national vaccination strategies. Even though there is a risk of new Covid-19 variants and changing demands in the coming months, Nkengasong said he was confident in the decision to delay future shipments. The logistics of getting doses into arms and vaccine hesitancy in many communities are now the main challenges the Africa CDC faces. Though the testing supply has often been unreliable, Africa has reported nearly 250,000 deaths from Covid-19 and over 11 million cases, according to the Africa CDC a testament to the need through the continent. The greatest barrier you have now is: how do you provide enough logistics to vaccinate at scale? Nkengasong said. The warehouses to hold vaccines when they arrive, cold storage capacity throughout vaccination sites and availability of needles, syringes and disinfecting swabs are all logistical challenges that must be solved, he said. There are scenarios where a government will deliver vaccines to a remote area, but when you go there, you realize that you just lack a needle to get the vaccines into arms, he said. This comes as the Biden administration is also looking to focus on last-mile vaccination strategies, POLITICO reported last week. As the supply of doses picks up around the world, leaders are focusing on how to get shots from the tarmac to the unvaccinated. Reluctance to take the vaccine is another key issue for Africa at this point in the pandemic, Nkengasong said. Younger populations in particular are not seeing the virus as a threat and are not motivated to get immunized. Though Nkengasong said the supply of doses is not a major challenge, he still said Africas ability to manufacture doses is important not just to fight Covid but also future diseases. He expects to ask for donations to resume in the second half of this year. Erin Banco contributed to this report. A picture of Ahmaud Arbery is on display outside the Glynn County Courthouse in November (REUTERS) The three white men who murdered Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery have been found guilty of all charges in their federal hate crimes trial. Gregory McMichael, 66, Travis McMichael, 36, and William Roddie Bryan Jr., 52, were convicted on all counts in federal court in Georgia on Tuesday morning, with a jury finding that they were motivated by race when they pursued and murdered the Black jogger. All three men were found guilty of one count of interfering with Arberys civil rights to use a public street because of his race and one count of attempted kidnapping. The McMichael father and son duo were also convicted of one count each of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm and Travis McMichael was also convicted of one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charges come with a maximum sentence of life in prison. The hate crimes trial centred around the allegation that the three white men targeted Arbery because of his race when they chased the unarmed Black jogger in their pickup trucks and shot him dead in the street in broad daylight back in February 2020. All three are already serving life sentences after being found guilty of murder at their state trial back in November. Deliberations in the federal trial began on Monday afternoon, following closing arguments earlier in the day where the prosecution said the three white men targeted the Black man because of racial assumptions, racial resentment, and racial anger. On February 23, 2020, the three defendants did not see 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery as a fellow human being, the prosecutor said. Jurors deliberated for just over two and a half hours on Monday before they were excused. They had resumed only briefly on Tuesday morning before telling the court a verdict had been reached. The verdict came almost exactly two years to the day that Arbery was chased through a street in Brunswick, Georgia, and shot dead back on 23 February 2020. Story continues During the trial, the court heard about the racist language used by all three defendants prior to Arberys murder as the prosecution attempted to show that race was the motivator for their actions that day. Bryan referred to a Black man his daughter was dating as an n-word and monkey just days before he murdered the Black jogger, the court heard. [She] is dating a [n-word] now, Bryan allegedly said in a message to a friend. Travis McMichael, meanwhile, used racial slurs in a number of social media posts and messages to friends and referred to Black people as animals, criminals, monkeys, sub-human savages, according to prosecutors. Gregory McMichael also allegedly told someone he knew while working as an investigator in the Glynn County District Attorneys Office that Blacks are nothing but trouble, the prosecutor said. The federal trial got underway after the judge denied a plea deal for the McMichaels, where they agreed to plead guilty to hate crimes charges and be sentenced to 30 years in prison in exchange for being moved to a federal prison. The plea agreement was condemned by Arberys family who said they had made it clear they do not want his killers to be able to serve their sentences in a comfier facility. Federal prisons are notoriously more comfortable, better funded and safer. Travis McMichael had changed his plea to guilty - admitting that he chased and killed the Black 25-year-old because of his race - and his father had agreed to do the same before US District Judge Lisa Godbey rejected the deal, saying she was not willing to be bound by the terms of the agreement. Travis McMichael changed his plea back to not guilty, paving the way for the father and son duo to join Bryan at the federal trial. The three white men chased Arbery through the Satilla Shores neighbourhood of Georgia in their pickup trucks before Travis McMichael shot him dead in the road back on 23 February 2020. At their sentencing on state charges in January, Travis and Gregory McMichael were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole while Bryan was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole, making him eligible for release after 30 years in prison. This story is breaking. Check back for more Refugees from Afghanistan are welcomed for lunch following prayers with the Muslim community at the Mecca Center in Willowbrook, Feb. 11, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The young Afghan men prayed together at a Willowbrook mosque just two days after arriving in Illinois from a military base in New Jersey. Afterward, they shared a meal of chicken, rice and samosas. In the midst of listening to words of welcome over lunch, one of the men raised his hand. Advertisement I dont have a question, but I thank you for everything, he said, through a translator. After a pause, he added: I love your food. Advertisement The men are among scores of Afghan refugees arriving in Illinois this month, as the U.S. government works to move people from military bases into communities. Since September, about 2,142 Afghans have resettled in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. In all, Illinois plans to welcome about 2,500 to 3,000 refugees. Chicagoland resettlement agencies and related nonprofit groups have worked on overdrive with strained resources since the U.S. completed its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in August, leaving the country in control of the Taliban and tens of thousands of people evacuated to the U.S. due to the humanitarian crisis there. Many Afghan workers who aided the U.S. military during the war have sought asylum in other countries, fearing for their safety under a Taliban regime. Though the agencies have welcomed a steady flow of refugees since August, they are geared up to accept an influx of new people this month, as federal officials designated Feb. 15 as a goal for emptying the military bases that had served as temporary housing, according to those working in the resettlement process and reporting from national outlets. Resettlement agencies, still in the process of rebuilding after being whittled down during the Trump era, are working with nonprofit groups, mosques, churches, private donors and volunteers to bridge the gaps in funding and resources. Even though the government will support people for a short period of time, the funding offered is bare minimum, said Irshad Khan, chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago. We are asking our communities to step up. Because the resettlement agencies are operating at capacity, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is among the organizations aiding in the efforts. These are families who were assisting the U.S. military in Afghanistan. They had good jobs, said Ayesha Ahmed, board director of development at Urban Muslim Minority Alliance, who has also been working closely with refugees. Overnight, their lives were just uprooted. A high level of need Those who work with refugees said their communities are offering money, time and translation services and donating basic necessities. But the need is overwhelming, they say. Advertisement Generally, the government supports refugees for a short time period, after which, they rely on private funding through nonprofits and resettlement agencies until they are self-sufficient. Since September, the Illinois Department of Human Services has provided more than $12.5 million in state and federal funding, along with some ongoing rolling funding, to the refugee process, including funds for emergency housing assistance, mental health, legal assistance and other aspects of the resettlement process. Jims Porter, manager of communications and advocacy at RefugeeOne, a resettlement agency in Chicago, said the agency settled more refugees in a three-month period than during the three previous fiscal years combined. Porter said resettlement agencies lost infrastructure during the years former President Donald Trump was in office. The agencies are in the process of rebuilding. Its definitely put a stress or strain on the system, he said, adding that they rely heavily on community support. Nan Warshaw, founder of a group that seeks to help resettlement agencies meet the basic needs of refugees, uses Facebook to crowdsource in obtaining much-needed items. Her group, Refugee Community Connection, provides winter apparel, pots and pans, toiletries and culturally relevant items like Afghan rugs. The organization also stocks up these items in free stores in Rogers Park and Albany Park. Advertisement The resettlement agencies have been operating in crisis mode since the fall and they are doing a little bit better, but all are still dramatically understaffed and overworked, Warshaw said. Were trying to fill in the gaps. Housing is one of the most difficult hurdles in the resettlement process, experts say. There is already a lack of affordable housing in Chicago, and refugees generally come with no credit or rental history. RefugeeOne guarantees rent for the first three months, Porter said. There is a need right now for landlords, rental management agencies to open their doors to refugees to start a new life here, he said. It takes a long time to start over During a Friday prayer service days before Valentines Day, Imam Hassan Aly of the Mecca Center in Willowbrook spoke about love among community members. He bid his community to embrace the newly arrived refugees praying beside them. Today, we have a beautiful group of our Afghan brothers who are visiting us, who just came to Illinois two days ago, Aly said during the service. We are so honored and so humbled to welcome them. Refugees from Afghanistan attend prayer services with Muslim community members at the Mecca Center in Willowbrook. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Despite working with strained resources, those coordinating resettlement efforts say their communities have stepped up. Advertisement Volunteers with Exodus World Service, which works with resettlement agencies, have helped welcome more newly arrived refugees in recent months than all of last year, said Susan Odom, the executive director. It takes a long time to start over and rebuild your life, Odom said. We do need volunteers and more people to be involved. A group of north suburban Illinoisans are supporting about eight Afghan families who are living in a hotel, said Ahmed, of the Urban Muslim Minority Alliance. They cater Friday dinners for them, provide basic necessities as well as company and comfort. One Friday at the hotel, Ahmed watched a mother video-chat with her daughter, who was still in Afghanistan. The teenager was separated from her family amid the chaos that upended Kabul as the U.S. withdrew, Ahmed said, and did not make it out of the country. The volunteers are working with the family to bring their daughter here, including eliciting the help of local officials. A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, confirmed the office is working with the family to do what it can. Its heartbreaking, Ahmed said. Advertisement The familys story is just one of many who risked their lives to come, and were forced to leave loved ones back home. None of the 9/11 hijackers were Afghani, but their country has been in some kind of war for the last 40 years, Ahmed said. All of a sudden they were just kind of displaced overnight. I really feel like it is our duty as Americans to help them rebuild their lives. How to help: The Daily Beast Claudio Peri/Pool/ReutersROMESince the beginning of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Pope Francis has floated the idea that he wants to take a trip to Kyiv to try to broker a ceasefire. But now he says he would prefer to go to Moscow to try to talk some sense into Vladimir Putin, who he has not outwardly condemned in the now nearly three-month-old war and only did so lightly in a lengthy interview with an Italian newspaper.I feel that before going to Kyiv, I must go to Moscow, he told Corriere D A new amendment to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill would require schools to inform parents of their children's sexual orientation within six weeks of learning the student isn't straight, NBC affiliate WFLA reported on Monday. The amendment was filed Friday by the bill's co-sponsor, state Rep. Joe Harding (R). The bill, which has gained national attention and pushback, bars educators in Florida from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools. Parents would be able to take legal action against school districts they believe have violated the measure. The original version of the legislation required schools to inform families of their child's LGBTQ+ status but gave an option for exemption for the outing in cases where educators feared it could lead to abuse, neglect or abandonment. The amendment offers no such exception. It instructs school leaders to "develop a plan, using all available governmental resources," to inform parents about their children's sexual orientation "through an open dialogue in a safe, supportive, and judgment-free environment that respects the parent-child relationship and protects the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of the student." Another amendment to HB 1557 notes the potential risks that outing them could have on Florida students. Filed by Democratic state Rep. Ana Eskamani, it would allow students to sue the Florida Department of Education for damages for "irreparable harm" caused by the disclosure of their sexual orientation. The full bill, which has the support of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), is set to face a vote in the Florida House this week. It has been universally condemned by gay rights groups, as well as the White House. "Every parent ... hopes that our leaders will ensure their [children's] safety, protection and freedom, and today conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack kids who need that support the most, kids from LGBTQI+ community," Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said in briefing earlier this month. "Make no mistake, this is not an isolated action in Florida," she continued. "Across the country, we're seeing Republican leaders taking action to regulate what students can or cannot read, what they can or cannot learn, and most troubling, who they can or cannot be. This is who these kids are, and these legislators are trying to make it harder for them to be who they are." By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has shifted the Ukraine crisis into a new, more dangerous phase with a barrage of words and actions that suggest his ultimate aims go far deeper than extending Russian sway over two struggling separatist regions. Putin signed friendship treaties on Monday night with the so-called Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics proclaimed by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, in a move denounced as illegal by the West and met with immediate sanctions, including on Russian banks and a major new gas pipeline. But it was the extraordinary televised speech preceding the signing that offered deeper clues to Putin's thinking, as he twisted centuries of history into an hour-long diatribe portraying Ukraine as an artificial nation with no tradition of statehood. Kremlin watchers said his lecture looked like an attempt to justify deeper aggression against Ukraine and a possible new invasion, eight years after he captured and annexed Crimea. "He has questioned the right to sovereignty of Ukraine and he's declared that this was a historic mistake, a historic accident that Ukraine is existing," said Gerhard Mangott, a professor at Austria's Innsbruck University and member of a group of Russia experts that meets yearly with Putin. "So it's most likely that his final ambition is to destroy this Ukrainian state, or at least make Ukraine divide into two separate halves," he said, with Russia controlling the eastern part of the country. In significant follow-up comments on Tuesday, Putin said he was recognising the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions of east Ukraine, which together comprise an area known as the Donbass, as forming their breakaway "republics," even though only a fraction of that territory is controlled by the separatists. With Russia affirming the right under its new treaties to send in troops and build military bases, that opens up the risk it could enter an open war with Ukraine to extend the separatist territories. Story continues "AT A LOSS" Putin has always denied planning to reinvade Ukraine but his huge military build-up on its borders since November has prompted brutal falls in Russian shares, government bonds and the rouble. His latest moves have heightened anxiety among the Russian elite. "Were all at a loss. Were all very nervous. No one knows what the endgame is," said a former high-placed official. Putin's latest move has killed off any lingering hopes of ending the eight-year separatist war in Ukraine by reviving peace agreements signed in 2014 and 2015 - an ominous shift from diplomacy towards force. "By abandoning the Minsk agreements, Russia has deprived itself of one avenue of potential long-term political leverage over Ukraine and will now be seeking another one," said Oleg Ignatov, senior analyst for Russia at International Crisis Group. In his speech, Putin looked like a man who, after more than two decades as Russia's paramount leader, is thinking more about his legacy than about the casualties and economic costs that a full-scale war with Ukraine would entail. It followed comments from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week that Putin might not be thinking logically and sanctions might not deter an "irrational actor". Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte described him as "totally paranoid". "We've seen a shift from Putin (as) the kind of pragmatic, rational calculating leader, to someone who is increasingly looking for their place in history, who sees themself on a historical mission to right injustices," said Neil Melvin of the RUSI think-tank in London. That led to a shift in Putin's risk calculus where the short-term costs of his actions paled into insignificance compared to the bigger historical picture, he said. Melvin, who recently returned from meetings with senior Russian officials in Moscow, said the Ukraine crisis was only beginning to unfold. "To be frank, you don't station 200,000 troops on the border with Ukraine and invoke the biggest crisis in European security for 40 years if all you're trying to do is extend your control over two small territories that you already control," he said. The next stage would be determined by the entry of Russian forces into Donetsk and Luhansk and possible moves to expand into wider territory, depending on how Ukraine responds. "I think that's what we need to look for now," Melvin said. "It's how will the trigger be pulled for this wider military incursion?" (Additional reporting by Catherine Belton, writing by Mark Trevelyan, editing by Tim Ahmann) ORMOND BEACH Residents in a neighborhood here along the Halifax River awoke on Monday to find antisemitic flyers had been left in their driveways overnight. Antisemitic flyers that touted the viewpoint that people of the Jewish faith are behind the COVID-19 pandemic were distributed overnight on Sunday in an Ormond Beach neighborhood. According to an official with the Anti-Defamation League, the flyers are part of a broader statewide and national push by the Goyim Defense League, which is described by the ADL as a loose network of individuals connected by their virulent antisemitism. An image on one of the printed handbills, sent to The News-Journal by a neighborhood resident, was emblazoned with the headline that Every single aspect of the COVID agenda is Jewish, above a list that identified more than a dozen national public officials as being members of the Jewish faith. The list included Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; as well as other CDC officials; COVID czar Jeff Zients; and Andy Slavitt, former senior pandemic adviser in President Bidens administration. The names also included Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer; and Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel. A second flyer that also appeared in the same driveways along the 100 block of Riverside Drive featured the headline Lets Go Brandon, a reference to the anti-Biden phrase that has become a mantra among right-wing voters and supporters of former President Trump. The anti-Joe Biden phrase "Let's Go Brandon" appeared on antisemitic flyers that were distributed overnight Sunday in an Ormond Beach neighborhood. Beneath that slogan appeared the message that every single aspect of the Biden administration is Jewish above a list of a dozen officials that includes Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen; Attorney General Merrick Garland; Secretary of State Anthony Blinken; Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, among others. More: Swastikas turn up on Biketoberfest merchandise at Froggy's bar on Main Street At the bottom of the page, the handbill advised those who received the flyers to visit the website goyimtv.tv for more information. GoyimTV is a video website operated by the Goyim Defense League, which is described by the Anti-Defamation League as a loose network of individuals connected by their virulent antisemitism. The group boasts thousands of online followers, according to the ADL. A scan of the website on Monday found videos entitled Jewish Fables Exposed and 25 Questions about the SCAMdemic. Story continues Ormond flyers part of broader effort The flyers found along Riverside Drive are part of a much wider effort by the Goyim Defense League, said Lonny Wilk, interim regional director of the ADL in Florida. There has been similar flyering over the last month, month-and-a-half throughout the state of Florida and it also has been going on around the country for a few months now, Wilk said. Other locations targeted in the state include Miami, Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Melbourne, Fort Myers and Sarasota, the latter happening only this past weekend, Wilk said. Nationwide, the ADL has been tracking similar flyer incidents in Colorado, California, Illinois, Texas and Maryland, all within the past 48 hours, Wilk said. The Goyim Defense League has leaders throughout the country, including in Florida, Wilk said. Its not a huge group, but one thing we know very well with hate and antisemitism, you dont need a huge group to cause a great deal of fear in any community. For Marvin Miller, president of the Jewish Federation of Volusia & Flagler Counties, news of the antisemitic materials inspired a mix of weary resignation and anger, but not fear. Weve heard it all, Miller said, and it hasnt changed. Today its the same thing, a narrow-minded group that you think would learn something by now and do better in the thinking process, but they dont. Its just another attack, another time. Only then did Millers anger surface. Deep down Im boiling, he said. Its very hateful, very hurtful. Flyer's antisemitic message angers resident Along Riverside Drive, meanwhile, another resident also was angry. Pat Rice, former longtime News-Journal editor, found the flyers in his driveway when he went out to fetch his morning paper on Monday. Later, he found others at more homes down the street. The flyers kind of speak for themselves, said Rice, who isnt Jewish. Its obviously bigoted racist people who are trying to create the impression that people of the Jewish faith somehow are behind the COVID pandemic, which strikes me as idiotic. Rice said that an Ormond Beach Police officer visited his neighborhood on Monday to investigate the incident. No report or information about the police response was available on Monday afternoon, said Officer Shane Jarrell, Ormond Beach Police public information officer. Meanwhile, Rice said that he would be glad to have a civil debate with the flyers authors. Im just a loudmouth who doesnt like bigots, but Ill have a conversation with them, he said. Id be glad to sit down and have a civil conversation. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Antisemitic flyers turn up in driveways in Ormond Beach An Arizona state House committee on Monday passed a proposed law that would make video recordings within 8 feet of police activity illegal, The Associated Press reports. The House panel voted 7-5, with no Democratic support, to pass the measure introduced by state Rep. John Kavanagh, which has been criticized by some as a potential violation of constitutional rights. "We are extremely concerned that this language violates not only the free speech and press clauses of the First Amendment, but also runs counter to the 'clearly established right' to photograph and record police officers performing their official duties in a public place," the National Press Photographers Association, with support of several medial organizations, wrote in a letter in opposition to the bill. Stay ahead of the news cycle with The Hill's new Evening Report, featuring the day's top stories and a look ahead to tomorrow. Kavanagh defended the measure, saying the proposed 8-foot distance, which was offered as an amendment, was modeled after a Supreme Court ruling involving abortion protesters. "I think this fully conforms with constitutionality and weighs officer safety with the citizens' right, the public's right, to see law enforcement officers in action," Kavanagh said. If signed into law, the bill introduced by Kavanagh would make exceptions for certain situations including those being questioned by police or stopped by police while in a vehicle. Violators of the proposed law would be charged with a petty offense and be subject to a fine, but would not face jail time. The state House Rules Committee will now review the bill before it heads to the Arizona House floor, notes the AP. Video recordings of police have become the subject of increased interest in the wake of the death of George Floyd, who was murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in 2020. Video footage of the incident played a crucial role in Chauvin's conviction and lead to widespread protests worldwide. A 39-year-old man who was armed held Denton police at bay for more than four hours before he surrendered early Tuesday without an incident, authorities said Tuesday. Gabriel Temba had threatened to shoot anyone who entered his home once Denton police SWAT members arrived on the scene, police said in a news release. But after negotiations, an unarmed Temba exited the apartment about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, and he was taken into custody, police said. Temba was arrested on a warrant with a charge of assault/family violence/impeding breath because he was accused of strangling his wife. The incident started just after 8:30 p.m. Monday, when Denton police responded to a domestic disturbance in the 1000 block of Dallas Drive. Tembas wife reported her husband was screaming at her, had strangled her and was making homicidal and suicidal statements, police said. Police determined that he had multiple guns in the couples apartment. His wife had escaped from their Denton apartment prior to the standoff and she was provided medical attention. Feb. 21The Atlanta Police Department officer arrested on rape charges in Cherokee County earlier this month has been fired, the department said Monday. Lionel Dely, 32, of Marietta, had been suspended without pay pending an emergency disciplinary hearing since the allegations became public on Feb. 14. Dely was charged by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office investigators after investigating a rape allegation that was reported to authorities Feb. 2. A woman reported the alleged rape occurred Jan. 31 in her Acworth apartment shortly after meeting the man, who had identified himself as an Atlanta officer who was conducting an investigation. Investigators found evidence supporting a charge of rape, and confirmed Dely is an Atlanta officer, the office said. He turned himself in on Feb. 11. Dely is being held without bond in the Cherokee County detention center, the sheriff's office confirmed Monday. MELBOURNE, Australia Australia has accused a Chinese ship of illuminating one of its P-8A Poseidon multimission aircraft with a military grade laser while it flew over waters north of the Pacific nation. Australias Defence Department said the incident happened after a pair of Chinese military vessels were encountered in the Makassar Strait on Feb. 11 by a Royal Australian Navy frigate and then again in the Arafura Sea by a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A on Feb. 12. A Peoples Liberation Army Navy task group comprising of the Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Hefei and the Type 071 amphibious landing platform dock Jinggangshan were detected in the Arafura Sea on five separate occasions by P-8s, Australian patrol vessels and a shore-based Australian military detachment, according to a departmental news release. It was on the fourth encounter, in the afternoon of Feb. 17, when one of the Chinese ships allegedly used a military-grade laser to illuminate a P-8A. It is unclear what laser device was apparently used, although it could have been an onboard laser designator or a laser rangefinder. The incident occurred at coordinates -10.0666667, 136.0113888888889, according to Australia, which would place it in the countrys exclusive economic zone 430 miles northeast of the northern Australian city of Darwin and 65 miles from the nations coastline. The PLAN ships were on a roughly easterly course while in the Arafura Sea, transiting through the Torres Strait on the morning of Feb. 18 and subsequently entering the Coral Sea. Australias Defence Department condemned what it called unprofessional and unsafe military conduct, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the alleged Chinese action dangerous and reckless for what should be a professional navy. He called for an investigation into the incident. While the use of lasers are unlikely to cause physical damage to the aircraft, the intensity of the beam could distract the pilots or cause injury to their eyes. Story continues China has said the PLAN ships maintained safe, standardized and professional operations, in line with international law and practice. It also accused the Australian P-8A of malicious and provocative actions. A news release put out by Chinas Ministry of National Defense said the P-8A flew very close to the PLAN ships, although it admitted the Australian aircraft was not closer than 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the ships. It also said the aircraft, which could be used to hunt submarines and carry out maritime domain awareness missions, dropped sonobuoys near the ships. China also accused Australia of deliberately spreading false information and making false accusations. China also released photographs of the P-8A as a small speck in the distance and what it said is the sonobuoy dropped by the aircraft. Australia on Tuesday released more details of the apparent laser encounter, confirming that its P-8As were no closer than 2.5 miles to the Chinese ships. The government said the aircraft was 4.8 miles away from the ships and flying at 1,500 feet when it was hit by the laser. It also confirmed dropping sonobuoys but only after the laser incident, adding that these were dropped well ahead of the ships and posed no safety hazard. Kevin Noonan, a former sensor operator on U.S. Navy S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft, told Defense News that the item in the photo released by China appears to show the float and antenna assembly of a sonobuoy. He added that it would typically not be a hazard unless an attempt was made to retrieve it. Two years ago, the U.S. also accused the PLAN of firing a laser at one if its Poseidon planes over the Pacific. China denied it, saying the plane had circled at low altitude over its ship despite repeated warnings. In 2019, Royal Australian Navy helicopter pilots reported being were hit by lasers while exercising in the South China Sea, forcing them to land as a precaution. In 2018, the U.S. issued a formal complaint to the Chinese government over the use of high-grade lasers near the military base in Djibouti that were directed at aircraft and resulted in minor injuries to two American pilots. Tensions have ratcheted up particularly in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety, while the U.S. and its allies insist on freedom of navigation and overflight in international waters. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jermal Ray, a researcher for the "Changing the Beat of Mental Health" report, works on crafting his presentation with Maricela Mariscal, of Communities United, on Feb. 19, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The collective trauma of seeing 13-year-old Adam Toledo shot to death on police body camera footage in March 2021 was not a new sensation for young Black and brown men on the citys West Side. But this time, researchers were watching. Researchers who knew just how they felt. Advertisement Thats the lived experience that these young people are dealing with, said Claudio Rivera, a pediatric psychologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Northwestern University. The research presented Monday at Lurie Childrens in the hopes of securing $20 million to foster youth-led strategies on community healing and bettering mental health in Chicago was a collaborative effort between the hospital, Voices of Youth in Chicago Education and Communities United, Chicagos survivor-led, grassroots, intergenerational, racial justice organization. Advertisement The two-year study prompted the creation of Ujima, a cohort of Black and brown men 21 years and younger, who based their work on the premise that, given their experiences, young men of color are best equipped to research their own communitys experience with mental health and make recommendations for effective change. Trained on research ethics, the Ujima researchers conducted surveys, interviews and focus groups with peers about mental health. Their report found: Two-thirds of those surveyed said they face challenges with their mental health; Trauma is often normalized for young men of color; One in 4 surveyed said they feel anxious, constantly worried, or extremely nervous four days or more per week; Top systemic factors connected to mental health are schools, jobs, racism and poverty; Young men of color feel they are viewed by society through a lens of race and gender, and the stereotypes that come with that, rather than being viewed as whole people with contributions to give to the world around them. Ujima, which takes its name from the Swahili word for collective work and responsibility, also made recommendations based on its research, which ranged from bringing more mental health professionals of color into the system; to turning abandoned buildings in Chicago into community centers where young people can partake in art, music and classes on topics such as coping mechanisms, leadership development and de-escalation tactics. The data in the report will inform the 10-year holistic plan the grassroots organization and medical institution are developing with the help of a $1 million planning grant in 2021 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundations Racial Equity 2030 Challenge. If Chicago wins the next phase of the challenge, the plan could receive up to $20 million to bring it to fruition. The awards, which will be announced in summer, are to be used to build and scale actionable ideas for transformative change in the systems and institutions that uphold racial inequities. The study proved eye-opening, even for members of Ujima whose life experiences mirrored those of their subjects. Alexander Villegas, 20, an Albany Park resident and Ujimas founder, said he was surprised young men of color were uncomfortable seeing a counselor or therapist because they were worried their story wasnt safe, or thought the professional was only talking to them for the paycheck. Jermal Ray, 17, another Ujima researcher and a senior at Curie Metropolitan High School, agreed. Advertisement I learned young men of color dont go to counselors or receive mental health support because of the fear of being sent to a psychotic facility, or that they are not going to be taken seriously, Ray said. I got involved in this project because I knew people that have gone through mental health challenges, and its hard to not be able to help. Participants said they thought society views them solely through a lens of race and gender and the stereotypes that come with it rather than as whole people. When it comes to men of color, we kind of brush off mental health, one participant said. When we actually admit we have issues like PTSD, people will deny it. They tell us, How is that even possible? and that there is nothing wrong, so they dont help us. But if a white person said they had it, they would treat it right away. The study benefited from its young researchers experiences, Rivera, a co-principal investigator of the Kellogg proposal, said. The ask has been there, because they recognize what the need has always been, he said. This is just further reinforcing whats been the clarion call: We want this. Weve been needing this. We want better now. And we know what that better is. These recommendations are long overdue, but theyre also within reach. The details in the report are vivid and show the benefit of giving voice to the young men at the center of the research, said Dr. John Walkup, chair of Lurie Childrens psychiatry department and principal investigator of the Kellogg proposal. Advertisement Lurie Childrens has always been youth-focused ... but we havent always listened to kids in the community, Walkup said. I think weve sensitized ourselves to the voices of youth in the city of Chicago, around not just cancer and cardiac disease and things like that, but around racial injustice, about discrimination, and about Chicago Public Schools and the mental health system, and access. Were creating new dialogue, and its going to be ongoing, he added. Were listening and listening hard now. Even when we may not like what they have to say, because they put pressure on us to be better in ways that we need to be better, we can deal with that. Rivera, who participated in the research and wellness checks as part of his work at Lurie Childrens, recalls the feelings the young people shared after Toledo, who was like them, from communities like theirs, was killed by a Chicago police officer almost a year ago. The video was one more thing youths were dealing with at the time, including their personal traumas and the mental pummeling of the pandemic. But the research created a safe space where the participants knew they could share openly and would have support. It was in having that sense of letting them know this was a confidential safe space to be vulnerable, that stuff emerged, Rivera said. Jermal Ray, researcher for the "Changing the Beat of Mental Health" report, works with Ujima mentor Luis Sinchi as Ray crafts his presentation at Communities United in Chicago on Feb. 19, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Villegas and Ray want to see mental health professionals who live or hail from the neighborhoods they serve. That way, they understand the environments stressors when working with youth in those communities. Advertisement In doing the research, Ray said he became more open-minded to other young men going through different challenges. The research wasnt just to know our situations, but how it connects to other boys of color and leading them to help themselves, Ray said. It gives me confidence to show up for myself. Both want change, and if the Kellogg proposal doesnt win, Villegas said Ujima will continue to push to get awareness out on mental health resources in Black and brown neighborhoods regardless because the work is never finished. And hopefully, the partnering organizations and others in the city will continue to respond to their call for change. I think this is laying the gauntlet down for a place like Lurie and other folks to say Will you all listen to us? Rivera said. Following through immediately will help demonstrate that the young people in these communities are being centered and validated in what theyre saying. And that theyre actually viewed as partners. drockett@chicagotribune.com Advertisement . WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the first wave of sanctions against Russia for what he said was the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine, and vowed steeper punishments ahead if Russia continues its aggression. The sanctions, among others things, target Russian banks and sovereign debt. (Reporting By Jarrett Renshaw; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) President Biden announced several new economic sanctions against Russia on Tuesday, one day after the Kremlin moved to formally invade two separatist regions of Eastern Ukraine that have long been under the control of its proxies. This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Biden said. Im going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners imposed in 2014. If Russia goes further with this invasion we stand prepared to go further. In what he referred to as the first tranche of expected sanctions, Biden announced the full blocking of Russias VEB bank and the countrys military bank, as well as sanctions on Russian sovereign debt, which Biden said would help cut Russia off from western financing. Biden continued that the U.S. will begin on Wednesday to sanction members of Russias elite and their family members. Because of Russias actions we worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not, as I promised, will not move forward, Biden added Meanwhile, the president authorized additional deployments of U.S. forces to the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, because of the continued presence of Russian troops in neighboring Belarus. Biden emphasized that the deployments were purely defensive in nature. We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine. I hope I am wrong about that, Biden warned. A senior administration official initially declined to specify whether Russias movement of troops into eastern Ukraine constituted an invasion that would trigger major sanctions, in comments to reporters on Monday. Instead, President Biden signed an executive order prohibiting Americans from trading and investing in Donetsk and Luhansk, the separatist regions of eastern Ukraine that have now been formally occupied. White House deputy national security adviser Jonathan Finer said the administration always envisioned waves of sanctions that will unfold over time in response to actions Russia actually takes, in comments to CNN on Tuesday. Story continues German chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Tuesday that his country would freeze the approval process of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which was built to supply European nations with natural gas from Russia. Biden threatened earlier this month to bring an end to Nord Stream 2 in a joint press conference with Scholz, although the German chancellor did not repeat Bidens threat at the time. If Russia invades, that means tanks or troops crossing the border of Ukraine, again, then there will be no longer Nord Stream 2. We will bring an end to it, Biden said at a press conference with German chancellor Olaf Scholz, without specifying how he would end the pipeline. The Federation Council, the upper house of Russias parliament, voted unanimously on Tuesday to grant Putin authorization to use military force outside Russia. Putin previously ordered Russian troops toward separatist enclaves in Ukraines east to begin peacekeeping functions. Putin set out three demands to resolve the disputes between Russia and Ukraine, saying that Ukraine must recognize Russian sovereignty over the Crimean peninsula, renounce its attempt to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and partially demilitarize. The Russian president recognized the independence of Ukraines separatist enclaves on Monday evening. In a televised speech that lasted for over an hour, Putin claimed that Russia and Ukraine share a cultural and historical unity, and that Ukraine could never be truly independent. Ukraine is not just a neighboring country to us, it is an inherent part of our own history, cultural, spiritual space, Putin said, with comments translated live on the Russian state-owned network RT. The modern Ukraine was completely created by Russia. To be more exact, by Bolshevik communist Russia. More from National Review President Joe Biden arrives to speak to update the situation of the Ukraine-Russia border crisis during an event in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on February 18, 2022 in Washington, DC. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images President Biden warned Americans that domestic gas prices could rise amid new sanctions on Russia. "Defending freedom will have costs for us as well, and here at home," Biden said. The new sanctions target Russian financial institutions, Russian elites, and its sovereign debt. President Joe Biden warned Americans that domestic gas prices could rise as the US launched a slew of sanctions against Russia. As he addressed the nation from the White House on Tuesday, Biden said his administration is using every "tool at our disposal" to protect American businesses and consumers from rising gas prices. "Defending freedom will have cost for us as well, and here at home," Biden said. "We need to be honest about that." But, the president said, "I'm going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at [the] Russian economy, not ours." He said the administration is "closely monitoring" energy supplies for any disruption. "This will blunt gas prices. I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump," Biden said. The Russian economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports. It is the world's third largest oil producer and is one of the leading sources of oil and gas for Europe, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Biden announced sweeping sanctions as a result of a series of recent escalations from Russia against Ukraine. The sanctions target two large Russian financial institutions, Russian elites and their family members, and the country's sovereign debt cutting off the government from Western financing. Biden's remarks come after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the organization is working to finalize a sanctions package. This story is developing. Please check back for updates. Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Biden delivers remarks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, and announces sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House February 22, 2022 in Washington, DC. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images President Joe Biden said the US and its allies will "defend every inch of NATO territory" during a speech Tuesday. Biden added that he has authorized the movement of additional US troops to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The president stressed, though, that troops will not be sent into defend Ukraine from Russia. President Joe Biden warned Russia the US and its allies will "defend every inch of NATO territory" during an address on Russia's recent actions toward Ukraine. He also announced that some US forces will be headed to the Baltics to bolster NATO positions in the east. The president said Russia had effectively announced it was "carving out a big chunk of Ukraine" when it recognized two territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states. The US has also raised concerns about Putin ordering troops into these territories to serve as so-called "peacekeepers." Biden further assessed that Putin's recognition of the whole of separatist claimed territory beyond what they actually control suggests that Putin is "setting up a rationale to take more territory by force." As the president announced new sanctions on Russia, he warned that Russia will pay an even "steeper price" if it continues to make aggressive moves against Ukraine. During his address Tuesday afternoon, the president announced that he is directing "additional movements of US forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies Estonia, Lativa, and Lithuania." "We want to send an unmistakable message that the United States together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made," Biden said, reiterating that "these are totally defensive moves on our part." He added that "we have no intention of fighting Russia." Biden stressed that no US troops will be sent to Ukraine, which is not a NATO ally. Story continues A senior defense official explained that aviation assets and ground forces will move into position along NATO's northeastern and southeastern flanks. They are expected to be in place by the end of the week. The movement is said to be temporary. US forces headed to NATO's eastern flank include an 800-man infantry battalion task force, F-35 fighters, and AH-64 attack helicopters. These forces are part of more than 90,000 US troops in Europe on a rotational and permanent basis, the official stated. Biden's announcement follows reports in late January that suggested his administration was considering sending troops and military hardware to the Baltics amid concern over Russia. Read the original article on Business Insider Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday said an invasion of Ukraine has been Russias plan all along, despite the Kremlins claims of self-defense. Russian President Vladimir Putins "plan all along has been to invade Ukraine; to control Ukraine and its people; to destroy Ukraine's democracy, which offers a stark contrast to the autocracy that he leads; to reclaim Ukraine as a part of Russia, Blinken said in a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at the State Department. That's why this is the greatest threat to security in Europe since World War II. Blinkens comments came hours after President Joe Biden introduced a series of economic sanctions against two major Russian banks, on the countrys sovereign debt, and on Russian elites and their families. The sanctions were the first firm economic response offered by the U.S. after Putin recognized the breakaway Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent and sent troops into the regions. Blinken noted that the United States has made it clear that if Russia invaded, the U.S. in cooperation with its allies would impose economic sanctions. Further U.S.-led consequences could follow if Russia continues its current operations. Now that Russia has moved against Ukraine, so, too, have we moved on our strong and unified response, Blinken said. Well continue to escalate our sanctions if Russia escalates its aggression toward Ukraine. Last week, Blinken announced his plan to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and discuss diplomatic solutions. Blinken made it clear, though, that such a meeting would not occur if Russia invaded Ukraine. On Tuesday, Blinken announced that his Feb. 24 meeting with Lavrov had been canceled. Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time, Blinken said. Blinken noted that the U.S. and its allies continue to be open to a diplomatic solution, averting an an all-out assault on Ukraine, should Russia choose to de-escalate. Story continues Kuleba thanked the U.S. for standing with Ukraine by way of its economic sanctions, noting that a diplomatic solution was still the preferred solution. Plan A, Kuleba said, is to utilize every tool of diplomacy to deter Russia; should that fail, Plan B is to fight for every inch of our land in every city and every village. Kuleba echoed Blinkens statement that Putin has brought the world to the brink of its largest catastrophe since World War II. What stops him is only our unity and resolve, Kuleba said. And we can still stop him. Feb. 22When local members of the Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project conducted a needs assessment to determine what their peers in Palestine might need, one answer came up frequently: Just send people. However, since the pandemic began, it's been challenging to make that happen so members of the organization had to get creative. That is what led the organization to spend $14,500 on an incubator for the neonatal intensive care unit at one of the oldest hospitals in Nablus, Palestine. The idea, one of the organization's most recent fundraising efforts, has been percolating since a local delegation visited in 2017. Boulder members of the Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project toured the Arab Women Union Society, which includes the Al-Ittihad Hospital. The hospital is considered one of the main hospitals in Nablus for delivery and postpartum care, but it lacks some of the specific equipment necessary to aid in the process. Because of the rising needs of the department, particularly in terms of referral cases from the Gaza Strip and other surrounding areas, the neonatal intensive care unit expanded from 10 to 20 beds to cover the needs, according to information from the hospital. "We learned they don't nearly have enough incubators for the premies," Vice Chair and founder Essrea Cherin said. "The need is great. We can save a lot of lives this way," Cherin added. And this isn't the only project the organization has undertaken during the pandemic. It also raised more than $5,000 to pay for 1,500 olive tree saplings that could be distributed to five villages across Nablus. "They're communal for the villagers so that it's a part of the community's resources to help feed and provide some income as well as sustenance," Cherin said. Additionally, the organization coordinated a virtual concert that raised $3,000, enough to cover music scholarships for children in refugee camps in Palestine. Story continues It's also hosted some Nablus residents in Boulder. The city has for 20 years coordinated its sister city program, which is meant to show the "importance of respect and cooperation between cultures that can sometimes seem worlds apart," according to the city. Boulder has many sister cities, including Dushanbe, Tajikistan; Jalapa, Nicaragua; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Kisumu, Kenya. It officially became sister cities with Nablus in 2011. "The overarching purpose of the Sister Cities project is to really connect and support our two cultures," Liv Lewin, treasurer of the Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project, said. Chair Brenda Mehos agreed, noting the concept began decades ago by President Dwight Eisenhower. "Boulder tends to have some interesting sister cities," Mehos said. "It's really neat to get to know people from another culture and maybe a culture that's misunderstood by our culture and to really make it human for us." Finding The One is just part of the culture at Brigham Young University, where many members of the overwhelmingly Mormon student body meet the person theyll spend their life with and, they believe, the afterlife, too. Relationships are so much a part of campus life that one biology professor offered his class extra credit last year if they went on a date. The assignment was eventually changed when Luke Westhoff, a first-year chemistry major who is gay, told the professor he couldnt participate because of BYUs rules, which prohibit LGBTQ students from dating one another. Thats just the reality at BYU, Westhoff told BuzzFeed News. At BYU, which is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, LGBTQ students are allowed to be open about their identities but not to date students of the same sex. The honor code instructs students to encourage others to comply with the school rules, which many students interpret as encouraging them to report rule violators to the administration. Punishment for code violations can sometimes result in suspension or being kicked out of school. In spite of federal law that prohibits discriminating against students based on their gender or sexual orientation, BYU and other religious colleges and universities are exempt. Last week, the federal government affirmed that exemption when it dropped its investigation into a complaint about BYUs dating policy and how it treats its queer students. The Department of Educations Office for Civil Rights cited religious freedom, leaving queer students anxious about what will happen to their rights next. In April 2021, about 30 students of religious colleges sued the Department of Education, asking that the religious exemption that allows the schools to discriminate against LGBTQ students be deemed unconstitutional. The Department of Education then opened the investigation into BYUs dating ban in October 2021. David Shill, a junior civil and environmental engineering major who cofounded the Cougar Pride Center to celebrate progress and empower queer BYU students, said he believed having the investigation in the background led the university to be more accommodating to queer students, creating what felt like a golden age at BYU. But the same day the investigation was dropped, BYU terminated gender-affirming voice therapy at its campus speech clinic for trans students, escalating some queer students fears for their future. The news upset Shill so much that he didnt attend classes for the day. A BYU spokesperson said it is completely inaccurate that voice therapy, which helps transgender people relearn vocal pitch and intonations to better affirm their gender, was terminated because the investigation had been dropped. Story continues It is scary to think about what could happen next now that BYU isnt scared about this looming investigation, Shill, who is bisexual, told BuzzFeed News. At BYU, student life is governed by an honor code based on LDS principles, covering issues from personal grooming to drinking coffee to sex. Not only does the honor code state that sexual relationships should be between a man and a woman and only within marriage but it also says that students should encourage one another in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code, introducing what some call a culture of tattletales. For queer students in relationships, they have to date where no one can find them. BYU, and the LDS church more generally, idolizes relationships, Westhoff said, framing entering into a heterosexual marriage as one of the chief goals of the faith. But as a gay man, Westhoff is barred from achieving that goal, making him feel stunted and cheated by his university. [Theyre] two-faced because they say, Go get in a relationship oh, but not that relationship, he said. It makes you feel hopeless and envious, which I hate. I hate that I feel envious when I see straight people at my university. That is not something that is inherent of being queer; thats just because BYU has made it feel that way because I physically am not allowed to try and do the same things. So Ive grown envious of people. One queer student, who asked to be anonymous for fear of repercussions at BYU, told BuzzFeed News that he and his boyfriend, who is also a BYU student, see each other on campus but refrain from public displays of affection. While his close friends know about his relationship, he and his boyfriend wait until theyre away from campus to hold hands and go on walks around Provo, the Utah city that is home to BYU. Seeing his straight peers do the same thing on a campus that culturally revolves around heterosexual relationships makes him feel left out. We never count when it comes to love, the student said. Our love doesnt count. Seeing PDA on campus is just annoying. You dont know how much you have, he added, indirectly addressing the straight students. You dont even know your privilege. Growing up going to church, he said he was always conditioned to eventually attend BYU. He thought his attraction to men would go away, but it didnt. He has stayed at the university despite wanting to transfer. Up until he started dating his boyfriend, he was even considering getting his masters degree at BYU, especially because the university would fully fund it. But he has now realized he cant stomach another year of hiding, forcing him to choose his mental health over academic opportunities. Im just sick of lying, he said. Mariane Rizzuto, a junior English teaching major at BYU who is bisexual, said the informant culture is so powerful that when she applied to study abroad, university staff asked her multiple times what she would do if she saw another BYU student breaking the schools rules. Rizzuto felt like if she didnt say she would turn them in, she wouldnt be approved for study abroad. A BYU spokesperson pointed BuzzFeed News to a 2019 BYU magazine article in which Kevin Utt, the director of the honor code office, said there is no requirement for students to report classmates or a penalty for those who dont. Rizzuto also said that BYU students are required to take its Eternal Family class. It teaches the doctrine of the family, which is the churchs teaching that God created a man and a woman who were the two essential halves of a family. The class includes lessons like Spousal Stewardships (Unity): Divine Gender and Meeting the Needs of Children and The Fragmentation of Marriage: Same-Sex Marriage, Sexual Identity, and Sexual Agency. Rizzuto said her teacher tried her best to be inclusive of LGBTQ relationships, but that the curriculum required by the school made that mission almost impossible. Because of this, the class traumatized Rizzuto. Comments from her classmates made her feel like an other, so much so that during the first two weeks, she said she left crying every time. Its just hard, even when the professor is doing their best, to sit week after week in a class thats core curriculum is about teaching you why its wrong to be yourself, she said. Its something that just brings up a lot of trauma and hard feelings. Julia Sasine, a senior sociology major who identifies as a lesbian, queer woman, said she was once reported for violating the honor code, for a reason unrelated to her queerness, and that the fallout was the most traumatic part of her time at BYU. The universitys anti-LGBTQ culture and fear tactics can make even the closest friends turn on one another, Sasine added, pointing out that it was her thenbest friend who turned her in. Since then, she hasnt been able to trust anyone. Sasine declined to disclose what got her sent to the honor code office, but she said it resulted in her being placed on a years probation, which included steps of rehabilitation and adherence to the honor code standings: writing an essay based on the tenets of the honor code, attending weekly university forums and devotionals, studying religious materials, daily journaling, and attending presentations from church leaders. She said she met alone with honor code counselors, whom she described as adult men who had no professional counseling or therapy credentials but who acted on giving behavioral and emotional advice. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, a BYU spokesperson said that the honor code staff goes through ongoing training on important topics, such as trauma and sexual assault. The staff has also completed trainings by Counseling and Psychological Services including in QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer), recognizing signs of suicidal ideation, according to the statement. Additional trainings also include trauma-informed care, DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), addiction, mental health, and other relevant topics. The members of the HCO staff also come with a wide variety of experience, background, and training in working with students. Sasine said that to this day, she refuses to walk anywhere near the honor code office. She tries her best not to do anything that would get her sent back, including being in a queer relationship. The entire experience was extremely traumatizing, she said. From being betrayed by my best friend, to being blindly interrogated with no representation or advocate on my side, I learned quickly that surviving at BYU was going to be extremely difficult, and that thriving was out of the question. I built up an extremely tough exterior while battling anxiety, PTSD, and intense, all-consuming shame. BYUs ban on dating is part of a long history of churches treating LGBTQ people as sinners and outcasts, said Paul Carlos Southwick, the director of the Religious Exemption Accountability Project and the lawyer who represented the LGBTQ students in the federal lawsuit. Southwick told BuzzFeed News in a statement that the investigation into BYU being dropped recently is just another example of the government siding with discrimination. By dismissing this investigation, the federal government has not only dashed the hopes of many LGBTQ+ students who saw the investigation as a sign of good things to come, but it has placed the governments stamp of approval on BYUs discriminatory practices, which the government not only funds, but has now formally handed out a license to discriminate, Southwick said. Even though the investigation was dismissed, some students still wanted to keep fighting for their schools queer classmates and figure out what actions they could take to show their pride. The gay student who asked to be anonymous decided to call on the local LGBTQ community for help. He came up with the idea for a love-based protest, made a graphic, and sent it around to as many people as he could think of. It worked. On Valentines Day, about a week after the investigation was dropped, more than 100 people, none of whom were BYU students, walked onto campus and performed queer public displays of affection. They were local LGBTQ activists, BYU grads, and members of the nearby queer community who had seen the post and wanted to show solidarity. They held hands and kissed in broad daylight in the middle of campus. Others wore clothes that illustrated their pride, like a sweatshirt portraying art by Keith Haring, a gay graffiti artist from the 1980s famous for his protest art against the governments treatment of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The protesters stood in for the LGBTQ BYU students on campus, hoping to help them feel a little less alone. No arrests were made, the demonstrators said on social media, but campus security stood nearby. Emotions were definitely near the surface for me all day, Shill said. Seeing couples reminded me that that will be me one day. Me and my future husband will be able to live a real life and thrive. For now, I just need to work for that. It will be all that more worth it. It was the latest sign that some LGBTQ students at the university are tired of living in fear. The student who asked to remain anonymous said he does everything to protect himself while dating another man, but he is starting to feel less scared. In fact, he said, he might be ready to fight back. Im just so used to being oppressed that Im like, I am going to operate right now in a way that is the most authentic and in the happiest way, he said. At Stonewall, they fought back for the first time because they were so sick of it. Im just sick of it. More on this SPRINGFIELD Gov. J.B. Pritzker endorsed Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia for the Democratic nomination for secretary of state on Tuesday, a key backing that could give her campaign a significant financial edge over her opponents. The endorsement from the billionaire governor also means that Valencia now has support from four of the states top Democrats Pritzker, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and retiring Secretary of State Jesse White, who has held the post since 1999 and endorsed Valencia to succeed him last week. Advertisement In this Democratic primary for secretary of state we are lucky to have three capable candidates. However, I believe Anna is the best choice, Pritzker said in a statement. I am thrilled to support her history-making candidacy to be the first woman and first Latina to serve as Illinois secretary of state. One day after Secretary of State Jesse White offered his unwavering endorsement to secretary of state candidate City Clerk Anna Valencia, the two sit down at Manny's Deli to meet and greet other elected officials and guests on Feb. 18. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Valencias campaign fund is significantly smaller than that of her most formidable challenger, Alexi Giannoulias. As of Dec. 31, Giannoulias, who was Illinois treasurer from 2007 to 2011, had about $4 million on hand, more than Valencia and a third challenger, Chicago Ald. David Moore, 17th, combined. Advertisement Pritzkers backing figures to come with some financial help. The governor has already poured $125.5 million of his own money into his reelection bid, making a $90 million deposit last month. Pritzker donated $2,500 to Valencias 2017 campaign for city clerk, state records show. I am grateful for Gov. Pritzkers endorsement, which adds to the growing momentum around our campaign, Valencia said in a statement. Gov. Pritzker has fought for working families like the one I grew up in, advocated for our women and girls, helped me reform our fines and fees system and notched big wins in Springfield that are making a difference in the lives of Illinoisans. Giannoulias is backed by several powerful Democrats, including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, retiring U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, and Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, 3rd who dropped a secretary of state bid to run for Rushs congressional seat. In response to Pritzkers endorsement of Valencia, the Giannoulias campaign reiterated his support from organized labor, including the powerful Service Employees International Union, and from various Democratic Party groups. Moore said Tuesday he wasnt surprised by Pritzkers endorsement. We know that he has a very close relationship with Secretary of State Jesse White. Although, I am an elected official, I am not viewed as part of the establishment, Moore said in a statement. The party establishment didnt support my candidacy the first two times I ran for alderman. I didnt ask permission then and Im not asking permission now. The voters will decide who they want to be the Democratic nominee for Illinois secretary of state. Seeking the Republican nomination for secretary of state are state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington and John Milhiser, a former U.S. attorney in the Central District of Illinois. Advertisement Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed from Chicago. jgorner@chicagotribune.com The Buffalo Bills and the other 31 NFL teams are entering into the busiest time of the league calendar this week. Coaching, personnel and scouting staffs are gearing up for the NFL Scouting Combine which gets underway next week in Indianapolis, one of the most important aspects of the laborious NFL Draft process. But also, the start of free agency is less than a month away and teams are neck deep in their evaluations of potential veterans they would like to sign, either from their own roster or someone elses. Its a difficult juggling act which spreads front offices thin, and Ive never quite understood the reasoning for why the NFL schedules such a critical part of the league year this way. It seems the more prudent way to do things would be to separate the two into their own segment of the offseason, commencing the week after the Super Bowl has been played which would be this week. My suggestion? The draft should go first. The college all-star games were wrapped up a couple weeks ago and teams were already in draft mode scouting the practices and games. Buffalo Bills 2021 rookie grades: Contributions were there, improvement is needed More: Buffalo Bills mock draft roundup: Many experts keying on the same position NFL's 10 biggest offseason stories: Aaron Rodgers' future, ownership issues lead the way Now is the perfect time to hold the Combine and continue right into pro days, team visits, and in-person interviews in the weeks that follow, leading into the draft held the first weekend in April without the distraction of free agency. After that, teams should get two intense weeks to map out plans to fill roster holes with free agents, with the signing period beginning sometime later in April, leading into the beginning of the offseason workout programs, organized team activities and mini-camps. However, no one asked me, so, with the Combine still a week away and some down time in between, heres my look at some free agents the Bills could potentially target in six particular position groups of need. Story continues 1. Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick If ever there was a Buffalo guy to play for the Bills, it's QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. Mitchell Trubisky is almost certainly not returning to Buffalo because he wants a chance to compete for a starting job, something that isnt happening with the Bills. Davis Webb has already bolted to join Brian Daboll in New York, so Allen is the only QB on the roster. They arent going to draft one, so they will have to sign a veteran as insurance for Allen, and that player will have to be someone who understands the situation, meaning hes not playing unless necessary. Who better to fill that role than old friend Ryan Fitzpatrick, assuming he doesnt announce his retirement? The dude was just in Buffalo with his shirt off at the Antarctic playoff game against the Patriots. We know he loves Buffalo, and we know that in a pinch, he can come in and steer the ship, especially with the talent the Bills have on offense. Trubisky earned $2.5 million to sit on the bench last year and the 39-year-old Fitz, coming off a hip injury that cost him all of 2021, would probably sign for just as cheap. Outside of Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston who will be looking to start somewhere, the other viable options are the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Andy Dalton, Trevor Siemian, Tyrod Taylor, and Colt McCoy. My guess is that all would be more expensive than Fitz. 2. Running back: Marlon Mack Marlon Mack scored a touchdown against the Bills in 2018 at Indianapolis. Devin Singletary is heading into the final year of his rookie contract, Zach Moss was a big disappointment last year, and both Matt Breida and Taiwan Jones are about to become free agents, so the Bills need to replenish. I would expect them to draft a back somewhere between rounds 3 and 5, and Moss is on a cheap third-round contract so hell probably be on the team. But with their championship window open right now, it makes sense to bring in a proven producer, someone who could not only compete with Singletary to start, but be a solid No. 2 who, at the very least, could share time. Mack would be a perfect fit. A fourth-round pick of the Colts in 2017, he was the starter in 2018 and 2019 and totaled 1,999 yards and 17 rushing TDs plus caught 31 passes for 185 yards. He then missed all but one game in 2020 due to an injury and that allowed Jonathan Taylor to emerge in the last two years and ultimately become one of the best backs in the NFL. Mack is only 27 and given the lack of touches the past two seasons, he should have fresh wheels, not to mention a motivation to re-establish himself. He could probably be signed to a one- or two-year deal averaging $3 million annually. Last year, Breida made $1 million last year for doing almost nothing. 3. Wide receiver: Braxton Berrios If the Bills move on from Cole Beasley, Braxton Berrios of the Jets would be a viable replacement. I like this player only if the Bills decide to move on from Cole Beasley in the slot. There seems to be whispers that Beasley will be back, probably on a restructured extension that would lessen his $7.5 million cap hit and if that happens, the Bills should try to re-sign Isaiah McKenzie and ride with the same slot duo theyve had in place, though McKenzie might not be on board with that. But if Beasley is released, Berrios makes a lot of sense. Hes seven years younger, and sports contract website Spotrac estimates his market value at $5.9 million, essentially what the Bills would save by cutting Beasley. Berrios caught 46 passes for 431 yards and two TDs last season in an awful Jets offense. Put him in this offense with Allen and its easy to see Berrios becoming the same safety valve target Beasley has been, only with more ability to separate from man coverage and run after the catch. He averaged more than two yards in RAC than Beasley last year. Oh, Berrios can also fill the void at both kickoff and punt returner if Marquez Stevenson doesnt work out. More: Can the Buffalo Bills afford to keep Cole Beasley? Tough calls to be made at wide receiver 4. Offensive guard: Austin Corbett Austin Corbett of the Rams is a potential free agent target for the Bills at offensive guard. There are so many moving parts at this position. Ike Boettger (unrestricted) and Ryan Bates (restricted) are free agents, Cody Ford appears to be a second-round bust with no starting future, Jon Feliciano is too expensive to be a backup and would provide $3.4 million in cap savings if released, and Daryl Williams may be too expensive as a guard and hed bring $6.3 million in savings. Corbett, who was the Rams starting right guard the past 2 years and can also play center, would be a solid addition with the added bonus that he has experience working in Los Angeles with new offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. The 26-year-old former 2018 second-round pick of the Browns didnt fit in Cleveland and was traded to the Rams in the middle of 2019. He immediately became a starter under Kromer (who coached him through 2020) and went on to start 46 of the 47 games he played for the Rams counting the postseason. There were 63 guards in the NFL who played at least 50% of their teams snaps last year and Pro Football Focus graded Corbett 24th overall, 29th in run blocking, 32nd in pass blocking. Spotrac has his market value at around $8.7 million per season. If Im Brandon Beane, Id move on from Feliciano and Williams and use that savings to sign Corbett. And Id re-sign both Boettger and Bates and let them compete for the left guard job with Ford in the mix as an inexpensive depth piece. Buffalo Bills' 2021 offense report card: Josh Allen was elite, O-line needs to improve More: Buffalo Bills may upgrade at guard in free agency, NFL Draft. Here's who they could turn to 5. Edge rusher: Emmanuel Ogbah Bills quarterback Josh Allen has to hurry his throw as he is pressured by Miami's Emmanuel Ogbah (91). Beane has stated that he will always look to upgrade the defensive line, and his track record backs that up. He has drafted six defensive linemen as the teams GM dating to 2018 including three edge rushers in the last two - A.J. Epenesa, Greg Rousseau and Boogie Basham. What he hasnt done is take a big swing at edge rusher in free agency as Mario Addison and Efe Obada are mid- and low-tier signings, respectively. This could be the year Beane does it, though, especially after he and Sean McDermott both said the Bills pass rush was inconsistent in 2021 - and if were honest, it has been the past few seasons because it lacks a true force. The big ticket guys like Von Miller, Chandler Jones, Calais Campbell, Dante Fowler, Jadeaveon Clowney and Akiem Hicks are probably out of the Bills reach given their tenuous cap situation, but Ogbah would be worth a contract that pays in the $10-12 million range per season. He had a great 2021 season in Miami where he had 61 pressures (13th in the NFL), nine sacks, and 11 deflected passes which led all defensive linemen. He also had nine sacks in 2020. There is some talk that Beane could re-sign 33-year-old Jerry Hughes to a one-year deal in the $2-3 million range, but why run it back with a declining player when Ogbah was better last season and is only 28 and just entering his prime? 6. Cornerback: Charvarius Ward Charvarius Ward is a free agent cornerback who could fit the Bills defensive scheme. What the Bills should do is draft a corner in the first round and make sure hes someone who can step in and start from day one like TreDavious White in 2017. If they dont do that, they have to bulk up the position in free agency and re-signing Levi Wallace wouldnt be a terrible idea. Hes not a Pro Bowler, but hes been a solid player for the Bills for four years in what has been a very good pass defense. However, if Buffalo is looking to move on and bring in fresh blood, Ward played very well in the second half of 2021 after missing time with an injury. Of the 72 corners who played at least 50% of their teams snaps, Ward ranked fourth with a competition percentage against of 51.0. Wallace was 29th at 60.4. Ward also had two interceptions, 11 pass breakups, and missed only four tackles. Both Ward and Wallace are 26, and theyll each be in the $10 million per season range, so if the Bills sign either, the deciding factor will be whether to go status quo or change things up. More: Levi Wallace may be too expensive in free agency for Buffalo Bills Sal Maiorana can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @salmaiorana. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Buffalo Bills free agency: Six players they should target in 2022 Washington, D.C., law enforcement agencies have asked the Pentagon for assistance ahead of President Biden's first State of the Union address next week, an event expected to coincide with truck convoy protests. The U.S. Capitol Police and the D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency asked for D.C. National Guard personnel "to provide support at traffic control points in and around the District to help ... address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement Tuesday. Kirby said the Defense Department is "analyzing" the requests but "no decisions have been made yet" on whether to approve them. Military Times was the first to report on the requests, with National Guard troops notified of a potential activation between Feb. 22 and March 7 or later, according to internal directives obtained by the outlet. The guardsmen, if activated, would provide vehicles and personnel at "43 critical blocking positions 24/7," Military Times reported. D.C. law enforcement agencies have said since last week that they have received reports of truck drivers potentially planning to block roads in major metropolitan cities in the United States in protest of, among other things, vaccine mandates. These plans follow similar protests and blockades formed by Canadian truck drivers in the past month. "Law enforcement agencies across the National Capital Region are aware of plans for a series of truck convoys arriving in Washington, DC around the time of the State of the Union," the U.S. Capitol Police said in a Feb. 18 statement. "The USCP is closely coordinating with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including DC's Metropolitan Police Department, the United States Park Police, the United States Secret Service and other allied agencies to include the DC National Guard." If the troops are activated, this would be one of the first uses of a new law meant make it easier for U.S. Capitol Police to request emergency assistance from the National Guard. The law was put into effect following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Jenna Ryan at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Department of Justice Jenna Ryan served 60 days in a Texas federal prison after attending the Capitol Riot. In a series of tweets, Ryan said prison was like a "third world country." Ryan tweeted that she was denied "basic human needs" like a phone, sunshine, and recreation. Capitol rioter Jenna Ryan said Monday that she was denied "basic human needs" during her prison sentence. The Texas realtor served a 60-day prison sentence after pleading guilty to a single federal misdemeanor charge of parading on Capitol grounds last year. In a series of tweets, Ryan said that prison was like a "third world country" where officials are used COVID-19 lockdowns "to sadistically abuse all the inmates." "Basic human needs like sunshine, recreation, phone calls, visits were denied for me for 60 days despite nine negative COVID tests," she tweeted. "I was kept in Quarantine ... ONE ROOM with no access to commissary, phone, visits, recreation ... Also, the room was kept at 50 degrees." Video: Where are Capitol insurrectionists one year later "I was kept in a cold chapel with air blowing at 50 degrees in order to 'kill COVID.' I had two paper thin blankets and short sleeve clothing. I froze," she said. Ryan was housed in the Federal Prison Camp, Bryan in Brazos County, Texas, according to Newsweek. The prison did not respond to Insider's request for comment. She started her sentence in mid-December and was released on February 17. Marking her return in a Twitter video, Ryan said she was "so excited" to be free. In that video she gave a much brighter picture of her time incarcerated, saying she spent most of her time in prison reading books, praying, and watching a lot of TV. "I did not get beat up ... I ate a lot of bologna sandwiches, I didn't lose a ton of weight," she said in the video. Before serving her prison sentence, Ryan had said that she hoped to practice yoga, detox from alcohol, and lose 30 pounds while in the facility. Story continues In her video, Ryan said she was "proud of the fact" that she protested on January 6. At least 770 people have been charged in the insurrection so far. Read the original article on Business Insider BEIJING (Reuters) -China has appointed senior diplomat Xue Bing to a newly created post of special envoy for the Horn of Africa, a strategically important, conflict-wracked region where China has investments and a naval base on one of the world's main shipping routes. Xue has previously worked as China's ambassador to Papua New Guinea and has experience working in Africa, America and Oceania, China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. His task will be to work to promote China's "peaceful development" plan for the region which aims to help countries in the region "achieve long-term stability, development and prosperity," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing in Beijing. One of Xue's biggest challenges will the continuing war in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation and a regional heavyweight that hosts the African Union headquarters in a building built by China. Beijing has also granted billions of dollars in loans to Ethiopia. The conflict between Ethiopia central government and its northern region of Tigray erupted in November 2020. It has displaced millions of people, plunged hundreds of thousands into famine conditions and sucked in Ethiopia's neighbour, the reclusive nation of Eritrea. China's interests in the Horn include its naval base in the tiny country of Djibouti, overlooking a key global shipping route where oil from the Middle East and goods from Asia travel to Europe. Landlocked Ethiopia relies on Djibouti's port for trade. The region is also threatened by instability in South Sudan, where China has substantial oil investments, and spillover from Somalia that has brought deadly attacks in neighbouring Kenya, where China is building substantial infrastructure projects. Somalia, whose 3,000-km (1,860-mile) coastline runs along the Gulf of Aden into the Indian Ocean, has been riven by civil war since 1991. It has a territorial dispute with neighbouring Kenya over maritime territory believed to hold oil deposits. China's foreign minister Wang Yi announced in January during a trip to East Africa that an envoy for the Horn of Africa would be appointed. (Reporting by Martin Quin Pollard; Additional reporting by Katharine Houreld in Nairobi; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Jonathan Oatis) (Reuters) -Chinese regulators have asked state-owned firms to kick-off a fresh round of checks to find out their investments into and other linkages with billionaire Jack Ma's Ant Group, three people with knowledge of the matter said. State-owned banks and non-bank firms are among the entities that have been asked by the regulatory authorities to make checks, said the sources, declining to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. The request came last week, one of the sources said. It was not immediately clear if the firms have been given a deadline to submit the information nor what action, if any, will be taken after that. Ant, an affiliate of Alibaba Group, has been subjected to a sweeping restructuring by China, whose initial public offering (IPO) of $37 billion, which would have been the world's largest, was derailed by regulators in late 2020. Since the IPO's cancellation, Ant, controlled by Alibaba's billionaire founder Ma, has embarked on a regulatory-driven restructuring plan that would see it become a financial holding company. The latest regulatory move comes as authorities continue to roll out new initiatives for the country's technology sector, which has been subjected to a year-long regulatory crackdown, to keep financial risks under control. The move also added to investor concerns that Beijing could continue with its clampdown this year, triggering a selloff in the technology sector on Tuesday. Alibaba shares dropped as much as 5.3% to their lowest since Jan. 28. Shares in Alibaba, which is also listed in New York, had rallied late last year with investors betting on the central government relaxing its scrutiny over Ma's business empire. In the latest move, the regulatory authorities have asked the state-owned firms to submit details of investments in equities, and exposure to asset-backed securities, and loans in relation to Ant. Ant declined to comment. Bloomberg first reported the scrutiny on Monday. Story continues Last month, China Cinda Asset Management Co Ltd, one of the four biggest state-owned asset management companies (AMCs) in China, announced the scrapping of a planned Ant investment. Cinda scrapped the deal to buy a 20% stake worth about $944 million in Ant Group's consumer finance arm because of pressure from state authorities, people with knowledge of the matter had said. (Reporting by Xie Yu, Yingzhi Yang and Mrinmay Dey; Editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Kim Coghill) BEIJING (Reuters) -China is concerned about the "worsening" situation in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, repeating his call for all parties to show restraint and resolve differences through dialogue. Accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a war, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered on Monday the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent. Russia denies any plan to attack Ukraine, but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbour will never join NATO. The legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, Wang, who is also a Chinese state councillor, told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a telephone call, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement. "The situation in Ukraine is worsening," Wang told Blinken. "China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint." On the call, Blinken underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid Russia's "aggression", said Ned Price, a U.S. State Department spokesperson. Earlier on Tuesday, China's embassy in Ukraine warned its nationals there not to venture into unstable areas, but stopped short of telling them to leave, as many other nations have advised their own citizens. [L1N2UX0EH] "The Chinese embassy in Ukraine has issued a reminder to Chinese citizens and enterprises to strengthen security precautions," said Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesman. The embassy will ensure that dietary needs of Chinese citizens in Ukraine are met in a timely way, Wang said at a regular media briefing in response to a query about when China would pull out its citizens. China is closely following the evolving situation in Ukraine, Wang told the briefing, which drew more reporters than usual. Story continues TAIWAN, NORTH KOREA The United States should not include Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, in America's Indo-Pacific strategy, Wang told Blinken. This month, the United States said it would commit more diplomatic and security resources to the Indo-Pacific, and vowed to work with partners both in and outside the region to maintain peace and stability in the strait dividing Taiwan from China. The attempt to include Taiwan in the strategy to contain China is sending all the "wrong signals", Wang told Blinken on the telephone call, the foreign ministry said in its statement. Still, China is willing to manage its differences with the United States and stabilise two-way ties, Wang added. On Monday, China said it had placed Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Technologies Corp under sanctions over arms sales to Taiwan, in at least the third time it has announced punishments for the U.S. firms. Taiwan's foreign ministry said it would continue to urge the United States to keep selling the island weapons "in the face of China's military threats and intimidation". "The U.S. provision to us of defensive weapons helps defend Taiwan's democracy and freedom, as well as ensures national security and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," spokesperson Joanne Ou told reporters on Tuesday. Blinken and Wang also spoke on developments in North Korea. China calls for direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea, and will, as always, seek to play a constructive role in promoting resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, Wang said. (Reporting by Ryan Woo and Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing; Additional reporting by and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Clarence Fernandez) BEIJING (Reuters) - China's embassy in Ukraine on Tuesday warned Chinese nationals and businesses in Ukraine against venturing to "unstable" areas, but stopped short of telling them to consider leaving the country as many other nations have advised their own citizens. Accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine to "keep the peace" after recognising them as independent. "At present, the situation in eastern Ukraine has undergone major changes," the Chinese embassy said in a statement on its website. "The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine reminds Chinese citizens and Chinese-funded enterprises in Ukraine to pay attention to the safety notices issued locally and do not go to unstable areas." Earlier this month, countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have told their nationals to leave Ukraine on concerns of an impending invasion by Russia. In contrast, China has told its citizens in Ukraine to closely follow local developments, and kept its embassy in Ukraine operating normally, while criticising the United States for "hyping up" the threat of war. Russia denies any plan to attack Ukraine but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbour will never join NATO. (Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Stephen Coates) Chris Noth has returned to Instagram, having been absent from the platform since mid-December after facing numerous allegations of sexual assault. The actor, 67, shared pictures of the two sons he shares with his wife, the actor Tara Wilson. The first photograph is one of Orion, 14, playing basketball, with the caption: SWISH. Its a thrill to watch his love for basketball blossom. A second post appeared to be of a shadow of Noth holding his two-year-old son Keats. The caption said: Feb 18 Happy Birthday little Keats you have brought light and blue skies into our lives! Before the new photos, Noths last post was shared on 12 December 2021, days before reports broke of sexual assault allegations made against the And Just Like That actor. In December, Noth was accused of rape by four different women. A woman who wished to remain anonymous but used the pseudonym Ava alleged that the actor had sexually assaulted her while she was working at a New York restaurant in 2010. The actor denied the allegation, with his representative saying: The story is a complete fabrication, and the alleged accounts detailed throughout read like a piece of bad fiction. Two more women who accused Noth of sexual assault claimed they were raped by the actor in 2004 and 2015 respectively. Noth told The Independent in response to the claims: The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false. These stories couldve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago no always means no that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. Its difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I dont know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women. Noth was dropped by his agent in the wake of the allegations. The actor was also removed from the cast of the crime drama The Equalizer. Story continues Singer-songwriter Lisa Gentile was the fourth person to accuse Noth of sexual assault in an alleged incident at her apartment in 2002. After the allegations came to light, Heather Kristin, a former stand-in for Davis, revisited her viral February 2021 essay for The Independent titled, I was Charlottes stand-in on Sex and the City. Some of the behaviour I saw still shocks me. In the new piece, she claimed that Noth had showcased toxic behaviour on set and had pointed to her fellow stand-in and said: I want that one tied up, gagged, and brought to my trailer. A representative for Noth responded at the time, saying: Now that everyone is piling onto Chris Noth, the timing is unquestionably convenient to drag him into her recollection of events. Chris denies these allegations and theres never been a single complaint or report about him acting inappropriately on the set ofSex and the City. If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support. For more information, visit their website here. Downstate attorney Thomas DeVore, who has led legal challenges to Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkers pandemic mitigation efforts, said in a video that he will seek the Republican nomination for attorney general. DeVore filed the lawsuit that led the Illinois Appellate Court last week to rule as moot Pritzkers appeal of a lower court ruling that lifted his mandatory school masking policy. Advertisement It was a rare legal victory for DeVore, who has solicited legal work from businesses, municipalities, school districts and parents of students in what have largely been unsuccessful court challenges to Pritzkers pandemic orders. Pritzker has appealed the appellate court ruling on school mask mandates to the Illinois Supreme Court. Advertisement DeVore, 52, of Sorento, a village of 429 people about 50 miles south of Springfield, had previously announced his candidacy for the downstate 5th Appellate Court. But in a Facebook video first reported by the Illinoize political newsletter, DeVore said he had changed his mind and will seek the GOP nomination for attorney general, citing the school mask-mandate court rulings. After the judge issued her ruling, which we fought hard for and I watched people, all of you, fight hard for that, what did I see after that? It really kind of changed my perspective. I saw kids across the state, standing up for themselves, DeVore says in the video. You know, we happen to have Gov. Pritzker right now who I thought failed miserably in governing over the last two years, because he didnt govern. He ruled. How do we stop that from happening again? And what can I do to help that to not happen? he says. I made the decision that theres only one way that I can help and thats making myself available to the people of this state as attorney general. Pritzker and DeVore have exchanged sharp words, with the governor accusing the attorney of being a grifter in seeking legal business to go to court to try to undermine his pandemic mandates. DeVore has filed a defamation suit against Pritzker in Sangamon County court. DeVore says in the video that Pritzker is appealing the school mask mandate in an effort to save face because hes politically taken a bath in the last month or two and he wants to get reelected after the ails that hes been suffering at the hands of the people. Among DeVores previous clients was state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, an ardent foe of Pritzkers executive orders who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. A new client is Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City. DeVore filed suit in Bond County circuit court last week after Wilhour and several other Republicans were ordered removed from the House floor after a vote for violating the chambers masking rules. DeVore contends he and other constituents represented by Wilhour are currently left without representation due to the unlawful rule, even though Wilhour can cast votes remotely under House rules. Advertisement Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch of Hillside called the lawsuit frivolous and a waste of taxpayer dollars, and the courts have generally left to the legislature its ability to set and approve its operating rules as an independent branch of government. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. In his Facebook video, DeVore criticizes first-term Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Chicago for defending Pritzkers actions in court rather than recusing himself or taking the side of the people. I dont know if Im the right guy for the job. Only you guys know if Im the right guy for the job. But I do know that we have to have somebody in that position that is going to stand up for the people, DeVore said. When you have a choice between defending someone against the people, you always choose the people. DeVore, who said he will make a formal announcement about his candidacy on Feb. 28 in Springfield, becomes the second GOP announced candidate for attorney general. Attorney Steve Kim of Deerfield, who unsuccessfully sought the office in 2010, is running as part of a slate headed by Aurora Mayor Richard Irvins candidacy for governor. Billionaire Ken Griffin has given $20 million to Irvins campaign but none directly to other members of the slate. DeVore reported $1,445 in his political committee at the start of the year as an appellate court candidate and loaned his campaign $5,000 on Feb. 15, state campaign reports show. Last year, DeVore loaned his campaign fund $3,500, records showed. Advertisement rap30@aol.com PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech Republic is prepared for various scenarios including a potential interruption of supplies of energy commodities from Russia and an influx of refugees from Ukraine, Prime Minister Petr Fiala told parliament on Tuesday. He said the west must be united and prepared to impose harsh financial and economic sanctions. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Catherine Evans) Have you been calling your drink by the wrong name this whole time? (Photo: Cavan Images via Getty Images) When its cold outside, a warm, chocolatey drink is the perfect treat. But is the drink thats warming your hands hot chocolate or hot cocoa? While the terms are often used interchangeably, they represent two distinct beverages. If you dont already know the difference, youve come to the right place. We talked to three chocolate experts to get to the bottom of this delicious topic. Heres what they had to say. First things first: What is hot chocolate? Hot chocolate is exactly what it sounds like: small pieces or shavings of chocolate that you mix with hot water, milk or cream. Its like drinking a melted chocolate bar, and the type and amount of liquid you use will determine how thick it is. For us, when were referencing a beverage made with chocolate (as in actual pieces of chocolate), we call it a sipping chocolate or drinking chocolate, Lawren Askinosie, chief marketing officer and co-owner of Askinosie Chocolate in Springfield, Missouri, told HuffPost. This is typically served in a smaller glass like a demitasse or cortado because its thick and rich and often made with a heavy cream. For a hot chocolate that isnt quite so thick, you can use milk instead of heavy cream. Kjartan Gislason, chocolate maker and co-founder of Omnom Chocolate in Reykjavik, Iceland, explained that the richness of the resulting beverage will depend on the type of chocolate you use, the type of liquid you use and the ratio of ingredients used. His go-to recipe is 70% dark chocolate mixed with full-fat steamed milk. Personally, I like my hot chocolate medium rich, he said. I dont want it to be like fudge when I drink it, but it needs to be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. So what is hot cocoa? Hot cocoa, on the other hand, is made with cocoa powder, which is dried and ground cocoa solids. Essentially, its what most of us are probably drinking most of the time especially if it comes out of a packet. Natural cocoa powder has an acidic, bitter taste with a concentrated chocolate flavor. Its whats left after you press cocoa butter out of cocoa beans. Most of the hot cocoa mixes you see on supermarket shelves are Dutch processed (also known as alkalized) and contain added sugar and milk powder. Story continues When cocoa powder is Dutch processed, it means the powder has been chemically treated with an alkalizing agent that reduces the natural acidity (and much of the flavor) of the cocoa powder, Askinosie said. This process makes the cocoa powder darker and mellows out the flavor. It also dissolves in liquids more readily. (Side note: If youre a baker, its important to pay attention to whether a recipe calls for Dutch processed or natural cocoa powder as one is neutral and the other is acidic, which, depending on the leavening agent you use, can affect rise.) Cocoa butter (a key ingredient in chocolate) adds fat and richness to the resulting drink, and the lack of it in cocoa powder is one of the key reasons hot cocoa doesnt have the same level of richness as hot chocolate and has a thinner consistency. If you drink the two side by side, youll likely notice that hot cocoa is a touch sweeter and has a more watered-down flavor. Which is better? Hot chocolate and hot cocoa offer distinctly different drinking experiences, so the choice is yours. As far as preparation goes, hot cocoa is often easier to prepare especially if youre making the store-bought stuff. Everything gets mixed in a mug and takes only a minute. (Dont even get us started on the debate over whether you should use water or milk.) When making hot chocolate, on the other hand, you typically need to heat up milk or cream over a stove and whisk in the chocolate pieces to achieve a homogenous mixture. Bring your milk up to a steam, add the chocolate, and whisk, whisk, whisk! said Lisa Vega, executive chef of Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco. Price-wise, hot chocolate is often more expensive than hot cocoa. Dandelion Chocolates hot chocolate mix costs $18 and makes four servings, while a box of Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa costs $2.19 and makes eight servings. Hot cocoa is cheaper to make and buy, but that doesnt mean it has to be bad; it all comes down to preference, Gislason said. Some people dont like something overwhelmingly chocolatey and thats fine. If youre making hot cocoa from scratch (starting with just cocoa powder), he recommends adding sugar (or your preferred sweetener) and experimenting with emulsifiers and thickening agents like butter or cold-pressed coconut oil. If youre looking for something thick, rich and packed with chocolatey flavor, hot chocolate is the way to go. For convenience and nostalgia, it doesnt get much better than a cup of hot cocoa with some marshmallows on top. How the experts make hot chocolate (and cocoa) I actually love all manner of drinking chocolate, whether its made with chocolate pieces or cocoa powder, with milk or water, with extra sugar or without, Askinosie said. I like to make my own from scratch using our single origin cocoa powder and depending on my mood and appetite, Ill alter the recipe. Her go-to add-ins are a pinch of salt (fleur de sel or Himalayan salt) and a dollop of homemade whipped cream, paired with a square of dark chocolate on the side. Gislasons hot chocolate changes depending on the occasion. For a while, he started his mornings with a cup of hot chocolate made using 100% dark chocolate, water, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, a little bit of salt, butter and honey. If hes feeling festive, he makes hot chocolate with 70% dark chocolate and steamed milk, topped with whipped cream and shaved dark chocolate. Vegas perfect cup of hot chocolate is Dandelions Mission Hot Chocolate: 70% Madagascar chocolate blended with cinnamon, allspice, cayenne and pasilla chile. She makes it with oat milk, which rounds out the spicy notes of the chiles and the fruity, acidic flavors of the chocolate. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Disability-rights activists on Tuesday vowed to block a bill that would permit terminally-ill patients to obtain a physicians help to end their lives. Cathy Ludlum, a Manchester woman who has spinal atrophy, said the bill pending before the legislatures public health committee devalues the lives of people with disabilities. I see it as a dangerous option, Ludlum said at a press conference. The public health committee is slated to hold a hearing on the bill Wednesday. Senate bill 88 would allow mentally competent patients with less than six months to live to obtain a prescription from a doctor for a lethal dose of medication. Nine states and the District of Columbia have passed similar laws. The concept has been raised in Connecticut at least 14 times since 1994. Last year, for the first time, the bill was approved by a legislative committee but died before coming up for a full vote in either the House or the Senate. The bills supporters say there are safeguards built into the legislation to ensure that vulnerable people are protected. The measure would require two physicians to sign off on a patients request and would only be available as an option to people 18 or older who have less than six months to live. In spite of claims made by opponents, aid-in-dying laws have proven to work as intended for whom they are intended, and they have for more than 20 years, said Tim Appleton, senior campaign director for Compassion & Choices, a national advocacy group. It is fact that not one more person dies as a result of aid-in-dying laws but far fewer will suffer. Ludlum and other advocates fighting the bill say the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted health disparities and the unequal treatment experienced by people with disabilities. The disability community has long been at a huge disadvantage medically in terms of getting treatment, Ludlum said. Its been doubly hard during the pandemic. COVID showed us what professionals think of us disabled people, said John Kelly, New England director of Not Dead Yet, an advocacy group opposed to the bill. Really this is not the time to be discussing people exiting life when were having so much trouble keeping everyone alive. The disability community is very frightened by this. Daniela Altimari can be reached at daltimari@courant.com. Dr. Paul Farmer at hospital in Mirebalais, 30 miles north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in 2012. (Dieu Nalio Chery/AP) Dr. Paul Farmer, a U.S. physician, humanitarian and author renowned for providing healthcare to millions of impoverished people worldwide and who co-founded the global nonprofit Partners in Health, has died at age 62. The global health organization confirmed Farmers death on Monday, calling it devastating and noting he unexpectedly died in his sleep from an acute cardiac event while in Rwanda, where he had been teaching. Farmer was a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and chief of the division of global health equity at Brigham and Womens Hospital. He wrote extensively on health, human rights and social inequality, according to Partners in Health. A compassionate physician and infectious disease specialist, a brilliant and influential medical anthropologist and among the greatest humanitarians of our time perhaps all time Paul dedicated his life to improving human health and advocating for health equity and social justice on a global scale, wrote George Q. Daley, dean of Harvard University's Faculty of Medicine, in a statement. Partners in Health, founded in 1987, said its mission is to provide a preferential option for the poor in healthcare. The organization began its work in Cange, a rural village in Haitis central plateau, and later expanded its operations to regions including Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Tracy Kidder, who wrote the nonfiction book, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World, said he traveled with the famed physician for a month as Farmer treated prisoners and impoverished people in Haiti, Moscow and Paris. He was an important figure in the world, Kidder said. He had a way of looking around corners and of connecting things. He couldnt obviously go and cure the whole world all by himself, but he could, with help of his friends, give proof of possibility. One of Kidders strongest memories of Farmer occurred in Peru, where the doctor was treating patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Kidder recalled a woman wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt who followed them to their car, looking very shy. Story continues With her head down, she said, Thank you, to Farmer in Spanish. Kidder recalled: Paul turned, took each of her hands in his and said, For me, it is a privilege, in Spanish." He added that Farmer was instrumental in getting AIDS treatments, and created various health systems around the world. It really humiliates the nay-sayers, who think its somehow OK for some people to get healthcare and others not, Kidder said. It just drove him nuts. Michelle Karshan, vice president of a nonprofit prison healthcare system in Haiti who worked closely with Farmer, said he was determined, innovative and always knew how to get around obstacles and bureaucracy. He didnt take no for an answer, she said. He didnt think anybody was too poor or too illiterate to be entitled to receive healthcare. She noted that when the World Health Organization resisted giving HIV medication to people who were illiterate in Haiti for fear they would not know when or how to take it, Farmer set up his own program and created a chart that relied on the suns position. He also hired people known as accompaniers, who would hike through Haitis rough mountainous terrain to make sure patients had water, food and were taking their medications. Im so sad for all the people who are not going to have him in their lives. He was there for everybody, Karshan said. Haiti's Prime Minister Ariel Henry praised Farmer's work, as did former President Clinton. Paul Farmer changed the way healthcare is delivered in the most impoverished places on Earth. He saw every day as a new opportunity to teach, learn, give and serve and it was impossible to spend any time with him and not feel the same, Clinton said in a statement. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with thousands of cases reported daily in Massachusetts, local health departments were overwhelmed by the task of contact tracing to help slow the spread of the disease. The state launched a contact tracing collaborative in April 2020, and asked Partners in Health to lead the initiative, which made more than 2.7 million calls to residents at a total cost of about $158 million, according to the state. Farmer is survived by his wife, Didi Bertrand Farmer, and their three children. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By John Chalmers, Sabine Siebold and Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union agreed new sanctions on Russia that will blacklist more politicians, lawmakers and officials, ban EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with separatist entities. However, EU foreign ministers chose not to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said following a meeting in Paris on Tuesday. Russia's formal recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine was an unacceptable breach of Ukraine's sovereignty, Borrell said. "This package of sanctions that has been approved by unanimity by the member states will hurt Russia, and it will hurt a lot," Borrell told a news conference alongside France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at a meeting in Paris. Separately, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told Reuters that further Russian aggression in Ukraine would result in more sanctions, in coordination with the United States. The package of sanctions includes all members of the lower house of the Russian parliament who voted in favour of the recognition of the breakaway regions, freezing any assets they have in the EU and banning them from travelling to the bloc. It was not immediately clear when the sanctions would take effect, but diplomats expect them in the coming hours or days, when names and details will be made public. Borrell also said: "We are going to target 27 individuals and entities who are playing a role in undermining or threatening Ukrainian territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence." Borrell said those individuals and entities were in Russia's defence, banking and financial sector. "We target the ability of the Russian state and government to access our capital and financial markets and services," Borrell said. Banks involved in financing separatist activities in eastern Ukraine would also be targeted. Story continues The two regions could also be removed from a free-trade deal between the EU and Ukraine, "to ensure that those responsible clearly feel the economic consequences of their illegal and aggressive actions," an EU statement said. PRAISE FOR GERMANY Borrell congratulated Germany's decision to put the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project on ice, arguably the most far-reaching reaction to Moscow's move late on Monday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also praised Berlin. Taking steps to limit or ban Russia's access to the Belgium-based SWIFT global interbank payments system used for Russian money flows was not immediately part of the EU sanctions. The EU had repeatedly said it was ready to impose "massive consequences" on Russia's economy if Moscow invaded Ukraine but has also noted that, given the EU's close energy and trade ties to Russia, it wanted to move in stages. Not all of the bloc's 27 member states have the same relation to Russia or dependency on its gas, which could eventually complicate the adoption of further sanctions. EU officials and diplomats have said some EU countries, including Austria, Hungary and Italy, Russia's closest allies in the bloc, would prefer more limited sanctions in response to Putin's move on eastern Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose country relies on Russia for much of its gas, told a news conference in Rome that any sanctions should not include energy imports. (Reporting by John Chalmers, Robin Emmott, Sabine Siebold, Francesco Guarascio, Ingrid Melander, Marine Strauss, Bart Meijer, Padraic Halpin and Crispian Balmer, Andrius Sytas, writing by Ingrid MelanderEditing by Tomasz Janowski) PARIS (AP) Foreign ministers from Indo-Pacific nations attended a Paris conference Tuesday aimed at bringing the region, an important partner for trade and exports, squarely into Europes focus in a rapidly changing world with rising security challenges. New Zealand, India, South Korea, Japan and a clutch of other Asian nations were represented at the forum. China was not invited. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian stressed that China was not being slighted, and EU Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell noted the long-standing dedicated dialogue between the EU and China. The Indo-Pacific strategy ... is not an anti-China strategy. This strategy is not against anyone, Le Drian said at a closing news conference. It is a strategy for partnership development between the Indo-Pacific and the European Union. Le Drian listed concrete projects that he said were planned or underway, from tackling climate change to health, but also security concerns. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called the region an aorta for Europe with 40% of the EUs trade passing through the regions waters. Thats why we need freedom of navigation ... a security architecture that we have to build together, Borrell said. He announced a just-launched coordinated maritime presence with the regions navies. It is not a military alliance, not against anyone. Its a way of enhancing our presence and coordinating our means among the member states in order to be more able to act, he said, without further elaboration. Le Drian acknowledged concern over an emerging alliance between Russia and China which is clearly defying the multilateral order. And that was another reason for us to engage more in the Indo-Pacific, the French minister said. By Simon Jessop, Tommy Wilkes and Lawrence White LONDON (Reuters) - HSBC aims to cut emissions associated with loans made to its oil and gas clients by 34% this decade, the bank's sustainability chief told Reuters, marking the first time that Britain's biggest lender has committed to such a target. More than 100 banks have pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and are under pressure to provide details on the deep shorter-term cuts to "financed emissions" that are needed if banks are to have any chance of meeting their goal. "This is rewiring the way we make financing and investment decisions from here on in," Group Chief Sustainability Officer Celine Herweijer said of HSBC's 2030 targets. HSBC is a major lender to corporate clients across Asia and some of the world's biggest oil and gas companies, and its plan is expected to set the tone for other banks in the region, most of which have yet to release targets. HSBC said its oil and gas target was based on 'absolute' reductions rather than 'carbon intensity', which measures emissions per unit of energy or barrel of oil and gas produced, and so could see actual emissions rise. Climate activists say intensity-based targets do not go far enough if the world is to keep global warming from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, which scientists deem crucial to prevent catastrophic climate change. "There's no way that you can move to a net-zero economy by 2050 if you have intensity-based metrics in the energy sector," Herweijer told Reuters. Environmental campaign group Market Forces said HSBC's targets contained loopholes that undermined their credibility, including applying the target only to 'on-balance sheet' emissions. The policy also allowed HSBC to continue to finance new and expanded oil and gas projects, it added. "HSBC knows what needs to be done, but can't bring themselves to break their dirty habit," Adam McGibbon, UK Campaign Lead at Market Forces, said in a statement. Story continues Among the biggest global banks, few have committed to absolute targets, although Citigroup last month vowed to reduce its energy-sector absolute emissions by 29% by 2030. HSBC's new targets also include a plan to reduce by 75% the intensity of financed emissions for power and utility clients. Herweijer said this target was intensity-based, rather than absolute, because electricity consumption globally would need to rise during the transition to a lower-carbon economy. The bank's targets are aligned with the International Energy Agency's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, which Herweijer said was the hardest to meet but "doable". HSBC said on Tuesday targets for the coal, aluminium, cement, iron, steel and transport sectors would follow in 2023. BIGGEST CLIENTS Around 100 large upstream and integrated companies are responsible for 90% of HSBC's oil and gas sector financed emissions, and the bank has given them an end of 2022 deadline to produce plans on how they intend to decarbonise. The targets will cover so-called Scope 1 and 2 emissions, those linked to a company's own operations, and Scope 3 which are produced when customers use their products and which Herweijer said account for 80% of their emissions. While focused on helping clients to plan, those who did not risked losing access to finance, Herweijer said, adding that a major challenge is the variability in emission disclosures. "There's a big diversification on how different companies are measuring and reporting, if at all, on Scope 3, and the extent of that," she said. HSBC's targets like most, but not all, banks exclude capital markets activity such as underwriting bonds and share placements, although it said this would change as standard accounting for 'facilitated emissions' becomes available. While that may not happen until later this year, Herweijer said HSBC was not "ignoring capital markets" and for future deals was "thinking about the financed emissions of them as part of our decision making". (Editing by Alexander Smith) A 67-year-old Hobart man died early Tuesday after being struck by two vehicles as he walked near Indiana 51 and U.S. 6 by the 3600 block of Randolph Place. Police identified the man as Thomas McMahon. Advertisement A motorist told Hobart police he was driving in the northbound lane of Indiana 51 about 5 a.m., just north of U.S. 6, when he merged into the left lane as the right lane ended. As he merged, the motorist said he struck something and his windshield was shattered. When he stopped his vehicle to investigate, he realized he had struck a pedestrian. Advertisement As he called 911, another northbound vehicle struck the pedestrian and dragged him several feet, police said. The first motorist told police the second driver didnt stop and continued north on Indiana 51 toward Lake Station. Police spoke to other witnesses who confirmed the second motorist dragged the victim and didnt stop. Detectives are following leads on the identity of the second driver. Police said the driver who initially struck the victim submitted to field sobriety tests, which showed no impairment and also submitted to a portable breath test, which also determined he wasnt intoxicated. The Lake County Sheriffs reconstruction unit assisted with the investigation. The Lake County Coroners office responded to the scene and transported the victim to the coroners office. Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. By Alexandra Alper and Karen Freifeld WASHINGTON (Reuters) -If Russia further invades Ukraine, the Biden administration could deprive it of a vast swath of low- and high-tech U.S. and foreign-made goods, from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. President Joe Biden would achieve that by expanding the list of goods that require U.S. licenses before suppliers can ship them to Russia, and his administration would then deny those licenses, the people said. The measures, whose details have not previously been reported, are part of a suite of export control penalties that the United States has prepared to damage Russia's economy, targeting everything from lasers to telecoms equipment and maritime items. They were not announced on Tuesday as part of a round of sanctions unveiled by Biden to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent and deploying troops into the regions to "keep the peace." But a senior administration official said, if Putin escalates further, we will escalate further, using both financial sanctions and export controls, which weve yet to unveil. The official added: "Export controls are really potent because were talking about critical technology inputs that Russia needs to diversify its economy. The official added that the United States is "fully prepared with a very large number of countries across the world to implement those export control measures if the invasion proceeds." The White House, and the Commerce Department, which oversees U.S. export controls, did not respond to requests for comment on details of the potential restrictions. The package, which was still being fine-tuned over the weekend and could change, could come even as some White House officials have pledged to spare the Russian consumer from the brunt of the penalties. The goal of the export control measures "is really to degrade Russia's ability to have industrial production in a couple of key sectors," Peter Harrell, who sits on the White House's National Security Council, said in a speech last month. He said the administration was focused on industrial production and high-tech sectors "rather than how do we sort of target the Russian people writ-large." Story continues The administration has been vowing to hit Moscow with a potent cocktail of banking sanctions and export controls for weeks, in response to a massing of hundreds of thousands of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders. Reuters reported on Saturday that the Biden administration had also prepared a package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks. By far the most sweeping measure contained in the export controls package would take a page from restrictions placed on Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd under former President Donald Trump. It would dramatically expand the scope of the so-called Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), requiring firms that use U.S. tools to make technology overseas to obtain a U.S. license before shipping them to Russia. "It's extraordinarily novel and has the potential for being far more significant than controls just on exports of these items from the United States," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former Commerce Department official. U.S. suppliers would also have to obtain licenses for certain Russia-bound items that do not currently require them, such as civil aircraft parts. Whether Europe would follow suit with similar measures remains to be seen. Japan said on Tuesday it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialised nations in slapping sanctions on Russia. On Tuesday, Biden said the United States would impose sanctions against two large Russian financial institutions and Russian sovereign debt and against some Russian elites and their family members. On Monday, as an initial response to Putin's moves into eastern Ukraine, Biden vowed to end investment in and trade with the regions while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced initial sanctions targeting Russian banks and billionaires. Under changes proposed in the U.S. export control package, the license applications, in turn, would face a strict "policy of denial" standard of review, meaning only in rare cases would the administration approve them. In addition, Russian companies listed as so-called military end users for their alleged ties to the Russian military, including a handful of aircraft producers, would be added to a trade blacklist known as the entity list. That would broaden the scope of items the companies would need licenses to obtain. Finally, Washington would expand the scope of products that would need approval from the United States when sent to Russian military end users through an even broader application of the FDPR rule, subjecting to U.S. licenses requirements all items made abroad with U.S. tools and destined for companies that support the military. U.S. exports to Russia were under $5 billion in 2020, according to the Commerce Department, and already face many curbs. But the use of the FDPR rule dramatically expands the impact of the restrictions included in the package. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York and Alexandra Alper in WashingtonWriting by Alexandra AlperEditing by Chris Sanders and Matthew Lewis) Ukraine DPR Independence Celebration Residents celebrate the signing of documents on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Donetsk, DPR, Ukraine, Feb. 21, 2022. Credit - Sputnik/AP Months of dire warnings and diplomacy by the Biden Administration failed to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from ordering his forces into eastern Ukraine, a move American and European officials fear will presage a full-scale invasion. On Monday, Putin recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine controlled by Moscow-backed separatists, and then directed Russian troops to occupy the territory for peacekeeping functions. The decision effectively abrogated the Minsk ceasefire agreement signed after Putin illegally annexed Crimea in southern Ukraine in 2014. In a fiery, hour-long national address, Putin made the erroneous claims that Ukraine was historically part of Russia and never had traditions of its own statehood. He also claimed the country was now ruled by a puppet regime under the control of the U.S. and Europe. Ukraine is not just a neighboring country, they are a part of our culture, he said. Putin also appeared to lay the groundwork for further escalation by calling on Ukraine to immediately cease military action, and warning that the possibility of a continuation of bloodshed will be fully and wholly on the conscience of the regime ruling the territory of Ukraine. The worlds attention now shifts to President Joe Biden and how he responds to Russias aggression and a volatile situation that could result in the largest conflict on the European continent since World War II. Administration officials have said that more than 50,000 Ukrainians could die in the crossfire of an invasion that leads all the way into the Ukrainian capital. Biden spoke Monday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and strongly condemned Putins decision, while promising to respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the White House said in a statement. Zelensky, for his part, urged Ukrainians to keep calm in a nationally televised speech and called on allies to show their support. Story continues Biden signed an executive order that prohibited any U.S. investment and trade in the regions that Putin was attempting to seize but did not impose any penalties directly on Russia or its leadership. A senior administration official, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, said the White House was still determining further courses of action despite earlier administration statements of a swift and firm response. For now, the initial round of limited sanctions appeared to provide the U.S. and European allies room for diplomacy to avoid miscalculation on all sides. We will take further measures tomorrow to hold Russia accountable for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of Russias own international commitment, the senior official said. The invasion marks a critical standoff between the U.S. and Russia, two nations that command the worlds largest nuclear arsenals. Putin has successfully dragged Biden into having to respond to a frustrating series of escalations, complicating the U.S. response to Russias actions, distracting from other diplomatic priorities, and upping the political stakes for the American president. Biden has repeatedly said he has no intention to entangle U.S. armed forces in another foreign war. His approval ratings sagged after a turbulent withdrawal from Afghanistan last summer led the Taliban to take control of the country, and this represents Bidens second major foreign policy test as President. Putins declaration came after several days worth of phone calls and meetings with world leaders attempting to dissuade the Russian president from moving forward with an invasion. Russian troops, tanks and artillery surround Ukraine on all sides: in Belarus to the north, Russia to the east, Crimea to the south and Moldova to the west. In recent days, the forces have continued to move closer to the border in positions that U.S. officials characterized as signaling an imminent invasion. At the same time, theres been a drastic rise of explosive attacks in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, which the administration calls false-flag operations that are meant to justify a Russian military presence. These attempts at disinformation arent fooling anyone, but the human costs of these actions are already accruing, the senior administration official said. Russian-backed forces are driving civilians in eastern Ukraine from their homes and conscripting men and boys in those regions against their will. The human costs of a further Russian invasion and occupation will be devastating. The Biden Administration had hoped to resolve the deteriorating situation through diplomacy. But the lack of progress has prompted the U.S. to take increasingly urgent steps in response to Putins moves. As Russian forces continue to build, the State Department ordered non-essential staff and family members to leave the U.S. embassy from Ukraines capital, Kyiv, out of an abundance of caution. In recent weeks, Biden has moved troops, naval ships and warplanes into eastern Europe and warned all Americans to leave Ukraine immediately. Biden directed an Army Stryker squadron consisting of 1,000 troops to move from Germany into Romania, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance, in order to join the 900 U.S. forces already there. An additional 1,700 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and 300 troops from 18th Airborne Corps are heading to Poland, another NATO ally concerned about the security of its eastern border. There are a small number of U.S. troops in Ukraine, which is not a NATO member. Biden has made clear that he has no plans to send additional forces in. He has sent more than $600 million of security assistance to Ukrainian government for weapons, equipment and materiel over the past year. Biden has promised sweeping economic sanctions and increased military support to Ukrainian forces should Moscow invade Ukraine, but the administrations threats have lacked specificity, says Ryan Crocker, a retired diplomat who served as ambassador in Lebanon, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan over his 37-year career. Im really concerned that Im not seeing a concrete expression of what happens to Russia if they go in, he says, adding that NATO has also failed to articulate the costs it plans to impose. NATO doesnt run by itself. We either lead the Atlantic Alliance, or the Atlantic Alliance probably isnt going to get much done. Crocker believes Bidens mishandling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan caught the attention of adversaries like Russia and China. Following his decision to pullout of the war after 20 years, Biden failed to closely consult and coordinate with Western partners, essentially leaving them to scamper for the exits, Crocker said. The whole world saw what happened, Crocker says. Hes got to show that he can do a whole lot better on another major international issue than he did on Afghanistan. For months, Putin has said he had no intention to send his forces into Ukraine. Instead, hes repeatedly demanded that U.S. forces withdraw from eastern Europe and disallow any other former Soviet-bloc nations, like Ukraine, from joining NATOconcessions the U.S. has already dismissed out of hand. The White House said late Sunday that Biden had agreed to meet with Putin as long as Russia did not invade Ukraine. That conversation now appears unlikely. A Choctaw Nation couple have sued Oklahomas three tax commissioners in federal court, contending the state cannot tax their income as a result of a landmark Supreme Court ruling. The lawsuit filed Friday is believed to be the first federal court challenge of the states power to tax Native Americans who live and work on one of the six reservations impacted by the McGirt v. Oklahoma ruling. The state does not have criminal jurisdiction over cases involving Native Americans on the reaffirmed reservations. The point of contention is whether Oklahoma still has civil and taxing jurisdiction over Native Americans on those lands. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the state Tax Commission maintain the answer is yes, while the new lawsuit argues thats not the case. The question has generated heated debate in a state that relies heavily on taxes to generate revenue and tribes to provide jobs, especially in rural counties. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, contends Oklahoma has no legal authority to tax tribal citizens income on the Choctaw reservation. States cannot tax income earned by tribal citizens who live and work on tribal lands. This is just one Choctaw Nation couple who is trying to have the Tax Commission abide by the law, said Joseph Williams, the Okmulgee attorney who filed the suit. Harold and Nellie Meashintubby live in McAlester, within the boundaries of the Choctaw reservation. They sought income tax exemptions for 2017 and 2020, saying all of the money they earned came from sources within the reservation. The Tax Commission denied both the Meashintubbys requests, according to their lawsuit. Similar tax exemption requests have poured in to the state since 2020. In a 5-4 decision that year, Supreme Court justices concluded the Muscogee reservation had never been disestablished, meaning the state did not have criminal jurisdiction over Native Americans on those lands. In depth: McGirt decision spurs fierce debate on Oklahoma tax issues Story continues The Oklahoma Tax Commission has maintained the decision applies only to criminal matters, leaving the states taxing powers unaffected. If the decision was applied to taxes, the Tax Commission estimated in 2020 that it would collect $132.2 million less in annual sales and use taxes on the Five Tribes reservations and $72.7 million less in income taxes, or less than 1% of total state income tax collections. The Meashintubbys contend the McGirt decision does apply to taxes, and has already been found to impact other civil matters, such as the states authority to regulate surface mining. In that case, a federal judge ruled against the state in December, finding that the Muscogee reservation met the definition of Indian Country under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The legal reality is that these reservation boundaries are here, said Williams, who belongs to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. McGirt is the law of the land. More: Judge rules against Oklahoma in surface mining case The lawsuit asks the court to rule the state does not have taxing authority and to order a refund of the couples 2020 income tax payment. Williams said the lawsuit bypassed the states typical administrative law process designed to hear tax issues, because tax code allowed the Meashintubbys to pay their 2020 taxes under protest and write the commission a letter about their intent to sue. Its unclear how many tax protests are currently working their way through the administrative process. The state said in November that the number was about 100. None of those cases have been resolved in a way that would set a precedent for all of the other protests, said Cassandra Sweetman, a spokesperson for the Tax Commission. Sweetman said no one at the commission could comment on the new lawsuit, which names Tax Commission Chair Shelly Paulk, Vice Chair Mark Wood and Secretary Charlie Prater as defendants. Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton has said the tribe does not believe the state should still be taxing Choctaw citizens who live and work on the reservation, and that the tribe may eventually pursue some type of legal action. Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill said she's not surprised that questions surrounding tax jurisdiction are now surfacing as cases before the Oklahoma Tax Commission, as well as within state courts and now federal courts. "A number of tribal citizens were exempt from state income tax for decades prior to McGirt, and many will be exempt from state income tax after McGirt," Hill said. If the state stops taxing tribal citizens on the reservations, tribes could opt to levy their own taxes on citizens and divide that money up among area governments, similar to how the state currently operates. Many of the tribes already pay for local infrastructure and economic development projects, as well as provide school funding. State and tribal leaders could also reach a tax agreement outside of court. They have worked together in the past to sort out other tax disputes through compacts, which provide tribes a stable external regulatory environment and the state extra revenue that it wouldnt otherwise receive. Molly Young covers Indigenous affairs for the USA Today Network's Sunbelt Region. Reach her at mollyyoung@gannett.com or 405-347-3534. This story has been updated. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Choctaw couple sue OK tax commissioners for refusing to waive taxes Feb. 22A former nominee to the Alaska Board of Fisheries and a prominent Cook Inlet commercial fisherman pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of unsworn falsification on Friday, ending a six-year legal struggle that saw him accused of multiple counts of Permanent Fund dividend fraud and improperly obtaining resident fishing licenses. Roland Maw, nominated by former Gov. Bill Walker to the Fish Board in 2015 but never appointed, will pay a $500 fine and pay restitution of $9,582. He had been facing 12 felonies and 5 misdemeanors; the remaining charges are dismissed. "I guess this is the end of these matters. Glad, sad, I don't think any of those describe what it is. Just, it's over," the 78-year-old Maw said on Monday. Juneau Superior Court Judge Amy Mead approved the plea deal on Friday, saying his misdemeanor conviction carries a lot of weight. "Because it is a crime of dishonesty," she said, according to KDLL-FM, which first reported the plea. "And I use that in the legal sense. I think the fact that you're walking away with a conviction is very significant." Maw was the executive director of the United Cook Inlet Drift Association, a commercial fishing industry group, when Walker nominated him to the Board of Fisheries in 2015. Maw withdrew his name from consideration after officials in Montana began investigating whether he had inappropriately applied for and received resident fishing licenses in that state. He was fined more than $7,000 after that investigation, and in 2016, Alaska officials filed PFD-fraud charges against him. Alaska law says a person cannot get the dividend if he or she has a resident hunting or fishing license from another state during the qualifying year. Prosecutors also accused him of being out of the state longer than typically permitted for a dividend recipient. The charges against Maw were dismissed and refiled twice in the six years that followed; Friday's plea deal followed a third round of charges approved by a grand jury in 2018. Story continues Maw said he offered to repay the state for his dividends years ago, but was turned down. The state recently offered a plea deal, he said, and he decided to accept it. He attributed some of his problems to time spent out of the state while working on behalf of the state with the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, which regulates deep-sea fishing. Had state officials simply relayed his absences to the Permanent Fund dividend division, he said, some of his trouble could have been avoided. His attorney, Nicholas Polasky, said Friday's plea deal was a compromise. "Each party comes to the resolution for their own reasons. And for Mr. Maw, this was a good resolution to close out the case and move on with his life," Polasky said. Gavel PITTSBURGH Former Center Township tax collector Jeanne Bowser, 63, was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 12 months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Bowser was sentenced based on her charges of wire fraud and filing false income tax returns, which she pleaded guilty to last April. More: Former Center Twp. tax collector pleads guilty to federal charges According to court documents, Bowser was the elected tax collector for Center Township, and also collected taxes for the Central Valley School District. From approximately December 2011 until approximately August 2019, Bowser embezzled a total of approximately $1,028,184 in tax payments from both the township and school district, according to court documents. Police said she embezzled the funds by writing checks to herself out of a bank account that was used for tax deposits, and by stealing cash tax payments. In addition to the embezzlement, Bowser filed false income tax returns for a period of six years, police said. Subscribe: Why should you subscribe to The Beaver County Times? In addition to her prison sentence, Bowser is obligated to pay $1,028,184 in restitution. The restitution is broken down as Central Valley School District ($253,370) and Center Township ($353,290) as first priority, Selective Insurance Company of America ($37,969) and Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland ($383,555) as second priority, and the Internal Revenue Service ($275,808) as third priority. Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Former Center Twp. tax collector sentenced to one year in prison Defendant Jamison Mullins, left, and defense attorney Chase Smith, middle, listens to Assistant District Attorney Dan Brollier in Judge William Goodmans III courtroom at Montgomery County courthouse Tuesday Feb. 22, 2022 A Fort Campbell soldier entered a guilty plea for a lesser charge Tuesday morning in the 2020 shooting death of a teenage boy in Clarksville. Jamison Todd Mullins II, 27, was initially charged with first-degree murder and employment of a firearm in connection with the March 13 shooting death of 14-year-old Demariontae Brown. Mullins appeared before Judge William Goodman III at the Montgomery County courthouse to enter a guilty plea for manslaughter and employment of a firearm during commission of dangerous offense. As part of the plea arrangement, Mullins agreed to a 10-year prison sentence for the crime, his attorney Chase Smith said. Jamison Mullins: Grand jury to hear case against Ft. Campbell soldier charged with killing teen Shooting: 14-year-old shot dead in driveway was breaking into car, shooter told police A dark driveway: What happened March 13? Mullins told police he looked out the window of his home at Dresden Way at about 3:30 a.m. on March 13 and saw someone breaking into his wife's vehicle, according to an arrest warrant. Assistant District Attorney Dan Brollier said in court that Mullins then grabbed an assault rifle, saw Brown in the driveway and yelled out to him. Brollier said Mullins told investigators that Brown, "looked like he was grabbing for something." Mullins said he thought Brown had a gun in his hand, but investigators later discovered that the teen was unarmed and had turned to run away. Brown had Mullins' wife's purse and a cell phone in his hand when he was hit with a single gunshot in the back, Brollier said in court. Although there is video footage of the vehicle break-in captured on Mullins' home security system, the actual shooting occurred off-camera, Brollier said. Brown was near the edge of the driveway at the time, about 43 feet away. "He (Brown) was running away from him, turned back towards Mr. Mullins, which in that point .. (Mullins) acted as if he was in fear. He shot and killed the victim in this case," Brollier said. Story continues Brown died at the scene, in the middle of the street. The plea agreement states that Mullins will serve six years at 100% at the Tennessee Department of Corrections for the employment of a firearm charge. He will serve at least 30% of a four year sentence for manslaughter before being considered for parole. He is scheduled for another court date March 17. Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@gannett.com or 931-217-8519. This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Jamison Mullins, Fort Campbell soldier, pleads guilty to manslaughter German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday. JOHN MACDOUGALL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Germany axed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal after Russia moved forces into Ukraine. Putin ordered Russian forces into pro-Kremlin areas of eastern Ukraine on Monday. The pipeline connects gas fields in Russia to European countries and was fiercely opposed by the US. Germany on Tuesday scrapped plans for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine. During an address on the Ukraine crisis Tuesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he decided to "reassess" the certification, a necessary approval for it to start moving gas from Russia to countries in Europe. "In light of the most recent developments, we must reassess the situation in particular regarding Nord Stream 2," he said. "The situation has fundamentally changed." It was the first significant economic consequence for Russia after its escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. The US, EU, and UK also promised economic sanctions would be announced later Tuesday. Reports from eastern Ukraine on Monday showed Russian tanks moving into the rebel-held areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, which seemed to fulfill Putin's command for a "peacekeeping" mission there. Scholz said Tuesday that Germany would find ways to meet its energy needs without the Nord Stream 2. The pipeline provides a route between Russian gas-production sites and mainland Europe. Earlier pipes went through Ukraine. Work was completed in September, though it could not begin piping gas without certification from Germany. The pipeline, mostly owned by the Russian gas corporation Gazprom, cost 10 billion euros ($11.5 billion) and was meant transport 55 billion cubic meters of natural gas each year. Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, praised Scholz in a tweet Tuesday, saying: "True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times." The Chelyabinsk pipe-rolling plant in Russia on February 26, 2020. Maxim Shemetov/Reuters The US said last month the pipeline would not open if Russia invaded Ukraine. Story continues "We will work with Germany to ensure it does not move forward," Ned Price, a State Department spokesperson, said at the time. The US has long been concerned about the project. Its officials worried that infrastructure between Russia and Europe would deepen countries' dependence on Russia for energy and make European nations less likely to challenge Russia. During the Trump administration, the US sanctioned a number of Russian companies working on the pipeline. Those restraints were lifted in May, though US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken continued to call the project "a bad deal for Germany, for Ukraine, and for our Central and Eastern European allies and partners." Read the original article on Business Insider AFP: China has always supported the principle of non-interference and respect for state sovereignty. Has Russias recognition of separatist regions violated the sovereignty of Ukraine? Wang Wenbin: This morning, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken upon invitation. State Councilor Wang Yi expounded Chinas position on the Ukraine issue in the conversation. China is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine. Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent. The legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be jointly upheld. What has happened on the Ukraine issue has much to do with the long delay in the effective implementation of the Minsk-2 agreement. China will continue to engage all parties based on the merits of the matter itself. The situation in Ukraine is getting worse. China once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint, appreciate the importance of implementing the principle of indivisible security, and de-escalate the situation and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. China Daily: During his visit to Africa at the beginning of 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China will appoint a special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs. Do you have any update on that? Wang Wenbin: According to work arrangement, Mr. Xue Bing is appointed as the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Special Envoy Xue Bing is a veteran diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and was posted in various countries in Africa, the Americas and Oceania. As a common friend to countries in the Horn of Africa, China has always been committed to promoting peace, stability and development in the region. During his visit to Africa at the beginning of this year, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forth the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, which is aimed at supporting regional countries in achieving lasting peace and security and embracing development and prosperity. China is ready to play a constructive role in this regard. The Special Envoy will establish work relationship with colleagues from relevant parties as soon as possible and maintain close communication and coordination on advancing the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. Reuters: Does China recognize the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic as two new independent states? Wang Wenbin: I just stated Chinas position on the Ukraine issue. There is a complex historical context and complicated factors at play on this issue. Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear and remains unchanged. China maintains that disputes should be peacefully resolved in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. We call on relevant parties to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation and avoid further escalation of tension. AFP: Does China believe that Russias latest actions violate the Minsk-2 protocol? Wang Wenbin: Chinas position on the Ukraine issue is consistent. We believe that all countries security interests should be respected and upheld. True security should be common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable. The New York Times: Does China see any parallels between Russias assertion that Ukraine is not a separate state and Beijings assertion that Taiwan is a part of China? Wang Wenbin: I just made clear Chinas position on the Ukraine issue. Since you mentioned the Taiwan question, I would like to stress that there is but one China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. This is an indisputable historical and legal fact. The one-China principle is a universally-recognized norm governing international relations. The Chinese people have the strong resolve, determination and capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Peoples Daily: According to reports, over the past few days, the Canadian police used pepper spray, stun grenades as well as batons to violently disperse Freedom Convoy demonstrators that had dominated downtown Ottawa. The Canadian government called the demonstrators a threat to democracy. Does China have any comment? Wang Wenbin: I wont comment on this as it is Canadas domestic affair. But it reminds me of something. Back in 2019, when radical elements assaulted the police and wantonly disrupted public order in Hong Kong, the Canadian side asserted that it will stand up loudly and clearly for human rights all around the world and wantonly criticized, maligned and smeared the Hong Kong Police Force. Why the difference? In the eyes of some people in Canada, similar protests and demonstrations should be referred to differently in different places. In Hong Kong, they are human rights movement, but in Canada they are a threat to democracy. Such stark double standard is unacceptable. Canada should seriously reflect upon itself. RIA Novosti: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the other day that if Ukraines security is not guaranteed, it can pull out of the Budapest Memorandum. Does the Chinese side have any comment? Wang Wenbin: We are closely following the latest developments in eastern Ukraine. We call on all sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation, and avoid continued escalation of the situation. O Globo: Has China attempted to have coordination with the BRICS countries to have a common position on Ukraine? Secondly, last years summit of the BRICS countries stressed the importance of sovereign equality of all states and respect for their territorial integrity. How does that in Chinas eyes apply to latest Russian movements in Ukraine? Wang Wenbin: Respect for all countries sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity is a basic norm governing international relations. It embodies the purposes of the UN Charter and should be complied with by all sides. This is also Chinas consistent and principled position. NHK: Also on Ukraine. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Russias decision to recognize the independence of two Ukrainian regions is inconsistent with the principles of the UN Charter. China has always said that it supports the UN-centered international system. Does China support Russias decision this time or not? Wang Wenbin: China will continue to communicate with all parties based on the merits of the matter itself and act accordingly. Our position on the Ukraine issue is consistent. All countries security interests should be respected and upheld. True security should be common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable. We once again call on all sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation, and avoid continued escalation of the situation. Dragon TV: In 2021, 61,000 foreign-funded enterprises were newly set up in China, up 23.3 percent year on year, and the tertiary industry accounted for 91.2 percent of those newly established foreign-invested enterprises. Do you have any comment on that? Wang Wenbin: Against the backdrop of COVID-19 flare-ups and a struggling global economic recovery, Chinas economy continues to recover and develop; its high-quality development has achieved new outcomes; its business environment continues to improve and the appeal of the super-large Chinese market becomes fully evident. Besides the significant growth of the number of the newly established foreign-funded enterprises you mentioned, foreign businesses in China also expressed readiness to expand investment in China. This is a vote of confidence cast for Chinas economy, which fully indicates that the continuous improvement in Chinas business environment has further strengthened foreign companies confidence in investing in China. China will unswervingly pursue high-quality development, deepen reform and opening-up, and foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards. We will make the Chinese market a shared market for the world and for all, share Chinas development opportunities with other countries, and make Chinas contributions to promoting the recovery of world economy. Reuters: Is the Chinese Embassy in Kiev operating at full capacity? Are all staff still working in the embassy? And if China has any other offices in Ukraine, is the situation likewise, all staff are present? Wang Wenbin: With the major change in the situation in eastern Ukraine, the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine has released a consular notice to remind Chinese citizens and enterprises in the country to take stronger security precautions. Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine will continue to stay in close contact with Chinese citizens and enterprises in Ukraine to provide them with timely consular protection and assistance, and earnestly protect their safety and legitimate rights and interests. Market News International: If Western countries impose economic sanctions on Russia for what happened in Ukraine, how will China see those sanctions? Wang Wenbin: We call on all sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation, and avoid continued escalation of the situation. Hubei Media Group: On February 20, a ceremony was held in Cairo to mark the beginning of delivery of COVID-19 vaccines jointly donated by China and Egypt to the Gaza Strip of Palestine. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: A couple of days ago, China and Egypt jointly donated to the Gaza Strip of Palestine 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which come from a local production program of Chinese vaccines in Cairo. This is Chinas latest effort to help Palestine combat COVID-19, develop the economy and improve peoples welfare. Earlier, the Chinese side has provided Palestine with assistance by various means including several batches of anti-epidemic supplies, vaccines and cash. Besides, China has also offered emergency donation and vaccine assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). These steps have been highly appreciated with heartfelt thanks by the Palestinian government and people. The Palestine question is at the core of the Middle East issue. China consistently and firmly supports Palestinian peoples just cause to restore legitimate national rights, supports strengthening the authority of the Palestinian National Authority, and supports various factions in Palestine in enhancing solidarity and realizing internal reconciliation. We call for a UN-led international peace conference participated by permanent members of the Security Council and stakeholders of the Middle East peace process. We encourage Palestine and Israel to resume peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution. China will continue to work tirelessly with the international community for the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question at an early date and for peace and stability in the Middle East. Reuters: The UK has decided to impose sanctions on Russia because it believes the invasion of Ukraine has already begun. When will China start pulling out its citizens from the country? Wang Wenbin: As I said just now, Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine will continue to stay in close contact with Chinese citizens and enterprises in Ukraine to provide them with timely consular protection and assistance and earnestly protect their safety and legitimate rights and interests. O Globo: Regarding sanctions, is China ready to help Russia against sanctions? Wang Wenbin: We call on all sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation, and avoid continued escalation of the situation. AFP: Has there been any recent communication between China and Ukraine? And specifically, has Ukraine asked China to use its influence with Russia to prevent further incursions into its territory? Wang Wenbin: I have already stated Chinas position on the Ukraine issue. Reuters: You spoke of how China hopes for a peaceful resolution. Whats China doing to help achieve such a peaceful resolution? Wang Wenbin: China will continue to engage all parties and communicate with them based on the merits of the matter itself. We call on all sides to exercise restraint, resolve differences through negotiation, and avoid continued escalation of the situation. Reuters: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Australias military planes had a right to watch Chinas navy vessels in its waters when they were put under threat by Chinese vessels. Whats your comment? And also, can you confirm that China did indeed direct a military-grade laser at an Australian aircraft? Wang Wenbin: I elaborated on Chinas position yesterday. The spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defense also spoke on the relevant situation already. The content in the Australian statement runs counter to facts and is pure disinformation. On February 17, an Australian P-8 anti-submarine maritime patrol aircraft conducted activities in the airspace near the Chinese fleet with the closest range of only 4 kilometers, and dropped sonobuoys near Chinas vessel. In the whole process of the encounter with the Australian aircraft, the Chinese vessel operated in a safe, standard and professional manner and acted in accordance with international laws and international practice. I want to stress that Australia has sent its reconnaissance planes to take provocative actions against China on many occasions. In November last year, Australias P-8 military aircraft intruded into Chinas airspace over the Xisha Islands, which seriously undermined Chinas sovereignty. We firmly oppose this, and urge the Australian side to reflect on itself, refrain from maliciously spreading disinformation and starting deliberate provocation. For the latest on the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, check out our latest updates here. President Joe Biden Tuesday said Russia's actions in Ukraine will trigger massive sanctions, a response he has been threatening for weeks as President Vladimir Putin built up troops on Ukraine's borders. In a speech from the White House, Biden said the Russian leader has committed "a flagrant violation of international law." Putin on Tuesday received authorization from lawmakers to use Russian troops outside of the country, a move he said was necessary to formalize the military's deployment in two rebel regions of eastern Ukraine. Russia recognized those provinces as independent on Monday, and Putin ordered troops there to "maintain peace." Biden described this as the start of an invasion. More: Transcript: President Biden delivers remarks on U.S. sanctions, Putin's advancements into Ukraine Russia just announced that it is carving out a big chunk of Ukraine, Biden said. Hes setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view. This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. And that served as the trigger for the U.S. to impose sanctions. Biden said Russia "will pay an even steeper price" if aggressions continue. Here's what you need to know about the crisis between Russia and Ukraine: The EU has implemented sanctions against Russia, including Duma members who voted to recognize independence of eastern Ukraine's rebel republics. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cancels Thursday meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov over invasion. Russian lawmakers have approved President Vladimir Putin's request for permission to use Russian troops outside of the country. In a significant move, Germany will stop certification of the Russian-owned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. The UN Security Council met late Monday in an emergency session, with many members condemning the Kremlin's actions. Story continues U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on developments in Ukraine and Russia, and announces sanctions against Russia, from the East Room of the White House February 22, 2022 in Washington, DC. Russia-Ukraine explained: Inside the crisis as US calls Russian movements an invasion More: The enigma of Vladimir Putin: What do we really know about Russia's leader? Pentagon temporarily redeploys US military forces in Europe Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday ordered U.S. troops and aircraft to redeploy within Europe to reinforce NATOs eastern flank. The order, directed by Biden, followed what the president labeled Russias initial invasion of Ukraine. The moves involve an infantry battalion of about 800 troops from Italy to Baltic states, eight F-35 fighters from Germany to several locations along NATOs eastern front, 20 Apache attack helicopters from German to Baltic states and 12 Apaches from Greece to Poland. The moves are temporary, according to the Pentagon, which has 90,000 U.S. troops in Europe. Tom Vanden Brook Biden: defending freedom will have costs Even though the conflict is occurring thousands of miles away, Biden warned Americans in his speech Tuesday that the connective tissue of the global economy means sanctions against Russia could ripple through the U.S., potentially in the form of higher fuel prices. As I said last week, defending freedom will have costs for us as well here at home. We need to be honest about that, the president said. But as we do this, I'm going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours. Biden said his administration is closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. We're executing a plan in coordination with major oil producing consumers and producers toward a collective investment to secure stability and global energy supplies," he said. "Thisll blunt gas prices. I want to limit the pain American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me. Ledyard King Blinken cancels Thursday meeting with Russian counterpart Lavrov Secretary of State Antony Blinken will no longer meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov this week, saying Russia is rejecting diplomacy. Blinken and Lavrov were set to meet on Feb. 24. Blinken said the meeting was only set to happen if Russia did not invade Ukraine. Now that we see the invasions beginning, and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time, Blinken said during an afternoon news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minster Dmytro Kuleba. Blinken, however, said that the United States remains open to meeting with Russian officials only if Moscow demonstrates that its serious about engaging diplomatically. The last 24 hours has demonstrated just the opposite, Blinken said. If Moscow's approach changes, we remain I remain pretty much prepared to engage. Kuleba said Ukraine is prepared to fight Russia if diplomacy fails fully. Plan A is to utilize every tool of diplomacy to deter Russia and prevent further escalation, he said. And if that fails, Plan B is to fight for every inch of our land. - Rebecca Morin Biden vows robust action on gas prices Biden vowed that his administration would seek to ensure that economic sanctions against Russia would not hurt the U.S economy and spike gas prices further. "Im going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours, Biden said. We're closely monitoring energy supplies for any disruption. The president pointed to ongoing coordination with oil suppliers. Gas prices in the U.S. have soared over the past year amid inflation at a 40-year high. Joey Garrison US: Sanctions only the sharp edge of pain A U.S. official described the raft of sanctions announced by Biden as only the sharp edge of the pain we can inflict, vowing that more severe economic penalties would be in store if Putin escalates the invasion of Ukraine further. "This is the beginning of the invasion and this is the beginning of our response, said Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh. Along with other western allies, the U.S. is fully blocking Russia's fifth largest financial firm, holding $50 billion in assets, and a $35 million Russian bank that finances the activities of the Russian military. The Biden administration cut off the Russian government, the Russian Central Bank and its sovereign wealth funds from U.S. financing. Sanctions also target a handful of Russian elites and their family members who shared in the corrupt games of the Kremlin. The Russian oligarchs targeted are: Aleksandr Vasilievich Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation; Petr Mikhailovich Fradkov, chairman and CEO of PSB; and Sergei Vladilenovich Kiriyenko, first deputy chief of staff of the Presidential Office. The individuals targeted dont include Putin, but the U.S. official said, All options remain on the table. The sanctions are in addition to action Germany took to stop certification of the Russian-owned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a potentially crippling blow to Russias plans to link its natural gas supply with Europe. Notably, Biden s sanctions do not include one of the most severe penalties contemplated: cutting Russia out of the SWIFT financial system, which shuffles money from bank to bank around the globe. The official said "it will remain an option that we can deploy depending on Russias next move. -- Joey Garrison U.S. troops, equipment in Europe to deploy to Baltic allies Additional U.S. forces and military equipment already stationed in Europe will be redeployed to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Biden said Tuesday, after Russia confirmed it would not withdraw forces in Belarus. During his address to the nation, Biden said shifting those resources was totally defensive move and not a signal that the U.S. is prepared to engage in combat with Russia. We have no intention of fighting Russia, Biden said. We want to send an unmistakable message though that the United States together with its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. Rick Rouan Trump calls Putin's move 'genius' During a podcast interview Tuesday, former president Donald Trump all but praised Putin, saying it was "genius" to simply declare a "big portion" of Ukraine as independent and to move in with "peacekeeping" forces. "Theyre gonna keep peace all right," Trump told podcast hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton. "No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy," the former president said of the Russian leader. "I know him very well. Very, very well." Asked about the former president's remarks, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the administration tries "not to take advice from anyone who praises President Putin and his military strategy, which I believe is what happened there, expresses an openness to lifting sanctions about the seizing of territory and Crimea, or at any point in time told leaders of the G7 that Crimea is a part of a Russia, regardless if they are a former president." "So there's a bit of a different tactic a bit of a different approach," Psaki continued. "And that's probably why President Biden and not his predecessor was able to rally the world and the global community in taking steps against against Russia's aggression." - David Jackson and Ledyard king Some Republicans bash Biden over Ukraine Some Republicans wasted no time in criticizing Biden's new sanctions as too little, too late. "President Biden promised a 'swift and severe' response. He did not deliver," tweeted Nikki Haley, the United Nations ambassador during the Donald Trump administration. She added: "The Chinese communists and Iranian jihadists are watching too. Its a major leadership moment for Biden. So far, hes failing." Trump himself sent out another written statement attacking Biden, just as he has throughout the Ukraine impasse. "I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way," Trump said. Biden, other Democrats and even some Republicans said Trump was way too friendly with the Russian leader, enabling him to gather strength for his current aggression. David Jackson Biden: US sanctions against Russia aimed at finances, 'elites' Biden said he would be announcing sanctions far beyond the scope of what was implemented in 2014 in response to Putin's military actions in the Russian-backed eastern Ukraine regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.. Biden said the first tranche of sanctions would cut off Russia from western financial institutions, and beginning on Wednesday the U.S. would impose sanctions against individual Russians. More: Biden threatens devastating sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. Here's what that might look like. Biden says the sanctions are designed to "cut off" Russia from international loans and other forms of financial assistance it relies on. Penalties also will target Russian "elites" and their family members who profit from its military adventurism. The sanctions block the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline that is newly built but isn't operational. Additional sanctions will be put in place if Russia moves farther into Ukraine, he said. He warned more sanctions are on deck if Moscow continues to move against Ukraine. As Russia contemplates its next move we have our next move prepared as well, he said. Throughout his speech, Biden blamed Putin for the crisis. Who in the Lords name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belongs to his neighbors? Biden said at one point. Joey Garrison, Rick Rouan, David Jackson Democrats back Biden's moves but Schiff wants more sanctions on Russia Key Democrats are supporting Bidens move with Senate Intelligence Committee hair Mark Warner of Virginia describing the as "a good first step. We must be prepared to impose additional costs on Putin if he carries through on his threats to further invade Ukraine." Warner, who just returned to Washington after several days of meetings with partners and allies in Europe. "My takeaway from those meetings is this: the West has never been as resolute or as unified in standing up to Putins brazen, reckless and illegal course of action." But Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who chairs the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, applauded the president for acting quickly in close coordination with our allies, to deliver significant consequences for Russias further invasion of Ukraine. But he wants the administration to go further. I believe Putin is likely to go beyond the invasion of these two areas of Ukraine, Schiff said in a statement. Further sanctions should target the largest Russian banks cutting them off from the worlds financial system and in every other way raise the costs on Russia for its belligerence. Otherwise, we can only expect worse in the days and months ahead. - Josh Meyer Austin says war can still be avoided Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met Tuesday with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela and promised "unwavering" support for Ukraine. Austin said the U.S. is working closely with allies to "find a way to avoid further conflict." Echoing earlier comments from deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, he added that Putin "can still avoid a full blown, tragic war of choice." Katie Wadington EU imposes sanctions against Russia The European Union on Tuesday followed Germany's freezing of the Russia-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline with sanctions against the Kremlin. The first set of sanctions takes aim at Duma legislators who voted in favor of recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as several Russian officials. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. This package of sanctions will hurt Russia and it will hurt a lot, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Paris. Associated Press McConnell backs tough response against Russia Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., expressed support for U.S. pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. "As he escalates his war against Ukraine, Putin must be made to pay a far heavier price than he paid for his previous invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, McConnell told reporters Tuesday. This should begin, but not end, with devastating sanctions against the Kremlin and its enablers. The GOP leader, long considered a hawk on foreign affairs, has for months has been speaking to White House officials regarding action prior to a potential invasion by Russia. In January, McConnell said the U.S. should have armed the Ukrainian government with whatever weapons they think they need to defend themselves against Putins forces. McConnell reiterated on Tuesday how the U.S. and its allies must ensure a pipeline of support, including arms, flows to Ukrainians resisting Russian aggression. He added how the Biden administration must move with intention in the coming days. "The president should waste no time in using his extensive existing authorities to impose these costs, McConnell said. Our NATO and EU allies must likewise take action to impose significant costs on Putin. Phillip Bailey People stand at the door of their building's basement they use as a shelter during bombings in the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Lugansk, on Feb. 22, 2022, a day after Russia recognised east Ukraine's separatist republics and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as "peacekeepers." More: Biden threatens devastating sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. Here's what that might look like. Putin wants recognition of Crimea Putin called Tuesday for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia. He claimed Russias 2014 annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula should be recognized globally as legitimate, a reflection of the local populations choice, likening it to a vote for Kosovo independence. The annexation has been widely condemned by Western powers as a breach of international law. He also called for an end to Ukraines NATO membership bid, suggestion Ukraine should be neutral. The Russian leader also called for a halt to weapons shipments there. Associated Press Putin asks to use troops outside Russia Russia's upper house of Parliament has granted Putin's request for a permission to use military force outside the country. Putin asked lawmakers to formalize a Russian military deployment to rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, a day after the Russian leader recognized their independence. In a press conference Tuesday, Putin said the move was needed to help in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Associated Press Biden will speak on crisis with Russia President Joe Biden will speak to the nation about Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon as tensions escalate in the ongoing conflict. Biden is scheduled to give an update at 1 p.m. from the East Room of the White House. The White House has promised swift and severe economic sanctions in response to any Russian invasion. Biden's remarks will come as a White House official called Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine an invasion. Rick Rouan UK unveils sanctions on 5 Russian banks, 3 individuals British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced new sanctions against five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in the latest international backlash to Putin's decision to send troops into eastern Ukraine. In a speech to lawmakers Tuesday in the House of Commons, Johnson said Moscow's actions "amount to a renewed invasion of that country." The prime minister described the measures as "the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do," adding the British government is prepared to impose more sanctions if the situation escalates further. The measures target Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank. Three "very high net worth" individuals were also hit: Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg. Any assets the individuals hold in the U.K. will be frozen, and they will be banned from traveling to the country, while all U.K. individuals and entities will be prohibited from having dealings with them, according to Johnson. He added Western allies would continue to seek a diplomatic solution "until the last possible moment, but we have to face the possibility that none of our messages have been heeded and that Putin is implacably determined to go further in subjugating and tormenting Ukraine." Courtney Subramanian Protesters in front of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 22, 2022. US: Diplomacy now harder, but isn't off the table A White House national security adviser said Tuesday that Russias invasion of Ukraine has made it harder to pursue a diplomatic solution to the conflict, but the U.S. would not close the door on diplomacy. Speaking to CNNs Brianna Keilar, deputy national security adviser Jon Finer said additional economic sanctions against Russia were forthcoming on Tuesday in response to what he described as the beginning of Russias latest invasion into Ukraine. What Russia has done has made a diplomatic path much harder to walk down and much less likely, Finer told Keilar. He said Russias action on Monday has closed the door even further to diplomacy as it moved closer to war. We are not going to slam that door shut. We continue to believe that is the best way for this conflict to de-escalate rather than Russia continuing down the path to war, he said. They have given every indication they are on a different course. Rick Rouan Germany halts Nord Stream 2 German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his government would reassess the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which hasnt begun operating yet. The $11 billion, Russian-owned natural gas pipeline snakes westward from Russia to northeastern Germany for more than 700 miles under the Baltic Sea. The pipeline was launched in 2015 and follows a similar route to another pipeline, Nord Stream 1, which was completed in 2011. Owned by Gazprom, a Russian state-controlled company, Nord Stream 2 was completed last year and has the capacity to handle 55 billion cubic meters of gas per year once it becomes operational. The decision is a significant move for the German government, which had long resisted pulling the plug on the project despite pressure from the United States and some European countries to do so. Scholz said that the government had decided to reassess the certification of the pipeline, which hasnt begun operating yet, in light of the latest developments. Germany meets about a quarter of its energy needs with natural gas, a share that will increase in the coming years as the country switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal. About half of the natural gas used in Germany comes from Russia. People wave Russian national flags to celebrate, in the center of Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, late Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. In a fast-moving political theater, Russian President Vladimir Putin has moved quickly to recognize the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in a show of defiance against the West amid fears of Russian invasion in Ukraine. Russian lawmakers formalize Putin's actions A day after Putin declared Moscow would recognize the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, Russian lawmakers ratified the arrangement, allowing for the Kremlin to provide military support there. Putin ordered troops Monday to "maintain peace" in the provinces shortly after recognizing the Russian-backed areas as independent, stoking fears that a Russian invasion could be coming soon. Convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories late Monday. It wasnt immediately clear if they were Russian. More: How the Nord Stream 2 pipeline became a bargaining chip in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine UN Security Council meets in emergency session The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Monday night at the request of Ukraine, the United States and six other countries, including Russia, which holds the rotating council presidency. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo opened the session late Monday with a warning that the risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. A man holds the remains of a mortar which exploded in front of a building in the town of Schastia, near the eastern Ukraine city of Luhansk, on Feb. 22, 2022, a day after Russia recognized east Ukraine's separatist republics and ordered the Russian army to send troops there as "peacekeepers." More: Putin orders troops to two Ukraine regions after declaring their independence Ukraines U.N. ambassador demanded that Russia cancel its recognition of the independence of the separatist regions in the east, immediately withdraw its occupation troops and return to negotiations. Russias U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said Putin acted in response to Ukrainian aggression. He said Russia was open to diplomacy but wouldnt allow a new bloodbath in the Donbas." Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun called for restraint and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Blinken to meet Ukrainian counterpart Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Contributing: Katie Wadington, Matthew Brown, USA TODAY; Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden orders 'tranche' of Russia sanctions for Ukraine Escalating Second Amendment court battles could soon dramatically reorder the nation's relationship with firearms. Gun rights groups are mounting a wave of federal lawsuits that challenge local, state and federal restrictions on the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. And they're winning. From early 2016 through the close of 2021, six of the organizations were among the plaintiffs in more than 90 federal court cases, either independently or jointly, a USA TODAY review of firearms-related lawsuits shows. The combined court fights so far have tallied nearly 20 interim or final victories. The cases overturned COVID-19 pandemic-related shutdowns of firearm registration systems, knocked down gun licensing prohibitions for residents of public housing and prospective foster parents, and enabled permanent legal residents to seek firearms licenses. Representatives of two of the groups pursuing the lawsuits said the court challenges are necessary because restrictions on the Second Amendment are unconstitutional. Each firearms control measure represents a step toward the "goal of taking away guns," said Michael Hammond, the legislative counsel for Gun Owners of America. "The numbers of authoritarian regulations are increasing, and we're there to fight them," said Dan Dement, communications director for the Firearms Policy Coalition, another group pursuing the lawsuits. "Thankfully, we do have a legal system where we can pursue justice against infringements of our natural rights." The wave of gun rights cases also dovetails with the strategy in which conservative organizations have helped more like-minded judicial nominees become federal court judges and weigh Second Amendment challenges, said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director of the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. "These are troubling times for Americans who are trying to fight gun violence," said Skaggs, who contends some judges take an excessively broad view of Second Amendment protections. "Our entire history of regulating firearms is being challenged." Story continues One of the lawsuits brought the most consequential Second Amendment challenges in more than a decade to the U.S. Supreme Court. That case challenges New York's requirement that those who seek licenses to carry handguns outside their homes for self-defense must demonstrate good cause. If the nation's highest court finds the requirement unconstitutional in a decision expected this summer, the ruling could apply to similar firearms laws nationwide, allowing more guns to be carried, legally, in the nation's most crowded cities, said Skaggs. The lawsuits filed by the gun rights groups include at least five that are on hold because the high court's decision would likely affect their outcomes. Other pending cases filed by the groups feature challenges to laws that ban or restrict high-capacity gun magazines, bar firearms deemed assault weapons and set minimum age requirements for gun licenses. A semi-automatic rifle displayed with a 25 shot magazine, left, and a 10 shot magazine, right, at a gun store in Elk Grove, Calif. San Diego-based U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez declared, on March 29, 2019, unconstitutional the law banning possession of magazines containing more than 10 bullets. The lawsuits have won support even from some Black Americans, who historically backed firearm restrictions because many victims of gun violence were people of color. "I am supportive of anyone fighting restrictions on the Second Amendment," said Philip Smith Oboyede, founder and president of the National African American Gun Association. "It's time for us to reevaluate the ethos that Blacks don't need guns and guns are dangerous." 'A broader view of gun rights' The organizations behind the lawsuits aren't necessarily household names. Although the National Rifle Association is one of the organizations, the nation's best-known gun rights group was not the most prolific plaintiff. Two other groups, the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition were among the plaintiffs in 65 of the cases, while the NRA had that role in 12, USA TODAY's review found. The NRA is battling a New York attorney general's lawsuit that seeks to dissolve the nonprofit organization over alleged diversion of millions of dollars to NRA insiders and away from the group's charitable mission. In court filings, the NRA has denied the allegations and called the case a political vendetta. The lawsuit is pending. Michael Jean, director of the NRA's Office of Litigation Council, said in a written statement that "some groups rushed in with multiple (Second Amendment) cases" when Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed. In contrast, Jean said the NRA "chose to utilize our resources to pursue a quality portfolio that will benefit as many other gun owners as possible." He noted that the NRA's New York state affiliate is the lead plaintiff in the case now awaiting the Supreme Court's decision. The other gun rights groups in USA TODAY's review are the California Rifle and Pistol Association and the National Association for Gun Rights. The review did not include friend of the court briefs and state court cases any of the groups filed. Some of the lawsuits challenged existing legal precedents that limited the scope of the Second Amendment. The court complaints argued that those outcomes had been wrongly decided. Other lawsuits sought to overturn recently approved state or local legislation that restricted gun rights. Still, others were designed to seek precedent-setting decisions from the Supreme Court, which now has a 6-3 conservative majority cemented by President Donald Trump's 2020 nomination of Barrett. President Donald Trump watches as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administers the Constitutional Oath to Amy Coney Barrett at the White House in October 2020. Barrett's confirmation cemented a 6-3 conservative majority that's giving gun rights groups hope for an expansion of Second Amendment protections. Cases in which the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition are among the plaintiffs present an "impressive array" of legal arguments, said Eric Ruben, an assistant professor at Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law and co-author of a Second Amendment lawsuit study. "There may be a sense among gun rights supporters that now is the time to go on the offensive," said Ruben, who cited the high court's expanded conservative makeup as a driving factor. "Now, there are more (judicial) opinions getting written ... that are conveying a broader view of gun rights." Other recent lawsuits have featured cases that appeal to average gun owners, such as long delays in firearms licensing, said Jacob Charles, executive director of the Center for Firearms Law at Duke University School of Law. A wide range of gun cases at stake Some of the groups have shown "a willingness to challenge just about any gun regulation there is," said Skaggs, the chief counsel of the Giffords law center. The lawsuits support that view. A 2020 case in California federal court alleged that shutdowns of firearms dealers during the coronavirus pandemic violated Second Amendment rights. The complaint argued that rules about reopening were vague and unevenly applied. The trial-level court rejected those arguments in the case, which included the NRA, the Second Amendment Foundation and the Firearms Policy Coalition as plaintiffs. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in late January delivered a victory for the organizations in a memo that said Los Angeles County's rules had "burdened conduct protected by the Second Amendment." The court complaint in a 2020 Maryland case that seeks to overturn the state's ban on commonly owned firearms deemed to be assault weapons conceded that the lawsuit was contrary to a 2017 precedent-setting decision. No matter. The complaint, which included the Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation as plaintiffs, argued the earlier case had been "wrongly decided" and asked the court to overturn the decision. Otis McDonald, center, lead plaintiff, speaks at a news conference with his legal team including Alan Gura, left, outside the U.S. Supreme Court building after the announcement of a ruling in their case seeking to overturn Chicago's ban on handguns on June 28, 2010, in Washington. The court overturned the ban, a victory for McDonald and gun rights groups such as the National Rifle Association. Citing the precedent, the trial-level court dismissed the case. A three-member federal appeals court panel composed of judges nominated by Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Trump affirmed that ruling in a brief, unsigned opinion. The plaintiffs filed a petition that asks the Supreme Court to review the case. The high court, which typically accepts a small fraction of such requests, has not yet decided whether to consider the case. A 2020 case in a western Louisiana federal court challenged laws enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that bar firearms sales of handguns to anyone under age 21. The complaint acknowledges that a previous, similar challenge was dismissed in a district court, a decision that was upheld by a federal appeals court. Nonetheless, the complaint said the case, which includes the Firearms Policy Coalition and the Second Amendment Foundation as plaintiffs, is a "good faith" effort to change the law in accord with a 2008 landmark Supreme Court decision. That ruling, known as the Heller decision, said the Second Amendment protects individual rights to keep firearms at home for self-defense and other lawful purposes. The case is proceeding, amid cross-motions by the opposing parties. Flowers, candles and other items surround the famous Las Vegas sign at a makeshift memorial for victims of a mass shooting in October 2017. Stephen Paddock killed 58 and injured more than 800 using then-legal bump stocks, which enable faster firing. Gun rights groups are hoping a friendlier legal landscape will turn back a decision that classified rifles with bump stocks as forbidden machine guns. In a 2018 case, Gun Owners of America tried to overturn the Trump-era decision by the ATF that classified rifles with bump stocks, which enable faster firing, as forbidden machine guns. The change followed the 2017 massacre in which gunman Stephen Paddock killed 58 and injured more than 800 at a Las Vegas outdoor concert using then-legal bump stocks. Hammond, the Gun Owners of America's legislative counsel, said the group filed the lawsuit in Michigan federal court because cases decided there would go to the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, known for conservative judges. However, the full panel of appeals court judges deadlocked, 8-8, on the lawsuit, an outcome that let the ATF rule change stand. The plaintiffs plan to seek Supreme Court review. One of the most recent cases is a lawsuit filed by the National Association for Gun Rights over the California city of San Jose's decision to require gun owners to obtain liability insurance. Scheduled to take effect in July, the ordinance would also require payments to a nonprofit that would provide harm-reduction services. Hannah Hill, the group's research and policy director, said such requirements "strike right at the heart of the Second Amendment." The successful outcomes in some cases in USA TODAY's review mark a shift from the findings of a study that examined Second Amendment cases in federal and state courts during the eight years that followed the Heller decision. Many legal experts expected the decision would prompt a wave of successful Second Amendment challenges. However, no more than 13% of Second Amendment challenges succeeded in federal district and appeals courts during the eight-year period, said the study, published in the Duke Law Journal and co-authored by Ruben, the Southern Methodist University law professor, and Joseph Blocher, a Duke Law professor. The Heller decision decided the right to bear arms for self-defense, apart from service in a militia. Some gun rights groups and legal analysts have argued that federal courts have ignored the ruling. So has Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who in a 2015 dissent wrote that lower courts had "failed to protect" the Heller decision's core protection for self-defense. However, the study co-authored by Ruben argued that lower courts have used the ruling to uphold strong Second Amendment challenges and deny those with weaker legal arguments. In all, 60% of the decisions reviewed by the study quoted the portion of the decision written by Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia that said the Second Amendment right "is not unlimited." Craftsman Veetek Witkowski holding a newly assembled AR-15 rifle at the Stag Arms company in New Britain, Conn., in 2013 A ruling released on April 6, 2018, by a federal judge in Boston, dismissed a lawsuit challenging Massachusetts' ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, stating that assault weapons are beyond the scope of the Second Amendment right to "bear arms." One gun rights legal group, the Second Amendment Law Center, hopes the case now awaiting a Supreme Court decision the challenge to New Yorks requirement that people seeking to carry concealed handguns outside their home show good cause will include a framework that spells out how pending and future such cases must be handled by courts. If that happens, "it will be a lot harder for courts to let their biases influence their decisions by applying the wrong standard of review," said C.D. Michel, who is the group's president and senior legal counsel, as well as president of the California Rifle and Pistol Association. However, a Supreme Court ruling that requires courts to hold stricter reviews of Second Amendment challenges could rule out evidence that a given restriction provides benefits, such as fewer incidents of shootings, said Josh Horwitz, executive director of The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. That means federal courts would be more likely to rule that firearms restrictions violate the Second Amendment. Courts should be permitted to "consider evidence that the restrictions work, from a public health perspective," said Horwitz. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gun rights groups' lawsuits seek stronger Second Amendment protection DONETSK, Ukraine (Reuters) - On the streets of the biggest city in Ukraine's breakaway eastern regions, some residents expressed joy and gratitude on Tuesday over Russia's decision to recognise their independence, but others were filled with foreboding for what might come next. President Vladimir Putin on Monday granted official recognition to the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics and signed friendship treaties with their leaders, a step that paves the way for Russia to send in troops and establish military bases. The West condemned the move as an illegal act that could mark the prelude to a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine and began imposing some sanctions. But for some in Donetsk, where Moscow-backed separatists have battled Ukrainian government forces in a conflict that Kyiv says has cost 15,000 lives since 2014, it was long overdue. "This is very important for me. I know that the blood I spilled with my comrades and our labours and efforts and the losses of civilians were not in vain all this time," said Dmitry, a former member of a pro-Russian separatist militia. He was looking forward to the arrival of Russian troops as part of the agreements signed on Monday. "This great people of Donbass have suffered so much, they need it now (Russian troops). They've had enough blood, enough death," he said. A convoy of at least a dozen cars flying large Russian tricolor flags and honking their horns wound its way through the city centre. "Russia, hoorah!" shouted one driver. Other residents of Donetsk were trying to go about their lives as normal, walking with children or shopping at the market, a Reuters witness said. A wedding took place at a hotel. However, six blasts were later heard in the centre of the city. Their origin was not clear. A diplomatic source told Reuters shelling had resumed on the line of contact between the Ukrainian government and separatist forces. Story continues 'EVERYONE IS VERY SCARED' Irina, a woman of about 40, said Russia's decision was not unexpected but people were unsure how to react. "I don't know what will happen now - everyone is at a loss and uncertain," she said, adding that she hoped the reinforced Russian backing would help bring an end to the conflict. "If there are (Russian) troops, it means it's not worth fighting because Russia is a great power, mighty, nuclear." A Reuters reporter saw a handful of tanks on the outskirts on Donetsk overnight and two more in other parts of the city. The Kremlin's spokesman said he was unable to say if Russia had already sent in military forces. Vyacheslav, a man of about 60, said he hoped the deployment of Russian troops would bring an end to "provocative actions" by Ukraine, adding: "I think the other side will also have a think and decide to move onto peace negotiations." But Karina, a woman in her early twenties, burst into tears as she described her feelings. "To be honest, it's such a depressing situation right now that I don't know how good a decision this really is and how much it can lead to peace," she said. Referring to the separatist administrations' decision to evacuate tens of thousands of women and children from Donetsk and Luhansk in recent days, Karina added: "Now everyone is very worried, everyone is being taken away from their fathers, brothers, husbands. In fact, everyone is very scared." (Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Gareth Jones) Hungary house of parliament The Hungarian defense ministry on Tuesday announced in a Facebook post that it would be sending troops close to the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, which is situated in the northeastern region of Hungary, Reuters reported. The defense ministry did not quantify the number of troops that would be moving toward its border with Ukraine but noted that they were being deployed for humanitarian and security purposes, the news wire noted. Hungarian Defense Minister Tibor Benko said that in the next few days military equipment would be making its way toward the eastern side of the country, Reuters reported, citing Hungarian news outlet MTI. He explained that the military moves were being conducted for preventative measures in case conflict in Ukraine moves east to west, possibly happening close to Hungary's borders, the news outlet noted. The development comes as two regions of eastern Ukraine were recognized as independent by Moscow on Monday and Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into the two areas - the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic - for "peacekeeping functions." President Biden announced sanctions against Russia later on Tuesday in prepared remarks, including against Russian elites and their families, sovereign debt and two Russian financial institutions. The president said he believed that Russia's moves in Ukraine were only the start of an invasion into Ukraine. "He is setting up a rationale to take more territory by force, in my view," Biden said about Putin as he delivered remarks on Tuesday afternoon. "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." The European Union nations also voted to impose their own set of sanctions against Russia, including limiting capital and financial market access and prohibiting some EU services from Russian access. "We will make it as difficult as possible for the Kremlin to pursue its aggressive policies," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, according to The Associated Press. John Moore/Getty Images An ICE detainee from Yemen being held in a privately run Arizona jail has been on a hunger strike for nearly a month, skipping some 73 meals and losing almost 17 percent of his overall body weight as of Friday. Authorities on Friday asked a judge to allow them to force-feed the 26-year-old man through a plastic tube inserted up his nose and down to his stomacha practice the American Medical Association (AMA) considers a form of torture. In federal court filings first obtained by The Daily Beast, the U.S. government requested permission from a judge to involuntarily administer nutrition to Hamad Mohsen Thabit Saad Sayad through placement of a nasogastric tube, citing an osteopath on the ICE payroll who opines that medical soft restraints [may be] necessary to prevent injury both to Mr. Sayad and to medical staff. On Feb. 18, a U.S. district court judge granted ICEs request, ruling that the Department of Homeland Security can begin force-feeding Sayad and giving the agency permission to physically restrain him if he resists. Sayads court-appointed lawyer, Christopher Thomas, declined to comment for this story. More often than not, force-feeding orders are filed in secret against people who do not have attorneys to help them through the process, ACLU attorney Eunice Cho told The Daily Beast, describing the process as little more than a rubber stamp that gives the government permission to implement extremely coercive and unethical procedures on people without true due process, where the individual really has no real way to contest what is happening in court. Murdered My Son All Over Again: Anger Erupts Over 2-Year Sentence for Ex-Cop Who Killed Daunte Wright In its filings, government lawyers argue, These measures are medically necessary [to] prevent further injury, dehydration, other and permanent damage up to and including death. But, according to the World Medical Association, Forced feeding is never ethically acceptable. Even if intended to benefit, feeding accompanied by threats, coercion, force or use of physical restraints is a form of inhuman and degrading treatment. Equally unacceptable is the forced feeding of some detainees in order to intimidate or coerce other hunger strikers to stop fasting. The AMA says force-feeding, as a practice, goes against the core ethical values of the medical profession. And in the face of widespread opposition to the practice, the United Nations said force-feeding by ICE could violate the U.N. Convention Against Torture. Story continues On Tuesday, Sayad was given a partial victory in court. Although he remains unsteady on his feet due to his refusal to eat, and his body is now consuming its fat stores to stay alive, a CoreCivic doctor in a status update deemed Sayads condition sufficiently stable as he has sipped small amounts of water and drank a nutritional supplement on Sunday. Because he has become mostly compliant, Sayad will not be force-fed yetbut will be involuntarily hydrated for at least the next 48 hours, with the use of restraints, if necessary. Doctors will continue to monitor Sayad, pending lab results due Thursday, according to a status report filed in federal court. CoreCivic did not respond to a request for comment. An ICE spokesperson acknowledged The Daily Beasts request for comment, but had not provided a statement by the time of publication. Sayad, who tested positive for COVID last month, has been detained at Arizonas La Palma Correctional Center since Dec. 16, 2020, and currently has an appeal pending with the Department of Justices Board of Immigration Appeals, according to the filing. His health is rapidly declining, and Sayad has already been hospitalized twice since beginning the strike. Before starting a force-feeding regimen, ICEs filing says the agency would like to conduct involuntary blood draws and weight checks, insert urinary catheters, and perform routine medical examinations on Sayad, and restrain [him] if he resists. Urinary catheterization involves inserting a tube into the urethra, and can cause pain, bleeding, infection, and damage to surrounding structures, including vital organs, according to the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). Forced urinary catheterization is considered illegal under international law, and in 2020 was declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in South Dakota. Cho, who last year co-authored a report titled: Behind Closed Doors: Abuse and Retaliation Against Hunger Strikers in U.S. Immigration Detention, called hunger strikes a last resort for those who have exhausted all other options. Yet, according to Physicians for Human Rights and the ACLU, ICE has oftentimes failed to consider alternatives to force-feeding, including resolving hunger strikers basic requests for improved conditions. ICE has tried to implement different mechanisms for detainees to lodge grievances, Cho told The Daily Beast, calling the current complaint procedures little more than window dressing that ultimately leads people to extreme measures as they wait for their immigration caseswhich are generally civil, not criminal mattersto make their way through the system. People could very well be safely awaiting these proceedings, which can sometimes take months, if not years, in the safety of their own home and community, Cho said. And instead, people are being held in these conditions, where medical needs are not being met, where theres abuse, where there are repeated complaints about all kinds of conditionsthe least of which is the astronomical spread of COVID-19 You can see why people who are in detention themselves are questioning not only the conditions of detention in the first place, but actually even the fact of their detention in the first place. ICE says medical staff at La Palma have informed Sayad, through an interpreter, that his hunger strike could have deadly consequences. He has been evaluated by a psychologist, who did not find that he suffered any sort of psychiatric condition that would prevent him from eating or drinking, ICEs filing states. Sayad has exhibited an inability to stand due to headaches and dizziness; unsteadiness on feet and having to sit after approximately two minutes of standing; and no measurable urinary output, the filing states. Now that Mr. Sayad is on day 24 of his hunger strike, he is expected to continue to decline and may suffer neurological symptoms, it continues. He has already suffered serious enough symptoms as to require hospitalization twice, noting that ICE medical staff is concerned that Mr. Sayad is in imminent danger of renal failure, liver failure, or becoming comatose due to dehydration and hypotension, which would lead to death. The 2021 analysis by the ACLU and Physicians for Human Rights identified a half-dozen instances of force-feeding by ICE at Texas detention centers between 2013 and 2017. In 2019, five hunger striking asylum seekers were force-fed at an ICE facility in Louisiana, according to Freedom for Immigrants, which says many hunger strikers are protesting lengthy periods of detention in inhumane conditions, and arbitrary denial of parole and bond as a motivation. That same year, ICE acknowledged the involuntarily feeding of six detainees in Texas, and one in Arizona. In the Arizona case, 44-year-old detainee Aamir Hafiz Sheikh reportedly refused to eat when Pakistani officials slow-walked a U.S. request for a travel document necessary for ICE to deport him. A judge granted the agency permission to force-feed Sheikh, a small business owner convicted of food stamp fraud in 2015 and ordered deported. Still, not all hunger strikers are force-fed. In another Arizona case, ICE eventually switched one strikers housing assignment, the demand underlying the hunger strike, averting the need for force-feeding, according to Just Security. A hunger strike is considered constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment. In a 1990 decision, U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan wrote, The passive nonviolence of King and Gandhi are proof that the resolute acceptance of pain may communicate dedication and righteousness more eloquently than mere words ever could. A boycott, like a hunger strike, conveys an emotional message that is absent in a letter to the editor, a conversation with the mayor, or even a protest march. As immigration lawyer Stephanie Norton told The Daily Beast, This is really the only speech that they have. Its the only power that they have to protest against the way that theyre being treated. In Sayads instance, ICE claims in its court filing that he is not claiming a constitutional right to starve himself or refuse medical treatment, but ratherit appears that he is attempting to manipulate the systemthat is, to alter his classification, and/or secure his release from detention by starving himself until ICE officials acquiesce to his demand. The agency goes on to say that Sayad is risking his life by making it impossible for the United States to fulfill its responsibility to provide adequate treatment and care to him, and that his actions may have a significant destabilizing impact on the institution. If prisoners are allowed to kill themselves, prisons would find it even more difficult than they already do to maintain discipline, because of the effect of a suicide in agitating other prisoners, states the filing, while noting that the government has a legitimate interest in avoiding unnecessary and burdensome litigation, such as a federal civil rights suit for allowing Sayad to die. It also explains that ICE fears Sayads situation could influence other detainees to go on hunger strikes in an attempt to manipulate the staff to gain various benefits and privileges. For example, detainees may initiate hunger strikes to pressure staff to transfer themor to gain their release from detention. Without the ability to intervene when medically necessary, [ICE] will be forced to choose between letting the detainee die and giving in to his wishes. To Norton, the binary choice between two extremesceding to a detainees demands or letting them dieis the wrong way to frame the issue, she told The Daily Beast: Really it should be about, how did we get to this point where this person is so desperate? That he feels like this is the only option he has? And how has the system failed him up to this point? Although Norton is not involved with Sayads case, she does represent a hunger-striking detainee in ICE custody. Her client, Luis Diaz, participated in a hunger strike last March and is currently striking again, Norton told The Daily Beast.In a letter sent to ICE administrators earlier this month and shared with The Daily Beast, Norton, along with a pair of immigration advocates and a medical doctor, noted that while Diaz was striking the first time, ICE officials allegedly told Mr. Diaz that they would ensure he would never be released. His request for release on medical grounds was subsequently denied, after which he was transferred to Miami. Despite his subsequent diagnosis with a serious heart condition, ICE has continued to deny his release, Norton said. Diaz was placed in solitary confinement when he began his hunger strike, he told The Daily Beast in a Tuesday phone call from the Miami lockup. He is now isolated in a medical unit without any contact with other detainees, Diaz said. Joanna Naples-Mitchell, a human rights lawyer, U.S. researcher at Physicians for Human Rights, and co-author of Behind Closed Doors, said that when area hospitals refuse to assist in force-feeding, ICE usually turns to contractors instead in contravention of very clear medical ethical guidelines. And ICEs description of force-feeding as a medical necessity to avoid unnecessary deaths is something of a red herring, Naples-Mitchell told The Daily Beast. If they were really concerned about that, then they would be making systematic efforts to improve conditions across the board, she said. The fact that theyre suddenly worried about someone whos on hunger strike dying in custody, when they haven't shown any similar concern for the many, many people who have died in ICE custody, really shows how suspect that concern is. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Senate on Tuesday refused to amend a Republican-backed bill that would ban transgender women and girls from participating in school sports that match their gender identity, putting it on the fast track to passing. If the full Senate approves the bill, which could happen as soon as Thursday, it would head to the governor for consideration. The Indiana House already passed it. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has not publicly said what he thinks of the proposal. A spokesperson for the governor's office did not provide additional comment on Tuesday. Lawmakers in the Senate are moving forward with the ban making no changes to its language after the House advanced the bill last month, largely along party lines. Five Republican senators joined the 11 Senate Democrats Tuesday in an unsuccessful effort to prevent the ban from moving forward by sending the issue to a special study committee that would meet after this years legislative session ends. Those Republicans were Ron Alting of Lafayette, Eric Bassler of Washington, Vaneta Becker of Evansville, Chip Perfect of Lawrenceburg and Kyle Walker of Indianapolis. Another failed amendment offered by Democratic Sen. J.D. Ford, of Indianapolis, would have required the the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) to maintain policies regarding athlete eligibility based on gender. A separate defeated proposal offered by Ford would have established a scholarship fund for transgender athletes and required the Indiana Attorney Generals Office to contribute money equivalent to what is spent annually fighting lawsuits against the potential new law. Representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union have maintained that the group will file a lawsuit if the hateful legislation is signed into law in Indiana. Corrine Youngs, policy director and legislative counsel to Attorney General Todd Rokita, has testified at the Statehouse in support of the bill, noting that Rokitas office sees the bill as a way of protecting the amazing progress made for women in athletics. She added that the bill is constitutional, and if its challenged, "we will defend it in court. Story continues Ford said defending such a law would be terrible for Indiana's image and a "waste of taxpayer dollars. Senators, these are kids that we are actively attacking, Ford said Tuesday. To me, we can have debate on the LGBTQ-plus community, but we do not and should not have a debate on human existence for these kids. Rep. Michelle Davis, a Republican from Greenwood who authored the bill, said its purpose is to maintain fair competition in girls sports. Opponents maintain that the bill is unconstitutional, sexist and bigoted, emphasizing that it targets already vulnerable transgender Hoosier youth. They also say it amounts to a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Emma Vosicky, executive director of GenderNexus, an Indianapolis-based social service agency for trans and nonbinary people and their families, emphasized that transgender students in Indiana already participate in school sports without issue. The proposal would prohibit K-12 students who were born male but who identify as female from participating in a sport or on an athletic team that is designated for women or girls. But it wouldnt prevent students who identify as female or transgender men from playing on mens sports teams. It also would not apply to sports at the collegiate level. Former Indiana Republican Rep. Christy Stutzman proposed similar legislation in 2020, although the bill did not advance from the House education committee. Democrats have maintained that such bills are discriminatory and harmful to kids. They also contend that the IHSAA already has a policy that requires transgender girls who want to play sports to show theyve completed hormone therapy, and that their muscle mass or bone density is typical of other girls the same age. If the bill passes the Legislature, Indiana could be the 11th Republican-dominated state to adopt such a ban on transgender women or girls. Federal judges have halted enforcement of the laws in two of those states, Idaho and West Virginia. The U.S. Department of Justice has challenged bans in other states, slamming them as violations of federal law. ___ Casey Smith is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Smith on Twitter. China, Egypt donate 500,000 vaccines to Palestine Xinhua) 08:08, February 22, 2022 Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar (2nd R), Egypt's acting health minister and higher education minister, speaks during a ceremony to donate COVID-19 vaccines jointly produced by China and Egypt to Palestine at the headquarters of VACSERA in Giza, Egypt, on Feb. 20, 2022. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China and Egypt have donated 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to boost its fight against the pandemic, the Chinese Embassy to Egypt said in a statement Monday. The vaccines were locally produced in Egypt through a partnership between Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, according to Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt's acting health minister and higher education minister, who attended a ceremony held at VACSERA's headquarters on Sunday to mark the donation. "We celebrate the delivery of a batch of aid as a joint gift from China and Egypt to our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip," the statement quoted Abdel-Ghaffar as saying. Egypt has so far produced more than 30 million doses of the vaccine, and their safety and efficiency are guaranteed, he said, adding Egypt has carried out wonderful cooperation with China since the beginning of the pandemic. "This batch of aid to Palestine marks the first time for Egypt to send its locally produced COVID-19 vaccines abroad," he stressed. The Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang, who was also present at the ceremony, described the joint donation as a "new and crucial step" through which the Chinese and the Egyptian governments cooperate to help the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip fight the pandemic and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there. According to Liao, the donation demonstrates that both China and Egypt have attached great importance to the Palestinian people's health and the Palestinian cause. It also reflects the high level of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt. As a sincere friend to the Palestinian people, a responsible major country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China will continue to cooperate with the international community, including Egypt, to push for the settlement of the Palestinian issue, and make positive contributions to achieving permanent peace and stability in the Middle East, said the Chinese ambassador. Nidaa Barghouti, a representative from the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt, expressed sincere thanks to both China and Egypt, saying that China and Egypt are good friends of the Palestinian people. "The Palestinian side highly commends China and Egypt for their consistent support for the just cause of the Palestinian people," she said, adding those vaccines is of great significance for them to fight the pandemic. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) JD, a well-known Chinese online marketplace, has inked a strategic partnership with Shopify, which provides digital infrastructure for merchants, startups and firms to start, run and grow their business online. This is expected to give independent brands in the United States a simple and trusted way to access consumers in China. The partnership will simultaneously enable Shopify merchants worldwide to access JD's supplier network. The partnership will link Shopify's millions of merchants worldwide with JD's 550 million active customers in China who use the platform to find authentic, high-quality products, JD said in a statement. With this collaboration, JD will open an accelerated channel for brands on Shopify to list products through JD Worldwide, the company's cross-border e-commerce marketplace. Compared to the 12 months typically required for international brands to begin selling in China, JD's streamlined channel allows Shopify brands to get started in three to four weeks. Intelligent translation and smart price conversion services will be provided. In addition, JD's global supply chain network will provide end-to-end fulfillment service from the US to China, leveraging the company's China-US cargo flights, US warehouses and more than 1,300 warehouses and over 200,000 delivery personnel in China. The partners will also collaborate to simplify access and compliance for Chinese brands and merchants looking to reach consumers in overseas markets. JD will support quality Chinese brands to set up their direct-to-consumer or DTC channels through Shopify, and enable Shopify merchants worldwide to access JD's supplier network through the JD sourcing platform. "Bringing together two world-class commerce platformsShopify and JDis a major step in solving cross-border commerce for merchants," said Aaron Brown, vice-president of Shopify. "The future of commerce is commerce everywhere, and that starts by removing barriers to entry to one of the most important e-commerce markets in the world." "We believe that the partnership will unlock the huge potential of the Chinese market for brands outside of China. At the same time, it will increase cross-border commerce by leveraging our global supply chain ability, simplifying what has traditionally been a very complicated process," said Daniel Tan, president of JD Worldwide. Founded in Ottawa, Canada, Shopify is a leading provider of essential internet infrastructure for commerce, offering trusted tools to start, grow, market and manage a retail business of any size. The move is also part of a larger strategic partnership between Shopify and JD that aims to help solve cross-border commerce challenges across product sourcing, selling, and logistics for merchants in the US and China. Pan Helin, executive dean of the Digital Economy Research Institute at the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, said Shopify provides an operating environment for e-commerce and JD could build its own e-commerce channels in foreign countries quickly by leveraging Shopify's services. Meanwhile, Shopify provides a suite of e-commerce solutions and each online merchant at Shopify is independent, said Pan, adding its cooperation with JD will introduce overseas independent e-commerce brands into the Chinese market and will effectively enhance Shopify's popularity and sales revenue in the world's largest e-commerce market. JD has been expanding its global cross-border logistics business in recent years. To date, the company's global supply chain network has covered more than 220 countries and regions, with its international logistics arm operating around 80 bonded and overseas warehouses, as well as cargo flight routes linking China with the US, United Kingdom and Thailand. Together with various shipping services by air, railway, sea and trucks as well as other cross-border services, overseas orders can be delivered from door-to-door as fast as 48 hours. Last month, JD opened two autonomous shops named "ochama" in Leiden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as part of its efforts to further expand its presence overseas and strengthen supply chain infrastructure. That also marked the first time JD opened brick-and-mortar stores in Europe, featuring a new shopping model that merges online ordering and pickup shops where parcels are fully arranged by robots, without any human assistance. The automated warehouse is part of the pickup shop, where people can witness a fleet of robots, including automated ground vehicles and robotic arms responsible for picking, sorting and transferring the merchandise. Lu Zhenwang, CEO of Wanqing Consultancy in Shanghai, said the omni-channel model and cutting-edge technologies would help JD enhance logistics efficiency, lower delivery costs and gain an edge in the fiercely competitive marketplace. In addition, JD has stepped up its efforts to expand its presence in Southeast Asia. It opened its first overseas e-space store, a mega retail experience store chain in Indonesia last year, and formed its joint venture with Thai conglomerate Central Group to enter Thailand in 2017. In 2018, it made a strategic investment in Tiki.vn, Vietnam's leading business-to-consumer e-commerce platform. By Parisa Hafezi and Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) -Talks on restoring a deal to curb Iran's nuclear programme and ease sanctions are near conclusion, a Russian envoy said on Tuesday, and sources close to the negotiations said a prisoner swap between Iran and the United States is expected soon. "Apparently the negotiations on restoration of #JCPOA are about to cross the finish line," Mikhail Ulyanov said on Twitter, using the 2015 agreement's full name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Reuters reported last week that a U.S.-Iranian deal was taking shape in Vienna after months of talks between Tehran and major powers to revive the nuclear deal pact, abandoned in 2018 by then-U.S. President Donald Trump, who also reimposed extensive sanctions on Iran. A draft text of the agreement alluded only vaguely to other issues, diplomats said, adding that what was meant by that was unfreezing billions of dollars in Iranian funds in South Korean banks, and the release of Western prisoners held in Iran. On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said the Islamic Republic was ready for an immediate prisoner exchange with the United States. "Iran has always and repeatedly expressed its readiness to exchange prisoners. Months ago we were ready to do it but the Americans ruined the deal," a senior Iranian official in Tehran told Reuters, without elaborating. "Now I believe some of them will be released, maybe five or six of them. But those talks about prisoners are not linked to the nuclear agreement, rather associated with it. This is a humanitarian measure by Iran." U.S. negotiator Robert Malley has suggested that securing the nuclear pact is unlikely unless Tehran frees four U.S. citizens, including Iranian-American father and son Baquer and Siamak Namazi, that Washington says Tehran is holding hostage. "Six years ago the Iranian government arrested Baquer Namazi and they still refuse to let him leave the country," Malley tweeted on Tuesday. "The Iranian government can and must release the Namazis, Emad Shargi, Morad Tahbaz, and other unjustly held U.S. and foreign nationals." Story continues DOZENS OF DUAL NATIONALS, FOREIGNERS JAILED IN IRAN Iran, which does not recognise dual nationality, denies taking prisoners to gain diplomatic leverage. However, in recent years, the elite Revolutionary Guards have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on espionage and security-related charges. Britain has been seeking the release of British-Iranians Anousheh Ashouri, jailed on espionage charges, and Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation who was convicted of plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment. [L8N2UW3FH] Tehran has sought the release of over a dozen Iranians in the United States, including seven Iranian-American dual nationals, two Iranians with permanent U.S. residency and four Iranian citizens with no legal status in the United States. Most were jailed for violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. In the latest comments on the final phase of 10 months of nuclear negotiations, the talks' coordinator, Enrique Mora, tweeted that "key issues need to be fixed" but the end was near. Several Iranian officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said some minor technical issues were being discussed in Vienna and that a deal was expected before the end of the week, though adding that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed". Separately, hardline Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told gas exporter countries on Tuesday to avoid any "cruel" sanctions imposed by the United States on Tehran. "The members of this forum should not recognise those sanctions...(because) in today's world we see that the sanctions are not going to be effective," Raisi told a gas exporters conference in Doha. The 2015 deal between Iran and world powers limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium to make it harder for it to develop material for nuclear weapons, if it chose to, in return for a lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. Since 2019, following the U.S. withdrawal from the deal, Tehran has gone well beyond its limits, rebuilding stockpiles of enriched uranium, refining it to higher fissile purity and installing advanced centrifuges to speed up output. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi and Michael Georgy, Editing by Dominic Evans and Mark Heinrich) JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel accused Iran on Tuesday of planning to arm drones supplied to Venezuela with precision-guided munitions, remarks that appeared aimed at raising American alarm as world powers try to conclude a new nuclear deal with Tehran. Venezuela said in 2012 that Iran was helping it build drones for self-defence. The two countries, both OPEC members and long at loggerheads with Washington, also cooperate on oil exports. Briefing U.S.-Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz showed photographs of what he described as an Iranian Mohajer UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in Venezuela. "Our assessments show that Iranian PGMs (precision-guided munitions) are being delivered for these UAVs and other similar models," Gantz said. "I can tell you that in my meetings with partners from around the world, including African and Latin American partners, I heard extreme concern about Iranian support for terrorism." Iran denies supplying military drones to any of its allies and has denied seeking nuclear arms or supporting terrorism. Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment on Gantz's remarks. Israel supported the 2018 withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and, with Washington now taking part in negotiations to revive the pact, has urged caution. "A nuclear deal, if signed with Iran, does not mark the end of the road," Gantz told the Conference of Presidents of Major American Organisations. "We need to have offensive capabilities and a set of sanctions ready in our back pockets in case Iran violates a future agreement." (Reporting by Dan Williams; Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera in Caracas; editing by Grant McCool) Tourists on the Mount of Olives taking pictures of Jerusalem's Old City and the Dome of the Rock in al-Aqsa mosque compound Ahmad Gharabli/Getty Images Israel will welcome unvaccinated travelers next month, relaxing one of the strictest border policies in the world. Starting March 1, Israel will allow both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers into the country, according to the Prime Minister's Office. This reverses Israel's previous policy of welcoming vaccinated and boosted international tourists as well as travelers who have contracted COVID-19 and recovered within three months. "We are seeing a steady decline in the morbidity data; therefore, this is the time to gradually open what we were the first in the world to close," Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement. "At the moment, the situation in Israel is good. This is the result of correct and dynamic management; therefore, we are now opening up. At the same time, we will continue to closely monitor the situation and in the event of a new variant, we will again act quickly." Going forward, all travelers will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken before their departure as well as undergo a second PCR test upon landing in Israel. All visitors will have to quarantine in their hotel until they receive the results from their on-arrival test or for up to 24 hours, whichever comes first, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism shared with Travel + Leisure. As it currently stands, vaccinated travelers must show proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours or a negative rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before their flight, as well as get tested with another PCR test upon arrival, while travelers who contracted COVID-19 and recovered can show proof of that instead of a PCR test. Travelers must also fill out an entry statement form within 48 hours of their departure. "We are thrilled that the government is taking the necessary steps to fully reopen Israel to all travelers around the world," Eyal Carlin, the tourism commissioner for North America, said in a statement provided to T+L. "This ease in restrictions allows for more travelers to enter our country while also ensuring the health and wellbeing of all. Despite the country's closure over the past two years, we are back and better than ever and travelers can expect refurbished historical sites with increased accessibility, new hotels, new museums and more." Story continues Beyond easing entry protocols, Israel has also eliminated the need to show its "green pass," or digital proof of vaccination, to enter places like restaurants and tourist attractions, according to the Ministry of Health. Israel started welcoming tourists back to the country in January after temporarily closing its border due to the emergence of the omicron variant. Currently, the country is seeing a decrease in both cases and hospitalizations, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still classifies Israel as a "Level 4" country, warning Americans to "avoid" traveling there due to "very high" levels of COVID-19 transmission. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. When she's not in New York City, she likes to spend her time at the beach or exploring new destinations and hopes to visit every country in the world. Follow her adventures on Instagram. ROME (Reuters) - The Italian coastguard rescued 573 migrants at sea who were trying to reach Europe aboard two fishing boats in distress in bad weather, a statement said on Tuesday. One body was found. The rescue operation took place off the southern Italian coast. Three coastguard units transferred the migrants to another vessel, which will bring them ashore at the port of Augusta in Sicily. The migrants told the coastguard the body found was that of a migrant who had died several days earlier, the statement said. The group of rescued migrants included 59 minors, many of them unaccompanied. Italy has seen an increase in boat migrants in recent months with the government struggling to secure an agreement with European Union partners over how to deal with the influx. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Nick Macfie) Family Reunion actor Jaida Benjamin, speaking during an interview in 2021 (Amajae Hardy-Jones via YouTube) Actor Jaida Benjamin, best known for her role in Family Reunion, has been reported missing. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have said that Benjamin, 27, was last seen in LAs Tujunga Avenue and Ventura Boulevard area on 19 February. She was last seen wearing a purple crop top, pink shorts, white trainers and with her hair in locks. On Monday (21 February), Benjamins mother shared a flyer on social media appealing for help in locating her daughter. Never thought Id ever have to make this type of post, she wrote. My baby is missing please help me find her. I cant breathe. Anyone with information of Benjamins whereabouts has been urged to contact the LAPDs Missing Persons Unit, or, for anyone that wishes to remain anonymous, the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers. The LAPD has said (per Deadline) that no foul play is suspected. Benjamin has appeared in TV series including Mad About You, Insecure, Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders and The Fosters, and has sometimes been credited under the name Jaida-Iman Benjamin. On the Netflix sitcom Family Reunion, Benjamin appeared in multiple episodes as the character Kelly. The missing person flyer was also shared by The Walking Dead star Vincent Ward, who has worked with Benjamin previously. SINGAPORE A Ministry of Health (MOH) officer who leaked the number of daily positive COVID-19 cases to a chat group had played a "guess-the-number" game with the other 49 members in the group. Zhao Zheng would congratulate the member who came closest to guessing the case number. On some occasions, she would gift the winner with RMB1 (S$0.20) for good luck. Zhao, 37, was jailed for 18 weeks on Tuesday (22 February) after she pleaded guilty to 11 counts under the Official Secrets Act for leaking the information, and one count under the Computer Misuse Act for unauthorised access to information about a positive COVID-19 case. Another 12 counts of a similar nature were considered for her sentencing. Revealed daily numbers and additional details to WeChat group Zhao had been an assistant director of the biostatistics and research branch of MOH's public health division before the pandemic struck. Following the onset of the pandemic, she was deployed to be the deputy lead of the Data Management Unit (DMU), which was set up by MOH to deal with the pandemic. Her position allowed her access to information including profiles of those who tested positive for COVID-19. She also had access to a spreadsheet which collated the total number of cases for a given day before it was released to the public. Zhao and a co-accused - Tang Lin, 36 - had been part of a WeChat group containing 50 members. As early as 16 March 2020, Zhao began revealing the number of confirmed cases to the group-chat members, but told them not to spread the information. She would also share additional details, such as how many cases were from foreigners who entered Singapore. On some days, Zhao played a game with the other members, who would guess how many confirmed cases there were before the daily figure was released. She would then reveal the actual figure, congratulate the member who came close to guessing it, and would also send the winner RMB1 as a good-luck gift. Story continues Over a month, Zhao shared the daily numbers over 20 times. The group was disbanded after 16 April 2020, when the moderator of the group received information that the daily number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was being shared beyond the members. On 18 April 2020, the head of MOHs case reporting team lodged a police report stating that MOH suspected the daily number of cases for 14, 15 and 16 April had been leaked. Apart from leaking the daily figures, Zhao had also revealed details of a positive case in Tang's condominium to Tang. Tang had found out that someone residing at her condo had COVID-19, and asked Zhao in a private message as she knew that Zhao was working in MOH. Zhao accessed her government-issued laptop to search for the case details in the spreadsheet. She searched for the address of Tangs condo and shared details of the case with Tang, such as the fact that it was an imported case. She also answered further queries from Tang, such as when the case had returned to Singapore, and whether the cases family was still in the condo for quarantine. Zhao also told Tang that the person had been admitted to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. Tang was fined $10,000 in August last year after she pleaded guilty to five charges under the Official Secrets Act. Resources redirected to deal with consequences of leak: prosecution The prosecution sought a jail term of six to nine months for Zhao, describing her as cavalier with the information. The leak caused various public agencies involved in the fight against COVID-19 to redirect resources to deal with the consequences of the leak, said the prosecution. It added, Given the inter-agency cooperation of Singapores fight against COVID-19, multiple agencies, including MOH and enforcement agencies, expended resources assessing whether the leaks were true, which systems or files it had originated from, who had access to the files and who it had originated from, who had received the leaked information this was extremely time consuming given the viral nature of the information spread, and this had to be done concurrently with their attempts to fight the pandemic. Resources had to be spent to ensure that further leaks of information would not take place." The premature release of the such sensitive data could have possibly caused panic to the population and caused overcrowding at supermarkets, said the prosecution. Zhaos lawyer Diana Ngiam told the court that her client had misjudged due to her circumstances. Zhao was diagnosed to be suffering from Adjustment Disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood at the time. She had been working long and stressful hours to manage the data, which took a toll on her mental well-being. Our client unfortunately made the mistake of turning to this support group as an avenue to rant, and to unleash some of the stress she was undergoing at the time," Ngiam added. The group chat that Zhao had been a part of had been a support group for mothers, whom Zhao had empathised with, as she was herself a mother of three. Our clients motivation was to do what she could, as a mother, to assuage the fear and uncertainty amongst the other mothers in the WeChat group," Ngiam said. "Our client mistakenly thought she could lighten the mood by occasionally making the sharing of COVID-19 numbers as a game, as it was a time of heightened emotions and stress for all. This is a clear mistake and our client is sincerely sorry." Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Jen Psaki praised Germany for shutting down the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on Tuesday. "We will be following up with our own measures today," the White House press secretary said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz halted certification for pivotal pipeline on Tuesday. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki praised Germany on Tuesday for shutting down the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline after Russia sent troops into eastern Ukraine. "[Joe Biden] made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward," Psaki tweeted. "We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement." She added: "We will be following up with our own measures today." German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that he decided to "reassess" certification for the pivotal pipeline, which would bring Russian gas to Europe. "In light of the most recent developments we must reassess the situation in particular regarding Nord Stream 2," Scholz said. "The situation has fundamentally changed." Germany's move marks a major economic strike against Russia after President Vladimir Putin ordered the military into Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. This story is developing. Please check back for updates. Read the original article on Business Insider China's State Council has released a plan for the development of the country's elderly care services system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in its latest step to implement a national strategy to address population aging. The plan specifies major goals and tasks for the five-year period, including expanding the supply of elderly care services, improving the health support mechanism for the elderly, and advancing the innovative and integrated development of service models. It lists nine major indicators, such as the number of elderly care beds and the ratio of nursing care beds in elderly care institutions, to mobilize society as a whole to actively respond to population aging. Detailed tasks include strengthening the safety net for elderly services, expanding inclusive services coverage, developing the silver economy, and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the aging population. China will step up institutional innovation, and boost policy support and financial input to enable the elderly to share in China's development achievements, according to the plan. According to the latest census data, Chinese people aged 60 or above accounted for 18.7 percent of the country's total population in 2020, 5.44 percentage points higher than in 2010. With a solid material foundation, sufficient human resources and a long-standing culture of filial piety, China is confident in its ability to solve its aging population issue, the plan notes. It also underlines the development of the "silver economy," which, according to a government official, requires the country to provide "equal, attainable services and products for seniors with particular difficulties." The country should give full play to both state and social capital in expanding the domestic market, and create systematic, integrated policies to ensure the sound and sustainable development of the silver economy, the official said. China also plans to establish about 10 industrial parks dedicated to the silver economy and build a string of cities into models in this regard, the official said, stressing that facilities to be used for elderly care will be prioritized in the construction layout. At least 55 percent of the funds raised by the country's welfare lottery will be used to support elderly care services from 2022, and elderly care institutions are encouraged to explore further approaches to financing, the official said. Watch: Kate Garraway shows the reality of caring for husband Derek Draper Kate Garraway and husband Derek Draper's devastating battle with COVID is an ongoing nightmare for their family, and tonight, the Good Morning Britain presenter lets the cameras back into their home to show the reality of life now. Her award-winning ITV documentary Kate Garraway: Finding Derek revealed the horrendous effects on him of being the UK's worst-affected coronavirus patient. Read more: Kate Garraway 'found a new way to be in love' with Derek during COVID recovery Now, Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek shows his homecoming after more than a year in hospital, the family's adjustment to his new normal, and Garraway's life as a carer. Here's what to expect from the documentary. When is Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek on TV? The one-off documentary will air tonight (Tuesday) at 9pm on ITV. Kate Garraway: Finding Derek is also available to view on ITV Hub. Why did Kate Garraway choose to allow the cameras in again? Kate Garraway is set to show the realities of life as a carer. (ITV) The Good Morning Britain and Life Stories presenter has admitted it was a difficult decision to balance her family's privacy with the opportunity to show what life is like for the UK's carers who are struggling to manage. In the documentary, she looks tearful as she explains: "I'm very protective of Derek and I'm very protective of people seeing him vulnerable, but I've talked to him a lot about this and I think he understands that we have to make it real, because this is the reality of life for people who are caring, and it's the reality of recovering from a life-changing event, and it's not pretty." Read more: Kate Garraway 'didn't receive MBE for looking after Derek' Talking to Lorraine on Tuesday morning about the follow-up documentary, she said: "I did think long and hard about whether we had a story to tell because I didn't really want it to be a pity party." Story continues Derek Draper's return home from hospital is documented. (ITV) She talked about the flaws in the care system, the difficulties she has had in accessing the right help for Draper, and the tough choices she is constantly faced with. Discussing the long waits for hospital appointments because of pandemic delays, Garraway said: "There's a horrible tension of fighting for the person you love and then worrying that you're holding someone else back. I don't think it's a burden we should carry." What will happen in the documentary? 'You get signs and flickers that he's absolutely there.' Kate tells @susannareid100 and @richardm56 that in the gaps between the periods of fatigue that Derek experiences, he is '100% there'. Watch Caring For Derek, tonight on @ITV at 9pm. pic.twitter.com/b6EPuNNAzM Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 22, 2022 Unsurprisingly, viewers should expect a hugely emotional watch. Caring for Derek begins with Draper's return home last spring after 374 days in hospital recovering from COVID, which included 10 weeks in a coma. The couple's young son Billy shows the camera crew around their home as he waits for his dad to arrive, explaining the many adaptations that have been made to enable him to live there, and says he has been waiting for his dad to come home so that he can complete his Lego Death Star. Read more: Piers Morgan 'stunned' by phonecall with Derek that left carers in tears In tear-jerking scenes, Billy and his sister Darcey hug their dad as he comes back home for the first time in over a year and Draper reaches out to hug Billy again - a hugely significant moment as it is the first time in his recovery that he has been able to use his arms to reach for something. Garraway also shows viewers the day-to-day reality of being a carer, which involves mountains of laundry from seven bed changes a day. Kate Garraway's first documentary about Derek Draper's recovery won awards. (Karwai Tang/WireImage) In one scene, she comforts Draper as he cries, overwhelmed by being able to move himself into the bathroom for the first time. She told Lorraine: "There's the heartbreak that is that what we're now celebrating, are those now our big moments in life?" The documentary charts the months leading up to Christmas and the end of 2021, showing how Draper settles back into family life and the improvements in his health - including the couple travelling to Mexico to access a groundbreaking treatment. How is Derek now? Kate Garraway and husband Derek Draper, pictured in 2009. (Jon Furniss/WireImage) Draper still needs round-the-clock care and although a team of carers visits their home on a daily basis, much of the work falls to Garraway. She spoke about "a tsunami of loneliness" in her Lorraine interview as she opened up on how life had changed. Read more: What to watch on TV this week She said: "There's two overwhelming things, a sense of loneliness and a sense of guilt. The loneliness is a strange one because I feel guilty even saying it...people are so lovely and supportive and it means a huge amount, but there's the one-to-one relationship which is just such an emotional rollercoaster. Piers Morgan interviewed Kate Garraway for his final 'Life Stories', where she spoke about her family's nightmare. (ITV) "You'll get a flicker of the old Derek and in that instant you go back to feeling like you're together, and then the next minute he's gone again. "There's a tsunami of loneliness in that moment because that relationship can't be replaced elsewhere." Garraway continued: "I don't want to overstate this because people have died, but you're almost on the verge of grief and delight all the time and it makes you feel like you're very lonely. People ask how it's going and you know it's going better than if he passed away, but it's still not going enough that you can say, 'yeah, it's great'. That makes you feel very alone and you feel guilty." Kate Garraway: Caring for Derek airs tonight (Tuesday) at 9pm on ITV. Watch: Kate Garraway says 'I didn't receive MBE for looking after Derek' MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Tuesday it hoped Russia's recognition of two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent would help restore calm and that Moscow remained open to diplomacy with the United States and other countries. In a conference call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was unable to say if Russian forces had already entered the two separatist regions that are often referred to simply as the Donbass. He said a decision to send in forces would depend on how the situation developed. (Reporting by Anastasia Teterevleva; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Mark Trevelyan) By Andrew Osborn and Dmitry Antonov MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine after recognising them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war. A Reuters witness saw unusually large columns of military hardware moving through the breakaway city of Donetsk after Putin told Russia's defence ministry to send forces into the two regions to "keep the peace" in a decree issued shortly after announcing recognition for Russian-backed separatists there. The moves drew U.S. and European condemnation and vows of new sanctions although it was not immediately clear whether the Russian military action would be regarded by the West as the start of a fullscale invasion. The area was already controlled by Russian-backed separatists and Moscow in practice. There was no word on the size of the force Putin was dispatching, but the decree said Russia now had the right to build military bases in the breakaway regions and that the troops' mission would a peacekeeping operation. In a lengthy televised address packed with grievances against the West, Putin, looking visibly angry, described Ukraine as an integral part of Russia's history and said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian lands and that he was confident the Russian people would support his decision.. Russian state television showed Putin, joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signing a decree recognising the independence of the two Ukrainian breakaway regions the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic - along with agreements on cooperation and friendship. Defying Western warnings against such a move, Putin had announced his decision in phone calls to the leaders of Germany and France earlier, both of whom voiced disappointment, the Kremlin said. Moscow's action may well torpedo a last-minute bid for a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine. The rouble extended its losses as Putin spoke, at one point sliding beyond 80 per dollar. Story continues Biden responded by signing an executive order for a halt to all U.S. economic activity in the breakaway regions and a ban on import of all goods from those areas as well as investment there. White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the measures being rolled out in response to Putin's decree were separate from sanctions the United States and its allies have been readying if Russia invades Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the executive order "is designed to prevent Russia from profiting off of this blatant violation of international law." The U.N. Security Council will meet publicly on Ukraine at 9 p.m. EST Monday (0200 GMT on Tuesday), a Russian diplomat said, following a request by the United States, Britain and France. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said European Union countries have agreed to impose a limited set of sanctions "targeting those who are responsible" for Russia's recognition of the rebel regions, and British Foreign Minister Liz Truss said the government would announce new sanctions on Tuesday. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg accused Russia of "trying to stage a pretext" for a further invasion. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. In his address, Putin delved into history as far back as the Ottoman empire and as recent as the tensions over NATO's eastward expansion. His demands that Ukraine drop its long-term goal of joining the Atlantic military alliance have been repeatedly rebuffed by Kyiv and NATO states. With his decision to recognise the breakaway regions, Putin brushed off Western warnings. "I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago - to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," Putin said. He said earlier that "if Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia." SANCTIONS THREAT Putin has for years worked to restore Russia's influence over nations that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with Ukraine holding an important place in his ambitions. Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but it has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO. But recognition of the separatist-held areas paved the way for Putin to send military forces there, arguing that he was intervening as an ally to protect the separtists against Ukrainian forces. Putin's move will narrow the diplomatic options to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, touted as the framework for future negotiations on the wider crisis. Separately, Moscow said Ukrainian military saboteurs had tried to enter Russian territory in armed vehicles leading to five deaths, an accusation dismissed as "fake news" by Kyiv. Both developments fit a pattern repeatedly predicted by Western governments, who accuse Russia of preparing to fabricate a pretext to invade by blaming Kyiv for attacks and relying on pleas for help from separatist proxies. Moscow has said repeatedly it has no such plans. Biden reaffirmed support for Ukraine's sovereignty in a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Hours earlier, Macron gave hope of a diplomatic solution, saying Putin and Biden had agreed in principle to meet. But the Kremlin said there were no specific plans for a summit. The White House said Biden had accepted the meeting "in principle" but only "if an invasion hasn't happened". Washington says Russia has massed a force numbering 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and could invade within days. European financial markets tumbled at the signs of increased confrontation, after having briefly edged higher on the glimmer of hope that a summit might offer a path out of Europe's biggest military crisis in decades. The price of oil - Russia's main export - rose, while Russian shares and the rouble plunged. [MKTS/GLOB] [RU/RUB] [O/R] (This story refiles to correct typo in hardware in paragraph 2) (Reporting by Reuters bureaux; Writing by Matt Spetalnick, Kevin Liffey, Peter Graff, Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Grant McCool and Stephen Coates) An Ohio doctor who faces 14 murder charges maintained his innocence in court Tuesday. Dr. William Husel, whose medical license was suspended in 2019, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecutors say Husel killed more than a dozen patients by giving them lethal doses of fentanyl. An Ohio doctor who prosecutors say gave patients lethal doses of fentanyl, killing over a dozen people, maintained his innocence at the start of his criminal trial Tuesday, rejecting a last-minute opportunity for a plea deal. The trial of Dr. William Husel, 46, began Tuesday in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Columbus. He is charged with 14 counts of murder and previously pleaded not guilty. Husel faces a life sentence if convicted of any of the 14 counts. Before opening statements began Tuesday, prosecutors offered Husel a possible plea deal, in which up to 10 of the counts could have been lessened to reckless homicide. Through his attorney, Husel declined, maintaining his innocence. The patient deaths took place between February 2015 and November 2018. Husel, who worked at the Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, was pulled from patient care in 2018 and fired, NBC 4 reported. His medical license was suspended in January 2019, according to NBC News. Following initial investigations into the fentanyl overdoses, the CEO of the Mount Carmel Health System stepped down, and nearly two dozen employees were fired, according to the report. "What happened was tragic, and we've made a number of changes designed to prevent this from ever happening again in our health system. This situation does not reflect who we are as an organization or who our employees and physicians are," a Mount Carmel spokesperson said in a statement to Insider. Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Janet Grubb said that while the patients varied in ages and medical conditions, Husel was the one common thread in their deaths. "Several of them were not sick enough that they were destined to die during their hospitalization. They all had one thing in common," Grubb said. Story continues "William Husel was the nighttime ICU physician who ordered lethal levels of drugs or a combination of drugs with a removal from a ventilator after their loved ones made the excruciating decision to withdraw care and remove them," she added. Husel was initially charged with 25 counts of murder, but 11 charges were dismissed last month at the prosecution's request, according to WBNS 10, which reported most of the remaining 14 charges were related to patients who received at least 1,000 micrograms of fentanyl. Husel's attorney, Jose Baez, said in his opening statements on Tuesday there is "no such thing as a medical murder case," adding that the case was "100% about comfort care." "This is not a murder case, and it's far from it. William Husel was exercising compassion to his patients and tried to free them from pain and let their last moments on earth be ones of peace," Baez said. Baez's office did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. "Pain management in the living is very different from pain management in the dying," Baez added. "You have to get ahead of the pain as a person dies. You don't want to see them suffering and then address the issue." The trial is expected to last for nearly two months, WBNS 10 reported. Read the original article on Insider Feb. 22The Indiana Future Farmers of America (FFA) Association and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture is celebrating National FFA Week and its 94 years of history. Indiana FFA State President Kourtney Otte has been involved with FFA since she was in eighth grade. This week, she will be traveling all around Indiana to host different events with various FFA chapters across the state. On Wednesday, she will be hosting an event at the Lebanon Bowling Center with the Lebanon High School FFA Chapter from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to meet with local members and show how much fun FFA can be. "Growing up, my advisor always told me that [FFA] really stands friends and family for all," Otte said. Otte said while FFA was founded with a focus on agriculture, now, FFA does more than that. She said, while holding their roots to their hearts, FFA is trying to build the next generation of leaders. "We really pride ourselves for having the ability to impact a lot of students and really prepare them for what it's like to get out into the real world," Otte explained. Otte said any local student who wants to come out on Wednesday is welcome, or they may reach out to their local chapter. National FFA Week has been celebrated since 1948, after the FFA board of directors designated a week-long celebration to recognize George Washington's example as a leader and farmer. "I am incredibly proud of the work FFA members do year-round to support and promote Indiana agriculture," Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture, said in a press release. "National FFA Week is a great opportunity for our FFA members to show their community, schools and neighbors what FFA and serving others is all about. I am excited to see the work completed by these young leaders during this week-long celebration." Tamara Ketchen, director of the Indiana FFA Association, is looking forward to seeing all the work done this week in FFA chapters across the state. "National FFA Week is a time for local chapters to highlight their programs showcasing their success and passion for agriculture," Ketchen said in a press release. "We also use this as an opportunity to recognize community supporters and broadcast the mission of the organization." Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Tyro Payments Limited (ASX:TYR) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Tyro Payments Is Tyro Payments fairly valued? We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) -AU$29.1m -AU$2.46m AU$8.88m AU$16.3m AU$22.5m AU$28.7m AU$34.3m AU$39.3m AU$43.4m AU$46.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Est @ 38.38% Est @ 27.41% Est @ 19.73% Est @ 14.35% Est @ 10.58% Est @ 7.95% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 6.1% -AU$27.4 -AU$2.2 AU$7.4 AU$12.8 AU$16.7 AU$20.1 AU$22.7 AU$24.4 AU$25.5 AU$25.9 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$126m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.8%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2031 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$47m (1 + 1.8%) (6.1% 1.8%) = AU$1.1b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$1.1b ( 1 + 6.1%)10= AU$614m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$740m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$1.6, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. 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 Tyro Payments as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.014. 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Tyro Payments, we've compiled three pertinent elements you should consider: Risks: You should be aware of the 1 warning sign for Tyro Payments we've uncovered before considering an investment in the company. Future Earnings: How does TYR'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 ASX 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. URBANA The 2022 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale offers commercial cow-calf producers and seedstock breeders a place to evaluate and purchase high-quality genetics for their herds. The 61 catalogued bulls include 20 longer-aged 2020 mature bulls and 41 yearlings and include 47 Angus and 14 Simmental and SimAngus. The sale begins at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, during the Illinois Beef Expo at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. In its 54th year, the sale has sold 4,859 bulls valued at over $9 million, says Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension commercial ag educator and IPT Bull Sale manager. The sale order is based on a "power score" system that includes the economic indexes provided by the breed associations. The power score will be calculated on the percentile rank for these values. The economic indexes are $C for Angus, and API and TI for Simmental. Along with strict requirements for superior Expected Progeny Differences (EPD), bulls must meet some of the most rigorous requirements in the industry. These bulls dont just have to pass the test; they have to pass every test," says Meteer. Requirements All of the bulls must meet a stringent minimum scrotal circumference for their age. Mothers of the bull are required to test negative for Johnes Disease or come from a Level 1 or higher herd of the Voluntary Johnes Certification Program. Bulls also must be tested free for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) using the Persistently Infected (PI) ear notch screening system. All Senior and January yearlings must be fertility tested. All bulls meet weight, frame, and functional soundness evaluations prior to the sale. Sale Day The 2022 IPT Bull Sale will feature a few updates to the sale format. All bulls will be on display Wednesday, Feb. 23, and the morning of the sale in Barn 14, located just west of the coliseum. Bulls will be featured on video screens during the live auction in the Artisans Building. This will offer more comfort and hospitality to the buyers and less stress on the cattle. Story continues The IPT Bull Sale catalog, along with supporting information, is available online. The website contains all the pedigree information, adjusted weights, power scores, and EPDs on seven different traits and two dollar value indexes. The website also provides more complete information on how the power score is calculated and a summary of the past 53 IPT Bull Sales. Online bidding will be offered through LiveAuctions.TV. All bulls will sell with genomic-enhanced EPDs, which increases the accuracy and reliability of the EPD values. "Most all of this years consignors have consigned bulls to previous sales and represent some of the elite seedstock suppliers in the state of Illinois and the Midwest," says Meteer. "These bulls are a direct result of generations of planned matings." The sale is supported by University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois Animal Science Department, Illinois Simmental Association, Vita-Ferm, Boehringer-Ingleheim, Zoetis 50K, Dearwester Grain, and ABS. For more information on the sale or bulls consigned contact Meteer at 217-430-7030 or email at wmeteer@gmail.com. University of Illinois Extension This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Look to IPT Bull Sale for proven genetic excellence What's the most diverse neighborhood in Louisville? The answer is changing by the year especially as the city's white population declines and the numbers of Black, Asian and Hispanic residents rise. To determine which area currently holds the designation, The Courier Journal analyzed 2020 census data to assign diversity index scores to more than 100 neighborhoods and small cities in Jefferson County. More: Why some Louisville neighborhoods remain segregated even as the city becomes more diverse A diversity index shows from 0% to 100% the likelihood two residents randomly selected from the same area would be of a different race or ethnicity. The higher the number, the more likely the two people would be different. The lower the number, the more likely they'd be the same. The most and least diverse areas are listed below. But first, a quiz. LOUISVILLE'S MOST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS Newburg: 78% Newburg, located south of Interstate 264 and east of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, is a historically Black neighborhood that was partially settled by formerly enslaved people around the time of the Civil War. The neighborhood continues to have a large Black population. But it's also becoming home to more Hispanic residents. Over the past decade, the Hispanic population increased 115% driving the neighborhood's diversity index up from 65% to 78%. Newburg is now 48% Black, 34% white and 2% Asian. A quarter of its population is Hispanic. Bashford Manor & West Buechel: 76% & 75% Bashford Manor and West Buechel are located along Bardstown Road, just south of Interstate 64. The area has a dense mix of lower-priced homes and apartments attributes likely to draw more diverse residents. In Jefferson County, 64% of Black households and 60% of Hispanic households rent, compared to 31% of white households, according to 2019 census estimates. In Bashford Manor, 62% of households are renters. That number jumps to 78% in West Buechel. Story continues Bashford Manor is currently 41% Black, 40% white and 6% Asian. It is 16% Hispanic. West Buechel is 40% white, 37% Black and 13% Asian. It is 11% Hispanic. Southland Park & Southside: 76% & 75% Southland Park and Southside are also adjacent neighborhoods, just west of the airport. The area has one of the highest Asian populations in the city, largely because refugees and immigrants from Burma, Vietnam and other countries have settled there. Southland Park is currently 50% white, 24% Black and 13% Asian. It is 16% Hispanic. Southside is 41% Black, 36% white and 14% Asian. It is 12% Hispanic. LOUISVILLE'S LEAST DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS Highlands Douglass & Strathmoor Village: 21% Highlands Douglass and Strathmoor Village are located just north of Interstate 264, opposite Bashford Manor and West Buechel. The interstate serves as a stark dividing line when it comes to diversity along Bardstown Road. One reason could be housing. Median home values in Highlands Douglass and Strathmoor Village are about three times the price of median home values in the neighborhoods south of them, according to census data. Highlands Douglass is now 91% white, 3% Black and 1% Asian. It is 3% Hispanic. Strathmoor Village is now 92% white, 1% Black and 1% Asian. It is 3% Hispanic. Windy Hills: 19% Windy Hills and Woodlawn Park are both small cities in eastern Jefferson County, located near the interchange of Interstate 264 and Brownsboro Road. The area saw a slight increase in its diversity score between 2010 and 2020, rising from 12% to 19%. But it's overwhelmingly white population keeps it near the bottom of the list. The area is 92% white, 3% Black and 1% Asian. It is 2% Hispanic. Park DuValle: 18% On the opposite side of the county from Windy Hills, Park DuValle has a majority Black population. The historic Black neighborhood was the victim of redlining a discriminatory policy that let banks deny loans to residents in predominantly Black communities in the 1930s and 40s, closing off investments in the area. In the 1950s, the city built two barracks-style public housing complexes in the neighborhood, further concentrating poverty there. The complexes were replaced with mixed-income housing in the late 1990s, though the neighborhood continues to have a higher rate of poverty than the rest of the county at 23%, compared to 14%. Park DuValle is currently 92% Black and 4% white. It is 3% Hispanic. Fisherville: 18% Fisherville remains one of few undeveloped areas in Louisville. It covers a large area south of Interstate 65 in southeastern Jefferson County, but its population has remained about the same over the last decade. Fischerville is now 93% white, 1% Black and 1% Asian. It is 3% Hispanic. Indian Hills: 16% The Indian Hills area includes Mockingbird Valley, Riverwood and Rolling Hills all smaller cities within Jefferson County. The area is located near the Ohio River in the eastern part of the county and is home to Louisville Country Club and Locust Grove. Though its Asian and Hispanic populations increased over the past decade, it remains overwhelmingly white. The median household income in Indian Hills was $190,000, and the median home value was $529,000 in 2019, according to census data. Indian Hills is now 93% white, 1% Black and 2% Asian. It is 2% Hispanic. NOTABLE MENTIONS Cloverleaf Cloverleaf, located east of Dixie Highway and south of Shively, grew the most in diversity between 2010 and 2020. It's diversity index grew from 40% to 73% in that period, largely because its white population decreased 28% while its Black, Asian and Hispanic populations increased. Cloverleaf is near other neighborhoods where immigrants and refugees have settled. It is now 53% white, 23% Black, 12% Asian and 14% Hispanic. Okolona Okolona, south of Newburg, had the second largest jump in diversity index scores rising from 43% to 71%. Like Cloverleaf, its white population decreased while its Black, Asian and Hispanic populations increased. It now has the second largest population of Hispanic residents in the city, trailing Newburg, at 4,077. Okolona is 64% white, 18% Black, 3% Asian and 22% Hispanic. Fincastle & Worthington Hills Fincastle and Worthington Hills are pockets of diversity in far eastern Jefferson County, likely because of their location near a Ford plant. The median income in Fincastle was $61,781 in 2019, and median in Worthington Hills was $73,203. While the area around them is predominantly white, the two neighborhoods have diversity index scores of 68% (Fincastle) and 66% (Worthington Hills). Fincastle is 54% white, 29% Black, 7% Asian and 9% Hispanic. Worthington Hills is 57% white, 26% Black, 7% Asian and 8% Hispanic. Learn more about neighborhoods across Jefferson County in the graphics below. How we did it The Courier Journal used USA Today's diversity index formula to calculate scores for neighborhoods in Louisville using 2020 census population data. Our neighborhoods are modeled off profiles created by the Kentucky State Data Center, which matched census tracts to corresponding neighborhoods. Because some census tracts changed between 2010 and 2020, our neighborhoods look a little different. Neighborhood shapes in the included maps are based on census tracts that make them up. Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: US Census: Newburg, West Buechel most diverse Louisville neighborhoods You are here: China Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the 114th Mekong River joint patrol. The Chinese vessels departed at 9 a.m. Tuesday from Jingha Port in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, said the press office of Yunnan provincial public security department. Five vessels from the four countries will navigate over 600 km in four days and three nights during the latest joint operation. Law-enforcement departments from the countries cracked 8,325 cases of various types in 2021 while arresting 8,043 criminal suspects and seizing 34.4 tonnes of drugs in the border areas along the Mekong River. The Mekong River, or the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. Mayor Adams tapped ex-City Councilman Fernando Cabrera late Monday to serve as a faith adviser in his administration after the controversial Bronx politician apologized for his history of anti-gay views and remarks. Cabrera, a Christian pastor who was initially under consideration to become the citys top mental health official, will act as a senior adviser in the newly-formed Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, Adams said in a statement. I hope New Yorkers will give Fernando the opportunity to show his commitment to bringing together all New Yorkers, regardless of who they love or how they identify, Adams said. About an hour before Adams announcement, Cabrera wrote a lengthy post on Facebook in which he apologized for his various anti-gay comments over the years, including praising Ugandas notoriously homophobic governments ban on same-sex marriage while on a trip to the country in 2014. He claimed he made the 2014 comments while being unaware of the Ugandan governments egregious treatment of the countrys LGBTQ+ population. I understand how these words caused some to believe that I condone and support the Ugandan governments historic denial of their LGBTQ+ populations civil and human rights, but nothing could be further from the truth, Cabrera wrote. Unquestionably, being LGBTQ+ should never be criminalized in any way, anywhere in the world. Uganda has a shocking history of condoning and exercising such practices which I denounce and wholly reject. He added, I am deeply sorry for the hurt my previous words have caused, and I look forward to serving all New Yorkers to the very best of my abilities. After declining for weeks to address Cabreras anti-LGBTQ views, Adams gave the ex-councilman credit for his apology. Fernando Cabrera has acknowledged the pain that his past comments have caused and has apologized for the words he used. I heard and accepted his apology, Adams said in his statement. As a man of faith, I have made clear that our administration will serve all New Yorkers equally and fairly. This is a breaking story. Please check back for updates. The emblem of the Donetsk People's Republic. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a decree recognizing the independence of two separatist regions of Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, and ordered troops to the areas, saying they will "maintain peace." But what exactly does it mean for Putin to recognize these breakaway regions? In 2014, Russian-backed separatists in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions declared that they were now independent "people's republics" and no longer tied to the Ukrainian government, Reuters explains. These areas were never recognized until Putin's announcement on Monday, and once forces are there, Russia could say it is intervening in matters because it is an ally. Alexander Borodai served as the Donetsk People's Republic's first head of state, and is now a member of the Russian parliament. Borodai told Reuters last month that as soon as Russian troops arrive in the region, separatist leaders could ask for help gaining control of the parts still held by Ukraine, likely leading to a full-scale military conflict between Ukraine and Russia. The Ukrainian government has said that since 2014, about 15,000 people have been killed in fighting in the separatist regions. Russia has denied being involved in this, but has sent leaders aid, military support, COVID-19 vaccines, and at least 800,000 Russian passports to give to residents, Reuters reports. It's estimated that now, Russia has about 190,000 troops along the border with Ukraine. You may also like Live stream of planes landing at Heathrow Airport during storm draws surprisingly big online crowd Watch a Clydesdale recover from injuries in Budweiser's new Super Bowl ad The right is finally ready to reform the CIA. Don't let hatred of Trump ruin it. AUSTIN, Texas The number of migrants encountered at the Southwest border decreased by 14% in January from the previous month, signaling the alarming rise in asylum-seekers at the border may be leveling off, according to the latest statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. More than one-fourth of those encounters were repeat-crossers, pointing to an increase in migrants who were expelled under policies such as the "Remain in Mexico" program or Title 42, which returns migrants to Mexico to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and attempted to get back into the U.S. to seek asylum. In January, border officials encountered 153,941 migrants at the Southwest border, down from 179,219 in December the first month-to-month decline since September, according to statistics released Friday. Since the start of this fiscal year on Oct. 1, agents have encountered 672,838 migrants. Though the January decline wasn't steep, it may signal President Joe Biden's efforts to spread a message to Central American migrants that the U.S.-Mexico border is not open may be getting through, said Tony Payan, director of the Center for the United States and Mexico at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. "It's good progress for a single month," Payan said. "The deterrent effect might be finally paying off." Last year, Biden and congressional lawmakers unveiled a $4 billion relief plan to Central America aimed at tamping down corruption and creating refugee processing centers to discourage migrants from traveling to the U.S.-Mexican border. The proposal, part of the U.S Citizenship Act of 2021, remains in congressional committee. Biden also dispatched emissaries, including Vice President Kamala Harris, to meet with regional leaders. 'HORROR MOVIE' THAT WON'T END: One familys haunting tale of trauma years after border separation Chronic poverty and gang violence in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, coupled with two devastating hurricanes in 2020 that left hundreds of thousands displaced, recently led to a record-high number of asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Story continues The dramatic rise in migrants at the border began in March, when agents encountered 173,277 and continued throughout the fiscal year, according to CBP numbers. A U.S. Border Patrol agent gathers personal effects from immigrants July 2, 2019, in Los Ebanos, Texas, before they are transferred to a processing center in McAllen. Last fiscal year, U.S. Border Patrol reported more than 1.6 million encounters with migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border the highest annual total on record. The first three months of fiscal year 2022 began anew with higher-than-average numbers averaging nearly 173,000 encounters per month. Biden may have contributed to the rush of migrants at the border by so quickly reversing many of former President Donald Trump's border policies and sending the wrong message to asylum-seekers, Payan said. January's decline was the first sign of a potential slowing of that rush, he said. "[The Biden administration] might just have climbed out of that hole and sent the message: It's still difficult to get into the United States," Payan said. HEADLESS ROBOT DOGS MAY SOMEDAY PATROL U.S.-MEXICO BORDER: What we know about these machines The agency's January numbers also revealed a troubling trend: While overall the number of narcotic seizures dipped, the number of fentanyl seizures climbed by 57%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are reporting a steep rise in fentanyl-related overdoses across the U.S. Nationwide, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin seizures dropped in January, but fentanyl seizures jumped from 26 in December to 65 in January, according to the statistics. January's drop in migrant encounters at the border stemmed in large part from a steady decline in the number of Central American asylum-seekers, said Adam Isacson, a border security analyst at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research and advocacy group. U.S. Border patrol agent and immigrants on April 10, 2021, in La Joya, Texas. The number of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador decreased from a high of more than 94,000 in July to around 31,000 in January, according to the statistics. Meanwhile, the number of Mexican asylum-seekers at the U.S. border has been on the rise, from around 40,000 a month a year ago to nearly 60,000 in January. "There seems to be a steady decline from that summer peak, really led by less Central Americans," Isacson said of overall migrant-encounter numbers. 'REMAIN IN MEXICO': Supreme Court to revisit Biden administration effort to shut down 'Remain in Mexico' policy Increased enforcement of Mexico's southern border by Mexican agents likely accounts for some of the drop off in Central American migrant numbers, Payan said. But clashes with drug cartels in the Mexican state of Michoacan and president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's inability to effectively confront organized crime are also pushing hordes of Mexicans to the U.S. border to seek asylum, he said. The growing number of Mexican migrants at the border presents a thornier issue for Biden, since it's not something Mexican immigration agents can help control, Payan said. "It's one thing to stop non-Mexican migrants from traveling across the southern border, but it's a very different thing when its a Mexican citizen," he said. "You can't stop them from going through the country." Follow Jervis on Twitter: @MrRJervis. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US-Mexico border: Fewer migrants, more fentanyl in January, feds say Missouri Attorney General and Republican Senate candidate Eric Schmitt is set to hold a fundraiser at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort next month. The March 10 fundraiser, an invitation to which was obtained by The Hill, marks the latest salvo in the open battle among Missouri Republican Senate contenders to win the former president's endorsement. A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately say if the former president plans to attend the event. People can donate $1,000 to attend the event and $5,800 to be a part of the "host committee." The invitation did not clarify what perks come with being a part of the committee. The Missouri race to replace retiring Sen. Roy Blunt (R) should be safe territory for the GOP, but Republicans are increasingly anxious over the candidacy of former Gov. Eric Greitens (R), who resigned in disgrace in 2018 and is an early front-runner in the race. Greitens left office over claims he sexually assaulted and blackmailed his hairdresser. He insisted their interactions were consensual, but a state legislative investigation deemed the allegations of abuse credible. While Missouri is a deeply conservative state, Republicans are worried that a Greitens nomination could cost them Blunt's seat - a devastating scenario in which any one race could flip the 50-50 Senate. Several candidates are still openly jockeying for Trump's support, with many Republicans in the state saying his endorsement could be a game changer and potentially crown a new front-runner. Republicans are eager for some consolidation in the field, arguing that a fractured primary leaves Greitens with a path to the nomination by winning only a plurality. But in a sign that some Republicans may start to get more involved, Sen. Josh Hawley (R), one of Missouri's most popular GOP figures, backed Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R) in the race last week. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who also has a broad platform in the party, endorsed Schmitt. Hartzler Tuesday also won the support of the prominent anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List. National groups like the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund remain neutral. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA Nancy Pelosi probably did not expect to set off such a firestorm with her use of three words: free market economy. When the House speaker was asked in December whether she supports proposals to ban members and their spouses from trading individual stocks, she said no. Were a free market economy, Pelosi said. They should be able to participate in that. But Pelosis comment sparked ire among government ethics experts and editorial boards, who argued that lawmakers ability to glean information from classified briefings and stakeholder meetings raised the possibility of insider trading. Some critics also noted that Pelosis husband, Paul, recently netted a gain of more than $5m from trading stocks of Alphabet, Googles parent company. In the face of backlash, Pelosi has changed her tune on the stock-trading issue, but her hesitation highlighted an uncomfortable truth about how Congresshas responded to the proposal. Despite wide public support for banning lawmakers from trading stocks, members of both parties have expressed anxiety about the idea: a rare moment of bipartisanship in a divided America, but one whose subject stock-trading politicians is unlikely to please many voters. Government watchdog groups warn that if Congress fails to act on this issue, it will only intensify many Americans concern over how money has tainted their countrys political institutions. The debate over banning members stock-trading has been reinvigorated in recent months, after a string of high-profile controversies at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, Republican senator Richard Burr sold hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stock before the market suffered a severe setback the next month. While he was overseeing those valuable stock trades, Burr was also publicly downplaying the threat of the virus. The justice department investigated Burr and three of his Senate colleagues Republicans Kelly Loeffler and James Inhofe and Democrat Dianne Feinstein for possible insider trading, but ultimately no charges were filed. Story continues In response to the outcry over those controversies, both Democrats and Republicans have proposed bills to crack down on members stock-trading. One bill, introduced by Democratic senators Jon Ossoff and Mark Kelly, would require members, their spouses and their dependent children to place their stock portfolios in a blind trust controlled by an outside party. Republican senator Josh Hawley has proposed a similar bill, although his legislation does not cover dependent children and would not fine members salaries for violations, as the Ossoff-Kelly bill would. Over in the House, Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Chip Roy have introduced a similar bill to the Ossoff-Kelly proposal, and more than 50 members have signed on as co-sponsors to the separate Ban Conflicted Trading Act. That bill, which was first introduced by Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, would ban members and senior congressional staffers from trading individual stocks. It has really gotten to a point where its getting a little bit too difficult for the rest of Congress to ignore, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a co-sponsor of Krishnamoorthis bill, said at a town hall on Tuesday. The fact of the matter is, we shouldnt be able to day-trade the companies whose regulation and whose hearings and whose industries and business is before Congress. A majority of Americans agree with her. According to a January poll from the progressive firm Data for Progress, 67% of US voters say lawmakers should be banned from trading stocks. Another recent survey, conducted by the conservative advocacy group Convention of States Action, found that 76% of voters believe lawmakers and their spouses have an unfair advantage in the stock market. It is illegal for members of Congress, or any American, to engage in insider trading. However, insider trading is very difficult to prove, so in 2012, Congress passed the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge (Stock) Act to address concerns about lawmakers financial activities. The law prohibits members from using information gained through work for their own personal profit, and it requires them to disclose stock trades within 45 days. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have pointed to the existing legislation to argue against banning members from trading stocks. Republican congressman Pete Sessions has described a ban as unnecessary, while one of his Democratic colleagues, Elaine Luria, attacked the proposal as bullshit. Why would you assume that members of Congress are going to be inherently bad or corrupt? We already have the Stock Act that requires people to report stock trades, Luria told Punchbowl News earlier this month. So Im very strongly opposed to any legislation like that. Advocates for a stock-trading ban were quick to note that Luria and her husband own millions of dollars worth of stocks in Facebook, Netflix and Apple, among other companies. Honestly, the stock trades by members of Congress just smell bad Regardless of which party is doing it, it just doesnt look good, said RL Miller, the political director of Climate Hawks Vote. Responding to Lurias comments specifically, Miller added: Members of Congress expecting that they dont prioritize companies in which theyre invested is bullshit. Millers group was one of 18 progressive organizations that signed on to a letter urging Congress to hold a hearing on banning stock trades, arguing that the Stock Act and other existing laws have not served as a sufficient deterrent to this problem. Enforcement of the Stock Act also appears to have been spotty at best over the past 10 years. No one has ever been prosecuted under the law, and an investigation by Business Insider found that at least 55 members of Congress and 182 senior congressional staffers were late in filing their stock trades in 2020 and 2021. A late filing is supposed to be punished with a $200 fine that increases with subsequent offenses, but Congress does not keep any public record of such fines, and its unclear how often they are collected. The teeth behind the Stock Act are basically non-existent, said Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, government affairs manager at the Project on Government Oversight. Were seeing that reporting and disclosure do not actually act as any kind of a deterrent to doing things that look, at the very least, pretty sketchy. Government watchdog groups also argue that the Stock Act is now somewhat outdated. They say the legislation does not properly account for how lawmakers can use the 24-hour news cycle and social media platforms to affect markets and specific companies share prices. We have seen countless examples of how members not just as a body but individual members can influence the stock market with a range of tools at their disposal, said Donald Sherman, chief counsel for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Now were at a place in history and on the Hill where an individual member of Congress can influence the stock price with a tweet. Groups like Crew are hopeful that the momentum for passing a stock-trading ban will soon translate into congressional action. Despite her initial reluctance, Pelosi has now adopted a more open-minded tone about the proposals, and the Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer, has said the upper chamber should address the issue. I think this is sort of an easy win that will have a very positive impact on policy-making and on public-facing democracy, Sherman said. The enactment of a stock-trading ban could have the additional benefit of boosting the publics opinion of Congress, which has suffered in recent years. According to Gallups January polling, only 18% of Americans approve of how Congress is handling its job. Advocates for the proposed stock-trading ban say the policy would bolster public confidence in one of Americas most important political institutions. Anything that can restore Americans trust in Congress is a good thing, Miller said. This would help rebut that appearance of double-dealing and go a long way toward restoring Americans trust in their leadership. For those members who are hesitant to give up their stocks, Hedtler-Gaudette suggested they should reconsider their chosen career. To become a member of Congress is an extraordinarily prestigious thing. But it is not compulsory, Hedtler-Gaudette said. There are a number of sacrifices that you have to make to run for office If this is a problem, then you are not required to run for Congress. Hello again, Pawtucket! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the Pawtucket Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Pawtucket Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about Pawtucket long term. So if youre interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here. First, today's weather: A bit of afternoon rain. High: 52 Low: 51. Here are the top three stories today in Pawtucket: A Pawtucket woman has won big after playing the Rhode Island Lottery Bingo monitor game over the weekend. The woman bought her $20,000 winning ticket with a two-dollar bet at Lil General on Central Avenue. The woman reportedly plans to use her winnings to take a trip to Alaska and pay off her car. (WLNE-TV (ABC6)) An affordable retail space has opened to help local entrepreneurs at Still on Main. The owner, Leslie Moore, bought Still on Main, also known as the William Grant Still building on 250 Main Street, to create affordable units of varying sizes for new and unlikely entrepreneurs to test their concepts in a mini-mall setting. Still on Main hosts culturally diverse retailers, restaurateurs, and other trades. (Providence Media) Looking for a new job in the Pawtucket area? There are many full-time or part-time in the region as local businesses take advantage of diminishing positive COVID-19 rates. Some of the open roles include customer service, sales, and marketing positions. (Pawtucket Patch) Today in Pawtucket: SOAR Referral Info Session At Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless (10:00 AM) Bookshelf Scavenger Hunt for Teens At Pawtucket Public Library (3:00 PM) Teen Movie Night - "In the Heights" At Pawtucket Public Library (6:00 PM) From my notebook: Story continues The Tri-County Community Action Agency in Johnston is accepting new clients for its supplemental nutrition education and assistance WIC program. Eligible residents include pregnant, nursing, and postpartum women, as well as children under age 5, who are currently on State Medical Insurance, SNAP, TANF, or meet certain income guidelines. Call 401-351-2750 ext. 6 for more details. (Facebook) It's the last week of February's daily Take-and-Make craft kits and Cupid's Scavenger Hunt at the library! Stop by during regular hours for your child to take part. (Pawtucket Public Library) Loving the Pawtucket Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved: Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe Get your local business listed in front of readers Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. See you all tomorrow for another update! Miranda Fraraccio About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners, and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, hiking, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer. This article originally appeared on the Pawtucket Patch Indianapolis Metropolitan Police next month will begin to test gunshot detection systems on the city's near east side in what is the latest effort to combat rising violent crime in Indiana's capital. Law enforcement officials say the technology, which pinpoints the location of gunfire and sends the information police, will allow officers to better respond to shots fired incidents. The department began accepting information from potential vendors earlier this month and plans to pilot the systems during a three month period. Successful technology, police said, must be able to "recognize and identify specific types of gunshots" and determine the location of the shots with at least a 90% success rate. Those selected to participate in the pilot will install the detection systems in a nearly 5-square-mile area on the city's east side. The pilot area encompasses Massachusetts Avenue and East 21st Street to the north; Emerson Avenue to the east, East Washington Street to the south; and North Oriental Street to the west. A killing in Room 112: Problems plagued nursing home where resident was raped, smothered A screenshot of what Indianapolis Metropolitan Police called "hotspots" for homicides and non-fatal shootings in 2021. The area was selected for the pilot because it is "the most prominent in the city for robberies, non-fatal shootings, and murders in 2021," according to Indianapolis police. The move comes on the heels of Indianapolis' deadliest years in history. After setting its homicide record in 2020 with 245 homicides, the city tallied a new record-high 271 homicides in 2021. The east side neighborhood where the gunshot detection technology will roll out was particularly impacted by the violence. In 2021, 24 people were killed in shootings in the area, according to an IndyStar analysis of homicide data. By mid-August, nearly 18% of the city's non-fatal shootings occurred in the 5-square-mile area, IMPD officials said in the gunshot detection announcement. The violence has led some residents in the neighborhood to isolate themselves and become less engaged in the community, according to Near Eastside Community Organization President Chris Staab. Story continues An example surveillance camera IMPD plans to install across the city this year. Staab told IndyStar he's looking forward to the gunshot detection technology pilot in his neighborhood, where he says it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between fireworks and gunshots. The technology, he said, could increase police response times, which in turn could save lives. "I cant wait for it to happen," Staab said of the installation of the technology. If we could get first responders to a shots fired scene sooner, maybe we can lower our homicide rates. Indiana real estate: Slumlord property owners sweep up homes at foreclosure sales. A new bill could stop them. Not everyone in the community, however, is on board with the effort. Pastor David Cederquist, whose Brookside Community Church is at the center of the pilot area, said he is "not sure that technology is going to be what stops the violence" in Indianapolis. Cederquist referenced a report from the ACLU that claims, in part, the implementation of ShotSpotter, a leading gunshot detection system, in Chicago resulted in a number of unnecessary police runs. The report also said the technology distorted gunfire detection statistics, detecting more incidents in neighborhoods where the sensors are located and creating "justification for over-policing in communities of color." Cederquist said he thinks a more "human-centered approach" where people interact and build relationships with one another is more effective at getting at root causes of violence. I think the more we can be rooted in relationships and help people belong as part of the city, that's going to be the answer for crime prevention and violence reduction in our area," the pastor told IndyStar. Funding for gunshot detection The gunshot technology will be funded by a portion of the $150 million of federal American Rescue Plan money allocated to Indianapolis' three-year anti-violence plan. About $33 million of that COVID relief money was allocated to IMPD, who will use $9 million for technology upgrades. Police in January said tech upgrades would be part of their continued crime-fighting priorities in 2022. They plan to add about 350 cameras and 350 license plate readers to "high crime areas" and along major roads across the city. That effort is already underway IMPD in December installed 10 plate readers in the downtown area. In their announcement last week, police said those cameras and plate readers will be installed along with the gunshot detection systems in the east side neighborhood to "ensure appropriate crime prevention and policing strategies are utilized." The city has considered gunshot detection in the past and previously consulted with ShotSpotter. Issues with funding held up those efforts law enforcement officials have told IndyStar some gunshot technology could cost around $250,000, plus another $200,000 a year for maintenance, to cover one 3-square-mile area with sensors. Staab, the Near Eastside Community Organization president, noted the gunshot technology is expensive but said he is happy to see the city will pilot a few different systems. Its just another tool in our toolbox," Staab said. "If this is a tool that could save a life, yes, Im all for it. The city's request for information from vendors ends March 1. Those interested can learn more at www.indy.gov/workflow/find-bid-opportunities. Contact Lawrence Andrea at 317-775-4313 or landrea@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @lawrencegandrea. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis crime: Police to pilot gunshot detection technology The FBI is searching for victims nationwide who may have been exploited online by a Texas man who is facing multiple charges relating to child pornography. Patrick Tran, of Cypress, Texas, was charged with the production and possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of multiple victims, according to a news release from the Department of Justice's Houston office. The FBI, which is conducting the investigation, thinks there may be more victims and anyone with information should fill out a secure questionnaire at www.fbi.gov/patricktran. Tran is being held by authorities after U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew M. Edison found the 37-year-old "to be a danger to the community," according to the release. Human trafficking: What is it, and what are the signs? Tran was arrested in March after a mother told law enforcement officers she found her 10-year-old daughter standing naked in front of an iPad, according to the release. Chat records reportedly showed Tran coercing the girl into engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Authorities think Tran may have asked numerous individuals under the age of 18 to produce sexually explicit videos or engage in sexual conduct while online, according to the DOJ release. He may have used the alias "Reggie Smith" or the Snapchat username Travis_Story20 or contacted girls through Omegle. Online scams: Online dating scams are on the rise, FBI and FTC warn. Here are some red flags. Prosecutors alleged Tran had about 4,000 video files containing webcam-based videos of young girls. many under 18, engaging in sexually explicit conduct, according to the release. If convicted, Tran could face up to life in prison. Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: FBI: More victims likely after man child with having child pornography Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. At a ceremony held in the Kremlin, Putin also inked the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and the LPR and the DPR respectively with the heads of the two "republics," a Kremlin statement said. "I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision -- to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and the LPR," Putin said in a televised address to the nation. "Russia has done everything to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine" by fighting for the implementation of 2015 Minsk agreements, but all the efforts ended up in vain, he told the public. According to Putin, nearly everyday there is Ukrainian shelling of settlements in Donbass and "there is no end in sight." The crisis of European security occurred due to the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has led to the loss of mutual trust with Russia, Putin stressed. He called it just "a matter of time" for NATO to accept Ukraine as a member state and then build facilities on its territory so that the level of military threats to Russia will rise dramatically. As Moscow asked the United States and NATO for security guarantees, the Western countries precisely ignored Russia's fundamental concerns and nothing has changed in their position, Putin noted. In such a condition, Russia "has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security," the president said. Putin said he is aware that the West is trying to "blackmail" Russia again with sanctions, but he believes that sanctions will continue just because Russia exists, regardless of the situation in Ukraine. After recognizing the independence of the LPR and the DPR, Putin instructed the Russian armed forces to ensure peace in the two "countries." Earlier in the day, the Russian Security Council held an extraordinary meeting, when the country's top officials supported the recognition of the two "republics." On Monday evening, Putin had phone conversations with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who "expressed their disappointment" with Putin's plan to recognize the LPR and the DPR, but meanwhile they showed readiness to continue contacts, according to a Kremlin statement. In this article: Presidents Day was celebrated at President James Buchanan's Wheatland, his home in Lancaster County. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated dramatically on Monday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin taking steps many saw as the groundwork for a military invasion of the country of more than 40 million people. The Biden administration and its allies have for weeks pursued a diplomatic off-ramp to avoid a Russian invasion that could trigger war in Europe. But the window appeared to close on Monday when Putin signed decrees recognizing as independent the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, two regions of Ukraine's Donbas where Russian-backed separatists have been fighting Ukrainian forces for years. Within hours, the Russian leader had directed the Russian military to conduct operations in those regions. Experts warned doing so could preview the Russian military launching full-scale operations in Ukrainian territory and set the stage for a further invasion. "It's been like a building crescendo," Rose Gottemoeller, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, told The Hill in an interview. In hourlong remarks leading up to the recognition of the two regions as independent, Putin undertook what Western experts said was a rewriting of history that questioned the independence of Ukraine and portrayed the nation as historically and culturally Russian. He claimed Ukraine is being used by the West and took aim at the government of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "This was a speech to the Russian people to justify war," a senior Biden administration official told reporters on Monday. "We'll continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll, but we are under no illusion about what is likely to come next," the official added. U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Michael Carpenter, called Putin's actions on Monday as setting up "a full-scale Russian war against Ukraine." "Despite what Russia tries to allege, the cold hard truth is that Russia is right now trying to create a pretext for military action," Carpenter said in a statement delivered to the OSCE in Vienna. Story continues Shortly after Putin's remarks Biden signed an executive order barring U.S. investments, trade and financing from flowing into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and granting him the authority to impose sanctions on individuals operating in the regions. The senior administration official indicated Monday more sanctions would likely be forthcoming on Tuesday, without offering any details. The European Union has also pledged to impose sanctions related to Putin's decision. The White House has for weeks pledged to levy punishing economic sanctions against Russia should it launch a renewed military invasion of Ukraine, and pressure to do so likely will only grow after Monday's developments. The senior administration official wouldn't directly answer questions about what would constitute a renewed Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying only that the U.S. would assess the steps Russia takes in the hours and days ahead and respond accordingly. "We are going to observe and assess what Russia does in the hours ahead and overnight," the official said. "We are going to respond to any actions that Russia takes in a way that we believe is appropriate to the action." At one point, the official noted that Russia has had military forces in the Donbas for eight years, but suggested that forces would be operating more overtly under Putin's order Monday. Announcements of U.S. sanctions were coupled with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying she supported Ukraine's demand for the U.N. Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on Russia's threats against Ukraine. Such a meeting would mark the third time in less than a month the Security Council would focus on the crisis with Russia and would take place while Russia holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. "Every U.N. Member State has a stake in what comes next," Thomas-Greenfield said in a statement. "Russia's actions threaten the international order that, since World War II, has stood for the principle that one country cannot unilaterally redraw another country's borders. This principle is enshrined in the UN Charter which all Member States pledge to uphold." The senior administration official on Monday said the U.S. sees value in holding another Security Council meeting as forcing Russia to "answer for the actions they took today" in the "foremost international body charged with maintaining peace and stability in the world." The White House had signaled as late as Sunday night it was leaving the door open to diplomacy, even as its own officials had warned hours earlier of the likelihood of a violent and devastating invasion of Ukraine. Press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden had agreed "in principle" to meet with Putin, as long as Russia did not invade Ukraine in the interim. But with Monday's actions by Moscow, such a meeting appeared off the table. "Our strong sense, based on everything we are seeing on the ground in the areas around the Ukraine to the north, to the east, to the south, is that Russia is continuing to prepare for military action that could take place in the coming hours or days," the senior Biden administration official said. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Europe on Thursday. Lavrov seemed to indicate earlier on Monday that he would meet with the secretary, but the Biden administration appears to be discussing whether the meeting should proceed given Russia's latest actions. David Kramer, who spent three years as deputy assistant secretary of State for European and Eurasian affairs during the George W. Bush administration, warned Russia's next moves could take a variety of forms. Moscow could launch major cyberattacks, seek to disrupt a pipeline that runs through Ukraine or send its military further into Ukrainian territory. "There is a lot at stake here," said Kramer, who serves as an advisory board member to the foreign policy-focused Vandenberg Coalition. "But to do nothing in response to the latest forcible takeover of territory by Russia since World War II is not a tenable position because Putin's appetite will only grow." DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received a letter from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday concerning ways to support and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries as well as issues of mutual interest, the Qatari state news agency said. Putin's letter was delivered to al-Thani by the Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov, who is currently in Doha attending a gas exporters conference. (Reporting by Yasmin Hussein; Writing by Lina Najem; Editing by Catherine Evans) Flash China and Egypt have donated 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to boost its fight against the pandemic, the Chinese Embassy to Egypt said in a statement Monday. The vaccines were locally produced in Egypt through a partnership between Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, according to Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Egypt's acting health minister and higher education minister, who attended a ceremony held at VACSERA's headquarters on Sunday to mark the donation. "We celebrate the delivery of a batch of aid as a joint gift from China and Egypt to our Palestinian brothers in the Gaza Strip," the statement quoted Abdel-Ghaffar as saying. Egypt has so far produced more than 30 million doses of the vaccine, and their safety and efficiency are guaranteed, he said, adding Egypt has carried out wonderful cooperation with China since the beginning of the pandemic. "This batch of aid to Palestine marks the first time for Egypt to send its locally produced COVID-19 vaccines abroad," he stressed. The Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang, who was also present at the ceremony, described the joint donation as a "new and crucial step" through which the Chinese and the Egyptian governments cooperate to help the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip fight the pandemic and alleviate the humanitarian crisis there. According to Liao, the donation demonstrates that both China and Egypt have attached great importance to the Palestinian people's health and the Palestinian cause. It also reflects the high level of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Egypt. As a sincere friend to the Palestinian people, a responsible major country and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China will continue to cooperate with the international community, including Egypt, to push for the settlement of the Palestinian issue, and make positive contributions to achieving permanent peace and stability in the Middle East, said the Chinese ambassador. Nidaa Barghouti, a representative from the Palestinian Embassy in Egypt, expressed sincere thanks to both China and Egypt, saying that China and Egypt are good friends of the Palestinian people. "The Palestinian side highly commends China and Egypt for their consistent support for the just cause of the Palestinian people," she said, adding those vaccines is of great significance for them to fight the pandemic. The royal family have said they will not comment on how Prince Andrew was able to pay a 12m settlement for the civil sexual assault case made against him by Virginia Giuffre. Photo: Getty Prince Andrew's legal settlement of a civil sexual assault case made against him by Virginia Giuffre has led to questions about how the royal family paid for it. Some are concerned that the Duke of York may have used finances given to him by Queen, as well as the money made from selling his ski chalet in the Swiss Alps. As pressure mounts on Buckingham Palace to provide clarity on the matter, attention has turned to how the Queen and royal family receive their money in the first place. What is the Queen's net worth? According to the Sunday Times Rich List, the Queens net worth in 2021 was 365m ($496.7m) that's 15m more than the previous year. But the Queen's wealth doesn't all come from taxpayer as many people mistakenly think it does. Instead, the royals get their money from three main sources the sovereign grant, the privy purse and personal income and inheritance. Watch: Where do the Queen and royal family get their money from? What is the sovereign grant? The sovereign grant is a single payment given to the royals by the Treasury every year. Its used to pay for Her Majesty's official duties and upkeep of the occupied royal palaces, including Buckingham Palace, St James Palace and Windsor Castle. The Queen isn't allowed to sell any of the royal residences to make money as theyre not her private property they have to be passed on to her successor, Prince Charles. In 2020, the sovereign grant was 85.9m that equates to roughly 1.29 per person in the UK. Money for the grant comes from profits which are made by the Crown Estate a collection of property around the UK that is owned by the monarch but run independently. The Queen isn't allowed to put Buckingham Palace on the market. Photo: Getty How does the Crown Estate work? Dating back to the 11th century, the Crown Estate used to be the name for personal property owned by the monarch. However, in 1760 King George III reached an agreement with parliament to give up his income from the Crown Estate and instead receive a payment from the government annually. Story continues This yearly payment was known as the civil list until the introduction of the Sovereign Grant Act in 2011. Read more: UK property asking prices jump to record 348k in February Today, the Queen surrenders revenue from the estate to the government, who then give her an annual payment using 25% of the money from this. The sovereign grant for 2021-22 is 86.3m, a quarter of the 345m made by the Crown Estate. But, even if the Crown Estate's profits decrease, the Queen still receives the same grant as the previous year. So, it is possible for the Queen to receive more than 25% of its profits in a single year. What is the Privy Purse? When expenditure isn't met by the sovereign grant, the Queen can turn to the privy purse. This is another name for the net profits made by the Duchy of Lancaster estate a 577m portfolio of land, property and investments assets which are held in trust for the British sovereign. It's administered separately from the Crown Estate and is headed by the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Steve Barclay MP. Steve Barclay has held the position of the Duchy of Lancaster since September 2021. Photo: Getty According to the Palace, the Queen voluntarily pays income tax on these profits, but it has not specified how much. How else do the royal family get paid? Like everyone else, royals are allowed to earn a personal income from a job. The Queen earns hers through her own properties at Sandringham and Balmoral, which she inherited from her father George VI. Others earn a salary. For example, the military salaries earned by Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry. What is Prince Charles' net worth? Estimates for Prince Charles' net worth vary widely. The website Go Banking Rates says just under 75m, while Wealth-X estimates almost 300m. Prince Charles gets a separate income from the Queen through the Duchy of Cornwall. Photo: Getty Images What we do know is that most of the Prince of Wales' wealth stems from a medieval estate known as the Duchy of Cornwall. Like the Duchy of Lancaster generates money for the Queen, the Duchy of Cornwall grants Charles a separate annual income which he voluntarily pays tax on. For 2020-21 this was was 20.4m, according to the Duchy's official website. Watch: What are NFTs? A retiring soldier was shot by a Southern Pines deputy after reportedly brandishing a firearm. SOUTHERN PINES A soldier in the process of retiring was shot by a Moore County deputy on Friday after allegedly pointing a weapon at him. Jason Lauer, 41, is charged with two counts of felony assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm. He will appear in Moore County District Court on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Moore County Sheriffs Department. Lauer, who'd most recently been stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, is on terminal leave, a spokeswoman for the 18th Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg said. Terminal leave is when a soldier leaving the service uses up leave days before discharge date. Lauer is currently working as a civilian contractor at Fort Bragg, the spokesman said. Crime news: Death of Fayetteville 10 month old ruled homicide; father arrested A Linkedin profile appearing to belong to Lauer says hes served in the Army for 24 years and started his transition from active duty in January. According to Mondays Moore County news release, deputies Rashad Gatling and Jose Cervantes were responding to a noise complaint at about 1:30 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of Fairway Court in Southern Pines when Lauer emerged from the home and pointed a handgun at them. Cervantes shot Lauer, the news release says. Lauer was taken to Moore Regional Hospital. After being treated and released from the hospital Saturday, he was taken to the Moore County Detention Center with bail set at $50,000 secured. Gatling received minor injuries from a fall during the incident and was treated and released from First Health Moore Regional, the news release says. The State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a probe into the shooting. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Man shot by Moore County deputy after allegedly pointing a gun A Russian marine participates in exercises in Belarus Russia's parliament on Tuesday approved legislation approving troop deployment in Ukraine's rebel regions. The legislation, which moved through the lower house, would allow friendship treaties between Russia and two Ukraine separatist regions backed by Moscow, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic, Reuters reported. If Russian President Vladimir Putin signs off on the legislation, it could be a catalyst to Russia building military defenses in the area. Some European Union and other officials have said that Russian troops are already in Ukraine, but are conflicted on the implications of the move, with some stopping short of calling the move a full invasion, The Associated Press reported. "Russian troops have entered in Donbas," the name used for both of the Moscow-backed regions, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. "We consider Donbas part of Ukraine." "I wouldn't say that [it is] a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil," he added. Some other officials are calling any Russian troops entering Ukraine territory an invasion. British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told Sky News "the invasion of Ukraine has begun." "We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe, and it's clear from what we have already seen and found out today that the Russians, President Putin, has decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity," he added. Russia has not yet acknowledged any movement of troops to the region. Ukraine said it will not be giving up any land to Russia while Russia says troop deployment would be to "keep the peace" in the region. MOSCOW (AP) Russia says it is evacuating the country's diplomatic personnel from Ukraine because they received threats. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has condemned Russia's recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine. Russia's move is a "clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty," he said in a statement. He added that President Biden will be acting to bar all trade and investment with the "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics." On Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement condemning Russia's recognition of two separatist territories in Ukraine as independent states. The decision to recognize the independence of the "so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics" is a "clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. The US does not recognize either area as a republic. Blinken also noted that Russia's move also violates its commitments under the Minsk agreements two deals meant to quell further conflict in eastern Ukraine and contradicts the country's claim that it was committed to diplomacy. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree that ordered "peacekeeping" troops into Ukraine's Luhansk and Donestk regions. The order came after Putin recognized the territories as independent states. "States have an obligation not to recognize a new 'state' created through the threat or use of force, as well as an obligation not to disrupt another state's borders," said Blinken in his statement. "Russia's decision is yet another example of President Putin's flagrant disrespect for international law and norms." Blinked added that President Joe Biden would be signing an Executive Order that would ban all new business dealings by US citizens with the separatist regions. "We will continue to coordinate with Ukraine and our Allies and partners to take appropriate steps in response to this unprovoked and unacceptable action by Russia," he said, noting that the order would allow humanitarian work in the regions to continue. Story continues Expressing US support for Ukraine, Blinken said, "We stand with our Ukrainian partners in strongly condemning President Putin's announcement." In a separate statement Monday night, Blinken confirmed that US embassy staff who had been evacuated from Lviv, Ukraine, to Poland, would spend the night in Poland as the "security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice." However, staff "will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider By Nelson Renteria SAN SALVADOR (Reuters) - Four Salvadoran women recently freed from prison after a judicial review of their convictions for aggravated homicide following miscarriages called on Tuesday for another 12 women being prosecuted in El Salvador under similar circumstances to have their charges quashed. The four women - Kenia, Evelyn, Karen and Elsy, who asked to be identified by their first names because they feared for their safety - were each sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted for aggravated homicide following miscarriages. They served seven to 13 years of their respective sentences and were all freed from December to February after authorities reviewed their cases. They are now asking for the release of seven women who are in prison after being convicted of aggravated homicide after suffering what advocates say were obstetric emergencies. A further five women are facing similar charges. Kenia told reporters that, when she was 17, she suffered an obstetric emergency in her third trimester after falling at home, and that despite her calls to the local emergency medical number help did not arrive in time. She said she awoke in a hospital bed surrounded by security agents. "They deprived me of liberty for something so unfair. I lost my youth, I lost my family," said Kenia, who hopes to study English and cosmetology after being freed. She called for "the freedom of all the other women deprived of their liberty for the same reason." Over the last 20 years El Salvador, which has banned abortion under all circumstances, including cases of rape and incest and when the woman's health is in danger, has criminally prosecuted some 181 women who suffered obstetric emergencies, according to women's rights organization The Citizen Group for the Decriminalization of Abortion in El Salvador. Since 2009, 62 of them have been released, the group says. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who has previously ruled out a change to the abortion laws, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Story continues The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in November that El Salvador had violated the rights of a woman identified as Manuela who was sent to prison for breaching the abortion laws and died while serving her 30-year sentence. Amnesty International said it supports efforts to free all women who have been criminalized in El Salvador for obstetric emergencies under one of the most "draconian" abortion laws in the world. "It's shameful the country continues to subject women and girls to a context of extreme violence, where they cannot make informed decisions about their bodies," Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty's Americas director, told Reuters. (Reporting by Nelson Renteria; Writing by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) Flash The U.S. national emergency beginning almost two years ago will be extended beyond March 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. President Joe Biden has announced. "There remains a need to continue this national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause significant risk to the public health and safety of the nation," said Biden on Friday in a letter to the speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate. He noted that more than 900,000 had died from the disease in the country, according to the letter posted on the White House website. The United States has registered more than 78 million COVID-19 cases as of Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The national emergency, which came into effect on March 1, 2020, would have been automatically terminated unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the U.S. president sent a notice to the U.S. Congress stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date, according to the letter. PRAGUE (Reuters) - Slovakia is preparing its armed forces to help handle any possible flow of refugees from Ukraine after Russia's recognition of two separatist regions escalated the crisis, Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad said on Tuesday. NATO said on Tuesday the alliance believed that Russia was still planning a major assault on Ukraine while the European Union agreed new sanctions against Moscow. Countries in Eastern Europe have been making preparations for potentially hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Ukraine in the event of a Russian invasion. Slovakia, which borders Ukraine in the east and is both a member of NATO and the European Union, so far has not reported any increased activity at its frontier. Nad said Slovakia would have enough capacity to deal with any refugee influx and although he said it was still impossible to make any estimates yet, the country would be ready for any developments. "We are in the process of increasing combat readiness but the primary reason is the potential threat of migration and not the threat of war," he said after a meeting of Slovakia's state security council. Nad said security forces were also seeing more cyber threats and hybrid activity coming from Russia. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova said on Tuesday that cases of disinformation and propaganda from Russia were rising in Slovakia. Slovakia has backed EU allies in measures like sanctions to try to deter a Russian offensive in Ukraine. Russia's parliament approved treaties with two breakaway regions a day after President Vladimir Putin said he was recognising the independence of the enclaves in eastern Ukraine, which adjoin Russia and have been controlled by Russian-backed rebel forces since 2014. (Reporting by Jan Lopatka and Jason Hovet; Editing by Mark Heinrich) A South Florida doctor faces decades in prison after a federal jury found he unlawfully billed $110 million in drug tests that were deemed medically unnecessary for patients at a sober living facility. On Feb. 10, Mark Agresti was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud in addition to 11 counts of health care fraud, the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Southern District of Florida said in a statement. Agresti is set to be sentenced April 21, facing up to 20 years in prison for the health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy count, and 10 years for each count of health care fraud, the office said. This is the second trial conviction that resulted from a Justice Department initiative cracking down on people suspected of exploiting vulnerable patients seeking treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. As the medical director of Good Decisions Sober Living Inc., a sober home and laboratory in Palm Beach County, Agresti agreed to provide standing orders for urinalysis drug tests for patients in exchange for a monthly fee, the office said. According to prosecutors, Agresti also had patients from the sober home sent to his medical office so he could fraudulently bill for services for these patients from his own medical practice. Three or four times per week, patients were required to submit to excessive, medically unnecessary urine drug tests as a condition of residency, the office said, adding up to hundreds of drug tests per week and thousands per month. Each drug test can cost as much as $6,000 to $9,000, the office said, noting that Agresti did not review the drug test results and did not use them to treat the patients. The fraudulent activity happened from September of 2011 through December of 2015 at the sober home and other addiction treatment facilities in the West Palm Beach area, according to authorities. The defendant in this case exploited patients seeking treatment for addiction and pocketed the profits for years, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division said in the statement. This conviction is a warning that fraudulent practices like billing for medically unnecessary services come at a high cost. Story continues Three other defendants, including the sober homes owner, Kenneth Bailynson, were previously indicted and pleaded guilty to related charges in connection with this scheme, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. The names of the other defendants are Stephanie Curran and Matthew Noel, a court document shows. Agrestis attorneys did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The office is closed effective immediately. Patients, please call the office to pick up your medical charts, the website of Agrestis medical office says. In November, Bal Harbour brothers Jonathan and Daniel Markovich were found guilty of swindling $112 million from private insurance companies for addiction treatment services that prosecutors say were either not provided or were unnecessary. In 2018, the Department of Justice unveiled an array of healthcare fraud cases accusing about 600 defendants nationwide of submitting $2 billion in false bills to the Medicare program for the elderly, the TRICARE system for military members and private insurance companies. Of that total, about 125 defendants Agresti included were charged in South Florida with filing nearly $340 million in fraudulent claims. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka has sent back the last of 263 shipping containers of waste from Britain, an official said Tuesday, as developing nations look to block the import of refuse and other environmentally hazardous items from wealthier countries. Customs officials in the South Asian country identified the large shipment of waste two years ago, including mattresses, carpets and springs, which the local importers claimed were for recycling. Deputy environmental chief Ajith Weerasundara said the last 45 containers were sent out of the country on Monday. Sri Lanka is party to the Basel Convention which controls transboundary movements of hazardous waste and their disposal, especially in developing nations. Weerasundara said authorities will stay vigilant to prevent disposal of waste in the country. Many countries in Southeast Asia have been resisting trash exports from developed nations in recent years. In 2020 Malaysia repatriated 150 containers of waste mainly to developed countries after they had been rerouted there following a Chinese ban on plastic waste. Steve Harvey has been in the spotlight for over two decades building a career in television, movies and comedy, including as an award-winning host of Family Feud and The Steve Harvey Show. Now, the 65-year-old is focused on sharing more of his life with the public, including the details of how he gained and maintained his success. In an interview for Paper magazine, conducted by actor Michael B Jordan, Harvey said that "there's a huge difference" between who he is on-screen versus who he is at home, noting that there's a lot of work put into his smiley television presence. Steve Harvey is ready to show a different side of himself. (Photo: Getty Images) "I'm the biggest game show host. Family Feud is the biggest game show in the world. I'm on TV seven days a week, sometimes multiple times a day in a city. And I'm an entertainer, I'm happy. My job is to put a smile on people's faces, young or old. I take that responsibility seriously, but that image is only a part of the day," Harvey explained. "I'm tired of showing that side of me. Cause you see it everywhere." He continued: "What I want them to see is: Who is the dude that built this life? Who is the hustler and the grinder that makes this life for his family? That creates this lifestyle for his wife, children and grandchildren? Who is that dude, because that dude is different than the finished product you get to see on TV, cause it ain't all champagne pops and giggles, man. It ain't." Harvey went on to explain his dual persona as "the person that built this lifestyle, thats in charge of maintaining this empire," and said that he's "a lot more serious" than the person people see in the public sphere. "I want people to know the other side of me," he said. "The man that built this, the man that prays, the man that has faith, the man that sits around and is a lot like yourself: in a lot of deep thought about the future and how you plot the next move. How do I stay relevant? That's been a big part of what I want people to start seeing, so they can stop thinking it's all bubbles and giggles." Story continues While Harvey has been recognized for his on-screen presence and even his fashion, he pointed out that he'd like to open up more about his work ethic. Most notably, how he's continued to find success in Hollywood throughout the years. "Getting successful is one thing, staying successful is a whole other thing. It's two different processes, man. And, for me, it was easier to get here than it is to stay here," Harvey explained. He also recognized the hardships he has faced privately while being a public figure. "In the process of getting divorced twice, in the process of losing everything I ever owned twice, in the process of living in a car for three years, in the process of becoming under attack from the internet, in the process of hearing so many lies about yourself, you still have to put that smile on your face and go to work. They thought they would break me, but they didn't know who they were up against." The way that Harvey paved his unique path, however, was by recognizing the real impact that he and his work could have on people watching. "You hear people say, 'I'm not a role model.' Yes, you are," Harvey said. "If you reach a certain level of fame and some kid is emulating you and wanting to be like you, you have an obligation. I made a decision a long time ago on my shows that when people pay money to come see me, I didn't want them to just sit in the audience and laugh." Instead, Harvey reflected on his routine of staying on set during commercial breaks and having authentic conversations with audience members. "I know everybody out there [is] struggling with something, I don't care who you are," he said. "Look man, I'm older than most cats, so if I know the answer to something and I can solve some of your problems, I don't have [a] problem doing that. It's been one of the great offset benefits of my life." After tossing a question to Jordan, who's dating Harvey's daughter Lori, the television icon added, "At the end of the day, Im a father." Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court said Tuesday that it will decide whether a web designer may decline to make wedding websites for same-sex couples in a case that could have sweeping implications in the battle over LGBTQ rights. Ever since the nation's highest court handed down a landmark ruling in 2015 legalizing same-sex marriage, the justices have been confronted with a barrage of lawsuits involving wedding photographers, bakers and other matrimonial businesses that claim serving same-sex couples would violate their constitutional rights. The court has largely dodged a fundamental question presented by those cases: whether denying service to LGBTQ customers because of religious objections is illegal discrimination or is protected by the First Amendment. Lorie Smith, a graphic and website designer in Denver, intends to develop sites for weddings but wants to decline to provide her services for same-sex weddings. She sued the Colorado Civil Rights Division and other state entities in 2016, asserting the state's anti-discrimination laws violate her First Amendment rights to free speech and to practice her religion. In agreeing to take the case Tuesday, the high court limited the appeal to consideration of only the free speech claims. The court declined to hear another question raised by the lawsuit: whether Colorado's law violates precedent on religious freedom and whether the court should consider overruling that precedent. A panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit in Denver sided with Colorado last year. The 2-1 decision found the state has a compelling interest in protecting members of the LBGTQ community from discrimination. "The government doesn't have the power to silence or compel creative expression under the threat of punishment," said Kristen Waggoner with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which represents Smith in the case. "Its shocking that the 10th Circuit would permit Colorado to punish artists whose speech isnt in line with state-approved ideology." Story continues Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, said the state would "vigorously defend" the law. "The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that anti-discrimination laws, like Colorados, apply to all businesses selling goods and services," he said. "Companies cannot turn away LGBT customers just because of who they are." The Supreme Court will probably hear arguments in the case in the fall. The Supreme Court says it will consider whether a website designer in Colorado can deny her services to same-sex couples. Colorado baker Jack Phillips challenged the same anti-discrimination law in a case decided by the Supreme Court four years ago. A divided court absolved Phillips in 2018 of discrimination claims for refusing to create a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple, ruling that the state had exhibited "religious hostility" against him. The court never resolved the broader question of whether opponents of same-sex marriage, including florists, photographers and videographers, can refuse commercial wedding services to LGBTQ couples. The government cannot impose regulations that are hostile to citizens' religious beliefs, a 7-2 majority wrote in the decision, but the ruling was limited to Colorado's treatment of Phillips specifically. It was handed down when the high court included Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, a swing vote who championed LGBTQ rights. Since then, Kennedy, who wrote the majority opinion in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case involving Phillips, and Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a reliable liberal vote, have been replaced by associate justices nominated by President Donald Trump. Baker: Supreme Court rules for baker who refused same-sex couple Florist: SCOTUS won't hear case of florist who denied service to same-sex wedding In July, the high court turned away a similar challenge from a Washington state florist who declined to create an arrangement for a same-sex wedding. Three conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch said they would have taken the case. The move left in place a state court ruling against the florist. LGBTQ rights groups said the decision to hear arguments in the Smith case is an opportunity to settle the outstanding question the high court has avoided. "It is time once and for all to put to rest these businesses' attempts to undermine the civil rights of LGBTQ people in the name of religion," said Jennifer Pizer, legal senior counsel with the LGBTQ rights group Lambda. "The constitutional protections for religious freedom and free speech were never intended as weapons of discrimination." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Supreme Court to decide if web designer can decline same-sex weddings Former President Donald Trump. Evan Vucci/AP The Supreme Court denied Trump's request to review the Jan. 6 committee's bid for White House records. It had previously declined to block the National Archives from turning over documents to the panel. The agency recovered 15 boxes of documents from Trump's residence; some had classified information. The Supreme Court on Tuesday officially denied former President Donald Trump's request to review the January 6 select committee's bid for White House records. The decision was widely expected after the high court last month declined to block the National Archives and Records Administration from turning over tranches of executive-branch documents to the congressional committee investigating the January 6 riot. Trump asserted executive privilege over the documents when the committee initially requested them. But the Biden White House declined to do the same, saying in October that it was "not in the best interests of the United States," and it authorized the National Archives to turn over the materials to Congress. Trump filed a lawsuit in response, setting up the first constitutional showdown testing whether a sitting president has the right to overrule their predecessor's assertion of executive privilege. A federal judge rejected Trump's request in November, saying in a lengthy ruling that while Trump had the right to assert the privilege, President Joe Biden was not required to honor it. The US Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, affirmed the lower court's ruling in a blistering 68-page opinion written by Judge Patricia Millett. "Benjamin Franklin said, at the founding, that we have '[a] Republic''if [we] can keep it.' The events of January 6th exposed the fragility of those democratic institutions and traditions that we had perhaps come to take for granted," Millett wrote. She added that both the incumbent president and Congress had determined that "access to this subset of presidential communication records is necessary to address a matter of great constitutional moment for the Republic." Story continues "Former President Trump has given this court no legal reason to cast aside President Biden's assessment of the Executive Branch interests at stake, or to create a separation of powers conflict that the Political Branches have avoided," the ruling said. The Supreme Court's January order specifically left some key questions unanswered, including to what extent a former president can shield their documents from public release. The court described these issues as "unprecedented" and said they "raise serious and substantial concerns." The House select committee investigating the January 6 riot received the more than 700 pages of White House records last month, which the panel said was relevant to its probe. The documents included White House visitor logs, Trump's daily schedule, call records, and handwritten notes from Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows about January 6, according to the National Archives. In the weeks after the Supreme Court declined to block the archives from turning over documents to the January 6 select committee, it surfaced that Trump had taken about 15 boxes of White House documents to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. NARA said in a letter to lawmakers on Friday that it had communicated with Trump advisors about the materials last year, that it received the 15 boxes last month, and that it was still inventorying the contents. The records Trump belatedly turned over reportedly included documents related to some of his most infamous moments, like "Sharpiegate," when he showed a doctored map of Hurricane Dorian's path in 2019. The agency said that, among other things, it recently learned that some of the boxes Trump took with him contained classified national-security information. NARA asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Trump violated federal law by taking documents with him to Mar-a-Lago that should have been turned over to the archives at the end of his presidency. Legal experts have said that Trump's actions may have violated the Presidential Records Act, which requires presidents and White House staff to preserve official documents and communications and turn those items over to the archives at the end of a president's term. The January 6 committee's request for Trump's records came as lawmakers try to piece together Trump's movements and actions on the day of the Capitol riot. Rep. Liz Cheney, the top Republican on the panel, has suggested that Trump's failure to immediately condemn rioters amounts to a dereliction of duty. Several figures in the Trump White House have not cooperated with the committee's probe. The House voted to hold Meadows and one-time White House chief strategist Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress after they defied subpoenas from the committee. Bannon in November pleaded not guilty to two counts of contempt of Congress. More recently, the panel subpoenaed former White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, who pointed to Trump's claim of executive privilege when declining to cooperate. Last month, the committee reached out for information from Trump's former senior advisor and daughter Ivanka Trump, whose spokesperson did not directly respond to the committee's request. Read the original article on Business Insider Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday had a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken congratulated China on the successful Beijing Winter Olympics and the Chinese athletes on their great achievements. While extending his congratulations to the American athletes for their fine performances in the Beijing Winter Olympics, Wang said that the Chinese and American athletes have fully demonstrated the Olympic spirit by friendly interaction, mutual encouragement and common improvement. The Chinese foreign minister said that the most important thing in grasping and advancing China-U.S. relations is to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. He stressed that China is willing to effectively manage differences and stabilize China-U.S. relations in line with the three principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping. According to Wang, the United States has recently launched the so-called new version of the "Indo-Pacific Strategy," publicly listed China as the top regional challenge, and tried to include the strategy of "using Taiwan to contain China" into the U.S. regional strategy, which is obviously sending a wrong signal of beleaguering and containing China. Since there are both competition and cooperation between China and the United States, bilateral relations cannot be defined simply by competition, Wang said, adding that some U.S. officials have trumpeted a long-term fierce competition with China, which is likely to evolve into a full-blown confrontation between China and the United States. China urges the U.S. side to take concrete actions to honor the commitments made by President Biden, Wang noted, adding that Washington cannot say one thing yet do the opposite, eat their words or show no credibility. The senior Chinese diplomat also said that the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique will come in a few days, the spirit of which is still of great realistic significance to China-U.S. relations today. He expressed the hope that the United States will stay true to the original aspiration of breaking ice between China and the United States, return to a rational and pragmatic perception of China and jointly push bilateral relations back onto the right track for healthy and stable development. For his part, Blinken said that as President Biden has said many times, the United States does not seek a new Cold War or to change China's system, adding it opposes "Taiwan independence" and has no intention of conflict or confrontation with China. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court is leaving in place a decision throwing out a lawsuit filed by a woman who accused billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was a child. Courtney Wild's lawsuit claimed Florida federal prosecutors failed to consult victims more than a decade ago when reaching a secret plea deal with Epstein, who died in jail in New York in 2019. The high court said Tuesday it would not consider the case. As is typical, the court did not comment in turning away the case, which was included on a list of cases the court said it would not take. The Biden administration had urged the justices not to hear the case. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against Wild in April 2020, saying a lower court had correctly thrown out her lawsuit. Wilds lawsuit revolved around a secret plea negotiation with Epstein that spared him serious federal charges and permitted him to plead guilty to lesser state prostitution-related charges in Palm Beach County, Florida. Epstein spent 13 months in jail while being allowed to go to his office almost daily, paid financial settlements to victims and was registered as a sex offender. The lawsuit claimed the deal was never discussed with any of his victims in violation of the Crime Victims Rights Act. Epstein was later charged federally in New York. He was accused of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them at his homes in Florida and New York. He was found dead in jail on Aug. 10, 2019, at age 66. A medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. A federal judge in Florida initially ruled that prosecutors violated the victims rights law and asked for recommendations from both sides on what to do about it. But after Epstein died the lawsuit was dismissed. The Associated Press does not name sexual abuse victims without their permission. Wild has given numerous interviews and discussed her experiences with Epstein publicly at length. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria supports the decision of its ally Russia to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Syrian state TV quoted the Syrian foreign minister as saying on Tuesday. The United States and its European allies are set to announce fresh sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after Putin recognised the two breakaway regions, deepening Western fears of a new war in Europe. "Syria supports President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk," the state TV quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying during an event in Moscow. "What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war," said Mekdad. Syria has been a staunch ally of Moscow since Russia launched a military campaign in Syria in 2015 that helped to turn the tide in a civil war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad. Later, the Syrian presidency said Damascus had already planned to recognize Donetsk as early as December 2021. "Syria affirms that it is ready to work on building relations with the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and to stregthen them with regard to mutual interests," the statement added. (Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad and Yasmin Hussein; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky, William Maclean) Syria on Tuesday announced support of Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway territories in Ukraine as independent. Syria's foreign minister, Faisal Mekdad, issued direct support of Putin's recognition Monday of the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported. Mekdad also appeared to blame Western nations for tensions in Europe. "What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war," Mekdad said on state-run TV, according to Reuters. Russia has allied with Syria since intervening in the Middle Eastern nation's ongoing civil war in 2015. Moscow has backed Syrian President Bashar Assad in the war effort despite alleged human rights abuses conducted by his regime. Other Russian allies have been more hesitant to outright support Putin's move to increase tensions in Ukraine. Azerbaijan and Armenia made no mention of Putin's recognition of the territories, The Associated Press reported. Belarus said it gave "respect and understanding" to Russia's decision, and Kazakhstan said recognizing the regions was not on the nation's agenda. After declaring the two breakaway territories as independent, Russia sent troops into eastern Ukraine, prompting an outcry from world leaders. President Biden's administration enacted sanctions prohibiting investments, trade and financing from U.S. citizens to people in the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic and said more sanctions would follow. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Putin's escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. "Russia's move to recognize the 'independence' of so-called republics controlled by its own proxies is a predictable, shameful act," Blinken wrote on Twitter. After eating leftover food in his fridge, which triggered a potentially deadly disease, a 19-year-old student had to get both of his legs and and all ten fingers amputated. In a YouTube video posted by Chubbyemu, Bernard Hsu, a doctor and YouTube creator, details the results of a case from The New England Journal of Medicine, which was first reported in March 2021. According to this study, a patient was admitted to the paediatric intensive care centre (PICU) because of shock, multiple organ failure, and rash. His pain first started 20 hours before he was admitted and shortly after he ate rice, chicken, and lo mein leftovers from a restaurant. As noted in Hsus video, this patient, who is referred to as JC, had fever, high blood pressure, and pale skin. After JC vomited, doctors noticed a green-ish yellow colour, not looking like any particular kind of food. However, JCs abnormal breathing became an even greater concern, along with the dropping of his blood pressure. Once he was sedated, doctors saw changes in his skin. Doctors started to notice a rash containing small spots emerging all over his body, Hsu explained. At first, this mottled appearance looked like bruises, but then they became a deep reddish brown, red defined at the edges. JC continued to get sicker and was then transported via helicopter to another hospital that had more resources. Following more blood and urine tests, JC was diagnosed with neisseria meningitidis, which caused his stiff neck, nausea, respiratory collapse, shock, and multiorgan failure. As noted by the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), this condition, also known as meningococcal disease, is caused by bacteria, with symptoms like sudden fever and vomiting. It can also lead to death in as little as a few hours. In regards to his skin changes, this was due to purpura fulminans, which Hsu said are purple rashes that can happen very suddenly. As noted by the Canadian Medical Association Journal , purpura fulminans can be a severe and rare result of Meningococcal disease. Story continues And although he continued to stabilise, the infections on JCs body were so severe that he had to have all 10 of his fingers and both of his legs amputated. Similar to JC, his roommate also threw up after eating the leftover food but he didnt react nearly as badly. The doctors then studied JCs medical history more to discover how he differed from his roommate. They learned that JC only received the first dose of the meningococcal vaccine just before he entered middle school. And once he reached the age of 16, JC did not receive the recommended booster for the vaccine. Per the CDC , a Serogroup B meningococcal is then recommended between the age of 16 to 23. Hsu explained that this usually consists of two separate doses within a few month period, and again, JC only got one dose. Hsu also explained while it was clearly the leftover food that caused JCs symptoms, it remains unknown how traces of neisseria meningitidis got into it. Luckily, JC is doing much better and his condition is improving. As noted by WebMD, bacteria can quickly grow on leftover food when stored at room temperature. However, it isnt clear where JC kept his meal before eating it. The medical site notes that food should be put in the fridge or freezer within two hours after its been cooked or taken off a heat source. While it can depend on what kind of food youre eating, leftovers can be kept for three to four days in the refrigerator, according to Mayo Clinic. A woman in Tennessee is accused of exchanging items for sexual encounters with nine high school boys she spoke with on social media, officials said. Melissa A. Blair, 38, of Englewood about 60 miles northeast of Chattanooga was indicted on Feb. 15 on 23 charges, including 18 counts of aggravated statutory rape, four counts of human trafficking by patronizing prostitution and one count of solicitation of a minor, McMinn County Sheriff Joe Guy announced.Guy said the victims, students at McMinn Central High School, were all minors when Blair had sexual encounters with them in exchange for items between the spring of 2020 and until late 2021. He declined to specify what those items were during a news conference last week. Blair could not be reached for comment by NBC News. Her attorney, Robert Kurtz, declined comment on Tuesday. McMinn County Director of Schools Lee Parkison said during the joint media briefing he was surprised the allegations against Blair a parent who was involved in booster clubs stayed secret for so long, especially in the age of social media. Related video: Former 'Cheer' star Jerry Harris pleads guilty in sex abuse case Authorities began investigating Blair after district officials were alerted to her through an anonymous letter, Parkison said. I want to thank the person who put this anonymous letter in my office, he said. Without them, this could still be going on. The sheriffs office received a referral from the Tennessee Department of Childrens Services on Dec. 9, Guy said. About a week later, detectives with the sheriffs office went to Blairs home and spoke with her. Authorities later executed a search warrant at her house, according to the sheriffs office. Stephen Crump, district attorney general with the Tenth Judicial District, said during last weeks media briefing that investigators suspect there are more victims. In a case like this, it truly is about those who were victimized, he said. Its not about a headline. Its not about a trial. Its about trying to make, as much as possible, our victims whole. Story continues In a statement Tuesday, Crump said: We are extremely concerned that other victims may exist. I know that this is a difficult topic for children and parents to discuss. It is crucial that we identify any additional victims. We believe that several may exist. I am asking any victims and their parents to come forward if they havent. Two of Blairs alleged victims are now adults, Guy said. According to the indictment, the victims, who were identified by their dates of birth, were born between the years 2003 and 2006. Blair turned herself in to the sheriffs office last week and later posted $100,000 bond, authorities said. Her arraignment is scheduled for Monday, Crump said. Officials ask if anyone knows of additional victims to contact the McMinn County Sheriffs Office at 423-745-5620 or the Tenth Judicial District at 423-744-2830. By Hyunjoo Jin SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A former Tesla construction manager has filed a lawsuit against the electric car company alleging he was fired for reporting widespread safety violations and race discrimination at Tesla's factories. In the lawsuit filed with Alameda County Superior Court on Friday, Marc Cage, an African American, claimed to have reported safety violations that risked massive explosions at Tesla's battery factory in Nevada and systematic failures by the company to disclose serious on-the-job injuries. "Teslas commitments to unrealistic production goals and frantic efforts to ramp up its production, often to make good on rash promises, overrode any commitment to employee safety," the complaint says. He also alleged that Tesla employees, with the full knowledge of the company's management, denigrated and harassed him on the basis of his race. "Virtually every restroom in Teslas Fremont facility contained writings or carvings of racist symbols and slurs, including swastikas and prominent displays of the n-word," Cage said in his complaint. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. A California state agency earlier this month sued Tesla over allegations by some Black workers that they were subjected to racist slurs and drawings and assigned the most physically demanding jobs at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California. That lawsuit, which Tesla said was "misguided," said the company tolerated racial discrimination, adding to claims made in several other lawsuits against the world's most valuable automaker. Tesla and its chief executive, Elon Musk, have escalated a battle with regulators who have scrutinized his social media posts, the company's treatment of its workers and its testing of semi-automated driving systems on public roads. Musk on Tuesday accused the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission of being a multi-layered "corruption onion." A day earlier, the company had accused the agency of leaking information from a Tesla-related probe. Story continues Tesla disclosed earlier this month that it had received a subpoena from the SEC about its compliance with a 2018 settlement over Musk's tweets about taking the company private. Last week, the company and Musk accused the SEC of harassing them with an investigation to punish Musk for being an outspoken critic of the government. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Tim Ahmann) Flash A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday urged Australia to stop engaging in provocations against China. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks in response to the latest comments made by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who denied that an Australia plane had "come too close" to a Chinese naval vessel. Wang said that the Australian P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft approached the airspace over the Chinese PLA naval fleet on Thursday, coming within 4 kilometers and casting sonar buoys around the vessel, as per the account released by China's Ministry of National Defense. "During the whole process of the encounter with the Australian military aircraft, the Chinese vessel maintained safe, standardized and professional operation in accordance with relevant international laws and practices," the spokesperson said. He pointed out that Australia has used surveillance planes to engage in provocative actions against China on many occasions. "Last November, an Australian military aircraft entered China's airspace over the Xisha Islands without the approval of the Chinese government, which seriously undermined China's sovereignty," he said. "We firmly oppose these actions by Australia, and urge it to reflect upon itself, refrain from spreading disinformation about China and making provocations," Wang added. By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Tonga was reconnected to the world on Tuesday following repairs to a submarine cable, officials said, a month after a volcanic eruption and tsunami cut communications to the remote Pacific island nation. "People on the main island will have access almost immediately," Tonga Cable chief executive James Panuve told Reuters by telephone, after a repair ship handed over the restored cable on Tuesday afternoon. School chaplain Penisimani Akauola Tonga was among those getting back online for the first time since the disaster struck the tiny island nation in mid January. "First post on Facebook since January 15th! So Blessed for the opportunity! Malo Tonga Cable & Tonga Government!" he wrote. Tongans have struggled with makeshift satellite services as the repairs to the cable were made. The repair ship Reliance took 20 days to replace a 92-kilometre (57-mile) section of the 827 km submarine fibre optice cable that connects Tonga to Fiji and other international networks. Panuve thanked telecommunications companies in neighbouring Pacific islands, particularly New Caledonia, which provided lengths of cable when Tonga ran out. The next job would be to repair the domestic cable connecting the main island of Tongatapu with outlying islands that were worst hit by the tsunami, which could take six to nine months, said Panuve. "We don't have enough cable," he added. Still, communication using interim satelite services to outlying islands would improve after Tonga's networks switched the main island from satellite to fibre, he said. One of two major service providers, Digicel said in a statement all its customers on Tongatapu and Eua islands were connected to the outside world as data connectivity was restored. Digicel Tonga chief executive, Anthony Seuseu said in a statement that the compancy would look at increasing investment and network optimization to prepare better for a catastrophic event... in the future". Digicel's Pacific business was bought by Australian telecommunications company Telstra Corp in October with financing by the Australian government. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) This screen grab is from a video showing a minivan driving through a crowd of protestors on Main Street in Mishawaka on July 4, 2020. SOUTH BEND The trial for a Mishawaka physician accused of driving through a crowd of demonstrators in downtown Mishawaka in 2020 began Tuesday with jurors being questioned about their views on protests. Glenn Wheet, a doctor, is charged with criminal recklessness stemming from an incident on July 4, 2020, in which he's accused of accelerating through a crowd of protesters who had surrounded his car, hitting three people and dragging one man along the Main Street bridge. In court documents, prosecutors said Wheet initially drove his SUV away from the bridge, then came back and drove through a line of traffic cones police had set up in front of the protesters. Wheet is charged with criminal recklessness, a Level 6 felony. If convicted, he could face six months to 2 years in prison and potentially lose his medical license. South Bend protests: Two marches, hundreds of demonstrators and a call for change The Mishawaka protest against racial injustice came at a time when similar demonstrations were being held locally and across the country following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. Some potential jurors said Tuesday that they felt biased against the protesters based on their political ideologies. I dont think theyre peaceful at all. They treat law enforcement like crap," one person called in for jury duty said. A few others said that protesters in the middle of the road were "kind of asking for it" when they were injured in the incident. Other prospective jurors said drivers should use common sense when people are in the street. Glenn Wheet Deputy prosecuting attorney Kristen Kocsis and Jeff Kimmell, an attorney representing Wheet, also asked jurors questions about their past experiences with protests and whether there were any situations where a person may be justified in driving through a crowd of people. After deliberation, eight jurors six jurors and two alternates were selected Tuesday afternoon. Story continues Kimmell has previously said the doctor had no idea a protest was happening until he reached the bridge. The protesters, Kimmel said in a written statement, moved beyond a line of cones, obstructing them from Wheets view. When Wheet became fearful for his safety and that of his son, who was in the vehicle with him, he "proceeded forward at a very slow and cautious pace until he was clear of the protesters, all of whom moved out of the way except for one individual who decided to grab onto the side mirror," Kimmell's statement said. Wheet also contends the protesters did not have a proper permit and there was no police presence when he drove up to the bridge. While questioning prospective jurors, Kimmell said the issues of Wheet feeling threatened by the protesters and that the protest was not properly permitted would be key elements in his defense. Court documents indicate Mishawaka police officers, including police chief Ken Witkowski, and several people who were at the protest are likely to be called as witnesses. Wheet has previously settled a civil suit related to the incident, brought by Trevor Davis, the man who said he was dragged by Wheets car and subsequently hospitalized. The parties entered into a settlement in October and terms of the agreement were not made public. Wheet was criminally charged in July 2020 after the prosecutors office asked the public to send in any videos they had of the incident. The case has been delayed by both the pandemic and a congested court docket. In addition to potentially serving time in jail, Wheet could potentially lose his medical license if convicted of the felony count. As of Tuesday afternoon, the status of Wheets medical license was listed as valid to practice while reviewed on the Indiana Professional Licensing Agencys website. Email Marek Mazurek at mmazurek@sbtinfo.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marek_mazurek This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Glenn Wheet, doctor accused of driving through protestors, trial begins Tucson Police Department. Someone shot and killed a man who was trespassing in their yard near Dodge Boulevard and Grant Road in Tucson on Sunday night, police said. The man who died was identified as 51-year-old Stevan McKinney. Officers arrived to the scene around 9:30 p.m. where they found McKinney in someone else's backyard with "obvious gunshot trauma," Tucson police spokesperson Sgt. Richard Gradillas said. Tucson police and fire attempted life-saving efforts, but McKinney was pronounced dead on scene. Detectives from the homicide unit investigated the scene. They learned that McKinney was trespassing in the yard with other people. Police said the people responsible for the home asked the trespassers to leave, but they refused. A confrontation started at which time McKinney showed he had a firearm, so someone shot him, Gradillas said. Police did not identify the shooter as of Monday, although it appears they are cooperating with police, because Gradillas said no other suspects were wanted. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide. Arizona law states the use of force for self-defense is justified against another when a reasonable person would think physical force is necessary to protect themselves against someone else's attempted unlawful use of force. The law doesn't apply to situations of verbal provocation alone, to resist arrest or if the person claiming self defense provoked the other's use of force. In the case where someone thinks their property is threatened, use of force is justified as well. The law includes criminal trespass. Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 88-CRIME. Individuals can remain anonymous. Reach breaking news intern Jane Florance at jflorance@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @Florance_Jane. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Person kills Tucson man who trespassed in backyard, showed a gun Kyiv, Ukraine The U.S. and its European allies were preparing on Tuesday to hit Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime with new sanctions after he said he would send "peacekeeping" forces into Ukraine's eastern breakaway regions. The Biden administration quickly imposed limited new sanctions on Russia Monday evening after Putin formally recognized the rebel-held Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent from Ukraine a move blasted by many nations as a violation of both international law and Ukraine's sovereignty. Biden announces sanctions, says Russia has begun "invasion" of Ukraine "The darkness of uncertainty has fallen," Ukraine's Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov said in a written statement on Tuesday. "The Kremlin has taken another step towards the revival of the Soviet Union There are difficult challenges ahead. There will be losses. We will have to go through pain, overcome fear and despair." On Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it would soon evacuate its embassy staff from Ukraine "to protect their lives and safety," alleging that the Russian embassy and consulates general in Ukraine had faced "repeated attacks" since 2014. The Western response to Putin's escalating aggression against Ukraine carries risk in itself: The U.S. and its allies are walking a tightrope, trying to keep diplomatic efforts afloat while preventing Putin from cleaving off yet another chunk of an eastern European democracy for Russia. A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine following the recognition of their independence, in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine, February 22, 2022. / Credit: ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO/REUTERS Western leaders have warned that if negotiations with Russia fail, it could lead to the bloodiest military conflict in Europe since World War II and send already-high energy prices through the roof, threatening economies from Kyiv to Washington. Calculated response to an "act of war" European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders called Russia's unilateral declaration of Donetsk's and Luhnask's independence and Putin's decision to send so-called peacekeeping forces into the breakaway regions an "act of war." Story continues U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield dismissed the notion that Russia was carrying out any sort of peacekeeping mission there as "nonsense." "We know what they really are," she said of the Russian forces during an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council convened late on Monday evening. She said Russia was trying to "create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine." "We will continue to consult with our allies and partners in the coming hours on the way forward," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said. "We are committed to finding a diplomatic resolution that avoids a brutal and costly conflict, but diplomacy cannot succeed unless Russia changes course." President Putin ordered Russian troops into the Donbas, calling them peacekeepers. This is nonsense. We know what they really are. In doing so, he has put before the world a choice. We must meet the moment, and we must not look away. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield (@USAmbUN) February 22, 2022 On Tuesday, the Biden administration backed away from plans for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to hold a direct meeting on Thursday with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. Blinken said Tuesday that the meeting which was intended to lay the groundwork for a potential diplomatic solution would no longer take place "now that we see the invasion beginning." "It does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time," Blinken said. Europe prepares new sanctions European nations, including some that rely directly on Russian natural gas supplies to heat homes, tried to show a unified front on Tuesday. In a significant move, Germany took steps to halt the certification of the brand new "Nord Stream 2" pipeline, a multi-billion dollar project intended to double the amount of gas pumped directly from Russia to Germany. Owned by Russia's state-backed energy company Gazprom, the pipeline has always been controversial because it circumvented Ukraine and would thus deprive Kyiv of fees it charges for the transit of Russian gas to Western Europe. The Biden administration has made clear the Nord Stream 2 is a bad deal. We continue to monitor activity and warn any entity involved in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will risk sanctions. We are committed to complying with the Congressional legislation in this regard. Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 18, 2021 The U.S. has long voiced opposition to Germany switching on the pipeline, saying it would increase the ally's dependence on Russia for energy and potentially give Russia new leverage over Europe. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised, meanwhile, to "immediately institute a package of economic sanctions" against Russia, and officials from major EU economies were set to gather in Paris to discuss the same. "This is, I should stress, just the first barrage of U.K. economic sanctions against Russia, because we expect, I'm afraid, that there is more Russian irrational behavior to come," Johnson said in London. U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace called Russia's actions in eastern Ukraine "incredibly serious." "This is a sovereign state that has now had some of its land effectively annexed from it. This is a sovereign state that is a democratic state in Europe, all of us in Europe should worry," Wallace said. "We should not hesitate to take whatever action we need to to deter President Putin from undermining both NATO, but also Europe, and more importantly, our values." "Everything is on the table," the EU's Reynders told Belgian broadcaster RTBF on Tuesday morning about the sanctions the bloc was ready to impose. The West has threatened Putin and his government with sanctions for months, but the threats have failed to deter him from marching steadily down the path toward another invasion of Ukraine. / Credit: Created with Datawrapper Asked on Tuesday whether his country's Western partners were doing enough to support Ukraine and dissuade Putin from a full-scale invasion, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov would only say: "We will see." Violence escalates in the east Putin last sent troops over the border in 2014, when he annexed the Crimean Peninsula away from Ukraine. His government has supported the separatists in the breakaway regions since then, framing the conflict as a struggle by ethnic Russians in Ukraine against tyrannical leaders in Kyiv even claiming that Ukraine's government is carrying out a "genocide" in the area. Last week, the U.S. laid out the steps it feared Putin would take, starting with "false-flag" incidents and dramatic claims to create a pretext for invasion, and leading up to a possible attempted military overthrow of Kyiv. With as many as 190,000 Russian forces massed around Ukraine's borders, Moscow and the rebels who are effectively Putin's proxy forces in eastern Ukraine continue to accuse Ukrainian troops of shelling in the region. Ukraine denies attacking the breakaway areas or sending any troops across the border to carry out "sabotage" attacks in Russia, as Moscow claimed it was doing on Monday. At the emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday, Russia's Ambassador said Russia was still open to diplomacy, but would not allow "a new bloodbath in the Donbas." A map shows the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto With video showing apparent Russian forces moving in to bolster the rebels, it remained unclear how many more might follow in the coming days. As his government came under steadily mounting pressure from the West, it was also unclear whether Vladimir Putin really has any interest in preventing a wider war. Stamford man donating piece of liver after previously donating kidney 22 couples say "I do" at Hempstead Town Hall on 2/22/22 With the Omicron wave diminishing, is a spike in MIS-C coming? By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called on Tuesday for efforts to prevent a further escalation of the crisis in Ukraine and a return to dialogue in order to spare civilians and avert an exodus of refugees. Russian President Vladimir Putin granted official recognition on Monday to two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, triggering Western condemnation and some sanctions and fuelling fears of a bigger military confrontation in the region. "I call on all sides to cease hostilities and to pave the way for dialogue instead of setting the stage for further violence," Bachelet said in a statement issued ahead of a scheduled meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday. "We continue to monitor the situation closely from our offices on both sides of the contact line in the east of the country," she said, referring to the zone where Ukrainian government forces face off against the pro-Russian separatists. Loud blasts were heard on Tuesday in the centre of Donetsk, the largest city in the region known collectively as the Donbass, though their origin was unclear. Kyiv says some 15,000 people have been killed in the Donbass conflict since 2014. Russia has said some 70,000 people were evacuated to its territory in recent days from the Donbass amid fears of intensified fighting. SYRIAN PARALLEL Separately on Tuesday, Human Rights Watch said it feared Russia's armed forces might adopt tactics in Ukraine similar to those in Idlib, Syria, where the group documented Russian and Syrian air strikes on schools, hospitals and other civilian structures. "Obviously we may be on the verge of a significant armed conflict. Our concern is how might that conflict be fought," Ken Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, told a news briefing in Geneva. Roth highlighted its report of Oct. 2020 that documented dozens of "unlawful" air and ground strikes on civilian targets around Idlib between April 2019 and March 2020 that killed hundreds of civilians and displaced over 1.4 million people. "These are blatant war crimes... We found that Putin had command responsibility (for the Idlib operations). Indeed he gave an honour to the commanders who were overseeing this war crime strategy," Roth said, expressing concern that it might also be implemented in Ukraine. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Gareth Jones) By Lawrence Hurley WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday turned away a challenge to Maine's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, rebuffing for the second time a group of plaintiffs who sought a religious exemption. The justices rejected a request made on behalf of unnamed plaintiffs identifying themselves as Maine healthcare workers who objected to the vaccinations on religious grounds. The court in November rejected an emergency request by the same plaintiffs seeking to prevent Maine from enforcing the mandate against them. They are represented by a Christian legal advocacy group. The court previously rejected other challenges to vaccine mandates including one focusing upon New York's lack of religious exemptions for healthcare workers. Related video: Port Authority union seeks preliminary injunction against vaccine mandate The justices in January blocked President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccination-or-testing mandate for large businesses - a policy the conservative justices deemed an improper imposition on the lives and health of many Americans - while endorsing a separate federal vaccine requirement for healthcare workers at facilities that accept money from the Medicare and Medicaid government insurance programs. When the court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, rejected https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-rejects-religious-challenge-maine-vaccine-mandate-2021-10-29 the earlier request in the Maine case in November, three conservative justices dissented. Maine has required hospitals and other healthcare facilities to ensure that workers are vaccinated against various diseases since 1989. The administration of Governor Janet Mills required all healthcare workers in Maine to be fully vaccinated by the end of October as a public health measure during the pandemic. Mills said such workers perform a critical role in protecting the health of Maine's residents and that every precaution needed to be taken to protect against the spread of COVID-19. That emergency rule has since been replaced by a permanent regulation that requires vaccination for such workers, the state said in court papers. (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham) By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday he had canceled a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov planned for Thursday after Moscow's recognition of two separatist regions in Ukraine as independent entities. Blinken said he had agreed to meet with Lavrov, his counterpart, only if Russia did not invade Ukraine. "Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy, it does not make sense to go forward with that meeting at this time," Blinken told reporters after a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington. Blinken said he was still committed to diplomacy "if Moscow's approach changes" and would do anything he could "to avert an even worse-case scenario, an all-out assault on all of Ukraine, including its capital." "But we will not allow Russia to claim the pretense of diplomacy at the same time it accelerates its march down the path of conflict and war," he added. Western nations imposed new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk on Monday and ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine to "keep the peace." Washington has dismissed that justification to deploy troops as "nonsense." A Reuters reporter saw a handful of tanks on the outskirts on Donetsk overnight and several blasts were heard in the city of Donetsk on Tuesday. Washington had consulted with allies on the decision to cancel the talks, scheduled to take place in Europe, before informing Lavrov in a letter on Tuesday, Blinken said. Blinken said Putin's speech announcing the moves was "deeply disturbing" and showed the world that Putin views Ukraine as "subordinate to Russia." The United States and its allies will continue to escalate sanctions if Russia further escalates its aggression toward Ukraine, the secretary of state said. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk and Simon LewisEditing by Chris Reese, Jonathan Oatis and Karishma Singh) SOFIA (Reuters) - Up to 150 U.S. troops and military equipment will be arriving in Bulgaria this week for joint training amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the defence ministry said on Tuesday. On Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and has since ordered the deployment of troops there, deepening Western fears of a major war in Europe. The U.S. soldiers and armoured vehicles will be crossing from into Bulgaria from Romania on Tuesday and Thursday to take part in the training aimed at boosting troops' interoperability, the ministry said in a statement. Under a deal with NATO ally Bulgaria, the United States can keep up to 2,500 U.S. troops at several joint bases in the Black Sea country. Last week Defence Minister Stefan Yanev said a U.S. army Stryker company will be at Novo Selo military base in eastern Bulgaria for joint training. Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, plans to lead a battlegroup of up to 1,000 troops on its territory as NATO moves to strengthen its deterrence and defence on its eastern flank. Spain has deployed four Eurofighter jets to Bulgaria to support it in policing its air space until the end of March. (Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda plans to impose fines on people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who fail to pay could be sent to prison under a new public health law which lawmakers are scrutinising, parliament said on Tuesday. Although the East African country started administering COVID-19 jabs nearly a year ago, only about 16 million jabs have been administered in a population of 45 million, with officials blaming widespread reluctance for the low coverage. Parliament's house health committee has begun scrutinising Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 which seeks to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory. The new law proposes a fine of 4 million Ugandan shillings ($1,139) for those who fail to get vaccinated. "According to the proposal, those who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be fined 4 million shillings or (receive) a jail term of six months," parliament said in a statement on its website. The parliament statement quoted health minister Jane Ruth Aceng as telling lawmakers on the committee that mandatory vaccinations would ensure enough people are vaccinated so that "we create mass immunity. It is important that whoever is supposed to be vaccinated, is vaccinated." The statement did not say when the proposed law was likely to be brought before all members of parliament for approval. Uganda fully re-opened its economy last month after two years of anti-coronavirus measures that included curfews, businesses and school closures, the shutting of borders and other steps. The strict measures helped curb the pandemic but drew widespread criticism from Ugandans whose businesses and livelihoods were affected. The country has recorded about 163,000 cases of COVID-19 and 3,500 deaths, health ministry data show. ($1 = 3,510.0000 Ugandan shillings) (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; editing by George Obulutsa and Jason Neely) Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's Ambassador to the UN, attending an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Tuesday. Timothy A. Clary/Getty Images Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's UN Ambassador, on Monday slammed Russia's announcement that it recognizes the independence of separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. During a UN Security Council meeting, he said Ukraine's borders would remain "unchangeable" despite Russia's actions. Kyslytsya said Russia's actions are a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine's borders will remain "unchanged" despite any actions taken by Russia, Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations, said on Tuesday. "As stated by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, following the urgent meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, the internationally recognized borders of Ukraine have been and will remain unchangeable," he said during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. "Ukraine unequivocally qualifies the recent actions by the Russian Federation as a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," said Kyslytsya. He added that Russia bears "full responsibility" for the outcomes of its decision to recognize the independence of eastern Ukraine's separatist Donetsk and Luhansk regions. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered "peacekeeping" troops into the two territories after formally acknowledging them as independent states. The acts were condemned by several countries, including the US and UK, during Tuesday's UNSC meeting, which was urgently convened following Putin's orders. Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also slammed Russia's action, calling it a "clear attack" on Ukraine's sovereignty, while the Biden administration imposed sanctions on the separatist regions. Kyslytsya said Russia's recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk could be considered a unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements two deals signed in 2014 and 2015 to quell further conflict in eastern Ukraine. Story continues "By the decisions adopted today in those that may be adopted tomorrow, Russia legalizes the presence of its troops, which have actually been in the occupied areas of Donbas since 2014," he said. "A country that has fueled the war for eight years is not able to maintain these as it claims." In 2014, Russia staged a military intervention in Ukraine's Donbas region which encompasses Donetsk and Luhansk claiming that it was defending ethnic Russians living there. Since then, Donetsk and Luhansk have been held by Russia-backed separatists, per CNN. Noting that Ukraine has the right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, Kyslytsya said Ukraine is "committed to a peaceful and diplomatic path." "We are on our land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Tuesday outlined the U.S. response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine as the world braced for a deadly military conflict that could destabilize Europe, rattle the global economy and upend international security. Biden announced a first round of financial sanctions and vowed that Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression. "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine," he said. "We're ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction." Biden said the first wave of U.S. penalties includes "full blocking sanctions" on two major Russian financial institutions, as well as on the country's sovereign debt. "That means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing," he said. "It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or the European markets either." Biden said the U.S. would also impose sanctions on Russias elites and their family members, to go into effect on Wednesday. "They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well," the president said. Biden said he had also authorized the additional movement of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to bolster America's Baltic allies, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. "We want to send an unmistakable message that the United States, together with our allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory," Biden said. The crisis poses a crucial test for Biden as he seeks to keep European allies united and craft a tough response to Putin's attempt to occupy all or part of its neighbor, essentially renegotiating the end of the Cold War. "This is not the moment for wobbliness and weakness," said Alina Polyakova, president and chief executive officer of the Center of European Policy Analysis, a Washington think tank. "What the Russians have done has rewritten the rules of the European security order and it will have global consequences. Story continues Former Defense Secretary William Cohen said it was one of the most perilous moments since the end of World War II. "I think we're at one of the most dangerous periods in our history, certainly since 1945," Cohen told CNN. "The danger that we face here is that, once we take a step, and then Putin responds to it, the cycle tends to escalate." Putin on Monday ordered troops into two pro-Russian separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that he declared "independent" from Ukraine and in need of military protection. Russias interest in the separatist regions has always been about controlling all of Ukraines politics, said Ben Rhodes, who was deputy national security adviser to President Barack Obama. Which is one more reason why this should just be seen as a preliminary step, Rhodes tweeted after Putin's announcement. That move followed weeks of failed diplomatic efforts to defuse the monthslong standoff between Moscow and NATO countries over Ukraine's sovereignty. But Putin's recent actions, including a rambling, hourlong speech on Monday in which he incorrectly claimed that Ukraine was only the product of power-brokering during the beginning of the Soviet Union, closed off any remaining diplomatic options, said William Pomeranz, the acting director of the Wilson Center's Kennan Institute. "Putin was never very subtle about what he disliked about the post Cold War settlement," Pomeranz said. "But now, he has essentially torn it up and has not provided any sort of retreat other than full concessions from the West." Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle called for a quick and decisive response. Before Biden spoke, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he hoped the president would impose the "toughest possible sanctions." The invasion raises concerns about the future of European security and triggered a set of punishing economic sanctions from Europe as well, in a coordinated response that NATO leaders said would extend beyond the measures imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled new sanctions on Tuesday against five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in what Johnson called the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do. And Germany announced it will put the breaks on the $11 billion, Russian-owned natural gas pipeline that snakes westward from Russia to northeastern Germany for more than 700 miles under the Baltic Sea. Biden said there is still time to avert "the worst case scenario that will bring untold suffering to millions of people" but that's up to Putin. "We still believe that Russia is poised to go much further in launching a massive military attack against Ukraine. I hope I'm wrong about that," Biden said. Im hoping diplomacy is still available." Biden and U.S. officials have made clear they have no plans to send combat troops to Ukraine but have vowed to send Kyiv more military weapons and lethal aid should there be a full invasion. Thats a world war when Americans and Russia start shooting at one another, Biden told NBC Nightly News earlier this month. Were in a very different world than weve ever been in. Putin 'won't stop' with Ukraine: Why Americans should care about Russia's aggression against its neighbor Nord Stream 2: How pipeline became a bargaining chip in the crisis between Russia and Ukraine The U.S has deployed more than 4,000 troops to Poland recently to help shore up NATO's eastern flank in response to Russia'smilitary build-up along Ukraine's border. The deployment was meant to supplement the more than 80,000 U.S. troops already in Europe on rotational and permanent orders, but Biden has suggested he would deploy more troops to the region in the event of an attack. Pomeranz expects Russia will accelerate Putin's "slow-moving invasion" into a full-scale, multifront operation. "I anticipate that a larger military operation will be introduced in Ukraine, going after Kyiv, and the current Ukrainian government," he said. Polyakova, likewise, said it's unlikely that Russia would only remain in the separatist regions of regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. While Russia could choose a slow creep into broader parts of Ukrainian territories, Polyakova said, the estimated 190,000 Russian troops encircling Ukraine indicate a more aggressive move toward the Ukraine capital of Kyiv is still on the table. However we respond now will determine which scenario and which path they walk down, she said. Biden repeated his warning from last week that an escalated conflict could lead to higher gas costs for Americans. The U.S. has been coordinating with major oil producers to keep energy supplies stable, he said. The latest developments culminate months of tensions between Moscow and NATO countries after more than 100,000 Russian troops amassed on Ukraine's border, carrying out military exercises with live ammunition and sounding the alarm of a potential invasion. Russia demanded guarantees that NATO never admit Ukraine and other former Soviet nations as members and that the military alliance roll back troop deployments in other former Soviet bloc countries, a region Moscow still views as its sphere of interest. But NATO leaders refused to abandon the alliance's open-door policy to allow any nation to join and instead offered cooperation on issues like international security. Geopolitical chess: What are Joe Biden's options with Russia in Ukraine? That all depends on Putin's next move. 'Brothers': Russians, Ukrainians wage fragile peace at Winter Olympics amid threat of war A flurry of diplomatic meetings across Europe, in Moscow and in Washington over the past two months ultimately failed to de-escalate the unfolding crisis. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month an attack by Russian ground troops, artillery, warplanes and ballistic missiles would result in a significant amount of casualties." It would be horrific, Milley said. It would be terrible. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden sanctions Russia after Putin orders invasion of Ukraine China releases 5-year plan for elderly care services Xinhua) 08:16, February 22, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's State Council has released a plan for the development of the country's elderly care services system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), in its latest step to implement a national strategy to address population aging. The plan specifies major goals and tasks for the five-year period, including expanding the supply of elderly care services, improving the health support mechanism for the elderly, and advancing the innovative and integrated development of service models. It lists nine major indicators, such as the number of elderly care beds and the ratio of nursing care beds in elderly care institutions, to mobilize society as a whole to actively respond to population aging. Detailed tasks include strengthening the safety net for elderly services, expanding inclusive services coverage, developing the silver economy, and safeguarding the legitimate interests of the aging population. China will step up institutional innovation, and boost policy support and financial input to enable the elderly to share in China's development achievements, according to the plan. According to the latest census data, Chinese people aged 60 or above accounted for 18.7 percent of the country's total population in 2020, 5.44 percentage points higher than in 2010. With a solid material foundation, sufficient human resources and a long-standing culture of filial piety, China is confident in its ability to solve its aging population issue, the plan notes. It also underlines the development of the "silver economy," which, according to a government official, requires the country to provide "equal, attainable services and products for seniors with particular difficulties." The country should give full play to both state and social capital in expanding the domestic market, and create systematic, integrated policies to ensure the sound and sustainable development of the silver economy, the official said. China also plans to establish about 10 industrial parks dedicated to the silver economy and build a string of cities into models in this regard, the official said, stressing that facilities to be used for elderly care will be prioritized in the construction layout. At least 55 percent of the funds raised by the country's welfare lottery will be used to support elderly care services from 2022, and elderly care institutions are encouraged to explore further approaches to financing, the official said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A woman walks past the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 Efrem Lukatsky/AP Photo The US is ordering embassy personnel in Ukraine to go to Poland for the night, the State Department confirmed on Monday. The staff is heading to Poland, leaving a temporary base in Western Ukraine. The move comes after Russia said on Monday that it would send troops into eastern Ukraine. US personnel will briefly leave Ukraine for Poland after Russia said it would send troops into two eastern regions of Ukraine the separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk Bloomberg News first reported Monday and Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed. The US previously moved its embassy staff from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv. US personnel plan to head across the border into Poland, a member of both the European Union and NATO. "For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland," according to a statement from Blinken on Monday. "Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services. They will continue to support the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian government, coordinating on diplomatic efforts." The statement also reiterated its recommendation that US citizens leave Ukraine. In late January, the US ordered nonessential embassy staff and family members of staff to leave the country, according to NPR. A few days later, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that US citizens should leave as the threat of a Russian invasion grew in Ukraine's East. Previously, the US and other countries operated embassies in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier on Monday that his country recognized the independence of Luhansk and Donetsk, two breakaway regions in the east of Ukraine. Putin also said Russia would send troops into the area as a "peacekeeping" force. The US and other NATO members have denounced the move and promised a response. Blinken tweeted Monday that Putin's decision "requires a swift and firm response" while UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said her government would announce new sanctions targeting Russia on Tuesday. Read the original article on Business Insider A human rights advocate in Utah was arrested for allegedly faking her cancer diagnosis and raising thousands of dollars based for medical expenses. Coco Berthmann, 28, a German national living in Utah, was detained on Wednesday and booked into the Salt Lake County jail. The New York Post reports that she is being investigated for communications fraud, according to a police report, but has not been formally charged. Ms Bethmann is an advocate against human trafficking and claims she was a victim of it herself. A neighbour told police that she had been lying about her cancer diagnosis and raking in money from online fundraisers based on the alleged lie. A complaint given to the police, which was reported by KSL, claims that the woman is a "habitual liar. The report claims that the womans falsehoods include claims that her "mother was sending people to the United States to kill her, she had had a stage 4 cancer which was miraculously cured, and she had been raped on many occasions. Ms Berthmann claims that her family trafficked her for years, and that she eventually escaped. Those claims are also being questioned amid the cancer revelations. Police said they were unable to verify that Ms Berthmann was actually a victim of child sex trafficking, or her claims that she worked with the FBI or David County Attorney's Office as a witness. She used her platform to establish the Coco Berthmann Scholarship Fund to combat human trafficking and has been booked as a speaker at anti-human trafficking conferences. Ms Berthmann was allegedly telling people that she was suffering from "stage 3 mantle cell lymphoma cancer in order to obtain funds for treatment. A GoFundMe campaign was started for Ms Berthmann by a friend. It raised more than $10,000 to "Help Coco Fight Cancer. The page has since been removed, but it claimed she was suffering from "aggressive cancer" with only a 30 per cent chance of survival. Story continues It does not appear the friend was aware of the alleged lie when they made the fundraising page. The friend told police that Ms Berthmann had provided medical records relating to her cancer diagnosis, and that she had "expressed financial concerns to the creator of the account due to the treatments being expensive. When the police asked Ms Berthmann to meet with them to discuss the claims against her, she claimed she was too weak to appear due to her illness. She also was unable to provide proof of her diagnosis, and police were unable to verify that she had been treated in Alaska and Chicago as she claims. One of the doctors Ms Berthmann said she was seeing is actually a specialist in PTSD patients. She was reportedly seeing that doctor for anxiety issues. A tank drives along a street in Donetsk, Ukraine, on February 22, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko Video footage suggests the Russian military is already deep in two pro-Moscow regions of Ukraine. Putin declared the regions as independent on Monday and ordered a "peacekeeping" mission. Western powers believe the move is likely a precursor to a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. Video footage shot Monday night appears to show Russian armed forces and tanks active deep in the pro-Moscow Donbas region of Ukraine. Late Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military to march into the Donbas on what the Kremlin described as a "peacekeeping" mission. Hours earlier, Putin had recognized the independence of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) following a rubber-stamp meeting of his security council, The republics declared independence from Ukraine in 2014, and have been controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists ever since. Reports and video footage from both major news outlets and Russian state-run media suggest Putin's forces are already deep in the regions, which Western powers still consider part of Ukraine. Early Tuesday morning, Reuters published footage that it said showed Russian "tanks and other military hardware on the outskirts of Donetsk." Late Monday night, Alain Barluet, Moscow correspondent for French newspaper Le Figaro, tweeted a video of what he said were Russia tanks moving toward the city of Donetsk. Al-Jazeera also published footage of what it said were Russian military vehicles in Donetsk. Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 22, 2022 The Russian state media outlet Interfax reported early Tuesday morning that two columns of unspecified armored vehicles were seen entering the DPR and heading north and west. Western officials have also confirmed the incursion. Story continues "Russian troops have entered Donbas," Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat told reporters. "I wouldn't say that it is a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil." Ukraine's ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko told radio station LBC Tuesday: "People on the ground will see Russian soldiers on their streets." "We have seen that Putin has recognised breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops," UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Sky News Tuesday. Western officials fear Putin will use the incursion into the Donbas as a springboard for launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in an address to his nation early Tuesday morning, however, said he is "not afraid" and "will not concede anything to anyone." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement Monday condemning Russia's actions. The decision to recognize the independence of the "so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics'" is a "clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Blinken said. Read the original article on Business Insider By Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Daphne Psaledakis and Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Tuesday the United States was imposing a first tranche of sanctions against Russia for launching an invasion of Ukraine and promised that more would come if there are further incursions. Biden, speaking to reporters at the White House, said the United States would impose sanctions against two large Russian financial institutions and Russian sovereign debt. Sanctions were imposed against Russian elites and their family members as well, administration officials said. President Vladimir Putin on Monday told Russia's defense ministry to deploy what he called peacekeeping forces into two breakaway regions of Ukraine after recognizing them as independent, raising fears of imminent war in Europe. "This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine," Biden said. "Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine by declaring these independent states." The United States had promised severe sanctions against Russia if it invaded Ukraine, which the White House previously defined as any movement of troops across the border. The United States deployed its most powerful sanctioning tool, placing Russian elites and two banks on the Specially Designated Nationals list, effectively kicking them out of the U.S. banking system, banning them from trading with Americans, and freezing their U.S. assets. Biden said the sanctions in the initial tranche applied to VEB bank and Russia's military bank - Promsvyazbank, which does defense deals. He said the sanctions against Russia's sovereign debt meant the Russian government would be cut off from Western financing. "As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well," Biden said. "Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions." Putin did not watch Biden's speech and Russia will first look at what the United States has outlined before responding, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, cited by Russian news agencies. Story continues Biden said the United States would continue to provide "defensive assistance" to Ukraine but had no intention of fighting Russia. He said he authorized additional movements of U.S. forces already stationed in Europe to strengthen Baltic allies Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Biden, who is facing concerns at home about inflation and high energy prices, said his administration was closely monitoring energy supplies for disruptions and working on a "collective investment to secure stability and global energy supplies" with major oil producers and consumers. "This will blunt gas prices. I want to limit the pain the American people are feeling at the gas pump. This is critical to me," he said. SANCTIONS TRIGGERED On Monday a senior administration official said Russia sending troops to the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in Ukraine did not represent a further invasion because Russia had troops there previously. But on Tuesday, White House officials changed their language to say an invasion had begun. Washington slapped sanctions on VEB and Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company, as well as 42 of their subsidiaries, accusing the two banks of being "state-owned institutions that play specific roles to prop up Russia's defense capability and its economy." The sanctions on the banks come on top of designations of Russian "elites" the Treasury Department accused of being close to Putin, including Aleksandr Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Petr Fradkov, the chairman and chief executive of Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company. Also hit with sanctions was Sergei Kiriyenko, a former prime minister of Russia. "They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well," Biden said of Russian elites. Brian O'Toole, a former Treasury Department official now with the Atlantic Council, said Tuesday's sanctions will have impact, but questioned whether it would be immediate enough. "I think the risk they run by not going after a big state-owned commercial bank is that Putin thinks that the West is not going to be willing to bear the pain of big economic sanctions, and therefore that he can safely expand his ambitions," he said. Russia's Sberbank and VTB would face American sanctions if Moscow proceeds with its invasion of Ukraine, a senior U.S. administration official told reporters. The official also said Russian elites not sanctioned on Tuesday should be on notice and noted that the Biden administration was fully prepared to implement export control measures with a large number of countries if Russia invades further. "Further Russian assault into Ukraine remains a severe threat in the days ahead," Biden said. "The United States and our allies and partners remain open to diplomacy if it is serious." (Reporting by Jeff Mason, Steve Holland, Alexandra Alper, Daphne Psaledakis and Doina Chiacu; writing by Jeff Mason; Editing by Heather Timmons, Alistair Bell and Rosalba O'Brien) Yale Law School will begin covering full tuition for its lowest-income students next fall. Yana Paskova/Getty Images Yale Law School will award annual scholarships that cover tuition to its lowest-income students. The annual award of about $72,000 will cover tuition, health insurance, and other fees. The news follows a wider movement in higher education to make graduate school programs accessible. Yale Law School announced a scholarship program that will cover tuition to J.D. (Juris Doctor degree) students from families earning below the federal poverty line Monday. Eligible students will receive an annual Hurst Horizon Scholarship of approximately $72,000 for tuition, health insurance, and other fees. However, scholarship recipients will still be responsible for their living expenses, which the school estimates to be about $21,000 this school year, per The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the news. According to Yale Law School Dean Heather K. Gerken, the scholarships "will free students with the greatest need from financial worry during law school and open up a world of possibilities so that they can be a powerful force for change in society." "We are committed to opening our doors to the students who have the most to gain from this School and the most to give to the world, regardless of their means," Gerken said in a statement. The news follows a wider movement in higher education to diversify its ranks and make graduate school programs more accessible. Medical schools, including New York University's School of Medicine, have led the charge. Graduate students of all disciplines often take on debt to attend their institutions. Per Law School Transparency, a law education advocacy group, 2020 public law school graduates took on an average of $93,000 in debt, while private school graduates borrowed an average of $134,000. Yale Law School graduates on average borrowed about $135,000 last year, per Law School Transparency. "Our highest need students face significant financial hardships and lack an economic safety net to fall back on," Miriam Ingber, associate dean of admissions and financial Aid at Yale Law School, said in a statement. "The financial burden for these students weighs heavily, and many students fear debt knowing that they are responsible for their families' financial well-being as well as their own." The law school told the Journal that about 8%-10% of its students are eligible for the awards, which will be funded through alumni donations. Read the original article on Business Insider At an elevation of more than 6,000 feet near the top of a volcano exists a land of snow monsters. On the summit of the volcanic Mount Zao in Japan, about 220 miles north of Tokyo, an unusual natural phenomenon gives birth to snowy, monster-like figures every year The strange occurrence, which the Japanese call "Juhyo,". The snow monsters can look even cooler at night, as some of the monsters are illuminated in a variety of flashy colors. According to reporting from The Atlantic, the snow monsters are created through the repeated process of high winds blowing snow onto rime ice that then binds to trees and tree branches, creating snow clumps that appear monster-like Thousands of tourists travel across Japan each year to see the so-called snow monsters, which typically are around from the end of January through mid-March Police in Kyoto are warning young people not to respond to messages on social media that use slang and emoji such as broccoli to refer to marijuana and other illegal drugs. The prefectural police are calling on people not to respond to such posts, which sometimes use hashtags in Japanese meaning ice cream or vegetable, as it will reveal the persons identity to drug dealers and criminal organizations. According to the police, vegetables are often used to refer to marijuana, with the drug depicted using a broccoli emoji, while chari, which means bicycle in Japanese, is code for cocaine, deriving from the substances slang name charlie overseas. Marijuana is also described as grass, chocolate and 420, while for other drugs initials such as S or C are used. In a video message, the police warned that the use of marijuana has a serious effect in particular on junior and high school students, as it may result not only in addiction but also in mental issues and problems with the development of brain functions, possibly lowering IQ. ...continue reading IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) An Iowa man has been charged with child endangerment in a case that saw one young child shoot another inside an Iowa City apartment last year. Christopher Horras, 36, has been charged with two counts, one of misdemeanor child endangerment and one felony child endangerment charge, The Gazette of Cedar Rapids reported. Hes also charged with a count of making a firearm available to a minor. He faces up to 13 years in prison if convicted of all the counts. Police say in charging documents that Horra left a loaded gun in his bedroom on Nov. 7 and left two children unattended while he went to another area of the house. The children found the gun, and one accidentally shot the other, police said. Accessible court records dont give the ages of the children or Horras relationship to them. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The Pan-African Youth Union inaugurated on Monday in Rabat its new Headquarters in presence of Moroccan Minister of Youth Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Unions managers, African ambassadors and representatives of youth ministries from several African countries and international organizations. The transfer of the Unions headquarters from Sudan to Moroccos capital city was decided by the Executive Council of the African Youth Union during its meeting held on 10 November 2020. The Union president Moumouni Dialla thanked King Mohammed VI for hosting the union headquarters, highlighting the achievements accomplished by the Pan-African Youth Union since its creation on April 26, 1962 in Guinea Conakry by African Heads of State. For his part, the Unions outgoing president, Aliou Oumarou, commended Moroccos decision to host the Unions headquarters, saying the move reflects the Kingdoms strong commitment to the promotion of African integration and shows the royal support to African youth causes. During the latest African Union-European Union summit held in France, King Mohammed VI reiterated Moroccos firm commitment to serve the African youth cause and made the case for a joint action to gear the African and European partnership to serve the youth notably in the fields of education, culture and a win-win management of migration. Malta welcomed, Tuesday in Rabat, the efforts undertaken by Morocco to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the regional conflict over the Sahara. We recognize the efforts you are making to move forward within the framework of the UN in order to achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the regional conflict over the Sahara, said Maltas Minister for European and Foreign Affairs, Evarist Bartolo, who is currently on a visit to Morocco. We appreciate your support for the Security Council and, once again, we will definitely be a voice for mediation, negotiation and peace, Mr. Bartolo underlined at a news conference held following talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Tuesday in Rabat. This meeting was an opportunity to highlight the latest developments in the issue of Moroccos territorial integrity and the Kingdoms efforts to achieve a definitive settlement to this regional conflict, said Bourita during the news conference. The meeting also discussed a set of international and regional issues, including the situation in Libya, in the Mediterranean neighborhood as Mediterranean countries face the same challenges, and the inter-connection between security and peace in Europe and security and peace in Africa. The two sides expressed their shared determination to work together within the framework of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) to give a new impetus to economic development. To give a new momentum to economic relations between Malta and Morocco, the European country has decided to set up an economic consulate in Casablanca. The consulate will be inaugurated this Wednesday Feb.23. Two teams face off Friday in the third annual Lip Sync Battle. The North Platte Area Habitat for Humanity and Rape and Domestic Abuse Program teams will compete in a friendly fundraising competition that will benefit the two North Platte nonprofit organizations. The event, loosely based on the Paramount Network television show Lip Sync Battle, will feature some of North Plattes most colorful and entertaining lip syncers battling it out for the coveted Lip Sync Battle Belt, according to a press release. Watch last year's lip sync battle contestants: During this years event, each of the six participants will perform two songs, facing off against a contestant from the opposite team. As in past contests, the audience determines the winner, but this year contestants also have an opportunity to do their own fundraising by selling decibels. Those decibel purchases will be added to the actual audience decibel points to select the champion. Contestants for Team RDAP are Amber Garza, Meesha Keeling and Erin Brown. Team Habitat Battlers are Tamina Hartman, Amy Sabatka and Hannah Hokanson. Returning are Lewys Carlini as master of ceremonies and Sonie Kuhlman as the Colorful Commentator. Derek Beck will be handling the music selected by the contestants, and Dillon and Crystal Johnson have returned as event coordinators. Tickets are $25 in advance and are available at the Habitat office at 420 N. Cottonwood St. or at the RDAP office at 316 E. Front St. Team Habitat and Team RDAP T-shirts can be purchased to wear to the show. Tickets at the event will be $30 and shirts $20. Staffing problems from COVID-19 have caused SkyWest Airlines to at least temporarily drop two of its 12 weekly North Platte-to-Denver round trips starting March 1. The St. George, Utah-based carrier notified the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration of its intent earlier this month, said North Platte Regional Airport Manager Sam Seafeldt. SkyWest, which flies as United Express between Lee Bird Field and Denver International Airport, will offer its midday turn flight only on Fridays, Sundays and Mondays, Seafeldt said. Its discontinuing that round trip on Tuesdays and Saturdays, he added. The midday flight usually lands at North Platte about 10:30 a.m. CT and leaves again for Denver about 11 a.m. Luckily for us, Seafeldt said, the two lost midday round trips were the least traveled days being that Friday, Sunday and Monday are the higher travel days for North Platte. He said SkyWest will continue its seven-day-a-week overnight round trips. The carriers 50-seat jet aircraft arrive at Lee Bird about 10 p.m. CT and take off for Denver about 6:30 a.m. the next morning. The FAA has approved the cutback, Seafeldt said, meaning SkyWest will maintain the 10-round-trip schedule until further notice. However, SkyWest has only specifically talked to us about March, he said. We havent talked about April. The Western Nebraska Regional Airport at Scottsbluff also will lose two Denver round trips a week starting next Tuesday, according to SkyWests Feb. 2 notice to the FAA. The carrier receives federal Essential Air Service subsidies to provide the Denver connections to Scottsbluff and North Platte. Although SkyWest would prefer to continue providing scheduled air service to these communities at 12 flights per week, the staffing imbalance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic hampers SkyWests ability to meet this schedule, its notice to the FAA says. By cutting weekly round trips to 10 per week, the carrier aims to keep EAS service reliable instead of offering schedules that might result in extended delays or cancellations. SkyWests FAA notice adds it will minimize the impact of these changes by rebooking any affected passengers onto other SkyWest-operated flights. More by Todd von Kampen Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. More information Following are hearing dates and bill numbers for bills by former state Sen. Mike Groene that havent yet received public hearings: Wednesday: LB 1275, the Medical Cannabis Act, which would allow cannabis in oil or pill form for treatment under limited conditions. Thursday: LB 784, which would tie hospitals property tax exemptions to the amount of charity care they provide. Feb. 28: LB 1179, a fresh version of Groenes failed 2019-20 bill clarifying educators powers in disciplining unruly students. March 2: LB 1181, which would require official ID documents to be presented when registering to vote and casting ballots. Heres how to watch the Legislatures activities and follow bills by using its website, nebraskalegislature.gov: Click on the Nebraska Public Media logo and look under Streaming Now or Coming Soon for the schedule of livestreamed floor debates and public hearings by committees. Floor debate also is telecast live by Nebraska Public Media on NE-W, formerly known as NET2 (Allo Communications Channel 11 or Spectrum Channel 190 in North Platte). If you know the number of a legislative bill or constitutional amendment, type it under Search Current Bills to call up the measures text and related votes and documents. (For the language of current state laws, type their number or keywords under Search Laws.) Computer users can leave comments on individual bills by clicking the appropriate spot on the main page for that bill. If the bill hasnt yet had its public hearing, users may ask their comments to be included in the bills official hearing record. Such requests must be made by noon CT the day of the hearing. The Unicameral website offers many other documents for understanding and following the Legislature, including its online Unicameral Update newsletter. Former Congressman Brad Ashford confirmed on Saturday that he has been diagnosed with brain cancer, but said he feels confident he can overcome it. Ashford, 72, underwent a biopsy at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha on Friday, and his wife, Ann, said they are waiting for the results to determine the specific type of cancer and treatment plan going forward. In a phone interview on Saturday, Ashford said he was feeling good and would be returning home as soon as possible. Its brain cancer, but Ive got a lot of work to do so Im gonna get out of here and keep doing what I do, he said. Ashford, who first disclosed the diagnosis in a Facebook post Friday, said he felt grateful to be in the care of Nebraska Medicine. The health care here at Nebraska Medicine is beyond anything one could imagine, its so incredible, he said. Ive been proud to work on many projects here, including the cancer center, interestingly. Theres nobody better. Ashford represented Nebraskas 2nd Congressional District from 2015-17 after defeating former Rep. Lee Terry, a Republican, in 2014. Before Congress, he served in the Nebraska Legislature for 16 years. Ashford, a Democrat, lost his reelection bid to Republican challenger Don Bacon in 2016. He ran for the seat again in 2018 but lost in the Democratic primary to challenger Kara Eastman. After Eastman defeated Ann Ashford in the 2020 Democratic primary, Brad Ashford ultimately endorsed Bacon in the general election. Ashford, who was a registered Republican before becoming an independent and ultimately a registered Democrat, said at the time that the country needed unifiers not dividers in Congress. Bacon shared a statement on his Twitter account Friday in response to Ashfords diagnosis. I, along with the whole community, stand with Brad and Ann, and pray for healing and a quick recovery, he wrote. Brad is a great leader in the Omaha community and has made a huge impact for so many. I am grateful for our friendship. Ashford said despite his health challenges he is focused on continuing to spread his message of bipartisanship. Im not going anywhere, he said. But I think you learn from things like this that we, as a group, working together, were so much more powerful than when were fighting. According to the National Association of Manufacturers, the average U.S. firm spends the equivalent of 21% of its payroll every year just to comply with government regulations. For context, the average manufacturing worker in the United States makes nearly $65,000 per year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and pays an estimated 15.2% of their income back out in federal, state and local taxes. If Congress attempted to double taxes on working families, it would be front-page news. Yet, every year regulations silently reduce employer payrolls by even more, and nothing is said about the cost to workers and small businesses. Regulations play an important role in the health and safety of American workers and help prevent bad actors from putting our workforce and environment at unnecessary risk. However, it is equally important we balance the need for commonsense regulations against the devastating impact too much bureaucracy can have on Americans daily lives. To restore this balance, I introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal a regulation which, if enforced, would interfere with patients and their doctors and make it harder for patients in rural areas to access health care when and where they need it most. This little-known Medicare rule requires health care providers at critical access hospitals to certify, upon admission of a patient on Medicare, the patient will not remain an inpatient at the hospital for longer than 96 hours. Hospitals that fail to discharge or transfer such patients before the cutoff face nonpayment. There are over 60 in-state critical access hospitals Nebraskans rely on for care. While the Trump administration recognized the burden this rule placed on rural hospitals and, under a COVID relief provision, instructed Medicare not to enforce it, it could be restored at any time. Fully repealing this 96-hour rule will ensure seniors can access care and providers can focus on what matters most: caring for sick patients. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of obstructive regulations just like this. This is why I supported President Donald Trumps One In, Two Out executive order, which required two existing regulations be repealed for each new regulation proposed. This executive branch self-check forced federal agencies to carefully deliberate whether a regulation was truly needed and, if so, identify other regulatory burdens they could remove. Much to my disappointment, one of President Joe Bidens first actions the day he took office was to undo One In, Two Out. He then proceeded to sign more executive orders in his first year than any president since President Gerald Ford. According to estimates from the American Action Forum, these executive orders added more than $201 billion in regulatory costs and 131 million hours in new paperwork yearly. Doubling down on big government bureaucracy is not how you grow an economy. Fortunately, Congress has a tool at its disposal called the Congressional Review Act. The CRA allows Congress to take an up or down vote on regulations proposed by the executive branch and if both the House and Senate vote to disapprove the regulation is nullified even if it has already taken effect. At the beginning of the Trump presidency, Republicans in Congress utilized the CRA to overturn over a dozen rules put forward by President Obama, who said he did not need to work with Congress because he had a pen and phone. In 2015 and 2016, I led the effort in the House to use the CRA to block the EPAs oppressive Waters of the United States rule, which sought to unconstitutionally enlarge EPA authority over land and water. After my resolution easily passed both the House and Senate, it was vetoed by President Barack Obama. Much to the relief of farmers and ranchers across the country, in December 2018, President Trumps EPA announced a replacement rule which both honored relevant court decisions and included a more appropriate definition of navigable waterways. Last year, contrary to clear messages sent by the American people, President Bidens EPA proposed a new WOTUS rule. President Biden would be wise to learn from President Obamas mistakes and put down his pen. My preference is always to pursue policy changes through the legislative process, and I will use every tool at my disposal to rein in out-of-control rulemaking. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images President Joe Biden announced a first tranche of sanctions against Russia in a press conference Tuesday, describing Russian president Vladimir Putins order to send troops over the border on a purported peacekeeping mission as the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Full-blocking sanctions were levied against Russias military bank servicing the defense sector and the massive investment firm VEB, which marks the first time the U.S. has frozen the assets and cut off the transactions of a Russian state-owned financial institution. Biden also announced comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt, explaining that Moscow can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either. More sanctions are expected to come this week against Russian political leaders, who Biden said share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well. The president, who said he worked with Germany to stop further development of the pivotal Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, warned, If Russia goes further in this invasion, we stand prepared to go further with sanctions. Biden announced that U.S. troops and equipment currently deployed in Europe would be moved to NATO member nations Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. We have no intention of fighting Russia, he said, but will defend every inch of NATO territory. He noted that economic steps taken against Russia could impact energy prices at home but said the administration is executing a plan to blunt gas prices together with other major oil-producing nations. Im going to take robust action to make sure the pain of our sanctions is targeted at the Russian economy, not ours. With Putins decision Monday night to send a limited number of forces into eastern Ukraine to support Moscow-backed separatists and Russian lawmakers voting to allow Putin to use military force outside the country Tuesday, a larger invasion appears imminent. But Biden concluded his speech by saying, Im hoping diplomacy is still available. 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. Washington, PA (15301) Today Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered peacekeeping forces into the two Ukrainian regions of Lugansk and Donetsk prompted a sharp jump in oil prices today. Brent crude topped $99 per barrel, and West Texas Intermediate was over $96 per barrel following the news. Brent later retreated below $99. Yesterday, after the Russian parliament voted in favor of a proposal to recognize the breakaway regions as independent republics, President Putin signed off on the approval. Soon after, according to the reports, Putin ordered what he described as peacekeeping forces to move into the pro-Russian separatist territories. He also called on Kiyv to immediately suspend military action against eastern Ukraine. Failing to do that, Putin said, as quoted by TASS, would mean that "the responsibility for any consequent bloodshed would weigh on the conscience of the Ukrainian regime." Meanwhile, Western leaders have begun to condemn the recognition of the two breakaway republics, with UK's PM Boris Johnson calling it a violation of international law. In the meantime, Germany has suspended Nord Stream 2 and the UK has placed sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. If tensions remain as high as they are now, Brent could easily breach the $100 barrier unless the U.S. and Iran manage to strike a deal on Iran's nuclear program in the meantime. What's more, however the Ukraine conflict ends, prices will likely remain high. "Supply misses are rising. Market recognition of strained capacity is also growing," JP Morgan said, as quoted by Reuters. "We believe this should drive a higher risk premium ... circa $125 a barrel as early as 2Q 2022 and $150 a barrel in 2023." According to Citi analysts, however, there is too much of a focus on tight supply, and not enough attention is being paid to the potential return of Iranian crude to markets. "Most market analyses of prices the year ahead have focused on a lack of surplus production capacity and have ignored the likelihood of a return of Iranian oil to markets," they said, as quoted by Reuters. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC has signaled it may actually be fine with oil at $100 after several cartel delegates said there were no plans to accelerate production growth despite soaring prices. Brent crude briefly topped $99 today after Russias President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of the two eastern Ukrainian regions of Lugansk and Donetsk and ordered army forces to enter them for peacekeeping purposes, the Kremlin said. According to a Bloomberg report published later in the day, OPEC delegates from Iraq and Nigeria said they saw no need to change the terms of the current OPEC+ agreement, which calls for the addition of a combined 400,000 bpd to total monthly production until pre-pandemic levels of output are reached. However, OPEC has been consistently failing to reach its quota, led by countries including Iraq and Nigeria. According to experts, the reasons for this failure are continued underinvestment, which has affected spare capacity. The market will have more and more oil, Iraqi oil minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar Ismail told Bloomberg. We will not create any growth to the commercial storage. We will secure all the demand by making the required supply. We wont do anything extraordinary at this time because we are expecting a lot of production from non-OPEC producers, Nigerias oil minister, Timipre Silva said. There is no need at all to bring on more barrels than the current plan. Saudi Arabias energy minister has also been preaching caution because he believes the cartel needs to retain flexibility and focus on a long-term strategy. These statements contradict sentiment expressed earlier this month by Egypts oil minister, Tarek el Molla. For me, being professional, I can see it happening, but I dont want it to happen, El Molla told CNBC last week, referring to Brent reaching $100 per barrel, and added, It is on the way, definitely. Meanwhile, large consuming nations are again calling on those in OPEC that can boost production more to do it. However, according to Iraqs top oilman, it would be unfair if one OPEC member raises production over its quota while others are finding it hard to fulfill theirs. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The optimal oil price for the market is $55-$70 per barrel, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov told Energy Intelligence in an interview published on Tuesday after oil prices hit a fresh seven-year high and Brent hit $99 a barrel early in the day amid an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis. High oil prices are good for Russias budget and for its hard-to-recover oil resources and projects, on the one hand, but oil so high is also hitting other sectors of the economy and slows demand growth, on the other hand, the Russian minister said. Asked why Russia doesnt support more production from OPEC+ if Russia believes that $55-$70 is the optimal price, Shulginov told Energy Intelligence that the country is increasing production within the agreed volumes. Russia looks to increase production and exploration in the coming years, the minister added. Referring to Moscows plans about the Arctic Shelf, Shulginov told Energy Intelligence, Although these are costly reserves, we still believe that Arctic resources can be utilized in future. The Arctic is a storeroom. There is not only oil, but also gas and potentially rare-earth metals. Commenting on whether Russia is interested in high natural gas prices, the minister noted, High prices are not beneficial for Gazprom and Russia at all, because then consumption decreases, purchases go down, the economy slows down. We are not in favor of high prices, we are in favor of stable supplies. The latest escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis sent oil prices surging close to $100 a barrel early on Tuesday, with Brent Crude hitting a new seven-year high of $99 before easing to $97 per barrel. Europes natural gas prices also spiked, as the market fears a disruption to energy supplies from the major oil and gas exporter, Russia. The benchmark gas prices in Europe jumped by double digits after Germany said it was freezing the certification of the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline in light of the latest events. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: One of the worlds largest liquefied natural gas exporters, Qatar, can divert only 10-15 percent of its LNG cargo contracts to other destinations, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said on Tuesday amid the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, adding that replacing Russian gas deliveries to Europe in the short term is almost impossible. The energy markets reacted on Tuesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered troops in them, with oil prices soaring close to $100 a barrel and European gas prices jumping by double digits, also in view of the news that Germany halts the Russia-led Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Russia (provides) I think 30-40% of the supply to Europe. There is no single country that can replace that kind of volume, there isnt the capacity to do that from LNG, al-Kaabi said at a gas conference in Doha on Tuesday, as carried by Reuters. Most of the LNG are tied to long-term contracts and destinations that are very clear. So, to replace that sum of volume that quickly is almost impossible, the minister noted. In Qatars case, only up to 15 percent of LNG contracts are divertible, he added. For several weeks now, as the Russia-Ukraine crisis was brewing, the United States and Europe have been talking with energy companies and major gas-producing countries globally about the potential for a large supply of natural gas to Europe in case Russian deliveries are interrupted. Talks have even reportedly involved major LNG importers in Asiaincluding Japan, South Korea, India, and even Chinato potentially send some of their gas supply to Europe in case the Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates into a conflict. In light of the latest escalation, the EU, the UK, and the U.S. are preparing sanctions against Russia, which are expected to be announced as soon as today and could affect Russian energy exports. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Putin attempted to reassure leaders in the region by claiming that Ukraine was different because it had been influenced by foreign actors and represented a threat to Russia. The Caucasus has a large concentration of post-Soviet breakaway states and Russia has already recognized some of them such as Abkhazia and South Ossetia. On Monday night, Russia formally recognized the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk, a move that spark stark reactions around the region. Russias formal recognition of eastern Ukraines two separatist republics has been closely watched with dread, celebration, or quiet concern, depending on the viewers own geopolitical situation in the Caucasus, which boasts the post-Soviet worlds greatest concentration of unrecognized breakaway states. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the formal recognition of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic (known as the DNR and LNR, respectively, using their Russian acronyms) in a late-night speech at the Kremlin on February 21. The news reverberated heavily in the Caucasus, home to two self-proclaimed independent states that have been recognized by Russia since 2008 Abkhazia and South Ossetia and one that has not been, Nagorno-Karabakh. In Georgia and its two breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where the parallels are closest, the reactions were swiftest and strongest. Georgians for the most part used the opportunity to call attention to their own comparable experience: Following the 2008 war over South Ossetia, Russia formally recognized the two de facto republics as it sought to blunt Georgias moves toward NATO integration. Recognizing Ukraines territories - Donetsk and Lugansk as independent states by Russia represents yet another flagrant violation of the fundamental principles of international law, and in fact repeats the scenario of Russias military intervention into Georgias Tskhinvali region in 2008 and subsequent recognition of the independence of this region and of Abkhazia/Georgia, and their occupation, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. (The Tskhinvali region is a phrase some Georgians use to refer to South Ossetia. Both it and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in civil wars in the 1990s.) The recognition of #Donetsk and #Luhansk by Russia is another step directed against the fundamental principles of international law and unfortunately repeats the occupation of Georgian territories in 2008, tweeted Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. We strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russias recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia has led to an intensification of Russias financial and military backing of those entities, including a hardening of the physical boundaries between them and Georgia proper. The recognition did not, however, catch on internationally. It was followed only by a handful of other states all with no real connection to the Caucasus, including Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Nauru. Two other entities that did follow suit were the DNR and LNR, which in 2015 recognized both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. That followed South Ossetias formal recognition the year before, which until Putins announcement had been the only official recognition by DNR and LNR independence by any state, internationally recognized or otherwise. And it was in Tskhinvali where the news from the Kremlin was received more enthusiastically than anywhere else in the Caucasus. The ruling party there organized a car rally where participants drove around waving flags of both the de facto republic, as well as a late-night folk dancing performance in celebration. The recognition of Donbas means hope for a better future for tens of millions of people, said the entitys de facto leader, Anatoliy Bibilov. The same recognition from Russia has for 13 years preserved South Ossetias peace and territory. While the DNR and LNR recognized Abkhazia at the same time that they did South Ossetia, the move was not reciprocated by official Sukhumi, which keeps Russia at a somewhat greater distance than does South Ossetia. Abkhazias de facto leader, Aslan Bzhania, welcomed Putins announcement. We are sure that this decision will enable the strengthening of the security architecture in the region, Bzhania said in a statement. Moreover, we believe that Russias decision to recognize the Donbas republics will facilitate the formation of a more fair and balanced world order, where the rights of small states are reliably protected, and the international community listens to and respects their voices. But there has been no indication yet whether not Abkhazia intends to follow suit and recognize the two Ukrainian breakaway states. The de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to queries from Eurasianet as of press time. The third Caucasus de facto state, Nagorno-Karabakh, has a more distant relationship with Russia and the Ukrainian breakaway republics. Russia does not recognize the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic as with the rest of the world, Moscow considers the territory as Azerbaijan, from which the Karabakh Armenians broke away in an Armenia-backed war in the early 1990s. Nagorno-Karabakh and the Ukrainian breakaway states also do not recognize one another. Abkhazia and South Ossetia do recognize Nagorno-Karabakh, and vice versa. Since the 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which resulted in about 2,000 Russian peacekeepers being deployed to the remaining NKR-controlled part of Karabakh, the Karabakh Armenians have become more reliant on Russia, potentially changing Stepanakerts calculations. Karabakhs de facto president, Arayik Harutyunyan, welcomed the news of Russias recognition of the DNR and LNR. The establishment of an independent state and its international recognition becomes an imperative especially in the face of existential dangers, as it is the most effective and civilized means of preventing bloodshed and humanitarian disaster, he wrote in a Facebook post. It was not clear, however, whether Stepanakert intended to extend recognition as well. The de facto Foreign Ministry did not respond to a query from Eurasianet as of press time. In Azerbaijan, the calculations were more delicate. Relations with Russia are a roller coaster, and Baku tries to support territorial integrity as a general principle to bolster its case that Karabakh should remain part of Azerbaijan while tailoring the particulars of its position to its relations with the specific states involved. As the Ukraine crisis has intensified over the last several weeks, Aliyev has met repeatedly with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodomyr Zelenskiy. And each time Zelenskiy expresses Ukraines respect for territorial integrity, while Aliyev never reciprocates. As is often the case in dramatic international situations, Azerbaijani officials have remained quiet following Putins announcement. President Ilham Aliyev, as it happens, began a visit to Moscow the day that Putin made his announcement. But neither he nor the countrys foreign ministry have said anything about the recognition of the DNR and LNR. Even at Aliyev's meeting with Putin the afternoon of February 22, he managed to avoid the topic. While Putin mentioned the recognition, he also took pains to emphasize that Russia didn't have any territorial designs on any other post-Soviet republics. "With Ukraine, it's a different situation, connected with the fact that, unfortunately, the territory of that country was being used by third countries to create a threat to Russia itself. That was the only issue," Putin told Aliyev. Aliyev, in his public remarks, did not address Ukraine at all. Armenia, too, has remained largely silent in the first day following Russias announcement. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke with Putin by phone hours before the latter made his announcement. Pashinyans office said in a statement that the two discussed the situation developing in Russia-Ukraine relations and questions of regional security. The Kremlins readout said that Putin invited Pashinyan to Moscow and that the latter had accepted. By Joshua Kucera via Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Adnoc, the UAEs largest oil producer, stated it will spend $127 billion between 2022-2026 to expand its oil operations and develop its low-carbon oil business. Several UAE energy firms are hoping to boost their oil output in the coming years, aiming to meet ongoing international demand as other world powers move away from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. As the third-largest oil producer in OPEC, the UAE has extensive experience in oil and gas, with companies aiming to expand operations abroad and profit from the countrys extensive reserves. Abu Dhabis state-owned oil firm Adnoc is investing heavily in increasing its oil production by 2030. Last month it established a new debt issuing unit to manage project funding and increase production to around 5 million bpd by 2030, compared to 4 million bpd today. To achieve this figure, Adnoc says it will need to drill 700 wells every year. The new unit "intends to closely monitor market conditions and explore potential funding opportunities." Adnoc, the UAEs largest oil producer, previously stated it will spend $127 billion between 2022-2026 to expand its oil operations and develop its low-carbon oil business. At present, the country is thought to hold reserves of 111 billion barrels of oil and 289 Tcf of gas, which several companies are hoping to exploit while it remains profitable over the next decade. As one of the worlds fastest-growing oil companies, recording 19 percent brand value growth, Adnoc is well-positioned to develop its oil operations. It is currently said to be the second most valuable brand in the Middle East and Africa region after Saudi Aramco. This means it has public confidence as it goes ahead with expansion plans. Just this month, Adnoc awarded $1.94 billion to support its drilling operations. The funds have been divided between Adnoc Drilling receiving the majority - and US companies Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Weatherford. This will fund wireline logging and perforation services at the oil firms onshore and offshore operations for five years, with the option to extend the project for a further two years. Related: Oil Prices Will Hit $100 And Stay There - Vitol CEO Adnocs CEO, Sultan al-Jaber, explained "The framework agreements are a continuation of Adnoc's unprecedented investment in services to enable the expansion of drilling activity required to responsibly unlock the UAE's leading low-cost and low-carbon intensity oil as well as the nation's gas resources." In addition, Not only do these awards support our 2030 strategy, but they are also expected to deliver over 80% of in-country value to the UAE, and align with the UAEs Principles of the 50 economic blueprint for sustainable growth, he stated. This follows an investment from the firm in December of $3.8 billion for onshore drilling, workover, and well services to Adnoc Drilling and a $6bn investment for wellheads and related components, downhole completion equipment, and related services in November. It also signed a 10-year contract with France's TechnipFMC for wellheads, trees, and services, at a cost of $1 billion. But Adnoc is not the only UAE company looking to increase its oil operations. This month, Dubais Dragon Oil announced a new oil discovery in Egypts Gulf of Suarez reserves, as it expands its foreign oil operations. The field is believed to contain around 100 million barrels of crude, marking one of the biggest discoveries in the region in the past two decades. Dragon entered Egypt in 2019 when it acquired BPs Gulf of Suez assets. By 2021 it was producing an average of 60,000 bpd, with aims to increase this figure to between 65,000-70,000 bpd based on the new discovery. Chairman of Dragon Oil, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, stated We are glad to announce our first oil discoveries in Egypt, and we aspire to more success during the coming period. We will continue to work for more discoveries sustainably in the promising Egyptian market to create long-term value for the benefit of all. Abu Dhabis National Energy Company, Taqa, also saw experienced growth last year as doubled its profits in 2021, achieving $1.63 billion compared to $760 million in 2020. Its oil production levels reached 122,400 bpd. This demonstrates the success of its 2030 strategy for sustainable growth and returns, according to the company. And at the end of last year, Adnoc and TAQA announced a $3.6 billion project to decarbonize offshore operations in support of the UAEs target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. A first-of-its-kind sub-sea transmission network is expected to help reduce the companies offshore carbon emissions by around 30 percent. The move to produce lower carbon oil will also help the UAE maintain its place as an international oil major as several powers push for energy with lower greenhouse gas emissions. As the UAE shows no signs of slowing in its oil production, companies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai are expanding their oil and gas operations both at home and abroad. Investing heavily in exploration projects is expected to increase the UAEs output over the next decade, while moves to decarbonize will help the country to meet targets on its way to net-zero. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Supreme Court of the Federal Government of Iraq (FGI) in Baghdad has made two landmark legal rulings that have significant, if not catastrophic, implications for the exploration, development, and extraction operations of international oil companies (IOCs) working in the northern Iraq semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan. First, it ruled last week that sales of oil and gas by the regions government, the KRG, independent of the central government in Baghdad, is unconstitutional and that the KRG must hand over all oil production to the Federal Government of Iraq, represented by the Ministry of Oil. Second, and an even greater direct threat to all oil and gas operations of IOCs operating in northern Iraqs Kurdistan region, the Supreme Court of the Federal Government ruled that the Ministry of Oil has the right to: Follow up on the invalidity of oil contracts concluded by the Kurdistan Regional Government with foreign parties, countries and companies regarding oil exploration, extraction, export and sale. The basis of this legal ruling harks back to a deal that was struck between the two sides the FGI and the KRG - in November 2014 in which the KRG agreed to export up to 550,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil from its own fields and Kirkuk via the FGIs Baghdad-based State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO). In return for this, Baghdad would send 17 percent of the federal budget after sovereign expenses per month in budget payments to the KRG in Erbil. This agreement was superseded by another in October 2018 that required Baghdad to transfer sufficient funds from the budget to pay the salaries of KRG employees in exchange for the KRG handing over the export of at least 250,000 bpd of crude oil to SOMO. Since then, though, the FGI nominally headed by various prime ministers but controlled behind the scenes by radical cleric Moqtada a-Sadr and his Sairoon (Marching Forward) faction has not reliably delivered the monthly funding for the salaries of KRG employees and the KRG has not reliably delivered the agreed-upon volume of oil to SOMO. The key sticking point on both sides in fulfilling their obligations agreed in November 2014 has been disagreement over the number of budget dispersals and oil transfers that should be involved in the deal on an ongoing basis. This disagreement over the number of budget dispersals from the FGI and oil deliveries from the KRG became much worse after the yes referendum vote for independence in Kurdistan in September 2017, as analyzed in-depth in my new book on the global oil markets. Before this, Kurdistan had been hoping to raise oil exports above 1 million bpd, becoming one of the worlds fastest-growing oil regions and allowing for the full resumption of the November 2014 deal. After the yes vote, the very basis of the deal became null and void when FGI and Iranian forces took back control of the oilfields in Kurdistan, including the major oil sites around Kirkuk. The FGI argued that the Kirkuk oilfields had been occupied illegally in the first place, having been under Kurdish control only since 2014 when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of the Islamic State and Kurdistans Peshmerga military force moved in. Consequently, from September 2017, the FGIs new starting point of any negotiations with the KRG for a new iteration of the original 2014 budget disbursements-for-oil deal was that they should accord with the percentage share of the Kurdistan population in the overall population of Iraq. This, according to the FGI, was 12.67 percent a long way from the 17 percent of the Federal Budget after sovereign expenses that had been the cornerstone assumption of the November 2014 deal. At the same time as the 2017 impasse was playing out, Russia intervened, in its standard geopolitical strategy of exploiting pockets of chaos into which it can project its own solutions and thus extend its power. The Kremlins corporate oil proxy, Rosneft, effectively took over the ownership of Kurdistans oil sector in 2017 through three principal means. First, Russia provided the KRG with US$1.5 billion in financing through forward oil sales payable in the following three to five years. Second, it took an 80 percent working interest in five potentially major oil blocks in the region together with corollary investment and technical, technology, and equipment assistance. And third, it established 60 percent ownership of the vital KRG pipeline by dint of a commitment to invest US$1.8 billion to increase its capacity to one million barrels per day. The prize for Russia and Rosneft was twofold and remains so. Firstly, prior to the recent rise in exploration activity in the KRG area, more than half of the exploratory wells in Iraq had been drilled prior to 1962, a time when technical limits and a low oil price gave a much tighter definition of a commercially successful well than would be the case today, as highlighted by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Based on the previous limited exploration and development of oil fields in the KRG area, the proven oil reserves figure was first put at around four billion barrels. This has been subsequently upgraded by the KRG to around 45 billion barrels but, again, this may well be a very conservative estimate, according to the IEA. Secondly, such a presence in northern Iraq would allow Russia to play both sides against the other, thus allowing it to extend its influence in each, and this is precisely what it has tried to do since. With Rosneft, and its Kremlin supporters, making its own demands in the KRG-administered north, Moscow considered itself well-placed at that point to leverage this presence into a similarly powerful position in the south of the country. In particular, as also examined in depth in my new book on the global oil markets, it looked to strike new oil and gas field exploration and development deals with Baghdad and to intermediate to its own advantage in the budget disbursements-for-oil deal dispute. Moscow insisted through the KRG that oil flows would not restart until pipeline transit fees and pumping tariffs were paid to Rosneft, which by that point had its 60 percent stake in the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. Moscow also wanted the FGI in Baghdad to look again at its decision to deem invalid the assignment to Rosneft by the KRG of five exploration blocks in Kurdish territory. These are estimated to have aggregate 3P reserves of 670 million barrels, and Rosneft has an 80 percent stake in each. It may be that part of the reason for the new-found vigor of the FGIs Supreme Court in giving the Ministry of Oil the right to follow up on the invalidity of oil contracts concluded by the Kurdistan Regional Government with foreign parties, countries and companies regarding oil exploration, extraction, export and sale is not primarily directed at Western IOCs after all but rather at checking the increasing power of Russia in northern Iraq. This would accord with some signs in recent months that Baghdad is prepared to offer Washington new ways of dealing with it in the south following the U.S.s end of combat mission in Iraq at the end of 2021. The true legal position relating to the Iraqi oil industry and the distribution of its revenue sharing between the KRG area and the rest of the country does not help either the FGI or the KRG, as it is unclear, and both sides have claimed with some justification a right to the revenues from the disputed oil flows. According to the KRG, it has authority under Articles 112 and 115 of the Iraq Constitution to manage oil and gas in the Kurdistan Region extracted from fields that were not in production in 2005 the year that the Constitution was adopted by referendum. In addition, the KRG maintains that Article 115 states: All powers not stipulated in the exclusive powers of the federal government belong to the authorities of the regions and governorates that are not organised in a region. As such, the KRG maintains that as relevant powers are not otherwise stipulated in the Constitution, it has the authority to sell and receive revenue from its oil and gas exports. The KRG also highlights that the Constitution provides that, should a dispute arise, priority shall be given to the law of the regions and governorates. However, the FGI and SOMO argue that under Article 111 of the Constitution oil and gas are under the ownership of all the people of Iraq in all the regions and governorates. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Some 600 workers at an Exxon refinery in Texas who were locked out for ten months reached a deal with the company and will be allowed to return to work. Reuters reports that the 600 union workers, who were locked out to prevent them from going on a wildcat strike, had agreed to a key demand from Exxon: that the company had the right to determine assignments. Assignment determination was one of the sticky points during the negotiations between the United Steelworkers members and Exxon. Before, some work assignments were determined by worker seniority. Now, however, the workers have agreed that Exxon will decide all assignments for the six-year period of the contract the two parties signed. "The membership decided to accept the offer after 10 months of a fight," said a representative of the United Steelworkers union, as quoted by Reuters. "The company started the lockout; they can end it at any time." The lockout began last May. Since then, negotiations have been ongoing with several company proposals voted down by the locked out workers. The U.S. National Labor Relations Board also got involved in the dispute after the United Steelworkers union filed charges that Exxon was using the lockout in an attempt to force out the trade union from the Beaumont refinery. Exxon had said that the lockout would end either when a mutually acceptable contract is agreed, or when the union is removed. The workers voted in favor of the latest contract proposal 214 to 133. The Beaumont refinery has a capacity of close to 370,000 bpd of crude. Four years ago, Exxon said it planned to significantly expand the complex's capacity, which would make it the largest refinery in the United States, capable of processing between 700,000 and 850,000 bpd. Because of the pandemic, however, the expansion may be completed later than initially planned. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Germany has suspended the Russia-led natural gas pipeline project Nord Stream 2 after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized late on Monday two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops there in the most serious escalation of the crisis yet. Germany, the endpoint of Nord Stream 2, has been hesitant in the past to move against the gas pipeline, but the latest escalation seems to have tipped the scales in favor of Berlin reacting strongly to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. We now have to reassess the dramatically changed situation: This also applies to Nord Stream 2, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday, adding that The certification cannot take place now. Scholz has asked the Federal Network Agency of Germany, Bundesnetzagentur, to analyze again the security of supply, the Chancellor added. In November, the agency had suspended the procedure to certify Nord Stream 2 AG as an independent transmission operator until an operator of the pipeline in Germany was incorporated under German law. The pipeline construction is complete, but Nord Stream 2 was awaiting full regulatory clearance from Germany and a review by the European Union over its compliance with EU energy regulations. However, in light of the latest events, Germany is now putting Nord Stream 2 on ice. Germany has secured its gas supply even without additional volumes that would have come through North Stream 2, German Vice-Chancellor and Economy Minister Robert Habeck said on Tuesday. Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, tweeted, I welcome Germanys move to suspend the certification of Nord Stream 2. This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances. True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times. Germanys move proves just that. Separately, the EU, the UK, and the U.S. are each currently drafting sanctions against Russia, which would be announced as early as today. Following the news that Germany halts Nord Stream 2, European gas prices jumped, especially for gas for delivery later this year and in 2023. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Energy officials in Kazakhstan say they have over the past week uncovered 13 illegal data-mining farms collectively using capacity of more than 200 megawatts. The facilities have been found all over the country, in the regions of Karaganda, Pavlodar, Turkestan, Akmola, and Kostanai, and in the cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty and Shymkent. [Efforts] to identify and disconnect mining farms from the electrical grid will continue, and the relevant government bodies are also conducting investigations into the data-mining farms that have been detected, the Energy Ministry said in a statement on February 21. War on unlicensed crypto-miners was declared earlier this year by Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry Minister Bagdat Musin, who appealed for help from the public in implementing the crackdown. Gray miners are doing a lot of harm to our power grid. The energy costs of illegal mining are estimated to exceed 1 gigawatt, he said on February 3. A few days later, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on the government to draw up guidelines for regulating and developing the sector. The government should develop a full-fledged package of solutions for the regulation and development of digital mining. I expect results by April 1, he said on February 8. The government is not opposed to white miners, but people who want to operate in this sector must have a license, get their electricity at the appropriate tariffs, declare their income and pay taxes, and get involved in green projects. Chinas de facto ban on crypto-mining last summer precipitated a boom for the industry in Kazakhstan, where operators took advantage of relatively low electricity costs to turn the country for a while into the second-biggest crypto-mining center in the world. Many have done so without registering themselves with the authorities, however, leading to a series on knock-on problems. They use copious volumes of electricity at household rates, thereby depriving power providers of revenue. Unpredictability in usage patterns also complicates the ability of electricity producers to draw up reliable output plans. The government has blamed crypto-miners, who they say have placed an excessive load on energy infrastructure, for an increasing number of rolling blackouts across various regions in recent months. According to the Energy Ministry, power consumption in January-October 2021 grew by 8 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. In earlier years, consumption grew annually by less than 2 percent. Last week, deputy Energy Minister Zhandos Nurmaganbetov seemed to be suggesting that tracking down all the so-called gray miners might take time, since many of them operate out of sight. [Energy Ministry inspectors] cannot go around the whole city to work it out. We make enquiries with energy-generating companies: Hand over whatever information you have about miners. But they dont give us anything. What you have to understand is that either they dont know either, or this information is being hidden somehow, Nurmaganbetov told reporters on February 17. Some of the illegal data farms have been going about their business with remarkable brazenness, though. The facility found in the Pavlodar region, for example, was situated within the grounds of a coal-fired thermal power station in the town of Ekibastuz. Another was operating out of six containers at an industrial park in the commercial capital of Almaty. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Nearly one-fourth of Germanys medium-sized enterprises fear they might not survive the soaring energy prices, a survey by the Federation of German Industries, BDI, showed on Monday. Industries across Europe have been suffering from the surging energy prices since the autumn of 2021, when the natural gas crunch sent benchmark European gas prices soaring and electricity prices across major economies surging, too. Many energy-intensive industries, such as fertilizer producers and steelmakers, had to curb production as the record gas and power prices slashed their margins. The energy crisis is hitting not only consumers but industries, too, including in Europes biggest economy, Germany. According to the Federation of German Industries survey of 418 companies polled between February 1 and 14, a total of 23 percent said that the surging energy costs of the past few months represent an existential challenge to them. Another 65 percent of the mid-sized firms polled say that the additional costs due to the rally in energy prices represent a strong headwind for their operations. Around 87 percent want a quicker reaction from the federal government to reduce the burdens associated with the high electricity prices. Of the more than 400 firms polled, 34 percent have cut on their investments in climate neutrality because of the soaring energy costs, the BDI survey found. The federation fears that the high energy costs will crush the German economy, and some companies could be considering moving production abroad, BDI President Siegfried Russwurm said in a statement. The federation warns that soaring energy costs will increasingly weigh on production, Russwurm added. The industrial mid-sized companies in Germany are the backbone of its economy, as those firms account for the largest share of the countrys economic output, employ about 60 percent of all workers, and contribute significantly to corporate tax revenues in Germany, according to BDI. By Tsventana Paraksova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Western nations moved forward on new sanctions against Moscow -- including a delay in its prized Nord Stream 2 pipeline -- in reaction to President Vladimir Putins move to recognize two separatist regions in Ukraine as independent states and to send troops to the territories. Russias two houses of parliament on February 22 rubber-stamped Putins decision by voting to ratify friendship treaties with the territories in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Western leaders said Russias actions had increased the chances of a full-scale war in the middle of Europe as they scrambled to coordinate sanctions to punish Moscow while still attempting to persuade the Kremlin to stop short of an invasion of Ukraine. The White House on February 22 began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an invasion, indicating that a red line had been crossed that would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national-security adviser. An invasion is an invasion and that is what is under way. U.S. officials said late on February 21 that Washington was coordinating with allies and will on February 22 announce the new sanctions against Moscow. The European Union, meanwhile, said a first package of sanctions would be discussed and likely approved later on February 22 at a meeting of the 27-member blocs foreign ministers. Britain will slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in what British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the first barrage of measures against Moscow for its actions against Ukraine. He told Parliament that Britain still had an array of financial weapons to hit Moscow with should it intensify the crisis. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain will slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in what he called the first barrage of measures against Moscow for its actions against Ukraine. "The U.K. and our allies will begin to impose the sanctions on Russia that we have already prepared using the new and unprecedented powers granted by this House to sanction Russian individuals and entities of strategic importance to the Kremlin," Johnson told Parliament on February 22. He told Parliament that Britain still had an array of financial weapons to hit Moscow with should it intensify the crisis. "It is absolutely vital that we hold in reserve further powerful sanctions...in view of what President [Vladimir] Putin may do next," he said. "We want to stop Russian companies from being able to raise funds in sterling or indeed in dollars.... We want them to stop raising funds on U.K. markets and we want to strip away the veil that conceals the ownership of property in this country," Johnson said. He said that sanctions would hit Rossiya Bank, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank, and the Black Sea Bank. Three Russian oligarchs with interests in energy and infrastructure -- Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg -- will have their assets frozen and be banned from traveling to Britain, he said. The three have already been sanctioned by the United States. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country was putting the certifying process of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia via the Baltic Sea on hold in reaction to Moscows actions in Ukraine. Scholz told reporters he had asked for a suspension of the review process by the German regulator for the $11 billion pipeline. It was not immediately clear how long this would delay the start of operations on the pipeline or when certification might be restarted. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the White House had been "in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement." She added that the United States would "be following up with our own measures today." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy conducted a meeting of his national security council and held phone calls with several world leaders in an effort to shore up support for his country. We expect clear support steps and effective support steps from our partners," he said late on February 21 in a televised address. "It is very important to see now who is our true friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words," he said. "We are on our own land. He later said he was considering a request from his Foreign Ministry to break diplomatic ties with Moscow over the latest developments. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, told reporters after a UN Security Council meeting that "tomorrow, the United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity." Related: Oil Prices Will Hit $100 And Stay There - Vitol CEO "We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table, and work toward peace," she said. However, U.S. administration officials said Putin's action did not trigger a broad package of sanctions that Washington and its allies would have slapped on Moscow if it invaded Ukraine, saying it would for now set less-severe measures because Russia already had troops in the breakaway region. Russia in 2014 invaded Ukraine and seized the Crimea region and has since aided separatists in eastern Ukraine in their bloody conflict with the government in Kyiv. It has amassed more than 150,000 troops along Ukraines border over recent months, raising fears of an imminent invasion of its neighbor. Moscow had denied it was planning to invade Ukraine prior to Putins order on February 21 to send troops into the separatist areas, saying they were needed to keep the peace and protect civilians -- claims the West quickly dismissed. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Putin's action "further undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party." "Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again," the chief of the Western military alliance added. Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the European Union's two most senior figures, condemned Putin's action as "a blatant violation of international law." Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, called Russias recognition of the separatist regions as independent states and the decision to send troops there an act of war. Reynders said the bloc is prepared to impose sanctions on Russia, although he added that the moves could be gradual and would require unanimous consent of all 27 members. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The oil market will find it impossible to replace Russias oil, which accounts for 10 percent of global supply, Dmitry Marinchenko, senior director for natural resources and commodities at Fitch, told Russian media on Tuesday. The escalation of the Russia-Ukraine crisis could send oil prices to above $100 per barrel, according to Fitchs expert. Early on Tuesday, oil prices surged close to $100 a barrel, with Brent Crude hitting a new seven-year high of $99 before easing to $97 per barrel after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized late on Monday two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and deployed troops there in the most serious escalation of the crisis yet. A further escalation of the conflict could lead to sanctions that would restrict Russian oil exports, which could lead to an energy crisis, Kommersant daily quoted Marinchenko as saying. Currently, the geopolitical premium in the price of oil is already around $15 per barrel due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Marinchenko told Russian news agency TASS. Russias share of the global oil market is over 10 percent, and there is no one that can replace it, there is little spare production capacityespecially considering the gradual recovery in demandeven if sanctions on Iran are lifted in the near future, TASS quoted Marinchenko as saying. Russia, the worlds second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, exports around 5 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). Nearly half of it, or 48 percent, went to European countries in 2020, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). In 2021, Russia remained the largest supplier of natural gas and petroleum oils to the EU. A plunge in Russian oil exports to Europe would be a very bullish factor for oil prices, which could hit and exceed $100 in case of a conflict in Ukraine, analysts say. Also today, Qatari Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said that replacing Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe in the short term is almost impossible. By Tom Kool for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Four people were hurt in a crash Monday afternoon after a grass fire along the Kennedy Freeway backed up traffic. The fire also threatened homes along the highway. No one sustained life-threatening injuries, said Capt. Monty Daganaar of the Sarpy County Sheriffs Office. Bellevue Fire Department spokesman Jack Syphers said the fire started along the east side of the highway south of Chandler Road. High winds quickly blew it southward toward Cornhusker Road, he said. It was moving quickly, jumping from one spot to the next, he said. We wound up having quite a bit of (firefighting equipment) out there. Although firefighters were able to get the fire along the highway tamped down, it moved into five backyards, which added urgency and difficulty, he said. With help from additional agencies, firefighters were able to extinguish the fire before any homes were damaged, he said. Offutt Air Force Base, Omaha, Papillion and Plattsmouth all sent firefighters to assist Bellevue, he said. First responders closed the northbound lanes of the highway to lay hose to fight the fire, he said. With the lanes shut down, traffic backed up. A crash occurred 3 miles to the south, near Nebraska Highway 370. Daganaar said the crash occurred when a Dodge Journey swerved but was unable to avoid striking a Chevrolet Equinox that was slowing because of the traffic backup. The fire was reported about 2:40 p.m., and the scene was cleared about 5:10 p.m. The crash was reported at 3:24 p.m. All four injured people were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center. Omaha World-Herald: Afternoon Update The latest headlines sent at 4:45 p.m. daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Omaha Public Schools officials might end the districts face mask requirement by the end of the week. At its meeting Thursday, the OPS board will consider a policy making masks optional, according to the agenda for the meeting. If approved, the policy will become effective Friday. Since the beginning of the school year, OPS has required all students and staff to wear masks while inside district buildings. Unlike other school districts in the metro area, OPS has not changed that policy throughout the year. The board is considering the policy change after Douglas County Health Director Lindsay Huse lifted the temporary indoor mask mandate for Omaha on Feb. 16. The number of COVID-19 cases among OPS students and staff has continued to decline since the beginning of the semester, according to the OPS online dashboard. On Jan. 7, OPS reported 125 staff cases and 469 student cases. On Friday, the district reported 11 staff cases and 39 student cases. The policy will give Superintendent Cheryl Logan the authority to require masks in individual classrooms or schools if needed. The board also recommends in the policy that students or staff who have not been vaccinated or boosted should consider doing so. Also Thursday, the board will consider a plan to award a $100,000 bid to supplier Bay Promo to purchase 2.5 million disposable face masks for staff and students. The initial order will be for 12,000 boxes of 50 masks, according to the bid. The OPS board is meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Teacher Administration Center, 3215 Cuming St. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As the world approaches the second anniversary of the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization, on March 11, more nations are rolling out -- or are discussing the possibility of -- fourth doses of coronavirus vaccine for their most vulnerable. In the United States, leading public health officials say they are "very carefully" monitoring if or when fourth doses might be needed. Israel was the first nation to roll out fourth doses, announcing in December that adults 60 and older, medical workers and people with suppressed immune systems were eligible to receive the extra shot if at least four months have passed since their third dose. More recently, the Public Health Agency of Sweden announced last week that second booster doses are recommended for everyone 80 and older in the country. The United Kingdom's Department of Health and Social Care announced Monday that an extra booster dose of coronavirus vaccine will be offered in the spring to adults 75 and older, residents in care homes for older adults and immunosuppressed people 12 and older. In the United States, health officials emphasized late last year that fourth doses were not yet needed and said it was too premature to be discussing a potential fourth dose of coronavirus vaccine for most people. Now, the US Food and Drug Administration "is indeed continually looking at the emerging data on the pandemic and variants in the United States and overseas in order to evaluate the potential utility and composition of booster doses," FDA spokesperson Alison Hunt wrote in an email to CNN on Friday. She confirmed that although Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, has noted that there is still much uncertainty as to how the pandemic may further evolve, he also has said it is possible that a fourth dose might be recommended as we move into fall. A fall timeline coincides with the administration of flu shots, which could be convenient for people and makes sense scientifically because respiratory viruses -- like the coronavirus and influenza -- tend to peak in the winter months that follow. "As more data become available about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines, including the use of a booster dose, we will continue to evaluate the rapidly changing science and keep the public informed," Hunt wrote. "Any determination that additional booster doses are needed will be based on data available to the agency." If or when the FDA authorizes a fourth dose for the public, the next step would be for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the data before making a recommendation for use, as the agency has done for other coronavirus vaccine recommendations. 'Vaccination and boosting will be critical' The United States has seen significant improvements recently in Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. As of Friday, cases were down 44% from the prior week, hospitalizations dropped 26%, and deaths were 13% lower, according to Johns Hopkins University data. "Vaccination and boosting will be critical in maintaining that downward trajectory, particularly when you're talking about the red curve of severe disease leading to hospitalization," Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a White House Covid-19 Task Force briefing Wednesday. The "potential future requirement" for an additional boost or a fourth shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna mRNA vaccines or a third dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine "is being very carefully monitored in real time," Fauci said. "And recommendations, if needed, will be updated according to the data as it evolves." The CDC has no recommendation of fourth doses of coronavirus vaccine for the general public, but the agency updated its guidelines in October to note that certain people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may receive a fourth dose of the Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. "For the immunocompetent people, a single booster shot continues to provide high levels of protection against severe disease caused by Omicron," Fauci said Wednesday. "This should not be confused with the fact that for many immunocompromised people, already a second booster shot -- namely a fourth dose of an mRNA -- is recommended because of what we know about their poor response to the initial regimen." Meanwhile, vaccine makers continue to study fourth doses in broader populations. 'We recognize the need to be prepared' Pfizer announced in January that it has been studying the safety and efficacy of a fourth dose as part of its ongoing study of an Omicron-specific coronavirus vaccine among healthy adults ages 18 to 55. For that study, participants have been separated into three cohorts. One includes 600 people who got three doses of the current Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine before enrolling in the study. As part of the research, they will receive either a fourth dose of the current vaccine or a dose of the Omicron-based vaccine. "While current research and real-world data show that boosters continue to provide a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization with Omicron, we recognize the need to be prepared in the event this protection wanes over time and to potentially help address Omicron and new variants in the future," Kathrin Jansen, senior vice president and head of vaccine research and development at Pfizer, said in the company's announcement of the study. A study published by the CDC last week showed that protection against Covid-19 hospitalization and emergency department or urgent care visits is much higher after a third vaccine dose than a second dose but that protection wanes with time. With the Omicron variant dominant in the United States, vaccine effectiveness was 87% against Covid-19 emergency department or urgent care visits and 91% against hospitalizations in the two months after a third dose. Effectiveness fell to 66% and 78%, respectively, by the fourth month, the data showed. "Nonetheless, the level of 78 is still a good protective area," Fauci said Wednesday. Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, told CNN on Friday that he thinks having a fourth dose "makes very little sense" right now -- but possibly makes more sense this upcoming fall or winter. "Because Omicron is going away," he said, "third dose immunity wanes, and so fourth dose will probably wane as well. So we would want to time a fourth-dose push for when either there's a new variant or for next winter. So I think right now, unless you're immunocompromised or you're older, unless you have some personal risk, it doesn't make a lot of sense." The research showing some waning immunity after a third dose has led to more discussion around if or when fourth doses could be needed. "Just like with everything else, the health departments look at this data that's coming out and wait for guidance from the CDC and from the drug manufacturers. The drug manufacturers have been monitoring vaccine effectiveness," Lori Tremmel Freeman, chief executive officer of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, told CNN on Friday. The timing for fourth doses not only depends on waning immunity "but also depends on whether we see any more variants emerge and what we discover in terms of additional vaccine effectiveness for any emerging new infections," Freeman said. If fourth doses are needed, "health departments would go into the mode of preparing to administer the fourth dose in the way they have done previous doses," Freeman said. However, of greater concern among local public health officers is the slow -- and declining -- pace of people completing their third doses, she said. About 65% of the US population is fully vaccinated with at least their initial series, and about 28% of the population has received a booster dose, according to the CDC, as of Friday. But the pace of booster doses being administered has dropped to one of the slowest rates yet. "As time goes on, if there is the necessity of a fourth dose, we're already behind with people getting the third dose," Freeman said. "So all of a sudden, we could have a fairly large segment of the population that is not up to date on vaccines because they're behind by two doses, potentially, and more people could get sick." The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. CNN's Katherine Dillinger contributed to this report. Many will know J.D. Vance as the author of the bestselling memoir about rural poverty Hillbilly Elegy. He's turned away from writing books and is now running for U.S. Senate in the Ohio GOP primary. He's making waves and political enemies on both sides of the aisle, but could he symbolize a new departure for the right? Experts talk about what the Ohio primaries can tell us about the future of conservatism in America. Here's a look at some of today's COVID-19 news: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scrapping the last domestic coronavirus restrictions in England, including the requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate, even as he acknowledged Monday the potential for new and more deadly variants of the virus. Johnson told lawmakers in the House of Commons that the country was moving from government restrictions to personal responsibility as part of a plan for treating COVID-19 like other transmissible illnesses such as flu. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday emergency powers are still needed despite police ending border blockades and the occupation of the nation's capital by truckers and others angry over Canadas COVID-19 restrictions. "The situation is still fragile, the state of emergency is still there, Trudeau said. Lawmakers in Parliament will vote Monday night whether to allow police to continue to use emergency powers. Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh said his party will support it, ensuring Trudeau should have enough votes. But: The BA.2 virus -- a subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant -- isn't just spreading faster than its distant cousin, it may also cause more severe disease and appears capable of thwarting some of the key weapons we have against Covid-19, new research suggests. New lab experiments from Japan show that BA.2 may have features that make it as capable of causing serious illness as older variants of Covid-19, including Delta. And like Omicron, it appears to largely escape the immunity created by vaccines. A booster shot restores protection, making illness after infection about 74% less likely. Check out more COVID-19-related headlines from today here: What can occur when COVID-19 turns cruise vacations into nightmarish voyages? Like the twilight zone Unexpected postcruise adventure Stranded in St. Maarten Cruise FAQs State Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte has officially given notice of his resignation, effective 11:59 p.m. Monday, following allegations that he took inappropriate photos of a former female staff member. Meanwhile, those allegations have prompted calls for an investigation and scrutiny of the Legislatures workplace harassment policy. Groene sent Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, speaker of the Legislature, a succinct letter of resignation on Sunday. Hilgers then notified Gov. Pete Ricketts, following a process laid out in state law. Ricketts plans to appoint a replacement quickly to serve out the rest of Groenes term. The people of District 42 deserve a conservative voice that reflects their values, the governor said in an emailed statement. I am working to swiftly appoint someone who will fit this bill. Groene told The World-Herald on Friday that hed also cut short his bid for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. He was still on the secretary of states statewide candidacy list as of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Secretary of States Office, and he has until March 1 to file a candidate withdrawal form if he decides to do so. If the form was sent Monday, the office wasnt open to receive it. State offices were closed for Presidents Day. Nebraska Sunrise News, a recently launched news website whose leadership includes Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, was the first to report the allegations against Groene on Friday that prompted his resignation. It reported that the staffer who was photographed, Kristina Konecko, discovered the photos of herself on Groenes laptop in the course of her work. (Konecko has asked The World-Herald to use her name in its reporting.) The report said the photos appeared to have been taken by Groene, then sent with email captions of a sexual nature. It said that the emails were described as objectifying and demeaning and that some were zoomed-in photos of provocative body parts. Konecko said details regarding the photos are accurate, except she did not see that the photos were sent to others. Groene also said he didnt send the photos to other people. Groene told The World-Herald that he did take photos of the staffer and that it was a mistake, but he denied other details and said he never made sexual advances toward the staffer or said anything to her that could be termed harassment. He said that he took full-length photos but did not zoom in, and that she was not in compromising positions. Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha on Saturday called for an investigation into Groene. She sent the request to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office and two state law enforcement officials. There hadnt been any movement on the request as of Monday, Hunt said. Spokespeople for the State Patrol and Attorney Generals Office said there werent any updates to share. Previously, a spokesperson confirmed that the State Patrol received the letter and is communicating with the Attorney Generals Office. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln on Monday released a statement voicing concern about the Legislatures processes for dealing with workplace harassment. At a minimum, she said, next steps for the Legislature should include an outside formal investigation and an interim study to examine human resources, using an outside consultant. I find it disturbing that as a member of the Executive Board, I found out about this situation first through hearsay and rumor, Pansing Brooks statement reads. When I approached key leaders, I was told workplace harassment claims cannot be discussed. She said she understands that privacy is necessary during such an investigation, but that others violated that privacy via disclosure to the media. Clearly, we need to ensure that privacy doesnt mean that serious issues get swept under the rug and arent properly addressed, unless leaked to the media, she said. Pansing Brooks also called it concerning that Groene resigned after media reports even though members of the Legislature seemed to have known about the issue sooner. The Legislature, which is about halfway through a 60-day legislative session, is expected to return from a four-day recess Tuesday. Hilgers sent an email to senators on Sunday asking them to notify him by adjournment on Tuesday if theyd like to take over as lead sponsor on any of Groenes bills. If nobody steps up to sponsor a bill, it dies, Hilgers confirmed. The email also says Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, who chairs the Executive Board, plans to update the Legislature Tuesday morning on steps being taken. Hughes on Friday confirmed that the board had received a complaint, though he didnt specifically name Groene. He said that the bodys workplace harassment policy is being followed and that an investigation is ongoing. One of Groenes bills, Legislative Bill 1275, is scheduled for a public hearing Wednesday. It would create a system under which people with specific medical conditions could obtain limited amounts of marijuana. However, supporters of legalizing medical cannabis in Nebraska have said the bill wouldnt actually make it possible to access the drug. Groenes term ends in early January 2023. To serve beyond that date, whoevers appointed to his spot would have to run for election this year. As of Friday, three candidates had filed for Groenes District 42 seat: Chris Bruns, Mel McNea and Brenda K. Fourtner. People who dont currently hold elected office have until March 1 to file. <&rule> Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 LINCOLN The Nebraska State Patrol opened an investigation into the conduct of North Platte State Sen. Mike Groene on Tuesday, while legislative leaders outlined the next steps in the Legislatures investigation. Groene officially resigned from the Legislature on Monday after it surfaced that he took photos of a former female staff member without her knowledge. Nebraska State Patrol spokesman Cody Thomas confirmed in an email Tuesday that the patrol opened an investigation into the matter after consulting with the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office. Once complete, the findings will be delivered to the Attorney General, Thomas wrote. The confirmation came as female lawmakers, including members of both parties, took to the legislative floor to talk about the prevalence of sexual harassment and to call for a better internal system for handling allegations of workplace and sexual harassment. Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, chairman of the Legislatures Executive Board, started off the day by sharing information about the legislative investigation, which is separate from the State Patrols undertaking. Hughes said he initially sought to resolve the complaint through an informal process provided for in legislative policy. He said the staffer who filed the complaint informed him Friday afternoon that the informal resolution was not agreeable. In response, Hughes said he had contacted three lawmakers Sens. John Arch of La Vista, Tom Briese of Albion and Anna Wishart of Lincoln to start a formal probe of the situation. The three were among six members of a special personnel panel named last year to be available for such situations. Hughes said members of the panel met Tuesday morning to begin their work. They will hire an outside investigator and will be provided whatever resources they need. He said he has asked them to prepare a report when finished that can be shared with the public and the Legislature. They also will refer any evidence of potential criminal activity to the attorney general. If appropriate, he said the panel could also give recommendations to improve the Legislatures policy. This formal investigation will be thorough, prompt, will continue to protect the complainants rights while also ensuring that the Legislature, and the public, has confidence in our process, Hughes said. Groene, a two-term lawmaker who gained a reputation for being a rough-edged conservative, officially resigned at the end of the day Monday in the wake of a controversy that emerged Friday. Nebraska Sunrise News, a recently launched news website whose leadership includes Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, was the first to report the allegations against Groene. The staffer who was photographed, Kristina Konecko, discovered the photos of herself on Groenes laptop in the course of her work. (Konecko has asked The World-Herald to use her name in its reporting.) The report said the photos appeared to have been taken by Groene, then sent with email captions of a sexual nature. It said that the emails were described as objectifying and demeaning and that some were zoomed-in photos of provocative body parts. Konecko said details regarding the photos are accurate, except she did not see that the photos were sent to others. Groene previously told The World-Herald that he took photos of the staffer but didnt send them to other people. He also said that he took full-length photos but did not zoom in, and that the staffer was not in compromising positions. In text messages Tuesday, Groene told The World-Herald that he regretted his insensitive indiscretion but did not break the law. He said the matter is over as far as he is concerned. It was private information on my personal accounts. I never shared anything involving this issue. My privacy was invaded (by) another individual, he wrote. I did exactly as the Executive committee requested. He said he has apologized and admitted he broke the Legislatures rules, and that he resigned for those reasons and to spare my family and colleagues an embarrassing circus. Looks like I have failed in that effort, he wrote. On Tuesday, Hughes addressed the alleged sharing of the photos. He said legislative information technology staff had searched Groenes laptop, including his emails and hard drive and his cellphone as part of the informal resolution process. Hughes said he was not aware of any evidence that Groene sent the pictures to any third party or that any other senator or staff were involved in, shared or received the pictures. In response to a point of speculation, Hughes said he does not know of any evidence that any senator or any staff member had attempted to discourage the staffer from exercising her rights. He said his own communications with her were done with Janice Satra, the legal counsel for the Executive Board, present. Hughes said that additional action would be taken if any other senators or staff are found to have been involved with the incident or to have tried to discourage Konecko from pursuing her complaint. Groenes conduct has commanded the attention of his now-former colleagues since the allegations became public. On Saturday, Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha called for a formal investigation of Groenes behavior. In a letter to the Attorney Generals Office and law enforcement, Hunt flagged potential areas of criminal wrongdoing based on media reports of the allegations. In addition, Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln on Monday released a statement voicing concern about the Legislatures processes for dealing with workplace harassment. Both were among the female lawmakers who stood up Tuesday morning to talk about their experiences with sexual harassment, its impact on women and the need for a better system to handle those cases when they arise. Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha started off the discussion by asking for a call of the house, a motion that requires all senators to return to their seats. I did a call of the house to say to the men in this body they need to listen, she said. Cavanaugh said Konecko turned the tables on the power dynamic of this institution by going to the press with her allegations and creating consequences for Groene. She argued leadership has failed, going so far as saying shed impeach Hughes and Sen. Mike Hilgers, speaker of the Legislature, if she could. When the Legislature wont hold one of its own men accountable for this abuse of power against a subordinate woman, how are we, as women, ever supposed to believe that the body has our best best interest in mind when theyre discussing legislation that affects us? Cavanaugh said. Lawmakers pointed to a need for reform. Sen. Groene is just a mirror of whats been systemic, said Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue. Blood said people feel their voices arent heard when they make complaints, and said she thinks the Legislature can do better. Hunt urged the body to examine the institution and improve it. Colleagues, can we have the strength to turn and look at the system and the institution and what has happened here to create a fertile ground for problems like this to occur? she said. The institution is this way because people make choices for it to be this way.Several legislators, including Cavanaugh and Sens. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington, Julie Slama of Sterling and Jen Day of Omaha, shared their own experiences with sexual harassment and assault. Theres an outsized effect when someone you trust breaks your trust, DeBoer said. Especially when its in an egregious way, especially when you dont expect it. Then, suddenly, youre going through the world, youre having to do the work through no fault of your own, nothing you did of having to rebuild that trust so you can, in my case, take a cab again. The next cab driver wont attack you, or your next boss wont, or your next colleague wont. Slama, Pansing Brooks and others called for the creation of a legislative ethics panel. Former Sen. John Kuehn of Heartwell introduced a bill in 2018 to create an ethics board. At the time, Kuehn said existing policies gave too much discretion to the chair of the Executive Board to decide how ethical lapses or harassment complaints are handled. The bill generated discussion, but didnt advance. An independent ethics committee, Slama said, wouldve saved us from the convoluted process we currently have. To any female working in this building: Just know I stand with you as an ally in the fight against sexual harassment, Slama said. Im all in. Lets fix this policy with the framework proposed by Senator Kuehn, with an ethics committee. As female legislators from across the political spectrum spoke, Pansing Brooks said this is not a partisan discussion, urging the Legislature to have those most directly affected by sexual harassment lead on the issue. We need a conversation but, above all, we need action, Hunt said. Gov. Pete Ricketts is tasked with appointing a person to serve the remainder of Groenes term. On Tuesday he interviewed a handful of candidates for the seat, a spokesperson confirmed. The governor has said he intends to fill the seat quickly. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sara Gentzler State Government reporter Follow Sara Gentzler 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 Its possible that a Nebraska school district might want to start school after Labor Day and end before Memorial Day. Perhaps after listening to parents and staff, the school board in that district might decide that its better to have shorter breaks during the year or just skip spring break entirely. Maybe in that particular district, a longer summer vacation might outweigh the value of such mid-year breaks, as well as the opportunity for teachers to have days without students in the classroom for planning, additional training and strategic meetings. A local school board is able to consider the pros and cons and come up with a plan that satisfies its constituents. And if that results in a school calendar running from Labor Day to Memorial Day, fine. But thats not what Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard is proposing. If he has his way with his Legislative Bill 1001, the state would mandate a specific school calendar for every district across Nebraska. Its a one-size-fits-all approach that snubs the idea of local school control. Its just not necessary for the heavy hand of state government to meddle in such decisions. Erdman told the Nebraska Legislatures Education Committee this month that student learning is currently being interrupted by teacher in-service days and too much time off for winter and spring break. Having such days off makes it difficult for parents to find child care, Erdman said. He questioned whether schools need to have teacher in-service days during the school year. Besides, Erdman said, the current schedule teaches young people that they dont need to work five days a week. Thats an interesting argument for a member of a legislative body that has met five times a week only once since the session began on Jan. 5. It seems likely that local school boards and teachers in the classroom might have a better perspective than Erdman how instruction might be affected by scheduled breaks during the school year. School districts might also be able to decide whether teachers can productively use a day without students in the classroom, such as analyzing test scores and recalibrating their instructional plans based on individual student needs. The World-Heralds Emily Nitcher reported that Colby Coash, representing the Nebraska Association of School Boards, said his group is opposed to Erdmans bill. The group believes that decisions about when to open and close the school year should be left to local school boards that are well-suited to consider what their own community needs. Coash said most school districts actively do solicit parental input on their school calendar. Erdman is correct that families can face challenges in arranging child care when school is closed for whatever reason. Certainly, school districts should take into account the impact on families when setting the school calendar, which is typically established early enough so parents have time to make adequate child care arrangements. However, Erdmans linkage of the school calendar with student achievement seems speculative at best. Last summer, Erdman wrote to constituents asserting that Nebraskas reading test results have declined in recent decades. Some people concerned about that issue might consider whether its because of demographic changes such as increased poverty or an influx of non-English speakers. Others might want to examine teaching strategies and seek more effective methods. But Erdman suggested that its because Nebraska children arent on summer vacation long enough. Could this be the result of reducing time for summer reading? he asked. Oh. It seems likely that a student who wanted to read a lot but was thwarted by a too-short summer vacation would still find a way to pick up a book, perhaps during one of those midyear breaks that seem excessive to Erdman. But the issue isnt really whether a state senator has cracked the code for why some Nebraska students dont read well. Its whether state lawmakers need to override locally elected school boards in setting the school calendar. The answer is simple: They dont. Humble City Council holds hearing for drainage, announces election On Feb. 10, the Humble City Council held a public hearing to discuss the use of federal grant dollars to be allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as a part of the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CLFRF) program. There are two highly-needed projects that include a proposed $716,000 drainage improvement project and a $2.8 million Country Village project from Wilson Road to east of Country Village. City Manager Jason Stuebe added, These projects are planned to mitigate flooding and drainage issues in these areas. The project totals include the engineering study, construction and grant administration. Additionally, the council voted and approved the ability to hold a general joint election May 7, 2022, and to set early voting locations and polling places. The primary focus is to elect council members for Places 3, 4 and 5. The council also approved a special election to also be held May 7, 2022, to submit to qualified voters the nine provisions and amendments to the Humble City Charter. Several of the line-item changes to this document include but are not limited to the following: city manager duties and responsibilities, the ability of the city council members to set officer compensation and improve neighborhoods, the arrangement and renumbering of the charter, details surrounding the audit report and city contracts, ability to conduct city council member elections, requirements for lawsuits, and modification of outdated, unnecessary, or misspelled information. Several rounds of meetings and a special task force were formed to make proposed updates to this crucial city document that outlines specific duties by role, details provisions, and avoids any unnecessary conflicts of interest. Humble City Mayor Norman Funderburk reminded attendees about specific election details for the near future. Early voting opens just in time for Valentines Day at City Hall. Additionally, Feb. 18 is the last chance to ask for mail-in voting. Finally, citizens can go to Harrisvotes.com to view Harris County voting details. Prior to adjourning, Councilman David Pierce gave community announcements. On Feb. 26, starting at noon, the civic center will host the Bully Dog Show and Car Show. To round out the month, we have the Houston Gun Collectors Association Gun Show. For more information about any of these events, see humblecc.com/event-calendar. Pierce continued, In the month of March, beginning March 12, we have the All Out Classics Car Show at 12 p.m. Next, in April on the third, the Humble Civic Center Arena will host the Houston BBQ Festival starting at noon. This is sure to be a crowd favorite. This event is set to feature several highly-ranked vendors as a food tasting. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the city council is planned for Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. KARW hosts judicial candidates The Kingwood Area Republican Women (KARW) held a forum, Thursday, Feb. 17 at Tin Roof BBQ in Atascocita for candidates on the Harris County judge Republican primary ballot. Topics included crime rates and bail reform, vaccine mandates, fund allocation, spending on social programs and more. Four of the nine Republican candidates were present to discuss the issues in front of a large and lively crowd. The candidates were Martina Lemond Dixon, Robert Dorris, Randy Kubosh and Vidal Martinez. Candidate and longtime Kingwood resident Martina Lemond Dixon is currently the president of the Humble ISD board of trustees, having served on the board in different capacities since June 2017. Dixon also serves on the Harris County Appraisal District board of directors. A native Houstonian, Dixon is a self-described very strong Christian, a wife and a mother of four, who has always led with a servant heart. Dixon stated that her school board background, her involvement on the building and planning committee and also the finance committee, has prepared her well for the role of Harris County judge. Dixon said she is running for three basic reasons to address deplorable crime issues, drainage issues related to flooding, and infrastructure. When asked if Dixon would return the process of running elections back to the county clerk, Dixon replied, Yes, absolutely. The elections administrator and that entire office needs to go, further commenting on its inefficiency and disorganization from personal experience. Dixon said she would like an audit performed before the office is eliminated. Dixon was asked, if elected, what issues of concern she would prioritize at the Harris County Commissioners Court. The very first thing would be to take a hard stance on crime and focus on safety, Dixon replied. Dixon emphasized that the number one goal and priority of the Humble ISD school board is safety. Dixon also said that she would trim the fat off the budget and eliminate the social programs, because, while she wants to help communities, that is not the role of the county judge and the current county judge has stepped out of her lane many times for our district and that type of thing has to end. When asked about the responsibility of the county judge at Harris County events such as funeral services for fallen first responders and public officials as well as press conferences and how she would characterize Judge Hidalgos behavior at the recent funeral service for Constable Corporal Galloway, Dixon said, Its about respect, its definitely not for politics and Lina Hidalgo should be ashamed of herself. When asked how she would ensure public funds, such as flood bonds, go to the communities most affected, Dixon cited her experience with flooding challenges as a member of the Humble ISD school board and spoke of meeting and partnering with Congressman Crenshaw and Congressman Brady to access and expedite the FEMA funds that were needed to make repairs to Kingwood High School and other district facilities, noting their success in that effort. Candidate Robert Dorris just wants to leave you alone and get government out of our lives. The oldest of seven, Dorris was born and raised in the Spring/Tomball area where he worked on construction sites with his father from the age of 8. Dorris graduated from Texas Tech University with degrees in both architecture and business and is currently a marketing manager within the construction industry, managing multimillion dollar construction projects and budgets. Dorris said he is running to protect his young son, who he would do anything for, and will address crime issues, get rid of bail reform, and hold judges accountable. Dorris said he will also focus on infrastructure and growth. In a question regarding public frustration with catch and release tactics, repeat offenders and bail reform issues, Dorris was asked how he would combat the rising crime and bring safety to the communities. Dorris said he wants to have a website dedicated to those judges who have been letting everybody out, detailing who the judge is, who the criminal is that they let out, what they let them out for. Dorris would also like a map indicating what kind of crimes are happening and when and where they are happening, information he said is currently difficult to obtain. Dorris was asked about Judge Hidalgos practice of placing Section 8 housing under the guise of multiuse government run communities in the middle of suburban communities and whether or not he would reverse it. The quick answer is yes, Dorris said. Dorris added that people naturally self-segregate and should be allowed to move where they want to move, where they feel comfortable and where theyre economically viable to go. When asked if hes been a lifelong Republican, Dorris said Yes, lifelong Republican Im much more a conservative Libertarian. I dont want to get involved in anybodys lives. You guys know how to live your lives better, I know how to live my life better. When asked if he would defund and eliminate the new county departments Judge Hidalgo created and staffed with non-Texans or if he would let the department heads go at the end of their contracts and hire Texans to replace them, Dorris responded that although it sounds good to hire Texans, its wasteful spending so the departments would be eliminated. Dorris said he wants to return to zero-based budgeting. Candidate Randy Kubosh said he and his brother, Houston City Council member Michael Kubosh, are known for a number of ballot initiatives, most notably the removal of the red-light cameras. After getting the votes needed, a federal judge invalidated the City of Houston election. Randy Kubosh intervened as a plaintiff to restore the vote and took it to the U.S. Supreme Court where they won the case. Kubosh is a self-described true Republican, a lifelong Texan and Houstonian, and said he is one to keep his promises. When asked how he, as county judge, would balance the budget needs of Harris County while maintaining a reasonable tax rate for the residents and business owners, Kubosh said he is against raising taxes and especially against the appraisal district raising the valuations on our properties. Kubosh said he believes in only doing the core services of Harris County and is against the social programs instituted by the current administration and the county courts. Kubosh was asked his thoughts on the current redistricting. Kubosh said he is totally against that map. When asked about waste in the current budget, Kubosh said there is an enormous amount of waste by funding feel good projects while cutting the budget for law enforcement. Kubosh was also asked how he would ensure that public funds, such as flood bonds, would go to the communities most affected and not be diverted to other projects. Kubosh said he would implement a full review and audit of flood mitigation bonds and seek dollars from the states rainy day fund. Thats our money, he said. Candidate Vidal Martinez started his career as a federal prosecutor in Harris County. Martinez served as chairman of the State Bar of Texas for one year, has served 30 years on the Houston Methodist Hospital System board of directors, and served as chairman of the transportation committee of the Greater Houston Partnership where he also served on the board for several years. All of this, Martinez said, is relevant experience for the three responsibilities of the County: the criminal justice system, public health and transportation/emergency management. Martinez said all the candidates agree that crime is the number one issue and that we need to get rid of Lina Hidalgo. When asked about his stance on vaccine mandates in regards to employment and businesses, Martinez said, Im against mandates, whether they be vaccines or masks. Martinez said he would not push mandates at the Harris Health System, except for when they have to due to federal requirements. Martinez was asked, if elected, how his faith would impact his decision making. Martinez said he and his wife are God-fearing people and that religion and faith has always been part of his family and he believes its Christian beliefs that will get you working in the right direction and maintaining that. Martinez was asked what changes or additions to the current job description of director of emergency management (a county judge role) he would bring to this duty, if elected, and how effectively he thinks this has been managed the past two years, especially in regards to the pandemic and the severe storms and their effect on Harris County. She (Hidalgo) didnt check with the CEOs of any of the hospitals, didnt even check with the city. She just called a Red Alert. Thats what you dont do. You dont scare people. You dont take them into Red Alert, said Martinez. When asked if he would reverse Judge Hidalgos practice of placing Section 8 housing in the middle of suburban communities, Martinez cited his tenure on the Houston Housing Authority and clarified that Section 8 housing is not a county issue but a city issue. He said the Houston Housing Authority, a city department, receives and disperses Section 8 funds and that the countys involvement is minimal. However, if the city government begins to impair communities, he sees the position of county judge as a bully pulpit and would step in. The Kingwood Area Democrats hosted a candidate forum for the Democratic primary election via Zoom Monday, Feb. 21. Early voting for the 2022 Texas primary election began Feb.14 and will continue through Feb.25. Election Day is Tuesday, March 1. Bond issue will raise taxes says Martin At the Feb. 16 Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council (SNC) Meeting, Marques Holmes, Humble Independent School Districts new SNC representative, announced the school district had just approved its anticipated bond proposal to be put before the taxpayers for approval in the districts May 7 election. The bond proposals impact on taxes became the focus of the rest of the meeting. Holmes and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin disagreed on whether the bond issue will raise taxes. We held our monthly board meeting last night (Feb. 15) and the board voted to approve a $775 million bond for essentially a district that is busting at its seams. Its a necessary bond that is going to help elementary schools like Foster, right there in Kingwood, where it will eventually be a tear-down-and-replace. Foster is in such a need, not just repairing. We are literally going to build an entire new school, Holmes said. He said the bond is the reality of growth, adding 2,500 students in the district in just the last year and the fact that many of the schools are getting old and in need of major repair or replacement. He pointed out Foster Elementary School is now more than 50 years old. He said he will provide a complete and specific presentation to the SNC at its March meeting and encouraged everyone to get out and vote. He concluded his announcement by stating: This bond is not going to impact the tax rate. The tax rate is staying the same as it has in the years past and with the 2018 bond, we have shown a good level of stewardship because all of the projects that have been funded will essentially be completed on schedule as of this year. Holmes statement about the tax rate not changing led to a reaction and questions from a former Humble ISD board member and Kingwoods current city councilman, Dave Martin. Every time I talk to someone from the school board they say, yeah, its a $750 million bond referendum but there is no tax increase. My ask is, if we dont do it (approve the bond referendum) will there be a tax decrease? Martin asked. Holmes responded: Great question. But I dont believe it will be a tax decrease, I dont believe that. Martin said to Holmes, I would like you to double check that for the next meeting because if you dont do it (pass the bond referendum), you could have a substantial tax decrease. He pointed out that if one could have a tax decrease without the bond, that was in effect the same as saying the bond requires additional taxes that would not otherwise be needed. The resulting discussion resulted in Martin calling attention to the reality that the bond referendum language used on the actual ballot is now required by Texas law to state that a school bond is a tax increase. I stand by my statement, Martin said. Martin pointed out following the meeting that, as a trained CPA, he thinks bonds are intended for making long-term capital improvements and not for ongoing maintenance and operation (M&O) expenses. Because the language in the bond states it is a tax increase, he considers it to be a tax increase when tax rates that could otherwise be lowered are extended into a future in which they would not be required without the bond obligation. I stand by my statement. I have not decided where I stand on the bond referendum as I need to study all of the projects and the use of a 30-year payback on items with a life expectancy of a few years. It appears that almost $200 million of this package is for short term maintenance and equipment. That's not a good use of bond funds, Martin said. He explained he does not take out a mortgage to paint his house, purchase technology that has a short life expectancy, or conduct ordinary maintenance and repairs. He feels those types of things should be covered by the use of M&O tax dollars. My position is, as clearly stated in the district's bond referendum documentation, this $775 million bond does indeed represent a tax increase. I'm disappointed that every time I ask this question to district administrators and elected board of trustee members, I receive the same answer: This referendum will NOT represent a tax increase. The district's own documentation states otherwise, Martin stated. We live in a fabulous district with great schools and teachers. I believe the teachers and the instruction they provide are the reason why our students are successful. It's not the physical facility that makes our kids successful, it's the amazing teachers who are dedicated to making a difference in our children's lives. They should be our primary focus of the money we allocate, Martin said. In other business: Charles Cunningham, a past member and president of the Humble ISD school board, member of the Humble City Council and past president of Humble Area Assistance Ministries (HAMM,) introduced himself as a candidate now running in the Republican primary for Texas State Rep. District 127. When asked about his position on the issue of banning books in schools as a current state representative in another district has reportedly proposed with a list of up to 800 specific books, he said he was not a book banner. He noted he had not heard the details of the news reports but would not likely ever consider such a proposal. He also doubted the Texas Legislature or governors office could impose that kind of censorship on the independent school districts in Texas. Roycelyn Bastian of Lone Star College Kingwood, announced the dedication of the Kingwood Campus Health Professions Center will take place Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 10 a.m. The council reelected, each by acclimation, its current officers for the coming year. They are Stan Sarman, president; Dee Price, vice president; and Maryanne Fortson, secretary- treasurer. The next Kingwood Super Neighborhood Council Meeting is currently scheduled to be held March 16 at 7 p.m. Due to the continuing COVID-19 threat, the meeting will be conducted as a Zoom teleconference. View the details of the bond here. BLOOMINGTON Julie Frietsche wishes she had paid more attention to early warning signs that she was having heart problems. Earlier care could have prevented a heart attack she experienced, and survived, in mid-December. About two weeks before her heart attack, Frietsche was awake much of the night feeling pain in her chest and numbness in her left arm. And then it went away so then you just say, Oh, its just stress, yada yada yada, you just push it away, she said. Then two weeks later, on Dec. 15, she again felt pain in her chest. This time it was bad enough she called into work to let them know she would not be coming in. Her husband was away from the house for the day but kept checking in. The pain kept going throughout the morning. At noon, I knew I would have to go to the hospital, I knew I was having a heart attack, she said. Her son-in-law drove her to a prompt care facility not far from where she lives. There they would not even let her get out of the vehicle and medical staff could not find a pulse on her. They called an ambulance, which took her to Carle BroMenn. When I got to Carle (BroMenn), things happened very very quickly () they were just very competent in what they were doing, Frietsche said. At the hospital, they removed the blockage and put in a stint. The pain relief was almost immediate, she said. When they removed the blockage, it was immediate you just feel better right away, she said. February is American Heart Month During February, which is American Heart Month, health care professionals across the country are encouraging people to take steps to prevent heart disease. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention says that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, with the most common type of heart disease being coronary artery disease, which can cause heart attacks. Frietsche is far from unique in waving off warning signs, said Kartik Mehta, a cardiologist at Carle BroMenn. A lot of times people have warning signs before they have a heart attack and they ignore them, he said. Warning signs can include a sense of pressure on the chest, like the person is being squeezed, Mehta said. Other warning signs can even be as seemingly unrelated as unexpected sweating or indigestion. An actual heart attack or other incident sometimes causes pain in the arm or jaw or nausea and sweating. If theres a concern, they should be talking to their doctor, Mehta said. Other major symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, feeling light headed or faint and shortness of breath. Once those symptoms are present, people should call 911 and be taken to the hospital by an ambulance, Mehta said. Women and men also present with different symptoms. While men often feel pain on their left side, a higher percentage of women report right-sided pain. Women in general, and people with diabetes, present with atypical symptoms, Mehta said. Heart disease also is not just a disease for the elderly. Frietsche is 60 and Mehta said he has seen heart attacks in people as young as their late teens and early 20s. 'Value our bodies' Family history also matters. Frietsches grandfather died of a heart attack and her father has a defibrillator and pacemaker, she said. Given her family history, she realizes now that she should have kept seeing a cardiologist after her prior one left the area in 2014. Yogesh Agarwal, a cardiologist with OSF Healthcare, said that a family history of early heart disease should especially be a sign to talk with one's doctor. Taking care of oneself also starts young, he said. "I really feel we should value our bodies more, especially in our young age," he said. We only have one body and once long-term diseases set in, like heart disease, it is hard to really ever go back to full health, Agarwal said. It is better to stick to good habits, like exercise, keeping a healthy weight and not smoking, from the start. There are also other lifestyle and family history factors that people should be aware of, Mehta said. Factors that can put people at increased risk of a heart attack include obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Life choices like smoking or even excessive drinking also increase a persons chance of having heart problems. Heart disease doesnt happen overnight, he said. Heart attacks are not the only consequence of not taking care of one's heart, Agarwal said. High blood pressure is a focus for him as something that can cause a myriad of problems down the line, like heart failure, kidney failure and dementia. "(High blood pressure) does cause heart attacks, but it has a lot of other implications," he said. Now she is doing cardiac rehab. She does hour long sessions, three days a week at Carle BroMenn and will keep at it for around three months. The big goal is to create a long-term plan to help reduce her risk of having another heart attack. While she does that work, she wants people to know that they need to take the warning signs seriously. Julie, your Midwestern work ethic is going to kill you, she says to herself. I should have listened to my body two weeks before when I had pain. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter: @connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NORMAL A 38-year-old Arkansas man was taken into custody Monday after a report of an armed subject at Veterans Parkway and East College Avenue, police said. Normal police were advised around 4:20 p.m. of an individual that was being disruptive and throwing bottles and standing in traffic in the vicinity of Parkway Plaza at Veterans Parkway and Parkway Plaza Drive, officials said. He was reported to have a gun and that he was not pointing it at anyone, but that he would fire the gun if police pulled their weapons on him. Authorities later determined that the firearm was a replica handgun. The man was placed on a stretcher and into an ambulance about 5:08 p.m., but police said he was not injured. He was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation, police said. According to an employee of the nearby organization Marcfirst, the man appeared to have been drinking and was throwing bottles at cars. "The individual was confronted by police and was ultimately Tased and tackled on Veterans Parkway, about two blocks north of College Avenue," Justin Woodrum said, a maintenance worker at Marcfirst. There were at least 15 police and fire officials standing on Veterans Parkway talking to the man before he was taken into custody. Streets were closed and Normal police posted on social media a notice asking people to stay away from the scene. "If you know anyone in the area, we ask to lock all business doors at this time and stay inside," the post said. Streets reopened to traffic shortly after 5:10 p.m. Officials have not released information about what caused the incident. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced it will drop the citys mask mandate as well as its proof-of-vaccination mandate at restaurants, bars and other indoor settings at the end of the month Monday, sources told the Tribune. The moves bring Chicago in line with Gov. J.B. Pritzkers announcement earlier this month that he will lift his mask requirement for most indoor public places at the end of February should the states most recent and largest COVID-19 surge continue to subside. Under the statewide and now the newly announced city rules, the face coverings will still be required in schools, health care settings and public transportation. In making the announcement, Lightfoot thanked residents who have complied with the rules and acknowledged the hardships that have resulted from the pandemic and the resulting rules, citing the restaurant industry in particular. My goal is that we never need to shut down our economy again, she said, but added, Make no mistake. I will not hesitate to take the steps that are necessary to protect lives. In response to the governors decision, Chicago health officials had said they too would be able to remove the citys mask requirement for indoor settings if current trends continue. The city had said lifting the mandate will require three out of four COVID-19 metrics to fall to the lowest or second-lowest category of risk and remain there for two consecutive weeks. City officials later said, however, that they would consider going forward with dropping the mandate even if they hadnt hit those totals to avoid confusion for residents. As of Tuesday, the citys test positivity rate of 1.5%, was in the low transmission category, while its rate of occupied hospital and ICU beds was in lower transmission. The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases was still at substantial transmission at 283 cases, but all those categories were decreasing. Many school districts around the state have already gone mask-optional following recent court rulings school that temporarily suspended the mask rules for children whose families sued. But Chicago Public Schools is a notable exception and will continue to require masking. The Chicago Board of Education is poised to vote on a resolution at Wednesdays monthly board meeting that would ratify district COVID-19 safety measures including universal masking of students and staff; testing for unvaccinated employees; and directing those who test positive or have been exposed to the virus to temporarily stay home. Through the resolution, the board would also reaffirm CPS CEO Pedro Martinezs authority to change district COVID-19 policies in consultation with public health officials and other stakeholders, which presumably include the Chicago Teachers Union. Universal masking in CPS is part of an agreement with the teachers union that was sealed following its January work stoppage that resulted in five days of canceled classes. Lightfoot announced the latest move as the national trend turns against masking and other restrictions due to broader social desires to return to normal, though some doctors and activists caution against people dropping their guard. Throughout the pandemic, Lightfoot has walked a fine line between tough measures and keeping the city open. She has encouraged residents to get vaccinated and warned about possible restrictions if the city sees spikes. But she also has made a point of emphasizing her desire to keep the city as open as possible. At times, it has led to some mixed messaging and conflict with the state. As cases rose in October 2020, for instance, she regularly warned about tighter restrictions being forthcoming then criticized Pritzker for again shutting down indoor dining. Lightfoot resisted proof-of-vaccine mandates until Jan. 3, long after other cities like New York had implemented similar policies. In September, for instance, she dismissed a proposal for such a mandate from Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa and other City Council members. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Attorney Thomas DeVore, who has led legal challenges to Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzkers pandemic mitigation efforts, said in a video that he will seek the Republican nomination for attorney general. DeVore filed the lawsuit that led the Illinois Appellate Court last week to rule as moot Pritzkers appeal of a lower court ruling that lifted his mandatory school masking policy. It was a rare legal victory for DeVore, who has solicited legal work from businesses, municipalities, school districts and parents of students in what have largely been unsuccessful court challenges to Pritzkers pandemic orders. Pritzker has appealed the appellate court ruling on school mask mandates to the Illinois Supreme Court. DeVore, 52, of Sorento, a village of 429 people about 50 miles south of Springfield, had previously announced his candidacy for the downstate 5th Appellate Court. But in a Facebook video first reported by the Illinoize political newsletter, DeVore said he had changed his mind and will seek the GOP nomination for attorney general, citing the school mask-mandate court rulings. After the judge issued her ruling, which we fought hard for and I watched people, all of you, fight hard for that, what did I see after that? It really kind of changed my perspective. I saw kids across the state, standing up for themselves, DeVore says in the video. You know, we happen to have Gov. Pritzker right now who I thought failed miserably in governing over the last two years, because he didnt govern. He ruled. How do we stop that from happening again? And what can I do to help that to not happen? he says. I made the decision that theres only one way that I can help and thats making myself available to the people of this state as attorney general. Pritzker and DeVore have exchanged sharp words, with the governor accusing the attorney of being a grifter in seeking legal business to go to court to try to undermine his pandemic mandates. DeVore has filed a defamation suit against Pritzker in Sangamon County court. DeVore says in the video that Pritzker is appealing the school mask mandate in an effort to save face because hes politically taken a bath in the last month or two and he wants to get reelected after the ails that hes been suffering at the hands of the people. Among DeVores previous clients was state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, an ardent foe of Pritzkers executive orders who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor. A new client is Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour of Beecher City. DeVore filed suit in Bond County circuit court last week after Wilhour and several other Republicans were ordered removed from the House floor after a vote for violating the chambers masking rules. DeVore contends he and other constituents represented by Wilhour are currently left without representation due to the unlawful rule, even though Wilhour can cast votes remotely under House rules. Democratic House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch of Hillside called the lawsuit frivolous and a waste of taxpayer dollars, and the courts have generally left to the legislature its ability to set and approve its operating rules as an independent branch of government. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. In his Facebook video, DeVore criticizes first-term Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul of Chicago for defending Pritzkers actions in court rather than recusing himself or taking the side of the people. I dont know if Im the right guy for the job. Only you guys know if Im the right guy for the job. But I do know that we have to have somebody in that position that is going to stand up for the people, DeVore said. When you have a choice between defending someone against the people, you always choose the people. DeVore, who said he will make a formal announcement about his candidacy on Feb. 28 in Springfield, becomes the second GOP announced candidate for attorney general. Attorney Steve Kim of Deerfield, who unsuccessfully sought the office in 2010, is running as part of a slate headed by Aurora Mayor Richard Irvins candidacy for governor. Billionaire Ken Griffin has given $20 million to Irvins campaign but none directly to other members of the slate. DeVore reported $1,445 in his political committee at the start of the year as an appellate court candidate and loaned his campaign $5,000 on Feb. 15, state campaign reports show. Last year, DeVore loaned his campaign fund $3,500, records showed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You may have heard that Illinois is among the top 10 states nationally in business startups for 2021, with nearly 200,000 businesses formed last year. Thats up from 170,400 in 2020. And 2020 was also a very good year. Gov. J.B. Pritzker took credit for this positive development, declaring the state to be back, and open for business and touting some of his pet economic projects. The governors triumphant recent statement, which claimed Illinois was sixth in the nation when it came to the number of 2021 startups, omitted any reference to the flip side of business startups: business failures. Unfortunately, a lot of Illinois businesses went bust in the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, though we dont have a figure comparable to the U.S. Census Bureau count of business applications that Pritzker equated with startups (which is only a rough approximation, at that). The governor also overlooked how severe layoffs early in the pandemic drove some of the suddenly unemployed to launch their own ventures out of desperation, and how the anemic growth of the labor force continues to put a drag on business creation nationwide. And did he mention that business startups appear to be slowing, so that 2022 is likely to be below the 2021 peak? Or that business failures probably will run high in 2022, partly because new ventures often fail in their first year or two? Of course, he didnt. Hes seeking reelection, after all. Heres the truth about business formation in Illinois and across the country: A high rate of startups really is very good news, all spin aside, but its not the whole story. On the plus side, the recovery from the short, sharp recession of 2020 has followed a much better trajectory than the slow-motion comeback from the Great Recession of 2007-09. The absence of startups was one of the most disappointing features of that difficult period more than a decade ago. The economy stayed under a cloud that choked off the usual green shoots for years. Today is much greener, in no small part because economic growth has been stronger, and a ton of investor money is chasing new ventures. Whats more, technological advances have made it less risky and potentially more lucrative for budding entrepreneurs to take the plunge, and for current business owners to expand and diversify. Got an idea for a new app? A cryptocurrency? Dog-walking software? Bring it on conditions are ripe for tech startups. Big players like Amazon and Google are practically giving away valuable business services, social media platforms make it easier to reach customers and Americans overall are increasingly more computer savvy. Beyond tech, the pandemic left gaping holes that entrepreneurs are starting to fill. In the hard-hit food service and hospitality industry, new entrants are emerging and survivors who embraced online sales and other creative side hustles during COVID-19 have lived to fight another day. A surge in startups demonstrates the American genius for business renewal, and the benefit of keeping our economy flexible. When Americans quit their jobs, as they did wholesale in the recent Great Resignation, they had the option of becoming their own bosses, and they didnt need to live in Silicon Valley to pull it off. Of course, Chicago or any other city would love to be like Silicon Valley. For all the wonders of digital technology and the supposed ability to work from anywhere, the local business environment still matters. And while Illinois is indeed among the fastest-growing states for new-business applications, it could be doing a lot better. One obvious indicator is unemployment, which as of December was running at 3.9% nationwide but 5.3% in Illinois. The higher figure reflects a relative lack of economic opportunity that can prompt productive people to pack up and move to another state. Illinois also is weighed down by the red tape and high taxes that go along with its excessive number of costly and duplicative local governments. And while Pritzker, who has a helpful background in new business incubation, deserves great credit for chipping away at the states fiscal mess, Illinois ongoing public pension crisis continues to discourage job creation and long-term investment. Much more needs to be done. The state has a lot going for it, especially a dynamic, diverse and well-educated workforce supportive of entrepreneurship. If Illinois would make the business environment friendlier to those willing to invest and reduce the costs imposed by government, who knows how many startups would take root here and flourish. Chicago Tribune Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 100 years ago Feb. 22, 1922: At least 34 Navy personnel were killed in a dirigible crash at Norfolk, Virginia. The giant airship was on a shakedown cruise when it came in contact with power lines and caught fire. We are awaiting word of any Illinois people who may have been aboard. 75 years ago Feb. 22, 1947: Two IWU dropouts plan to open Bloomingtons first coin-operated laundry business at 816 North Center. J. E. Francis and L. F. Duncan are also returning veterans, and will live in an apartment upstairs from the coin-op. They open March 1 with 21 machines. 50 years ago Feb. 22, 1972: The School Street subway will be closed this spring as part of reconstruction of the Vernon Avenue-Beaufort Street railroad underpass. Closing the subway will save up to $150,000 in the project. If all goes according to plan, it will reopen sometime this fall. 25 years ago Feb. 22, 1997: Green Gables, one of two popular eating spots at Lake Bloomington, will close. But it has a chance to continue if negotiations work out with possible new owners. Green Gables has been in the Elvidge family since 1952. Its also a grocery store for the area. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. Amidst uncertainties about whether coronavirus is out of the country or not, Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), in collaboration with the government, has embarked on a disinfection exercise at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA). The exercise is part of a routine monthly activity aimed at containing the spread of the virus which is still lurking around in the country. Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the February 2022 exercise, a Vector Control Officer of Zoomlion, Mr. Enoch Mintah, assured that his outfit was still committed to ensuring that staff members of the KIA and the general public were safe. We are not letting down our guard in the fight against Covid-19, he assured. This, according to him, was crucial in safeguarding lives at a time most people seemed to have let down their guards though he said the virus was still around. The exercise was carried out last Tuesday at 1:00 a.m., so as not to interfere with business operations at the airport. A team of sprayers from Zoomlion took pains to disinfect facilities including the arrival and departure halls, washrooms, floors, furniture and open spaces in the halls. The airport environment and open spaces were also thoroughly disinfected. Viruses, Mr Mintah noted, have changing phases at every time, hence the need for his company to vary its approach and chemicals in order to outwit them. "The airport has become a continual hotspot for the ever-changing viruses. That is why we do not want to let our guard down," Mr Mintah reiterated in an interview with the media. While admonishing Ghanaians to continue observing the Covid safety protocols, he underscored the need for the exercise to continue to help curtail the spread of the virus. "Every festive season presents other opportunities for the virus to continue spreading because those returning into the country might possibly be importing the virus into the country," he observed. According to him, the virus could easily be transported by travellers hence the need to assure staff members of the airports and the general public of their safety and allay their fears. He said based on research, Zoomlion is able to apply the right chemicals to deal with the virus. He, therefore, appealed to Ghanaians to continue observing the safety measures to ward off any spread of the virus. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lawyers for Ghanaian businessman, Mr Hassan Zein, Crown Legal Bureau have won an injunction against musician turned political activist, Kwame Asare Obeng also known as A Plus. Lawyer Justice Abdulai announced this after an Accra High Court sitting at the General Jurisdiction 1 on Monday 21st February 2022. Consequently, his chambers has applied for the court order for follow due process. He said in an interview, "We just won the injunction against A Plus. We have applied for a copy of the order." Few months ago, A Plus made disparaging comments about the businessman on his Facebook Account. That stirred the legal team of Crown Legal Bureau to slap a GHc10m suit againt A Plus. Hassan Zein's Lawyers Advise the Public Against A Plus' Rants Lawyer for Mr Hassan Zein, Justice Abdulai, has advised the general public to treat comments by A Plus, also known as Kwame Asare Obeng with the contempt it deserves. To the legal brains, the political activist's recent comments attacking the personality of his client (Hassan Zein) is not only baseless but highly defamatory and no level headed self respected business fellow with global investment interests would accept this obnoxious character hence the determination to deal with his person with the appropriate provisions of the State laws. The lawyer said A Plus' lose comments have landed him in several law courts and has wondered why he keeps ranting on social and traditional media. A Plus may damage the character and reputation of others for reasons best known to him but it shall not be so with our client who has over several years concentrated on achieving goodness both for others and himself at every given time of his business and philanthropic life. The law enforcement agencies should not accept the unlawful verbal attacks and the cheap attention seeking style of this irresponsible character. It will only inform the assumption that our laws don't work. We promise to defend and demand justice due our client anytime the needs arise. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has decided to suspend its prolonged industrial action till March 4. The Association is hoping that by then, they would have reached a favourable consensus with government. The decision to suspend the strike action was taken on Monday, February 21st, at an emergency meeting held by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of UTAG. Why UTAG Strike? UTAG has been on strike since January 10, 2022, over governments failure to review their conditions of service since 2017. The association therefore wants government to restore their 2012 conditions of service, which pegged the monthly income of entry-level lecturers at $2,084. UTAG claims the current arrangement has reduced its members basic premiums to $997.84. Risky Trust Giving further details in an interview on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo', the National President of UTAG, Prof. Solomon Nunoo said they're taking a huge risk by trusting in the government. However, he said, if their gesture of goodwill is abused by the current administration, they will resume their strike action. "We expect govt to take advantage of this (goodwill gesture and reach a favourable consensus), but if by 4 March nothing happens, we will resume the strike action. At this point, I will say that were taking a risk by trusting the government but we will advise ourselves if no negotiations take place..." he warned. Listen to him in the video below Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye has today inaugurated six (6) Technical Committees of the Engineering Council with a call on the regulating body to use every legal means available under the Act to ensure that industry practice is well regulated to secure the highest professional standards in Accra. The Engineering Council is a regulatory body under the Ministry of Works and Housing, mandated by the Councils Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2410) to among other things, certify and license individuals and appropriate corporate engineering bodies for initial and continuing registration as stipulated by law under the Engineering Council Act, 2011 (Act 819) while ensuring that members undertake works in accordance with the highest standards of engineering practice in the country. The Works and Housing Minister observed that though majority of engineers go through rigorous professional training to maintain high professional standards, some few engineers do not. This situation, Asenso-Boakye observed, has resulted in the collapse of buildings and other forms of infrastructure with projects failing to meet their design lives due to poor engineering. Asenso-Boakye indicated that the provision of infrastructural base to support the countrys growth requires forward thinking and innovative engineering input, noting that the Technical Committees are expected to work with all relevant stakeholders, locally and internationally to meet global engineering standards. Our engineers cannot make much impact if they operate in isolation. They do not only have to interact with the public, but also, with their international counterparts with whom they can share knowledge and experiences to enrich the profession in the country. The Minister stated. With increasing technological advancement in engineering, Asenso-Boakye challenged the Education and Training Committee to develop and promote educational programmes that will stir up the innovative capacities of engineers towards addressing existing challenges in the countrys efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goals. The inaugurated Six Technical Committees are Finance and Administration, License and Registration, Standards and Professional Practice, Public and International Affairs, Disciplinary, Ethics and Legal and Education and Training. The Chairman for the Licensing and Registration Committee, Dr Kwame Boakye, urged members of all the Committees to strive to build a strong engineering community guided by the ethos and principles of the Engineering Council. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video No fewer than 115,500 health workers died from COVID-19 in 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, linked to a systemic lack of safeguards, according to UN agencies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Monday warned that health teams worldwide needed much safer working conditions to combat the dangerous neglect they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a joint call for action from the UN health and labour agencies, they insisted that the coronavirus crisis had contributed to an additional heavy toll on health workers. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the health sector was among the most hazardous sectors to work in, said WHOs Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health. Only a few healthcare facilities had programmes in place for managing health and safety at work, Neira said. Health workers suffered from infections, musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, workplace violence and harassment, burnout, and allergies from the poor working environment. To address this, WHO and ILO have released new country guidelines for health centres at national and local levels. Such programmes should cover all occupational hazards infectious, ergonomic, physical, chemical, and psycho-social, the agencies noted. They added that States that have either developed or are actively implementing occupational health and safety programmes in health settings had seen reductions in work-related injuries and absences due to sickness and improvements in the work environment, productivity, and retention of health workers. Like all other workers, should enjoy their right to decent work, safe and healthy working environments and social protection for health care, sickness absence and occupational diseases and injuries, insisted ILOs Alette van Leur, Director, ILO Sectoral Policies Department. The development comes as the agencies indicated that more than one in three health facilities lack hygiene stations at the point of care, while fewer than one in six countries had a national policy in place for healthy and safe working environments within the health sector. Sickness absence and exhaustion exacerbated pre-existing shortages of health workers and undermined the capacities of health systems to respond to the increased demand for care and prevention during the crisis, James Campbell, Director, WHO Health Workforce Department said. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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. The government has reached an agreement with Future Gold Resources (FGR), the operator of the Bogoso Prestea Mine, to rehabilitate a resettlement community in the area for the displaced residents of Appiatse in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality in the Western Region. It is an emergency measure to provide temporary accommodation for the affected residents while steps are taken to reconstruct their community. The resettlement community was meant for residents of Dominase who had been affected by the operations of the FGR. However, following the explosion that destroyed the Appiatse community on January 20, this year, the government decided to jointly commit resources to complete the structures at the FGR resettlement site to house the displaced people. To facilitate the temporary arrangement, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, led a multi-stakeholder team to take inventory of the structures at the resettlement site Monday. The team was made up of members of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee, planners, engineers and utility service providers. The resettlement community has 112 structures, 76 of which were at the roofing level. The minister explained that 78 of the structures would be roofed with iron sheets and fixed with doors and windows to accommodate the over 800 displaced residents of Appiatse. He added that Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, a leading producer of cables in the country, had offered to provide cables free of charge to support the rehabilitation work at the resettlement site. Resource mobilisation Mr Jinapor added that the government was working closely with the FGR to mobilise the needed resources to complete the structures as a matter of urgency. Subsequently, he directed the ForestryCommission in the Western Region to mobilise wood in the region for the roofing work. Mr Jinapor assured the chiefs and the people of Appiatse that in about a month's time, they would move to the temporary community. He, however, urged them to be prepared to vacate the area for the intended purpose when the time was up. "I want to let the people of Appiatse know that this place is not their property. It is a temporary measure to accommodate you while we put up the Appiatse community. When the time is up for you to move to your permanent place, do not resist," he said. Assurance The Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee and a Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, assured the minister that work on the resettlement community would begin next Monday, "and in 30 days' time, everybody will have a place to sleep" The Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley, Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, urged the displaced residents of Appiatse to cope with conditions at the temporary accommodation until permanent structures were put up. The mood of the people was a mix of desperation, anxiety and uncertainty,as they recounted their losses and wondered how they would make ends meet. Some of the displaced residents called for a road map for the restoration of their livelihoods. They expressed general concern about the government's plans for those who lost their properties or suffered disability as a result of the explosion. Background At least 13 people died and many others sustained injuries when a truck carrying explosives from the Maxam Ghana Limited to the Chirano Gold Mines Limited through a subcontractor, the Joyderk Co. Ltd, exploded. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Residents of Lake Side Estates as well as Santor, East Legon Hills, and its environs have showered praises and commended the Lake Side Police Station Officer, Chief Inspector Samuel Darko for boosting the visibility of police in the area. Policing within this part of the city currently falls under the supervision of the Adenta Divisional Police. According to the residents, he has made this possible by expanding and building extra police offices from resources he raised through his own efforts. The residents have attested to the fact that the newly built and completed offices have helped to boost policing and its accompanying operations in East Legon Hills and Lake Side in general. They further appreciated that these interventions have also brought armed robbery to the barest minimum. For quite some time now, residents of the area have had to contend with rampant robbery attacks. They, therefore, see this gesture by Chief Inspector Samuel Darko as a timely intervention to address the series of crimes in the area. One of the residents, who gave his name as Pascal Ampong, said the East Legon Hills area have indeed witnessed a big deal of improvements, particularly the security situation and crime-fighting. In fact, we cant be thankful enough for all the good works being done here by our Chief Inspector Samuel Darko. We have seen other structures even under construction from his own resources through family friends and kind-hearted people who believe in what he is doing, he said. Another resident, Diana Abena Kwansah, urged all residents to rally behind Chief Inspector Samuel Darko as a big inspiration for him to do more for the community. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- This week marks the 50th anniversary of then U.S. President Richard Nixon's ice-breaking visit to China in 1972. This historic event remains immensely inspirational after half a century, notably for Washington. Today, what many deem as the world's most important bilateral relationship has arrived at another critical juncture. Waves of anti-China sentiments inside the United States seem to be eating away the rational foundation for Washington's China policy and decision-making. As a saying goes, a politician thinks of the next election, and a statesman thinks of the next generation. One key legacy of Nixon's China trip worth highlighting is that Nixon, who rose to political fame because of his anti-communism credentials, had chosen to transcend America's domestic politics and join then Chinese leaders to overcome huge ideological gaps, testifying to the statesmanship of foreseeing the trend of times. Looking back, their political courage and wisdom has laid the groundwork for the formal establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1979, and brought immense benefit for the two nations and the rest of the global community. Today, the decision-makers in Washington need to learn from this legacy, and steer their China policy back onto the track of reason and pragmatism at an early date for the benefits of both countries. Since the normalization of bilateral ties, China-U.S. cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, as well as in cultural and people-to-people exchanges have brought tangible benefits to both nations and the entire human community. Meanwhile, their coordination on international issues has largely made the Asia-Pacific region and the wider world safer. Bilateral exchanges over the past half a century have testified to the fact that China and the United States both profit from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and so does the world as a whole. A China-U.S. cooperative relationship is of more relevance and significance to the present-day world, where desperately needed is stronger synergy to cope with such urgent matters as COVID-19, climate change and economic recession. Regrettably, the bilateral relationship, bereft of such a positive momentum for cooperation over the past years, and has been thrown into a quandary by the confrontational approach taken by China hawks in Washington. Moreover, Washington repeatedly challenged Beijing's red line over the Taiwan question, flagrantly violating basic principles regarding bilateral exchanges laid down in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and pushing bilateral ties to the edge of abyss. If in confrontation, China and the United States as well as the rest of the world will suffer. How China and the United States handle their relationship thereby bears heavily on the future of the world. In a virtual meeting held in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, that the most important event in international relations over the past 50 years was the reopening and development of China-U.S. relations, which has benefited the two countries and the whole world. The most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be for China and the United States to find the right way to get along, Xi said. China's stance has been consistent of seeking to foster a healthy and stable relationship with the United States that features mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. More importantly, Washington needs to take a more rational and pragmatic approach and explore more possibilities for the China-U.S. relationship. The dichotomy of categorizing a country as either a friend or a foe as in a Cold War mindset has already been obsolete in today's increasingly complicated and interdependent world. More specifically, Washington must bear in mind that the one-China principle is nonnegotiable. It is natural for China and the United States to have some differences, be they on political systems or on development paths, and as two great nations, to have some fair and healthy competition. As long as they respect and truly understand each other, none of these can get in their way of working together to beat pandemics, curb global warming and build a more resilient global economy. A fair judge is history, in which what a statesman does, be it right or wrong, be it an accomplishment or a failure, will all be recorded. It is hoped that Washington's decision-makers will, as Nixon ever did, make the right choice for China-U.S. relations that can stand the test of history. The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, has said the proposed E-Levy is not regressive but a comprehensive system to get all potential taxpayers to contribute their quota to national development. He said the rate of 1.5 per cent and the exemption of the first GH100 transfer per day meant that the tax was pro-poor and, therefore, not regressive. He added that the levy, whose proposed rate had been reduced from 1.75 to 1.5 per cent, was the most effective way to widen the tax net and raise adequate revenue to prosecute the governments agenda and provide jobs for the youth. Mr Ofori-Atta gave the explanation when he spoke with the media last Saturday on the sidelines of the 24th meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), which he chairs. He said the ongoing town hall meetings across the country had afforded him the opportunity to properly explain the dynamics of the tax to the populace, saying that it had been well received. Ghanaians are largely in favour of paying the E-Levy, contrary to the impression being created from Parliament, he told newsmen. Consequently, the minister expressed optimism that the government would be successful at securing parliamentary approval for the levy, which had initially been billed to take off on February 1. Tax of the future Commenting on the status of the E-Levy, Mr Ofori-Atta noted that the current situation where only 2.4 million people were paying direct taxes when estimates showed that about 20 million people should be paying, needed to change if the country wanted to adequately fund its development aspirations. He explained that after various analyses, the E-Levy became the most potent avenue to rope more people into the tax bracket. He said e-commerce had become the business of the future, with almost every Ghanaian participating in it. Citing the strong growth in the value of mobile money transactions from GH78 billion in 2016 to almost GH950 billion last year, Mr Ofori-Atta said: Clearly, it is a tax handle for the future and we must engage it so that we can support our debt, our employment and our infrastructure. As a friend told me, we have a system of taxes with everybody holding buckets where they can bring in or dodge. Now, we have brought a water-hose system of which everybody will be in there so that we can all contribute, he noted. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former General Secretary of the Christian Council Of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Opuni Frimpong, has asked government to be bold and suspend the E-Levy policy which does not seem to sync well with Ghanaians. According to him, a proactive government should be armed with other alternative policies that will help to generate enough revenue for developmental projects. Thus, he proposes that the government suspends the e-levy temporarily and engage in further consultation and education before its reintroduction. Speaking on Okay Fm's Ade Akye Abia programme, he pointed out that considering the stiff opposition to the E-levy by the masses, it would be prudent on the part of government to take its time to help Ghanaians understand the need for it. To him, a government must appreciate the will of the people and not be seen to be autocratic in taking certain key decisions which may not be popular with the majority of the people. "Leaders must not just accept responsibilities for the sufferings of others while they jealously protect their comfort. Empathy in leadership must always be upheld. "I believe that government should have a thorough discussion and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the E-Levy policy is accepted by all before implementing it," he stated. To further buttress his point, Dr Opuni-Frimpong, who has no aversion to taxing the people per say, added; "when the government introduced VAT, the whole nation was up in arms against it. During that time, the NPP was in opposition and the NDC was in power. What they did better during that time was that due to the opposition to the VAT, the government temporarily suspended its implementation and engaged Ghanaians to understand the need for it before bringing it back....Countries across the world developed through taxes and so the payment of taxes are good." Watch Video Below Last week, the Majority Leader, Hon Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, rubbished claims that the NPP leadership in parliament has confirmed the withdrawal of the controversial E-levy.Since the Finance Minister proposed a 1.75% charge on all electronic transactions in the 2022 budget to increase revenue, there have been stiff opposition from a section of Ghanaians including the Minority in Parliament.Opposers have cited concerns about the impact of the levy on ordinary Ghanaians.We have not said anywhere that the government through the finance minister has withdrawn the E-levy,Adding that, we are looking at reamending the bill.Per the Finance Ministry estimates, the controversial E-Levy is estimated to rake in some 6.9 billion annually.This, according to the Ministry, will increase the countrys tax-to-GDP from 13% to a targeted 16% or more. . Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Anxiety and tension have gripped many polling station executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over their inability to obtain nomination forms to begin the partys internal elections ahead of the crucial 2024 general election. This has compelled the national executive of the party to extend the closure of nominations, which was scheduled for yesterday, to today. The NPP has set an agenda to break the eight-year cycle of being in power. But since the nomination opened last Saturday, there have been suspicions and disturbances in some constituencies, as some aspirants accused election committee members of not making the forms available for purchase. This is against the background that some leading party executives are said to have paid for the forms to enable all aspirants interested in contesting to do so. From Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region to New Juaben North and Kade in the Eastern Region; Kwadaso, Manhyia North, Asante Akim South, Atwima-Kwanwoma, Asante Mampong, Ejisu, Asante Akim North to Kwabre East in the Ashanti Region, there have been disturbances as a result of the unavailability of the forms. In the Northern Region, Tolon and Nanton are the hot spots of the disturbances as aspirants have accused leaders of not making the forms available. The Upper East Region is reported to be peaceful, as the regional executive supervised the distribution of forms for aspirants in all the constituencies. Press confab At a news conference to extend the deadline, the National Chairman of the NPP, Mr Freddie Blay, directed all polling station and electoral area executives to comply with the new directive, reports Zadok Kwame Gyesi. He urged them not to deny any eligible candidate the nomination forms, adding that the party had made available adequate forms for all the 38,632 polling stations across the country to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise. Mr Blay said the party leadership had been monitoring the exercise keenly and would not allow anyone to mar the exercise. He also urged all party stalwarts who wanted to purchase the forms for aspirants to channel the money for the forms through the party headquarters. Remain calm The NPPs Director of Research and Elections, Mr Evans Nimako, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, asked all aspirants to remain calm, as the party would overcome the teething challenges. Evans Nimako, NPP Director of Elections and John Boadu, General Secretary of the NPP He assured all aspirants that their needs would be catered for. He also reminded them to use internal party processes to seek redress. Ningo-Prampram Benjamin Xornam Glover reports that some aspirants accused the constituency executive of the party of preventing polling station aspirants from obtaining forms to contest the upcoming polling station elections. The aggrieved party members noted that if the national executive did not intervene, the party's attempt to retain power would be a fluke. One of the aspirants, Mr Gabriel A. Martey, accused the constituency executive of holding on to the nomination forms for their personal interest. He alleged that the executive, instead of opening the party office to sell the forms to potential aspirants, kept them in their homes and gave them out to their favourites. The Constituency Chairman, Mr Michael Tetteh Eku, declined to comment, saying that he had been instructed by the party hierarchy not to grant any media interview over the alleged confusion. Northern Region From the Northern Region, Mohammed Fugu reports that some members of the party had accused some executives of failing to open nominations for candidates interested in contesting as polling station and electoral area coordinators. More than 100 members of the party were stranded at the party offices in the Tolon and the Nanton constituencies which were locked up, denying them opportunity to pick up forms to contest the elections. The situation degenerated into chaos, as the aggrieved members threatened to destroy the party property and attack some executive members whom they accused of being behind the matter. As of yesterday, which was supposed to be the deadline for the opening of nominations, no known aspirant had been able to access the forms. In Nanton, the aggrieved party supporters said the forms were nowhere to be found and the executive could not tell them where the forms were. One of the aggrieved members, who only gave his name as Sahanaa, told the Daily Graphic: Since they opened nominations, we have done all we can to get the forms but it has not yielded any result and no executive seems to know where the forms are. Tolon The situation was not different in Tolon, as the aggrieved members last Sunday morning besieged the party office, demanding the release of the forms. The Constituency Youth Organiser, Alhaji Kobshiyi, narrowly escaped attack when he went to the party office to try and disperse the angry party supporters. Reacting to the issue, the Constituency Secretary, Dr Hudu Zakaria, refuted claims that executives of the party were hiding the forms. It is not true that we have denied them access to the forms; the issue is that we are still sorting out things before selling the forms, he explained. North East Checks by the Daily Graphic indicated that the situation was different in the North East and the Savannah regions, as all interested candidates had picked nomination forms. The various polling stations and electoral areas were said to have come to a consensus on the persons they wanted to take up the positions. Members of the party also agreed unanimously to conduct the elections in areas where the incumbent executives had passed on or been suspended from the party. The Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituency NPP Communications Officer, Mr Haruna Ibrahim, said no incident had been recorded in the area so far. The election committees have gone round all the electoral areas and polling stations to sensitise the members to the elections and everything is moving on smoothly, he said. Ashanti Region In the Ashanti Region, which is the stronghold of the party, confusion broke out in the Kwadaso, Manhyia North, Asante Akim South, Atwima-Kwanwoma, Asante Mampong, Ejisu, Asante Akim North and Kwabre East constituencies. Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor reports from Kumasi that calm has returned to both Kwadaso and Manhyia North following a stand-off between the aspirants and the party executive over nomination forms. While some angry aspirants in Kwadaso had to literally chase the chairman to the Suntreso Police Station where he had gone to seek refuge, the police had to whisk the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia North, Mr Kwasi Konadu, to safety last Saturday. In Kwadaso, following the initial hitches in the distribution of the nomination forms, the issue was resolved and the forms were distributed virtually to those who could not access them. The party members also accused the executives of trying to change the constituency album by fixing their favourites to skew the election in favour of some aspirants. In Manhyia North, the misunderstanding was between supporters of the incumbent MP, Mr Konadu, and his predecessor, Mr Collins Owusu Amankwah, over the distribution of the forms. It was alleged that the MP was seen distributing the forms to his supporters in their homes, while others had queued in the sun waiting for their turns. That allegedly angered some of the constituents, who wanted to beat up the MP and retrieve the forms from him. Counter accusation However, another group claimed that it was the former MP who sent thugs to the party office and demanded the forms to be shared equally. Both Messrs Konadu and Amankwah denied the allegations levelled against them. The timely intervention of the police ensured that both sides reached a memorandum of understanding, leading to all aspiring candidates receiving nomination forms. Regional Secretary The acting Ashanti Regional Secretary of the NPP, Mr Kwame Adom Appiah, acknowledged that there had been some few incidents with the distribution of the nomination forms in the region for the polling station elections. He said the problem arose as a result of the inadequate number of forms received from the national office. In Asante Akim South, some supporters besieged the residences of the Constituency Chairman, Mr Gilbert Adarkwa Yiadom, and the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Alexander Frimpong, over their inability to access the forms, reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA). They accused the constituency executives of deliberately denying them access to the forms in order to manipulate the elections in favour of their preferred candidates. Similar reports were recorded in Atwima-Kwanwoma, Asante Mampong, Ejisu, Asante Akim North and Kwabre East, according to the GNA. In another situation in New Juaben North in the Eastern Region, aspirants were stranded at the party office as the executives were not present to distribute the forms. They alleged that it had been the modus operandi of the constituency executive that the forms ended up in the hands of family and friends. Interestingly, in Abuakwa North, for instance, scores of party members thronged the constituency office at night to sleep there to wait for the forms. In its schedule of activities for elections, the NPP indicated that all elections, from the polling station through constituency, regional and national, would be held from February 19 to July 16, this year, with the national executive elections and the Annual National Delegates Conference slated for July 14 -16, this year. Upper East The distribution of nomination forms for prospective contestants for the election of polling station executives has been smooth and peaceful in all the 15 constituencies in the Upper East Region, reports Gilbert Mawuli Agbey. The exercise began peacefully last Saturday, devoid of hoarding and handing over of the forms to cronies and incumbent polling station executives. In Bolgatanga Central, the First Vice-Chairman, Mr Thomas Ayoore Adams, said the constituency executives divided themselves into two and toured all the 27 electoral areas to hand over the forms to the aspirants. In Bolgatanga East, the Daily Graphic gathered that the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, had paid for the nomination forms for all the incumbent polling station executives seeking re-election. According to the acting Constituency Chairman, Mr Asumbekere Karim Anagbila, only aspirants who were contesting for the first time paid GH10 for the forms. Checks in the other constituencies in the region revealed the process had been orderly and transparent, as the forms had been made readily available and no one had been prevented from picking a form to participate in the electoral process. For his part, the Upper East Regional Secretary, Mr Cletus Innocent Ayambire, said those who would be successful at the close of nominations and also go through the vetting process would contest the elections. Sunyani East The Sunyani East Office of the NPP began selling the nomination forms after confusion and several agitations had marred the exercise last Saturday. As early as 5 a.m. last Saturday, some interested party members rushed to the party office to purchase the forms. However, they were disappointed when the constituency executives failed to show up to sell the forms. Some supporters stayed at the office until 1 a.m. the next day, with the hope that the leadership would show up, to no avail. Ransacking With their hopes dashed, the aggrieved aspirants ransacked the party office to show their displeasure at the attitude of the constituency officers. When the Daily Graphic visited the party office yesterday, it was closed, with some broken glasses and blocks at the entrance. It was observed that the suspected attackers forced open the office, as the front glass door leading to the office was also smashed. As of 4 a.m. yesterday, hundreds of the party faithful had already rushed to the party's office to purchase the forms. However, they were later moved to the Sunyani Municipal Assembly, where the forms were sold to them, amid tight security. The Daily Graphic gathered that the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr John Boadu, and the Bono Regional Chairman, Mr Kwame Baffoe, visited the sales point to monitor the exercise. Background The NPP opened nominations for candidates interested in contesting as polling station and electoral area coordinators from February 19 to 21, 2022. The vetting of prospective aspirants is scheduled to take place from February 22 to 24, while the polls will take place from February 25 to March 5, this year. The National Council of the NPP had earlier announced guidelines for polling station, constituency, regional and national executive elections for this year. The guidelines are part of measures by the party's leadership to ensure an effective re-organisation of the party to strengthen it to enable it to retain power in the 2024 general election. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian musician, Samuel Adu Frimpong, aka Medikal has been convicted for brandishing a gun in public. He has been fined GH3,600 by an Accra Circuit Court. In default, he will serve nine months in prison. This was after the musician changed his plea and pleaded guilty to the charge, on Monday morning. Medikal was subsequently convicted on his own plea by the court presided over by Mr Emmanuel Essandoh. The popular Ghanaian musician had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge. The court was expected to rule on an application filed by Medikals lawyers to order the police to release the Ruger nine-millimeter pistol belonging to the musician. However, when the case was called Monday morning [Feb 21, 2022], the musician told the court that he wanted to change his plea. The charges were read out to him and he pleaded guilty to the charges. Shortly after the case was recalled, Counsel for Medikal, Mr Emmanuel Yeboah Gyan who held Bobby Bansons brief withdrew their services to the musician. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Adwoa Safo Absent From Parliament But Present On Tik Tik - VIDEO View this post on Instagram A post shared by (@utvghana) View this post on Instagram A post shared by www.blagogee.net (@blagogee) Ken Agyapong Blasts Adwoa Safo; Asks Her To Contest Tik Tok Parliamentarian Seat - Daily Guide Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has lambasted his baby mama, Sarah Adwoa Safo over her consistent absent from Parliament. According to him, the Dome Kwabenya MP is sabotaging government business by making it difficult for the Majority in parliament. Speaking to GTV on Monday morning, the long-serving Parliamentarian accused Adwoa Safo of dancing on TikTok at the expense of the NPP MPs in Parliament. If you dont come to Parliament and youre on Tik Tok dancing. Excuse me. Dome-Kwabenya is not for Apostle Kwadwo Safo, get it striaght. And I am very furious because people are insulting me because I went there to campaign for her. I went to campaign against the son of my very good friend, a man that I respect very much the former Speaker of Parliament Hon. Mike Oquaye in the last elections for Adwoa Safo to win because Adwoa used my sons to get me. Dont think because I have two kids with Adwoa Safo, I would not speak the truth to her. Even at gunpoint, I will continue to speak the truth. Asked by the host whether Ghanaians should expect that her seat should be declared vacant, Kennedy Agyapong answered by saying why not, she should go and contest on Tik Tok. He revealed that Adwoa Safos continuous absence from Parliament is due to her constant demand to be made the Deputy Majority Leader in the house. She says she want to be Deputy Majority Leader. That woman has failed in life, please. A whole minister, cabinet minister now demanding that she should be Deputy Majority Leader before she comes. She should go to hell. Asked further whether Adwoa Safo officially made the parliamentary leadership request, Kennedy Agyapong affirmed that Yes she has requested for that. She should not think that Ive two kids with her so I will not speak the truth. Ill speak the truth and die. Source: instagram Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Business leaders have traditionally avoided wading into sensitive social and political debates. Yet, increasingly, CEOs are taking visible public stands on hotly contested issues, engaging in what has come to be called CEO sociopolitical activism. New research from the University of Notre Dame examined reactions to North Carolina's controversial 2016 "bathroom bill" to shed light on how CEO activism influences their employees' attitudes and behaviors. CEO activism can be a net positive for firms, but only when a majority of employees are in agreement with the CEO, according to "How do employees react when their CEO speaks out? Intra- and extra-firm implications of CEO sociopolitical activism," forthcoming in Administrative Science Quarterly from lead author Adam Wowak and John Busenbark, management professors in Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, along with Donald Hambrick from Penn State University. The study shows that employees' reactions to activism hinge on the alignment between their own ideological values and the CEO's public stance. When they agree, employees respond positively, strengthening their commitment to the firm and support for the CEO's ideological position. When the stance runs counter to employees' values, they pull away, experiencing diminished commitment and support for the CEO's cause. The study focused on North Carolina's "bathroom bill," which was signed into law in 2016 and rolled back existing anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ individuals, including the ability to use public restrooms that corresponded with their gender identity. The bill was the subject of intense debate among politicians, journalists and activist groups, but also attracted the attention of a group that traditionally avoided wading into societal debatesCEOs of publicly traded corporations. Nearly 100 public company CEOs signed a highly publicized letter opposing the bill, in doing so signaling their support for the liberal position on the issue. The team examined the effects of CEO activism by comparing the companies whose CEOs signed the opposition letter and those whose CEOs were invited to sign, but declined. Their sample included 74 "signer firms" and 251 "non-signer firms." The researchers measured employees' organizational commitment by assessing the change in companies' Glassdoor ratings in the pre- to post-letter time periods, and support for liberalism by assessing the change in employees' political donations to Democratic recipients in the pre- to post-letter time periods. "Our results suggest that speaking out on controversial societal topics can result in benefits for the CEO's firm, but only when most employees are on the CEO's side in the first place," Wowak said. "Until a few years ago, CEOs rarely took sides in societal debates. The conventional wisdom has been to avoid such behaviors, as they run the risk of alienating stakeholders who disagree with the CEO. But until now, the real-world consequences of doing were unknown." The team's central prediction was that more liberal (on average) employee populations would respond positively to CEO liberal activism, while more conservative employee populations would respond less favorably. They also considered the effects of CEO activism on employee support for the underlying ideology, which they measured by examining employees' political donations to Democratic recipients. In both cases, the results supported the team's theories. For CEOs, Wowak says, the implications are clear. "Employees notice and respond to CEO activism," he said. "It's thus important to have a reasonably accurate gauge of where your employees stand on the ideological spectrum, as taking a position that goes against the prevailing view will not go over well internally." Wowak says the results also can have corporate governance and societal impacts. "Boards would benefit from a better understanding of the pros and cons of CEO activism," he said. "While it's true that picking sides in public debates can backfire when a majority of employees disagree with the CEO, our results suggest that activism can cause employees to feel more strongly connected to the firm when the CEO takes a stance that they agree with. And perhaps even more intriguingly, our results indicate that CEO activism can have an effect on employees' behaviors outside the workplace. CEOs, it seems, are in positions to influence their employees' personal levels of political engagement." Explore further The price of taking a stance: How corporate sociopolitical activism impacts bottom line More information: Adam J. Wowak et al, How Do Employees React When Their CEO Speaks Out? Intra- and Extra-Firm Implications of CEO Sociopolitical Activism, Administrative Science Quarterly (2022). Adam J. Wowak et al, How Do Employees React When Their CEO Speaks Out? Intra- and Extra-Firm Implications of CEO Sociopolitical Activism,(2022). DOI: 10.1177/00018392221078584 The Berezinsky Reserve in Belarus is one of the few corners of the European portion of the southern taiga that is in pristine condition. Credit: Denis Ivkovich/Unesco, Fourni par l'auteur Biodiversity conservation and the careful management of natural resources are key issues today in international relations. In the field of environmental protection, transnational cooperation is growing thanks to the reserves that are part the world network of the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MaB) Programme. Beginning in1992, partnership contacts begun to develop between the Berezinsky Reserve (Belarus) and the Northern Vosges Park (France). After 15 years, the partnership began to get up steam when the Kampinos Park (Poland) joined. Gradually, this international activity moved from spontaneous, one-off events to a long-term contractual basis. In 2007, the first memorandum of trilateral cooperation was signed. The official confirmation firmly established the partnership of the biosphere reserves, facilitated by the MaB national committees. When 2,000 km is no barrier to friendship Each of the three biosphere reserves is active in supporting the main goals of the UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programmethe conservation of biodiversity, conducting research and monitoring, promoting sustainable development and material advancement the population. In 1979, the Berezinsky Reserve received the status of a biosphere reserve. This is one of the few corners of the European portion of the southern taiga that is in pristine condition. It's also immense, with a continuous array of undisturbed forests76,000 hectaresincluding stands of black alder and birch trees growing in peat bogs. They're of prime importance for both environmental and scientific reasons, and are one of the most unique natural complexes in the Central Europe. A dragonfly census in the Berezinsky Reserve resulted in the list of the number of species increasing from 22 to 41. Credit: Denis Ivkovich/Unesco The Northern Vosges Regional Natural Park is located in northeastern France, in the Alsace and Lorraine regions. In 1989, the park became part of the Vosges du Nord/Pfalzerwald Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, which straddles the border between the two countries. Relatively low mountain ranges of reddish sandstone are the main geological component of this area. Despite the many differences, 60% of the plant species in the Berezinsky Reserve and the Northern Vosges are identical, as are their forests. The Kampinos National Park is located in the center of the Mazowieckie Lowland of Poland, to the northwest of Warsaw. Since 2000, the park and its adjacent buffer zone have been recognized as the Kampinos Forest Biosphere Reserve. Its unique landscape is composed of sand dunes and peat bogs, pine and mixed forests, flood plain and xerophytic meadows, where plants have adapted to grow with little liquid water. The Kampinos and the Berezinsky parks are united by their location in almost the same climatic zone, as well as similar natural characteristics. Cooperation comes through comparison For about 15 years, cooperation has grown in many areas, and scientific cooperation has developed most actively and effectivelythe exchange of information and research results, experts and scientists, as well as literature, methods, approaches, ideas and experience. Opportunities have opened up for joint field research, which culminated in the exchange of reports and the publication of articles. At first, common interests included the joint study of avifauna, small mammals, bats and insects. Employees teamed up to conduct research on higher vascular plants, structure and dynamics of natural forests. The Berezinsky Reserve has become a kind of benchmark for scientific research in the European biosphere reserves. In the Northern Vosges Natural Park and in the Kampinos National Park the landscapes were shaped by humans, but most of the Berezinsky Reserve territory remains a wildland. Because of the reserves' pristine nature, the employees have a lot to learn, and were aided by their French colleagues in the Northern Vosges regional park. They were taught the principles of natural forestry, how to create and develop a mechanism for actions in GIS, as well as compiling databases. International friends also helped attracting naturalists and tourists, while Polish colleagues shared their experience in mowing the floodplain meadows. Peatbogs in the Berezinsky Reserve are one of the most unique natural complexes in the Central Europe. Credit: Denis Ivkovich/Unesco What we have achieved together The results of the comparison of natural resources carried out in these territories located in different parts of Europe turned out to be very interesting. For example, within the framework of scientific cooperation, the number of the woodchat shrike (Lanius senator) in the Northern Vosges park was established. A census of diurnal birds of prey made it possible to establish their species, breeding density, as well as the influence of intra- and interspecific relations. At the territory of all three reserves, it was possible to map and calculate the number and density of nesting territories of nocturnal raptors such as owls. Knowledge about the arthropods of the three biosphere reserves has also been extended. When studying the species composition of insects at the territory of the Northern Vosges, 404 species of Heteroptera and 33 species of Orthoptera were found. Joint work on dragonflies' census gave excellent results in the Berezinsky, with the list of species found increasing from 22 to 41. As part of the study, a French specialist identified a species new to the Berezinsky Reservethe European mantis (Mantis religiosa). Species of dragonflies, bugs and beetles, new for both reserves, were also found. Since 2011, a joint project on environmental education has been launched. An intellectual and cognitive eco-game for children was developed. An ecotourism and green building project was initiated to promote traditional wooden architecture. French photographer Thierry Girard took pictures of various landscapes, rural life and local people in the Berezinsky. The result of his work was a photo exhibition, which could be visited by everyone both in France and in the Berezinsky Reserve. Within all three reserves, it was possible to map and calculate the number and density of nesting territories of raptors such as the tawny owl, shown here in the Northern Vosges reserve. Credit: Denis Ivkovich/Unesco Prospects and barriers Three reserves are separated not only by distance and borders, but also by linguistic, cultural, religious and political aspects. But over many years of close cooperation, a clear scheme for planning the joint activities of three different teams has been worked out. Joint meetings were organized periodically (on average annually), in which employees of these reserves took part. But regular "live" meetings were suspended due to the global spread of coronavirus disease beginning from 2020. In addition to the impossibility to fully exchange experience due to the pandemic, border closure and political discord have also been added. But united by the desire to preserve the environment common to all mankind, the employees of the reserves are ready to continue their work. There are many more ideas that are worth being implemented. First to continue the development of projects on sustainable ecotourism. We would think like such a fellowship will continue to effectively exist, despite all the possible barriers and various obstacles. Explore further Climate change, human activity threaten Libya nature reserve This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Printed Prize Appeals (TNA, HCA 45). Credit: Maria Cardamone, Prize Papers Project. Centuries-old documents related to the capture of ships by the British are accessible online from today, for the use of international researchers. The "Prize Papers" Project of the Academy of Sciences and Humanities Gottingen is, as a first stage, making available online documents from court processes linked to approximately 1,500 ship captures between 1793 and 1815. The act of capturing ships, as so-called prize, was once a common practice during the conduct of war by legitimate means. Since 2018, the research project has had as its long-term objectives the cataloging and digitisation of the "Prize Papers" in their entirety, which were originally drawn up for or during court processes related to ship captures by the English or British between 1652 and 1817. This project, which is situated at the University of Oldenburg, as well as at The National Archives, UK (TNA), is being funded by the Academies Programme of the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities which in turn is, in equal parts, financed by the Federal Government of Germany and the state of Lower Saxony. The project co-operates closely with the German Historical Institute London, as well as the VZG, the Head Office of the Common Library Network in Gottingen (VZG) in Gottingen, who provide their IT expertise. In total, The National Archives' collection of Prize Papers comprises documents from 14 naval wars which England or Great Britain participated in and that resulted in more than 35,000 ships being captured. By 2037, the anglophone Open-Access portal will be gradually extended to ultimately grant access to the entire archival "Prize Papers" collection as approximately 3.5 million digital copies in 19 different languages. "In addition to the trial records, the body of evidence, which consists of confiscated ships papers as well as a wide range of items, promises unique discoveries for the international research," says the director of the project, historian Prof. Dr. Dagmar Freist. At the launch of the Prize Papers portal, so-called Case Books are now accessible online for research. Project director Prof. Dr Dagmar Freist, historian at the University of Oldenburg, about the insights offered by these printed prize appeals. Credit: University of Oldenburg The digital copies that are now accessible via the research portal include 55 so-called case books. These comprise printed copies of documents from appeal cases that were held between 1793 and 1815 and are related to the prize appeals and evidence of approximately 1,500 captures, originally heard at the High Court of Admiralty in London or the assigned Vice-Admiralty Courts in the colonies, including those in the Caribbean and the Northwest Atlantic. Two-thirds of all appeals in this time came from the United States. The more than 57,000 photographed pages are linked to trials that were held during the French Revolutionary War or the Napoleonic Wars. "The case books serve as an excellent point of entry into the historical period, as well as the global systematic capturing of merchant ships," says Dr. Amanda Bevan, head of The National Archives' Prize Papers team located in London. Printed Prize Appeals (TNA, HCA 45). Credit: Maria Cardamone, Prize Papers Project. Regarding the research portal's structure, the "Prize Papers" team is aiming at being highly transparent by design. "Every database functions on the basis of an underlying concept limiting possible approaches and questions, we, however, want to keep the restrictions of accessing information for potential discoveries at a minimum," states head of the project Freist. "In accordance with this, we are aiming at designing the portal to not only make the recorded legal structure of the systematic seizing and capturing of ships available to the researchers, but also to grant users direct access to the documents and the diverse global contexts they originated from. For example, due to inventory lists we have gained the knowledge that many ships were transporting enslaved people. Discoveries such as these caused us to set ourselves the additional goal of making the colonial relations explorable, too," Freist explains. In the further course of this year, a selected part of the archival collections that date from the War of Austrian Succession (17401748) will be added to the online portal, including examples of confiscated letters, of which a total of 160.000 have been preserved, as well as logbooks, ships papers and bills, poems, drawings, fabrics and playing cards. Many of these artifacts have not only managed to stand the test of time over the course of the past centuries, but have also managed to remain virtually untouched until today. Explore further Prize winning topics found to deliver more science papers and citations than non-prize-winning topics More information: Online portal: Online portal: www.prizepapers.de Provided by University of Oldenburg Researcher Suat Irmak programming the datalogger in one of his surface water vapor and energy flux towers to measure crop water use, all incoming and outgoing radiation fluxes, and all other climate variables such as air temperature, relative humidity, vapor pressure deficit, net radiation, precipitation, soil moisture, soil temperature on an hourly basis. The same flux tower was used in this corn vs. climate change study. Credit: Suat Irmak research group. All rights reserved No matter which of the widely accepted global circulation models ultimately comes closest to predicting the amount of warming caused by climate change, corn production will be reduced, according to a new study by Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) researchers. They evaluated the potential impacts of 18 warming scenarios, dictated by various atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, to determine the potential effects of future climate change on irrigated and rainfed corn yields from the 2020s through the 2090s. Although the research was focused on the U.S.Great Plainsin the heart of the nation's top corn-producing regionthe results are believed to have global implications. To estimate yields, researchers employed the AquaCrop modela crop-growth simulation developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nationsto assess the effect of environment and management on crop production, predicting yield response to water. The study site is representative of agricultural management practices in the region and represents the most densely irrigated area in the Central Plains, which is a subregion of the Great Plains. Corn is susceptible to environmental factors such as increased air temperature, increased radiation, vapor pressure deficit and humidity change, according to lead researcher Suat Irmak, professor and head of the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural Sciences. He and his team noted that irrigated yields will be impacted much less than rainfed yields. "In our study, depending on the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations and associated level of warming, we saw declines in rainfed corn yields ranging from 2.2% to 21.5%," he said. "Under those same greenhouse gas concentrations, the range of declines was lower for irrigated yieldsfrom 3.7% to 15.6%, due to irrigation technologies providing more stable crop growth conditions under water- and temperature-stress." Global climate is very likely to warm by 2.16-3.42 degrees Fahrenheit from now to 2040, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Irmak explained. The global mean surface temperature was 1.78 degrees F higher during the period 200120 than during the pre-industrial period of 18501900, the United Nations panel found. Previous research by Irmak and others has shown that climate change already has impacted crop productivity of major agricultural crops across global agroecosystems. Previously, Irmak found that due to the increase in air temperature, spring frosts are occurring earlier and fall frosts are occurring later. This results in increased growing season length up to 20-plus days, which has significant implications for agricultural production in the U.S. and globally. The research is important, Irmak noted, because by many measures corn is the country's most important crop. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn accounts for 92 million acres of land use in the United States. With a continuous increase in air temperature and atmospheric moisture demandcoupled with increasingly limited water supply conditions and water quality degradation in the midwestern and western regionswe may see a substantial shift in corn production to eastern U.S. regions, he warned. "These analyses can be valuable for policymakers, decision-makers and agricultural and water resource managers/professionals to evaluate the future tradeoffs among irrigation and rainfed yields," he said. "They need to know how landscapes are projected to perform under two scenarios with respect to climate change." In findings recently published in Agricultural Water Management, the researchers reported that, based on their modeling results, rainfed yields will decline up to 40 bushels per acre, whereas irrigated yields are projected to decline only 19 bushels per acre. Additionally, rainfed corn yield will be more variable than yields from irrigated corn under most of the global circulation models. Those declines would be damaging because corn is substantially embedded into our lives, Irmak pointed out. It is used for animal feed, human consumption, fiber production and field production for ethanol. So, agricultural scientists need to analyze the anticipated losses in production and their implications, he suggested. "Climate change is realthat's the bottom line," he said. "We need to understand how this might impact our national policies and food supply." Changes in climate characteristics are projected to manifest as increased mean air temperatures in most land and ocean regions, with hot extremes, heavy precipitation and increased probability of drought and precipitation deficits, Irmak added. Such climate shocks and shifts will impact crop yield, cultivation area and food supply, impacting sustainable agricultural development and poverty-eradication goals. "But estimating the magnitudes of those changes is challenging because temperatures and precipitation have complex impacts on crop yields, along with other critical meteorological variables," he said. "It only can be done with appropriate crop models. We will be conducting similar long-term analyses for specialty cropping systems, including fruit trees and major row crops, in Pennsylvania as well." This study is a part of long-term research investigating the fundamentals of coupled climate change and the impact of water, nutrient and crop-management strategies on agroecosystem productivity and environmental relationships for cropping systems, which Irmak started at the University of Nebraska and continues at Penn State. Contributing to research were Rupinder Sandhu and Meetpal Kukal, who both received their master's and doctoral degrees and worked as postdoctoral research associates under Irmak's supervision at the University of Nebraska. Kukal currently is a research assistant professor in the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department at Penn State, and Sandhu works with Locus Agricultural Solutions. Explore further How the future of US corn, soybean and wheat production depends on sustainable groundwater use More information: S. Irmak et al, Multi-model projections of trade-offs between irrigated and rainfed maize yields under changing climate and future emission scenarios, Agricultural Water Management (2021). S. Irmak et al, Multi-model projections of trade-offs between irrigated and rainfed maize yields under changing climate and future emission scenarios,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107344 Roughly 20% of cells in the brain (medial pallium; red triangles) increase their firing rates when the chick faces the north, while they (blue triangles) are less active when it faces other orientations (east, west, south, etc.) as shown on the left, right, and bottom. Neurons are represented by triangles, with high activity represented by red and low activity represented by blue. Credit: Susumu Takahashi from Doshisha University How migratory animals find their way to the wintering grounds, thousands of kilometers apart from their breeding ground, is a fascinating riddle of nature. Previous studies have suggested they possibly follow the geomagnetic field lines and olfactory cues to determine the direction. However, the physiological mechanisms behind this magnetic orientation remain unknown. Now, neuroscientists and ecologists from Doshisha University and Nagoya University, Japan, conducted a study to understand how birds know which direction to follow during long-distance flight. The study has been published on Feb 4, 2022, in the latest issue of the journal Science Advances. To date, studies show that migratory birds navigate through new terrains or over oceans sans any landmarks by perceiving the geomagnetic fields of the earth. They do this with the help of the magnetically sensitive proteins in their eyes and the magneto-receptive cells in the vestibular nucleus in their brain. The vestibular nucleus is also known to contribute to the activity of the head direction (HD) cells involved in this directional sensing. This link prompted Professor Susumu Takahashi of Doshisha University, the lead and corresponding author of the study, and his colleagues (including Professor Ken Yoda from Nagoya University) to hypothesize that the directional and the magnetoreception senses may share a few common neural players. The team decided to explore how the brain combines the magnetoreception and direction senses by studying the activity of HD cells of the streaked shearwatera species of seabirds that breed on islands in Japan, Korea, and China and eventually migrate to wintering grounds located in the Philippines, Indonesia, and northern Australia. "Interestingly, during their first migratory flight, juvenile birds do not follow the easier detours along the coastline taken by their parents. Instead, they fly directly towards the destination through difficult mountain ranges. This suggests that the juvenile birds rely heavily on the orientation of their in-built compass, rather than the environmental cues followed by the adult ones," Prof. Takahashi shares. To do this, they took the help of a lightweight device called a "neurologger", that can wirelessly record the electrophysiological activity of the brain of freely behaving wild animals. First, they captured five male and five female streaked shearwater chicks from their burrows and housed them in the light-shielding cages. Then, they used the neurologger to record the electrophysiological activity from the medial pallium region of the brain. Next, they let the baby birds walk freely and repeatedly in two environmentsin a room and on a sea-facing cliff2.5 km and 1 km from their burrows, respectively. While the ceiling lights, desks, and chairs in the room served as visual cues, the sun's direction was not perceivable to the birds. The researchers found that around 20% of the cells in the medial pallium region fired electrical pulses with higher frequency when the birds faced towards a specific orientation. The preferred orientation was distributed unevenly in the northern direction. But, when the birds faced orientations other than the north, the cells remained less active. This preference for the north was observed even when the experimental location was moved more than a few kilometers, suggesting the location-independent geomagnetic field was used as a cue for head orientation. The study underscores the role of the HD cells as internal compasses that preferentially represent north orientation at the onset of the first long flight of the migratory birds. Also, the HD cells aid in the integration of the direction and magnetoreception senses. Professor Takahashi is hopeful that the newly gained insights into the neuronal role in navigation mechanisms of migratory birds would open newer avenues in ecological conservation research. "Our findings suggest that the avian internal compass can be utilized to gain insights into the neuronal underpinning of animal migration patterns. It will potentially contribute to the fulfillment of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal #14: Life Below Water," he concludes. Explore further A neuron that tracks landmarks helps rats know where they are More information: Susumu Takahashi et al, Head direction cells in a migratory bird prefer north, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Susumu Takahashi et al, Head direction cells in a migratory bird prefer north,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl6848 Provided by Doshisha University TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday urged the international community to resist U.S. unilateral "cruel sanctions" against other countries' oil and gas industry, according to the Iranian presidency's website. Speaking at the sixth summit of the 11-member Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha, Raisi noted that imposing hegemonic will and demands on other independent states through sanctions cannot be an effective strategy in today's world, as it jeopardizes the collective interests of the GECF members. Iran, as one of the world's biggest holders of natural gas reserves, has considerable capacities for the production, transfer and export of the hydrocarbon products and seeks to play a greater role in ensuring global energy security by expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighbors and other countries, he said. Iran's regional strategy is based on increasing gas production and exports and providing regional nations with maximum access to clean fuel, Raisi added. The Iranian president called on the international community to support multilateral initiatives aimed at ensuring the security of sustainable energy supply and protecting the environment. Raisi arrived in Qatar on Monday to meet with the Qatari emir and take part in the GECF summit. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Migrants in Iceland having frequent contact with their countries of origin are also more involved in Icelandic online communities and consume more Icelandic media, according to a new study published by Nordicom at the University of Gothenburg. However, they are less integrated in terms of offline activities. Information and communication technologies enable migrants to maintain close bonds with multiple communities, in a way that was not possible only ten years ago. In a new study, published in the scientific journal Nordicom Review, researchers examine the relationship between migrants' news- and social media consumption and the degree of attachment and engagement in the receiving country. "This study is important because increasing use of social and other media have changed migration experiences. We show that migrants can be integrated in local online communities, even when they are less involved in terms of offline activities. This has implications for our understanding of how digital connectivity shapes migrants' experiences of integration in the receiving society," says Lara Hoffmann, Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at the University of Akureyri and one of the researchers behind the study. Differences between online and offline integration in Icelandic society In general, migrants are very satisfied with their lives in Iceland. The use of social media and media is not the explanation for how migrants experience life in Iceland, but an opportunity to enhance integration into Icelandic society. The findings show that on the one hand, migrants with frequent online contact with their country of origin were less likely to engage in social activities such as "inviting Icelanders to your home and being invited by Icelanders to their home" or "participation in clubs and activities." On the other hand, highly connected migrants were more connected to the receiving society through media and social media than migrants who consumed less online media. The connected migrants tend to participate more in online activities, be more integrated in digital communities, and use Icelandic media more frequently. They practice "digital biculturalism." "This has implications for policy-making because it shows that digital communities are an important area of integration. They can thus be used to reach out to new inhabitants of foreign origin." "Our findings indicate the importance of distinguishing between integration in offline and online communities to adequately reflect how migrants form communities and a sense of belonging in the digital age," says Hoffmann. Women have more contact through social media The study also identifies differences in media use with regards to gender. Women are in more frequent contact with their country of origin through social media but consume news and current affairs programs from their country of origin less frequently. "The gender aspect can be explained by different preferences for media use or different types of migration, with men being more likely to move for work and women for family reasons," says Hoffmann. The largest group of migrants in Iceland is from Poland, followed by those from Lithuania and the Philippines. More information: Lara Hoffmann et al, Migration and community in an age of digital connectivity: A survey of media use and integration amongst migrants in Iceland, Nordicom Review (2022). Lara Hoffmann et al, Migration and community in an age of digital connectivity: A survey of media use and integration amongst migrants in Iceland,(2022). DOI: 10.2478/nor-2022-0002 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Scientists have found further evidence to support the idea that the primary two domains of life, the Archaea and Bacteria, are separated by a long phylogenetic tree branch and therefore distantly related. The findings are reported in a study published today in eLife. The analysis, by researchers at the University of Bristol and internationally, adds to an ongoing debate about how much the archaeal domain diverges from the bacterial domain and shines a light on the limitations of conventional methods for estimating the evolutionary path of ancient organisms. Together with Bacteria and Eukarya, the Archaea make up the three domains of the tree of life. Originally, it was thought that Archaea were a type of Bacteria, typified by their ability to live in extreme environments. But the use of molecular data to reconstruct phylogenetic trees and advances in genetic sequencing have transformed our understanding of the diversity of these organisms and their relationship with Bacteria and Eukarya. In the tree of life, a long branch length between organisms corresponds to a greater degree of genetic change. Researchers studying the evolutionary history of the Archaea and Bacteria have estimated branch length by studying differences between a core set of essential genes encoding cellular machinery involved in producing proteins and processing genetic information. But recently, researchers used an expanded set of genetic markers from Bacteria and Archaea to estimate the genetic distance between the two domains and proposed a much shorter branch lengththat is, that the two domains were more closely related. "This recent work raised two important issues regarding estimates about the universal tree of life," explained first author Edmund Moody, a Ph.D. candidate at Bristol's School of Biological Sciences. "First, that estimates of the genetic distance between Archaea and Bacteria from the classic 'core genes' may not be representative of ancient genomes as a whole and, second, that there may be many more suitable genes to investigate early evolutionary history than previously realized, which could improve the precision and accuracy of these estimates." To investigate these issues, Mr Moody and colleagues examined the evolutionary history of the expanded 381 gene marker set, and re-evaluated marker gene sets used in previous analyses. They found several features of the expanded marker set, such as inter-domain gene transfers and paralogous geneswhich are genes that have evolved by duplication and that code for proteins with similar but not identical functions. "Our data suggests that the inclusion of marker genes with such features could artificially shorten the branch that separates the archaeal and bacterial domains," said co-author Tara Mahendrarajah, a Ph.D. candidate at NIOZ, Netherlands. Traditionally used gene marker sets include genes for many proteins that make up the ribosomethe cell's machinery for translating DNA. It had been suggested that if ribosome proteins experienced an accelerated period of evolution at any point, it might lead to an artifactually long phylogenetic tree branch. So, the team compared a set of ribosomal and non-ribosomal gene markers to produce an estimate of branch length and found it to be similar. Co-senior author Anja Spang, Senior Scientist at NIOZ, said: "These results did not support the hypothesis that ribosomal proteins evolved any faster than non-ribosomal genes, and affirm that ribosomal proteins are useful markers for phylogeny. However, the analyses suggested that both the true Archaea-Bacteria branch length and diversity of Archaea may be underestimated even by the best current models." "The debate around these issues really speaks to more general limitations of the current models: for example, it is clearly unsatisfactory to base our view of early evolution or genetic diversity on a small set of genes," added co-senior author Tom Williams, Associate Professor in Molecular Evolution at Bristol's School of Biological Sciences. "Exploring the evolutionary signal in more of the genome than we have been able to previously is an important goal that previous studies have approached in different ways. Our work suggests that new methods, including more realistic models of gene duplication, transfer and loss, could help resolve some of the differing views by enabling genome-wide estimates of evolution while accounting for the varying evolutionary histories of individual gene families." Explore further Njordarchaeota, a new candidate for a sister group to eukaryotes More information: Edmund RR Moody et al, An estimate of the deepest branches of the tree of life from ancient vertically-evolving genes, eLife (2022). Journal information: eLife Edmund RR Moody et al, An estimate of the deepest branches of the tree of life from ancient vertically-evolving genes,(2022). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66695 Illustrative model curves for the long-term evolution of GLEAM-X J162759.5523504.3. Credit: Gencali et al., 2022. Turkish astronomers have inspected GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3a recently discovered pulsar with a relatively long spin period. Results of the study, published February 14 on the arXiv pre-print repository, deliver important information regarding the evolution of this peculiar object. Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation. They are usually detected in the form of short bursts of radio emission; however, some of them are also observed via optical, X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes. GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3 has a spin period of approximately 1,091 seconds. It showcases transient radio bursts with durations of about one month, while the pulse widths vary within the range of 30 to 60 seconds. The rotational power of this pulsar was calculated to be less than 12 octillion erg/s, which turns out to be much smaller than the luminosity of the pulsed radio emission that is estimated to be about 40,000 octillion erg/s. Given that rotational periods of radio pulsars and single neutron stars from other populations usually do not exceed 20 seconds, the long period of GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3 remains a puzzle and challenges present theoretical models. Therefore, a team of astronomers led by Ali Arda Gencali of the Sabanc University in Istanbul, Turkey, decided to investigate the long-term evolution of this pulsar, hoping to explain its peculiar properties. "The recent discovery of the very long-period pulsar, GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3, with spin period of 1,091 seconds poses crucial questions for present theoretical models: What is the evolutionary history of this source? Is it a member of an unidentied new population following an independent evolutionary path, or does it have an evolutionary connection with already known populations?" the researchers wrote in the paper. Gencali's team found that the properties of GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3 may be a product of long-term evolution in the fallback disk model. They explain that such a long period can be reached by a neutron star evolving with a fallback disk and with a magnetic dipole eld strength of a few trillion G at the equator. According to the astronomers, there are two dierent evolutionary scenarios that are compatible with the present properties of GLEAM-XJ162759.5523504.3. The first one states that the disk is still active and the source is in the accretion with spin-down (ASD) phase at an age of about 300,000 years at present. It means that the period will continue to increase up to a few thousand seconds with a period derivative at a level of 0.1 nanoseconds/second, until the disk becomes inactive at an age of about 700,000 years. The second scenario suggests that the disk is already inactive and that there is no accretion. In this case, the period has leveled o at the present value because the dipole torque wields negligible spin-down after disk torques turn o. It was added that the source should be evolving with a period derivative of about 4 attoseconds/second at the present age greater than 700,000 years. Explore further SUPERB survey detects new slowly-spinning radio pulsar More information: Evolution of the long-period pulsar GLEAM-X J162759.5523504.3, arXiv:2202.06852 [astro-ph.HE] Evolution of the long-period pulsar GLEAM-X J162759.5523504.3, arXiv:2202.06852 [astro-ph.HE] arxiv.org/abs/2202.06852 2022 Science X Network To identify a basking shark, a big dorsal fin is a key giveaway, and a second smaller dorsal fin may also be visible. As they feed, their tail or nose may surface. And unlike most sharks' more direct swimming pattern, basking sharks tend to zigzag or snake through the water. Credit: Irish Basking Shark Group About the size of a small school bus, the basking shark is the second largest fish in the ocean and is found in temperate and tropical waters across the globe. In the mid-1900s, basking sharks were observed by the thousands each year off California's coast. Now they are rarely seen at all in this region, called the California Current Ecosystem, or CCE. A study from the University of California, Davis, and NOAA Fisheries' Southwest Fisheries Science Center confirms a striking decrease in basking shark sightings in the CCE after the 1970s and 1980s and examines what is driving their presence and distribution. The work is published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. The findings hold implications for the global conservation of basking sharks, which are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List. Red flags Very little is known about basking sharks, including how long they live, where they mate or where they give birth. Population assessments have not been conducted in the CCE, which stretches from Baja to British Columbia, and there is no formal monitoring effort around the species. But what data exists serves as a red flag that the species warrants further investigation. "They are a rare sight," said lead author Alexandra McInturf, a Ph.D. candidate with the UC Davis Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology at the time of the study and currently a postdoctoral fellow at Oregon State University. "We want to know why the declines are happening. Is it climate change? Human-induced pressures? What environmental cues do they respond to and how might that change in the future?" For this study, the authors examined the longest dataset availablesystematic aerial surveys for small fish conducted by NOAA Fisheries between 1962 and 1997, and additional sources between 1973 and 2018 that include fisheries data, tagging and research efforts and public observations. Aerial surveys sighted a maximum of 4,000 basking sharks in 1965. After the 1990s, no sightings were reported. Additional sources reported less than 100 sightings per year after 1990. School sizes also declined by about half between the 1960s and 1980s, from 57 to 24 individuals per group. In the decades following, no schools larger than 10 were reported. "While the aerial surveys were focused on small fish, the survey also collected data on basking sharks, which turned out to be invaluable," said co-author Heidi Dewar, who oversees the project for Southwest Fisheries Science Center. "Currently, fishing for basking sharks is prohibited in the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The hope is that with these protections in place, the population will recover. Additional work to understand the sources of mortality in international waters is also needed." Seasonal shifts The study also found a significant shift in when sightings occurredfrom fall and spring in earlier years of the surveys to the summer months after the 2000s. What's driving these trends is still unclear, although researchers found a significant link between shark presence and environmental factors, such as sea surface temperature, prey presence, El Nino and other climatic oscillations. The study notes a lack of monitoring may also play a role in reduced sightings and that more research is needed to characterize their full range. Researcher Alexandra McInturf looks for basking sharks during a research expedition in Ireland. Credit: Alexandra McInturf Suggestions for conservation The study concludes with suggestions for conservation of the species, noting that coastal areas from Monterey Bay to Baja California remain important habitat for basking sharks. The suggestions include: Coordinating the documentation of basking shark deaths and sightings throughout the Pacific basin to create more robust population estimates Increased monitoring of shark fin markets Developing region-specific genetic markers to help ensure that regulations for international trade in endangered species are being followed McInturf said increased public awareness of the sharks may also help. For instance, they are susceptible to ship strikes as they feed on the surface, so boater education is an important part of their conservation. How to identify a basking shark Basking sharks, with their massive mouths and bodies, were once thought to be sea monsters and have been mistaken for great white sharks due to their similar body structure. "We get questions like, 'Can they swallow a person?'" said McInturf. "No, their throats are too small." The basking shark has much smaller prey in mind. Like whales, it filter-feeds on tiny phytoplankton to fill its sizable belly. To identify a basking shark, a big dorsal fin is a key giveaway, and a second smaller dorsal fin may also be visible. As they feed, their tail or nose may surface. And unlike most sharks' more direct swimming pattern, basking sharks tend to zigzag or snake through the water. After three seasons of field work in Ireland to study basking sharks, McInturf has seen them only once, breaching out of the water. "That tells you what it's like to work with basking sharks," McInturf said. "I would love to see them in the water again. I've spent so much time looking for them, and they've been incredibly hard to find." The study's additional co-authors include Barbara Muhling and Joseph Bizzarro of UC Santa Cruz and NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center, David Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Center (Moss Landing Marine Labs), and Nann Fangue and Damien Caillaud of UC Davis. Explore further New findings on basking sharks blow assumptions out of the water More information: Alexandra G. McInturf et al, Spatial Distribution, Temporal Changes, and Knowledge Gaps in Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Sightings in the California Current Ecosystem, Frontiers in Marine Science (2022). Journal information: Frontiers in Marine Science Alexandra G. McInturf et al, Spatial Distribution, Temporal Changes, and Knowledge Gaps in Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) Sightings in the California Current Ecosystem,(2022). DOI: 10.3389/fmars.2022.818670 Brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park have sparked a long running debate over their presence. Credit: Shutterstock Wild horses roaming the Snowy Mountains have long been the subject of fierce debate. Some say they're feral pests destroying Kosciuszko National Park's fragile native ecosystem. Others argue they're national icons and an important part of Australia's colonial heritage. This issue was the subject of last night's ABC Four Corners episode. But the current debate misses one crucial perspective: that of the wild horses, whose fate is being decided. This is a perfect example of why the new movement of compassionate conservation raises the question of the animals' interests in debates about conservation. Compassionate conservationists ask whether it's ethical to harm and kill animals to preserve others. They believe ecosystems, species, and individual animals all have significant intrinsic value. Traditional conservationists have reacted strongly to the criticism, and generally argue the movement is dangerous because it ignores certain bad consequences animals can cause. Some of the most outspoken critics even say it isn't real conservation or science. Our research in Conservation Biology probes this debate. We identified 52 criticisms from 11 papers directly arguing against compassionate conservation. We found most frequent criticisms are problematic, while some others have more substance. Is the debate worth having? We believe it is. Conservation is an application of ethics to the world. When we set out to conserve, we must confront ethical questions. Should we intervene in nature at all? If so, should we prioritize some species? Can we kill and be kind? What is compassionate conservation? Many people experienced shock at the environmental devastation caused by Australia's Black Summer, including the loss of old forests and an estimated three billion birds, reptiles, frogs, and mammals in the path of the fires. Many observers felt compassion for individual suffering animals, captured in videos such as the distressing one below of a woman running through smoke and heat to rescue a badly burnt koala. What do we focus on? The environment, expressed broadly? Or individual animals in front of us? Or both? That's the issue at the heart of this passionate debate. This 2019 video of a woman saving a koala during the Black Summer fires affected many viewers. Compassionate conservation recognizes strong duties towards all sentient animals who can experience pain, distress, happiness or joy. In Australia, that means both native and non-native animalsincluding predators such as foxes and catswarrant our compassion. Through a compassionate conservationist lens, mainstream conservation often shows insufficient ethical regard for individual animals. Compassionate conservationists say we can be too quick to harm sentient animals affecting ecosystems with methods such as poisoning and shooting. In compassionate conservation, individuals matter, even when they threaten biodiversity on a macro level, and even if their native range is overseas and they were brought here by humans. How should we apply human values to nature? Think of a rabbit in a hutch. Now think of a rabbit feeding on grass in the wild in Australia. Chances are, you mentally framed the same animal differently. The first, you will have thought of as "pet" and hence harmless. The second, you may well have thought of as "pest" or even "invader." Arguably, these terms lump species into value-laden categories that create barriers for considering the animal's perspective. Compassionate conservationists avoid demonizing animals as "pests," "ferals" and "invaders" because it frames animals only in relation to human interests and ignores the interests and agency of individual animals, potentially leading to cruelty or callousness. For example, New Zealand's "war on possums" is associated with hatred of non-native species. By contrast, compassionate conservationists advocate a broad "do no harm" approach and a creative search for peaceful alternatives to vital conservation. They say that approaches to non-native species like culling can often lack evidence of long-term effectiveness and can cause unintended consequences. For example, lethal control of dingoes can increase fox abundance and decrease small mammal numbers. Moreover, compassionate conservationists stress the importance of recognizing animals' value, interests and agency. Particularly when making decisions that will impact them. Is compassion a more ethical framework for conservation? Critics against the movement argue against the role of compassion. Feelings, they say, can blind us to our responsibilities. But are these criticisms valid? Should we silence compassion to make decisions aimed at preserving ecosystems on a larger scale? Predators like dingoes are key players in ecosystems. Credit: Shutterstock These critiques have important weaknesses. In human affairs, using compassion as a guide has arguably helped produce more just attitudes and policies towards marginalized and oppressed peoples. Critics can fail to see that "compassion" is a complex response. While compassion and empathy can sometimes morally blind us, they can also be thoughtful and disciplined responses to issues. Compassion is frequently guided by a sense of justice toward both humans and nonhumans. In our review, we noted critics often avoid questions about the value of animal lives and our responsibilities to them as sentient individuals, such as whether it's unjust to cause them agonizing deaths from poison. Criticism of compassionate conservation Yet some criticisms of compassionate conservation have more substance. Animals, like people, can harm other animals, ecosystems, and even humans. Compassionate conservationists strive to protect and respect all three. But one hard question is precisely how to weigh our general responsibility to do no harm against the survival of species and ecosystems. Is it always wrong to harm animals, even when great ecological havoc may otherwise result? Some compassionate conservationists argue for the return of predators on a large scale, as a way to manage ecosystems without human intervention. But predators can cause great suffering to other animals, whether introduced or not. Is suffering acceptable as long as we don't cause it or we cause it indirectly? Should compassion require us to intervene in nature to reduce suffering? In parts of Southeast Asia, elephants and farmers often come into conflict. The elephants enter into the fields, seeking food. This can be because their original habitats have shrunk drastically. But from the farmer's point of view, the elephants are stealing from them. How do we balance these competing interests? A debate worth having Understanding our ethical duties to animals can be difficult. For example, do we have stronger responsibilities to more sentient animals, like kangaroos and crows, than to animals with possibly less complex inner lives, like frogs and crayfish? What about insects? While some mainstream conservationists regard compassionate conservation as irrelevant, we believe its provocations have value. Wrestling with the tough questions posed by compassionate conservation could improve how we understand our responsibilities to people, ecosystems and animals. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers from Princeton University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Michigan State University, has found that the stories that people imagine that are inspired by songs differ by culture. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes experiments they conducted with volunteers in the U.S. and China. Prior research has shown that listening to instrumental music can impact mood and it also sometimes incites the mind to invent stories inspired by it. The type of music plays a role in such story developmentmarching music might conjure images of soldiers, for example. In this new effort, the researchers wondered if culture plays a role in the kinds of stories that people invent to go along with the music they hear. To find out, they recruited 622 volunteers from three locations: the University of Arkansas, the University of Michigan, and random volunteers living in Dimen, Guizhou, China. Each of the volunteers listened to the same 16 songs (some western and some Chinese) and then wrote down the story, if any, that developed in their heads as they listened. The researchers then studied the stories, noting which songs were playing as they were written. They found that the stories written by the two groups in the U.S. were often very similar for a given piece of music. But the stories written by volunteers in the U.S. were generally quite different from the stories written by the volunteers in China. The researchers suggest that there is a cultural element involved in the stories people generate when they listen to music. They also found that in many of the stories written by volunteers in the two U.S. groups, there were elements corresponding to prior experiencesmany volunteers found one piece of music reminded them of the kind of music used in western movies, for example, which led to imagined cowboy-type stories. Thus, the researchers conclude, there is also a historical context in story creation. Explore further Study shows dopamine plays a role in musical pleasure More information: Elizabeth H. Margulis et al, Narratives imagined in response to instrumental music reveal culture-bounded intersubjectivity, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Elizabeth H. Margulis et al, Narratives imagined in response to instrumental music reveal culture-bounded intersubjectivity,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110406119 2022 Science X Network Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain In several countries, students with disabilities were severely affected by school closures. An international study shows how students in Malawi, Ethiopia, Nepal and Qatar were left without education and had increased mental health concerns. Shruti Taneja Johansson, a senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg, has been working with an international research team to study how students with disabilities in Malawi, Qatar, Nepal and Ethiopia were affected by school closures during the pandemic. Shruti Taneja Johansson headed the research together with Nidhi Singal, a professor at the University of Cambridge, while researchers in Malawi, Qatar, Nepal and Ethiopia conducted interviews with parents, carers and teachers in the respective countries. The circumstances of students with disabilities differ considerably across the four countries and this was reflected in how they were impacted by school closures: Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world. When schools for students with disabilities closed, the majority of students lost contact with their schools and spent little or no time at all studying. In Ethiopia too, there was very little contact between teachers and homes while the schools were closed. A lack of materials and resources to pay for phone calls were described as obstacles to continuing teaching. Schools with inclusive education resource centers had slightly more contact with students and their homes. In Nepal, interviews were conducted with parents and teachers of students attending special schools for the deaf and blind. Here some teachers took the initiative to contact parents so that they could give the children instructions. But although the students spent some time studying, there was great concern that the children were falling behind and also concern that they would not return to school after the pandemic. In richer Qatar, students were able to access computers and online learning was provided. By and large, students were in daily contact with their teachers, but parents were concerned about the quality of education and teachers felt unprepared and stressed. Parents placed a high value on education However, all four countries had some things in common. "There was widespread concern that the students were not receiving adequate education. Parents in all of the countries emphasized the lack of teaching materials and support from the schools as the greatest obstacle to their child's education. In Malawi, Nepal and Ethiopia, for example, distance learning was mainly provided via national TV and radio broadcasts that were not designed for students with disabilities. There were concerns both that the children were missing out on education in the here and now, and that their future prospects would be impaired in the long term," says Shruti Taneja Johansson. "The fact that the parents were engaged is positive," she adds. "This shows that education is highly valued. In several low-income countries there are many students with disabilities who do not attend school at all and previous research had shown that many parents saw no reason for disabled children to attend school." In-service training for teachers is important In all four countries, it emerged that the children's socio-emotional situation deteriorated with the loss of their daily routines and social contact with friends. The children in all the countries also lost out on support and treatment. "The parents said that the children were lonelier and more anxious. The pandemic has shown that schools are not just places for education. Schools are also important for nurturing socio-emotional well-being," says Shruti. One key lesson learnt is the importance of providing teachers with in-service training on adapting teaching to children with disabilities. Many of the teachers interviewed stated that they felt alone and helpless. "The teachers said they lacked tools, that they didn't know how to support students with disabilities. There is evidently a great need for in-service training," says Shruti. "Students all around the world have been affected by school closures during the coronavirus pandemic. But students with disabilities have been hit harder than others. They are a forgotten group of students that are often last on the agenda." More information: Nidhi Singal et al, Impact of COVID-19 on the education of children with disabilities in Malawi: reshaping parental engagement for the future, International Journal of Inclusive Education (2021). Nidhi Singal et al, Impact of COVID-19 on the education of children with disabilities in Malawi: reshaping parental engagement for the future,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/13603116.2021.1965804 Revisiting Equity: COVID-19 and Education of Children with Disabilities. www.wise-qatar.org/revisiting- n-with-disabilities/ In this undated photo issued by the National Museums Scotland on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, University of Edinburgh PhD student Natalia Jagielska poses for a photo with the world's largest Jurassic pterosaur unearthed on the Isle of Skye. The fossil of a 170-million-year-old pterosaur, more popularly known as pterodactyl, billed as the world's best-preserved skeleton of the prehistoric winged reptile, has been found on the Isle of Skye in remote Scotland. The National Museum of Scotland said the fossil of the pterosaur is the largest of its kind ever discovered from the Jurassic period. Credit: Stewart Attwood/National Museums Scotland via AP The fossil of a 170-million-year-old pterosaur, described as the world's best-preserved skeleton of the prehistoric winged reptile, has been found on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, scientists said Tuesday. The National Museum of Scotland said the fossil of the pterosaur, more popularly known as pterodactyls, is the largest of its kind ever discovered from the Jurassic period. The reptile had an estimated wingspan of more than 2.5 meters (8.2 feet), similar to that of an albatross, the museum said. The fossil was discovered by PhD student Amelia Penny during a field trip on the Isle of Skye in remote northwest Scotland, in 2017, when she spotted the pterosaur's jaw protruding from rocks. It will now be added to the museum's collection. "Pterosaurs preserved in such quality are exceedingly rare and are usually reserved to select rock formations in Brazil and China," according to University of Edinburgh PhD student Natalia Jagielska, author of a new scientific paper describing the find. "And yet, an enormous superbly preserved pterosaur emerged from a tidal platform in Scotland," she said. Steve Brusatte, a professor of palaeontology at Edinburgh University, said the discovery was the best one found in Britain since the early 1800s, when celebrated fossil hunter Mary Anning discovered many significant Jurassic fossils on the southern English coast. Credit: Natalia Jagielska He said the fossil had "feather light" bones "as thin as sheets of paper" and it took several days to cut it from rock. The pterosaur, which has been given the Gaelic name Dearc sgiathanach, "tells us that pterosaurs got larger much earlier than we thought, long before the Cretaceous period when they were competing with birds, and that's hugely significant," Brusatte said. The study is published in Current Biology. Explore further Prehistoric winged lizard unearthed in Chile More information: Natalia Jagielska et al, A skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates an earlier origin of large pterosaurs, Current Biology (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.073 , Natalia Jagielska et al, A skeleton from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland illuminates an earlier origin of large pterosaurs,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.01.073 , www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(22)00135-X 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Bottsand nature reserve and Wendtorf marina. Credit: Kilian Etter and Svenja Karstens, CeOS/Kiel University In the western Baltic Sea, coastal fisheries are closely linked to the economic development of coastal communities and the impacts of climate change with the increasing loss of biodiversity. For a sustainable future of fisheries, multiple interests need to be considered. These include spatial and resource conflicts, which need to be recognized between different user groups and resolved through joint dialog. The SpaCeParti project, coordinated by the Center for Ocean and Society at Kiel University, aims to contribute to this by setting up so-called living laboratories in which users are actively involved in research. SpaCeParti is a project of the research mission sustainMare "Protection and Sustainable Use of Marine Areas" of the German Marine Research Alliance (DAM). More than 25 researchers from six institutions met on Monday, February 21, for a virtual kick-off of the project SpaCeParti (Coastal Fishery, Biodiversity, Spatial Use and Climate Change: A Participative Approach to navigate the Western Baltic Sea into a Sustainable Future). The project, which started in December and is coordinated by the Center for Ocean and Society (CeOS) at Kiel University, aims to develop sustainable use strategies for the Western Baltic Sea, with a focus on fisheries together with regional and local stakeholders at the two living laboratories Stein Wendtorf (Schleswig-Holstein) and Greifswalder Bodden (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). This includes stakeholders from commercial and recreational fisheries, as well as representatives from tourism, public administration, nature and environmental associations, local media and citizens. To link research and local experts which is to be implemented on this scale in existing research projects for the first time in these regionstwo locations that are particularly affected by massively reduced fishing quotas and spatial conflicts of use were chosen. In Stein Wendtorf, cod has the greatest economic importance for the nearshore fishery. In Greifswald, on the other hand, fishing is mainly aimed at catching herring. In recent years, the spawning biomasses of both species (i.e. the number of offspring-producing parents) have decreased, which has led to structural changes in both locations. At the same time, these regions are of high tourist interest, valuable habitats for nature conservation or are designated as potential areas for renewable energy production. Trawl cutter Harbour Sassnitz in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Credit: Heike Schwermer, CeOS/Kiel University Gillnet cutter in the Greifswald Bay Wieck in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Credit: Heike Schwermer, CeOS/Kiel University "Coastal ecosystems in the western Baltic Sea are under enormous pressure," says Professor Marie-Catherine Riekhof, coordinator of the project at CeOS of the Kiel Marine Science (KMS) priority research area at Kiel University. "Their biodiversity is at risk under human impacts such as climate change or eutrophication. Coastal fisheries in particular are facing major challenges. To develop viable solutions for the entire ecosystem and local people, we need new research methods. These must address the complex and interlocking challenges," says Riekhof, Kiel University professor of the political economy of resource management, with a focus on marine and coastal resources. "Living labs have proven their value in sustainability research and are used at CeOS as an effective concept for participatory research. Involving societal stakeholders in research from the beginning is forward-looking and a great opportunity for heavily used coastal ecosystems like the Baltic Sea," adds Dr. Christian Wagner-Ahlfs, coordinator for transdisciplinary research at Kiel Marine Science (KMS). A major challenge will be to build the infrastructure and bring the stakeholders to the table. "To do this, we are drawing on existing networks and also on connections from many years of research activities in the Baltic Sea," Wagner-Ahlfs explains. Dr. Heike Schwermer, a postdoctoral researcher at CeOS, counsels the two living labs as a fisheries expert: "We want to develop scientific and political knowledge for action to steer fisheries in the western Baltic Sea toward a sustainable future. To do this, we must simultaneously consider the needs of biodiversity protection, tourism and renewable energy production." To implement this project, scientists are investigating the dynamics of biodiversity in the western Baltic Sea, filling knowledge gaps on recruitment processes of cod and herring. In addition to developing food and fisheries models, the project also aims to develop dynamic adaptation pathways. A better understanding of political and socio-economic processes should result in political knowledge for action and thus contribute to the sustainable use of the socio-ecological system of the Western Baltic Sea. Explore further Climatic changes and overfishing depleted Baltic herring long before industrialisation Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Academics have said their freedom is under threat with evidence suggesting one of the reasons for this concern is the effect of internationalization including risks associated with the rising influence of authoritarian states such as China. Half of those who took part in a major new study said they felt their freedom to select teaching content was under threat. Half of politics and international scholars questioned said their freedom to conduct research was under threat, and 39% said they thought institutional censorship was a problem. When asked if academic freedom was discussed in universities, 74% of teaching and research said it was. More than two thirds (67%) of respondents indicated academic freedom was under threat in higher education. About 73% of respondents said they did not self-censor when teaching students from autocratic states in the UK. A majority (58%) said the nationality of their students did not constrain class content with 23% saying that it does. Three-quarters of respondents said academics should not accept funding from foreign entities or governments that do not respect human rights. A total of 59% said they did not feel pressured to collaborate with non-democratic partners in the aftermath of Brexit, while 10% said they did. The survey was distributed to 25,000 academics in the UK at the end of 2020 and 1,500 took part. Although the response rate was low at around 6%, the number and distribution of responses suggest that they are representative. The research was conducted by Tena Prelec from the University of Oxford and the University of Exeter, Saipira Furstenberg from the University of Portsmouth and John Heathershaw and Catarina Thomson from the University of Exeter. Dr. Prelec said: "Concern among academics in politics and international relations could be higher because they are more exposed to sensitivities arising when teaching students from and conducting research in autocracies. Furthermore, alongside business and law, these departments have often expanded most rapidly for both domestic and international students, perhaps creating an impression among staff that market demand trumps the maintenance of standards and academic freedom. This is clearest when considering the amount of private donations, which have tripled in the UK and Ireland over the past decade, while funds originating from public investment and EU research grants have decreased." A total of 42% of academics said they considered freedom to select teaching content to be currently at risk in UK universities compared to 58% among those specializing in European stages, 61% for those researching China, and 52% among those researching Africa. A total of 14% said they had self-censored when reporting fieldwork, and 75% said they hadn't. For those researching European countries this was 19% and 68%. For those researching Africa this was 26% and 60%, and for China 22% and 64%. Almost two thirds (65%) of respondents said they do not know if their department provides guidelines on academic freedom. A total of 41% of academics specializing in China said they had self-censored when teaching students from authoritarian regimes, compared to 39% for those specializing in Africa and 33% specializing in Europe. The average for all respondents was 20%. 20% of those questioned said they had self-censored when teaching students from autocratic states in the UK, and 73% said they hadn't. This rose to 33% for scholars working on Europe, 39% for those working on Africa and 41% for those working on China. Over 6% of respondents agreed that UK universities might introduce codes of conduct to protect academic freedom in international partnerships, while 17% were opposed. Explore further Hit hard by the pandemic, researchers expect its impacts to linger for years More information: Tena Prelec et al, Is academic freedom at risk from internationalisation? Results from a 2020 survey of UK social scientists, The International Journal of Human Rights (2022). Tena Prelec et al, Is academic freedom at risk from internationalisation? Results from a 2020 survey of UK social scientists,(2022). DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2021.2021398 New freight train connection runs between Germany and China Xinhua) 08:23, February 22, 2022 A China-Europe freight train bound for Duisburg of Germany pulls out of the Wuhan terminal of China Railway Intermodal in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, March 28, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu) "Climate-friendly and reliable rail freight transport is becoming increasingly important for global supply chains," Deutsche Bahn noted. "Demand is booming on the New Silk Road, the rail route connecting Europe and China." BERLIN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- A new freight train connection of around 12,300 km between Germany's Mannheim and China's Qingdao has been launched to further link the two countries together. The first train of the line set off from Qingdao last Friday. According to operator China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO), the train was loaded with 100 standard containers and is scheduled to arrive in the German city after a journey of 22 days. The train is carrying raw chemical materials, auto parts, daily necessities and other goods worth around 2.5 million U.S. dollars. It leaves China via the Alataw Pass port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to Shandong Hi-Speed Group Corporation (SHSC). More than 1,800 China-Europe freight trains were handled in east China's Shandong Province in 2021 alone. Via a total of 51 international train routes, goods from Shandong can reach 54 cities and 23 countries along China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to the group. Cargos are piled at Intermodal Terminal DIT in Duiburg, Germany, July 13, 2016. As many as 8 cargo trains from China arrive at this terminal every week, carrying Chinese products to Europe. (Xinhua/Yan Feng) Deutsche Bahn's subsidiary DB Cargo established a new company DB Cargo Transasia in Shanghai at the end of 2021 to strengthen rail freight transport between China and Europe, connecting 18 European countries, according to the German state-owned rail operator. "Climate-friendly and reliable rail freight transport is becoming increasingly important for global supply chains," Deutsche Bahn noted. "Demand is booming on the New Silk Road, the rail route connecting Europe and China." In 2020, DB Cargo transported around 200,000 containers back and forth between Asia and Europe. By 2025, Deutsche Bahn was aiming to more than double the annual capacity to 500,000 containers. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), total foreign trade revenues between Germany and China increased by 15.1 percent year-on-year to 245.4 billion euros (278.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2021. Photo taken on May 21, 2018 shows a cross-border e-commerce freight train from Hamburg of Germany arriving in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Li Yibo) For the sixth year in a row, China was Germany's most important trading partner in 2021. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollars) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) KUNMING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand joined forces on Tuesday for the 114th Mekong River joint patrol. The Chinese vessels departed at 9 a.m. Tuesday from Jingha Port in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, said the press office of Yunnan provincial public security department. Five vessels from the four countries will navigate over 600 km in four days and three nights during the latest joint operation. Law-enforcement departments from the countries cracked 8,325 cases of various types in 2021 while arresting 8,043 criminal suspects and seizing 34.4 tonnes of drugs in the border areas along the Mekong River. The Mekong River, or the Lancang River in China, is a vital waterway for cross-border shipping. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Over the past two years, public health organizations around the world have attempted to control the COVID-19 pandemic through various means. Social distancing, where people limit close contact with others outside of their households, is one of these methods. Limiting contact between people can decrease how much a disease can spread in a population; however, there can be drawbacks to distancing such as feelings of loneliness and social isolation. This can be especially true in older adults and other more vulnerable populations. A new study in the journal Frontiers in Public Health looks at community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore different factors related to feelings of social isolation, especially in Hispanic and African American communities. The researchers included lead author Omolola Adepoju, assistant professor at the University of Houston College of Medicine and a graduate of the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, Marcia Ory, Regents and Distinguished Professor at School of Public Health, and colleagues from the University of Houston, Texas A&M University, and Humana Inc. The research team surveyed adults 55 years of age and older to measure COVID-19 prevention behaviors, pre-existing health conditions and feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The survey was completed by 575 older adults living in the Houston area between November 2020 and January 2021. In addition to survey questions about how often respondents felt isolated or lonely and whether respondents could get the help they need, data was collected on demographic factors like age, sex, race and ethnicity, education and income as well as information on social needs and medical conditions, including COVID-19 diagnosis. The researchers then analyzed the survey data to explore which of these factors may affect feelings of social isolation. The respondents were quite diverse. Approximately half of the survey respondents identified as African American and nearly 40 percent reported Hispanic ethnicity. Nearly 20 percent reported having heart disease and 20 percent had diabetes. A majority of the respondents had a college degree or some college, with another 26 percent having a high school diploma or GED and 20 percent stating they did not have a high school diploma. The survey found that more than half of the respondents or their close family had been diagnosed as COVID-positive. Around 47 percent reported practicing social distancing and 10 percent stated they felt socially isolated. An analysis of the data revealed that women and older adults with college degrees were more likely to report feeling socially isolated. No notable differences in the proportions of people reporting social isolation between racial and ethnic groups were found. However, different factors were associated with social isolation within different populations. For instance, gender, education and insurance status were associated with social isolation overall but showed no significant effect in African Americans. For African American and Hispanic respondents, unmet caregiving needs and following social distancing guidelines were most strongly associated with isolation. In addition, language differences were a factor in social isolation for some adults in Hispanic populations. Adepoju underscores efforts to control the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing can have unintended effects on vulnerable populations. "This highlights the importance of supporting people like older adults and people living with disabilities who may be more vulnerable to feelings of isolation," Adepoju said. "However, differences between racial and ethnic groups demonstrate the need for culturally relevant interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach." For example, African American and Hispanic older adults may be more likely to rely on smaller community groups like religious organizations for social support, and adults with chronic medical conditions or extra caregiving needs could be more prone to feelings of social isolation. The findings of this study may not apply to older adults in other areas as it was limited to the Houston metro area. Additionally, the findings may not apply to adults younger than 55 or to periods when disease transmission is lower. "Despite these limitations, this study clarifies some of the factors involved in feelings of social isolation in older adults," Ory said. "Social distancing efforts can reduce the spread of contagious diseases; however, it is important that public health officials consider how such interventions may adversely affect those groups most in need of protection." Explore further Social isolation and loneliness increase heart disease risk in senior women More information: Omolola E. Adepoju et al, Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Frontiers in Public Health (2021). Journal information: Frontiers in Public Health Omolola E. Adepoju et al, Correlates of Social Isolation Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.702965 Credit: Wikimedia / Olaf Tausch, CC BY 3.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0) A combined team of researchers from Japan and Egypt has found evidence that suggests a dagger found in King Tut's tomb had origins outside of Egypt. In their paper published in the journal Meteoritics & Planetary Science, the group describes their study of the dagger and also of the Amarna Letters tablets and what they learned by doing so. When archaeologists opened King Tut's tomb in the early 1900s, they found among other things a dagger with an iron blade. The finding was interesting because the Iron Age had not yet started. Humans had not yet learned how to heat native iron to sufficient temperatures for smelting. Thus, it was assumed the dagger blade had been made by pounding metal from a meteorite found somewhere nearby. Humans were making many implements from iron from meteorites thousands of years before the beginning of the Iron Age, thus the finding in Tut's tomb was not that unusual. Over the years, the dagger has been studied by various researchers seeking to learn more about its origin. In 2016, a team of researchers confirmed the iron was from a meteorite and now in this new effort, the researchers have learned more about the kind of meteorite that had been used to make the blade. Their work involved firing non-destructive x-rays at the blade while using a microscope to get a closer look. In so doing, they found it was made of expected metals such as iron, manganese and nickel. It also had other material mixed in, such as sulfur zinc and chlorine. More interesting was the cross-stitch pattern they found on one part of the bladeit has been seen before in other natural objects and has been named the Widmanstatten pattern. This finding suggested the meteorite belonged to a group called octahedritesthe largest of the known iron meteorites. The same pattern has been seen in other artifacts, such as an ancient sword found in Japan. Analysis of the blade composition could not reveal where the meteorite had landed, of course, but study of the Amarna Letters tablets provided some hints. The tablets were inscribed approximately 3,400 years agoabout a century before King Tut was interred. In looking at the transcription, the researchers noted a section where an iron dagger was mentioned. It was given to King Tut's grandfather by the King of Mitanni, suggesting the meteorite may have landed in what is now Syria. Explore further Tutankhamun dagger likely made from meteoric iron: study More information: Takafumi Matsui et al, The manufacture and origin of the Tutankhamen meteoritic iron dagger, Meteoritics & Planetary Science (2022). Takafumi Matsui et al, The manufacture and origin of the Tutankhamen meteoritic iron dagger,(2022). DOI: 10.1111/maps.13787 2022 Science X Network Warren County Health Services reported a total 45 new COVID cases recorded over the past two days. On Monday, the county reported 25 new cases from Sunday and 20 on Monday. According to the report, 17 of the new cases come from positive at-home COVID tests. Hospitalizations in the county remain unchanged, with eight residents currently hospitalized. There were 14 COVID patients in Glens Falls Hospital on Monday with no cases in the ICU, according to hospital spokesman Ray Agnew. Warren County has recorded 148 positive cases over the last five days. The seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 6%. State data showed as of Monday, 80% of the population has received one dose of the vaccine. Free at-home COVID tests are available at most Stewarts Shops in Warren County and municipal offices in Warren County after receiving more this week. The Stewarts stores where they are not available are the Glen Street and Broad Street locations because of traffic concerns. Residents should check with their specific town or city for availability before visiting. Health Services vaccine clinics for the public are held on Tuesday afternoons/evenings at the Warren County Municipal Center, with the next clinic scheduled for Feb. 22 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Washington County New York state data showed on Monday only seven new COVID cases were identified in Washington County out of the 243 tests administered on Sunday. The countys seven-day rolling positivity rate was at 5.2%. As of Monday, 41,135 county residents have received one dose of the COVID vaccine and 38,871 have completed the vaccine series. Saratoga County On Monday, state data indicated 31 positive cases were recorded in Saratoga County out of the 730 tests given on Sunday. The seven-day rolling positivity rate has decreased to 3.7%. The New York state vaccine tracker showed on Monday that 183,734 residents have received one dose of the vaccine and 171,312 have completed the vaccine series. Statewide Gov. Kathy Hochul warned residents in a news release to remain vigilant despite the decrease in COVID cases statewide. The virus is in retreat, but our fight against this pandemic isnt over, Hochul said Monday. The state reported a total of 1,483 positive cases out of the 75,109 test results. The total number of patients in the hospital was 2,522, according to the report. The states seven-day rolling positivity rate has continued to drop and was at 2.1% on Monday. Jana is a general reporter who covers Moreau, Queensbury, and Lake George. She can be reached at 518-742-3272. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GLENS FALLS Starting Feb. 28, Alisha Stosic-Hanley will see to the daily operations of the Family YMCA of the Glens Falls Area. The director of operations position she will be filling is a new one. Prior to Stosic-Hanley, Brian Bearor ran the directorial operations of the YMCA as the chief executive officer. Bearor left in 2021 to join Tri-County United Way. For the past two years, Ive been in health care. As the executive director of the Queensbury Senior Center, I developed strong relationships within our community, Stosic-Hanley said on Monday. After her time with the Queensbury Senior Center, she worked as an administrator for the Home of the Good Shepherd assisted living facility in Saratoga Springs. Im excited to return to the area. I believe in the YMCAs mission of developing a healthier community. Im in a unique position to do this because of my background in health, Stosic-Hanley said. She stated in a news release on Monday that she believes in the core principals the YMCA holds: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Like most places, the Glens Falls YMCA took a hit because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Usually we see a surge in new memberships right after Christmas, beginning of the new year, said Brian Corcoran, president of the YMCAs board of directors. The mask mandate put a damper on enthusiasm when COVID numbers began rising in January, he said. Now that the mask mandate has been lifted, were seeing membership come back, Corcoran added. After Bearor left in the summer of 2021, the YMCAs Capital District office oversaw daily operations of the Glens Falls branch. Our search (for a director) began beginning of the new year, Corcoran said. Having local leadership will help tremendously, he said. Stosic-Hanley has a degree in health and human development from Montana State University, where she lived for 15 years. Shes got the right experience and background, Corcoran said. Stosic-Hanley moved to upstate New York in 2016. I have three teenage boys and an 8-year-old girl, all who have participated in various degrees with the YMCA, Stosic-Hanley said. What does she like most about the community of Glens Falls? Definitely the people and the commitment everyone shares to ensure a welcoming and successful community. She said she enjoys and welcomes the challenges that come from being in a new environment. Drew Wardle is a reporter for The Post-Star. You can contact him at (518) 681 7343 or email him at dwardle@poststar.com Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. From Harvard professor and leading political thinker Danielle Allen, Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus is both an invaluable playbook for meeting our current moment and a stirring reflection on the future of democracy itself. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated some of the strengths of our society, including the rapid development of vaccines. But it has also exposed our glaring weaknesses, including government failure to develop and quickly implement strategies for tracing and containing outbreaks, as well as widespread public distrust of government prompted by often confusing and conflicting choicesto mask, or not to mask. Even worse, millions of deaths and economic devastation worldwide might have been avoided if governments had been prepared to undertake comprehensive, contextually-sensitive policies to stop the spread of the disease. Looking specifically at the United States COVID-19 victories and failures but providing insight for nations across the globe, Allen offers a plan for creating a more resilient democratic polityone that can better respond to both the present pandemic and future crises. In an analysis spanning from ancient Greece to the Reconstruction Amendments and the present day, Allen argues for the effectiveness of our federalist system when we emphasize collaboration among local, state, and national governments, and for the unifying power of a common cause. But for democracy to endure, weas participatory citizensmust commit to that cause: a just and equal social contract that leaves no one out and support for good governance. Over the past fifteen months, Allen ran a historic campaign to be the next Governor of Massachusetts, on an agenda for which the thinking in Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus was foundational. Indeed, while still on the campaign trail, Allen joined Fareed Zakaria on CNNs GPS to share the ideas in her important new book. Although the campaign is now winding down, those ideasand the conversation Allen pushes forward in her bookremain as urgent and transformational as ever. Read on for an excerpt from the preface of what Publishers Weekly calls a trenchant call for reimagining how America functions in a time of crisis. When the new coronavirus arrived in the United States in January 2020, it hit an economy, society, and constitutional democracy fundamentally unprepared. As the scale of the challenge became clear, the country simply could not deliver what was needed to confront it. There was a solution, one identified by scholars and policy experts as early as the middle of March and publicly disseminated by the middle of April. That solution was a large-scale program of rapid testing of patients, tracing and testing their contacts, and tracing and testing their contacts again in turn. Such testing also needed reinforcement from a culture of adherence to universal precautions such as mask-wearing, hand and bathroom hygiene, and robust practices of infection control. The massive, rapid buildup of such a public health campaign, as well as the necessary infrastructure to support it, would have interrupted transmission of the virus sufficiently to eliminate it even while keeping the economy open. But the country did not have the relevant infrastructure ready to go and was not able to deliver this mobilization. Just as the 2008 financial crisis exposed blind spots in how countries had thought about integrated markets through the first stages of globalization, within the first two months of 2020, the spread of COVID-19 revealed that the United States had another gaping vulnerability to globalization. Like opaque securities, pandemics proved to be a dangerous feature of globally integrated markets. We learned that, given the modern structure of travel, transportation, and integrated economies, infectious pathogens travel as easily as the Davos elite. The near-term challenge of January 2020 was identical to our long-term challenge: how to achieve pandemic resiliencethe ability of our social and political institutions to process a major exogenous shock yet keep all essential functions operating, while simultaneously protecting lives, livelihoods, and liberties. The urgency of the crisis meant that we needed to deliver the durable infrastructure of resilience in the form of emergency response. But the near-term nature of the crisis situation by no means required that the response to it should consist only of transient initiatives. Emergencies have always provided opportunities for durable innovation. Look back to antiquity. The Romans Appian Way, their first major road, was built in 312 BCE as a supply line during the Second Samnite War. A crisis response yielded durable infrastructure. Of course, the same kind of thing happened with penicillin and nuclear power in World War II (Conant 2017; Johnstone-Louis et al. 2020). A crisis will by its nature elicit reactive action of some kind. The question is only whether in its reactions a society lays down a foundation for a better future or expends its energies on changeable, flailing efforts. In our own situation, the effort to find a vaccine to protect against COVID-19 is another good example of an emergency yielding a permanent advance. The Moderna variant uses a technology, synthetic messenger RNA, that has never before been used for vaccine production (Garde and Saltzmann 2020). In all likelihood we will leave this crisis with an important new tool firmly entrenched in the health-care toolkit. We could have and should have done the same with the infrastructure of public health. In this book, I hope to lay the foundation for a renewed social contract capable of delivering pandemic resilienceand, more generally, both justice and health for our constitutional democracy. I hope to offer a durable breakthrough in the form of a fresh vision of the public good. What exactly is a social contract? A social contract is the set of rights and mutual responsibilities that we have among ourselves as citizens in a constitutional democracy. A social contract is both whats asked of us as participants in a constitutional democracy and all that is made possible for us by virtue of our participation in that constitutional democracy. Whats asked of us and what we receive establish relations of reciprocity within the citizenry. This book seeks to reset that relationship for a healthy and just future. Danielle Allen is the James Bryant Conant University Professor at Harvard University, where she is also the principal investigator for the Democratic Knowledge Project. Among her many books, she is the author of Our Declaration and, most recently, coeditor of Difference without Domination, the latter also published by the University of Chicago Press. Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus is available now! Find it on our website, online at any major booksellers, or at your local bookstore. PLEASANTVILLE The state has fined James DiNatales Site Enterprises Inc. and ordered it to pay $112,290 to 23 laborers for wage and hour violations on three public works projects, according to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development. DiNatale is president of Site Enterprises and owns the former Press of Atlantic City editorial and printing property on Washington Avenue, where his RGC3 LLC wants to run a transfer station to ship construction debris to Ohio via the train line that runs by the site. The bookkeeper messed up, DiNatale said by phone Tuesday. We paid what we had to pay. According to the departments Wage & Hour Compliance Division, Site Enterprises failed to pay prevailing wages, did not keep accurate certified payrolls and misclassified employees as independent contractors, depriving them of medical benefits, earned sick leave and more. Employee complaints resulted in the findings last month, the department said in a news release. The company paid a fine of $46,000 and has agreed to an 18-month voluntary prohibition on public work, DOL said. Pleasantville trash transfer station drives debate across Atlantic County The debris-waste transfer station planned for a lot in Pleasantville has driven disputes and The projects were asbestos removal at Kean University in Union, an emergency housing demolition in Camden, and asbestos abatement and demolition in East Orange, Essex County. Supporters of DiNatales plan to build a trash transfer station to accept construction debris and send it out of state through a train line on site have billed it as providing jobs and much-needed income for the city. Pleasantville Mayor Judy Ward said she had no comment as she was unaware of the DOL action. The Atlantic County Utilities Authority has opposed the plan, saying it would deprive the ACUA landfill of needed income and drive up tipping fees for municipalities to dispose of their trash. DiNatale, however, said while municipal tipping fees for residential trash are the lowest in the state, the fees for disposing of construction debris are among the highest. In effect, he said, high tipping fees for contractors have subsidized municipal fees, keeping them artificially low and putting a large burden on companies in the construction and demolition businesses. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP With a resounding crash that echoed through the atrium of the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Center on Monday, Jennifer Pfander struck a gong to mark the end of her last chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Heres to a new beginning, she said before swinging the mallet. Pfander, 58, of Ocean City, used the occasion to encourage women to get regular mammograms and other screenings. She was diagnosed in the summer of 2020 and began treatment soon after. Normally, I get my mammograms in April. As you know, April of 2020 was a little bit of a scary time for the world, so I put it off, she said. But with a regular checkup scheduled, she said, she decided to get her mammogram, even though it was delayed. Thank God I wasnt scared to seek medical attention due to COVID, she said. If I was, who knows where Id be now. Pfanders family waited downstairs for her to complete her final treatment. Her husband, Mark, thanked the team members who worked on his wifes care. He embraced her as she came downstairs. Her daughter, Allison, and son-in-law Michael Morey were there, while her son, Marco, joined the celebration from Puerto Rico via livestream. According to details released from AtlantiCare with Pfanders permission, she had a double mastectomy in April 2021, and had multiple radiation treatments under her arm for a malignant lymph node. She also received radiation treatments on her lung last summer after a scan showed a spot there. In May of last year, she began a new chemo treatment, completed on Monday. Im all clear, she said. The afternoon gathering had the feeling of a celebration, with most of the staff members gathered to see her off wearing either superhero T-shirts or capes. They also presented Pfander with a cape and a Wonder Woman lasso, describing it as in recognition for her lassoing the truth about her health. The DC character Wonder Woman carries a lasso that makes those it captures tell the truth. The staff kept the superhero theme in decorations, and many wore Batman, Captain America, Superman or Wonder Woman shirts or masks. There were about 25 people gathered for the event. Pfander grew up in Ocean City, and moved back after leaving the area for more than a decade. She is a retired teacher who taught first grade in Middle Township, and Mark Pfander is a registered nurse at Cape Regional Medical Center. Both said it was an emotional day. Thank you all. Thank you very much from all of our hearts, Mark Pfander said. This was not Pfanders first time to hit the gong, which is a tradition for those completing radiation or chemotherapy, according to Jennifer Tornetta, a spokesperson for AtlantiCare. She said Pfander has already hit the gong more than once, including when her first chemo ended and when her radiation treatments ended. The event Monday was larger than usual, she said, and moved to the common area to allow for social distancing. The event was open to the media to encourage mammograms and other regular health screenings. Jennifer Pfander said she has been able to mark vital milestones with family and friends during her treatment, including her daughters wedding. The familys New Years card showed images from the wedding, along with a call to stay up to date with routine health procedures. I must speak out. If this happened to me, it could happen to anyone. If I can help someone, thats what I want to do, Pfander said. My breast cancer truly came out of nowhere, and thats why I felt it was important to send cards and to speak out wherever I can. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290, bbarlow@pressofac.com, Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tim Alexander, who is vying to be the Democrat challenger to U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, in November, said Monday he has been endorsed by former Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo, D-Atlantic, and Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick. Tims journey has always been rooted in public service, from a racially-profiled youth and arrested for a crime he did not commit to entering law enforcement himself to try and change the system from the inside, Mazzeo and Fitzpatrick said in a news release from Alexanders campaign. He eventually retired from law enforcement for a legal career focused on civil rights litigation. Alexander, 56, is a former detective captain in charge of the Criminal Investigation Section for the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office in Mays Landing. He announced his candidacy last March. Retired Egg Harbor Township police Capt. Hector Tavarez has also announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. Alexander, of Galloway Township, has been married to his wife, Anna, for 34 years. They have three adult children. Alexander supports Democratic bills to expand voting rights, Mazzeo and Fitzpatrick said, including the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would restore key parts of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Van Drew opposes the Democratic bills, including H.R. 1 (the For the People Act) calling them an attempt to nationalize elections by stripping away states election integrity safeguards such as requiring voters to provide proof of identity when voting by mail. The Mazzeo and Fitzpatrick endorsement for Alexander follows earlier endorsements by The Collective PAC, dedicated to increasing Black political power across all levels of government; and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, representing 100,000 workers nationwide and 10,000 in New Jersey. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post 609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TRIPOLI, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration on Monday condemned the killing of an illegal migrant and the injury of several others in the capital Tripoli by the Libyan security, who used excessive force against them. "This is not the first time migrants are shot by Libyan state actors. Previous tragedies occurred at sea, at disembarkation points and detention centers. We call for an immediate investigation of the incident and greater oversight of the Stabilization Support Apparatus," the UN agency said in a statement. As long as basic safety, protection and human rights are not provided in Libya, it cannot be considered a safe port of disembarkation, it said, adding that even illegal migrants who safely disembark in Libya are often subject to arbitrary arrest and detention. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. MIDDLE TOWNSHIP Cape May County veterans can now visit their local Veterans Affairs outpatient treatment facility for physical therapy. The countys VA medical center, in the Rio Grande section of the township, is now offering in-person and telehealth physical therapy appointments, expanding service for local veterans after the facility opened in 2020. Bringing physical therapy services into the Rio Grande clinic will open opportunities for more than just Cape May County residents to engage with providers who work solely with veterans, Vince Kane, Wilmington VA Medical Center director, said in a statement Tuesday. We hope veterans all over southern New Jersey will utilize these services. Veterans visiting the Atlantic County and Cumberland County outpatient centers may receive physical therapy services in Rio Grande, in place of a community care referral. Initial appointments are held in-person, and treatments can continue either at the clinic or through telehealth, the agency said. Opening of Cape May County clinic offers veterans long-awaited services MIDDLE TOWNSHIP The new Cape May County veterans outpatient clinic is officially open, cap Veterans seeking physical therapy can access this service directly or by referral from their primary care team or non-VA provider, the agency said. The Rio Grande facility provides local veterans with easier access to health care after the countys former facility, inside Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, closed in 2020. The 11,000-square-foot clinic, located in the County Commons complex at Routes 9 and 47, offers expanded services including telehealth, hearing aid maintenance and repair, prescription drug benefits, physical therapy and optometry services. The facility has a separate physical therapy room accessible through the lobby. The room has various types of equipment, with professionals ready to assist. Contact Eric Conklin: Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Eyeing new developments by the airport, government and business leaders are hoping to see new industries lift off in Atlantic County. The South Jersey Transportation Authority issued a request for proposals, or RFP, earlier this month to develop 400 acres next in the northwest quadrant of the Atlantic City International Airport, which would include 1.5 million square feet of cargo and facility space. Support for the project is being provided by Atlantic County and the Atlantic County Economic Alliance. ACEA President Lauren Moore said the recent RFP would help leverage the areas aviation industry for economic development. The aviation hub which includes ACY and the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center affords Atlantic County great institutional, cornerstone assets and unique strengths that could drive economic growth, Moore said. The ACEA, which is a privately run, nonprofit corporation founded to attract businesses and development to Atlantic County, is working with several developers to have them submit a proposal, according to Moore. Thats a lot of square feet ... with a lot of jobs, Moore said. So, we are very excited to work with the SJTA to unlock this 400 acres and have them put this RFP out on the street. Moore said there also is an opportunity for the area to pivot toward an aviation maintenance-and-repair industry, including the construction of an academy teaching about airplane repair. The county also has access to 58 acres through the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park for aerospace research-and-development companies. Moore said strengthening the aviation sector was critical to the broader ACEA strategy of diversifying the Atlantic County economy. The region is hobbled by its dependence on gaming, hospitality and tourism industries, Moore said. Societal shocks, such as the 2007-2009 recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, left the region vulnerable to crippling downturns. According to an ACEA report published in May 2021, the leisure, tourism and travel industries represents about three-fifths of the Atlantic County economy. All were paralyzed by the advent of COVID-19 pandemic starting in March 2020. Having other industries that the region can draw from for growth may make it more resilient to downturns in the future. Its no secret, we are very, very, very dependent on hospitality, tourism and gaming, Moore said. The reason I bring (the pandemic) up is because it shows the importance of diversifying our economy. Moore said the aviation industry represents the best opportunity to diversify Atlantic Countys economy. To make room for the development, the county had to work to find a nest for a bird sanctuary near a runway. Moore said the ACEA, Atlantic County and the SJTA all worked together to relocate the sanctuary farther west at county-purchased land. Moore credited the move with making both the airport safer for both planes and protecting the birds. Moore said he has a general idea in mind for the project. He said the airport could become a focus for the transportation of internet commerce distribution and that there was an SJTA plan to have a rail spur off the Atlantic City rail line to facilitate that. Such a transformation, Moore said, would be appealing to national retail giants and attract them to the area. The location would give these national companies prime access to the Expressway and I-95 corridor. The ecommerce jobs these industries create, he noted, would be fortified against events like the pandemic that shutdown in-person business. Atlantic City Airport has such great potential for a regional, air cargo, ecommerce distribution center, Moore said. What a great opportunity for companies like Walmart, Amazon, UPS, Fed Ex, DHL, to come in here and set up a cargo-city hub at Atlantic City International Airport. Plans to build a 181,000 square-foot Amazon facility in Galloway Township were unveiled at a Township Planning Board meeting Thursday night, several hours after Moore talked with The Press. The facility, planned for the lot at the intersection of Aloe Street and Genoa Avenue, will be an Amazon Last Mile Delivery Station where Amazon drivers will take packages received from larger, central sites and deliver them to customers doorsteps. Between on-site employees and shipping contractors, the Amazon facility would employ about 500 people although some near neighbors of the project have expressed opposition due to concerns over traffic noise and light pollution. Given the new developments on the horizon, Moore said the Atlantic County economy was on its way up. Things are really starting come around, Moore said. Contact Chris Doyle cdoyle@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A representative for striking union workers at Eaton-Cobham Mission Systems in Davenport said Monday contract negotiations are not expected to resume for at least another week. John Herrig, directing business representative for District 6 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, said negotiators from Eaton-Cobham notified the union that " they were available starting March 1 or March 2." Katie Kennedy, the senior manager for Eaton Aerospace Group's Communications & Marketing, said the company " will continue to bargain with the Union and have proposed dates to continue negotiations." "Eatons proposed contract is equitable and consistent with nationwide market trends and with our goal of attracting and retaining skilled workers," Kennedy said in an email. "Prior to the strike, Eaton and the union had reached tentative agreements to provide more vacation, greater scheduling certainty and flexibility, additional leave, and an agreement on retirement and health care plans. While we did not reach an agreement on wages, the parties were only marginally apart at the time the Union went on strike." More than 400 Eaton-Cobham union employees represented by IAMAW Local 388 and Machinist Union Local 1191 hit the picket line at 12:01 a.m. Friday after more than 98% of the membership voted down the proposed three-year contract from Eaton. The company is located at 2734 Hickory Grove Road. Local 1191 officials met Friday afternoon with representatives of Eaton-Cobham and presented a settlement offer. Herrig said Eaton has not offered a settlement proposal. "We had been negotiations since around Jan. 29 and there have been a number of passes at a contract," Herrig said. "And we are not going to go into any of the specifics of the contract." Herrig stressed " we are not going to negotiate any contract through the media." Picket lines continued Monday outside the company's entrances on Hickory Grove Road. A number of workers said they hope negotiations start before March 1. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the days leading up to Christmas most people were shopping for gifts. Some were trying to make travel plans. And others sought COVID-19 tests. The delta variant remained potent. Omicron was rapidly spreading. COVID-19 cases escalated. There were long lines for testing at Genesis Health System, the Scott County Health Department ran out of state-supplied testing kits for a short time, and the test kit supply at retailers ran low. Into the testing void a testing site called "Center for COVID Control" popped up in Davenport and in cities across the country. Two months later, the Center for COVID Control is the subject of an FBI investigation. An official from the Scott County Health Department confirmed the Iowa Department of Public Health asked local health employees to find out more about the unlicensed business in January. "As far as we know, there were one or two people who had questions about the testing site called Center for COVID Control," said Brooke Barnes, the public information officer at the Scott County Health Department. "The state asked us to go in and find out general information about the testing site. "We sent two health department officials over there and, after the visit, we sent that information to the state." A number of states' attorneys general have opened investigations of Center for COVID Control testing sites, including Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller. Miller said his office is concerned about personal data collection and inaccurate test results. The company's testing sites in Johnston, Maquoketa and Davenport have since closed. COVID-19 in the Q-C, by the numbers According to the latest updates from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 community transmission remains high in Rock Island and Scott counties. Rock Island County saw an increase of 298 new cases during the seven-day period ending Monday. Crucially, the county had a seven-day positivity rate of just 5.9%. Rock Island County also saw 27 hospital admissions for COVID-19. Some of the numbers out of Scott County were similar. The county saw an increase of 314 new COVID-19 cases during the seven-day period ending Monday. There were 27 hospital admissions for COVID-19 during the same span. Scott County's seven-day positivity rate, however, checked in at 10.52% Monday. Vaccinations in Rock Island Co. The Rock Island County Health Department continues to offer vaccination clinics on Tuesday for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson (age 18 and older) and on Friday for Pfizer (age 5 and older). No appointments are needed. The next walk-in Saturday pediatric vaccination clinic is March 5 from 9 a.m. to noon. You can find other providers at vaccines.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES Roughly $9 of every $10 in state revenue would be poured into the next years state budget, while the remaining money would be set aside, under the myriad proposals from Republicans at the Iowa Capitol. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans in the majorities in the Iowa House and Senate have released their state spending plans at various points over recent weeks. On Monday, Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, who chairs the Houses budget committee, discussed House Republicans budget proposal with reporters. State lawmakers have roughly $9 billion in state revenue available for the budget year that begins July 1, and they must draft a spending plan before finishing their work in the 2022 session of the Iowa Legislature. Republican leaders budget targets are close to each other: Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.2 billion, while House Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.27 billion. That would be a little more than a 1 percent increase over the current state budget of just more than $8.1 billion. "At some point, we will come to an agreement. At this point, I cant tell you what that agreement will be," Mohr said. "But (House Republicans) feel very comfortable with these numbers. We know the numbers work along with our tax cuts. And we think thats in the best interest of the people of Iowa." Typically, budget work does not begin in earnest until roughly mid-March, after the states Revenue Estimating Commission meets to provide its latest projections. But with an $800 million budget surplus and full reserves and emergency accounts, Republican leaders have chosen to start the budgeting process sooner than usual. Zach Wahls, the Democratic Senate minority leader from Coralville, said he considers it an optimistic sign that budget work has already begun, although he also said he would prefer the Senates budget process allowed more time for public input. Wahls also said he would prefer that more of that revenue be invested in state services and programs, like K-12 public, college and career technical education, public safety, and mental health care. "Look, the law allows us to go up to 99 percent (of state revenue)," Wahls said. "Theres a lot of talk about wanting to return tax dollars back to Iowans. I think the best way to do that is to invest in Iowans." Jack Whitver, the Senate Majority Leader from Ankeny, also expressed his pleasure at the early start to the state budget work. He said that enabled legislators to craft an overall state budget while also working on the K-12 public school funding, which is a significant portion of spending more than 43% in the 2021 budget year but must be done early in the session to allow schools time to craft their budget for the next school year. Whitver said he believes the Senate Republican budget proposal properly balances investing in state services while making room for state income tax cuts. "I think its a budget (proposal) that does what Ive said for a long time, which is allow us enough room to continue to invest in priorities while continuing to work on the tax reforms that weve been doing," Whitver said. "So were going to continue that reliable, sustainable funding that we have been doing the last six years. And Im confident this budget would do that." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The big purple truck that delivers health supplies to drug users in Chicagos suburbs carries more than 100 items everything from syringes and condoms to snacks and winter coats. But theres one other thing the harm reduction group Live4Lali hands out that suddenly has become the subject of a Washington, D.C., firestorm a slender glass tube used to smoke crack cocaine and other drugs. Its the key part of so-called safe smoking kits that are handed out in the hope of cutting down on disease transmission and injuries among people who smoke drugs. For years it was an innocuous part of the arsenal, but last week it came under scrutiny after a conservative news outlet published a story with a provocative headline: Biden Admin to Fund Crack Pipe Distribution to Advance Racial Equity. The story concerned a $29 million federal grant for harm reduction groups that will allow them to buy supplies, including safe smoking kits (the racial equity part refers to a requirement that groups specify how they intend to reach underserved communities). But after the storys publication, federal officials all the way up to President Joe Bidens White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, hastened to say the pipes themselves were never a part of the kit the grant would pay for. That hasnt stopped some from making political hay out of the episode, dubbing the items Bidens crack pipes. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, has introduced legislation that would prohibit federal funds from going toward such purchases, and some Republican operatives have promised that crack pipes will be an issue in the coming midterm elections. In 100 years America went from a chicken in every pot to a crack pipe in every house, GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky told the New York Post. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which is administering the grant, did not respond to the Tribunes request for comment. Laura Fry, Live4Lalis executive director, said the dust-up was much ado about very little: Her group, like others, has numerous funding sources, public and private, and at 40 cents apiece, the glass tubes are among the least expensive things it purchases. But she nonetheless found it disheartening. Its just more bias and stigmatizing rhetoric for our friends who use drugs, she said. People who use substances do not deserve any less respect than you and I do when trying to treat our disorders and diseases. That is really what we fight the stigma and the shame. Many harm reduction groups got their start distributing clean syringes to heroin users, intending to curb the transmission of HIV and other blood-borne diseases. Over time they added other products to the mix, including plastic straws, for heroin users who prefer to snort their drugs, and safe smoking kits. Erica Ernst of the Chicago Recovery Alliance says its kits, which it buys using funds from the Chicago Department of Public Health, include two glass tubes suitable for smoking crack, an alcohol pad to clean them, a bit of copper mesh that acts as a filter and heat retainer, a chopstick to push the drugs and filter into the pipe, and a rubber spark plug cover that serves as a mouthpiece. She said people who smoke crack or meth can burn their lips and leave blood and potentially viruses on their pipes. Sharing the devices heightens the chance of spreading disease, she said. Researchers have linked crack pipes with the transmission of hepatitis C and tuberculosis. One recent study out of England even warned that the sharing of pipes poses an acute COVID-19 transmission risk, given the infectivity of the virus. Drug users who obtain their own pipes often end up with substandard products, Ernst said, such as thin glass tubes, sold at gas stations or convenience stores, that are known as roses for the small artificial flowers they contain. They tend to shatter or explode, she said. Giving someone a safe Pyrex equivalent can lead to less injury. Crack use often accompanies opioid use, so a harm reduction organization can address many issues at once, or even end up guiding a user into treatment. Ernst said the important thing is to connect with vulnerable people and help them make positive changes, no matter how small. Both the Chicago Recovery Alliance and Live4Lali sought the grant that kicked off the controversy, but with only 25 awards promised, just a fraction of nations harm reduction groups will end up with any money. The alliance wont be one of them: Ernst said the online portal wasnt working when the group tried to send in its application and technical assistance didnt arrive in time. If Live4Lali succeeds, Fry said the federal prohibition against spending the money on pipes would have no practical effect; the group hands out only 20 or so smoking kits a week. Besides, there are plenty of other things the organization needs. We give out 50 pounds of fresh fruit a week, Fry said. That is a hot item much hotter than a smoking utensil. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It was in the heat of one of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858 for the Illinois Senate seat that the Democrat incumbent Stephen Douglas accused Abraham Lincoln of waffling on his position on slavery, the most contentious topic of the time. At one point, he called Lincoln two-faced. Lincoln was at a loss for words. The rising young statesman, aware that many did not regard him as a physically attractive man, shot back, If I had two faces, would I be wearing this one? In a most unusual and highly entertaining biography titled "Laughing with Old Abe: Abraham Lincolns Jokes" (Xulon Press) author A.T. Kabambay, a passionate historian and researcher whose specialty is Lincoln and the Civil War, presents a side of one of our most beloved presidents that most scholars and the general public never knew. TRICKS UP HIS SLEEVE For sure, our 16th U.S. president had his share of controversy and conflict, from personal family tragedies to the anxiety and tension of being chief commander during the great war that split our nation for years. Kabambay shows us a Lincoln who above all else was human and authentic more so than comedic, providing many anecdotes to illustrate how the man many know from his outward stoic persona dealt with the great weight of issues and decisions that would shape our country. Lincoln routinely chose humor to control the terrible stress he endured his entire life and also to defuse the tension, attract attention or get a message across, writes Kabambay. He had a physical and psychological need to laugh that prompted him to joke under any and all circumstances even the most tragic. Take, for example, the meeting in 1865 aboard the River Queen on the James River in Hampton Roads, Virginia, to negotiate the Confederate surrender of the war. In this most solemn moment, as the Confederate delegate Alexander Stephens, a smallish man, removed his very large outer garment described as a mass of wooly material, leave it to Lincoln to pipe up, Have you ever seen such a tiny pea come out of such a large pod? Or his reaction to a second assassination attempt in which both times the would-be killer put a hole through Lincolns hat. Its curious how they always aim at the head when the body makes a much easier target, said Abe. But dont tell anyone! ALL IN THE DETAILS Readers would not be wise to posture Lincoln simply as a class clown, and Kabambay marvels at and describes in detail the great mans storytelling skills, often using an old yarn to mesmerize his audience and get a point across. Unlike the aging relative to which people roll their eyes when a long-winded story appears imminent, Lincolns children were always eager to hear his tales, as was his professional staff, who settled in for a good listen when they sensed one coming. Lincoln was a very religious man, but he recognized that for whatever reasons people always questioned his faith. He breaks into the story about the blind woman who, after sniffing the air, confronts her husband and accuses him of being drunk. The husband, knowing his wife cant see, says he has no idea where the smell is coming from. Relating the tale back to those who doubt him, he claims, There is none so blind as the one who refuses to see! The book sets up the many stories with historical biography, tracking Lincolns life from growing up poor in a log cabin, to scrambling to educate himself, to working in a grocery store, starting his political career, and of course, becoming president at a most turbulent time for the country. REAFFIRMING GREATNESS Kabambay doesnt lose sight of the qualities Lincoln is so well known for: his honesty (walking 3 miles to return six cents to a woman who had overpaid at his store), his intelligence and his shrewdness as a politician. The author says all introductions and backstories in the book are proven historical facts, and the stories are based on anecdotes actually experienced or told by Lincoln. The book is supplemented with amusing illustrations by Chris J. Fredericks. For a different yet fascinating take on the man who was voted Americas best president, read "Laughing with Old Abe: Abraham Lincolns Jokes." In a book geared for all ages from young to adult, youll see how one man, with so much on his shoulders, was able to put his heavy burdens into a lighter context, reaffirming his greatness and showing that just like the rest of us, hes only human. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 At least two brief twisters reportedly touched down as part of a storm system that rolled across northeastern Illinois. WLS-TV reports that one EF-0 tornado snapped tree branches and uprooted some trees as it traveled about two miles on the ground before 5 p.m. Saturday west of Chicago in Oak Brook. The second EF-0 tornado was confirmed about 5:50 p.m. Saturday in Candlewick Lake in northern Boone County, northwest of Chicago. The Oak Brook tornado damaged part of a roof. Peak winds upwards of 75 mph were reported. The National Weather Service says it had a maximum width of about 60 yards. No injuries have been reported from either tornado. Caleb Copley, senior assistant Scott County attorney, plans to run for Scott County Attorney in the 2022 election cycle. The current office-holder, Mike Walton, is retiring at the end of the year. Walton will introduce Copley during a news conference on Wednesday morning that will mark the launch of Copley's campaign, according to a news release. Copley will run as a Democrat. Copley started at the county in 2017 and has since prosecuted high-profile criminal cases, according to the release. Copley left in 2019 and spent two years with the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa prosecuting drug conspiracies and gun cases, and assisted with prosecution of the Low Riders street gang, the news release stated. The supervisors hired him back in late December as the county attorney's office was understaffed and struggling to fill positions. "Copley has returned to Scott County focused on continuing Walton's dedication to justice and crime prevention and to ensure that no one is viewed or treated as being above the law," the release stated. In a letter to supervisors when they considered Copley's hiring, Walton wrote that one of Copley's specialties is firearms prosecution, a role Walton said would be valuable to the office. "I need an attorney who can pick up a file and go to trial 'next Monday' if needed," Walton said. "Caleb fits that description." His resume states he has experience investigating and prosecuting large drug trafficking and weapons use and possession. It also says he has professional relationships with federal, regional and local law enforcement agencies including the FBI, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Quad City MEG, Davenport and Bettendorf Police Departments and the Scott County Sheriff's Office. One other candidate has announced she's running for the office. Muscatine Assistant County Attorney Kelly Cunningham Haan announced in January she'd vie for Scott County attorney as a Republican. Walton has served as the county's attorney since 2007, and was an assistant Scott County attorney for 19 years prior. Walton announced in January 2020 he would retire at the end of his term in December 2022. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BEIRUT, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Tuesday received a complaint letter from Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak about the Houthi militants engaging in hostile activities from inside Lebanese territories. Mubarak said that the Houthis have been broadcasting programs through Al-Masirah and Al-Sahat TV channels from Lebanon without legal licenses, the Lebanese National News Agency reported. The letter has prompted Mawlawi to request security agencies for necessary investigations on the operators of the two channels. The Lebanese minister said it is necessary to take all measures against such practices which "create obstacles facing Lebanon's official efforts to strengthen relations with Arab countries and endanger the sovereignty of those countries." Quad-Cities school districts are issuing warnings about the dangers of fentanyl in vaping devices. The North Scott Community School District advised parents a vaping accessory containing suspected fentanyl was recovered at the districts high school. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration describes as being 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Often combined with other drugs, an overdose can lead to respiratory failure, unresponsiveness and death. Fentanyl achieved mainstream recognition when counterfeit pain pills, laced with the synthetic opioid, killed Prince in 2016. A 'weed cart' was seized The school district said the device, known as a weed cart, was seized by the high school administration Thursday. A field test showed it contained THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, and fentanyl. The device was used but no one overdosed or was hurt by the contents, Joe Stutting, North Scotts superintendent, said on Monday. It was recovered when several students were caught vaping. We will continue to educate our students, work with our families and enforce school policies, Stutting said of the districts next steps. Prior to this situation, we have contracted with a company to install a device in all our bathrooms at the junior high and high school to detect vaping. There has been an increase of vaping in schools and Quad-Cities authorities say they have seen an increase in fentanyl in vaping devices, the parental notification said. The Bettendorf Community School District issued a statement to parents asking them to talk to their children about vaping and its possible risks. Our message comes with an added sense of urgency as a dangerous national trend has been identified here in the Quad-Cities area, the Bettendorf statement reads. Across the country and in our local community, authorities have discovered an increase in the presence of vaping devices that contain ingredients laced with the potentially fatal drug fentanyl. The North Scott release said the weed cart was being tested to confirm the results. Eldridge Police are investigating, Stutting said. As of Monday afternoon, no other vaping materials containing fentanyl have been recovered by the administration. The Bettendorf district did not say if fentanyl has ever been discovered in its district. They did not immediately respond for a request for additional information. Mike Vondran, Davenport Community School District spokesman, said he was not aware of any issues with fentanyl in vaping products in the district. What Local Health Officials Say Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate with very strong pain management ability and has a legitimate medical use, Brian Gustafson, Rock Island County Coroner, said. Its over 100 times more potent than morphine and it kills people when its not administered in a hospital setting, Gustafson said. Gustafson said the coroners office has had a lot of deaths involving fentanyl in general but he has not had a fentanyl-related death where vaping was known to be involved. Dr. Destinee DeLemos, co-medical director of the Genesis Medical Center, Davenport Emergency Department, said that Genesis sees fentanyl overdoses in general as a huge problem, but one that is really hard to confirm, because the drug tests only test for opiates in general. We don't have a straight fentanyl test, DeLemos said. We see multiple opiate overdoses each month, and what we've noticed is that these overdoses now are much more resistant to Narcan, which is why we feel the amount of fentanyl in the community is much higher than previously. What ends up happening is that a patient will come in with a clear opiate overdose, DeLemos continued. Their heart rate is low. They're not breathing, they're unresponsive. We give them the medicine Narcan to try to reverse what looks like an opiate overdose. In the case of heroin or percocet, or hydrocodone overdoses from those types of opiates, you give a dose of Narcan and people generally improve very quickly. But with fentanyl, it takes a much larger dose of Narcan, it takes much longer to reverse the overdose and the patient requires extended monitoring. So when we have to administer large doses of Narcan and see a long length of time to reverse an overdose, it's a dead giveaway that it's probably fentanyl." Asked if any of the overdoses Genesis doctors see are attributable to fentanyl-laced vaping materials, she said theyve been seeing a lot of marijuana laced with fentanyl. The patient will come in saying I was just smoking marijuana, but then has a clear, opiate overdose component, she said. So we suspect that there is quite a bit of marijuana laced with fentanyl." Not many of the fentanyl overdoses treated at Genesis have been juveniles, she said. "It's mostly adults actually, DeLemos said. It's usually people who already are using street drugs. We'll see people who thought they bought just meth or marijuana, and then it's laced with fentanyl." Juveniles, however, do use marijuana a lot, she said. So with the fentanyl-laced marijuana that we're seeing, that definitely puts them at higher risk of an overdose," DeLemos said. Asked if any of those children had been exposed through use of vaping materials, DeLemos said: "There's all kinds of materials they can buy at these vape shops locally that are non-narcotic. But they also can do it with marijuana, and that's where teens can run into trouble if the marijuana contains fentanyl." What the businesses and industry have to say Todd Smith is owner of the Vaporosity Shop, which sells e-cigarettes, the juice that goes in them and other vape-related devices, at two locations in Davenport and one in Rock Island. He said Monday that the appearance of fentanyl in vape pens has so far been specific to marijuana products, not e-cigarettes. Illegal drug dealers, not state-sanctioned dispensaries, are the likely suppliers of fentanyl-laced marijuana cartridges, Smith said. Its likely being made by some guy in his basement, using powder or pill form fentanyl for an extra kick to the THC cartridge, but its killing people, he said. Whoever is lacing marijuana cartridges likely is doing so by creating their own mix of THC and fentanyl and filling empty cartridges they bought online, then packaging them to look like vape pens that are legally purchased at dispensaries, he said. Those under 21 who cant buy legally see the packaging and think its legit, Smith said. You can buy anything on the internet and, with Chicago so close, theres an open pipeline to illegal fentanyl. I dont think kids in high school are adding fentanyl to their weed pens. The dealers are adding it. At the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois, a marijuana trade organization, another theory is that someone is adding fentanyl to synthesized hemp and/or CBD. Called hot hemp or weed light, the products are intoxicating but not regulated, said Pam Althoff, executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of Illinois. Its one of the things the legal cannabis industry is warning people about, she said of the CBD variants. Any type of inhalable product advertised as intoxicating or buzzing, dont buy it. While Smith said he sells one of the very mild intoxicating CBD products at his Rock Island shop, he said he carefully vets his suppliers, and their packaging is tamper-proof. And both Smith and Althoff say they do not think the fentanyl is coming from any legitimate producers of vaping products. Im going to guess 100% theyre buying the empty cartridges online, Althoff said of the source of the fentanyl, which she guessed is used as a filler in THC and/or CBD cartridges. The synthesized hemp is more likely the source than THC from cannabis, she said, because hemp is so much cheaper. It is unlikely coming from street-corner drug dealers, she said, and underage buyers more likely are finding it online. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Anthony Watt Follow Anthony Watt 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 DES MOINES A proposed solution to a shortage of child care workers and openings in Iowa was approved Monday by the Iowa Senate. Workers at child care centers would be allowed to watch more children, potentially creating new child care slot openings, under the proposal from Senate Republicans. Under current law, child care centers can contain up to six 2-year-olds for each worker and up to eight 3-year-olds for each worker. Senate Republicans proposal would increase those ratios, allowing centers to have seven 2-year-olds for each worker and 10 3-year-olds for each worker. The change provides an option for centers to adjust their ratios; it does not require any changes. (The proposal) could not come a moment too soon, as workforce issues continue to challenge Iowans, said Sen. Jeff Edler, R-State Center. I believe in our day care providers and their making decisions around the care of children. We are empowering them to possibly get one more parent to work because they can get one more child. The proposal, Senate File 2268, passed on a party-line vote with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. Democrats warned changing the ratios could place additional stress on child care staff at a time when centers are already facing a shortage of workers. If you think for one minute that this is going to do anything to solve the workforce crisis in Iowa, you are dead wrong. It will only make things worse, said Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque. This is about the safety of children. Why would we ever think about compromising that? You want to solve a workforce crisis, pay (the workers higher wages). Edler said the new ratios would make Iowas similar to those in Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. With its passage in the Senate, the bill is now eligible for consideration by the House, which has considered a similar proposal. TRANSPORTATION PLANS: The Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa Transportation Commission are seeking public input regarding two important long-range transportation plans, the State Transportation Plan and the State Freight Plan. These plans provide a framework to guide future investments in Iowas multimodal transportation system, with the latter focusing on Iowas freight modes. The Iowa DOT will be accepting public comments on the plans through April 7. They can be viewed at www.iowadot.gov/iowainmotion. To provide comments, contact the Iowa DOT, Systems Planning Bureau, 800 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA, 50010, (515)-239-1520 or Iowa.Motion@iowadot.us. ENERGY GRANTS: The Iowa Economic Development Authority is accepting applications for the fourth round of the Iowa Energy Center Grant Program. The grants will support energy-related economic development projects that align with the Iowa Energy Plan. Applications will be accepted through https://iowagrants.gov/index.do until March 22. The program is funded by Iowas gas and electric utilities and is open to Iowa businesses, colleges, universities, and private nonprofit agencies and foundations. The program supports projects that provide a benefit to Iowas residential and commercial customers. Projects also must aid in the implementation of at least one of the seven key focus areas of the Iowa Energy Plan: technology-based research and development, energy workforce development, support for rural and underserved areas, biomass conversion, natural gas expansion in underserved areas, electric grid modernization and alternative fuel vehicles. Grant awards will range from $10,000 to $1 million, however, most grants awarded will be made in the range of $150,000 to $300,000. For additional information, contact Amber at (515)-348-6222 or iecgrants@iowaeda.com or visitiowaeda.com/iowa-energy-office/grants/. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When I was in the Navy, I served in naval intelligence targeted against the former Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War (which is why I learned to speak Russian.) Two things were very clear to those of us involved in that line of work: (1) Russia (the dominant country in the former Soviet Union) understood power relationships, and (2) when threatened, whether the threat was perceived or real, Russia always counter-punched. That continues to be the way that Russia operates. The Cuban missile crisis predates the time that I was on active duty, but it illustrates the point. All of us who were alive at the time (I was a senior in high school in 1962) were terrified by the thought of intermediate range nuclear-tipped Russian ballistic missiles being deployed in Cuba, just 90 miles from U.S. soil, a situation that was intolerable. U.S. President John F. Kennedy exercised superb leadership in opting for a naval quarantine of Cuba, which resulted in the Russian plan to deploy the missiles being canceled. What received little attention at the time was the United States had deployed medium range Jupiter ballistic missiles in Turkey and Italy, missiles that had sufficient range to strike targets in the former Soviet Union. The Soviet decision to deploy missiles in Cuba was a direct response to that perceived threat. As a quid pro quo for the Soviets backing off from deploying missiles in Cuba, President Kennedy quietly ordered that the Jupiter missiles in Turkey and Italy be dismantled (though that was not announced at the time.) The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949 to prevent the Soviet Union from overrunning all of Western Europe. The Soviet Union responded by establishing the Warsaw Pact, an alliance of Soviet bloc countries intended to provide a buffer zone between NATO countries and the Soviet Union itself. When the Soviet Union collapsed of its own weight, Soviet bloc countries asserted their independence, including by dumping communism a brutal economic philosophy that limited prosperity. With the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact along with it, several countries that had been part of the Warsaw Pact joined NATO, among them East Germany (which was unified with NATO member West Germany), Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia.) So also did Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, Baltic countries that had been part of the former Soviet Union. Instead of a buffer zone to the west, Russia then found itself having NATO countries at its doorstep, countries that had been allies but with the demise of the Warsaw Pact jumped ship and joined NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin is a product of the Cold War. He served as a senior officer in the KGB (the Soviet secret police) in East Germany prior to the fall of the Berlin Wall. He is an insecure bully who craves power. Like all bullies, he does not hesitate to beat up other people if it strikes his fancy. Putin's actions in Ukraine will be guided by what he thinks he can get away with. He has no discernible ethical values. (On Monday afternoon, there were reports that he'd ordered troops into two separatist regions of Ukraine.) What will cause him to back off? Like all those motivated by lust for power, he will back off if he concludes that the costs are too great. Remember the Jupiter missiles in Italy and Turkey? Is there a quid pro quo that might factor into a negotiated settlement? There might be. President Biden has ordered additional U.S. troops to go to Poland. Do we really need to have troops in Poland, just a few steps away from Russia? It is not clear that we do. That might be the quid pro quo if there is to be a diplomatic solution to this crisis. Dan Lee, a regular columnist, is the Marian Taft Cannon Professor in the Humanities at Augustana College; danlee@augustana.edu. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dangerously cold temperatures and deadly wind chill will be impacting western South Dakota through the majority of the week, the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Rapid City shows. In southwestern South Dakota and the Black Hills, daytime highs will struggle to get to the single digits through Wednesday. Most locations along the North Dakota border will see daytime high temperatures well below zero for most of the week. Low temperatures will be well below zero across the entire area, with Lemmon, near the North Dakota border, expecting a low of -22 degrees Tuesday night, the weather service said. Lemmon has received at least 10 inches of snow since Sunday. Sustained winds and gusts will drive wind chill values down anywhere between -25 degrees to -40 degrees across the western half of the state through Wednesday morning, the weather service said. Through noon on Tuesday, the weather service said anywhere between 1-6 inches of additional snow accumulation is expected across the western half of the state, with the majority of new snowfall along and south of the Interstate 90 corridor. That updated forecast has road crews in Rapid City on alert. Dale Pfeifle, Rapid City's street supervisor, said crews will overlap coverage early Tuesday morning to treat city streets. "Expect the possibility of some drifting with the combination of the light snow and gusting winds. Drive the road conditions and allow additional time to reach your destinations safely," Pfeifle said Monday. "Night crews will continue efforts until 5:30 a.m. with day crews resuming their work at 4 a.m. to overlap efforts with the night crews." Darrell Shoemaker, the city's communication coordinator, said all city crews from streets, to public works, to public safety work together to monitor the extreme cold and to be prepared for emergencies. "Crews are out throughout the entire event, whether its minor or major," Shoemaker said. "There are some things they can do, overlapping day and night shifts if we get a lot of precipitation, although thats not forecast in this event." Once the storm passes, Shoemaker reminded property owners to clear away snow and ice from sidewalks. "After a snow event, get out and get snow and ice removed from sidewalks and so forth because the obligation is on the homeowner to get that removed," he said. "They have a window to get it done." Shoemaker echoed Pfeifle's warning to motorists about deteriorating conditions. "The conditions can change very quickly, especially with cold temperatures," Shoemaker said. "Conditions can change and there can be black ice situations, ice develops underneath snow buildup, there could be some drifting issues as wind continues today and into tonight and tomorrow." Across the area, other municipalities are declaring snow removal emergencies. Summerset is requiring all parked vehicles to be removed from city streets through at least 9 a.m. Tuesday. According to the city's social media page, Summerset officials may tow or ticket any vehicle left on the street. This week's arctic blast could have Rapid City facing near record-breaking low temperatures. According to the National Weather Service, the record low in downtown Rapid City is -15 for Tuesday and -16 for Wednesday. At Rapid City Regional Airport, the record low is -10 for Tuesday and -14 for Wednesday. The weather service's forecast for Rapid City calls for low temperatures to vary Tuesday and Wednesday from -10 degrees to -13 degrees, getting close to those records. The all-time record low temperature in downtown Rapid City is -34 degrees, set on Feb. 11, 1899. Rapid City Regional Airport's all-time record low is -31 degrees, set on Feb. 2, 1996. Contact Nathan Thompson at nathan.thompson@rapidcityjournal.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On bitterly cold days like Monday, Cornerstone Rescue Mission is a haven for anyone who needs shelter, a hot meal and hope. In cold weather, we squeeze them in as best we can, said Lysa Allison, Cornerstones executive director for nearly seven years. We put coffee on. Were having the dining room open all day so if people want to hang out, we just have extra coffee and extra snacks. We just dont want anybody to be freezing. Feeding and sheltering people in crisis has been Cornerstones goal since it started in 1982. On April 29, Cornerstone will mark its 40th anniversary. Cornerstone Rescue Missions headquarters in downtown Rapid City offers shelter for men and when necessary, the basement is used as an overflow shelter for women and children. The mens shelter has 106 beds, Allison said. The womens and childrens shelter, in a separate building, has 68 beds. Cornerstone Rescue Mission is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Sobriety is a requirement to stay in the missions facilities, although in extreme weather, Allison said providing people with shelter becomes the priority. On a daily basis, we have about 150 people (in the downtown shelter), she said. We have 50, sometimes up to 90 people sleeping on the floor. We dont like to do that for safety reasons, but we would much rather have them be in the building than having less people and putting people out in the elements. We dont get picky. We dont have an application process, Allison said. If you walk in the door and need help, well help you. On a typical day, Cornerstone Rescue Mission serves about 400 meals. The mission provides breakfast, lunch and dinner to those staying at the mission. Lunch and dinner are open to the public as well, Allison said. Cornerstone Rescue Missions services include the mens shelter and dining area where three meals are served, a womens and childrens shelter, apartments, and a thrift store and a foundation to help fund the missions work. Weve always worked with homeless veterans and people who are on parole, but now weve been able to expand so we have very specific programs for veterans and (parolees) from the penitentiary. Thats pretty exciting for us that we can tailor programs to meet their needs, Allison said. The women's and childrens shelter aids the fastest-growing demographic in the homeless population single mothers and their children. The shortage of affordable housing and increasing poverty contribute to rising rates of homeless mothers and children, according to Cornerstones website. We do take some domestic violence victims. We take in victims of human trafficking, and people who (because of) medical bills cant afford rent, or people who cant find a job thats at the mens shelter, too, Allison said. Need increasing Allison foresees the need for Cornerstone increasing as growth continues in the Black Hills. Affordable housing is critically lacking in Rapid City, she said. Any time you add more population base, youll end up having more homeless people. Thats part of growth. We have seen an increase of homeless people over the last couple of years. Part of it is because were a community that has more services. We are the only homeless shelter in West River thats funded year-round. Were it. Were the homeless shelter for people and we do what we can to meet peoples needs, she said. Currently, grant funds allow Cornerstone to help with some housing needs for veterans and civilians. The grant money goes back into the community because its used for security deposits, rent for landlords and utility bills. We work in all 66 counties in South Dakota paying for homeless veterans not to be evicted. They might have had medical issues or lost their job and they cant pay rent, Allison said. We also have grants and can do that for civilians, too. Cornerstone also can use grant funds to help shelter guests move into apartments. We have wonderful relationships with landlords and when we move people, we keep in touch to be sure everythings OK. We keep in touch with landlords so if theres issues, we can meet them head-on," she said. People who move into Cornerstones 24-unit apartment building get housing and some support services. The two- and three-bedroom apartments are for eligible low-income families, veterans or anyone with a disability. You get case management. You attend classes and things like that, Allison said. Its a nice program. Its a crime-free, drug-free, alcohol-free complex. Although more apartments and housing are being built and planned, what Rapid City lacks is housing that people with lower incomes can afford. Theres a lot of professional people that cant really afford (housing) and as the community continues to grow, its going to be a bigger issue. Not everybody is going to be able to afford a $250,000 home, she said. Revisiting housing options from the past could be a solution for the future. Back in the day, YMCA would rent rooms to single people. Thats what we really need. So many who are homeless may also get some disability but theyre not going to be able to afford an apartment or anything like that, Allison said. I think private space is real important for people, especially as they move out of a shelter where there is no private space. Conglomerate housing is what were lacking. One couples vision All the missions services have evolved out of one Rapid City couples desire to care for homeless people. Our history is just wonderful, Allison said. There was a young couple, Dave and Cheryl Adams, and they noticed hungry people so they invited them into their home. Cornerstone started as a soup kitchen and thats a cornerstone of who we are, and thats why we love to give free meals. The couple realized the people they were feeding lacked a place to sleep and began sheltering homeless men in their house. I really applaud Dave and Cheryl for getting this started, Allison said. The couple later opened a shelter location in a house at the corner of 12th and St. Joseph Streets. As homelessness became more prevalent, the city council and police chief recognized a need for a homeless shelter in Rapid City, Allison said. The city gifted the former city hall building at 30 Main Street to become a community care center with space for four agencies Feeding South Dakota, Salvation Army, Church Response and Cornerstone Rescue Mission. Feeding South Dakota and Salvation Army eventually moved into their own locations. Cornerstone Rescue Mission and Church Response are still in the downtown building. With the help of $20,000 in seed money from John T. Vucurevich, Cornerstone was able to do some remodeling and reconstruction, such as installing showers, to turn the building into a shelter, Allison said. A constant fire drill Allison laughs as she recalls someone who described the mission and her job as a constant fire drill. We operate in total chaos and we never know whats going to happen, she said. What keeps us going is we get to serve God and we really, truly are the feet washers there in the trenches loving people that others dont want to work with. We get to see a lot of really cool people who are down on their luck and going through horrendous times. We get to be there to build them up, to love on them and help them move forward. Little moments all day long tug at your heart. Some people have such horrendous stories, and theyre so resilient. Theyre so strong and they have the best senses of humor, Allison said. That keeps us going. Allison said Cornerstones biggest need right now is staff. When youre open 24-7, 365 days a year, staffing needs magnify. Were doing everything we can to keep staff and get staff. Were hoping more people are going to be entering the workforce, she said. Community support The communitys ongoing support of the missions work is essential, Allison said, and the mission operates largely on private donations. Cornerstone Rescue Mission is a nonprofit organization and Allison is proud that its earned a four-star rating the highest possible from Charity Navigator. The missions rating reflects its fiscal transparency and fiscal management. For every dollar that comes in, Allison said 5% is used for staff and fundraising, she said, while 95% is used for serving people in need. We have such a generous community overall, Allison said. We exist because the community cares. Weve got a whole community behind us that are with us in good times and bad times. We need people praying for us and loving on us as a staff to encourage us to keep going. The communitys financial support is vital. So are donations of furniture, housewares, clothing, books and miscellany to Cornerstone Thrift Store. If you clean out your closets and clean out your garages, even if you think something wont sell, it will. Im constantly amazed at what comes through the doors of the thrift store, Allison said. Its all needed and its all necessary. Everything that comes through the door we find a good use for. Proceeds from the thrift store supports the womens and childrens shelter. When women and children move out of the shelter, Cornerstone provides as many housewares as they can, such as sheets, towels, shower curtains, pots and pans, and other basic household goods. Gently used stuff is great. Were always looking for couches and chairs and dinette sets to help people move forward, Allison said. Cornerstone also welcomes canned and boxed foods that can be given to families in need. Volunteers vital Volunteers make it possible for Cornerstone to feed hundreds of people each day. Volunteering just an hour a month makes a difference. Were always looking for volunteers and were so grateful, Allison said. We cook all the breakfasts but our weekend lunches and evening meals are done by church or service groups. Through the pandemic, we lost a few groups. If anyone would like to come in and cook a meal, they can. Its a great feel-good experience. If somebody wants to give an encouraging word or blessing, they can. Lunchtime volunteers can serve meals but dont have to cook. Lunchtime volunteering is a good opportunity for families, as well as service organizations and church groups. Youre there for an hour. You put on an apron and hairnet and work together and serve the meal and go home, Allison said. Thats a nice way to introduce yourself to the mission and the homeless. For more information about volunteering, contact Deb Berg at dberg@cornerstonemission.org. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The U.S. Attorney's Office has agreed to dismiss a civil action it brought against a Rapid City man who defrauded the federal government out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. In exchange for the dismissal, Robert Rodney Bland will pay the government $26,650 in installments ending Dec. 30, 2025. Should Bland miss a payment, the agreement could be void, leaving Bland exposed to pay more. Through his business, Motive Magic Mobile Windshield Repair, Bland was accused of submitting bogus invoices to the General Services Administration for windshield repairs he claimed he made on government vehicles. The GSA owns a fleet of vehicles that are leased to government agencies, including the U.S. Air Force. Bland would invoice GSA directly, often without the knowledge of the agency that had leased the vehicle from GSA. Bland would charge $25 for each repair and would often bill multiple chips for a single windshield, the government contended. The activity lasted for years until 2018. In 2017, GSA became suspicious and performed a review. It found that Motive Magic had the second highest number of windshield claims in the country. That was unusual, the government noted, because GSA did not have a large concentration of vehicles in the Rapid City area. The GSA audited 456 claims that Motive Magic had received payment for and determined that only 22 had been performed. Bland, 54, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and one count of theft of government property and was sentenced to prison. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, he was released on Sept. 1. The civil action was brought under the False Claims Act. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Gallatin County animal has tested positive for brucellosis, a disease that causes cows to miscarry and poses health challenges to Montana's beef economy. State Veterinarian Marty Zaluski on Tuesday said the animal tested positive in January during routine herd testing. The state does not identify whether the animal was a domestic bison or bovine to preserve the privacy of the ranch. The ranch herd has been quarantined. The animal that tested positive has been killed. What I can tell you is, since 2016 weve had three cattle and two bison, test positive, Zaluski said. The last time Gallatin County had a positive brucellosis test was 2016, the veterinarian said. The current animal likely had some wildlife exposure, possibly with elk afterbirth. Gallatin County is part of Montanas Designated Surveillance Area, a multi-county region where brucellosis is tightly monitored and isolated instances are tolerated. The surveillance counties are located near Yellowstone National Park where brucellosis is present in wildlife and untreatable. Almost all of Montana's calves are shipped out of state to be fattened and slaughtered. The Greater Yellowstone Region is the nation's last known source of brucellosis, a livestock disease, once problematic for dairy operations, that spread to wildlife. In addition to causing cows to miscarry, the disease can create undulant fever in humans. States receiving Yellowstone-area cattle previously objected to accepting the animals without vaccinations and clean bills of health, which are now standard. In the last state fiscal year, more than 94,000 brucellosis tests were done on Montana livestock, mostly in the surveillance area, where there are 445 herds totaling about 120,000 animals, according to the Montana Department of Livestock. The annual cost of the testing is $973,000. Prior to the creation of the DSA, Montana cattle were vulnerable to bans on shipment out of state related to brucellosis. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In a blow to public access advocates that has drawn national attention, a federal court judge has recommended ruling in favor of the Custer Gallatin National Forest and private landowners on the west side of the Crazy Mountains in a long-running dispute over four historic trails. On Friday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan issued a 28-page finding granting the two defendants cross motion for summary judgment. The groups have 14 days to file an objection. Then it is up to U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters to make the final ruling. If Watters upholds Cavans decision it would halt an attempt to force the Forest Service to defend historic trail access rights for the public across private lands. The lawsuit was filed by the Friends of the Crazy Mountains, Enhancing Montana's Wildlife & Habitat, the Skyline Sportsmen Association and Montana Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. "This is not the end Judge Cavans recommendations are only one step in the whole process," said John B. Sullivan III, chairman of the Montana chapter. "We are currently evaluating his recommendations and look forward to submitting our reply for Judge Watters' review." History The case dates back to 2019 when the groups asked a judge to halt the Forest Service from moving ahead with rerouting the Lowline Porcupine Trail on the west side of the mountains. A judge ruled against the injunction, and this past fall the new trail was completed and opened to the public. The trail moved about five miles from private land onto mostly federal land between the forests Porcupine and Ibex rental cabins. In addition, an easement was signed for crossing a portion of the private property. When the first attempt to halt the project failed, the groups amended their complaint and argued that the Forest Service violated three federal acts by not analyzing the environmental impacts of the trail reroute and by not complying with the 2006 Travel Plan for the forest. The groups also asserted the Custer Gallatin had failed to protect public use on two historic east side trails in the Crazies Sweet Grass Trail (No. 122); and East Trunk Trail (No. 136, formerly No. 115), as well as Elk Creek Trail (No. 195) on the west side. The court was asked to vacate the Porcupine-Ibex project, and void the easement agreement the Forest Service had negotiated. The M Hanging Lazy 3 Ranch and Henry Guth joined on the side of the Forest Service to defend the trail reroute. The conservation groups also asked the judge to require the federal agency to restore, repair, reinstall, and manage the trails for public use. In his findings, Cavan wrote that he was required to determine whether the Forest Services actions were arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law. He noted the arbitrary and capricious standard is narrow, and the court may not substitute its judgment for that of the agency. He was therefore required to decide whether the Forest Service had considered the relevant factors or made a clear error of judgment. Conflict Important to public access advocates was the Forest Services decision not to fight to maintain public access along the historic trails where they cross private land. In 2002, landowners signed and blocked the trails on the west side. Correspondence entered into the court filings show the agencys own local officials challenging the landowners blockage of the trails at the time, as the agency had for decades. Then there was a policy shift by the Forest Service, highlighted by the reassignment of the Livingston District ranger in 2017 following a dispute over the east side trails. The Montana Farm Bureau Federation and nine Sweet Grass County landowners lobbied Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and then-Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to investigate the ranger for instigating conflict and encouraging criminal actions. They based their claims on an email the ranger sent to his employees, consistent with past forest actions, that was posted on an access groups Facebook page without his knowledge. Easements To establish a prescriptive easement under Montana law, the Forest Service would have been required to show, by clear and convincing evidence, that use of the trails were open, notorious, exclusive, adverse, continuous and uninterrupted for the complete statutory period of five years, Cavan wrote. In addition, because the Landowners disputed and blocked public access for many years, the Forest Service would have also been required to show that any prescriptive easement had not been extinguished by reverse adverse possession. In Montana, a prescriptive easement is extinguished by acts that evidence a distinct and positive assertion of a hostile right to the publics claimed prescriptive easement, such as through locked gates and no trespassing signs, for the statutory period of five years. The access groups argued that, like the Wonder Ranch case in the Madison Range near Ennis, the Forest Service and public had used the trails for so long that a prescriptive easement across the private land was long established. However, on that trail the Forest Service had filed an easement interest with the county. The case certainly does not stand for the proposition that a mere claim, or belief, that an easement exists equates to a legally valid interest, Cavan wrote. Analysis On the issue of not analyzing the environmental impacts of the Porcupine-Ibex Trails reroute, Cavan said the Forest Service did an adequate job in its 2009 environmental assessment. He said the groups did not point to any environmental issue raised during scoping and public comment that was not addressed by the Forest Service. The checkerboard land ownership in the Crazy Mountains is unique, dating back to when the Northern Pacific Railroad was deeded more than 50,000 acres by the federal government when the rail line was built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The access groups argued those deeds guaranteed a public easement where trails and roads existed. Judge Cavan wrote the groups failed to establish that these deeds are connected to any parcel of land at issue in this matter. In response to claims that the Forest Service had violated the National Forest Management Act by not protecting the publics existing access rights as directed by the 2006 Travel Plan, Cavan wrote the plan only applies to federal lands. Since the Forest Service didnt attempt to seek an easement interest by prescription, and instead negotiated, the agency therefore had no legally valid interest in the trail where it crosses private property. Lastly, Cavan ruled against the groups' attempt to compel the Forest Service to defend public access to the historic East Trunk and Sweet Grass trails on the east side of the Crazy Mountains. Citing previous rulings, the judge said courts are confined to 'situations where an agency has ignored a specific legislative command. Again, the fatal flaw to Plaintiffs argument is that there are no existing established rights for the Forest Service to protect, Cavan wrote. The Forest Service did not establish a valid legal interest in its potential easement interests. Hence, the Forest Service has not established that public use of the portions of trail crossing private property was a proper and lawful purpose. Cavan noted the Forest Service has discretion as to how it will accomplish the policy objective and the courts are not to interfere in abstract policy disagreements. Sullivan, of the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, said regardless of the court's decision his group will continue to fight for public access and will urge agencies to protect access. New access The Custer Gallatin National Forest is currently reviewing a proposal by east side landowners to negotiate a new trail easement from Big Timber Canyon to Sweet Grass Canyon that would provide public access. The proposal, submitted to the agency in July, would swap 4,114 acres of Custer Gallatin National Forest inholdings for 5,763 acres of private land. The landowner group has also proposed building, at its own expense, a new 22-mile trail to create a public route from Big Timber Creek to Sweet Grass Creek. The trail would tie into existing forest trails to create a 40-mile loop. Only one public access point exists on the southeast side of the Crazies, which is at Big Timber Creek. An old Forest Service trail up Sweet Grass Creek, to the north, is contested by the landowners Caroccia Ranch Limited Partnership. If the proposal passes muster, it would then go through a technical review called a feasibility analysis, which would take several months to complete. Also last year, the Forest Service finalized a land exchange in the southern Crazy Mountains. Two Rock Creek Ranch sections of land were acquired along a proposed new route for the Cottonwood Lowline Trail No. 272. In exchange, the forest is giving up a forested mountainside above Rock Creek and an isolated parcel along Duck Creek. The Wild Eagle Ranch acquired an isolated Forest Service section in exchange for its 640 acres east and north of the parcels that the Forest Service is exchanging to the Rock Creek Ranch. Senate attention Emphasizing the national attention the access issue has raised, in a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing earlier this month, Sen. Martin Henrich, D-New Mexico, specifically mentioned the Crazy Mountains in comments. He said to Forest Service Chief Christopher French that he continue[s] to be concerned with what I think are inconsistencies in the Forest Services approach to public access. Heinrich cited a 2015 letter by Custer Gallatin National Forest Supervisor Mary Erickson that the agency held unperfected prescriptive easement rights up Sweet Grass Creek based on a history of maintenance with public funds and administrative use. But in current litigation, the Forest Service and Department of Justice is now saying there is not a prescriptive easement. These decisions affect access in every state in the nation, the senator said. Why is the Forest Service and DOJ changing its position on public rights of access on that trail in particular, and what does that mean for trails everywhere in the U.S.? French responded it is the Forest Services intent to defend access in all the places we can. However, in the case of the Sweet Grass trail he said the Forest Service was unable to defend its easement citing state law and based on the action of the landowners. Its very complicated, French said. I know this is a concern of yours. It is not a broad policy. We handle these things on a site by site approach. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 As a boy in Cameroon, Emile Nkwagoh never dreamed he would become an information technology professional at a leading aerospace company. In fact, he didnt even use a computer until he was 13 years old. I liked the fact that I could use a computer to do research, he said of that exciting first experience. I wanted to continue to learn because I wanted to challenge myself. But there was one problem: He didnt have a computer at home or a computer department at his school. Nkwagoh kept his interest alive nonetheless. And when he moved to Denver in 2015, it didnt take him long to jump back into the field. After graduating from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Early College in northeast Denver, he chose to study Computer Information Systems at Metropolitan State University of Denver. I knew I needed to work extra-hard to keep up with my classmates because I had no real background in computers, he said. I think starting college with that mindset put me in a position of advantage in understanding computers faster than I expected. The hard work paid off. During his senior year at MSU Denver, Nkwagoh landed an internship at Sierra Space, a top aerospace firm in Louisville. He did so well there that the company hired him full-time last year. Today, the 2020 graduate is a Tier Two IT support technician who is studying for IT certifications and continuing to learn about information system security, databases, networking and system analysis and design. RELATED: Cyber superheroes prepare for battle Nkwagoh credited MSU Denver for providing him with the foundation he needed to succeed in the IT field. The University helped him put theory into practice, he said, and taught him everyday skills such as teamwork, agility and communication. He said he hopes to someday get his masters degree at MSU Denver. His best career advice for students is simple: Do what youre passionate about, network with people who are doing what you want to do, and most importantly, take advantage of internship opportunities as soon as you can. Sure, it might have seemed a little crazy for Rob Long to be planning a new restaurant in the old Cafe Caturra space at Libbie & Grove when he was struggling to keep River City Roll afloat mid-pandemic, but he just couldnt let the opportunity slip by. Investment banker turned restaurateur, Long spent a few years in Texas and loved all the morning options for breakfast tacos and coffee. Flash forward to a 2019 10-day trip to Mexico to pick up a barrel of Herradura tequila where he had the opportunity to visit some off-the-beaten path restaurants and a family trip where he visited a few Tex-Mex breakfast-only and dinner-only concepts, and he began to wonder why no one combined these influences into a breakfast, lunch and dinner Latin-American-inspired restaurant. Many months of work and waiting later, Cocodrilo is gearing up for a March 8 opening and co-owners and executive chefs Brandon MacConnell and Brad Slemaker cant be more ready. Its only been about 10 months, MacConnell says sarcastically. Like most anyone trying to complete a project these days, the Cocodrilo team was hit with delays from shipping, construction, worker availability and staffing. But with the kitchen finished and final touches taking place in the dining room, theyre starting staff training this week. Cocodrilo is Spanish for Crocodile and not only does it reflect the restaurants style, but its also a nod to Lemaire (and the famous alligators that lived there) where Slemaker, MacConnell and general manager Tara Schleinkofer all met. Slemaker is also currently the chef at River City Roll where he oversees elevated spins on traditional bar staples. He and Long have been looking for an opportunity to let him unleash more of those Lemaire skills in a higher end restaurant. We cant get away from the bowling alley reputation there, Long says. People dont even order some of his best dishes. In this new concept, Slemaker and MacConnell are letting their inspiration run wild. The Cafe Caturra interior has been totally revamped into a sleek 89-seat dining room where diners have full view of the state-of-the art stainless steel kitchen. Youll be able to see your food being made without having to pay a bunch of money for a chefs table experience, Long says. The centerpiece of that kitchen is an open-fire grill and oven that was purchased from Prime 109, a restaurant in Charlottesville that closed during the pandemic. Its literally in the center of the restaurant with the layout built around it. Its also the centerpiece of the menu. Were trying to incorporate something from it into every dish and even in some of the cocktails, says Slemaker. The name may be Spanish, but as MacConnell puts it: Were not a lets go get Mexican! kind of place the food will be Latin American-inspired, but we are not holding ourselves to any tradition or country. We are trying to do some unfamiliar things. The menu is in its final stages of development and while I was sworn to secrecy as the chefs finalize the plan, I can say there will be a range of small plates for sharing alongside entrees and tacos. One sneak peek: Slemaker is working on perfecting gnocchi made with heirloom masa. We want to provide an elevated dining experience in a casual, comfortable way, Long says. You can come in on Tuesday and get a taco and beer and spend $16, then come back on Saturday for date night and spend $80 with a chipotle ribeye and other high-end dishes. Murals by Nils Westergard, colorful tile along the big bar, and a signature orange with pops of yellow, blue and orange offset clean whites and natural tones to complete the dining room. The 25-seat front patio is ready to roll and come spring theyll be adding a 55-seat courtyard patio in the back. That puts the full capacity around 175 guests with lots of configurations for private events. Schleinkofer is also overseeing the beverage program, which will include two frozen drinksone will likely always be a changing margarita, two draft cocktails, six rotating local beers and a selection of Latin American wines by the glass alongside a larger bottle list. At first the restaurant will open for dinner only, but after a few months look for breakfast and lunch hours. Youll be able to come in and grab breakfast or lunch in a quick 10 minutes with a focus on to-go packaging that maintains quality: The breakfast tacos to-go will be just as good as they are in the restaurant, Long says. Theres also a full coffee and espresso program in the works, also for enjoying in-house or to-go in signature orange cups sporting the Cocodrilo logo. BAGHDAD, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's parliament will hold a session to elect a new president at the end of the next week, the parliament speaker said on Tuesday. Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi held a meeting with his two deputies and heads of parliamentary blocs earlier in the day, in a bid to hold a session to elect the president at the end of the upcoming week, without specifying the exact date, said a statement by the media office of the Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament). The parliament will soon announce the names of the candidates for the presidency, the statement said. On Feb. 7, the parliament failed to hold a session to vote on a new president due to disputes among parliamentary political blocs. One day later, the parliament decided to reopen the nomination for the post of president for three days. Prince George police say a 5-year-old girl died Monday after she was ejected from a UTV. Police spokesperson Alexis Grochmal said the child was the passenger of a Polaris Ranger; the driver was one of her relatives. Officers responded to the crash at a residence near the 10700 block of Hines Road around 5:40 p.m. During the initial investigation, officials learned the individual driving the UTV was traveling on the residences driveway when the vehicle veered to the left side, hitting a ditch line. The child was ejected from the vehicle. Police say the girl was unresponsive when they arrived on scene and confirmed she was taken to a local hospital where she died of her injuries. Grochmal said police will not be releasing the identity of the individual who was driving the UTV nor the name of the victim at this time. This incident is still under investigation. A budget proposal from House Republicans is seeking to slash $2.7 million in proposed funding for the Virginia Department of Elections to pay for a voter education campaign seeking to dispel misinformation about the integrity of the states elections. Following baseless claims from Republicans that the 2020 election was rife with fraud, the department last year launched an education campaign to inform voters about how the states elections are conducted, to refute false information and answer common questions about the voting process. Meantime Tuesday, a Democrat-controlled Senate panel shut down a slew of election bills that had passed the GOP-controlled House, including measures to restore the photo ID requirement for voting and to cut the absentee voting window to two weeks. The voter education campaign included TV, radio and newspaper ads, social media posts, and a website titled mythbusters. Then-Gov. Ralph Northams funding request would have paid for those efforts to continue. The Democratic-controlled Senate opted to maintain the funding in its budget proposal, setting up a clash between the two chambers as they reconcile their budgets. Outgoing Virginia Elections Commissioner Chris Piper said the move by House Republicans is disappointing, and urged the legislature to continue funding the work as election misinformation continues to be prevalent. Del. Cliff Hayes, D-Chesapeake, who sits on the subcommittee that proposed slashing the funding request, also opposed the move. The House GOP caucus, and House Appropriations subcommittee chair Del. Rob Bloxom, R-Accomack, did not respond to a request for comment. The lead-up to Virginias 2021 election for governor featured speculation of fraud by some Republicans months after misinformation about the 2020 election led to the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. During a GOP rally to drum up support for Gov. Glenn Youngkin and other Republicans running for office, former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that his 10-point loss in Virginia to Democrat Joe Biden could only be the product of fraud. Trump also told Republicans to be wary of the result if Youngkin did not win. Youngkin waffled on the integrity of the 2020 presidential election during his run for office, though eventually conceded that Biden was legitimately elected. Youngkin also made election integrity his first, and for a while, only policy proposal during his bid for the GOP nomination. In his first debate with Democrat Terry McAuliffe last September, Youngkin did say: I do not believe theres been significant fraud in Virginia elections, and he said he did not think Democrats would cheat, predicting that were going to have a clean, fair election and I fully expect to win. But the topic came into the spotlight again last month when Youngkin suddenly announced he intended to replace Virginias elections commissioner in an interview with conservative radio host John Fredericks. Asked by Fredericks what Youngkin intended to do around election integrity, Youngkin said he would replace the Northam appointee, Chris Piper, by summer, arguing that the departments leadership should be looking out for the integrity of the election process and not trying to be political. Piper in comments to the Richmond Times-Dispatch defended the departments voter education campaign, describing it as an effort to restore confidence in the voting process. One of the claims on the departments myth vs fact page reads: Thousands of ballots were destroyed after the 2020 General Election. The department then goes on to explain that all election ballots are stored, and that the process used to do that would make it obvious if any were missing. It is disappointing that the same House which spent the last few weeks passing bills purportedly aimed at increasing voter confidence in our elections did not see fit to appropriate a modest amount to actually educate Virginias voters on how our elections are safely and securely administered, Piper said. Virginia ran a successful campaign last year, but more work needs to be done to counter the mis/disinformation that is so prevalent right now. It is vital that the department is able to build on the strong foundation we laid in 2021. *** GOP patrons described many of the bills that were before the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee on Tuesday as necessary to protect election integrity, while Democrats have accused the GOP of trying to restrict peoples access to the ballot box. The committee killed bills to require a photo ID to vote, to do away with drop boxes for absentee ballots, to do away with same-day voter registration, to cut the states 45-day window for early voting to 14 days and to require that absentee ballots be returned to registrars by Election Day in order to count. Payments Network Malaysia (PayNet) has launched a three-month Fintech ePayment Accelerator Programme, which seeks to support fintech companies that are interested in advancing the adoption of e-payments within the country. According to a statement by PayNet, the programme will require applicants to pitch ideas and solutions that focus on the three following matters, namely: Adoption of e-payments : Encourage the conversion of the unbanked and underbanked population towards e-payments, such as internet and mobile banking. : Encourage the conversion of the unbanked and underbanked population towards e-payments, such as internet and mobile banking. Improvement of existing products : Enhance existing PayNet retail products so that they accommodate previously uncatered needs of certain consumers, or are made more effective for future use. : Enhance existing PayNet retail products so that they accommodate previously uncatered needs of certain consumers, or are made more effective for future use. Introduction of new business solutions: Explore new business solutions or new use cases of existing products in a bid to expand into new market segments and offer a more inclusive financial ecosystem. Fintech companies that are successful in their enrolment into the programme will be awarded a grant of up to RM500,000 to support the execution of their ideas. Theyll also have the opportunity to work with PayNets extensive ecosystem of banks, e-wallets, and third-party acquirers. Application for the programme is open from now until 30 April 2022, and interested parties can submit their proposals online via the official Fintech ePayment Accelerator Programme website. Submissions should consist of a pitch deck or a video presentation addressing the problem statement and include an introduction of the team, PayNet said, adding that each participant can submit more than one proposal. Moreover, PayNet stated that shortlisted applicants will advance to a pitching session in June 2022, where they must then convince a panel of judges to allow them to progress to the proof-of-concept (POC) stage. The chief executive officer of PayNet, Peter Schiesser commented that this programme is both timely and relevant in its launch as Malaysia strives to transition towards a digital economy. I urge potential fintechs to seize this opportunity to showcase their solutions and participate in expanding the countrys digital ecosystem and advancing financial inclusion, he said. (Sources: The Star, PayNet) 0 0 votes Article Rating SHARE This is one of those subjects Ive hesitated to write about for a long time. It exists at the intersection of three societal hot buttons sexual orientation, gender-based discrimination and marijuana. Usually, any one of those is ripe enough for exploration. Merge all three together and hooey! it rachets the controversy by an order of magnitude. Unfortunately, it also sets the stage for wild misinformation that could easily be spun out of control. Weve already seen examples of that, during the governors race last fall in Northern Virginia. The topic is transgender marijuana. Thats a real thing as opposed to transgender rape in Virginia schools. Last fall, much of Northern Virginia worked itself into a tizzy over the latter, when a sexual assault in girls bathroom got spun into something it wasnt. But transgender weed actually exists. You can see it, touch it, smell it. You can roll it into a joint and smoke it, or vape it, or bake it in brownies and eat it. And much of the weed out there right now qualifies as transgender. Possession (by adults) in small amounts is legal in Virginia. Its also available at dispensaries to people who have a medical marijuana prescription. State lawmakers in Richmond are considering legalizing retail sales of it (along with non-transgender weed), a process they began last year. But those efforts have reportedly slowed in the General Assembly. Could that be because Virginia lawmakers are slowly learning about transgender weed? Its hard to say. My go-to-lawmaker on any oddball subject like this is Del. Chris Head, R-Botetourt, because he has a pretty good sense of humor. As an added bonus, he claims to know almost nothing about marijuana. The last time we chatted about the devils lettuce, Head said he might try a THC-infused gummy one day, if recreational sales are ever legalized. But Heads obviously in no hurry, because he voted against legalizing possession of recreational pot last year. Weed is something that I am so naive about, but I get more and more educated every session, Head said, in between some chuckles. The notion of transgender weed had never even occurred to him, he added. So I basically gave him the rundown below. To understand it fully, we need to go back about 50 years, to when I was 13. In those days, a quarter-ounce of black market marijuana cost about $5. For that you got a sandwich baggie that was somewhat less than an inch deep with low-potency weed. Roughly half the weight was seeds, which are totally useless for marijuanas intended purpose. So before you consumed the stuff, you had to clean out the seeds with a shoe box lid or a double-record album cover. That was a down-low social skill in the 1970s, akin to rolling a righteous doobie. The potency was weak because the marijuana of that day was heterosexual weed. It consisted of dried up female flowers that had been fertilized by pollen from male marijuana plants. The fertilization is what produced the seeds, and the seeds are what made it weak. Sometime around the mid- to late 1970s, certain pot cultivators realized their yields would be higher and their weed would be far more potent if they could keep the female plants virgins, and eliminate male plants from the cultivation equation altogether. That involved identifying all the males early in the growing process and killing them as quickly as possible before they produced any pollen. In other words, the cultivators were forced to commit horticultural gendercide. And that left all the remaining female plants, as they grew and matured, in a constant state of botanical sexual arousal. In that condition, their flowers pump out sticky resin to which male pollen could attach, while the growers make sure fertilization never happens. The sticky resins are full of THC and terpenes, the psychoactive ingredients in weed. The result was powerful weed that commanded higher prices. It was also more convenient because nobody had to remove seeds. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the stuff was called sinsemilla, which is derived from a Spanish term. Sinsemilla was coveted and valued by pot connoisseurs. And as a result, over decades the market for weed fundamentally changed. Nowadays most if not all marijuana is seedless, and its far more powerful than the old and seedy heterosexual stuff. That just led to another problem, however. Because growers found that identifying and destroying every male plant in a crop was an enormous pain in the keister. The gendercide process has to be flawless, because a single male plant can easily fertilize scores of female plants and ruin the whole endeavor. Then sometime in the 1990s, cultivators came up with a genius hack. They began treating some fertilized female plants with chemicals namely colloidal silver dissolved in water. And that proved revolutionary for seedless pot. Normally a fertilized female plant would produce roughly equal numbers of indistinguishable male and female seeds. But pot seeds from plants treated with colloidal silver in water produce only female seeds. I reckon you could call it a chemically induced sex-change before the plant begins growing. Hence feminized seeds, which produce transgender marijuana without growers having to go through the rigmarole of identifying each plant by its gender. Today, transgender weed accounts for at least half, if not more, of the pot in Virginia. The feminized seeds sell for between $5 and $10 per seed depending on the quantity purchased. You can buy them over the internet. However, state lawmakers dont seem aware of any of the above, at least not yet. We know, because Democrats in Richmond arent frothing with outrage about systemic and blatant gender-based discrimination that happens every day against male marijuana plants. They get no respect whatsoever. Republicans, meanwhile, arent calling press conferences to stoke fear about transgender weed, or decrying the murder of males. Is transgender weed safe? If any scientific studies have been done on that, then Im unaware of them. And so is Chris Head. During our conversation Monday, I thought for a minute the top of the lawmakers noggin might blow. Can you put me down as baffled, and say that I was literally rendered speechless? Head asked. Absolutely, I replied. If I was an elected official, I wouldnt touch it with a 10-foot spliff, either. Contact metro columnist Dan Casey at 981-3423 or dan.casey@roanoke.com . Follow him on Twitter:@dancaseysblog . Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RICHMOND A Richmond burial ground where an estimated 22,000 freed and enslaved Black people were interred two centuries ago may soon be recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Generations of neglect made the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground invisible, with no signs or visible evidence of its past. But a few historians and the descendant of a woman buried there have applied to enter the site into state and federal record books as a historically significant site. As the state Board of Historic Resources and other officials are poised to consider the nomination next month, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rep. Don McEachin, D-4th, last week announced their support of the nomination. Given the history and known location of this African Burial Ground we recognize the value in preserving such a space and strongly recommend its inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, the pair said in a letter to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. In Congress, Kaine and McEachin have also been advocating for the creation of a central database of African American cemeteries to make it easier for African Americans to trace their lineage and visit their ancestors resting places, such as the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground. Located at what is now the intersection of North Fifth and Hospital streets, the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, also known as the Second African Burial Ground, grew to approximately 30 acres after the city established it in 1816 as a racially segregated, 2-acre expansion of Shockoe Hill Cemetery. The city closed the cemetery in 1879, giving way to development that erased the burial ground from the landscape. The original 2-acre site is vacant with an abandoned vehicle service station and a billboard overlooking Interstate 64. Ryan Smith, a local historian and one of the co-authors of the nomination letter, said the bid was submitted in August after several years of research by a team that included Lenora McQueen. Several years ago, the Texas resident found ancestral ties to Richmond through her fourth great-grandmother, Kitty Cary, who was buried in Shockoe Hill. We are cautiously optimistic about the nominations prospects here, Smith said in an email on Friday. We know that it is worthy of such recognition. The nomination form technically calls for the creation of a Historic District so that the African Burying Ground is recognized along with the neighboring Shockoe Hill Cemetery and Hebrew Cemetery, which are already on the National Register of Historic Places. While little evidence remains of the African burial ground, historic preservationists say plans for widening I-64 and expanding rail transportation there would endanger the integrity of a site they are trying to reclaim as hallowed ground. They say its inclusion on the national register could help protect the site. The larger burial ground ... is still under threat, McQueen said Friday. The city of Richmond last year purchased an acre of the original site for $145,000 in a tax auction with the intention of creating a memorial there. A spokesperson for Mayor Levar Stoney said Friday that the mayor also plans to write a letter endorsing the register nomination, and that the city is in the process of hiring firms to develop a cultural landscape analysis and conceptual design for the site. Gov. Glenn Youngkin is touting major progress in reducing the backlog in initial unemployment claims awaiting processing and payment at the beleaguered Virginia Employment Commission, but advocates for unemployed Virginians say the crisis is far from resolved. Youngkin said Monday that his administration has reduced a backlog of more than 246,000 unprocessed reports from employers about claims filed by former employees by 89%, or almost 219,000 employer separation reports, which help to determine whether people are eligible for unemployment benefits. The governor also said the agency, under new leadership since his inauguration on Jan. 15, had reduced the backlog in unpaid pending claims those still in adjudication for eligibility from almost 25,000 to under 16,000, a reduction of 36%. On day one, my administration launched the VEC transformation effort with an initial focus on reducing the backlog and we are starting to see encouraging initial results, said Youngkin, referring to the day one agenda he promised during his gubernatorial campaign last year. We have a lot more work to do, he added, but I want Virginians to know we are serious about making the VEC, along with all other state agencies, work for them. Advocates and legislators say they are unsure what the announcement means because the states unemployment system continues to struggle to process claims, which overwhelmed the VEC after the COVID-19 pandemic began almost two years ago and more than 400,000 Virginians lost their jobs in one month. The VEC has come under heavy criticism for long delays in processing unemployment claims, particularly those requiring additional review and adjudication to determine a persons eligibility for benefits. Last year, the agency came under the scrutiny of a federal judge and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the General Assemblys watchdog agency. Were looking for progress, but the crisis in Virginias unemployment insurance system is still very real for Virginia families across the commonwealth, said Pat Levy-Lavelle, an attorney for the Legal Aid Justice Center. The center was one of five organizations to file the federal lawsuit last May on behalf of five Virginia women. U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson dismissed the lawsuit in December after the VEC complied with a settlement order to improve its performance by reducing a backlog of hundreds of thousands of unadjudicated claims and appeals, improving customer service, and accelerating a long-stalled modernization of the computer system for online unemployment insurance claims. Levy-Lavelle said his organization is still hearing from a ton of folks about unpaid claims, difficulty in getting answers from customer service call centers, and use of the new online computer system. Virginia families are still suffering, he said. The administration announcement did not say how many claims have been fully processed and paid, the number of claims that had been paid but still required adjudication for eligibility, or the backlog of cases under appeal. Carrie Roth, the new Virginia employment commissioner, acknowledged the work ahead of the agency. We are not declaring victory, Roth said in an interview on Monday. We are declaring we have done a large amount of work in the first month. JLARC, in a withering report issued in November about the VECs performance during the pandemic, estimated the agency had a backlog of 580,000 employer separation reports last August, some of them 12 months old. The reports, most of them on paper, are the initial first step in determining why people have lost their jobs and whether they are eligible for unemployment insurance. The Youngkin administration said it had reduced the number of unprocessed reports from 246,273 to 27,728 since mid-January. Instead of hiring new employees to reduce the backlogs, Roth said the agency shifted people from jobs that were less urgent to process the reports. We are ... laser-focused on each part of the process, she said. The administration also reported progress in reducing the number of unpaid pending claims by about 9,000. Those unpaid claims represent cases that are in the process of being reviewed for eligibility. They are in the adjudication process and are unpaid, Roth said. She said the agency has slightly reduced the backlog of first-level appeals of eligibility determinations, but acknowledged continued backlogs in the appeals process. Roth also confirmed that VEC is still trying to overcome problems with the new IT system for online claims that the agency began operating in early November. There are still significant defects in the process, she said. There is a significant amount of work we have to do here at VEC. The General Assembly has approved legislation in each chamber to carry out some of the 40 recommendations made by JLARC, which also suggested 10 potential policy changes to improve performance. The assemblys budget committees also have recommended significant additional funding from $110 million to $180 million for the Virginia Unemployment Trust Fund to prevent increases in payroll taxes paid by employers to support unemployment benefits. The Senate has proposed to spend $500,000 to hire an outside consultant to conduct an efficiency study of the VEC. One of the JLARC recommendations is a stronger oversight role for the assemblys Commission on Unemployment Compensation. Del. Sally Hudson, D-Charlottesville, a member of the panel, said the commission has not met this year to reorganize and receive updates from the new administration about progress in addressing problems in the system. Theyre definitely trying to reinvigorate that body within a management oversight system, Hudson said. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Email Thomas Elias at tdelias@aol.com. His book, "The Burzynski Breakthrough, The Most Promising Cancer Treatment and the Governments Campaign to Squelch It" is now available in a soft cover fourth edition. For more Elias columns, visit www.californiafocus.net NAIROBI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Declining shipping costs between China and the Kenyan port of Mombasa is set to benefit east African consumers, the Kenyan industry said on Tuesday. Gilbert Langat, CEO of the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (CSEA) told journalists in Nairobi that there has been a shortage of shipping vessels and containers for the past 18 months plying between China and the East African coast. "We expect the cost of shipping between China and Mombasa to come down by as much as 35 percent from March as there is now much more available shipping capacity," Langat said on the sidelines of the launch of Manufacturing Manifesto 2022-2027 by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers. Langat observed that during the height of the COVID-19 travel restrictions, Kenya relied on smaller shipping vessels from China to satisfy import demand. According to the regional shipper lobby, the ongoing economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has released a lot of containers and ships into the global market. Langat observed that the China to East African shipping route is now being serviced by bigger vessels resulting in lower cost of transport products. He added that economic activities have also resumed in China after the end of the Chinese New Year festivities which will translate into more supply of products to the east African region. FLORENCE, S.C. A candidate for state superintendent of education has received the support of Congressman Ralph Norman and former superintendents Barbara Nielsen and Mick Zais. South Carolina Education Oversight Committee Chairwoman Ellen Weaver announced Normans endorsement last week. The oversight committee was formed in 1998 to enact the South Carolina Education Accountability Act of 1998. Its members are appointed by the governor and the South Carolina General Assembly. She has been on the committee since 2016. She said Nielsen and Zais contributed to her campaign late last year. Weaver announced her campaign late last year. She said she was inspired to run because of her work on the committee and by traveling through the state to listen to parents. Its really clear first of all when you look at the data that we are failing far too many of our students, Weaver said Monday afternoon. When three out of 10 of our graduates in the class of 2021 are not ready for college or a career, the next step on their journey, and way too many of our children are not doing their math or reading on grade level, you realize that we really have an existential crisis in education. She said the crisis has become worse during the COVID-19 pandemic and the stories from parents are even worse than the data says it easy. Weaver is the founding president and CEO of the Palmetto Promise Institute. The institute is a conservative think tank founded by former Sen. Jim DeMint. DeMint represented South Carolinas Fourth Congressional District from 1999 to 2005. He served in the Senate from 2005 until he resigned in 2013 to chair the Heritage Foundation. Prior to the institute Weaver worked for DeMint for 12 years in South Carolina and in Washington, D.C. Weaver has lived in Columbia for the last 11 years. She said she was born in Greenville and raised in the Midwest. She returned to Greenville in 1998 and graduated from Bob Jones University. Weaver added she is a third generation graduate of Bob Jones University. Weaver joins Kizzi Gibson, Kathy Maness and Cindy Coats in the race for the Republican nomination. The primary election is scheduled for June 14 and the general election is scheduled for Nov. 8. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SCOTUS continues to show very little interest in very many criminal justice issues | Main | Are all three defendants who murdered Ahmaud Arbery now sure to get federal LWOP sentences following federal convictions? February 22, 2022 "Dead Right: A Cautionary Capital Punishment Tale" The title of this post is the title of this intriguing new article authored by Joseph Margulies, John Blume and Sheri Lynn Johnson now available via SSRN. Here is its abstract: At least 228 people executed in the modern era or more than one in every seven were right too soon. That is, they had claims in their case that today would render their execution unconstitutional, but were killed because of a legal regime that arrived too late. Roughly 30% of our total include the children and persons with intellectual disability who were executed prior to Roper v. Simmons and Atkins v. Virginia, respectively. But the great majority of the people identified in our study raised claims based on doctrine that had already been clearly established by the Supreme Court. If the lower courts had applied Supreme Court caselaw correctly, these people would have gotten relief. Yet the lower courts resisted the doctrine and for years the Supreme Court did nothing to correct them. This resistance was particularly egregious in Texas and Florida. In Texas, at least 108 people were executed after the Supreme Court had already established the relevant basis for relief, and in Florida, the total is at least 36. At least when it comes to the death penalty, the lower courts seem especially unwilling to follow Supreme Court doctrine that would save a person from execution. The result is a system that routinely kills people even when they are right. February 22, 2022 at 03:09 PM | Permalink Comments Notice the complete absence of even a claim that the persons executed didn't do what they were convicted of doing. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 22, 2022 4:21:20 PM Bill, I regret to inform you that the law applies equally to the innocent and guilty alike. Posted by: Curious | Feb 22, 2022 10:43:15 PM Curious -- Could you quote me where I said, "The law applies unequally to the innocent and the guilty"? Please. We all know the application of the law is the same, but one would hope the outcomes of the cases are very different, right? Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 23, 2022 3:27:19 PM Their claim is rather dubious at best. First, the assertion of right too soon assumes that the current interpretation is "right" rather than these defendants simply being wrong at the wrong time (when the courts had it right rather than when the courts had it wrong). Second, the category of judicial resistance similarly assume that the later refinement of earlier decisions to create broader protections means that courts that relied on a narrow interpretation of the earlier decisions were "resisting" those decisions. Third, it assumes that the lower courts got it wrong in deciding what law was clearly established and what state court rulings were contrary to the clearly established law. The Supreme Court has not been hesitant to slap down the Fifth Circuit for too narrowly defining clearly established and the Third, Sixth, and Ninth Circuit for too braodly defining clearly established. This article seems to adopt the Ninth Circuit's view of clearly established as its definition for wrongfully executed. Posted by: tmm | Feb 23, 2022 4:27:21 PM Bill, the article is about people being unlawfully executed. Your complaint is that the authors should have mentioned whether those people were factually innocent. But you've confused the lawfulness of their sentence with the fact of their guilt. Death sentences can be unlawful even when applied to guilty people. Posted by: Curious | Feb 23, 2022 9:40:46 PM Curious -- 1. Since you didn't answer, I'll try again: Could you quote me where I said, "The law applies unequally to the innocent and the guilty"? 2. You say, "Death sentences can be unlawful even when applied to guilty people." Yup, and death sentences can be just and earned even when unlawful under today's version of the law (although fine under yesterday's version recognized at the time the case was heard and, for all we know, tomorrow's version as well). Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 23, 2022 10:49:11 PM Lol. Bill, your defense of unlawful executions on the ground that the defendant was factually guilty shows you do not believe the law applies equally to the guilty and the innocent. Otherwise you'd object to them! Posted by: Curious | Feb 25, 2022 8:48:52 AM Curious -- Since you didn't answer, I'll try again: Could you QUOTE -- you know what "quote" means, right? -- me where I said, "The law applies unequally to the innocent and the guilty"? Hint: Your assessment I what I mean is not a quote. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 25, 2022 6:36:38 PM Post a comment "Barred from employment: More than half of unemployed men in their 30s had a criminal history of arrest" | Main | "Dead Right: A Cautionary Capital Punishment Tale" February 22, 2022 SCOTUS continues to show very little interest in very many criminal justice issues It is surely a sign of my own self-involvement that I now consistently find myself, upon opening a new Supreme Court order list, grousing about the fact that the Justices continue to show very little interest in addressing a wide array of important criminal justice issues (and especially sentencing issues) that have percolated for a long time in lower courts and could benefit from SCOTUS input. Of course, this Term and other recent ones still have had a handful of notable criminal cases, though mostly about interpretation of the Armed Career Criminal Act or high-profile (and likely low-impact) death penalty administration matters. But this latest new 29-page SCOTUS order list, which is like so many others recent ones with a long list of cert denials in criminal cases and a few certain grants on civil cases, prompts for me another round of grousing. Of course, Justice Sotomayor remains the Justice seemingly most eager to ensure that lots of criminal justice issues do not get entirely forgotten even as cert repeatedly gets denied, and today's order list includes a seven-page statement from her in a case from New York that starts and end this way: In New York, criminal defendants who earn sufficient good time credits before the end of their prison sentences are entitled to conditional release. Defendants classified by the State as level three sex offenders, however, must first assure the State that they will not reside within 1,000 feet of any school. In New York City, this is no easy task, and the difficulties of finding a compliant residence can result in defendants serving additional time in prison past the expiration of their sentences. Because petitioner Angel Ortiz was unable to identify any release address that satisfied the States requirement, he spent over two additional years incarcerated when he should have been at liberty. Although Ortizs petition does not satisfy this Courts criteria for granting certiorari, I write to emphasize that New Yorks residential prohibition, as applied to New York City, raises serious constitutional concerns.... New York should not wait for this Court to resolve the question whether a State can jail someone beyond their parole eligibility date, or even beyond their mandatory release date, solely because they cannot comply with a restrictive residency requirement. I hope that New York will choose to reevaluate its policy in a manner that gives due regard to the constitutional liberty interests of people like Ortiz. As always, I remain ever grateful that Justice Sotomayor remains ever committed to shining a SCOTUS light on some of the darkest parts of our criminal justice systems. As always, I will keep hoping more Justices will show interest in many other long-concerning aspects of our CJ systems. And in a coming post, I may do some more "formal speculating" about why the SCOTUS criminal docket has seemed especially fallow in the last few Terms and whether a coming change in SCOTUS personnel might shake matters up in coming Terms. But maybe I am wrong to sense that the criminal side of the SCOTUS docket is wasting away in recent years. I welcome comments about SCOTUS work in this respect from all quarters. February 22, 2022 at 10:05 AM | Permalink Comments I criticize sotomayor often, but her arguments here are compelling. How did we get to a place where people can serve more than the allotted time? Count me out. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 22, 2022 1:19:22 PM Amen, Federalist. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 22, 2022 3:06:21 PM "I may do some more 'formal speculating' about...whether a coming change in SCOTUS personnel might shake matters up in coming Terms." Justice Breyer's replacement will vote the same way he would have in at least 95% of the cases. Breyer was center/left on business related cases, but a pretty solid vote on the left side in criminal cases. And three liberals is still not the four necessary to get cert, much less the five necessary to win. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 22, 2022 4:28:12 PM Especially on some sentencing procedure issues (Apprendi et al.), Breyer was to the right of Scalia, Thomas and then Gorsuch. The last two listed, plus Sotomayor and Kagan and Breyer's replacement, might be five votes to get the old Blakely team back together again. Also, the Chief is even sometimes (but only sometimes) open to extending the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments. I am not holding my breath, but everyone says every new Justice creates a new Court. Scalia seemingly was keen to get sentencing cases that got under Breyer's skin, but I sense nobody else really wanted to poke him after Scalia's death. I suspect Sotomayor and Kagan, realizing that jury trial issues were the only ones clearly likely to allow peeling off a couple votes from the conservative majority, have been disinclined to "mess" with Breyer on his way out the door and so have been steady votes to deny cert. But once Breyer is gone, especially if he is replaced by someone who knows how many defense-friendly issues can be framed to be of some real appeal to true textualist and originalists, maybe these cases start looking a lot more interesting. Moreover, though we will find out a bit more this Term about the newbies, it not yet clear that Justice Barrett and Kavanaugh will always be votes for the prosecution if the issue is religious liberty or mens rea or gun rights. If they end up having certain pet concerns in the CJ arena (rather than always going with the state as does Justice Alito), I am hopeful for more dynamic criminal justice dockets and jurisprudence in the years ahead (except, I suspect, when it come to the death penalty --- but I wrote an article a dozen years ago saying the Justices waste far too much time on capital cases, so fine with me if that part of the docket recedes). Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 22, 2022 6:43:02 PM "I am not holding my breath...." I'm glad to hear it, given the great value of your blog to the criminal justice community. Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 22, 2022 8:16:14 PM @Bill Otis "but a pretty solid vote on the left side in criminal cases" You might want to clarify what you mean by "the left side" but if you mean pro-defendant, I'm not sure that's correct. He was sort of all over the place, in typical Breyer fashion. On the one hand, in DP cases and for some other 8A issues like three-strikes, he was a fairly reliable defense vote. On the other hand, he often voted for the gov't in 4A cases. He also voted against the defendant in the Stokeling ACCA case. While he did vote for the defendants in the Kelly and McDonnell corruption cases, given those defendants' political alignment, I'm not sure it'd be accurate to characterize his votes as being "on the left side." "Justice Breyer's replacement will vote the same way he would have in at least 95% of the cases." Well, for one, we don't even know his replacement yet. It's not like all the leading candidates are completely interchangeable. I perceive quite a few important differences between them. But if it ends up being my choice among the prominent contendersKBJthen I think it's doubtful the 95% prediction would hold true for criminal cases at least. She'd likely side with the gov't a lot less on 4A cases than he did. Posted by: kotodama | Feb 23, 2022 12:46:19 AM https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2022/02/u-s-v-tou-thao-4.php But you see Doug, I care about the rights of all. Funny how no law profs are calling out the prosecutors here. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 23, 2022 1:27:30 PM kotodama -- Thanks for actually looking at the cases with more of an eye for detail than I was using. Your remarks are well taken, but do not in my view amount to that much of a disagreement. I expect Breyer's replacement to vote somewhat more like Sotomayor than like Kagan, but Breyer himself voted with Sotomayor pretty much all the time (between 85% and 88%, see https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/06/24/upshot/24up-scotus-agreement-rates.html). Biden is likely to choose a solid liberal; all three reported candidates meet that description. The change in the Court overall will be modest, and is unlikely to change many if any outcomes. This of course is very much different from what would have happened if Garland rather than Gorsuch had replaced Scalia (which is why there was such a big fight about it). Posted by: Bill Otis | Feb 23, 2022 3:21:43 PM I do not think I have accused you, Federalist, of not caring about the rights of all. I do think I would be quite eager to hear you articulate precisely what you think federal prosecutors should be "called out" for here. I agree 100% that (too) many folks seem to take very different positions on matters like due process and prison conditions depending on who is on trial or who is placed in cage. But, because I have not been following events in Minnesota closely, I would be grateful for your account of what kinds of federal prosecutorial behaviors you think merit calling out in the case you reference. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 23, 2022 5:08:02 PM Michelle Childs would likely vote for the government on a lot of criminal justice cases considering her record as a District Judge, even more than Breyer. Kruger would probably be about the same as Breyer, and KBJ would probably vote to the left. Childs' and Kruger's records speak for themselves. Posted by: Poirot | Feb 23, 2022 5:13:22 PM Lets start with the federal statute under which these guys were charged. How does this criminal law statute impose a duty on cops to intercede when another cop is harming a citizen in the course of an arrest? Feels like thats a question that needs answering. General speaking duties to do something are express. And the prosecution of the rookie cop, who did try to help, though unsuccessfully, seems like an appalling abuse. You good with all this? And now that the Arbery thugs have been convicted, are we going to look at the postings of minority criminals when whites are harmed? Im not suggesting that these guys dont deserve lwop (I would support the death penalty), but the prosecution seems like morality play justice. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 24, 2022 8:02:19 AM Federalist, going in reverse order: 1. Courts have been approving the use of Facebook and other social media postings for well over a decade as a way to convict or aggravate the punishment of defendants. Here is just a couple of likely tens of thousands of examples that google brinks up from a simply search: https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/second-circuit/gang-convictions-based-partially-on-facebook-evidence-upheld/ https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/01/18/the-facebook-post-that-led-directly-to-jail-for-more-than-15-years/ https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/charged-with-a-crime-better-check-your-facebook-pictures Notably, the last of these three articles linked above is from 2008. So, to put it simply, police and prosecutors and other government agents involved in our criminal justice system have been looking at the posts of all sorts of folks for decades. And, if you add "gang" to any google search, you will see that many advocates and academics have been expressing concern that there may be a tendency to focus particular attention on social media postings related to alleged gang activity and networks. Are you saying or suggesting social media should be off limits for law enforcement in all criminal cases? Some criminal cases? Cross-racial cases? Not sure I fully understand this gripe. 2. It is a well-established common law doctrine that a duty to act can be ground in status, so that criminal liability can be ground in a failure to act when status creates a general duty to aid: eg, prison guard who sits by as he sees one inmate slowly choke another to death or a social worker who repeatedly fails to report on an abusive foster parent despite clear signs of escalating abuse. Some would contend that civil liability ought to be all that applies in such cases, but the application of criminal doctrine in this kind of context is not at all unprecedented. Of course, whether we think criminal liability is legally sound or a good idea always ultimately turns on particularized facts --- eg, if one persons with a status duty tried to aid or had no idea what was going on --- and that is why we have grand juries and petit jury rights to interrogate the particulars. I agree 100% that it often seems that lots of prosecutors, for a variety of reasons, are ever eager to turn all sort of stuff into questionable crimes (remember the Aaron Swartz case as just one of so many examples). That is why I often argue here that would ought to have many more checks on prosecutorial discretion. Glad you are on board with that campaign, too. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 24, 2022 10:54:27 AM My point re: Facebook posts and minority defendants should be obviouswill we see hate crime prosecutions for minority defendants? My guess is that there wont be an uptick. Regarding the copsyes, duties can be imposed, but when its done by a criminal statute, it must provide adequiste notice. They dont hereparticularly when the idea is to deprive which connotes action not inaction. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 24, 2022 3:22:16 PM 1. Here is 2019 data on hate crimes from the FBI: https://ucr.fbi.gov/hate-crime/2019/topic-pages/tables/table-5.xls. These data show prosecutions of all sorts of races for all sorts of crimes against all sorts of other races. Are you asserting the federal government is not race-neutral in its application of these laws? As you know, the BLM crowd and others certainly contend that there is a failure of race-neutrality in the application of many criminal laws by many police and prosecutors. Are you saying that crowd is on to something, just not looking at these matters the right way? 2. Not sure what you mean by adequate notice. Are you saying that 18 USC 242 must be read, as a matter of law, to preclude criminal liability based on a failure to act? Or are you saying that in some cases a failure to act can "deprive" someone of their rights so as to permit federal criminal liability, but not on these facts? Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 24, 2022 6:02:57 PM Its painfully obvious that the DOJ is not neutral. Posted by: Federalist | Feb 25, 2022 11:10:03 AM Pretty sure many, many folks have been saying that an array of biases shape the work of DOJ and lots of other law enforcement activity for many, many decades, Federalist. Do you recall United States v. Armstrong, 517 U.S. 456 (1996), in which defendants simply sought discovery to explore claims of DOJ selective prosecution claims regarding crack prosecutions and SCOTUS shut them down? Have you taken the time to read up on the more recent stash-house stings? I cannot recall any expressions of concern from you in those setting about an apparent lack of DOJ neutrality (and/or whether you think non-neutrality should block a prosecution). Would you support, Federalist, reversing Armstrong so that defendants can at least seek evidence to explore what you assert is "painfully obvious" DOJ bias? (In addition, I am still curious to know if you think 18 USC 242 must be read, as a matter of law, to preclude criminal liability based on a failure to act or just think the Floyd facts are insufficient to support liability for failure to act.) Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 25, 2022 11:33:38 AM Post a comment KINSHASA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF) agreement for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Africa's Great Lakes region met Tuesday in Kinshasa, DRC's capital, in preparation of the upcoming high-level meeting on the implementation of the agreement. The meeting was chaired by Didier Mazenga, DRC's minister of Regional Integration and Francophone, with the goal to prepare for the 10th high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of PSCF agreement, which will be held Wednesday, in the Congolese capital. During Wednesday's meeting, leaders of Africa's Great Lakes region will assess progress and challenges in the implementation of the PSCF agreement. The PSCF agreement was signed on Feb. 24, 2013, by 11 African countries with firm commitments at national, regional and international levels to address the root causes of instability in the DRC and the region which had suffered the most from the scourge of conflicts in Africa. In early 2014, Kenya and Sudan became the 12th and 13th signatories of the framework agreement, respectively. The Regional Oversight Mechanism is the body responsible for monitoring progress in the implementation of the agreement. "I welcome the strong participation of the high-level delegations of the 13 signatory countries of the Framework Agreement and the guarantor institutions," said Xia Huang, the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region of Africa on social media. The high-level meeting will also be attended by UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, replacing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who canceled his scheduled visit to the DRC Monday. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in the DRC, particularly in the eastern provinces, due to the volatile security situation. OMAHA -- Its 7:30 pm on a wintry Friday night and the parking lot outside of Johnnys Cafe, a South Omaha landmark, is jammed. The scent of seared steak wafts out the heavy, faux-bronze doors as they swing outward, and diners walk into a glowing, ruby-hued time capsule of Nebraska food history. To the left is the massive dining room, still crowded on weekends with silver-haired men in sportcoats and ladies in their best blouses being served by reliable staff, many who have worked here for decades. To the right is the dark bar, where guests saddle up literally sitting on saddle barstools to sip boozy Old Fashioneds and Manhattans while staring at Husker and cowboy memorabilia covering the walls. People come in and they just say I am glad you are here, said Jack Kawa, who is 80 years old and has worked at the family business since he was a kid. We have been here for so long, and I think people still enjoy going out and having a nice prime rib any night of the week. Exactly 100 years have passed since a young Polish immigrant named Frank Kawa bought a bar called Johnnys at the corner of 27th and L streets and decided to turn it into something more. Now, a century later, the Kawa family continues to run whats arguably Nebraskas most iconic steak empire. Johnnys Cafe has survived the rise and fall of the stockyards, the Prohibition Era, the glory days of Nebraskans dining out after a good day selling cattle, the building of an interstate right outside its front door, an ever-evolving neighborhood, the ever-changing tastes of the dining public and, most recently, a pandemic. It has outlasted the cavernous Mr. Cs, famed for its Christmas-lit dining room, and Ross, which closed when its owner refused to sell to a non-family member, and Angies, a downtown spot that opened during the Great Depression and countless others. It has outlived Frank Kawa, who came to the United States by himself as a 10-year-old boy. The steakhouse is now run by his son, Jack Kawa, and Jacks daughters Sally Kawa and Kari Harding. It has stood the test of time like no other old-school Nebraska steakhouse has. We will not shy away from 100 years being a huge accomplishment, especially after COVID and all the unknowns, Sally Kawa said. A lot of groundwork was laid before we ever walked in. We dont take it for granted. The Kawa family doesnt know exactly when the bar called Johnnys came into existence, but Sally Kawa owns one photo from the earliest days, where men are lined up at the bar holding guns next to whiskey barrels and gas lanterns. It was a little rough, she said. The stockyards officially opened in the late 1880s. Omaha annexed South Omaha, once its own city, in 1915. The neighborhood catered to the thousands of cattlemen and farmers doing business at the stockyards. It was home to tailors, real estate agents, barbers, insurance agencies, bankers, boarding houses and brothels. It was home to the families of countless stockyard workers, many recent immigrants grinding out an existence in an unfamiliar land. Most of them ate, drank and celebrated at Johnnys. Frank Kawa added sandwiches to his bar after he bought it in 1922. By the 1930s, it was a steakhouse, open 20 hours a day from 6 am. to 2 a.m., slinging daily breakfast with hot coffee, sandwiches at noon for the packinghouse workers and the farmers waiting for a sale and, at dinner, Nebraska beef and classic cocktails. You could find a boozy drink there even during the dark days of Prohibition. Frank Kawa was an active bootlegger in the late 1920s and early 30s the sugar he used in the bakery also could be used to make alcohol and the beer baron of Omaha, as the newspapers called him, eventually served nine months in jail for his sins. But Johnnys went legit after Prohibition, then positively supersonic after World War II. By 1955, Omaha had overtaken Chicago as the nation's largest livestock market and meat packing industry center. Business boomed at the steakhouse that had become a nerve center of the neighborhood. Jack Kawa and his brother Tom were working at Johnnys by then, at first sitting on buckets peeling potatoes and then moving through the ranks: dish line, bus boy, waiter. We did all that malarkey, Jack Kawa said. He remembers going down to the restaurant with his dad in the 1950s, and seeing cattle trucks lined up from 27th street all the way to the Missouri River. Hoffman Packing operated out of the basement of Johnnys then, and Frank bought meat from them and other local packers. An in-house staff of butchers cut the meat, and it aged in the basement before making its way to the dining room. Frank Kawa died in the early 1960s, and Jack and Tom took over. They expanded the restaurants seating, hired out-of-town consultants to retool and employed a staff that grew to 125 people. The interior of Johnnys cafe today dates from a remodel in the early 1970s, including that recognizable backlit landscape mural on the dining rooms south wall. Long-time Johnnys regular and Omaha lawyer Bob Gonderinger first came to the restaurant in 1979, when he moved to Omaha for law school. His parents, from ONeill, remembered dining there when they were younger, and it just became their spot, he said. His five kids learned how to dine out at Johnnys, he said, first eating spaghetti or chicken fingers and now, as adults, following in their filet-loving dads footsteps. I taught them right, he said, chuckling. Its a lot more expensive now. Johnnys is a place thats about prime rib and filet and a handful of recipes on their menu have also stood the test of time. Oxtails on Tuesday at lunch, or a full Thanksgiving meal every single Thursday at noon, for example. The cottage cheese spread has been on the menu at least since the 1950s. Short ribs are made the same way they always have been at Johnnys, and the soups are made from scratch, including homemade noodles and dumplings. The Polish vinaigrette salad dressing is based on an old recipe, and is a well-known local favorite the restaurant bottles and sells in stores. Liver pate used to be a daily staple. Now the restaurant serves it only on the first weekend of the month. Prime rib is on the menu every single day, not just on weekends, like at many other steakhouses. Gonderinger loves the memorabilia that fills the lobby, including old family photos and framed vintage menus with eye-opening low prices. In the bar, a Scottish Highlander steer head hangs on the wall, with eyes that glow red and a wired mouth that opens and closes. Two stools at the north end of the bar are made from actual saddles, and two more sit in the lobby a popular spot for customers to snap iPhone photos. Its a funky, dimly-lit history museum that serves slabs of beef. Its special, he said. Its a lot of hard work and dedication, and a willingness of the next generation to step up and carry on the family tradition. Like their dad, sisters Sally Kawa and Kari Harding grew up at the restaurant. Both left Omaha for careers in hospitality: Sally worked at Disneyland and Kari worked for Marriott hotels. At some point, my dad asked us if we wanted to come back, Sally Kawa says. We didnt really discuss it. We just did. That was in the mid-1990s. Jack didnt ever really retire even now, when hes not in Arizona, hes at Johnnys every morning, sitting in his office and meeting friends in the dining room for lunch. Covid was rough for Johnnys, like it was for most restaurants, and when they had to temporarily close, Sally Kawa said she and her sister had to rethink everything. The kitchen and the sisters came up with an old-school TV dinner concept, which caught on during 2020, when they sent regulars home with chopped sirloin, meatloaf and even prime rib. Sally Kawa said she practiced finishing the par-cooked beef at home, perfecting how to package it for transport and writing instructions for customers on how to cook it right. It was hard to figure out, but it was so nice to see people when they came in to pick up their meals, she said. Now, on what they hope is the back end of the pandemic, the sisters think they have become better business owners. Their customers are back in full force, particularly for early weekend seatings. We could get back to doing what we wanted to do, Sally Kawa said. Our cooks could cook, people could eat, and we could run the business that we want to run. To that end, the Kawa family plans an entire year of celebration now that theyre 100. Special events are planned through 2022, including a featured steak and beverage every month, the debut of some remodeled event spaces and celebrations with employees past and present. History dinners will explore South Omahas past. It feels overwhelming to hit the anniversary this year, after two years of COVID-19, Kawa said. When things were difficult, we really had to think about how much we were willing to risk to keep the restaurant open and the legacy alive. They have decided the reward is worth the risk, just as the three generations of Kawas have pressed on for the past century. We are so proud, she said, to be the ones to carry on the tradition that was started by a Polish immigrant with no formal education, just a desire to open a bar. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Anna Sorokin, better known as Anna Delvey, during her trial in April 2019. Sorokin is the subject of a new Netflix miniseries. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Maybe she had so much money she just lost track of it. Maybe it was all a misunderstanding. Thats how Anna Sorokins marks explained away the supposed German heiresss strange requests to sleep on their couch for the night, or to put plane tickets on their credit cards, which she would then forget to pay back. The subject of a new Netflix series, Inventing Anna, Sorokin, who told people her name was Anna Delvey, conned over $250,000 out of wealthy acquaintances and high-end Manhattan businesses between 2013 and 2017. It turns out her lineage was a mirage. Instead, she was an intern at a fashion magazine who came from a working-class family of Russian immigrants. Yet the people around her were quick to accept her odd explanations, even creating excuses for her that strained credulity. The details of the Sorokin case mirror those from another recent Netflix production, The Tinder Swindler, which tells the story of an Israeli conman named Simon Leviev. Leviev persuaded women he met on the dating app to lend him large sums of money with similarly unbelievable claims: He was a billionaire whose enemies were trying to track him down and, for security reasons, couldnt use his own credit cards. How is it that so many people could have been gullible enough to buy the fantastical stories spun by Sorokin and Leviev? And why, even when [t]he red flags were everywhere as one of Sorokins marks put it did people continue to believe these grifters, spend their time with them and agree to lend them money? As a social psychologist who has written a book about our surprising power of persuasion, I dont see this as an unusual glitch of human nature. Rather, I view the stories about Sorokin and Leviev as examples of bad actors exploiting the social processes people rely on every day for efficient and effective human communication and cooperation. To trust is to be human Despite the belief that people are skeptics by nature, primed to shout gotcha! at any mistake or faux pas, this simply isnt the case. Research shows that people tend to default to trusting others over distrusting them, believing them over doubting them and going along with someones self-presentation rather than embarrassing them by calling them out. Elle Dee, a DJ whom Delvey once asked to pick up a 35,000-euro bar tab, described the ease with which people went along with Delveys claims: I dont think she even had to try that hard. Despite her utterly unsound story, people were all-too-eager to buy it. It still might be hard to believe that people in Sorokins circle would willingly hand over their money to someone they hardly knew. Yet psychologists have watched participants hand over their money to complete strangers for many years across hundreds of experiments. In these studies, participants are told they are taking part in various types of investment games in which they are given the opportunity to hand over their money to another participant in the hopes of receiving a return on their investment. Whats fascinating about these studies is that most participants are cynical about ever seeing their money again let alone any returns on their investment and yet they still hand it over. In other words, despite deep reservations, they still choose to trust a complete stranger. Simon Leviev wooed women on the dating app Tinder before persuading them to give him access to cash and credit cards. Tore Kristiansen/AFP via Getty Images Theres something deeply human about this impulse. Humans are social creatures, and trusting one another is baked into our DNA. As psychologist David Dunning and his colleagues have pointed out, without trust it is hard to imagine endeavors like Airbnb, car shares or a working democracy having any success. Lies are the exception, not the norm Of course, Sorokins requests were often accompanied by elaborate explanations and justifications, and you might wonder why so few people seemed to doubt the veracity of her claims. Yet just as trust is a default of human interaction, a presumption of sincerity is a default expectation of basic communication. This maxim of communication was first proposed by Paul Grice, an influential philosopher of language. Grice argued that communication is a cooperative endeavor. Understanding one another requires working together. And to do that, there must be some ground rules, one of which is that both parties are telling the truth. Sorokin then known to her acquaintances as Anna Delvey appears, far right, at a fashion award ceremony in New York City in 2014. Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images In an era of truthiness and fake news, such a premise may seem absurd and nave. But people lie far less than you might think; in fact, if the default assumption were that the person you were talking to was lying, communication would be nearly impossible. If I challenged you on whether you read every book you claimed to have read, or whether the steak you had last night was really overcooked, wed never get anywhere. Researchers have found experimental evidence for what is sometimes called the truth default. In one series of studies, researchers asked participants to evaluate whether statements were true or false. Sometimes the participants were interrupted so they couldnt fully process the statements. This allowed the researchers to get at peoples default assumption: When in doubt, would they default to belief or disbelief? It turns out that when participants werent able to fully process statements, they tended to simply assume they were true. A reluctance to accuse Even if Sorokins marks were to doubt her story, its unlikely that they would have called her out on it. The sociologist Erving Goffmans classic theory of facework argues that it is as uncomfortable for us to call someone else out to suggest they arent who they are presenting themselves to be as it is to be the person called out. Even when people see someone doing something they disagree with, theyre loath to say anything. Other studies have explored this phenomenon. One found that people hesitate to call others out for using racist language they disagree with or for sexual harassment. As much as youd like to believe that if you were in the shoes of Sorokins and Levievs targets you would have been emboldened to blow the lid off the whole charade, chances are that rather than make things uncomfortable for everyone, youd simply go along with it. The tendency to trust, believe and go along with other peoples explanations of events may seem disadvantageous. And its true, these inclinations can expose people. But without trust, there is no cooperation; without assuming others are telling the truth, there is no communication; and without accepting people for what they present to the world, there is no foundation on which to build a relationship. In other words, the very features that look like glitches when exploited are in fact the very essence of what it means to be human. ___ Vanessa Bohns receives funding from the National Science Foundation. She is affiliated with the Academy of Management. Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter. ___ Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- Exactly in the middle of the Sioux City Art Center's atrium is a gold plaque which covers up a mysterious time capsule locked away underneath. According to development coordinator Erin Webber-Dreeszen, anyone who stands directly on top of the plaque can hear his voice reverberate inside of the 225 Nebraska St. gallery. "I don't know why it happens, but it does," she said, testing out her theory. "The people who built this place obviously knew what they were doing." On March 1, the Art Center will begin a 25-day celebration, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of its 45,500-square-foot facility. The then newly-constructed building, opened on March 1, 1997, replaced the Art Center's previous 513 Nebraska St., the home of a former laundry and a Moose Lodge and Banquet Hall. "Sioux Cityans knew the old Art Center mostly as the building with a big orange dot on its side," Art Center director Todd Behrens said. "25 years ago, people were excited that we weren't moving into an old space. The new Art Center was going into a facility that was specifically designed to display art." From 6 to 9 p.m. March 1, the Art Center will be hosting a "Dream Big Mardi Gras Masquerade" party. "We are encouraging everyone to don Mardi Gras masks and beads in order to help us toast 25 years of progress at the Art Center," Behrens said. In addition to dinner, drinks and music, the party will also unveil the contents left behind in the atrium's time capsule after a quarter-century. Once dusted off, the time capsule's mementos will become a part of a historic display. Funds raised during the "Dream Big Mardi Gras Masquerade" will be directed to the H.H. Everist Jr. Endowment, in memory of Hubert Everist Jr., who was instrumental in the planning of the Art Center's new facility. "The new building was a passion and a source of pride for Hubert and his wife, Margaret Ann Martin Everist," Behrens said. "The endowment seeks to support Art Center public education initiatives to help us use the building for its full potential." The Everists were just one of the many art lovers who wanted to bring art to the community. Indeed, incorporation papers for the then-Sioux City Society of Fine Arts date all the way back to 1914. Behrens, who has been with the Art Center since 2009, said much has changed over the years. "Back in 1997, I think our Gilchrist Learning Center (the Art Center's adjoining, 220 Pierce St.,11,000-square-foot facility dedicated to art education classes and workshop) wouldn't have been on the radar of too many people," Behrens said. "In 2018, it became a reality." Similarly, the Sioux City Public Museum, 607 Fourth St., as well as the nearby Three River, Gallery 103 and Art SUX Galleries now constitute a newly-formed and walkable art district in downtown Sioux City. "Art is an important quality-of-component for Sioux City," Webber-Dreeszen said. "It will continue to be a part of the landscape of our downtown." Continuing its silver anniversary, the Art Center will be hosting an Open House from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 5. Kids will have the chance to work with teachers by creating art that may be placed in the Art Center's new time capsule project. "The new time capsule will go back into the floor of the Art Center's atrium on March 25," Behrens said. "The contents will not be seen again until March 1, 2047, which will mark the 50th anniversary of the Art Center's building." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- A Milford, Iowa, man has been accused of having indecent contact with a 15-year-old girl while he was employed as a bus driver for the Okoboji Community School District. The Dickinson County Sheriffs Office said in a statement that Steven V. Titterington, 71, is charged with third-degree sexual abuse, a class C felony, as well as sexual exploitation by a school employee, a Class D felony, and child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor. The charges stem from an investigation the sheriff's office conducted after receiving a report of indecent contact with a child. According to a criminal complaint and affidavit filed in Dickinson County District Court, Titterington inappropriately touched the victim on multiple occasions over and under her clothing without her consent. The indecent contact allegedly occurred while Titterington was "driving school bus and having custody and control over the 15-year-old victim." Titterington was released from custody after posting $10,000 bond on Feb. 18, according to the statement. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 10. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DAKOTA CITY -- For five months, Dakota County has pursued a firm cost estimate for the cost of a proposed jail expansion. The Dakota County Board of Commissioners hasn't gotten that number yet, but on Tuesday got a small step closer. The board voted 3-1 to pursue an agreement with Weitz Company to develop a cost estimate to help commissioners make a final decision on whether to move forward with the proposed 112-bed expansion. A contract has not been finalized, but Weitz, an Omaha construction management firm, has proposed a $25,000 fee. "We need to get a number, that's the only thing I can say. I'd like to move forward and get a number," commissioner Scott Love said before making the motion to pursue the agreement. Troy Launsby voted no without comment, but has said in previous meetings he believes the issue should go to a public vote. Board chairman Robert Giese was absent. An initial architect's estimate placed the project's cost at $10.5 million-$11.25 million. Costs rose to $12.4 million-$13.5 million in a later estimate. Without a firmer estimate, the county has no idea how much money it would need to finance for construction or if the U.S. Marshals Service, which has agreed to pay for the expansion, would continue to support the project if costs come in far higher than previously estimated. Commissioners in August approved a contract with the Marshals Service in which the Marshals would pay for the expansion in return for a guarantee that Dakota County house 85 federal prisoners per day for 10 years once the addition is open. The Marshals Service now pays the county $80 per day per inmate currently housed at the jail. Once the expansion opens, the rate would increase to $150 per day for 30 months to provide the county the revenue to pay off the estimated construction debt. After 30 months, the rate would return to $80. Marshals representatives have said they would be willing to extend the 30-month period if construction costs exceed estimates and the county needs more time to pay off the expansion, which would increase the jail's capacity to 248 beds. The county currently houses an average of 20-25 federal prisoners daily and receives $600,000-$800,000 in revenue annually. The Marshals Service is willing to pay for the jail expansion to consolidate most of its prisoners at one site and reduce costs to transport them to federal court hearings in Sioux City. The Marshals Service in Sioux City houses approximately 130 prisoners, all awaiting trial, in 11-12 jails in four states. The Marshals Service does not own or operate detention facilities and must contract with state and local governments to house its prisoners. Once sentenced, offenders are transferred to a federal prison. The proposed addition would be added to the west side of the current jail, which was built in 2006. The board has so far approved approximately $400,000 in architect's expenses to develop the final design. Soil testing at the site also has been conducted. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- The city of Sioux City has denied allegations that city officials intentionally misled state regulators about the operating capabilities of its wastewater treatment plant, calling then "reckless and libelous." In its response to an Iowa Department of Natural Resources lawsuit, the city conceded there have been past violations, but in each case the city self-reported them to the DNR upon discovery. "The city has a long history of exercising affirmative diligence in complying with wastewater standards and has taken substantial affirmative action to improve the WWTP and its operation," Guy Cook, a Des Moines attorney representing the city, said in his response to the DNR's lawsuit. The DNR sued the city in January, seeking what could add up to millions of dollars in penalties for repeated violations at the plant dating back to March 2012 and including a three-year scheme in which two former plant supervisors manipulated water sample test results to ensure that plant discharges into the Missouri River met environmental requirements. The DNR also said the city declined to fix problems at the plant because doing so would have exposed the city's dishonesty about the effectiveness of the plant, which, the DNR alleges, officials knew was incapable of consistently disinfecting the millions of gallons of wastewater handled each day. "The factual allegations and implications are denied. The allegations are reckless and libelous," Cook said in his answer, filed Tuesday in Woodbury County District Court. Cook said the lawsuit should be dismissed because the DNR has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted. In the city's defense, Cook said, the city has complied with its wastewater permit, and the DNR has not exhausted all other administrative options to address its concerns with the city. Cook also said the DNR waited too long to file a claim and should be barred from recovering damages because of its own conduct. Many of the violations cited by the DNR stemmed from a three-year period from 2012 through April 2015 in which former plant superintendent Jay Niday and shift supervisor Patrick Schwarte manipulated chlorine levels to make it appear the city was meeting federal E. coli standards when wastewater samples were tested. The two would raise chlorine levels added to wastewater on days that E. coli samples were taken, producing test samples showing plant discharges met federal limits for levels of fecal coliform and E. coli before they were discharged into the Missouri River. The city fired both men after a plant worker anonymously tipped off the DNR about their actions. The two later pleaded guilty in federal court to criminal charges of conspiracy and falsifying or providing inaccurate information. Niday was sentenced to three months in prison and fined $6,000. Schwarte was sentenced to two years' probation and fined $5,000. More recently, the city exceeded ammonia concentration limits on several occasions in 2018 and 2019 and exceeded daily maximum total residual chlorine, or TRC, concentration limits and daily maximum TRC mass limits in 2017, 2018 and several months in 2019. Cook said Niday and Schwarte were rogue employees who operated on their own. The city has taken several steps, he said in his answer, to reduce the possibility of a repeat of their actions, and millions of dollars in upgrades are planned to eliminate issues that have caused past violations at the plant, which was built in 1961 at 3100 S. Lewis Blvd. and accepts industrial, commercial and residential wastewater from Sioux City, Sergeant Bluff, South Sioux City, North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes. Those actions include last year's hiring of a second utilities director to focus on wastewater treatment plant operations. The city is planning a new UV disinfection system that will eliminate the need for chemicals such as chlorine, and a secondary treatment process has been enacted for increased ammonia removal. "The city has taken substantial affirmative action and made significant financial investments to improve the operations of the WWTP," Cook said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango on Tuesday urged the 10 member countries of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) to promote sustainable water use among riparian countries, saying the number of users has tripled in the past four years. Addressing the 16th Nile Day commemorations in the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam, Mpango said water users of the Nile River Basin had almost tripled from 238 million people in 2018 to 778 million in 2021. Mpango said more than 300 million people depend on water from the Nile River Basin for various economic activities including irrigation, trade, transportation and fishery, warning that the increase of population and human activities, including farming, mining and discharge of industrial effluents posed great threat to the giant river and its resources. "All Nile riparian states need to collectively work to secure our water source. These challenges can easily be managed if we cooperate and initiate joint initiatives for capacity development," said Mpango. Sylvester Matemu, the NBI executive director, said in the last 23 years, the NBI has been implementing several short-term and long-term projects and strategies aimed to strengthen the protection of the basin. The one-day Nile Day commemorations attracted more than 1,500 people from African and foreign countries. Nile Day is an annual event held in commemoration of the establishment of the unprecedented NBI on Feb. 22, 1999, by ministers in charge of water affairs in the Nile Basin countries. It provides an opportunity for the people of Nile Basin to come together to celebrate the benefits of Nile cooperation and exchange experiences, views and ideas on topical issues related to the cooperative management and development of the common Nile Basin water and related resources. NBI member states are Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. Eritrea participates as an observer. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday announced the appointment of Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon as his special representative to the African Union and head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU). He will succeed Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana to whom the secretary-general expresses his deep gratitude and appreciation for her dedicated service. Onanga-Anyanga brings over 25 years of progressively responsible experience at the national, regional and international levels with extensive experience with the United Nations, both in conflict-affected areas and at headquarters. He brings to the position well-honed skills in building consensus among stakeholders and his knowledge of the organization to strengthen the partnership between the UN and the AU in the area of peace and security, according to a press note issued by the secretary-general's office. He served since 2019 as the special envoy of the UN secretary-general for the Horn of Africa. Prior to that, he served as special representative of the secretary-general and head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). In his previous capacities, he was the coordinator of United Nations Headquarters Response to the Boko Haram crisis as well as special representative of the secretary-general for Burundi and head of the United Nations Office in Burundi. Previously, he served as the chef de cabinet to the president of the 59th session of the General Assembly and as special adviser to the president of the 60th and 61st sessions of the General Assembly. Another police officer who has come forward with concerns about sexual harassment and discrimination within the Lincoln Police Department has been suspended and now is the subject of an Internal Affairs investigation. Officer Luke Bonkiewicz has been a visible part of LPD, working in part as a public information officer until last year, when he was moved to education and personnel. The Internal Affairs investigation of Bonkiewicz is one of at least half a dozen made of officers who have complained about sexual discrimination or harassment or who have supported the women who have. Two lawsuits have been filed so far, in addition to one that was settled last month. Bonkiewicz who received a Mayor's Award of Excellence in 2014 for studying LPD's mental health referral program and in 2018 was named a National Institute of Justice LEADS Scholar for his work using scientific evidence in evidence-based policing was suspended without pay Feb. 8. Asked about the decision to suspend Bonkiewicz, Chief Teresa Ewins did not refer to him by name, but issued a statement Feb. 11: "Due to public interest of this issue and our ongoing effort to provide greater transparency with our community, I am informing the public I received information that would indicate an employee with this department did not fully and accurately provide information to an Internal Affairs investigator." She said in light of the allegation, she placed the employee on a 30-day suspension while the matter was thoroughly investigated. In the emailed statement, Ewins called it a personnel matter and said she wouldn't name the employee or provide additional details. She said the investigation does not detract from the great work of LPD. Every day, the women and men of the department serve the community with integrity and selfless dedication to public safety and that work will continue, Ewins said. Requests for comment made to Bonkiewicz by the Journal Star went unanswered. A week before his suspension, Bonkiewicz's name appeared on a journal article in Police Quarterly, along with former LPD Officer Angela Sands, who was fired in December, and three others from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, titled Police Sexual Violence: A Study of Policewomen as Victims, which examines instances of sexual violence against women within police departments. His name has since been removed from the article. The women interviewed for the article broadly blamed a prevailing sexist culture at their agencies from rank-and-file officers to administrators for assaults occurring and going unreported. Research suggests it's uncommon, the authors wrote. "Nonetheless, its existence and constant threat of occurrence within a profession designed to prevent and investigate such incidents is sobering." The study included female officers across three states in the Midwest, South and East regions of the U.S., and didn't name any specific police departments. But some of the allegations outlined mirror allegations made in recent lawsuits against the city of Lincoln. In January, Officer Erin Spilker filed the most recent, alleging years of discrimination based on her sex and insufficient efforts to investigate her reports. In an email obtained by the self-described left-leaning website Seeing Red Nebraska sent from Bonkiewicz to Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's chief of staff nearly a year ago, Bonkiewicz described a "dark undercurrent" in the Lincoln Police Department. He said there was "a pervasive subculture that marginalizes female sworn officers, ignores reports of sexual harassment, and fosters an environment that discourages women from reporting both sexual harassment and sexual assaults committed by male employees." In the email, he said in his 10 years at LPD, he's spoken with many women about their experiences in the department. "To be sure, many of them report positive experiences, and LPD is an exceptional agency in many respects. However, many women also report atrociously sexist and even assaultive behavior by male co-workers," Bonkiewicz wrote in the email sent in March 2021 to Jennifer Brinkman. He listed more than a dozen incidents, including accounts where a male officer groped a female officer's breasts at an off-duty gathering; male officers showed cruiser camera or body-worn camera footage of sexual assault victims (some nude) to other officers; a male officer grabbed a female officer's butt as she checked out equipment for her shift; and a captain tried to groom new female officers, telling them they had to sleep with him or their career would suffer. Bonkiewicz said some perpetrators have left the department, but many remain. "This problem did not suddenly emerge, and it will not suddenly disappear. It will take leadership of the highest caliber to address this problem and bring about a massive, sorely overdue cultural change," he wrote in the email, which he said was intended to provide feedback to the mayor as she chose the next police chief. The city denied the Journal Star's public-records request for Bonkiewicz's email. Assistant City Attorney Danielle Rowley said it was exempt from disclosure under a state statute involving records developed by law enforcement that "constituted a part of the examination, investigation, intelligence information, citizen complaints or inquiries." The city, however, did release a second email requested by the Journal Star, sent Jan. 1, 2021, from Sands, Spilker, Melissa Ripley and Sara Khalil to Gaylor Baird regarding the search for a new police chief. "Fearing for our careers and safety, there were occasions we stayed silent. We can no longer tolerate the hostile and discriminatory work environment that plagues this department, and we hope for a more promising future not only for ourselves, but for other female officers and potential female recruits that our force so desperately needs." Each of the women is represented by attorney Kelly Brandon in current or anticipated lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and retaliation for reporting. On Monday, City Attorney Yohance Christie said he was unable to comment on Bonkiewicz's suspension. This is a personnel matter. We owe an obligation to our employees to keep their personal information confidential. I will not be commenting on personnel issues. In January, city officials briefed the City Council on the situation at LPD during an executive session, at the request of council members. Councilman Tom Beckius, who asked for the briefing, said the purpose was to learn more about the efforts being undertaken by the Lincoln Police Department to ensure all employees have a safe workplace." After reviewing department policies and trainings, I do not believe there is a need to intervene, Beckius said Monday. But I will be paying close attention as pending complaints are heard and decided. City Council Chairman James Michael Bowers also said in a separate statement Monday that the council will continue to monitor the situation. In recent months it has become public that several female LPD officers have filed lawsuits alleging sex discrimination, he said. We support the right of everyone to seek redress through our court system, and we do not condone harassment of any kind. While we expect that these matters will be disposed of appropriately through our judicial branch, the court system, we can assure you that we will closely monitor these cases and act accordingly upon any conclusion. Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger Reporters Andrew Wegley and Margaret Reist contributed to this story. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Legislature has launched a formal investigation into a workplace sexual harassment complaint lodged against former state Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte who abruptly resigned over the weekend in the wake of allegations by a female member of his staff. At the same time, Attorney General Doug Peterson informed Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha that "we will begin our review of the matter" in a response to her request for an investigation of what transpired. Hunt requested such a probe in a letter to the attorney general and the Nebraska State Patrol. Groene is accused of taking photos of the staff member without her knowledge and then distributing them in private communications accompanied by allegedly inappropriate remarks. Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, informed his colleagues that he has named Sens. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, John Arch of LaVista and Tom Briese of Albion to launch a formal investigation and hire an outside investigator to conduct an official legislative probe. "I am aware of no evidence that any other senator or staff were involved in, shared or received pictures from Sen. Groene," Hughes told members of the Legislature. "Legislative IT staff searched Sen. Groene's laptop and his personal cellphone, including his e-mails and hard drives. They discovered no evidence that Sen. Groene sent pictures to any third party, and not to any senator or staff," he said. The uproar over the fast-moving weekend disclosure that prompted Groene's abrupt resignation occupied the Legislature's morning session Tuesday with a number of female senators challenging their male colleagues to deal with the reality of sexual harassment and discrimination which they said they have confronted throughout their lives and during incidents within the Legislature. "You need to listen to us," Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said after filing a legislative motion that required all senators to return to the floor of the Legislature if they were not already there to hear what they had to say. The ensuing discussion then consisted almost solely of remarks by the Legislature's female senators directed at their male colleagues as well as all American males. "We minimize these things so often," Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said. "It happens to so many of us," Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said. "You can do better," Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said. "We need an outside formal investigation," Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln declared. "I stand with you as an ally," Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling, who often is in disagreement with many of her female colleagues, said. "I'm all in." Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha was the only male senator other than Hughes to participate in the debate. "I'm committed to address this," he said. "It's not just Groene's actions; it's the culture." Hughes said the three-member committee he has appointed will prepare a report following its investigation that will be shared with the public as well as the Legislature. "I want to stress that if the panel uncovers evidence of any potential criminal activity, that information will be referred to the attorney general for appropriate action," he said. "Further, while the information to date has shown that Sen. Groene acted alone, and that no other senators or staff were aware of his actions, if the formal investigation uncovers that more individuals were involved, or were aware and did nothing, appropriate action will be taken." Hughes told his colleagues that he is aware of "no evidence that any senator, whether on the Executive Board, or otherwise, or any staff, discouraged the complainant from exercising her rights." Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of Groenes term. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES A proposed solution to a shortage of child care workers and openings in Iowa was approved Monday by the Iowa Senate. Workers at child care centers would be allowed to watch more children, potentially creating new child care slot openings, under the proposal from Senate Republicans. Under current law, child care centers can contain up to six 2-year-olds for each worker and up to eight 3-year-olds for each worker. Senate Republicans proposal would increase those ratios, allowing centers to have seven 2-year-olds for each worker and ten 3-year-olds for each worker. The change provides an option for centers to adjust their ratios; it does not require any changes. (The proposal) could not come a moment too soon, as workforce issues continue to challenge Iowans, said Sen. Jeff Edler, R-State Center. I believe in our day care providers and their making decisions around the care of children. We are empowering them to possibly get one more parent to work because they can get one more child. The proposal, Senate File 2268, passed on a party-line vote with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. Democrats warned changing the ratios could place additional stress on child care staff at a time when centers are already facing a shortage of workers. If you think for one minute that this is going to do anything to solve the workforce crisis in Iowa, you are dead wrong. It will only make things worse, said Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque. This is about the safety of children. Why would we ever think about compromising that? You want to solve a workforce crisis, pay (the workers higher wages). Edler said the new ratios would make Iowas similar to those in Minnesota, Illinois and Missouri. With its passage in the Senate, the bill is now eligible for consideration by the House, which has considered a similar proposal. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 To visit Philadelphias Joseph Fox Bookshop in the last two weeks of January was to attend a wake. Tucked away on a narrow one-way street in the heart of Center City, the 71-year-old institution held a special magic. Its neatly curated selection of hip novels, architectural tomes, and childrens literature was framed by pleasantly tasteful interior decor and soothing lighting. Everyone behind the counter knew their stuff and would gladly recommend a gift, even if you were only half-sure about the recipients favorite novel. Advertisement So when rumors began to spread on Twitter that the beloved staple might soon close, a story soon confirmed by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the reaction was dramatic. Just paid my respects to the best bookstore in Philadelphia. Joseph Fox will be so missed. (They close tomorrow and still have a lot of great stuff) pic.twitter.com/BPRCmbb84A Alex Lewis (@alexjrlewis) January 28, 2022 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joseph Fox Bookshop, arguably Philadelphias best bookshop (for new titles) is closing! I cant tell you how sad I am. I love bookstores ans this was really one of my favorites, just a few doors down from my office. Schwah is unfeignedly thankful (@jtchestnuts) January 14, 2022 I wasnt prepared for the outpouring of emotion, says Michael Fox, 69, whose father opened the shop in 1951. People were crying outside the book store, people were bringing us presents and food. Theres been this extraordinary outpouring of affection and sadness. Advertisement Joseph Fox was thronged in those last weeks of business, its narrow rowhouse confines bursting with grieving loyalists. While locals mourned for one Philadelphia icon, however, there were also dark murmurings about a potentially much greater malady. Is Center City experiencing a retail meltdown? Nearly two years into the era of remote work, are Philadelphias downtown, and other central business districts around the country, finally collapsing? The relatively high-end commercial corridors of Walnut and Chestnut streetsboth hit hard by the shutdown and looting and property destruction in 2020are still pocked with vacancies. Their counterparts on Miami Beachs Lincoln Road, Chicagos Magnificent Mile, and Manhattans SoHo all saw vacancy rates of 20 percent or higher in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Walnut Street used to be this vibrant, thriving, amazing community of stores, all these big chain clothing storesand theyre just not reopening, says Fox. At six oclock when we close, theres no one on the street. Thats a real indication that something changed. People are not in town, they arent working. Advertisement Advertisement This is very specifically a downtown problem. At the macro level, the national retail market is proving resilient two years into the pandemic, with many of its weaker performers already culled by the retail apocalypse of 2018 and 2019. For the first time since 2014, the real estate analytics company CoStar Group tracked more store openings than closings last year. Buoyed by unprecedented amounts of federal support for households and businesses in 2020 and early 2021, paired with increased savings due to inactivity earlier in the pandemic, Americans pounded down the doors of national retailers last year. Advertisement Retail sales blew through the roof at a much higher rate than we would have ever expected and consumption hit all-time highs, says Brandon Svec, national director of U.S. retail analytics with the CoStar Group. The consumer was unleashed back into the world with vaccines in their arms and a couple extra trillion dollars in their bank accounts. Advertisement Advertisement That larger truth obscures inequities. The booming metropolitan areas of the Southeast and Southwest are outperforming more stagnant counterparts in the Northeast and Midwest. Rural regions continue to suffer from a dearth of retail activity, while suburbs are outperforming urban cores especially in older, denser cities like Philadelphia. Michael Fox isnt imagining things when he laments reduced foot traffic and boarded up storefronts. By the count of Philadelphias Center City District, a third of downtown consumers are still absent. In 2019, an average of 428,000 people walked the streets of central Philadelphia every day. In 2021, there were only 267,000a gap almost entirely explained by the continued prevalence of remote work. Advertisement The suburbs continue to outperform street-level urban retail, especially in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Chicago, says Svec. Its not where it was in the depths of the pandemic, but its coming back much slower. It isnt even back to its pre-pandemic self, whereas many suburbs around the country are better off than theyve ever been. Advertisement Within the ranks of slowly recovering urban cores, Philadelphia is one of the uglier cases, but it gets worse. The places that are having the hardest time pulling out of the pandemic may be cities with the most vulnerability to remote-work trends. San Jose and San Francisco have seen especially stunted comebacks, due to their extremely high housing costs and the fact that many of their core tech jobs can be done outside the office. Advertisement Advertisement In terms of employment in leisure, hospitality, and retail, these two Bay Area behemoths are in the biggest hole compared to their pre-pandemic baseline. But right behind them is Philadelphia. That may seem odd considering that the urban core had fewer highly paid professional jobs to lose: Unlike Boston or New York, the City of Brotherly Love did not see white-collar office work flood back into downtown in the early 21st century. But Philadelphia may suffer a different weakness. The city derives the lions share of its revenue from a municipal wage tax, which suburbanites who work in town pay too (although at a lower rate than residents). It pulls in about $875 million annually from out-of-towners alone. If hybrid work is here to stay, nonurban residents may pressure their employers to move their jobs to locations where they can keep more of their paychecks, or simply seek out new jobs outside the city in a historically tight labor market. Advertisement Philadelphias in a deeper hole, a weaker recovery than the Northeast metros of similar size, says Matt Colyar, an economist with Moodys Analytics. Vacancy rates are higher than the region for retail office space, higher than the U.S. Our forecast is for that to continue. Theres something else slowing the recovery back to Philadelphia. Advertisement Advertisement Colyar thinks that the prevalence of remote work, the wage tax, and the affordability of the suburbs (in comparison to Washington D.C. or New York City) are all tamping down Philadelphias comeback. Advertisement Advertisement But residential construction in Philadelphia is booming, with the most residential permits pulled last year in decades, including in the neighborhoods around the former Joseph Fox bookstore. (Manhattans thoroughfares are notably free of tumbleweeds, although the job recovery still lags too.) Increased local population could offset some of the losses from absent office workers. Advertisement This is an advantage that Philadelphia already enjoys. Center City is unusual among American downtowns in that it has a residential population of 60,000 in addition to its office cluster, and a further 130,000 living in neighborhoods immediately adjoining it. Thats kept more consumer dollars flowing into local central restaurants and retail than in the downtowns of neighbors like Baltimore or Washington, D.C. We have a very unique, very dense downtown and that [residential population] has been a really important buffer from the worst of the situation, says Paul Levy, president of the Center City District. Our strength is the diversity of demand thats kept so many businesses open. Advertisement Downtown boosters note that the vacant storefronts people see on Walnut and Chestnut, and their equivalents in Miami and Chicago, should not be seen as a permanent state of affairs. Advertisement Commercial real estate brokers say that it can take, at best, six to 12 months to get a new business into a storefront. That means that many facades that look vacant in downtowns right now will soon be lively again. Theres a lot more to the story than just vacant storefronts, says Jacob Cooper, managing director at MSC, a commercial brokerage firm. On the 1700 block of Walnut Street, which is seen as the bellwether of retail health in the city, if you walk down the street now you see a lot of for lease signs. But I can tell you 90 percent of that space is fully committed to. Advertisement It is businesses like Joseph Foxsmall, independent shops owned by older peoplethat are most likely to be missed when cities return to their rhythms in the wake of the pandemic. After the past two years of pandemic, civil unrest, and economic uncertainty, Cooper says he understands why people are pessimistic about the retail climate. But by the summer, he believes Philadelphiansand other urbaniteswill be confronting a reinvigorated streetscape. Advertisement But it will not be the same city as the one we left in 2019. Cozily grotty dive bars, sleek cafes, unique eateries like the Hawaiian lunch counter Poi Dog, and lovingly curated independent shops play a huge part in urban life. They represent homes away from small apartments, gathering places to meet others of your kind (or a totally different batch of weirdos). When they are lost, they take something indelible with them. Advertisement Advertisement It is businesses like Joseph Foxsmall, independent shops owned by older peoplethat are most likely to be missed when cities return to their rhythms in the wake of the pandemic. The nearly half-century old headshop Wonderland, a mainstay of the citys stoner contingent, also closed this year as its owner decided to retire in the face of declining sales. Cooper says that anecdotally hes heard from a lot of legacy business owners, both retail and restaurateurs, who have decided that these years of instability and chaos are a good time to retire. Think of it as the Great Resignation, but for small business owners. Advertisement The last few years have just been really exhausting to run a retail business of any sort, says Cooper. If there was an inkling or a motivation to retire or make a different life decision, its a good time to do it. There arent great statistics on this phenomenon, but the American Booksellers Association says that in 2021 they saw 38 of their member stores change hands instead of closing. (Thats almost as many as the 41 that shuttered permanently.) Another side of the Great Resignation, in addition to older owners calling it a day, is that those who have long dreamed of opening a bookstore may finally take the chance. Advertisement Advertisement For Michael Fox, in the wake of his stores hectic final days, this explanation holds a lot of merit. He decided to close up shop largely because he did a lot of business selling books through corporate events, book talks, and the lecture series at the Free Library of Philadelphia. All those sales dried up because of the pandemic and havent come back. But that was an accelerant to a decision he would have faced soon anyway, regardless of the pandemic. It [the pandemic] kind of pushed us over the edge, says Fox. I mean, look, probably in a few years, I would have closed anyway. Last week, the federal district court for the District of Columbia broke new ground in the law of the presidency. It ruled for the first time in the countrys history that a former commander in chief may be held liable in a civil lawsuit for the harm caused by his conduct while he served. In Thompson v. Trump, Judge Amit Mehta rejected former President Donald Trumps bid to dismiss three consolidated lawsuits brought by 11 congressional representatives and two Capitol police officers to hold Trump to account for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Advertisement The suit alleges that Trump and Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members violated 42 U.S.C. 1985(1), part of the Reconstruction-era Ku Klux Klan Act. It, in the courts words, aimed at eliminating extralegal violence committed by white supremacist and vigilante groups like the Ku Klux Klan and protecting federal officials against conspiratorial acts directed at preventing them from performing their duties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The decision means that the plaintiffs may proceed to discovery against Trump unless a higher court intervenes to stay such discovery. Though a ruling that denies a motion to dismiss is not final and therefore ordinarily unappealable, the Supreme Court decision in Nixon v. Fitzgerald gives Trump a near-automatic right to appeal. Nixon held that a district court decision like this one, rejecting a motion to dismiss a complaint based on a former presidents claim of presidential immunity, is immediately appealable. The Supreme Court reasoned that otherwise, essential presidential prerogatives under the separation of powers might be threatened. Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, the ruling is a giant step toward presidential accountability. Previous case law is often read to mean, in the memorable words of University of Texas constitutional law professor Steve Vladeck, that the executive has a human form no different from any other persons and an institutional form that is untouchable. In Nixon, which involved a whistleblower who sued the former president for retaliating against him for congressional testimony about wasteful defense spending, the court stated: In view of the special nature of the Presidents constitutional office and functions, we think it appropriate to recognize absolute Presidential immunity from damages liability for acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility. Advertisement But in Clinton v. Jones, the 1997 case in which a former state employee alleged that Bill Clinton had sexually harassed her while he was Arkansas governor, the Supreme Court held that Clinton was not immune for conduct beyond the scope of any action taken in an official capacity as president. Advertisement Still, before Fridays ruling, no court had held a former chief executive subject to civil suit for what he did while president. That is one of several things that make the case groundbreaking. Advertisement Advertisement As to the first, Trumps nonimmunity, the district court concluded that his actions leading up to and on Jan. 6 did not relate to his official duties but rather to his efforts to remain in office. In support, the court painstakingly recited the complaints allegations of Trump urging Republican officials in Michigan and Arizona to overturn the election, as well as saying to Georgias Secretary of State, I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Further, regarding Trumps speech on Jan. 6, the court found that its main thrust was not focused on policy or legislation. It was to complain about perceived cases of election fraud [and] to urge members of Congress to object to certain state certifications, and to exhort the Vice President to return those certifications to those states to be recertified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also highlighted that it was Trump and his campaign that proposed the march from the Ellipse to the Capitol, and that the rally permit did not authorize it. Organizing the January 6 Rally, the opinion states, involved no presidential function. Second, the district court did something with implications for a potential prosecution of Trump. The court concluded that one could plausibly read his words on Jan. 6 as directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and [were] likely to produce such action. The quotation states the Supreme Courts test in Brandenburg v. Ohio, for words unprotected by the First Amendment. No court has ever so condemned a presidents speech. Mehta heavily emphasized the context that supported his conclusion: Before January 6th, the President and others had created an air of distrust and anger among his supporters by creating the false narrative that the election literally was stolen. In the weeks after the election, some had made threats against state election officials and others clashed with police. It is reasonable to infer that the President would have known that some supporters viewed his invitation [to D.C. on Jan. 6] as a call to action. [His] words stoked an already inflamed crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Significantly, the court rejected Trumps invocation of the First Amendment regarding his isolated calls to protest peacefully: They cannot inoculate him, the opinion states, given that he urged them to fight like hell immediately before sending rally-goers to the Capitol. The courts decision to dismiss the suits against defendants Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani bolsters its condemnation of the then president. Mehta held that because Giulianis and Trumps sons words did not go as far as Trumps, the other defendants speeches were worthy of First Amendment protection. The case is unique in a third way. As Joseph M. Sellers, attorney for 10 of the 11 prevailing congressional representatives, told me, While most conspiracies have been formed in the past through agreements reached in furtive telephone calls or backroom meetings, this conspiracy was formed through communications on social media. Advertisement Mehtas opinion pointed to the call-and-response quality of the presidents communications. When he told the Proud Boys to stand back, and stand by, [Proud Boy leader Enrique Tarrio] tweeted in response, Standing by sir. When the President tweeted an invitation to the January 6 Rally, pro-Trump message boards and social media lit up with some supporters expressing a willingness to act violently, if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Based on these allegations, the court stated, it is reasonable to infer that before January 6th, the President would have known about the power of his words and that, when asked, some of his supporters would do as he wished. In finding that the complaints successfully alleged an implicit conspiracy, the court also stressed Trumps response to the Jan. 6 violence: Approximately twelve minutes after rioters entered the Capitol building, the President sent a tweet criticizing the Vice President for not hav[ing] the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ruling states: When those supporters did fight like hell, just as he had told them to, the President did not demand they act peacefully and patriotically. One final point: The court reasoned that the presidents role in an alleged conspiracy intended to interfere with congressional duty was so unprecedented that ordinarily close legal questions bend in favor of an answer that allows a suit against him to proceed. That reasoning is notable. The judge has put in writing the precise rationale for the Justice Department breaking a tradition of not prosecuting a former president: His seeking to overturn an election and fomenting lawlessness are completely beyond prior American experience. Whatever this groundbreaking decisions fate on appeal, the district court has affirmed the central meaning of a constitutional republic: Not even a former president is above the law. In the most dramatic event yet of this monthslong crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Monday that he will recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk districts in Ukraines Donbas regionmuch of which is controlled by pro-Russia separatists who have been fighting a war against the Ukrainian army for eight years. A subsequent decree further said that he will be sending Russian troops into the region to perform peacekeeping functions. He haswith no evidenceaccused the Ukrainian army of committing acts of genocide against Russian-speaking people in the region. He will say the troops are necessary to protect them from further violence. Advertisement What happens next depends on two things: whether Putin actually follows through on the decree; and, if he does, whether the tanks roll just into the sections of Donbas controlled by the separatistsor whether he tries to occupy the entire region, some of which the separatists do not control. The latter would be an act of war against Ukraine. (Arguably, doing the former would be as well.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would have to fight back. Western leaders would have to respond with sanctions, more arms deliveries, and other forms of military assistance. It would soon escalate into the largest, deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II. Putin might then take these responses as further provocation to undermine, subvert, or otherwise attack government officials or entities in the capital of Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement In any case, President Biden and other Western leaders have made clear in recent days that any invasion of Ukrainian territory would trigger the severe package of sanctions against Russiaand would also be taken as proof that Putin was never serious about pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Putins recognition of the Donbas provinces comes as a surprise. A few weeks ago, he convinced Russias parliament, the Duma, not to vote on a bill to recognize the breakaway districts, which the separatists call the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republic. He preferred to keep the areas inside Ukraine, so that a political settlement of the civil war would give the separatists a voicepossibly a vetoin Ukrainian politics and foreign policy, thus keeping Ukraine within Russias sphere of influence. Recognizing their independenceperhaps as a prelude to annexing them as part of Russiamight give the rest of Ukraine a freer hand to lean into Western institutions such as the European Union, or even NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Putins Monday announcement came at the end of a fiery, hourlong televised speech in which he railed against NATO expansion, accused Ukraine of fomenting aggression, and described the few-hundred U.S. military advisers in Ukraine as a serious, very big threat to Russia, chargingfalselythat they are helping Ukraine build weapons of mass destruction. He also delved into history grievances, claiming that Ukraine was the creation of Bolshevik founder V.I. Lenin and that it still owes unpaid debts from its decades as a republic of the Soviet Union. Putin has said before that Ukraine is not a real country, and he still seems to think so. Advertisement Advertisement Putin ended his speech by saying he had no choice but to respond to what he called Ukraines threats not only against the separatists in Donbas but also against the Russian Federation. He added, All responsibility for continued bloodshed will lay solely on the Ukrainian leadership. Advertisement Advertisement After his speech, Putin signed a declaration of fraternity and mutual help with the separatist leaders. He left some space opena matter of hours, possibly days, before he actually sent in troops and tanks. Optimists may see this delay as a sign of some flexibilityone last chance for wrangling a diplomatic solution. But, in tone and substance, his speech offered no hint of desire for further engagement with Western negotiators on the subject. Advertisement Advertisement Before his speech, Putin called French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, even though he has said that the United States is the only country worth negotiating with. He may have called the two European leaders, who have eagerly sought the role of peacemakers, hoping to coax them into accepting the new situation. If so, he got no satisfaction from the calls; both leaders expressed opposition to Putins move. Advertisement Secretary of State Antony Blinken was scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Europe on Thursday. Blinken has said he wouldnt go if Russian troops invaded Ukraine in the meantime. Are Putins announcement and decree sufficient reasons to call off the meeting, even if the troops havent yet crossed the border? If not, do the two top diplomats still have anything to talk about? Its unclear. Soon after the speech, the European Union announced it would slap sanctions on anyone who was involved in recognizing the two breakaway republics. (Does this include Putin himself?) White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would soon sign an executive orderclearly predrafted, in case something like this happenedto ban trade or investment in any part of the breakaway regions. She emphasized that these moves are independent of the vast package of sanctions Biden and other leaders plan to impose if Russian troops cross into Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fact that Biden and the others havent yet unleashed the other sanctions is recognition that we are not yet in a state of war. But Putin has now carved out an odd, turbulent zone for himself, his country, and all of Europe. If hes still hoping for a favorable way out of this crisis, he has a bizarre way of showing it. Then again, everything hes been doing and saying in recent months is more than a touch bizarre. Were not in the endgame yet, but the road to the end is very clear, and it looks bleak. Earlier on Monday, Putin held a televised meeting of his Security Council, asking for a spontaneous discussion of whether to recognize the breakaway republics, though the meeting was clearly stilted andjudging from the time shown on one of the participants watchmay have been prerecorded. All but two of the members expressed rapt enthusiasm for recognition, and the exceptions were slapped down. As the Guardian described the exchange, Sergey Naryshkin, the head of Russias spy service who is known for making savage anti-Western statements, stuttered uncomfortably as Putin grilled him on whether he supported the decision. He finally did just that, and Putinwho had yelled at him, twice, Speak directly!smirked at his submission. Later, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin spoke briefly and drily, looking visibly uncomfortable. Putin asked him directly if he supported the move. Mishutsin mumbled that he did. Putin is clearly in firm, perhaps total, control of Kremlin policy. He brooks no dissent whatever. He is also said to be in near-total isolation, phobic of catching COVID and influenced more than usual by a handful of hawkish ultra-nationalists. The combination may have made him much more confident of his judgments than any leader should be when making decisions as drastic as the ones on his agenda in the past weeks and the coming days. The worst day of Nicole Hockleys life was Dec. 14, 2012when her son Dylan was found shot dead, cradled in the arms of his favorite aide, who was also dead, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Within days, Nicole co-founded Sandy Hook Promise, an organization to combat gun violence, and began lobbying for gun reform. Then, she and eight other Sandy Hook families sued Remington Arms, the maker of the AR-15-style weapon used for the Newtown massacre. Last week, they won a $73 million settlement in the case. On Tuesdays episode of What Next, I spoke with Hockley about why the Sandy Hook families took a different approach to gun safety, and how they were successful in going after a gun manufacturer. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nicole Hockley: In April 2013, when something as simple as background check legislation failed and became politicized, we took a step back and said, Its like any problem: If you cant solve it one way, you figure out a different way. So we went dark for a little over a year while we did a lot of research, looked into a lot of groups with gun owners and nongun owners, and talked to a lot of educators and studied social change. Thats when we really started understanding the levers that you pull for social change: around legal levers, around education and grassroots voices, around programs and generational change and behavioral change. You need to change behaviors before you can change or enact policies to enforce and reinforce those behaviors. Advertisement Advertisement Its a long-term thing, but this is a massive problem thats not going away. Passing background checks would not have stopped gun violence in America. You need to do all the other levers as well. So thats when we said, Well, no ones focusing on programs, no ones focusing on education, so we will turn our efforts there and still advocate for change at a state and federal level. But the majority of the work that Sandy Hook Promise does is on education. Advertisement Mary Harris: What would you say to someone who might say to you that intervening with mental health is great, but in the United States, theres the fact that theres a gun out there for every man, woman, and child, probably more? That we have these dangerous objects scattered around the country and very accessible is a bigger problem? Advertisement I think the number of guns and the easy accessibility to them is a significant problem. However, I dont think thats a problem that is going to go away. Theres a huge amount of pride in gun ownership in America. I think the bigger win right now is focusing on safe storage. If everyone practiced safe storage, then we wouldnt see the several tens of thousands of deaths by suicide, or the school shootings where the kids are bringing the guns from the home without their parents knowledge. If the guns are there, how do we ensure appropriate access and responsible ownership? If we get those two right, then I think youd see the level of gun violence go down considerably. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You were looking into a pathway to legal accountability for gun manufacturers, and was told that pathway didnt exist. Thats because these manufacturers had successfully lobbied for protection from liability if their weapons were used to commit crimes. The federal law shielding them is called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, or PLACA for short. But the Sandy Hook families filed suit anyway, in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement I had a lot of meetings with different law firms about whats even possible here legally. When talking about the gun manufacturer itself, every law firm that I spoke to said, You cant touch it. Why? Because of PLACA, which passed in 2005. The gun industry is the only one that is granted this blanket immunity. Its absolutely ridiculous. Under it, I think the only cause where you could ever have a lawsuit is if the firearm doesnt do its jobif its faulty, for example. But if its used in a mass shooting, its protected. Advertisement The path you did find around PLACA was through Connecticut state consumer law. The suit you ended up filing alleged that Remington knowingly used dangerous advertisements directed at young, disaffected men. Catalogs claimed their assault weapons were for the free. People carrying assault rifles were portrayed as classically masculine heroes. Can you lay out what these ads looked like? There was the one with the picture of the rifle that said something like, consider your man card reissued. Theres a similar that looks like a lone shooter standing in the shadows with the firearm and says, Clear the roofs, save the kidnaped victim, powers of opposition bow down. Its really tapping into this piece of masculinity and intimidation, and making someone more powerful because theyre using an AR-15-style rifle. There was a banner ad where it was like, if you had a friend who perhaps was not as masculine as you thought he should be or was, give them his name and email address, and theyll presumably market the rifle to him to make him more of a man. If you are aggrieved, if you are seeking vengeance, if you are someone who has been bullied, well, you can be a man if you have an AR-15-style rifle because everyones going to be afraid of you. Then you see it end up in a school shooting environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your suit accused Remington of violating a Connecticut law against deceptive trade practices. It went to the Connecticut Supreme Court and got appealed all the way up to the Supreme Court, and the justices had to decide if these could even move forward. Since the lawsuit was filed, Remington has actually gone bankrupt. But last week, the insurance companies that held Remingtons policies reached a settlement with you and the families. But theres a different win here: the discovery documents that are going to be released from inside Remingtons business operations. It was always about the documents. Its never, ever been about the money. I have no interest whatsoever in in the settlement figure. It was all about having access to the documents. The lawyers knew what the bar was in terms of, We need to have something thats really going to educate people and show that this was intentional, that this was incredibly well-thought-through in terms of what Remington needed to do to maintain profits and increase profits. And now, we can see its collated. Its data-marked. We can present these documents and use that to show the public and create change that way. There is no proverbial smoking gun here with a memo saying we need to target violence-prone young men. That doesnt exist. We would have never gotten that. But theres enough now to share, to really paint that story of an actually very responsible gun manufacturer that lost its way when it was forced to focus on profits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Youve been pretty clear that part of the value of what just happened with this settlement was that it sets a precedent. It shows a way forward for other victims who want accountability and is also a signal to banks and insurers that gun manufacturing is a high-risk industry. I wonder how you see what happens next. Do you anticipate a flood of lawsuits like yours? Advertisement Advertisement There are already lawsuits out there. So itll be interesting to see. We worked through a very narrow policy specific to Connecticut. Not all states have that law. But I do think it provides a way, and I also think it provides hope to others who have been hurt, whove heard the same arguments that I heard at the start: This is an impenetrable industry. Its completely immune. You cant accept that as an answer. And for insurance companies in particular, they may be revising the way they underwrite gun manufacturers so it will affect premiums and levels of coverage. I hope that that will also be used to ensure safer business practices. This is not going to put anyone out of business. This is not about stopping the manufacture of firearms. Its about ensuring that there are safer processes and business practices in place, and more responsibility. I think this is the start of change. Do you have a plan for making the marketing documents public in a way that people will know about? Were still working on the process of, how do you house all this? How does the data collection and marketing work? How do you build the story, and how do you share that out? There will be a plan, and I dont have a timeline yet, but Im itching to get started on that for sure. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. CAIRO, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) 's approval to grant six African countries the technology to manufacture mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccines would boost international efforts to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, Egyptian experts and officials said. On Friday, WHO announced that Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will be part of a project that aims to enable low-and middle-income countries to manufacture mRNA vaccines in line with international standards. The project also intends to reduce Africa's reliance on vaccine manufacturers outside the continent. Dr. Naeema Al Gasseer, WHO's representative in Egypt, stressed the significance of the decision, saying that the transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology would boost international efforts to confront the pandemic. "Africa has received vaccines less than any other continent," al- Al Gasseer told Xinhua, affirming that the WHO approval is meant to achieve health security for the international community. She noted that the countries that have been granted the right to manufacture the vaccine already possess the required personnel competence, technological capabilities, and large financial investments, as well as the great political will to make this procedure a success. "There is an opportunity to strengthen partnerships to transfer vaccine manufacturing technology, whether between the developed countries and the six countries, or among the six countries themselves," she said, stressing that the WHO will play a fundamental role in supporting the pharmaceutical industries in Africa and the economic growth in these countries. The UN official praised China's cooperation since the beginning of the pandemic with various countries, especially the developing ones, and its initiative to cooperate with Egypt and a number of other developing countries in the production of coronavirus vaccines. For his part, Dr. Islam Anan, an Egyptian professor of health economics, epidemiology and virology, said that the WHO's decision is an "important step" that will contribute significantly to containing the pandemic. Anan added that the two continents most affected by the lack of vaccines are Africa and South America, stressing that Africa is the main gateway to prevent virus mutations. In this regard, he valued the WHO plans to assist African countries through transferring medical technology to manufacture vaccines locally, instead of "begging rich or vaccine-manufacturing countries to support poor ones." He pointed out that the transfer of drug and vaccine technology generally takes two years, "but during the pandemic, it may take only six months." Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmed Shahin, professor of virology at Zagazig University in Egypt, confirmed that granting these African countries the technology for the manufacture of mRNA vaccines will play a prominent role in the localization of vaccine and drug manufacturing technology in Africa, and help the international community control the pandemic. "The WHO's decision offers Egypt and other concerned African countries the opportunity to overcome the dilemma of intellectual property rights, and gives them the right to use the technology needed to manufacture vaccines against the COVID-19 pandemic," Shahin told Xinhua. He added that Egypt had made a notable leap in the production of the COVID-19 vaccines, through cooperation with China's Sinovac company, noting that the new move would make Egypt a regional hub for vaccine production. The Egyptian state-owned vaccine maker VACSERA and Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac signed two agreements in April 2021 to jointly manufacture Sinovac vaccines in VACSERA's factory in the North African country. According to the Egyptian health ministry, Egypt has produced more than 30 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine. The Supreme Court announced on Tuesday that it will decide whether civil rights laws violate the First Amendment when they compel an artist to speak or stay silent. By doing so, the court formally commenced its long-delayed project of dismantling non-discrimination laws that protect LGBTQ people. But it is not at all clear that the court will stop at LGBTQ protections. Rather, the justices have indicated that they may take a wrecking ball to the edifice of civil rights law, dismantling the constitutional foundations of non-discrimination in public accommodations. Advertisement Tuesdays grant marks a victory for the conservative campaign to undermine LGBTQ equality by granting businesses a right to discriminate. This campaign nearly succeeded in 2017s Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, which contested Colorados ability to penalize a baker who refused to provide wedding cakes to same-sex couples. But in an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Supreme Court did not decide whether this penalty violated the bakers free speech. Instead, Kennedy punted, holding that the state evinced unconstitutional hostility toward the bakers religion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now the court will answer the question left open in Masterpiece Cakeshop: Whether the government can require businesses to make art for same-sex weddings. The new case, 303 Creative v. Elenis, involves a Colorado graphic designer named Lorie Smith who refuses to create websites for same-sex couples. Off the bat, its important to note that Smith has not been asked to make a wedding website for a same-sex couple; indeed, she does not yet make wedding websites at all. (Her portfolio focuses on churches and Republican politicians.) But she plans to make such websites in the futureand when she does, she intends to turn away potential same-sex customers. Advertisement Advertisement Rather than await a conflict that may never come, Smith teamed up with Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ law firm, to proactively sue Colorado. ADF asserts that the state may one day punish Smith for discriminating against gay people, and that this threat alone violates her First Amendment rights. It even produced a gauzy promotional video for the lawsuit. When the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Smith, ADF rushed to the Supreme Court, where it hoped to wind up all along. Advertisement So 303 Creative is a test case. And, in fairness to ADF, its a clever one, because it centers on actual speechthe creation of a website, which is undoubtedly a form of expression. In Masterpiece Cakeshop, the justices got bogged down in a debate about whether baking cakes qualifies as speech under the First Amendment. During oral arguments, Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan prodded ADFs attorney to explain who, exactly, constitutes an artist with a right to deny service. A florist? A jeweler? A hair stylist? A makeup artist? A tailor? A chef? Whose services communicate a message (triggering the First Amendment), and whose dont? ADF could not draw a cogent line. But everyone agrees that website design is speech. And that makes 303 Creative the perfect test case for this Supreme Court, because it can strike a pose of modesty while laying the groundwork for a revolution against civil rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 303 Creative is not limited to same-sex couples. This process may have already begun. In taking up a new case, SCOTUS sometimes rewrites the question presented to frame the case more narrowlyor broadly. Here, it wrote a question that frames the free speech issue in sweeping terms: Whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement In one sense, this question may disappoint ADF. The group teed up 303 Creative as a double-whammy, asking the Supreme Court to cut back non-discrimination statutes and overturn Employment Division v. Smith, which strictly limited religious exemptions under the free exercise clause. But using this case to topple Smith was always a longshot; its a free speech case with a free exercise claim grafted on, because ADF has nothing to lose at this Supreme Court. The organization should be pleased that, while shaving off the religious liberty claim, SCOTUS turbocharged the free speech claim, framing it in terms that imperil all civil rights laws. Advertisement Advertisement It did so in two ways. First, the court spoke not of a website designer but of an artist, signaling that while its decision will apply to a company that makes websites, its reasoning will stretch far beyond Smith. The baker, the florist, the photographer, the jeweler, and hair stylist: All call themselves artists who speak through their work. All could claim a right under 303 Creative to turn away clients who ask them to communicate messages they dislike. And all will likely prevail under the rule that the conservative supermajority seems poised to announce. Advertisement Second, the court invoked its compelled speech doctrine, describing non-discrimination laws as an effort to compel artists to speak or stay silent. For decades, SCOTUS has resisted this conceptualization of civil rights laws as compelled expression. It has instead described such measures as regulations of conduct with some incidental abridgment of speech, which is justified by the governments compelling interest in eradicating discrimination in public accommodations. The Constitution does not guarantee a right to choose employees [or] customers, the court explained, without restraint from the State. Even though laws barring workplace discrimation suppress free speech, such measures should still be analyzed as one regulating the employers speech rather than conduct. Advertisement Advertisement 303 Creative is on a collision course with this principle. It has reframed basic non-discrimination laws like Colorados as a mandate that artists speak or stay silent. The traditional view of these statutes as regulations of conduct with incidental, justifiable abridgments of speech is already fading away. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch provided a preview of this approach in a concurrence to Masterpiece Cakeshop, describing Colorados public accommodations law as a direct attempt to punish protected speech. Thomas and Gorsuch went further, arguing that the government has no compelling interest in protecting people from the stigma and humiliation of discrimination that takes the form of speech. A majority of the court may be prepared to embrace this principle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its worth noting, too, that 303 Creative is not limited to same-sex couples. The court did not invoke artists who refuse to speak about a same-sex wedding, but artists who refuse any speech on any grounds. In theory, the majority could relegate gay people to second-class status under civil rights law, holding that states have a lesser interest in protecting them than, say, women or racial minorities. (Donald Trumps Justice Department argued just that.) But, again, the question presented is not limited to the application of these laws to same-sex couples. If ADF prevails, businesses may secure a right to discriminate against anyone as long as their work involves speech. A racist photographer could refuse to shoot an interracial wedding. An antisemitic florist could refuse to provide flowers to a Bat Mitzvah. A hairdresser could refuse to serve Black people. A chef could refuse to cater a quinceanera. The list goes on; every commercial transaction involves expression, and every civil rights law is enforced through compelled speech. If a business First Amendment rights outweigh the governments interest in ending discrimination, few non-discrimination laws will be safe from constitutional attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The best case scenario in 303 Creative is likely that the majority gerrymanders its decision to legalize discrimination against gay people only. The worst-case scenarioand the more probable oneis that the majority incinerates precedent upholding non-discrimination protections and establishes a new regime that subjects civil rights enforcement to strict First Amendment scrutiny. On its face, this case is a culture war clash over the scope of gay rights. But just beneath the surface lies a poisonous presumption about the supremacy of speech over equality that may destroy the governments authority to keep the marketplace open to all. This year is the fiftieth anniversary of the Supreme Courts decision in Furman v. Georgia halting capital punishment and sweeping the death rows of America clean of some 600 plus prisoners awaiting execution. The court based its ruling on a finding of legal arbitrariness in violation of the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Eighth Amendment: in effect, the death penalty was too often implemented by capricious and discriminatory selection of the condemned. A fierce backlash followed. Legislatures in 35 states moved to refashion laws to keep execution as an option. In response, 4 years after the 1972 decision, the Justices relegated Furman to the sidelines. Despite the about face the Justices maintained the principle that arbitrary selection violated the Constitution. The 1976 ruling assumed that the new state statutes would correct the problems that had led to unconstitutionality, serving to answer the key argument that bolstered Furmanthat the death penalty would be found unacceptable if it were ever generally and uniformly applied to a proportion of the people eligible for the ultimate punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More specifically, the three Justices who controlled the terms of the 1976 restoration of capital punishment believed that the concerns expressed in Furman would be fixed by precisely drafted laws that would ensure sentencing based on adequate information and guidance. These new laws would have purportedly advanced a system often called guided discretion that created a bifurcated proceeding in which jurors would receive information relevant to sentencing as well as standards to govern their decision making process. That is, after jurors found proof beyond a reasonable doubt of a crime eligible for the death penalty at the conviction phase of the trial, they would then have to carefully consider both aggravating and mitigating evidence at the sentencing phase to guide them in deciding whether to subject the defendant to the ultimate punishment. Advertisement Advertisement Such information was supposed to aid the jury in exercising its discretion as to whether to impose a death penalty. The two-tired process also gave the courts an opportunity to review whether the penalty was being administered even handedly. The Justices believed that if trial courts were able to perform this task, the life-death decision would no longer be, as the leading death penalty abolitionist Anthony Amsterdam told the court, without rhyme or reason, unless the reason was race. Advertisement Decades later, many have come to realize, including Justices who once supported the fix, that the 1976 turnaround failed to end arbitrary selection. As prominent death penalty scholar Evan Mandery put it, Randomness has not been reduced and in many respects has grown substantially worse. The evidence of this randomness, in both the pursuit of capital charges and the decision to actually inflict capital sentences, is overwhelming. It comes from the behavior of the American people who serve as jurors and from prosecutors who increasingly avoid seeking the death penalty. In short, the Furman principle has returned with renewed force except in the decisions of todays conservative controlled Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, less than a dozen men were executed in the United States, a fact that only underscores the continuation of a two-decade long trend of a decline of the death penalty. Officials have increasingly acknowledged fears of wrongful convictions and, as a result, more readily rely on life-without-parole sentences. More states11 since 2007have abandoned capital punishment. Thirty-five states havent executed anyone in the last 10 years. Take California. It has more than 700 prisoners on death row, the largest such population in the country. Yet the state has only executed 13 people since 1976 and has no present plans for a change in policy. Advertisement Advertisement Despite these developments on the ground, the Supreme Courts conservative majority has turned a blind eye, not only declining to resolve significant legal issues but also showing a consistent hostility to any restriction of the death penalty. The Justices permitted the Trump administration to execute 13 federal inmates in its waning days, breaking a lapse of 17 years in what critics saw as a lethal election-year stunt. The way the court acted in these death row cases was startlingoverturning lower-court rulings in favor of prisoners and stays of execution in summary fashion without full consideration of the facts of each case. Advertisement Advertisement When Michael Meltsner, one of the authors of this essay, first litigated the constitutionality of capital punishment in the 1960s, defenders of the practice claimed that the penalty deterred violent crime more significantly than a life sentence. They also warned that public safety would be impacted by abolishing the death penalty, and that all we had to do was execute the worst of the worst. Today, these arguments ring hollow. The U.S. has between 15,000 and 24,000 homicides a year, but sends only a handful of those convicted of killing to death. Given the sporadic and random implemention of the death penalty, it is simply impossible to make a rational argument that capital punishment dissuades people from violence or indeed advances any legitimate social policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the serious mental illness of many of those who have been executed, the tagline worst of the worst might more accurately be replaced by sickest of the sick. In short, the few who are put to death should actually be considered sacrifices to judges and politicians inability to reject a practice that has been rejected in fact, but not in law. The death penalty remains on the books, even if it is far beyond time to turn the pageto move on from a punishment that, while deeply rooted in our history, has never proven worthy of retention. For centuries, societies across the globe practiced human sacrifice, picking out a few victims to kill to advance a variety of societal goals. The killings were often said to propitiate the Gods, to ensure good weather for crops, or to keep a royal personage comforted with his servants in the hereafter. But even these common explanations barely scratch the surface of the justifications usually offered today when sentencing people to death. As with the few we execute today who are overwhelmingly poor, people of color, and the mentally compromised the victims of human sacrifices were almost always of low social status. As the the Washington Post explained, human sacrifice was used by social elites to terrorize underclasses, punish disobedience and display authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How different is our own version of taking lives? Putting aside the question of actual innocence, the convicted criminals we execute today come from vulnerable and marginalized communities, the disadvantaged and disempowered; as importantly, the few killed seem to be the unlucky losers in a game of chance. Most often, a roll of the dice assigns the condemned to unprepared lawyers in the very few counties and minority of states that still aggressively pursue capital punishment. Now, after thousands of cases, and millions if not billions of dollars spent on prosecuting capital punishment cases at trial, defending convictions on appeal, and maintaining death row dungeons rather than dollars devoted to improving those portions of the criminal justice system that deal with the day-to-day concerns of most Americans, its obvious that the flaws in the death sentencing system that led to Furman are still with us. We seem to have merely substituted a gurney for a stone altar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont have to be a statistician to realize that in a system that executes a tiny proportion of the eligible, selection will always be arbitrary. Indeed, now that more states have ended capital punishment and fewer death sentences are even sought in the states that retain it, executions resemble more and more the sacrificial practices of our remote ancestors. Furman found a grievous error when some persons are sentenced to death and others not for what amounts to the same crime. But it is still true that race, class, geography, and lawyer competence determine who lives and who dies. The selection process we are left with operates in a troubled judicial landscape. Courts are no longer required to compare cases to ensure even handed decisions. Hyper-technical rules often block consideration of seemingly legitimate claims. High Court decisions increasingly permit troublesome executions that go both unreviewed and unexplained. The American way of sentencing the convicted to death is rare and randombut also bureaucratic, costly, and governed by often indecipherably complex rules. When it cannot even produce the results its supporters seek, time has come for it to go. We cannot wait a moment longer. Were living in a time when crypto enthusiasts will pay the equivalent of millions of dollars for cartoon apes or pixelated punks, when celebrities are changing their profiles to mysterious avatars, when even The Matrix Resurrections has an NFT tie-in. So it made sense in November that when a Twitter account with the handle @CoolKittensNFT announced the launch of an NFT project featuring thousands of drawings of kittens, it quickly picked up buzz. Within weeks, the account grew its presence to more than 20,000 followers through contests and sponsored collaborations with crypto influencers. Advertisement Purchasers of Cool Kittens NFTs were promised three things: an electronic token with cat art, a purpose-built cryptocurrency called $PURR, and membership in a DAO, or decentralized autonomous organization, a kind of online community in which NFTsnonfungible tokensgive each member voting power. In theory, a DAO can make decisions to take on projects just like any collective or corporation might; in the case of Cool Kittens, ideas included distributing physical swag and giving money to cat shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounded nice. None of it happened. Advertisement Advertisement Less than three weeks after announcing Cool Kittens NFTs on Twitter, minting began on the Solana blockchain, and the cats went up for sale. Within hours, 2,216 NFTs had sold for roughly $70 each. A tidy sum of around $160,000, gathered via crypto, from a global audience. Whoever those buyers weregenuine fans of the feline avatars, or speculators betting that secondary-market sales would be higher than the mint pricethey were invited into a chatroom on Discord. The forum was buzzing with excitement at firstbut something was odd. Some users communicated in botlike cadences, hyping the project and begging others to list their NFTs on the secondary market far above cost. A few people started to ring the alarm. Some users noted that the chatroom was relatively quiet considering it appeared to have more than 25,000 registered users. Many demanded details on the promised $PURR token. Advertisement Advertisement A user named Yosan, who lives in the U.K. and works from home as a call-center agent, was an early minter of Cool Kittens. (He and other users I interviewed for this article agreed to speak if identified only by their handles.) He spent about $225 to buy three of the NFTs. Honestly, I liked the art. The developer was charismatic and talkative, which drew me in, I randomly stumbled upon the project. He says that, despite red flags, he remained hopeful until it was too late. Advertisement Advertisement After the Cool Kittens NFT developers promised a marketing campaign and the distribution of the specialized cryptocurrency to those who had bought the NFT, the chatroom was suddenly deleted. The founders disappeared. If this had been Petco, kitten buyers would have asked for the manager and gotten a refund. On the internet, there is no manager except for the code that operates the blockchain and the decentralized applications (or DApps) that run on it (including the programs that mint NFTs). Advertisement Advertisement This was a rug pull: a scam in which NFT-makersoften after making big promises (e.g., developing an NFT-based game, distributing a token, creating a DAO, redistributing profits)stop developing a project and disappear with the money, in this case about $160,000 from the sale of the 2,216 NFTs. The hoaxers were successful because they promised incentives to buyers, and they manufactured the illusion of popularity through chatbots and paid Twitter followers. This is happening more and more with NFTs, and three NFT developers whom I interviewed for this article believe there are groups of developers that repeatedly pull off this kind of stunt on unsuspecting NFT buyers. Advertisement Advertisement But weirdly, this scam then took a bizarre right turn, a digital coup of sorts. A proverbial yanking back of the rug by the rugged. The community took matters into its own hands. Advertisement Todays NFTs are communities of speculation, fandom, friendship, exclusivityand sometimes bullshit. Its hard to say exactly how big the NFT market is because NFTs are created and traded on many of the more than 15,000 cryptocurrencies out there. The sector, though, is huge and rapidly growing. In 2021, tens of billions of dollars were spent buying NFTs. Those who buy NFTs are in part making a bet that tomorrows internet will run on the decentralized, programmable networks of cryptocurrency and blockchainnot the privatized and enclosed platforms of today. In a way, when it comes to PFP (or profile picture) projects, users are purchasing a wardrobe for this future. With a project like Cool Kittensat least the way it was pitchedits a wardrobe with perks. Advertisement Advertisement Heres the simple version of what this future looks like right now: Cryptocurrencies live on a blockchain, a decentralized ledger of transactions that updates at regular intervals. Most ledgers are made up of sequential blocks, like entries on a spreadsheet. Each block is a record of transactions. Transactions are things like the transfer of cryptocurrency between accounts, or the indexing of data like videos, pictures, songs, or even land deeds, debt, and shares of a company. When an NFT is created, data are recorded onto the blockchain, and a token is minted to represent that data. NFTs, then, represent both real-world and digital assets through electronic tokenization. Minting is the term used when an NFT is initially created and saved onto the blockchain. Once an NFT is on the blockchain, it can be bought and sold. Using Twitter, the popular gaming chat service Discord, and the various websites that function as NFT marketplaces, NFT developers and buyers hype up their projects and trade their NFTs. In the case of Cool Kittens, buyers believed they might be able to resell their NFTs at a profit, or hold them and receive a distribution in the form of the custom $PURR cryptocurrency. Despite growing interest by government regulators into tokens as securities, the issuing of these bespoke currencies alongside NFTs is increasingly common. Advertisement So even the simple version reveals something complicated and unruly. The Cool Kittens scam and its surprising aftermath illustrate just how dizzying and dangerous it can all bebut also, that it can be redemptive, too. Every coup needs a leader. When red flags were beginning to pop up in the Cool Kittens Discord, a user going by Lalalala began posting dire warnings that the NFT project was a rug pull. Once Lalalala, who remains pseudonymous, began pointing out the signs of a scam, they were hard to miss. Advertisement Advertisement Lalalala quickly assembled an ad hoc team from whoever was in the chatroom and did something unprecedenteda reverse rug to flip the rug pull. They moved quickly. Within five days, they recruited a developer to take a digital snapshot of the addresses that had purchased the scam NFTs. Nyaumon, an NFT artist, quickly designed art for more than 2,000 Cool Kittens, and the new project was named Kitten Coup. The coup team reached out to the largest secondary trading marketplace and negotiated the delisting of the scam NFTs, so resale royalties wouldnt continue to enrich the scammers. Then, with the help of that digital snapshot of the NFTs, Lalalala fronted more than $7,000 to automatically redistribute 2,216 new coup NFTs to buyers of the scam NFTs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coups can be helped along by the artistic avant-garde, and the Kitten Coup lucked out big time. As the scam NFT developers deleted chatrooms and covered their tracks, the reverse rug group sought to design new art. Many of the buyers of the scam NFT didnt realize that the artwork was in fact a poor rip-off of another NFT project called Cool Cats, taken from another blockchain; Cool Cats NFTs regularly sell on secondary markets for more than $30,000 each. Advertisement Advertisement Relatively new to NFTs, Nyaumon has been working as a full-time artist since the early 2000s. Originally a designer for the marketplace-style game Neopets, Nyaumon recently began exploring and making art for NFTs. When she heard about the NFT scam, her first reaction was to offer help. By hanging around on Discord, I learned how tightknit and passionate the NFT communities are. I was informed about what had happened, and wanted to help. Seeing the old art, I wanted to improve it, make it cuter, and way more unique. Advertisement Imagine buying a scam product and then deciding to take over the scammers business to make things right. Thats what Lalalalas team did. Why bother? The answer gets to the heart of NFTs appeal: fervent online communities that are simultaneously about profit seeking and social camaraderie. NFT_Thor, an Italian chemist, was one of the first to join the coup. He had watched the resale value of his freshly minted Cool Kittens NFT drop from $70 to $7 over a few hours. He told me, Tell your audience that those evil NFT developers are probably on the beach sunbathing in Belize. This was revenge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kitten Coup organizers are by no means jaded with cryptos potential after being scammed. MistyBayou, a coup co-founder who worked in software in the U.S. banking industry before becoming a crypto developer, told me: Cryptocurrencies offer an alternative vision. Ive always felt that the internet was designed as a great leveler, to tear down barriers between people. It democratized so many fields, allowing anyone with talent to become a writer, an artist, a musician, but finance stayed centralized and if anything, only became more so with the dominance of credit card processors and PayPal. As a DeFi (for decentralized finance) freelancer, Misty works on the blockchain systems and programs that make cryptocurrencies and their DApps work. As Misty watched the NFT scam unfold, they saw a chance to help other members of their communityand become an NFT project founder themselves. This hadnt been the first time theyd seen NFT developers promise big and not deliver. For Misty, the NFT scam was an opportunity to counter an injustice while growing their own online persona and brand. Advertisement One thing that struck me while reporting this story was the idea that even though you tend not to know anyone elses birth name, crypto and NFT spaces arent actually anonymoustheyre pseudonymous. As Misty stressed, theres a big difference between cultivating and using an online brand and plain old anonymity, and the difference is at the heart of how online crypto spaces work. Pseudonymity is an old idea, authors have used pen names for a variety of reasons for centuries, but that pen name still has longevity and achievements attached to it. In other words, there are two realities in NFTs and crypto more generally. The first consists of people who use the anonymity of the internet to swindle others out of their money and skirt accountability. They generate hype, and theyre good at it. When the time for transparency comes, they simply delete their profile. In this sense, its the Wild West, a kind of internet wildcat drilling that preys upon those who are susceptible to the hype and are all too keen to speculate. Thats what the NFT scammers are about. On the other hand, some take up pseudonymsonline identities, profilesand then build street cred around that persona. For Misty, no one judges you by your race, religion, or gender if youre just a cat with a weird name. The first impression in crypto spaces then is in the way you express your ideas, and the quality of those ideas. So its the old notion of the marketplace of ideas, but with cute avatars. Is that what it takes for such a utopian concept to work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some say yes, and see NFT communities as the first step toward something much larger. To Yosan, who became one of the coups community moderators, NFTs are about investment and community: They are digital art that allow someone to be part of a community and are investments for when the world will go digital in the future. NFT_Thor, the Italian chemist, said, At the end of the day, we are dealing with .jpegs: the value of the object is what we give it through our community. NFT communities are increasingly using coded smart contracts to collectively choose investments, fund charities, distribute royalties, and make community decisions in a framework where one NFT equals one vote. The Kitten Coup has kept busy: It is in the early stages of organizing itself as a DAO, is developing coding tools to help other NFT developers reverse the rug if they get ripped off, and is also releasing a biweekly comic strip illustrated by Nyaumon. Advertisement NFT communities are experimenting with ways to tap the theoretical security, transparency, and decentralization of blockchain structures to create decentralized autonomous organizations. One of the broken promises of the scam NFT developers was a DAO. An increasing number of NFT projects promise DAOs. Almost all are snake oil, a hype tactic. But a few NFT projects are experimenting with code and platform to design decentralized, electronic organizations in ways that are poised to innovate the way groups of all kinds make decisions. Advertisement Advertisement Daren McKelvey, a blockchain business development expert and head of growth at Nodle, sees DAOs as experiments in ways to do governance better, be that governance of NFT crypto communities or previously nondigitized institutions. He sees the potential for programmed governance to touch all facets of social life, including innovating governance to make it more responsive to collective needs and desires. He says, Im long on DAOs and excited to see how they start to play out in changing life as we know it. Advertisement Advertisement There are plenty of complications that the designers of DAOs must contend with. For DAOs that desire a one person, one vote system, theres no simple way to confirm that one crypto wallet equals one person, since anyone can generate multiple wallets. In contrast, DAOs that want to measure stake in a project by number of NFTs held have to contend with the possibility of a monied interest buying up the supply and overwhelming collective goals in order to get their way. Finally, DAOs can be seen as signifying the financialization of social life (though Id say its unfair to say DAOs are any more nefarious than social media platforms that monetize users as data creators, or where the collecting of likes and retweets is akin to the accumulation of capital). Advertisement Could the future of democratic governance for nonprofits, corporations, and even governments be germinating in odd and chaotic online NFT communities? DAO governance is only as good as the coding, and there are certainly limits to programmed governance. NFT communities are pushing those limits in their experiments with programmed governance, in their search to create global, inherently censorship-resistant communities in the digital age. Misty remains optimistic: I am a bit of a utopian at heart. I believe in a monetary system without gatekeepers and a system of business with lower barriers to entry. I believe in true cross-border reality. I think the fact that four people can meet each other and start a small socially beneficial business within a week is a really powerful thing. Were so used to this rigid economic and social order. Anything that tears at that and puts the little people in charge has to be a good thing long term. Advertisement What stands in the way? For one thing, if youre outside this world, you may be skeptical of innovations in governance coming from a bunch of strangers with cat avatars. The seemingly endless scams and grifts certainly dont instill confidence in a vision of an internet without central authority. Plus, theres a lot of stupid money being thrown around. But whats going on in cryptocurrency is more than just new forms of conspicuous consumption plus online chatrooms with pay-to-play access and pretty pictures. Beautiful things can come out of working with strangers in a cryptographically transparent voting organization, the least of which include new ways of collaborating, adorable kitty art, and sweet, sweet revenge. This story was originally published by Wired and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. A few years ago, while driving on a stretch of interstate between Pittsburgh and San Francisco, Venkat Viswanathan began to feel a little existential. His trip was going smoothlyalmost too smoothly, he thought. He would hum along for a few hundred miles at a time, stopping briefly for meals or to take in the early summer scenery. It was the classic Great American Road Trip. And it was hardly remarkable at all that he was doing it in an electric car. Advertisement Viswanathan, a scientist at Carnegie Mellon University, is an expert in high-energy-density batteries: designs that are meant to pack a lot of juice into not a lot of space. At times, this involves chemistry that can feel almost fancifulthe unobtanium of battery tech. But after that summer, being propelled cross-country by a totally obtainable battery, he began to consider a different application for his work. I was like, Wait, what am I doing with all these new batteries Im inventing? Viswanathan recalls. Who is going to need them? There was another way to travel coast to coast, he realized, one that batteries were far from decarbonizing: flight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the past few years, the battery industry has largely focused on cars, yielding steady, incremental improvements to a particular scientific approach. This involves lithium ions that move between a cathode composed of a few metal oxidesincluding nickel, cobalt, manganese, and ironand an anode made of graphite. This classic recipe has gotten pretty good. Recently, lithium-ion batteries have pushed the range of passenger cars past 400 milesabout as good as many combustion engines, and enough to overcome the range anxiety that might make some drivers reluctant to go electric. But as they approach the theoretical limit of how much energy they can store, lithium-ion batteries remain well short of whats required for most aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement The aviation industry has been grappling with this problem for a while. The industry contributes about 2 percent of global carbon emissionsa relatively small figure, but one that is poised to grow sharply as more of the world takes to the skies. (Only about 1 in 10 people takes a flight each year, and a 2018 study estimated that 1 percent of the worlds population is responsible for half of aviation emissions.) If those planes are going to go electric, Viswanathan believes, batteries will need a radical rethink. Even regional jets meant for relatively short hops require batteries that are light but sufficiently powerful. They need enough power for takeoff, then enough energy to safely cruise over long distances. Its possible that it will never be practical and that greener aviation will require other approaches, like hydrogen or synthetic jet fuel. Advertisement Advertisement Or by rethinking some battery fundamentals. Last month, along with other battery and aviation experts, Viswanathan published in Nature what he considers a wake-up call to the industry to invest in basic science beyond moving around lithium ions. In particular, the authors advocate for new cathodes involving more exotic materials, like metals that produce conversion reactions, which move more electrons and can potentially pack more energy. Its stuff that people havent really considered since the 1970s, when cobalt started to win out. A U.S. Department of Energy project has set a goal of building a battery that can hold 500 watt-hours of energy per kilogram. Viswanathan and his co-authors think that for a workhorse of the skies, like the Boeing 737, well need to double that, and well need new chemistries to get us there. Were trying to move the goal post, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lithium-ion battery is a chemical love story. Lithium ions and electrons, once separated from each other by a charge, always seek to be reunited. The wandering of these electrons across a battery cell is what generates a current. But in that sense, lithium is limited because it has only one electron to give up. In theory, more electrons moving around would mean more energy, which is something other elements can potentially offer. Try iodine, maybe, or sulfur or fluorine, and you can get more electrons buzzing. Advertisement Advertisement But theres a wrinkle in this plan. A beautiful thing about current batteries is that lithium ions can move back and forth without causing a fuss. Theyre caught and released by the cathodea process called insertionbut once inside of it, the ions dont react with the other materials and reorganize the atomic arrangements. For some other elements, thats not the case. We have new materials that werent there to begin with, says Esther Takeuchi, a battery scientist at Stony Brook University. Hence the term conversion reaction: These chemical reactions are complicated, and they result in electrochemical changes as well as changes in volume. But perhaps the biggest problem is getting these types of batteries to recharge. Once youve changed whats inside a battery, it can be difficult to return to the materials that were there before. Advertisement For the kinds of batteries Takeuchi works on, recharging isnt typically necessary. Her specialty is packing lots of energy into small spaces, like medical devices, that need to last a long time on a single chargea lifetime even, because a recharge or battery swap might require surgery. One of her older designs, involving vanadium, is ubiquitous today in pacemakers. But since then, her team has studied how conversion chemistries, like fluorinated carbon or iodine, might work even better. Advertisement Advertisement For planes, the same principle of space- and weight-saving applies to staying aloft over long distances. But a battery that has only a single life wont work for a plane that needs to recharge with every leg. In the lab, researchers have had some success in reversing those conversion reactions, only to face other problems. One of the contenders thats furthest along is the lithium-sulfur batterya highly desirable chemistry because of how cheap and plentiful sulfur is. The issue is that unwanted reactions can occur between the sulfur at the anode and in the electrolyte. This can create chemical buildup that means the battery loses its ability to recharge over time. Sometimes, those reactions lead to a fire or form a pesky thing called a dendrite: a vein of material in the electrolyte that gradually extends and may eventually connect the anode and the cathode, causing a short circuit. Advertisement While conversion reactions involve a lot of novel chemistry, Takeuchi points out that they do not totally ditch the path batteries have taken so far. Any new cathode chemistries will also depend on the success of nearer-term improvements to battery capacity, such as new anodes made of materials other than graphite. Advertisement Advertisement One of those is lithium metal. While graphite was a good choice because of its stability, lithium metal has some improved electrochemical properties and simply takes up less space than conventional designs. Richard Wang, CEO of Cuberg, a lithium metal battery startup recently acquired by Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt, says his companys design gets a 70 percent boost in energy density. Wang decided to focus his startup on the aviation industry because it would place higher value on energy-density improvements. The companys idea is to power relatively small aircraft; its partnered with startups that want to make vertical liftoff vehicles that can operate over a short range. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its possible those lithium metal anodes could be paired with more experimental cathode chemistries to power larger aircraft, but the path is uncertain, Wang says. Its a classic pickle: Plane-makers want certainty that big-leap technologies will work out, while the battery startups (and their potential funders) need assurances that their experiments will eventually have a use. The truth is that plane-makers may find it less useful to electrify bigger planes, Wang says. They might decide to stop with batteries that handle short regional routes. For longer routes, where existing batteries are less practical, there might instead be hybrid approaches: a gas engine that takes over between takeoff and landing, greener jet fuels, or perhaps hydrogen, if the infrastructure gets sorted out along with a green way to produce it. No one is sure just yet where to place their bets. Advertisement Advertisement George Bye, the founder of Bye Aerospace, calls that the white space of electric plane innovation. He draws a solid line of progress for lithium-ion batteries that power small electric aircraft, like the two- and four-seat training planes his company builds, and after that a dashed line of lithium-metal and other almost-there innovations, like solid-state batteries, that will stretch out the capacity and distance that electric aircraft can fly. Then, after that, who knows? White space. His own company has explored lithium-sulfur for larger aircraft but found it not quite ready for prime time. Its a little bit behind, he says; one partner working on the technology recently went bankrupt. One silver lining, Bye says, is that the weight-and-balance benefit of replacing a complicated jet engine with an electric battery means the plane can be designed to move more efficiently through the air. That helps extend the range and passenger capacity. Its not apples to apples, as some people like to say, he says. The company is also working toward FAA certification on its training aircraft so that it can begin delivering the hundreds of orders it has received from flight schools and airlines. Among the challenges is proving that the plane can handle fire risksa matter not just of chemistry but the structural design of the battery packsand still pull an emergency landing even if a battery blows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Large electric planes with radically new batteries may be decades away. But Takeuchi maintains that there is room for optimism for battery-powered jets. Sometimes people ask if this is even possible in our wildest dreams, she says. And when we look at the materials and we look at the numbers, we say, Yeah, it is. She and her co-authors point out that the future of aviation was initially electric. In 1884, the first round-trip flight by an aerial vehiclethe airship La Franceflew by the power of a massive zinc-chlorine battery. Nearly a century and a half later, she thinks electric is ready for a comeback. Russia has violated international laws and its own pledges with its recent steps. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The recent events in Ukraine create an opportunity to start our own self-reflection, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Ivan Korcok (SaS nominee). I hope they will be the beginning of the end of geopolitical disorientation for a great portion of Slovak society, Korcok told the February 22 press conference. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement It is also an opportunity to push to the edge the part of Slovakia's political scene that has been trivialising the situation in the Ukraine in the past weeks. This includes politicians who did not hesitate to earn political points on undermining our own defence and security. If anybody apologises and trivialises the aggression against Ukraine, they openly undermine Slovak sovereignty and statehood, he stressed. Violating international laws By recognising the two separatist republics in the Donbas region, Russia severely violated both international laws and its own international pledges, Korcok continued. Slovak diplomacy condemns Kremlin's steps as unacceptable Read more He cited several documents, including the UN Charter and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, where Russia promised to respect the independence, sovereignty and existing borders of Ukraine, claiming that with its recent steps, it de facto breached these promises. At the same time, Russia made it impossible to apply the principles in the Minsk Protocol, an agreement which sought to end war in the Donbas region after the 2014 annexation of Crimea. According to these documents, Ukraine pledged to recognise the special status of Donetsk and Luhansk, but under condition that its sovereignty will be restored and the country will be able to control its own borders. Unacceptable behaviour Korcok was critical of Russian President Vladimir Putins claim that Ukraine has no right for its own existence, calling it unacceptable. Were witnessing a situation when the border and existence of a European country is explained and denied through historical claims. This is extremely dangerous, Korcok told the press, adding that in the past, many currently independent countries were part of some bigger states or formations that gradually ceased to exist. Slovakia will send mine clearance systems and healthcare material to Ukraine Read more Moreover, there have been certain principles adopted that recognise the existence of the individual countries. One of them even claims that the existing borders can be changed only if there is an agreement between all parties involved. Even though he still prefers diplomatic solutions to the current conflict, it is necessary to show Russia there are certain boundaries, Korcok said. He added that the EU foreign affairs ministers will discuss today at 16:00 the sanctions against Russia. No direct military threat to Slovakia now, but disinformation campaigns have intensified, state officials report. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled On Tuesday afternoon, top representatives of the state met for the Security Council meeting over the Kremlin's decision to recognise two separatist republics in eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk. President Zuzana Caputova said that Slovakia is not facing direct military threat today, but in the case of further escalation, it will have to cope with a migration wave of citizens from Ukraine fleeing war in their country. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement According to the president, Russia's recognition of the two breakaway territories can be described as an occupation of a sovereign country. The Security Council also discussed the preparedness of ministries and systems to deal with the situation. Slovak diplomacy condemns Kremlin's steps as unacceptable Read more The Slovak president and prime minister both reported that a significant growth of disinformation has been observed in Slovakia. PM Eduard Heger (OLaNO) stressed that Slovakia is standing on the right side of history, as part of a coalition of countries denouncing the Kremlins steps and ready to do everything to maintain peace. Russian imperialism has to be stopped, Heger stated. President Putin cannot feel that he can create a Russian protectorate in Ukraine by force. Our own security is being decided on the Ukrainian borders. No NATO troops to arrive in Slovakia now Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO) said that there has been no increase in migration on the Slovak-Ukrainian borders, but the Slovak authorities are ready to deal with this if necessary. Nad said that about 100 to 120 Russian battalion combat groups are located in the Donetsk and Luhansk territories, while other groups are in Belarus. There are no NATO troops arriving in Slovakia for now. However, Nad said that several NATO allies are asking to strengthen the eastern border of NATO, part of which is the Slovak-Ukrainian border. He added that if Slovakia feels a threat on its eastern border, measures will be swiftly adopted. For now, we are not at a point where we need to decide on anything specific, he said. Ousting Russian diplomats from Slovakia has not been discussed. But the ministers are 100-percent united" on support for sanctions against Russia. https://sputniknews.com/20220221/biden-signs-order-blocking-us-economic-activity-in-autonomous-lpr-dpr-regions-recognized-by-russia-1093251513.html Biden Signs Order Blocking US Economic Activity in Autonomous LPR, DPR Regions Recognised by Russia Biden Signs Order Blocking US Economic Activity in Autonomous LPR, DPR Regions Recognised by Russia US President Joe Biden has issued an executive order prohibiting Americans from engaging in economic activity in the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk... 21.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-21T23:06+0000 2022-02-21T23:06+0000 2022-02-22T13:46+0000 donetsk people's republic us executive order biden administration lpr dnr /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/0f/1093065147_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_365d3845aa7572979cc9909e8a1d31da.jpg The order also places economic penalties on individuals who breach Section 1 of the order, stating that they will be "blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in". It also bars immigration and non-immigration entry into the United States of anyone found to have violated the order. The order is predominantly an expansion of a series of four executive orders (Executive Order 13660, Executive Order 13661, Executive order 13662, Executive Order 13685) signed by then-US President Barrack Obama in 2014, following the start of the conflict in Donbass in eastern Ukraine, and an executive order from 2018 (Executive Order 13849) signed by then-President Donald Trump. The Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic were recognised by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday after declaring their independence from Ukraine in 2014. The two regions are predominantly Russian-speaking, and ethnic Russians are a sizeable minority throughout the region. Russia is the first member of the United Nations to recognise the sovereignty of the two regions. The Biden administration's executive order casts doubt that other nations will follow Russia's lead. Analysts believe that Russia's formal recognition of the two regions could see tensions between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia increase. The US and its NATO allies and Ukraine have for weeks been accusing Russia of preparing an invasion of Ukraine. Russia has sent troops into the regions to help maintain peace in the regions, an order by the Russian president that was part of the earlier signed agreement with regional leadership. https://sputniknews.com/20220221/head-of-dpr-asks-russian-president-putin-to-recognise-donetsk-peoples-republic-1093236843.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown donetsk people's republic, us, executive order, biden administration, lpr, dnr https://sputniknews.com/20220221/west-ignoring-russias-security-concerns-led-to-recognition-of-dpr-lpr---us-think-tank-1093251164.html West Ignoring Russia's Security Concerns Led to Recognition of DPR, LPR - US Think Tank West Ignoring Russia's Security Concerns Led to Recognition of DPR, LPR - US Think Tank WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russia's decision to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Lugansk and Donetsk is the result of the West... 21.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-21T22:52+0000 2022-02-21T22:52+0000 2022-02-22T04:53+0000 ukraine donbass donetsk people's republic lugansk peoples republic russia sovereignty recognition /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/15/1093243712_0:0:2508:1412_1920x0_80_0_0_63c4b1b2d1fde8c598daca15fda42344.jpg On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognising the independence of the two Donbass republics, saying that the decision was long overdue."Putin's move today showed how stupid are the US and UK 'experts' and government officials who kept endlessly repeating 'Russia is about to invade Ukraine' over and over. This is especially true for US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Blinken", McAdams added. "Their incompetence is now on display. As I've been saying all along, why would Russia want to 'own' Kiev? Lugansk and Donetsk are now separated from Ukraine - probably forever - without a shot fired".When asked about the potential reaction of NATO, the expert wondered whether the allies would be able to demonstrate unity."NATO is cracking up", he added. "It will be worth seeing what Germany's next move might be. Will they agree to cancelling Nord Stream 2? In that case it might be a cold rest of winter for them".McAdams noted that sanctions are already being announced.When tensions around Ukraine flared late last year, Russia published its security suggestions for NATO and the United States. Moscow specifically requested guarantees that the alliance would not expand eastward to include Ukraine and Georgia, to which Washington has replied by insisting it will not allow anyone to slam NATO's open-door policy shut.The situation in Donbass has further escalated in recent days, with the DPR and LPR reporting increased shelling by Ukrainian armed forces and ordering general mobilisation in anticipation of an offensive by the Ukrainian Army. The evacuation of Donbass citizens, first of all, women, children and the elderly, to Russia began late last week. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, donbass, donetsk people's republic, lugansk peoples republic, russia, sovereignty, recognition https://sputniknews.com/20220222/beijing-warns-us-that-fierce-competition-with-china-may-escalate-into-full-fledged-confrontation-1093255965.html Beijing Warns US That 'Bitter Competition' With China May Escalate Into Full-Fledged Confrontation Beijing Warns US That 'Bitter Competition' With China May Escalate Into Full-Fledged Confrontation Chinese authorities previously announced that they will take countermeasures in response to US weapons sales to Taiwan and promised to slap sanctions on... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T05:16+0000 2022-02-22T05:16+0000 2022-02-22T06:25+0000 us china taiwan wang yi antony blinken /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/11/1080485060_0:264:3071:1991_1920x0_80_0_0_55620901c2d5334a6a79c90884a60ca1.jpg Beijing warned on Tuesday that US attempts to contain China using Taiwan is a mistake.He also noted that attempts to include Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific plan are sending all the "wrong signals" about "curbing China's development".The statement from Beijing comes amid a spat regarding Taiwan, as the US announced a $100 million deal on weapons supply to Taipei to service Patriot air defence systems.Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since the end of the civil war in 1949. Beijing considers the island to be a part of Chinese territory, while Taiwan maintains that it is an autonomous country with political and economic relations with several other nations.While the US does not recognise the government in Taipei, Washington's ties with Taiwan have been soaring over the past few years: top American officials previously visited the island and some reports suggested that US forces were training the Taiwanese military. china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg us, china, taiwan, wang yi, antony blinken https://sputniknews.com/20220222/biden-vows-to-impose-sanctions-far-beyond-earlier-ones-on-russia--1093280509.html Biden Announces 'First Tranche' of Sanctions Targeting Russia's Sovereign Debt, State Dev. Banks Biden Announces 'First Tranche' of Sanctions Targeting Russia's Sovereign Debt, State Dev. Banks US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he was imposing the first tranche of economic sanctions against the Russian Federation in response to Moscow's... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T19:24+0000 2022-02-22T19:24+0000 2022-02-22T20:38+0000 us ukraine russia nato joe biden vladimir putin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093280930_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_212424d09f18cc09472a4fbaaf773f0a.jpg Russia just announced that it is carving out a big chunk of Ukraine, Biden said on Tuesday, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was setting up a rationale to take more territory by force.This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, as he asked permission for in his Duma, he continued.The US president announced the first tranche of sanctions against Russia, which target VEB Development Bank, Promsvyazbank Public Joint Stock Company (PSB), and 42 of their subsidiaries; Russia's sovereign debt; and imposes sanctions on Russian "elites and their families." He also said he had worked with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to ensure that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which would have brought liquefied natural gas from Russia to German, will not open.Todays actions, taken in coordination with our partners and allies, begin the process of dismantling the Kremlins financial network and its ability to fund destabilizing activity in Ukraine and around the world, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in an Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) news release announcing the details of the new sanctions. The sanctions are slated to take effect beginning on Wednesday. Biden said the US was prepared to implement sanctions "far beyond those in 2014 if Russia attacks Ukraine.He also revealed that US troops would be shifted from elsewhere in Europe into the Baltic States in response to Russian troops remaining in Belarus. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are all members of the NATO alliance. Citing a US official, Reuters reported that this included 800 troops from Italy, 20 Apache attack helicopters presently stationed in Germany, and 12 Apache helicopters being sent to Poland from Greece.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters afterward that Putin did not watch Biden's speech, as he was in a working meeting at the time.On Monday, Putin announced he was moving to recognize the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic and the Donetsk People's Republic, two breakaway states in the Donbass region that declared independence from Ukraine in 2014, following the US-backed coup in Kiev. He explained on Tuesday that the Minsk Protocol, which was supposed to lead to peace in the Donbass conflict, had long been killed by Kiev, which refused to implement the deal reached with Russia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).The decision came as Ukrainian forces dramatically escalated their attacks on the Donbass republics last week, sending tens of thousands of civilians fleeing to safety in Russia's Rostov region. However, the US claimed the attacks were fake and part of a provocation planned by Moscow to justify intervention in Ukraine.So far, those requests have largely fallen on deaf ears. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg us, ukraine, russia, nato, joe biden, vladimir putin PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-six people were injured when a long-distance bus collided head-on with a truck on a highway in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province on Tuesday, a local official said. "The accident occurred along the Salang Highway in the northern part of snowy Salang Pass at midday. The injured were shifted to a main hospital in Pul-e-Khumri city," Nazir Ebadi, director of the provincial Traffic Police Directorate, told Xinhua. Some of the injured were in serious condition, according to the official. The bus driver was arrested for dangerous driving pending a further investigation. Road mishaps are frequent in the mountainous country and occur mostly due to reckless driving or badly maintained roads and vehicles. https://sputniknews.com/20220222/bjp-lawmaker-warns-hindu-traitors-against-showing-up-in-public-1093259368.html BJP Lawmaker Warns Hindu 'Traitors' Against Showing Up in Public BJP Lawmaker Warns Hindu 'Traitors' Against Showing Up in Public With seven-phase elections in India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh now underway, candidates are often seen indulging in verbal spats, raising religious... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T12:04+0000 2022-02-22T12:04+0000 2022-02-22T12:04+0000 india india uttar pradesh muslim bharatiya janata party (bjp) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093267446_0:130:3072:1858_1920x0_80_0_0_952730dc45b3f5398c8eb702be2c2cae.jpg In a viral video, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker, Raghvendra Pratap Singh, from India's Uttar Pradesh has warned voters who may have plans to not vote for him against showing up in public, threatening Muslims that "if anyone of them insulted Hindus and look at Hindu girls" he will "beat" them.The video clip of Singh, who represents the Domariyaganj constituency in the state's Siddharthnagar district, is being widely circulated by social media users. "Tell me, will any Muslim vote for me? So beware that if Hindus of this village support another side, they have Muslim blood in their veins. They are traitorsEven after so many atrocities, if a Hindu goes over to the other side, he should not be allowed to show his face in the public", Singh is heard saying in the video during a corner public campaign.The Domariyaganj constituency will head to the polls on 3 March. Meanwhile, the Domariyaganj Police Station has filed an official complaint against Singh under many charges, including promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, intent to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs, statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes, and punishment for criminal intimidation.Singh is also in charge of the Hindu organisation, Hindu Yuva Vahini, in the area.Later, speaking with the media, Singh clarified that his words have been taken in a different context, "I was making a comparison with the past. I had no intention to threaten anybody".Domariyaganj has a substantial Muslim presence constituting around 39 percent of its population. However, even in the 2017 state assembly polls, Singh only won by a margin of 171 votes.Soon after his video went viral, many politicians and netizens sought the cancellation of Singh's nomination from the upcoming polls, they also questioned why the state's ruling BJP was silent on the matter.In the past, Singh has made several hate speech remarks against the Muslim community. On 11 February, he said: "Since I became a lawmaker, they [Muslims] have stopped wearing skull caps. If you vote for me again, they will start applying tilaks [vermillion on foreheads as is done by some devout Hindus]".Last week, another BJP lawmaker Thakur Raja Singh from Uttar Pradesh, threatened voters with dire consequences if they voted against his party. It prompted police in a different state, Telangana, to file a complaint against him, and the Election Commission of India (ECI) took cognizance of it.Seven-phase state assembly elections are currently underway in Uttar Pradesh from 10 February until 7 March. The results will be announced on 10 March. india uttar pradesh Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Deexa Khanduri https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0c/1e/1081607388_0:0:961:960_100x100_80_0_0_e9e931b8c1e18fb41f3074e2145d7a3a.jpg india, india, uttar pradesh, muslim, bharatiya janata party (bjp) https://sputniknews.com/20220222/bravo-russia-for-defending-donbass-1093274824.html Bravo Russia for Defending Donbass Bravo Russia for Defending Donbass The truth is Russia had no choice but to recognize the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. By doing so, Moscow is affording the territories a critical... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T15:45+0000 2022-02-22T15:45+0000 2022-02-22T15:45+0000 columnists russia ukraine donbass us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093274592_0:225:3073:1953_1920x0_80_0_0_bd7bdcfcfa4d9099f806f8abfe0e19ef.jpg This was made necessary because of the mounting offensive coming from the NATO-backed Kiev regime. Since last week, thousands of mortars and shells have hit the self-declared Donbass republics, fired by the US and NATO-backed Ukrainian forces. Many of these forces are open supporters of Neo-Nazi beliefs that view the ethnic Russian people in Donbass as Untermenschen. If you dont know that already, you have been reading too much Western media disinformation.Moscow had stuck with a political process for nearly seven years to give peace in Ukraine a chance. The so-called Minsk agreement was never implemented by the Kiev regime despite it being a signatory to an international, legally binding accord. The Donetsk and Lugansk breakaway regions were not given the autonomy that the 2015 Minsk deal mandated. Instead, the populations in those regions have been under relentless siege for all these years from the Kiev regime.The denial of political and human rights to Donbass, such as the entitled use of the Russian language, by Kiev and its ongoing military hostility, amounted to a campaign of genocide. Emboldened by US and NATO weaponry flooding in as well as by European blindness to violations of the Minsk agreements, the Kiev regime had openly repudiated any peace process.It was evident that the escalating violence against the people of the Donbass was leading to a blood bath. Up to 50,000 civilians have fled the region across the Russian border in the last week. A state of emergency was declared in both the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics owing to the extreme hostility and duress from power being cut off by acts of terrorism. Acts of terrorism that were being sponsored by US and NATO support no less. The Western media silence on these crimes is a source of shame if not complicity.Its easy to be cynical on the basis of misinformation and ignorance. Western governments and media are now condemning Russias President Vladimir Putin for recognizing the independence of the Donbass republics. New rounds of Western sanctions on Russia are forthcoming. The Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany is now suspended.Moscow is accused of using recognition and sending in peacekeeping Russian troops as a backdoor for invasion. For months, the United States and its allies have been alleging Russia was planning to imminently invade Ukraine. Moscow had always refuted the claims as hysterical nonsense.Now it seems the West can make out that their claims about Russian invasion plans are being proven albeit under the guise of Moscow recognizing what was formerly Ukrainian territory as independent republics.That view is made possible by being in a state of ignorance about the reality of conflict in Ukraine and the dire humanitarian conditions in Donbass. Western media never reported on the situation with any objectivity or fair concern. It had continually maintained the distorted propaganda narrative that Russia was supporting a bloody rebellion in Donbass as a proxy war against Ukraine.The truth is the Kiev regime came to power through an illegal coup detat in 2014 covertly supported by the CIA and NATO powers. The new regime was (and still is) dominated by Neo-Nazi factions who immediately turned to aggression against the Russian populations of Crimea and Donbass. Fortunately, Crimea was able to escape through a referendum in 2014 and join the Russian Federation which affords national security. In Western media that is portrayed as 'Russias illegal annexation of Crimea'.The Donbass had to endure nearly eight years of aggression and siege tantamount to genocide. With mounting offensiveness by the Kiev regime in recent days and outright repudiation of the Minsk peace accord, Russia had no choice but to move to defend the Russian people of Donbass.This will be twisted and vilified by Western media as a Russian invasion and undermining Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. But such distortion is only superficially tenable due to the ignorance or indifference of Western media about the reality of what has been happening in Ukraine over the past eight years and in particular in the Donbass.Supposedly righteous Western governments and media have been supporting a regime whose forces are armed and trained by the United States and NATO to carry out a genocidal war against the Russian people of Donbass. That outrage had to be stopped. Moscows brave decision this week to recognize the Donbass republics was a necessity to stop the violence.With the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics now having the support of Russia and its military, the Kiev regime and its NATO sponsors will have been given serious pause in their nefarious scheme. It didnt have to be this way if the US and its European allies had not interfered in Ukraine and emboldened a Russophobic regime to wage a civil war. But since that had happened, and a peace accord was being trashed, the next best thing to do was to move to protect Russian people. Bravo Russia. The howls of condemnation we hear in the West is the cacophony of fools who are impotent anyway. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg columnists, russia, ukraine, donbass, us https://sputniknews.com/20220222/colombias-constitutional-court-decriminalizes-abortion-in-first-24-weeks-of-pregnancy-1093253685.html Colombia's Constitutional Court Decriminalizes Abortion in First 24 Weeks of Pregnancy Colombia's Constitutional Court Decriminalizes Abortion in First 24 Weeks of Pregnancy In a 5-4 decision, Colombias Constitutional Court voted to decriminalize abortion in the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. The Monday decision expands on a 2006... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T02:50+0000 2022-02-22T02:50+0000 2022-02-22T02:48+0000 colombia constitutional court abortion women's rights /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093253582_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0e88def6e2413221a476f5a799335a17.jpg Since the 2006 abortion ruling in Columbia, some 400 criminal cases a year have been opened over women seeking or receiving an abortion in the nation.Without access to legal abortion, only 12% of the nearly 400,000 abortions in Colombia occur in official health centers. As a result, at least 70 women die every year undergoing an unsafe or unsanitary procedure.Over the past year, Colombia has seen a shift in public opinion over abortion. In April 2021, only 36% of Colombians were against jailing women who sought an abortion. That figure now stands at 49%, as groups have continually pressured the government and courts to decriminalize the medical procedure.The expansion of access to abortion by Colombias highest court continues the trend in predominantly Catholic countries in Latin America. In February, Chile, in their new Magna Carta, established abortion as a right. In September, 2021, Mexico deemed that laws criminalizing abortion are unconstitutional, while in 2020 abortion was legalized in Argentina. colombia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Nevin Brown Nevin Brown News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Nevin Brown colombia, constitutional court, abortion, women's rights https://sputniknews.com/20220222/donbas-recognition-makes-it-harder-for-us-to-use-ukraine-against-russia---ex-us-official-1093252658.html Donbass Recognition Makes It Harder for US to Use Ukraine Against Russia - Ex-US Official Donbass Recognition Makes It Harder for US to Use Ukraine Against Russia - Ex-US Official WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Russia recognising the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent makes it harder for the United States to use... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T00:43+0000 2022-02-22T00:43+0000 2022-02-22T04:02+0000 ukraine russia donetsk people's republic us donbass conflict lugansk people's republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/12/1093140482_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_b809192bc92738e46ba91f2865bcb286.jpg On Monday, President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognising the independence of the Donbass republics, saying that the decision was long overdue.Roberts believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might actually be "relieved" by Russia's move.Roberts noted that Russia has tried for eight years to resolve the Donbass crisis and treated the region as a part of Ukraine. He referred to the open part of the Russian Security Council meeting on Monday that preceded Putin's decision during which "various members discussed their eight years of frustrations with negotiating with the US, NATO, EU that never went anywhere"."It is impossible not to admire the patience of the Russians, although it was patience at the expense of the lives of Donbass Russians", he stated. "Today the Russian government ran out of patience, and I don't think they will have much patience with the West in the future".When asked about Ukraine's NATO prospects, Roberts doubted that it would become a member.When tensions around Ukraine flared late last year, Russia published its security suggestions for NATO and the United States. Moscow specifically requested guarantees that the alliance would not expand eastward to include Ukraine and Georgia, to which Washington has replied by insisting it will not allow anyone to slam NATO's open-door policy shut.The situation in Donbass has further escalated in recent days, with the DPR and LPR reporting increased shelling by Ukrainian armed forces and ordering general mobilisation in anticipation of an offensive by the Ukrainian Army. The evacuation of Donbass citizens, first of all, women, children and the elderly, to Russia began late last week. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, russia, donetsk people's republic, us, donbass conflict, lugansk people's republic https://sputniknews.com/20220222/eu-foreign-minister-european-sanctions-to-hit-russian-govts-access-to-capital-financial-markets-1093279149.html EU Foreign Minister: European Sanctions to Hit Russian Gov'ts Access to Capital, Financial Markets EU Foreign Minister: European Sanctions to Hit Russian Gov'ts Access to Capital, Financial Markets Earlier, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission announced that the EU would sanction several Russian banks and restrict the Russian... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T17:33+0000 2022-02-22T17:33+0000 2022-02-22T18:25+0000 russia europe sanctions european union /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/02/1083775606_0:600:2048:1752_1920x0_80_0_0_87b65b83d0e0fe0399aba2983915443a.jpg EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has announced a list of sanctions that the EU is planning to slap on Russia over its decision to recognise the two Donbass republics the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR).According to him, the bloc will limit the Russian state and governments access to the European capital and financial markets. The EU top diplomat further promised Russian banks that "financed" Russia's decision on recognising DPR and LPR, and its operations in Donbass, will also face sanctions.In total, some 27 persons and entities outside of the Russian government will be slapped with sanctions.Borrell added that the sanctions against Russia can be extended, should the conflict in Donbass escalate further. The top EU diplomat did not clarify whether it will include an escalation by Kiev's forces the cause of the recent hostilities along the contact line in Donbass and the catalyst of Moscow's decision to recognise the DPR and LPR on 21 February.Sanctions Against Russian Parliament, But Not PresidentApart from targeting banks and financial market access, the EU will also introduce a number of personal sanctions against Russian government officials engaged in passing the decision to recognise the Donbass republics, Borrell indicated. A total of 351 lawmakers from the Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, will be hit with sanctions.At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not come under EU sanctions, Borrell said.On 21 February, Putin held an extraordinary meeting with members of the Russian Security Council to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation in Donbass, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces had been shelling for several days. He also requested the council's opinion on calls from the two republics to recognise their independence.During the consultations, several top Russian officials and ministers expressed the opinion that Kiev would implement the Minsk agreements and that the Ukrainian authorities had chosen to resolve the conflict in the east by military force a prospect that Moscow repeatedly warned the international community about for years.Several hours after the Security Council meeting, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would recognise the DPR and LPR and sign friendship treaties with them. The treaties include provisions that allow Moscow to deploy a peacekeeping contingency on the territory of the DPR and LPR. The Russian parliament's upper chamber voted to grant Putin the authority to deploy troops abroad on 22 February in a unanimous vote. european union Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg russia, europe, sanctions, european union https://sputniknews.com/20220222/german-regulator-confirms-suspension-of-nord-stream-2-certification-1093280013.html German Regulator Confirms Suspension of Nord Stream 2 Certification German Regulator Confirms Suspension of Nord Stream 2 Certification BERLIN (Sputnik) - The German Federal Network Agency told Sputnik on Tuesday it is suspending certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas project due to the... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T18:12+0000 2022-02-22T18:12+0000 2022-02-22T18:13+0000 russia germany nord stream 2 business /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/14/1083426072_0:127:3189:1921_1920x0_80_0_0_f4d64aacf9d19223dcaf7caf15f9cc83.jpg Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he had ordered the ministry to take the necessary steps to suspend the certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline's operator, meaning withdrawal of the ministry's energy security report on Nord Stream 2 from the agency. German Economy Minister Robert Habeck later confirmed that this had been done.The situation in the breakaway Donbass region has escalated in recent days, with the DPR and LPR reporting increased shelling by Ukrainian forces and ordering general mobilization in anticipation of an offensive by the Ukrainian army. The evacuation of Donbass citizens, first of all, women, children and the elderly, to Russia began late last week.Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing the independence of the breakaway regions of Ukraine on Monday. germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, germany, nord stream 2, business https://sputniknews.com/20220222/get-her-a-history-book-us-vp-kamala-harris-mocked-online-over-response-to-russia-ukraine-tensions-1093273517.html Get Her A History Book: US VP Kamala Harris Mocked Online Over Response to Russia-Ukraine Tensions Get Her A History Book: US VP Kamala Harris Mocked Online Over Response to Russia-Ukraine Tensions The second-in-command has repeatedly come under criticism for what critics describe as her inability to provide comprehensive answers when being asked questions about US domestic and foreign policy. 2022-02-22T15:50+0000 2022-02-22T15:50+0000 2022-03-21T12:43+0000 viral us munich security conference /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/14/1083191393_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e2fbd70fab3784ed5b664dd2ebbfcfae.jpg US vice-president Kamala Harris has been mocked for her response about tensions between Russia and Ukraine. On Monday, Russian president Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics, a move which prompted condemnation from the West and Ukraine.Kamala Harris, who was attending the Munich Security Conference, was asked by reporters to comment on the issue as well as to speak on the Biden administrations endgame when it comes to the Ukrainian crisis. The second-in-command made an incoherent statement, before saying that Washington and its allies are opting for a diplomatic solution to the problem.Her comments prompted derision from netizens, who branded her response an embarrassment.Many users were angered by the condescending tone the vice-president adopted to talk about the issue.Still others took her to task over her statement that there had been 70 years of peace in Europe.Many netizens maintained that Harris must have been making her statement while appearing on a famous sketch comedy show, whereas others lamented that she is representing the United States.This is not the first time Kamala Harris has been criticised for her unprepared responses. The VP has been berated by critics for laughing off or providing evasive answers when asked a question she finds uncomfortable.Critics of the administration highlight how Harris dealt with the migrant crisis at the US southern border - when asked whether she would visit the border - which is supposed to be her particular area of responsibility - the VP simply laughed several times. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 viral, us, munich security conference https://sputniknews.com/20220222/international-observers-us-nato--kiev-laid-the-groundwork-for-donbass-independence-recognition-1093275283.html International Observers: US, NATO & Kiev Laid the Groundwork for Donbass Independence Recognition International Observers: US, NATO & Kiev Laid the Groundwork for Donbass Independence Recognition In the wake of the Kremlin's recognition of Donetsk and Lugansk, the US, UK, and EU promised more sanctions on Russia. However, these are not the tough... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T16:23+0000 2022-02-22T16:23+0000 2022-02-22T16:23+0000 us europe russia opinion donbass ukraine neo-nazi donetsk people's republic lugansk peoples republic recognition /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102451/50/1024515013_0:293:5616:3452_1920x0_80_0_0_2c154929a8b192adbe8169d19c38a87b.jpg "The United States has declared the imposition of sanctions relating to the recognition of the two republics. But these sanctions are purely cosmetic", says Gilbert Doctorow, an international relations and Russian affairs analyst. "Europe is going to take some sanctions against individuals whom they say have played a role in these latest decisions by Russia relating to recognition. But that's also purely cosmetic. Serious economic consequences - I don't see any whatsoever".Meanwhile, Berlin has frozen the certification of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline, running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. The German Federal Grid Agency temporarily delayed the certification of the pipeline late last year. The agency told Sputnik that it has no forecast about the timing of the renewal of the certification of the Nord Stream 2 operator yet.Despite the US trying to convince Germany to nix the gas pipeline, Berlin never promised to eliminate the project altogether, according to Doctorow. Nord Stream 2 is designed to deliver 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas per year to Europe, thus doubling the original Nord Stream capacity to a total of 110 bcm.Kiev Left Donbass With Little, if Any, ChoiceRussia on 21 February recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) in response to calls to do so by the Russian State Duma and the DPR, LPR leadership as well as to Kiev's continuing refusal to follow the provisions of the Minsk agreements, struck in 2014 and 2015 and approved by the UN Security Council. The recognition came as the Ukrainian government had amassed considerable forces along the contact line with the two Donbass republics and ramped up shelling last week in a clear violation of the Minsk accords. The leadership of the DPR and LPR announced the evacuation of elderly people, women, and children to Russia. The OSCE reported over 2,000 ceasefire violations on the day of the two republics' recognition.Earlier, the Kiev government made it clear that it would not engage in dialogue with the DPR and LPR, which left the breakaway republics with little, if any, alternatives, according to British-Serbian political commentator Marko Gasic. On 9 February, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Kiev would not adhere to the Minsk agreements on "Moscow's conditions", and would not engage in direct talks with the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which constitutes one of the core provisions of the Minsk deal.Moreover, it has been clear to any objective observer of the situation that Kiev and its Western allies "have always intended to retake the Donbass region by force if necessary", according to Quinn. If Kiev had its way, it would continue to harass the people of Donbass, the commentator notes, adding that in the aftermath of Russia's recognition the people of Eastern Ukraine will be shielded from Kiev's aggression."[Recognition of the DPR and LPR] put a stop to the hot war between the two republics, Donetsk and Lugansk, and the Kievan regime", says Doctorow. "It turned the conflict into what is called a frozen conflict, similar to what exists in Transnistria, with respect to Moldova, what exists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, with respect to Georgia, nobody is fighting. Nobody is dying".Donbass Independence is Result of US-NATO ActionsThe unfolding Ukrainian crisis is the product of the US and its NATO allies' policies, according to the observers.Under these circumstances, Russia's recognition of Donbass' sovereignty "has to be measured against the danger of doing nothing, a passivity which would clearly allow a real humanitarian catastrophe to unfold in the Donbass", according to the British-Serbian commentator. In addition to this, Moscow faced clear geopolitical danger posed by "the military intentions of Kiev's NATO puppet regime in its joint operations with NATO on Russia's doorstep", he notes.However, the West's understanding of the situation is "limited", according to Gilbert Doctorow. He notes that the most surprising case is Germany and Chancellor Olaf Scholz's remark that Russia's warning of the ongoing genocide in Eastern Ukraine by the Kiev military and neo-Nazi battalions is "ridiculous".While the US, UK, and EU are not listening to Russia's arguments, they can't go much further in demonising Russia, Doctorow believes.As for recognition of Crimea and Donbass, the US and NATO set a solid legal precedent when they recognised Kosovo's sovereignty and carved the region out of Serbia, according to Doctorow. The recognition of independence on the basis of the Donbass republics' popular mandate and the right to self-determination is a very strong legal argument, he notes. "[It is] very embarrassing for the United States to try to say no", the analyst concludes. donbass ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us, europe, russia, opinion, donbass, ukraine, neo-nazi, donetsk people's republic, lugansk peoples republic, recognition, independence, sanctions, nord stream 2 https://sputniknews.com/20220222/live-from-lugansk-as-lpr-citizens-celebrate-recognition-by-russia-1093275694.html Live From Lugansk as LPR Citizens Celebrate Recognition by Russia Live From Lugansk as LPR Citizens Celebrate Recognition by Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the recognition of the Donbass republics on 21 February following requests from them and the Russian parliament. He... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T16:01+0000 2022-02-22T16:01+0000 2022-02-22T16:01+0000 ukraine russia lpr dpr /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093276041_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_8f7fc5485083793e8fab15c115356c66.jpg Citizens of the Lugansk Peoples Republic are for the second day celebrating Russias recognition of the LPR's independence. The first celebrations started as Russian President Vladimir Putin was announcing the decision on TV, with residents of the Donetsk Peoples Republic launching a cortege of cars carrying the flags of Russia and the republic to praise Moscow's decision.Follow Sputnik's live from Lugansk to find out more ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Live from Lugansk as recognition of LPR celebrated with fireworks Live from Lugansk as recognition of LPR celebrated with fireworks 2022-02-22T16:01+0000 true PT17M14S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 ukraine, russia, lpr, dpr, Better Solution on Ukraine Nukes Was Maybe Possible If Not for US-Russia Pressure - Kuleba WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said a more reasonable solution on the issue of Ukrainian nuclear weapons could have been found if not for joint pressure from the United States and Russia. "At that time, a smarter decision could have been found if the United States together with Russia hadn't taken a joint position to deprive Ukraine of its nuclear weapons," Kuleba said during a Fox News interview on Tuesday when asked if it was wrong move for Ukraine to give up its nuclear weapons. In 1994, Ukraine agreed to eliminate nuclear weapons from its territory and to join the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty. Asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will remain with the people of Ukraine if the situation escalates in the country, the foreign minister remarked that the president "will always stay with the people of Ukraine." China's customs issues warning on faulty Abbott baby formulas Xinhua) 08:26, February 22, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's customs has issued a statement advising consumers to stop buying and ingesting certain infant formulas produced by the U.S.-based health-care company Abbott Nutrition. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently launched an investigation into the baby formulas following complaints of Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella Newport infections, said the General Administration of Customs (GAC), citing an FDA announcement. All of the cases are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula produced from Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan facility. The brands are Similac, Alimentum and EleCare, according to the statement. The GAC said it will continue to closely follow the FDA's investigation on the matter and keep consumers updated of any progress. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) SYDNEY, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Australian homes, businesses and communities need billions of dollars more in government funding to cope with worsening extreme weather conditions, according to the nation's insurance industry. A report released on Tuesday by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said the federal government's natural disaster funding should be doubled to 200 million Australian dollars (about 143.8 million U.S. dollars) per year and that the figure should be matched by the nation's six state and two territory governments for the next five years. "Insurers are at the frontline when it comes to climate change and extreme weather. That's why as an industry we're so focused on improving community resilience," said Andrew Hall, who heads the Sydney-based ICA. Hall said that investing now in stronger homes and community infrastructures would ultimately lead to estimated government and household savings of at least 19 billion Australian dollars (about 13.7 billion U.S. dollars) by 2050. The Building a More Resilient Australia report outlined a range of measures to make vulnerable communities and homes better able to withstand the nation's most common natural disasters of floods, cyclones and bushfires. The ICA's proposed program includes improving the national flood early warning system, flood levees for regional towns, raising vital community service facilities above expected flood lines, cyclone-proofing more than 44,000 homes in northern Australia and creating a national coastal hazard information database. The call for greater investment in making homes and communities more resilient to the impacts of extreme weather is one of 12 policy areas the ICA has identified as requiring reform, modernization or investment. The insurance body is also calling for a review of land use planning arrangements to ensure no more homes were built in areas with a high risk of extreme weather impacts, and for national building codes to be strengthened. Additionally, the ICA believed states and territories must finally abolish duties, levies and taxes on insurance products, which increase the cost of premiums and discourage people from being fully insured. To coincide with the report's release, the ICA has begun a nationwide advertising campaign calling on Australia's governments to lessen the impact of extreme weather by committing to the urgent increase in investment. https://sputniknews.com/20220222/long-road-back-home-chilean-museum-to-return-moai-monolith-to-easter-island-1093264247.html Long Road Back Home: Chilean Museum to Return Moai Monolith to Easter Island Long Road Back Home: Chilean Museum to Return Moai Monolith to Easter Island The so-called moai monoliths were created by Rapa Nui Polynesian people, who according to scientists, settled on the island between 800 and 1200 CE. They are said to have created industrious culture. 2022-02-22T10:50+0000 2022-02-22T10:50+0000 2022-02-22T10:50+0000 archaeology culture easter island chile rapa nui /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093264119_0:42:1041:628_1920x0_80_0_0_693fb247783fbc4685a0d94e997752d0.jpg Chile's National Museum of Natural History says it will return the oldest moai monolith to Easter Island. In a statement posted on its website, the museum said the enormous statue will be sent back under its repatriation programme, which aims to restore the cultural heritage assets of the island.The statue was first brought to Chile in 1870 and has been on display in the museum since 1878. The descendants of the Rapa Nui people, who created the sculptures, have for years called on the Chilean authorities to return the sculptures to their original homeland. Similar requests have been sent to the countries that took statues from the island in the 18th and 19th centuries.Chile's National Museum of Natural History said the basalt statue, which weighs 715 kgs, will depart from the port of Valparaiso next Monday. The museum has created a special concrete platform and package for its safe transportation. Upon returning to its homeland the sculpture will be exhibited in the Father Sebastian Englert Anthropological Museum. easter island chile Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev archaeology, culture, easter island, chile, rapa nui https://sputniknews.com/20220222/medvedev-decision-on-russias-recognition-of-dpr-and-lpr-difficult-but-only-possible-1093257821.html Medvedev: Decision on Russia's Recognition of DPR and LPR Difficult But Only Possible Option Medvedev: Decision on Russia's Recognition of DPR and LPR Difficult But Only Possible Option MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow's decision to recognise the independence of the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk (DPR and LPR) is difficult, but the... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T06:01+0000 2022-02-22T06:01+0000 2022-02-22T06:23+0000 dmitry medvedev russia dpr lpr donetsk people's republic ukraine donbas conflict donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107983/59/1079835984_0:0:3145:1770_1920x0_80_0_0_56abdd02ace83be3be40b468bea208bd.jpg The situation in Donbass has been deteriorating drastically over the past few days, with Ukrainian forces shelling local settlements. Donetsk and Lugansk authorities evacuated people from some territories due to frequent attacks, carried out by Ukrainian soldiers. Later, the leaders of both republics appealed to Moscow, urging President Vladimir Putin to recognise the DPR and LPR.On Monday, Russia recognised the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic and also called on Kiev to "immediately stop hostilities" in the region, saying that otherwise, the Ukrainian regime would be to blame for the escalation. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 dmitry medvedev, russia, dpr, lpr, donetsk people's republic, ukraine, donbas conflict, donbass https://sputniknews.com/20220222/mysterious-death-scientists-perplexed-as-thousands-of-fish-wash-up-on-chile-beach-1093273386.html Mysterious Death: Scientists Perplexed As Thousands of Fish Wash Up on Chile Beach Mysterious Death: Scientists Perplexed As Thousands of Fish Wash Up on Chile Beach A similar incident was reported last year in Chile when "low amounts of oxygen in the water" pushed a large number of fish to the shores in search of... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T14:56+0000 2022-02-22T14:56+0000 2022-02-22T14:56+0000 france chile dead dead fish mysterious mysterious death us asia & pacific /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093274123_0:265:3072:1993_1920x0_80_0_0_f08cb7eb44612dbf1a03650871675e5c.jpg Shocking footage of thousands of dead sardines and anchovies washed up on the Coliumo peninsula in Chile's Bio Bio region are doing the rounds on the internet and has left scientists baffled. The incident reportedly took place on Sunday when several morning walkers were shocked to see that the beach had apparently turned silver with thousands of dead fish lying on the shore.Describing it as an unexplained natural phenomenon, environmental officials are investigating what could have caused the fish to die and are testing the water quality in the region.Locals believe that the death of so many fish could be because of the low oxygen levels in deeper water that might have driven them to swim close to the shore for oxygen.Several workers have been assigned to conduct a massive clean-up operation on the beach. We cant bring down earthmovers (tractors) to clear the dead fish, as is usually the case when there is a clean up of seaweed on our coast. Here we can't do it. It has to be done with workers," the local mayor Ivonne Rivas told Euronews. chile Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg france, chile, dead, dead fish, mysterious, mysterious death, us, asia & pacific https://sputniknews.com/20220222/nato-chief-stoltenberg-holds-briefing-after-extraordinary-meeting-on-ukraine-1093272478.html NATO Chief Stoltenberg Holds Briefing After Extraordinary Meeting on Ukraine NATO Chief Stoltenberg Holds Briefing After Extraordinary Meeting on Ukraine Russia previously announced recognition of both Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, with president Putin noting the move should have occurred "long ago"... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T16:04+0000 2022-02-22T16:04+0000 2022-02-22T16:04+0000 russia nato jens stoltenberg donbass ukraine brussels /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093275179_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_d3ca97174985dcbb0ff4dabb7bfcf792.jpg Sputnik comes live from Brussels as NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg holds a media briefing after the extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission. The meeting was held after President Vladimir Putin officially recognised the independence of Donbass republics and ordered Russian peacekeepers to enter the region to maintain the peace after a wave of shelling attacks by Ukraine against the republics.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! donbass ukraine brussels Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Stoltenberg briefs media following extraordinary NATO meeting on Ukraine Stoltenberg briefs media following extraordinary NATO meeting on Ukraine 2022-02-22T16:04+0000 true PT25M24S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 russia, nato, jens stoltenberg, donbass, ukraine, brussels, https://sputniknews.com/20220222/norwegian-party-founder-decries-persecution-of-donbass-inhabitants-calls-for-referendum-1093277870.html Norwegian Party Founder Decries 'Persecution' of Donbass Inhabitants, Calls for Referendum Norwegian Party Founder Decries 'Persecution' of Donbass Inhabitants, Calls for Referendum Russia recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics after Kiev failed to fulfil the provisions of the Minsk agreements and an outbreak of hostilities... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T17:22+0000 2022-02-22T17:22+0000 2022-02-22T17:22+0000 russia-nato row on european security news russia ukraine donbass scandinavia norway progress party /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103456/54/1034565480_0:0:4256:2395_1920x0_80_0_0_3ae3eb8bcd7d0c06e06d669444047d09.jpg Carl Hagen, the founder and long-time leader of the national-conservative Progress Party, has argued that the people of the Donbass republics should be able to decide their fate and should be offered a referendum.Hagen also spoke his mind about the conflict involving Donbass and the purported Russian invasion of Ukraine which the West has been puffing up for months.The Progress Party's deputy leader in the parliament, Hans Andreas Limi, was quick to condemn Hagen's proposal and in a press release emphasised that the Progress Party has one line in foreign policy, and that Hagen was voicing his own opinion. Limi also added that Russian propaganda was unacceptable.According to Limi, the Progress Party, at present in opposition, supported the government in its condemnation of Russia's recognition of the Lugansk and Donetsk as independent people's republics. He also referred to Russia's aggressive line and added that his party had full confidence in the government and NATO.Carl-Ivar Hagen is the founder of the Progress Party which is based on libertarianism, conservatism and nationalism, which he led between 1978 and 2006. Hagen has since been described by psephologists and fellow politicians as one of the greatest politicians in Norwegian history for his ability to build a largely successful party from scratch and make a significant impact on Norwegian politics.Donbass Republics Recognised Amid Ukrainian OffensiveRussian President Vladimir Putin on 21 February decreed that the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics should be recognised after Kiev's failed to fulfil the provisions of the Minsk agreements and the renewed hostilities between Ukraine's forces and local militias.The treaties inked with the DPR and the LPR allow Russia to deploy a peace-keeping mission in Donbass to protect the newly recognised republics.After the recognition, European countries unveiled another round of anti-Russia sanctions that involve Russian banks, private individuals and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. ukraine donbass scandinavia norway Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov news, russia, ukraine, donbass, scandinavia, norway, progress party https://sputniknews.com/20220222/nothing-to-lose-gazans-vent-anger-against-hamas-in-rare-twitter-campaign-1093260280.html Nothing to Lose? Gazans Vent Anger Against Hamas in Rare Twitter Campaign Nothing to Lose? Gazans Vent Anger Against Hamas in Rare Twitter Campaign In 2021, the poverty rate in the Gaza Strip saw a dramatic spike, reaching 59 percent, compared to 43 percent five years earlier. Unemployment is also high and... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T10:21+0000 2022-02-22T10:21+0000 2022-02-22T10:21+0000 gaza strip hamas fatah poverty jobless palestinians protesters protests /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0b/13/1090853729_0:152:3072:1880_1920x0_80_0_0_0388d731830f1ff979af044ee7e01db7.jpg A rare phenomenon can be seen in Gaza nowadays. Young people are taking to Twitter and other social networks to protest against Hamas, the Islamist group that runs the enclave.Using the hash tag # , or "they kidnapped Gaza", locals are saying they are tired of Hamas' rule, which has been in place since 2007.Another wrote: "The most authoritarian countries that restrict freedom of opinion and expression have not imposed such restrictions as those imposed by those, who #kidnapped_Gaza. If they could restrict minds, they would bind them too".Nothing to Lose?Rami Aman, a local peace activist who recently escaped the Strip after being tortured by the Islamist group, says he has been monitoring the situation closely and has been in touch with many young people who dared to reject the rule of Hamas.Until recently, Aman was also one of them. After 2011, with the outbreak of the Arab Spring protests that swapped the Middle East, he was active on social media networks, arranged virtual meetings between Palestinians and Israelis, and engaged in several protests against Hamas under the banner "We Want to Live".However, those protests were met with an iron fist from the Islamist group. Scores were beaten and arrested, something that only contributed to the general feeling of fear among the masses and subdued their resistance.For years, Hamas has managed to maintain that relative quiet. Despite that, Aman says people are now waking up.In 2021, the poverty rate in the Gaza Strip saw a dramatic spike, reaching 59 percent, compared to 43 percent five years earlier.Unemployment has also been a major problem, with almost half of the Strip's population remaining jobless.The dire economic situation has prompted a number of social problems, including drug abuse, crime, domestic violence, and divorce. Hamas has traditionally pinned the blame on Israel, its tight blockade of the enclave, and the wars it has been waging. A senior official of the group argued his movement was doing its best to cope with the pressing issues, but for ordinary Gazans, the deeds of the Hamas government are too little and far from enough. Now they demand change.Will There Be a Change?Aman says he knows that that change will not come from violent protests like in many countries across the Middle East. The reason for this is the fact that Gazans lack any support.To see a change, says the activist, Gazans will need to find a political solution but that, in its turn, is hard to reach.Last year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled legislative and presidential elections, after his Fatah party failed to reach an agreement with Hamas and other factions.However, Aman says that even if these elections had taken place, they wouldn't have brought about the much needed change. gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade gaza strip, hamas, fatah, poverty, jobless, palestinians, protesters, protests https://sputniknews.com/20220222/osce-mission-confirms-violation-of-humanitarian-law-by-ukrainian-troops-in-lpr-militia-says-1093259117.html OSCE Mission Confirms Violation of Humanitarian Law by Ukrainian Troops in LPR, Lugansk Says OSCE Mission Confirms Violation of Humanitarian Law by Ukrainian Troops in LPR, Lugansk Says The situation in Donbass remains tense, with Ukrainian forces shelling the territories of DPR and LPR, prompting evacuations of people to Russia. 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T07:10+0000 2022-02-22T07:10+0000 2022-02-22T08:18+0000 lpr shelling osce ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0c/1c/1091862075_0:104:2000:1229_1920x0_80_0_0_c8a38e94c2cd04b04dfd7ab4d4650bb8.jpg The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Donbass has confirmed that Ukrainian militants violated international humanitarian law by shelling residential buildings in the region, according to the Lugansk People's Republic Militia.In the meantime, the mission also confirmed a total of 2,158 ceasefire violations in the DPR from 18 to 20 February. The situation in Donbass remains tense, with the DPR and LPR conducting mass evacuations of the civilian population due to frequent attacks by Ukrainian forces. Following a recent appeal by the leaders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Russia recognised both as independent states. Moscow ordered to deploy a peacekeeping mission in Donbass to stop the conflict and urged Kiev to "immediately stop hostilities" in the region.The conflict started back in 2014 after a coup d'etat in Kiev triggered mass protests in Donetsk, Lugansk and other Ukrainian cities. The new government decided to quell any opposition with military force, which resulted in Donetsk and Lugansk proclaiming their independence from Kiev. In response, the Ukrainian authorities launched a military operation against Donbass.In total, the conflict in Donbass claimed at least 13,000 lives, while thousands more were wounded. Around 2.5 million of the region's residents were forced to flee their homes, with over a million seeking refuge in Russia. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg lpr, shelling, osce, ukraine https://sputniknews.com/20220222/price-of-april-futures-for-brent-oil-exceeds-99-per-barrel-first-time-since-september-2014-1093261786.html Price of April Futures for Brent Oil Exceeds $99 Per Barrel First Time Since September 2014 Price of April Futures for Brent Oil Exceeds $99 Per Barrel First Time Since September 2014 Between mid-2014 and early 2016 the global economy saw one of the most drastic declines in oil prices in modern history, witnessing a price drop of 70 percent. 2022-02-22T08:40+0000 2022-02-22T08:40+0000 2022-02-22T10:17+0000 oil futures price oil prices ukraine vladimir putin donetsk people's republic lugansk people's republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103233/06/1032330604_0:182:3501:2151_1920x0_80_0_0_edfa62296587472aaab1649967969e15.jpg Global oil prices have continued to grow due to the escalation of tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, with the price of Brent crude topping $99 per barrel for the first time since September 2014.As of 08:36 GMT, the price of April futures for Brent crude was up 4.05 percent, while April futures for West Texas Intermediate were trading up 4.66 percent at $94.44 per barrel.The development comes amid growing tensions between Russian and the West over Ukraine. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of of the Donetsk People's Republic (LPR) and the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), a move that caused condemnation from the United States and Ukrainian authorities.Russia's decision to recognise DPR and LPR followed requests by the leaders of the breakaway republics, who accused Ukraine of attacking their territories, thereby forcing DPR and LPR to begin the evacuation of civilians (women and children) to Russia. Kiev, for its part, has claimed that it was not responsible for the attacks.President Putin said that Moscow would send Russian troops on a peacekeeping mission to the two republics. The US envoy to the United Nations described the statement as "nonsense", while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kiev was not afraid of the move. "We are on our own land. We owe nothing to anyone. And we will not give anything to anyone", he said.Oil prices have been growing for several months amid statements by the US and its allies about Russia planning an "invasion" of Ukraine, a claim the Kremlin has rejected as absurd and false.Maike Currie, an investment director at Fidelity International, said oil could go above $100 per barrel due to a combination of factors the ongoing standoff over Ukraine, cold winter in the United States, as well as a lack of investment in oil and gas supplies around the world.Market experts fear that the ongoing standoff may trigger disruptions to oil supply. Potential sanctions imposed on Russia is another factor leading to increased prices. The United Kingdom pledged to introduce a "significant package of sanctions" in response to Russia's decision to recognise LPR and DPR. The United States too has announced such a move.The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the bloc will discuss punitive measures against Russia during a meeting of foreign ministers on Tuesday. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 oil, futures, price, oil prices, ukraine, vladimir putin, donetsk people's republic, lugansk people's republic https://sputniknews.com/20220222/queen-elizabeth-ii-cancels-virtual-engagements-for-this-week-after-positive-covid-test-1093264927.html Queen Elizabeth II Cancels Virtual Engagements For This Week After Positive COVID Test Queen Elizabeth II Cancels Virtual Engagements For This Week After Positive COVID Test The 95-year-old monarch received the positive test last week. It came after Queen Elizabeth met with her son and heir to the throne Prince Charles, who also tested positive for COVID-19. 2022-02-22T10:43+0000 2022-02-22T10:43+0000 2022-02-22T12:00+0000 uk queen elizabeth ii uk royal family prince charles covid-19 pandemic coronavirus /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/03/1082790173_0:109:2079:1278_1920x0_80_0_0_0e091234fd31ec6d0793179fe0122660.jpg Queen Elizabeth II has cancelled planned virtual engagements as she is experiencing coronavirus symptoms, Buckingham Palace has said in a statement. The monarch "has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today, but will continue with light duties", a palace spokesman has said.Buckingham Palace reiterated that the Queen is experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms. According to local media, further engagements over the coming week, such as the monarch's weekly conversation with the prime minister, will be decided upon later.The development comes amid concerns about the health of the 95-year-old monarch. Three days before she tested positive for COVID-19, which causes serious cases among the older population, the Queen held an in-person audience at Windsor Castle during which she seemingly complained about her health.In video footage posted online the monarch is seen talking with incoming Defence Secretary Major General Eldon Millar, and his predecessor, Rear Admiral James Macleod. Responding to a question about her well-being, the monarch, who was holding a cane, pointed to her left leg and said: "Well, as you can see I can't move".Buckingham Palace has not commented on the issue. However, local media reported that the Queen was feeling rather stiff than simply being unwell or injured.Last October, the monarch had to scrap several important engagements, including the the Remembrance service at the Cenotaph and the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, after doctors ordered her to take several weeks of rest. The 95-year-old was also admitted to Edward VII's hospital for what Buckingham Palace said were "preliminary investigations".On 20 February, palace officials announced that the Queen tested positive for COVID-19. The news came ten days after it became known that her son Prince Charles, heir to the throne, caught the disease. Prince Charles met with the Queen in the week he tested positive, but local media outlets have speculated that the Queen did not contract COVID-19 from her son. According to the BBC, a number of people working at Windsor Castle, where the monarch is believed to be residing, have tested positive for COVID-19.Earlier this month, the Queen, whose husband Prince Philip died last year, became the first British monarch to mark a Platinum Jubilee 70 years on the throne. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 uk, queen elizabeth ii, uk royal family, prince charles, covid-19, pandemic, coronavirus https://sputniknews.com/20220222/russia-recognises-dpr-lpr-within-borders-in-which-they-proclaimed-independence-kremlin-says-1093265194.html Russia Recognises DPR, LPR Within Borders in Which They Proclaimed Independence, Kremlin Says Russia Recognises DPR, LPR Within Borders in Which They Proclaimed Independence, Kremlin Says Russia's recognition of the two Donbass republics came on 21 February following calls to do so by the Russian State Duma and the DPR, LPR leadership. The... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T10:50+0000 2022-02-22T10:50+0000 2022-02-22T12:10+0000 russia dpr lpr ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093266136_0:0:3213:1808_1920x0_80_0_0_ad4adce90475d466bd99b5913f1b31d6.jpg Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has clarified that Russia recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) within the borders in which they proclaimed their independence back in 2014. The moment came during a press conference on the matter.The head of the DPR, in turn, stated that the borders of both Donbass republics are solidified in their respective constitutions and remain with the borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. He did not elaborate further on the matter.Russia Recognises DPR, LPR's Independence From UkraineRussian President Vladimir Putin on 21 February ordered to recognise the independence of the DPR and LPR and sign friendship treaties with them, which include provisions for collective defence and security. He cited Kiev's continuing refusal to follow the provisions of the Minsk agreements and Ukraine's forces continuing attacks on the Donbass republics, which intensified severely last week.The DPR and LPR reported numerous cases of Ukrainian forces shelling civilian buildings, infrastructure, and positions of the republics' militias over the past several days, which led to civilian casualties, destruction, and the cutting off of gas and water supplies to certain cities. The OSCE reported over 2,000 ceasefire violations on the day of the two republics' recognition.The move to recognise the DPR and LPR was supported by the Syrian government, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. At the same time, the US, the EU, NATO, Ukraine, and several other countries condemned Russia's decision and threatened to slap Moscow with a new round of economic sanctions.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated that he is considering cutting diplomatic ties with Russia in response to the move. However, both Western countries and Kiev insisted on continuing attempts to resolve the crisis in Ukraine via diplomatic means and negotiations with Russia. ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/03/0d/1093831826_0:0:216:216_100x100_80_0_0_e3f43a960af0c6c99f7eb8ccbf5f812c.jpg russia, dpr, lpr, ukraine HERAT, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces gunned down three suspects for an attempt to kidnap a goldsmith in Herat city, capital of western Herat province on the Monday, a provincial security official Sabit Herawi said Tuesday. "Three kidnappers who were attempting to abduct a goldsmith in Bakrabad area of Herat city on Monday evening were shot dead by security forces," Herawi added. Similarly, personnel of law enforcing agencies have arrested four people on a charge of possessing arms and ammunitions from eastern Nangarhar province, reported the state-run news agency Bakhtar on Tuesday. The Taliban-run administration has vowed to crack down on the outlaws to ensure law and order elsewhere in the war-torn Afghanistan. https://sputniknews.com/20220222/switzerland-under-threat-of-being-added-to-eus-money-laundering-blackist-amid-credit-suisse-leak--1093270279.html Switzerland Under Threat of Being Added to EU's Money-Laundering Blackist Amid Credit Suisse Leak Switzerland Under Threat of Being Added to EU's Money-Laundering Blackist Amid Credit Suisse Leak On Monday, Credit Suisse lashed out at "concerted effort to discredit" the bank as a massive data leak revealed that the lender's accounts had been used by... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T13:19+0000 2022-02-22T13:19+0000 2022-02-23T09:41+0000 switzerland credit suisse group ag money laundering probe bank accounts corruption crimes /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093262354_0:0:2848:1603_1920x0_80_0_0_ca241cc5a97a28cedb771dfa8148c3c0.jpg The European People's party (EPP) has urged the EU to review its ties with Switzerland and consider if the country should be added to the bloc's money-laundering blacklist amid fallout from a huge leak of Credit Suisse banking data.The leak dubbed, "Suisse Secrets", contained info that one of the world's most iconic private banks managed accounts for human rights abusers, fraudsters, and businessmen who were placed under sanctions.Markus Ferber, the economic affairs coordinator for the EPP, the largest political grouping in the European Parliament, said in a statement on Monday, that "when Swiss banks fail to apply international anti-money-laundering standards properly, Switzerland itself becomes a high-risk jurisdiction".The EPP's economic affairs coordinator added that bank privacy laws "must not become a pretext to facilitate money laundering and tax evasion", arguing that "the Swiss Secrets findings point to massive shortcomings of Swiss banks when it comes to the prevention of money laundering".Switzerland's government did not comment on the EPP's call, only arguing that the country meets international standards when it comes to exchanges of tax information, as well as the fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and corruption.The bank underlined that it took allegations of due diligence failures seriously and would go ahead with its own investigations with an internal task force, referring to "robust data protection and data leakage prevention controls in place to protect" Credit Suisse's clients.The financial institution hit out at what it described as a "concerted effort to discredit not only the bank but the Swiss financial marketplace as a whole, which has undergone significant changes over the last several years",'Swiss Secrets' Leak The response came amid a scandal over a whistleblower leaking data to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung on more than 18,000 bank accounts, estimated to be worth more than $100 billion. The leak pertained to personal, shared, and corporate accounts, opened from the 1940s to the 2010s.After Suddeutsche Zeitung shared the data with the non-profit journalist group Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, as well as almost 50 media organisations globally, including The Guardian, Le Monde, and The New York Times, they spent months meticulously studying the information.Their probe suggested that Credit Suisse accounts had been used by clients involved in such serious crimes as torture, drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. According to the inquiry, account holders included a Yemeni spy chief, Venezuela's former Vice Energy Minister Nervis Villalobos, and the sons of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. switzerland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg switzerland, credit suisse group ag, money laundering, probe, bank, accounts, corruption, crimes https://sputniknews.com/20220222/uk-and-allies-begin-imposing-sanctions-on-russia-boris-johnson-says-1093270511.html Britain Slaps Sanctions on Five Russian Banks, Three Individuals Britain Slaps Sanctions on Five Russian Banks, Three Individuals The imposition of sanctions comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that Moscow has recognised the independence of the Donetsk and... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T12:40+0000 2022-02-22T12:40+0000 2022-02-23T11:23+0000 uk russia ukraine donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093271031_0:31:3043:1743_1920x0_80_0_0_9f6bc174d616efe404794f6dbd93662c.jpg British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the UK is imposing sanctions on Russian banks and individuals that the British government "has already prepared".According to him, the individuals include Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg, who will will have their assets in the UK frozen, and who will also be banned from travelling to the UK.He also said that the time has allegedly come to brace for the next possible stages of Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan for Ukraine after Moscow's recognition of independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, DPR and LPR, respectively.The UK prime minister, who earlier pledged that Britain's sanctions will "hit Russia very hard", also said that "it is absolutely vital that we hold in reserve further powerful sanctions [] in view of what President [Vladimir] Putin may do next". "We want to stop Russian companies from being able to raise funds in sterling or indeed in dollars...We want them to stop raising funds on UK markets and we want to strip away the veil that conceals the ownership of property in this country", he added. Additionally, Johnson urged to avoid "Russophobia" when hammering out the sanctions against Russia, warning not to use restrictions against individuals on the basis of their nationality.Separately, the prime minister said that he welcomes Germany's decision to stop the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, which was announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz earlier on Tuesday.Russia's Recognition of Donbass Republics' Independence Johnson's remarks come after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that following an appeal from the DPR and the LPR, Moscow is recognising both as independent nations. Putin underscored that the move should have occurred "long ago", adding that Kiev should immediately stop the escalation of the conflict in eastern Ukraine otherwise the Ukrainian government would be responsible for any possible bloodshed in Donbass. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov clarified on Tuesday that Russia recognised the DPR and the LPR within the borders in which they proclaimed their independence back in 2014.The decision came after the situation on the line of contact between Kiev and the DPR and the LPR worsened in recent days as the Ukrainian Army intensified shelling of the territories of the republics, prompting local authorities to initiate a mass evacuation of women and children to Russia. The developments unfolded amid Western countries' speculation of Russia's "imminent invasion" of Ukraine, with media outlets in the West repeatedly publishing alleged dates of "a Russian attack" on the country. Russia has repeatedly denied having plans to attack any country, including Ukraine, or escalating the situation there. Moscow also stressed that the "invasion" allegations are being used by NATO as a pretext for advancing the alliance's military presence further eastward in Europe. Moscow warns that NATO's plans to expand further eastward pose a direct threat to Russia's national security. ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 uk, russia, ukraine, donbass https://sputniknews.com/20220222/uk-pm-boris-johnson-expected-to-announce-sanctions-against-russia-1093269199.html UK PM Boris Johnson Expected to Announce Sanctions Against Russia UK PM Boris Johnson Expected to Announce Sanctions Against Russia On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed recognition of republics of Donbass and urged Kiev to cease the escalation, also ordering to deploy a peacekeeping mission in the region to stop the confrontation. 2022-02-22T12:27+0000 2022-02-22T12:27+0000 2022-02-22T12:27+0000 uk russia boris johnson uk house of commons house of commons ukraine dpr lpr donetsk people's republic donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093268120_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_d33a3acb66a3de0afbd39bb42305ce37.jpg Sputnik is live from London, where UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is addressing the House of Commons. The head of the cabinet is expected to announce British sanctions against Russia after Moscow officially recognised the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)Johnson previously claimed that Putin has now "violated Ukrainian sovereignty by sending troops in" and promised that the UK's sanctions will "hit Russia very hard". Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! ukraine donbass Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Boris Johnson expected to announce UK sanctions against Russia Boris Johnson expected to announce UK sanctions against Russia 2022-02-22T12:27+0000 true PT100M37S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 uk, russia, boris johnson, uk house of commons, house of commons, ukraine, dpr, lpr, donetsk people's republic, donbass, donbass conflict, https://sputniknews.com/20220222/us-nato-far-more-concerned-about-russian-maneuvers-than-safety-of-those-in-dpr--lpr----expert-1093254950.html US, NATO 'Far More Concerned' About Russian Maneuvers Than Safety of Those in DPR & LPR - Expert US, NATO 'Far More Concerned' About Russian Maneuvers Than Safety of Those in DPR & LPR - Expert Several countries, including the US, have committed to imposing sanctions on Russia in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin recognising the... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T04:42+0000 2022-02-22T04:42+0000 2022-02-22T04:49+0000 ukraine russia donetsk lugansk kiev moscow vladimir putin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093254580_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_33c53fd6dd0f556767b483e44b299192.jpg As the world awaits the announcement of further sanctions over the recognition of the DPR and LPR's independence, a number of questions have been raised regarding diplomacy, civilian lives, anti-Russian hysteria, and the primary focus of involved Western nations. Dr Matthew Crosston, professor of political science at Austin Peay State University and the inaugural director of the Institute of National Security and Military Studies at Tennessee's Austin Peay Centre, spoke with Sputnik regarding several of these queries following Putin's announcement. Although Russia has remained vocal about its red lines with regard to Ukraine, the West is attempting to send a message to Russia that its red lines, along with the security concerns and political questions coming out of the country, are not relevant, according to Crosston. As a result, the DPR and LPR, which have "very little influence", have somewhat become secondary pawns in a larger chess game between the US and Russia.He went on to claim that the US and NATO appear "far more concerned about Russian maneuvers" related to DPR and the LPR than about the safety and well-being of those living in the states. However, Crosston remains optimistic that the West does not want to engage in a "direct and expansive military conflict with Russia", although there may be some smaller skirmishes or misunderstandings down the road. Of course, the US will likely compensate for its lack of military action via the imposition of further sanctions, as already announced by Washington and other Western-allied nations. Either way, civilians lose out without efforts toward a compromise or other diplomatic attempts. Crosston raised that the "knee-jerk reaction" from the West was expected, but the true measure of Putin's decision will come a few months down the road, "when observers can truly see what consequences shake out from this Moscow acknowledgement". https://sputniknews.com/20220222/world-reacts-to-russia-recognizing-the-independence-of-donbass-republics--1093252130.html ukraine donetsk lugansk kiev moscow Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead ukraine, russia, donetsk, lugansk, kiev, moscow, vladimir putin https://sputniknews.com/20220222/world-reacts-to-russia-recognizing-the-independence-of-donbass-republics--1093252130.html World Reacts to Russia Recognising the Independence of Donbass Republics World Reacts to Russia Recognising the Independence of Donbass Republics After consulting with senior security officials, ministers, and other members of the government, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T01:14+0000 2022-02-22T01:14+0000 2022-02-22T04:14+0000 ukraine russia us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e6/02/16/1093252514_0:12:3073:1740_1920x0_80_0_0_45b43b9bc7119d9893a283cf607bc41f.jpg Russia's recognition of the Donbass Republics' independence sent a shockwave around the world, triggering reactions from leaders of many countries and other high-ranking government officials. Not long after the announcement, Josep Borrell Fontelles, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, announced that the EU and its international partners "will react with unity, firmness, and determination in solidarity with Ukraine".The EU has since discussed the "next steps" with Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba and Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, who condemned Putin's move and asserted that Canada was on board to impose economic sanctions on Russia. The NATO release added that Moscow is fuelling the conflict in eastern Ukraine via financial and military support to separatists. "It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again", reads the NATO release. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has met with the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, and discussed the ongoing "situation" in separate calls with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Lt. Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, also conducted a phone call with US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the US Armed Forces. The UK announced that it would coordinate a response with its allies and stated it would "not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished".Truss additionally asserted that the move shows that Russia is choosing "a path of confrontation".White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted that the US had "anticipated" the move, and as a result, US President Joe Biden was preparing to sign an executive order that would implement additional sanctions on Russia. It will also provide the authority to impose sanctions on those believed to operate from within those regions. The sanctions will be just the beginning of Washington's new economic pressure on Russia, the White House noted. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also promised a "swift and firm response".French President Emmanuel Macron moved to call an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, along with the "adoption of targeted European sanctions", according to a translated release.Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who recently expressed that Poland was prepared to provide more defensive weapons to Ukraine, also noted that his country intends to impose "immediate sanctions" on Russia, according to a translated statement. In the face of international opposition to Putin's move, Draginja Vlk, a member of the Belgrade City Parliament, expressed to Sputnik that she believes the move "will help prevent further escalation of conflict and save the people from the danger they are in", referring to the tens of thousands of refugees currently pouring into Russia. "No one in the 21st century, almost 77 years after World War II, should feel insecure economically or even be at life risk, and no one should tolerate US and NATO claims", Vlk said. https://sputniknews.com/20220222/donbas-recognition-makes-it-harder-for-us-to-use-ukraine-against-russia---ex-us-official-1093252658.html https://sputniknews.com/20220222/zelenskyy-ukraines-intl-border-will-remain-the-same-regardless-of-russias-lpr-dpr-recognition-1093252030.html https://sputniknews.com/20220221/biden-signs-order-blocking-us-economic-activity-in-autonomous-lpr-dpr-regions-recognized-by-russia-1093251513.html https://sputniknews.com/20220221/serbian-lawmaker-says-russian-recognition-of--dpr-lpr-will-prevent-further-escalation-1093248624.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead ukraine, russia, us https://sputniknews.com/20220222/zelenskyy-ukraines-intl-border-will-remain-the-same-regardless-of-russias-lpr-dpr-recognition-1093252030.html Zelensky: Ukraine's Int'l Border Will Remain Intact Regardless of Russia's LPR, DPR Recognition Zelensky: Ukraine's Int'l Border Will Remain Intact Regardless of Russia's LPR, DPR Recognition On Monday, the Russian Security Council and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a news conference in which they recognised the independence of the People's... 22.02.2022, Sputnik International 2022-02-22T00:07+0000 2022-02-22T00:07+0000 2022-02-22T03:55+0000 ukraine volodymyr zelensky border /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/0e/1083148139_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_166c94e3e1843223d44889e26a92ef2f.jpg In an early Tuesday address to the public, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine's internationally recognised borders will remain unchanged, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the independence of the People's Republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. Zelensky argued that Russia's move translates to its withdrawal from the Minsk agreements and legalises Russian troops in the area, which, according to him, have been in Donbass since 2014.Since the announcement, Ukraine has called for an emergency Normandy Format talk, according to Zelensky, who claimed that previous peaceful efforts and existing negotiations have been nullified.While the Ukrainian president called for peace, he also noted that his country is prepared for anything that comes. The Ukrainian government is reportedly awaiting responses from allies before proceeding with further steps. Zelensky's address comes hours before an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on the Russia-Ukraine situation. The meeting was called by French President Emmanuel Macron. In recent months, Moscow has consistently denied US allegations that Russia is staging an invasion of Ukraine under the guise of a false-flag attack that could act as a pretext for the move. Since his announcement, the Russian president has ordered a peacekeeping mission into the DPR and LPR. https://sputniknews.com/20220221/videos-celebrations-erupt-in-donetsk-after-russia-recognizes-its-sovereignty--1093251355.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2022 Evan Craighead Evan Craighead News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evan Craighead ukraine, volodymyr zelensky, border Longtime owner, trainer, driver and member of Standardbred Canada, Don Anness of Emo, Ont. passed away on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 80 years of age. Don began his lifelong horse racing career in 1960 training with an established horseman and it didnt take him long to buy his own racehorse in 1963. He continued training horses at the small half-mile track just moments from his home in Emo until his final day and for this he was thankful. He could never imagine doing anything else and with his supportive wife, Sheila, by his side it was possible. He often said if he could keep the horses sound training on the Emo track, theyd stay sound anywhere. There are not many people in the racehorse business in Emo, which left Don to raise and train his horses as a jack of all trades. He bred them, delivered foals, trained with the help of his family and a few close friends, and packed the horses and his family to travel hundreds of miles every weekend to race the Manitoba circuit all while having a full time career with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Don owned more than 100 horses over the course of his life, his favourite homebred being Red Bugler, who took a mark of 1:51.2 as a two-year-old. Don was named Horseman of the Year numerous times over the years by the Manitoba Harness Racing Association and he was the epitome of this award as his compassion for the horses and his fellow horsemen were always at the forefront. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Don Anness. Patrick Joseph Michael McGorisk, 86, passed away on February 19, 2022. He started his career in the harness racing industry at the Michigan tracks Hazel Park, Wolverine, DRC, Northville and Jackson. He made the move to Windsor Raceway in 1965. He was a marketing genius, operational director, admissions director and ended his career as senior vice-president at Windsor Raceway. Many looked to him as a mentor as his guidance was a springboard to their successful career paths. He saw and focused on the good in all people. Always ready with a sincere, genuine, heartfelt compliment. He built people up. He was a role model, intelligent, charismatic, a bunch of fun, lover of life and laughter, story teller, wordsmith, stand on a chair to make an announcement or toast, kind of guy. He was an editor and proof reader of important papers and applications. He was a poet and writer, a joker and an entertainer. He embodied some sort of bottomless well of joy that he selflessly shared with others. And that sharing was like a dance that he did with you, in fact, with everyone he encountered. It was like a little jig, and when he really got going, which he always inevitably did, it looked like he was really dancing. He had a very strong faith, and the deepest love for his wife, Susie, and all of his family. They had a beautiful relationship that has been exemplary. His parents were born in Ireland and he was born and raised in Detroit. They had very, very little in way of money or material things, sharing a small apartment between Mom and Pops, Joe and his twin Gene, plus older brothers, Neil and Charlie. It was not easy being new Irish immigrants in downtown Detroit at that time. There are many humorous and touching tales of their adventures growing up in Detroit. All of the boys grew to be successful in every regard. Mr. McGorisk quietly gave back and helped countless people over the entirety of his life. His kindness and generosity was immeasurable. He impacted so many lives in such positives way. He was a devoted husband, dad, step-dad, friend, brother, son, best papa and a complete gentleman. He was a super hard worker, always dressed to impress, freshly shaven and smelling of nice cologne. He was a shopper too, buying Susie lovely and practical gifts on a regular basis. They were an incredible team together, that did countless jobs and events to raise money for different groups and foundations. Mr. McGorisk quietly and anonymously helped many, many people in times of need. His cherished memories will remain with his wife, soulmate and best friend Susie (nee Wright); children, Patricia (Sam) Phillips, Lisa (Scott Lites) Jackman, and Keith, and their mother, Jeanie (Stroker); grandchildren, Lucas, Logan and Declan; step-children, Jodi (Bil) Nolin and Jeff (Amy Smith) Kessel; and step-grandchildren, Tate, Ben, Reed, Pebble, Sylvester, Essie and Solomon. He was the loving son of the late Beatrice and Cornelius, dearest brother to Neil (late Terry), late Charlie and sister-in-law Sheila, and late twin brother Gene (Christine), and dearest brother-in-law to Wayne (Carol) Wright and Greg Wright. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, Superior Street Gang, Windsor Raceway crew and dear friends in Canada and the United States. On Friday, Feb. 25, reservations and personal face coverings are required to attend visitation from 2-5 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. at Families First, 585 Sandwich St. South, Amherstburg, 519.969.5841. Parish prayers at 8 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 26, reservations and personal face coverings are required to attend the Funeral Mass at St. John the Baptist (225 Brock St.) at 11 a.m. You can reserve your time for visitation or seat for Mass at FamiliesFirst.ca (RSVP) or by calling directly. On Saturday, a livestream link of the Mass will be available on Joes online profile. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare (Palliative Care Unit) or Windsor Cancer Research Group. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Joe McGorisk. (USTA; McGorisk photo courtesy Windsor Star) MOSCOWPresident Joe Biden ordered heavy U.S. financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, stepping up the Wests confrontation with Moscow, even as Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside their country. Biden, in a brief address from the White House, accused Putin of flagrantly violating international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, and promised that more sanctions would be coming if Putin proceeds further. The president joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed on Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine. Germany also announced it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy. None of us will be fooled by Putins claims about Ukraine, the U.S. president said. Biden said he was also moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia. The prime minster of Estonia and presidents of Latvia and Lithuania on Friday had made a direct plea to Vice President Kamala Harris for the U.S. to step up its presence in the Baltics. Biden said the U.S. would impose full blocking on two large Russian financial institutions and comprehensive sanctions on Russian debt. That means weve cut off Russias government from Western finance, Biden said. It can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either. The president announced what he called a first tranche of sanctions as Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin said he was recognizing the areas independence on Monday. It was unclear how large the Russian deployment was, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops were already fighting in the region, allegations that Moscow always denied. Members of Russias upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly after, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He added that its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action - it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. The European Union soon followed, with a first set of sanctions aimed at the 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking world. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Biden had said would result in severe sanctions against Moscow. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The Biden administrations rhetoric hardened considerably in less than 24 hours. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel-region Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending troops to eastern Ukraine. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about the sanctions targeting the breakaway region, noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. The administration initially resisted calling the deployment an invasion because the White House wanted to see what Russia was actually going to do. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Biden on Tuesday said he was authorizing the redeployment of some U.S. troops who are already stationed in Europe to bolster the security of NATOs Baltic allies, particularly in light of Russias troop build-up in Belarus. Biden said, These are totally defensive moves on our part and the U.S. has no intention of deploying its forces in non-NATO-member Ukraine. But Biden also said the U.S. and its allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO. The organizations mutual-defense pact considers an attack on one member to be an attack against all. For weeks, Western powers have been bracing as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Putin said Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in the borders that existed when they declared their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under separatist control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While Washington clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But he added: I wouldnt say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Polands Defense Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered eastern Ukraine, with Javid telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive. The Kremlin hasnt confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didnt confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasnt immediately clear if they were Russian. The White House issued an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The Russian moves pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. If Putin pushes further into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay, he said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. He warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy sought to project calm, saying in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, is in Washington to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the crisis and describing Ukraines bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. Ukraines membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russias security, he said. Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Madhani from Washington. Jill Lawless in London, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, and Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington, contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force based in Culpeper and the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation on Monday announced its tour schedule for the 2022 Warbird Showcase. World War II aircraft will be flying at 12 cities in six states this year as a tribute to the thousands of men and women who built, serviced and flew them. A Capital Wing Meet-and-Greet will launch the aviation events Saturday, April 23 at Culpeper Regional Airport. As always, rides in the warbirds will be available to the public. Mothers Day weekend May 7 and 8 at Warrenton Airport will see the debut of Women and Girls Can Fly! featuring three women pilots. One flies the B-25 and is a retired Southwest Airlines Captain who flew Boing 737s). Another female member flies the Fairchild F24 and a Falcon 7X jet in her day job. The third women is a student pilot flying a Piper TriPacer. A WWII Weekend will be held June 3-5 in Reading, Pa. at which riders in the TBM Avenger will be flying exactly 80 years to the day of the Battle of Midway where the planes were heavily involved. An Independence Day celebration July 3 at the airport in Martinsburg, West Virginia will enjoy fly-bys of the TBM Avenger and Stearman bi-plane as well as fireworks at night. Other cities on the 2022 Warbirds Tour are Cumberland MD, Ashland/Richmond, Frederick MD, Manteo NC, Raleigh NC, Hagerstown MD, Leesburg and Georgetown DE. At each event, the public can be a passenger in these historic flyers including a meticulously restored 1945 TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, 1945 North American B-25 twin-engine twin-tailed bomber Panchito, a 1943 Stinson L-5 Sentinel, and a 1942 Boeing PT-17 Stearman open cockpit bi-plane. Warbird rides allow the public to sit in the exact same seats as did those of another generation 80 years ago. Many riders are overcome with emotion if their grandfathers or fathers flew in these same type warbirds. Warbird rides with these nonprofit historic flying groups are priced to fit every budget and can be purchased on site, if available. KABUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's security personnel have arrested four people over possessing arms and ammunition in the eastern Nangarhar province, reported the state-run news agency Bakhtar on Tuesday. According to the news agency, the personnel from General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) also seized explosive material, ammunition and 46 assault rifles from the arrested. The Taliban-run administration has vowed to crack down on the outlaws to ensure law and order in the war-torn Afghanistan. Composition, lighting, subject and angle are all vital choices a photographer must make when taking a photo. While challenging, photography also offers a person an opportunity to share what they see with others. For some students, that scene will be framed in Sen. Ben Sasses office. Students across the state grabbed their cameras to capture the beauties of Nebraska for a statewide photography contest sponsored by Sasses office. One of the winners is a sophomore from Bayard High School. Zach Araujo was named a winner of the statewide contest after his art teacher told him about the opportunity and he had time to participate. I was going to do it last year, but I didnt, Araujo said. Ive always wanted to do it, but this year I actually got the opportunity because I wasnt as busy as last year. The photography contest challenged Nebraska students to capture the scenery of what it means to live in the home of The Good Life with the winning photographs put on display in one of Sasses Nebraska offices. Entries were submitted into the following categories: agriculture showcase, Nebraska landscape, celebrating work and vibrant Nebraska communities. In the release, Sasse offered a congratulations and call to action. Nebraska is home to The Good Life and we ought to celebrate it, he said. A whole bunch of talented young Nebraskans, like Zachary, worked hard to capture the beauty of our state. Its an honor to recognize their good work and show it far and wide. Jessica Scott teaches art for kindergarten through 12th grades at Bayard Public Schools. She helped Araujo with his photo selection, knowing his skillset as an artist. Zach displays strong artistic skills in all styles and methods I have seen him work with, Scott said. He has strong attention to detail and always pushes himself to achieve success. They started with 10 photos before narrowing it down to three for the Nebraska landscape category. We discussed what builds a successful composition, Scott said. We evaluated color, visual balance, which photo fit the category of choice best and why. With those concepts in his mind, Araujo scrutinized each photo to choose the best one. Yeah, its really hard narrowing down, he said. (The photo) brought more attention to the eye than the other ones. It honestly was the best one with the landscapes. His selection was a photo he captured with his iPhone in Kearney during the state cross country meet. We went to this park to warm-up and do a jog, he said. Then we went to the top of the watch tower in the park. After submitting his photo, Araujo heard from Sasses office a month later that his photo was selected as a winner. It was a last-minute thing that I decided to join, and I wasnt expecting to win, Araujo said. So, when I did win, I was very excited. He also received a letter from the U.S. Senate congratulating him on his selection. Araujo told his family, who did not have prior knowledge of the competition, but were elated for his success. He appreciates the support from his art teacher, who not only told him about the contest, but also helped him choose a winning photo. Ms. Scott helped a lot. Im not really the best at decision-making, so my art teacher really helped me with everything throughout the process, he said. I would never even do this if it wasnt for her. Araujo also shared the news with Scott. Zach shared his letter he received in the mail with me at the beginning of class one day, Scott said. I was over the moon with excitement. I shared his success with the class first, then shared the information with staff to congratulate him. Representing Bayard in the state-wide photo contest is something many students have done before, but Araujo was excited to be the first Tiger named a winner. Weve had students come really close to winning, but no one has won it yet, Araujo said. That made me super excited because no one had done that from our school before. As Araujo continues to dabble in photography, Scott is hopeful Araujos success will inspire him to keep taking photos. I know art is not his main focus, but I hope this success encourages him to continue building his photography skills as a hobby, she said. Araujo started taking photos from a young age and gravitated toward landscape photography because you can get more of a take of the area because you dont focus on a single thing. You see everything, he said. While he would like to be involved in yearbook and newspaper at school, Araujo said capturing memories inspires him to continue with photography. When you go to all of these places, you always want to take a little bit with you. Wherever you go, you can just take a photo and keep it with you. He intends to participate in the photo contest again, but this time submitting photos around Bayard showcasing Chimney Rock and the agriculture, rather than a photo from the city. Sasse is once again offering the photo contest with the photo submission deadline of Saturday, April 30 at 11:50 p.m. CT. Entries must be accompanied by the photo release form allowing the loan of the photo and its printing by Sasses office. For more information visit tinyurl.com/Sassephotocontest. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Last Monday, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act in order to clear out the trucker protests in Ottawa. From the beginning, Ive remained quietly fascinated by the whole spectacle. Quietly, because Ive struggled to figure out what I think about them, fascinated because they are a window on the political transformations on both sides of the 49th parallel. The protests began as a revolt against a new and ill-advised vaccine mandate in January requiring unvaccinated truckers to get the shot or isolate for two weeks each time they crossed the U.S. border. While I think everyone should get vaccinated, the rule made little sense in an 80% vaccinated country or for an occupation that involves almost no human interaction. Truckers arent nurses or schoolteachers. Solitude comes with the job. Besides, Canadian truckers are already 90% vaccinated. Of course, the protestors passion came from the built-up frustration with two years of lockdowns and mandates. And, as often happens with mass protests, the demands metastasized over time. Now they want Justin Trudeaus government to dissolve and hold new elections. The demand is merely impractical -- the protests were never particularly popular in Canada. But illegally blockading streets and bridges as a kind of political extortion is indefensible -- whether its Canadian truckers or Black Lives Matter protesters or any other group. What truly fascinates me is the reactions to the Canadian protests here in the U.S. They highlight the way the coalitions that make up the left and right have changed profoundly, and how their attitudes and ideas are changing as a result. If I were to describe these protests to a left-winger 50 -- or 150 years -- ago they would sound great. Proletarian laborers spontaneously using their class power to monkey-wrench the wheels of global capitalism to press their grievances! This was once the stuff of heroic socialist agitation. The fact that tow truck drivers refused to help remove the blockade would be seen as the very soul of worker solidarity. Now, when GoFundMe announced it would cut off donations to the truckers, liberals shrugged or cheered. One explanation is that the pandemic has been subsumed into the pre-existing culture war fight. Thats why Trudeau, who is squarely on the liberal side of that divide, reflexively deployed every woke accusation imaginable at the largely peaceful strikers. Picking out a smattering of ugly signs -- and one Confederate flag -- Trudeau tried to tar the whole bunch with guilt by association as peddlers not just of racism and Nazism but transphobia, too. Rather than meet with the protesters, he chose scorn: Hate can never be the answer, he insisted. This points to a larger explanation. The old prism of class has been supplanted by the prism of identity politics. As the Democratic Party is increasingly dominated by people with college and graduate degrees, the white working-class core of the old FDR coalition has steadily migrated rightward (and there are early signs of a non-white working class migration as well). Leading Democrats speak the language of intersectionality, using terms like Latinx that leave many Latinos cold. In the early days of the pandemic, mass protests in violation for lockdowns were acceptable -- even laudatory -- when done in the name of racial justice. But protests from truckers -- or parents -- who just want to return to normal? Theyre derided as anti-science or worse. Meanwhile, conservatives, traditionally the champions of law and order, never mind the free flow of commerce, fell in love with the truckers and their disobedience. Anti-mandate absolutism is, again, part of the story. But many on the right in the U.S. have also convinced themselves that the Republican Party must become a nationalistic workers party. The condescending liberal elites, undemocratic technocratic experts and woke globalists running the Democratic Party have made the GOP the natural home of the working stiff, they argue. This stuff can be exaggerated, of course, but theres an underlying truth to it as well. These domestic tectonic cultural changes turned the Ottawa protestors into a kind of Rashomon story or Spanish Civil War -- a foreign conflict that illuminates how culture war combatants see the fight at home. Its a confusing transition, and neither side has quite figured out how adapt to their new coalitional imperatives, never mind adopt public policies that fit them. Perhaps to compensate for this fact, the rhetoric has outstripped the reality. Each side glibly accuses the other of being an existential threat, pitting transphobic Nazis according to one side against totalitarians according to the other. Neither side is right about the other, but its unlikely the two will realize that any time soon. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Tom Holland hasnt exactly hung up his Spider-Man tights. In Uncharted, an adventure film based on the old PlayStation game, he flies through the air at the back end of a cargo plane, cavorts around an auction house light sculpture and romances a woman who just might be a villain. Like dozens of films before it, Uncharted goes where many others have been. Eager to find Magellans gold, Hollands Nate Drake teams up with Mark Wahlbergs Sully to figure out the clues planted in an ancient map one he remembers when he and his missing brother were kids. To earn money to fund the trip presumably Drake picks pockets and unlatches diamond bracelets while tossing cocktail shakers like Tom Cruise. Hes quite charming and incredibly adept at stunts. That bodes well when the two head to Barcelona where (surprise, surprise), someone else (Antonio Banderas) is searching for the gold, too. He has a henchwoman who isnt afraid to kiss and kill, so the two adventurers have to watch their steps. Meanwhile, Sully has a friend, Chloe (Sophia Ali) who has similar skills and a piece of memorabilia that could prove helpful. Its all connect-the-dots storytelling but Uncharted does have moments of concern that National Treasure, The DaVinci Code and other, similar films didnt boast. Director Ruben Fleischer loses Wahlberg at one point and, frankly, hes not missed. Holland handles the puzzle with ease and has the ability to look surprised just when we know he shouldnt. Fleischer sends the team all across the map until clues, planted by Drakes brother, point them and their detractors in the right direction. (Why? We dont know.) Then, Uncharted becomes an homage to Pirates of the Caribbean, complete with gold bars, rickety ships and a sword fight that would make Johnny Depp weep. In many ways, the film serves as Hollands audition reel for dozens of others (Indiana Jones included). He comes through at every turn and even manages to romance the stone, so to speak. He and Ali have some fun scenes in a tunnel and become prey in one of Banderas planes. There, they dodge bullets, moving cars and that villain (nicely played by Tati Gabrielle, who looks like she could take many of Cynthia Erivos cast-offs), who isnt afraid to slit anyones throat. While a post-credits scene suggests theres more to this map than we thought possible, there is enough of a seed here to grow into an acceptable franchise. That is, of course, if Holland isnt too busy filling his timecard with better material. He has the goods to be the next big action hero. But he also has the dramatic chops to become the biggest threat to Timothee Chalamet. Uncharted sets the course. Its just a matter of where its skipper wants to take it. HANOI, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- As part of efforts to resume socio-economic activities, Vietnam has reopened air routes to 20 countries and regions, compared to 28 in the 2019 winter flight schedule before the COVID-19 outbreak, a transport official said Tuesday. The resumed routes included those to Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, Vietnam News Agency quoted Tran Bao Ngoc, director of the Transportation Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport, as saying on Tuesday. Eight destinations to which air routes haven't been resumed consist of Brunei, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Finland, Italy, and Switzerland. There are currently 370 international flights from or to Vietnam per week each way, compared to a high of 4,185 in the 2019 winter flight schedule, the transport official said. Meanwhile, six local carriers, namely Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Pacific Airlines, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and Vasco, are operating 56 domestic air routes with 2,570 flights per week each way, down two routes and 217 flights from the pre-pandemic schedule in 2019. Road and railway transport has basically come back to normal, but the passenger traffic hasn't recovered due to concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic, Ngoc added. Vietnamese aviation authorities have officially lifted all restrictions on the frequency of international flights since Feb. 15, marking the first time after two years the network returned to normal operation. The local government is working over a plan to fully reopen its border for international tourists starting March 15. Two public comments made at the Feb. 14 Floyd County Public School Board meeting included concerns of bullying at Floyd County High School, and one urged the Board to reinstate the mask mandate to align with CDC guidance. The Monday night meeting began with a special recognition of School Board members for the Virginia School Board Associations annual appreciation month. Every month is School Board appreciation month, said Superintendent John Wheeler before presenting each board member with a token of appreciation. The service you provide to care for these kids and the way you go about it is exceptional, especially the past two years. Those in attendance applauded the Board, and Chairman James Ingram opened the floor for public comment. One community member asked how the Board plans to make our schools safe for all our children. She said her own children were bullied at the high school in the 1980s, and shes painfully aware of certain students today, who are being bullied now. We have a problem with hate in our high school, Chris Youngblood said. Its being expressed as bullying, hazing, name-calling, physical intimidation, internet harassment; it causes mental, physical and emotional damage. Youngblood noted the problem is not specific to Floyd, and we can make change. She said the upcoming survey about the schools environment is a good place to start. Tracy Costello told the Board she is disappointed the mask mandate was lifted in our schools, and asked the Board to reinstate it for our children, our teachers and our community. Wearing masks is hard for everyone, but we are in a pandemic, and we have to do the things that are inconvenient to protect the lives of the children in Floyd County, she said. Costello read from a January email to parents that acknowledged the removal of the mandate may cause anxiety, and said bullying should replace anxiety. Bullying is whats happening, she said. She said students are being bullied to not wear a mask, though they know its best and the CDC recommends universal masking in a school setting. Kellean Gale followed Costello with the meetings final comment, telling the Board about a letter she received from a parent, regarding a lack of responsiveness from Floyd teachers. Virtual learning is not working for some students, Gale said. These kids are failing; their grades are suffering. She urged the Board to consider a different approach to communicating with parents/guardians about slipping student grades. Other business discussed Feb. 14 included policy revisions explained by Assistant Superintendent Jessica Cromer. The first, she said, updated language surrounding school lunch, since all public school students receive free lunch. The second was to adjust the requirements for long-term substituting in Floyd Schools. Wheeler provided the Board with a facilities update that included new photos of the ongoing Career Development and Technology Center project, which should be completed by January 2023, according to discussion. He also explained the virtual school option being offered in Floyd is through Virtual Virginia, not Floyd County Public Schools. The majority of our students are not virtual; if a student is virtual, theyre not ours, theyre being contacted by Virtual Virginia. We dont have a virtual school in Floyd, he said. Wheeler said if parents have issues connecting with educators from Virtual Virginia, they should reach directly out to him at wheelerj@floyd.k12.va.us, and he will contact the director. FCPS fiscal year 2022-2023 budget meetings begin March 3 with a rough draft. A public hearing will be conducted at 7 p.m. on March 14 for the Board to hear from community members about the budget. Both meetings will be held at 140 Harris Hart Road in Floyd. 9/8c One sign of a great sitcom is its ability to surprise you about a character you thought youd figured out. Can I not do something out of the goodness of my heart? asks self-centered principal Ava (Janelle James) after she volunteers to help idealistic Janine (Quinta Brunson) teach an extracurricular step class. Her skeptical staff has reason to doubt her motives when Avas unconventional approach upstages Janines more disciplined technique. But theres more to Ava than meets the eye. Back in the break room, a debate rages over who makes Philadelphias best pizza. They all sound good to me. 9/8c Dance is also at the heart of an affecting episode of the family drama, returning from Olympics exile with a spotlight on Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson, who co-wrote the episode). She relives her tortured history with her favorite form of artistic expression while nervously preparing her recruits for a fall showcase. ERs Goran Visnjic returns as the dance instructor who crushed her dreams, a memory that still haunts her. For the other Pearsons now and in the past, preparations are underway for what promises to be a memorable set of Thanksgivings. 8/7c Two of Broadways brightest leading men, Tony winners Nathan Lane (The Producers) and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton), open the curtain on their surprising family trees with the help of Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who surprises Odom with an image of an unexpected ancestor: a white assistant surgeon for the Confederacy. For Lane, this journey into the past is an opportunity to learn about a history that his alcoholic father, who died when Nathan was 11, was never able to share. 8/7c Returning with all-new episodes now that the Olympics are history, the franchise kicks off with a storyline involving Oas (Zeeko Zaki) Muslim heritage, when he reconnects with his former mosques imam who insists a slain Muslim college student and his brother were falsely targeted as terrorists in their double murder. In his investigation, Oa is uneasily paired with a Muslim anti-terrorist agent wholl do whatever it takes to solve the case. On FBI: International (9/8c), Losts Elizabeth Mitchell returns as Angela Cassidy, Forresters (Luke Kleintank) estranged mother, an accused traitor who only recently re-entered his life. On FBI: Most Wanted (10/9c), Jess (soon-to-depart Julian McMahon) hopes his newly empty test is the right place to properly woo Sarah (Jen Landon). 10/9c Series star Ryan Eggold directs an episode that could be pivotal in Maxs (Eggold) crusade to take down the hospitals cold-hearted administrator, Victoria Fuentes (Michelle Forbes)if only he can rally other former employees to join his scheme. Flashbacks show Fuentes in a less harsh light as she receives an unsentimental education in the realities of health care. Back at the hospital, Iggy (Tyler Labine) tackles a provocative case involving a dad (Ozs Lee Tergesen) brainwashed by disinformation, and Dr. Wilder (Sandra Mae Frank) turns to holistic specialist Dr. Castries (Genevieve Angelson) for help with a terminal patient. These cases pack more punch than the endless battle over the soul of New Amsterdam. Inside Tuesday TV: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Assault Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Friday arrested Alexandria Susana Edmonds, 30, of Kelso, on suspicion of second-degree assault. Theft Longview police Friday arrested Zachariah Charles Harris, 32, of Longview, on suspicion of retail theft with circumstances, criminal impersonation, second-degree theft and first-degree trafficking stolen property. Firearm Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Friday arrested Austin Dean Miller, 25, of Vader, on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm. Burglary, theft Longview police Friday arrested Tramere L. Owens Jenkins, 26, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree burglary and second-degree theft. Eluding Kelso police Friday arrested Roberto Rossillini Randazzo, 40, of Kelso, on suspicion of eluding a police vehicle and driving with a suspended license. Assault Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Mark Brian Dixon, 70, of Bonney Lake, Wash., on suspicion of second-degree assault and third-degree malicious mischief physical damage. Possession of a stolen vehicle Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Dessie Adele Howard, 27, of Kelso, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle. Violating a protection order Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Dylan Andrew Johnson, 28, of Castle Rock, on suspicion of violating a protection order. Possession of a stolen vehicle Kelso police Sunday arrested William Carl Campbell Jr., 21, of Longview, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle and felony warrants for probation/parole violation. Possession of a stolen vehicle Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Sunday arrested John Perry Clark, 26, of Kelso, on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle. Theft Longview police Sunday arrested Chad Amos Martin, 41, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree theft. Theft Longview police Sunday arrested Shanice Annalyn Miles, 21, of unknown residence, on suspicion of second-degree theft. Theft Longview police Monday arrested Gregory Lee Murphy, 35, of Longview, on suspicion of second-degree theft. Burglaries 1800 block of Olympia Way, Longview. Friday. Occurred sometime overnight. 3100 block of Hemlock Street, Longview. Sunday. Items taken from detached garage. 1600 block of Atlantic Avenue, Woodland. Sunday. Occurred Friday. Stolen vehicles 100 block of Indigo Court, Kelso. Sunday. Silver 2009 Dodge Ram. Washington C27336K. Dent in rear passenger side bumper and hard top on the back. 100 block of Rollingwood Drive, Kelso. Sunday. White 2021 Subaru Ascent. Washington BUW8865. Suspect on Ring video. 100 block of Second Street, Kalama. Sunday. Black 1998 Honda Civic. Washington BTF9355. Front passenger bumper is cracked, fixed and painted. Tools in the vehicle. Occurred Saturday night after 9 p.m. 3100 block of Ocean Beach Highway, Longview. Sunday. Black 1994 Jeep Cherokee. Unknown plate. Slight lift, wide tires and winch on the front. Thefts 800 block of Ocean Beach Highway, Longview. Friday. Rental property. 1200 block of Chestnut Street, Kelso. Saturday. Registration and tabs. 100 block of Kelso Drive, Kelso. Saturday. Subject dined and dashed. 1100 block of 17th Avenue, Longview. Saturday. Wallet taken by known suspect. 500 block of 21st Avenue, Longview. Saturday. Keys and money taken from wallet. 700 block of Washington Street, Woodland. Saturday. Blue 2001 Yamaha YZ426 dirt bike taken from truck. 800 block of Eighth Avenue, Longview. Sunday. Man seen cutting something off the bottom of a vehicle. Vandalism/malicious mischief 900 block of Ninth Avenue, Longview. Saturday. Windows shot out of several vehicles in the area. 500 block of 20th Avenue, Longview. Saturday. Someone has been painting swastikas on garbage cans in the alley. 500 block of Cook Ferry Road, Castle Rock. Sunday. Electric cord to motorhome cut. 500 block of Kelso Drive, Kelso. Sunday. Former guest left and came back and kicked the door in. 300 block of 21st Avenue, Longview. Sunday. Damage to garage occurred more than two months ago. 1900 block of Washington Way, Longview. Sunday. Graffiti on apartment complex. Vehicle prowls 1400 block of 12th Avenue, Longview. Friday. Items stolen from vehicle. 300 block of Fourth Avenue, Castle Rock. Saturday. Wallet taken. 100 block of Indigo Court, Kelso. Sunday. Bag of tools, Bluetooth speaker and work radios stolen from truck overnight. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Apple App Store was fined as much as $5.7 million. This is the fifth such penalty in successive weeks over iPhone maker's payment methods for online dating apps. The Dutch antitrust watchdog fined Apple 5 million euros ($5.7 million) on Monday, the fifth such penalty in successive weeks in a row over access to non-Apple payment methods for subscriptions to online dating apps. The Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) says the iPhone maker is abusing a dominant market position by failing to allow software application makers in the Netherlands to use other payment methods for dating apps accessible via the Apple App Store. The ACM has been levying weekly fines of 5 million euros since Apple missed a Jan. 15 deadline to make changes that the watchdog had mandated. It said the U.S. company had not made any new proposal to comply with its ruling in the past week. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: "We have clearly explained to Apple how they can comply...," the watchdog said in a statement. "So far, however, they have refused to put forward any serious proposals." Apple declined comment on Monday. Apple's App Store requirement that app developers exclusively use its payment system with commissions of 30% has come under scrutiny in several countries, most recently the United States. In blog posts, Apple indicated it complied with the Dutch ruling by allowing dating app makers there to submit a new app with alternative payment methods enabled. Apple said it still intends to charge a 27% commission on any in-app payments it does not process, only slightly below the 30% it charges on those it does process. The ACM has rejected Apple's moves as putting an unreasonable burden on software developers and not amounting to compliance. Neither Apple nor the ACM have commented on whether any of the weekly fines have been paid, but it is understood that all are still outstanding. Warnings are being sent out on a looming Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox internet BLACKOUT possibility. Google is likely to unleash a major upgrade in coming weeks that will block most websites across the world. Google Chrome 100 update is the latest one from the internet giant that is causing a concern. It is speculated to launch next month. As per reports, once the Google Chrome update is rolled out, it could wreak havoc on the internet because of Chrome's new name and the way websites interact with this popular software. As per the reports, most online sites are configured to appear on a browser with a two-digit name- Googles current Chrome variant is called 98. So, in effect, what people may be looking at, in a worst case scenario, is a Google Chrome Internet blackout. If that happens, users will be left totally in the darkness regarding their connectivity. After the Google Chrome update is rolled out, all the online sites will have to switch to three digits and that too in the coming weeks. This glitch will be similar to the millennium bug, which caused a havoc back in 1999, before a solution was found. That had made even the top experts at the best tech companies worry that the year 2000 would send PCs across the world into an irreversible meltdown. All because 1999 changed to 2000 - an all-new bumber. That caused some sites to show errors and become completely unviewable to the public. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Though, its not clear how badly the coming Google Chrome upgrade will affect websites next month, Mozilla, in one of its blog posts has written, Major version 100 is a big milestone for both Chrome and Firefox. It also has the potential to cause breakage on websites as we move from a two-digit to a three-digit version number. According to Mozilla, internet browsers like Firefox and Chrome have already started doing experiments to help detect possible website breakages. These tests will continue to run until the release of the updated three digit version. Users are advised to be prepared for some turbulence during your usual web-browsing sessions in March. Singaporean state investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte was among investors in a funding round that valued cryptocurrency-trading platform Amber Group at $3 billion. Singaporean state investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte was among investors in a funding round that valued cryptocurrency-trading platform Amber Group at $3 billion, just weeks after the city-state cracked down on marketing by crypto firms. Existing shareholders including Sequoia China, Pantera Capital and Tiger Global Management also took part in the $200 million financing, Singapore-based Amber said in a statement Tuesday. The company, founded in 2018 by five former Morgan Stanley traders, has seen its valuation triple since mid-2021. Singapore is one of Asias hottest markets for crypto startups, and Temasek and its subsidiaries have made several investments in the sector in the past year. Amber extended its Series B funding round, originally announced in June, specifically to bring Temasek in as an investor, said Chief Executive Officer Michael Wu. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: They are very strategic, so we made this special effort to bring them in, Wu said in an interview. Amber will use the proceeds for hiring in Europe and the Americas and expanding coverage of a mobile application it launched last year globally, according to the statement. Marketing Clampdown Wu said Amber may pursue another funding round later this year ahead of an initial public offering that could take place as early as the second half of 2023, most likely in the U.S. The deal comes as Singapore is trying to clamp down on the more speculative aspects of crypto while at the same time encouraging institutional participation. In January, the central bank told companies in the industry to sharply limit marketing geared toward the general public, citing the risk of volatile digital tokens. Read more: Crypto ATMs Halted in Singapore After Marketing Clampdown Some 180 companies have applied for permits to operate a regulated cryptocurrency business in the wealthiest Southeastern Asia country; as of January, just five had gotten in-principle approvals. Amber declined to comment on whether it has applied for a license. Senior executives including Wu have relocated to Singapore from Hong Kong over the past few months, underscoring the city-states emergence as a hub for the crypto industry. In September, Amber said it hired former executives from Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to help bolster its expansion. Read more: Ex-Goldman, Morgan Stanley Execs Join Crypto Unicorn (Updates with comments from CEO starting in third paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain AT&T is about to take the first step toward the end of 3G service. On Tuesday, the wireless carrier will shut down its 3G network, which means multiple older smartphones and countless other devices will no longer work. Verizon was the first to launch a 3G network in the U.S. in 2002, during a time when the BlackBerry was the top smartphone to own and we were five years away from the arrival of the iPhone. Twenty years ago, consumers used their phones for basic tasks like checking email, sending text messages, and of course, for making phone calls. But with smartphones, we do so much more: take pictures, watch TV, play games, scroll through social media, and beyond. The added features mean having wireless networks to support them, which is why AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile are shutting down 3G to make room for faster 5G networks. Here's what you should know about how the 3G shutdown might affect you: When will 3G shut down for AT&T? AT&T's network will shut down Tuesday, Feb. 22. Will 3G phones still work on 5G? If you own a 3G phone or a phone that doesn't support HD Voice calls, then it will no longer make or receive calls or text messages, or use any services requiring wireless data. And those devices can't dial 911. What other devices are affected by the end of 3G service? The impact of 3G's retirement goes beyond older phones. The wireless network supports countless other devices such as e-book readers, vehicle SOS services, home alarms, medical alert devices and more. When will T-Mobile end 3G? What are the Verizon 3G plans? T-Mobile says it will retire the older 3G network acquired in the Sprint deal on March 31. It will shut down its own 3G network by July 1. Verizon said it plans to decommission its 3G network by Dec. 31, 2022. How can I prepare for the end of 3G? The Federal Communications Commission advises visiting your wireless carrier to determine whether your phone is affected. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have details on which devices are impacted. Some devices might only require a software update to continue working once 3G is retired. For other devices, check with the manufacturer to determine whether it requires a software update or an upgrade. Another thing to consider: whether you have an older phone handy in case of emergency. Those phones won't be able to dial 911 if needed, so you should consider replacing them. What is 5G? It's the fifth-generation mobile network, which will help our smartphones and other connected devices run faster. On our smartphones, it means we can download, upload or stream video as well as upload or download photos more quickly. "5G is designed to do a variety of things that can transform our lives, including giving us faster download speeds, low latency, and more capacity and connectivity for billions of devices," said semiconductor chip company Qualcomm in a post explaining 5G. Some current smartphones already support 5G, including Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lines, and Samsung's Galaxy smartphones. (c)2022 U.S. Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain An organizational psychologist formerly employed by Amazon on the management team of a Spokane, Washington distribution center claims he was fired for speaking up about bullying and inappropriate behavior by a key leader at the massive, roboticized warehouse. Jonathan Fahlberg, formerly a senior business partner for human resources, contends Amazon management failed to respond when he raised concerns about his supervisor, who he claims propositioned him and then retaliated against him. Instead, they were both summarily fired in late 2020 after Fahlberg made a formal request for support. In an employment discrimination lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court, Fahlberg contends he was fired in part because he is gay. Fahlberg, 46, said he found himself on the receiving end of an Amazon HR system he says fails to support workers or remove toxic managers. "Given that they're approaching being the world's largest employer," he said, "they think they can do anything." Amazon has aggressively defended itself, denying all allegations of misconduct while winning a protective order meant to shield Amazon's human resources processes from public disclosure. "We disagree with the allegations made in the case, and have no tolerance for retaliation, intimidation or harassment against employees," said Maria Boschetti, an Amazon spokesperson. Boschetti declined to take questions about the matter. Through her attorney, Fahlberg's former manager has also denied Fahlberg's claims that she groped him during a visit to his Spokane apartment while acknowledging she went to his home that night. Amazon has also admitted in court filings that Fahlberg's manager visited him at his home that night. Fahlberg's arrival at Amazon in summer 2020 was colored by tragedy. For 17 years, the Spokane-raised organizational and behavioral psychologist had lived in Europe, where he grew a human resources consultancy in London. Fahlberg left London in August 2018 following the death of his husband, Michael Rittiman. Bereaved and broke after Rittiman's cancer wiped them out financially, Fahlberg headed for home and, ultimately, to Amazon. In the spring and summer of 2020, Amazon was preparing to open a new "fulfillment center" near Spokane International Airport. The facility is heavy on robots but still requires hundreds of human employees to keep packages moving. Hired in July 2020 while the warehouse was under construction, Fahlberg was brought on to provide human resources support for the 1,500 or so workers expected to be employed there. Tasked with managing a team that bounced between six and nine people, Fahlberg said he received almost no training for work that involved 32 different software systems. "I literally got, 'Here's your computer, do your job,'" Fahlberg said. "From the very beginning, it was a very negative experience." Fahlberg attempted to strike up a friendship with his manager, a woman who'd recently arrived in Spokane. He said the relationship took a turn on the night of Aug. 15, 2020, as Fahlberg was marking the second anniversary of his late husband's death. His manager came to his apartment and, according to Fahlberg, groped him during an unsolicited sexual advance that shocked him. In court papers, Fahlberg contends his manager began verbally abusing him shortly thereafter, criticizing him in front of colleagues and forcing him to work nights. During one 15-hour shift, Fahlberg said she refused to allow him to leave to care for his dying mother. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to my mother, because she kept me at the fulfillment center," Fahlberg said in an interview. As summer turned to fall, the bullying and verbal abuse intensified, said Ryan Best, the Spokane-based attorney representing Fahlberg. During a one-on-one meeting that September, Best said in court papers, Fahlberg's manger told him "that no one liked him and proceeded to make fun of the way [he] stood, dressed, and spoke." She then threatened to punish him, the attorney continued, if he told others about the night she propositioned him. "Mr. Fahlberg was terrified at the blatant threat to his career should he choose to seek help for the unwanted sexual advances," Best said in court papers. Writing the court, the woman's attorney said she accepted an invitation to Fahlberg's apartment but denied that anything untoward occurred during the Aug. 15 visit. Her attorney, who did not return repeated requests for comment, described her as "happily married" and denied Falhberg's claim that he was groped. In court papers, the attorney also denied Fahlberg's assertion that he was prevented from caring for his mother the night she died. Fahlberg in late October submitted a complaint against his manager through Amazon's human resources system for HR workers, HR4HR, and spoke with a representative for more than an hour. "I was struggling and I was begging for training," Fahlberg said during an interview. "It had gotten to the point that I could not handle it anymore." During his conversation with an Amazon HR4HR representative, Fahlberg requested a transfer within the company and shared that he was concerned he'd been placed in FOCUS, a performance improvement system. Amazon employees monitored through FOCUS are generally ineligible for transfers, Fahlberg's attorneys contend, and are treated as problem employees. Falhberg was fired Nov. 16, 2020, following a brief meeting with upper management at the Spokane facility. According to filings by Fahlberg's attorneys, his manager was fired weeks later on Dec. 4. "They admitted that something was wrong and they fired her, but they wouldn't give me my job back," Fahlberg said. Amazon usually places employees who are in danger of termination in a program called Pivot, described by Amazon as an improvement program. They're offered successively less generous separation packages, offers that fall from about three months in paid severance that dwindle to one week's pay if the employee refuses to leave voluntarily. Fahlberg said he wasn't offered a severance package and that Amazon attempted to claw back a signing bonus that wasn't contingent on his performance. Best contends Amazon was "cleaning house" when it fired Fahlberg and his manager. The company, he said, refused to provide documents relevant to Fahlberg's claims and recently won a protective order meant to limit access to documents it has handed over during the litigation. "I believe Amazon is hiding documents," Best said in early January. "I think [those documents are] going to show that Amazon wanted to get rid of Mr. Fahlberg because he was gay, and because his supervisor had behaved inappropriately." Prodded by employees who circulated a petition, Amazon is currently conducting a broad investigation into how discrimination claims are reviewed at the company's cloud computing arm, Amazon Web Services. That inquiry follows the firing Cindy Warner, a gay woman who had been an executive with AWS, and the departure of another worker, Laudon Williams, both of whom described hearing homophobic comments from Amazon leaders. Warner is pursing a discrimination lawsuit against Amazon. Throughout Amazon, employees generally use an Amazon-run instant messaging platform, Chime. Amazon retains control of Chime messages, which Fahlberg didn't have access to after his firing. One text message exchange that has been disclosed appears to show one Amazon manager directing anotherwho said he wanted to "cya for amazon"to include an attorney on any future correspondence about a problematic incident. Doing so, the senior manager contended, would shield the exchange from disclosure if a lawsuit was filed under attorney-client privilege protections meant to allow people to speak candidly with their lawyers. "Slight change in approach," the senior manager wrote in an Oct. 5, 2020, exchange. "Email to me ... but make sure [Amazon senior corporate counsel for labor and employment] Jaime Cole is in the To line and put ACP in the subject. It puts all conversation about it under attorney-client privilege." Best said Amazon leadership believes the company can do as it likes without regard to state prohibitions on retaliation, hostile work environments and discrimination. "We're just seeking accountability," he said. "Even large companies need to follow the law." Talking about his former employer, Fahlberg returned again and again to the notion that he'd been misled. Amazon, he said, put itself forward as a place where anyone, regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation, could build a career. The truth was far from that mark. "This diversity image that they portray, it's a facade," Fahlberg said. "I simply want people to understand that they are not this happy company. ... And I hope it never happens to another person." While litigation that may delay a trial continues, the case is scheduled to go to a Spokane County jury in September. 2022 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Fig. 1. Total population represented by municipal governments that have formed CCAs in the six states where there has been the most activity. CCA was first enabled by Massachusetts legislation in 1997; the considerable delay in implementation is discussed in Section 6. These figures are not adjusted for customers opting-out. Credit: DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102393 In the mid-1990s, a few energy activists in Massachusetts had a vision: What if citizens had choice about the energy they consumed? Instead of being force-fed electricity sources selected by a utility company, what if cities, towns, and groups of individuals could purchase power that was cleaner and cheaper? The small group of activistsincluding a journalist, the head of a small nonprofit, a local county official, and a legislative aidedrafted model legislation along these lines that reached the state Senate in 1995. The measure stalled out. In 1997, they tried again. Massachusetts legislators were busy passing a bill to reform the state power industry in other ways, and this time the activists got their low-profile policy idea included in itas a provision so marginal it only got a brief mention in The Boston Globe's coverage of the bill. Today, this idea, often known as Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), is used by roughly 36 million people in the U.S., or 11 percent of the population. Local residents, as a bloc, purchase energy with certain specifications attached, and over 1,800 communities have adopted CCA in six states, with others testing CCA pilot programs. From such modest beginnings, CCA has become a big deal. "It started small, then had a profound impact," says David Hsu, an associate professor at MIT who studies energy policy issues. Indeed, the trajectory of CCA is so striking that Hsu has researched its origins, combing through a variety of archival sources and interviewing the principals. He has now written a journal article examining the lessons and implications of this episode. Hsu's paper, "Straight out of Cape Cod: The origin of community choice aggregation and its spread to other states," appears in advance online form in the journal Energy Research and Social Science, and in the April print edition of the publication. "I wanted to show people that a small idea could take off into something big," Hsu says. "For me that's a really hopeful democratic story, where people could do something without feeling they had to take on a whole giant system that wouldn't immediately respond to only one person." Local control Aggregating consumers to purchase energy was not a novelty in the 1990s. Companies within many industries have long joined forces to gain purchasing power for energy. And Rhode Island tried a form of CCA slightly earlier than Massachusetts did. However, it is the Massachusetts model that has been adopted widely: Cities or towns can require power purchases from, say, renewable sources, while individual citizens can opt out of those agreements. More state funding (for things like efficiency improvements) is redirected to cities and towns as well. In both ways, CCA policies provide more local control over energy delivery. They have been adopted in California, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio. Meanwhile, Maryland, New Hampshire, and Virginia have recently passed similar legislation (also known as municipal or government aggregation, or community choice energy). For cities and towns, Hsu says, "Maybe you don't own outright the whole energy system, but let's take away one particular function of the utility, which is procurement." That vision motivated a handful of Massachusetts activists and policy experts in the 1990s, including journalist Scott Ridley, who co-wrote a 1986 book, "Power Struggle," with the University of Massachusetts historian Richard Rudolph and had spent years thinking about ways to reconfigure the energy system; Matt Patrick, chair of a local nonprofit focused on energy efficiency; Rob O'Leary, a local official in Barnstable County, on Cape Cod; and Paul Fenn, a staff aide to the state senator who chaired the legislature's energy committee. "It started with these political activists," Hsu says. Hsu's research emphasizes several lessons to be learned from the fact the legislation first failed in 1995, before unexpectedly passing in 1997. Ridley remained an author and public figure; Patrick and O'Leary would each eventually be elected to the state legislature, but only after 2000; and Fenn had left his staff position by 1995 and worked with the group long-distance from California (where he became a long-term advocate about the issue). Thus, at the time CCA passed in 1997, none of its main advocates held an insider position in state politics. How did it succeed? Lessons of the legislation In the first place, Hsu believes, a legislative process resembles what the political theorist John Kingdon has called a "multiple streams framework," in which "many elements of the policymaking process are separate, meandering, and uncertain." Legislation isn't entirely controlled by big donors or other interest groups, and "policy entrepreneurs" can find success in unpredictable windows of opportunity. "It's the most true-to-life theory," says Hsu. Second, Hsu emphasizes, finding allies is crucial. In the case of CCA, that came about in a few ways. Many towns in Massachusetts have a town-level legislature known as Town Meeting; the activists got those bodies in about 20 towns to pass nonbinding resolutions in favor of community choice. O'Leary helped create a regional county commission in Barnstable County, while Patrick crafted an energy plan for it. High electricity rates were affecting all of Cape Cod at the time, so community choice also served as an economic benefit for Cape Cod's working-class service-industry employees. The activists also found that adding an opt-out clause to the 1997 version appealed to legislators, who would support CCA if their constituents were not all bound to it. "You really have to stick with it, and you have to look for coalition partners," Hsu says. "It's fun to hear them [the activists] talk about going to Town Meetings, and how they tried to build grassroots support. If you look for allies, you can get things done. [I hope] the people can see [themselves] in other people's activism even if they're not exactly the same as you are." By 1997, the CCA legislation had more geographic support, was understood as both an economic and environmental benefit for voters, and would not force membership upon anyone. The activists, while giving media interviews, and holding conferences, had found additional traction in the principle of citizen choice. "It's interesting to me how the rhetoric of [citizen] choice and the rhetoric of democracy proves to be effective," Hsu says. "Legislators feel like they have to give everyone some choice. And it expresses a collective desire for a choice that the utilities take away by being monopolies." He adds: "We need to set out principles that shape systems, rather than just taking the system as a given and trying to justify principles that are 150 years old." One last element in CCA passage was good timing. The governor and legislature in Massachusetts were already seeking a "grand bargain" to restructure electricity delivery and loosen the grip of utilities; the CCA fit in as part of this larger reform movement. Still, CCA adoption has been gradual; about one-third of Massachusetts towns with CCA have only adopted it within the last five years. CCA's growth does not mean it's invulnerable to repeal or utility-funded opposition efforts"In California there's been pretty intense pushback," Hsu notes. Still, Hsu concludes, the fact that a handful of activists could start a national energy-policy movement is a useful reminder that everyone's actions can make a difference. "It wasn't like they went charging through a barricade, they just found a way around it," Hsu says. "I want my students to know you can organize and rethink the future. It takes some commitment and work over a long time." Explore further Report finds that community choice aggregators provide a competitive alternative for electricity consumers More information: David Hsu, Straight out of Cape Cod: The origin of community choice aggregation and its spread to other states, Energy Research & Social Science (2021). David Hsu, Straight out of Cape Cod: The origin of community choice aggregation and its spread to other states,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102393 CANBERRA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- One-third of Australians are less likely to vote for the Australian government over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and health funding, a poll showed on Tuesday. According to a new Essential poll published on Tuesday, which was commissioned by peak health body the Australian Medical Association (AMA), 34 percent of voters said they were less likely to vote for the governing Coalition at the upcoming general election because of its record on health issues. Omar Khorshid, the president of the AMA, said the poll "put the political parties on notice that public hospital funding is resonating as a vote-changer with the Australian electorate." "The distressing picture we are getting of our hospital funding crisis should be a warning shot to all politicians that they need to pledge they'll fix public hospital funding if elected," he told the Guardian Australia. The government in October rejected a unified call from the health ministers of all eight states and territories to boost hospital funding to help the system cope with the "unrelenting strain" of the coronavirus pandemic. The Essential poll found the Opposition Labor party leads the Coalition 49-45 on a two-party preferred basis, with six percent of respondents undecided. Labor leader Anthony Albanese has not committed to the AMA's proposed 50-50 funding hospital model between federal and state governments but has promised the party will "always be better" on health than the Coalition. Australia on Tuesday reported more than 20,000 new COVID infections and 37 deaths -- 14 each in New South Wales and Victoria, five in Queensland, three in South Australia and one in the Northern Territory. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Google will pay workers at its new Durham office lower salaries than most of its other engineering hubs, a move that has led to internal protests from some workers. One group, the Alphabet Workers Union (AWU), has filed an internal petition against the decision to pay Durham employees lower rates, saying it was "unsatisfied" with the decision and its potential effects on employees there. Alphabet is Google's parent company. The pay reductions, which Google said was in response to the lower cost levels in the Research Triangle, were first reported by The Washington Post. Similar pay structures were implemented in Houston and Des Moines, Iowa, according to AWU. "We ask Google: why is this new policy being introduced after our work contributed to a *record-breaking* performance in the stock market, in spite of Covid-19?" the AWU petition says. Google told employees in 2020 they could see pay cuts if they moved to less expensive areas. The company even created a calculator to show employees the effects of potential moves, Reuters reported. Since then, more than 10,000 Google employees have applied for remote work or transferred to a new office, with 85% of those requests being approved, according to Google. In a statement, Google confirmed the pay differences at the North Carolina office. "Our goal is to always pay at the top of the local market, including in the Raleigh-Durham area," a Google spokesperson said in an email. "In our annual review, we found that our compensation guidelines in the Research Triangle region exceeded the market pay benchmarks, so we made adjustments to align with the local market." "As we continue to invest in the region, new employees and those who transfer from other offices will still be paid at the top of the local market," the spokesperson added, "and all employees have the potential to be rewarded further based on performance and promotion opportunities. We know that our employees have a choice about where they work and we'll continue to make sure our total rewards support them and help them grow their career at Google." Google said last year that it would open an engineering hub in downtown Durham. The company has already hired dozens of employees here, and expects to hire 1,000 workers in Durham in the coming years. Google typically pays wages at the top 5% to 10% of local market pay ranges for its jobs, according to the company. Google has said the Durham office will be one of its top cloud computing hubs in the nation, though it hasn't shared what salaries it will pay. Apple, which is also moving to the region, has said it will pay an average salary of $187,000 per year, The N&O previously reported. Apple was forced to reveal those details because it agreed to nearly $1 billion in incentives from state and local governments, in exchange for hiring at least 3,000 workers in the Triangle. Google did not take any incentives when it moved here. Kamala Subramaniam, the new head of Google's Durham office, said Google picked Durham because of its proximity to large universitiessuch as UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke and Subramaniam's own alma mater, N.C. Stateas well as a number of historically Black colleges. "Walking into the Google Durham site should be a statement in itself: It should be diverse with the historically underrepresented groups across all levels," she told the N&O last year. The Post reported that some employees did not like the appearance of Google choosing the Triangle for its diversity, while also choosing to pay workers there less. In its petition, AWU said: "If they succeed in their goal of hiring a diverse workforce in this area (and we hope they do!), the data will tell the story that Google is paying minorities less." The Post reported that, in addition to wages, stock grants were also reduced for workers in North Carolina. In some cases, those stock grants could be 25% lower than if the employee worked at Google's Atlanta office, the Post reported, citing a letter posted on Google's internal forum. The paper said many employees had already relocated to the region before learning of the pay cuts. Google, in its statement, said: "Employees working there have not seen a reduction in salary or in their existing equity grants." Google, like many tech companies, has begun hiring outside of its traditional home of the Bay Area in California during the pandemic. Google pitched its growth to other regions as a way to boost the U.S. economy and diversify its workforce. "I believe a lasting economic recovery will come from local communities, and the people and small businesses that give them life. Google wants to be a part of that recovery," Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement when Google announced its Durham campus. The company wouldn't be the only one cutting wages for workers who have moved away from the Bay Area, which is one of the most expensive places to live in the country. Facebook, now Meta, said last year it would adjust salaries of workers who decided to work remotely in a lower-cost region, Bloomberg News reported. Twitter, the social media company, has enacted similar policies. 2022 The Charlotte Observer. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. South Hills (15301) Today Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 58F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Former Sen. David Perdue and his wife Bonnie didnt have to wait long in line Monday to cast their ballots for the May 24 primary, which will determine who will receive the Republican nomination for the race to serve as Georgias next governor. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. WELLINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's second largest city of Christchurch on Tuesday marked the 11th anniversary of a violent and destructive earthquake that claimed 185 lives spanning more than 20 nationalities. Due to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, the annual memorial service was attended only by a few people. Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel laid a wreath on behalf of Christchurch at the base of the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial in the city center. "Christchurch's earthquake commemorations have been scaled back this year due to the spread of COVID-19 in the community," said an official statement. According to an official video recorded at the scaled-back service, the names of the 185 people killed in the earthquakes were read out as did before. Among the earthquake victims were 24 Chinese students. Following the disaster in February 2011, at the request of the New Zealand government, the Chinese government dispatched a 10-person search and rescue team. The 6.3-magnitude quake struck the city on Feb. 22, 2011, with a depth of only 4 km. Then Prime Minister John Key described the disaster as "New Zealand's darkest day". The earthquake and aftershocks caused substantial destruction to Christchurch in 2011. Statistics showed more than 1,200 commercial buildings were destroyed, and around 90 percent of residential houses were damaged to varying degrees. It was estimated that the total cost for the reconstruction work would exceed 40 billion NZ dollars (26.82 billion U.S. dollars), or approximately 10 percent of New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP). Local Daughters of the American Revolution chapters gifted copies of the first publication of Brazos County Centennial activities that contain research of local involvement in World War I and which have been placed into one source book for the first time. The book was gifted to local libraries Thursday at the Carnegie History Center in Bryan. The reference book The Record of the Brazos County (Texas) World War I Centennial Committee (2017-2019), was written and edited by John Blair, who was the Brazos County WWI Centennial Committee chairman. He is also one of the archivists for the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, and a U.S. Marine Veteran and graduate from Texas A&M University. The 684-page research book contains the first list of Brazos County Gold Stars and WWI veterans, Texas A&M WWI Gold Stars, including nine discovered in the reasearch process, and Aggie service men. The book has been accepted by the Library of Congress, DAR Library in Washington, D.C., the Texas State Library and Archives, the National World War I Museum and Memorial as well as Cushing Memorial Library and Archives and the Sterling Evans Library at Texas A&M University. The book features multiple in-depth stories on WWI veterans across Brazos County, with 173 photographs and a listing of 2,500 service men [1,700 Aggies and 800 Brazos County veterans] and a 50-page index. Each reference has three to five sources. Regent Gay White from the William Scott DAR, Shawn Carlson, a former regent of La Villita DAR, and Regent Katie Young from the Come and Take It DAR chapters gifted the copies to Bea Saba, who is the system director for the Bryan-College Station Public Library System. Seba accepted the copies on behalf of the Carnegie History Center and Clara B. Mounce Public Library in Bryan, and Larry J. Ringer Library in College Station. Copies will be available at these locations for residents to view. Saba said DAR has donated several books to the BCS library system over the years, and is excited that this addition will be featured in multiple libraries. We are talking history and information that is key not only to WWI but to the community itself. Having this book in the public library, where it will be accessible to everyone, is really important. Because this is information the community can view, and we are grateful for them for working at this and donating it to the public library, she said. We are going to add this to our catalogue and make it easily searchable for anyone looking to find information regarding WWI and Brazos County. Representatives of local DAR chapters contributed to the book along with Pamela Marshall, the honorary regent of Bryans Come and Take It DAR chapter. Marshall presented and acknowledged the DAR chapters who were gifting the copies and said she was grateful to Blair and the DAR for sharing this book with local libraries. The book was completely Johns idea; an example [of this kind of book] is not available because this has not been done before, she said. It was through his effort that the sacrifices of Brazos County residents and Texas Aggies in the Great War, that they are collected for the first time and preserved for posterity. Blair said there were many veterans featured who may not have been from the county, but they are buried in BCS. Veteran John Fuschak, who is not from Brazos County but is buried in BCS is featured in the book. Fuschak went to school for 11 years but was only able to obtain a fourth-grade education. Part of the problem was because he needed glasses, and he got out of school and worked odd jobs and when the war came, he was inducted into the army; and for the first time in his life he got a pair of glasses, he had three meals a day and a place to stay and his life really improved, Blair said. The problem with John is the war just broke him, he came back from the war with difficult medical conditions, and he was [seeing and hearing things] and he was lost. The book noted that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, came home in 1919 and was incarcerated. That was one story that just broke my heart that I found in my research, Blair said. Blair also traveled to find multiple burial sites for veterans who were lost or their burial records not easily accessible. Blair said credit goes to the work of the centennial committee members. He said they went around trying to find all of the veterans in BCS independently, and he decided they should all work together to compile one big list of veterans. Blair said military history is appealing to him and he knew he had to put this book together at the local level, and worked on the project the past two years. If youre a high school or middle school teacher, there are some opportunities for you in this book to talk about WWI and this is something I think is really important, he said. What I would hope people would do, as aspiring genealogists would be to come in and read this and find out about their great grandparents who they may not have known had served. I am very happy with the book and very proud of it. It combines everything we know of from the people who sacrificed their lives in defense of this nation, for us, for A&M and for this county. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Five area students are among 24 young writers from across Nebraska honored for their writing in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Northwest students Katie Bough and Lydia Vlcek, along with Doniphan-Trumbull students Ana Carson and Benjamin VanDiest, and Sam Rogers of Hastings received awards. The Scholastic Writing Awards program is one of the countrys longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition programs for creative students in grades 7-12. This is the third year Hastings College has been an affiliate for the writing awards, and presented awards to young Nebraska writers. Bough (science fiction and fantasy), Carson (poetry), VanDiest (journalism) and Rogers (personal essay and memoir) all received Silver Keys. Vlcek received Honorable Mention for her science fiction and fantasy submission. The award recipients will be honored during a virtual awards ceremony 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23. To celebrate their hard work, Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention works will be available in a publication from Hastings College Press. The book, Best Nebraska Teen Writing 2022, plus certificates and other elements will be sent to all award recipients. Additional copies of the book are available for purchase. Students from all 93 counties of Nebraska age 13 and older were invited to submit original work in any of the awards writing categories, such as flash fiction and poetry. Works were then judged by a panel of Hastings College faculty, staff and students. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards program was established in 1923 and has supported the creative talent of millions of students, including distinguished alumni Tschabalala Self, Stephen King, Kay WalkingStick, Charles White, Joyce Carol Oates, and Andy Warhol, all of whom received recognition in the awards when they were teens. KIEV, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said early Tuesday that Kiev has been urging the international community to hold emergency talks over Russia's decision on the status of Donetsk and Lugansk regions in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine has been calling for an emergency summit of the Normandy Format, a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, and a special meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to address the issue, Zelensky said in a video address to the nation published on Facebook. "The latest actions of the Russian Federation are a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our state. Russia is solely responsible for the consequences of such decisions," Zelensky said. That Moscow recognized Luhansk and Donetsk regions as independent entities reflected "Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk agreements and ignoring the decisions of the Normandy Four," Zelensky said. Emphasizing that Kiev is committed to a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the ongoing crisis, Zelensky said, "we will not give anything to anyone, and we are sure of that." Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. At a ceremony held in the Kremlin, Putin also inked the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and the LPR and the DPR respectively with the heads of the two "republics," a Kremlin statement said. "I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision -- to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and the LPR," Putin said in a televised address to the nation. "Russia has done everything to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine" by fighting for the implementation of 2015 Minsk agreements, but all the efforts ended up in vain, he told the public. According to Putin, nearly everyday there is Ukrainian shelling of settlements in Donbass and "there is no end in sight." The crisis of European security occurred due to the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which has led to the loss of mutual trust with Russia, Putin stressed. He called it just "a matter of time" for NATO to accept Ukraine as a member state and then build facilities on its territory so that the level of military threats to Russia will rise dramatically. As Moscow asked the United States and NATO for security guarantees, the Western countries precisely ignored Russia's fundamental concerns and nothing has changed in their position, Putin noted. The Normandy Format, established in 2014, is a diplomatic group of senior representatives from Ukraine, Germany, Russia and France formed to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Minsk agreements, reached in September 2014 and February 2015, outline the steps needed to end the conflict between the Ukrainian government troops and local armed groups in Donbass. A bill seeking to place a limit on perpetual conservation easements drew mixed responses from Nebraska landowners at a hearing earlier this month. But the goal of ending the perpetual agreements has drawn support from a prominent and outspoken official: Gov. Pete Ricketts. State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil introduced Legislative Bill 1135, which would limit the easements to a time period of 99 years and give local planning agencies more discretion to approve or reject proposed easements. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and government agency, typically a land trust, that permanently limit land use for conservation purposes. They have been used in Nebraska and the U.S. for decades but have come under fire in the past year amid Ricketts campaign against President Joe Bidens goal of conserving 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030. The White House has since rebranded the broad proposal, first referred to as 30-by-30, as America the Beautiful. Under Murmans proposal, a register of deeds would require approval from the appropriate governing body a local planning commission or a county board before recording the easement. Under state law, local governments with zoning in place can deny easements if they conflict with previously approved land uses or a previously announced plan for government use of the land. Local planning boards are given 60 days to provide comment on the easement. If they fail to do so, the easement is approved. Murmans proposal would give planning boards 90 days to provide comment. The easement proposal would be denied if none is received. The bill just makes a few modifications to ensure some local control and safeguard Nebraska agriculture for future generations to decide for themselves what is in their best interest, Murman told the Legislatures Judiciary Committee earlier this month. To me, a perpetual easement is a tool for taking away property rights from future generations. Murmans remarks echo those made by Ricketts spokesperson Alex Reuss, who said the perpetual agreements rob future generations of the flexibility to develop or manage the land differently. During his monthly radio show in July, Ricketts criticized conservation easements but said those shortcomings should be weighed against the rights of private landowners to direct what happens to their property. We want to strike a balance between personal property rights and the public good here, Ricketts said at the time. Also, its ultimately up to the counties to be able to manage those. Im a big believer in government closer to the people. While the governor said at that point he was not willing to jump to state intervention, Reuss said, Ricketts meant the state should not intervene where it doesnt have the legal authority to do so. But should the Legislature pass a bill changing the current law, the governor would support measures to end perpetual conservation easements, Reuss said. At the hearing on Feb. 11, the Judiciary Committee heard an array of opinions from ranchers, farmers and environmental advocates who traveled from across the state to speak on the bill. Tanya Storer, a rancher and county board member in Cherry County, spoke in support. Perpetual conservation easements create a negative servitude which places the holder of the deed of the property in a subservient position to the easement holder, she said. It takes the freedom and decision-making away from the living and buries it with the dead. Storer was among several county officials who spoke in support of the bill, which also received support from the Nebraska Association of County Officials. Some called for a further reduction in the lifespan of the easements. L. Wayne Johnson, a member of the Clay County Board, said he favored a 20- or 30-year timeframe for the easements. Thats about a generation, he said. As we all know, many things change with the next generation. Others said that putting a time limit on conservation easements takes away from the rights of landowners who wish to safeguard the future of their property. Permanent decisions are made all of the time, said John Denton, the manager of Nebraska conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited. This bill would be taking a property right from those who want to make the decision to conserve their land. Vern Jantzen, the vice president of the Nebraska Farmers Union and a fourth-generation family farmer, shared similar sentiments. As a landowner, I should be able to use a voluntary tool if I think it is necessary to protect the future of my generational family farm, he said. Murman said uncertainty about Bidens conservation proposal has caused concern for landowners, including many in his district. Ricketts has argued that Bidens 30-by-30 proposal, in which conservation easements would be one tool to reach the goal, amounts to a land grab orchestrated by radical environmental groups. He signed an executive order in June 2021 that requires state agencies to stop providing money and staff support for any project involving permanent conservation easements, and requires set-term easements to receive approval from the Governors Office. Reuss pointed to the executive order as evidence that Ricketts has not opposed state intervention on conservation easements. The only state agencies covered under the executive order are those under the governors control, which leaves out the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Environmental Trust, among others. The order applies only to discretionary funds, those dollars not directed by state or federal law. And the order allows the Governors Office to approve several exceptions, such as for multistate water agreements, infrastructure and water management programs. Currently, 67 of Nebraskas 93 counties have passed resolutions in opposition to the 30-by-30 plan. Douglas and Sarpy counties have not introduced any such resolution. PIERRE Some customers of South Dakota's only medical marijuana dispensary are being arrested across the state, despite having tribal-issued cannabis cards. Officials with the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe told the Argus Leader that more than 100 people who've been issued tribal medical marijuana identification cards have been arrested since the tribe opened South Dakota's first-ever cannabis store last year. "They're taking the cards and handing out fines," tribal chairman Tony Reider said. "But most we don't know about, because most people are just paying the fines." Since starting up its medical marijuana program on July 1, 2021, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe has issued about 8,000 medical marijuana cards to tribal and non-tribal members. And although several county- and city-level law enforcement agencies and state's attorneys have eased up on arrests and prosecutions for possession of small amounts of marijuana all together, others, like the Flandreau Police Department, are not honoring some tribal-issued medical cards. And that's based on a directive from the South Dakota Department of Public Safety and the Attorney General's Office, which have taken the position that tribal cards aren't valid for non-tribal members. "If they have a tribally issued card and they are non-Native American, we seize the card and any of the marijuana products that they would have," Flandreau Police Chief Zach Weber said, noting that 24 marijuana arrests have been made by his agency since the tribe opened its dispensary. While the majority of those arrests have involved the seizure of products sold at the tribe's dispensary, Weber noted some involved marijuana not purchased at a store. Reider said the Highway Patrol is also arresting non-tribal card holders and in a couple circumstances, tribal members have also been arrested. And for those being arrested who choose to fight the charge, the tribe is honoring a promise made last summer to aid in the defense of their cardholders. The tribe's attorney general, Seth Pearman, told lawmakers this week his office is currently engaged in at least 10 active marijuana cases involving non-tribal members. And that the cards are also being seized along with the marijuana products is a concern, he said. "I don't think the state has the authority to revoke a license issued by another jurisdiction," he said. Neither the Moody County State's Attorney's Office or DPS immediately responded to requests for comment. The tribal medical marijuana program operates independently of the state medical marijuana program. The Department of Health began issuing state medical cards last fall, though no state-licensed dispensaries, grow facilities or testing sites are in operation. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. CARBONDALE Neighborhood Co-op Grocery will join grocery stores and food manufacturers nationwide in celebrating the second annual National Supermarket Employee Day. The day was started in 2021 by FMI The Food Industry Association to recognize employees for the work they do, especially during times of crisis. Francis Murphy, general manager of Neighborhood Co-op, said their workers have shown up during the pandemic and helped keep the store open for customers. Our staff has seen a lot and dealt with a lot. It put more stress on them, Murphy said. Think about different opinions on masks. It all comes out in a grocery. Besides dealing with opinions and customers who were anxious and worried about the coronavirus, Neighborhood Co-op employees, like their counterparts across the country, have dealt with job changes from departments closing and changes in the way food is made available to customers. And they still showed up, according to Murphy and Amy Dion, brand development manager at the Co-op. During their celebration on Tuesday, employees will get bonuses totaling $80,000. They also will get a Co-op gift card and have lunch catered by Quatros. During the day, they will draw for raffle prizes for employees. Customers can participate in celebrating grocery workers by leaving their gratitude for employees on a comment board, which Murphy said will be available all week. They can also post their gratitude on the stores Facebook page or email comments to info@neighborhood.coop. Neighborhood Co-op has enforced wearing masks inside the store throughout the pandemic, according to Murphy. Their only break was in July and August 2021 when there was no mask mandate. He believes that has kept everyone shopping and working at the store safer. The hardest day for Neighborhood Co-op was March 20, 2020. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the state would shut down March 21, 2020. The store had 100 customers in the store. Murphy said the deli had been closed previously for safety, but Jackson County Health Department showed up to decide what other changes the Co-op would need to make to stay open. They said the self-service bins needed to close as customers were trying to buy those things. Neighborhood Co-op employees did a great job. During the early days of the pandemic, we had no idea what would happen. It was a fearsome thing to be one of the few industries who had to stay open, Murphy said, adding that grocery workers had to come in and potentially expose themselves and their families without knowing what the results would be. They worked through all that and still do. Today, Neighborhood Co-op is in better shape financially than it was before the pandemic. Growth had been flat for years. They saw 9% growth in 2020 and about 3% growth in 2021. Murphy said before the pandemic, Americans spent about 50% of their food budget at a grocery store and 50% at restaurants. During the pandemic, those numbers changed as people were wary about eating out. Approximately two-thirds of the food budget is now spent at grocery stores, leaving one-third going to restaurants. In addition, they were able to benefit from a PPE loan, aided by First Southern Bank. The loan was forgiven in 2021. Our staff came in and provided food for the community, Dion said. According to FMI, approximately 4.8 million people work in American groceries. In 2018, grocery stores had $701.188 billion in sales. Neighborhood Co-op Grocery is at 1815 W. Main St. in Murdale Shopping Center. For more information, visit neighborhood.coop. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CAIRO Cairo locals are hoping to preserve Ward Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the three remaining Black landmarks in the area. The Rev. Ronnie Woods, current pastor at the closed church, is a third-generation attendee and congregation member who is eager to see all of his familys memories restored to their full glory. This was all that I knew, Woods said. We did everything here. I have a picture of vacation Bible school; we would have hundreds of kids here. There were concerts here. I remember when Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke here. John Lewis talked in this basement. Its just so many memories of people that were here that were vibrant. The reason that speakers there is because on Sunday, there were so many people they couldn't get in. So, they would come and park and stand out here so they could hear the services. It was really an amazing place. Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church has undergone many name changes, location changes and fires throughout its history. In 1863, Maria Renfro held an organizational meeting to form a church on 15th Street, according to Don Patton, president of the Cairo Historical Preservation Project. The church continued to evolve and relocated two times in six years. Ten years after that the church was destroyed, it was moved and renamed the Corinthian Temple, Patton said. The name Ward Chapel A.M.E Church first shows up in Sanborn Fire Insurance records in 1891 when the church moved to its current location at 420 17th St, Patton said. In 1914, a fire occurred at the church. A new building was erected in the same spot built out of a mixture of soot-stained bricks and new bricks, Woods said. It is also speculated that Cairo was one of the stops on the Liberty Line going north, according to Patton. Marion police's new therapy K-9 brings calming presence to mental health, crisis calls Plichta and Gary, with the Marion Police Department, took their first official patrol together on the first of this year to help bridge the gap between police work and mental health issues. That coupled with work of the A.M.E. churches during that time it is suspected that the this church, during one of it's first iterations, was involved in the Underground Railroad, according to the Cairo Historical Preservation Project website. 'A historical journey' Throughout the changes, the church remained a staple to several within the community. Mount Vernon energy company gives $50K to Rend Lake College Affordable Gas and Electric, a Mount Vernon-based energy consultant has given Rend Lake College $50,000 to help with student and energy-focused applications. It's been a historical journey with this church, as far as the black community is concerned, and that is our concern to make sure that we try to preserve it the best we can, Woods said. They are also raising funds for the Cairo Public Library, Cairo Custom House and Magnolia Manor. However, Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church is the location in the most disarray. 8 years later, Pravin Varughese remembered with scholarship, prayer in Carbondale Eight years following the tragic death of SIU student Pravin Varughese, family and friends gathered for a memorial in the woods celebrating his life. Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church is also one of the only three remaining landmarks for the Black community in Cairo, according to Patton. Cairo is very historical, Patton said. First Missionary Baptist Church on 19th Street was formed in 1874, Sumner High School which was the Black predominant high school, (and Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church) are the three remaining black landmarks in Cairo. Its important to be able to pass on the history of the black community to our younger generation in terms of how important these three landmarks are. So, they will be able to tell their children as we move forward. Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church closed about nine years ago as the congregation began to die out, Woods said. Woods tried to keep the place running on his own as the pastor, however, it ended up being too much. As he closed the doors all he felt was heartbreak, he said. It was heartbreaking. There were many Sundays I came here, and it was just me. It was me and the memories and sometimes I saw the ghosts and there were many tears. As Woods spoke with The Southern outside of the church, he recalled just how beautiful and lively the now empty grass-filled lots around the church used to be. I see all the houses that were here, Woods said. There were houses there that were like row houses. There were houses over here. There were houses down here and I could remember the people that lived in those houses, all the way to the corner. I see visually houses of people other than the way it is now. Most of Woods family will not be alive to see the preservation and repurposing of the building come to fruition. However, it is for those that have since passed and the memories that this project is so important. The memories and the people lost are "the reason to do this. So, they can see their grandkids and their great grandkids and their great grandkids can come back and look and say this is where a lot of them started," he said. Since starting fund raising in April of last year, the project has received a few donations as well as a $2,500 grant from Landmarks Illinois. Landmarks Illinois is one of the state's leading voice, "for historic preservation. We promote preservation, restoration and adaptive reuse of buildings and sites of many types in order to leverage our past to create a better future," according to their website. Despite all of the hardship the church has been through, Woods is beyond grateful for the chance to bring it back to it's former glory through donations and grants like the one from Landmarks Illinois. "I could never thank Don enough for his support and his help ... and the committee's vision on trying to preserve this," Woods said. "I didn't know what I was going to do. But you know, I always say God has a plan, and God has a ram in the bush. Don has been the ram in the bush. He's really done a lot of the work and put a lot of energy in trying to keep the church preserved." Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CARBONDALE President Abraham Lincoln is known as a statesman, emancipator and Illinois native son. In a Presidents Day virtual presentation with the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, a Lincoln scholar said the 16th president should also be recognized as a writer. Douglas Wilson, author of Honors Voice and Lincolns Sword, said Lincoln should be remembered for his ability to influence and sway with the written word. Wilson is a former English professor and director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College in Galesburg. The recognized Lincoln historian joined the Simon Institute's John Shaw for a virtual conversation as part of the institute's Illinois Authors series. In the four years that Abraham Lincoln would be president, the American people would gradually discover, much to its collective astonishment, that this unprepossessing Illinois politician had remarkable abilities as a writer, Wilson wrote in Honors Voice. I dont think that he went into the presidency saying anything like, well, Ill use my superior writing to influence public opinion, but thats what he did, Wilson explained during the virtual presentation. Wilson said that during his presidency, Lincoln made fewer than six speeches, but he was a passionate writer. He channeled everything into public writing, Wilson said. He got criticized for that because no president had ever written newspaper pieces or notes that was considered beneath thembut it is just undeniable that at certain stages, he wrote things that made the kind of arguments that carried the day. Wilson, whose research included review of many of Lincolns rough drafts, said the presidents public letters moved the needle of national opinion. Much of the articles and letters came from Lincolns accumulation of ideas. He had this habit of writing little notes to himself, Wilson explained. Theres a story about the House Divided speech that Lincoln gave at the beginning of the campaign against (Stephen A.) Douglas that he kept all of that stuff in his hat. He came in one day and dumped his hat and he just rearranged everything to write that speech. Wilson said Lincoln would put an enormous amount of effort into pieces and his writings are outstanding, especially considering that the former president was essentially self-educated, as accounts from his step-mother indicate. She said if he saw a word in his reading that he didnt understand or if someone said a word that he didnt understand, that bothered him and he would start asking questions, Wilson explained. He would wrestle with words and he was not happy until he figured out what a word meant. He made it his business to learn. Wilson said he would classify Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson as two presidents with a gift for writing. I think Jefferson was the only president whose writing ability rivaled Lincoln, he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The collective trauma of seeing 13-year-old Adam Toledo shot to death on police body camera footage in March 2021 was not a new sensation for young Black and brown men on the citys West Side. But this time, researchers were watching. Researchers who knew just how they felt. Thats the lived experience that these young people are dealing with, said Claudio Rivera, a pediatric psychologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Northwestern University. The research presented Monday at Lurie Childrens in the hopes of securing $20 million to foster youth-led strategies on community healing and bettering mental health in Chicago was a collaborative effort between the hospital, Voices of Youth in Chicago Education and Communities United, Chicagos survivor-led, grassroots, intergenerational, racial justice organization. The two-year study prompted the creation of Ujima, a cohort of Black and brown men 21 years and younger, who based their work on the premise that, given their experiences, young men of color are best equipped to research their own communitys experience with mental health and make recommendations for effective change. Trained on research ethics, the Ujima researchers conducted surveys, interviews and focus groups with peers about mental health. Their report found: Two-thirds of those surveyed said they face challenges with their mental health; Trauma is often normalized for young men of color; One in 4 surveyed said they feel anxious, constantly worried, or extremely nervous four days or more per week; Top systemic factors connected to mental health are schools, jobs, racism and poverty; Young men of color feel they are viewed by society through a lens of race and gender, and the stereotypes that come with that, rather than being viewed as whole people with contributions to give to the world around them. Ujima, which takes its name from the Swahili word for collective work and responsibility, also made recommendations based on its research, which ranged from bringing more mental health professionals of color into the system; to turning abandoned buildings in Chicago into community centers where young people can partake in art, music and classes on topics such as coping mechanisms, leadership development and de-escalation tactics. The data in the report will inform the 10-year holistic plan the grassroots organization and medical institution are developing with the help of a $1 million planning grant in 2021 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundations Racial Equity 2030 Challenge. If Chicago wins the next phase of the challenge, the plan could receive up to $20 million to bring it to fruition. The awards, which will be announced in summer, are to be used to build and scale actionable ideas for transformative change in the systems and institutions that uphold racial inequities. The study proved eye-opening, even for members of Ujima whose life experiences mirrored those of their subjects. Alexander Villegas, 20, an Albany Park resident and Ujimas founder, said he was surprised young men of color were uncomfortable seeing a counselor or therapist because they were worried their story wasnt safe, or thought the professional was only talking to them for the paycheck. Jermal Ray, 17, another Ujima researcher and a senior at Curie Metropolitan High School, agreed. I learned young men of color dont go to counselors or receive mental health support because of the fear of being sent to a psychotic facility, or that they are not going to be taken seriously, Ray said. I got involved in this project because I knew people that have gone through mental health challenges, and its hard to not be able to help. Participants said they thought society views them solely through a lens of race and gender and the stereotypes that come with it rather than as whole people. When it comes to men of color, we kind of brush off mental health, one participant said. When we actually admit we have issues like PTSD, people will deny it. They tell us, How is that even possible? and that there is nothing wrong, so they dont help us. But if a white person said they had it, they would treat it right away. The study benefited from its young researchers experiences, Rivera, a co-principal investigator of the Kellogg proposal, said. The ask has been there, because they recognize what the need has always been, he said. This is just further reinforcing whats been the clarion call: We want this. Weve been needing this. We want better now. And we know what that better is. These recommendations are long overdue, but theyre also within reach. The details in the reportare vivid and show the benefit of giving voice to the young men at the center of the research, said Dr. John Walkup, chair of Lurie Childrens psychiatry department and principal investigator of the Kellogg proposal. Lurie Childrens has always been youth-focused ... but we havent always listened to kids in the community, Walkup said. I think weve sensitized ourselves to the voices of youth in the city of Chicago, around not just cancer and cardiac disease and things like that, but around racial injustice, about discrimination, and about Chicago Public Schools and the mental health system, and access. Were creating new dialogue, and its going to be ongoing, he added. Were listening and listening hard now. Even when we may not like what they have to say, because they put pressure on us to be better in ways that we need to be better, we can deal with that. Rivera, who participated in the research and wellness checks as part of his work at Lurie Childrens, recalls the feelings the young people shared after Toledo, who was like them, from communities like theirs, was killed by a Chicago police officer almost a year ago. The video was one more thing youths were dealing with at the time, including their personal traumas and the mental pummeling of the pandemic. But the research created a safe space where the participants knew they could share openly and would have support. It was in having that sense of letting them know this was a confidential safe space to be vulnerable, that stuff emerged, Rivera said. Villegas and Ray want to see mental health professionals who live or hail from the neighborhoods they serve. That way, they understand the environments stressors when working with youth in those communities. In doing the research, Ray said he became more open-minded to other young men going through different challenges. The research wasnt just to know our situations, but how it connects to other boys of color and leading them to help themselves, Ray said. It gives me confidence to show up for myself. Both want change, and if the Kellogg proposal doesnt win, Villegas said Ujima will continue to push to get awareness out on mental health resources in Black and brown neighborhoods regardless because the work is never finished. And hopefully, the partnering organizations and others in the city will continue to respond to their call for change. I think this is laying the gauntlet down for a place like Lurie and other folks to say Will you all listen to us? Rivera said. Following through immediately will help demonstrate that the young people in these communities are being centered and validated in what theyre saying. And that theyre actually viewed as partners. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Zhang Jun (C, front), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Monday called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue. "We welcome and encourage every effort for a diplomatic solution, and call on all parties concerned to continue dialogue and consultation, and seek reasonable solutions to address each other's concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect," Zhang told the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine. "China has been paying close attention to the latest development of the situation in Ukraine. We have fully elaborated on our position at the previous two meetings of the Security Council," said Zhang, noting that all parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions. The envoy underlined that the current situation in Ukraine "is a result of many complex factors. China always makes its own position according to the merits of the matter itself. We believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." The meeting was held at the request of Kiev, the United States, five European nations and Mexico. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states. Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the scene of the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York. China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Monday called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) CARBONDALE A series of dramatic temperature changes is expected throughout Illinois starting Tuesday, bringing severe thunderstorms and a potential for snow later in the week. "Were past the peak of winter at this point," said Matt Holiner, a meteorologist for The Southern. "This is the wildest time of the year for Central and Southern Illinois where you could be dealing with all types of precipitation." A whiplash of weather through the end of the week kicks off early Tuesday morning with a series of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures are expected to peak in the upper 60s by Tuesday afternoon in the Carbondale area. Heavy rain is forecast throughout Tuesday, with gusts of up to 34 mph and a high of 67 degrees. A Flood Watch also is in effect. A cold front will follow as rainfall quiets, with temperatures quickly dropping to the upper 30s in Southern Illinois, Holiner said. Then cold conditions and snow are forecast. Its really going to be a low pressure system thats tracking toward the south thats going to be the main trigger for the precipitation that we see Wednesday evening to Thursday night, said Holiner. However our temperatures end up after it clears is going to have a big impact on how those precipitation types are going to play out." The roller coaster comes after large portions of the state were hit with heavy snow last week, cancelling about 500 flights in Chicago and creating a massive pileup involving 100 vehicles north of Bloomington. By the weekend, sunny skies brought people outdoors. The new system is expected to cause wide temperature fluctuations, although the exact timing is still unclear. In the Quad Cities, meteorologist Brian Pierce of the National Weather Service said: "The system is too far out to determine how much snow we may get. Any slight deviation in the track of the storm could mean a lot in terms of how much or how little snow we get." Those in the Carbondale area could see between 1 to 2 inches of snow, or freezing rain and sleet. Meteorologists expect to get a better handle on the forecast later in the week after the first round of severe weather, said Holiner. As weather begins to transition from winter to spring, Illinois residents can expect a range of temperatures and precipitation types, he said. "I want people to be in a spring mindset from here on out," said Holiner. There are going to be more events like this with wild temperatures where it's going to warm up and then cool down. We might have some really beautiful weather followed by very chilly weather, and there could be a storm threat followed by snow. "So, stay on your toes, things are probably going to be pretty wild over the course of the next month before we settle into our summer pattern. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Orleans police are investigating the death of a Bamberg woman over the weekend, according to multiple media reports. University of New Orleans junior Ciaya Jordan Whetstone, 21, went to Carnival parades on Friday night and later went out with friends, and then to her boyfriends home, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Friends said she used a ride-share app to go home and check on her dog. She was dropped off at a hospital at 7 a.m. Saturday and was later pronounced dead. Beverly Searson told The (Charleston) Post and Courier that everyone loved her great-granddaughter. She was a go-getter. She was very spiritual. She prayed all the time. She talked about God all the time. She just loved everybody and Jesus Christ, Searson said. The New Orleans Police Department is asking the public for help in its investigation. The incident remains under investigation as an unclassified death as of this writing, the department said in a statement published by WDSU.com. Whetstone was enrolled in the University of New Orleans College of Business Administration, according to WDSU.com. The station included a statement from the president. University President Dr. John Nicklow said, Few things are more challenging than dealing with the sadness of the death of a student. Our thoughts are with Ciayas family and friends. We are offering counseling services to students and employees who need support. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 10 Angry 0 A Charleston shelter is offering a total reward of $15,000 for information on three dogs that were shot within the past month in Orangeburg County. The Charleston Animal Society is offering a $5,000 reward in each case for information leading to the arrest and felony conviction of the people who shot the dogs. Through our No Kill South Carolina 2024 initiative, we remain committed to fighting cruelty wherever it exists, Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore said. We are angry and we want those responsible for shooting these dogs caught and prosecuted and we fully support law enforcement efforts to bring the guilty parties to justice, Elmore said. Orangeburg County Animal Control and Shelter reached out to the Lowcountry organization for help, according to CAS. The three injured dogs are: Sampson, who was shot in the face at point-blank range on Jan. 25. CAS states someone found him that day in a ditch on the side of the road in Orangeburg County. Sampson received treatment at Columbia Veterinary Emergency Trauma and Specialty. He underwent surgery to remove his left eye, which was damaged by the bullet. In total, Sampson was hospitalized at CVETS for nine days where he received 24/7 care from highly trained ICU nurses, veterinarians and surgery nurses, according to CAS. Marshall, a 10-month-old sweet and friendly boxer mix puppy, was shot on Feb. 5, CAS said. CVETS performed a five-hour rear limb amputation. Marshall had to receive blood due to complications during surgery, CAS said in a press release. Hes currently recovering well at a foster home in Columbia. Fred, a 3-year-old male boxer, was found on Friday. Officials believe the injured dog had been lying in a ditch for several days. OCAC picked up Fred and took him to the shelter. Rescuers videoed Fred walking with his front legs, but both of his rear legs dangled behind. OCAC then took him to CVETS, where hes remained since his rescue on Friday. Hes expected to undergo amputation of at least one of his rear legs. Fred and Marshall will be sent to Helping Hearts & Healing Tails Animal Rescue in Stahlstown, Pennsylvania for permanent placement. Sampson is safe at Noahs Ark Rescue Project and Sanctuary in Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania. CAS claims each of the three cases appear to be intentional acts of cruelty. According to S.C. state law, if a person is convicted of felony animal torture, they face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. To report information about the cases, call Orangeburg County Animal Control at 803-534-0045 or the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office at 803-534-3550. Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Send us your news, photos, and videos and let us know what's going on! Submit Here (TBTCO) - Thi truong chung khoan Viet Nam co ban van giu nhip on inh trong quy au nam nay, tuy nhien, thi truong chiu ap luc ieu chinh kha manh ke tu cuoi thang 3 en nay do tac ong tu cac yeu to ngoai bien va cac vu viec sai pham mang tinh on le cua mot so ca nhan, to chuc. Theo cac chuyen gia, nhung tac ong en tam ly ngan han cua nha au tu la kho tranh khoi, nhung ay la co hoi e huong dong tien i ung huong, giup thi truong gan uc, khoi trong e phat trien ben vung. A bill that would ban the release of mugshots until a conviction narrowly passed out of the House Judiciary Committee on Monday, and will now head to the House floor. Opponents on the committee said Monday that the bill wouldnt stop the problems that come from releasing peoples information upon arrest, since names and recommended charges for those arrested would still be public record. Four members of the committee voted no on the bill during Mondays meeting, but it passed by a one-vote margin. Under current laws, media outlets, law enforcement agencies or county jails can publish mugshots following an arrest. Many now post those online, along with information about the arrests. Information release is limited only in certain circumstances, such as when the person arrested is under 18 or accused of a sex crime. House Bill 51 was also amended Monday, giving law enforcement and local judges more power to decide when they could override the ban and release mugshots in the interest of public safety or for any legitimate law enforcement interest or purpose. The bills sponsor, Rep. Chad Banks, D-Rock Springs, told the committee that the photos can harm peoples reputation, especially if their charges are dropped, and can live on the internet forever. Wing Lew, a food truck owner in Rock Springs, testified over video on Monday that his mugshot was published in a local newspaper after he was arrested in 2020 for driving under the influence despite blowing a 0.0 on a breathalyzer test. Tests for alcohol or controlled substances came back negative, Lew said, and his charges were dropped. The media outlets are quick to publicize arrests, but they take no responsibility in the publication of any dismissals, Lew told the committee. Lew said he was extremely embarrassed, and worried that his business would suffer. Rep. Ember Oakley, R-Riverton and a prosecutor in Fremont County, said that law enforcement and lawyers still need access to those photos to confirm peoples identity in court or to locate them when theyre not in custody. Others who have been arrested and eventually convicted told the Star-Tribune that their mugshots being public ahead of their trials may have influenced the jury against them. A lot of people wake up to other peoples bad nights, if you will, Rock Springs Chief of Police Dwane Pacheco told the committee, and the court of public opinion, its automatically guilty. Banks said that most mugshots are taken on arguably one of the worst days of that persons life. Seeing people in jail clothes, Laramie Rep. Karlee Provenza said, can also indicate something negative about them to the public. Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VILNIUS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- From Wednesday, people who have been in contact with a COVID-19 case will no longer need self-isolation, according to Lithuania's Health Ministry on Tuesday. Until now, seven-day self-isolation was mandatory for people if someone in their household was diagnosed with COVID-19. But those who have been tested positive for COVID-19 are still required for self-isolation, said the ministry. The ministry said there is an observed decline in the infections of COVID-19 and a slow-down in the spread of the pandemic. Besides, more and more European countries are deciding on a changing governance strategy for COVID-19, it added. However, the ministry still recommended people who have been exposed to the infection to observe their health, test themselves, wear facemasks and switch to teleworking, if possible. Lithuania has confirmed 5,830 new coronavirus infections and 18 deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, according to official statistics released on Tuesday morning. Normally, bills pertaining to voting are heard by the Wyoming Legislatures Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee. But one of the most high-profile voting bills of this budget session will instead be considered by the Senate Agricultural Committee, prompting some objections from lawmakers. Majority Floor Leader Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, sought Monday to reassign four bills from the corporations to the agricultural committee. All four eventually made the move, but only Senate File 97 a crossover voting prohibition backed by former President Donald Trump received formal objections from the floor. Now I assure you, I do not look forward to those bills due to the excitement surrounding them, but the appropriate decision is to leave them within the proper committee, said corporations committee member Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne. Senate File 97, sponsored by Sen. Bo Biteman, R-Ranchester, would end same-day party affiliation change in Wyoming (the practice is commonly known as crossover voting). If enacted, changes in voter affiliation would not be allowed in roughly the three months prior to a primary. The legislation has long been sought by members of Wyomings far right, who complain that Democrats meddle in Republican primaries by temporarily switching their party affiliation. However, theres evidence to suggest the practice has had less impact than some believe. When Driskill moved to reassign Senate File 97 and the three others, four lawmakers spoke out against the motion. This is getting kind of ridiculous. These are corporations committee bills and the title of the committee is, Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions, and if all the members could join me in objecting to what was being attempted here, that would be great, said Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander. The dissenting lawmakers and some colleagues were successful in blocking the majority floor leader from reassigning all four pieces of legislation, but only for a couple hours. When the Senate reconvened after lunch, Republican Rock Springs Sen. John Kolb (who originally voted against the reassignment) made a motion to reassign Senate File 97 to agriculture. It passed narrowly. Driskill said he knows that there was an effort to get people to change their votes on the matter, but he was not a part of it. Its not unusual for bills to be reassigned for workload reasons, but those motions are not usually objected to like they were on Monday. This time it was pretty clear to me that this was an attempt to get the bill to a friendlier committee, Case said. All of the Senate agriculture committee members voted in favor of the crossover voting legislation when it was introduced last week. The corporations committee has four times the bills (including a critical redistricting bill that must pass) than the agriculture committee. Driskill denied that the motion was motivated by anything other than workload. With hundreds of hours and countless meetings Redistricting deserves full time and attention to the committee, he said in a text message. The bills rereferred were not committee bills. We only redistrict once every 10 years. The way our schedule is if redistricting takes 2 full meeting days then these bills likely would die without being heard. I chose to give all a fair hearing. If successful, Senate File 97 would become effective almost immediately, in time for the 2022 primary and general elections, when Rep. Liz Cheney is up for reelection against the Trump-endorsed candidate Harriet Hageman. Shortly before it was introduced on the floor last week, Trump released a statement urging Wyoming state senators to vote in favor of it. This critically important bill ensures that the voters in each party will separately choose their nominees for the General Election, which is how it should be! It makes total sense that only Democrats vote in the Democrat primary and only Republicans vote in the Republican primary, Trump said in his statement Thursday. This bill has my Complete and Total Endorsement and Support. Every Member of the Wyoming Senate should vote for SF0097. Even before the 2022 House primary, hard line Wyoming Republicans have been advocating for an end to crossover voting. That fear has become more acute in the upcoming House primary, with conservatives worrying Democrats will change their party affiliation to support Cheney, whos one of the most vocal Trump critics in Congress. The far right blamed the practice for contributing to the election of Gov. Mark Gordon over more conservative opponents in 2018, though figures later showed that wasnt the case. Referring contentious bills to unrelated committees in an attempt to push them through is not a new strategy. In 2017, two bills to restrict abortion in Wyoming moved from a committee focused on health care to the Senate agriculture committee, prompting complaints from Democrats. Follow state politics reporter Victoria Eavis on Twitter @Victoria_Eavis Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 8 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Wyoming lawmakers are considering adding more regulations to an obscure yet powerful link in the pharmaceutical drug supply chain pharmacy benefit managers. PBMs work behind-the-scenes as middlemen between insurance plans, drug manufacturers and pharmacies. Public scrutiny has led many states to pass legislation to better regulate PBMs. That includes Wyoming, which has added four PBM measures to its statutes since 2016. Now, the Legislature is considering adding several more regulations to the books with House Bill 36 Pharmacy benefit managers act enhancements. The bill has sparked much ado among lawmakers and stakeholders about how exactly PBMs work and who they are costing or saving money. PBMs are multi-million dollar companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers or large employers. They negotiate discounts, rebates and reimbursements, and purport to provide the sole source of downward pressure on the rising cost of drugs. They can also make money by pocketing some of the cash saved through those negotiations. Thats where some parties, including many independent pharmacists in Wyoming, take issue. Last spring, more than 20 of them requested the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee study PBM regulation in the last interim. The concerned pharmacists say such companies harm their businesses by not properly reimbursing them, and asked the committee to create legislation mimicking regulations passed by Arkansas. House Bill 36 is that bill. Cheyenne pharmacist Melinda Carroll spoke in favor of the bill during a House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee meeting Wednesday. The bill will make needed changes to the reimbursement process, she said. PBMs reimburse pharmacies for the cost of drugs covered by insurer prescription drug plans. The health insurer, in turn, reimburses the PBM. Currently in Wyoming, PBMs have the ability to reimburse pharmacies at a lower cost than what the pharmacy paid to purchase the drug from a wholesaler. House Bill 36 would put restrictions on that practice. These reimbursement discrepancies can be appealed by pharmacies, but the process lacks transparency. Part of the bill would establish a reporting requirement of PBMs to keep track of these appeals and provide that information to the states insurance commissioner each quarter. When they underpay us, we appeal to the very person that has already decided that they want to underpay us, so those appeals will be more public [under the bill], Carroll said. Pharmacists in favor of the bill argue that the current reimbursement process is hurting their bottom line and putting some in danger of going out of business. The bill may save dollars for independent pharmacists, but concerns also exist about what it will cost the state. Its estimated to cost the state Employees Group Insurance an additional $7 million annually. A lot of that has to do with a dispensing fee for prescriptions that would go into effect under the bill. Bill sponsor Sen. Troy McKeown, R-Gillette, countered those concerns, implying the cost is worth it to help independent pharmacists. Are we willing to risk independence to save money for the state? McKeown asked during Wednesdays meeting. But detractors of the bill say the fate of independent pharmacies is a matter of consumer choice. That included Johnson County Commission Chairman Bill Novotny, who spoke on behalf of the Wyoming County Commissioners Association. He told the committee the bill would cost counties up to an additional $20,000 a year. The committee voted 3-2 in favor of the bill, with Sens. Fred Baldwin, R-Kemmerer, and Dan Furphy, R-Laramie, in opposition. Next week, the Senate Appropriations Committee will debate the bill and decide whether its worth the cost to the state. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Wyoming can be a tough place to live, especially if you dont have much money. Affordable housing is scarce, good-paying jobs are hard to find, and tens of thousands of people dont have health insurance, so they often go without medication to treat their illnesses. Its easy to understand how people may find it difficult to cope. In fact, far too many of our neighbors decide that they simply cant. Wyoming has the highest suicide rate in the nation. Nearly 30 per 100,000 residents here take their lives each year. Thats more than double the national average. An estimated 90 of all people who die by suicide are suffering from a major psychiatric illness or substance abuse disorder. Sometimes, they have both. Most people who die by suicide are dealing with major depression. Fewer than one-third of people nationally with depression receive treatment for it. Even fewer people in Wyoming with depression get help. Unfortunately, Wyoming has very limited access to healthcare for low-income residents. Thats especially true for care that focuses on mental health, and even truer for rural parts of the state. If we want to lower our suicide rate in Wyoming and who doesnt? we have to get serious about making sure that people suffering from mental illness can receive the treatment they need. There are several things we can do. The biggest step we can take is expanding Medicaid. Medicaid expansion would provide access to basic healthcare for more than 25,000 low-income residents. The vast majority of these folks work low-paying jobs that dont provide health insurance, and they dont earn enough to buy insurance off the federal Marketplace. They fall into whats called the Medicaid gap. That gap can be a deadly place for people suffering from mental illness. Its hard to hold down a high-paying job with health benefits when youre struggling with depression, substance abuse, or other mental health problems. And if you dont have insurance, where are you going to go for help, particularly if you live in rural Wyoming? Medicaid expansion would provide basic insurance for individuals struggling with mental illness, who could then access help. It would also provide resources for our mental health providers and clinics who can increase their ability to serve people in need. Many, many of us have been impacted by someone who has died by suicide in Wyoming. It is a crushing feeling all our communities know too well. On average, every suicide seriously impacts between 60 to 100 people. For some of these survivors, suicide becomes a more acceptable and viable option to dealing with the difficulties of life. It becomes normalized. What were dealing with is a vicious cycle that we desperately need to break. How do we break it? The answer is not to cowboy up and depend on our rugged individualism. It is not something that the local church or charity can solve. This is an issue that requires resources that only a well-funded, coordinated mental health system can provide. Unfortunately, the Wyoming Legislature has actually cut funding for mental health in recent years. As a result, clinics are offering less care, and some have even closed. Too often, people struggling with mental illness and who have no insurance simply have nowhere to go. Many turn to substance abuse and get in trouble with the law. If they are determined to be a danger to themselves, they are supposed to go to the State Hospital in Evanston. But our underfunded state facilities have long waiting lists, so many people languish in jail, receiving the bare minimum if anything for mental health treatment. When these folks get out and continue to lack access to help, many break the law again. Too many die by suicide. The situation we are in right now, with more people dying by suicide in our state than anywhere else in the nation, is in part a direct result of our states refusal to adequately fund mental health services. One way we can immediately begin to provide more mental health services to people in desperate need of them is to expand Medicaid during the Legislatures 2022 session. The decision is up to the lawmakers at this point. And if they dont act, perhaps we need some new ones. Debbie Hinkel is president of NAMI-Laramie. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SMALL business owners in three Caribbean countries will get the opportunity to showcase how their enterprises are transforming their communities, and themselves, due to support from the social enterprise, Nudge Caribbean. The opportunity comes tomorrow, at an event called Nudge Now, which is being organised by Nudge Caribbean, which was founded by Anya Ayoung-Chee, design strategist and social entrepreneur, and Julie Avey, Massy Groups senior vice president of People and Culture. The Point is to Change the World, a collection of writings by Guyanese political activist Andaiye, was in the spotlight on Thursday, the first day of the 2022 Bocas Lit Fest, which kicked off with a series of virtual events. Thursdays conversation centred on Andaiyes writings and legacy. Journalist Sunity Maharaj said while Andaiye left a legacy through her work, she also used her platform to be open and honest about every aspect of her life, including her battle with cancer. Many people are struggling during this Covid-19 pandemic as prices increase, while many are BRUSSELS, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) is set to adopt the first set of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after Moscow recognized the independence of eastern Ukraine's Lugansk and Donetsk regions. The EU member states' foreign ministers met in Paris on Tuesday for an extraordinary informal session to discuss the sanctions to be taken. The package of sanctions put on the table by the European Commission and the European Council target individuals involved in Moscow's decision; banks financing Russian military and other operations in those territories; the ability of the Russian state and government to access the EU's capital and financial markets and services; and trade from the two breakaway regions to and from the EU. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said in a statement published on Tuesday that Russia's decision to recognize Lugansk and Donetsk as "independent" was "illegal and unacceptable." "It violates international law, Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty, Russia's own international commitments and it further escalates the crisis," they said. In another declaration issued on Tuesday on behalf of the EU, the bloc's chief diplomat Josep Borrell said Russia's action violated its commitment to work within the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group in finding a peaceful settlement to this conflict, a commitment it has repeated on numerous occasions, including very recently. Meanwhile, the EU's foreign ministers are still urging Russia to return to diplomacy to defuse the tensions. "There's always an option for Russia and (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to choose the path of diplomacy, of peaceful negotiations, of respect of international law, and refrain from threats and intrusion, and the actions that they did yesterday and today," Jeppe Kofod, Denmark's foreign minister, said ahead of the extraordinary meeting. Borrell said in the declaration that the EU had urged Russia to return to the discussions within the Normandy Format and the Trilateral Contact Group. The Normandy Format, established in 2014, is a diplomatic group of senior representatives from Ukraine, Germany, Russia and France formed to resolve the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Also on Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Russia's decision is "a blatant violation of international law, the territorial integrity of Ukraine and the Minsk agreements. Also, like every revisionary initiative, it undermines international stability and progress." Greece has one more reason to be concerned and monitor the developments: the protection and support of the Greek expatriates in Ukraine and the large community in Mariupol, he said in a statement. Russian President Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing the "Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and the "Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. Putin said he was aware that the West was trying to "blackmail" Russia again with sanctions and that he believed that the sanctions will continue just because Russia exists, regardless of the situation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said Tuesday that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is a suitable platform for diplomatic initiatives related to the Ukraine crisis. Austria is working with the OSCE to resume dialogue on Ukraine, Nehammer said, adding that the OSCE is currently the institution most likely to bring relevant parties back to open talks in a well-established framework. The OSCE has a special mission of monitors in Ukraine, whose role is to observe and report on the country's situation, and facilitate dialogue. And so it has come to pass. One week after the island-wide blackout of February 16, we told you in this space that, from among the best authority available, there would be, there could be no one to blame for what happened. We told you that the determination had already been made as to what happened, how and why, and that nobody could have been held responsible for that. It was a warning against the natural national tendency to go for blood. Loud had been the shouts of sabotage, the result of worker discontentment, and a clamour for heads to roll. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. A migrant killed by a Border Patrol agent northeast of Douglas on Feb. 19 was shot multiple times, the Pima County Medical Examiners said. No further details have been released about the migrant, the agent involved or the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which occurred in Cochise County. Further autopsy details are pending the release of the full report. The deadly encounter occurred around 10 p.m. Saturday near Skeleton Canyon, in the Peloncillo Mountains near the state line with New Mexico. The Cochise County Sheriffs Department said in a news release that it went to the area to answer a call about a seriously injured migrant. U.S. Customs and Border Protection area spokesman John Mennell confirmed Monday to the Associated Press that an agent was the shooter. Early indications are that one male subject, presumed to be an illegal immigrant, was fatally wounded by a Border Patrol agent who was on duty with additional personnel, the Cochise County Sheriffs Department said Sunday night in its initial news release. A Border Patrol medic treated the wounded migrant, but the man died at the scene, the Sheriffs Department release says. The identity and nationality of the dead man were not immediately disclosed. Five Mexican nationals were apprehended in the same incident, and they had been interviewed by various agencies, the Mexican consulate said in a news release Monday. It said the Mexican government lamented the fatal encounter. The government of Mexico rejects any act of unjustified violence against migrants, the consulate release says. The Arizona Department of Public Safety helped retrieve the mans body early Sunday. Several agencies are involved in investigating the incident, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection and the Sheriffs Department. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Feature: Couple fighting epidemic in east China's Suzhou Xinhua) 08:26, February 22, 2022 NANJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chen Zhiqiang, Party Secretary of Renfu Village in the city of Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, made over 100 calls on Valentine's Day last Monday, but none to his wife. However, it was kind of romantic for the couple, as they agreed it was a silent way to support each other and show their love during an epidemic. With a population of over 12 million, Suzhou is fighting a fresh outbreak of COVID-19. A total of 88 confirmed cases as well as 23 asymptomatic carriers had been reported as of Sunday afternoon since Feb. 13. Measures including nucleic acid testing, epidemiological investigation and contact tracing have been stepped up. People from various walks of life have also been mobilized. Early Monday morning, Chen received a message from his wife Shen Yan, a nurse at Suzhou No.9 People's Hospital: "Was it busy yesterday? Keep it up today!" "I am perfectly fine, and you must get some rest whenever possible," he replied. The couple has been working on the frontlines and they have not seen each other since Feb. 13. Even a phone call is a luxury, so they mostly communicate through WeChat messages. Chen needed to arrange a new round of nucleic acid testing for his fellow villagers on Monday, and assist medical staff to make sure their needs were met. "Home has become a distant concept for me these days. I napped in my office. There are always new things coming up to be coordinated," Chen said. Not far from Chen's village, Shen and her colleagues were busy at a nucleic acid testing site. She had conducted tests in many locations over the previous week. Sometimes she had to spend the night at testing sites. Two years ago when the COVID-19 hit Wuhan, she was among the supporting team to assist the central Chinese city and worked there for over 50 days. "She departed on the Lantern Festival, a traditional occasion for family reunions in China. I was concerned for her. There were far too many uncertainties at the time," Chen said. But this time, Chen was much more relaxed. "The medical staff, volunteers, and other assisting personnel have been professional and patient, and the villagers collaborated well," Chen said. "I am confident that we will be able to overcome the epidemic as quickly as possible." "Tuesday is our eldest daughter's birthday, and we expect to celebrate it together. Also interestingly, the day -- Feb. 22 of 2022 -- has so many number 2s in it, and the pronunciation of 2 is similar to 'love' in spoken Chinese. It's a good chance to make up for Valentine's Day," Chen said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) MEXICO CITY, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexico needs a "comprehensive reform agenda" to boost investment and economic growth, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Monday. The OECD Economic Survey of Mexico noted that more robust economic growth and more jobs, combined with increased social spending, would help reduce poverty and improve social cohesion. "Mexico has great potential to become a high-growth economy, with higher living standards for all," said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann when presenting the study during a virtual event. "An ambitious and comprehensive reform agenda will be needed to turn this opportunity into reality," added the head of the OECD at the event, which Mexican Finance Minister Rogelio Ramirez de la O also attended. The OECD said that Mexico should prioritize reactivating private investment and reversing low productivity to improve growth potential in the medium term. According to the OECD, the country needs to improve business regulations, boost competition, reduce informality and corruption, and step up efforts to meet greenhouse gas emission targets. In his speech, the Mexican finance minister said the government has launched a comprehensive strategy that ensures greater economic development while prioritizing social demands. According to the minister, the initiative seeks more significant investment in infrastructure projects, the creation of a universal welfare network and the consolidation of public finances. The OECD estimated that Mexico's economy would grow 2.3 percent in 2022 and 2.6 percent next year. According to preliminary figures, the Mexican economy, the second-largest in Latin America after Brazil, grew by 4.8 percent in 2021, after plunging 8.2 percent in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Cuba and Ukraine There are differences...but this isnt one of them...JFK vs Putin Sixty some years ago, Russia initiated a move to install a missile complex in Cuba with the intent of aiming those missiles at U.S. targets. Cuba right in our backyard! The U.S. administration threw a fit and thwarted that effort with a blockade. Fast forward to 2021. Russia sees an impending danger from their neighbor, Ukraine, who I think will most likely join NATO, undoubtedly leading to the installation of missile complexes with their targets being their eastern neighbors, Russia. Now Russia is throwing a fit and is ready to do whatever it takes to prevent that from happening. Their embargo might take place as an invasion. Does anyone else see a bit of hypocrisy in this situation? Pierre Dumont Foothills Invalid Catholic baptisms No question the Catholic Church is an organization demanding shared delusion of priestly grandeur, the issue of thousands of Catholics baptisms being invalid because a priest said We instead of I at the time of baptisms removes all doubt. Jesus unequivocally addressed such liturgical pretense by rebuking Pharisees as knowing letter of sacred teachings but not spirit. Further elucidating, Jesus said For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Thus, in spirit, those thousands were baptized despite the priest using plural pronoun we instead of the singular pronoun I. Absurdly, the Catholic Church is checking the baptismal records of this priest to inform the unfortunate faithful their baptisms are invalid and they have to be properly baptized. Surely, Pope Francis could do a special baptism in Rome with I instead of We sacredly trusted to be delivered by Jesus, God and Holy Spirit to all concerned because they, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit are, as the Church teaches: Omnipresent. Worldwide. Glenn Johnson Midtown Business control Re: the Feb. 19 article Firearms measure opposed by banks. With the name-calling of major political parties predominant, one needs to look at actions for their true beliefs. Consider the Arizona Legislature wanting to require anyone doing business with the state also agree to do business with specific industries. This looks like a classic case of socialism where the government controls production. As Republicans propose this bill, they must be the radical socialists we hear about from political speeches. Spencer Elliott Oro Valley An elephant without legs I think the Republican Party stands for nothing. Tradition calls for each party to have a platform. Would you buy an item off the shelf, not knowing what the cost is? The simple fact is, I think Donald Trump is the puppet master and the rest of the lemmings in the GOP are the marionettes. His whimsical direction has become the platform. The party has lost confidence in what used to be their core values and have become a political and moral nullity. President Biden once asked What are the Republicans for? They seem to be against anything that would advance the needs of the public, i. e. access to voting, child tax credits, infrastructure, a womans right to choose etc. A quote often attributed to Alexander Hamilton famously said, When you stand for nothing, you fall for anything Rex Witherspoon SaddleBrooke The Republican platform I pledge allegiance to Donald Trump, Not the United States of America, And to the Republic I undermine, My nation, my God, divisible, Without any tolerance for others. Rick Jones Downtown Reduced math requirements Re: the Feb. 21 article AZ bill promotes changes to HS math. Boy, am I glad and lucky to have graduated from high school in the 1970s. I only needed two years of high school math to be accepted at the University of Arizona. I wasnt required to take any math or lab science classes at the UA in order to graduate with a degree in political science. I have always been interested in science, yet I knew that my career would not involve science or math. Was my future ruined? No. I went on to attend a highly-rated law school, had a successful legal career in New York City, and am now retired and enjoying life back in my home town of Tucson. I find it sad that colleges now require such high levels of math for every incoming student. The majority of college students will not even need to know what a polynomial is in order to be successful once they graduate. Karen Carson Downtown Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Sunday, Feb. 27 NTT IndyCar Series: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg NBC, 12:30pm Live The 2022 NTT IndyCar season gets revved up at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, which is held on a 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit through the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, and a section of runway at Albert Whitted Airport. NASCAR Cup Series: Wise Power 400 FOX, 3:30pm Live After a two-year hiatus, the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the two-mile oval at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California, as Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin and other top drivers compete in the Wise Power 400. Americas Got Talent: Extreme: Auditions Premiere NBC, 7pm NBC re-airs the series premiere episode of this new, four-week spinoff of the Americas Got Talent variety competition series that showcases outrageous acts performed by competitors vying for a $500,000 prize. Terry Crews hosts, with Simon Cowell, Nikki Bella and Travis Pastrana serving as judges. New episodes air Monday nights. A Wedding to Remember UPtv, 7pm Original Film! On opposite sides of a development project, Olivia (Cristina Rosato) and Brian (Greyston Holt) are surprised to find they are the maid of honor and best man at the same wedding. They have to put their feelings aside to save their best friends wedding which may turn out to be their own, as well. Malory Towers BYUtv, 7:30pm Season Premiere! The British-Canadian family series based on Enid Blytons book series makes its Season 2 premiere tonight. Set in post-World War II Britain, the show follows the adventures of 12-year-old Darrell Rivers (Ella Bright) as she leaves home to attend an all-girls boarding school. American Idol ABC, 8pm Season Premiere! Music industry legends and all-star judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, along with Emmy-winning producer and host Ryan Seacrest, return to help discover Americas next singing sensation for American Idols fifth season on ABC and 20th season overall. Killing Eve BBC America, 8pm Season Premiere! The tale of spy Eve (Sandra Oh) and assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) comes to an end in the fourth and final season of BBC Americas acclaimed drama, which begins tonight. Laura Neal (Sex Education) takes over as lead writer for the final eight episodes, which AMC Networks claims will build toward a messy, nuanced and totally glorious series finale. Relative Race BYUtv, 8pm Season Premiere! The family history-based competitive reality series returns for Season 9. The show follows four teams as they meet relatives linked by DNA for the first time in a race throughout the United States. Naked and Afraid Discovery Channel, 8pm; also streams on discovery+ Season Premiere! The survival competition series that bares it all returns for Season 14. From the haunted highlands in Chiapas and an abandoned village in Botswana, to a complex and unnerving cave system in Colombia, this new season takes the competitors who range from rookies to legends, city-slickers to mountaineers to places where the location alone is enough to challenge even the most experienced of survivalists. Among the firsts this season: the first male-to-female transgender surviv Related Media: Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Williams on Monday reported 2021 earnings of $1.5 billion, or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to $208 million, or 17 cents per diluted share a year ago. The Tulsa-based energy company also reported fourth-quarter net income of $620 million, or 51 cents per diluted share, compared to $115 million, or 9 cents per diluted share, for the same period in 2020. Williams broke records in contracted transmission capacity, natural gas-gathering volumes and financial results in 2021, including 10% higher Adjusted EBITDA for the year, reflecting growth across our three major business segments as well as strong contributions from our upstream JV operations, Williams President and CEO Alan Armstrong said in a statement. We surpassed our financial guidance, even after raising it twice during the year, and we continued to strengthen our balance sheet, adding to our track record of financial stability. A Fortune 500 company, Williams specializes in natural gas processing and transportation. In addition to record financial and operational success in 2021, we received top ESG (environmental, social and governance) rankings for the midstream sector and won a prestigious award for industry leadership, Armstrong said. We also kicked off a multi-year modernization and emissions reduction program across our transmission network as part of our long-term commitment to safe, reliable and environmentally friendly operations. Furthermore, we expanded our efforts to invest in new energy ventures that will keep Williams at the forefront of technology changes within the midstream natural gas industry Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In 2000 a small team of psychologists began a study of how babies in Romanian orphanages developed compared to orphans placed in foster homes and children who live with their families. The orphanage staff fed, changed, and bathed the children but apart from that they were left in their cribs all day to entertain themselves. The psychologists included 136 children between 6 months and 3 years who had been in Bucharest orphanages since birth and put half of them in Romanian foster families. They discovered that the children who remained in the orphanage had much worse outcomes in terms of cognitive function, motor development, language and socio-emotional behaviours. They even experienced changes in the patterns of electrical activity in their brains. The children in foster homes did much better and if they were removed from the orphanage before they were 2 by the age of 8 their brains electrical activity looked no different than the control group of children who lived with their families. What does this all tell us? In a nutshell, love is as important as food or hygiene! The Importance of Love Love is not just important to make us feel good but it actually has the power to physically change the way our brain works. Love comes in all different shapes and forms there is love for God, love for ones spouse, love for ones parents/children, love for ones friends, love for ones pets, love for those who we havent even met and more. We all seek love but are also often afraid that we wont be given it or dont deserve it which can be a terrible burden since love is completely vital for our health and well-being. Tim Keller says a very profound comment about love in his book on Marriage: To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us. The Source of Love For most of us, we are blessed with many sources of love, parents, siblings, spouse, church family, friends, pets, and more but the most important, most available, and most life-changing love is the one that is provided to absolutely everyone, the love that comes from he who is love himself God. Tim Keller also says a wonderful comment about Gods love in the same book: The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope. God knows everything about us and loves us completely with a love that is completely independent of anything we do or dont do. Gods love is perfect. Hell never leave us, only ever do things for our good, and love us with the deepest most consuming love that exists. Out of an abundance of love Jesus came to die in our place so that we could be reconciled to God. As Paul says in Romans chapter 8 verse 32, He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us allhow will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Just a few verses on in verses 35-39 Paul says, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Fountain of Love The wonderful thing about Gods love is not just how amazing it is to be loved by him but how his love fills us and overflows to all around us like a fountain. We can pour out love on those all around us and even those who are far off. Love is not always easy (its often hard in fact!) but the more we practice it the more it grows and the easier it becomes to share it. This February lets dwell on the wonder of being loved by God, how we can love others better and of course enjoy some love themed chocolates! A Choctaw Nation couple has gone to court regarding whether they are required to pay taxes to the state of Oklahoma since they live on the tribes reservation and work for the nation. Harold Meashintubby and Nellie Meashintubby of McAlester have asked a judge to decide whether the rationale behind the U.S. Supreme Courts landmark 2020 McGirt decision also applies to civil tax matters. In their complaint, the couple cites prior court decisions finding tribal citizens exempt from state taxes when they work and live on the reservation. One decision cited by the couple, a 1973 U.S. Supreme Court opinion, found that a state could not subject a tribal member living on a reservation whose income was derived from reservation sources to a state income tax, according to the complaint. Plaintiffs thus fall squarely within the law preempting the State of Oklahoma from assessing, levying, and collecting tax, including penalties and interest from their income, the Meashintubbys claim in their complaint, filed Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, based in Muskogee. The lawsuit names each member of the Oklahoma Tax Commission Shelly Paulk, Mark Wood and Charles Prater in their official capacities. The couple initially sought to amend their 2017 taxes after the McGirt decision to claim an exemption from state taxes that year, according to their complaint. The Tax Commission rejected that exemption request in June, as it did in October regarding the couples 2020 income taxes, according to the complaint. The couple then paid their taxes under protest after notifying the state of their intent to sue. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in July 2020 that the Muscogee Nation reservation had never been disestablished by Congress, leaving its 1860s-era boundaries still intact. The ruling meant the state of Oklahoma did not have jurisdiction to prosecute criminal cases that occurred within the boundaries of the reservation when either the victim or suspect was a tribal member. A state court subsequently extended the McGirt decisions effect to five other Oklahoma tribes, including the Choctaw Nation, covering most of eastern Oklahoma. But the Meashintubbys claim the state is refusing to extend the McGirt ruling to civil tax matters despite court rulings and the states own words to the contrary. The lawsuit cites a September 2020 Oklahoma Tax Commission report in support of the couples claims. In the report, the OTC estimated that tribal members who seek exclusion from state taxes under McGirt could cost the state $72.7 million per year. The state estimated that it lost about $1.3 million in 2018 income taxes from existing tribal income tax exclusions, according to the 2020 report. The state is prohibited from imposing tax upon the income of individual members of federally recognized Indian tribes as long as the individual tribal member lives and earns income from sources within Indian Country under the jurisdiction of the tribe to which the member belongs, the report states. However, the Meashintubbys claim that the state has denied them an exemption from state income taxes despite Supreme Court law, state administrative code and the Tax Commissions own statements in its September 2020 report. The couple claim that the Tax Commissions general counsel advised the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants in December 2020 that McGirt was limited to criminal matters and had not been expanded to civil matters, including taxation. The letter to the group went on to say that until a court ruled otherwise, McGirt does not impact OTCs administration or enforcement of the tax laws of the State. In addition to seeking a declaration finding that McGirt extends beyond criminal jurisdictional matters to income tax, the Meashintubbys seek injunctive relief as well as repayment of 2020 taxes paid under protest. The Choctaw Nation reservation, as reaffirmed by the Oklahoma Court of Appeals, covers all or portions of 13 counties in far southeastern Oklahoma. A spokeswoman for the Tax Commission said the agency could not comment on pending litigation. Stitt addresses Supreme Court McGirt decision Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to hear 19 criminal cases involving Oklahoma defendants, most of whom were challenging the states decision that the 2020 McGirt ruling was not retroactive. Among those losing appeals were seven inmates challenging their murder convictions and death sentences at least in part based on McGirt claims. Those seven inmates, Jemaine Cannon, 50, James Ryder, 59, Shaun Bosse, 39, Wade Lay, 60, Clarence Goode, 45, John Hanson, 57, and Benjamin Cole, 56, all had argued that the McGirt ruling was retroactive, meaning it applied to cases after exhaustion of an inmates initial appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Jan. 10 that the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals was correct when it determined that the McGirt ruling did not apply to post-conviction appeals, or those brought after the initial appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected review requests from eight inmates who were not sentenced to death: Glen Gore, Delila Pacheo, Lyle Brown, Tushkahomma Leon, Brandon Christian, Cody Bruner, Brandon Jenkins and Zachary Harvell. The Supreme Court issued its McGirt ruling in July 2020. The landmark decision recognized that the Muscogee Nation reservation, which includes much of Tulsa, had never been disestablished by Congress. The ruling meant that since statehood, the state of Oklahoma has not had jurisdiction to try major-crimes cases involving members of federally recognized tribes when the crimes occurred within the Muscogee Nation reservation. The state Court of Criminal Appeals has since expanded the ruling to include five other tribes reservations with similar treaties with the U.S. government. As a result, much of the eastern half of Oklahoma has been acknowledged to be Indian Country when it comes to criminal jurisdiction. That means the federal government retains jurisdiction over major crimes involving Native Americans within the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, Quapaw and Seminole nations. The court also rejected a second petition filed by Lay, who was sentenced to death for the fatal 2004 shooting of a Tulsa bank guard during a robbery. The court also disposed of three petitions filed by the state of Oklahoma that sought to overturn the Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt ruling entirely for three inmates. The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 21 rejected the state of Oklahomas request that it reconsider its own 2020 McGirt ruling. The three state challenges turned away involved Ted Yargee, Justin Little and Gage Shriver. Federal prosecutors picked up the cases of Yargee and Little after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned their convictions and sentences. Shriver received a 25-year prison sentence in 2017 after he was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for the death of Noelle New. New, 18, died after she was struck by a pickup driven by Shriver while she walked along a county road in Verdigris. Shrivers blood-alcohol content was nearly three times the legal limit when tested after the fatal crash. The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 24 rejected a similar petition filed by the state in the case of Shrivers brother, Dakota Shriver. Dakota Shriver, tried along with his brother, was a passenger in the pickup when he punched his brother just before the pickup struck New and another teenager, who survived the crash. The Cherokee Nation has charged both brothers in tribal court because the federal statute of limitations has expired on any federal charges they might have faced. Gage Shriver, now 26, faces in tribal court one count of second-degree murder or, alternatively, first-degree manslaughter and crimes associated with leaving the scene of an accident, according to a Cherokee Nation friend-of-the-court Supreme Court filing. Dakota Shriver faces one count of second-degree murder and one count of accessory to leaving the scene of an accident in Cherokee Nation court. Cases against the brothers are pending, according to Cherokee Nation Attorney General Sara Hill. Featured video: Supreme Court lets McGirt ruling stand, will consider letting Oklahoma share jurisdiction Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Include all eight digits, and 02-22-2022 seems very rare indeed. Throw in the day of the week and Tuesday, 2-22-22, becomes truly unique. It even has a name: Twosday. A multiagency investigation into illegal marijuana grow operations in Oklahoma resulted in the takedown of a very large broker in the U.S. and seizing tons of illicit cannabis. An estimated 100,000 marijuana plants and 2,000 pounds of bulk-processed marijuana were seized from nine Oklahoma farms after a yearlong investigation of illegal grow operations, authorities said Tuesday. We plan to file charges on these criminal brokers, business owners, land owners and entities that helped facilitate the fraudulent documentation allowing these criminal organizations to get an Oklahoma medical marijuana license, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control spokesman Mark Woodward said in a news release. In a news conference Tuesday, bureau Director Donnie Anderson said of 13 arrest warrants issued in Oklahoma as well as one in California and three in Texas several suspects have been taken into custody. One of the females that was arrested was one of our large targets. Shes also a very large broker in the U.S. for moving marijuana across the U.S. and out of the country, Anderson said. Xiumeng Lyu, identified among the main targets, is in custody in the Carter County jail, according to Woodward. He previously has said the bureau is aggressively investigating what he described as fraudulent business structures used to bring out-of-state interests to Oklahoma and circumvent the states two-year residency requirement for majority ownership in medical marijuana businesses. This is done by paying ghost owners to put their name on licenses to claim ownership when they actually have no knowledge or true legal involvement in the grow operation, Woodward said. Gov. Kevin Stitt called Tuesday a great day for law and order in Oklahoma, citing the states priority to crack down on illicit marijuana operations across the state. According to the news release, investigators found brokers moving millions of dollars worth of marijuana from multiple Oklahoma farms into black markets in states including California, North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana and Texas. Search warrants were served about 8 a.m. Tuesday at nine farms and three residential locations connected to illegal shipments identified by Oklahoma authorities, according to Woodward. The farms are located in or near several southern Oklahoma locations Wilson, Ratliff City, Chickasha, Madill, Burneyville as well as in Chandler and Amber, a news release states. The other three warrants were served at residences in Edmond, Mustang and Norman, according to the bureau. Multiple local, state, tribal and federal agencies assisted in the investigation and Tuesdays operation, according to the bureau. Anderson said around noon that agents were still collecting evidence but that it appeared that the street value of the busts would exceed $500 million. Anderson showed footage from one of the law enforcement operations Tuesday morning, coordinated to happen around the same time. The video from Wilson, in Carter County, showed agents taking down a pretty good-size trafficking operation, with 500 structures on 80 acres, Anderson said. Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Director Adria Berry said she hopes Tuesdays operations serve as a warning to licensees across the state. If you are engaging in criminal operations, your actions will not go unnoticed, she said, noting the upcoming implementation of a seed-to-sale tracking system to help investigators efforts. Stitt, in commending lawmakers in attendance at the news conference, promised more legislation coming to protect Oklahomans. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ashley Jones Staff Writer Im a breaking news reporter, covering crime and other spot news. I graduated from the University of Missouri with a journalism degree in 2021 before joining the Tulsa World. Send tips to news@tulsaworld.com Follow Ashley Jones 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 Carnival Cruises will be relaxing its mask rules. A release from the company indicated masks will be recommended but not required on board from sailings departing on and after March 1. "We have had a very successful restart of guest operations thanks to the support of our guests, the commitment of our shipboard team, and the effective protocols we have put in place," Carnival's president, Christine Duffy, said in a statement. Masks on board cruise ships have been an ongoing topic since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. In August 2021, Carnival mandated mask-wearing in many indoor areas of their ships following a "small number" of confirmed Covid cases on board the Carnival Vista, which departed from Galveston, Texas. Another of the company's ships, the Carnival Freedom, was denied entry to two Caribbean island ports in December after a few passengers tested positive for Covid-19. At the time, Carnival confirmed "a small number" of people on board were isolating due to the positive case. The Carnival Freedom was eventually permitted to dock in Amber Cove cruise terminal in the Dominican Republic. Last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) moved cruises from the "very high risk" category (Level Four) to "high risk" (Level Three). Under the designation, passengers are advised to "make sure you are up-to-date with your Covid-19 vaccines before cruise ship travel." The Carnival Corporation owns several major cruise lines, including Princess, Holland America, Cunard and Seabourn, which comprise about half the world's total number of cruises. According to the company, 13 million passengers sail on board a Carnival-owned ship in a typical year. Other cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have also recently modified their mask rules for sailings originating from US ports. Royal Caribbean is making masks optional for vaccinated guests for voyages departing on or after February 25. "We expect unvaccinated children to continue wearing masks indoors and in crowded settings," the cruise line said on its website. Earlier in February, Royal Caribbean eased mask rules in vaccinated-only zones that were tightened with the Omicron surge. Effective March 1, masks are not required aboard Norwegian Cruise Line voyages departing from US ports. However, Norwegian still recommends that guests wear masks in indoor public spaces, except when actively eating or drinking or seated at a dining table, and outdoors when social distancing isn't possible. Masking rules for voyages departing Europe are different and informed by local rules and restrictions. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. People watch as the Carnival Liberty cruise ship departs from Port Canaveral. MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of Moscow-backed rebel regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that will further fuel tensions with the West amid fears of Russian invasion. Putin's move follows days of heightened tensions in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, where Ukrainian forces are locked in a nearly eight-year conflict with Russia-backed separatists that has left more than 14,000 people dead. Here is a look at the rebel-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine: Separatist rebellion in the East When Ukraine's Moscow-friendly president was driven from office by mass protests in February 2014, Russia responded by annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. It then threw its weight behind an insurgency in the mostly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine region known as Donbas. In April 2014, Russia-backed rebels seized government buildings in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, proclaimed the creation of "people's republics" and battled Ukrainian troops and volunteer battalions. The following month, the separatist regions held a popular vote to declare independence and make a bid to become part of Russia. Moscow hasn't accepted the motion, just used the regions as a tool to keep Ukraine in its orbit and prevent it from joining NATO. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of backing the rebels with troops and weapons. Moscow denied that, saying any Russians who fought there were volunteers. Amid ferocious battles involving tanks, heavy artillery and warplanes, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. An international probe concluded that the passenger jet was downed by a Russia-supplied missile from the rebel-controlled territory in Ukraine. Moscow still denied any involvement. Peace agreements for Eastern Ukraine After a massive defeat of Ukrainian troops in August 2014, envoys from Kyiv, the rebels and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe signed a truce in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in September 2014. The document envisaged an OSCE-observed cease-fire, a pullback of all foreign fighters, an exchange of prisoners and hostages, an amnesty for the rebels and a promise that separatist regions could have a degree of self-rule. The deal quickly collapsed and large-scale fighting resumed, leading to another major defeat for Ukrainian forces at Debaltseve in January-February of 2015. France and Germany brokered another peace agreement, which was signed in Minsk in February 2015 by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the rebels. It envisaged a new cease-fire, a pullback of heavy weapons and a series of moves toward a political settlement. A declaration backing the deal was signed by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. A frozen conflict in Ukraine The 2015 peace deal was a major diplomatic coup for the Kremlin, obliging Ukraine to grant special status to the separatist regions, allowing them to create their own police force and have a say in appointing local prosecutors and judges. It also envisaged that Ukraine could only regain control over the roughly 200-kilometer (125-mile) border with Russia in rebel regions after they get self-rule and hold OSCE-monitored local elections balloting that would almost certainly keep pro-Moscow rebels in power there. Many Ukrainians see it as a betrayal of national interests and its implementation has stalled. The Minsk document helped end full-scale fighting, but the situation has remained tense and regular skirmishes have continued. With the Minsk deal stalled, Moscow's hope to use rebel regions to directly influence Ukraine's politics has failed but the frozen conflict has drained Kyiv's resources and effectively stymied its goal of joining NATO which is enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution. Moscow also has worked to secure its hold on the rebel regions by handing out more than 720,000 Russian passports to roughly one-fifth of their population of about 3.6 million. It has provided economic and financial assistance to the separatist territories, but the aid has been insufficient to alleviate the massive damage from fighting and shore up the economy. The Donbas region accounted for about 16% of Ukraine's GDP before the conflict. Efforts to revive peace deal Amid soaring tensions over the Russian troop concentration near Ukraine, France and Germany embarked on renewed efforts to encourage compliance with the 2015 deal, in hopes that it could help defuse the current standoff. Facing calls from Berlin and Paris for its implementation, Ukrainian officials have strengthened their criticism of the Minsk deal and warned that it could lead to the country's demise. Two rounds of talks in Paris and Berlin between presidential envoys from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have yielded no progress. The lower house of the Russian parliament, meanwhile, urged Putin last week to recognize the independence of Ukraine's rebel regions. Putin recognizes rebel regions' independence Putin's recognition of the rebel-held territories' independence effectively shatters the Minsk peace agreements and will further fuel tensions with the West. He said that Moscow would sign friendship treaties with the rebel territories, a move that could pave the way for Russia to openly support them with troops and weapons. The move follows several days of shelling that erupted along the line of contact in Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine and the West accused Moscow of fomenting the tensions to create a pretext for an invasion. Russia, in turn, accused Ukraine of trying to reclaim the rebel-held territories by force, the claim that Kyiv strongly rejected. On Friday, separatist leaders released video statements announcing the evacuation of civilians in the face of what they described as a Ukrainian "aggression." The data embedded in the video indicated that their statements had been pre-recorded two days earlier when the situation was still relatively calm, suggesting a deliberate plan to try to sever the regions from Ukraine. The rebel chiefs put out new video statements Monday urging Putin to recognize their regions' independence and the Russian leader responded quickly by convening a carefully orchestrated meeting of his Security Council and then signing the recognition decrees in a televised ceremony. ___ Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. ___ More AP coverage of the Ukraine crisis: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine There is a saying: it takes a village to raise a child. While Ive heard this saying briefly before, it only recently became apparent to me what it really means. So, when Jacinda Adern made a post on Instagram introducing her new baby earlier in June this year with the caption welcome to our village wee one the comment simply passed over me. The village Fast forward to mid-August this year, I was scrolling Facebook and came across a post by the page Humans of New York. The post featured a beautiful portrait capturing a mother and her child. The caption contained a quote from the mother sharing her struggles of motherhood and feeling isolated in her responsibilities. A comment by another Facebook user on the post referred to the village and that it was once normal to have help from all around in looking after a baby. Another user commented that she had no village and was facing similar struggles whilst raising a child. These comments made me realise what this village really means. It used to take a village to raise a child. A whole extended family, neighbourhood would raise a child. Mothers and fathers would be surrounded with support. Each person in that village had a vested interest in raising the child, and supporting the wellbeing of both parents and child. They understood the weight of the responsibility of bringing a new little human into the world. If it takes a village to raise a baby to a child, then to a teenager and into a young adulthood, then the village and its ability must have some significance. The church village Living out your faith in a world that can be so against it or so indifferent to it naturally comes with many challenges. Even without the challenges of the world, important aspects of our relationship with God can be difficult. We wouldnt need theologians or biblical scholars if the bible was straight forward to read and understand. While the mystery of the bible can be part of the very wonder of it, it certainly makes reading and comprehending it difficult at times. Meeting together to study the word and ponder its value and teaching can be critical in grasping the significance of it. Grabbing someone after church on a Sunday to sit and pray with you over a current struggle or an upcoming event can be the difference between being overwhelmed by the situation or relieving your stress over it. Its not hard to see that the church community is so important to your faith. Raising a child can be like growing and feeding your faith. Both require love and input from many people. Both require discipline and focus. Both require vulnerability and care. Both need attention, and a lot of it. It takes many things to raise and care for a child, and it can be easy to see that when you consider that a baby cannot do many things for itself. Comparatively, it can be challenging to see which aspects of your faith and others faiths need some care. It is not always a tangible relationship. Furthermore, we sometimes consider our relationships with God to be so personal. We dont always share with our church community what we are struggling with out of embarrassment, shame, or pride. But it does not have to be that way. We can be the village for each other. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24-25. In these verses, the writer of Hebrews was possibly encouraging Jewish Christians who stopped meeting together. Arguably, it was so important that they met together that it was included in this letter. The importance of the village was relevant then and it remains relevant today. We are not called to walk this journey alone, and I dont think that we can really flourish without the input from others into our lives. It takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to surround one another as we journey in our relationships with God. A village to teach and learn together; a village to pray and intercede for each other; a village to rejoice and proclaim together; a village to share and cry with each other. Rebecca Hoverd studies at The University of Auckland and loves writing as a way to communicate with God and to express her thoughts. She loves coffee, conversations, and would love to hear your thoughts on the church village at rebeccahoverd@gmail.com. OKLAHOMA CITY A Senate panel on Monday passed two bills that could virtually ban abortion in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1553, by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee by a vote of 8-3. The measure would prohibit abortion after 30 days since the probable beginning of the pregnant womans last menstrual period. The measure would strike the word viable as it relates to determining viability of birth prior to an abortion. Treat, who has a history of passing abortion bills that have been overturned as unconstitutional, said the measure seeks to move abortion bans closer to conception. He said there is a possibility that the viability standard when a baby could survive outside the womb with medical intervention could be tossed out by the U.S. Supreme Court. Oklahoma has the viability standard in state law, Treat said. It is my desire to remove that and try to save as many unborn lives as possible, Treat said. Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, asked if the measure would apply to a 9-year-old who had just begun menstruating and was not aware. Treat said he was not going to address hypothetical situations. Nothing in this legislation applies to men. Is that correct? asked Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. Treat said women are the only ones biologically able to carry a baby in the womb. This legislation only affects those able to carry a baby to term potentially, but it excludes the father or individual responsible for creating a clump of cells. Is that correct? Hicks said. Treat said he took issue with describing a human being as a clump of cells. Senate Bill 1503, by Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, would ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat has been detected. The law would be is similar to one that is in effect in Texas, effectively banning abortions after about six weeks. It would allow third parties to bring civil suits against doctors and others who helped a woman obtain an abortion after a fetal heartbeat could be detected. No cause of action could be brought against the woman who obtained the abortion, Daniels said. Daniels said the measure includes limited circumstances for when an abortion could be provided. The bill passed by a vote of 7-3. Senate Joint Resolution 37, also by Treat, passed. The measure would let voters decide to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to say explicitly that it does not guarantee a right to an abortion. The measure passed by a vote of 8-3. Related story: Oklahoma Supreme Court puts three abortion laws on hold Related story: Oklahoma Supreme Court keeps 2015 abortion law on hold History of Oklahomas stricken abortion measures 2012 The Oklahoma Supreme Court threw out a law requiring any woman seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound within an hour before the procedure and have it described to her. The court also overturned another law that put restrictions on the RU-486 abortion-inducing drug and a ban on all medication abortions. The court also struck down an issue before it could be added to the state ballot that would have let voters decide on an initiative defining a fertilized egg as a person, thereby banning abortion and most forms of contraception. 2014 An Oklahoma County judge threw out a law that would have required girls younger than 17 to have a prescription to obtain the morning after birth control pill. The Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2019 upheld the unconstitutionality of a law that would have required doctors who treat women seeking a medication abortion to use a decade-old method that is less safe, less effective and more expensive than the current method, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. It sought to require doctors to follow U.S. Food and Drug Administration protocols and bar off-label uses. 2015 An Oklahoma County judge issued an injunction on a law that would have banned dilation and evacuation, a common second-trimester abortion procedure. 2016 Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed a bill that would have made it a felony for physicians to perform abortions and revoke their medical licenses unless the abortion was necessary to save the life of the mother. The Oklahoma Supreme Court threw out a law targeted against child rapists that would have forced abortion providers to take a sample of the fetal tissue when the abortion patient is younger than 14 and send it to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The state high court on Dec. 14 struck down a law that would have required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles. Source: Tulsa World archives Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OKLAHOMA CITY Gov. Kevin Stitt confirmed on Tuesday that officials are trying to lure a huge company to eastern Oklahoma. Oklahoma reportedly is competing with Kansas for an electric vehicle battery factory, according to the Kansas City Star. The Kansas Legislature recently approved $1.2 billion in economic development incentives in an effort to lure it to that state. Stitt brought up the states efforts to lure a company during a news conference following an Oklahoma Turnpike Authority meeting at which a 15-year, $5 billion pike expansion and improvement project was approved. The governor did not name the company the state is pursuing, but he did say huge companies rely on infrastructure. The Legislature is working through all that stuff right now, Stitt said when asked about specific incentives the state would offer the company it is targeting. There are some packages through there. Stitt said he spoke Monday with the House Republican caucus about the effort. It is kind of an add-on to the Quality Jobs Act for major companies that are going to invest over a billion dollars, the governor said. I think the package says if they are going to invest in over a billion dollars and hire over 1,000 employees, there will be an added benefit to the Quality Jobs plan. A number of measures would have to be taken before the Legislature make changes to the Quality Jobs Act. The Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act provides cash payments to companies that create well-paying jobs and promote economic development, according to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Stitt was cut off by his spokesman, Charlie Hannema, before answering a more specific question. We are not going to talk about the specifics on there is a NDA (nondisclosure agreement) with what company we are pitching, the governor said. Listen, we are open for business in Oklahoma. Part of our method of showing Oklahoma is open for business is investing in infrastructure, and this is a super exciting announcement for the state of Oklahoma. Stitt and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treats office have been tight-lipped about the incentive package, refusing to respond to emails and phone calls about the issue. The Kansas City Star has reported that the Oklahoma site under consideration is the MidAmerica Industrial Park near Pryor. As reported by the Tulsa World earlier this month, the Mayes County Board of Commissioners is examining whether to establish a tax increment financing district on 700 acres of undeveloped MAIP land. TIFs are economic tools used to promote economic development. They allow governmental entities to use a portion of property taxes generated within the district to invest in the districts infrastructure, providing an incentive for private investment. David Stewart, who heads the MidAmerica Industrial Park, projected that private investment in the TIF, if approved, would be $5 billion to $6 billion over the first five years of the TIF, which is capped by state statute at 25 years. Electric vehicle start-up Canoo plans to build a roughly $400 million factory at the Mid-America Industrial Park. The mega microfactory will produce Canoo pickups and multipurpose delivery vehicles. Canoo CEO Tony Aquila attended the governors State of the State address earlier this month, and Stitt thanked Aquila for believing in Oklahoma during a portion of the speech highlighting the states pro-business policies. In October, Canoo announced that it had reached an agreement with Panasonic to supply batteries for its electric vehicles. The Japanese company will also produce batteries for electric vehicle maker Tesla. Featured video: Tour of the Governors Mansion Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As a retired social worker in schools, I am appalled that a school in our county continues to deal with bullying. I was saddened to read on the front page of the Tulsa World (BA kids, parents address bullying, Feb. 15) that students were the ones going to the adults in their school asking for help. According to the student, their requests were ignored and it took a suicide of a friend for the students to organize a student-led peaceful protest to "end bullying." And yet the protest was met with slurs, bottles thrown at them and even a suspension. The best the school system could offerwas a list of resources for the students and their families. The students are not the problem; the school system must support these students and create a safe place to learn for every single person. Our Surgeon General issued an advisory on children's mental health this year. The suicide rate among 15-19 year olds is at its highest level. Kudos to the students (Rory Morrell and others) for taking steps to take care of themselves and demand better care in the very building where they are to be protected. Perhaps the adults in the school can learn something from you. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I am a native Oklahoman, so one would think there would be few surprises when it comes to politics in this state. However, the current attacks on abortion are quite staggering to me. Felony murder charges proposed by a white woman fortunate enough to have two college degrees. A man who expects women to log their menstrual cycles. Another man who wants to stigmatize women exploring their choices. Why not brand them with a scarlet letter A? In none of these bills do I see any proposals to make the fathers responsible. I dare any legislator to take on a special needs child, if only temporarily, while only having funds equivalent to a minimum wage salary (less 18% to account for the wage discrepancy). I challenge anyone who is not pro-choice to adopt or foster a child. No, they would rather sit on their high horse and impose their will on women whose lives they know nothing about. Who are these people who would interfere in a woman's health care while never having walked in their shoes? The invasiveness of these proposals on a woman's right to privacy is inconceivable. Texas is willing to allow anyone to sue any person who "aids and abets" an abortion. Do we want to live in a society of snitches? This is not the way. Women deserve to make their own choices in health care just as a man has the right to do. Education, compassion and grace; these are the things we need. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Send letters to tulsaworld.com/opinion/submitletter. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Masterise Homes has announced the appointment of Foster + Partners for its first township development The Global City. The firm will act as architectural advisors of the development, providing innovative and sustainable design solutions to create a truly global city in Ho Chi Minh City, as the name suggests. The partnership with the practice, a global award-winning studio for architecture, urbanism and design, also demonstrates the developers vision to create a world-class township the new downtown of Ho Chi Minh City. Foster + Partners is among todays most recognized and respected names in architecture around the world. Founded in 1967, the studio, over more than five decades, has pioneered a sustainable approach to architecture and urbanism through a wide range of work, from masterplans to offices, cultural buildings, airports and industrial design. Foster + Partners has designed some of the world's most notable buildings including the Hearst Tower in New York, The Gherkin in London, and the Hong Kong International Airport. Its founder, Norman Foster, has been awarded architectures highest accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture in Japan, the RIBA Royal Gold medal, and the AIA Gold medal. We are delighted to be partnering with one of the worlds most recognized names in architecture and design to realize our vision for The Global City, commented Youssef Akila, head of design at Masterise Homes. There is a natural synergy with Foster + Partners, whose ongoing commitment toward sustainability and green projects is aligned with our commitment to creating an iconic development with worldwide recognition, contributing to the community and promoting society sustainability. The Global City will be another milestone in our journey of bringing world-class excellence to Vietnam. Following the concept of new urbanism, The Global City will be a diverse and sophisticated neighborhood, integrating a full range of facilities for a future downtown city alongside residential units. The giga development, located in An Phu Ward, Thu Duc City boasts excellent connectivity with easy access to highways, major roads, and metro lines. The 117,4-hectare masterplan will include high-rise and low-rise apartments, villas and social housing, schools, medical and administration facilities, a 125,000sqm grade-A shopping mall, and other amenities to create a sustainable, mixed-use community. The natural synergy with Foster + Partners is aligned with Masterise Homes commitment to creating an iconic development with worldwide recognition, contributing to the community and promoting society sustainability. The ambition and scale of the project are striking, and we are delighted to be working with Masterise Homes on this unique residential project, which brings together their progressive vision and our extensive experience in large-scale masterplans to create a distinct global city, said Toby Blunt, senior partner at Foster + Partners. This will be our first township in Vietnam, and we are excited to extend our footprint in the country. The development, previously known as Sai Gon Binh An Township, was renamed and introduced by Masterise Homes, the new developer, in January. The entire project is set to complete in 48 months. Foster + Partners is a global studio for architecture, infrastructure, design, and engineering services. Its team of 1,500 is headquartered in London, with studios in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Dubai, Hong Kong, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, and Sydney. The team commands over 65 languages and counts more than 200 skills by qualification. Its landmark buildings include the Hearst Tower in New York, The Gherkin in London, the Great Court at the British Museum in London, the Reichstag German Parliament in Berlin, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The practice also designed the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Tower in Hong Kong and the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, as well as the corporate headquarters for Apple in California, Bloomberg in London, and Comcast in Philadelphia. Foster + Partners also has experience delivering large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the international airports in Hong Kong, Stansted, Beijing and Amman, sporting venues including Wembley Stadium in London and Lusail Stadium in Qatar, and bridges such as the Millau Viaduct in France and the Millennium Bridge in London over the River Thames. Masterise Homes, a member of Masterise Group, is a pioneer in bringing world-class excellence to the development, operations, and management of luxury real estate products and services in the Vietnamese market and beyond. With a one-of-a-kind portfolio comprising the largest branded residences in Southeast Asia, Masterise Homes demonstrates world-class capabilities via a strategic partnership with Marriott International, the largest hotel brand in the world with the iconic brands of Marriott, JW Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton. The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) granted its affiliate An Giang University the authorization to establish and operate a Climate Change Institute (CCI) on the university campus on Tuesday. Vu Hai Quan, president of VNUHCM, handed over the decision to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Van Thang, rector of An Giang University, at a ceremony held in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on the same day. An Giang University will be responsible for the development and operation of CCI on the basis of reorganizing its temporarily-closed Research Center for Rural Development. The CCI is designed to carry out research on the climate system, natural resources - environment and sustainable development, agriculture and rural development; give science and technology consultancy; and transfer community development services. In addition, the institutes functions include organizing and managing postgraduate training activities to support human resource development in accordance with the master plan of An Giang University and participating in scientific appraisal in environmental studies, climate change, agriculture, and rural development. The CCI establishment on the campus of An Giang University in the namesake province, which is located upstream the Mekong River in Vietnam, is expected to meet the needs of training, education, and contributions to community development in climate change. Vietnams Mekong Delta region, which covers an area of 40,577 square kilometers and is home to 21.49 million people, has been hit hard by climate change, intensifying natural disasters, drought, and saltwater intrusion. The Southeast Asian country announced in April last year that it would be borrowing US$2 billion from the World Bank, Germany, and France to develop the Mekong Delta as well as respond to climate change consequences in the region. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! An entrepreneur in Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam and his staff have opened their hearts to nearly 60 kids who suffer and struggle to survive after losing one or both of their parents. At the hall of Quang Tri General Trading JSC, based in Dong Ha City, the provinces capital, is a large board with photos of 57 orphaned children and their circumstances. The children, who all have lost one or both of their parents, now bask in the overflowing affection of the employees. In each photo, the children are featured with one of the employees, who are mostly the companys executives and staff. Doubling as the orphans parents and siblings over the past two years, these people have offered the vulnerable children a way out of poverty and neglect and take them one step closer to a brighter future. Shoulders to lean on The portrait of four-year-old Mai Hoang Minh Khoa, from Ward 2, Dong Ha City, is in the first row on the board. The dark-skinned, bony little boy lost his father in early 2019, when he was only five months old. His fathers passing caused public outcry as the man died from stabbing wounds from a young electric bicyclist, who he tried to remind to obey traffic rules. The good deed by Khoas father was well received in the community. One businessman felt a particular urge to provide financial and emotional support for the infant, who was too young then to be aware of what happened to his father. Khoas father died trying to make the world a better place to live in, so we feel obliged to do something for the little boy in return, said Ho Xuan Hieu, director of Quang Tri General Trading JSC. Khoa is the first beneficiary in a fund called 'Cho Con' (For You, My Child), put forward in early 2020 by Hieu and his company to aid parentless children from across the locality. The program, which treats the kids with love as if they were family, shows that adversity cannot get in the way of goodwill. With hopes that the orphans will grow up with bright, forward-looking disposition, the organization offers them monthly grants of VND500,000 (US$22) until they turn 18. The grant means the world to Khoa, who has benefited from the program since he was one and a half years old, and his mother, who struggles to provide for her young family with her meager income as a kindergarten teacher. Khoas journey of love will end in November 2036. Hieu said the program is open to more children whose parents will not be coming back to them. Ho Xuan Hieu (left), founder of the 'Cho Con' fund, regularly visits the orphans his fund has adopted until they turn 18 at their home. Photo: Q. Nam / Tuoi Tre Without the basic needs for survival, parentless children are put at a great disadvantage and may struggle to make it to adulthood. The programs efforts have kept the children fed and in school, but Hieu said they do not only take in well-performing students. Children dont need to excel in their studies to be adopted.' They cant focus on their studies unless they survive in its true sense, he noted, adding well-performing students receive scholarships in addition to the monthly support. To better help the orphans grow through childhood, the program organizer also assigns staff members who live in the vicinity of the child recipients or members of the local chapters of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to mentor them. Another beneficiary with a pitiable plight is Tran Quoc Bao, a ninth grader in Cam Hieu Commune, Cam Lo District. His parents passing away on the same day from a dispute six years ago when Bao was only in third grade marked the end of the little boys previously happy life. Left all alone, Bao and his younger brother were taken in by their uncles but it never felt like home and the relatives did not have enough to provide for the two boys. Bao was recommended to the 'Cho Con' program by a former teacher and began receiving much-needed support in early 2021. Hoang Kim Trong, a company staff member, who lives near Baos home, is assigned to visit the boy on a regular basis and has gradually begun to feel like a big brother to him. Bao is left so vulnerable after all that he went through. I try to lift his spirit during this dark time, Trong said. To Hieus, the fund initiators surprise, his passion and dedication in supporting the orphans struck a chord in the wider community one year following its launch. From Hieus posts on social media, many philanthropists from around Vietnam began making donations and offering help. The more helping hands, the more we can do to help the orphans, Hieu shared, adding he and the company staff consider the children their own. Hieu said the well-performing orphans are also eligible for rewards applicable to the company staffs children. The firm is no stranger to such good deeds. Before the launch of the 'Cho Con' fund to open up new opportunities to parentless children, the organization formed its own blood bank for blood donation. Its entire executives and staff of nearly 500 members have signed up for blood donation at hospitals, and they are always ready to give to save lives. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! You know that feeling when youre riding a fancy brand-new rollercoaster and youre literally being smashed and banged around from side to side and never know what to expect next? Well, as cheesy as it sounds, I can think of no better analogy to describe my college experience a rollercoast Judges on Colombia's constitutional court voted on Monday to decriminalize abortion until 24 weeks of gestation, the court said in a statement, in a victory for abortion rights groups which sued to have the procedure removed from the penal code. The decision adds Colombia to a list of Latin American countries which have recently liberalized abortion access, including Mexico and Ecuador. Abortion was partially legalized in Colombia under a 2006 court decision which allowed it only in cases of rape, fatal fetal deformity and health of the woman, without any time limits. Under Monday's ruling, backed by five of nine judges, women will not be prosecuted for seeking abortions up to 24 weeks of gestation, after which the procedure will only be allowed under the original three conditions. "The practice of abortion will only be punishable when it is conducted after the twenty-fourth week of gestation and, in all cases, this time limit will not apply to the three conditions laid out in Ruling C-355 of 2006," the court said in a statement. People demonstrate in front of Colombia's constitutional court against and in favour of removing abortion from the penal code, in Bogota, Colombia February 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters Congress and the national government must urgently implement policies to protect the rights of pregnant women, the court's statement added, including family planning services, eliminating obstacles to abortion care and help with adoptions. The Causa Justa coalition, which sued for decriminalization in September 2020, estimates around 90% of abortions in the country take place clandestinely, putting women's lives at risk as they seek dangerous alternatives to seeing a doctor. "We did it!" the coalition, which is made up of more than 90 feminist organizations, said on its Twitter account. Its supporters, many sporting green to represent the abortion rights movement and some crying, celebrated outside the court. Women demonstrate in front of Colombia's constitutional court in support of removing abortion from the penal code, in Bogota, Colombia February 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters Change across the region Mexico's Supreme Court decriminalized abortion last year, while Ecuador's National Assembly last week approved regulations to allow access to abortion in cases of rape. Incoming Chilean President Gabriel Boric has vowed to make the procedure freely available, as it is in Argentina and Uruguay under certain time limits. Abortion rights advocates said the decision was not the end of their fight for full legalization. "We hope that the next step for Colombia will be the total decriminalization of abortion, in order to protect women's reproductive autonomy at all times," Nancy Northup, president of the New York City-based Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement. People demonstrate in front of Colombia's constitutional court against removing abortion from the penal code, in Bogota, Colombia February 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters The coalition argued in its suit that prosecutions of women and girls who sought or obtained abortions have worsened stigma and scared doctors and patients, even in cases when one of the three legal conditions has applied. Some 350 women were convicted or sanctioned for abortions between the original 2006 ruling and mid-2019, including at least 80 girls under the age of 18, according to Causa Justa. Decriminalization will reduce deaths from clandestine procedures, save the under-funded health system money, end expensive prosecutions and guarantee women's bodily autonomy, the group said. People demonstrate in front of Colombia's constitutional court against removing abortion from the penal code, in Bogota, Colombia February 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters A ruling had originally been expected late last year, but the decision has been repeatedly delayed amid a recusal request from a judge and other procedural debates. Dozens of protesters opposed to abortion were also outside the court on Monday. "We don't want either legal or clandestine abortion," said Daniela Clavijo, who was protesting before the ruling. "We are asking the court to totally penalize abortion, so there's never any condition for abortion." Women react after Colombia's constitutional court voted to decriminalize abortion until 24 weeks of gestation, in Bogota, Colombia February 21, 2022. Photo: Reuters About 50 out of 200 guests at a nightclub in Ho Chi Minh City tested positive for narcotics after police officers inspected the venue early on Monday morning. Police in Tan Phu District confirmed they had examined New Club on Tan Son Nhi Street in Tan Thanh Ward. About 200 customers were inside the club at the time. Quick tests later revealed that 50 of them had consumed narcotics. Officers also found various types of drugs at the venue. The drug users have been booked for their offense, while police are also verifying several violations related to the operation of the nightclub. The police unit in Tan Phu District said they have initiated a campaign to suppress crimes in the area, especially those related to narcotics. Officers will coordinate with relevant agencies to regularly inspect local clubs, karaoke shops, and hotels to prevent and deal with the illegal sale, use, and possession of drugs. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Society -- The cold weather in northern Vietnam is expected to continue for a few more days as a new cold front will start affecting the region on Tuesday night, according to the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting. -- Nearly 400 cows and buffaloes in northern Son La Province have died due to the frigid weather caused by a powerful cold spell over the past days, according to local authorities. -- A seven-seater car crashed into a group of motorbikes that were stopping at a red light in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City on Monday evening, causing one person to be hospitalized. -- About 50 out of 200 guests at a nightclub in Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City tested positive for narcotics after police officers inspected the venue early on Monday morning. -- Direct contacts of COVID-19 patients who have been fully vaccinated against the disease are now required to quarantine for only five days, according to new guidance issued by the Ministry of Health. -- A tenth grader in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City was hospitalized after she jumped off the third floor of a local high school on Monday morning, the school principal confirmed. -- Police in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang confirmed on Monday they had broken up a large-scale drug ring, arresting five suspects and confiscating more than one kilogram of narcotics. Business -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the high-level session of the annual Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) in Hanoi on Monday under the theme Restoring the Economy & Developing Supply Chains in the New Normal. Sports -- Vietnam will battle against Thailand in the last match of Group C at the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U23 Youth Championship in Cambodia at 7:00 pm on Tuesday. The game will be aired on VTV6 Channel and FPT Play. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A man burgled a house in Vietnams Mekong Delta last weekend and stole many valuables from the owners, but broke his foot during his escape by jumping off the first floor. Police in Cai Be District, Tien Giang Province confirmed on Monday they had arrested Nguyen Hoang Che, 30, on robbery charges. Preliminary investigation showed that Che broke into the house of N.T.L., 44, in My Duc Tay Commune at around 11:00 pm on Saturday. He brought along a crowbar and other tools to break open the safe inside the bedroom. The thief managed to take a large amount of gold and cash worth more than VND238 million (US$10,400) in total before being caught by L. and his wife, who had just arrived home. Che tried to escape with the valuables by jumping off the first floor and ended up breaking his left foot. He continued running away but was apprehended by police officers and local residents about 30 minutes later. At the police station, Che said he had climbed up the wall to get into the first floor of the house and was able to avoid being captured by CCTV. The man was previously convicted of robbery twice in 2012 and 2015, according to officers. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Vietnams Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on Monday afternoon initiated criminal prosecution against five men for their involvement in a drug trafficking racket where over one kilogram of drugs had been confiscated. Nguyen Huu Phat, 25, Nguyen Van Phu, 25, Pham Tien Thanh, 20, Nguyen Ho Minh Khiet, 23, and Nguyen Huu Nhan, 18, all hailing from the Mekong Delta, are facing charges of illegal possession and sales of drugs. In a raid conducted at around 1:30 pm on Saturday along National Route 1A in Cai Be District, Tien Giang, local police caught Phu and Le Quoc Thien, 20, transporting a white plastic bag containing about 30 grams of methamphetamine worth nearly VND18 million (US$789). Under interrogation, Phu and Thien revealed the ring leaders location in An Thai Trung Commune in the same district. At Phats house, police seized 10 grams of methamphetamine, three ecstasy pills, four mobile phones, five motorbikes, a tablet, a pepper spray, nine homemade knives, VND74 million ($3,200) along with many tools to split drugs. Police additionally discovered many plastic bags allegedly containing methamphetamine and brown tablets in his grandmothers house. The total volume of drugs seized by police officers was over a kilogram. The extensive investigation later found 13 members implicated in the drug trafficking racket, all testing positive for drugs. They admitted to buying narcotics from Phat and his accomplices. Phat reportedly stayed at home and assigned his juniors to deliver drugs to addicts while he monitored the drug trade through the camera system installed in front of his house. The arrests were part of the joint operation that lasted five months since Thai had just finished his jail term for illegal possession and sales of narcotics a few months earlier, police said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nine has apologised after mistakenly implying the Queen was using the drug ivermectin after contracting Covid-19. On Monday night a Story on A Current Affair featured Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, a Victorian GP and former Australian Medical Association boss, who has been at the forefront of the Covid response, including spearheading testing and vaccination clinics in Melbournes west. Guardian Australia reports as he discussed how drug treatments could benefit elderly Covid patients, vision showed stock images of vials of sotrovimab, before switching to a medication box with a label reading stromectol, containing 3mg ivermectin. A Nine spokesperson blamed human error for the mistake. We did not intend to suggest Dr Mukesh Hawikerwal endorsed stromectol, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. Weve apologised to him this morning and he has accepted that apology. We do not suggest the Queen is using ivermectin. Australias chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, has repeatedly warned people not to seek out ivermectin. Despite Nines apology and moves to delete the video online, the ACA report has been promoted by vaccine-sceptic groups in Australia and around the world as a medicine fit for the Queen. Nine said the earlier version of the story had been removed from its social media and streaming services and would be corrected then republished. Feelgood pooch series The Dog House Australia is back with a new season in March. Based on the popular UK format, the show pairs rescue dogs with new owners, and performed well in its first outing late last year on 10. The show returns to Tuesday nights with Australian Survivor now back to just two nights a week. Abandoned, surrendered or homeless? Its now time for a second chance at love for these hopeful pups, as the dedicated matchmakers at the Animal Welfare League NSW work tirelessly to match lonely shelter pooches with their fur-ever homes. Narrated by Dr Chris Brown, will these doggies dreams of finding their two-legged soulmate, come true in The Dog House Australia? 7:30pm Tuesday March 8 on 10 (NB: a repeat screens on March 1). British actor Stewart Bevan, best known for Doctor Who, has died aged 73. Ex-partner and co-star Katy Manning described him as the most beautiful man, poet, actor, screenwriter, husband and father. He was the love in my life for many years on and off screen and our wonderful friendship continued to the end. Bevan appeared in six episodes of Doctor Whos 10th season as Professor Clifford Jones, a Welsh biologist who helps the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) defeat Global Chemicals, an oil plant run by a megalomaniacal supercomputer. He starred in the span of episodes alongside Manning, who played The Doctors companion Jo Grant, and Nicholas Courtney, who played Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Manning and Bevan were also a couple in real-life at the time, having been engaged during the filming of Bevans Doctor Who episodes, however the couple separated a year after the show was recorded. His other credits included Number 10, Silent Witness, Emmerdale Farm, The Bill, Grange Hill, Casualty, Ivanhoe, Blakes 7, Dick Turpin, Brookside and his last TV role as that of a chairman of the jury in The Brief. Film credits included Burke & Hare, Spy Story, Chromophobia and The Scouting Book for Boys. Source: Radio Times The Texas African American Museum received a $1 million donation during the inaugural Texas African American Museum and Empowerment Community Development Corporation gala and fundraiser Saturday. The goal of the gala, spotlighting Black History, was to raise $100,000 for expansions and renovations to the museum at 309 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. This goal was more than met when guest speaker Dr. Khalilah Camacho-Ali, former wife of Muhammad Ali, announced her donation of $1 million. When Camacho-Ali made her announcement, attendees in the room were all incredibly surprised, said Gloria Washington, TAAM executive director. We just started going from one individual to the next just hugging, and praising and thanking, Washington said. This donation was completely unexpected but truly a blessing, Washington said. She said there are still legal aspects to be worked out before everything can be finalized, she added. You never hear of a small town museum, whether its African American or whoever receiving this type of donation from anybody, Washington said. You can write for grants and things like that but theres not going to be a $1 million value to it. Clarence Shackelford, TAAM co-founder, said a donation such as this could help the museum not only potentially further develop physical attributes of the building but also things such as education, events, a traveling museum, artifacts and more. Dr. Ali loves museums, so we fell in line with something she really cares about, Shackelford said. Just a couple of days after receiving the donation, Washington said, we have to pinch ourselves and see if its real. The gala itself, which featured a speech from Camacho-Ali, live music, food and more, had a great turnout, Washington said. The gala has brought more attention to the Texas African American Museum, Washington said. It has let people know that we are here in Tyler, Texas, in North Tyler. Since its founding, the museum has grown from having only a social media presence to where it is today. Shackelford said he founded the museum after moving from Germany back to his hometown. When I came back I actually didnt see any physical evidence of another historical museum in Tyler that had anything showing that any Black person or family had ever lived in Tyler, he said. Today TAAM is a place to showcase history past, present and even some projections as to whats going to happen in the future because some things are already scheduled to happen, Shackelford said. Washington said she encourages everyone to come and visit the museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears uswhatever we askwe know that we have what we asked of him. (1 John 5:14-15) The Greater West Dayton Incubator awarded the first microloans to three Black- and woman-owned businesses for the equipment and marketing they need to grow. TheZe DealZ thrift store boutique, Drakes and Associates janitorial and maintenance company, and Toshas Cleaning Service, a commercial cleaning company, are the first recipients. Applications for microloans remain open to other Black, woman and underrepresented entrepreneurs and businesses serving Greater West Dayton. The deadline to apply is March 7. These businesses are well established in the community, and they have clear plans to expand with this funding, said Whitney Barkley, director of the Greater West Dayton Incubator. We are excited to award these first microloans and begin fulfilling the programs mission to create more equitable economic opportunities for business owners who have been historically marginalized. Twanna Drakes, owner of Drakes and Associates, said the microloan has been a lifeline. The Greater West Dayton Incubator is a long overdue resource for small business owners like myself to not just exist, but become impactful in our communities and allows us to compete with larger businesses, she said. Im looking forward to using all the resources from the incubator. Cultural Capital microloans range from $500 to $15,000. The money can be used toward operating expenses, new equipment, website development, marketing, hiring staff and other costs of running a business. Applications are evaluated based on more flexible criteria emphasizing passion, persistence and planning. CityWide and UDs student-run Flyer Consulting are partners in distributing the microloans and supporting entrepreneurs with the loan process, financial wellness education and other services. An in-person application workshop is planned for 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at 1105 W. Third St. Registration information is available online. The microloan program builds on the efforts of the Greater West Dayton Incubator, created in partnership between community and University leaders with support from the Entrepreneurs' Center to support underrepresented businesses as they launch and grow by providing access to co-working space, consulting, training, capital and other resources. More information about the incubator is available online. F1 testing 2022: Day 3 results, driver schedule, and how can I watch Barcelona pre-season on TV today? The third and final day of the Barcelona portion of F1 pre-season testing is upon us, with all 20 drivers set to take to the track on Friday. Charles Leclerc was fastest for Ferrari on day two, with McLaren starting the week on top thanks to Britains Lando Norris. Nikita Mazepin will drive for Haas on Friday, but the team have dropped the branding of Russian sponsor Uralkali from their car and will run an all-white livery following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Two tests will take place before the first Grand Prix in Bahrain, with this the first opportunity for fans to get a look at the new cars following a major rule overhaul. Plenty of attention will also be paid to Lewis Hamilton following his Abu Dhabi heartbreak. Having declared himself ready to fight for a record eighth title against reigning champion Max Verstappen, any early signs of superiority will no doubt be pored over. And then there is the chance for an unexpected frontrunner to emerge, perhaps McLaren or Ferrari, with this season holding plenty of intrigue for fans. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the Barcelona test... When is the 2022 Barcelona test? The F1 pre-season test runs between Wednesday, February 23 and Friday, February 25. Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya hosts the three-day event. What time is the 2022 Barcelona test? Each day begins at 8am GMT and the chequered flag will be waved at 5pm GMT, with a one-hour lunch pause at noon to break up the morning and afternoon sessions. Fernando Alonsos Alpine stopped during day 3 (REUTERS) How can I watch the 2022 Barcelona test? TV channel: The first test, unlike the second, will not be shown live via any broadcaster. Highlights: The official F1 channel will deliver a nightly highlights review show after each days running. Day 3 driver schedule Red Bull: Max Verstappen (AM), Sergio Perez (PM) Mercedes: George Russell (AM), Lewis Hamilton (PM) Ferrari: Charles Leclerc (AM), Carlos Sainz (PM) McLaren: Lando Norris (AM), Daniel Ricciardo (PM) Alpine: Fernando Alonso (AM), Esteban Ocon (PM) Story continues AlphaTauri: Pierre Gasly (AM), Yuki Tsunoda (PM) Aston Martin: Sebastian Vettel (AM), Lance Stroll (PM) Williams: Nicholas Latifi (AM), Alex Albon (PM) Alfa Romeo: Guanyu Zhou (AM), Valtteri Bottas (PM) Haas: Nikita Mazepin (AM), Mick Schumacher (PM) Day 3 results Employees work at the assembly line of the LADA Izhevsk automobile plant in Izhevsk By Piotr Lipinski and Gleb Stolyarov IZHEVSK, Russia (Reuters) -Russian carmaker Avtovaz, controlled by France's Renault, is looking to secure alternative supplies of electronic chips in case U.S. sanctions curb deliveries to Moscow, the company's chief executive said on Tuesday. Western governments are set to announce fresh sanctions against Russia after President Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, with the White House telling its chip industry to be ready for new curbs on exports to Russia. Should Washington expand the scope of the restrictions, mirroring a previous move against Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, it could stop shipments of chips, computers, consumer electronics, telecommunications equipment, and other items made anywhere in the world if they used U.S. technology. Similar measures were deployed during the Cold War, when the United States and other Western nations maintained severe technology sanctions on the Soviet Union, crimping its growth. "Of course we are also investigating possibilities to find alternatives in the case of sanctions," Nicolas Maure, Avtovaz's chief executive, told reporters in the Russian city of Izhevsk. Maure did not say how Avtovaz, behind the Lada brand, secures chips for its car plants in Russia. Russia lacks its own chip production and relies on foreign supplies, including from China, industry watchers say. A senior Russian auto industry source voiced a concern over how chip delivery times and new pre-orders could be affected. "We don't understand how sanctions (if implemented) could impact the industry but hope that there will be no war - it will complicate the existing situation," the person told Reuters. Russian carmakers, like other producers globally, are struggling to secure chips amid pandemic-related bottlenecks and increased demand elsewhere. Sales of new cars in Russia are forecast to slow to 3.3% this year from 4.3% in 2021, because of the shortage of electronic components, logistics challenges and higher costs. Story continues Renault, which owns Avtovaz via a 69%-32% joint-venture with Rostec, is carefully following the Ukraine security crisis, the French carmaker's spokesperson Rie Yamane said, adding it was "premature" to estimate the possible sanctions. Avtovaz sells over 90% of its production locally, Yamane said, with the rest mainly shipped to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countriesm which include Moldova, Georgia and Kazakhstan. It sources about 80% of its components in Russia. Last week, Avtovaz reported its 2021 sales rose 10.4% to 2.85 billion euros ($3.23 billion). ($1 = 0.8817 euros) (Reporting by Piotr Lipinski in Paris, and Gleb Stolyarov in Izhevsk, Russia; additional reporting by Ekaterina Golubkova in Moscow; Editing by Louise Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Photo taken on Monday shows a screen displaying Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking during a televised address to the nation in Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that he has signed a decree recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. XINHUA/VNA Photo UNITED NATIONS The United Nations regretted Russia's order to deploy troops into eastern Ukraine on a reported 'peacekeeping mission', the body's political affairs chief told an emergency Security Council meeting on Monday, warning that the risk of 'major conflict' was real and needed to be prevented. Speaking at the last minute meeting over Ukraine, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated that the United Nations was committed to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within internationally recognised borders. President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two Moscow-backed regions of Ukraine Monday, defying Western threats of sanctions and prompting an emergency UN Security Council meeting to try to avert war. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed decrees at the ceremony in the Kremlin on recognising the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics. Speaking in a televised address to the citizens earlier, Putin explained: "I believe it is necessary to take this long overdue decision. I immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the Lugansk Peoples Republic." The Russian leader asked the Federal Assembly to back this decision and then ratify the treaties on friendship and mutual aid with both republics. While announcing this decision, the president voiced confidence about the support of Russian citizens and all patriotic forces in the country. Later, Putin met with the DPR and LPR leaders, Denis Pushilin and Leonid Pasechnik, and signed with them the treaties on friendship, cooperation and mutual aid between Russia and both republics. The ceremony was held in the Kremlins St. Catherine Hall, which hosted the meeting of the Russian Security Council. At this meeting, the Security Councils members called for recognizing the independence of the DPR and LPR. Also in St. Catherine Hall, before inking the friendship treaties, Putin signed the decrees on recognizing the DPR and LPR, and congratulated both leaders. At the emergency meeting of the Security Council, US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield described as "nonsense" Putin's claims the troops being sent to eastern Ukraine were peacekeepers. "We know what they really are," said the US envoy in an address to an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. Thomas-Greenfield said Putin's speech amounted to a "series of outrageous, false claims" that were aimed at "creating a pretext for war". 'We are on our own land' As news of the late-night recognition hit the streets of Kyiv, many were in disbelief but said they were ready to defend their country if called on. "I am very shocked," Artem Ivaschenko, a 22-year-old cook originally from Donetsk, said in the capital, calling the recognition the "scariest news" he had heard since he had fled the region eight years ago. "I live here, I already lost a part of my homeland, it was taken away, so I will protect it." Russia will now deploy troops with the support of separatist officials, with Ukraine forced to either accept the loss of a part of its territory or face an armed conflict against its vastly more powerful neighbour. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his national security council and held telephone calls with several world leaders in a bid to shore up support. "We expect clear support steps and effective support steps from our partners," he declared in a late night televised address, vowing that Kyiv was not afraid of anyone. "It is very important to see now who is our true friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words," he said. "We are on our own land." People take part in a protest 'Solidary with Ukraine' at the Freedom Square in Poznan, west-central Poland, on Monday. PAP/VNA Photo 'Blitzkrieg' In his address, Putin repeatedly suggested Ukraine was essentially part of Russia. He accused Kyiv of persecuting Russian speakers and of preparing a "blitzkrieg" against the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraine's east. "As for those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate end to their military operations," Putin said. "Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine." And he made clear the stakes were bigger than Ukraine, whose efforts to join NATO and the European Union have deeply angered Moscow. "The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very big threat to us," Putin said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Putin's move "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of the Ukraine", with his foreign minister promising new sanctions on Russia. EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel vowed the bloc "will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act". The announcement came after weeks of tensions between Moscow and the West over Ukraine. Western leaders had warned that Russia was planning to invade its pro-Western neighbour after massing more than 150,000 troops on its borders, a claim Moscow repeatedly denied. China on Monday called for restraint by "all sides" to avoid further escalation in the Ukraine crisis, urging a diplomatic solution during an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. "All parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions. We welcome and encourage every effort for a diplomatic solution," said Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the UN. Tensions then spiked this week after an outbreak of heavy shellfire on Ukraine's eastern frontline with the separatists and a series of reported incidents on the border with Russia. The fear of conflict has sparked evacuations from the Ukrainian capital, with the United States late on Monday saying it was sending all of its diplomats remaining in the country to Poland out of security fears. US to announce Russia sanctions The United States said it will impose sanctions on Moscow on Tuesday, following an initially cautious response to President Putin's order for Russian troops to deploy in two Kremlin-backed separatist areas of Ukraine. "We plan to announce new sanctions on Russia tomorrow in response to Moscow's decisions and actions today. We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement," a White House spokesperson said on Monday. This came after President Joe Biden had already imposed limited sanctions on the two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region that were earlier recognized as independent by Putin. But a senior US official earlier declined to characterise whether Putin's order for Russian armed forces to conduct "peacekeeping" there counted as an actual invasion, which would trigger much wider and more severe Western sanctions against Moscow. "We are going to assess what Russia's done," the official told reporters, stressing that Russian forces have already been deployed covertly in the separatist areas for eight years. "Russian troops moving into Donbass would not be a new step," he said. "We'll continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll." AGENCIES A former Waco man convicted in December of aggravated robbery was sentenced to an additional 40 years in prison Monday for the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl who babysat his child. Michael Lance Gutierrez, 38, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of a child in exchange for the 40-year term and an agreement by prosecutors to drop a bail jumping charge that landed Gutierrez a featured role on Americas Most Wanted in October 2012. Gutierrez was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December after his conviction for breaking into a couples house in 2010, holding them hostage with a pair of kitchen knives and stealing $23 in cash. Gutierrez will serve the 40-year sentence concurrently with the 60-year term, making him eligible for parole after he is given credit for serving at least 30 years in prison. Testimony from Gutierrezs aggravated robbery trial showed he was high and drunk when he climbed through the window of the couples Waco home, which was about two houses down from where he was living at the time. He held knives to the mans throat and stomach and threatened them. The woman was able to call police, who entered the house and found a shirtless Gutierrez sitting on the couch. Gutierrez was free on bail after his aggravated robbery arrest when he sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl who was babysitting his child and other children in April 2011. After his arrest on that charge, Gutierrez fled to Mexico and was caught several years later trying to re-enter the United States, authorities said. Gutierrezs attorney, Phil Martinez, said Gutierrez is disappointed in the number of years he will have to serve before he is eligible for parole, but added he took the plea bargain because he didnt want to risk the two sentences being stacked or ordered to be served consecutively. Gutierrez also has a 2005 conviction for possession of heroin, court records show. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A former Baylor University student who slipped and fell during the February 2021 ice storm claims in a lawsuit that the university is responsible for his injuries. Aaron Ali, a junior history major from Grand Prairie, is seeking at least $200,000 in his lawsuit, filed against Baylor in Wacos 414th State District Court. Baylor spokeswoman Lori Fogleman said the university does not comment on pending litigation. Ali, who lasted attended Baylor in the fall 2021, is represented by San Antonio attorneys Manuel C. Maltos and Diego J. Levy. Ali claims in the lawsuit that he was walking on a campus sidewalk on his way to the Penland Crossroads cafeteria on Feb. 15, 2021, when he slipped and fell on the icy pavement and hurt his right ankle. The university was aware of the dangerous conditions that were created due to the severe weather, the suit alleges. An alert was sent out via email and classes were canceled. However, Penland Crossroads University Cafeteria remained open, and the path toward same remained available for use. It was not until after Mr. Alis accident that another alert went out warning the students to use extreme caution when navigating the campus. The injury occurred due to the negligence of the university. The suit alleges that the icy pavement posed an unreasonable risk of harm and that university officials were negligent in breaching their duties owed to Aaron Ali. The university was negligent, the lawsuit claims, by failing to exercise reasonable care in monitoring the premises for hazardous conditions; by failing to provide adequate warning of the hazardous conditions; by failing to provide safe sidewalks; and by failing to reduce or eliminate the unreasonable risk and dangers posed by the icy pavement. Ali alleges unspecified damages for past and future medical expenses; past and future physical pain; past and future mental anguish; past and future physical impairment; and lost wages. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. McLennan County will soon receive an installment of $626,000 in settlement money from ongoing legal action against opioid makers and distributors, and it will decide how to spend the lions share of a $12 million regional fund to deal with opioid abuse, an attorney for the county said. County commissioners Friday approved the latest of what could become several settlements, recording its action with the County Clerks Office. The initial $626,000 will go into county coffers with no strings attached, said Waco attorney Herb Bristow, who represents the county in opioid matters. The other $12 million goes directly to opioid-related causes, including treatment at the Heart of Texas Behavioral Health Network, formerly MHMR, as well as the Cenikor Foundation and similar agencies addressing addiction. Bristow said money also can go toward treating jail inmates with opioid-related problems. The fund also can fund brick-and-mortar construction of opioid treatment or counseling facilities, Bristow said. McLennan County is lumped with Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Hamilton, Hill and Limestone counties for the purpose of opioid settlements the state reaches with pharmaceutical companies. McLennan County is the most populous county, with the most treatment sites, and likely will receive most of the $12 million reflected in the latest settlement. Bristow said the county should get its money by Oct. 1. The release form commissioners approved Friday ends the countys legal action against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which reached a $225 million settlement with the state of Texas, as well as action against Endo Health Solutions, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Endo International and Par Pharmaceutical Companies. They reached a $63 million settlement with the state. Bristow said suits against other companies are pending. We filed that lawsuit a good while ago. You never know if its going to be fruitful, but it definitely was a just lawsuit, said County Judge Scott Felton, responding to the settlement. Pharmaceutical companies were producing these opioid drugs and not really checking amounts or where they were going. Their actions caused a financial loss. We showed damages, how many people had to be treated or died from an overdose. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 500,000 people in the United States died from overdoses involving opioids, including prescription drugs and nonpharmaceutical opioids, from 1999 to 2019. About 69,000 people died in the U.S. in 2020 from an opioid overdose. Our general plan is to utilize funding to educate and hopefully solve a lot of problems with drug and alcohol abuse, to treat those affected, Felton said. Felton said McLennan County will not stand alone in the process. He said the county hopes to work closely with other counties. He said opioid cases in neighboring communities often end up in local treatment facilities. Asked about brick-and-mortar projects, Felton said, I imagine we would work with agencies already organized and involved, help them with their expansions on the brick-and-mortar side with grants. County action follows news that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has secured $1.17 billion for Texas from a $26 billion national opioid settlement with Cardinal Health, McKesson Corp. and AmeriSource Bergen. This is the fifth opioid-related settlement Paxton has secured, totaling $1.89 billion, from which plaintiffs such as McLennan County get their share. Texans have been devastated by the opioid crisis and it is important that the $1.89 billion settlement to date is proportioned fairly among the communities that need it most, said Paxton in a statement. The state reportedly plans to use settlement funds for opioid treatment, prevention and education over the next 18 years, says published reports. McLennan County was among the first governmental entities to file suit against the opioid industry, doing so in 2017, said Bristow. Since then, it has joined claimants statewide and nationally in seeking financial remedies. Legal action remains pending against Purdue Pharma and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, both of which filed for bankruptcy protection. The county won $140,000 from the $292 million settlement with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson last year. Bristow said following that settlement the county may qualify for an additional $2.5 million. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. County records workshop Central Texas Genealogical Society will host an all-day workshop on "Locating and Using County Records" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 12 in the meeting room at the West Waco Library, 5301 Bosque Blvd. Speakers will include Kelvin Meyers, Texas Institute of Genealogical Research; Kerry McGuire, McLennan County Archives; and Bill Buckner of the Waco-McLennan County Library Genealogy Center. Register for the free event at wacolibrary.org or call 254-750-5945. Financial literacy class Grassroots Community Development will offer a six-week financial literacy class starting March 3. The class will meet from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays through April 14. To register, go to eventbrite.com. Writing contest for seniors The Waco Womens Lions Club and Meals on Wheels Waco are hosting a Legacy Story writing contest for seniors to share their stories of a recent experience, or one from childhood, that helped make them who they are today; or a pandemic-related story that has changed their lives or the lives of someone close to them. All seniors age 65 and older are invited to enter the free contest. Legible double-spaced entries of three pages or less will be judged, with winners announced at a special Legacies Tea to be held April 30 at the Harrison Senior Center, 1718 N. 42nd St. in Waco. Entries should be mailed to Legacies, c/o Rose Moyer, P.O. Box 895, Hewitt, TX 76643. The deadline for entries is March 30. For more information or to ask questions, email rosemoyer1@aol.com. Submit printed or typed items to Briefly, P.O. Box 2588, Waco, 76702-2588; or email goingson@wacotrib.com. MOSCOW (AP) The White House says President Joe Biden is ordering new sanctions on Moscow after Russia moved to recognize separatist eastern Ukraine regions. The Biden administration calls Mondays announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin a blatant violation of Russias international commitments. The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by Putin. The European Unions top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. The European Unions top officials say the bloc will impose sanctions against those involved in Russias recognition of two separatist regions of eastern Ukraine amid fears of a potential Russian invasion of the country. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel say in a joint statement that the recognition is a blatant violation of international law. The statement adds that the bloc will react with sanctions and reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and paved the way to provide them military support a direct challenge to the West that will fuel fears that Russia could imminently invade Ukraine. The carefully staged move announced in the Kremlin could lead to new sanctions on Russia and flies in the face of European efforts for a diplomatic solution to the escalating crisis, which has brought East-West relations to a new low and jeopardized trade. Britains prime minister called it a breach of international law. It came amid a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the western-looking democracy that has defied Moscows attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted todays Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russias historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. Ukrainians shrugged off the move as meaningless, but it remains a fundamental blow to their country eight years after fighting erupted the Donetsk and Luhansk regions between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces. After his speech, Putin signed decrees in the Kremlin recognizing those regions' independence and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. European leaders had urged Putin to not to recognized the regions' independence, and the EU foreign policy chief threatened possible sanctions if he did. Ukraine's president convened an emergency meeting of top security officials. According to the Kremlin, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron voiced disappointment with such a development but also readiness to continue contacts. At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top Russian officials argued for recognizing the separatist regions' independence. At one point, one slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russian territory but Putin quickly corrected him. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, the American and Russian presidents tentatively agreed to a possible meeting in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes that diplomacy could prevent a devastating conflict, which would result in massive casualties and huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels that, If there is a recognition, I will put sanctions on the table and the (EU) ministers will decide whether to agree to impose them. Even as the diplomatic efforts inched forward, potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday in Ukraine's east. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an incursion from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Earlier Monday, leaders of the separatist regions released televised statements pleading with Putin to recognize them and sign treaties that would allow for military aid to protect them from what they described as an ongoing Ukrainian military offensive. Russias lower house of parliament made the same plea last week. Ukrainian authorities deny launching an offensive and accuse Russia of provocation. Putin's announcement shatters a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukrainian authorities to offer a broad self-rule to the rebel regions, which marked a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. The deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the countrys integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that Ukrainian authorities have shown no appetite for implementing it. With the prospect of war looming, French President Emmanuel Macron scrambled to broker a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin, who denies he plans to attack Ukraine. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO wont allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macron's office said both leaders had accepted the principle of such a summit, to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe. The language from Moscow and Washington was more cautious, but neither side denied a meeting is under discussion. During the Kremlin meeting, several top officials spoke skeptically about a possible summit, saying it was unlikely to yield any results. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. So when President Macron asked President Biden yesterday if he was prepared in principle to meet with President Putin, if Russia did not invade, of course President Biden said yes," he told NBC's Today show on Monday. "But every indication we see on the ground right now in terms of the disposition of Russian forces is that they are, in fact, getting prepared for a major attack on Ukraine. Since Thursday, shelling has spiked along the tense line of contact that separates Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of Donbas. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted there in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While Russia-backed separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. Some residents of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk described sporadic shelling by Ukrainian forces, but they added that it wasnt on the same scale as earlier in the conflict. The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours and several others were wounded. Ukraines military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk insisted that Ukrainian forces werent returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the Ukraine government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns. And there is nowhere to run, she said, her voice trembling. In another worrying sign, the Russian military said it killed five suspected saboteurs who crossed from Ukraine into Russias Rostov region and also destroyed two armored vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as disinformation. Amid the heightened invasion fears, the U.S. administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by the New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. ___ Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Cook from Brussels. Lori Hinnant in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani in Munich, Germany; Geir Moulson in Berlin; and Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The Legislature has launched a formal investigation into a workplace sexual harassment complaint lodged against former state Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte who abruptly resigned over the weekend in the wake of allegations by a female member of his staff. At the same time, Attorney General Doug Peterson informed Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha that "we will begin our review of the matter" in a response to her request for an investigation of what transpired. Hunt requested such a probe in a letter to the attorney general and the Nebraska State Patrol. Groene is accused of taking photos of the staff member without her knowledge and then distributing them in private communications accompanied by allegedly inappropriate remarks. Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, chairman of the Legislature's Executive Board, informed his colleagues that he has named Sens. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, John Arch of LaVista and Tom Briese of Albion to launch a formal investigation and hire an outside investigator to conduct an official legislative probe. "I am aware of no evidence that any other senator or staff were involved in, shared or received pictures from Sen. Groene," Hughes told members of the Legislature. "Legislative IT staff searched Sen. Groene's laptop and his personal cellphone, including his e-mails and hard drives. They discovered no evidence that Sen. Groene sent pictures to any third party, and not to any senator or staff," he said. The uproar over the fast-moving weekend disclosure that prompted Groene's abrupt resignation occupied the Legislature's morning session Tuesday with a number of female senators challenging their male colleagues to deal with the reality of sexual harassment and discrimination which they said they have confronted throughout their lives and during incidents within the Legislature. "You need to listen to us," Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said after filing a legislative motion that required all senators to return to the floor of the Legislature if they were not already there to hear what they had to say. The ensuing discussion then consisted almost solely of remarks by the Legislature's female senators directed at their male colleagues as well as all American males. "We minimize these things so often," Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington said. "It happens to so many of us," Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said. "You can do better," Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said. "We need an outside formal investigation," Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln declared. "I stand with you as an ally," Sen. Julie Slama of Sterling, who often is in disagreement with many of her female colleagues, said. "I'm all in." Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha was the only male senator other than Hughes to participate in the debate. "I'm committed to address this," he said. "It's not just Groene's actions; it's the culture." Hughes said the three-member committee he has appointed will prepare a report following its investigation that will be shared with the public as well as the Legislature. "I want to stress that if the panel uncovers evidence of any potential criminal activity, that information will be referred to the attorney general for appropriate action," he said. "Further, while the information to date has shown that Sen. Groene acted alone, and that no other senators or staff were aware of his actions, if the formal investigation uncovers that more individuals were involved, or were aware and did nothing, appropriate action will be taken." Hughes told his colleagues that he is aware of "no evidence that any senator, whether on the Executive Board, or otherwise, or any staff, discouraged the complainant from exercising her rights." Gov. Pete Ricketts will appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of Groenes term. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte has officially given notice of his resignation, effective 11:59 p.m. Monday, following allegations that he took inappropriate photos of a former female staff member. Meanwhile, those allegations have prompted calls for an investigation and scrutiny of the Legislatures workplace harassment policy. Groene sent Sen. Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, speaker of the Legislature, a succinct letter of resignation Sunday. Hilgers then notified Gov. Pete Ricketts, following a process laid out in state law. Ricketts plans to appoint a replacement quickly to serve out the rest of Groenes term. The people of District 42 deserve a conservative voice that reflects their values, the governor said in an emailed statement. I am working to swiftly to appoint someone who will fit this bill. Groene told the Omaha World-Herald on Friday that hed also end his bid for the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. He was still on the secretary of states statewide candidacy list as of 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Secretary of States Office, and he has until March 1 to file a candidate withdrawal form if he decides to do so. If the form was sent Monday, the office wasnt open to receive it as state offices were closed for Presidents Day. Nebraska Sunrise News, a recently launched news website whose leadership includes Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln, was the first to report the allegations against Groene on Friday that prompted his resignation. It reported that the staffer who was photographed, Kristina Konecko, discovered the photos of herself on Groenes laptop in the course of her work. (Konecko has asked the World-Herald to use her name in its reporting.) The report said the photos appeared to have been taken by Groene, then sent with email captions of a sexual nature. It said that the emails were described as objectifying and demeaning and that some were zoomed-in photos of provocative body parts. Konecko said details regarding the photos are accurate, except she did not see that the photos were sent to others. Groene also said he didnt send the photos to other people. Groene told the World-Herald that he did take photos of the staffer and that it was a mistake, but he denied other details and said he never made sexual advances toward the staffer or said anything to her that could be termed harassment. He said that he took full-length photos but did not zoom in, and that she was not in compromising positions. Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha on Saturday called for an investigation into Groene. She sent the request to the Nebraska Attorney Generals Office and two state law enforcement officials. There hadnt been any movement on the request as of Monday, Hunt said. Spokespeople for the State Patrol and Attorney General's Office said there werent any updates to share. Previously, a spokesperson confirmed that the State Patrol received the letter and is communicating with the Attorney Generals Office. Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln on Monday released a statement voicing concern about the Legislature's processes for dealing with workplace harassment. At a minimum, she said, next steps for the Legislature should include an outside formal investigation and an interim study to examine human resources, using an outside consultant. I find it disturbing that as a member of the Executive Board, I found out about this situation first through hearsay and rumor, Pansing Brooks' statement reads. When I approached key leaders, I was told workplace harassment claims cannot be discussed. She said she understands that privacy is necessary during such an investigation, but that others violated that privacy via disclosure to the media. Clearly, we need to ensure that privacy doesnt mean that serious issues get swept under the rug and arent properly addressed, unless leaked to the media, she said. Pansing Brooks also called it concerning that Groene resigned after media reports even though members of the Legislature seemed to have known about the issue sooner. The Legislature, which is about halfway through a 60-day legislative session, is expected to return from a four-day recess Tuesday. Hilgers sent an email to senators Sunday asking them to notify him by adjournment Tuesday if theyd like to take over as lead sponsor on any of Groenes bills. If nobody steps up to sponsor a bill, it dies, Hilgers confirmed. The email also says Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, who chairs the Executive Board, plans to update the Legislature on steps being taken. Hughes on Friday confirmed that the board had received a complaint, though he didnt specifically name Groene. He said that the bodys workplace harassment policy is being followed and that an investigation is ongoing. One of Groene's bills, LB1275, is scheduled for a public hearing Wednesday. It would create a system under which people with specific medical conditions could obtain limited amounts of marijuana. However, supporters of legalizing medical cannabis in Nebraska have said the bill wouldn't actually make it possible to access the drug. Groene's term ends in early January 2023. To serve beyond that date, whoevers appointed to his spot would have to run for election this year. As of Friday, three candidates had filed for Groenes District 42 seat: Chris Bruns, Mel McNea and Brenda K. Fourtner. People who dont currently hold elected office have until March 1 to file. On February 21st, 2022, after undergoing more than 6 years of restoration, the Royal Air Force Museums Westland Lysander Mk.III R9125 returned to the institutions London campus. In addition to conservation work, the aircraft also received a new fabric covering and a complete repaint within the Museums Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at Cosford. Formerly displayed at the Museums London site in No. 225 Squadron markings, the Lysander now sports a No. 161 Squadron Special Operations color scheme, reflecting its service in non-operational special transport services towards the end of the war. Beginning in November 2016, the aircraft underwent an in-depth inspection and condition assessment followed by a few minor structural repairs. The airframes damaged fabric covering was replaced while a team of volunteers cleaned and lubricated mechanical systems back to a functional state. The aircrafts biggest transformation comes from the recovering of its airframe in a traditional Irish linen fabric, hand-sewn by the Museums Surface Finish Technician and then strengthened using original doping techniques. The technician responsible for this effort, Clive Roberts, noted: Thousands of stitches were made attaching the linen to the fuselage, wings and tailplane followed by six coats of doping, a UV microwave protection layer, primer and then finally painted in its 161 Squadron Special Ops color scheme. Its a slow process but essential to preserving the aircraft for as long as possible. We sought the help of a Lysander expert based in Switzerland, who provided us with original photographs and technical drawings to help with the paint scheme. One of the photos shows that during R9125s service with 161 Squadron the cooling gills were incorrectly fitted so the camouflage no longer lined up. Since this has been documented we will change ours to match that. R9125 first became operational in late September 1940, joining No.225 Squadron (Army Cooperation) as a coastal patrol and photo-reconnaissance aircraft, based just north of Salisbury at RAF Tilshead in Wiltshire. It took on the Special Duties role with No.161 Squadron in 1944, serving for a further two years until its retirement in 1946. The Lysander was originally designed for Army Co-operation duties, including artillery spotting and reconnaissance. However, its lasting fame does not come from this role, but rather the clandestine operations as a Special Duties aircraft ferrying Allied agents in and out of enemy-occupied Europe. Despite some notable successes, the Army Co-operation units suffered extremely high casualties over 170 Lysanders were sent to France in 1939 but only 50 returned home to England following the evacuation at Dunkirk in early June, 1940. Following their withdrawal from France, Lysanders patrolled the coastal areas of south and east England as part of an anti-invasion reconnaissance measure. Later the type began air-sea rescue duties over the English Channel and the North Sea. Visitors to RAF Museum London will get their first glimpse of the aircraft in Hangar 5 this spring. NASHUA Keith Schilling, state geologist and director, Iowa Geological Survey, University of Iowa, and Ann Johanns, Extension Program specialist, ag and natural resources, Iowa State University will speak at the annual meeting of the Northeast Iowa Agricultural Experimental Association at the Borlaug Learning Center, ISU Northeast Research Farm, Nashua on March 16. The program starts at 9:30 a.m. for the board meeting. From 10 a.m. to noon will be key presentations from Schilling and Johanns. Schilling will discuss Challenges and Opportunities of Carbon Storage and Sequestration in Midwest Landscapes, and the next hour, Johanns will share information with us on Carbon Market Options for Producers. Dan Robison, dean of the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will also attend and make a few comments. After lunch, Ken Pecinovsky, farm superintendent, will review 2021 research trial results conducted at the N.E. Research Farm and discuss future research plans. Provided free at the meeting is the 2021 Research Farm Report. Our local Riverton Lucky Clovers 4-H Club will serve lunch as a fundraiser. Following Pecinovskys presentation, the NEIAEA board of directors will meet. The days sessions qualify for two free CCA credits. The meeting is free and open to the public. The program will be held at the Borlaug Learning Center on the ISU Northeast Research Farm. Directions: From Nashua at the Jct. of Hwy 218 (Exit 220) and County Road B60, go west on B60 1.1 miles to Windfall Ave., then south 1 mile to 290th St., then east 0.2 miles to the farm. For more information about the event, call Terry Basol at (641) 426-6801. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WATERLOO A Waterloo City Council member announced he will run for an open seat in the Iowa Legislature. Jerome Amos, who currently represents Ward 4 on the council, announced his intention to run in Iowa House District 62 on Sunday at the Black Hawk County Democrats central committee meeting. Amos, who is in his seventh year on the council and would be up for re-election next year, said he had been blessed to serve the city. Were working, were doing the things necessary to improve this community that we live in, Amos said. House District 62 now encompasses most of Waterloo, including all of the northern portion above the Cedar River and as far below it in parts as Bourland Avenue, but no longer includes Evansdale and Raymond. The seat is an open one due to redistricting that otherwise placed state Reps. Ras Smith and Timi Brown-Powers, both Democrats, into the same district, House District 61. After Smith announced his run for Iowa governor last fall, Amos seriously began considering running and privately told a few others. But when Smith dropped out of the governors race, Amos said he wanted to defer to Smiths decision on whether he would run in District 62. I said, Well, then Im going to step aside, because I dont believe that we should be forcing a primary or anything in the party, Amos said. Then I found out that the state rewrote the map. Amos called Brown-Powers, he said, who noted Amos lived right in the heart of the newly drawn district. I believe in supporting people who have ideas. But I have some ideas also, Amos said. He noted he had served on the Iowa Workforce Development Board from 2006 through 2011, including two years as chair, and said that is an area he is particularly interested in affecting. I do know that that is one thing that we need to be looking at, is the workforce in this state and getting individuals the opportunities to get the training necessary, he said. If you have a workforce, that gives you the ability to attract other companies, which is what we need in this state. Amos ran in 2015 to represent Ward 4 when now-Mayor Quentin Hart chose to leave the position and run for mayor. Amos was the top vote-getter in a four-way race and eventually defeated Chris Schwartz, now a county supervisor, in a runoff election. Amos did not face any challengers in 2019, easily winning re-election. Amos is a Waterloo native and 1972 graduate of Waterloo East High School, and attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, according to his biography on the citys website. He retired from John Deere Tractor Works in 2010 after 33 years and currently works as an adjunct instructor in computer numerical control at Hawkeye Community College. He was a member of the United Auto Workers during his employment and served on the UAW Local 838 civil and human rights committee, served as a member of the Iowa Energy Sector Partnership in 2010, a past chairman of the Waterloo Commission on Human Rights and for the citys Civil Service Commission. He served on the Waterloo Neighborhood Economic Development Corp., chaired the Black Hawk County Citizens Advisory Council, was a member of the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Allocation Board and served on selection panels to hire the citys police chief and human rights director. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES Roughly $9 of every $10 in state revenue would be poured into the next years state budget, while the remaining money would be set aside, under proposals from Republicans at the Iowa Capitol. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republicans in the majorities in the House and Senate have released their spending plans in recent weeks. On Monday, Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, who chairs the Houses Budget Committee, discussed Republicans budget proposal with reporters. State lawmakers have roughly $9 billion in state revenue available for the budget year that begins July 1. They must draft a spending plan before finishing their work in the 2022 session of the Legislature. Republican leaders budget targets are close to each other: Reynolds and Senate Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.2 billion, while House Republicans have proposed spending just more than $8.27 billion. That would be a little more than a 1% increase over the current budget of just more than $8.1 billion. At some point, we will come to an agreement. At this point, I cant tell you what that agreement will be, Mohr said. But (House Republicans) feel very comfortable with these numbers. We know the numbers work along with our tax cuts. And we think thats in the best interest of the people of Iowa. Typically, budget work does not begin in earnest until roughly mid-March, after the states Revenue Estimating Commission provides its latest projections. But with an $800 million surplus and full reserves and emergency accounts, Republican leaders have started the budgeting process sooner than usual. Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, considers it an optimistic sign that budget work already has begun, although he would prefer the Senates process allowed more public input. Wahls would prefer that more be invested in state services and programs, like education, public safety, and mental health care. Look, the law allows us to go up to 99 percent (of state revenue), Wahls said. Theres a lot of talk about wanting to return tax dollars back to Iowans. I think the best way to do that is to invest in Iowans. Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, expressed his pleasure at the early start on the budget. He said that enables legislators to craft an overall budget while also working on the K-12 public school funding, which was more than 43% of the 2021 budget. That work must be done early in the session to allow schools time to craft their budgets for the next school year. Whitver said he believes the Senate Republican budget proposal properly balances investing in services while making room for income tax cuts. I think its a budget (proposal) that does what Ive said for a long time, which is allow us enough room to continue to invest in priorities while continuing to work on the tax reforms that weve been doing, Whitver said. So were going to continue that reliable, sustainable funding that we have been doing the last six years. And Im confident this budget would do that. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 WATERLOO After several legislators bemoaned Republicans proposed legislation, or talked about the little victories theyd had so far, state Rep. Ras Smith got up and took Democrats to task. Regarding legislation Republicans have proposed to ban transgender children from participating in girls sports, Smith noted supporters of the bill had shown up in force, taking off work and their own children out of class to attend committee meetings in Des Moines. Thats the fervor that theyre using, Smith said during the Black Hawk County Democrats central committee meeting Sunday. As Democrats, I think we have to step it up. I think we have to amp it up a little bit. They seem to care more about eroding our state than we do about fixing it. Republicans, who have gained decisive control over the Legislature in the last several years, are no longer interested in bipartisanship, state Sen. Bill Dotzler argued. Its like third grade I know you are, but what am I type of stuff, Dotzler said. Twenty-six years ago ... we had leaders in the Republican Party that would work with you. ... Now, today, it doesnt make any difference. That was what prompted Smith, who wont be seeking another term, to walk away. Waterloo City Councilor Jerome Amos announced at Sundays meeting he will run for the seat in House District 62. I didnt sign up for that, Smith said. The people that arent participating, weve gotta get them. Weve gotta be a little more angry than we are. Deidre DeJear, the leading Democratic candidate for governor, was at the meeting. She said after hearing those speeches she understood the assignment. She alluded to her underdog status going up against the well-funded incumbent, Gov. Kim Reynolds. The Republican message and how theyre using their resources is one that says that were defeated before we even get started, DeJear told the crowd. I dont believe that. ... I am really here in these moments, folks, to remind us of what were capable of. DeJear said the workforce shortage, particularly among teachers, is one of the biggest issues shes focused on, and one her campaign highlights by noting Iowas long-touted No. 1 ranking in education has slipped toward the middle among states. Thats not where Iowa belongs, she said. The lack of investment in our education system ... our teachers are leaving this state vowing never to come back. But not being able to find child care is another major reason for the workforce shortage, DeJear argued. Right now our small business owners ... are having to make decisions on how they pay people, she said. Workers face a similar decision: Is it worthwhile for me to work part-time, or is it worthwhile for me to just stay at home with my kid because I cant find the child care that I need? DeJear noted there are less than 100 state (mental health) beds, noting she would advocate for more, along with more psychiatrists, to help combat not only a suicide epidemic but to take that burden of mental health care off of police and prisons. We are not addressing the mental health care challenges of Iowans today, and we are perpetuating a crisis, she said. Weve got to meet this need now. She warned Democrats it would take more than better policies and hoping people hear them to win. Weve got to put up a fight over the next several months, DeJear said. That includes re-engaging with disenchanted Democrats ... caught up in the national politics, along with students and communities of color. This battle will not be easy, but it will be worth it. DeJear noted after the event that people were actually hearing the ask she was making, and she believes her campaign (has) it in us to win. The biggest message is the pathway our state is headed down right now is not one thats good for Iowa, she said. We have an opportunity right now to interrupt this backwards trajectory. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WAVERLY Rodney Lewis, owner of Waterloo restaurant Rodneys Kitchen, dropped by Wartburg College on Monday to share his African-American cuisine with the campus community during Black History Month. He led the preparation of 450 to 500 meals of golden fried catfish, baked macaroni and cheese, and green beans with turkey for students to enjoy for dinner in the Mensa Dining Center. Catfish is one of the most popular dishes in the Black culture, pretty much all over the country, said Lewis, Thats what they like. It gives me the opportunity to come out and showcase some of my dishes here on campus. It also gives people an idea of what I do over at my restaurant over in Waterloo, he added. Unity is one word he used to describe what the dishes bring to campus. He thinks the dinner isnt just about African-American heritage. It is a lesson in people coming together to learn about world history, or getting to understand or find out about the Black History culture. There are lots of opportunity for such learning on campus. Wartburg is a melting pot. According to the college, it has 1,543 students from 36 states and 66 countries (not including the United States). That includes 186 U.S. students of color and 94 international students, a few more if counting students who have dual citizenship. Food brings people together Soul food nurses the soul and spirit, Lewis said. More generally, food brings people together. Typically, the Wartburg Black Student Union has a caterer prepare a soul food dinner on a smaller scale for the group. But this year, in honor of Black History Month, it was important everyone share in tasting it. Our food is really important in our culture. It brings us together. Its important at celebrations. Recipes get passed down from our grandmothers, and also back in the times of slavery, we didnt have that much to work with, so we were really creative with it, said BSU President Jaylen McBride. Its transformed, and its something that we hold dearly in our hearts. McBride, a senior at Wartburg, notes Lewis being here brings people closer to African-American culture during a year when BSU is celebrating the theme of Black excellence. Working with an African-American chef is something were proud of, McBride said. We wanted to share our food and our culture, and we felt this was the best way to do it, she added. New Wartburg College Chef Jami Dare returns to Cedar Valley from New Orleans I want to show students that made-from-scratch meals dont have to be complicated and that even in a dorm, you can prepare food that is delicious and better for you than Ramen noodles." A new experience Head Chef Jami Dare took over the Wartburg College kitchen in November after returning to the Cedar Valley from New Orleans. But Monday afternoon, she took a back seat to watch a master with a different background engage in his craft. Were just really excited to collaborate. I think its such an amazing opportunity, she said. We are so lucky here at Wartburg to have this little melting pot of international students and students from all across the world. I think food is just really, really great to build bridges and open doors for people who wouldnt normally experience this type of cooking. Its a great way to start a conversation. She hopes it stirs up curiosity among students about the history and meaning behind different dishes. Its an example, she believes, of the potential the campus community has to learn from one another. I think this (event) is the first of its kind, and Im so excited to have Rodney here as a guest chef, she said. Its just a wonderful opportunity for everybody involved, and I really hope we can do it again next year and maybe expand upon it, she added. Wartburg is renovating Centennial and Vollmer halls, two of its first-year residence dorms. When completed there will be a common area with a demonstration kitchen that will not only give students a place to gather over a meal, but provide educational programming about food. Everybody loves food. Its a great way to collaborate and come together over the dinner table, she said. But how do you teach about culture when some students are just interested in feeding their face? That might be beyond my abilities as a chef, she quipped. But I think were putting the puzzle pieces in front of them and hoping that they put things together and it sparks some interest, and maybe theyll want to do stuff like this in the future. This is maybe the first in hopefully a series of events where we can cross cultural boundaries with food, said the chef, who hopes to not just expand international options, but also vegetarian and vegan offerings. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Here are some trending topics for today, Feb. 21. *** NBA All-Star Game His team needed one basket to win, and James spun back and shot a high-arcing fadeaway over a double-team that arrived just a second late. The ball went through the basket, the crowd, including his closest friends, washed totally over in another signature sequence. Team LeBron defeated Team Durant 163-160 Sunday in Cleveland, James authoring the flawless final sentences of an All-Star weekend that he unsurprisingly dominated. More here: James Gunn and Jennifer Holland get engaged James Gunn is looking to secure the ultimate contract with Jennifer Holland. "The Suicide Squad" director posted a photo of Holland sporting an engagement ring on his verified Instagram account over the weekend. The pair have been dating since 2015. Holland is also the star of the series he created, "Peacemaker." More here: Russia-Ukraine conflict Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces Monday to maintain peace in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognized the areas independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. More here: *** Here are more of the trending topics from today around the country: Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Myriad other financial crimes are carried out by fraudsters phony investment scams, phone and gift card scams, lottery scams, Medicare and Social Security scams and more. Theres no limit on how creative those who wish to steal can be. Financial exploitation by a family member Sometimes, the exploitation comes from those closest to us. Family, friends and caregivers are not immune from skimming a little money here or there for their own purchases, using their care partners assets irresponsibly, manipulating their estate plan or just brazenly stealing large sums and thinking no one will notice. More often than not, if the victim knows the exploiter, it is a family member. Were not talking about small sums of money in most cases. The average amount lost per victim is $34,000. When a person is acting as a fiduciary (this means they use a legal document, like a power of attorney or trust, to access someones finances), the number skyrockets to $83,000. The older the victim, the greater the average amount of stolen assets. Legal penalties getting stricter The law takes these crimes seriously, and the penalties for elder exploitation are becoming more severe. Every state, territory, commonwealth, the District of Columbia and the federal government all have elder abuse laws that address exploitation. These laws vary from state to state, so the procedures and punishments will vary accordingly. No matter where it occurs, when it comes to cutting off fraud and exploitation, time is of the essence. As soon as exploitation is suspected or confirmed, action should be taken. There will be statutes of limitations (laws that say how long the authorities have to charge someone with a crime). Assets are more likely to be recovered and given back to the victim if they can be located before theyre spent. And if the person being exploited is in advancing years and impaired, their health or cognitive ability may decline rapidly. They may lose memory of what transpired or become a poor witness, so its best to move as quickly as possible. Injunctions or restraining orders to halt the scammer from doing more harm can be put in place by a court. A court might issue an injunction even before the suspect gets away with the scam; it may be enough to just have evidence that the scammer is about to exploit someone. It also may order the scammer to stop contact with a person, return property, transfer possession of property, freeze accounts, put a hold on credit lines and so on. Penalties for exploitation (or attempted exploitation) of an older adult range from a first-degree to a third-degree felony, with lengthy mandatory prison sentences. There may be other punishments for the wrongdoing, in addition to prison time and restitution. Now, in Florida, a person who has scammed, neglected, abused or exploited an elderly or disabled person will not be allowed to inherit from their estate when they die. The fear of forced disinheritance may be enough to deter some from taking advantage of a vulnerable person and their money Exploitation, in all its forms, happens far more than we know because victims and families do not report it. When you suspect you or a loved one has fallen prey to a scam or fraud, resist the urge to assign blame or judge the situation. Manipulators and criminals are good at what they do and often go unnoticed. If the red flags are waving, get organized, be proactive and move forward to help hold wrongdoers accountable. After the Omicron coronavirus variant made a record number of US children sick in January, children's hospitals across the United States braced for what has come with every other spike in the Covid-19 pandemic: cases of a rare but dangerous condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, commonly known as MIS-C. But a number of hospitals say the expected surge in cases hasn't showed up -- at least not yet. Biden says Russia is beginning an 'invasion of Ukraine' as he unveils sanctions on Moscow Two Asian American women have been slain during apparent armed robberies that occurred roughly three weeks apart at massage businesses in Albuquerque. Thats two women killed simply for being hardworking members of our community. Its unacceptable. Period. The Albuquerque Police Department finds itself once again in the spotlight amid concerns its perennially short-staffed and not doing enough to thwart major crime. The massage spa crimes have stoked fears among those in the Asian community who have become increasingly disillusioned with police responses to low-level crimes that occur where they live and work at least according to Kristelle Siarza, volunteer executive director of the Asian Business Collaborative. Even before Sihui Fang, a 45-year-old massage spa owner, was killed by suspected armed robbers inside her Northeast Albuquerque business Jan. 24, there was growing concern about a spate of robberies targeting Asian massage businesses in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Fang had gone so far as to strategize what to do if her shop was targeted, a friend told the Journal. Siarza said the collaborative has had a significant number of robberies reported by Asian-owned businesses in recent months. She said some owners were discouraged after authorities told them some robberies such as a stolen wallet or phone were too small a crime to pursue, and some owners were reluctant to report a crime due to immigration status. After a second woman was shot and killed inside a massage business (Canna Spa Massage on Coors) Feb. 15, Chief Harold Medina took to Facebook: We want to make sure the Asian community knows that it is safe to report crimes to the Albuquerque Police Department and that we dont look into factors such as your immigration status or business licenses. Thats cold comfort to crime victims who turned to police and felt dismissed. While it should not be expected that a detective would respond to a stolen wallet, the string of negative comments on Medinas post suggests many Albuquerqueans are frustrated. I never get (through) to 242-COPS, says one. The wait is ridiculous; always wait over 40 minutes. I just hang up. We also hear from readers who have stories of long response times or no-shows for nonviolent crimes such as car break-ins. When people give up trying to report crime because response times are too long or officers indicate its fruitless, the crime data that drives evidence-based policing gets out of whack. By ignoring lower-level crimes, authorities might be missing out on trends that could result in patrols or tactical plans to thwart more serious ones. Two men have been charged in Fangs death, and Siarza acknowledged APD has been more responsive lately, but it shouldnt take killings to get action. Medina can ask the community to report crime and make assurances their well-being is job one, but trust starts with officers showing up. As with virtually all law enforcement departments, APD continues to try to hire more officers, and a recent city-union labor agreement includes incentives to keep more officers on the job and working in the communities they know best. That followed last summers decision to offer hiring bonuses to all laterals, cadets and police service aides. Sounds good, but this flurry of activity around hiring has yet to change the perception of police response. In addition to the new Community Safety Department, which is supposed to take some calls off APDs plate, a class of 35 service aides started training last summer and a class of 20 is supposed to start in the spring. The PSAs are also supposed to free up sworn officers to handle higher-priority calls. These programs are aimed at helping ensure our trained, sworn officers can answer serious calls for service, while other professionals handle lower-level calls. Public patience is worn thin. The concerns of Albuquerques Asian community are those of city residents as a whole: When residents call 242-COPS or 911, somebody must pick up and show up. Help fight crime To report a crime to APD, call 911 or 242-COPS. Translators are available. If you have any information about the homicide Feb. 15 at Canna Spa Massage, 475 Coors Boulevard NW, contact Crime Stoppers at (505)-843-STOP. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Editors note: This is part two in a series about the first wave of evictions in New Mexico for nonpayment of rent. Clovis resident Sabrina Sisneros, 26, separated from her husband in August and brought her young daughter to a small apartment. It was a month-to-month lease, and Sisneros said she never got paid from her job at Allsups in time to avoid being late on rent and coming up against the landlords late fee. He got payments, she said in a recent interview on her living room couch, her daughter and their puppy sitting next to her. He was just getting them late. She said he wasnt willing to work with her. He served her an eviction notice, saying she owed $540. The landlord couldnt be reached for comment. At her eviction hearing Sisneros arrived with her child, Sadriana. Sisneros said she had no one to watch her 6-year-old. Judge Shaun Burns raised concerns about having the girl in the courtroom during an eviction hearing. Were just gonna postpone. You cannot bring a child that age, he told her. Shes old enough to be scared and not old enough to know whats going on. In the interview at Sisneros apartment, Sadriana seemed to know another move might be coming soon, but she was more worried about picture day at school. She interrupted her mother to ask if she could wear a long sleeve shirt and skirt, with pants underneath. Well see. Well see, her mom said. Were not worried about that right now. Sisneros is primarily interested in getting her damage deposit back. She needs the cash to look for a new apartment. For now, shes found a place to stay back with her husband. Shes cautiously optimistic it will work out this time. I hope, she said. I hope its for the better. Limited housing Sisneros is one of at least 19 people in Curry County who have faced or will face eviction hearings this month, according to court calendars, and more are being added daily. Pre-pandemic, Curry County saw about 32 evictions a month, according to Princeton Eviction Lab data. The rural county of 48,000 borders Texas and is near Cannon Air Force base. Assistant City Manager Claire Burroughes was born in England and came to Clovis with her husband, who is in the Air Force, about 20 years ago. To the best of her knowledge, Burroughes said, the two-year statewide eviction ban in New Mexico did what it was supposed to kept people housed, preventing them from being forced to cram into shelters while a contagious and sometimes deadly virus raged. She said housing policy is a passion of hers, though theres not much the city can do to directly provide affordable shelter to its residents. Among the city governments tools: designating certain areas as Metropolitan Redevelopment Act areas, which enables Clovis to issue bonds, sell assets or enter into public-private agreements for new development to replace blight and deteriorating housing stock. She pointed to the Hotel Clovis as a recent success, an affordable housing complex with 70 units made possible through state tax breaks for historic properties and those that house people with low incomes. Theres also the 132-unit Grant Avenue homes, operated by the Clovis housing authority, which offers Section 8 vouchers to cover most of a tenants rent. The waitlist is six to eight months there, according to the latest estimates. Another tool could have been a citywide affordable housing plan, Burroughes said. That would have allowed the city to donate land or property to such an effort, waive fees and spur the construction of affordable housing properties. Such a plan was drafted and approved by the City Commission in 2011. But the High Plains Patriots, the areas local faction of the Tea Party movement, waged a campaign against the idea, saying they feared more low-income tenants coming to Clovis, higher taxes and the use of eminent domain for the projects. They used the citys negative referendum provision to set up another vote. The Affordable Housing Plan does not make housing affordable to everyone, the since-disbanded group wrote on its website 11 years ago. It pays developers to provide housing for income restricted groups while undermining developers who build housing for the rest of the people. It was ultimately defeated by 58% of voters. Burroughes still keeps the defeated proposal on a bookshelf in her office. I kept a copy of it, because the city paid good money for it, she said, laughing. And Im thinking that at some point, they might want to look at it again. It is rare in New Mexico that a town like Clovis doesnt have an affordable housing plan, she said. But Clovis is similar to other cities and towns in the state in that inexpensive housing is increasingly hard to come by. A report from the newly formed Housing New Mexico Advisory Committee found that the state lacks 32,000 affordable housing units. The committee contains a wide array of housing-related organizations trying to tackle worsening housing problems here. Desert lighthouse Clovis is now relying primarily on community groups to handle affordable housing and homelessness. Debbie Montoya runs the womens shelter at the Lighthouse Mission, the only one in the city. The small shelter is connected to a 20-foot cement lighthouse built in a patch of sand on a back road near the Santa Fe Railroad tracks. A lighthouse in the desert, its website proclaims. It serves about 65 women and children a year, Montoya said. She doesnt know what to expect now that the eviction ban has been lifted in the city, but she said the shelter will cope with whatever comes. Everyone there has been doing just that since the pandemic began, despite many challenges. We are going to house them. Of course we are, she said. Theyre Gods children. Its not easy to tell if someone who arrives seeking shelter had been evicted months or weeks prior. Its rare for Montoya to house somebody immediately after eviction, she said, because folks usually find somewhere to stay for a while. Still, not one of the people who stayed at the shelter during the pandemic went there right after being evicted, she said, adding that it suggests the ban was working. Montoya knew non-payment eviction cases were happening again in Clovis, she said, but she hasnt really considered what it could mean for her shelter and community. I havent even wrapped my mind around it. I dont even want to think about it, she said. Because to me, whoever walks in the door, I ask the question, Hello. How can we help you? And then lets get moving. This story was originally published in Source New Mexico sourcenm.com which is part of States Newsroom, a national nonprofit news provider. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Two New Mexico gubernatorial candidates have survived legal attempts aimed at bumping them off the June primary ballot. Republican Jay Block and Libertarian Karen Bedonie will both remain on the ballot after technical issues with the lawsuits filed against them caused the court challenges to be dismissed or not acted upon in advance of a Monday deadline. In addition, a similar petition challenge filed against Louie Sanchez, a Republican running for the Albuquerque-based 1st Congressional District seat, was also dismissed Monday by a state judge on technical grounds. Court challenges targeted at candidates required petition signatures are nothing new in New Mexico. Per state law, candidates for statewide office and Congress are required to file a certain number of valid voter signatures in order to qualify for the primary ballot. For Republican candidates running for governor this year, for instance, the requirement is at least 1,503 valid voter signatures. While Block turned in 1,660 voter signatures with other filing documents this month, a lawsuit filed by Santa Fe County resident Justin Marmion claimed at least 213 of those signatures were invalid either because voters were not registered Republicans or signed the petition more than once. However, District Judge Glenn Ellington said Monday he could not act on the lawsuit since it had not been properly delivered to the offices of Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General Hector Balderas, per state law. The petition challenge against Bedonie was dismissed for a similar reason. While the ruling can be appealed, it means a field of five Republicans and two Libertarians remains in place in New Mexicos governors race. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who is seeking reelection to a second four-year term, is the lone Democrat running. The five GOP candidates are: Block, a Sandoval County commissioner, state Rep. Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences, former television meteorologist Mark Ronchetti, financial adviser Greg Zanetti and anti-abortion advocate Ethel Maharg. The two Libertarians who have qualified for the primary election are Bedonie and Tim Walsh. All statewide offices are up for election this year a list that includes governor, attorney general, secretary of state, land commissioner, state auditor and state treasurer. New Mexico voters will also pick who should represent the states three congressional districts, which were redrawn by legislators during a December special session. The current office-holders in all three congressional districts are running for election Republican Yvette Herrell, and Democrats Melanie Stansbury and Teresa Leger Fernandez. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Former Las Vegas, New Mexico, security guard Abran Ulibarri pleaded guilty Monday to six sex-related crimes involving a 14-year-old. The victim was a West Las Vegas Middle School student. Ulibarri, 53, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual penetration of a minor, three counts of false imprisonment, criminal solicitation to commit tampering with evidence, and bribery of a witness, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced in a news release. According to the release, the offenses occurred several times in 2019 during school hours on the campus when Ulibarri used his position of authority to sexually assault the student. Ulibarri will be sentenced at a later date and faces up 10 years in prison as part of the plea, the news release said. He will also have to register for life as a sex offender. Unfortunately, this is not the first case my office has prosecuted where a school employee uses a position of authority and abuses a student, Balderas said. Each case further emphasizes the need for focused reform in the regulatory oversight of school personnel. I commend this young student for having the courage to confront the offender and to make sure this predator does not harm another student. CARLSBAD Oil and gas companies could play a key role in saving a nearly extinct native bird species in southeast New Mexico. Thats why the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved plans developed by conservation firms. The plans are specific to extraction operators that would specify actions they could take to prevent impacts on the lesser prairie chicken habitat in eastern New Mexico and West Texas. The Fish and Wildlife Service last year proposed listing the prairie chicken as endangered in its southern distinct population segment, or DPS, which is in New Mexico and West Texas. A threatened listing was proposed for the northern DPS in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma and the northern Texas panhandle. Endangered listings unlock the strongest federal protection measures when a species extinction is viewed by the Fish and Wildlife Service as imminent, while a threatened status means a species could soon become endangered. Along with protecting bird populations, viewed to be as low as 1,500 in the chickens southern DPS, the Fish and Wildlife Service is also tasked with setting aside lands that could be used as habitat for recovery. The lesser priaire chicken population was once believed to be in the millions across all five states. To begin the work of recovering the bird to its former numbers, two habitat recovery plans were released by the federal government: one tailored to the renewable energy sector last year, and another published for the oil and gas industry Feb. 11, starting a 30-day public comment period. If a company signs up for one of the plans, it will be called on to follow specific conservation measures and, in response, will be protected from future litigation. That liability transfers to LPC Conservation, the firm that developed the plans and acts as their administrator, the Carlsbad Current Argus reported. Chief Executive Officer Wayne Walker said his company hopes to use the plans to set up conservation strongholds for the bird that would see privately owned acreage set aside for the chickens recovery. Its been done before, but Walker said his vision involves seeking out specific lands ideal for bird habitat and adject to other strongholds. The Service has got a very prescriptive guidance. That says this is what these birds need. This kind of habitat, this scale, this many leks, Walker said. Theres not a lot of places that have that. Theres a real site scarcity for conserving this bird. To be able to do this, Walker said LPC Conservation approaches landowners and offers them market value for their land to be used in conservation. This differs from past efforts, he said, that targeted lands already available and unused, leading to smaller strongholds scattered across the birds range. Other programs have a lot of acreage on the scoreboard, but theyre spread out, Walker said. This bird needs thousands of acres of continuous acreage, not pockets of conservation. By paying more for the land, Walker said his plan will be more acceptable to such owners as ranchers or energy companies. The difference that we have is were trying to do the one thing no one has done in New Mexico or West Texas, Walker said. Were trying to pay landowners a market value for the conservation strongholds exactly where the bird needs them to be. That changes the nature of the discussion to what is going to take a market-based approach. When a company joins the habitat plan, it will first assess operations in the habitat area, studying the impact of such infrastructure as wells, pipelines or roads, and submitting a report to the Fish and Wildlife Service for certification. Companies will purchase credits that will create incentives for them to avoid known habitat and limit impacts. Walker said it was important to have a plan specific to the oil and gas industry, the main economic driver in southeast New Mexico and West Texas, and an industry that could be most affected by conserving land from development. Theres a long and rich history with the lesser prairie chicken and the oil and gas industry, he said. Theres some strong feelings within that industry on how these programs have worked or not worked. We thought it was best to give the oil and gas industry a dedicated solution it can choose to use. Adam Riggsbee, founder of RiverBank Conservation an Austin, Texas, conservation bank company that finances the land transactions and collaborated on the plan said so far there are about 10,000 acres approved for conservation, with 2,000 officially set aside. On the Texas side of the southern DPS, Riggsbee said about 9,000 acres are conserved and another 1,500 could soon be added. Collaboration with the industry was crucial, he said, to make sure conservation can occur without disrupting economic development. That will allow private industry, which owns needed lands, to join the effort as a partner, Riggsbee said. That investment is both through dollars and land. Investment and industry can work in lockstep. The economy can continue (to) hum along, while giving the lesser prairie chicken a shot at recovery, he said. Thats what we want, sustainable development. Amy Lueders, southwest regional director of the Fish and Wildlife Service said the collaborative approach will bring conservation that is sustainable, while continuing to support local industry. This plan will result in strategic conservation for the lesser prairie chicken by offsetting impacts from enrolled oil and gas development, she said. Collaborations like this play a vital role in conserving imperiled species and their habitats, while providing needed certainty to support development. MESILLA As more movie productions come to the Las Cruces area for filming, so do actors who get to experience what southern New Mexico has to offer. Kate Bosworth, known for her roles in Blue Crush and 21, was in Las Cruces in late 2021 filming The Locksmith. The film stars Bosworth alongside Ryan Phillipe and Ving Rhames, with Nicolas Harvard directing. According to IMDb, the story follows a thief recently released from prison who is trying to reintegrate himself into the lives of his daughter and ex-fiancee, but is forced to use his locksmithing skills once again. While in town, Bosworth took in the sights around Las Cruces and Mesilla, posting photos from her time in the area on Instagram. One place that caught her attention was B-Well Regenerative Medicine & Wellness Clinic in Mesilla. She gave them a shoutout on social media, encouraging people to visit, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. Thats a wrap on #locksmith last job before the holidays Thanks for having us Las Cruces, you crazy-unique-desert-vortex! whole lotttttta energy in this place what would we do without the brilliant gals at B-Well for keepin our hearts, minds & bodies healthy (if you are in the area GO GO GO!) we love you so much!!! B-Well was started by Chelsie Carter and Sheila Bardwell, both registered nurses who spent many years working in area hospitals. They opened on Telshor Boulevard in September 2020 and later moved to Mesilla across from the Fountain Theatre. Bardwell explained that, while working in the hospitals, they were required to treat patients symptoms, which led to multiple prescribed medications. Alternatively, at their clinic, they treat clients from a holistic point of view. For example, if someone has high blood pressure, they question the root cause of the inflammation. We start treating from the cellular level and then we start taking you off (pharmaceutical medications), Bardwell said. The clinic offers a wellness consultation, nutrient injections, hormone replacement therapy and intravenous vitamin infusions, as well as aesthetic services, including Botox, micro-needling and dermal fillers. One of their most popular services is IV Vitamin Infusions. They have an IV lounge set up in their space for those with an appointment, as well as for walk-ins. Bosworth stumbled upon the clinic, but she is not the only person associated with film sets that they have welcomed. B-Well has even been asked to go on set to give evening crew members shots to help maintain energy through the late hours. Bosworth posted photos of herself at the Las Cruces Dam, TruArt of the Earth, Double Eagle and Rincon de Mesilla. Her co-star, Phillipe, posted photos on Istagram of himself enjoying White Sands National Park while he was in the area . Two movies are filming currently in Las Cruces Squealer and Bad Hombres featuring Tyrese Gibson, Ronnie Gene Blevins, Thomas Jane and others. MADRID Surging energy prices and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are making European leaders think hard about energy security particularly their decades-old reliance on Moscow for natural gas. The crisis shows Europes vulnerability after years of limited progress in completing an energy union a 2015 vision to allow affordable gas and electricity to flow across borders while diversifying suppliers and reaching climate goals. As renewables like solar and wind are slowly built up and coal and other fossil fuels are phased out, Europe still needs natural gas, and its dependent on Russia to get it. That came into sharp relief as Europes gas supply dropped and prices soared partly because Russia sold less gas than normal, squeezing households and businesses with rising costs. With gas reserves low and concerns that a full-blown war could interrupt pipeline flows from Russia, the EU is focused on getting liquefied natural gas, or LNG, by ship from the United States, Qatar, Algeria and elsewhere until renewables catch up. Environmentalists fear making that even a short-term priority could set back Europes goals to move away from fossil fuels. Doubling down on renewables would help reduce dependency on Russian gas, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said Monday, but reiterated that energy security was critical. An advisory group to coordinate the EUs gas supply security was meeting Tuesday because its important that contingency plans are ready for the worst-case scenario, she said. The 27-nation EU is on the safe side for this winter but doing everything possible to get rid of this dependency, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. She accused Russias state-owned gas giant Gazprom of deliberately trying to store and deliver as little as possible while prices and demand are skyrocketing. Russia has fulfilled long-term contracts but failed to sell additional gas on the spot market, while pushing for German approval of its contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a way to solve Europes gas squeeze. Germany suspended the process to certify the pipeline, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Tuesday, after Russia recognized the independence of separatist regions in Ukraine. We are aware about the low resources of gas in European countries, Russian Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said Tuesday at a forum of gas producers in Qatar, according to a provided English translation. He said long-term gas contracts help curb price volatility and that Russian energy companies are fully committed to fulfilling existing agreements. In a war, security analysts say Russia would have little interest in a total gas cutoff that would deprive it of revenue and give Europe a further incentive to find other sources of energy. Countries like Lithuania and Poland have managed to reduce Russian gas imports. But Russia accounts for more than one-third of the EUs supply, and its dominance is entrenched in the Baltic states, Germany, Italy and parts of southeastern Europe. The core issue is that the 27 EU countries retain substantial control over energy policy. Clashing regulations and standards make transport of gas from one countrys system to another difficult, even when the network to do it actually exists. Energy companies moving gas across borders, for example, are sometimes charged tariffs more than once or twice. Unfortunately, energy interconnection in Europe is an unresolved issue, Miguel Arias Canete, former EU energy and climate commissioner who oversaw a proposal for more gas infrastructure, told The Associated Press. Its in moments of crisis that we see the need for market integration and enough infrastructure from a security and procurement point of view, he said, adding that the focus on renewables shouldnt neglect the role of natural gas. After Russia seized Ukraines Crimea region in 2014, diversifying energy supplies to reduce Russian reliance was enshrined in the EUs 2015 energy union plan. Since then, there has been some significant progress: More two-way pipeline connections have been built and more LNG import terminals are planned. A new pipeline transports gas from Azerbaijan to western Europe via Turkey and Greece. Theres also a planned pipeline extension from northeast Greece to southern Bulgaria that would relieve Bulgarias total dependence on Russian gas. And Greece is moving forward with plans to build a facility to take in LNG imported by sea. But connecting Europes energy markets hasnt been done sufficiently well, said energy policy expert Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. In particular, a pipeline connection from Spain to France was shelved, leaving a major bottleneck that we didnt manage to solve, he said. Now, gas industry groups are talking about reviving the idea. Following the Crimea crisis, the priority shifted from energy security to climate change, leading up to the EUs 2019 Green Deal, a wide-ranging plan to cut emissions. Energy security disappeared, Tagliapietra said. It was all about sustainability, decarbonization. Now we are seeing the great comeback of energy security as an issue in Europe. The question always seems more urgent among newer, eastern EU members with bitter memories of Russian domination during the Cold War. Poland has been working on pipeline connections with neighboring countries, including the Baltic Pipe, which is set to deliver Norwegian gas to Denmark and others starting in 2023. The country also has built the Swinoujscie LNG port on the Baltic Sea, near the German border. Since 2015, the facility has helped reduce gas imports from Russia via the Yamal pipeline by a third, to less than 60% of its total gas imports. Polish authorities have vowed not to extend the Yamal deal when it expires next year, relying on more LNG from places like the U.S., Qatar and Australia. But investing billions in more pipelines or import terminals risks them becoming obsolete amid the long-term shift to renewables, Tagliapietra said. Instead, Europe could require gas companies to begin the winter with adequate storage levels, he said. Russias Gazprom didnt fill its underground storage in Europe last summer. Its up to them to decide, and thats not acceptable, Tagliapietra said. Governments also are talking about creating a strategic reserve of gas, either shared among several countries or organized at the EU level. Energy-consuming countries have done that with crude oil since the 1970s. Environmentalists say the solution isnt more gas but action to promote renewables. It is a little bit surreal and surprising, said Elif Gunduzyeli, fossil fuels policy campaigner for the Climate Action Network. This approach of adding more gas to the grid to solve the energy supply issue is a little bit like adding another lane to a highway to solve the traffic issue: more cars come in and it gets even more complicated. Getting unhooked from Russia and hooked to the U.S., I dont think its going to solve any of the EUs energy security issues, she said. And it definitely doesnt solve the climate urgency. ___ McHugh reported from Frankfurt, Germany. Associated Press writers Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Greece; Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Poland; and Aya Batrawy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates contributed. WALLER, Texas A skydiving instructor was killed after his parachute failed to open during a tandem jump in the Houston area, but his student survived the ordeal, authorities said. Both were airlifted to a Houston hospital after the jump Saturday in Waller, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Houston. The instructor later died and the student had serious injuries that arent life-threatening, Skydive Houston said. Waller County Sheriff Troy Guidry said their parachute failed to deploy. Skydive Houston says jump operations are suspended pending an investigation. ST. PAUL, Minn. Three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyds civil rights chose to do nothing as a fellow officer squeezed the life out of Floyd, a prosecutor said in her closing argument Tuesday. Defense attorneys countered that the officers were too inexperienced, werent trained properly and did not willfully violate Floyds rights. J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care when Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes as the 46-year-old Black man pleaded for air before going silent. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the May 25, 2020, killing captured on a bystander video that triggered protests worldwide and a reexamination of racism and policing. Prosecutors sought to show during the monthlong trial that the officers violated their training, including when they failed to roll Floyd onto his side or give him CPR. Prosecutors have argued that Floyds condition was so serious that even bystanders without basic medical training could see he needed help. But the defense said the Minneapolis Police Departments training was inadequate and that the officers deferred to Chauvin as the senior officer at the scene. Thao watched bystanders and traffic as the other officers held down Floyd. Kueng knelt on Floyds back and Lane held his legs. All three officers testified. During her closing argument, prosecutor Manda Sertich singled out each former officer. Thao stared directly at Chauvin and ignored bystanders pleas to help a man who was dying right before their eyes, Sertich said. Kueng casually picked gravel from a police SUVs tire as Chauvin mocked George Floyds pleas by saying it took a heck of a lot of oxygen to keep talking, she said. And Lane voiced concerns that showed he knew Floyd was in distress but did nothing to give Mr. Floyd the medical aid he knew Mr. Floyd so desperately needed, the prosecutor said. But attorneys for rookies Lane and Kueng urged jurors to question why their clients were charged at all. Lanes attorney, Earl Gray, said his client was very concerned about Floyd and suggested rolling Floyd on his side so he could breathe, but was rebuffed twice by Chauvin. He noted that Lane tried to help revive Floyd after the ambulance arrived, telling jurors that any reasonable person should just be disgusted, should be infuriated that Lane was charged. Kuengs attorney, Thomas Plunkett, said police werent adequately trained on the duty to intervene and that Chauvin was in charge. He also said Kueng looked up to Chauvin, his former field training officer, and relied on this persons experience. Im not trying to say he wasnt trained, Plunkett said. Im saying the training was inadequate to help him see, perceive and understand what was happening here. He told jurors to apply the law to the facts and to be the exact opposite of a mob. Thao and Chauvin went to the scene to help Kueng and Lane after they responded to a call that Floyd used a counterfeit $20 bill at a corner store. Floyd struggled with officers as they tried to put him in a police SUV. Thaos attorney, Robert Paule, said his client thought the officers were doing what they believed was best for Floyd holding him until paramedics arrived. The charges include language that the officers willfully deprived Floyd of his constitutional rights. That means jurors must find that officers acted with a bad purpose or improper motive to disobey or disregard the law, Paule said. He noted that Thao increased the urgency of an ambulance call for Floyd, something he said was clearly not for a bad purpose. He also said that Thao reasonably believed Floyd was on drugs and needed to be restrained until medical assistance arrived. On the intervention charge, Sertich said, prosecutors merely had to prove that the officers knew the force Chauvin was using was unreasonable and that they had a duty to stop it but didnt. On the charge that Floyd was denied medical care, the fact that the officers knew Floyd was in distress but did nothing is proof of willfulness, she said. She pointed to the 2 1/2 precious minutes after Floyd became unresponsive and before paramedics got there. They chose to do nothing, and their choice resulted in Mr. Floyds death, she said. Sertich contrasted the officers inaction with the desperate cries of bystanders pleading with them to get off Floyd and to check for a pulse: Even though they had no power, no authority, no obligation, they knew they had to do something. Those bystanders, Sertich said, gave Thao and Kueng play-by-play commentary that should have raised their awareness that Floyd was in trouble shouting that Floyd could not breathe, that he wasnt responsive and urging the officers to look at him. Jurors were expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday, after the judge gives them instructions. At the start of the trial, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson selected 18 jurors, including six alternates. Fourteen remain: 12 who will deliberate and two alternates. A jury that appears to be all white will consider the case after a juror who appeared to be of Asian descent was dismissed Tuesday morning without explanation. The court did not release demographic information, other than each jurors county of residence. Chauvin pleaded guilty in the federal case in December, months after he was convicted of state murder and manslaughter charges. Lane, who is white, Kueng, who is Black, and Thao, who is Hmong American, also face a separate trial in June on state charges alleging that they aided and abetted murder and manslaughter. The trial was wrapping up just as another major civil rights trial in Georgia resulted in the conviction of three white men on hate crimes charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was chased and shot in February 2020. ___ This story was updated to correct Floyds age when he died. He was 46, not 45. ___ Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan. ___ Find APs full coverage of the killing of George Floyd at: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd FRANKFURT, Germany German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has suspended the certification process for the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline after Russia recognized separatist-held regions in eastern Ukraine. The undersea pipeline directly links Russian gas to Europe via Germany and is complete but not yet operating. It has become a major target as Western governments try to exert leverage on Russia to deter further military moves against its neighbor. Here are key things to understand about the pipeline: WHAT IS NORD STREAM 2? Its a 1,230-kilometer-long (764-mile-long) natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, running from Russia to Germanys Baltic coast. It runs parallel to an earlier Nord Stream pipeline and would double its capacity, to 110 billion cubic meters of gas a year. It means Gazprom can send gas to Europes pipeline system without using existing pipelines running through Ukraine and Poland. The pipeline has been filled with gas but had been awaiting approval by Germany and the European Commission. HOW IS SCHOLZ BLOCKING THE PIPELINE? Germanys utility regulator was reviewing the pipeline for compliance with European regulations on fair competition. Its that approval process that Scholz said Tuesday that he was suspending. Germany was required to submit a report on how the pipeline would affect energy security, and Scholz said that report was being withdrawn. WHY IS SCHOLZ TAKING ACTION NOW? Scholz, who took power in December, backed the project as finance minister for his predecessor, Angela Merkel, and his Social Democratic Party supported it. As Russia massed troops near Ukraines border, Scholz avoided referring to Nord Stream 2 specifically even as U.S. officials said it would not move forward if Russia invaded. But Scholz warned that Russia would face severe consequences and that sanctions must be ready ahead of time. Germany had agreed with the U.S. to act against Nord Stream 2 if Russia used gas as a weapon or attacked Ukraine. The chancellor said Tuesday that Russia recognizing the independence of rebel-held areas in Ukraine marked a serious break of international law and that it was necessary to send a clear signal to Moscow that such actions wont remain without consequences. WHY DOES RUSSIA WANT THE PIPELINE? State-owned gas giant Gazprom says it will meet Europes growing need for affordable natural gas and complement existing pipelines through Belarus and Ukraine. Nord Stream 2 would offer an alternative to Ukraines aging system that Gazprom says needs refurbishment, lower costs by saving transit fees paid to Ukraine, and avoid episodes like brief 2006 and 2009 gas cutoffs over price and payment disputes between Russia and Ukraine. Europe is a key market for Gazprom, whose sales support the Russian government budget. Europe needs gas because its replacing decommissioned coal and nuclear plants before renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are sufficiently built up. WHY IS THE U.S. AGAINST NORD STREAM 2? The White House was in close consultations with Germany and welcomed their announcement, press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted Tuesday. The U.S., European NATO allies such as Poland, and Ukraine have opposed the project going back before the Biden administration, saying it increases Europes dependence on Russian gas and gives Russia the possibility of using gas as a geopolitical weapon. Europe imports most of its gas and gets roughly 40% of its supply from Russia. The pipeline, which went forward under Merkel, has been an irritant in U.S.-German relations. Biden waived sanctions against the pipelines operator when it was almost complete in return for an agreement from Germany to take action against Russia if it used gas as a weapon or attacks Ukraine. In Congress, Republicans and Democrats in a rare bit of agreement have long objected to Nord Stream 2. WILL SUSPENDING NORD STREAM 2 MAKE EUROPEANS FREEZE THIS WINTER? No. Even before Scholzs move, regulators made clear the approval process could not be completed in the first half of the year. That means the pipeline was not going to help meet heating and electricity needs this winter as the continent faces a gas shortage. The winter shortage has continued to feed concerns about relying on Russian gas. Russia held back from short-term gas sales even though it fulfilled long-term contracts with European customers and failed to fill its underground storage in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the shortage underlines the need to quickly approve Nord Stream 2, increasing concerns about Russia using gas to gain leverage over Europe. COULD RUSSIA CUT OFF GAS TO EUROPE IN RETALIATION? While Europe needs Russian gas, Gazprom also needs the European market. That interdependence is why many think Russia wont cut off supplies to Europe, and Russian officials have underlined they have no intention to do that. Meanwhile, the Ukraine crisis, on top of the winter shortage, is has already given European governments more reason to find their gas somewhere else, such as through liquefied natural gas, or LNG, brought by ship from the U.S., Algeria and other places. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chair of Russias Security Council, tweeted his displeasure after Germany suspended Nord Stream 2: Welcome to the brave new world where Europeans are very soon going to pay 2,000 euros for 1.000 cubic meters of natural gas! The spot market gas price in Europe was 829 euros ($940) per thousand cubic meters Tuesday. It was 1,743 euros (nearly $2,000) in late December amid jitters over the Ukraine crisis, and prices have since fallen as Europe has secured more LNG. ___ Associated Press writers Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow, Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin, and Lisa Mascaro and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed. The New Mexico Oil Conservation Division has fined two oil companies in the states southeast corner for violations at five underground injection wells. Fines for facilities southeast of Malaga in Eddy County include a $2.24 million penalty to XTO Permian Operating for violations at four wells, and $7,200 to Mewbourne Oil Company for violations at one well. In November, the OCD updated regional operation guidelines after an increase in small earthquakes. The agency determined that the seismic activity was associated with injection wells used to dispose of oilfield wastewater and other production fluids. Violations include failure to test equipment, measure well pressure and submit necessary documents. An OCD news release said that the violations undermines the agencys ability to ensure that (saltwater disposal wells) are properly constructed and puts human health and the environment at risk of seismic events or other impacts. The companies can now discuss an informal resolution with the state, or the OCD will hold a hearing on the violations. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A lobbyist on Tuesday accused state Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto an Albuquerque Democrat and powerful committee chairman of improperly touching her in 2015 and of sexual harassment and abusive behavior this year as she sought support for a voting rights bill before his committee. Ivey-Soto, in response, vigorously denied the allegations and said they left him completely befuddled. The accusations are outlined in an open letter by lobbyist Marianna Anaya, whose clients include the left-leaning Center for Civic Policy and ProgressNow New Mexico. She called on Ivey-Soto to resign and said she was filing a complaint under the Legislatures anti-harassment policy. Ivey-Soto, she said, groped and pinched her in 2015 when she was a young congressional staffer at a reception an incident she said she confronted him about during this years session. But inappropriate behavior continued, Anaya said, as she met with Ivey-Soto while lobbying in favor of a voting rights bill heard by his Senate Rules Committee. The senator, she said, drank and pressured her to drink in a meeting at his office Jan. 18 and he later at a restaurant whispered for her to come closer as they sat in a booth. Ivey-Soto said hed been drinking since the afternoon, she said, and when she tried to change the subject to a home renovation project, he asked her a sexualized question about what shed been wearing. Ivey-Soto yelled at her at the restaurant, she said, and during a later encounter in the halls of the Roundhouse. I am sickened by your behavior, Anaya said in the letter. For years, so many women have remained silent and carried unjust burdens because we were made to believe that silence and acceptance were a prerequisite to advocating on behalf of the causes we hold dear. In an interview, Ivey-Soto denied the allegations and said he has championed legislation to help victims of domestic violence and stalking. He said he never groped Anaya, didnt whisper to her at the restaurant and never asked her what she was wearing. Anaya is a lesbian, Ivey-Soto said, and he made no advances on her. Theres nothing sexual between her and I, he said. Furthermore, he said, he didnt yell at her or engage in abusive behavior. He said he was simply out of breath once while climbing the stairs and upset about a tweet written by someone else criticizing his handling of the voting bill. Im completely befuddled by this, Ivey-Soto said of the allegations. He added: Im very sorry this is the experience she feels like shes had. Levi Monagle, an attorney for Anaya, said Ivey-Sotos reference to her sexual orientation is gratuitous but underscores that his advances were unwelcome. It is entirely possible and entirely common for vulnerable individuals to experience sexual harassment that flies in the face of their sexual orientation, Monagle said, and that is what happened in this case. Monagle said Tuesday afternoon that Anayas formal complaint had already been submitted to the Legislative Council Service, the administrative arm of the Legislature. Its difficult, he said, for Anaya or any other victim of sexual harassment to come forward given that their professional success depends so heavily on sitting lawmakers. Legislators hold all the keys, and everyone knows it, he said. Ivey-Soto, a lawyer, said the allegations against him arent things he would ever do. But this is why we have a process, he said. Frequent targets Any complaint filed under the anti-harassment policy would go before three top Senate leaders. If the complaint isnt resolved informally, they would consult with an attorney and determine whether to investigate further. Other allegations of sexual misconduct have surfaced against current and former New Mexico lawmakers in recent years including at least one accusation of a then-lawmaker seeking sex in exchange for a vote during the 2009 session. Most recently, ex-Rep. Carl Trujillo faced sexual harassment allegations in 2018 levied by a former lobbyist. A legislative subcommittee found probable cause to move the case against Trujillo forward, but the charges against him were ultimately dismissed after the woman decided not to testify before a House ethics subcommittee. Trujillo, a Democrat from Nambe, was defeated in the 2018 primary election but brushed off calls to resign. Meanwhile, some Roundhouse insiders have said female lobbyists, in particular, are frequent targets for harassment. Top-ranking lawmakers adopted a revised anti-harassment policy before the start of the 2018 session, the first revision since 2008. Combative session The allegations against Ivey-Soto come after a combative 30-day session in which a voting rights bill backed by Anaya and Democratic leaders died in the final hours of the session, blocked by a Republican filibuster in the Senate. The bill was the subject of hours of hearings in the Senate Rules Committee and debated in multiple meetings a delay supporters said contributed to its ultimate demise. Ivey-Soto said he handled the bill fairly and went out of his way to advance the bill even as he endured a health issue. He supported the bill after substantial amendments. Ivey-Soto confirmed that he and Anaya had talked at the Roundhouse about her allegation that he had groped and pinched her in 2015. He said someone else might have brushed against her among other potential explanations but that he never touched her buttocks, as alleged. I dont remember that reception, Ivey-Soto said, but that is not something I do. I dont just reach out and grab peoples body parts like that. Ivey-Soto is an influential, prominent voice at the Legislature, especially on election legislation. In 2021, some lawmakers accused him of bullying and misogyny after he sharply questioned Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, a fellow Albuquerque Democrat. Ivey-Soto told his colleagues at the time that he was passionate about the topic under debate but did not intend to be abusive. If my passion came out as anger, I apologize, Ivey-Soto said. Emerge New Mexico a group that trains Democratic women interested in seeking public office called on Ivey-Soto and another male senator to resign after the 2021 session. Anaya is on the board of Emerge. In Tuesdays letter, she said Ivey-Soto chastised her for her role in seeking his resignation last year when they met this session. Ivey-Soto, by contrast, said he treated Anaya with respect this year and accepted meetings with her despite Emerges call for his resignation. Dan Boyd of the Journal Capitol Bureau contributed to this article. NBC TV In the premiere of 'America's Got Talent' spin-off, judge Nikki Bella also gives one act a Golden Buzzer as she loves how the contestant doesn't easily give up. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - "America's Got Talent: Extreme" premiered on Monday, February 21. The contestants successfully awed the judges, Simon Cowell, Nikki Bella and Travis Pastana, as well as host Terry Crews. The first act to hit the stage was Aaron Evans from Wisconsin. He showed off his insane skills as he jumped over a moving car. All the judges loved it and Aaron was sent to the next round. Later, Joogsquad came up to do a belly flop on fire trampolines before falling on legos and mouse traps. The act drove the crowd crazy and that was enough for them to advance to the next round. Performing next was Verge Aero who took the challenge of coordinating 160 drones to music which move in the sky. The drones light up with an array of colors, forming shapes. Everyone was amazed by the breathtaking show, enough for Simon to hit his Golden Buzzer. Later, The Bullet took the stage. Alongside his daughter, the human cannon said that he would do his stunt that would send him up to 74 mph in addition to shooting through a hoop of fire. Thankfully, he landed in the net safely. The next performers included Guinness World Record holder Jenna Bandy and stunt dirt biker rider Leeky Da Bikestar. While Jenna failed to advance, Leeky was sent to the next round following a passionate performance. Wheelz then hit the stage. He would ride down a large, very steep ramp in a wheelchair. He was nervous and when he went down the ramp, he landed on stomach. He attempted to go again and thankfully, he landed perfectly this time. Nikki loved how Wheelz didn't easily give up and she decided to give him the golden buzzer. China remains biggest export country for German electrical, digital industry in 2021 Xinhua) 08:50, February 22, 2022 An exhibitor stands next to a digital printer for textiles during Heimtextil in Frankfurt, Germany, on Jan. 8, 2019. (Xinhua/Lu Yang) For the sixth year in a row, China was Germany's most important trading partner in 2021. BERLIN, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China remained the biggest export country for Germany's electrical and digital industry in 2021, the country's Electro and Digital Industry Association (ZVEI) said on Monday. The industry's exports to China increased by 7.5 percent to 25.1 billion euros (28.5 billion U.S. dollars) last year, according to ZVEI. The United States ranked second, with exports up 10.2 percent year-on-year at 19.1 billion euros. Total exports by Germany's electrical and digital industry reached 224.6 billion euros last year, exceeding pre-crisis levels in 2019 by 4.6 percent, according to ZVEI. Photo taken on April 12, 2021 shows a screen displaying a website page of Hanover Messe 2021 Digital Edition in Berlin, capital of Germany. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) Exports to other European countries in 2021 recovered strongly by 11.4 percent to 144.9 billion euros, while the industry's exports to Asia grew 7.1 percent to 49.4 billion euros. Because exports by Germany's electrical and digital industry to Asia only declined 1.7 percent in the first pandemic year of 2020, "there was less to catch up on," said ZVEI chief economist Andreas Gontermann. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), total foreign trade revenues between Germany and China increased by 15.1 percent year-on-year to 245.4 billion euros. A boy views a digital factory model at Festo's stand at the 2016 Hanover Industrial Trade Fair in Hanover, Germany, on April 27, 2016. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan) For the sixth year in a row, China was Germany's most important trading partner in 2021. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollars) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Instagram Celebrity The blogger, who is ordered to pay $4 million to the 29-year-old 'Bodak Yellow' hitmaker after losing the case, declares that she will appeal the decision. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - Latasha Kebe a.k.a. Tasha K refused to pay Cardi B $4 million despite losing her battle in their libel case. On the reason why, the blogger admitted that she doesn't have that amount of money. Tasha made the confession in a recent interview with ALLBLK's "Social Society". During the chat, she first explained, "I ain't got it. Listen, I ain't got it. Don't ask me for no money." "We have business things in place to take care of things like this. The Appellate Court and Supreme Court is in process right now," Tasha elaborated further. Noting that she's going to appeal the decision, she said, "What's what Appellate Court is for. Who's trying to pay $4 million?" Cardi first filed the defamation lawsuit in early 2019 over the latter's claims in her vlog on "unWinewithTashaK" YouTube channel dedicated to celebrity gossip. At that time, the vlogger called the Grammy-winning artist a "drug-using prostitute with herpes." Latasha then fired back by filing a $3 million countersuit. She alleged that the wife of Offset publicly defamed her which led to her receiving death threats. However, the judge dismissed her lawsuit. Cardi won the case on January 24 after Tasha was found liable on three separate claims for "defamation of character, invasion of privacy through portrayal in a false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress." The female rapper was awarded $1.5 million in punitive damages, $1.3 million for her attorney's fees, $1 million for general damages and $250k for medical expenses. Following the decision, Cardi released a statement to Variety that read, "After almost four years of repeated libel and slander against me, being able to walk away from this victorious brings me great happiness. I appreciate Judge Ray for conducting a fair and impartial trial. I am grateful for the jury and their careful deliberation over the past two weeks." "I am profoundly grateful for the hard work and support from my legal team," the mother of two added. "Most importantly, thank you to my family and close friends who held my hand and helped me get the support I needed during this experience." Instagram Celebrity The couple's intimate beachside ceremony in Florida is attended by the newlywed's closest family and friends as well as the 26-year-old TV star's 'Siesta Key' co-stars. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - "Siesta Key" star Chloe Trautman is officially Mrs. Long now. On Sunday, February 20, the reality TV star took to Instagram to announce that she married her fiance Chris Long in a beachside ceremony. In the Instagram post, Chloe could be seen sharing an embrace with her now-husband Chris. For the big day, she looked stunning in a white full-sleeved gown complete with lace detail. She traded it for an equally gorgeous jumpsuit for the couple's reception. Chloe Trautman married fiance Chris Long The intimate nuptials in Florida was attended by the newlywed's closest family and friends. Also among the guests were Chloe's co-stars Juliette Porter, Amanda Miller and Madisson Hausburg. Last month, Chloe shared with her followers photos from her fun-filled bridal shower which was held at a wine bar in Sarasota, Florida. "Had the most magical day celebrating with all my favorite ladies," she wrote on Instagram. "Thank you to my best friend and matron of honor @kenzielautenschlager for helping throw the most incredible shower filled with so much love. I love you," she added. Chloe and Chris got engaged on the Fairyland trail in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah back in November. "Chris took us on an 8.2 mile loop trail that was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life--mentally and physically," she wrote on Instagram at the time. "The emotional release after finishing this hike was indescribable. As I was standing at the overlook reflecting over all the emotions I felt throughout this hike, I heard Chris say my name and I turned around and there he was down on one knee," she went on to say. The TV star also admitted that she broke down in tears and "kind of blacked out" when Chris proposed to her. While viewers of "Siesta Key" have yet to meet Chris on TV, Chloe stated in her post that she knew the entrepreneur was "the one" from the very beginning. Of the unique emerald ring that Chris presented to her, Chloe explained, "Emeralds are associated with the heart chakra and hold many metaphysical properties some which include compassion, balance, wisdom, patience and universal love. And those who are close to me know I have been obsessed with emeralds for quite sometime now. This ring holds so much love." Instagram Celebrity When asked why she feels she has the right to out them when they were not alive to tell their own stories, the reality TV star insists that it's her story because it affects her. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - Alexia Echevarria made bombshell revelations in a new episode of "The Real Housewives of Miami". In the episode, the reality TV star candidly addressed rumors that had long hit her 12-year marriage to her late ex-husband, Herman Echevarria. The pair split in 2015 with their divorce being finalized a year later. In the same year, Herman died and that was when Alexia explored the idea of him possibly living his life as a closeted gay man. She searched for Herman's alleged "lover" who allegedly came to his funeral. The man refused to appear on camera, but Alexia revealed to her co-stars that they spoke for hours over the phone. Later at a Pride event honoring Alexia for her work in the LGBTQIA+ community, she shared that she dedicated her award to both Herman and her late father, who she revealed she had learned later on in life was also a closeted man. However, Alexia clarified in a new interview that she believed that both her ex and father were bisexual instead of gay. "I want to say that they were bisexual," she during her appearance on "Behind the Velvet Rope with David Yontef" podcast. "Yeah, I mean, that's what their history shows, that they were bisexual. And I do believe in bisexuality, so yeah." When asked why she felt she had the right to out them when they were not alive to tell their own stories, Alexia explained to David, "There has to be more awareness and openness. If people would be more open with their hearts and with their minds then we wouldn't live in this world that we do." "Obviously, everybody's going to have an opinion, but it is my story because all these things affected me. So it is my story," she added. "I had to say my story because A.) there was always rumors. The girls brought it up in season 3. It didn't really happen like that, but it was rumored," explained Alexia. "And B.) after he passed away, when the person's no longer here, everybody starts talking." She went on to divulge, "But in my community, in the Cuban-American community here in Miami, a lot of people knew. And it's still a taboo [topic]. People want to act like, 'oh it's so cool' or 'we're so open,' and they're all a bunch of liars.But my heart has always been that I've always wanted to be an advocate, and I've always wanted to help in any way." Instagram Celebrity In a new social media post, the former Miss USA's boyfriend insists that they 'truly do love one another' after sparking breaking up rumors as they unfollowed each other on Instagram. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - Shanna Moakler and Matthew Rondeau seemingly have fixed things between them. The former Miss USA's boyfriend has spoken out about the current nature of their relationship after the couple was caught unfollowing each other on Instagram. "There are more personal reasons on why I deleted and unfollowed Shanna at the time however that IS NO ONES business other than Shannas and my own," wrote the 29-year-old aspiring actor in an Instagram Story on Monday, February 21. He further added, "I would also like to add that I am NOT jealous of Lamar Odom..lol or any other man lmfaoo (nice try @pagesix)." Matthew continued, "I'm very confident in myself and I know self worth and what I have to offer." He went on to say that he and Shanna "truly do love one another and just never want to let each other go." "Even though Shanna and I are on again off again, love always remains ON and grows stronger no matter what obstacles we face," Matthew added in his statement. He then asked fans to "retract your negative retract your negative comments and judgements elsewhere" as he and Shanna "do not deserve them." Matthew Rondeau spoke out after unfollowing Shanna Moakler on Instagram. Elsewhere in his post, Matthew weighed in on Shanna's friendship with Lamar during their time together on "Celebrity Big Brother". "What I saw and what I heard on the live feeds between Shanna and Lamar was unacceptable and I was not happy about those word exchanges as I stated earlier," he shared, "However, I did not unfollow and delete the pictures between Shanna and I because of that." After sparking split rumors by unfollowing each other on social media, Shanna played coy about the speculations. "I haven't seen anything," she told TooFab on January 16. "I haven't seen all the headlines or social media so I'm not 100 percent what's going on but, yes, he's the first person I got to see and it was amazing." She added, "We're working on things and just moving forward the best that we can." As things are now seemingly going well between Shanna and Matthew, the couple was caught making out. In photos obtained by Page Six on Monday, the two were seen kissing and lovingly putting their hands over each other as they went for a stroll at Fairmont Del Mar in San Diego, California. Paramount Pictures Movie The latest medical emergency on the set of the upcoming movie comes months after another crew member was found dead in his hotel room during production of the film in Morocco. Feb 22, 2022 AceShowbiz - Harrison Ford helped save a crew member who had a medical emergency on the set of "Indiana Jones 5". The actor was reportedly on hand when the unnamed crew member suffered a heart attack during filming of the final scenes of the film at Pinewood Studios in England. According to a source, the man suddenly collapsed, prompting a panic situation. The 79-year-old actor and titular character depicter, who was standing nearby, helped alert the medic. "All of a sudden a male member of crew collapsed," the source told The Sun. "Harrison was standing just yards away and yelled for a medic." The Han Solo in the "Star Wars" film series reportedly yelled, "Get me a medic quick." "There was a huge amount of panic," the source went on describing the situation, before spilling, "The on-site first aider did CPR while they waited for an air ambulance and paramedics to arrive." According to the source, "they've been at Pinewood" and filming is "due to finish Friday." Confirming that the production is about to wrap soon was producer Frank Marshall. On Saturday, February 19, he tweeted that production is "in the home stretch," along with an exterior photo of Pinewood Studios. The latest medical emergency comes months after another crew member died during the filming of the movie in Morocco. Camera operator Nic Cupac was found dead in his hotel room in the city of Fes in November 2021. "Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Nic Cupac, an incredibly talented colleague and member of the film community who will be greatly missed," a production rep told the New York Post. His cause of death was not disclosed, but the rep added that Cupac's "sudden passing was not production related." Meanwhile, in June, Ford sustained a shoulder injury while rehearsing for a fight scene. His injury forced the closure of the production for three months. Due to several delays, the movie is now scheduled to be released on June 30, 2023. Celebrity Brooke Brinson and her husband Thayer Wiederhorn are erasing their presence online after their home was raided in December as part of investigation of her father-in-law for fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. Feb 23, 2022 AceShowbiz - Kim Richards' daughter Brooke Wiederhorn is stepping away from social media amid fraud allegations against her husband's family. Brooke Brinson and her husband Thayer Wiederhorn have deleted their Instagram accounts amid the ongoing investigation. It's unclear if there's any evidence that can be used against the Wiederhorns in their social media posts, but they made the moves after news broke that the Feds raided Brooke and Thayer's house in December. Brooke is married to Thayer, whose father Andrew Wiederhorn is chief executive of the family company that owns Fatburger and Johnny Rockets restaurant chains. Her in-law is being investigated by the feds for alleged fraud, tax evasion and money laundering. According to the Los Angeles Times which first published the story, Brooke herself is not named in court documents. During the raid, agents reportedly left with "phones, digital storage devices, tax documents and other records from the couple's residence." In an FBI affidavit written in November, an agent accused Andrew of having devised and executed a "fraudulent scheme" that helped him avoid paying taxes while receiving "millions of dollars in sham loans" through his various businesses. Andrew is accused of routing company money through his son's PayPayl account to generate millions of American Express rewards points. The documents further list the family's alleged lavish expenses including $183k at a London jeweler, $100k to a divorce attorney and $150k on a down payment for a Rolls-Royce. A lawyer for Andrew has denied the accusations. "Mr. Wiederhorn categorically denies these allegations and at the appropriate time we will demonstrate that the government has its facts wrong," the lawyer stated. He added, "These loans were completely legitimate and were independently reviewed and approved. In addition, Mr. Wiederhorn's tax returns were prepared and approved by independent tax professionals and he has been making payments under a plan approved by the IRS." CHICO, Calif. - Gas buddy analysts explain fuel is typically more expensive in California because the Rocky Mountains impact fast delivery. Plus, the state cap and trade program require refineries to purchase carbon credits. The state also requires gas stations to sell more expensive blends of pollution-cutting gasoline. Jo Danhey lives up in Cohasset, which is roughly 15 miles from Chico. She drives to Chico often to run errands or to Durham to get hay for her horses. Danhey said she is really feeling the pain at the pump in her wallet. "It is life and I am dealing with it but it is not always easy, said Danhey. It hits the budget. I am a retired senior, so you know it hits the budget. Danhey said she put just enough gas in her tank to help her finish all her errands Monday. She plans to find a cheaper gas station to fill up again before going back home to Cohasset. Danhey said she has to fill up on gas every four to five days. Chico Nissan said though gas prices are spiking, more people are not looking at buying an electric vehicle. Gas isn't really the number one reason to buy a car with people that we are seeing in our lot, said Executive manager Ryan Sutton. What we are noticing is that people drive by and say woah your lot is full of cars and then they are so happy to be out and about that they come by and see what we have available. So, we are still selling trucks and SUVs and people are pretty happy to buy. Sutton said it has been harder for the dealership to get electric cars due to the chip shortage He said when they do get more, he expects more people will want to get one. He added electric cars may increase your electric cost a bit but does save you money on the overall ownership of the car. The average price of gas increased by more than $1 per gallon between the start and the end of 2021. In the last 10 years, PR has taken a different dimension, especially after the entry of social media and the rapid shift to digital, especially in the pandemic period. At the same time the industry has been facing stiff challenges, moreover client expectations have also increased, with more emphasis being given to digital and online reputation management. The industry has undergone a radical shift and the current times have pushed the industry to change gears. In conversation with Adgully, Pooja Trehan, Director - Marketing Communications, SugarBox Networks, speaks at length about the changing face of Public Relations, how PR has embraced digital, building brands through content marketing, and much more. The PR industry in the last 10 years has evolved and is changing, especially after the pandemic. What are some of the significant changes that you have noticed and what are some of the learnings? In the last decade, we have evolved as sustainable content curators. Gone are the days where one could send out a press release and cross their fingers for a successful outcome or manage a client basis media rounds. Today, as PR and Communications professionals, our objective is to be true interpreters as storytellers and not merely adapt to an interpretation for our benefit. The roles we play are that of strategic advisors, who juggle well with data analytics, yet rely on impactful qualitative results. Our faith is on the strength of messaging, supporting business goals, thinking beyond a single story, and integrating campaigns internally as well as externally. As boundaries blur between various mediums, we should continue to stay focused on disrupting and innovating and be the future-forward change-makers. You have been both on the client and agency side. What are some of the key challenges one encounters as a PR professional while representing the corporate communication side of an organisation? Understand your audience. Thats all we need to do. Be it an agency or a corporate role, in both situations one has to effectively manoeuver and manage internal stakeholders. This also equips us as professionals to understand the talent pool and strength of both the agency as well as the brand we work with. As PR professionals, if we have a pulse on our clients needs and eventual deliverables, apply the same framework when working in a Corporate Role, that is, to understand the requisites of your Leadership team. Once this perspective is crystal clear, then respecting your agency for their insights and expertise will come naturally. Because we should never tell them (our PR partners) on how to do their job; just as our Leadership teams wouldnt tell us how to run a Corporate Communication campaign (its true!). At all times, we should refrain from becoming mere channels to deliver information. When in a Corporate role, our responsibility should be to share timely business goals and objectives, which could then be supported diligently by our external PR partners. This will only become a reality when we, as professionals, look beyond media visibility and think of a larger landscape the capability to influence stakeholders equitably across the spectrum. You are also actively associated with PRPOI. How are you helping the PR industry and what is the end objective of this organisation and what are some of the interesting steps you are taking to strengthen PR as an industry? I have often heard my mentors and seniors in the industry say, the best way to learn is to teach. And thats how one should evolve! As the PRPOI Co-founder, the focus is to spot the industry trends and keep learning about whats changing and whats new. Curiosity and hunger to pick new skills of the trade and then sharing them with a larger audience, is what we strive to work for at PRPOI. Upskilling in the PR and Communications domain is always a challenge, owing to the practical differences of current curriculum versus industry reality. This gap is evident across various sectors, not just PR and Communications. Hence, our (PRPOI) attempt is to offer free upskilling options, where industry veterans could take us through whats relevant and what has moved far away into the stone-age, through virtual sessions on the PRPOI digital platforms. Aligning with this objective, at PRPOI, we curate content across various digital platforms, discuss topics that probably raise questions or have the potential to teach something diverse and new, and ensure leaders from the fraternity speak about their struggles and growth opportunities as well. Our (PRPOI) goal is to make upskilling the critical need of the hour, now and for the future. How has PR embraced digital? What are some of the changes you have witnessed in PR with the advent of digital in a big way? Metaverse. Artificial Intelligence. Virtual Reality. Crypto Currency. Non-Fungible Tokens. Bitcoin. Every possible social media platform. Short form video formats. There is nothing or no Intellectual Property that isnt immersed in the digital-stratosphere! So, PR and Communications has had to embrace Digital. Similar to how we treated television or radio channels as different modes to speak through, digital media today fits into that role of being a new format for communicating the right message. However, this platform calls for far more intelligence, owing to the speed of possibility, where visibility could either spiral into crises or appreciation, at a snowballing rate. Also, each platform functions differently, thus the need to understand customisation of the message to eventually achieve the end goal. Considering the analytics on the digital medium are pretty specific, versus other platforms (can debate the archaic format), the ROI equips you to plan better campaigns. Today, PR and Communication campaigns should view digital media as the funnel to amplify the messaging, to a far wider audience and at a quicker turn around than expected. This is how two powerful swords exist, next to each other. Where is traditional PR headed with the transition to digital? What will be the position or status of traditional PR five years from now? In all honesty, PR is far more traditional today than ever before. Whats really changed is the medium. If you want to assign media relations or press release dissemination as traditional PR, by all means do that. From that perspective everything has changed. But thats a false categorisation. PR and Communication professionals have been the age-old barons or influencers of that perception you want audiences to see (or experience). Its been a well-oiled engine for centuries now, where any PR professional was always bothered to influence the right media platform to publish that one particular story, about their brand (or so called clients), in order to influence or design an enhanced perception. This is exactly what we do today as well (dont throw brickbats, hold on). But, we have evolved to use the power of analytics, market intelligence of a new geography, building stakeholder visibility beyond the Owners or CEO, adapting to the new mediums, growing a better skillset and doing lots more. But this doesnt take away from the core of being an evangelist of a story we want the world to remember. So, five years from now or a decade from now, what changes is how well we evolve with our ever-changing audiences and continue to build impactful communication campaigns. Thats the shorter answer to it! Whats your mandate for Sugar Box Networks on the communication front? What are some of the innovative thoughts or creative ideas that you plan to bring to build the brand? At SugarBox Networks, the mandate for Communication is to manage the Culture & People, Media & Reputation, and Advocacy campaigns. Essentially, the organisation-wide acceptance to build a brand through content marketing to employees (internally) and prospective audiences (externally), is a great starting point. We work very closely on cross promoting our organic content from one platform to another, from one audience to another. From using all forms of mediums print (national and regional), magazines, websites and technology podcasts, video interviews, digital channels, blogs to integrating with design Caricatures, e-flipbooks, Infographics, Emailers storytelling at SugarBox is an enthralling journey. Deep-diving into the tech-side of the brand and evaluating how one can contribute to (or help influence) the larger business goals, as a Communications professional, is a commendable opportunity to grow with. The coming months will be filled with collaboration-visibility for our partners, strengthening our employer brand, enhancing employee engagement campaigns simply through stories that speak benefit for each audience. Jalan Kalrock Consortium, the Successful Resolution Applicant and new proposed promoters of Jet Airways today announced the appointment of Vipula Gunatilleka as Chief Financial Officer. Mr Gunatilleka will be joining from March 1, 2022 Mr Gunatilleka was the CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022 and had the most daunting task of leading the national carrier during the pandemic. Mr Gunatilleka was head hunted by the Board in 2018 to re-structure SriLankan Airlines and in less than two years after assuming the duties as the CEO, the airline recorded positive EBITDA/Cash Flow for the Fiscal Year 2019/20 notwithstanding the devastating effects of the terror attacks in April 2019 in Sri Lanka followed by the global pandemic in early 2020. As a result of key initiatives introduced to improve the service standards and operational efficiencies, the airline was accredited with the Worlds Most Punctual Airline twice in 2019. Prior to joining SriLankan Airlines, Mr Gunatilleka was the CFO & Board Member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates Management. He played a pivotal role to turnaround the loss-making national carrier of Angola. Mr. Ankit Jalan, Member of the Monitoring Committee of Jet Airways and part of Jalan-Kalrock Consortium said We are excited to welcome Mr. Vipula Gunatilleka to our young and energic team . Vipula is an aviation expert and regarded as a turnaround specialist in the industry. He has been shortlisted after a rigorous process run by our Executive Team over the last several months. I am certain Vipula will be an asset to the organization and will provide the necessary vision to revive the operations of Jet Airways as per the plans of the Consortium. Mr. Gunatilleka qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the year 1987 after which he did his MBA from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mr. Gunatilleka is also a qualified Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA) from UK and Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) from Australia. Mr. Gunatilleka is known for his astute knowledge in aircraft financing, strategic planning, cost-efficient business modelling and openness to adopt hybrid models to keep business costs low and efficiency high. Speaking on his plans, Mr Vipula Gunatilleka said I am very excited to join the company and I look forward to contributing my knowledge of last 30 years in Jet Airways resurgence in its new avatar. We will capitalize on the strong brand value which Jet Airways has in the market and use it to re-build the lost ground. Mr Gunatilleka further added I first joined SriLankan Airlines as its CFO in 2001, when it was part of the Emirates Group and was establishing its feet in the Indo-Pacific Sub-Continent. Having spent sufficient time in leadership roles in the aviation industry including as CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, I am aware of the responsibility that lingers on the shoulders of the leadership team, especially the CFO and I am confident Jet Airways will soon regain its lost glory. Mivi, Indias front-running homegrown electronics brand, is a one-of-a-kind company specializing in the audio gadgets category, with its products ranging from TWS (True Wireless Stereo) to wired earphones. The Hyderabad-based company has built a mighty brand name over the years and is one of the leading brands on the E-commerce platform. In a major development, to further expand its reach, Mivi is set to embark on an offline journey by introducing its products in select physical stores. Mivi believes that nothing surpasses a satisfied customer. The make in India brand is on a quest to redefine the Indian electronics market and establish itself as the go-to brand for tech-savvy, music-loving Indian youths looking for the latest technology while maintaining style and affordability. Eyeing an extensive presence via the modern trade model, the brand will be available across front-running stores, including Chroma, Reliance Digital, Universal Stores, among others. Mivi will initially focus its offline efforts on large distributors and retailers in Tier I and Tier II cities throughout India. Mivis entire made-in-India collection of consumer electronics will be available at these stores with an aim to bolster the brands omnichannel presence. This will help the brand to build connections with customers drawing in more customers by allowing them to see and experience the brand. Speaking on the development, Midhula Devabhaktuni, Co-Founder, CMO Mivi, said, The Indian electronics market is evolving at a breakneck pace and witnessing several brands adopting an omnichannel model to capture a larger share of the market. As Mivis Made-in-India range of audio gadgets with best-in-class features continue to become popular among Indian consumers, developing offline sales channels was the next natural progression for us. The increased offline presence will enable us to get closer to our customers, recognize their needs, and offer them a seamless customer experience. Mivi is looking for offline to contribute to 20-25% of their revenues in the next year. NDTV has decided to opt out of receiving ratings data for the period when BARC was not publishing news channel ratings. It was on October 15, 2020, that BARC India had temporarily paused the reporting of individual channel audience estimates for all news channels. This was done following the massive uproar over TRP manipulation charges. After almost one and a half years, BARC has announced that it will start releasing individual news channel data with effect from Thursday, March 17 2022. The Augmented Standards entail the reporting of audience estimates for News and Special Interest genre channels on a 4-week rolling average basis, which would be released regularly every week along with the estimates for all other channels. All viewership data will be published on the same YUMI platform that all BARC subscribers use. In addition to the weekly currency audience estimates that all channels receive, BARC India will also release the previous 13 weeks data prior to the week of resumption of data under the Augmented Data Reporting Standards. However, this past rolled data will not be made available for those channels that choose to opt-out of receiving this data. Data for all the channels that opt-out would be clubbed under the Other Channels category, in order to ensure that estimates for Total TV or Total News remain unchanged from previously released data. As per media reports, NDTV hit out at the manipulation and buying of TRPs, which has played a huge role in what some networks choose as their news content. NDTV maintained that it has been among the earliest and biggest proponents to clean up the ratings system. The group alleged that the ratings system misled the advertisers and their agencies who would misallocate money on the basis of the gross misrepresentation of each news channels market share. The opt-out choice for the past 13 weeks data is a one-time choice that cannot be changed thereafter. Once the data is published (or not), as per the choice of the broadcaster, BARC will not be in a position to change the opt-out status at a later date. Those subscribers who choose to opt-out and not have their past data released, will also need to pay their subscription fees for the period from Week 40, 2020. Last date for subscribers to convey their decision to opt-out to BARC India was February 17, 2022. With a strong commitment to raise awareness about internet safety, Truecaller, the leading global platform for verifying contacts and blocking unwanted communication is collaborating with CyberPeace Foundation, to launch #TrueCyberSafe focused on online safety. User safety remains a top priority at Truecaller, especially the safety of women and individuals from vulnerable communities. We continue to be the first line of defense against online harassment by empowering users to make informed decisions through Truecallers caller identification service with the help of our community marking numbers as spam/scam/fraud. This added context helps the receiver of the call to block or/and report a number leading to safer communication. Additionally, the Guardians is an easy to use location safety app that helps people stay safe when they are on the move. Truecaller along with CyberPeace Foundation is geared up to take a step ahead by training people to help them in developing the requisite skills to have a safe digital experience and aiding them in nurturing the faculties of critical thinking and empathy. The certification developed along with Autobot Infosec will help people in tackling various kinds of frauds, impersonation, harassment and scams. Commenting on the partnership, Pragya Misra, Public Affairs Director, Truecaller India, said: The recent pandemic and social distancing has emphasized the importance of digital communication. However, with this convenience that has helped all of us stay connected, we have also had to tackle challenges like Spam and Fraud instances leading to considerable personal loss. Safety has always been and continues to be an absolute priority for us at Truecaller and we are constantly working towards achieving the highest standards of online safety for our users and the wider public at large. This program is a continuation of our efforts that will help increase awareness about Cyber Frauds and build user capacity on how people can stay safe while communicating. We are very excited to partner with CyberPeace Foundation to disseminate these trainings that will target both mature and first-time internet users across India in English and regional languages. Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Major Vineet Kumar, Founder and Global President, CyberPeace Foundation said: Past two decades CyberPeace Foundation has emphasized on Online Safety and the issues that might be faced in the upcoming days. Post the onset of pandemic, we did see a rise in the Cyber related Frauds and hence we have constantly collaborated with the organizations to ensure that the netizens stay CyberAware and CyberAlert and they know the mechanism to report and raise their voices. On our helpline, we get almost 10-11 cases per day related to CyberFrauds. To address this issue, we are delighted to work with Truecaller and Autobot Infosec and believe that this program on understanding online threats and safety is the future of Internet use. When we combine our content and expertise of Truecaller, we can create truly transformative learning experiences that deliver measurable impact and we are hopeful to provide the participants with lessons to follow for a safe online environment. Col Nidhish Bhatnagar, Rashtriya Raksha University, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India said: Cybersecurity is among Indias major concerns today. As more cyber threats penetrate through the vulnerabilities of our digital infrastructure, the more at risk we are on a personal level, as well as at the national level. In todays globalized and interconnected world, such threats and vulnerabilities are only likely to increase manifold in the coming years. Hence, it becomes necessary to approach the issue of cybersecurity in a holistic manner to be able to prevent as well as manage cyberattacks. To this end, it is imperative to enhance the public awareness as well as build capacity to address this rapidly evolving threat; and a nationwide campaign for the same is a step towards mitigating data breaches, identity thefts and data thefts in the country. Mr. Rakesh Maheshwari, Scientist G and Group Coordinator, Cyber Laws & E-Security, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India said: With rapidly evolving innovations in technology, there is also a corresponding global rise in cyberattacks and cyberthreats. With an increased dependence on digital technologies and communication, the rise in the misuse of such interconnectedness is inevitable. This paves the need for more attention, research and innovation in cybersecurity practices. India has made strides in the recent past with Indias cyber security industry nearly doubling in size amid the pandemic, but a lot more needs to be done to build public awareness and capacity in this regard. This nationwide campaign of Truecaller and CyberPeace Foundation to raise awareness about cyber safety is a positive step in that direction. Gracing the event by his presence, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, Mr. Harmeet Singh said, "The Covid19 Pandemic led to people being confined at home, consequently increasing every individuals digital footprint, particularly with relation to financial transactions among of course the social and educational space. We are witnessing a substantial rise in Cyber Frauds and Scams, as a consequence of this increased dependency on Digital Transactions. As we continue our march towards technology, these negative externalities will also continue to grow. Along with the sustained efforts of Law Enforcement Agencies, it is of utmost importance to empower citizens and enable safe digital experiences for everyone. This nationwide program to increase awareness and build the capacity of citizens will be a huge step forward in this regard." Credit Colerain Police Department Tough question. Do today's parents have the coping skills, the resources, the drive to launch into 5th gear when they have a child diagnosed with autism? Was the 1990s birth cohort of parents a different breed? Or did we have fewer obstacles like a Covid lockdown? When I had three children under 6 with autism, I worked day and night to find answers and get them help - to exhaustion, and still do, 27 years later. But I wasnt struggling with mental health. I found the biomed community and had support. Is support harder to find today? Seems impossible, but what if the Yahoo group, NAAR, ARI, CAN days werent improved as organizations changed and social media came into being? Abandoning them is the second most extreme example of dereliction of duty. So I ask with all due respect and interest - do today's parents have "what it takes" to cope? Heather Nicole Adkins, age 32 (hardly a child) is one mother who did not. A follow up story has a chilling response from her, during questioning when asked why she left her boy on the side of a road on a cold, February day: To save him from me, Adkins replied. (Source WKYT Cleveland Mother accused of abandoning autistic child speaks out from Scott Co. jail. Of course, it's a blessing that she did not kill him. But turning him out on a road where he was likely to be killed seems premeditated to me. Thank God a stranger saw something that was not normal - and acted. I hope she gets the help she needs. ### COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio - Colerain Township police say a mother is now in custody after her abandoned, 5-year-old autistic son was found wandering alone last week. 32-year-old Heather Nicole Adkins is in custody in Georgetown, Kentucky, on a local warrant and a warrant issued by Colerain Township police in connection with her son's abandonment. They didn't elaborate on the charges filed. Investigators said the unnamed boy, described as "non-verbal with Austim," is from Shelbyville, Indiana, about 75 miles away from the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Fox News Los Angeles Reported Cole Baerlocher is serving as the 2021-22 National FFA President. He is a member of the Colfax, Washington, chapter, where he raised market lambs and worked on a cattle operation. Baerlocher served as Washington state president before being elected to his national office. He is a student at Washington State University. IFT: Can you tell us about your background in agriculture? BAERLOCHER: I grew up in a rural town in southeastern Washington called Colfax only about 2,800 people live there. Agriculture is the backbone of my community. It is what connects people to each other and to the land. While I did not grow up directly involved in production agriculture, I did have family who was specifically my grandparents. I spent a lot of time on their farm helping with chores. One of the things my grandpa taught me very early on is that as farmers, we dont eat until the cows eat. It was these kinds of lessons I learned from growing up around agriculture that fueled my passion for our industry. I first started showing goats in third grade as a 4-H member at the local county fair until I made the transition to market lambs as a sixth grader. Raising and showing market lambs became my Supervised Agricultural Experience project as a freshman when I joined FFA. During my sophomore year of high school, my family and I moved out of town to a small farm just outside of town. Here we raise sheep, goats, chickens and cattle. Its just a small hobby farm, but we love all our animals! We also allow students who live in town to keep their market lambs at our house because we know firsthand just how impactful raising and showing animals can be for people who dont have a direct connection to agriculture. IFT: What made you want to be a part of FFA? BAERLOCHER: I always knew what FFA was growing up, but I only thought it was for showing livestock. I remember going to the fair and seeing the high schoolers showing in their blue jackets and thinking Hey, those are pretty cool, I want one of those! It wasnt until the end of my 8th grade year that I saw all that FFA had to offer. My uncle and aunt, Nathan and Jessica Moore, are both agricultural education teachers and they encouraged me to come to convention to watch my older cousin Lukes state officer candidate speech. I remember walking into Beasley Colosseum and being completely overwhelmed by the number of blue jackets. I sat through the session and got to see all that FFA had to offer. But the highlight was seeing my cousin get elected as a state officer. It not only motivated me to join FFA, but it also inspired me to want to run for state office. IFT: What appealed to you about running for a national office? BAERLOCHER: My love for connecting with others was what appealed to me about running for National FFA Office. I have always been a very extroverted person, so having a job that is all about connecting with others is very exciting for me. ... The opportunity to serve as a voice for this organization was a huge factor in making me want to run for national office. Additionally, I also love to travel! As a national officer, I will get the opportunity to travel across the United States to attend state FFA conventions and leadership camps. IFT: Please tell us whats involved in the life of the national FFA president. How much will you travel? BAERLOCHER: Serving FFA members is the foundation of my position. This year really is not about me at all, its about what I can do for others a year solely dedicated to serving others. So, no matter what I am doing, I work with the thought of how my actions will impact the experience of FFA members. I craft speeches and workshops on content that is relevant to members. I represent the voice of over 700,000 members as the chair of the National FFA Board of Directors. I meet with donors and sponsors and members of the legislature to speak about the importance of agricultural education. But all these actions are rooted in helping to strengthen the experiences of our members. IFT: What are your future plans? BAERLOCHER: During my senior year of high school, I created a graphic design business and started developing content for a few small companies around my community. This helped me uncover my passion for promoting the true story of American agriculture on social media. When I retire from National FFA Office, I will return to college and major in agriculture communications. I hope to work within the communications department of an agricultural business after I graduate from college. IFT: As you talk with your fellow FFA members, are they optimistic about potential careers in agriculture? BAERLOCHER: Yes, I believe that my fellow FFA members are very optimistic about career opportunities within agriculture. Our organization is constantly working to provide relevant experience to members in order to help them prepare for their futures. Career and technical education is rooted within agricultural education. We want students to be gaining relevant skills that will prepare them for life outside of the classroom. This is where Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects come into play. These projects provided students with the opportunity to gain work-based learning experiences. IFT: What do you see as the biggest challenges facing young people who hope for a career in agriculture? BAERLOCHER: Not being fully aware of all the opportunities. This was something I struggled with as a high school student. I knew I wanted to contribute to our industry, I just wasnt sure how. See, I had only ever seen the production side of agriculture. While I have a deep admiration and appreciation for the people who keep this large portion of our industry up and running, I didnt grow up with the resources to partake in this side of our industry. Moving forward, I think it is incredibly important that we continue to encourage and support students to get involved in FFA. American agriculture needs people of all backgrounds and experiences to continue to help move our industry forward. Whether you have a passion for things like science, engineering, marketing, etc. there is a place for you with in the agriculture industry. CropWatch Weekly Update Get the Iowa and Illinois CropWatchers report delivered to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Determining the appropriate glyphosate rate is probably more important this spring than in previous years. Between high herbicide prices, reduced supply and possibly using a different glyphosate product, it is worth checking to make sure youre applying the optimum rate for efficient control. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. We humans are social creatures that communicate through complex languages and facial gestures. Our personalities are ingrained in these unique expressions, which impart visual messages that words alone cannot convey. Facial expressions provoke a variety of cognitive processes, including emotional gesticulations that elicit rapid responses and ostensive ones that signal a willingness to communicate. A hidden face deprives us of one of the most basic aspects of humanity and the ability to constructively interact in social settings. Face masking children constitutes a sacrifice on a scale that can only be made in response to a danger of proportionate magnitude. The seventh cranial nerve, the nerve of facial expression, supplies innervation to thirty muscles on each side of the face. As the representation of the homunculus demonstrates, the brain devotes an outsized role to them. These mimetic muscles are the only ones in our bodies that are connected to the dermis and are intimately involved in nonverbal communication. Muscles of the face and neck From Grays Anatomy Plate 378 (public domain) In the evolutionary process, where successful adaptations prevail, what is a selective advantage of devoting a disproportionate number of the brains motor neurons to the intricate facial musculature, when far fewer would suffice? Children do not readily develop SARS-CoV-2, spread it to other children or adults, transmit it to the home setting, or suffer severe illness or death. The statistical occurrence of the latter is near zero. A 2021 report of nearly two million children in Sweden, where there are no lockdowns or mask mandates, noted no Covid deaths in the one-to-sixteen-year-old age group. A more recent German study noted no deaths in the five-to-eighteen-year-old cohort and that severe illness overwhelmingly affected children with co-morbidities. The Swedish Institute of Public Health noted no difference in the number of infections in teachers and children in mandate-free Sweden in comparison to teachers and children in Finland, where schools are closed and masks mandatory. In January the Brownstone Institute analyzed data from states with and without mask mandates for school children and found no significant difference in infection and hospitalization rates. Currently, thirteen states are heedless of the evidence. Mask mandates will expire in six of these states by March 31, leaving only a few, including California, that have not announced an official date to end the mandate. Given the multitude of studies showing children are at low risk from SARS-CoV-2 and masks are ineffectual in the school setting, what is justification for authorities to force children to wear masks? An article from Psychology Today, "The Impact of Masks on Social and Emotional Development" serves as a good example. The efficacy of masks and the purported dangers of Covid are accepted without reservation, including the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to mask children as young as two years of age. The author contends that infants who are able to see the mouth have larger vocabularies as toddlers, but masking does not preclude language development. Emotional development is negatively impacted when only the eyes are visible. Children less accurately interpret emotional expression, fail to recognize positive emotions, and experience a diminished perception of social referencing and social mimicry, which are important in the development of social behavior and empathy respectively. Several workaround solutions are presented to compensate for arrested language and emotional development, but the reader is cautioned that children should not forgo wearing masks. An article generated by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, "How Masks Could Affect Speech and Language Development in Children," downplays the role of facial expression, noting that face masks disrupt holistic processing and face perception in school-age children, but the ability to perform these fundamental skills is reduced only by 20%. Parents are instructed to dress their children in personalized clothing to compensate for lack of identity. The author admits that masks pose a challenge for developing interpersonal skills, expressing and reading emotions, and speech development, but emphasizes the resiliency of children. Once again, the obvious solution to reverse the mask mandate is not considered. A recent NIH article, "How Does Wearing a Mask Affect Children?" states, "While masks can protect against Covid 19 infections, it is unclear how mask-wearing behavior and mask mandates influence children's cognitive and social development." The agency categorically and erroneously affirms the efficacy of children wearing masks but then admits that detrimental behavioral effects are unknown. This claim, too, is suspect since earlier this month the CDC lowered childhood speech standards to knowing fifty words at thirty rather than twenty-four months. The NIH promises the issue will be studied, but as long as mask mandates persist, the damage continues. The fortitude of children is not without limits. Aaron Hertzberg points out, children are resilient when internalizing emotional distress and suppressing natural instincts, but they are not resilient in the ability to rid themselves of significant emotional trauma and abuse. What will be the children's response when the final mask mandate is rescinded? This past week a teacher announced to her students that masks would no longer be required in the classroom. The event was captured on video, and the children's facial expressions and spontaneous outbursts of joy and relief provided a thrilling and heartfelt reminder that we need to do a better job protecting the most precious and vulnerable among us. The world is reminded every day that the United States will do everything appropriate -- short of firing a single shot, that is -- to scare Vladimir Putin out of invading Ukraine (which, at this writing, may have already begun). While the Biden-Harris regime has already made it clear that the United States will not use military action to support Ukraine, the United States will definitely wield sanctions as a weapon. Vladimir Putin must be shaking in his best felt boots. Sanctions are an important element of foreign policy. Viewed as one tool among many, along with the military, and that most formidable of all weapons, our nuclear arsenal, economic sanctions must be a part of the toolkit. But they are meaningless alone, especially if they hurt others more than they hurt the target. To begin with, politicians have a tendency to act as if there are no sanctions currently in place but there are, so all were talking about is adding more. And the more sanctions there already are, the less sting additional ones will have. Consider: The United States Export Controls constitute a body of usually sensible, ongoing sanctions, generally divided into three groups: countries, parties, and products. There are several countries that the USA simply will not do business with. We will not allow U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, green card holders, U.S. businesses and their foreign subsidiaries) to either import or export from them, at all, directly or indirectly. Think of Iran, Syria, North Korea, and Cuba. These countries have been under almost absolute sanctions for decades. There are thousands of entities all over the world -- both individuals and groups, private companies and government departments -- that are similarly banned. This includes such parties as terror networks, international criminals, drug cartels, mafiosi, human traffickers, military insurgencies, and front companies associated with identified corrupt governments or enemy armies. There are thousands of physical products and technologies, many of them perfectly normal but possessing a military intent or an important dual-use, which are controlled primarily by export license: any business needs the governments permission to share them, often even with a vendor or customer in an allied country. These U.S. Export Controls are critical elements of our national defense. You stop the enemy from using our own fighter jets against us (as in the case of Iran), by stopping them from getting the parts they need. You stop the enemy from making nuclear or biological weapons by denying them the ability to obtain the materials and technology to make them. But these Export Controls, as sensible as they are, require an educated, conscientious business community to succeed. The existing rules are difficult, already placing a burden on every company. And while major defense contractors are equipped to manage these rules well, most other companies struggle to understand them as it is. The more complicated these rules become, the greater the chance that the business community will be unable to keep up. Now, some history. In 2014, Vladimir Putin heard the cries of the Crimeans and Russia moved in to seize Crimea and Sevastopol from Ukraine. The U.S. and many in Western Europe were horrified by this shocking disruption of European maps, which had been stable for a full twenty years, so they chose to act. They didnt think this horror worthy of a shooting war, so they agreed on sanctions. We already had the U.S. Export Controls in place -- and Europe has similar ones, by the way, known as the Wassenaar Arrangement -- restricting the kind of trade that might be reasonably associated with national security. So, if they were going to use sanctions here, they had to think of something different. The great thinkers of the West decided that Putin couldnt possibly have the support of the Russian people on this. So they added new sanctions to products that we would not normally regulate -- peaceful products such as drilling machinery, pipeline components, and other energy-related goods. They added new banned parties as well: forbid transactions involving certain major Russian or Russian-owned companies, particularly in the energy sector, especially if they had close ties with Putin or his deputies. Surely, they thought, putting the screws to these businesses will cause them to pressure Putin to relent. Eight years into this experiment, we can see that it was a mistake. These Russia-focused sanctions are complex, and western companies have struggled to comply. Many European companies care much more about receiving energy from Russia to heat their homes than they care whose flag flies above Crimea and Sevastopol ...or, in the current dispute, above Donetsk and Luhansk. Remember, many European countries refused to enforce sanctions against Iran when Iran was funding terrorists attacking their own interests. Compliance, particularly from Europe, has been poor at best, and policy results have been nonexistent. Perhaps worse still, the American business community already suffers far more than the intended target. Mining and drilling equipment, energy production, and transportation materials -- these are a huge export market for American manufacturing, and until 2014, Russian customers were significant for us. With the Obama administration signing on to take sales to Russia off the table for these big American employers, our exports have dropped, and rivals such as the Chinese have prospered. Honestly, now, how does it help Ukraine to weaken the American economy and prop up the CCP? If you go to war, banning commerce with the enemy is sensible, even imperative. The Coastwise Boycott of the late 1760s was a necessary first step in the development of our War of Independence, but we must never forget that it took a greater economic toll on us than it took on England. Similarly, once we entered WWI and WWII, we had to cut off imports and exports with the other side each time. What products and customers do the Biden-Harris regime plan to ban, anyway? Which American businesses need to start downgrading their forecasts and laying off assembly lines now? And which Chinese manufacturers should prepare to throw a party? There is still too much we dont know about the Ukraine-Russia situation. Too many in the Biden-Harris regime and its orbit have received questionable windfalls from both Russia and Ukraine over the years, making their judgment more than suspect on matters involving disputes between those two countries. The U.S. Export Controls are a critical element of our national security program, but they are cumbersome, costly, and complex. We should think long and hard before expanding them further, particularly in a direction that has already been proven to be ineffective, and particularly when there are legitimate concerns about the reasons and alliances involved. John F. Di Leo is a Chicagoland-based international transportation professional. A onetime Milwaukee County Republican Party chairman, he has been writing a regular column in Illinois Review since 2009. His book on vote fraud (The Tales of Little Pavel) and his brand-new political satires on the current administration (Evening Soup with Basement Joe, Volumes I and II) are available on Amazon. Image: Kremlin.ru Modern progressives have been particularly susceptible to the seductions of masking propaganda over the past two years, as it was presented as scientific innovation overturning the ignorance of the past. They fancy themselves enlightened sophisticates who are uniquely able to grasp such supposedly novel ideas, you see. A piece of cloth over mouth and nose, you say? Why, the mouth and nose are often the sources of respiratory viral spread. Ingenious! Why didnt anyone in the twentieth century think of that? Thank goodness for Dr. Fauci and the Science! It never occurs to them that the scientific consensus against public masking had been shaped and preserved for a hundred years by scientists and public health officials who also recognized that wearing a barrier over ones mouth and nose might provide some marginal benefit in preventing the spread of a virus. Take Dr. William T. Vaughan, for example, a physician who wrote in the American Journal of Hygiene: One difficulty in the use of the face mask is the failure of cooperation on the part of the public. When, in pneumonia and influence wards, it has been nearly impossible to force the orderlies or even some of the physicians and nurses to wear their masks as prescribed, it is difficult to see how a general measure of this nature could be enforced in the community at large. That quote is from 1921. He doesnt discount that wearing a mask might provide some marginal benefit. Indeed, if human beings were as predictable as cogs in a machine, he seems to imply that there could be some benefit. The problem, as he correctly sees it, is that human beings are not predictable cogs in a machine. To prove just how unchanged that consensus had been, consider the observations made by the Surgeon General of the Navy in 1919. He argued that there was no evidence to justify compelling persons at large to wear masks during an epidemic. Masks of improper design, he goes on, which rest against the mouth and nose, become wet with saliva, soiled with the fingers, and are changed infrequently, may lead to infection rather than prevent it. Each of those arguments may sound familiar to you, if you were listening to Dr. Anthony Fauci or the United States Surgeon General in the early days of the 2020 COVID crisis as evidence against public masking. The reason this had been affirmed consensus for so long is simple, and it has nothing to do with the size of viral particles, or even whether a cloth mask might block them in some small measure. It was not a question of the Science. It was simply recognizing the limitations of social engineering in a free society comprised of free individuals. Suddenly, in 2020, after having shut down churches, bars, small businesses, and schools, the freedom question became moot. A government that could tell you that you cant sell a hamburger to your neighbor in a local restaurant youve owned for years certainly has the power to demand that you wear a rag over your face, progressives thought -- however marginal the benefit of that might be. And, proving that everything is cyclical, even stupid ideas like public masking implemented by people drunk on their own seemingly limitless power, we are learning once again that you cant control individuals to the extent that such impositions would work -- even in a global population as yoked as our world became in the wake of the COVID pandemic. Modern technology captures the facts making this case more clearly today than was possible in the 1920s, we just seem to have fewer honest people in positions of power observing them. But the conclusions are the same. Back in 1918, there were chroniclers observing that Stockton had compulsory masking and that Boston didnt, for example. There was no discernible difference in influenza death rates, and if anything, Stockton fared worse. This result was continually observed and was continually affirmed by future observations. Hence, one hundred years of consensus on the matter of masks. Today, after the world again descended into mask-madness in the wake of the COVID epidemic, we know beyond shadows of doubt that theres not one single place on planet Earth that you can point to as evidence of the public benefit of masking or mask mandates. Oh, the promoters of masking tried early on, pointing to Japans 98% adoption of masks. Then the virus ravaged Japan in the summer of 2021, and cases in Japan are crazily spiking right now. Theyd throw you in jail in the Philippines for not wearing a mask, and that didnt stop surges in cases and deaths there. Meanwhile, Nordic countries never adopted masking to any significant extent and fared similarly (and often far better) than their mask-crazy European neighbors. Weve seen the same dynamics play out among neighboring states in the United States, and the observed data all suggest the same thing -- mask mandates do not work. So, now we have mountains more evidence to prove what we already knew for a hundred years. Unfortunately, the lies about the benefits of masking made their way around the world thousands of times over the past two years, but it seems that the truth is finally getting its pants on. And theres no better evidence that were nearing the end of this madness than the Super Bowl in Los Angeles, where the Hollywood royalty and political elite dropped all pretenses of COVID fear, and dropped the masks and distancing nonsense for the world to see. Yet, the very next day, Gavin Newsoms cronies went on to insist that our children in California, who were never at any significant statistical risk of the virus, needed to continue wearing these useless and thoroughly disproven talismans on their faces in schools and to continue living within the fearful fantasy that the adults around them had abandoned. Maybe thats why students are protesting across California. Its definitely why I left a detailed message to my childrens school superintendent on Monday. On Wednesday, my son and his friends, in sixth grade, left class to protest Newsoms renewed mask mandates. This was prompted, perhaps, by our local high school making national news on Tuesday night for doing the same. This all, in turn, prompted me to speak at our local school board meeting on Wednesday night. As luck would have it, I was the first to speak, relaying some of the information included in this article. Those in attendance cheered their support loudly when I concluded, and while I am quite certain there were several in that room that actually believe the evidence-free fantasy that public masking works, there was not one community representative arguing in favor of the continued masking of our children. The next morning, it was announced that our school district was encouraging masks, but not requiring them. Everywhere, mask mandates are finally being lifted, usually slated for some arbitrary date in the future where masks will magically no longer be needed. This only serves to highlight the farce this whole masking craze has been. But it has taken a heavy toll, to say the least. As just one example, the CDC quietly altered speech development guidance, suggesting that toddlers know 50 words by 30 months of age, signaling slower development than the previous guidance of that same level of development by 24 months of age. Masks undoubtedly slow our childrens development, and rather than admitting it, the CDC changed the standards to hide that fact. Meanwhile, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky says that she wants us to take a break from masks so that we can be ready to reach for them again when we need them. If thats what weve learned from this, then weve learned nothing at all. Knowing all that we now know, seeing the blatant hypocrisy that what weve continually seen these past two years, and having relearned, at great cost, what wed known for a hundred years before 2020, a serious country and a serious people would be firmly resolving to never submit to these tyrants, or their useless mask mandates, ever again. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License I was at the University of London yesterday, to meet a client when I stumbled upon Jeremy Bentham's preserved remains. While looking at his unblinking eye, it suddenly dawned on me how much Bentham has in common with many of our academics today that is, haughty; illogical; intemperate; and, if given enough power, probably dangerous. Indeed, Bentham was the epitome of an arrogant radical. Not only did he envision a Utopian collectivist society wherein morality could be determined through felicific calculus, but he also, in a delusional state of paradisaical pomposity, requested mummification so he could "inspire future generations." In the golden age of the academy, intellectual explorers descended into cerebral black holes to pursue truth. If those geniuses were fortunate, they would escape that gravity victoriously like Andrew Wiles or Roger Scruton although often weary. If they were not so fortunate, parts of themselves were lost inside that fissure forever, like John Nash, Kurt Godel, Vashishtha Narayan Singh, Nikola Tesla, and the countless other brave souls who never fully returned. Today, instead of courageously chasing scholastic gold, our academics are more concerned with platitudes for the purpose of virtue-signaling their moral superiority over "Joe the Plumber." The groupthink is so awful that one can no longer express any view contrary to the establishment without being called a racist, xenophobe, or some other epithet. It seems to me that only an appalling lack of humility could turn formerly inquisitive students into overbearing, supercilious, maniacal autocrats. Neo-Marxists, not unlike the classical Marxists, still fail to grasp the difference between justice and fairness. A heavyweight boxer pummeling a middleweight boxer might be unfair, but it's not unjust; an heiress born into an obscene amount of wealth is unfair, but it's certainly not unjust. Arbitrary conceptions of fairness, or in Bentham's case "collective happiness," are not the same as justice. The whole of justice requires an agreed-upon requisite, with a subset that exists outside the purview of legislation, and a subset that lies within. Moral law must always exist as a derivative of some axiom, either tied to the bonds of deduction or traced back to the transcendent. An heiress constantly followed by the paparazzi may think she's being treated unfairly, while a non-heiress may think she has no reason to complain. But what truly matters, and what determines justice, is not the subjective feelings of fairness unique to each individual, but rather the contract that exists between persons and government, and the rational force of natural law. Socialist academics often express outrage over inalienable rights, because they believe that individual rights such as the right to private property permit unfairness to exist. Others claim that corporations are too big, that they have become too powerful, that capitalism has failed us, that the hierarchy of rules oppresses us, and that only bigger government and presumably its genius can solve these negative externalities. But none of these claims is true. First, while monopolies and oligopolies have the capacity to be just as tyrannical as any politburo, prescribing the centralization of government to counter the centralization of industry is doubly worse. Indeed, it is a tactical blunder a mistake Marx made a mistake that was not unknown to the anarcho-syndicalists who concurrently opposed his ideas, to the hundreds of thousands who survived the torturous gulags, and to the millions now buried in unmarked graves. Those seeking the "dictatorship of the proletariat" should heed Lord Acton's warning: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely!" Second, extreme inequality is obviously worthy of consideration, but so is the problem of extreme equality. As Baron de Montesquieu wrote, "democracy has two excesses to avoid: the spirit of inequality, which leads to aristocracy ... and the spirit of extreme equality which conducts it to despotism[.]" The source of inequality in the West is mostly created by government that is to say, it's a result of entry barriers, subsidies, tax breaks, and generous patent laws that permit companies to operate as monopolies. In short, most government regulation is anti-capitalist. And it should come as no surprise to anyone that such regulation favors big business, and their big special interests, at the expense of mom-and-pop stores. Third, the proposed solution has to be better than the problem. To dogmatically pursue perfect equality, one would need to create an equalizer with a power that exceeds all others, for strength is the only way one can take from the so-called privileged and powerful and redistribute to the so-called unprivileged and weak. Such an equalizer simply creates a tangible, corporeal version of Orwell's Animal Farm, where equality is an illusion grounded in a new and more dangerous form of inequality. In pursuit of this extreme equality, Bentham's utilitarian henchman would have unlimited power to coerce through force and, more ominously, disregard anything deemed inalienable. This is precisely what Montesquieu is referring to when he says extreme equality can lead to despotism. Finally, pursuing notional policy is a historically dangerous proposition not just because pursuing the abstract to the extent of fully realizing the idea is an impossibility, but also because the pursuit of such extremes invariably tears at the fabric of social and cultural institutions until there is nothing left but destruction, anarchy, and misery. In fact, the French Revolution is a microcosm of how the pursuit of abstraction can lead to chaos. In this bleak world, one will no longer have self-determination, individuality, self-expression, control over subsistence, or the right to be evaluated upon his merits or demerits. The famous author of the "Federalist Papers" was clearly aware of this imprudence: "The power over a man's subsistence is a power over his will." In summary, philosophical fundamentalists pursuing perfect equality are not very different from the various other fundamentalists who threaten our way of life. As Edmund Burke so elegantly said, "intemperate minds cannot be free." Johannes Karl Otto Danneskiold-Samsoe is an attorney, libertarian, and American citizen residing in London. Image via Pexels. If you think risking public safety for political gain is a bridge too far, even for a Democrat politician, you need look no farther than Pittsburgh's Councilman Ricky Burgess to dispel any notion of it. It's only been less than a month since the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh's East End neighborhood collapsed on Jan. 28, coinciding with Biden's already scheduled trip to the city to tout his infrastructure plan. For Joe Biden, and a beleaguered White House staff, waking up to news of bridge's falling must've seemed like a providential gift for an administration desperate for a break from negative news of the president's plummeting poll numbers. No doubt the president was sincere, like everyone else, in his relief that there were no serious injuries or deaths from the bridge failure, but he must've also felt at least a twinge of relief to finally have an opportunity for a much-needed photo op of him looking presidential. Later that afternoon, on the day the bridge collapsed, a serious and stoic Joe Biden proclaimed from the edge of the fallen bridge his bewilderment to learn, despite being a "Pennsylvania Boy," that Pittsburgh, the City of Bridges, boasted more bridges than any other city in the world. Neither the enormity of the heaping mess of tangled bridge structure lying in the deep snowy ravine below before him, where joggers and hikers abound in warmer months, making frequent use of the trails now hidden beneath the rubble, nor that of the nation's crumbling infrastructure in need of replacement daunted Scranton Joe. Instead, an invigorated Biden would proclaim, "And we're going to fix them all, no joke." The president had his day before the camera lights. But apparently, Pittsburghers were kept in the dark for three years about a report issued warning city government of the serious structural issues suffered by the rapidly failing Fern Hollow Bridge. To many, it would also come as a great surprise to learn that over 100 other bridges in Pittsburgh's Allegheny County alone have "poor" condition ratings. I first wrote about this for AT here and here. Monica Showalter followed up with her own excellent reporting on the shocking evidence of how the funds earmarked for repairing Pittsburgh bridges were diverted to former Democrat mayor Bill Peduto's pet projects like building citywide bike lanes. As might be expected, the bridge collapse resulted in a lot of blame-shifting and political posturing by Pittsburgh's Democrat-controlled council and mayor's office. Calls for greater transparency on the seriousness of the city's crumbling infrastructure were widely cited as necessary if citizens were to be alerted to the great need to support infrastructure reclamation and if they were to regain the trust that their representatives in the city government still had their best interest in mind. So it seemed only natural that Democrat city councilman Corey O'Connor, whose district the Fern Hollow Bridge fell within, would urgently propose two make-sense infrastructure bills to the city council. According to Julian Routh of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, O'Conner "deemed a 'win for transparency' a bill requiring the city to provide regular, public update reports on the status of city-owned infrastructure." And a second "one forming an advisory commission on how to improve and maintain the city's bridges and tunnels." Surprisingly, other council members seemed to hit the brakes on both proposals faster than the PAT transit bus driver did before the bus he was driving, and he and the two other persons aboard, drove off the edge of the collapsing Fern Hollow Bridge, coming safely to a stop, hung up on a portion of the bridge decking that didn't fall to the bottom of the ravine. The second proposal of creating a commission was delayed because some members, as Routh reported, first wished to "see a greater focus on equity, diversity and expertise on its membership." But it was the first proposal that is most revealing about Democratic Councilman Ricky Burgess's desire for greater transparency. According to Routh, Burgess quickly objected to O'Connor's call for public update reports as being tantamount to "legislative malpractice" because Burgess "warned that it would open the city up to lawsuits." This assertion apparently was too much for even the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial board, normally docile to the city's Democrat machine, to remain quiet about. In a Feb. 20 scathing editorial, the paper accused Burgess of having "managed to exceed this esteemed body's usual shenanigans," further calling Burgess's "plea that Pittsburgh should not publicize the condition of city-owned infrastructure because such disclosures could increase the likelihood of lawsuits against the city ... truly extraordinary in its blatant disregard for the public's welfare." To Burgess's insistence that the "council has a fiduciary duty to protect the city," the editorial board could conceal its indignation behind a single word: "bull." The board would also allege that what "Burgess is really proposing is a cover-up." And what he is seeking to cover most can be found in the editorial's title: "their official behinds." For now, both of O'Connor's proposed bills will be tabled; whether, if they are ever brought up again, they will prove to be a "win for transparency" as touted is unknown. But one thing seems for certain: Burgess has been fully transparent in his response to the legislation. And the good people of Pittsburgh, even its usual liberal allies at the Post-Gazette, can see right through him. What really worries him about publicizing the condition of city-owned infrastructure is not so much the potential for lawsuits against the city, but what it would reveal about where city council's priorities have been these past many years. More to the point, as the board put it, "Burgess fears: The ability of the public to hold him and his colleagues, past and present, accountable for decades of failing to prioritize basic repairs and maintenance." Image: Screen shot from CNN video posted on YouTube. Last month, the architects of The Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) got to see the fruits of their work. Federal judge Taylor Swain gave the judicial nod for the plan of adjustment of Puerto Rico's debts after years of tough negotiations and litigation. This paves the way for the largest restructuring of public-sector debt in U.S. history and the eventual exit of the Financial Oversight and Management Board from the island. The reaction of the main actors in this saga of negotiation and litigation has been mostly positive, with the executive director of the oversight board, Natalie Jaresko, declaring in a statement, "Today begins a new chapter in Puerto Rico's history. Today, Puerto Rico can start to move on from fiscal instability and insolvency into a future of opportunity and growth." Democrat Governor Pedro Pierluisi joined in, stating, "The agreement, although not perfect, is very good for Puerto Rico and protects our pensioners, the University, and our municipalities, which serve our people[.]" Capitol of Puerto Rico. The policy triumphalism of some of these actors has some merit, as the plan reduces a considerable portion of Puerto Rico's debt obligations and saves billions of dollars in debt payments an important achievement for a commonwealth government that in May of 2017 declared to the world that it couldn't fulfill its obligations to bondholders and pension systems. However, despite this triumphalism, structural problems and a political culture that operates outside fiscal reality mean that Puerto Rico may once again find itself in the same fiscal mess that it has for now left. The plan of adjustment has restructured the debts of Puerto Rico, but there has been a failure to pursue the structural reforms needed for a healthy economy and fiscal outlook. These reforms, which range from labor and regulation to infrastructure and energy, coupled with a long-term vision for the economy, are needed if the island is to avoid defaulting in the future. The differences aired in a recent meeting of the Fiscal Oversight Board show that a majority of its members have no trust that politicians on the island will undertake such reforms. This shouldn't be surprising when local news reveals a political culture disconnected from the fiscal realities of the island. An example of this culture is the current governor's promise to deliver tax reform to lower taxes and make the island competitive. This sort of reform in other circumstances would be a welcome development, particularly for an economy that faces stiff competition from Caribbean and Latin American countries. But a commonwealth that has just exited Title III bankruptcy and has considerable financial commitments should not be reducing its tax rates. Furthermore, there has been recent debate and protest to increase the wages of some public-sector workers such as teachers, police, and firefighters above the level agreed to under the adjustment plan. These important public-sector staff do deserve better pay; the base salaries for these workers hasn't been increased in years, and there is a necessary fiscal price to retain them. To this end, in the case of teachers, the Puerto Rican House of Representatives approved Bill 413 to increase their base wage. Nevertheless, unless additional public funds can be identified, a jurisdiction such as Puerto Rico with a delicate fiscal situation and emerging from a bankruptcy process should not be in the business of unfunded wage increases. These examples are a small glimpse of how detached the Puerto Rican political culture is from its fiscal realities. Unless there is a major change in this political culture, that sees high government spending and government as the messianic solution to every problem facing the island, Puerto Rico will slide right back to fiscal disarray. Avoiding a return to the circumstances that led to PROMESA requires changing the political culture and basing it on giving a vote of confidence in the ability of Puerto Ricans to manage their private affairs. This means policies that emphasize entrepreneurship, free enterprise, and a state whose role is limited to what is essential for individuals to live within a community. The plan of adjustment and Puerto Rico's exit from bankruptcy are a welcome development. However, without structural reforms and changes to the political culture toward confidence in free individuals, the commonwealth will probably become insolvent within a decade. In light of this experience, policymakers on Capitol Hill should begin preparation for another PROMESA. Photo credit: Brad Clinesmith, CC BY-SA 2.0 license. Ojel L. Rodriguez Burgos is a professor of international relations at the University of Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico and a Ph.D. student in the School of International Relations at the University of St. Andrews. His political commentary has appeared in The Hill, The Washington Examiner, and Forbes. Follow him on Twitter: @ojelrodriguez. Mississippi GOP senator Roger Wicker is at it again, urging the Biden administration to "protect our democratic friends" in Ukraine and invoking the domino theory. Wicker, a member of the Armed Services Committee, previously suggested on Fox News that the United States use ground troops and possibly a nuclear first strike to defend Ukraine. Shortly after he made those comments and received criticism from former Hawaii congresswomen Tulsi Gabbard and Fox's Tucker Carlson, a National Review William F. Buckley fellow named Jimmy Quinn came to Wicker's defense, claiming he didn't say what he clearly did say. Now National Review has published an article by Senator Wicker that praises President Biden for positioning more U.S. troops to NATO countries but criticizes him for not doing more. "Strong presidents," he writes, "never take options off the table, and we cannot be surprised if Putin now doubts whether we really care what he does to Ukraine." Because, Wicker writes, our failure to defend Ukraine will show that "America's will to lead and defend the free world is no longer believed," and "every adversary will be emboldened to challenge our interests." To support his call for stronger U.S. actions to defend Ukraine, Wicker reaches back to the domino theory the notion, first mentioned by President Eisenhower and later supported by presidents Kennedy and Johnson, that our failure to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam would inevitably lead to the communization of all of Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and beyond. Wicker writes: "There are now several dominoes lined up that stand to fall behind Ukraine," and he mentions Poland and the Baltic States (who are NATO members Ukraine is not). The first version of the domino theory resulted in the deaths of more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen and our defeat by a third-rate power in Vietnam. And while some dominoes fell Laos and Cambodia not all of them did, and we ultimately prevailed in the Cold War despite that wasteful defeat, and Vietnam is now siding with us against China because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Now Wicker wants us to defend a country that was part of Russia and the former Soviet Union for centuries because, apparently, Ukraine is now part of the "free world." Perhaps the senator and the editors of National Review should clearly state how many of our soldiers' lives are worth losing to defend the independence of Ukraine. And perhaps before Biden decides to go to war in Ukraine, he will seek a congressional declaration of war as the Constitution demands. Wicker also invokes President Ronald Reagan and his defense buildup in the 1980s that "helped with the Cold War." It did indeed, but Reagan won that Cold War without firing a shot. Reagan didn't send U.S. ground forces to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan, and he didn't threaten a nuclear first strike to defend the Afghans (or the Poles). And Reagan came into office with a well deserved national security and anti-Soviet reputation that the Soviets understood all too well. Biden, on the other hand, to quote former CIA and defense secretary Robert Gates, had a reputation for being wrong about virtually every foreign policy issue during his long Senate career. Gates could paraphrase Lloyd Benson's comments about Dan Quayle: "Senator Wicker, I knew Ronald Reagan and served with him. Senator Wicker, Joe Biden is no Ronald Reagan." Wicker's piece in National Review is yet another sign of the decline of William F. Buckley, Jr.'s once-great magazine, which has been transformed by the recent and current editorial staff into a neo-conservative, anti-populist journal that invariably supports the Washington GOP establishment. Oh, for the days of James Burnham, Russell Kirk, Whittaker Chambers, Willmoore Kendall, Joseph Sobran, Keith Mano, William Rusher, and Buckley himself. As to the question of how many American lives should be sacrificed to defend Ukraine, I'll paraphrase Bismarck about the Balkans: Ukraine is not worth the healthy bones of a single American soldier. Image: OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. "There was no way for getting over [the Allegheny River] but on a Raft, which we set about, with but one poor Hatchet...after a whole day's work. Half Way over, we were jammed in the Ice in such a Manner that we expected every moment our Raft to sink...the Rapidity of the stream threw it with so much violence that it jerked me out into ten Feet Water, but I fortunately saved myself by catching hold of one of the Raft Logs." The Journal of Major George Washington, 1754. So much has been written about George Washington regarding his character and steadfastness during the American Revolution, and his full support of the Constitution of 1787, that his young manhood is often forgotten. On this February 22, the anniversary of his birth, think of what he did in 1753, age twenty-one, on a long and arduous 1,000-mile journey through the wilderness from Williamsburg, Virginia all the way to Waterford, Pennsylvania, just south of Lake Erie, to what was known then as the French-controlled Fort Le Boeuf. Anything past the Blue Ridge Mountains that run north and south between the original thirteen British colonies and the Atlantic Ocean was wilderness in the 1750s, and very dangerous to those who ventured into the area. People were routinely scalped and left to be eaten by wild hogs. The French, British, and Spanish competed for part of North America at this time, but the crucial Ohio Valley was of especial interest to the French and the British. In a line of four forts from Lake Erie down what was called French Creek, to the Allegheny River, to the Forks of the Ohio where the Allegheny River and the Monongahela River split (current-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), the French took their stand against the British. They were also heavily fortified at New Orleans and envisioned a French trade route from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi and then to the Atlantic. So dangerous was this wilderness that one of the French forts, later converted by the British to Fort Venango, was invaded by the Seneca in 1763. All were killed, and the fort's leader, Lt. Francis Gordon, was tortured and then burned to death on a spit over the embers of what was left. In this environment, George Washington, a young major in the Virginia militia, volunteered to deliver a letter from the British lieutenant governor of Virginia, Robert Dinwiddie, to the French commandant at Ft. Le Boeuf, demanding that the French evacuate the Ohio territory. He was to return with the French reply. Washington left Williamsburg, Virginia on October 31, 1753; picked up Native American and French interpreters, two baggage handlers, a guide, and two Traders; and then crossed the Allegheny mountains from Cumberland, Maryland (then called Wills Creek) in late November. "[E]xcessive Rains and vast Quantities of Snow... had fallen," he tells us. From "civilized" Williamsburg on the East Coast through two ridges of mountains, swamps, soggy marsh and mires, heavy forest, major rivers, and tributaries, the party went into the Indian villages of western Pennsylvania. Washington was instructed to counsel with the Six Nations living there and to ascertain the strength of the French presence and the loyalty of the tribes to French ambitions. Image: George Washington as a young surveyor by Henry Hintermeister, painted in 1948. Public domain. Within the Indian trade center, Loggs-town, Washington explained his mission, and various sachems and other warriors agreed to escort him to Ft. Le Boeuf, six full days away. It was unclear where loyalties really lay for these wily leaders between the British and the French and, all of a sudden, a twenty-one-year-old was in the middle of both a fact-finding and a diplomatic mission of some complexity and danger. As he would do the rest of his life in difficult circumstances, he kept his intelligence, his cool, and his reserve. I had Orders to make all possible Dispatch. ... He [a Seneca called Half-King] was not well pleased that I should go before the Time he [Half-King] had appointed. ... As I found it was impossible to get off without affronting ... I consented to stay. ... [T]he French had called all the Mingos, Delawares, etc together and told them they intended to be Masters of the Ohio. ... When they [the Native Americans accompanying Washington] came in [to Ft. Le Boeuf] they were applied Liquor so fast that they were soon render'd incapable of the Business they came about. ... As I found Plots to prevent [his escorts] returning with me I endeavour'd all that lay in my Power to frustrate their schemes. ... The Commandant was exerting every Artifice that he could invent to set our own Indians at Variance with us. So here he is, delivering a letter from his British superior to a French commander who is in no way inclined to be pleased with its contents, in the escort of tribesmen who are being bribed to let him make the dangerous return journey without protection. Washington left with only one escort, whom he soon had to abandon with all others in the party because of the weather. Then, with his one guide, Christopher Gist; a backpack; and a gun, the two proceeded to walk. French Indians lay in wait in the thick forest to assassinate them. What an adventure. Trekking all night and then a day to avoid being killed, the two finally reached the dangerous and ice-filled Allegheny River and built their raft to try to cross. Without Christopher Gist hauling him out of the water, George Washington would have drowned. "The cold was so extremely severe, that [Gist] had all his Fingers, and some of his Toes frozen." Finally making it to a Trader's cabin near Pittsburgh, the pair at last reached safety. George Washington had survived a very dangerous assignment by Lt. Governor Dinwiddie. He still had the presence of mind, before leaving the Forks of the Ohio for home, to visit Queen Alliquippa of the Seneca. "[She] expressed great concern that we passed her in going to the Fort. I made her a present of a Matchcoat and a Bottle of Rum, which later was thought the better Present of the two." His journal of this trip to the Ohio territory became widely printed and launched an enduring fame centered on courage, dignity, duty, savvy, and good judgment. All this at age twenty-one. The great chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Marshall, wrote this about Washington, 1838: Among the many valuable traits in the character of Washington, was that of unyielding firmness. ... [H]e did not appear to despair ... a serene unembarrassed countenance ... inspiring others with confidence ... no distress could weaken their affection nor impair the respect and veneration in which they held him ... to this perfect self-possession ... is America, in a great degree, indebted for her independence. All Americans, indebted forever, to this great man. The Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine has finally happened, and now the Trump-haters who tried to impeach President Trump over Ukraine have much to answer for. Looking at you, Alexander Vindman. Looking at you, Alexandra and Andrea Chalupa. Looking at you, Fiona Hill. These are all the crummy little supposedly pro-Ukraine operatives who did their damnedest to undermine President Trump during his administration. After all, the Russia invasion didn't happen on Trump's watch as they plotted and schemed against him instead of doing their jobs. Vladimir Putin was actually pretty docile during those years, despite taking heavy rounds of sanctions signed off on by Trump. It happened after the man they worked so hard to get into the presidency cheated his way into power. Trump terrified Putin with his bold actions, unpredictability, and willingness to take risks. He took out terrorist chieftains such as Iran's Qassem Soleimani. He knocked the legs out from under Putin, who gets his money from oil exports, by making America energy independent. Putin is no fool and understood well that it's always a bad idea to mess with people with those kinds of cojones, so he didn't. Biden by contrast has projected an image of feebleness and inattention long-farting, sleeping, getting lost, and soiling himself across Europe. His positions shift. He goes on vacation. He shows his military chops by his chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. He sends vapid Kamala Harris to speak for him in appeasement-symbolic Munich. The message sent by Biden is that America is the "has been" superpower. It was great in its heyday, but... We hope these jackasses are happy. They got what they wanted. They got Joe. And now the results speak for themselves. This obviously, has prompted all kinds of scrambling self-justifications from this Ukraine cabal that elected Ukraine-corrupted Joe. Vindman, the de facto whistleblower who altered classified documents, decided his own foreign policy calls were more important than the elected president's and used a CIA cut out to try to nail Trump through impeachment, is out there spouting blame to Republicans instead of himself. Screenshot from MSNBC via shareable RealClearPolitics.com. "Republicans have blood on their hands," he claimed, forgetting who is president now. Vindman accuses Trump allies of "encouraging Putin to attack Ukraine" https://t.co/KKoieeOad9 Jason Bennett (@JasonBe93233819) February 22, 2022 Guilty conscience there, Pillsbury doughboy? Ukraine was your baby, Trump was your bad guy you claimed you were protecting it from, and now look what happened to it. The Chalupa gals, another pair of Ukraine-descended bounders who did a helluva job for their former country, one a manipulative Democrat operative who reportedly was the propagator of the invented Steele dossier's pervy parts and the other an activist, are out blaming Trump and everyone but themselves on Twitter. Here's the worse of the two, Alexandra: The time for taking action to impose significant costs on President Putin and the Kremlin started in 2014 and had we done it then, Putin would never have been able to install Trump as President. Better late than never. https://t.co/AStjaPo8ru Alexandra Chalupa (@AlexandraChalup) February 22, 2022 What does any of this have to do with Trump? Trump scared the hell out of Putin. Biden is a puddle of weakness. How Trump's election in 2016, which came through the will of the American voters (and not Putin), has anything to do with Putin's invasion of Ukraine today is never specified. Joe's the one who was making money through skeevy deals with Ukraine, not Trump. Trump's the one who tried to shut it down, something he got impeached for. Joe somehow has nothing to do with this? Chalupa lives on another planet. Oh, and the Ukraine she claims to support as a Ukrainian-American, is now dissolving away at the hands of Putin now that Joe is in power. Hope she's proud of herself. Andrea, too, is tweeting nonsense: People should watch this and think of ex-German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder's blood money Kremlin lobbying, Merkel refusing to stop Putin's gas pipeline Nordstream 2, Brexit/Trump Kremlin help, Londongrad, Paul Manafort. Too many others. https://t.co/uOJjjhtM1i Andrea Chalupa (@AndreaChalupa) February 21, 2022 Oh, so the Nordstream 2 pipeline is a problem now? Would that be the same Nordstream 2 pipeline President Trump sought to block and Joe Biden gave the green light to? But somehow, Trump is the bad guy. Note her gibberish about Paul Manafort and Brexit. No mention of Hunter Biden, of course. That's just Russian disinformation, right? And while she's got lots of calls for sanctions in her other tweets, she doesn't mention that the U.S. has grown oil-dependent on Russia in the Biden era, in sharp contrast to Trump making America energy independent. Back in 2017, when Trump was in the saddle, the U.S. imported around 300,000 BPD of oil from Russia. In February 2019 alone, when the U.S. became energy independent, that figure slipped as low as 6,336 thousand barrels. In November 2021, the figure is nearly three times that at 17,855 thousand barrels. Today, the broad annual figure is 595,000 BPD, nearly twice what it was during the Trump era, so it's not just Germany that's over a barrel on the energy front to Russia, rendering sanctions useless the U.S. gets to pay as much as $20 more for a barrel of oil on this foreign policy screw-up, and those soaring oil prices will make Putin much, much richer. Leftists never think these things through. Let's not forget Fiona Hill, the Russia foreign policy expert who ran the Vindman operation at the Trump NSC and testified in Trump's impeachment trial as a supposedly impartial observer. She too was involved in the Steele dossier scandal and may have been tight with Joe Biden even earlier. She's the one who cited Joe Biden (who apparently doesn't read) in the book blurb to her 2013 masterwork on Putin, called "Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin," which she co-wrote with Democrat operative Clifford G. Gaddy. She's delivering flaccid, keister-covering stuff to the nets like this: You mean the same Fiona Hill who introduced Christopher Steele to Igor Danchenko? That Fiona Hill? https://t.co/sn7AcBL2nv Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) February 20, 2022 Really? Energy independence that keeps us out of Putin's clutches is not putting America first? What kind of analyst was she, and why did she ever wind up in the Trump White House for a spell? She can't analyze to save Ukraine's life, and well, now with her book-buddy Joe Biden in the saddle, Ukraine is getting sliced like salami. She ought to have seen that coming, but she didn't. She was blinded by her loathing for Trump and used her job as the catbird seat from which to undermine him, not do her job in analyzing how various factors would influence how Putin would act. Reportedly, she still advises senile old Joe, and, well, the results speak for themselves. This is wretched stuff. The Ukraine cabal has a lot to answer for and not just in the bad results seen in Ukraine, but also in the declining public sentiment toward Ukraine. If this is what Ukraine and its auxiliaries are producing, why should anyone care what happens to Ukraine? Worse still, the results will be felt in America as oil prices rise, the risk of a dramatic cyber-attack or attack on our power grid rises exponentially, and Putin skews toward China instead of the West. That's "I did that" from Joe Biden, and these clowns made it possible. Image: Screen shot from MSNBC video via shareable RealClearPolitics.com. Russia's President Vladimir Putin insists that the Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk regions are independent. Of course, Putin's idea of "independent" means the two regions should be part of Mother Russia. Does it matter? Putin is only sending in troops to "maintain peace." Haven't we seen this movie before? In 1936, Adolf Hitler went into the Rhineland and reclaimed it for Germany. And the world did nothing. In 1938, Hitler marched into Austria, insisting that the people wanted Anschluss (union with Germany). Demanding a vote, the Nazis fixed the election. (Hmmm, where else have we heard about fixed elections?) The fake result was that 99 percent of the Austrian people wanted to become part of Greater Germany. Austrian prime minister Kurt Schuschnigg begged Britain, France, and Italy for aid to stop Hitler, but none came because all of them believed Hitler's promise that Anschluss was the end of his expansion plans. Hitler lied. Perhaps getting tired of vacations at his Obersalzberg chalet, a mere six months later, der Fuhrer demanded that the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia become part of Germany. Trying desperately to avoid war, Britain's Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain met with Hitler three times in September 1938. The result was the Munich Agreement that had Chamberlain holding a useless piece of paper and infamously stating, "Peace for our time." Most European countries celebrated the agreement that allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland as long as der Fuhrer promised not to invade the rest of Czechoslovakia. In March 1939, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. Italy's Mussolini, who was busy making the trains run on time, was now aligned with his Nazi counterpart. Now only Britain and France refused to hang swastikas in their embassy windows. The world waited, hoping Hitler would stop invading. In the meantime, European countries were disappearing (along with Jews and those Christians who didn't want to say, "Heil Hitler!"). Not to worry. Britain and France had a great idea. If they just "threatened" Hitler with war, the short guy with a funny mustache would surely stay out of Poland. Hitler laughed all the way to the Reichstag and invaded Poland in September 1939. By then, there was nothing the world could do but belatedly go after Hitler. World War II was the result. It saw an estimated 8085 million people perish, including six million Jews whom the Nazis systematically murdered. So we have seen this movie before! Image: Neville Chamberlain stating "peace for our time." Public domain. On February 21, Putin gave a long-televised speech from his Moscow office, where he claimed that Ukraine is an integral part of Russia's history. Will history repeat itself with the Western world believing that all Putin wants are the Ukrainian Donetsk and Lugansk regions, when Putin is really focused on the entire country of Ukraine? What about the other nations that used to be part of the Soviet Union? Every honest person knows that if the 2020 election had not been stolen from Donald Trump and he was still in the White House, Putin would never have even looked at Ukraine, much less invaded. But the Oval Office is occupied by a man who has a large "D" after his name and that stands for dementia. Where the American people expect strength and confidence from the president, with Joe Biden, you get stories about Corn Pop, incoherent ramblings, and defeat. On February 17, Biden said: "My sense is [an invasion] will happen in the next several days." No one should be surprised by Biden's actions, since this is the same guy who abandoned Afghanistan in the summer of 2021 and left $85 billion in sophisticated military equipment for the Taliban. Thanks to Joey, the Taliban is now one of the most advanced military forces in the region. As Biden's grueling two-hour workdays keep him home practicing in front of a teleprompter for the March 1 State of the Union speech, he sent Vice President Kamala Harris to the Ukraine/Russian border. Having done such an outstanding job at the MexicoUnited States border, it made complete sense to send Harris overseas for a Neville Chamberlainlike "peace for our time" visit. In keeping with her astute understanding of world history, while in Munich, Harris exclaimed: I mean, listen, guys, we're talking about the potential for war in Europe. I mean, let's really take a moment to understand the significance of what we're talking about. It's been over 70 years. And through those 70 years, as I mentioned yesterday, there has been peace and security. We are talking about the real possibility of war in Europe. George Santayana once said, "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it." With Biden and Harris running things, we might be condemned to "war for our time." The oldest prison in England and the countrys most notorious was owned not by the reigning monarch but the Bishop of Winchester. Now why would a bishop, a man of god, you may ask, would need a prison for? To keep heretics, of course. In later years, Clink, as the prison was called, was used to imprison debtors as well as any miscreants. Its name is thought to have derived from the sound metal makes when the prison's doors were bolted close, or from the rattling of the chains the prisoners wore. The Clink prison, now a museum. Photo: Matt Brown/Flickr Clink was established on the South bank of the Thames around mid-12th century. This land, known as the Liberty of the Clink was given to the Bishop of Winchester by the newly established Norman Kings. Although situated in Surrey the liberty was exempt from the jurisdiction of the county's high sheriff and was under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Winchester who was usually either the Chancellor or Treasurer of the King. In 1109 William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, had the Winchester House Built. This palace would remain for more than 500 years as the residence for the bishops when they were in London. The palace contained a number of cells that were used to accommodate monks, priests, and other members of the clergy who had broken ecclesiastical codes. These cells were deemed necessary since members of the clergy were immune from punishment under civil law. The responsibility of punishing such wrongdoers thus fell on the bishop. By law, an archbishop was allowed to use several types of punishment such scourging with rods, solitary confinement, serving only bread and water which led to severe malnourishment and eventual death. Over time, Clink became famous for the elaborate tortures inflicted upon its prisoners. A popular method of torture was using fetters and irons to prevent the prisoners from falling asleep. Another kind of punishment was to force the prisoners to stand in water until their feet rotted. Women who were found guilty of adultery were tied to a pole and suspended over a pot of boiling oil. In general, the prisoners were treated very harshly. But it was possible to buy a few basic comforts by bribing the gaolers, who hired out better rooms, beds, bedding, candles and fuel in exchange for some money. Food and drink were charged at twice the outside price. Those who could afford could buy lighter fitting irons or remove them completely. For a fee, prisoners were allowed outside to beg or even to work. Corruption was so rife that it was possible to run a brothel from inside the Clink, with payments going to the gaolers. Money also allowed privileged prisoners to avoid the whipping post, the ducking stool, and other tortures and indignities. Photo: MattLake/Flickr No wonder, the Clink was much hated by the towners, so when rioters protesting the newly established Statute of Labourers turned violent, some of them attacked the Winchester House and released all the prisoners and murdered the clerics. The rioters then burned the prison down. After the rebellion was put down, the Winchester House was rebuilt and extended, and a new bigger prison was built. The prison got a new ducking stool on the bank outside the Clink which was used for punishing scolds, erring ale sellers, and bakers who sold underweight or bad bread. When Mary I came to the throne in 1553, she used the Clink to incarcerate Protestants. Prisoners were kept in stocks and pillories and starved. Those that didn't starve to death were executed later. When Queen Elizabeth took over she continued to use the prison for religious persecution, but this time the Catholics were on the receiving end, along with Protestant Puritans. In 1584, Puritans planned to overthrow the church. When Elizabeth found out, she ordered that the harshest treatments of the prison be given, and scores of Puritans were starved to death. Some of those that survived later travelled in The Mayflower to America in 1620. In 1649, Winchester House was sold to a property developer and was divided into shops, tenements and dye houses. The Clink remained, but now it was mostly a debtors prison. The cage that hung on the outside was removed when ratepayers complained about the cost of upkeep, but the whipping post continued to see action. By the early 18th century, both of these and the stocks were all unused because of the cost of upkeep, and by 1732 there were only two registered inmates. The prison finally burned down in 1780 during Gordon riots. During its long history, the Clink held many historically significant criminals. These include Sir Thomas Wyatt The Younger, who rebelled against Queen Bloody Mary I and John Rogers, who translated the Bible into English from Latin during the reign of the aforementioned Roman Catholic Queen. The Clink Prison Museum now stands at the site of the former prison. Stop us if you have heard this before, but Amity is the new No. 1 team in the GameTimeCT Top 10 Baseball Poll. The Spartans claim the top spot after previous No. 1 Warde dropped a 2-1 decision to... Your guide to the summer treasures of the North of Boston and Merrimack Valley regions Click Here Samsung is rolling out a major update to its Good Lock app. The much-loved app by Galaxy users offers all sorts of customization and personalization options on their Galaxy devices. The latest update is now adding a whole new lot of such options. According to a moderator on Samsungs official community forums in South Korea, the new update for Good Lock 2022 modules will start rolling out to users today. The new version will allow users to create their own stickers in Kids Cafe. The stickers will be accessible from the Samsung Keyboard. Nice Shot will let you immediately delete a screenshot before its saved to the clipboard. You will also be able to set various backgrounds for selfie videos. Wonderland will add 3D effects for portrait shots while One Hand Operation+ is gaining additional gestures for keyboard shortcuts and moving the screen. Sound Assistant is also adding new sound effects as well as new features such as customized volume panels. Advertisement The Galaxy Z Flip 3 will gain a cover screen launcher with the Multistar Good Lock module. This will allow you to use several apps on the tiny external display. Perhaps Samsung is taking a cue from this third-party app we recently discussed. Samsung releases another update to the Good Lock app Samsungs Good Lock app is a suite of several modules that let you change the look and feel of everything from the navigation buttons and icons to the quick settings panel, recent apps menu, and a bunch of other system UI elements and animations. These modules also expand the functionality of Galaxy devices. The Good Lock project is a voluntary effort by some of Samsungs software developers. They work on the project during their spare time. So updates for the app arent as frequent as some other Samsung apps. But with the release of every new Android OS version, the company updates the Good Lock modules with new features and compatibility enhancements. Soon after Android 12 went official last year, it released the expected update to the app. The Korean behemoth is now following up with another major update to its suite of customization and personalization modules for Galaxy devices. Advertisement As said before, this update will gradually roll out to users starting today. Users in South Korea will likely pick up the new version first before a global rollout. If Google Lock is available in your region and is compatible with your Galaxy smartphone, you should be able to download the app from the Galaxy Store. The app isnt available on the Google Play Store. You can click the button below to download the latest version of Good Lock for your Galaxy device. Note that you may need to update some modules separately from within the app. DOWNLOAD GOOD LOCK PLEASE NOTE: ALL ONLINE PURCHASES ARE AUTOMATIC RENEWALS UNLESS YOU EMAIL JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM OR CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 256-235-9253.... Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM *NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY join with a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! AMEX is not accepted through this site. After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* PALERMO - The island of Lampedusa is vying to become an epicenter of research and political, cultural and artistic projects focusing on the themes of peace and migration flows. The project means to transform the former military base Loran, in the area of Capo Ponente, into a center of research that is able to involve international institutions and associations, volunteer networks, the world of art and culture and to host large events. The project, which the municipality intends to give to architect Stefano Boeri, involves first of all the local administration, the region and the ministries of culture and defense. "Transforming a 'symbol of war' like the ex-military base, into a 'symbol of peace', is an initiative of great value", said the mayor of Lampedusa and Linosa, Toto Martello, who strongly promoted the project. "The commitment of Lampedusa and its community on humanitarian hosting - explained Martello - is recognized and appreciated at an international level but the moment has arrived to have a propositional role so that, from the center of the Mediterranean, it is possible to build a dialogue of peace that is able to deal with the phenomenon of migrant flows in its complexity". Over the past few days, Boeri and his team, together with other consultants (architect Giorgio Dona, Emanuel Ingrao of Shifton and Silvia Basta from the Fondazione Maimeri) visited the island. "When we talk about migration on Lampedusa - said Boeri - we talk about lives in movement, stories, identities that over the centuries met, leaving deep traces on this island. The idea of a museum of migrations cannot but start from a summary of these stories". A letter of intent was recently signed by the municipality of Lampedusa and Linosa and the Sicilian region. "It is a project of great value, not just symbolic but also strategic, which the regional government has immediately welcomed with enthusiasm", said Sicily Governor Nello Musumeci. Along with the International research center for peace, the project provides for the creation of several different realities on the island, including an auditorium, a museum with a digital archive, a system of labs and locations where researchers can study and reside. ANSAmed - Weekly diary from 21/2 to 27/2 (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEB 21 - The following are the main events scheduled in the Euro-Mediterranean area between February 21 to February 27: MONDAY FEBRUARY 21 LE BOURGET - Informal meeting of EU transportation ministers (until 22/2). BRUSSELS - Meeting of EU foreign ministers. BRUSSELS - Caritas report on poverty in Europe. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22 ATHENS - Another meeting between Turkish and Greek delegations to develop a mechanism for dialogue on disputes over some Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. ALGIERS - Third anniversary of the launch of the pro-democracy movement Hirak. BRUSSELS - Meeting of EU General Affairs ministers. WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23 TUNIS - Forum on entrepreneurship begins (until 24/2). ABI DHABI - Briefing on the UAE's nuclear program. FLORENCE - Conference entitled 'Mediterraneo Frontiera di Pace' ('Mediterranean, Frontier of Peace') (until 27/2). THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24 ISTANBUL - Trial in absentia for the killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi. BRUSSELS - Meeting between the EU commissioner tasked with economic affairs, Paolo Gentiloni, and Odile Renaud-Basso, president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). FRIDAY FEBRUARY 25 PARIS - Informal meeting of EU economic and finance ministers (until 26/2). BRUSSELS - Meeting of the Eurogruppo. SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY No major events scheduled SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY No major events scheduled (ANSAmed). ATHENS - Environmentalist groups have called on Greece to stop seismic exploration for hydrocarbons in the Ionian sea after several whales were found beached, the World Wildlife Fund said. Over the past few years, Athens gave exploration and exploitation rights for hydrocarbons off the island of Crete and in the Ionian sea, but the use of seismic exploration, according to environmentalists, can damage the hearing of cetaceans and stress them. Three Cuvier Beaked whales were found beached, but still alive on the island of Corfu. "Seismic research conducted in the area must be immediately halted" until it will not become clear what caused the episodes, according to a letter published by the WWF on its site. Organizations that signed the letter addressed to Greek Premier Kyriakos Mitsotakis and environmental authorities include Greenpeace and Medasset. According to marine fauna experts, Cuvier Beaked whales live at a depth of over 1,000 meters and are extremely sensitive to noise pollution caused by human activities. Environmentalist groups said a reconnaissance ship has been conducting research in the Ionian Sea since February 10. The area also reported additional traffic of rescue ships after a fire, north-west of Corfu, on the Grimaldi Italian ferry. TEL AVIV - The eviction, scheduled in March, of a Palestinian family in the sensitive district of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem has been suspended by a court in the city, the newspaper Haaretz reports. The eviction ordering the Salem family to leave the home, which belonged to a Jewish family until 1948, caused strong tension in the district, which has been at the center of a clash for some time. The tribunal ruled that the decision should be effective as soon as the Salem family deposits a sum of over 6,000 euros. The Jewish promoters of the eviction request can now appeal the sentence. Police sources were quoted by Haaretz as expressing the fear that the eviction of the family (including 11 people) could spark fresh tensions in the district and in the city. TRIPOLI - Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibah, who was recently ousted by Tobruk's parliament, said on television that he will surrender power only to an elected government and announced legislative elections by the end of June. Already torn by competing institutions in the east and west, Libya has two rival prime ministers in Tripoli after skipping elections in December. On February 10, in fact, Parliament in the east appointed former interior minister Fathi Bachagha to replace Dbeibah as interim premier. Lawmakers voted for the replacement and for a new schedule that should lead to presidential elections by the next 14 months. In a televised speech on Monday night, Dbeibah announced a new political schedule that should begin with legislative elections "by June 24", the date marking the end of the political process promoted by the UN. As part of this process, Dbeibah was appointed a year ago as the head of an interim cabinet, after years of war and divisions, to lead the transition by organizing presidential and legislative elections, originally scheduled in December. But persistent fighting led to the postponement, without a new date, of the double vote on which the international community was pinning great hopes to finally stabilize the country and end foreign interference. MADRID - Spanish bishops are willing to "collaborate" with public authorities to shed light on possible sexual abuse cases committed by members of the Spanish Church, said the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (Cee), Cardinal Juan Jose Omella, during the presentation of an "independent" inquiry by attorneys Cremades&CalvoSotelo. "This is about establishing a bridge to help authorities work", added Omella, explaining that the investigation will be characterized by "all the necessary width" and "transparency". For his part, the president of the legal office, Javier Cremades, explained that a team of 18 professionals will work on the case and that the probe, which means to "complement" other investigations, will last at least 12 months. The idea, he added, is to follow the example of similar investigations in Germany and France, integrating "work already done by Spanish dioceses". Cremades, who said he is "Catholic and a member of Opus Dei", also said he has already contacted civic defender Angel Gabilondo, an institution tasked by the government with coordinating an independent commission. Cee's stated willingness to investigate in a "transparent" way the issue of abuse comes after years of doubt and opacity, while an increasing number of victims and representatives of civil society and politics have asked the Church to shed light on possible cases that were often silenced for years or decades. Tunisia: Abir Moussi says she will run for president Pdl leader announces day of protest on March 13 (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, FEBRUARY 22 - The leader of the Free Destourian Party (Pdl), Abir Moussi, has announced that members of Pdl have agreed to choose her as the party's candidate in upcoming presidential elections. During a press conference at the party's headquarters, dedicated to the presentation of a motion, Moussi also announced a day of protest on March 13 "to save the Tunisian people and the State and Tunisia, which is dealing with serious economic difficulties". The Pdl, said the leader, refuses to support any process tripping on citizens' rights, limiting collective and individual freedoms and monopolizing power. According to Moussi, the Pdl will participate in all elections and will be present in different electoral districts in upcoming legislative, municipal and presidential votes. Moussi also condemned attempts by Tunisian President Kais Saied to "dismantle" institutions of the State with the pretext of exceptional measures, she said, to implement his political project. For this reason, Moussi noted, she will not recognize the result of an online vote, considering the questions promulgated by Saied as illegitimate. She slammed the online vote as illegal, claiming it is a "methodic fraud". "The party refuses elections that falsify the will of the people", she said. Moussi again asked for the dissolution of Parliament and for early parliamentary elections.(ANSAmed). (ANSA). Gov. Ned Lamont has budgeted $30 million to take the first steps improving cellphone service on Metro-North trains. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Commuters on Metro-North know cell service can be spotty at best, and Connecticut is taking the first steps to find a solution. Gov. Ned Lamont added $30 million to his $24.2 billion budget proposal to develop rapid implementation of cellphone technology on the rail line from New Haven to Grand Central Terminal, said Richard W. Andreski, bureau chief for public transportation at the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Advertisement [ Passengers on Metro-North increasing as pandemic wanes, but the future of New Haven Line is at a crossroads ] Cellular connectivity isnt always the best, he said. Megan Go, a recent University of Connecticut graduate waiting Friday for the 7:05 a.m. Amtrak train in Hartford to catch a New York-bound train from New Haven, said she uses her phone infrequently on the train to avoid draining the power. Advertisement I listen to music, she said. I try to sleep, if anything. While phones, tablets and laptops are ubiquitous elsewhere, Go, who is not a frequent rider, said she has noticed people dont do anything on the train. Andreski said planners face technical challenges and have not yet decided how to spend the budgeted amount. State transportation officials are speaking with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Metro-North and telecommunications companies to develop a plan to improve connectivity, he said. Were not exactly sure at this point what the technical solution will be, he said. I believe at this point it will start with improving the cellular connections. Not everyone is on board with bringing Wi-Fi to Metro-North. Roger Cirella of Ansonia, a 30-year veteran of riding the rails, said he has an iPhone and believe it or not, I would rather look at paper documents or read a newspaper while I am on the train. If there was an internet connection on the train, would I open my laptop? Probably not. Jim Gildea, chairman of the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council, said improved cell service is more of an aspirational goal. Advertisement He cited three other parts of Lamonts transportation plan: establishing three daily round-trip express trains between New York and New Haven stopping at Bridgeport and Stamford, adding seven trains on the Waterbury branch line by July and funding an express train each weekday from the Springfield/New Haven corridor through Hartford to Penn Station in New York. The first three are more tangible and more real and closer to happening, Gildea said. Jim Cameron, a commuter advocate, said riders have access to Wi-Fi with wireless modems or data plans. The people who really want to have connectivity have found it, he said. State Sen. Will Haskell, a Westport Democrat and co-chairman of the General Assemblys Transportation Committee, is adamant that a solution be found. The lack of cell service or Wi-Fi along the busiest commuter rail line in the U.S. is a particular obsession of his. Riders can connect to Wi-Fi on Amtrak, most commercial airlines, but they cant even make a call while on Metro-North? he said. It drives me nuts that commuters arent able to use their time on the train efficiently. A call was dropped three or four times while Haskell recently rode Metro-North, which he called a policy failure. Advertisement Gov. Lamonts budget includes funding for: 1) a new weekday New Haven to Grand Central express train 2) a new Hartford to Penn Station roundtrip train 3) reaffirms previous commitment to expanded weekday service on the WBL in July 22 4) improve cell phone service on trains pic.twitter.com/SSwReGbqUv CT Comm Rail Council (@CTRailCouncil) February 10, 2022 A spokeswoman for Metro-North referred questions to the state Department of Transportation. John Emra, president of New England AT&T, said a solution would likely be to install two Wi-Fi access points on each rail car similar to a router at home and a small antenna on top of the car for a signal. Berms block cellphone service, and protected wetlands and populated centers make it difficult to install cellphone towers, he said. A Metro-North train has eight to 12 cars with a capacity of 100 passengers each. Bandwidth would be challenged if most of the passengers were using their phones, laptops or tablets at the same time, Emra said. All those things present challenges, he said. Its not insurmountable. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > Another question is how much digital access to make available on Metro-North. Planners must consider whether Wi-Fi would provide unfettered downloading and streaming of high-definition video that takes up a lot of bandwidth, Emra said. Previous 2G, 3G and 4G were not up to the task of providing Wi-Fi for hundreds of rail passengers simultaneously and the rollout of 5G could provide necessary bandwidth, Andreski said. Advertisement Our goal here is not to deliver a solution that will be dated immediately, he said. One of the risks here is we could leverage 4G LTE technology, but it doesnt seem to make a lot of sense to invest in something thats sort of on the way out. Wed like to future-proof this as much as possible, he said. Emra said that although the details are not yet known about how to bring Wi-Fi to Metro-North, what is known is that users demand connectivity everywhere. People want to use that time on the train to get work done, he said. Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com. A shadow minister has received an apology and a substantial sum from a prominent journalist over a tweet that falsely suggested she had a secret adulterous relationship with Sir Keir Starmer. Baroness Chapman, a shadow Cabinet Office minister, took legal action against the Sunday Times chief political commentator Tim Shipman over a tweet the journalist posted in May 2021. On Tuesday, the High Court heard Mr Shipman posted two tweets and two retweets about Baroness Chapman to his Twitter account, which currently has over 170,000 followers. In his first tweet on May 8 last year, Mr Shipman said that loyalty to Baroness Chapman appeared to be the most important commodity as far as Labour high command is concerned this evening. He later retweeted a tweet that included the phrase: Who is this woman? What has she got on Starmer? His second tweet, which was attributed to an unnamed Labour source, claimed that Baroness Chapman had been banned from Sir Keirs house on the orders of the Labour leaders wife. Baroness Chapmans solicitor Kevin Bonavia said that this tweet would have been understood to mean that Baroness Chapman has been conducting a secret adulterous relationship with Sir Keir Starmer. That allegation is completely untrue, he told the High Court in London. Sir Keir Starmer (Victoria Jones/PA) He added: Despite the fact that Mr Shipman deleted the tweet not long after publication, it was too late it had already been extensively published and republished to thousands of people if not more. It went viral. Mr Bonavia said the Labour frontbencher and Mr Shipman had settled the issue with the public statement in court as well as a substantial sum in damages and legal costs. The solicitor added: One of the reasons that she found the allegation so distressing is that it plays into sexist tropes about successful women, undermining not only Baroness Chapmans own work and authority but that of all women. It was made by a serious political commentator someone who should know better, and whose imprimatur undoubtedly gave it greater credence. I repeat that the allegation is entirely false. Clare Duffy, for the journalist, said: Mr Shipman acknowledges that he should not have published the tweet in question and accepts that its implication is entirely untrue. Mr Shipman unreservedly apologises for the unlawful conduct and the distress caused to Baroness Chapman. After the hearing, Baroness Chapman told the PA news agency: Tim Shipman let himself down. This was old school sexism. He was right to apologise and I accept his apology and look forward to drawing a line under this and moving on. MOSCOW The East-West faceoff over Ukraine escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Russian lawmakers authorizing President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country and U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders responding by slapping sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks. Both leaders signaled that an even bigger confrontation could lie ahead. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on the toughest sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression. Advertisement The measures, accompanied by the repositioning of additional U.S. troops to the Baltic nations on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia, came as Russian forces rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin said he was recognizing the independence of the separatist region in defiance of U.S. and European demands. Speaking at the White House, Biden said the Kremlin had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. He warned of more sanctions if Putin went further. Advertisement We are united in our support of Ukraine, Biden said. We are united in our opposition to Russian aggression. When it comes to Russian claims of a justification or pretext for an invasion, Biden said, None of us should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification. Hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the threat of invasion, which U.S. officials have for weeks portrayed as all but inevitable, appeared to evaporate. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled plans for a Thursday meeting in Geneva with his Russian counterpart, saying it would not be productive and that Russias actions indicated Moscow was not serious about a peaceful path to resolving the crisis. Western nations sought to present a united front, with more than two dozen European Union members unanimously agreeing to levy their own initial set of sanctions against Russian officials. Germany also said it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy. The U.S., meanwhile, moved to cut off Russias government from Western finance, sanctioning two of its banks and blocking it from trading in its debt on American and European markets. The administrations actions hit civilian leaders in Russias leadership hierarchy and two Russian banks considered especially close to the Kremlin and Russias military, with more than $80 billion in assets. That includes freezing all of those banks assets under U.S. jurisdictions. Biden, though, did hold back some of the broadest and toughest of the financial penalties contemplated by the U.S., including sanctions that would reinforce the hold that Germany put on any startup of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; an export ban that would deny Russia U.S. high-tech for its industries and military; and sweeping bans that could cripple Russias ability to do business with the rest of the world. Biden said he was moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltics, though he described the actions as purely defensive, asserting, We have no intention of fighting Russia. The U.S. is sending about 800 infantry troops and 40 attack aircraft to the Baltics and NATOs eastern flank from other locations within Europe, according to a senior defense official. In addition, a contingent of F-35 strike fighters and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will also be relocated. Earlier Tuesday, members of Russias upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly afterward, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and global economic chaos. Advertisement Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He added that its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action - it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. The EU announced initial sanctions aimed at the 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking sectors. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that Biden had said would result in severe sanctions. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel-region Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending troops to eastern Ukraine. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about the sanctions targeting the breakaway region noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. Advertisement Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Putin said Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in the borders that existed when they made their declaration in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under separatist control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Condemnation from around the world was quick. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties in Congress backed an independent Ukraine and vowed continued U.S. support, even as some pushed for swifter and even more severe sanctions on Russia. Senators had been considering a sanctions package against Putins regime but held off as the White House pursued its strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. News @3 Daily Catch up on the days top headlines sent directly to your inbox weekdays at 3 p.m > If Putin pushes further into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay, he said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. He warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. Advertisement Zelenskyy said he was calling up some of the countrys military reservists but added there was no need for a full military mobilization. In an address to the nation, Zelenskyy said his decree applied only to those assigned to the so-called operational reserve, which is typically activated during ongoing hostilities, and covers a special period of time, without clarifying what that means. Today there is no need for a full mobilization. We need to quickly add additional staff to the Ukrainian army and other military formations, he said. National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov said earlier this year that Ukraine can call up to 2.5 million people. Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Madhani and Tucker reported from Washington. Jill Lawless in London; Lorne Cook in Brussels; Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal; Dasha Litvinova in Moscow; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations; Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. This story has been updated to correct that Mariupol in on the Azov Sea, not Black Sea. A proposed amendment to Floridas so-called Dont Say Gay bill would also require schools to out students to their families within six weeks of learning that kids identify as LGBTQ, changes that deliberately put LGBTQ youth in harms way, according to critics. House Bill 1557 which has been slammed by LGBTQ groups, human rights advocates and President Biden as dangerous, deeply bigoted and hateful would prohibit school districts from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students. Now, Rep. Joe Harding, the Republican who first introduced the legislation on Jan. 11, is proposing yet another change that could potentially have a chilling effect on the lives of LGBTQ youth in the state. The original bill stated that school officials didnt have to out kids to parents if there was any suspicion that the information could lead to abuse, abandonment or neglect. But according to the proposed amendment, that safety mechanism would no longer be in place, requiring schools to let parents know if a kid comes out as LGBTQ within six weeks. An amendment was just filed by the sponsor of #DontSayGay to make it even more dangerous for vulnerable kids with a STATE-MANDATED outing of LGBTQ students to parents, specifically in cases of abuse, abandonment + neglect. This will have devastating consequences for our youth. pic.twitter.com/3s89rcMrMN Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) February 20, 2022 On Sunday, Rep. Carlos G. Smith, Floridas first LGBTQ Latino lawmaker, said on Twitter that the amendment deliberately puts LGBTQ youth in harms way. It makes it even more dangerous for vulnerable kids with a STATE-MANDATED outing of LGBTQ students to parents, specifically in cases of abuse, abandonment + neglect, he added. Brandon Wolf, a survivor of the Pulse massacre the 2016 mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub that killed 49 people and injured 43 said on Monday that knowingly outing kids to an abuser will cost lives. I cant get past this, he tweeted. Maybe [because] it triggers memories of being choke-slammed against the bathroom wall. Having my arm squeezed so tightly, I had to hide the bruises. Being told I was better off taking my own life than being gay. The amendment is one of many that will be debated by lawmakers on Tuesday. The bill should face a full vote in the Florida House this week. Woman Cries Tears of Joy as Reporter Surprises Her with Lost Engagement Ring: 'You're Kidding Me!' A Texas bride-to-be is celebrating some good news after losing her engagement ring earlier this month in a Colorado snowbank. After Paulina Morales offered a $500 reward for the missing piece of jewelry, a kind stranger with a metal detector successfully located the diamond ring, according to CBS Denver, which captured her joyful reaction in a FaceTime call. "No, you're kidding me!" Morales said in the call with CBS4 reporter Spencer Wilson. "I've got chills, I've got chills. This is such good news." RELATED:Officer Helps Woman Find Her Lost Engagement Ring at N.H. Beach: 'Few Things Are Better' Morales said she was enjoying the outdoors with her fiance Deven Maraj as they vacationed in Breckenridge, Colorado earlier this month. During one such outing, Maraj threw Morales into the snow. When she emerged, her ring was missing. The couple spent days searching for the sentimental possession, which was designed by Maraj's father for his future daughter-in-law, but nothing ever turned up. "Sadly, we had to go home," Morales told CBS4 last week, as she sought the public's help. Wilson went searching for the rock himself, using a blowtorch to melt away the snow, but had no luck. Then Summit County local Tony Pizzamigalo showed up on the scene with his metal detector. After one false hit, Pizzamigalo quickly found the ring. RELATED VIDEO: Machine Gun Kelly Designed Megan Fox's Engagement Ring to Represent Their Unique Relationship Although there was concern that whoever found the ring would keep it for themselves, Pizzamigalo was just happy to pay it forward. "It's not that place. It's an awesome community," he said, noting that he plans to donate the reward money to Summit County Rescue Group, which provides backcountry search and rescue services to county officials. Morales is grateful to the good Samaritan for going out of his way to help her find the ring, which is now being shipped back to Texas. Morales said of Pizzamigalo, "He'll be invited to the wedding." The state budget chief says she saw a bid dispute and no inkling of scandal in a contractors complaint to her on April 29, 2020. The contractor, Stamford Wrecking Company, complained that Melissa McCaws agency, the Office of Policy and Management, was undermining competitive bidding laws on school demolition and hazardous-material disposal contracts. Specifically, the contractor said, OPM urged the town of Groton to set aside open bidding in favor of hiring from the states limited emergency bid list of approved contractors. Advertisement The response was delegated to legal staff and McCaws deputy, Konstantinos Diamantis the official in charge of school construction grants. Today, the Stamford Wrecking complaint made in the spring of 2020 is colored by recent revelations that the FBI is investigating school construction and other programs overseen by Diamantis and allegations by officials in several towns that Diamantis pressured them to hire certain contractors including one that employed his daughter, Anastasia Diamantis. Advertisement In this file photo, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw testifies in front of the Connecticut General Assembly's Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee at the Legislative Office Building in 2019. Photo by Brad Horrigan | bhorrigan@courant.com (Brad Horrigan / Hartford Courant) McCaw, speaking about the allegations regarding her former deputy for the first time, said the Stamford Wrecking complaint narrowly focused on the propriety of OPM urging the use of a state-approved list for hazardous-material abatement, often a wildly unpredictable expense in school construction. What is now coming out in the press, which Im extremely disturbed by, its far beyond that, said McCaw. At no point had any municipality or superintendent ever raised to my attention concerns about broader steering. It never came to my knowledge. Despite state law placing the function in the Department of Administrative Services, responsibility for overseeing state-reimbursed school construction came from DAS to OPM at her insistence late 2019. It was a condition of Diamantis, the director of the Office of School Construction Grant and Review, becoming her deputy. Diamantis, a Democrat who represented Bristol in the state House of Representatives for 14 years before losing a primary in 2006, arrived at OPM with a reputation as an aggressive and sometimes caustic bureaucratic infighter. He had been overseeing construction at DAS since 2015. To accommodate McCaw, the Lamont administration signed off on a memorandum of understanding that temporarily removed the Office of School Construction Grant and Review from DAS and grafted it onto OPM, despite objections by state lawmakers. They saw the move as potentially politicizing state reimbursements that largely had been set by formula. The reasons for keeping school construction at DAS were clear, said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, co-chair of the Appropriations Committee. It would not be perceived as a political function, where OPM is far more perceived as a political function. Democratic State Sen. Cathy Osten. ( Contributed Photo ) Now, the move engineered by McCaw has entangled her in a scandal from which she is trying to keep a distance. McCaw said Diamantis never told her that his daughter, Anastasia Diamantis, had been hired by a school construction management company that worked on one of the state-reimbursed school projects. Advertisement Diamantis was fired as her deputy on Oct. 28 not by her, but by the governor through his chief of staff, Paul Mounds. That night, Diamantis cast his dismissal as a consequence of his defending McCaw against what he characterized as disrespect towards a Black woman by Mounds and Josh Geballe, the chief operating officer. The OPM position held by McCaw did not have the same status in the Lamont administration as it did in others. Lamonts creation of the chief operating officers position, then designating Geballe as the coordinator of the states COVID-19 response, was a source of tension between McCaw and the governors staff. McCaw never disavowed Diamantis characterization of her being disrespected, not in October or in an interview with CT Mirror over the weekend. As the deputy secretary, he was privy to interactions and the work of the agency. He saw a lot. He certainly was a witness to what it has been like for me as the first Black female OPM secretary, McCaw said. And Ill leave it at that. When Diamantis was fired as deputy secretary at OPM, a political appointment, and retired from his civil service job in charge of school construction rather than accept a suspension, the issue was his role in the July 2020 hiring of Anastasia Diamantis as an executive assistant to Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelo Jr. At the time he hired the daughter, it was later revealed, Colangelo was lobbying the father and others at OPM for help in securing raises for senior prosecutors. Advertisement Colangelo filed for retirement on Feb. 9, a week after the release of an investigative report commissioned by Lamont and produced by former U.S. Attorney Stanley A. Twardy Jr. It concluded that Colangelo had not been credible in his account of her hiring. McCaw said she learned from Twardy when he interviewed her that Anastasia Diamantis also had been working part-time for Construction Advocacy Professionals, or CAP. Tollands school superintendent has said Kosta Diamantis had pressured the town to hire CAP. McCaw said she has not questioned Diamantis since his departure about the allegations against him. I have expressed my displeasure about what Im seeing, McCaw said. Im the first Black female OPM secretary, and Ive worked very hard to build my career and to bring significant progress to the state of Connecticut. So obviously Im not happy at all with what is going on and any perception that it gives to my leadership. And hes heard that from me directly. She declined to directly answer when asked if her view of her former deputy has changed. Look, I have built my career on work, ethics, integrity and competence. And what I will say is that I am deeply disturbed by the allegations at hand, she said. Im going to respect the process. I will participate in the process to ensure we get to the bottom of this. Advertisement Diamantis has said any suggestion that municipalities use the emergency list of approved demolition contractors was intended to save money, not assist a favored few. Emails show OPM officials responded to complaints Emails recently obtained by CT Mirror show that the Stamford Wrecking complaint was not ignored. The complaint from Irving Goldblum, the president of Stamford Wrecking, was addressed to McCaw and Geballe, the latter in his capacity as the commissioner of DAS, a job he continued to hold after Lamont also named him as chief operating officer. Ray Garcia, a lawyer representing the contractor, forwarded a copy of Goldbums complaint by an email sent at 1:10 p.m. May 4, 2020 to Gareth D. Bye, the director of legal affairs at OPM. May we have a conversation about this before it becomes a full blown formal dispute, Garcia asked Bye. I think the process is not authorized by any statute of which I am aware and circumvents the public bidding statutes generally. But, as I said, I would like the benefit of OPMs thoughts before we take more formal action, or decide not to take action. Bye responded at 2:15 p.m., telling him that Diamantis manages the school construction grants and Kevin Kopetz runs the legal unit that handles school construction issues. Advertisement With Diamantis, the OSCGR personnel physically relocated from DAS offices in a state complex on the riverfront in downtown Hartford to OPMs offices on Capitol Avenue, a short walk from the Legislative Office Building and state Capitol. Bye copied Diamantis and Kopetz on his reply to Garcia. A conference call with Garcia was scheduled for the next day. Participants in the call said the tone was cordial, with both sides acknowledging the challenges in controlling hazmat removal costs. It was great to meet you, even on the phone, and hear your thoughts on school construction. In many instances your views are identical to mine and I come from the Contractors side of the industry, Garcia told Diamantis in a follow up email. I look forward to meeting you in person and as I said I am always willing to help out, speak and come and listen or furnish research or otherwise participate at any level of government to to make our great industry more responsive to the biggest user of construction services. But Garcia and his client did not change its view that open competitive bidding was required for the work, whatever the motivation for taking a shortcut of allowing municipalities to hire from the emergency bid list, which had only four contractors. Garcia eventually was assured the policy would be clarified. On Dec. 23, 2020, Goldblum wrote again to McCaw and Geballe, as well as to Kopetz and Manchester Mayor Jay Moran, with a new complaint that Manchester was using the emergency bid list instead of open competitive bidding hazmat work at Buckley Elementary School. Manchester, CT - 6/12/18 - Buckley Elementary School in Manchester. Photo by Brad Horrigan | bhorrigan@courant.com (Brad Horrigan / Hartford Courant) It is our belief that the State of Connecticut, through OPM, has directed that Manchester skip the public bidding requirement and utilize the emergency response list, Goldblum wrote. Advertisement On Saturday, Dec. 26, Geballe emailed Diamantis, asking him to address the concerns raised in the letter. Copied on the email were McCaw, Kevin Kopetz and Bob Clark, who then was the governors general counsel. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > Diamantis wrote to Goldblum on Jan. 27, 2021, denying OPM had directed Manchester to skip open bidding. On Feb. 2, 2021, Garcia asked Attorney General William Tong to intervene, saying his client had information that OPM directed municipalities to hire contractors off the limited emergency bid list for at least six school construction projects. We objected to that for several specific projects and OPM has advised us that it stopped the practice, Garcia said. However, we have been advised that OPM now advises municipalities that the State will not reimburse the municipality for certain work unless the municipality utilizes a contract off the States emergency asbestos abatement contractor list. The governors office said a clarification issued on March 2, 2021 by Diamantis resolved the matter to the satisfaction of Garcias client. McCaw also said she was advised by legal staff that those matters had been addressed through the collaborative work of the AGs office, DAS, OPM counsel and the former director, Diamantis. Garcia said that assessment was incorrect. Advertisement We disagree with the Secretary, Garcia said. We continued to raise our concerns to the AGs office and the governors office through correspondence and meetings. Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree recognising two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities during a ceremony in Moscow LONDON (Reuters) - Now that Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised the independence of separatist enclaves in eastern Ukraine and ordered in "peacekeeping" troops, the big question is: where will he stop? Western countries have been warning for weeks that Moscow may be preparing for a possible all-out massed invasion to conquer its neighbour. Russia denies this, and Putin's moves so far have stopped well short of such a scenario. But a televised address by Putin on Monday night - in which he characterised the Ukrainian state and its leaders as illegitimate - added to fears that he may aim to subjugate Ukraine by force. Following are three possible scenarios: 1. SECURE THE EXISTING SEPARATIST ENCLAVES, THEN PAUSE THERE While many commentators believe that sending troops into the separatist enclaves could be a first step towards a wider invasion, others note that it could also be a place to stop - or at least pause in terms of action on the ground - while trying to apply pressure to Ukraine in other ways. "That gets him out of the 'backed into a corner, has to invade' scenario. He's done something. He can claim a victory for his domestic audience," said Tim Ripley, author of "Little Green Men: Putin's Wars Since 2014". Ripley said he believes the most likely next steps - rather than immediately trying to take more territory - would be a "rolling campaign" to exert pressure on Ukraine in other ways, such as a naval blockade of Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. The goal would be to intimidate Ukrainians by maintaining a constant crisis, while showing that Kyiv's Western allies were "a paper tiger", capable of offering little real help. Meanwhile, Russia has already achieved some big objectives, such as forcing NATO allies to publicly acknowledge they will not send troops to defend Ukraine, and securing permission from neighbouring Belarus to station a large force there indefinitely. "Belarus was quite a big move aimed at changing the balance in the region.... It transforms how NATO has to defend the Baltic states completely," Ripley said. 2. SEEK TO EXPAND THE SEPARATIST TERRITORY, WHILE LIMITING CONFLICT TO EASTERN UKRAINE The separatists in eastern Ukraine control less than half of the two provinces they claim, and Ukrainian forces have opposed them across a heavily fortified frontline frozen by a much-violated ceasefire since 2015. Without launching a massed invasion of Ukraine as a whole, Russia could try to expand separatist territory. Moscow has given mixed signals in the past 24 hours about whether its recognition of the separatist enclaves also amounts to accepting their claims to more territory in Ukraine. One target could be Mariupol, eastern Ukraine's main port, which the separatists stopped short of attacking in 2014-2015. Capturing it would let Moscow link Russian-controlled Crimea over land to the separatist enclaves and secure complete control over the coast of the Sea of Azov, a strategic objective in itself and one that would also exert economic pressure on Kyiv. But a war over incremental territory in eastern Ukraine, while likely to bring down tough international sanctions on Russia, would achieve only limited strategic gains. By itself, it would fall short of Moscow's perceived aim of installing a more compliant government in Kyiv. "Capturing six villages outside Donetsk: it doesn't change the price of eggs at all," notes Ripley. 3. LARGE-SCALE INVASION Western countries, especially the United States and Britain, have been warning for several weeks now of the likelihood of a much larger operation by Russia to capture all of Ukraine, or at least move on Kyiv to overthrow the government there. Some commentators saw Putin's defiant televised speech on Monday night as evidence he will not be satisfied unless Ukraine is led by a government that acknowledges Russian hegemony. "...It seems likely that Putin has much more in mind than simply taking a nibble out of Ukraines east and taking formal responsibility for territories he already de facto controlled," wrote Shaun Walker, a journalist for Britain's Guardian newspaper and author of "The Long Hangover, Putin's New Russia and the Ghosts of the Past". "Putins final words, that if Kyiv did not stop the violence they would bear responsibility for the 'ensuing bloodshed', were ominous in the extreme. It sounded, quite simply, like a declaration of war." (Reporting by Peter Graff; Editing by Frank Jack Danie) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian leader Vladimir Putin got the green light from his upper house of parliament on Tuesday to deploy Russian military forces to two separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine for what lawmakers said would be a "peacekeeping" mission. Inflaming a crisis with the West, the upper chamber's lawmakers voted unanimously in favour after Putin asked for permission to deploy forces abroad. That step came after Moscow recognised the independence of the Ukrainian regions on Monday, triggering international condemnation and sanctions. The decision takes immediate effect, senior lawmaker Andrei Klishas told the chamber. "By approving the use of the armed forces abroad, we assume they will be peacekeeping forces - forces designed to maintain peace and stability in the (self-proclaimed east Ukrainian) republics," Valentina Matvienko, the upper house's speaker, said before the vote. As lawmakers met to discuss the idea, the Kremlin announced Putin had ratified friendship treaties with two Moscow-backed Ukrainian breakaway republics. Russia says that step allows it to build military bases there, deploy troops, agree a joint defence posture and tighten economic integration. The move comes amid a crisis over a huge Russian military buildup near Ukraine that has fuelled fears of an invasion, which Moscow denies planning. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn, Polina Devitt, Maria Tsvetkova, Darya Korsunskaya, Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) WASHINGTON Europe edged closer to war on Monday as Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Donetsk and Luhansk, two territories in Ukraine on which Russia has laid claim for years. He did so under the guise of peacekeeping, even as he made clear that he did not accept the basic premise of Ukrainian sovereignty. Ukraine is not just a neighboring country, they are a part of our culture," the Russian leader said in a Monday night speech. Many Russians, especially those with fond memories of the Soviet Union, feel much the same way. But it is not clear that they are willing to risk a costly conflict to achieve Putins vision of reconstructing the Soviet-era empire. Having concluded that a Russian invasion is all but assured, the United States and allied Western powers have committed to defending Ukraine with economic sanctions and shipments of military hardware but have steered clear of committing troops. This was a speech to the Russian people to justify a war, a senior Biden administration said on Monday of Putins remarks. The Russian strongman justified sending troops to Donetsk and Luhansk by first claiming that the two regions, which border Russia, were independent of Ukraine. International observers widely consider that to be a dubious claim. President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) President Biden spent the weekend in Washington, planning for what he has maintained in recent days would be an imminent Russian invasion. He responded to Putins claims on Donetsk and Luhansk on Monday afternoon with an executive order designed to prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by American entities in the two breakaway regions, according to a statement from White House press secretary Jen Psaki. Biden spoke on Monday with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a White House description of the call. Ukraine, however, is not a member of NATO, meaning that the U.S.-led alliance would not send troops under its Article 5, which provides for a collective military defense of member states. A seasoned diplomat from his time in the U.S. Senate and the vice president to Barack Obama, Biden has vowed to restore the U.S. to the role of international leadership he claims his predecessor, Donald Trump, squandered. But the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal of U.S. forces which took place almost exactly six months ago appears to have tarnished Bidens claims of foreign policy mastery. Putin seems intent on challenging Bidens leadership; late on Monday, columns of Russian troops were spotted entering Donetsk. In recent days, some of the most consequential shuttle diplomacy meant to avert a war in Ukraine has been undertaken by French president Emmanuel Macron, who on Sunday appeared to broker a meeting between Putin and Biden scheduled for later in the week. Biden spoke with Macron and chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany on Monday. They discussed how they will continue to coordinate their response on next steps, a White House summary of the call said. President Biden signs an executive order on Monday to prohibit trade and investment between U.S. individuals and two breakaway regions of Ukraine. (The White House/Handout via Reuters) It remains unclear whether Putin intends to launch an all-out invasion of Ukraine or is merely engaging in a show of force to intimidate the country and its Western allies. He has made clear again Monday that he sees the expansion of Western alliances like NATO into former Soviet bloc countries as a threat. At the same time, responding to that perceived threat with an invasion could trigger harsh sanctions and the cancellation of the Nord Stream 2 energy pipeline. Such moves could cripple a Russian economy that largely relies on resource extraction. A keen student of Russian history, Putin is acutely aware that the disastrous invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s helped bring about the downfall of the Soviet Union. Then, Russias fledgling democracy was imperiled by the cruel and, many say, pointless campaign in Chechnya, a conflict that helped facilitate Putins own rise from obscurity. With his own support among the Russian population faltering, Putin risks seeing a full-blown war in Ukraine further erode his standing, especially if Western forces aid Ukraine as they have promised. Late Monday, at the request of Zelensky, the United Nations Security Council was set to meet regarding the situation in Ukraine. For the moment, the U.S. foreign policy establishment is operating on the assumption that an invasion will take place. On Monday, Biden ordered U.S. diplomats who had remained in Ukraine out of the country, into neighboring Poland. Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, who is originally from Puerto Rico, said she's excited about a new initiative to bring bilingual teachers from the island to help fill staffing shortages in Hartford. (Courant file photo) (Patrick Raycraft / Hartford Courant) Hartford Public Schools, struggling with the same staffing shortages faced by districts across the country, is looking to recruit bilingual educators from Puerto Rico to fill teacher vacancies ahead of the 2022-2023 school year. Through the Paso a Paso Puerto Rico Recruitment Program meaning step by step the district intends to provide moving and support services and facilitate teacher certification for as many as 15 Puerto Rican teachers, who would become full-time educators in Hartford schools. Advertisement Superintendent Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, excited about the programs prospects, said its something that I have wanted to do for several years. Several of us still have very strong ties to the island. Hartford as a community has strong ties to the island, and so we know that we can always leverage those, Torres-Rodriguez said. We have our networks, our connections with higher ed and the partners on the island. Advertisement Torres-Rodriguez, who is from Puerto Rico originally, said shes spent years developing relationships with universities and teaching communities on the island. She says she knows what its like to be a newcomer, and the difference a supportive network can make. The initiative builds off of a pilot version the district explored prior to the pandemic that brought three teachers from Puerto Rico into the district to support students who were learning English. More than 20% of Hartford students are English learners, more than double the state average (8.3%). Now, the programs focus has broadened to include educators who can assist in other areas where teacher vacancies are high: math, science and special education. Teacher burnout and stress exacerbated by two years of COVID-19 are posing challenges for schools across the U.S., with some studies suggesting that many teachers are now more likely to retire or leave the profession earlier than planned because of the pandemic. [ Connecticut legislators call for remote learning option as staff shortages disrupt classes ] Torres-Rodriguez said the district saw more retirements than we expected to see at the end of last school year. Hartford schools are operating at around 90% of its typical staffing level after filling 70% of its vacancies, the district said, including vacancies among teachers, staff and in the districts central office team. We have more staff vacancies today than we did in the fall, Carol Gale, a Hartford teacher and president of the Hartford Federation of Teachers, told school board members at a meeting Tuesday. One school has lost 13 teachers just this year, she said. In January, Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order that allowed districts more flexibility in hiring retired teachers to help schools cover shortages as the omicron variant tore through the state. Districts also wrestled with a shortage of substitute teachers, placing further stress on school administrators. In the first half of this school year, the state Department of Education issued 67% more authorizations for substitute teachers without a bachelors degree than it did over the course of 2018-2019, according to a department spokesperson. Advertisement Hartford schools view consistent and robust staffing levels as critical in its push to offset a dramatic increase in chronic absenteeism, which worsened during the pandemic. Full staffing is one of many conditions that have to be in place for kids to thrive in school, Torres-Rodriguez said, so students can then feel like theres a sense of continuity, and normalcy, and care. Beyond helping to address staffing challenges, Torres-Rodriguez views Paso a Paso as a natural extension of Hartfords strong existing ties to Puerto Rico. The majority of students who attend Hartford schools are Hispanic or Latino, most of whom are of Puerto Rican descent. Hartford schools also saw an influx of Puerto Rican students in 2017 when Hurricane Maria, the strongest storm to hit the island in 80 years, displaced thousands of families. Five Things You Need To Know Daily We're providing the latest coronavirus coverage in Connecticut each weekday morning. > More than 2,000 Puerto Rican children enrolled in Connecticut schools during the 2017-18 schools year. About 150 of the 459 who came to Hartford are still enrolled in city schools. Advertisement One of the things that was at the core of our response was this personalized approach, Torres-Rodriguez said. Puerto Rican students were prioritized in schools that already had foundations supporting bilingual and bicultural needs, and its the same approach that were trying to take with our teacher candidates, she said. Paso a Paso, with funding from Travelers Cos. and federal relief money, will include two years of individualized support services to help teachers move, adjust and find community. A liaison will be available to help teachers find housing, and to coordinate support and mentor services. The district is working with the Connecticut Department of Education to streamline the pathway to meeting the states teacher certification requirements. Selected candidates will also be granted membership to the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. The next information session will be held online Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. (AST) through Ana Mendez University, San Juan. Applications are open on a rolling basis through March 1, and Hartford schools staff will conduct in-person interviews in Puerto Rico March 10-12. Seamus McAvoy may be reached at smcavoy@courant.com. Eastern Ukraine Amid mounting fear that Russia was on the brink of a full-scale invasion, CBS News senior foreign correspondent Holly Williams and her team were near the front lines on Tuesday of the conflict between Ukrainian forces and Russian-backed rebels that has simmered for almost eight years. They witnessed heavy artillery fire. Suspected Russian military vehicles were spotted in the two breakaway regions of Ukraine that President Vladimir Putin recognized as independent on Monday a move that has drawn fierce international condemnation and is expected to bring a round of new international sanctions against Moscow. Ukraine has accused Putin of trying to revive the Soviet Union, and the country's president is asking for more international help urgently. But as Williams reported, the war in the breakaway regions of Ukraine's eastern Donbas area has been underway since 2014. A map shows the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto As Williams and her team travelled to the front line by truck with Ukrainian soldiers, they were ordered abruptly into a bunker told to get underground because a local commander had apparently deemed it too dangerous for a front line visit at that moment. When they did make it into the trenches, they found a literal quagmire: The Ukrainian forces said the snow melted early this year, leaving deep mud that they said might slow a Russian invasion down, but it wouldn't stop it. "Normally it's heavy shelling, 24 hours," Private Valeri Kashkarov told CBS News. He was a businessman before he signed up, and before that, he was an exchange student in Dallas. He said he and his fellow troops didn't know why Putin would invade. "We are on our own land, soldiers of this country, protecting our country," he told Williams. "I don't know what's in the head of Vladimir Putin." Ukraine has been fighting the war against the Russian-backed separatists in the country's eastern Donbas area since 2014, but the last week has seen a new eruption of violence. U.S. officials say Moscow is arming the separatists, who Ukraine accuses of targeting civilian areas including the village of Novognativka, where residents seem shell-shocked. "We're on the brink of nervous breakdowns," resident Ekaterina Evseeva said. "There's nowhere to run." Back in the trenches, Sergeant Fedenyak Lubomir told Williams that Ukraine needs protection from the air, and America should help. The U.S. has ruled out sending combat troops to Ukraine but has sent the country nearly $3 billion in military assistance in recent years. The question, said Williams, is whether the escalation on the front lines of the existing war is really the beginning of another Russian invasion of Ukraine. New survey shows how children's psychological struggles impact their parents' work performance Woman loses $390,000 of inheritance in crypto romance scam Britney Spears writing tell-all memoir in multi-million dollar deal, reports say VIENNA (Reuters) - Russia's recognition of two separatist regions of Ukraine and its decision to send troops are the start of a new invasion and put the world on the verge of "a dark and dangerous era", U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Tuesday. "Make no mistake: Yesterday's actions are the beginning of the latest Russian invasion of Ukraine," she said in a statement to an extraordinary meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's participating states, adding: "We are on the precipice of a dark and dangerous era." (Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Peter Graff) KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine may break off diplomatic relations with Russia after Moscow decided to recognise two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at a briefing on Tuesday. Speaking alongside his Estonian counterpart, Zelenskiy said he was weighing a request from his foreign ministry to break off ties. He also urged Ukraine's allies not to wait for a further escalation to impose sanctions, which he said should include shutting down the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline, awaiting approval to carry Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany. "I've received a request from the foreign ministry. I will consider the issue of severing diplomatic relations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. Immediately after our press conference, I will consider this issue," Zelenskiy said. Putin's announcement on Monday, and his signing of a decree on the deployment of Russian troops to the two breakaway regions, drew international condemnation and immediate U.S. sanctions, with President Joe Biden signing an executive order to halt U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions. The United States and its European allies were set to announce fresh sanctions against Russia on Tuesday. Zelenskiy, who in his nighttime address to the nation accused Russia of destroying peace efforts, played down the prospect of a large-scale conflict with Russia but said he was prepared to introduce martial law if that happened. "As for martial law ... this question is clear to us. We believe that there will be no war, there will be no powerful (war) against Ukraine and there will be no wide escalation by the Russian Federation. If there is a (wide escalation), then martial law will be introduced," he said. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets; writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Kevin Liffey) FILE - U.S. Senate candidate Abby Broyles speaks to the media at the Colcord Hotel in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. Broyles is apologizing after reports that she became intoxicated, berated several middle-school aged girls at a sleepover and vomited in a hamper. Broyles told television station KFOR that she had an adverse reaction after drinking wine and taking medication given to her by a friend. (AP Photo/Garett Fisbeck, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A U.S. House candidate in Oklahoma has apologized after reports that she became intoxicated at a Valentine's Day weekend sleepover for middle-school-aged girls, berated several of the children and vomited in a hamper. Democrat Abby Broyles, 32, told television station KFOR that she had an adverse reaction after drinking wine and taking sleep medication given to her by a friend. Instead of helping me sleep, I hallucinated," Broyles told the station in a televised interview. And I dont remember anything until I woke up or came to, and I was throwing up in a hamper." She said she was invited to the slumber party by a good friend from law school who was the mother of one of the girls. Parents and at least one of the girls who were at the sleepover told the online news outlet NonDoc, which first reported the story, that Broyles used profanity and berated several of the 12- and 13-year-old girls at the party, commenting on one girls acne and anothers Hispanic ethnicity. Related video: Cops chase allegedly drunk woman on motorized suitcase through airport The parent of one of the girls, Sarah Matthews, tweeted last week that she was disappointed that Broyles had not reached out to the girls to apologize. For someone who pontificates to be undyingly pro woman, I am disgusted by your behavior and find it appalling you couldnt understand why their parents are angry, Matthews wrote. Broyles, who initially denied to NonDoc that she had attended the party, apologized last week during her interview with KFOR, a news channel for which she used to work as a journalist. I want to say sorry from the bottom of my heart, I apologize for any hurt or damage or trauma that my behavior, when I didnt know what I was doing, caused," Broyles said. Im deeply sorry." In a statement provided to The Associated Press on Tuesday, Broyles said she doesn't believe she would have said the things she's accused of saying and that she has no plans to drop out of the race. The things I'm accused to have said are not who I am. They're not a reflection of my beliefs at all," Broyles said. It's clear this media smear campaign is politically backed, and I won't stop fighting for Oklahomans." Broyles, an attorney who was the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate from Oklahoma in 2020, announced last year she planned to run against Republican U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice for the 5th Congressional District that includes Oklahoma City. WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Trade Representative's office on Tuesday submitted formal comments to the Canadian government urging Ottawa not to adopt a proposed digital services tax and threatening to examine potential tariff retaliation if it does. In the comments, USTR said that it understands that the Canadian DST proposal would duplicate "most aspects" found discriminatory against U.S. firms in similar taxes adopted by Britain, France, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. "The United States found these DSTs (and others) to be actionable under Section 301 of the United States Trade Act of 1974 and concluded that these DSTs are discriminatory and burden U.S. commerce. Any tax adopted by Canada would be assessed against the same standard," USTR said. The trade agency readied Section 301 tariffs on products from these countries, but agreed not to proceed with them as part of a settlement agreement on the implementation of a 136-country tax deal that prohibits new unilateral digital services taxes. Canada is a signatory to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development deal, which reallocates some taxing rights on large, highly profitable firms, including large technology platforms, to market countries. "Instead of pursuing a counterproductive unilateral measure that risks encouraging other countries to follow suit, thus undermining the ongoing negotiations, Canada can focus efforts on engaging constructively in the multilateral OECD negotiations ensuring that its unilateral measure proposal is unnecessary and that Canadian interests are protected," USTR said. (Reporting by David Lawder Editing by Tomasz Janowski) As the scandal regarding Chief States Attorney Richard Colangelos hiring of a then-Office of Policy Management officials daughter grows, it is increasingly clear that Connecticut needs structural changes to prevent prosecutorial misconduct. The investigation into Colangelos conduct reveals not just lapses in judgment from the most powerful prosecutor in the state, but shows symptoms of a states attorney system that operates outside the bounds of democratic accountability. Whenever a powerful government official misbehaves, it is imperative for lawmakers to look at the systems that allowed that behavior to happen, and to take steps to prevent future harm. Advertisement [ Connecticut chief states attorney to retire amid probe into alleged patronage hiring ] To prevent possible prosecutorial misconduct in the future, Connecticut lawmakers need to establish meaningful ethics and accountability provisions for states attorneys, starting with creating data-based performance evaluations of states attorneys, establishing a task force to create statewide policies to prevent discrimination in prosecutors practices, initiating independent oversight by moving the Criminal Justice Commission out of the Division of Criminal Justice and giving it its own robust budget, expanding the CJCs disciplinary power to include the chief states attorney, and mandating a prosecutorial ethics policy in line with best practices. In December 2020, according to the report from attorney Stanley Twardy, Colangelo told a top OPM official, in an email about states attorneys salaries, that he might need it to keep them happy so they dont oppose me at reappointment. The fact that even the most powerful prosecutor in the state allegedly could see his reappointment as partly dependent on a popularity contest among other prosecutors, and the means to reappointment being greasing their palms, shows just how political the states attorney system is. Advertisement The CJC, the entity tasked with states attorney oversight, is housed within the Division of Criminal Justice the agency it is meant to oversee leaving it without independent resources to conduct investigations like that of the Twardys report. In fact, it has to rely on a Division of Criminal Justice employee for its administrative support. States attorneys, including the chief states attorney, also do not face data-driven performance reviews to evaluate whether they are using their considerable power to pursue justice and not just convictions. The CJCs powers to hold the chief states attorney accountable are considerably more limited than those it has for other states attorneys although even those powers are at risk in a system where prosecutors are too often left to their own devices. The last time a states attorney faced potential repercussions for misconduct, the cracks in Connecticuts system for holding them accountable were also laid bare. When then-Hartford States Attorney Gail Hardys reappointment was in jeopardy because of languishing police violence cases on her docket, Colangelo swooped in at the 11th hour, as the Criminal Justice Commission was considering its vote, to hire her into a position his office created out of thin air. The message was clear: if a states attorney was about to be held to account, they could rest assured that the Division of Criminal Justice would protect its own by giving them a golden parachute, never mind the interests of people in that attorneys judicial district, grieving families, or the opinion of the CJC. The states prosecutorial oversight process hasnt changed much in decades, and the lack of accountability for states attorneys has hurt Connecticut residents. One decade ago, looking at the same system we have today, independent researchers and even the states own witnesses pointed out flaws that allowed astronomical racism to flourish in the use of the death penalty. The pattern of arbitrary, capricious, and discriminatory decisions is not surprising to those who understand how Connecticuts death penalty works. Leaving so much discretion in the hands of 13 different states attorneys invites this arbitrariness, according to a Stanford University report. Now, that same lack of accountability means were at risk of seeing similar patterns and practices play out in other parts of the criminal legal system. Connecticut has been collecting data on states attorneys behavior for more than a year. That data already shows racial disparities in conviction rates in Connecticut, which the Division of Criminal Justice has attempted to explain away instead of looking at its own role in perpetuating them. It also shows wide geographical disparities. In some parts of Connecticut, for instance, people convicted of drug offenses are 2.4 times more likely to get prison sentences that in others. The facts tell the story: outcomes for people caught up in the justice system today still largely depend on where they are prosecuted, which, in a place where states attorneys set the standards for their judicial districts, largely depends on the top prosecutor in charge. Last year, Connecticuts legislature considered a bill that would have created first-step accountability systems for states attorneys. The Division of Criminal Justice, led by Colangelo, loudly opposed it all while Colangelo was seeking raises for states attorneys. As we head into another legislative session, it is imperative that the legislature put an end to the current system in which cronyism among states attorneys can too easily thrive, at the expense not only of government ethics, but of equity and fairness across our state. Its long past overdue. Claudine Fox is the public policy and advocacy director of the ACLU of Connecticut. ALPHARETTA, Ga. The Alpharetta City Council passed a resolution Feb. 21 opposing two bills in the Georgia Legislature that would prohibit local governments from imposing certain restrictions on residential rental development. Georgia House Bill 1093 and Senate Bill 494 would prohibit local governments from enacting any restrictions including permits, conditions, fees or amenity requirements on housing that is used or is intended for use as a long-term rental. Local governments also could not restrict a person from living in a home that they do not own. The bills would practically eliminate local governments ability to regulate the share of rental housing within its jurisdiction or to require certain standards or amenities on rental properties. If either bill becomes law, local governments found in violation could lose access to community development block grants, water and sewer loans, economic development funding and other incentives from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs. The Senate bill notes that a governments access to state funds could be restored after six months. The House bill sets no term on the length of the suspension. The resolution opposing the bills passed the Alpharetta City Council without dissent. Councilman Jason Binder and Mayor Pro tem Dan Merkel were absent from the meeting. Council members spoke passionately about their opposition to the bills, saying it isnt the states place to determine what regulations localities can place on developments. I feel quite certain that our state legislators dont like our federal legislators in Washington, D.C. telling them how to run the state of Georgia, Councilman John Hipes said. For this councilmember, it is not appreciated that state legislators are seeking to dictate how we should be running our cities. Councilman Doug DeRito said he was embarrassed for the Legislature. This is government run amok, DeRito said. The best government is the government closest to the people that they serve, and this is completely opposite of that concept. Earlier in the Feb. 21 meeting, the council approved a $15,000 lawsuit settlement to a man who said he had been wrongly arrested by the Alpharetta Police Department. Nicholas Olivieri Sr. filed suit against the city in October 2020 after an officer arrested him on a warrant that was meant for Olivieris son, Nicholas Olivieri Jr. Assistant City Administrator James Drinkard said that another law enforcement agency, which had issued the warrant, entered incorrect information that identified Olivieri Sr. as the subject sought. He said Olivieri Sr. had reached a larger financial settlement with the agency that issued the warrant. Drinkard said Alpharettas insurer made the decision to settle the matter, though the city does not admit any fault through the settlement and believes that neither the city nor the arresting officer engaged in wrongdoing. He said the $15,000 settlement reflects anticipated future defense costs. The home of Cecil H. and Nan Inglis Ramsey sat behind the Dunwoody School on land they purchased from the Cheek family in 1941. Their address was 1434 Womack Road, and their property included what is now Chestnut Ridge Drive and Joberry Court. Dunwoody School was the only school in the community at the time. The Ramsey property also bordered with a home built by Joberry Cheek along Mount Vernon Road, about where Panera Bread now stands. Cheek died in 1935, but his daughter Lizzie continued to live in the home until her death in 1978. Cecil Ramsey was born in 1902 in the small town of Sylvester, Georgia. He came to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech, graduating in 1923. He began his career as a construction engineer for the Gilbert Beers Company. Later he became a partner in Hardin-Ramsey Construction Company, located on Spring Street. Nan Inglis moved to Atlanta from Savannah, and the couple married in 1930. The description of the brides attire and flowers is detailed in the Feb. 4, 1930, Atlanta Constitution, as was customary at the time. She was never more beautiful than in her nuptial costume, which was a gray and green tweed suit. She wore a becoming hat of green felt and straw. Her corsage was of orchids and valley lilies. Ramsey planned and supervised the construction of his familys Dunwoody home. The home is described in The Story of Dunwoody, by Ethel W. Spruill and Elizabeth Davis, The floors were put together with walnut pegs, not a nail being used. The home was one of the show places of the community. Dunwoody was primarily a farming community in the 1940s. The Ramseys had four sons who all attended Dunwoody School. Nan Ramsey was a leader of the PTA. During a time that Principal Elizabeth Davis was needed to teach 6th and 7th grade, Nan Ramsey handled buying supplies and bookkeeping for the school. The Ramsey boys attended high school at Marist in Atlanta. The Ramseys dug a lake on their property, a popular place for the children of Dunwoody to swim. Carlton Renfroe grew up on Tilly Mill Road and remembered swimming at the Ramsey Lake, as does Keller Henderson Barron who grew up nearby. Nan Ramsey was one of the founding members of St. Martin the Fields Church, the first Episcopal church in the area. She donated the altar. Later, she purchased a stone from the original St. Martin in the Fields in London, and the stone was placed as the cornerstone of the church on Ashford Dunwoody Road. Developer and builder Jim Cowart owned the Ramsey property by the early 1970s. In 1977, he developed Chestnut Ridge Drive and Joberry Court. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! China urges Australia to stop spreading disinformation: spokesperson Xinhua) 08:51, February 22, 2022 People wearing face masks walk past the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday refuted Australia's allegation that a Chinese naval vessel pointed a laser at an Australian defense plane last Thursday, urging the Australian side to stop spreading disinformation about China. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing. The information released by the Australian side was found to be untrue after checking with relevant Chinese authorities, the spokesperson noted, adding that the Chinese vessels were navigating normally in the high seas in line with international law and practice, which is totally legitimate and lawful. "We urge the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese vessels in relevant waters in accordance with international law and stop maliciously spreading disinformation about China," Wang said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) The UConn Health Center in Farmington is seeking an additional $50 million from the state, including $20 million for medical malpractice. (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) HARTFORD State lawmakers debated Tuesday over providing an additional $50 million for the struggling UConn Health Center, which has generated deficits on a consistent basis in the past. Gov. Ned Lamont is calling for an additional $30.5 million for operating expenses for the health center, mainly to fund the fringe benefits for state employees that are far beyond other competing hospitals. Advertisement Primarily due to the states legacy unfunded pension and health care liabilities, these costs have been increasing at alarming and unsustainable rates,' said Dr. Bruce Liang, the centers interim chief executive officer. In fact, the states fringe benefit rates are over 70% versus an average of approximately 26% compared to other area hospitals, with the majority of the difference being attributable to these unfunded legacy costs. These are costs we can no longer cover for the state, Liang said. Advertisement UConn also is seeking an additional $20 million for its medical malpractice trust fund because $20 million had been removed from the fund in order to cover long-ago deficits during the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years. UConn is now seeking to have the money restored. In light of recent cases and possible upcoming claims, we are asking the state to replenish the fund with the full $20 million,' Liang said. These funds would not be used for operating expenses but for malpractice claims against the health system. Any health system is required to be covered and prepared for unfortunate and catastrophic events.' The issues were analyzed Tuesday by the legislatures budget-writing appropriations committee, which will deliver recommendations on Lamonts $24.2 billion proposed fiscal plan. Lawmakers intend to make final decisions before the legislative session ends on May 4. The biggest impact for UConn is that a Superior Court judge ruled last year that a Bristol couple should receive $37.6 million from a medical malpractice lawsuit after an insemination procedure went wrong at the UConn Health Center. One child died in utero in January 2015, while her twin brother will need lifelong medical care after sustaining a brain injury, according to the lawsuit. Superior Court Judge Mark H. Taylor, a former attorney for the Senate Democrats, wrote in the 107-page ruling that the court agrees with the vast majority of Superior courts, concluding that a physician providing obstetric care owes a direct duty to a mother to prevent harm to her child during gestation and delivery. UConn officials said the size of the ruling, which included both economic and non-economic damages, had been unexpected. While Democrats have often defended the states only public hospital, Republicans have questioned the high costs. The fringe benefits are extremely high,' state Rep. Whit Betts told UConn officials Tuesday. Im wondering where that expectation came that the state would be taking care of these costs for you.' Advertisement Senate Republican leader Kevin Kelly, of Stratford, who received his law degree from UConn, said that taxpayers cannot afford continually to subsidize the state operation. This is exactly the problem with a government-run health care system,' Kelly said in an interview. Its why were against the public option, too, he said. This demonstrates that government cant efficiently manage health care systems, and its back-stopped by the taxpayers wallet. Thats the problem.' He added, UConn comes back to a population of taxpayers who are already struggling. ... They have some of the highest-paid state employees going back to those struggling taxpayers and asking for more money because they cant manage their enterprise. Im not even looking for profit out of them. Can you balance your books? Apparently they cant because they keep coming back for more. This seems to be a perennial problem, Kelly said. Besides salaries, the UConn health center employees often have the highest pensions among state employees. UConn continued to pay a medical school professor, Dr. Pierluigi Bigazzi, for at least five months after he was killed in his Burlington home in 2017 in a case in which his wife was charged. Advertisement You would hope people would recognize that somebody is not showing up at the office,' Kelly said. The financial problems at the health center have been a long-running issue with the legislature, dating back at least to 2000 and have continued for the terms of the past four governors. The health center has been bailed out repeatedly as lawmakers say that the fringe benefits for state employees at the John Dempsey Hospital in Farmington are far beyond those at similar hospitals. Farmington, Ct. - 02/22/2022 - UConn Health Center seeks $50 million bailout from state, including $20 million for medical malpractice. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Lamonts budget director, Melissa McCaw, said recently that the state has not embarked on a long-term study of the future of the center, but officials have been watching the finances closely. Overall, UConn Health, which includes the medical and dental schools, has a $1.4 billion annual budget that includes 48% from patient fees; 24% from the state; 8% from research, and about 20% from tuition and other sources. The center is requesting for the states annual block grant to continue at $133.8 million for the next fiscal year. UConns interim president, Radenka Maric, told legislators that she analyzes the numbers on fringe benefits on a regular basis. I look at the numbers every day, and they are not encouraging so we need help,' she said. Advertisement In April 2021, UConn Health asked the legislature during a public hearing for another bailout of $54 million, $59 million and $61 million over the next three fiscal years. The issue was not completely resolved by the time the legislative session ended. The money would be used to cover the increased costs for pensions and health care, officials said. At the peak of the pandemic in March and April 2020, UConn Healths net patient revenue was down by $1 million per day as all elective surgeries were postponed and fewer patients arrived. UConn Health lost $70 million in net patient revenue during the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2020 due to the pandemic. Since then, however, the health center has rebounded sharply as patients returned for surgery and other visits. After the biggest drops in April for patient revenue, some days at the health center were already back up to 100% in June and July 2020, officials said. Farmington, Ct. - 02/22/2022 - UConn Health Center seeks $50 million bailout from the state, including $20 million for medical malpractice. Photograph by Mark Mirko | mmirko@courant.com (Mark Mirko/The Hartford Courant) Liang said he also has concerns about a large wave of consolidations in which two entities Hartford Healthcare and Yale New Haven Health have formed large corporations that are purchasing smaller hospitals around the state. I have concern about the healthcare consolidation,' Liang said. Wearing my hat as the dean of the medical school, Im afraid its going to have a negative impact on the quality of the medical student education. We have medical students training in both Manchester and Waterbury hospitals. We want to make sure if this acquisition goes through our students education is not going to be compromised both qualitatively and quantitatively.' Advertisement [ Two health systems may soon own more than half of Connecticuts hospitals. Lawmakers are taking note. ] Liang added, The access of the local community to quality, specialty care not just primary care at the local hospital, I think, might be compromised. There may be a tendency to send patients to another town or city to get the specialty care. Also, Im not a health care economist, but if the patients migrate out of the local community, I think the jobs might follow, as well. I have concerns about the local communitys jobs.' Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. President of the Republic of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan welcomed the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics. President Harutyunyan made a statement on this occasion which says: On behalf of the authorities and people of the Republic of Artsakh I welcome the decision of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples Republics. The right of nations to self-determination and building ones own state is inalienable for every people and is a fundamental principle of the international law. The establishment of an independent state and its international recognition becomes an imperative especially in the face of existential dangers, as it is the most effective and civilized means of preventing bloodshed and humanitarian disaster. The Republic of Artsakh has been fighting for its freedom, security and state-building for decades and has been exposed to many trials and genocidal actions. Thus, we hope that the Republic of Artsakh, which has relevant indisputable historical, political, legal and moral bases, has earned the international recognition of its sovereign state. Congratulations to the people of Donbass on this historic event! We hope that steadfast peace and stability will be restored in this once prosperous country. On February 21 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced about the recognition of sovereignty of Donetsk and Lugansk. Putin made this statement while addressing the people of Russia. Following the address, the Russian President signed the decrees recognizing the independence of Lugansk and Donetsk, as well as the agreements on friendship and mutual assistance with the leaders of Donetsk and Lugansk. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan met with Ambassador of the Netherlands to Armenia Nico Schermers, the Ombudsmans Office said in a press release. Arman Tatoyan presented the programs implemented over the past 6 years relating to the rights of children, women and persons with disabilities, the fight against stereotypes, the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, the freedom of speech and the professional work of journalists. Issues relating to the protection of human rights were discussed during the meeting. The Armenian Ombudsman presented the violations of rights of Armenias border residents by the Azerbaijani armed forces and the urgency of creating a security zone. YEREVAN, 21 FEBRUARY, ARMENPERESS. Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Deputy Oleksiy Honcharenko has submitted to the parliament a draft decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Russia, ARMENPRESS reports, Ria Novosti informs. The relevant draft resolution was registered on the website of the Verkhovna Rada on February 22. "Ukraine must end its diplomatic relations with Russia. Today I submitted an urgent resolution to the Verkhovna Rada. Year after year, the Russian Federation only intensifies its aggression against Ukraine. Putin first occupied Crimea, then started a war in the Donbass. And now he continues to apply pressure. He recognized his puppets, the so-called Donetsk and Lugansk, as independent. By yesterdays statement Putin himself cut off diplomatic relations with us," Honcharenko wrote in the Telegram. He offered to urgently discuss this decision. Russia recognized the independence of two self-proclaimed republics Donetsk and Lugansk on February 21. YEREVAN, 21 FEBRUARY, ARMENPERESS. The possible breach of diplomatic relations between Russia and Ukraine will create additional difficulties for the normalization of relations between the two countries, ARMENPRESS reports Russian presidents spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "It will cause additional difficulties, additional problems for the normalization of relations between our countries. And they must be normalized one day," Peskov said. Nancy Carolyn Roberts Chappell, 71, a native and lifelong resident of Crossett, died Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at her sisters residence in Hamburg. She was a 1968 graduate of Crossett High School and a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Monticello School of Nursing. She worked as a Read more The president said it was a matter of pride that India was marching ahead with indigenization of its military systems Visakhapatnam: Indian Navy showcased its strength and its latest acquisitions in Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam during Presidents Fleet Review on Monday. President Ramnath Kovind, who along with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and senior naval officers reviewed the fleet. The president said it was a matter of pride that India was marching ahead with indigenization of its military systems. The Navy is becoming increasingly self-reliant and being at the forefront of the Make in India initiative, he noted. The President expressed his happiness at the Indian Navy becoming increasingly self-reliant and being at the forefront of the Make in India initiative. "I am happy to know that 70 per cent of the contents of several warships and submarines under construction in various public and private shipyards across the country are indigenously built. It is a matter of great pride that India has built nuclear submarines and soon we would have our indigenously built aircraft carrier, Vikrant, joining the service, he said. The President added that the development of indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities was an impressive contribution to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative of the central government. After a 21-Gun Salute and Ceremonial Guard of Honour, the President embarked on the Presidential yacht, INS Sumitra. It is an indigenously built Naval offshore patrol vessel designated as the Presidential yacht. The Yacht sailed past 44 ships from the Navy, Coast Guard, SCI and the ministry of earth sciences lined up in four columns at the anchorage off Visakhapatnam, exhibiting the nations maritime power. A spectacular fly past was part of the static review of the fleet. During the final stage of the review, a mobile column of warships and submarines carried out high-speed steam past alongside the Presidential yacht. Several enthralling waterfront activities -- parade of sails, search and rescue demonstration at sea, aerobatics by Hawk aircraft and water para-jumps by the elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) had the guests mesmerized. As the presidential yacht passed between the review columns, each ship dressed in full regalia and manned by her ships company saluted the President with traditional Three Jais in a demonstration of its full allegiance to the country and the Supreme Commander. The President also witnessed demonstrations in the form of a composite flypast by 55 aircraft including Chetaks, ALH, Sea Kings, KAMOVs, Dorniers, IL-38SD, P8I, Hawks and MiG 29K. The review was followed by the release of a special First Day Cover and a commemorative stamp by the President in the presence of defence minister Rajnath Singh and minister of state for communication Devusinh J Chauhan. The question then arises as to what does Mr Putin wish to achieve The standoff over Ukraine refuses to drift away with Russia deploying over 150,000 troops on the periphery of the targeted state. Multiple theories are circulating as to Russian President Vladimir Putins real intentions. The simplest is the madman theory, based on the premise that leaders like Adolf Hitler are not mad, they just pretend to be. Their bluff, consequently, mostly enables them to achieve their desired strategic objective without a fight. The classic case in this regard was the appeasement of Hitler by British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in Munich on September 24, 1938. The question then arises as to what does Mr Putin wish to achieve. The immediate root of the crisis can be traced to the displacement of a pro-Russia ruler by a democratic alternative in 2014. Russia then seized the Crimea and destabilised Ukrainian control over its two eastern provinces -- Luhansk and Donetsk -- by using irregular fighters. But at the back of it exists a desire, since the revival of Russian power under Mr Putin, to create a buffer zone between Russia and the European Union. Russia desires to restore its sphere of influence in areas of the erstwhile Soviet Union. In Central Asia, this push has encountered Chinese and American counter-pressure. In Europe, it is simply a case of a pushback against the eastward expansion of Nato. In his February 2007 speech at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Putin, referring to Natos expansion, had asked: What happened to the assurances our Western partners made after the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact? He quoted the 1990 speech of Natos secretary-general that Nato was not ready to deploy its forces outside of German territory. Once again, after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, Mr Putin had decried the eastward expansion of Nato. Mark Kramer has drawn on declassified Western records to assert that no assurance was given or even discussed by the Western nations when negotiating German reunification. What the Germans, as well as the Americans, British and French had agreed on was not to deploy non-German forces on the territory of the former German Democratic Republic. Article 5(3) of the 1990 Treaty on Final Settlement states that after the withdrawal of Soviet forces, German forces could be deployed in the former GDR. The only bar was on foreign forces or nuclear weapons. In an interview with Russia behind the Headlines, the Soviet Unions last President Mikhail Gorbachev revealed that the topic of Natos expansion was not discussed at all. Thus, Mr Putins claim about the West reneging on its commitment on Nato expansion appears to be baseless. But the Western desire to extend its sphere of influence over the former Warsaw Pact nations has been undeniable, while Russia underwent a major power depletion after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Today, the allegation of betrayal by the West captures the Russian peoples imagination, whether or not it is true. Mr Putin is using it to force a redrawing of the strategic order that was settled in 1991 as the Cold War ended. Ukraine is an instrument to achieve that end. Earlier, the Russian intervention in 2015 in Syria was to reassert Russias role in West Asia. What looked like a dangerous gamble then has worked out quite nicely for Russia as the Islamic State was dismantled and the Bashar al-Assad regime in Damascus stabilised. Russias meddling in Ukraine began after a pro-Russia regime was displaced in 2014. Even more bothersome to Russia was the possibility of a functioning democracy taking root, as it did in most nations liberated from Russias yoke. Mr Putin would hardly desire such an example flourishing on Russias borders. If anything, the popular uprising in Kazakhstan, put down by Russian security forces invited by the tottering regime, would have rattled Mr Putin. The election of US President Donald Trump in 2016 was preceded by serious allegations of Russian interference in the US electoral process in 2015. Simultaneously, the two Minsk agreements were signed in 2014 and 2015. Ukraine figured prominently in President Trumps impeachment proceedings. The current standoff entered an escalatory phase last week when US President Joe Biden claimed that a Russian military attack on Ukraine was imminent. Earlier, on February 4, alongside the Winter Olympics inauguration, Mr Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met. In a joint statement, their friendship is described as leaving no forbidden areas of cooperation. A bilateral agreement on oil and gas was augmented. Even more tellingly while Russia endorsed Chinese opposition to Taiwanese independence, China decried Natos eastward expansion. With this strategic convergence complete, Mr Putin signalled the ability to defy Western economic sanctions. Thus, he ratcheted up the military pressure on Ukraine, while continuing to talk to Western leaders and keeping the dialogue open. President Biden, meanwhile, managed to get the European leaders more aligned to the approach that any Russian attempt to breach Ukrainian sovereignty would be met with strong European sanctions. Germany hinted that it may even discard the almost-ready Nord Stream II Russian pipeline, owned by Gazprom. The US is suggesting that even secondary sanctions may be imposed on countries assisting the primary target. While Ukrainian President Voldomyer Zelentsky sought, at the Munich Security Summit, a timetable to join Nato, Russia decided to leave in Belarus its 30,000 troops sent there for a military exercise. Diplomacy still has a narrow window. The two Minsk agreements of 2014-15 provide a path to de-escalation. Its 13 points weave together steps towards restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty over the Donbas region, Russias withdrawal of its irregular forces, greater devolution of powers to that region, etc. The problem is how to choreograph those steps. Moreover, if Mr Putin is seeking a new European security order in which Russias veto is embedded, then risky military blackmail is hardly the right path. The Russian threats will only enhance cohesion on the Nato side. Some analysts are suggesting a reverse China strategy. This implies that while 50 years ago US President Richard Nixon had engaged China to isolate the Soviet Union, it now needs to wean Russia from China. This assumes that the primary threat to the US is from China. But this can succeed only if Russian insecurity can be successfully handled. For Indian diplomacy, a Russian attack will present a challenge as remaining silent would seriously upset its American and European partners. India has dithered over extracting many thousand Indian students from a possible war zone. Russia and Ukraine are two big wheat exporting nations. Interrupted global supplies will cause prices to rise and human distress. Thus, Ukraine needs urgent de-escalation. After an hour flying with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew over Hampton Roads, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Norfolk, said theyre both struck with how much has piled on Hampton Roads Coast Guardsmens workload lately. And theyre concerned that the Coast Guard may not have all the resources they need. Advertisement With a surge in shipping traffic, major construction projects on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and the main shipping channel, managing traffic just one of the basic missions of the Coast Guard is a growing challenge, Luria said. I think theyre worried, she said. Advertisement Luria, who is member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Coast Guard as well as the Armed Services Committee, said the Coast Guard overall needs more resources to tackle its missions. Daywatch Weekdays Start your morning with today's local news > The Coast Guard has seen a rise in search and rescue work, which seems to be linked to the pandemic, as people tried out boating for the first time and got into trouble they werent prepared for, Kaine said. And thinking ahead about search and rescue operations as Dominion Energys offshore wind farm takes shape, as well as the activity involved in moving cumbersome turbine components from the port to the wind farm site 27 miles off the Virginia Beach shore, is another concern, he said. Permitting and environmental monitoring of the bridge-tunnels and channel widening projects is another major workload, Kaine added. On top of that, the Coast Guards recent concentration of cutters in Portsmouth keeps cutters and crews in Hampton Roads busy on fisheries regulation and law enforcement work, including combating drug smugglers and preventing illegal immigration by sea. Both Kaine and Luria said they believe Congress will move soon on a defense spending bill for fiscal year 2022, which includes stepped up funding for Ford-class carriers and Virginia-class submarines built at Newport News Shipbuilding, as well as money for the shipyards refueling of older nuclear carriers. Spending so far this year has been pegged at last years level under a series of continuing resolutions, although the latest resolution did provide extra money for the new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. The two said theyre also seeing bipartisan support in Congress for U.S. sanctions if Russia invades Ukraine. Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com The research indicates blocking antibodies could represent a new treatment to alleviate cardiovascular complications The SARS-CoV-2 virus has RNA as its genetic material. (Photo: Representational/PTI) London: The SARS-CoV-2 virus may contribute to the damage of small blood vessels in the heart as seen in severely-ill COVID-19 patients, without infecting them, a study shows. The research, published in the journal Clinical Science, indicates blocking antibodies could represent a new treatment to alleviate cardiovascular complications. A multidisciplinary research team led by the University of Bristol, UK, analysed how SARS-CoV-2 interacts with heart cells causing the myocardial damage seen in COVID-19 patients. Until now, it remained unclear whether heart cells are infected by the virus or damaged because of an excess cytotoxic defence response. This response, also known as the cytokine storm', comes from our immune cells, whereby cytotoxic cells attack and kill the infected cells by releasing proteins, called cytokines. The study also investigated whether heart cells contribute to producing excess cytokines. The team led by Professor Paolo Madeddu exposed human heart pericytes, which are cells that wrap small blood vessels in the heart, to SARS-CoV-2 Alpha and Delta variants, along with the original Wuhan virus. They found the heart pericytes were not infected. In a second test-tube experiment, the researchers challenged the cardiac pericytes with only the spike protein -- which the virus uses to enter and infect the cells -- without the virus. The spike protein made pericytes unable to interact with their companion endothelial cells and induced them to secrete inflammatory cytokines, suggesting the spike protein is harmful to human cardiac cells. The team found that antibodies blocking CD147 -- a receptor for the spike protein -- protected heart pericytes from damage. The findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can damage vascular cells without infecting them, according to the researchers. Cleaved spike protein particles could also amplify the damage induced by the engagement of the full virion with vascular cells, they added. The researchers identified the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in blood samples obtained from COVID-19 patients. This opens the possibility that spike protein particles traveling through the circulation can reach a site distant from the respiratory system and cause systemic damage, they said. "Pericytes are essential cells of the heart, although their role in maintaining the structural integrity of the coronary vascular tree has emerged only recently," said Elisa Avolio, the study's first author from the Bristol Medical School. "Our ongoing research on human cardiac pericytes indicates these cells co-operate with coronary endothelial cells during healing from a heart attack," Avolio said. The study shows that the spike protein jeopardises this interaction and transforms pericytes into inflammatory cells. The researchers noted that CD147 blocking antibodies could represent a new treatment to alleviate cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients. "Microvascular complications are frequent and harmful in patients with COVID-19, with up to 11 per cent of those hospitalised in intensive care units having myocardial damage or having suffered a heart attack," Professor Paolo Madeddu, from the Bristol Medical School, added. "Furthermore, people with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases are more likely to die of COVID-19," Madeddu added. India's reference at the UNSC to the 'legitimate security interests of all countries' is being seen as a sign of its soft stand on Russia New Delhi: Amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, India on Tuesday said the issue can be resolved only through diplomatic dialogue and that the immediate priority is the de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries. New Delhi further said constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour to avoid scaling up of tensions, adding the safety and security of civilians is essential (and that) the well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to New Delhi. This was stated Tuesday at a meeting of the UN Security Council by Indias permanent representative at the UN T.S. Tirumurti. Air India, meanwhile, operated a flight to Ukraine Tuesday morning as a commercial flight, which is likely to return packed with Indian nationals late Tuesday evening. The airline will operate at least two more flights, one on Thursday and the other on Saturday. This is the first time that Air India is operating commercial flights to Ukraine. The families of Indian diplomats posted in Ukraine are also expected to return home along with students and other Indian nationals. Some other Indian carriers may also operate flights to Ukraine soon depending on the demand. New Delhis reference at the UNSC to the legitimate security interests of all countries is being seen as a sign of its soft stand on Russia, as India is likely to face increasing pressure from the United States and European nations on the issue. Tensions between Russia, Ukraine and the West have escalated after Moscow reportedly recognised the independence of two Russian-backed separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and also announced the deployment of Russian troops in those two regions. At the UNSC Tuesday, Mr Tirumurti said that the escalation of tensions was of deep concern to India as it has the potential to undermine peace and security, while calling for restraint on all sides. He further said the immediate priority was the de-escalation of tensions, taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries. This issue can be resolved only through diplomatic dialogue, Mr Tirumurti said, adding that constructive diplomacy was the need of the hour to avoid scaling up of tensions. Indias UN representative also said the Minsk Agreements provide a basis for a negotiated and peaceful settlement and that greater efforts are needed to find common ground to facilitate the implementation of the key provisions of the Minsk Agreements. by Arundathie Abeysinghe Political parties that oppose the president are incapable of coordinated and unified action. Cleavages weaken the opposition and going it alone will not work. Colombo (AsiaNews) Rifts are emerging in the Sri Lankan government. The most evident is that between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka People's Front, SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). The latter has vowed not to run with the SLPP anymore, even if some SLFP lawmakers prefer to remain because they are worried about their election prospects. Several anonymous lawmakers told AsiaNews that they were disappointed with the current government and wondered whether to join the opposition or remain neutral, because they cannot express their opinion against the government. They explained that they could not visit colleges for fear of actions by the ruling party voters. If the SLFP, the SLPPs main partner, leaves the coalition, it will lose its majority in parliament Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MPs with the Democratic Left Front (DLF) and prominent leaders of the rebel group in the government, criticised the latter in recent months, especially over its response to the energy and sovereign debt crises. Yet, they moderated their approach more recently. For political analysts, this is designed to distract voters rather than lead any strong opposition. Even under the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, these lawmakers had expressed similar views but remained in government. The opposition will have to take into account these developments even though many party leaders seem to have no back-up plans, and are divided into factions. This helps the government. In 2019, even before the Rajapaksa brothers claimed election victory, the United National Party (UNP) and the SLFP went their respective ways. The UNPs huge defeats led to a break between Ranil Wickremesinghe (party leader) and Sajith Premadasa, current opposition leader and head of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) When the Janatha Vikmuthi Peramuna (JVP) turned into the National People's Power (NPP), it further reduced the chances of a strong opposition. For many analysts, a struggling opposition is the governments best hope. The opposition basically lacks a strategy towards the government. A pragmatic opposition should be able to distinguish between innovative and regressive policies, accepting the former and criticising the latter. Several observers have criticised the opposition for its fragmentation. For example, the JVP issues contradictory statements about the International Monetary Fund, while calling the rating agencies independent. The SJB wavers between neoliberal views and populist statements. The SJB-led bloc is also divided between Sajith Premadasa and Patali Champika (leader of the 43rd Brigade, a civil movement). All these divisions undermine the any attempt to challenge the government. Opposition lawmakers feed paranoia on social media, distract public opinion from important issues, and generate distrust and disinterest in rural voters. All this delegitimises the opposition already in difficulty, and drives undecided voters towards a cleaner version of the Rajapaksas. As some have pointed out, Sri Lanka needs strong opposition, whether green, red or blue, more open and more transparent than it currently is. Going it alone will not work, while the failed strategies of the past must be replaced by new actions. Today's headlines: Tonga is reconnected with the rest of the world; the EU launches a new package of sanctions against Burma's military junta; Sri Lanka is ready to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund to ease its economic crisis; Taiwan calls for an investigation into its own Olympian who wore a Chinese uniform. ASIA After Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the two provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk as independent, India prepared to evacuate its citizens, while Japan immediately said it was ready to support a package of sanctions against Moscow. During the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, China was very mild and called on the parties to avoid an escalation of violence. RUSSIA The Russian Prime Minister allocated 5 billion roubles (60 million euro) for assistance to displaced persons from the Donbass. According to President Putin's indications, each displaced person will receive a subsidy of 10,000 roubles (110 euro). The regional administration in Rostov should present the list of displaced persons to be assisted as soon as possible. In the Donbass, mass raids are underway on houses left empty by displaced persons. TONGA This morning, the island of Tonga reconnected with the rest of the world. One month after the volcanic eruption that devastated the archipelago and interrupted communications with the rest of the world, the submarine fibre-optic cable connecting it to international networks was repaired. The next step will be to repair the cables connecting the main island of Tongatapu with the more peripheral ones. SRI LANKA Sri Lanka is willing to hold talks with the International Monetary Fund and other lending institutions to tackle one of the worst economic crises in years. Foreign exchange reserves have fallen to 2.36 billion dollars, leading to a reduction in imports. The island only has fuel reserves for a few days at the moment. MYANMAR The European Union yesterday adopted a fourth round of sanctions against the Burmese junta in Myanmar, where the political situation continues to deteriorate: the Council added 22 individuals and 4 entities to the sanctions list. The entities are state-owned enterprises and include the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (Moge). TAIWAN The Olympics were over, but the Taiwanese government called for an investigation into one of its athletes, skater Huang Yu-ting, who had posted a photo of herself wearing a Chinese uniform on social media. Although the skater later removed the post and justified herself by saying that the suit had been given to her by a Chinese friend, Premier Su Tseng-chang called her behaviour "inappropriate". HONG KONG City authorities said they had detected traces of Sars-Cov-2 in packages of beef from Brazil and pork from Poland. The new wave of infections is proving increasingly difficult to control, with more than 7,000 new cases recorded yesterday. JORDAN Leaked reports about funds held by Jordan's King Abdallah in the Swiss bank Credit Suisse contain 'inaccurate, old and misleading' information, the royal palace says. Two days ago, several media outlets published details of accounts held by the royal family in Switzerland from the 1940s to 2010. The royal family has stated that no public money is involved. King Abdallah's holdings abroad had also been documented by Pandora Papers. by Dario Salvi The Strip is experiencing a phase of relative calm, even the tensions in Jerusalem are (for now) a distant echo. A bookshop, the restoration of a Byzantine church and the discovery of a Roman cemetery are signs of rebirth and hope. Exit visas are essential not only to visit the holy sites, but to avert the danger of endogamy. Gaza (AsiaNews) - The Strip is experiencing a phase of "relative calm" after two hard years of "total closure" first because of the Covid-19, then because of the war last May that effectively sealed the borders. Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentinean priest of the Incarnate Word, speaks to AsiaNews of a "calmer climate, at night one no longer hears - at least for the moment - the military actions". Sometimes, he adds, "you don't even hear the buzzing of the drones that continually fly over the area. And this is a good sign, which induces serenity and helps with respect to the closures, violence and conflict. The recovery also includes an "economic recovery" in a situation that depends "on external aid" and the (partial) unblocking of the borders with Israel and Egypt. For a real recovery, the priest explains, we need more permits and the consolidation of a truce that is truly effective and lasting. "We must continue to work on the traumas - he stresses - that we see every day not only in parishes, but also in schools. We see situations of discomfort and the mere economic improvement" does not mean that the situation is resolved; "we need time to heal" at the cultural, social and health levels. In the meantime, the population pays less and less attention to news of clashes and tensions and "lives day to day", ceasing "to believe the promises" of politicians and leaders, amidst wounds that "have never healed" and a peace that remains "all too fragile". The rubble of war The tension between Israel and Palestine, which turned into open conflict in the Strip in May, was fuelled by Palestinian protests against the Israeli Supreme Court's decision to evict some houses in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem. The demonstrations degenerated into violent clashes, with incidents and violations on both sides. On 7th May, the escalation also involved the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, degenerating into scuffles with hundreds of people injured; meanwhile, Israeli Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit decided to postpone the ruling on the disputed neighbourhood by 30 days, but this was not enough to restore calm. On the 10th, attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad (JI) triggered the Israeli army's response with clashes and military operations on both sides, which continued until the 21st of the month. The toll of the lightning war stands at 13 Israeli civilians killed by Hamas and JI rockets, including two children; at least 114 people were wounded. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, the number of dead in the Strip is at least 256 (civilians and militiamen), including 66 minors. In addition to the trail of bloodshed, the conflict has left behind a pile of rubble and devastation that has added to an already precarious situation in what many describe as an open-air prison. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs reports the destruction of 258 buildings and damage to 53 schools, 11 clinics and six hospitals. Mediation by Egypt and Qatar helped bring about a ceasefire after 11 days of fighting, while the two warring sides extolled a victory that has propaganda value, with no evidence on the ground. Signs of rebirth From the library to the Byzantine church, via the Roman cemetery dating back to the first century AD - and its 20 tombs with ornaments and decorations - the inhabitants of Gaza are rediscovering the past to look to the future with renewed hope. After lengthy restoration work, a 5th century church was inaugurated in the middle of the month, which Hamas militiamen wanted to celebrate as a sign to their 'Christian brothers'. The remains were discovered in 1997 during work in Jabalia, north of Gaza, and, according to Fr Romanelli, testify to the fact that "at the beginning, different rites were able to coexist" and this "is a sign of hope for today". The archaeological area is about 800 square metres and the most precious part is a mosaic depicting scenes of hunting and palm trees, now visible through a raised wooden walkway. The walls were originally frescoed with passages from religious texts in ancient Greek from the period of Emperor Theodosius, between 408 and 450 AD; the total cost of the restoration is 250 thousand euro. In Gaza, there is also "the most important" archaeological discovery of the last 10 years: a Roman cemetery from the first century, with 20 tombs still preserved inside, containing ornaments and decorations. Initial investigations suggest that they belong to people of high rank and date back to the Roman Empire due to their east-west orientation, unlike Muslim cemeteries where the orientation is north-south. At the moment, the site - located in the northern part of the Strip - is still off-limits to visitors, but the aim is to make it accessible in the near future with guided tours. Finally, nine months after the destruction caused by the conflict, Gaza's historic and most important bookshop reopened in mid-February, benefiting from books and volumes donated by a group of British donors through a fundraising drive. The five-storey building that housed Samir Mansour's bookshop (on the ground floor) was reduced to a pile of rubble and debris by bombs, which incinerated the approximately 100,000 volumes inside. Opened in the 2000s near three universities, the bookshop was frequented by students and reading enthusiasts and what made it unique was the possibility of retrieving all kinds of volumes online, even those not immediately available for sale. Today, the bookshop has been given a new lease of life with even more space and a larger catalogue to satisfy the tastes of a growing number of people, from children to adults, in Arabic and English for a total of 400,000 volumes. At the inauguration ceremony, Mansour himself emphasised that "the destruction has not broken us, on the contrary it has made us even stronger". Looking to the future Since 2007, when Hamas came to power in the Strip, the number of Christians has dropped from 7,000 to just over a thousand today (134 Catholics), a tiny percentage of the total of 2.3 million people. A small flock, to which Fr Romanelli looks with optimism "because after 27 years of missionary work in the Middle East I am convinced that a solution can be reached". He explains, "the Palestinian and Israeli people, are tired of the many conflicts on either side of the wall and would like to live in peace. But to build peace, justice is needed, and for justice to be done, as John Paul II stressed, reconciliation is needed, especially in the case of such complicated conflicts with such a high number of deaths. We need dialogue, deep down, to reach a solution and give life to an independent state for the Palestinians too, as it is today for the Israelis, so that both can coexist". The parish priest underlines the importance of the permits issued this year by Israel on the occasion of Christmas, which have allowed hundreds of faithful to visit Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and reunite with family and friends "thanks also to the valuable work carried out by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem". These visits, notes Fr Romanelli, "are a human and social necessity to maintain the Christian presence". If the community is not nourished from outside, "the short-term risk is that of endogamy, of marrying among blood relatives. Exit permits are not just for visiting the holy places, but for starting new unions". Of course, the Strip "is still an open-air prison", but "the first signs of relaxation can be seen. We must not stop at these results, we must continue to pray and work to nurture the desire for peace and justice as well as greater collaboration between Churches". The project would link the Iranian port of Bandar-e Deyr to an unspecified location in Qatar. The underwater tunnel would run for 190 km, with both road and railway sections, although the former is more difficult. President Raisi is in Doha to sign four cooperation agreements, from energy to transport. Doha (AsiaNews) Iran is planning feasibility studies for what would be the longest tunnel in the world. If built, it would physically connect Iran to Qatar across the Persian Gulf. The project is at the centre of talks this week between Irans Roads Minister Rostam Qasemi and his Qatari counterparts in Doha, coinciding with the official visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to the Arab emirate. According to Iranian media, the tunnel would link the Iranian port of Bandar-e Deyr to a still unspecified location in Qatar. Irans Ports and Maritime Organisation managing director Ali Akbar Safaei said the proposed new tunnel would harbinger great developments both for Iran and for Qatar. Given the poor state of Irans economy, if undertaken, the projects financing would fall largely on the shoulders of Qatar. The closest point between the two countries is about 190 km and is three times the length of the longest transport tunnel in the world today, a 68-km section of Line 6 of the Chengdu Metro in southwest China. A Persian Gulf tunnel would be five times longer than the current biggest underwater tunnel in the world, the Chunnel under the English Channel between France and the United Kingdom, which runs for 38 km. Another tunnel, that of Seikan connecting the Japanese islands of Honshu and Hokkaido under the Tsuguru Strait, has an underwater section of 23.3 km. The connection under the Persian Gulf would include both road and railway sections; however, a road tunnel is not considered very feasible due to the long distance. Currently the longest road tunnel in the world is that of Lrdal, in Norway, running for 24.5 km. It required major work to tackle the claustrophobia and inattentiveness drivers might feel, with caves every six 6km with special lighting to add variety and provide resting places. The first step for the new tunnel will be the creation of a joint Qatar-Iran committee to analyse the project, evaluating costs and benefits. Meanwhile, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Qatar yesterday for a historic visit; the two countries are expected to sign major economic agreements. According to al-Jazeera, during his two-day stay in Doha, the president is expected to visit the Forum of Gas Exporting Countries (GEFC). A meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, is also on the agenda. The two leaders are expected to preside over the signing of a number of agreements. The first is expected to be about the tunnel, the second about maritime links, the third about cooperation in maritime trade, and the last regarding air links. Talks will also address energy issues. According to the Iranian agency Fars, Iran is interested in Qatars surplus electricity via underwater electric grids. by John Ai Xiong Yan allegedly sided with the Chinese authorities, who were responsible for repressing the democracy movement in 1989. Criticised for taking part in an event against the establishment of the 4th of June Museum in New York, organised by a pro-Beijing group. He is a candidate for the US Congress: he wants funds and votes. Rome (AsiaNews) - The former student leader Xiong Yan, protagonist of the June 1989 Tiananmen Square riots, later bloodily repressed by Chinese authorities, recently appeared at a seminar opposing the creation of the June 4th Memorial Museum in New York. His participation in the event sparked controversy among dissidents and parts of the Chinese community in the US. Another former student leader Wang Dan posted a photo that shows Xiong Yan sitting in the middle of the front line among the leaders of the pro-Beijing group that triggered a wave of criticism blaming Xiongs betrayal. Xiong responded to the criticism that he is running for the campaign of the federal congressional election, and he wants both funds and votes, so he has to abandon the identity of a former student leader to speak for the Chinese community. In this photo, the red backdrop of the stage indicated the theme of the seminar: advocating the solidarity of Chinese ethnic, opposing the split of the community, and opposing the establishment of the June 4th Memorial Museum in New York. Xiong argued in a web post that he did not notice the words on the backdrop, and there was no so-called seminar. Xiong argued that they took photos. Xiong said that in a liberal society anyone can express if there is no violence or threats in the speech. Wang Dan blamed Xiong standing by the Chinese Communist Party for his own interest and questioned on Xiongs attitude for betraying the victims in 1989. Online comments also say that Xiong betrayed those who risked their lives to smuggle him to Hong Kong. Xiong did not respond to the condemnations against him in his post. After retiring from the US Army last September, Xiong announced to run for the election campaign. He declined the request for an interview from Radio Free Asia. According to the report of Radio Free Asia, the seminar was organized by a leader of the pro-Beijing community Zheng Shigan(), who is the head of the Fujian community. Online reports show that Zheng has a close tie with Chinese authorities: he was a member of an advisory body Fujian Provincial Committee of Political Consultative Conference; he was named as a propagandist of the 19th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. Prior to his attendance at the pro-Beijing event, Xiong posted a statement in a Chinese-language newspaper in the US in early February, asking former leaders of the movement in 1989 to remove his name from the name list of the preparatory team for the June 4th Memorial Museum in New York. The former June 4th Memorial Museum was located in Hong Kong and was raided by authorities in 2021. The exhibits and books of the museum were taken away by police. The museum exhibited the items of victims and the evidence of the massacre on Tiananmen Square in 1989. Former student leader Wang Dan and other dissidents have been advocating to re-establish the museum in New York after the museum was vandalized in Hong Kong. During the democratic movement in 1989, Xiong Yan became famous for openly debating with Premier Li Peng. He was among the student leaders arrested by Chinese authorities after the bloody crackdown on June 4th. He was smuggled to Hong Kong then went to the US in 1992. After getting a Doctor of Ministry degree from GordonConwell Theological Seminary, Xiong became a chaplain in U.S. Army, serving in Iraq. In 2009, Xiong attended the June 4th Vigil in Hong Kong. In 2015, Xiong attempted to visit his mother in China who was in critical illness and was refused entry in Hong Kong: his application for a visa was rejected by Chinese authorities. Oscar Temores, second from left, poses with his brothers, wife, son and mother in an undated family photograph. (Virginia Beach Commonwealth's Attorney) As his mother wept from her seat in the courtroom, 4-year-old Damien Temores tried to console her. The dark-haired preschooler stood in front of her, talking to her quietly, and holding onto her while other family members told a judge about the devastating loss they suffered when Damiens father was killed in a 2019 crash at Joint Expeditionary Little Creek-Fort Story. Advertisement Damien was just 2 when his father, 23-year-old Oscar Temores, died. The crash occurred at the base around 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30. Temores, a Navy petty officer third class, was working as a sentry when he heard a radio call about a pickup speeding the wrong way through the gates. Temores got into his cruiser and was responding to the area when the truck hit his vehicle head-on. Advertisement (Courtesy of the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office) The driver, Nathaniel Lee Campbell, of Shenandoah, was going 79 mph at the time of impact, according to prosecutors. Temores died at a hospital a short time later. Campbell was hospitalized and had part of his right leg amputated. Three of Temores family members and a friend who was working with him that night gave highly emotional testimony during Campbells sentencing hearing Tuesday. They described Temores as a hardworking man who was proud to be in the Navy and dedicated to his family, especially his young son. Virginia Beach Circuit Judge Kevin Duffan sentenced Campbell to 10 years in prison. It was the maximum allowed under the law. Sentencing guidelines had suggested Campbell, now 41, only get probation, which Duffan called completely inappropriate. Campbell pleaded guilty in December to involuntary manslaughter, which prosecutors said was the highest count he could face. To be able to charge him with aggravated involuntary manslaughter which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison there would have had to be another factor other than excessive speed involved in the crash, said Macie Allen, spokeswoman for the Virginia Beach commonwealths attorneys office. Tests showed Campbell had no alcohol or drugs in his system, and none were found in his vehicle or the motel room where he was staying. Temores was looking forward to an upcoming trip home to California to see his family and was talking about it with his friend and colleague, Andrew Crum, when he got the call about the truck, Crum testified. I yelled to him, Go get em, and be safe, Crum said. Not long after, Crum heard there had been a crash and raced out to see what happened. He found Temores in his cruiser, still alive but gravely injured. I started to talk to him and to tell him that I was there for him, Crum said as he fought back tears. All he could say was that he didnt want to die and he wanted to talk to his family He looked me in the eyes and he told me to tell his mom, his wife and his son, he loved them. Advertisement Those were the last words Crum said he heard from his friend. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Campbells attorney, Assistant Public Defender Kimberly Smith, told the judge Campbell has struggled to explain what he was thinking that night. Hed recently come to Virginia Beach and was staying at a motel when he reached out to a woman he knew and asked her if she wanted to get married, Smith said. The woman was in Chicago and had no intention of marrying him, the defense lawyer said. After the rejected proposal, Campbell decided to head to a strip club and got confused on how to get there. He didnt have his phone with him and there was no GPS in his truck. He felt out of control that night, Smith said. He remembers speeding but he doesnt remember much more than that. Campbell never intended to hurt anyone, she said. There was something else going on that night, Smith said. Im not really sure what. Advertisement Campbell spoke briefly to the court before the sentence was handed down, much of it inaudible. He apologized to the Temores family and said he wished he could take it back. Jane Harper, 757-222-5097, jane.harper@pilotonline.com Rich Flowers/staff Athens Kiwanis President Wade Carter presents a book to Sheriff Botie Hillhouse at the club's weekly meeting at Tilo's Tuesday. The book will go into the Clint Murchison Library in his honor. According to QuantumScape, Japan has a worldwide reputation for excellence in battery science, development, and manufacturing. The solid-state platform startup would be focusing on the talent pool that the Asian country has. However, it may also be a clear tip about which are the companys other customers apart from Volkswagen.QuantumScape gave us some tips about who they are: a top-10 global manufacturer and an international luxury automotive company. Together, they represented more than 15% of global automotive sales revenue in 2020.With Volkswagen alone having sold a bit more than 9 million cars in a global market of 80 million vehicles two years ago, the German brand alone represents around 11% of that revenue all by itself. The other top-10 global manufacturer could be from Japan. Toyota is too big to fit, and Honda already has SES , but it is the only other Japanese automaker that fits the top-10 description.The luxury automotive company mentioned by QuantumScape could be the luxury division of one of these Japanese automakers, such as Lexus or Acura. It could also be a completely different company about which QuantumScape has not disclosed anything yet. Well keep an eye on those little tips.One thing is for sure: the solid-state cell startup did not establish an R&D center in Japan just because of how qualified its professionals are. Being close to its future clients was most certainly a need: that would make it easier to supply them with the A samples QuantumScape plans to deliver starting by the end of 2022. Perhaps not by coincidence, thats when the Japanese R&D center will also begin its activities. Tesla started using the LFP cells in the base version made-in-China Model 3 RWD in October 2020. One year later, the new chemistry began its international journey and we now know even the American-made Model 3 features the new cells for the base version of the car. Nevertheless, Tesla Giga Shanghai is the place that manufactures the most cars with LFP batteries and Chinese supplier CATL has a hard time keeping up with Teslas demand.Last month Chinese media started talking about CATLs plans to build a second plant to supply Tesla with LFP batteries . According to CNEVPost , CATL has officially started building the new plant in Shanghai's Lingang New Area, where Giga Shanghai is located. The new facility will have a total floor area of about 350,000 square meters and will cost 2.8 billion yuan ($440 million) to complete.Unlike the existing CATL plant near Tesla Giga Shanghai, which only makes the modules but does not actually manufacture the Li-Ion cells, the new facility will build everything under one roof. The new project mentions building a green and efficient smart factory to develop advanced materials, system structures, extreme manufacturing, and business model innovation, according to a press release by the Lingang New Area management committee.The first CATL battery plant next to Giga Shanghai was converted from an existing facility, saving the Chinese company seven to eight months of construction time. But this came with constraints and we know the facility is only able to assemble battery modules, but cannot produce Li-Ion cells. The new battery factory that CATL started building, on the other hand, will be able to manufacture everything, from the cells to the complete batteries.Tesla Giga Shanghai delivery volume last year was close to 500,000 vehicles, which poses serious logistic problems for Tesla suppliers like CATL . Without the second battery factory on-site, the costs of supplying the battery modules to Tesla would be very high, considering the long battery logistic chain. kW Ranger & Ranger Raptor are both coming to the U.S. next year ???????? Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) February 21, 2022 Just like the Bronco Raptor, the Ranger Raptor features a 3.0-liter EcoBoost we already know from the Explorer ST. In the case of the Braptor, were dealing with 400-plus horsepower and heaven knows how many pound-feet of torque. The Ranger Raptor , meanwhile, is offered in two states of tune.The Aussies will be treated to 292and 583 Nm, numbers that convert to 392 horsepower and 430 pound-feet. As for the Old Continent, prospective customers will be offered 288 ps and 491 Nm, a.k.a. 284 horsepower and 362 pound-feet. European customers are further presented with a starting price of 66,200 euros, which converts to 75,065 greenbacks.Somewhat unexpected of the Ford Motor Company, the Ranger Raptor will begin deliveries in late summer in the European Union. Equipped with Fox 2.5-inch Live Valve internal bypass shock absorbers and an electronically-controlled active exhaust system, the off-road pickup is also fitted with a two-speed transfer case, locking front and rear differentials, Trail Control, a total of seven driving modes, SYNC 4A infotainment, and B&O audio.Similar to its award-winning predecessor that was exclusively offered with the EcoBlue bi-turbo diesel four-pot mill, the new Ranger Raptor swaps cogs with the help of a 10-speed automatic transmission. Based on the T6.2 vehicle architecture of the Braptor and lesser Broncos, the off-road pickup truck will be assembled in Rayong, Thailand and Silverton, South Africa.Next year when the T6.2 Ranger and Ranger Raptor launch in the United States, production for the North American market will be handled by the Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne where the outgoing Ranger is made. The Wonder of the Seas is Royal Caribbeans new pride and joy, with the cruise line brand touting it as the most innovative ship it has to offer. It was completed less than a month ago, after 30 months of hard work, being built in the Chantiers de lAtlantique shipyard, in France.The cruise ship just arrived in the U.S., where it is set to make its official debut. The event will take place in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 4.Measuring 1,188 ft (362 m) in length, and 210 ft (64 m) in width, the Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship by tonnage, at 236,857 GT, and its the fifth vessel in Royal Caribbeans Oasis class. It can accommodate up to 6,988 guests and a crew of 2,300.With 16 decks for the guests, the newest wonder operated by Royal Caribbean promises passengers they wont get bored on board, regardless of their age or preferences. Those familiar with the brands cruise ships will enjoy signature activities and venues, but there are a lot of new adventures to be discovered on the Wonder of the Seas as well. Over 100 world-class performers and technicians will be in charge of keeping the guests entertained.Some of the new highlights of the new cruise ship are the so-called Suite Neighborhood, the new southern restaurant and bar called The Mason Jar, and the Wonder Playscape outdoor play area. Then there are also the familiar FloRider surf simulator, the green Central Park with more than 20,000 plants, rock-climbing walls, and the iconic Ultimate Abyss, which Royal Caribbean says its the tallest slide at sea.The Wonder of the Seas will first sail in the Bahamas, offering 7-night cruises to the companys private island destinations. It will also be available for cruises in Barcelona, Rome, and the Mediterranean.You can find all the dates and details you need on Royal Caribbeans website , with Wonder of the Seas cruises being now open for bookings. Honda, Toyota, General Motors , Ford, Stellantis Group, and Hyundai, among other brands, use the industrial cradle of Southern Ontario to bring high-quality passenger cars and commercial trucks to market from Canada all the way to Mexico. That was until a mob of angry protestors blocked off one of the major arteries between Ontario and the U.S. State of Michigan.The cause of all this commotion? New regulations in the cargo trucking industry that Canadian truckers argue are infringing on their civil liberties. The more passionate and vocal among this group dealt a serious blow to the American-Canadian automotive coalition, with many factories having to suspend production on the grounds of not being able to get them to dealerships over the Ambassador bridge After two years on the brink of complete collapse thanks to a global health crisis and subsequent microchip shortage, automakers likely didn't see Canadian citizens as the main cause of their headaches in 2022. Companies like the Japanese Toyota and Korean Hyundai groups are perhaps the companies most affected by the blockade and all the surrounding craziness. Toyota recently told the press that it had axed global production for the year by 500,0000 units due to chip shortages.The Japanese leviathan's prided itself on its "just in time," or JYT production philosophy for their automobiles. Where-in they drastically reduce the amount of overhead at the production level. But such practices can only go so far when vehicles sit in parking lots collecting leaves and snow, waiting for microchips that may or may not arrive before the next model year.Is Toyota preparing to leave this production space? Probably not, but changes are coming. Rest assured of that. What these changes remain to be seen. York County Students at Dare Elementary School in York County are being dismissed early on Tuesday after a power outage. All students are being dismissed at 11:30 a.m., York County School Division said in an urgent alert to parents. Advertisement There will be no afternoon preschool or Right at School childcare on Tuesday afternoon, the school division added. Buses will bring students home, and all other students will be released only to adults on a pre-approved pick-up list. After Dare Elementary experienced a partial power outage Tuesday, Dominion Virginia Power and the school division needed to turn power off to the entire building for several hours as the problem is fixed. Advertisement The school said bagged lunches will be available to students who would like them. To reach the schools main office, call 757-898-0324. Peter Dujardin, 757-247-4749, pdujardin@dailypress.com ??Ya esta en tierra el yate #Neeveen, que varo en la playa de #Carchuna. Capitania Maritima de #Motril felicita al grupo de operaciones especiales de @salvamentogob por el trabajo desarrollado en la descontaminacion y en el reflotamiento del barco.#mareslimpios #maresseguros pic.twitter.com/8tQuCAnOcE Ministerio Transportes, Movilidad y A. Urbana (@mitmagob) February 21, 2022 Earlier this month, the local press in Marbella reported that a luxury yacht had been abandoned on the Carchuna beach after having engine troubles on a trip from Marbella to Aguadulce. Its unclear whether the owners family was onboard at the time as well, but the crew was reportedly trapped for hours before they were rescued by local emergency operators. However, things didnt end up well for the yacht.According to Euro Weekly News, authorities gave the owner a 24-hour deadline for deciding what to do with the boat, but instead of that, he chose to flee. Apparently, thats because he couldnt reach an agreement with the insurance company regarding the responsibility for saving the vessel.Neeveen (named after sheik Mohamed Ashmawis daughter, back in 1986) was finally recovered and brought to the Motril port, local authorities have announced. It spent more than a week stranded, which caused further damage, and authorities had to use pressurized air balloons to give it buoyancy. They also had to carefully remove 6,500 liters (1,700 gallons) of diesel, to prevent environmental accidents. It was a complex operation, but eventually, the yacht made it safely to the Motril port.Its millionaire owner, however, declined any responsibility and took off after refusing to cooperate with local authorities. The 88-footer (27.4 meters) that was once the expensive toy of a famous sheik will now be auctioned off or, even worse, scrapped if its condition is too bad.Built by the Dutch shipyard Van Mill, Neeveen boasted a luxurious exterior created by Antonio Maggini Design. It can accommodate up to eight guests in four generous cabins and traveled regularly in the Mediterranean at a cruising speed of 16 knots (18 mph/29.6 kph). Its original owner, the Saudi businessman, passed away a few years ago, but he most likely never imagined that his beloved luxury yacht would end up abandoned by a careless new owner. The AirTag is, at least in theory, a great device. Coming in a very small form factor, it can keep track of your belongings, and using the Find My network, makes finding a wallet or the car keys just a piece of cake.But bad actors out there rapidly noticed the nefarious potential of this little piece of technology, so they turned to AirTags for all kinds of harmful purposes, including keeping an eye on the location of their targets.Apples GPS trackers, therefore, ended up being hidden in places where its pretty impossible to see, including behind the license plates of cars , in peoples purses, coat pockets, or sometimes right in their homes if the criminals found a way to plant them there.New York Attorney General Letitia James provides a series of recommendations to make sure people are always in the know, including listening for unfamiliar beeping, keeping an eye out for notifications on iPhones and Android devices, and updating phones to the latest version.Apple has already announced a series of measures to make the AirTag difficult to use for such nefarious purposes, and Letitia James tells New Yorkers to check out the updated guidance for more information.The AG reminds that not all AirTags are malicious, as there are times when sometimes people actually lose their GPS trackers, attached or not to their belongings, so its important not to panic when coming across such a device.However, if you believe that someone is using an Apple AirTag to monitor your location, you are recommended to contact the Office of the Attorney General by filing a complaint with the OAG Internet and Technology Bureau. Obviously, if you believe youre in danger, you should also call 911. Curiously, Lohscheller has a very similar mission to that he was in charge at VinFast: international expansion. The American company described his main goal with it as scaling Nikolas global truck business. In other words, he will make sure that people in many markets are able to buy the electric trucks Nikola is already building.The German executive will report directly to Nikolas CEO. Mark Russell praised Lohschellers several decades of direct automotive industry expertise as a precious asset for the truck company. Board member Stephen Girsky welcomed the new Nikola president stating that he knows his way around the manufacturing floors, board rooms, and showrooms.Girsky is probably the person that made the bridge between Lohscheller and Nikola . He was once a vice chairman at GM and is credited as the person that helped structure the deal between Nikola and the American carmaker. Lohscheller started working for Opel in 2012 and became the brands CEO months before GM sold it to PSA. It is not unlikely that Girsky and the German executive have known each other for years.In his first official words at Nikola, Lohscheller said that hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric zero-emission vehicles are the future of mobility. He also said he was excited to work with both technologies at Nikola, a company that is paving the way for this global transformation.The truck business is very different from that of passenger vehicles. Trucks with fuel cells or massive battery packs may be even more unique. While adapting to this new reality, Lohscheller will probably focus on what these trucks will need to expand to other markets: the charging and hydrogen structure that Nikolas trucks will demand to deliver goods around. In what is described as a national first by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), two pilot programs are being launched, in which drones will help responders assess crashes and other incidents assisting with the overall traffic management. The two programs are IMAP (Incident Management Assistance Patrol) and UAS (Division of Aviations Unmanned Aircraft System) and theyll both use advanced technology to enhance situation awareness.Wherever the IMAP patrols operate, tethered drones will be deployed to help fill those gaps in camera coverage, providing valuable information in real-time and delivering higher quality video. They will represent just another useful resource in addition to the multiple specialized tools IMAP trucks are equipped with. North Carolina will use Fotokite drones that can fly up to 150 ft (45 m), take video and livestream it to the personnel on their way to/at the scene of the incident. The drones are easy to launch and recover, as well as highly portable.As part of the national pilot announced by the NCDOT, the IMAP team will test two tethered drone systems. A first operation in the field already took place in January, where a drone stayed in the air for approximately five continuous hours above Fayetteville to survey a crash near the U.S. 13 and Interstate 95 interchange.If the pilot proves successful, the NCDOTs Traffic Operations section will consider the future deployment of tethered drones to help increase road safety Meanwhile, on another continent, Lithuania is also using drones to automatize road inspections, switching from conventional vehicles to UAVs that can video analyze the condition of the countrys national roads. It is an initiative meant to reduce Lithuanias carbon footprint, with these drones being able to cut emissions by up to 90 percent.Back to the North Carolina pilot, you can see footage of a Fotokite drone being launched in the video below. The Hurtigruten Group had already stopped using heavy fuel oil a decade ago and was the first expedition cruise company to ban the use of non-essential plastic throughout its operations. Now, its ready for even more complex changes across its fleet. Three of the seven ships will be turned into hybrid-electric vessels, with the help of Kongsberg Maritime. MS Richard With, MS Nordlys, and MS Kong Harald will be fitted with large battery packs and brand-new Norwegian-made engines.Also, all of the seven ships will be equipped with SCR (selective catalytic reduction) systems that cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by an impressive 80%. This important upgrade will make the Hurtigruten ships compliant with the Tier III, the strictest international standard for NOx emissions.The ships that wont switch to hybrid operations will still benefit from the SCR system implementation, as well as several other upgrades, including new propeller blades, hull optimization, new gears, and new control systems. Plus, advanced wastewater treatment plants will be installed across the fleet, for minimizing toxic discharges in the sea.The company also intends to use certified biofuels on a larger scale for its ships , to help cut CO2 emissions as well. Its ships are also able to eliminate emissions in ports where shore power is available.One of the Hurtigruten Norway vessels, MS Vesteralen, had already been upgraded with new engines and SCR systems since 2019, but this massive environmental ship upgrade will bring the entire fleet to a similar level.This massive project will help protect Norwegian waters and will promote green travel. The Hurtigruten Group intends to eventually switch to carbon-neutral operations , and it looks like its not too far away from that. Currently we have ten teams duking it out in Formula 1, which some people might say is enough. However, other fans wish the grid to be bigger, but its not easy at all to introduce new teams. Well, there are two ways you can do that, the hard way or the very hard way.The hard way sounds like this: you find an already existing team that has money problems or just wants out of the Grand Prix scene, you buy that team with all the equipment, engineers, headquarters, rebrand the team and, congratulations, you have your own team!But just so you know, Lawrence Stroll bought the Force India squad (later known as Racing Point and now Aston Martin ) back in 2018, for $117 million. For Lawrence Stroll, thats pocket money. What a bargain, right? However, if you want to start fresh, dont sweat it because we have the very hard way coming up.To build a team from scratch, you need to pay a small fee of $200 million (about twice the cost of a high end private jet) to the FIA to even be considered at the big boys' table. This money will be shared between the other teams, so in a way you are helping the enemies.Then you need to make sure that all your infrastructure is on point. We are talking about hundreds or even thousands of top tier engineers with experience and very good technical abilities.Facilities such as a wind tunnel for testing aerodynamics, factories for building components, race simulators, a private track and many more are a must as well. All of this can take years to develop. In the end, if everything meets the requirements, the FIA will approve your entry in the F1 world.From this point things get even harder because you will need to build a car that meets the safety standards, respects the strict rules of Formula 1 and will be competitive for at least points places.That means you need to spend more money than the first $200 million. For example, Gene Haas (the owner of Haas F1 Team ) has spent around $100 million per every season since 2016.Even if you do all these things perfectly and invest a lot of money, success is not guaranteed. A good example is what happened to Toyota just a decades ago.Toyota was and is a giant in the automotive industry, with billions to spend for a sport such as Formula 1. So, they were supposed to make their debut on the big scene in 2001, but the Japanese automaker decided to cancel so they can spend more time on the development, and finally entered F1 for the 2002 season.By 2009, when Toyota exited the sport, they had a total of zero victories. Back in the old days, if you had four wheels, a steering wheel, a transmission and a good mechanic, you were good to race. The requirements were less strict but at the same time F1 was not as big and popular as it is today.Nowadays, its very hard to enter the exclusive life of the Formula 1 family but maybe thats why it is so exclusive. They do not let uninvited guests come to their private party.So, if you are very rich and have about half a billion dollars to spend you can either create your own F1 team or maybe you can buy a private island and a yacht. And the unit does like to show that off, as its the one that supports the F-35 Demonstration Team , a constant presence at air shows across America for a number of years now. Because of that, and thanks to the inclination of the airmen serving within its ranks of snapping incredible instances of these flying beasts in action, its a military unit weve featured before here on autoevolution.This time, its the turn of pilots that form the Wings 421st Fighter Squadron to come under the spotlight, as they lined up their flying offices for a coordinated taxi down the runway of the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, at the end of January. The 388th was detached there at the time for the Red Flag exercise, the Air Force's premier large-force combat simulation, and it acted as the lead wing for the proceedings.A larger than usual number of aircraft lined up on the runway, like we have here, is what people generally refer to as an elephant walk , a moniker with murky beginning dating back to the years of the Second World War.This time, we get at least four F-35s (that's how many we have in the photo) taxiing down the runway, one behind the other, with their massive side intakes at the ready, and the air behind them shimmering from the heat coming from the most powerful fighter engine in the world, the Pratt & Whitney F135 - 43,000 pounds of thrust pushing the aircraft to a top speed of Mach 1.6 and altitudes as high as 50,000 feet (15 km). Perseverance, which just celebrated its one-year anniversary on Mars, is having fun exploring the planet in a place known as the Jezero Crater (28 miles/45 km wide), in the Isidis Planitia region, north of the equator. The place was chosen because scientists believe the area was once flooded with water and was home to an ancient river delta, thus increasing the chances of finding signs of past life.Curiosity, on the other hand, is doing its thing some 2,300 miles (3,700 km) away, in a place called Gale Crater (96 miles/154 km across). It landed there in August 2012, making it the oldest functioning machine currently on the Red Planet.As usual when it comes to such missions, NASA didnt just place a pin somewhere on Mars and said this is it for Curiosity, but had a long list of landing sites to choose from when it was prepping the mission.The image you see here, a pure visualization of how we humans perceive the Red Planet, was snapped in 2010 by the HiRISE camera and shows a place called Mawrth Vallis It was considered as a potential landing site for Curiosity because of the deposits containing different types of clay minerals found in the area, which were almost perfect for the profile of the mission.Like many other locations, it eventually fell out of grace, and NASA decided to land the rover in the Gale Crater, where this summer, if nothing terrible happens to it, the Curiosity will be celebrating its tenth anniversary. SUV Fewer than 450 units will be delivered for the 2022 model year with mild-hybrid or plug-in power. Contrary to its name, the Black Edition is available in Crystal White Metallic in addition to Onyx Black Metallic. Priced from just under $40,000 excluding destination charge, this limited-run visual pack includes 19-inch alloy wheels featuring a high-gloss black finish.High-gloss black is also found on the front grille, front badge, and window trim. Around the back, high-gloss black is used for the motor designations, model name, and Volvo wordmark. Finally, the bold-looking S60 Black Edition brings the point home with a pair of darkened exhaust finishers.The design of the S60 Black Edition evokes a passionate response across the company, declared Eric Beak, head of design for Volvo Car USA. Were very proud that the Black Edition has been designed here in the U.S. and will be built by our U.S. team. Given the aforementioned goodies and the package's $700 price tag, passionate response sure is an overstatement.As with every other S60, the Black Edition will be manufactured at the Volvo Cars Ridgeville plant in Berkeley County. The Swedish automaker broke ground on its first U.S. facility on September 25th, 2015. Not long now, this production site will welcome the next-generation XC90Based on the Scalable Product Architecture of the outgoing XC90, the S60 is offered with front- or all-wheel drive. No fewer than four trim levels are offered: Momentum, Inscription, R-Design, and Polestar Engineered. The latter trim is exclusive to the Recharge plug-in hybrid, which is rocking Dual Flow Valve shocks from Ohlins in this top-of-the-line configuration.In conjunction with the plug-in system, the Recharge's 2.0L turbo four-cylinder puts out 405 hp and 472 lb-ft (640 Nm) of torque. The mild-hybrid powertrain, on the other hand, has 260 hp and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm). AWD MPGe kWh kW Just as we reported earlier, the 2022 model year brought improved EPA range estimates to the Volkswagen ID.4 range. In the case of the ID.4 Pro, the new EPA-estimate figure is 280 miles (450 km), which is 20 miles (32 km) more than the 2021 model . Also, the real-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro S received an EPA-estimate range of 268 miles (431 km), whilePro and AWD Pro S were rated at 251 miles (404 km) and 245 miles (394 km) of range, respectively.Talking in fuel economy figures, these translate into 112combined for the ID.4 Pro and 106 MPGe combined for the Pro S. Four-wheel-drive models boast an EPA-estimate fuel economy of 101 MPGe (ID.4 AWD Pro) and 95 MPGe (ID.4 AWD Pro S). All ID.4 models feature the same 82battery as before, but Volkswagen probably decided to let more of it be usable through a software update, hence the improved EPA figures.The 2022 model year also comes with improved charging speeds (135versus 125 kW). Its a small bump, but ID.4 owners will see a better use for those 30 minutes of free Electrify America charging sessions they got from Volkswagen. Following a software update later this year, the whole charging experience will improve, with a plug and charge capability through Electrify America app.With better charging and the improved range, its easier for Volkswagen to justify the price hike. This amounts to $765 across the board, with the cheapest ID.4 (the RWD Pro) starting at $41,995 now. This includes the destination charges but does not take into account the potential Federal tax credit of up to $7,500. Going up in the lineup we see the ID.4 AWD Pro starting at $45,635, while the Pro S models are priced at $46,455 for the rear-wheel-drive version and $50,135 for the AWD version.Soon, the ID.4 will be a made in the U.S.A. affair , as the Chattanooga plant will ramp up production in time for the 2023 model year. This will feature a new interior that is more suited to American customers tastes. A retired U.S. Army soldier was arrested and has been in detention in Zimbabwe for a week charged with trying to board a plane with a loaded and unregistered pistol, state media reported Tuesday. Ronald Leon Johnson was arrested Feb. 15 as he checked in at Robert Mugabe Airport in the capital, Harare, for a flight to the tourist town of Victoria Falls, The Herald newspaper reported. Johnson was charged with boarding a plane with a firearm without permission and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, his lawyer, Munyaradzi Bwanya, said. Advertisement The U.S. Embassy in Harare declined to give out any information on Johnsons rank or period of service in the Army. Airport security officials found a Glock 9 mm pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition after searching his suitcase, The Herald said. Johnson faces five years in jail or a fine if convicted under the countrys Firearms Act. Advertisement Johnsons home address is in Woodbridge, Virginia, according to court documents. He is yet to appear at a court for a bail hearing. He has been in Zimbabwe since Feb. 5 on a month-long holiday visa, according to The Herald. The Welsh government recently published a document called Wales: A Sustainable Space Nation, unveiling future plans for the local space sector. According to Economy Minister Vaughan Gething, Wales intends to take up to 5% of the UKs space sector on the global market by 2040, which would boost the local economy by billions of pounds every year.The main locations for this growing industry will be the Spaceport Snowdonia, currently being developed on the former Llanbedr airfield, and a sea-based launch platform located in Port Talbot. Military testing facilities in Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire will also play a significant part, News Chain reports. The Economy minister explained that a sustainable spacefaring nation is one that focuses on environmentally-friendly ways of sending various items to space.On one hand, this can be done by decarbonizing space travel, and on the other hand, by developing and implementing reusable technology. Future companies in this sector should look at innovative green fuels for rockets and at space equipment that can be returned and reused. So you are looking at both re-use and decarbonizing the way that we put items into space and that in itself will be important for air travel, said Gething.Wales is where big space tech companies like Qioptiq have already established facilities, but it will also become a welcoming space for startups, such as Space Forge.Spaceport Snowdonia, located in the Snowdonia National Park, is also where UKs first commercial Spaceflight aeromedical facility, SFA Aero, will be built. The future spaceport will benefit from the advantages of the historic Llanbedr Airfield, which is not restricted by any other infrastructure or scheduled commercial flights, unlike other potential UK spaceport locations.The future space eco-system in Wales will also include advanced manufacturing operations and new test facilities. WLTP Having a car that can go over 600 miles on a single charge might seem like a marketing gimmick at the moment. Whats that going to weigh in reality? Almost 7000 pounds (three and a half tons) or more? We dont know anyone who would like a car that heavy. Imagine the braking power needed to stop it. Its not feasible for any kind of long-term commercial use and, of course, not safe at all.Envisions solution for a 621-mi battery pack is nothing short of a disappointment. They arent planning on hurrying up solid-state batteries (SSB), and the company hasnt found any new way of making EVs go longer. They just want to double the number of cells in a pack and reach that target of 621 miles (1,000 km). And theyll do that in Japan, even though the company already has a plant in the U.S., located in Smyrna, Tennessee.Being a Nissan supplier since the Leaf was launched, Envision has at least a plan for charging efficiency. According to Nikkei , they want to arrange the individual cells at a closer distance to each other inside the pack. By doing this, the storage efficiency would be improved, and charging time would drop by at least 30%. This, unfortunately, doesnt solve the weight problem.Envision is also getting ready to sell SSB s, but this will happen in 2030. Well see their first prototype in 2026 and the final product after another four years.CEO Shoichi Matsumoto says he hopes to find other customers besides Nissan after his company will finish upgrading current plants and building others in Europe, Japan, and China.If youre a fan or just an informed citizen, then you might remember the GAC Aion LX Plus . That car was introduced with a 626-mi range, but that wasnt the battery producer saying it. The Chinese manufacturer promised its car could travel so far on a single charge, a thing that might rapidly fall apart with EPA ortesting.For Envision AESC to succeed with its battery, it might be too late. CATL and LG Chem are already preparing to come with impressive news soon. Mercedes-Benz plans to have EV only production lines in the second half of the decade. (Photo : TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images) The electrification plans of Mercedes-Benz are going full steam ahead, with the German automaker confirming in an interview with Reuters that it is expecting to have factories exclusively producing electric vehicles by the second half of this decade. According to production chief Joerg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz foresees some of its production lines within car factories switching entirely to electric even sooner than expected. He said that building a whole new battery-electric vehicle factory takes time, but they have taken another approach regarding this matter. Burzer explained that Mercedes-Benz will certainly have "some lines producing only electric vehicles in the next few years." He added that they also see whole factories switching to electric production, but that topic is reserved for the decade's second half. Mercedes-Benz keeping its production lines flexible for now Mercedes-Benz may be ramping up its production of electric vehicles, but the company is still steering clear of building EV-only plants, with the premium automaker opting to keep its production lines flexible instead in line with market demand. Mercedes-Benz will launch its much-awaited EQE model in Bremen later this year, with Beijing and Tuscaloosa soon to follow. Mercedes first revealed the EQE model at the IAA Mobility show last September. Mercedes has high hopes for this particular model, an electric adaptation of the E-class. The German brand is looking for the EQE model, which has a peak range of 660 kilometers, to boost Mercedes-Benz's EV unit sales as the company shifts investment towards electric-only production platforms and away from producing vehicles with internal combustion engines. Also Read: Mercedes-AMG Unveils 2 New EQE Models; Electric Sedan Can Produce 677 HP Mercedes aims to boost EV profile with EQE launch Burzer said that with the ramp-up of EQE production in Bremen, Germany, and later in Beijing, China, Mercedes is now coming into a segment where it can deliver at far higher volumes. Mercedes-Benz has been lagging behind its rivals in terms of EV production, with battery-electric vehicles accounting for just 2.3 percent of the company's sales in 2021. That figure rises to 11 percent when considering plug-in hybrids as well. Hybrids are vehicles that have both a gas engine and a battery. Mercedes-Benz has set a lofty target for 2025, with the carmaker expecting electric vehicles and hybrid electric cars to make up 50 percent of its sales by then. Mercedes-Benz expects fully electric cars to account for most of those sales, with the company reducing its production of hybrids in the next few years. All existing models of Mercedes-Benz are being built in factories that are also producing internal combustion vehicles, with batteries of those electric and hybrid vehicles transported by rail from the company's main plant in Sindelfingen to various plants in Hungary and Germany. Burzer said that would change down the line with Mercedes-Benz, possibly bringing battery assembly and production nearer to auto plants as the design of cars develops to integrate the battery more closely into the vehicle. RELATED ARTICLES: Mercedes-Benz Beats 2021 Profit Forecast: German Automaker Benefits With Surge in EV Sales Tesla CEO Elon Musk Donated $5.7 Billion Worth of Company's Stock to Charity in 2021 Volkswagen says it will not yet comment on reports that its electric vehicles started the fire engulfing car carrier Felicity Ace. (Photo : RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images) Volkswagen said it is premature to comment on reports that the fire engulfing the car carrier Felicity Ace was started by its electric vehicles. Nearly 4,000 upmarket vehicles of VW Group, including Porsche, Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen models, are on board the charter ship that caught fire in the middle of its voyage to the United States. Volkswagen issued a statement, saying any comments at this time on the cause of the fire are "speculative and of course will be subject to investigation once the ship is made safe." The German automaker's comment comes after Felicity Ace captain Joao Mendes Cabecas was quoted by British publication Daily Mail saying that lithium-ion batteries in the electric vehicles on board the charter ship started the fire. Cabecas said that Felicity Ace is burning from one end to the other, and everything is on fire in the ship about five meters above the waterline. Cabecas, speaking to reporters at the Azores port of Hortas after being rescued alongside 21 other crew members from the blazing ship, added that the fire on board required specialist equipment to extinguish it. Law firm says the fire started by EVs more disastrous Cabecas' statement is backed up by a recent report of London-based law firm Watson Farley & Williams, which showed that a fire started by electric vehicles is potentially more disastrous and more difficult to handle compared to cars with internal combustion engines. The report added that if crews of a vessel are not aware that fighting an EV fire requires a different technique to that employed in fighting a conventional fire onboard a ship, it is easy to see how an incident could lead to a total loss, which is certainly the case now with Felicity Ace. The law firm stated that recent evidence indicated that current suppression and drenching systems are insufficient for this new fire risk. Watson Farley & Williams believed new systems would need to be devised and incorporated into ship design to avoid future disasters. The 650-foot ship continues to burn in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean six days after the vessel first caught fire. A total of 3,965 Volkswagen AG vehicles are on board the ship, including 1,100 Porsches and 189 Bentleys. Also Read: Cargo Ship Felicity Ace Catches Fire: Nearly 4,000 Porsche, Audi, Bentley, and VW Vehicles on Board UBS estimates around $454.5 million in damages for VW Group In case the whole cargo was destroyed on board Felicity Ace, investment bank UBS estimates that the total damage could slash around $454.5 million (400 million) from Volkswagen's profits. UBS based those estimates on the affected vehicles having an average selling price of $115,000 (100,000). UBS said that the exported vehicles on board Felicity Ace are high-price, high-margin products, meaning that the blaze could have a meaningful financial impact on Volkswagen's numbers for the first quarter of 2022. UBS expects an insurance company to provide financial compensation to VW Group in such a scenario. The investment bank added that even if some of the vehicles on board can be recovered, the shipment could still be meaningfully delayed. Related Artices: Volkswagen Cuts Production and Night Shifts as Global Chip Shortage Continues To Hit Automakers BMW Named Top Car Exporter in the U.S. for 8th Straight Year; BMW X Models Boost U.S. Exports The war between Elon Musk and the Securities and Exchange Commission rages on, with the Tesla CEO accusing the federal agency of leaking information about a federal probe via his attorney. Musk alleged that the SEC leaked the details about the investigation in retaliation against him for publicly criticizing the federal financial regulators. Musk's attorney Alex Spiro wrote a letter to U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan on Monday, February 21, detailing the Tesla CEO's accusations. Spiro noted that it has become clearer and clearer that the SEC is out to retaliate against his clients for exercising their First Amendment rights, the most recent of which came when Musk criticized the Commission on the public docket and by petitioning for relief from the Court. Spiro's letter comes just four days after Musk made his initial allegations against the SEC. Musk accused the agency of engaging in harassment by making unrelenting investigations on him and of trying to chill his right to free speech. He also blasted the Commission for neglecting its duties to remit $40 million to Tesla shareholders, fines that Musk and the company previously paid to the SEC to settle securities fraud charges. Musk accuses SEC of leaking information Spiro did not specify in his letter what type of information or which investigation may have been leaked by the regulatory agency and to whom. Spiro noted in his letter that at least one SEC member had leaked "certain information regarding its investigation," although Musk's attorney did not provide any supporting evidence for this allegation. Monday's fiery letter is just the latest chapter in a saga that started in September 2018. The conflict between the SEC and Musk began when the agency charged the Tesla CEO of making "false and misleading" statements to investors. The charges stemmed from Musk posting a message on Twitter in August 2018, telling his followers that he had secured private funding for a massive buyout of Tesla at $420 a share. Tesla's stock seesawed all month as a result, with investors waiting for the deal that Musk alluded to in his tweet. Musk's post proved to be false as the private buyout did not materialize. Also Read: SEC Counters Tesla CEO Elon Musk's Allegations of Harassment and 'Unrelenting Investigation' Musk and SEC file letters to judge as dispute intensifies That tweet proved costly for Musk and Tesla as the two parties were ordered to pay $20 million in fines each by the SEC as part of the settlement agreement. Musk was also forced to step down as chairman of Tesla for at least three years. SEC's Steven Buchholz had already replied to Musk's earlier allegations on Friday, February 18, saying that the agency was already making progress on distributing the $40 million fines to shareholders, a task he characterized as complex. Buchholz added in his letter that the SEC expects to submit to the court for approval a "proposed plan of distribution" by the end of March 2022. Related Articles: Tesla vs South Korea: Korean Body May Impose Penalties on Carmaker for Exaggerating Range in Cars Tesla CEO Elon Musk Accuses SEC of Curtailing His Free Speech; Blasts 'Unrelenting' Investigation Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Sheriffs and advocates in two of metro Atlantas most diverse counties say immigrants have more trust in law enforcement and communities are safer one year after cutting ties with a federal immigration program that critics argued led to racial profiling. Catch up quick: Under 287(g) agreements, local law enforcement officers essentially act as an extension of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and conduct immigration checks on people booked into county jails, potentially resulting in their deportation. Cobb and Gwinnett counties, which until recently were GOP strongholds, elected sheriffs who promised to end the program. Both counties ended the agreements with the feds in January 2021. Why it matters: Advocates have long said that the 287(g) program eroded Latinos trust in law enforcement and discouraged undocumented immigrants from contacting police when they were the victims of or had information about a crime. What theyre saying: With the 287(g) program in place, I was getting phone calls when a crime was committed in the immigrant community, says Jerry Gonzalez, the CEO of the GALEO Impact Fund, a 501c4 organization that helped fight the program. By the numbers: Over the past decade, the Gwinnett Sheriffs office led at the time by Butch Conway ran immigration checks on more than 20,000 immigrants, Mother Jones reported. The department had more 287(g)-related referrals in 2019 and 2020 than any other participating law enforcement agency, accounting for 25% of almost 17,000 ICE interactions through the program in 2020, the AJC reported this past year. Early on, nonprofits including the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights and groups like GALEO Impact Fund organized voters and residents to pressure sheriffs to end the program. Gwinnett Sheriff Keybo Taylor did just that on his first day in office in January 2021. Roughly three weeks later, Cobb Countys Craig Owens also newly elected celebrated the end of the partnership with GLAHR and other advocates. Owens hired a liaison to Latino communities and increased events to build new ties with Latino leaders and neighborhoods. In Gwinnett, Taylor says, the program cost the sheriffs office as much as $3 million a year to run, and hes redirected some of that funding to battling human trafficking and gangs. But, but, but: Adelina Nicholls, the co-founder and executive director of GLAHR, tells Axios that while people are less scared to speak with law enforcement, officers must continue to be educated on racial profiling and civil liberties. People feel more confident going to work, picking up their kids from school, and doing the regular stuff people do every day, Nicholls says. I think at least we are able to breathe better. The erosion of trust doesn't change on the flip of a switch, Gonzalez says. Trust has to be earned. What's next: Activists are still waiting for President Biden to fulfill a campaign promise to end the contracts ICE signed with law enforcement during the Trump administration, Naureen Shah, the senior legislative counsel on immigrants rights at the American Civil Liberties Union, tells Axios. By contrast, Armenias government was in no rush to react to the development that will likely deepen Moscows standoff with Ukraine and the West. Russian President Vladimir Putin officially recognized the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic in a lengthy televised address aired late on Monday. He went on to order the deployment of Russian forces there to keep the peace. The move, which came after months of Russian military buildup along the Russia-Ukraine border, drew strong condemnation from the United States and European powers. They accused Moscow of violating international law and the 2014 Minsk agreements to end the conflict in the wider Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. The right of nations to self-determination and building ones own state is inalienable for every people and is a fundamental principle of international law, Arayik Harutiunian, the Karabakh president, said in a statement that welcomed Putins historic decision. The establishment of an independent state and its international recognition becomes imperative especially in the face of existential dangers, as it is the most effective and civilized means of preventing bloodshed and humanitarian disaster, he said. Harutiunian drew parallels with the long-running conflict over Karabakh, saying that the disputed territorys predominantly Armenian population deserves international recognition of its sovereign state. Karabakh had declared itself an independent republic in 1991. Its secession from Azerbaijan has not been formally recognized by any country, including Armenia. Russian presence in Karabakh increased dramatically after Moscow brokered a ceasefire agreement that stopped a six-week Armenian-Azerbaijani war in November 2020. The deal led to the deployment of about 2,000 Russian peacekeeping troops in and around Karabakh. The peacekeepers have helped tens of thousands of Karabakh Armenians, who fled the fighting, to return to their homes. Official Yerevan did not comment on Putins decision as of Tuesday afternoon. Lawmakers representing Armenias ruling Civil Contract party also avoided passing judgment on it. I wont comment on that for now because I have to wait until an [official] position is formulated, one of them, Maria Karapetian, told reporters. I havent been able yet to discuss last nights geopolitical developments with my colleagues. There was also no official reaction from the main opposition Hayastan alliance led by former President Robert Kocharian. Still, one of its senior lawmakers, Artsvik Minasian, said he believes Yerevan should at least not speak out against the Russian move. Its obvious that we need to take advantage of this situation to advance the issue of Karabakhs recognition, said Minasian. Putting spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian by phone hours before announcing the recognition of the breakaway territories. Pashinians press office said they discussed the Karabakh conflict and the current situation in Russian-Ukrainian relations. The Kremlin made no mention of the Ukraine crisis in its readout of the phone call. They were the first Azerbaijani officials to visit Armenia since the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh. One of them, Tair Mirkishili, was among several senior members of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly received by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian on Monday. Speaking at a Euronest session held the following day, Mirkishili repeated Bakus claims that the Azerbaijani victory in the six-week war put an end to the Karabakh conflict. Since the conflict is over, Azerbaijan has expressed readiness for a demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, he said. I am glad to note that we have received a number of positive signals from Armenia in this regard. Armenian members of Euronest representing the ruling Civil Contract party insisted that the conflict remains unresolved. You cant consider the conflict to have been resolved without eliminating its causes, one of them, Arman Yeghoyan, said. And the causes are still there. Moreover, they have deepened further. Azerbaijans Armenophobic policy is getting stronger and stronger. Yeghoyans remarks seemed to contrast with Pashinians repeated statements to the effect that transport links with Azerbaijan and Turkey will significantly benefit the Armenian economy and help to usher in an era of peaceful development in the region. As the Euronest session began its work at a conference hall in Yerevan hundreds of angry people rallied outside it protest against the arrival of the Azerbaijani parliamentarians. The protesters said their visit is an affront to the memory of at least 3,800 Armenians killed in the 2020 war. Mutual visits by Armenian and Azerbaijani officials and other citizens of the two warring nations are extremely rare. They usually take place within the framework of multilateral events. Baku minimized such contacts in the early 2000s. Azerbaijani authorities announced arrest warrants for both men on Monday, saying that they have been indicted for helping to launch in 1988 demonstrations for Nagorno-Karabakhs unification with Armenia. They said Sarkisian and Kocharian are also wanted for their role in the 1991 creation of the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. The ex-presidents, who were born in Karabakh and led the territory during its 1991-1994 war of secession with Azerbaijan, shrugged off the accusations. They also linked the Azerbaijani arrest warrants with what they see as politically motivated charges leveled against them by Armenian law-enforcement authorities. Gor Abrahamian, a spokesman for Armenias Office of the Prosecutor-General, dismissed the arrest warrants as baseless and illegal. He said the law-enforcement agency will press Interpol and other international bodies to deny Azerbaijan any help in detaining Kocharian and Sarkisian. Baku already issued international arrest warrants for Karabakhs current leaders shortly after the 2020 war with Armenia. Yerevan condemned the move at the time, saying that it has taken measures to prevent them from being placed on Interpols most wanted list. These are effective measures that produce results, Abrahamian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. As far as international manhunts are concerned, our efforts to block those proceedings have been a success. In the wake of the 2020 war, Armenian law-enforcement authorities likewise opened several criminal cases against Azerbaijani government and military officials accused by them of committing war crimes. But they have still not named any of those officials. Lubbock, TX (79409) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening. Thunderstorms likely late. Storms may produce some hail. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening. Thunderstorms likely late. Storms may produce some hail. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The two leaders signed a joint declaration on bilateral allied cooperation during four-hour talks held in the Kremlin. The Russian Federation and the Republic of Azerbaijan build their relations on the basis of allied interaction, mutual respect for independence, state sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of the two countries, reads the declaration. It says that the two sides will not only step up Russian-Azerbaijani military cooperation but may also consider the possibility of providing each other with military assistance. The Parties refrain from any actions, including those carried out through third states, directed against each other, adds the 7-page document. This declaration takes our relation to an allied level, Aliyev told reporters after the talks. Putin similarly emphasized the strategic character of the document. He said he and Aliyev also agreed to closely cooperate in implementing the Russian-brokered agreements on the opening of economic and transport links between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the demarcation of their long border. Moscow will keep helping Baku and Yerevan to settle their border issues and other acute problems, added the Russian leader. Aliyev complained about very slow progress towards the opening of a transport corridor that will connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia. He also spoke of the post-conflict situation in the region, effectively standing by his earlier claims that Azerbaijans victory in the 2020 war with Armenia put an end to the Karabakh dispute. In his opening remarks at the meeting, Putin noted, however, that the conflict is not fully resolved. Putin spoke with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian by phone on Monday. He invited Pashinian to pay an official visit to Moscow in April. Armenia has for decades been Russias main regional ally. Its dependence on Moscow for defense and security deepened further after the 2020 war. For its part, Azerbaijan has a military alliance with Turkey which proved critical for the outcome of the six-week war. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Mostly cloudy this evening with showers developing after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening with showers developing after midnight. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Oregon Coast Crews Attend to Giant, Beached Whale on Washington Side Published 02/19/22 at 5:06 PM PST By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Ocean Park, Washington) Crew and scientists from the Oregon coast came up to the southern Washington coast on Friday to deal with a whale that had beached there on Thursday, including conducting a necropsy. The gray whale was 39 feet long and an adult male, and it was clear it had been dead for some time before washing up. (All photos Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium) Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium said her group came to the site on a beach at Ocean Park, as well as scientists from Portland State University and Cascadia Research Collective. While it can be difficult to determine the exact cause of death on larger whales, especially those which have been dead for a while before washing ashore, it was clear that this whale suffered some sort of severe trauma which was most likely due to a ship strike. Gray whales are currently just between their migration southward and their spring migration northward, with March being the starting point for their run up to Alaska, resulting in the peak Whale Watch Week for Oregon coast and Washington coast spectators at the end of March. Where this whale fit in is anyone's guess, but its body contained some elements of big interest to scientists: whale lice, gray whale barnacles and what's in their intestines. Orca scars and and barnacle scars on the gray whale Boothe said gray whale barnacles (Cryptoplepas rhachianecti) are host-specific, which means they can not be found attached to or living on any other species except Gray whales. Their life cycles are tied in closely to the migrations of the gray whale. When it's mating season, thousands head southward to the protected lagoons and bays off Mexico's coastline. In those calm, warm waters, the gray whale barnacles release their larvae. This is an exceptionally smart quirk of evolution, because it allows the larvae to more easily find hosts in smaller, more enclosed areas. Once attached, they're riding a food train: gray whales spend a lot of time in nutrient-rich waters. Then there's gray whale lice, which are a form of crustacean that specializes in living on whales in crevices or wounds. They are a parasite, but not a true parasite: there's some mutual benefit. The crustaceans eat dead skin off the whale, thereby helping it. Mothers can spread their lice to their newborn calves, Boothe said. Whales will sometimes breach or scrape themselves on things to get rid of the whale lice or barnacles. One of Tiffany's photos shows the fin of the gray whale and a host of white circular marks and other scratches. The circular formations are barnacle scars where they've come off. The straight-line gouges are from an orca attack. Whale experts on the Oregon coast and Washington coast often use markings like these to ID whales. Scientists also pulled out the intestines of the gray whale. The gray whale has nearly the longest intestine in the animal kingdom at near 300 feet long. Soon begins the spring migration of whales along the Oregon coast and Washington coast, where you'll see a good portion of the 18,000 such whales living along the eastern Pacific. Seaside Aquarium manager Keith Chandler said he isn't sure what Washington officials will do with the gray whale, but it's likely it will be left as food for local wildlife. It's in a somewhat remote stretch of beach near Oysterville, he said. That's a lot of eagle food, Chandler said. MORE PHOTOS BELOW Hotels in Astoria/Seaside - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Barnacles and whale lice More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Update: The documentary will be shown again March 31. The public screening begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Dishman Auditorium, 1030 E. Lavaca St., Rm. 101 Original Story: The numerous stories from different communities make up the complex history of the city of Beaumont. Some of those stories are taught annually in classrooms while others have faded away with time. However, Lamar University Television Productions is looking to make sure the story of one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in Beaumont isn't forgotten. The half-hour documentary, "They Will Talk About Us: The Charlton-Pollard Story," will premiere at 6 p.m., Friday, at the Jefferson Theatre. "It's the story of a neighborhood that grew organically because it was where people lived close to their work originally," said local historian with the Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast, Judith Linsley. "It thrived either in spite of or because of segregation during the Jim Crow Era. They thrived because they depended on themselves. They turned to themselves for their growth and prosperity and security." The production team -- led by director, writer and producer Gordon Williams and editor, producer and director of photography Jonathan Tippett -- talked to former residents of the neighborhood as well as Linsley to chronicle the story from the neighborhood's founding before Boomtown in the late 19th century into the modern era. "It's a story of resilience," Williams, who also serves as LUTV Studio Operations Manager, said. "It's a story of a group of people who used education to better themselves and from that, a great thing happened. They were able to create businesses and revenue and money that stayed within the community. A group of people was created that have been leaders in several different aspects and several different fields here in Beaumont, throughout the state, throughout the community." The documentary has been in the works since December 2020 with production beginning the following spring. The production crew included six Lamar students, a mix of broadcast and film production majors. "We were approached (by the) Department of Communication (and Media)," Williams said. "With funding from ExxonMobil, this all came together. We were creating an environment for students to get hands-on experience and also receive funds for that." While the crew was mostly students, Williams said they were seen as professionals. "Seeing them, as professionals, connect with the people that they're interviewing and connecting and understanding the history they're sharing, it was very powerful," he said. Linsley, who helped the production crew with research for the documentary, said the story of Charlton-Pollard is an important one for Beaumont to know because it hasn't been widely told before. "Any time people thrive against the odds, it's really a good story and it shows you what a community can do when it works together," she said. "And it's very important, particularly with African-American neighborhoods, because they did have a lot of barriers to overcome." Linsley said she hopes the documentary will help revitalize the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood, located just south of the Port of Beaumont, and encourages more research into other Beaumont neighborhoods. "Research like this into an African-American neighborhood or a group of people or a place that hasn't been written about a lot, sometimes it's a challenge to write about the ordinary people," she said. "Our history tends to be about leaders and armies and economic movements and that sort of thing." The experience makes for a great resume addition for the students who worked on the documentary, but Williams said he feels that this particular project also enriched their lives. "They were able to connect with this history," he said. "At times, some of the students got emotional as well, hearing the stories about people's love for this neighborhood. So, I feel like it enriched them on several different levels." Williams said the story of the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood is a universal story that can connect with a lot of people. "I hope they see the Charlton-Pollard community," he said. "It's a story of where you are from. It has connected with different people that we have shown it to, people that are not connected to the neighborhood watched this and became emotional because, again, in these people's personal story, they're connected to their own personal story." Knowing history is important, Williams said, and he's become more intrigued by the city's past from working on this project. "The more I talk to people, especially when you're able to have a deeper conversation and people actually start opening up and sharing recollections of the past, I hope this project inspires the cast and crew that worked on it to be storytellers," he said. "Possibly someday be inspired to tell a story about where they came from. I feel like using creativity in this platform is powerful." At the premiere, there will be a booklet available by Linsley with more information and research about the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood and the Black community in Beaumont. "I got into the passion and the emotion of how important this neighborhood was and how much I loved it for what they had accomplished," Linsley said. "It was just a joy to put together and write, even though sometimes I couldn't find all the information I wanted all that easily." The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children. The Jefferson Theatre is located at 345 Fannin St. in Beaumont. "Having something for the community and the students to have an experience -- I wanted that for them because I hope it's inspirational, it's motivational," Williams said. "I hope the people that worked on the cast and crew of this project realize that they were a part of something and have talent and hopefully this inspires them to tell more stories, be more creative, pursue their careers." olivia.malick@hearst.com twitter.com/OliviaMalick Bengaluru: A day after Bajrang Dal activist Harsha was alleged murdered, BJP MLA MP Renukacharya alleged that the Congress party is responsible for the murder and urged the government to hand over the case to NIA. Renukacharya said, "I am clearly stating that the Congress party is responsible for the murder of Harsha. DK Shivakumar, BK Hariprasad and other Congress leaders his murder. I urge the home minister to transfer the case to the NIA. I will give compensation of Rs 5 lakh to family members." He further said, "Those who are involved in the murder should be killed. Earlier also there were attempts to murder him. The police failed to give security to Harsha. I am against the Muslim community but SDPI and PFI should be banned." A 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha was allegedly murdered at around 9 pm last night in Shivamogga. The security was tightened in the city following the incident. Three people were detained from Bengaluru over the killing of the Bajrang Dal member which triggered violent protests across Shivamogga. City attorney Sharae Reed is still getting to used to being a public figure. She never even planned to go into law, but her family knew she was made for the job. Initially, she wanted to go into marketing and earned the respective degree from Lamar University, wanting to plan parties and events professionally. "In order to be successful in those type of areas, you kind of have to live in a big city, and I'm just not a big city girl," said Reed, a Beaumont native. "I really wanted to be home." After graduating from Lamar, Reed's godfather, James E. Payne, equity partner at Provost Umphrey Law Firm, encouraged her to take the Law School Admission Test so she'd have a variety of career options. "It was never really my intent to practice," she said. "Essentially, I used law school as a gap year to figure out what I wanted to do and I got there, and I fell in love." Reed earned her JD from Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law in 2010 but didn't see herself becoming a municipal lawyer, much less a city attorney. "At first I thought I was just going to get (a law degree) and then I'll just kind of slide into corporate America, maybe make some commercials, just on a smaller scale," she said. However, Reed's criminal law professor changed her mind. "She was extremely excited about the law, and I ended up becoming her teacher's assistant and really got into it," Reed said. "In the midst of doing that, she encouraged me to do mock trial (and) moot court competition. You kind of get to see the trial part of it, obviously the appellate side of it. The appellate side I kind of like better, it's just writing and talking to the judge, not really as theatrical as trial. It was addicting." Reed also participated in a program at her law school where she practiced legal work with a temporary bar card and worked a position akin to a public defender. "The courtroom is addictive," she said. "I was like, 'I like it here.' I didn't necessarily like defense work because I didn't like going back in the jail in the holding cell, but I did enjoy working with people, helping people in the prosecutor's office. So, I knew I wanted to do something similar." It was at that time Reed realized corporate America was not where she wanted to be. "I (didn't) want to do transactional work," she said. After law school, Reed applied to a position in the city attorney's office and began working under former City Attorney Tyrone Cooper as assistant city attorney. "You know what a district attorney does, you see that on TV -- you don't really see city attorneys on TV," she said. "But I applied for the job, and one of the most interesting things about it was, I interviewed with (Cooper), and he asked me if I had any questions and I said, 'What's the best part about the job? Why do you like it?' And he said, 'You never do the same thing. It's always something different, you'll never be bored.'" Reed said she was excited by Cooper's answer, because she wanted to avoid the monotony that can sometimes come from doing the same types of cases every day. "I started, and I was basically prosecuting the municipal court and just kind of doing very small, low-level work, and I was promoted up to senior assistant and then to first assistant," she said. "Then, a couple of months ago, my boss pulls me in his office and he says, 'It's not fun anymore. I told you when it stopped being fun, that will be my time to go. It's not fun anymore and you're ready.'" Reed said she wasn't sure she was ready at first, but Cooper assured her she was, making her Beaumont's first female city attorney. A parking space cemented the moment for Reed, she said. "Sitting on the dais and doing the regular work, it didn't really sink in because it's my job, I do that all the time," she said. "When I get the phone calls, the emails, the gifts and flowers and random people in the supermarket or mall and they stop me and say they're so proud, that's kind of where the big deal sank in." Reed said she's probably worked on every case one could work on on behalf of the city, from traffic tickets to the Supreme Court level. She's used to the work but not necessarily the recognition. "People want to interview me and I'm like, 'Why? I just go to work,'" she said. "So, that part is an adjustment. It took me a while, I'm not a spotlight person. I can care less about doing that. But I get that it's a big deal for other people." It's sad that it has taken until 2022 to have a female city attorney for Beaumont, Reed said. "I'm honored to be the first, but I wish I wasn't, you know?" she said. "In my mind, it's almost bittersweet. I'm very humbled and very grateful to be the first, but I'm also just kind of like, why am I the first?" The spotlight doesn't exactly make Reed's job more difficult, but she's more conscious of how people look to her, she said. "Some people are going to say, 'I look up to you, I'm proud of you,'" she said. "When someone says they're proud of you, they're, in my opinion, completely invested in your success. So, I need to do well because I don't want to let (them) down. I want to make my parents proud. I have a daughter, Madison. I want to make sure she's proud. But now when you have a whole collective of people who are saying, 'My children are going to look up to you,' it's kind of like, OK. Let me be good, let me do good things. That's the difference." She hopes that her appointment and career will foster more firsts until there aren't any more, noting that women bring a unique perspective into the working world. "I think women are creative in their problem solving, because we have to think outside of the box," she said. "Most women, even if they aren't mothers, they're mother figures to someone: either a sibling or to a niece or nephew. And so they've had to learn to juggle and maneuver and move. Naturally, God created us to be caregivers. So, we have this ability to do for others before we do for ourselves almost instinctively." Reed said those women make better bosses and better public servants because they have a passion to serve. "Right now in Beaumont, it's an amazing time to have women in positions of power to come up with, especially in the midst of a pandemic, creative ways and creative solutions to things," she said. "I'm hopeful that the trend of women matriculating up will continue and that we'll have other opportunities for young women to take positions of power." In addition to more women in leadership roles, Reed said it's important for more young people to able to be leaders as well. With so much technology, they're becoming more creative in the workforce, making this a perfect time for young people to shine. "That's what makes and pushes creativity and progression," she said. "That upward mobility and movement in any area, in any practice is when you have diversity in ethnicity, gender and age." One of Reed's favorite aspects of her job is to influence change, she said. "The biggest thing that a city attorney does is that they advise the council and the council, they make all the decisions," she said. "In the city of Beaumont, the city council directs the helm, what way we go, the city manager gives them marching orders and the city attorney advises the council. So, if they're headed for the iceberg, our job is to (guide them away). You can't make change if you're not in the room." Echoing the advice of her predecessor Cooper, Reed said it's true that she doesn't do the same thing every day. "Every time I touch something, it's going to be to improve or to move the city forward or be beneficial to the city in some way," she said. "Something as simple as, we just did a contract for the Bird scooters to come to Beaumont, that's going to be something that generates a lot of interest downtown, it's going to be something fun for kids and I like that." Reed said she made a pact with some of her friends from law school in Houston who were also from Beaumont that they would all come back to the city and be an example and invest in the community. "That's important," she said. "One, we're young. When you're talking at Career Day, I'm 30-something and everybody else is 50 because they have the time to do it. (Young people) see a young face, they see somebody they can relate to, that they recognize, it just kind of sparks something. For whatever reason, they feel like they can talk to me easier than they could anybody else." When people feel confident in sharing their ideas to improve the city, it encourages others to do the same and stay in Beaumont as well, Reed said. And when young people come in, Reed said it's like a breath of fresh air. "They really are the driving force behind change and behind innovation," she said. "Just being home and being able to effectuate change in our community, it's good. A little Beaumont pride." Legacy is something Reed isn't thinking too much about at the moment. However, there are things she wants to accomplish during her tenure. "This is going to sound cliche, but right now we're at a pivotal time, both in the country and also in our city," she said. "Overall as a nation, I think we're in a very fragile mental state. People are looking less to national government and they're focusing more on local government. Things that happen in Washington take about two, maybe five years to even affect you on the local level if they ever do. But when city council makes a decision, it goes into effect almost immediately." Reed said she wants people to be more aware of what roles people serve in the city government, so that they can hold them accountable. "When we start holding people accountable, we start getting better results," she said. "I want to say that while I was here, I helped put forth projects, worked on projects, advised council on projects that truly made a difference in our community. I hope my presence as being somebody who is young encourages somebody else to come home and for them to bring somebody else home or to stay home and to work here and live here and raise a family here and to grow our population." olivia.malick twitter.com/OliviaMalick Bedford, PA (15522) Today Rain ending this evening then becoming foggy. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain ending this evening then becoming foggy. Low 58F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Smoke billows from a power and heating plant after it was shelled in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, Feb. 22, 2022. Updated at 8:42 a.m. ET on 2022-02-23 Russia is attacking Ukraine, an act of aggression that could upend the global order. This is a clear violation of the sovereignty of a state, a central principle of international law. Yet the response from across the capitals of Southeast Asia has been muted, despite the extremely dangerous precedent that it sets. President Vladimir Putins goal is not to take over Ukraine. He wants a compliant government, like Belarus, that does Moscows bidding. He wants the political and diplomatic assets of having vassal states, without any of the liabilities of their underperforming economies. In short, Putin is reviving the old Soviet concept of limited sovereignty: Great powers are sovereign, and weaker states have just a little less sovereignty. Should they not comply with the demands of great powers, they open themselves up to military and political intervention. Wheres the concern in Southeast Asia? Why have almost all states to date been so reticent on Russias buildup of up to 190,000 troops on the Ukrainian border; Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs statement that Ukraine has no claim to sovereignty; Putins announcement that two breakaway regions of Ukraine are independent states; his preposterous deployment of peace keepers; and the waiting for a Ukrainian provocation as a pretext for a full-scale invasion? A reliable weapons supplier Unlike other countries where Russian dominance of energy markets can often buy diplomatic acquiescence, Russia provides little energy to Southeast Asia. Its economic ties to the region are paltry. Russias total two-way trade with Southeast Asia is an estimated U.S. $25 billion. Russia barely ranks as a top-tier trading partner for any country in the region. Vietnam Russias largest regional trading partner in absolute value still trades more annually with Cambodia. Russia has almost no foreign direct investment in the region, the largest being an offshore oilfield in Vietnam. Moscows main source of leverage is the fact that it dominates the regions arms markets with reliable and relatively cheap weapons systems that it will sell to any regime, no matter how odious or repressive their policies are. Russia remains a key supplier to its traditional clients: Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Russia has been central to Vietnams military modernization and has sold advanced submarines, warships, jet-fighters anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles. Vietnam produces a range of Russian equipment under license. And of course, Russia remains a key supplier of weapons to Myanmar. According to a new report by the United Nations, Russia has been the largest supplier of weapons to the junta since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup detat, exporting SU-30MK jets, YAK-130 light-attack jets, armored personnel carriers, and mobile air-defense systems. And they show no signs of letting up, despite the daily human rights abuses and intentional targeting of civilians. In the early 2000s, Russia began selling fighter-jets to Indonesia and Malaysia, but it was unable to grow those markets. Indeed, perhaps from fear of sanctions, and perhaps because Moscow refused any barter agreement, the Indonesians recently announced two new arms packages worth over $20 billion, including jet imports, from France and the United States. While Russia promised new weapons factories to the Philippines, which saw a 2016 U.S. Senate hold on weapons exports due to President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs, little has been delivered. Beyond the purchase of a squadron of helicopters, the promise of other weapons sales has not materialized either. Attempts to enter the Thai arms market, in the midst of two coup detats since 2006, have garnered only limited success. Since 2008, Thai imports from Russia have mainly been helicopters. Russia has leverage over some Southeast Asian states, but certainly not all. The MH-17 shootdown The reticence is not new. Most countries in the region said little during Moscows 2014 invasion of Crimea and later aggression in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. The only reason that Southeast Asia was at all pulled into the situation was the July 17, 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 by a Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile that killed all 298 passengers and crew. It defied any plausibility that irregular forces in Donbas had access to advanced missiles. Dutch investigators concluded that the missile was launched by Russian-led forces in rebel-controlled territory. Russia continues to deny the allegations, spewing unfounded and baseless accusations that the plane was shot down by Ukrainian government forces. It has never accepted culpability or paid any restitution. Tellingly, few in Southeast Asia showed any will to confront Russia over MH-17 or over its aggression against a state that all but Brunei had recognized since between January 1991 and June 1992. Rules-based order under threat The lack of a full-throated response from Southeast Asian capitals is striking. At a G-20 meeting, President Jokowi spoke of the situation in Ukraine only in terms of something that could threaten the economic recovery caused by two years of a global pandemic. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has spoken to Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the past week, but has not said anything about the conversations. Singapore issued perhaps the most forceful statement, demanding that the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be respected. Vietnam, a close partner of Russia, has said nothing. With limited economic ties, limited political engagement, and geographical distance, Russia poses little in the way of an immediate threat to Southeast Asian nations. Indeed, for the second year in a row, Russia wasnt even mentioned in the well-respected annual ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Center survey of Southeast Asian elites, even as a potential threat to the rules-based order. Yet, all the countries of Southeast Asia depend on international law, which is based on the concept of sovereign equality. Every country is threatened by a great power adopting a worldview based on a unilateral interpretation of shared history, language and culture. This is not some remote conflict that has little bearing on Southeast Asian security. Attempts to upend the world order cut to the core of Southeast Asian security and prosperity. It is not a European security problem or part of Washingtons Great Power Competition. On the contrary, this is something that creates a very dangerous legal precedent, especially for an assertive country like China that has repeatedly pushed for its own interpretations of international law, most clearly in the South China Sea. China could easily apply the logic Putin that used to annul Ukrainian sovereignty to make sweeping claims to swaths of Southeast Asia; northern Vietnam was a Chinese province for 1,000 years, and parts of Myanmar, such as the Kokang region, are dominated by ethnic Chinese just two examples. We have already seen China publicly warn Southeast Asian states that there are big states and there are small states, as they threatened at a 2010 ASEAN meeting in Hanoi. There is clearly a parallel between the doctrine of limited sovereignty and Chinas traditional All Under Heaven worldview and system of tributary states. China will deny this. But while Putins actions may ultimately work against Chinas long-term diplomatic and economic interests, for now, Beijing has clearly tied itself to Russian revisionism. Sadly, most Southeast Asian states are likely to not take sides, avoiding another conflict that they fear could cause them marginal economic harm. Most of them will not join the European Union, the United States, Australia or Japan in imposing sanctions. They do so at their own peril. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or BenarNews. This commentary has been updated to remove an incorrect assertion that Vietnamese media has almost no coverage of current tensions surrounding Ukraine. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday vowed to develop the country into a Bangaru Bharat (Golden India) on the lines of Bangaru Telangana. He sought the support and blessings of people in his attempts to create Bangaru Bharat by playing a key role in national politics in the coming days. He reiterated that he would play a key role in national politics and ens-re that India was more developed than the US and other developed countries in the world. He said people from other countries would obtain visas to come to India for jobs and other opportunities and not the other way round as was being witnessed at present. His comments came a day after he met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday as part of his attempts to forge an anti-BJP front of political parties for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. He was addressing a public meeting in Narayankhed after laying the foundation for the construction of Sangameshwara and Basaveshwara lift irrigation projects. We put up a united fight for 14 years and achieved Telangana. There was no adequate power, drinking water, irrigation water etc when Telangana was formed. Within seven years, we resolved all these issues. Today, Telangana is the only state providing 24x7 uninterrupted power to all consumers. Mission Bhagiratha, Kaleshwaram and other irrigation projects have permanently solved drinking water and irrigation water problems. We have developed TS into Bangaru Telangana in seven years. In the same manner, let us develop India into Bangaru Bharat. I need your support to achieve this, he remarked. Referring to his meeting with Thackeray, Rao said, Thackeray inquired about the Telangana government's schemes of Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima. He told me Maharashtra people residing near Telangana borders were pressuring them to implement these schemes. People across various states are demanding their respective state governments to implement our schemes. Stating that India had abundant natural and human resources which no other country could boast of in the world, he said the previous governments and rulers at the Centre failed to tap this potential due to which India could not develop in a manner that it was supposed to achieve even after 75 years of Independence. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao stated that divisive and communal politics were being promoted in the country which should not be allowed under any circumstances. Instead, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao suggested that the focus should be on development and employment to facilitate the establishment of industries and the creation of employment opportunities for the youth. We cannot have development without maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and proper maintenance of law and order. It is time that people discuss this issue among themselves and come to a conclusion. Let us all progress without any discrimination of caste, religion or community. It is for all these reasons that I have decided to plunge into national politics, he said. The Chief Minister posed questions to the people in the meeting whether they wanted him to go into national politics to develop India and whether they would support him. The people replied in the affirmative. Thanking people, Rao said he could achieve Telangana state and Bangaru Telangana with their support and requested them to extend the same support to achieve Bangaru Bharat. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to hear the defenses oral arguments during his SRC International trial on corruption charges, June 3, 2020. A Malaysian court on Tuesday rejected ex-Prime Minister Najib Razaks request to postpone proceedings in a billion-dollar lawsuit brought against him by a unit of the beleaguered state fund 1MDB linked to his 2020 conviction on massive corruption charges. The former PM was seeking a delay in proceedings in the civil case lodged by SRC International, pending a decision on an appeal to quash his criminal conviction. That decision would not prejudice the U.S. $1.1-billion civil suit, as Najib had claimed, because the defenses arguments had already been disclosed in the criminal trial, Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Ahmad Fairuz Zainol Abidin ruled on Tuesday. [O]n subtle principle of the law and based on the background of the suit, a stay is not allowed. The judge gave Najib 40 days to prepare his case, and set April 1 for the next step in the court proceedings. Najibs lawyer, Harvinder Singh, said the legal team was waiting to hear from their client on whether he would appeal Judge Ahmad Fairuzs decision. The judge did not allow Najib Razaks application for stay of proceedings pending disposal of the SRC related criminal cases, Singh told BenarNews. The judge has also directed for the defense to be filed by March 31, 2022. Civil suit filed last May Several ongoing criminal court hearings against Najib are currently underway, including his final appeal to the Federal Court against his July 2020 criminal conviction, and a 12-year prison sentence and $50.2 million fine. Back then, Najib was found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and three counts of money-laundering over allegations that he illegally received 42 million ringgit (U.S. $9.67 million) from SRC International. The former PM appealed the conviction in the Court of Appeal, which upheld the conviction last December. Subsequently, Najib filed an appeal at the Federal Court, the decision of which is awaited. Najib has not served any jail time to date and is free on bail, pending this decision. SRC International filed the suit against Najib and six of the companys former directors on May 7 last year. It later dropped the names of the former directors leaving Najib as the sole defendant in the lawsuit. The 1MDB unit alleged that Najib, in his capacity as the firms emeritus advisor, had abused his power, obtained personal benefits from SRC Internationals funds, and misappropriated the funds. SRC also alleged in its 80-page statement of claim in November 2021 that after Najibs government fell in 2018, detailed investigations on all the transactions at the firm revealed that crucial documents linked to the fraud committed against the company had been destroyed. In January 2019, SRC was removed from under 1MDB and placed in the care of the Ministry of Finance, where the various fraudulent transfers and embezzlement of money were discovered. Earlier this month, a Malaysian court froze U.S. $681 million in assets tied to Najib Razak, granting a request by 1MDB. The Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the injunction after the sovereign fund and some of its units lodged a petition seeking that those assets they are claiming from Najib be blocked from use or sale. The court also granted their request to limit Najibs monthly withdrawals to 100,000 ringgit (U.S. $23,900). That order will be in force until a separate lawsuit filed by the fund last year is settled. The suit seeks to recover that amount of money that Najib allegedly embezzled from the fund. In its suit against the former PM and seven other people, 1MDB claimed that the stolen money was deposited into Najibs bank account, local media had reported last May. The asset freeze applies only to Najib. Roger Ng trial Meanwhile on the other side of the world, a former Goldman Sachs partner who had pleaded guilty to money laundering and bribery related to 1MDB, testified in a New York court last week in the trial of his erstwhile Malaysian colleague Roger Ng, news agencies reported. Tim Leissner told a federal court that he and a Malaysian colleague had become the banks heroes for bringing in billions of dollars of business from 1MDB, Reuters reported. Leissner also said that he and other corrupt executives at Goldman Sachs had built a house of cards that was doomed to fall after they attempted to try to conceal a scheme to loot 1MDB, the Associated Press reported. Prosecutors allege that Ng took $35 million in kickbacks and conspired to launder stolen funds through the U.S. financial system. But Ngs defense lawyer said that Ng had no role in the scheme allegedly concocted by Leissner and fugitive Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors alleged that at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014 in a financial scandal that implicated foreign and local financial institutions and high-ranking officials, including Najib. A Peoples Republic of China Navy (PLA-N) Luyang-class guided missile destroyer (left) and a PLA-N Yuzhao-class amphibious transport dock vessel leave the Torres Strait and enter the Coral Sea, Feb. 18, 2022. A war of words between Australia and China intensified Tuesday as Canberra accused Beijing of violating international law when a Chinese navy ship allegedly pointed a laser at an Australian surveillance airplane. The two sides have provided their own versions of the incident that occurred last Thursday in the Arafura Sea, within Australias exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the north coast of the country. Beijing has accused Australian forces of provocative behavior, and maintains that its navy acted professionally, although Canberra says the safety of the plane crew was endangered. In the latest statement released on Tuesday, the Australian Department of Defense said at the time of the lasing incident, the RAAF [Royal Australian Air Force] P-8 was approximately 7.7 km from the PLA-N [Peoples Republic of China Navy] vessel and was flying at an altitude of 457m. The closest the P-8 flew to the PLA-N vessel was approximately 4 km, the statement said, adding: This is a standard flight profile for RAAF maritime patrol aircraft for a visual investigation of a surface vessel. The aircraft was acting within international law at all times, the statement said. The ministry also released photos of Chinese warships that were present at the time, the guided-missile destroyer Hefei and the amphibious transport dock Jinggang Shan but did not say which ship the laser beams came from. This is the closest an attempt at military intimidation by China has gotten to our shores, wrote John Blaxland, professor at the Strategic and Defense Studies Center, Australian National University, on The Conversation website. With the stakes rising, and an [federal] election looming, there is a need for issues like this to be handled firmly, but delicately, he warned. National elections in Australia are due by May. Three days earlier, in a media release, the Australian defense ministry condemned unprofessional and unsafe military conduct of the Chinese navy ship and said that these actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the Australia defense forces personnel. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison followed up by demanding Beijing explain the Chinese ships dangerous and reckless act. In an interview on Monday, Morrison said: It was dangerous, and at worst, it was intimidating and bullying. So were expecting answers, the prime minister said. A Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon surveillance plane flies over the Indian Ocean during an exercise with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, Dec. 14, 2021. [U.S. Navy] Provocative actions Chinese officials quickly dismissed Australias accusations. On Monday, a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense accused the Australian surveillance aircraft of committing malicious and provocative actions by flying close to the PLA Navy vessel and planting sonar buoys in the water around it. Sonar buoys, or sonobuoys, are small buoys that are often released from aircraft and used to collect acoustic data in the water. Senior Col. Tan Kefei said Chinese ships always maintained safe, standard and professional operations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin meanwhile claimed that the information released by the Australian side is untrue. Wang urged Australian authorities to stop maliciously disseminating China-related disinformation, to which the Australian defense ministry replied: Australia does not engage in the spread of misinformation or disinformation. The ministry also said that the use of sonobuoys for maritime surveillance is common practice, however, no sonobuoys were used prior to the PLA-N vessel directing its laser at the P-8A aircraft. Blaxland from the Australian National University said that the Chinese action seemed to be an escalation in assertive and adversarial behavior by the PLA Navy because the incident happened in uncontested waters within Australias EEZ. China may be seeking to send a message to Canberra that its naval patrols in the South China Sea are not welcome, he said. Not only the Australian navy, but navies from the U.S., U.K. and some other countries have been conducting so-called Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPS) in the seas in the Indo-Pacific region. Laser pointing Analysts say this is not the first time China has been accused of firing laser beams at foreign aircraft. In February 2020, a Chinese military warship reportedly fired a laser at a U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance aircraft while it was flying over the Pacific Ocean. The Chinese government denied the accusation, saying the P-8 was flying too low near its warships despite warnings. In 2019, Australian navy helicopter pilots taking part in the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2019 military exercise in the South China Sea said they were hit with laser beams from fishing boats suspected of being part of Chinas maritime militia. Industrial grade lasers are harmful and can cause blindness if pointed at a persons eyes. Pointing a laser at someone can also have a psychological impact, as laser targeting often happens right before a firing of live munitions. Health workers rally to demand the release of Maria Natividad Castro, a medical doctor in Philippine custody on suspicion of links to the outlawed communist party, outside the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Feb. 21, 2022. Doctors and health workers in the Philippines joined human rights groups on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of a physician accused of having links to communist rebels. Intelligence agents from the Philippine National Police took Dr. Maria Natividad Castro into custody from her home in Manila on Friday, her family and colleagues said. Castro was then flown to southern Agusan del Sur province, where she was being held on what relatives claimed were trumped-up charges of kidnapping and supporting the Filipino communist insurgency. These are false accusations. She is a community doctor and a human rights advocate, not a criminal as the military perceives her to be, said Dr. Julie Caguiat, a fellow physician and classmate of Castros in medical school. Meanwhile, the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a government agency, accused Dr. Castro of being an active recruiter, trainer, and fund-raiser for the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines and its guerrilla wing, the New Peoples Army. Known as Dr. Naty by friends and patients, the 53-year-old Castro is executive director of the Community-Based Health Program (CBHP), a group headquartered in southern Butuan city. The NGO provides health services to far-flung impoverished communities and also educates thousands of volunteers in medical care. Its work has been seen as crucial while the Philippines has grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic during the past two years. Another physician, Margareta Barcelon, who represents another group of community doctors, said doctors like Castro were rare. Castro left the relative comfort of her suburban upbringing to serve people in rural communities and remote communities, Dr. Barcelon said. Castros arrest comes as the government is preparing for presidential elections in May to replace Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends this year. Dutertes political nemesis, Sen. Leila de Lima, a human rights advocate, said she was deeply concerned with Castros arrest, as she called for an immediate and impartial investigation into her detention. I was shown photos of her [being] placed in undignified and unsanitary state, of being made to walk around barefooted when her mugshot was taken, de Lima, who has been jailed since 2017 on what she says are false drug-related charges, said on Tuesday. It was also reported that the arresting officers scaled the walls of her house and destroyed her door. She was also initially denied access to her counsel, her family, and her medications, de Lima alleged. De Lima is campaigning for reelection to the Senate while in jail. Indeed, state-sponsored reprisals will always be the order of the day, and even humanitarian acts will be deemed acts of subversion if an anti-people government and its enablers remain in power, de Lima said. Allegations against the doctor Established by Duterte in 2018 supposedly to convince communist insurgents to leave the movement and instead help address poverty, the military primarily leads the inter-agency national task force to end the communist insurgency. The NTF-ELCAC claimed on Tuesday that it had evidence and testimony from a former guerrilla leader, whom it identified as Gleceria Balangiao and who alleged that Dr. Castro was active in the communist movement. Balangiao, according to the NTF-ELCAC, personally met the doctor during clandestine first-aid training in the south between 2006 to 2009. She worked there and trained our people in areas controlled by the NPA, the task force quoted Balangiao as saying. Castro was alleged to be active in recruiting other health-care professionals to join the communist movement as field medics. President Duterte, meanwhile, has vowed to crush the long-running communist insurgency after peace talks collapsed in 2017, a year after he took power. Initially, he had sought out negotiations to end the fighting, which has scarred many areas in the country and left thousands of people dead. The NPA insurgency, which dates back to 1969, today is estimated to count some 5,000 fighters nationwide, down from at least 20,000 at its peak in the 1980s. Dutertes deputy spokesman, Karlo Nograles, denied that the government was engaged in red-tagging a practice among Philippine military and police personnel of accusing individual people or groups of being communist rebels or sympathizers. A court had ordered Castros arrest, Nograles stressed. Again, this was not a case of red-tagging, he told reporters on Tuesday. Again, the arrest warrant was issued by the court. But even previous to that, this went through a process of investigation by a prosecutor and at every avenue, at every opportunity they were given a chance to contest it. Relatives of Abdullah Esomuso prepare to bury his body during his funeral at a cemetery in Pattani, a province in southern Thailand, Aug. 25, 2019. A court in Thailands troubled Deep South will issue an inquest finding in May on whether foul play was involved when a suspected insurgent fell into a coma while in military custody and later died, his widow and the familys lawyer said Tuesday. Abdullah Esomuso had been taken into custody after an alleged rebel cell-leader implicated him in a series of insurgent attacks, according to officials. A military-appointed committee cleared Thai army officials of any role in Abdullahs August 2019 death. The inquest will verify findings from an autopsy conducted in 2019, which had said there were no signs of torture or foul play, according to the familys lawyer, Zakiman Benjadecha. The autopsy said Abdullah had succumbed to severe pneumonia and septic shock. The Songkhla court set May 9 for the ruling [on the inquest], Zakiman Benjadecha, an attorney with the Muslim Lawyers Foundation, told BenarNews. In case the court rules in favor of the family, [we] will push for prosecution, said Zakiman. But if the official side wins, Nong Chik police will drop the case. In late August 2019, a military-appointed regional human rights committee had said that the doctors autopsy showed no signs of torture on Abdullahs body. Abdullah 34, was found unconscious at 3 a.m. July 21, 2019, in an interrogation center at an army camp in Nong Chik, a district of Pattani province, where he had been held for 10 hours. That prompted his family to question if military interrogators had tortured him. After falling into a coma, he died in a hospital on Aug. 25, 2019, while still in military custody. Soon after his death, Abdullahs family filed a formal complaint with Nong Chik police and later sought an inquest from the Songkhla provincial court. During the past weekend, the Songkhla court finished hearing testimony from about 25 witnesses, including 13 officers and personnel from the military camp, doctors, a police investigator and Abdullahs relatives and co-witnesses, Zakiman said. Meanwhile, Sumaiyah Minga, Abdullahs widow, said she did not have faith in the judicial process. Im looking forward to learn about the outcome, she told BenarNews on Tuesday. But deep in my heart, I am preparing to lose as we all know what Thailands justice is like. Col. Kiattisak Neewong, a spokesman for Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC-4) which oversees the insurgency-afflicted Deep South, said the military honors the judicial system. We abide by the rule of law. We did not want this to happen, Kiattisak told BenarNews on Tuesday. Officials followed the law and regret the incident. Officials continue to visit the family to give them moral support. Abdullahs widow, Sumaiyah, said last December that she received 500,000 baht (U.S. $15,430) from the authorities for as initial compensation for her husbands death, and another 32,400 baht (U.S. $1,000) for the damage caused during his detention. That same month, the Southern Border Provinces Administration Center (SBPAC), which oversees the Deep Souths civilian affairs, said it would begin to give Sumaiyah money on an annual basis for the education of her two children until they complete their bachelors degree, or turn 25. I agreed with the SBPAC for their funding the education annually, and I intend to raise my kids properly and give them an education, she said back then. The Deep South encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province. Since the separatist insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,300 people have been killed in violence across the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking border region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. During that time, rights groups have accused the military of using excessive force in the Deep South, including systematic torture and extrajudicial killings against insurgents. 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. RTHK: Putin orders military into breakaway regions President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered Russia's military to act as peacekeepers in two breakaway regions of Ukraine, just hours after he recognised them as independent. In two official decrees, Putin instructed the defence ministry to assume "the function of peacekeeping" in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment, with the order saying only that it "comes into force from the day it was signed". Russia has in recent months moved tens of thousands of soldiers to regions near Ukraine's borders, with the West saying Moscow plans to use them for an attack at any moment. Putin's recognition of the separatist republics as independent effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict in eastern Ukraine and opens the door for Russian military activities in the country. In the same document, Putin also ordered his foreign ministry to "establish diplomatic relations" with the "republics". Earlier on Monday, the Russian leader demanded that Kyiv halt all its military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine, or face more bloodshed. Putin recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist republics on Monday, despite Western countries repeatedly warning him not to and threatening Moscow with sanctions. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-02-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New land-sea transport route gives boost to Belt and Road construction 08:59, February 22, 2022 By Fu Wen ( People's Daily Not long ago, 1,960 tons of goods left the International Land Port of Gansu (Lanzhou) in Lanzhou city, northwest Chinas Gansu province by train, and were then transferred from Lianyungang Port in Lianyungang city, east Chinas Jiangsu province, to Southeast Asia by ship. Meanwhile, 3,300 tons of iron ore imported by Jiuquan Iron and Steel Corporation were transported from Lianyungang to Lanzhou. Containers are unloaded from container liners at a container terminal of Lianyungang Port, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Feb. 1, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Fang Dongxu) The above-mentioned trips were the very first trips along the combined sea-rail transport route connecting Lanzhou and Lianyungang, which represented new progress made by the coastal province of Jiangsu and the inland province of Gansu in the construction of the route. The rail-sea transport service enables the International Land Port of Gansu (Lanzhou) and Lianyungang Port to share and integrate their logistics resources and the two provinces to realize mutual complementarity in their superior resources. It is also expected to benefit the construction of land port national logistics hub in Lanzhou, increase the number of global container shipping routes of Lianyungang Port, and help build more stable and reliable logistics channels for transit goods and foreign trade companies based in Chinas inland cities. From road-rail multimodal transport services connecting China and Central Europe, Central Asia, and South Asia to the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the China -Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan multimodal transport route, Gansu province has so far opened five international transport routes, with Lanzhou serving as a key hub. By jointly building new land-sea multimodal transport hubs through the new route, Gansu and Jiangsu have integrated Lanzhous advantage of serving as a gateway to the west and Lianyungangs advantage of facilitating opening to the east. The first freight train of a combined sea-rail transport route connecting Lianyungang city, east Chinas Jiangsu province to Lanzhou city, northwest Chinas Gansu province, leaves China-Kazakhstan logistics base in Lianyungang city, Jan. 15, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Chun) The cooperation between the two provinces has made it easier for goods to be transported from Gansu to foreign countries by sea, which bears great significance for Chinas endeavor to achieve nationwide opening-up that coordinates the coastal and inland areas and connects the eastern and western regions and promoting the positive interplay between domestic and international circulation. Connection brings about better efficiency. The newly launched sea-rail transport route, which features highly efficient connection between channels, convenient transfer of goods, and one-stop services, provides comprehensive transportation services with low cost and high efficiency. The new passage, which links the land and maritime silk roads, helps trade companies in the two provinces and along the route reduce transportation costs and improve transportation efficiency. It is also expected to bring new mission of the times to the railway connecting Lianyungang and Lanzhou, and involve more regions of the country in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Cooperation between Lianyungang and Lanzhou has created new space for development. At the end of 2021, Lianyungang Port Holdings Group Co., Ltd. and the management committee of the International Land Port of Gansu (Lanzhou) signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement. Containers are loaded onto a freight train at China-Kazakhstan logistics base in Lianyungang city, east Chinas Jiangsu province, Feb. 8, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Chun) At the beginning of this year, Lanzhou and Lianyungang signed a strategic agreement on regional cooperation and development in the new era, aiming to carry out in-depth cooperation in logistics services for commerce and trade, science and technology education, cultural tourism, and talent exchange in key industries including hub ports, petrochemical refining, and equipment manufacturing. The endeavor of the two sides to strengthen coordination and collaboration between the International Land Port of Gansu (Lanzhou) and the Lianyungang Port is considered a powerful measure for deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation and helpful for promoting mutual complementarity, resource sharing, and mutual benefit and win-win results. Thanks to joint efforts made by various parties, pragmatic cooperation has been pushed forward continuously, with some projects achieving initial progress and new projects gaining momentum. Facts have shown that by building network and platform for Belt and Road cooperation and advancing the development of projects in key fields according to actual conditions, various parties can share development opportunities and achieve common prosperity. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Today is National Margarita Day. To celebrate, round up your friends, put Tortured Soul's "We Like Tequila" in the CD player and sing along ... then head to your favorite watering hole for a margarita or two. (Bonus points if you know how many times the word "tequila" is said in the song. I counted 36.) But first, a little history. "Tequila is a liquor made from the blue agave plant, which looks like aloe," explained Toni Espinoza, co-owner of Xicohtencatl Mexican Restaurant in Great Barrington. "All tequila comes from the blue agave plant." She added tequila originated in the mountains of Jalisco, Mexico, "There are tons of distilleries in Mexico, but not all export tequila to the United States." Espinoza said there are three grades of tequila: "Silver, which is the purest. It's right off the plant and is unaged. Then there's reposado, which is aged for a short time up to a year. It has a light golden color. Anejo is aged in an oak barrel for over a year and has a dark, deep color like scotch or bourbon. Anejo is usually drunk straight; it's a very rich drink." There is also mezcal, which is also made from agave (but not necessarily the blue agave plant). "It's very popular, very hip right now. It's a little smokier than tequila and sweeter, and may be flavored with herbs and nuts," Espinoza said. She explained it is graded like tequila. Hibiscus margaritas blend two Mexican favorites If you've spent much time traveling in Mexico or the southwestern United States, you may have seen folks enjoying an agua fresca on a hot day. Agua frescas are simply water blended with sugar, fresh fruit, seeds (like chia) or dried flowers to make What goes into making the perfect margarita? "Four items tequila, a liqueur (Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier), lime or other citrus juice and simple syrup," Espinoza said. "The tequila has a really sharp taste; the liqueur, a smoothing taste; the citrus juice, a tart taste and the simple syrup, a sweet taste." For those who want to try mezcal, Xicohtencatl offers a Mezcalita, using the same ingredients and proportions as a margarita, but substituting mezcal for the tequila. 'My favorite margarita is one we call 'El Diablo,' made with Milagro Reposado Tequila infused with jalapeno," Espinoza said. To make your own jalapeno-infused tequila, place a whole jalapeno halved or sliced, along with some pieces of cilantro, into a 750ml bottle of tequila and let it sit for a couple of weeks. "The first time, you might want to use just half a jalapeno. It can be fiery," she warned. To make a blueberry/raspberry margarita, Espinoza said to muddle two raspberries and two blueberries into silver tequila, along with the liqueur, lime juice and simple syrup. "Pick a brand Patron tequila, Patron Citronge Orange, lime juice and add any fruit you want, a handful or less, maybe 1/4 cup of fruit, and blend it. Don't use any simple syrup." Espinoza said. For the house margarita, the Xicoh, add a splash or Grenadine to the tequila, liqueur and lime juice, leaving out the simple syrup as Grenadine is sweet on its own. THE PERFECT MARGARITA According to Espinoza, the proportions for the perfect margarita are: 1 shot* tequila (Xicohtencatl uses reposado tequila) 1/2 shot liqueur (Xicohtencatl uses Cointreau or Grand Marnier)) 3/4 shot lime Less than 1/4 shot simple syrup. (* In the U.S. a shot is usually 1.5 ounces) "Shake the ingredients together and pour over ice or not and serve with lime and salt on the rim," Espinoza said. "With the salt on the rim of the glass, each sip is different. If you sip a lot of salt, you get one sensation; less, you get another. You pick up the strength of the tequila. Sweet, tart and salty it's the perfect combination." FUN FACTS ABOUT MARGARITAS Kick back, grab the salt and limes, and enjoy a frosty drink while reading these facts about your favorite cocktail. - ITS ORIGINS ARE MURKY No one is quite sure who invented the margarita, but there are a lot of theories. The most widely spread rumor is that an American socialite named Margarita Sames created the drink for her friends in 1948. One of her party guests was Tommy Hilton, who added the drink to the bar menu at his hotels. This is probably not true, though: The first importer of Jose Cuervo used the tagline "Margarita: it's more than a girl's name" in 1945 three years before Sames debuted her drink. The very first print mention we can find of the drink (but not the name) comes from the 1937 book Cafe Royal Cocktail Book by William Tarling. The drink had a similar recipe but was called Picador (a type of bullfighter). FROZEN, PLEASE The origins of the cocktail are unclear, but the origins of the frozen margarita machine are pretty straightforward: Mariano Martinez invented the frozen margarita machine in the early '70s. The 26-year-old Dallas restaurateur was having trouble creating the frozen drink for customers; bartenders complained they took too long, and customers thought they melted too quickly. After seeing a Slurpee machine in a 7-Eleven, Martinez was struck with inspiration. He transformed a soft-serve ice cream machine into one that pumped out frosty margaritas. SALT IS IMPORTANT The salt is there to bring out the sweet and sour flavors of the drink; even just a pinch will help subdue the bitterness and enhance the important flavors. On top of this, salt intensifies the drinker's perception of the drink's aromas, making the flavors even more powerful. MARGARITAS ARE INCREDIBLY POPULAR In fact, it was the most ordered mixed drink of 2008, according to the Cheers On-Premise Handbook. That year, Americans were consuming 185,000 margaritas per hour on average. A $1,200 DRINK In 2013, 230 FIFTH Rooftop Bar & Penthouse Lounge in Manhattan baited partiers with a frozen margarita that used some incredibly high-end ingredients the tequila alone cost $1800 a bottle. Even the ice was made from $450 bottles of Lois Roederer Cristal Champagne. The final product was poured into a Ralph Lauren hand-blown Hungarian crystal glass that can be taken home afterward. The decadent drink was for a good cause though half the money was donated to a charity of the drinker's choice. TYPES OF TEQUILA Cool down this summer with these great cocktails Summer is nearly here, and with it the long-awaited return of get togethers with family and friends. To celebrate, we gathered all of our favo Tequila must be produced only in Mexico in the region of Tequila and has to conform to the strict rules of the Mexican government. Tequila is produced in two general categories and four different types: The two categories are defined by the percentage of juice coming from the blue agave : Tequila 100% agave It needs to be made from 100 percent blue agave and bottled in the Mexican distillery. It could be "Blanco, Reposado or Anejo". Tequila It has to be made from at least 51 percent blue agave juice. It could be bulk exported and bottled in other countries that follow the Norma Oficial Mexicana (Official Mexican Standard). It could be Blanco, Reposado or Anejo. Community News Editor / Librarian Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Police push back protestors as authorities work Saturday to end a protest against COVID-19 measures in Ottawa. Similar protests against COVID policies have taken place in other corners of the world, including Boston, where protesters have hounded Mayor Michelle Wu outside her Roslindale home. Spearfish, SD (57783) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 41F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 41F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Many are familiar with the story of Mary and her sister Martha in the Bible. The two sisters appear in a story when Jesus was visiting their home. With only five verses dedicated to this account in Luke 10:38-42, we learn a lot about both our Savior and ourselves. Today we are going to talk about if you are a Mary or a Martha, and how to be the best version of yourself. Both women are significant and loved by Christ, but both have their own strengths and areas of growth, just like we do. Martha often gets a bad reputation for this story. She is the one whom Jesus teaches a lesson based on her decisions. However, Martha is not the bad sister, she is clearly an accomplished and dedicated woman. She owns a home (Luke 10:38) and lets her sister live with her. She loves to make people feel hospitable and she loves to serve. These are wonderful qualities. The trouble was not with who Martha was, but her priorities were easily misplaced in her business. Scripture says, But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made (Luke 10:40a). If you are a Martha, you might be an amazingly productive person. You are likely gifted in service, hospitality, generosity, or administration. You are a worker and an achiever. The challenge is not whether you will do the work, but if you are caring more about the person of Jesus or the task in front of you. We can learn from Martha in what Jesus Himself said, Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are neededor indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42). If you are a Martha, what are your many things? What responsibilities are weighing you down and distracting you from spending time in Gods presence? How are you putting your work from the Lord above your relationship with Him? We can all easily fall into this trap when we focus on ministry, organization, gifts, or skills instead of the One they are all about in the first place. Colossians 3:17 says, And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Martha has a shining moment of faith and deep trust in her Savior later on in John 11:21-22. Lord, Martha said to Jesus, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask. Martha expresses such belief and trust, even before we see Jesus bring Lazarus back to life. Whether or not Jesus chose to heal Lazarus, Martha clearly had grown a lot in her personal relationship with Jesus to go to Him with such confidence. I feel like of all of the people in the Bible, that Mary truly understood the verse in Psalm 46:10 to Be still and know that He is God. Mary knew the value in sitting at the feet of Jesus. She understood the importance of having a teachable spirit and the gift of quality time with the Savior. Mary of Bethany is the one who poured out expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus to prepare Him for His burial (Matthew 26:6-13, John 12:1-11). Mary knew what it was like to give her whole heart to God. Although Scripture does not focus on it, an easy trap that Mary or someone like Mary could fall into is only keeping faith between you and the Lord, but not working towards sharing it with others. There is a beautiful vertical relationship that we are given when we become believers. However, if we spend all of our time focused on our own personal growth and never invest in the lives of others or share the gospel, we can be missing another great part of being a disciple of Christ. It was wonderful that Jesus taught Mary, but what if Mary never taught others? It was great that Jesus gave Mary encouragement, but what if she never encouraged others? A person who is still before the Lord can enjoy that so abundantly and it will not be taken away (Luke 10:42). However, faith is not meant to remain in the quiet places, but to shine like a city on a hill. Matthew 5:14-16 says, You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. If you are Mary, you might have your priorities in check, you likely have Jesus first. However, the challenge becomes making sure that you are sharing Him with others. When you have the light of Christ, do not hide that light, but let your light shine so others can see God and give Him glory. Whether you are a Mary or a Martha, both women have incredible qualities and are equally loved by Jesus (John 11:5). Each woman learned different lessons from the Savior and welcomed Him in. Martha got the tasks completed and Mary was relational. If you tend to be the Martha, remember to keep your identity rooted in Jesus first and not to forget about the people in front of you. If you tend to be a Mary, continue to soak up all of the sweet personal times with Jesus, just remember to share of His love with others and do not hide that gift that you have been given. More from this author Bezalel and the God-Given Gift of Creativity 3 Beautiful Things Jesus Teaches Us About Life Balance 7 Beautiful Ways to Support Those Who Have Miscarried Related Resource: Listen to our FREE podcast, Faith Over Fear! You can find all of our episodes on LifeAudio.com. Listen below to our latest episode on anxiety: Photo credit: Unsplash Emma Danzeys mission in life stems from Ephesians 3:20-21, inspiring young women to embrace the extraordinary. One of her greatest joys is to journey with the Lord in His Scriptures. She is wife to Drew and they have been married for over a year. Drew and Emma serve with Upstate CRU college ministry in South Carolina. Emma is an avid writer for Salem Web Network and provides articles on the Bible, life questions, and on the Christian lifestyle. Her article on Interracial Marriage was the number 1 viewed article on Crosswalk for the year 2021. All the glory to the Lord! She has the joy of being the host of Her Many Hats podcast where she explores the many roles that women play while serving One God. Over the centuries, many have come and gone who have attempted to predict the coming of the Lord. All of these predictions have come to naught. There is a certain fascination about the end of the world. We have seen it in the media, through movies and television even cartoon characters threatening to destroy the world or take it over in some form or fashion. The fear has always been that with the escalation of so called weapons of mass destruction that the world powers that be will eventually blow each other up. And while wars and rumors of wars are a definite sign of the times, there are many other things which signal the last days. What Does the Bible Say about the Last Days? From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible speaks volumes concerning the last days. But first, I believe it is necessary to clarify the term last days. When speaking of them, are we speaking of the last twenty years, or fifty years, or even the last one hundred years? Or are the last days more recent, say, in the last five to ten years? While it is true that we are presently living in the last days, the beginning of the last days goes much further back. Christians living through the first and second world wars no doubt thought they were living in the last days. Im sure that Christians living through the Civil War thought that they were living in the days. Each generation of Christians down through the millennia who knew the Word of God concerning these things have wondered if they would see the return of the Lord, or else the end of the world. In truth, the last days began at the close of Christs ministry on earth, and will continue until His second coming. And while each day brings us closer to His return, we are not to fear or be troubled by the things that we see taking place around the world. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door (Matthew 24:33). In the book of 1 Thessalonians, the apostle Paul tells us of a glorious day in which Christ will come for His own: According to the Lords word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). Have the Last Days Already Passed? While these powerful words from Paul were meant to bring comfort and hope to the Thessalonian Christians, many misunderstood his teaching, believing that judgment had already come, or that since He was coming back, there was nothing for them to do but wait. Paul then wrote a second letter where he clarified his words in his first letter with these words: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from uswhether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letterasserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Dont let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in Gods temple, proclaiming himself to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4). When we speak of the last days, we are speaking of worldwide events that will progressively escalate as time marches on. As Jesus taught His disciples on the mount of Olives, they asked Him pointedly, what shall be the sign of your coming, and the end of the world? Because they were also concerned about the last days, Jesus responded to them with these words: Jesus answered: Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Messiah, and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:4-8). You will notice two things that Jesus says: He first states that the end is not yet. He then says that all these are the beginning of sorrows. The fact is that there have always been wars, and rumors of wars; nations have always risen against other nations (the word for nations here is the Greek word, ethnos which means race, and may be a reference to ethnicities); kingdoms have always risen against kingdoms in a lust for power. Weve always had famines, and pestilences, a word that means disease or plaguesmany far worse than what many of us have experienced. Earthquakes have also always been a part of life here on earth, depending upon where you live. But why do we believe that we are living in the last of the last days? It is because of the rapid escalation of things. What Will Happen on or Near the Last Days? The apostle Paul once again gives us a preview of the last days as he wrote to young Timothy: But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people (2 Timothy 3:1-5). These verses tell us conclusively about the conditions in the world at the time prior to the Lords coming. And just as in the case of Matthew chapter twenty-four, all of these elements of the last days will become worse with time. Concerning the character of those in the last days, Jesus also made this statement, also in Matthew twenty-four: For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:38-39). We see that in these last days that there will be an aloofness, and a distaste for things spiritual. We must not be like the five foolish virgins in Jesus parable who went out to meet the Bridegroom, but had no oil in their lamps. In the words of the apostle Paul we must always be looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. So, as we see all these things come to pass here in these last days, remember the words of Jesus: When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28). Praise the Lord! Hes coming soon! Related articles Do We Have an Accurate Revelation Timeline of End Times Events? What Are "Signs and Wonders" of the End Times? 5 Powerful Prayers for the End Times Photo credit: Getty Images/batuhan toker BOISE - Elected officials in Idaho, Alaska and Oregon are speaking out about proposed legislation that would impose a tax on diesel and gasoline fuel that is shipped from Washington state across state lines. Idaho Gov. Brad Little has called out Washington on the tax. In a Twitter post, Little stated, The State of Washington is at it again trying to tax Idahoans unfairly. AG Wasden and I called on WA Governor Jay Inslee to step in and stop the states attempts to increase the cost of fuel for Idahoans and citizens of other Western states. Little and Wasden sent a letter to Inslee last week expressing concerns over the proposed tax. Part of a four-bill package introduced earlier this month would place a tax of 6 cents per gallon on fuel coming from refineries along the Puget Sound that is sent to Alaska, Idaho and Oregon. There are no refineries in Idaho or Oregon and only one in Alaska. In a speech on the House floor Thursday in the Alaska Legislature, Rep. Kevin McCabe, R-Big Lake, said he would draft legislation involving taxes and the commercial fishing industry in response. The first would levy a tax of 6 cents per pound for fish caught in Alaska, above and beyond the current landing tax. It would apply to all fishing boats, but those owned by Alaskan companies could apply for a tax credit. The second would levy a tax of 6 cents per foot on fishing boats moored in Alaska, while those owned by Alaskan companies could also apply for a tax credit. The move is seen as targeting fishing boats from Washington state that operate in Alaskan waters. Frankly, Im tired of being thought of as a Washington colony, McCabe said. Im tired of them taxing us and depending on us for their needs. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said on Twitter Thursday that she spoke with Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and made it very clear that Washington taking unilateral action to increase gas prices for Oregon families and businesses is unacceptable. Washington leaders should know that their action will impact Oregonians lives. Continued collaboration between our states will always lead to better outcomes for both Washington and Oregon. Two members of the Oregon State House also spoke against the legislation Thursday during a virtual meeting of the Washington State House Transportation Committee. This is an offensive proposal that would force Oregonians to pay for Washingtons infrastructure projects, said Rep. Shelly Bohart Davis, R-Albany. I cannot stand by and watch as the hardworking people of Oregon are hit with an unfair and unjust tax with zero representation. Rep. Brock Smith, R-Port Orford, said the issue highlights poor policymaking in Washington. The Washington Legislature set goals and approved projects they couldnt afford, he said. Instead of doing a better job writing public policy, theyre going to ask my residents to pay for their roads when they have never nor will ever use them. **STORY UPDATE (2/22/22)** According to an update from the Idaho County Sheriff's Office, 32-year-old Travis Pena, of Boise, ID, was arrested on February 22 in Lewis County on a warrant for felony eluding stemming from this incident. Original Story KOOSKIA - On Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at approximately 7:55 a.m., an Idaho County deputy was on routine patrol in Kooskia. While passing Clearwater Valley High School headed northbound into Kooskia, an oncoming vehicle crossed over the center line into the northbound lane, forcing the Deputy into the ditch to avoid a collision. The Deputy immediately turned around to perform a traffic stop on vehicle, however the driver failed to yield and continued into the town of Stites, ID. According to a release from Idaho County, the driver crossed the centerline and into oncoming traffic several times. The vehicle, described as a black Ford F250 pickup with no license plates, reportedly turned around on private property just south of Stites before doubling back, now headed northbound back towards Kooskia. Deputies say the vehicle accelerated to speeds in excess of 55 mph through the town of Stites, and even faster as they were outside of Kooskia. With Deputies still in pursuit, the Ford pickup went through the city of Kooskia at speeds up to 57 mph, passing a vehicle near the Highway 13/Highway 12 intersection and continued west on Highway 12. Deputies say the pickup continued to drive erratically, reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph, passing on blind corners, and nearly causing a head-on collision. Near milepost 70 on Highway 12, the pickup turned off into a housing unit and onto a skid road where the driver and passenger then abandoned the vehicle and fled. After a foot pursuit, the passenger, identified as 30-year-old Marissa Arthur, of Kamiah, was located and arrested for resisting and obstructing and operating a vehicle without owner's consent. The driver of the vehicle has not yet been located. Idaho County Deputies are continuing their investigation at this time. The Idaho County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Lewis County Sheriffs Office, the Idaho State Police, and the Nez Perce Tribal Police for their assistance during this incident. OLYMPIA - As Washington state continues to grapple with new voting maps, a measure in the Legislature would ensure future maps comply with the Washington Voting Rights Act. A lawsuit is challenging the way redistricting happened in the Yakima Valley, arguing the map creates the "facade" of a Latino-majority district. Audel Ramirez, a community organizer in Yakima community for the group OneAmerica, said Senate Bill 5597 would require changes to the election system be approved under the Washington Voting Rights Act passed in 2018. "Litigation is costly," Ramirez pointed out. "It takes away resources from communities that should better use those resources to provide services and infrastructure for their residents, instead of fighting prolonged court battles or things over systems that are clearly in violation of the Washington state Voting Rights Act." Ramirez noted OneAmerica is not involved with the statewide challenge, but he said after a yearslong fight in Yakima County, Latino communities achieved success at opening the door for representation on the commission board. Opponents of the bill say the Washington Voting Rights Act added to voter mistrust. Melissa Rubio, political director for OneAmerica, said the measure would set up a pre-clearance process similar to a provision in the federal Voting Rights Act before it was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. Rubio said the process would eliminate the need for expensive court battles. "Whether it's redistricting or things like the ability to take away or add language translation to ballots or take away or add ballot boxes, there needs to be something that allows us to make sure that any changes that happen in our local election jurisdiction are in fact in line with the Washington Voting Rights Act," Rubio contended. Ramirez noted a lack of representation locally has big effects for people on the ground. "That's something not unique to the Yakima Valley," Ramirez remarked. "We see it throughout the country, throughout the state and other parts of the world where environmentally, socially and economically people are suffering because the people who right now manage that budget don't take their needs into consideration." The bill has passed the Senate and is scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on State Government and Tribal Relations Wednesday. A federal judges decision to relist gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act in 44 states will have political ramifications even if the ruling doesnt apply to packs on the east side of Washington where most attacks on livestock occur, opponents say. State Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, and cattle producer advocacy groups contend the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is already reluctant to hunt problem wolves in Ferry and Stevens counties and will now be even less motivated. Kretz said stripping states of their ability to manage wolf populations is further threatening the viability of livestock producers at a time when the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that small ranches and farms are decreasing by about 2% per year across the nation. Its one more little hole in the wall that makes it harder for us, said Kretz, who owns a ranch in Ferry County. His concerns are echoed by Scott Nielsen, a board member of Cattle Producers of Washington and a rancher in Stevens County. Nielsen said WDFW has increasingly put the responsibility of managing wolves on livestock owners instead of following its own plan to stop the apex predators from decimating herd numbers. He said Cattle Producers and other farm and ranch advocates believe the wolf population is recovered and no longer meets requirements for an ESA listing. According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW) data, there are more than 6,000 wolves in the lower 48 states, which has exceeded recovery goals by 300% since the species was listed under the ESA in 1974. The wolf populations are growing and our ranchers in Northeastern Washington are besieged by attacks, said Nielsen. They are not being allowed to do whats right. They are not being allowed to defend their herds. Earlier this month, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White undid a 2020 delisting of gray wolves as a threatened species, not including the Northern Rockies and Great Lakes populations that have seen robust growth in numbers. White argued that USFW had erroneously based its 2020 delisting decision on wolf populations in the two regions that had much higher numbers than elsewhere in the west. Environmental groups went shopping for an activist judge and found one in California, Kretz said. With Whites ruling, wolves are once again federally listed in the western two-thirds of Washington. They remain delisted east of Highway 97 from the British Columbia border south to Monse, Highway 17 from Monse south to Mesa, and Highway 395 from Mesa south to the Oregon border. Wolf advocates have praised Whites re-listing order. "Wolves are an integral part in the health and resilience of western ecosystems," Adam Gebauer, the public lands program director at the Spokane-based Lands Council, said in a statement to reporters. "Local land managers, state wildlife offices and the federal government must work together and rely on science and not politics to ensure their recovery. Wolves are our allies in the conservation of wildlands." WDFW estimates there are at least 178 wolves spread across 29 packs in Washington, which is up from an estimated 145 wolves in 26 packs in 2019. Most of these packs live in eastern and northern Washington. Many ranchers believe the numbers are higher than reported by WDFW, said Kretz. In 2020, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said he wanted to see less wolves killed for repeated depredations. He directed Fish and Wildlife to find ways to issue fewer kill orders and suggested that less grazing on public lands to separate wolves and cattle might be one solution. Cattle industry groups immediately responded by saying that grazing rights on public lands were deeded through a series of Congressional acts and therefore protected. Nielsen and Kretz said that Inslees philosophy is shared by many WDFW officials because the agency has been slow to act even when wolf behavior justifies a kill order under its own management plan. WDFWs lethal removal policy allows a kill order to be issued if wolves have attacked or killed livestock three times within the last 30 days or four times within 10 months. The rancher must show that non-lethal measures did not work before wolves are euthanized. LANSING The Michigan Department of Health and Human Service and the District Health Department No. 10 have withdrawn their public health advisory on masking while in indoor public settings. According to a news release from DHD No. 10, Michigan has enter the post-surge recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cases and hospitalizations have been decreasing for the past several weeks, leading to an update of masking guidance. The COVID-19 pandemic is not yet over, DHD No. 10 health officer Kevin Hughes said in the release. However, with the downward trends in cases, and our increased access to masks, vaccines, testing, and treatment, it is time to begin the recovery phase. The health department breaks down the COVID-19 cycle into three phases: Response: Local and state public health implement rapid response to a surge. The public may be advised to increase mask usage, testing, and social distancing. Recovery: Post-surge. No immediate resurgence predicted. Local and state public health will monitor conditions that could lead to future surges. Readiness: A surge in cases is expected, with implications on severity of illness and hospital capacity. Increased communication to the public regarding possible new risks. Health officials point out that responsible protective behaviors help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Universal masking is still recommended, regardless of vaccination status, in high-risk settings long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, corrections facilities, and healthcare facilities as well as during isolation and quarantine periods. Health officials also still recommend universal masking in school settings until cases of COVID-19 decrease even further. School districts are encouraged to consider local conditions when determining masking polices. "We can confidently say at this point, that those who are up to date on their COVID vaccines and boosters, as well as wearing a high-quality mask, are well protected from COVID-19 infection, regardless of what others around them choose to do," DHD No. 10 medical director Dr. Jennifer Morse said. "We are now at a point where responsible behavior is up to the individual and parents to decide. Those that wish to be fully protected from COVID-19 illness and its complications are encouraged to continue to mask in public and get vaccinated or boosted. For those needing KN95 masks, vaccine/booster or COVID-19 test, visit dhd10.org. Most pharmacies also offer vaccinations and testing. To obtain an-at home COVID-19 test, visit covidtests.gov or check with your local pharmacy. DHD No. 10 does not supply at-home tests. For more information on COVID-19, visit dhd10.org/coronavirus. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo joins the No Spin News to discuss why Russian President Vladimir Putin is invading Ukraine. Enhance your life become a Premium Member for complete access to the No Spin News and get a FREE COPY of Killing the Killers. Netcare stood out in the most recent Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands ranking for delivering superior experience across all branded touchpoints. Zero in on how the brand has embraced the three global megatrends of customer-centricity, data, and digitisation as core differentiators and how they're measuring the pulse of healthcare excellence in the era of discerning customers... Sonja Winter: group head of marketing and person-centred engagement, Netcare The brand must originally have been created in South Africa and be owned by an enterprise listed on JSE or a credible stock exchange. For private brands originated in South Africa, their complete financial statements must be available in the public domain. Time and again, the global Kantar BrandZ data has proven those brands that continue to invest in building a strong brand are the ones that grow faster. Kantar BrandZ valuations take this a step further, isolating the value generated by the strength of the brand alone in the minds of consumers.Explaining how to influence consumer perceptions to build on that brand equity , Graham Staplehurst, director, thought leadership, Kantar BrandZ, explains: The four fundamental areas of brand building that drive consumer demand in the digital-first era are:1. Experience: Strong brands meet expectations of new users and continually deliver a superior experience to regular users. The memories laid down by these experiences are one of the key foundations of a brands relationship with its customers.2. Function: Ensure you offer a product or service that is seen as well-designed with a suitable range of options and innovate as necessary.3. Convenience: In a consumer-led environment, brand choice should be habitual and easy, without the need for conscious thought from busy consumers.4. Exposure: The best brands are created in the mind of the consumer through great communications, which define the brand and frame the actual product or service experience. Messaging needs to be relevant, memorable, creative, and consistent.As the proportion of brand equity driven by these is 62% in SA, weve taken this global insight and added a South African perspective, so brand managers can pick up sticky tips to unlock the elements of brand growth from those that rose to the top of the most recent Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands rankingComing in #28th in the Kantar BrandZ Most Valuable South African Brands 2021 with a brand value of $314m, Netcare stood out for delivering superior experience across all branded touchpoints. Globally , its retail and airline categories where brands excel in delivering a great experience, increasingly from online shopping environments. Even more so in South Africa, Kantar BrandZ data shows strong brands need to both meet the expectations of new customers and continually deliver a superior experience to existing ones, as the memories laid down by these experiences are the foundation of brand equity.Sonja Winter: group head of marketing and person-centred engagement, Netcare, explains: Traditionally, healthcare organisations have been very transactional and focused on managing the episode-of-care only, excluding key components of the patients journey and experience of what happens before an event, as well as after. Instead, Netcare has found a winning strategy of compassion, expertise, and technology to support every patient with the best and safest care, while also attending to their wellness and well-being.As such, Netcares patients are considered partners, encouraged to actively participate in managing their own health and care needs. Their brand strategy is therefore premised on person-centred health care that is digitally enabled and data-driven, recognising every patients journey as unique.Winter explains that the introduction of electronic medical records (EMRs) across all Netcares service platforms is the backbone of this approach, enabling doctors to remotely access patient charts and test results, improve collaboration across disciplines and operations, enabling quicker and more informed decision-making to optimise treatment. But their customer engagement platform (CEP) is whats truly revolutionising how the brand engages with patients. It gives them seamless access to their Netcare electronic health records through multiple digital channels, allowing for the delivery of an exceptional, intuitive, and personalised experience.Thats crucial because more than ever before, businesses need to connect the brand and experience to build real relationships. While traditionally, marketers kept control of a brands image and identity through sales and advertising, the move from one-way brand communication to two-way dialogue has opened an opportunity for brands to create stronger emotional connections and relationships with customers than ever before. But this also means that brands must work harder to understand and meet the needs of their customers. And as digital channels play an increasingly dominant role, brands that create a seamless experience can increase emotional engagement and make it much harder for consumers to switch brands.By building a brand that is seamlessly connected, consistently expressed, easily recognised, and powerfully communicated, we can more effectively deliver on our objectives. We recognise that healthcare brands have the capacity to play a uniquely powerful role in peoples lives, in the communities we serve and the society we live in. As a result, creating deliberate social, economic, and environmental value has been a priority for Netcare for many years. Patients are becoming increasingly discriminating, and healthcare companies need to distinguish themselves by providing exceptional experiences. Our values and our strategy make care for people and society intrinsic to all our decisions and actions. This is how we create value for our stakeholders and for the society of which we are an integral part.Its a strategy thats clearly paying off for Netcare, especially with the acceleration of technology and digitisation having changed the way they do business. Our electronic prescription system has established the new industry standard for e-scripting, and our world-class, integrated and fully mobile patient care system CareOn includes full digital integration of data from patient observations, medical equipment in wards and theatres, and laboratories.Our cloud-based data analytics platform harnesses the full potential of machine learning, AI, predictive analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to unify data from across the Group in real time. By integrating patient data digitally across the Netcare ecosystem, healthcare practitioners will have a comprehensive, holistic view of their patients history and context on a mobile platform, whether they are on-site or accessing the information remotely, explains Winter. Learn more from South Africas most valuable brands, with a focus on how to build strong brands and engineer for growth in 2022 and beyond. Also reflect on SAs most valuable brands from 2018 to date and what the top brands have been up to in the last year. Download our comprehensive guide to brand equity and growth.Kantar BrandZ is the global currency when assessing brand value, quantifying the contribution of brands to business financial performance. Kantars annual global and local brand valuation rankings combine rigorously analysed financial data, with extensive brand equity research. Since 1998, BrandZ has shared brand-building insights with business leaders based on interviews with 4 million consumers, for 18,000 brands in 51 markets, including opinions from 31,335 South African consumers on 660 brands in 47 categories.The ability of any brand to power business growth relies on how it is perceived by customers. Grounded in consumer opinion, Kantar BrandZ analysis enables businesses to identify their brands strength in the market and provides clear strategic guidance on how to boost value for the long-term. The eligibility criteria are: Shorn Khumalo is a creative guru who has worked with some of the biggest brands in the country. He is the brains behind The Client Media, a strategic brand development boutique specialising in PR & Marketing and is changing the narrative on Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Shorn Khumalo, founder of The Client Media Can you tell us about The Client Media? When, how and why did you get started? What is the core function of The Client Media? What services do you provide? Could you name some of your clients? What are some of the obstacles you've had to face since you started? Have you received any funding to get The Client Media up and running? If so, what was the process like? What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs? Build a great support structure around you and take it one day at a time. Where would you like to see The Client Media in the next five years? We find out from the CPUT graduate, who is one of the growing numbers of publicists who are promoting "Kasi" based businesses.The Client Media is a full-service strategic brand development agency in the business of amplifying brand stories. We specialise in PR & marketing, concept development, content curation, event marketing and we have a TV production unit.I love telling this story - projects chose me. They found me in the role of PR & events coordinator for a private education institution. Bored and wondering whats next, I received a phone call looking for someone who could take the Free State Fashion Fashion Week (FSFW) to the next level. Long story short, in our short engagement with the team at FSFW, I received a flight ticket, accommodation and a car rental within the same week. I had such a wonderful time that weekend that I knew it was time to leave my job. I havent looked back since.Were in the business of amplifying brand stories. Our responsibility is to communicate and carry out the brand message to consumers.We provide the following: Brand development and brand management; Content planning and writing; Events marketing; Media Relations Management; Influencer Marketing and promotions; Social Media Management; Crisis Management and TV Production.Some of our clients include: The Spade Boutique Hotel & Spa - the first 4 star boutique hotel in a township in South Africa; The Milk Restaurant & Champagne Bar in Khayelitsha; Taste the Culture Lifestyle Festival;on SABC 2;on SABC 3; Free State Fashion Week and Clinimed.In the beginning, we struggled with invoicing and receiving payments on time. It would be so dreadful having to collect payments from clients youre trying to maintain a relationship with. We also struggled with clients expecting over the top executions with a limited budget.Generally, you will struggle to get through to media houses when youre new and unknown unless you have really great content and you have done your research. This is one aspect I quickly grasped.Uh! Covid-19 has really hit us hard. It feels like we had moved five steps ahead and 10 steps back. We lost a number of clients. Our client list consists of small-medium businesses so you can almost imagine the knock effect Covid-19 has had on us. We are slowly recovering and I am happy to have received calls from our clients initiating a continuation.No, the business is self-funded. When I started I wanted to gradually grow. Im moving at my own pace and Im committed to learning in the process. Its less pressure to the added pressure of running a business and Im glad I chose this path.Start somewhere and start with where you are. You dont have to follow others' paths. Find your rhythm, find what works for you.Remember, your key responsibility is to offer your clients solutions and great service, so continue to work on this and make it the core of the business.Expanding and offering services to big corporate companies. I believe were capable and our work speaks for itself. For a small PR & Marketing agency, theres nothing small about what we can do.For more, go to https://theclientpr.co.za/ The officials are expected to remain at a hotel just over the border with Poland, though they could return to Ukraine as soon as Tuesday if the State Department determines that the security situation has stabilized. MORE DETAILS: All State Dept personnel are out of Ukraine now, relocated to a hotel in Poland, Im told. The US alerted high-ranking Ukrainian officials beforehand. They also notified other allies, but unclear if those embassies electing to follow suit. Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) February 22, 2022 Secretary of State Anthony Blinken confirmed, saying that "for security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland. Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services. Sec Blinken: For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland. Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services. pic.twitter.com/M3rccOuhiB Kylie Atwood (@kylieatwood) February 22, 2022 The move "of the small contingent of American diplomats still in Ukraine" comes one week after Washington relocated its embassy operations to Lviv from Kiev, citing a dramatic acceleration in the buildup of Russian forces near Ukraines borders. President Joe Bidens administration has now ordered all remaining State Department employees in Ukraine to leave the country altogether, Bloomberg reporter Jennifer Jacobs said on Monday, citing unidentified sources. Embassy staffers may return to Ukraine tomorrow if the Russian invasion doesnt happen, Im told, Jacobs added. US officials earlier this month urged American citizens in Ukraine to leave the country, saying they would be allowed to cross into Poland by land without advanced approval from Warsaw. Embassy and consular activities will continue from Poland and the move is not intended to signal any shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, according to two of the U.S. officials. The U.S. alerted high-ranking officials in Ukraine before pulling out its embassy staff, and consulted with allies who also operate diplomatic facilities in the country, according to Bloomberg. Last weeks embassy evacuation from Kiev reportedly included destruction of the facilitys computer systems and communications gear for fear that the equipment could fall into the hands of Russian forces. Lviv is in western Ukraine, further away than Kiev from the countrys borders with Russia and Belarus. Several other countries have moved their embassies and issued travel alerts warning their citizens not to travel to Ukraine, following U.S. assessments that Russia could be planning to invade imminently. There is hope that the move will compel Americans who remain in the country to get out as quickly as possible, one of the officials said. The move underscores concern that Russian military operations in Ukraine may not discriminate between military and civilian targets Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy in Ukraine has told its citizens and Chinese companies to be careful of safety, it said in a statement on its website, as tensions in Ukraine escalate. The statement says that Chinese should not head to unstable areas, and that they should also stock up on food and water. The embassy noted that Chinese associations should help out Chinese in Ukraine. From Swiss Policy Research a useful summary of this menacing organisation Note too this amazingly brazen part from Wikipedias entry about the man: Capture of democratic structures and institutions Schwab as publisher of the World Economic Forums 2010 Global Redesign report postulates that a globalized world is best managed by a self-selected coalition of multinational corporations, governments (including through the UN system), and select civil society organizations (CSOs). He argues that governments are no longer the overwhelmingly dominant actors on the world stage and that the time has come for a new stakeholder paradigm of international governance. The WEFs vision includes a public-private UN, in which certain specialized agencies would operate under joint state and non-state governance systems. According to the Transnational Institute (TNI), the Forum is hence planning to replace a recognised democratic model with a model where a self-selected group of stakeholders make decisions on behalf of the people. The think tank summarises that we are increasingly entering a world where gatherings such as Davos are a silent global coup detat to capture governance. The WEF and the Pandemic Published: October 6, 2021 How is the Davos World Economic Forum involved in the coronavirus pandemic? The Davos World Economic Forum (WEF) is a premier forum for governments, global corporations and international entrepreneurs. Founded in 1971 by engineer and economist Klaus Schwab, the WEF describes its mission as shaping global, regional and industry agendas and improving the state of the world. According to its website, moral and intellectual integrity is at the heart of everything it does. The WEF has been involved in the coronavirus pandemic in several ways. First, the WEF was, together with the Gates Foundation, a sponsor of the prescient Event 201 coronavirus pandemic simulation exercise, held in New York City on October 18, 2019 the same day as the opening of the Wuhan Military World Games, seen by some as ground zero of the global pandemic. China itself has argued that US military athletes may have brought the virus to Wuhan. Second, the WEF has been a leading proponent of digital biometric identity systems, arguing that they will make societies and industries more efficient, more productive and more secure. In July 2019, the WEF started a project to shape the future of travel with biometric-enabled digital traveler identity management. In addition, the WEF collaborates with the Gates and Rockefeller-funded ID2020 alliance that runs a program to provide digital ID with vaccines. In particular, ID2020 sees the vaccination of children as an entry point for digital identity. Third, WEF founder Klaus Schwab is the author of the book COVID-19: The Great Reset, published in July 2020, which argues that the coronavirus pandemic can and should be used for an economic, societal, geopolitical, environmental and technological reset, including, in particular, advancing global governance, accelerating digital transformation, and tackling climate change. Finally, the WEF has been running, since 1993, a program called Global Leaders of Tomorrow, rebranded, in 2004, as Young Global Leaders. This program aims at identifying, selecting and promoting future global leaders in both business and politics. Indeed, quite a few Young Global Leaders have later managed to become Presidents, Prime Ministers, or CEOs (see below). During the coronavirus pandemic, several WEF global leaders and global shapers (a junior program of the global leaders) have played prominent roles, typically promoting zero-covid strategies, lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine mandates. This may have been in a largely failed attempt to protect public health and the economy, or it may have been in an attempt to advance the global transformation agenda outlined above, or perhaps both. In this regard, some notable Young Leaders include Jeffrey Zients (US White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator since 2021, selected in 2003), Jeremy Howard (founder of influential lobby group masks for all), Leana Wen (zero-covid CNN medical analyst), Eric Feigl-Ding (zero-covid Twitter personality), Gavin Newsom (Governor of California, selected in 2005), Devi Sridhar (British zero-covid professor), Jacinda Ardern (Prime Minister of New Zealand), French President Emanuel Macron (selected one year prior to his election in 2017), Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, German Chancellor Angela Merkel (selected back in 1993), and German Health Minister Jens Spahn. To get a full overview of their members, see Global Leaders for Tomorrow and Young Global Leaders on WikiSpooks (a Wiki focusing on covert power structures) as well as the official Young Global Leaders website. For an overview of some notable members in politics and the media, see below. In conclusion, the Davos World Economic Forum has indeed been involved in the strategic management of the coronavirus pandemic, with a major emphasis on using the pandemic as a catalyst for digital transformation and the global introduction of digital identity systems. Annex: WEF Young Global Leaders An overview of some WEF Young Global Leaders (2005-2021) and Global Leaders for Tomorrow (1993-2003) in politics and the media. Sources: Global Leaders for Tomorrow and Young Global Leaders on WikiSpooks. United States Politics and Policy Jeffrey Zients (White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator since 2021, selected in 2003), Jeremy Howard (co-founder of lobby group masks for all, selected in 2013), California Governor Gavin Newsom (selected in 2005), Peter Buttigieg (selected in 2019, candidate for US President in 2020, US secretary of transportation since 2021), Chelsea Clinton (Clinton Foundation board member), Huma Abedin (Hillary Clinton aide, selected in 2012), Nikki Haley (US ambassador to the UN, 2017-2018), Samantha Power (US ambassador to the UN, 2013-2017, USAID Administrator, since 2021), Ian Bremmer (founder of Eurasia Group), Bill Browder (US-British financier), Jonathan Soros (son of George Soros), Kenneth Roth (director of Human Rights Watch), Paul Krugman (economist, selected in 1995), Lawrence Summers (US Secretary of the Treasury, 1999-2001, selected in 1993), Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza (selected in 2020). Media CNN medical analyst Leana Wen (selected in 2018), CNN chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, Covid Twitter personality Eric Feigl-Ding (a WEF Global Shaper since 2013), Andrew Ross Sorkin (New York Times financial columnist), Thomas Friedman (New York Times columnist, selected in 1995), George Stephanopoulos (ABC News, 1993), Lachlan Murdoch (CEO of Fox Corporation, co-chair of News Corp.). Technology and Social Media Microsoft founder Bill Gates (1993), former Microsoft CEO Steven Ballmer (2000-2014, selected in 1995), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (1998), Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page (2002/2005), former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (2001-2011, selected in 1997), Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales (2007), PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel (2007), eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar (1999), Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (2009), Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (2007). Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand Professor Devi Sridhar (a leading zero covid proponent, selected in 2020/21), former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown (both selected in 1993), BBC World Service journalist Dawood Azami, Mark Leonard (founding director of the George Soros funded European Council on Foreign Relations), Lynn Forester de Rothschild (co-owner of The Economist), Nathaniel Rothschild (son of Lord Rothschild), historian Niall Ferguson (selected in 2005), William Hague (Foreign Secretary, 2010-2014), Charles Allen (CEO of ITV, 2004-2007; Chairman of EMI, 2008-2010). New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (since 2017, selected in 2014), Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (selected in 2001; former managing director of Reuters). Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a WEF participant, but is not a confirmed Young Global Leader. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel (selected in 1993, 12 years before becoming Chancellor), current Health Minister Jens Spahn and former Health Ministers Philipp Roesler and Daniel Bahr, current co-chair of the Green Party and failed Chancellor candidate Annalena Baerbock (selected in 2020), former co-chair of the Green Party Cem Ozdemir (selected in 2002), media mogul and Axel Springer CEO Mathias Doepfner (selected in 2001), talk show host Sandra Maischberger, late Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor Guido Westerwelle (1997), former German President Christian Wulff (selected in 1995, 15 years before becoming President), Reto Francioni (former CEO of Deutsche Boerse), Klaus Regling (selected in 1993; CEO of the European Financial Stability Mechanism since 2012). European Union EU Commission Presidents Jose Manuel Barroso (2004-2014, selected in 1993) and Jean-Claude Juncker (2014-2019, selected in 1995), French President Emanuel Macron (since 2017, selected in 2016), former French President Nicolas Sakozy (2007-2012, selected in 1993), Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (2014-2016, selected in 2012), former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar (1996-2004, selected in 1993), Guy Verhofstadt (Belgian Prime Minister, 1999-2008, selected in 1993), Danish Minister for the Environment Lea Wermelin, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb. Switzerland Natalie Rickli (Director of Health of the Canton of Zurich, selected in 2012), former Presidents of the Swiss National Council Christa Markwalder (selected in 2011) and Pascale Bruderer-Wyss (selected in 2009), NZZ media group CEO Felix R. Graf (selected in 2007), former Swiss Justice Minister Ruth Metzler (selected in 2002), former Swiss television CEO Roger de Weck (2011-2017, selected in 1994), former UBS CEOs Peter Wuffli (selected in 1994) and Marcel Rohner (selected in 2003), former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Tiam (1998). Outright war between Russia and Ukraine appears just inches away, following Russias decision to declare two Russian-backed, self-described governments in Ukrainian territories as independent and approve sending peacekeeping military units into their territory. Following an extraordinary, almost hour-long speech in which he called into question the very concept of a Ukrainian nation, Russian President Vladimir Putin today signed a declaration officially recognizing the self-proclaimed breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. That was followed up by an order from Putin to conduct peacekeeping activities in the two Ukrainian territories, which have been the site of an eight-year long conflict since Russias seizure of Crimea in 2014. What that means in real terms is that, under the guise of a humanitarian crisis in those regions, Russia now has a clear path to send forces over Ukraines border. Russian forces may already be crossing into Ukraine; videos on twitter began circulating soon after, showing what are claimed to be Russian forces moving into the territories. Sending forces into Ukraine would seem to constitute a clear invasion. But in a call with reporters, a senior Biden official, speaking of background, dodged a number of questions directly asking if the White House considers a new invasion underway. While calling the move a clear violation of international law as well as Ukraines sovereignty, the official repeatedly pointed out that Russian forces have at various times since 2014 been inside the Donbas region. Russian troops moving into the Donbas would not itself be a new step, the official said. Even staunchly pro-globalist magazine The Economist is shocked at Justin Trudeaus treatment of Canadian truckers, warning him to stop policing thoughts. The liberal elitist publication responded to Trudeaus brutal crackdown on anti-vaccine mandate demonstrators, which included cops using police horses to trample disabled people. Despite the magazine arguing that Trudeau was right to enforce vaccine mandates it also said that the truckers have every right to express their disagreement. A wise government would listen to them and respond politely, taking their complaints seriously and patiently explaining why covid restrictions, though onerous, are necessary for the time being, the magazine stated. Justin Trudeau has done the opposite. First, he refused to meet them. Then, seizing on the fact that a few of the protesters appear to be bigots, he attempted to put all of them outside the boundaries of reasonable debate by condemning the anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, anti-black racism, homophobia and transphobia that weve seen on display in Ottawa over the past number of days. Canada is not yet a rancorous or bitterly divided society. If Justin Trudeau wants to keep it that way, he should stop trying to police Canadians thoughts https://t.co/a3kRtDWxtm The Economist (@TheEconomist) February 21, 2022 The publication said the treatment of the truckers was consistent with Canadas increasingly draconian approach to free speech, characterized by hate speech laws that criminalize people simply for holding views that the left finds offensive. Canada is not yet a rancorous or bitterly divided society. If Mr Trudeau wants to keep it that way, he should stop trying to police Canadians thoughts, the magazine reported. Observers have compared Trudeaus response to the Freedom Convoy as being similar to how authoritarian regimes like China would deal with anti-government protests. As we highlighted yesterday, Canada is now moving to make parts of its Emergencies Act permanent, including freezing the bank accounts of people who donate to political causes the government disapproves of. Despite the Freedom Convoy protests being brutally dispersed, Trudeau himself gave a speech yesterday insisting, The state of emergency is not over. Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ ALERT! In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch. I need you to sign up for my free newsletter here. Support my sponsor Turbo Force a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown. Get early access, exclusive content and behinds the scenes stuff by following me on Locals. As European Union leaders prepare to sanction Moscow, Bloomberg quoted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as saying the Nord Stream 2 pipeline certification can't happen right now. He explained to reporters that he contacted the Economic Ministry to withdraw a report on the security of supply required for the certification process of pipeline to move forward. Without it, NS2 "cannot go into operation" - he told reporters. In essence as Bloomberg put it, the controversial Russia-to-Germany natural gas pipeline appears to be the first major Russian project to fall victim to Putin's independence declaration for the breakaway Ukraine republics. "That sounds technical, but it's the necessary administrative step so that no certification of the pipeline can happen right now," Scholz said of the move, adding that "without the certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot go into operation." Concerning the first wave of sanctions reportedly now being prepared targeting Russia, Scholz said, "I expect a very strong and focused package." European natural gas jumped 13% today - hours after Russian troops began entering Donetsk and Luhansk. Brent prices nearing $100 a barrel, and German power and coal prices advanced. This all comes as Europe is dealing with one of the worst energy crisis in years. Wow! Germany is killing the new $10bn Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia. That's a huge step after refusing to be drawn on it in public for months. It'll have major consequences for European energy security and suggests the western sanctions against Moscow will be tough. https://t.co/hQknCtBEpG max seddon (@maxseddon) February 22, 2022 The Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline was completed on Sept. 11 and has been ready to supply Europe for months. Even before this week's geopolitical turmoil in Ukraine, Germany's federal network agency, Bundesnetzagentur, halted the pipeline's certification process in mid-November. By December, Bundesnetzagentur President Jochen Homann said, "a decision won't be made in the first half of 2022." The latest developments to halt the certification process suggest Nord Stream 2 pipeline won't supply energy crisis-stricken Europe with natural gas anytime soon. On Christmas Eve, 2018, New York Times writer Andrew Ross Sorkin published, How Banks Unwittingly Finance Mass Shootings. Chronicling the credit card history of the man who killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida Sorkin noted Omar Mateen had not merely spent $26,532 on weapons and ammo in the eight months before the 2016 attack, but had wondered if his doing so had raised red flags: Two days before Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 more at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, he went on Google and typed Credit card unusual spending His web browsing history chronicled his anxiety: Credit card reports all three bureaus, FBI, and Why banks stop your purchases. He neednt have worried. None of the banks, credit-card network operators or payment processors alerted law enforcement officials about the purchases he thought were so suspicious. Sorkins piece ended up being an argument in favor of credit-card companies, payment processors, banks, and others working together to bring about a Minority Report-style panacea in which societys dangerous folk could be cyber-identified and stopped before they commit horrific acts. At one point he quoted George Brauchler, the District Attorney who prosecuted the Century 16 movie shooter in Aurora Colorado, James Holmes: Do I wish someone from law enforcement had been able to go to his door and knock on his door and figure out a way to talk their way into it or to freak him out? he said of Mr. Holmes. Yeah, absolutely. Ive never owned a gun and have been sympathetic to gun control ideas for as long as I can remember. Sorkin, however, was not talking about gun control. He was theorizing a quasi-privatized vision of social control that would bypass laws by merging surveillance capitalism and law enforcement. In a rhetorical trick thats since become common, he described how the failure of companies like Visa to block Mateens purchases made them enablers of carnage. Clearly, someone made the mistake of letting Sorkin see Sam Raimis Spiderman, and Cliff Robertson now whispers from the beyond to him too. If those with power to act dont stop wrongdoing, arent they just shirking their great responsibility? By the way, this same Sorkin once suggested he wouldnt stop at arresting Edward Snowden, but go after the reporter who broke his story, too. I would arrest him and now Id almost arrest Glenn Greenwald, the journalist he wants to help him get to Ecuador, he said, on CNBCs Squawk Box. Its amazing how selective one can be in ones authoritarian leanings. After Goldman, Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein appeared to commit perjury in 2011 when he told the Senate, We didnt bet against our clients, Sorkin rushed an apologia into print saying Mr. Blankfein wasnt lying, failing to remind audiences that his Dealbook blog at the Times was sponsored by Goldman, Sachs. Sorkins Visa piece is suddenly relevant again, after fellow former finance reporter Chrystia Freeland someone Ive known since we were both expat journalists in Russia in the nineties announced last week that her native Canada would be making Sorkins vision a reality. Freeland arouses strong feelings among old Russia hands. Before the Yeltsin era collapsed, she had consistent, remarkable access to gangster-oligarchs like Boris Berezovsky, who appeared in her Financial Times articles described as aw-shucks humans just doing their best to make sure big capital maintained its necessary role in Russias political life. Berezovsky was one of several financiers who came together in a last-ditch attempt to keep the Communists out of the Kremlin was typical Freeland fare in, say, 1998. Then the Yeltsin era collapsed in corrupt ignominy and Freeland immediately wrote a book called Sale of the Century that identified Yeltsins embrace of her former top sources as the original sin of Russian capitalism, a Faustian bargain that crippled Russias chance at true progress. This is Freeland on Yeltsins successor in 2000. Note the Yes, Putin has a reputation for beating the press, but his economic rep is solid! passage at the end: It looks as if we're about to fall in love with Russia all over again Compared to the ailing, drink-addled figure Boris Yeltsin cut in his later years, his successor, Vladimir Putin, in the eyes of many western observers, seems refreshingly direct, decisive and energetic Tony Blair, who has already paid Putin the compliment of a visit to Russia and received the newly installed president in Downing Street in return, has praised him as a strong leader with a reformist vision. Bill Clinton, who recently hot-footed it to Russia, offered the equally sunny appraisal that when we look at Russia today . . . we see an economy that is growing . . . we see a Russia that has just completed a democratic transfer of power for the first time in a thousand years. To be sure, some critics have lamented Putins support for the bloody second war in Chechnya, accused him of eroding freedom of the press and worried aloud that his KGB background and unrepenting loyalty to the honor of that institution could jeopardize Russias fragile democratic institutions. But many of even Putin's fiercest prosecutors seem inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the economy Years later, she is somehow Canadas Finance Minister, and what another friend from our Russia days laughingly describes as the Nurse Ratched of the New World Order. At the end of last week, Minister Freeland explained that in expanding its Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) program, her government was directing Canadian financial institutions to review their relationships with anyone involved in the illegal blockades. She went on to describe the invocation of Canadas Emergencies Act in the dripping-fake tones of someone trying to put a smile on an insurance claim rejection, with even phrases packed with bad news steered upward in the form of cheery hypotheticals. As in, The names of both individuals and entities as well as crypto wallets? Have been shared? By the RCMP with financial institutions? And accounts have been frozen? As she confirmed this monstrous news about freezing bank accounts, Freeland burst into nervous laughter, looking like Tony Perkins sharing a cheery memory with mother: Canadian MP Mark Strahl related how a single mother in his district has had her bank account totally frozen by the Trudeau regime after she completely legally donated $50 to the trucker Freedom Convoy. Briane is a single mom from Chilliwack working a minimum wage job, Strahl tweeted, adding She gave $50 to the convoy when it was 100% legal. She hasnt participated in any other way. Her bank account has now been frozen. The MP further urged This is who Justin Trudeau is actually targeting with his Emergencies Act orders. Briane is a single mom from Chilliwack working a minimum wage job. She gave $50 to the convoy when it was 100% legal. She hasnt participated in any other way. Her bank account has now been frozen. This is who Justin Trudeau is actually targeting with his Emergencies Act orders. Mark Strahl, MP (@markstrahl) February 20, 2022 In a follow up post, Strahl noted that the mother was attacked online by anti-freedom trolls after his initial tweet. I am not going to help you dox her, Strahl asserted, adding I know who she is and I wont stop fighting for her. To those of you, especially the media, demanding more details on Briane, having seen what has been said about her online today and what has been done to other convoy donors in the last weeks I am not going to help you dox her. I know who she is and I wont stop fighting for her. Mark Strahl, MP (@markstrahl) February 21, 2022 This is just one of hundreds if not thousands of cases, however the exact number of accounts that have been frozen is unknown because, despite the demands of MPs, the government will not provide further information. In addition to targeting bank accounts, the mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson has suggested confiscating vehicles from freedom protesters and selling them, thus taking away their livelihoods. This is costing a small fortune for the taxpayers of Ottawa, Watson claimed, adding Thats one of the reasons why under the Emergencies Act, Ive asked our solicitor and our city manager: How can we keep the tow trucks and the campers and the vans and everything else that weve confiscated, and sell those pieces of equipment to help recoup some of the costs that our taxpayers are absorbing? So thats one of the provisions of the Emergencies Act, and we have been a beneficiary of the Emergencies Act. Watch: The tyrannical actions of the Canadian government are now on show for all to see. Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance Pierre Poilievre slammed Trudeaus unjustifiable power grab, and specifically addressed the targeting of those who have donated to the wrong political cause. Poilievre described it as Not just an attack on their finances, but on their personal security. He emphasised If your bank account is frozen, you cant buy food, you cant buy fuel, you cant pay your childrens daycare fees, and you can, under this law, face that personal attack without being charged with a single solitary crime. Poilievre further warned This is time limited, but his own finance minister said she wants some of the tools to be permanent. He said it will be geographically targetted, yet his own parliamentary secretary for justice said the act technically applies to all of Canada, so the rules apply everywhere and indefinitely. Watch: The comments came as Trudeau vowed that emergency measure will remain in place, and the Canadian parliament voted to keep them in force. As we noted yesterday, Canada has moved to make the asset freezing part of its Emergencies Act a permanent fixture. Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ ALERT! In the age of mass Silicon Valley censorship It is crucial that we stay in touch. We need you to sign up for our free newsletter here. Support our sponsor Turbo Force a supercharged boost of clean energy without the comedown. Also, we urgently need your financial support here. Are there specific instances we can find of weather manipulation being used by militaries against their opponents? To begin our discussion, let us first look back to 1946 when the first man-made snowstorm took place. The beginning of weather modification Shortly after the end of World War II, a duo of men set to the skies. One was pilot Curtis Talbot, and with him was Dr. Vincent J. Schaefer. The two men set out to 14,000 feet with just one goal in mind: they were going to make history. Upon reaching their desired altitude, the men proceeded to release three pounds of dry ice into the air. What happened next would leave both of the men dumbfounded. As Dr. Schaefer said of the moment, there were long streamers of snow falling from the base of the cloud through which we had just passed. I shouted to Curt to swing around, and as we did so, we passed through a mass of glistening snow crystals! Needless to say, we were quite excited. The men had just created snow. The ramifications of this were huge, but there was something even more important to consider here: the timing was impeccable as well. Enter The Cold War As things heated up between the Soviet Union and the United States, the world was constantly kept hanging on the brink of a nuclear war. What exactly this would entail was filled (and still is) much speculation, but there was one thing that there was no debate on: the prospect of nuclear annihilation was terrifying. Striving to gain an edge over the Soviet Union, America began a very thorough dive into the possibilities of weather manipulation to defeat the Soviets. It was theorized that the use of weather warfare could result in outcomes even more deadly than that capable by nuclear warheads. As Dr. Irving Langmuir would say of seeding clouds to create rainstorms, The amount of energy liberated, the effect of 30 milligrams of silver iodide under optimum conditions equals that of one atomic bomb. But it wasnt just the creation of rain that was theorized as a potential use of weather warfare. Strategies were crafted to melt the ice caps in certain regions to cause massive flooding, and one Russian scientist even theorized a way to redirect Pacific Ocean waters so that the ambient temperature in New York could be increased. But it wasnt until the Vietnam War that weather warfare would see its debut. I love the smell of rain in the morning. Throughout the Vietnam War, American men found themselves fighting against a fierce and determined enemy that seemed invisible. The dense jungles made it so that the 12-gauge shotgun was often a preferred primary weapon, and men rarely got the chance to see just where the incoming rounds were coming from. The war was getting messy, and things werent getting any better with the anti-war/peace movement back home on American soil. Vietnam had quickly grown to become the most unpopular war in American history, and it needed to be ended as quickly as possible. A soldier operates on a full stomach, though, and no modern army can fight without ammunition. If the supply lines could be cut off for the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), then perhaps the Vietnam War could be brought to a hasty close. The bulk of NVA materiel seemed to be coming in from the Ho Chi Minh Trail. If that could be cut off, victory would quickly follow. Rain creates mud, and mud makes it difficult for wheeled vehicles to maneuver. If excessive rain could be created in the area, any hopes of transporting ammunition and food through the area could potentially be stopped almost completely. And so, American planes began flying over the area, seeding the clouds with silver iodide with the hopes of creating torrential downpours. Roughly three million dollars were spent on these efforts, with the end result allegedly being an additional 1-7 of rain/year. However, this is a debated number as, also allegedly, no data was ever collected on how effective the program was. Regardless of whether or not the program worked, though, the fact remained: this was the first military use of weather modification in history. (For information on how to starve the beast, make sure to check out our free QUICKSTART Guide.) This possibility proved to be too terrifying. Public outcry against the use of weather warfare was so prevalent that shortly after the Vietnam War was over, the US signed the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques in 1977 in Geneva. A host of nations ended up signing the treaty (with the glaring omission of China), and the idea of weather warfare being the modus operandi of the future quickly drew to a close. But there were a few flaws. For starters, the treaty only banned the use of weather modification techniques being developed for military or hostile purposes. If a country was researching how to modify the weather to cause rain in their own nation so that they didnt have a famine, they would technically be abiding by this treaty. Also, temporary weather modification was permitted by the signed treaty. Provided one wasnt engaging in geoengineering that would permanently transform the earth, one was given the green light to proceed with their research. Then came 1998. It was during this year that Unrestricted Warfare was published by two colonels. Within the text, the authors acknowledge that weather modification is a valid means of engaging an enemy during a time of war. As the authors state, It cannot be denied that man-made earthquakes, tsunamis, weather disasters, or subsonic wave and new biological and chemical weapons all constitute new concept weapons Yes, you read that right. Man-made earthquakes. This truly isnt that novel of a concept, however. The first man-made earthquake was created by the physics mastermind Nikola Tesla. In 1897, ambulances and police were actually called to Teslas laboratory after he managed to successfully cause his entire building to sway enough that people actually thought an earthquake was happening. And Tesla accomplished this with a machine that easily fit into his pocket. Tesla would later go on to admit that the fear of an earthquake at a nearby construction site was actually his testing out his new piece of machine after he hooked it up to an unfinished steel structure. He would later state that given ten more minutes, he would have brought the entire building to the ground. The notion of weather warfare, or ecological warfare, as the authors of Unrestricted Warfare prefer to call it, has been thoroughly hashed out. Ideas for influencing the natural height of rivers, ice sheets, ice caps, and more have all been discussed. But why not darken the sun? Perhaps the most recent talk weve seen on weather modification (and well leave this to the readers discretion if this is warfare capability or not) is Bill Gates funding of the darkening of the sun. In 2021, it was revealed that a group of scientists from Harvard University was working on a project called the Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx) a literal plan to darken the sun. The plan revolves around the idea of spraying calcium carbonate into the sky. The hopes are that this will reflect sunlight back into space, helping to alleviate climate change. This, despite it being admitted that it is true that no one knows what will happen until the calcium carbonate is released and then studied afterward. As of 2022, this plan to darken the sun is still in play, with the technical name being given to this technology being solar radiation modification (SRM). Though the stated goal is to battle climate change, researchers across the globe have pointed out that any attempt at SRM carries the very real threat of causing a lack of rain in particular parts of the world. Though not being developed with the stated goal of any military or hostile use, SRM possesses the very convenient characteristics of not only being permanent (as far as we know) but of being able to cause widespread famines as well. Can famine in an enemy nation benefit the opposing force during a time of war? What does the future hold? What weapon has ever been created that has not been used? Where will this lead? Only time will tell. Todays wars will affect the price of gasoline in pipelines, the price of food in supermarkets, and the price of securities on the stock exchange. They will also disrupt the ecological balance and push their way into every one of our homes by way of the television screen. Alvin Toffler. About Larry Lewis A fan of Sam Adams and Palmetto State Armory, Larry reads when he wants to and writes when he can. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Unlimited website access 24/7 Unlimited e-Edition access 24/7 The best local, regional and national news in sports, politics, business and more! With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. New youth take-home kits launched by Aboriginal Healing and Wellness aim to promote caring and compassion along with positive Indigenous identity. Advertisement Advertise With Us New youth take-home kits launched by Aboriginal Healing and Wellness aim to promote caring and compassion along with positive Indigenous identity. The Indigenous Teachings 2022 Self-Expression activity kits were created for youth between the ages of nine and 17, said organizer Lacey Roulette of Aboriginal Healing and Wellness. The kits are available from Feb. 22 to March 4 while supplies last. SUBMITTED Indigenous Teachings Self-Expression activity kits. The kits feature self-expression exercises for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth that can be used to engage in healthy coping tools, Indigenous identity and connecting to culture. "I find that highlighting the value in being Indigenous and practising ceremony and saying out loud that you are Indigenous and you identify as First Nation, Metis or Inuit, it promotes that healthy sense of self," Roulette said. Activities hosted by Aboriginal Health and Wellness are designed to inspire young people to learn about Indigenous cultures and knowledge. Roulette said each time an event is held, youth depart with teachings that will benefit them in the long run. The project was set in motion after seeing the cancellation or postponement of events and group gatherings that were meant to celebrate Indigenous youth. Roulette said during the pandemic, the team was forced to find new and alternative ways to honour and connect with young people in the community. "The initial idea was self-care kits, but because of our backgrounds with the Indigenous Teachings Planning Committee, we really wanted to promote that positive Indigenous identity and healthy coping through connection to culture." During the pandemic, they have been unable to host paint nights, powwow demonstrations, cultural displays, round dances and other activities where they can gather. "Because of COVID, weve thought of other means to deliver a positive message for youth, and self-care kits seem to always be a good thing for community members," Roulette said. "They always respond very well." They have seen plenty of interest from the community, with 40 kits requested in less than two days. The kits include a medicine wheel activity that teaches youth about the symbol as a self-care tool and gives them the opportunity to create their own medicine wheels. Roulette said the activity helps young people understand how to care for their physical, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being. Two compassion flower exercises are also included with the kits. Initially, the idea was to promote compassion for self and others, and the flowers focus on how youth can practise self-love and how to share compassion with other people. The kits also include art supplies such as a sketchbook, pencils and erasers, Roulette said. The hope is to help youth see the arts as a healthy coping mechanism that allows them to release and share their feelings. Roulette has been hosting Indigenous Teachings since 2014. She said the overall goal is to promote Indigenous identity and enhance participants connections and strength to culture. Aboriginal Healing and Wellness is focused on mental health counselling. The team deals with mental health concerns and promotions connected with Indigenous well-being. These experiences have helped them recognize the negative views and connections with stereotypes of Indigenous identity some youth may carry. "Rather than solely focusing on that and being reminded of that, we want to flip it over and show the value in being Indigenous," Roulette said. The Indigenous Teachings event falls under the Suicide Prevention Implementation Network. The network provided funding for the kits to promote education on suicide prevention. The teachings shared by Aboriginal Healing and Wellness use culture and identity to foster suicide prevention strategies unique to Indigenous youth. The team strives to unpack the experience of Indigenity in youths construction of their identity and place in the community, especially in terms of promoting positivity. "When you have a positive outlook of yourself, that adds to positive growth and healthy self-esteem," Roulette said. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Blizzard conditions are believed to be a factor in a fatal vehicle collision that left two men dead this weekend. Advertisement Advertise With Us Blizzard conditions are believed to be a factor in a fatal vehicle collision that left two men dead this weekend. On Friday at 10:30 a.m., Yellowhead RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 16 west of Newdale in the RM of Yellowhead. An RCMP press release reported the initial investigation has determined that a pickup truck travelling west on Highway 16 crossed into the eastbound lane and collided with an eastbound semi-trailer. The two occupants of the pickup were a man, 45, from Tofield, Alta., and a man, 60, from Elora, Ont., who were both pronounced deceased at the scene. The man driving the semi-trailer, from Melfort, Sask., received minor physical injuries and was treated on scene. The vehicles involved in the collision both caught fire, becoming fully engulfed in flames. The fire department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. Yellowhead RCMP, along with an RCMP forensic collision reconstructionist, continue to investigate. Other police briefs for Feb. 22: Hilton man reported missing RCMP are searching for a man reported missing from Hilton. On Friday, Killarney RCMP received reports that Adam Graham, 38, was missing at about 10:15 a.m. Graham was last seen in Swift Current, Sask., Thursday. He is believed to be headed to British Columbia to visit relatives, but he had not been seen or heard from since his stop in Saskatchewan. Graham is driving a grey 2011 GMC S125 pickup truck with Manitoba licence plate GJJ 779. He is described as Caucasian, five feet six inches, 159 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He may have a beard. If you have information, call Killarney RCMP at 204-523-4820, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477, or visit the secure tip online at manitobacrimestoppers.com. Man dies in snowmobile accident A man from Winnipeg died after a snowmobile accident in southern Manitoba on the weekend. Killarney RCMP responded via snowmobile to reports of a collision in the Lake Metigoshe area of Turtle Mountain Provincial Park on Sunday. An RCMP press release reported an investigation determined a group of four adult snowmobilers were riding on groomed trails when the lead rider drifted off the trail. It is believed one of the skis was pulled in the loose snow, and the rider hit a tree head-on. The man, 62, was pronounced deceased on scene. RCMP is reporting alcohol was not a factor in the collision, and the rider was wearing safety equipment. The investigation is ongoing. Drugs found during vehicle stop Brandon police conducted a vehicle stop in the 3600 block of Richmond Avenue at 5:20 a.m. Monday. During the investigation, officers located a small amount of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl. One of the occupants was a 41-year-old man from rural Manitoba who acknowledged possession of the drugs. He was released to appear in court in May and faces three counts of possession of the listed drugs. Breach of undertaking At 3:05 p.m. Friday, Brandon Police Service officers responded to a residence in the west end for a reported disturbance within the home. There were several people in the home that appeared to have been involved in a physical altercation, but nobody provided officers with information. A 27-year-old man Brandon man was on scene with numerous conditions to have no contact or communication with a woman who was also present. The man was taken into custody to appear before a judge facing eight counts of failure to comply with an undertaking. The Brandon Sun The Southern Chiefs Organization has launched its new Mobile Crisis Response Team, a project designed to support First Nations experiencing crises in their communities. Advertisement Advertise With Us The Southern Chiefs Organization has launched its new Mobile Crisis Response Team, a project designed to support First Nations experiencing crises in their communities. "This is a 24-hour support system Its 24-7 prevention, crisis response and continuation of care," said Southern Chiefs Organization (SCO) Grand Chief Jerry Daniels. "Weve got a very knowledgeable team with hundreds of years combined experience in the mental health field." The Mobile Crisis Response Team includes qualified staff who are trained in trauma-informed practices and can offer crisis response, intervention and care co-ordination services to ensure a care plan is in place when southern First Nations are in need. The 24-hour support team also includes elders and knowledge keepers to ensure cultural resources are available. The team will work within the model of the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum, a national First Nation-developed framework designed to holistically support mental wellness and identify ways to enhance co-ordination among various systems and supports to ensure the culturally-safe delivery of services. "I think our First Nation communities have been in a state of crisis for a very long time as a result of decades of poverty," Daniels said. First Nations have seen a high number of suicides over the years a result of an ongoing mental health and poverty crisis, he said. Daniels added the feelings of hopelessness and depression many people experience have been magnified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several factors led chiefs to call on SCO to provide a resource that could support communities experiencing trauma and crises. The organization had a mandate to create a crisis team before the start of the pandemic. Daniels noted Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Inc. had established a mobile crisis team, and the SCO was looking to bring the same opportunities to First Nations in southern Manitoba. "Theres an Indigenous psychology here that has been lacking for many, many years the psychology that comes from the stories of our ancestors," Daniels said. It gives guidance on how to frame and understand Indigenous identity. "The Indigenous identity has been framed by the western world and the western value system which hasnt really helped much with individuals who are experiencing crisis situations and feel devalued by society." Indigenous populations experience high incarceration rates, police violence and other systemic issues, Daniels said, and there is a need to refocus on the positive experiences by remembering, honouring and celebrating the integrity of Indigenous culture and identity. The Mobile Crisis Response Team includes about 10 staff who will produce a series of supports and resources including crisis intervention, psychological assessments, consultations and support, mental health education, coping strategies, preventive techniques and consulting on grief and loss. They will also serve as liaisons to refer those using their services to different community or regional resources and supports available. "Its a lot of that real groundwork that helps people deal with the crisis that they are experiencing." A critical aspect of the team is that it includes people with lived experience who will be able to relate to those seeking help. Daniels said staff can better connect and speak with people on an emotional and spiritual level because they have shared experiences and can pass on the coping mechanisms they have learned and practised in times of crisis. "That gives them some relief, some reprise to those who are suffering in the moment," Daniels said. "Its having someone to lean on who understands, because many times people feel isolated like no one understands them. Thats a big part of hopelessness, a big part of the depression that people experience." The team will look at the number of intakes and followups that take place to better understand the impact it is having in communities. This data will provide a sense of what people are experiencing and where they are experiencing improved wellness. "Its a case-by-case basis for us. Absolutely, we use our traditional methods for measuring success, but we also use some of the western techniques in that we want to use best practices," Daniels said. "Thats really been the traditional approach of Indigenous peoples. Many people need to understand that Indigenous traditions and medicines are based on a science-lived experience its learned fact." The newly formed Mobile Crisis Response Team will first be deployed to the area where it can have the biggest impact based on those who need the most support. They have been looking at where resources can be targeted, but also aiding in the development of resources in communities, especially big communities that experience large-scale crises and trauma daily or weekly. "We can try to meet the challenge and be there to support it," Daniels said. "Thats a big part of what the team does." ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Sixty-six per cent of Canadians fear for the future of the country after witnessing political unrest for the past three weeks, according to recent polls released by Maru Public Opinion. Advertisement Advertise With Us Sixty-six per cent of Canadians fear for the future of the country after witnessing political unrest for the past three weeks, according to recent polls released by Maru Public Opinion. Additionally, 82 per cent of Canadians say there is no way the protesting in Ottawa should have been able to last as long as it has. The numbers released by Maru "speak for themselves," said Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders, in showing the protesters represent a minority in the country. The Emergencies Act was not an overreaction given the growing unrest in the country, she said, explaining it gives the government the power to take immediate action against the protesters that have been holding Ottawa and international borders hostage. She described the act as the only possible step that can provide the tools needed to increase police forces in downtown Ottawa, keep borders open and fundamentally seize the bank accounts and cut off the financial resources being pumped into the anti-government groups. "We see immediate action now in Ottawa where they are stopping the protests and trying to bring an end to it," Saunders said. "Its illogical because in some cases, these protests are getting bigger just as provinces are starting to walk back from all of the restrictions." The Maru Public Opinion surveys "The Emergencies Act" and "Shaken to the Core" each included 1,518 participants from across the country. The polls found a majority of people, 62 per cent, have lost faith in the ability of the country to keep peace and order, while 52 per cent believe the country is broken beyond repair. "Theres no common ground for civil discourse in any of this," Saunders said. The surveys showed 67 per cent of participants believed it was time to clear out the Ottawa protesters, even if it meant the people who will not leave may get hurt or worse. The country has been following due process, democratic traditions and democratic structures, Saunders said, but these essential processes are being called into question and threatened by the convoys some segments have even said they want to overthrow the government. Police moved in on protesters in downtown Ottawa over the weekend, making more than 200 arrests. "Were starting to see it [law enforcement] now in Ottawa, but weve not seen it in a lot of ways in these various scenarios, and I think that a lot of Canadians are frustrated with their political leaders, police chiefs and all levels of government . Theres an overall dissatisfaction with that." The hesitation from public and political leaders to act has been astounding, and this sentiment is being reflected by a majority Canadians, she noted. The Maru survey found 53 per cent of the participants had lost faith in the enforcement of law in the country, and 69 per cent believe the consequences protesters will receive are proportionately far less than any other law-abiding Canadian would get if they were involved with an infraction with the law. "The fact that police forces had ample time to come with a plan on how they were going to respond to this and then not doing anything for weeks is, I think, the big question a lot of Canadians are asking," Saunders said. While it is healthy for citizens to think critically and hold politicians to account when they are discontent, Saunders said, what makes the "freedom" protests different is the anti-intellectual push and the minority of participants talking about overthrowing a democratically elected government to install themselves in positions of authority. There are visible parallels with the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection on Capitol Hill in the United States. "Were actually seeing the framework of our own democracy being challenged in a way I havent seen before in such an overt way." The future of Canada will depend on how the country navigates the aftermath of the ongoing protests. The events have been a "wake-up call" that these underlying elements have been present and politicians who have traditionally been risk-averse will need to say what views are right and wrong in society. "This has been building for some time, and so Im hoping this is a wake-up call to everybody that we need to shut down racism when it appears. There are no good views on both sides racism is wrong, period," Saunders said. "They should listen to the politicians and the political leaders that are taking a stand on this and go home and stop holding Canadians hostage with their antics I see it as not as a protest at this point, but now an occupation." A so-called freedom convoy rolled through Brandon Saturday morning. The Sun attended the convoys stop at the COVID-19 testing site at the Manitoba Emergency Services College parking lot. The protesters declined all requests for interviews. The Sun posted on Facebook Saturday asking for comments from community members about the protesters in Ottawa and received more than 200 comments. Some commenters said the invocation of the Emergencies Act was a step too far when it came to dealing with the protests. Others said the government has taken away Canadians rights to peaceful assembly by invoking the act. "I stand with the convoy. Time for mandates to be over," one person said. "They are protesting peacefully and their right to do that should be upheld regardless of what their cause is," another person commented. Meanwhile, some respondents questioned why action was not taken sooner. "Had Ottawa Police not let them get entrenched at the beginning, we wouldnt be where we are now. Its long past time for the protesters to vacate; when streets are blocked, businesses are closed and residents are tormented, a protest can no longer be considered peaceful." A former Brandonite living in Ottawa for the past 13 years said several protests occur each week in the capital; however, the convoy marks the first time the protesters remained on-site following the initial rally. "This was not a protest, but an occupation an important distinction. They came in, fortified themselves with vehicles, and set up camps. While there were certainly a few people involved who meant well, a substantial number were here to take advantage of the relative lawlessness, at the expense of downtown residents and businesses these past few weeks. These werent protestors, just criminals in the end." ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Wanderlust is taking hold of many in Brandon and the Westman region, and it has been a painful two years for the tourism industry, so the sudden influx of people vying to book a vacation is a boon for travel agencies. Advertisement Advertise With Us Wanderlust is taking hold of many in Brandon and the Westman region, and it has been a painful two years for the tourism industry, so the sudden influx of people vying to book a vacation is a boon for travel agencies. "This has been two years in the making, and we couldnt be happier," said Cassandra Jamieson, owner of McPhail Travel. "The last couple of weeks have been very busy for us with people booking vacations both in the near future to sunny destinations and later in the year to other locations." She said most of their clients are telling them they are tired of being stuck at home during the pandemic. So far, the most popular sun destination has been Mexico due to the ease of entering the country, she added. However, more people are booking further into the year to other destinations, such as Europe and the U.K., for river cruises and land-based tours. Its the same story at Vision Travel. There are still some who want to travel, but are holding back for a while in case more restrictions are implemented, said office supervisor Patricia Morin. But on the other end of the spectrum, people are booking get-aways no matter what. "Its been a roller-coaster," she said. "Theres definitely been an uptick in at least inquiries." While the increase in bookings is welcome, Morin said for the situation to change drastically, federal restrictions have to be lifted. Last week, the feds announced it will drop its pre-arrival COVID-19 PCR test requirements for fully vaccinated travellers at the end of February. "Its still positive. Reducing the PCR testing has definitely helped," she said. "There is still a testing requirement, and travellers may get confused over that. Some people will just read a tagline about no testing required without clicking on the whole story. Some will get caught by that." To make travel as hassle-free as possible, all travellers should keep up to date with current restrictions and entry requirements both in Canada and their destination, she said. A desire to see his newborn nephew reunite with a former Wheat King billet, who now lives in Las Vegas, led James Montgomery to pack his car and dog and head south of the border for a 12-day road trip in January. It was the best trip of his life, he said, and it was also the first time in two years he was able to get away for a vacation outside of Canada. "Im not a big flyer, I prefer to drive for my holidays," he said. "It was really nice to get away to the States. I hadnt done much travelling beyond a little into Ontario and Alberta." As manager of the Riverbank Discovery Centre and a great supporter of local tourism, he said getting away is good for mental health. He has done a lot of travelling in his life, but this time felt different because after nearly two years in a pandemic, he could feel cabin fever setting in. "I just wanted to get in the car, go where I wanted to get to every day and not be told what I can and cant do constantly," he said. Crossing the border wasnt difficult, he said. American border guards checked his and his dogs vaccinations, asked a few questions about the nature of his trip and sent him on his way. His wife joined him after driving into Minot, N.D., then flew to Las Vegas to watch their former billet play a game in that city. His first stop was in Yellowstone National Park to meet his five-month-old nephew. He spent the night with his brother and sister-in-law, then drove straight south to Las Vegas. "One thing a lot of people dont know is Yellowstone is about halfway between Vegas and Brandon," he said. His next stop was Phoenix to see his father, brother and cousin, who were also on vacation. Along the way, he stopped at several sites, including the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon. Then they drove back to Yellowstone. The couple also had their COVID-19 tests done in Las Vegas, which Montgomery said was free. The National Guard set up a testing facility in an abandoned casino. For Brian Sterling, the sun and sand of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, was reason enough to fly south for a warm vacation. He and his wife were planning to go to Cozumel, Mexico, but put it off when COVID cases were surging. After a consulting job he was waiting on didnt pan out, case numbers were dropping, so he believed it was a good time to go. "Restrictions here are pretty much the same as in Canada," he said on the phone from Mexico. "Masks are expected indoors, but we arent inside much. Most of our time is spent by the pool and on the beach." Since tourism has taken such a hit, there are a few more vacancies than normal. Stirling and several friends were able to rent a condo for themselves and stay together. "Its been really great here. They are excited to get tourists back, people have been wonderful and the food has been awesome." kmckinley@brandonsun.com Twitter: @karenleighmck1 Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lourd upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York; And all the clouds that lourd upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; Our bruised arms hung up for monuments; Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures." William Shakespeares "Richard III," Act I, Scene I The opening line of one of Shakespeares most famous historical tragedies suggested that the protagonist, young Richard, Duke of Gloucester, had reached the depth of his unhappiness and that better days laid ahead. To borrow and butcher Richards soliloquy, Canadians of all stripes have yet to reach the winter of our own discontent, even though the snow continues to fly in this cold and hostile month of February. As Canadians, we now find ourselves a nation divided perhaps more so than we want to believe. No matter what side of the divide you may find yourself on, chances are that you feel it, too. Friendships and family ties have been ruptured over the last two years as we have been forced to grope through the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and general morale of the nation are at an all-time low, made worse by government decisions and restrictions that however well-meant and science-based they may be have had the effect of further breaking down the Canadian veneer of civility in our society. That breakdown has culminated in a crisis moment for our country, one that is testing our democratic ideals and national unity alike. We are ruled by divisive leaders who either vilify ordinary Canadians for political advantage during a time of national distress, or who seek to foment hatred and zealotry by supporting lawless behaviour and sharing or creating misinformation among the public, again for political advantage. For Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to decry the "small fringe minority" of Canadians protesting in Ottawa who hold "unacceptable views" represents a failure of thoughtful leadership, and an inability to understand that he must lead for all Canadians, not just those who agree with him. The "sunny ways" line used by Trudeau to bend the fortunes of the 2015 federal election seems gloriously laughable as Canadian society stares into the maw of insurrection dressed up as a freedom protest. Or rather, a freedom protest that was seized upon by those who sought to topple an elected government by exploiting the righteous anger of those fed up with pandemic politics. So, too, the actions of far too many members of the Conservative Party of Canada and their colleagues in conservative provincial governments across this country in actively supporting the demands of that mob. Interim Conservative Leader Candice Bergen, along with party leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, have shown they should not be entrusted with government power. As I write this, members of the House of Commons continued to debate on the Emergencies Act, a statute that allows the federal government to enact "special temporary measures to ensure safety and security during national emergencies." According to the Maru Public Opinion poll reported last week, two-thirds of Canadians supported Trudeaus decision to invoke the Emergencies Act, with six in 10 Canadians stating that it was time to clear out the protesters in Ottawa, even if it meant people got hurt or worse. If thats not a breakdown in Canadian civility, I dont know what is. It must be said that no one involved in the drama which has unfolded over the last three weeks in Ottawa and at various border crossings and provincial legislatures in our country has been left untarnished by these events. And that includes those ordinary Canadians with "Fk Trudeau" signs in hand who knowingly or unknowingly stood up alongside representatives of far-right anarchist and white supremacist groups, both of which have seen their numbers grow in the last decade. Worse still, those who thought it helpful to bring their own children to the frontlines of the occupations in Ottawa, Windsor, Ont., and other protest locations, actively put their offspring in harms way. There is no good excuse for anyone to knowingly bring a child to what could potentially be a dangerous situation, whether it be the so-called Freedom Convoy or any other divisive political protest. Nevertheless, while the trucks and protesters may have been cleared out from the streets of Ottawa, it would be naive to assume this is the end of it. Whether or not the House of Commons and the Canadian Senate support the Emergencies Act legislation, Canadians still find themselves more mistrustful of their family, friends, neighbours and elected officials. To be clear, no one should be cheering the enactment of the Emergencies Act. To echo Winnipeg Centre NDP MP Leah Gazan, who stood in the House of Commons during that debate, the invocation of this legislation even the need to consider it represents a massive political failure on all levels of government to address the needs and concerns of Canadians. It represents a failure to act by both government and police to use the tools that were already available to them, and it sets a dangerous precedent for future invocation of this legislation by future governments to put down what may be lawful protests. Yet here we are, debating its merits. By the looks of things, Id say were in for a summer of discontent, too. What a tragedy. Matt Goerzen, editor Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living prides itself on breaking down barriers to help individuals with disabilities live independent lives. The agency is supporting proposed legislation that would help those it serves. Branson teacher Nancy Brashers was awarded two mini-grants from the Missouri Farm Bureau in 2021. Pictured left to right: Education and Promotion Chairman of the Taney County Farm Bureau Dan Swearengen, Nancy Brashers, and President of the Taney County Farm Bureau Ben Carpenter. Hamish and Neil Balnaves pictured together in Sydney in 2014. Credit:Brendan Esposito It was in television that Balnaves made his biggest mark, as he was appointed by Hamlyn to head up the local arm of the American animation house Hanna-Barbera. In 1988, he led a management buyout of the company, rebadging it as Southern Star Group. It was, he said in 2010, the best investment of his career. I had a couple of hundred thousand dollars and was going to buy a half-share of a big boat with a friend. But I put that money into buying the business and made 130 times that money. He was, by his own admission, not known for his patience as a boss. More the opposite, he told Good Weekend in 2010. Whatever I wanted, I wanted it now. Thats the nature of that business. Producer John Edwards remembers butting heads with Balnaves on occasion, but recalls him as a courageous leader whose impact on the local industry was enormous. Neil got the best out of executives who didnt necessarily think the same way as he did, Edwards said. He was a forceful character, and people did fall out with Neil, but he basically chose executives very well people like Kim Williams, Patrick Delaney, Hugh Marks and Cathy Payne, who would be the most powerful female executive within the industry in the world. Thats a pretty good legacy. So too is the roll call of shows that Southern Star produced: Blue Heelers, Police Rescue, Water Rats, McLeods Daughters, The Secret Life of Us. Many of those dramas touched the culture everybody knew who Gary Sweet was, who Steve Bastoni was, says Edwards. They took risks and at times survived by the skin of their teeth, but they built a real powerhouse, not only in Australia but also in the UK. In 2004, still suffering the effects of his boating accident, Balnaves sold the company. I couldnt work at the same pace, I couldnt travel without help, he explained. His share of the sale amounted to $29 million. Of that, he put $27 million into the foundation that bore his familys name. I give because Ive been lucky in this country. Ive been fortunate to make more money than I can use, he said, adding, I was scared of having the kids too well off. He was determined to support the things he cared about the arts, medicine because Im interested in the soul of the country. During the COVID crisis, Balnaves authorised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of 11 of the foundations grant recipients. All are basically in need of a lot of help, he said at the time. The money has just stopped. Neil had a vision to create a better Australia through education, medicine and the arts, especially First Nations artists, and was never afraid to stand up for what he believed in, said Kilmurry. He was a champion for the creative community, not just with his philanthropy but his personal passion for the arts. We will miss his generous and fearless spirit. It was to Balnaves that National Gallery of Australia director Nick Mitzevich came looking to upscale the Adelaide Biennial. He was always very interested in working with organisations that provided new opportunities for contemporary artists, and also opportunities for people to learn about art, said Mitzevich. From his own experience working in film and television, he knew that the creative pursuits were so unstable so Neil had this great passion and focus for creating stability for contemporary artists. Like in his business dealings, Balnaves sought to boost the reach of his arts philanthropy, Mitzevich said. He would always say to me, Ill give you 10 cents, its your job to turn it into 20 always doing a deal with you, which always spurred you on. Thankfully he didnt give 10 cents, it was much more. The beauty of his philanthropy was to leverage and do more with the support he gave to make it bigger and better. He was never a passive philanthropist. The Art Gallery of NSW issued a statement on Tuesday saying that Balnaves passion for art and artists came at a time when it was difficult to secure sponsorship for contemporary art exhibitions. Their partnership with the gallery had begun with a series of five sculpture exhibitions over five years beginning in 2003, with Balnaves unique focus, energy and voracious desire to learn adding a crackling vitality to the delivery of the series. The Balnaves Foundation Australian Sculpture Archive was established in 2010 to acquire the archives of major Australian sculptors and to extend research in three-dimensional practice. The impressive roll call of artists that the foundation enabled the art gallery to work with, and connect with our audiences, is a lasting legacy we continue to celebrate, the statement said. National Institute of Dramatic Arts CEO Liz Hughes paid tribute to Balnaves enormous generosity, deep understanding and compassion in growing Australias arts and cultural community for many years. His support for scholarships, mentoring, an Elder in Residence program and paid industry employment was life-changing for those involved and created more vital First Nations storytelling. The Balnaves Foundation has also supported the Story Factory, a not-for-profit writing centre for young people based in Sydneys Redfern and Parramatta, for the past seven years. Founder and director Cath Keenan paid tribute to Balnaves. Neil really loved the arts, and was a really passionate supporter of lots of different art forms, she said. He was really passionate about Indigenous art in particular and helping young Indigenous people flourish and to give them opportunities. Loading After 2017 Balnaves pulled its decade long support from Australias participation at the Venice Biennale, the worlds leading contemporary arts event, after changes announced by the Australia Council for the Arts. Balnaves was also chair of Ardent Leisure Group which operates the Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast for 13 years, up until 2016. That year, four people were killed in an accident on the parks Thunder River Rapids Ride; the company was fined $3.6 million in 2020 after admitting to failings in its safety management. Dave Grohls chart-topping band Foo Fighters will arrive in Victoria next week for a one-night only performance at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Friday, March 4. Supported by Melbourne band Amyl and the Sniffers and veteran punk rockers The Meanies, Foo Fighters will play Australias first full-capacity stadium show by any international band since the COVID pandemic struck in March 2020. Tickets for the show, which will be Foo Fighters first in Australia since 2018, go on sale on Friday, February 25, at midday. The group will arrive in Victoria hot on the heels of this weeks cinematic release of Studio 666, a horror comedy film featuring Grohl and his fellow band members. The concert is a partnership with the Victorian governments Always Live music program, teaming local stars and emerging talent with some of the worlds biggest acts. The program aims to feature performances of all scales and styles and was conceived by former Mushroom Group chairman Michael Gudinski, who died a year ago. Heavy rain caused flooding in Sydney homes, shops and on roads and motorists had to be rescued from inundated cars as the State Emergency Service responded to more than 600 calls for help and conducted at least 18 flood rescues on Tuesday, including at a childcare centre in Tempe. The Bureau of Meteorology said Marrickville Golf Club had the biggest dump of rain in Sydney on Tuesday, recording more than 102 millimetres, while in Wyong, on the Central Coast, 143mm fell in three hours. La Nina strikes again as rain hammers George Street in Sydneys CBD. Credit:Jessica Hromas While Tuesday was likely the worst of the wet weather for parts of the city, the seven-day forecast for Sydney has showers predicted every day until Monday. Since Tuesday morning, bureau forecaster Gabrielle Woodhouse said parts of Sydney have been in severe thunderstorm warning mode. She said while western Sydney had experienced some of the heaviest rain, the inner-west suburb of Marrickville had 76mm in one hour. Wet weather over Sydney is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future, as much of the city received a months worth of rain in one day and flooding caused havoc. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Bradley Wood said Marrickville Golf Club, in the inner west, was the wettest place in the state, recording 165 millimetres between 9am on Tuesday and 6am on Wednesday, increasing to 169 millimetres by 8.30am. Cars make their way through floodwater in Marrickville today. Credit:Nick Moir In that time period, Sydney Airport received 136 millimetres and Rose Bay, in the citys east, had 115 millimetres. Bureau meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse said that over the past two days Olney Forest at Wyong, on the Central Coast, received 161 millimetres and Hornsby swimming pool 131 millimetres. Most of the intense rain fell within a few hours on Tuesday. Mining billionaire Clive Palmer has failed to delay a nine-week trial over $30 billion worth of iron ore contracts between his company Mineralogy and CITIC Groups West Australian interests. On the first day of the trial, Mr Palmer told the Supreme Court of WA that he would be denied natural justice if he was not permitted documents that may be relied upon as evidence by CITIC Groups Sino Iron and Korean Steel, which operates on Mineralogys Pilbara tenements in Cape Preston. Clive Palmers Mineralogy will clash over CITICs $18 billion Sino Iron project in WAs Pilbara, with CITIC Pacific ceo Chen Zeng. Credit:AFR Mr Palmer is second defendant behind Mineralogy and represented himself in the proceedings, which Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Martin flagged meant being across the trial for the whole nine weeks. Justice Martin said he didnt want Mr Palmer appealing a decision based on procedural unfairness since he didnt have a lawyer present, despite having the resources, and in not being available becoming the architect of that problem. A last-minute date change means West Australian Premier Mark McGowan will no longer be forced into quarantine upon his return to Perth after giving evidence at the Clive Palmer defamation trial in Sydney but he plans to isolate anyway. Mr McGowan and WA Attorney-General John Quigley were set to fly to Sydney to give evidence at the Federal Court trial this weekend but on Tuesday morning the court relisted the trial to resume on March 7 and run to March 9 due to the imminent removal of WAs hard border announced last Friday. WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Peter de Kruijff Under WAs current border restrictions, travellers entering WA must quarantine for seven days, but on Friday Mr McGowan announced the removal of the hard border and quarantine requirements on March 3. Had the Premier and Attorney-Generals appearances remained this weekend they would have been required to complete at least three days quarantine from the day they returned to Perth until March 3, though Mr McGowan said he would spend the full seven days in isolation. Hundreds of public servants paid to protect Queenslanders have been suspended or quit their jobs after defying their employers vaccine orders. As a handful of police staff, health workers and prison guards fight COVID vaccine mandates in the Supreme Court, the true numbers of their colleagues who share their view have been revealed. The public servants challenging vaccine orders in court include police officers and support staff, health workers, ambulance officers, prison guards, and a state school teacher. Queensland Health employs 114,874 workers and the organisations vaccine deadline for staff was December 15, 2021. A total of 2590 Queensland Health staff have applied for an exemption 284 were approved, 1278 were declined, and 728 were resolved for other reasons or withdrawn. The remaining 300 applications have not been finalised. Queensland is set to scrap most indoor mask-wearing rules, including at schools, while the daily COVID press conferences will also cease as the number of cases in the state declines. But the restrictions on unvaccinated patrons entering pubs, cafes and other venues could stay for another month as authorities wait to gauge the impact of lifted restrictions and the international border reopening. Queenslands indoor mask mandate will largely end from next Friday, March 4. Credit:Jono Searle/Getty Images The announcement from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday came as health authorities reported 5583 new infections and five more COVID deaths, including one in aged care. From 6pm on March 4, masks will no longer be required in indoor settings except on public transport, in airports, and in facilities such as hospitals, aged care, prisons, and disability care. No charges will be laid over a Queensland coal mine explosion in 2020 that nearly killed five men. The decision outraged the mining industry, with the Mining and Energy Union saying workers were angry and dismayed that Queenslands Workplace Health and Safety Prosecutor would not bring charges over the underground explosion at the Grosvenor mine, operated by Anglo American. Coal miner Wayne Sellars received burns to 70 per cent of his body in the explosion at Grosvenor mine. Credit:Coal Mining Board of Inquiry The explosion near Moranbah, a tiny mining town in central Queensland, left five workers seriously injured and others traumatised, the union said. Last year, Resources Safety and Health Queensland referred to the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor a brief of evidence relating to its investigation of the explosion. The man formerly dubbed Australias most wanted will be extradited to Victoria in coming days following his arrest in far north Queensland after more than a decade on the run from Victorian police. Graham Gene Potter, 64, who police say has avoided capture since 2010, fled Victoria on the eve of a Melbourne Magistrates Court hearing at which he was to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Police arrest Graham Potter at a home in far north Queensland on February 21, 2022. Credit:Police Media Mr Potter faced a Queensland magistrate at Atherton on Tuesday morning, via video link from the Mareeba police station, where officers were granted an extradition order to bring the 64-year-old back to Melbourne in the custody of Victorian detectives. During the brief hearing, Magistrate Thomas Braes ordered Mr Potter next appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. No application for bail was made. The risk of COVID-19 transmission in venues like pubs, bars and restaurants remains too high to relax proof-of-vaccination requirements, according to Western Australias Chief Health Officer. An email from Andrew Robertson on Tuesday to Premier Mark McGowan further justified the winding back of the same requirement at bottleshops last Friday, which was spurred by a series of assaults on liquor store staff, alongside advice the same should not be done for other venues. WA Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson. Credit:Peter de Kruijff Dr Robertson said further to his advice on Friday, a public health reassessment of the risk-benefit scenario supported the removal of the rule. While there is evidence that this has assisted in encouraging people to be vaccinated, particularly in regional and remote areas, the risk of transmission in this setting is small, due to the limited interaction with staff and limited times in the store, he said. Im a strong supporter of mining, oil and gas and agriculture but WA needs to be more than just those industries because otherwise we are so subject to commodity pricing and also technology driving out blue collar jobs, in particular out of mining and oil and gas, McGowan told an economic conference in December 2017. Loading In mid-2019, the government delivered on a promise contained in the Plan For Jobs, launching an initiative called Diversify WA, which vowed to build an external focused economy. Among the industries singled out for attention as part of the diversification were international education, tourism, major events and the creative industries. In tourism, for example, former minister Paul Papalia did lots of work securing direct flights from India and Japan while using the likes of Roger Federer and the Quokka selfie to build WAs brand. It has all been smashed to pieces by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. And on a new commodity price surge, minings share of the economy has grown from 29 per cent the year McGowan was elected to an unprecedented 47 per cent. Closed borders delayed the arrival of COVID-19 into WA for nearly two years, saving lives until WA could get to world-leading rates of vaccination. But the uncompromising COVID policies have also unleashed a new politics of isolation, unwelcoming to outsiders from even other parts of Australia let alone the region. It is the attitude as much as the implementation that has led to the likes of International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood to warn that WA has damaged its reputation as a welcoming destination for international students. Loading And Qantas boss Alan Joyce with whom the WA government is theoretically in partnership for the launch of a groundbreaking Perth-Rome direct flight as well as the delayed restart of Perth-London compared WA to North Korea. After nearly two years of grandstanding for domestic political reasons, there isnt a great deal of residual goodwill toward WA from the rest of the country. The repair job will be delayed further because WA is last out of the blocks when it comes to reopening borders and is only now imposing new social restrictions just as the rest of Australia is throwing them off. In the short term, though, it doesnt matter, because mining is the 800-pound gorilla consuming every banana in the jungle. Mining is not just strong in its own right but its strength undermines the development of a more balanced economic profile because it sucks up labour with an ability to pay higher wages that might otherwise be deployed in the development of other industries. And while minings share of the economy is 47 per cent; the next highest are construction (5 per cent), healthcare (5 per cent), manufacturing (4 per cent) and professional services (4 per cent). No other state has a single industry with a larger gross value added share than 13 per cent (Tasmania, with healthcare and social assistance) while the other mainland states are all between 9 and 10 per cent. In short, the WA economy for all intents and purposes is the mining industry, and little else is big enough to matter. The dominance extends to the state budget, with royalties making up $3 in every $10 of state revenue last year, well in excess of the long-run range of $1-$2. Many forecasters believe the outlook for commodities will remain strong over the short to medium-term, which is fortunate because the structural vulnerability McGowan identified from the opposition benches is now more entrenched than ever. At some point the cycle must turn. Every pet shop galah is talking about diversification but the time for talking is over, we need action, said Aaron Morey, the chief economist of the WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry who used to work in the office of former Treasurer Ben Wyatt, who has joined the boards of Rio Tinto and Woodside post-politics. Loading In a pre-budget submission due in the coming days, CCIWA will urge the establishment of a trade and investment office in the United States, fixing kindy funding to help working women and slashing the payroll tax burden on medium-sized business. But diversification isnt just about industries, its also about customers, warned Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre chief economist Alan Duncan. He pointed to ABS figures for October showing 48 per cent of WAs exports went to China (51 per cent if you include Hong Kong), with Japan (13 per cent), South Korea (7 per cent) and Singapore (6 per cent) coming in next. According to the WA Department of Mines, China bought $123 billion of the $150 billion of iron ore exported by WA in 2020-21. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rubbished suggestions Russia is sending in peacekeeping troops to eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow has moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his defence ministry to despatch Russian troops to maintain peace in eastern Ukraines two breakaway regions, in a significant escalation of the Kremlin-driven crisis over Ukraine. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned of potentially terrible consequences if Russia invades Ukraine. Credit:Sydney Morning Herald Mr Morrison on Tuesday warned the move could result in an absolutely violent confrontation with terrible human consequences. He said Ukraine had seen Russian troops enter their own sovereign territory that has already occurred now. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms, she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements, but will continue with light duties. Engagements for the rest of the week will be decided on a day-by-day basis. The palace announced that the Queen, 95, had tested positive on Sunday and would continue with light duties. London: Queen Elizabeth missed a planned virtual engagement on Tuesday because she is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms after testing positive for COVID-19, a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said. The Queen, who is 95, will make it known to the public that she is reading the papers that are part of her daily duties, to alleviate concerns about her health. But she was not feeling up to taking part in the planned video calls, which require in-depth knowledge of global affairs across countless sectors. Since being diagnosed with COVID, the Queen has signalled her determination to continue working by signing and sending out several messages, including one congratulating Britains Olympic curling team and another offering her condolences to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro over flooding in his country. She is self-isolating at Windsor Castle, where there has been an outbreak of COVID-19 among the household. It is understood she is seeing aides who have the virus for company and assistance. The Queen is due to speak on the telephone to Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, within the next 24 hours for their weekly audience. Next week, she is hoping to host a diplomatic reception at Windsor Castle, where she will meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps. The event, which is usually held at Buckingham Palace, has been scaled back from white tie to cocktail dresses and lounge suits. Senior members of the royal family usually turn out in force for it, with Duchesses in tiaras, but will be a lower-key affair this year. A Russian-backed leader in the breakaway Donetsk region of Ukraine said on Wednesday that a military mobilisation was gathering pace to counter Ukrainian aggression. Denis Pushilin, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic that was recognised by Russia this week, said the situation had become critical, but the separatists would win with support from big Russia. Pushilin said he would prefer to resolve questions about border demarcation with Kyiv peacefully, but reserved the right to ask Russia for help. And Andrey Turchak, a senior member of Russias ruling party, also said on Wednesday that no force in the world could change the legal result of Russias recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. On a visit to Donetsk, Turchak told the separatist leader of the Russian-backed Donetsk Peoples Republic that Russia would not abandon its people. He said 93,000 people had already been evacuated over the border to Russia. Britain will provide further military support to Ukraine, including lethal defensive weapons, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday. In light of the increasingly threatening behaviour from Russia and in line with our previous support, the UK will shortly be providing a further package of military support to Ukraine. This will include lethal aid in the form of defensive weapons and non-lethal aid, Johnson told parliament. Reuters Im afraid all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine, the overrunning, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country and I think, lets be absolutely clear, that will be absolutely catastrophic. I think that the tragedy of the present situation is that President Putin has surrounded himself with like-minded advisors who tell him that Ukraine is not a proper country. And I think that he is going to find that he has gravely miscalculated, Johnson told reporters after the meeting. Do not delay Earlier Australia has directed all of its embassy staff to immediately leave Ukraine for Poland and Romania, temporarily closing the office that was set up in the countrys west last week after embassy staff left the capital Kyiv. Foreign Minister Marise Payne urged all Australians remaining in Ukraine to leave immediately: Do not delay. Russia has assembled up to 150,000 troops on Ukraines border. Credit:AP The Kremlins announcement came just hours after Putin recognised the independence of the eastern separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk, paving the way to provide them military support and antagonising Western leaders who regard such a move as an unjust breach of Ukraines sovereignty. Loading World leaders roundly condemned the move by Russia and vowed to impose harsh sanctions but stopped short of calling this either an invasion or an act that required a military response, although two officials, one in the British government Health Secretary Sajid Javid and another in the European Parliament Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice told European broadcasters the move into the breakaway regions meant an invasion has begun and an act of war respectively. Nevertheless, European Union foreign ministers are expected to impose sanctions on Russia after a meeting in Paris on Tuesday afternoon, Paris time, Reuters reported. Beyond the line of control Draft bills that are set quickly sail through both houses of Russian parliament envisage military ties, including possible deployment of Russian military bases in the separatist regions. Several senior politicians suggested on Tuesday that Russia could recognise the rebel-held territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine in their original administrative borders, including the chunks of land currently under Ukrainian control. British Defence Minister Ben Wallace said that some of the territory recognised by Putin is on the other side of the line of control that separates rebel regions of Ukraine from the rest of the country. What we saw through the night was President Putins declaration that he is going to recognise the independent states in the Donbas region, worryingly some of that includes territory that is actually on the other side of the line of control, Wallace said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison was among the first leaders to rubbish Russias claim that it was sending in peacekeeping troops to eastern Ukraine, saying Moscow has moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory. Loading Payne slammed Russias deployment of so-called peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine, promising that Australia would inflict severe costs on Moscow. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, dismissed as nonsense Putins announcement that the Russian troops would act as peacekeepers, saying their presence was clearly the basis for Russias attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine. Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that the move was an unprovoked attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. She said Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds - referring to the 2014 deal which sought to end war in the Donbas region. US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield: The world has a choice. Credit:United Nations Thomas-Greenfield said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. The dramatic move comes after Russia has assembled more than 150,000 troops near Ukraines border despite repeated denials that it planned to invade Ukraine. Russias UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on Tuesday that his nation remained open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution. Allowing new bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do, he said. Zelensky accused Russia of wrecking peace efforts and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation, adding Russia had committed a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. A country that has supported the war for eight years cannot maintain peace, as it claims, he said. We are on our own land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone. A Reuters witness saw columns of military vehicles including tanks on the outskirts of Donetsk, the capital of one of two breakaway regions. There were about five tanks in a column on the edge of the city and two more in another part of town. No insignia were visible, but the appearance of the tanks came hours after Putin signed the decree formally recognising the self-proclaimed states. Morrison said Ukraine had seen Russian troops enter their own sovereign territory that has already occurred now. Some suggestion that theyre peacekeeping is nonsense. They have moved in on Ukrainian sovereign territory. And I hope for the best in terms of the diplomatic efforts that are being pursued, he said. We cannot have threats of violence being used to seek to advantage nations positions over others that is not a peaceful world order. I can assure that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions on Russia, we will be in lock step with them. Loading Payne said Putins recognition of the separatist states had no validity under rule of law and that sanctions would follow. This flagrantly undermines Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity and has no validity under international law, she said. We also condemn President Putins announcement that Russia is deploying so-called peacekeepers to eastern Ukraine. These personnel are not peacekeepers. The Biden administration was on Tuesday looking for last-ditch ways to head off what one American official told the Washington Post was a military action that could take place in the coming hours or days. The US was expected to unveil more sanctions on Russia overnight after earlier announcing the prohibition of US investment in or trade with the breakaway republics. Loading It was unclear whether Putins actions would trigger the array of tough and wide-ranging sanctions that President Biden has been threatening for months. The US has for years been saying that there are Russian troops in the two separatist areas, so they could argue the latest development - while a significant escalation - does not represent the crossing of a new red line. In the UK, Johnson was expected to chair an emergency meeting on Tuesday to sign off on a significant package of sanctions against Russia. The Prime Minister told President Zelensky that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days, Johnsons office said in a statement following a call between the leaders. He told President Zelensky that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraines territorial integrity, and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government. In a news conference on Tuesday AEDT, Johnson called Putins recognition of the separatist territories a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. In his televised speech earlier in the day, Putin said his decision to sign off on the recognition of pro-Russian separatists was one that he should have made a long time ago. He claimed Ukraine had never had a tradition of genuine statehood and that modern Ukraine was was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia If Ukraine were to join NATO, Putin said it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia. Beirut: Former prime minister Saad Hariris estranged older brother says he hopes upcoming elections in crisis-hit Lebanon will bring about a new generation of leaders, adding that hell do whatever he can to create positive change and accountability for past corruption. Bahaa Hariri also describes the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, a partner in the countrys ruling coalition, as a terrorist organisation, calling it part of a failed past. Bahaa Hariri, right, and Saad Hariri, sons of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, visit the scene where their father was assassinated in Beirut in 2005. Credit:AP His statements come a month after his brother, former prime minister Saad Hariri, announced he was bowing out of politics and would not run in parliamentary elections scheduled for May. Hariris bombshell decision marked the first time in three decades the powerful Sunni family would be out of politics, adding uncertainty in a country grappling with a financial meltdown. The two brothers have been at odds since Saad took over the mantle of his slain father, Rafik Hariri, after he was assassinated in a massive truck bombing in 2005. Afterwards, the family chose Saad to lead, skipping over Bahaa, who is several years his senior. Whats more, other parts of the immune system can remember and destroy the virus over many months if not years, according to at least four studies published in top-tier journals over the past month. Specialised immune cells called T-cells produced after immunisation by four brands of COVID vaccine Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax are about 80 per cent as powerful against Omicron as other variants, the research found. Given how different Omicrons mutations are from previous variants, it is very likely that T cells would mount a similarly robust attack on any future variant as well, researchers said. Loading This matches what scientists have found for the SARS coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people in a 2003 epidemic in Asia. In people exposed to that virus, T cells have lasted more than 17 years. Evidence so far indicates that the immune cells for the new coronavirus sometimes called memory cells may also decline very slowly, experts said. Memory responses can last for ages, said Wendy Burgers, an immunologist at the University of Cape Town who led one of the studies, published in the journal Nature. Potentially, the T-cell response is extremely long-lived. Throughout the pandemic, a disproportionate amount of research attention has gone to antibodies, the bodys first line of defence against a virus. That is partly because these molecules are relatively easy to study. They can be measured from a drop of blood. Loading Analysing immune cells, by contrast, requires millilitres of blood, skill, specialised equipment and a lot of time. Its orders of magnitude slower and more laborious, Burgers said. Few labs have the wherewithal to study these cells, and their findings lag weeks behind those on antibodies. Perhaps as a result, scientists have frequently overlooked the importance of other parts of the immune system, experts said. Most people dont even know what they are a lot of doctors and scientists are not completely clear what a T cell is, said Dr Dan Barouch, a virus expert at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston who led one of the T-cell studies. Fundamentally, I would argue that T cells are probably more important than what many people have given them credit for, Barouch said. Antibodies spike after every shot of vaccine or after each exposure to the virus and inevitably decline within a few weeks to months. Waning antibody levels after two vaccine doses prompted American officials to recommend boosters for everyone older than 12. The extra shots fortified antibody levels and helped to contain Omicrons spread, but they too appear to lose some of their ability to prevent infections within four months, according to recent data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibodies recognise two or three key parts of the spike protein, a protrusion on the outside of the coronavirus that allows it to latch on to human cells. But T-cells detect many more parts of the spike, and so are less likely to fail when the virus gains mutations in some of them. Vaccines also encode a memory of the virus in B cells, which can churn out fresh batches of antibodies within four or five days after a new exposure to the virus. This dual punch of T and B cells help explain why many people who received two or even three doses of vaccine could still be infected with the Omicron variant, but only a small percentage became seriously ill. You will see a decrease of the antibody levels over time, but if memory B cells are still there, and memory T cells are still there, they can kick back into action relatively quickly, said Alessandro Sette, an immunologist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology who led a new study of T cells published in Cell. Memory B cells become increasingly sophisticated over time, and they learn to recognise a diverse set of viral genetic sequences. The longer they have to practice, the broader the range of virus variants they can thwart. Researchers showed last year that the elite school inside of lymph nodes where the B cells train, called the germinal centre, remains active for at least 15 weeks after the second dose of a COVID vaccine. In an updated study published in the journal Nature, the same team showed that six months after vaccination, memory B cells continue to mature, and the antibodies they produce keep gaining the ability to recognise new variants. Those antibodies at six months are better binders and more potent neutralizers than the ones that are produced one month after immunisation, said Ali Ellebedy, an immunologist at Washington University in St. Louis who led the study. In the newest study, another team showed that a third shot creates an even richer pool of B cells than the second shot did, and the antibodies they produce recognise a broader range of variants. In laboratory experiments, these antibodies were able to fend off the beta, Delta and Omicron variants. In fact, more than half of the antibodies seen one month after a third dose were able to neutralise Omicron, even though the vaccine was not designed for that variant, the study found. If youve had a third dose, youre going to have a rapid response thats going to have quite a bit of specificity for Omicron, which explains why people that have had a third dose do so much better, said Michel Nussenzweig, an immunologist at Rockefeller University who led the study. Memory cells produced after infection with the coronavirus, rather than by the vaccines, seem less potent against the Omicron variant, according to a study published last month in Nature Medicine. Immunity generated by infection varies quite a lot, while the vaccine response is much more consistently good, said Marcus Buggert, an immunologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden who led the study. Loading Latest News Big four banks lift variable interest rates Increases across board for home loan customers Commercial lending market flourishing 40% to 50% uplift, says brokerage A new chairperson has taken the helm at the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA). PIPA has unanimously elected Nicola McDougall, who has been a voluntary PIPA board director since 2014, as new chairperson. She replaced Peter Koulizos, who decided to step down from the position after four years of service. McDougall takes on the role as chair with not only many years of PIPA board experience, but also a wealth of knowledge and experience in industry associations, lobbying, public relations, and journalism, as well as property research and analysis, said Koulizos, who remains a PIPA board director. McDougall has been involved in property research, analysis, and reporting since 2006 and was the editor of Australian Property Investor magazine. She was also executive manager of corporate affairs at the Real Estate Institute of Queensland, and is a business owner, author, and successful property investor. As chair, I hope to continue to grow the brand awareness of PIPA and QPIA members so that more consumers are able to identify, and work with, the most ethical, educated, and professional property investment advisers, McDougall said. Under McDougalls leadership, PIPA will also work towards transitioning its QPIA training program into a Certificate IV qualification, which the organisation hopes, in lieu of regulation in the sector, will become the minimum educational standard for anyone working in our industry. Online collaboration systems win increasing popularity in Chinas workplace 09:01, February 22, 2022 By Gong Wenjing ( People's Daily Online collaboration, which costs less and is more efficient than the traditional way of working, becomes a new trend in China with the progress of digitalization in various sectors. During the online recruitment activity held by a company in Guangzong county, Xingtai city, north Chinas Hebei province, a host and the companys human resource executive brief viewers about job vacancies, Sept. 9, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Lei) Chinas State Council recently issued a plan for the development of digital economy during the countrys 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), which says that China will expand the coverage of collaboration systems and other online services. As the construction of new infrastructure, including 5G network, big data centers, artificial intelligence (AI) and industrial Internet, picks up speed in China, companies basic hardware and software capabilities have significantly improved, which fuels the ecosystem of distance working, as insiders pointed out. They believe that the steadily growing number of users and increase in companies individualized demands in the industry have encouraged remote work applications to open up their platforms to accommodate more vertical functions. Thanks to Tencent Docs, an online document platform allowing for multi-person collaboration rolled out by Chinese tech giant Tencent, Ye Qing from the human resources department of a company finds herself more efficient at work. Before her company began to use the platform, she had to spend a lot of time on data collection, personal communication and file transfer. Ever since I started to use DingTalk, it became so much easier to assign homework, communicate with parents and give online classes, said Qi Yitong, an elementary school teacher in Shenzhen, south Chinas Guangdong province. Qi has made DingTalk, an intelligent working platform launched by Alibaba Group, an important part of his daily work. A Chinese teacher at a school in Yangzhou city, east Chinas Jiangsu province, gives an online class from her home, Sept. 2, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Meng Delong) The application of the intelligent working platform not only helps improve the work efficiency of teachers, but creates a closer connection between students and teachers, according to Qi. As of June 2021, the number of people working online in China had reached 381 million, which accounted for 37.7 percent of the total netizens in the country, said a report released by China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC). Remote collaboration is increasingly the norm in the workplace. By August 31, 2021, the number of users of DingTalk exceeded 500 million, and the number of various organizations using the platform, including enterprises and schools, surpassed 19 million. China will advance the optimization and upgrading of remote collaboration products and services and promote the use of electronic contract, seal, signature and authentication, according to the plan for the development of digital economy during the countrys 14th Five-Year Plan period. While more and more enterprises in the country embrace electronic license and seal, cities across China are making endeavors to launch high-efficient online services. A staff member with the tax bureau of Qingdao Qianwan Free Trade Port Zone, east Chinas Shandong province, verify taxpayers materials online, August 18, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhang Jingang) Shanghai issues electronic license and seal simultaneously to a company when it is incorporated; Beijing makes sure that companies applying for authorization to conduct business in the city get electronic license, invoice and seal, and stipulates that electronic seal bears the same legal effect as physical seal; and Wuhu city, east Chinas Anhui province, allows companies to receive their electronic business licenses and five electronic seals via mobile phone after registration. With the electronic license and seal, companies can have taxation, social security and other services handled via online government affair platforms. The approval process for the government and enterprises is often long, time-consuming, cumbersome, and consumes a lot of manpower and material resources, said Wang Peng, associate research fellow at the management institute of Beijing Academy of Social Sciences. The implementation of collaboration systems and relevant standards and policies helps optimize the operations of agriculture, manufacturing, financial services and the services of government agencies, reduce procedural costs, and improve the overall operational efficiency of society, he added. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) State-owned (BOI) has said it can absorb any burden of marking down issued in lieu of equity shares to the government without fresh capital infusion. The discounting, to be done by fair-value method, could halve the bonds' value to about Rs 1,500 crore. The lenders Capital Adequacy Ratio was 16.66 with Common Equity tier I ratio of 13.16 per cent. On Monday. BOI stock closed 2.1 per cent lower at 51.4 per share on BSE. The Reserve has expressed concern at the recapitalisation of public sector banks through zero-coupon bonds (ZCBs), raising the issue of banks' capital adequacy falling below regulatory norms. BOI will be able to absorb Rs 1,500 crore of discounting on bonds worth Rs 3,000 crore. Also retained profits of Financial Year 2021-22 will be more than adequate to meet regulatory norms and business growth in next year, BOI executives said. Unlike previous years, when the government had infused capital through interest-bearing recapitalisation bonds, in FY-2021 it was done through zero-coupon bonds (ZCBs) that are redeemable at face value. Anil Gupta, vice president, financial sector ratings at ICRA, said amongst public sector banks, Punjab & Sindh Bank (P&SB) is getting Rs 4,600 crore equity capital infusion from the government. This is perhaps to address the possibility of P&SBs capital adequacy falling below the regulatory minimum level as are marked down. Last week, the board of a Delhi-based public sector lender approved a plan for allotting equity shares up to Rs 4,600 crore, including share premium, to the Government of India by way of preferential issue. Its capital adequacy ratio stood at 17.82 per cent with Common Equity tier I (CET1) of 12.34 per cent at end of December 2021. Amid rising oil prices, full service carrier Vistara's chief Vinod Kannan on Tuesday emphasised that financial viability will be important in deciding on flying to new international destinations. Vistara, which commenced its international operations less than three years ago, currently flies to 11 overseas destinations. "For the remaining ones, I think it is really a matter of two things. One is air bubble arrangements will continue till when and when scheduled operations will start; secondly, financial viability. "With fuel cost being higher, we have to review where we should be looking at for additional operations," he told PTI in an interview. Oil prices have surged in recent days in the wake of escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia. "... fuel price is almost USD 100 per barrel. That is a very significant increase compared to where we were last year. So different set of challenges but from a demand perspective, things are coming back," Kannan said. Noting that the airline will continue to review its operations in any case, he said that financial viability is important. "Fuel burn in longer flights when the fuel price is high is something that we have to account for which may not have been as high before. So these calculations and assessments will be done. Of course, at the same time, we will also be looking at how to improve our products and services to be able to command a better price premium as well. So, we will look at both sides," Kannan said. According to the chief, most Indians like to take direct flights now and do not want to transit through a third point mainly due to COVID and convenience. "There is definitely an upside and we believe that it should be something we should be able to utilise in the coming months". The airline operated flights to five overseas destinations pre-COVID. During the pandemic, started operations to London Heathro0w, Dhaka, Dubai, Doha, Frankfurt, Sharjah, Mal, and Paris. "We utilised the air bubble arrangements and managed to utilise aircraft very productively and international operations have been doing well for us. Of course, on the other hand, it is not the true sense of operations... as borders open up, there will be more competition and we believe that our products and services will stand the test of time," he said. On plans for operating flights to the United States, the chief said it was work in progress. "The only question mark that remains now is regarding delivery of Boeing 787 aircraft. We have two of them in the fleet and have an order for four more. The question is when we will be able to get delivery of them and when FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) will allow Boeing to restart the programme," he said. The two Boeing 787 planes are being utilised for Europe and some other destinations as charters. The scheduled international commercial passenger flights to and from India remain suspended since March 23, 2020 and such flights are likely to resume next month. Currently, overseas flights are operated under bilateral air bubble arrangements with 36 countries, as per the civil aviation ministry. Under an air bubble arrangement between two countries, international passenger flights can be operated by their respective carriers into each other's territories subject to certain conditions. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Foreign lender HSBC's profit before tax (PBT) from India rose marginally to USD 1.11 billion in 2021. The bank's PBT had stood at USD 1.024 billion in 2020. The country is the fourth biggest profit centre for the UK-headquartered lender, after Hong Kong, the UK and Mainland China, according to an official statement. Courtesy back-office operations, India retains the top ranking in terms of employees but the number of people employed declined by 1,000 to 38,000. The total number of employees had declined by 1,000 in 2020 as well. Among its business lines, the commercial banking segment showed one of the fastest growth at nearly 42 per cent to deliver a profit before tax (PBT) of USD 265 million as against USD 187 million in the year-ago period. The profits from the wealth and personal banking vertical increased to USD 20 million in 2021 from USD 16 million, while the same for global banking and markets were maintained at USD 593 million. The 'corporate centre' function saw an increase in the overall profit contribution to USD 232 million as against USD 228 million, according to the statement. In 2021, equity capital markets (ECM) team completed 10 transactions cumulatively aggregating USD 4.8 billion across IPOs (initial public offerings) and other follow-on issuances, it said. It also has established a USD 125-million credit programme for technology-led start-ups in the country, the statement said. The overall customer accounts in India increased to 24,507 as against 20,199 in the year-ago period, and the statement said there was a significant growth on this side despite the "challenging economic environment". Its wholesale lending practice of loans and advances to customers at amortised cost saw an increase to USD 12.224 billion as against USD 10.298 billion in the year-ago period. As of 2021-end, it had assets of USD 1.786 billion from real estate as against USD 1.951 billion, and USD 4 billion from the non-bank lenders as against USD 3 billion. In India, the ban contributed an additional USD 10 million towards COVID-19 relief efforts in the last year, which witnessed the second wave of infections playing havoc across the country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The practices of have improved in 2021 even as it battles the aftermath due to the Covid-19 crises. The study conducted by Institutional Investor Advisory Services (IiAS) highlighted that for the BSE 100 universe, median scores of increased marginally to 62 in 2021 from 61 in 2020. IiAS released the sixth edition of its assessment of corporate scores of the S&P BSE 100 index constituents. The S&P BSE 100 constituents account for about 67 per cent of total market capitalization, the results of the assessment are a reasonable representation of market practices. The report suggests that despite the coronavirus crisis, corporate India has kept a steady focus on improving its practices, primarily due to better disclosures and enhanced stewardship practices. What is more notable is that 20 were in the Leadership category, against 11 in 2020 and six in 2019. These included Airtel, Cipla, HDFC Life, Marico and Tata Motors among others. This report shows that while most have continued to improve governance practices even through the pandemic years. Boards are responsible for setting the corporate governance agenda, which is why the composition and structure of the board of directors is of critical importance., said Amit Tandon, MD & CEO, IiAS. The framework for the Indian corporate governance scorecard was developed over 2015 and 2016, jointly by International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and IiAS. The scorecard is based on the widely accepted G20/OECD principles of corporate governance. However, the governance at public sector undertakings (PSU) continued to pull down overall median scores. Several PSUs do not even meet the basic regulatory compliance requirements for board composition, the report said. Moreover, the regulation itself has built-in exceptions for several of the disclosure regulations that are otherwise mandated for the remaining listed companies in India. These practices will weigh on the investor attractiveness of the PSUs scheduled for disinvestment, said the press release. Investors are watching how corporate India manages its stakeholders, and the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices has become central to investors engagement with companies. Regulators too are attempting to standardize disclosures that companies are expected to make on their practices. Companies with stronger boards and stronger governance practices are likely to be better placed in manouvering companies towards sustainability. Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) on Tuesday announced the addition of its second hotel in Rishikesh with the signing of a new SeleQtions resort. The formerly operating resort will be rebranded as Anand Kashi, an SeleQtions resort post renovation. Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President Real Estate & Development, IHCL, said, " remains committed to the vast tourism potential of . This will be our second hotel in Rishikesh, the Yoga Capital of the world. This exciting new addition to our portfolio will offer travellers yet another breath-taking location to explore the beauty and myriad experiences the state offers." The 24-room resort is located at the foothills of the Himalayas in the Tehri Garhwal region of . With the addition of this hotel, will have seven hotels across brands, including three under development in . (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Tuesday set aside an NCLT order that rejected an appeal by Reliance Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (RARCL) to initiate insolvency proceeding against Narendra Plastics. The also directed the NCLT to initiate the insolvency proceedings against the company. A three-member bench headed by Chairperson Justice Ashok Bhushan set aside the order passed by the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) which on August 13, 2021, rejected RARCL's plea to initiate insolvency proceedings. The NCLT had said the RARCL's plea was barred under limitations as it was filed beyond the prescribed limit of three years after default. The tribunal had said the RARCL had filed a petition under section 7 of the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code on May 8, 2019, while Narendra Plastics' account was declared as NPA on June 30, 2014, which was prima facie filed after more than five years. This was challenged by RARCL, which is registered as a securitization and reconstruction company, before the appellate tribunal contending that it was within the limitation period. As per the Limitation Act, which is also applicable on the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code (IBC) cases, any insolvency plea filed over defaults occurred over three years prior to the date of filing of the application are barred under article 137 of the act. It had contended that acknowledging its outstanding liabilities the debtor had submitted a settlement proposal on March 2, 2017 and another revised proposal on March 8, 2018, June 26, 2018 and December 4, 2018. RARCL had rejected all settlement proposals on February 12, 2019. RARCL contended that such settlement proposals are construed as a fresh acknowledgement of liability. Consenting with it, the said, "If Settlement offer or other way of acknowledgement of Debt has been done within the first period of limitation then Limitation gets extended again for the next three years". "In view of the law laid down and facts and circumstances... , the petition has been filed within the limitation period and hence Section 7 of the Code petition can be initiation against the Corporate Debtor," said NCLAT. It further said both debt and defaults are not disputed and hence provisions of Section 7 of the Code to initiate insolvency proceedings is applicable. "The appeal deserves to be allowed and is accordingly allowed. We set aside the impugned order dated 13.08.2021 of the Adjudicating Authority (NCLT). The Adjudicating Authority is directed to initiate the CIRP proceedings," said the appellate tribunal. However, it also added that parties are also free to settle the matter. The loan was initially granted by ING Vyasya Bank, which had assigned the debt to RARCL through an agreement dated September 2014. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MediBuddy, an online company, has raised $125 million in funding from Quadria Capital and Lightrock India, along with participation from existing investors. MediBuddy, which did not disclose its valuation in the Series C funding, provides 24x7 access to specialist doctors via video, doorstep medicine delivery, at-home lab tests, mental health support and other services. The company said it has more than 3 crore customers, leveraging its pan-India network of 90,000 doctors, 7,000 hospitals and 3,000 diagnostic centers. It also provides employee health and wellness services to more than 700 corporate customers. MediBuddy recently got actor Amitabh Bachchan as brand ambassador and its aiming to scale up operations in towns and cities. "With the latest round of funding, we will capitalise on strengthening our network of service providers and our team while launching new services on the platform, said Satish Kannan, co-founder and chief executive officer of MediBuddy. Amit Varma, Managing Partner and co-founder of Quadria Capital, said, "Digital is witnessing an unprecedented growth and over the next decade digital infrastructure will revolutionise the way people consume healthcare services. Krishify, a social network for Indian farmers, has closed $6.2 million in a funding round that saw the additional participation of VC fund Omnivore alongside existing investors Ankur Capital, Omidyar Network India, and Orios Venture Partners. Krishify raised $2.7 million in August 2021 before closing the the Pre-Series A round that got it an additional $3.5 million. The companys app has more than 6.5 million downloads and 1.3 million monthly active users, making it Indias largest social network for and rural communities. Krishify, which is based in Gurugram in Haryana, said it is building an agriverse where farmers, rural families, retailers, traders, and agribusiness can interact and transact among themselves. Krishify was founded in 2019 by IIT alumni Rajesh Ranjan, Manish Agrawal, and Avinash Kumar. Ranjan was previously a product manager with Analytics Vidhya. He co-founded Instano, a virtual shopping mobile app that was acquired by MagicTiger. Agarwal previously worked as a senior engineer at Rivigo and Kumar was once a UPSC aspirant. Krishify plans to use the new funds for expanding in India, improving its technology, advertising, lead generation, and marketing services. We are excited to partner with Omnivore in our journey to build Indias agriverse. More and more Indian are connecting via Krishify every day, as the network breaks down geographic barriers and helps people interact to access knowledge and do business," said Ranjan. Ranjan cited a third-generation farmer in Rajasthan who had sold record numbers of guava saplings to counterparts in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra "who only could have ever discovered him through the Krishify app. Mark Kahn, Managing Partner at Omnivore, said: Rising smartphone penetration in rural India has created an opportunity to build a farmer-centric social network for Indias 130 million cultivators and their families, a total population of over 600 million. Krishify is building a content-centric agriverse to help and rural communities realize greater success and joy through peer-to-peer engagement. State-owned on Tuesday signed papers to get a Rs 6,333.40-crore loan from a consortium of banks from India and Nepal for funding of its Arun-3 power project in Nepal. " Arun-3 Power Development Company, a subsidiary of Ltd in Nepal, today (on Tuesday) signed term loan documents for drawl of Rs 6,333.40-crore loan with the consortium of banks from India and Nepal," the company said in a statement. The consortium, led by SBI India and PNB, have Exim Bank, Canara UBI & Everest Bank, Nepal & Nabil Bank, Nepal as consortium members, according to the statement. SJVN Chairman and Managing Director Nand Lal Sharma re-affirmed SJVN's commitment to complete the construction of 900-MW Arun-3 HEP (hydro electric project) in Nepal in the financial year 2023-24, one year ahead of the scheduled commissioning of the project in February 2025, as required under Project Development Agreement and Financing Documents. The documents were signed by Jitendra Yadav, chief finance officer, SAPDC, Nepal on behalf of SAPDC and respective signatories of consortium banks. Sharma said in the statement that SJVN is implementing the 900-MW Arun-3 hydroelectric project in Nepal through its wholly-owned subsidiary SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company. The project, he said, is in an advanced stage of construction and is targeted to be completed in the financial year 2023-24. The project completion, Sharma said, had been advanced by about a year which will immensely benefit not only SJVN but also the government of Nepal who will start getting power supply as a basic infrastructure for the industrial development of the country. Sharma also said that as a result of trust gained by SJVN by efficient implementation of the project, the Government of Nepal has also allocated Lower Arun Hydro Power Project to the company. Currently, SJVN has a portfolio of over 16,000 megawatt (MW), with 2,016.50 MW installed capacity and the rest under various stages of development. This tremendous growth in the portfolio has enabled SJVN to revise and upgrade its shared vision. Now, the company is set out to achieve 5,000 MW by 2023, 25,000 MW by 2030 and 50,000 MW installed capacity by year 2040. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Food delivery giant is eyeing $800 million in initial public offerings (IPO) next year and has started preparations for the same, a report by Nikkei Asia said. This comes after its rival Zomato, which witnessed a stellar debut in markets last year, has seen its shares decline below its issue price. Zomato commands a market capitalisation of about $9 billion (Rs 67,600 crore). Zomato was valued at $5.4 billion before its IPO. It reported tepid order value growth in the third quarter. SoftBank Group-backed has started adding independent directors to the board as the food delivery company also plans to position itself as a logistics company. recently became a decacorn by raising $700 million after a funding round led by Invesco, in which it doubled its valuation to $10.7 billion, surpassing its rival Zomato. Decacorn is a term that refers to startups valued at more than $10 billion. Amid a boom in demand for food delivery and grocery, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, Swiggy, after its latest funding round, had said that the gross order value of the companys core food-delivery business has nearly doubled in the last year. Swiggy said that the latest fundraise will help it to increase growth on its core platform of food delivery segment in addition to making investments in Instamart. The food delivery company has also that it plans to invest $700 million in Instamart, which has expanded to 19 cities in the past few months. Instamart is now competing with the likes of Blinkit and Zepto, which are luring customers with the promise of 10 minute-deliveries. Swiggy's IPO preparation comes as India's markets have been witnessing a reality check after a dream run in 2021. The shares of Indian startups, such as Paytm, Zomato, Policybazaar and Nykaa, that listed amid much fanfare last year, have been hitting newer lows every other days. Zomato's shares have slumped 41% since October 1, while Paytm shares are trading at under more than half their listing price. Nykaa's shares have slumped 33% from its list price while Policybazaar's have fallen 36%. Swiggy and Zomato are neck-and-neck in sales. In December, Swiggy claimed monthly sales of $250 million from its food delivery business, while Zomato posted sales of $733 million in the October-December quarter, reported Nikkei. Swiggy reported a 23% fall year-on-year in revenue at Rs 2,145 crore in financial year 2020-21 (FY21). However, its net loss decreased 65% YoY to Rs 1,314 crore, showed regulatory documents sourced by business intelligence platform Tofler. The Bengaluru-based companys total expenses stood at Rs 3,310 crore. on Tuesday operated a Boeing 787 aircraft to to bring back Indians amid rising tensions in the eastern European country. The aircraft, which has more than 250 seats, is expected to return to the capital at around 10.30 pm on Tuesday, according to an airline official. The flight AI 1947 took off from the airport here at around 7.30 am and landed at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 3 pm IST (Indian Standard Time), according to flight tracking websites. In recent weeks, tensions have been escalating between and Russia, and on Monday, recognised the independence of two separatist regions in the eastern . On Tuesday, Indian embassy in Kyiv again asked Indian students to temporarily leave the country amid the rising tensions. Air India, on February 19, announced that it would operate three flights between and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26. Meanwhile, full-service carrier Vistara's CEO Vinod Kannan on Tuesday said it has no plans to operate flights to Ukraine. "At this time, we are not planning flights to Ukraine because of aircraft limitations and other reasons," he told PTI. On February 17, the civil aviation ministry asked Indian carriers to look at the possibility of operating flights to Ukraine due to the increase in demand. Besides, the ministry had removed the curbs on the number of flights that can be operated between and the eastern European nation under the bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from that country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An plane carrying around 240 Indians from landed at the Delhi airport at around 11.40 pm on Tuesday. Amid rising tensions between and Russia, operated a Boeing 787 aircraft to bring back Indians from the eastern European country. The flight AI 1946, which took off from Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 6 pm (Indian Standard Time), landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here at around 11.40 pm on Tuesday. Officials said there were around 240 passengers in the flight. After landing at the airport from Ukraine, 22-year-old Anil Rapriya said, "I am feeling happy to back in my country". He is a fourth-year MBBS student at Kharkiv Medical University (KNMU) in Kharkiv city. "I have just moved to India as Indian Embassy asked us to leave the country given the evolving situation in Ukraine," he told PTI over phone soon after landing. His family lives in Nangloi in Delhi. Anil's brother, Manish Rapriya was waiting anxiously at T3 terminal's arrival lounge. "He went for his MBBS course in 2018. I spoke to him on phone after he landed at Delhi airport. We are glad that he's back, as the situation can change given the tensions between Russia and Ukraine," Manish said. Earlier, the plane had left the capital at around 7.30 am and landed at the Kyiv airport at about 3 pm (IST). In a tweet at about 9.46 pm, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said around 250 Indians and students belonging to various states are returning from to Delhi tonight. "More flights in the coming days to help Indians return," he said. According to a civil aviation ministry official, some other Indian operators are also expected to operate flights to Ukraine depending on the demand. Air India, on February 19, announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26. On Tuesday, Indian embassy in Kyiv again asked Indian students to temporarily leave the country amid the rising tensions. Russian President Putin on Monday signed decrees to recognise Ukraine's regions of 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' as "independent", escalating the tension in the region and increasing fears of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An plane carrying more than 240 passengers from is expected to land in the capital after 10 pm on Tuesday, according to officials. The airline is operating a Boeing 787 aircraft to bring back Indians amid rising tensions between and Russia. The flight AI 1946 is on the way to the capital and there are more than 240 passengers onboard. It took off from Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 6 pm, the officials said. Flight tracking websites showed that the flight is expected to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after 10 pm. Earlier, flight AI 1947 took off from the capital at around 7.30 am and landed at Boryspil International Airport at around 3 pm IST (Indian Standard Time). According to a civil aviation ministry official, some other Indian operators are also expected to operate flights to depending on the demand. In recent weeks, tensions have been escalating between Ukraine and Russia, and on Monday, Russia recognised the independence of two separatist regions in the eastern Ukraine. On Tuesday, Indian embassy in Kyiv again asked Indian students to temporarily leave the country amid the rising tensions. Air India, on February 19, announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26. Meanwhile, full-service carrier Vistara's CEO Vinod Kannan on Tuesday said Vistara has no plans at this time to operate flights to Ukraine. "At this time, we are not planning flights to Ukraine because of aircraft limitations and other reasons," he told PTI. On February 17, the civil aviation ministry asked Indian carriers to look at the possibility of operating flights to Ukraine due to the increase in demand. Besides, the ministry had removed the curbs on the number of flights that can be operated between India and the eastern European nation under the bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate travel of Indians from that country. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister on Tuesday termed the charge of the BJP-led government using central agencies against political opponents as "baseless allegations". Speaking to reporters here, she also wondered how meetings between opposition like the ones involving Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and NCP's Sharad Pawar continue, if the Centre was putting pressure through the agencies. She explained that the ED acts only when an offence has been created or registered somewhere, and if there is a case made under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Asked specifically about the charges of the using central agencies against the opposition to silence them or to make state governments unstable, Sitharaman rubbished the allegations as "baseless". "Assume that we are using the investigative agencies against the opposition, here all three have come together and are making public statements. What is the use of the pressure? There is no pressure being applied. If you want to meet, please do so," she said. Without naming the workers, the FM said the same opposition which is using the state police against 'karyakartas' (workers) in West Bengal, should not be making such allegations. She also explained how the ED, which comes under the Ministry of Finance, goes about its work as a law enforcement agency. "Even if ED wishes to do something for political or any other (reasons), it is just not possible. Unless you have the material before you which is substantive enough (to act).and ED, mind you, cannot go there first. It's a law enforcing agency which deals with predicate offence, which means there is an offence somewhere that is acted upon, post that there is an offence created which is coming under the PMLA realm and then the ED goes in there," she said. ".even if I wish, it (investigation) just cannot happen. But, even if I wish, if there is an offence there, I can't stop it either," she added. The Opposition has been vociferous in its protest over the use of central agencies, claiming that there is a pattern of political adversaries being targeted by the arms of the central government. "Every party has the right in a democracy to meet and build alliances. But don't speak about pressure. You meet and definitely talk. If we assume that the pressure is indeed being applied, you are still talking? Which means what is the use of the pressure. This is a baseless allegation, I am saying again and again, the FM said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Tuesday asked the health department to take measures for online booking in out patient departments of medical colleges and hospitals in the state. He also directed streamlining the process for applying online for medical bill reimbursement of state government employees, on official release said. Sarma issued the instructions during a review of various programmes of the health department. Key issues related to Secondary Healthcare Systems Reforms Project, status of the State Cancer Institute at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital and draft of Employees Health Assured Scheme were also discussed in the meeting, it said. He directed that steps should be taken for setting up 50 bedded hospitals under PM Ayushmaan Bharat Abhiyaan at five locations across Assam, besides a 100 bed hospital at Sualkuchi, a mother and child care hospital at Tamulpur and high quality GNM Nursing School as part of district hospital infrastructure under the same project. To make health delivery system hassle free, Sarma asked for opening green corridor of emergency cases with space for parking besides steps for online booking for OPD at medical colleges, the release said. He also reviewed the progress of ongoing construction works of five district hospitals at newly created districts. While discussing various steps taken at State Cancer Institute, GMCH, under National Programme for prevention and control of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke, the chief minister approved the utilisation plan of the first instalment of fund received from the Centre. He also gave directions for prompt utilisation of fund to be released under second and third instalments, it said. Reviewing the draft for implementation of Employees' Health Assured Scheme, Sarma directed introduction of portal-based submission of medical bills for government servants, including the retired employees. He also directed to end the empanelled hospital system to make the new mechanism more conducive. Under the new mechanism, there will be a single admissibility board headed by the CEO of Atal Amrit Abhiyaan Society. The CEO's office will take steps for verification and other necessary procedures for release of admissible amount in a faceless manner with high end technological intervention, the release said. The chief minister asked the department to develop a portal and prepare appropriate guidelines to ensure seamless experience for government servants, the release added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two more persons have been detained in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old activist here, police sources said on Tuesday. Three people were already arrested in relation to the case and they are residents of this district headquarters town, they said. Harsha was stabbed to death on Sunday night at Bharathi Nagar in the city allegedly by a group of men, who had arrived in a car. Police suspect the involvement of seven people in the murder. "Investigations are underway to find out their (those arrested and detained) links with various political and social outfits", sources said. In view of the tense situation, the district administration has declared a holiday for schools and colleges today as well. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC are also in force here. Three police teams have been formed to track the others murderers who are at large, they added. Following the incident, the city witnessed violence, arson, stone-pelting and damage to the properties during the funeral procession on Monday that left at least three persons, including a photo journalist and a policewoman, injured. Several two-wheelers were either damaged or torched. Police tried to bring the situation under control by firing in the air and lathi charge to disperse the crowd, and made way for the funeral procession to move further and the final rites to take place. Police personnel have been deployed at every nook and corner of the city. The district authorities have appealed to the people to maintain peace and calm. A few BJP leaders including Minister K S Eshwarappa and Union Minister of state Shobha Karandlaje claimed a conspiracy behind Harsha's murder, and demanded NIA probe into it. Eshwarappa, who is from the district alleged that "Musalman goondas" are behind Harsha's murder. BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh alleged that Harsha was killed by jihadi fundamentalists for his opposition to Hijab at educational institutions. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Giving clear indications of an early verdict in the row, the High Court Special bench, constituted to look into the petitions submitted by students demanding their right to wear in classrooms, on Tuesday directed counsels to complete their arguments by this week. The Chief Justice (CJ) Ritu Raj Awasthi asked the Advocate General (AG) Prabhuling Navadgi, who is representing the government, to complete his submissions at the earliest. The AG submitted to the bench that he would complete his arguments on the day itself (Tuesday). CJ Awasthi informed all counsels that the bench wants to complete the hearing on the case this weekend and directed them to keep the arguments brief. "Make positive endeavours to complete within this week only," he said. AG Navadgi said that it was entirely on the petitioner to prove that the practice of is obligatory in nature and compulsorily followed in Islam. They have placed 144 Suras of Quran, this court has asked them in this regard. There is no record on the table to show that the custom is obligatory and it is an element of compulsion which compels a member to even be expelled from the community. Wearing of dress is a freedom of speech, as argued by the petitioners as their fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (a). However, Article 19 (1) (a) is subject to public order, decency under Article 19 (2). In the present case, the uniform rule is subject to institutional restriction and it is subjected to institutional discipline not only in schools, but also in hospitals, military establishments and others, AG submitted to the court. The rule imposes reasonable restrictions on wearing a headscarf. The AG also mentioned that uniform is being prescribed till pre-university as they have an impregnable mindset. There is no restriction on campus to wear a hijab. Only during class hours in the classrooms hijab is not allowed and anything beyond uniforms irrespective of any religion is not allowed, AG Navadgi argued. He further mentioned about the total ban on hijab by France and Turkey in public spaces. At this point Justice Krishna S. Dixit intervened and stated that it depends on the constitutional policy of every country. AG Navadgi stated that he only wanted to say, there is no prohibition as such in our country. AG Navadgi earlier had said that hijab was not an essential practice of Islam, and he also brought to the notice of the court how it has been upheld by various High Courts and judgments of the Supreme Court. AG Navadgi explained to bench on Monday that wearing hijab was not an essential religious practice in Islam and it can't come under Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion). Submitting his arguments while representing the government, he said that the petitioner students have approached the court not just seeking permission to wear headscarves. But, they have claimed that they want to wear hijab and attend classes wearing hijab as part of their religious right. He maintained that wearing hijab is not an essential part of their religion and it can't come under Article 25. --IANS mka/dpb (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) chief has been given Z-plus cover during his 21-day release on furlough from a Haryana jail where he has been serving a sentence, officials said on Tuesday Singh was given the high-category cover after his release on February 7 due to a high-level threat to his life from "pro-Khalistan" elements, they said. "In case the prisoner is released on parole, Z-plus protection or equivalent may be provided as per existing rules, regulations etc as he faces a high-level threat from radical Sikh extremists in India and abroad, a recent communication from a senior Haryana police official to the Rohtak Range Commissioner said. There are reliable inputs, regarding the threat to from pro-Khalistan activists," the official communication added. The sect chief was released on February 7 after the Haryana government concluded that he does not fall in the category of hardcore prisoners. He is currently in his Gurugram ashram and has been kept under heavy security. The legal opinion on whether Singh would fall in the category of hardcore prisoners was earlier sought at the insistence of jail authorities before he was granted furlough. The 21-day furlough had come just days ahead of the assembly polls in Punjab, where the sect has a large number of followers, particularly in Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Muktsar. On February 7, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had rejected any link between the sect leader's release from Sunaria jail in Rohtak district and the Punjab elections on February 20. I think it is a coincidence and has no connection with the polls, he had said. The sect chief is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa, where the dera is headquartered. He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017. He was last year also convicted along with four others for hatching a conspiracy to kill Ranjit Singh, a Dera manager, in 2002. In 2019, the Dera chief and three others were also convicted for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago. He had been held guilty for hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused for these killings. He had been convicted under section 120-B read with section 302 of IPC. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. member countries agreed Tuesday that they should further facilitate tourist travel into the 27-nation bloc for people who are vaccinated against the or have recovered from COVID-19. The European Council is recommending that EU nations next month lift all testing and quarantine requirements for people who received vaccines authorised in the EU or approved by the World Health Organisation. Individuals who received the last dose of their primary vaccination series at least 14 days and no more than 270 days before arrival, or who have received a booster dose, would be eligible along with those who recovered from COVID-19 within 180 days of travel. The EU's executive commission welcomed the non-binding guidance, which also makes clear that no test or additional requirements should be applied to children under 6 who are travelling with an adult. The updates will further facilitate travel from outside the EU into the EU, and take into account the evolution of the pandemic, the increasing vaccination uptake worldwide and the administration of booster doses, the European Commission said. Travellers who received vaccines that were approved but WHO but are not authorised for use in the EU may still be asked to present a negative PCR test or to quarantine, the European Council said. So far, the EU has authorised the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Tuesday sent the first shipment of 2,500 tonnes of wheat to via Pakistani land route, over four months after announcing the humanitarian aid for the Afghan people. In a ceremony held in Amritsar, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla along with Afghan Ambassador Farid Mamundzay and World Food Program Country Director Bishaw Parajuli flagged off the first convoy of 50 trucks carrying the consignment. had sent a proposal to Islamabad on October 7 seeking a transit facility to send 50,000 tonnes of wheat to the people of via Pakistani soil. It received a positive response on November 24. Following this, both sides were in touch to finalise the modalities for the transportation of the shipment. "The shipment is part of the commitment made by the Government of to supply 50,000 metric tonnes of wheat for the people of . The wheat assistance will be delivered in multiple consignments and will be handed over to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Jalalabad, Afghanistan," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. "In this regard, the Government of India signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat within Afghanistan," it said. In a statement, the MEA said India remains committed to its special relationship with the people of Afghanistan. "In this endeavour, India has already supplied 5,00,000 doses of Covaxin, 13 tonnes of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing. These consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation at the Indira Gandhi Hospital, Kabul," it said. The last consignment of medical supplies was delivered on Saturday. It was the fifth consignment of humanitarian aid to that country. India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. India has been concerned over the recent developments in Afghanistan. It hosted a regional dialogue on Afghanistan on November 10 that was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The participating countries vowed to work towards ensuring that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for global terrorism and called for the formation of an "open and truly inclusive" government in Kabul with representation from all sections of the Afghan society. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 tally in reached 10,35,808 on Tuesday after the detection of 521 new cases, while the death toll increased by two to touch 10,719, a health department official said. The positivity rate stood stable at 1.2 per cent for the second consecutive day, he added. The recovery count was 10,18,917 after 1,244 people were discharged during the day, leaving the state with an active tally of 6,172, he said. Bhopal and Indore, the two worst coronavirus-hit cities of Madhya Pradesh, registered 103 and 47 cases, respectively, during the past 24 hours, he said. With 60,620 samples examined during the day, the number of tests in MP went up to 2,74,98,295, the official said. A government release said 11,32,66,277 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered so far in the state, including 79,828 on Tuesday. figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 10,35,808, new cases 521, death toll 10,719, recoveries 10,18,917, active cases 6,172, number of tests so far 2,74,98,295. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after a special CBI Court in Ranchi sentenced chief Lalu Prasad to five years imprisonment and imposed a Rs 60 lakh fine on him, vice president Shivanand Tiwari alleged that Bihar Chief Minister was also "involved" in the and had "taken the money from the kingpin Shyam Bihari Sinha". Tiwari's statement came after said that the leaders who were involved in filing the petition against Lalu Prasad, are working as advisors of the party and sitting close to him. " has become vocal these days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave him the socialist leader certificate. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi had alleged that Nitish Kumar was also involved in the and took money after illegal withdrawal from the treasuries of Jharkhand (then Bihar). Does Nitish Kumar have the guts to admit the allegation levelled by Sushil Kumar Modi. I am also challenging Sushil Kumar Modi to repeat the allegation he had levelled on Nitish Kumar again," Tiwari told IANS. "Shyam Bihari Sinha was the kingpin of the . Can Nitish Kumar deny that he has not met Shyam Bihari Sinha in his entire life. I am challenging that he had close links with Shyam Bihari and took bribe in this case," Tiwari said. Tiwari said that he has no hesitation in saying that he was one of the petitioners against Lalu Prasad in the court to demand a CBI inquiry into the matter. "The fodder scam was first unearthed by the Deputy Commissioner-cum District Magistrate of Chaibasa district (Now in Jharkhand) in the first quarter of 1996. He detected that some illegal withdrawal of money took place from the district treasury by the Animal Husbandry Department. The matter reached the finance secretary of Bihar BS Dubey. At that time, Lalu Prasad was in power. He had given direction to investigate the matter. Following his direction, BS Dubey initiated an inquiry into various treasuries and found illegal withdrawal from Dumka, Doranda and Chaibasa treasuries," Tiwari said. "The leaders in the opposition did not find the irregularities. It was found by the deputy collector of Chaibasa. The BJP and JD-U leaders had used it as a weapon to show dominance on Lalu Prasad. At that time, George Fernandes was the president of the JD-U. He pointed out that if our party will not file a case against Lalu Prasad in the fodder scam, how will the people of Bihar onsider his party and vote for it. It was a political strategy of George Fernandes to get the upper hand in this case as BJP leaders like Sushil Kumar Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad and others were trying to take the lead in it," Tiwari said. "George Fernandes asked Nitish Kumar to sign the petition which he refused. After his refusal, George Fernandes asked me to sign the petition. I was in Delhi. He had sent an air ticket to me. I returned to Patna and signed the petition in the house of Ravi Shankar Prasad. Besides me, Saryu Rai, Sushil Kumar Modi signed the petition. I was in the JD-U then and had signed on behalf of the party as Nitish Kumar refused to sign it," Tiwari said. "The first petition prepared in the house of Ravi Shankar Prasad was filed in the court in desperation. BJP leaders were wanting to take the credit for it and show before the public that they are fighting against Lalu Prasad. The second petition was filed by Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, the national president of the party. In that petition, Lalan Singh, Vrisan Patel and Jitan Ram Manjhi were petitioners. In both the petitions, we have demanded a CBI inquiry," Tiwari said. "Now, Nitish Kumar is saying that individual leaders have not filed the petitions against Lalu Prasad. It was a decision of the party," Tiwari said. "Lalu Prasad was the strongest leader of Bihar at that time. The JD-U didn't have the courage to defeat him. It was a strategy of the BJP and JD-U to drag Lalu Prasad to the court as they were unable to contest against him. The actual motive of filing the case against Lalu Prasad was to remove him from power and make Nitish Kumar the chief minister of Bihar," Tiwari claimed. --IANS ajk/svn/bg (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With Pakistan stating that he would like to have a TV debate with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader on Tuesday said he agrees that "jaw-jaw is better than war-war", but asserted that no issues are ever resolved in Indian television debates, only exacerbated. Khan said on Tuesday that he would like to have a TV debate with Modi to resolve differences between the two neighbouring countries. The Pakistan prime minister made the remarks during an interview with Russia's state-run television network RT on the eve of his maiden two-day visit to Moscow -- the first by a Pakistani premier in over two decades -- during which he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin and exchange views on major regional and international issues. Reacting to Khan's remarks, Tharoor tweeted, "Dear @ImranKhanPTI, agree that 'jaw-jaw is better than war-war', but no issues are ever resolved in Indian television debates, only exacerbated!" "And some of our anchors would be happy to ignite World War III if it would increase their TRPs....," the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said. Khan, in response to a question, said, "I would love to debate with on TV." He added that it would be so good for over a billion people of the subcontinent if differences between Pakistan and India could be resolved through a debate. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister said on Tuesday that he would like to have a TV debate with his Indian counterpart to resolve differences between the two neighbouring countries. Khan made the remarks during an interview with Russia's state-run television network RT on the eve of his maiden two-day visit to Moscow - the first by a Pakistani premier in over two decades during which he will hold talks with President Vladimir Putin and review exchange views on major regional and international issues. "I would love to debate with on TV," Khan said in response to a question. He added that it would be so good for over a billion people of the subcontinent if differences between Pakistan and India could be resolved through a debate. Responding to a question, Khan said when his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf came into power in 2018 he immediately reached out to India and asked the Indian leadership to sit down at the table and resolve the Kashmir issue. He, however, regretted that India did not respond positively to his overtures. Ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after a terror attack on the Pathankot Air Force base in 2016 by terror groups based in the neighbouring country. Subsequent attacks, including one on an Indian Army camp in Uri, further deteriorated the relationship. The relationship dipped further after India's war planes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp deep inside Pakistan on February 26, 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed. The relations deteriorated after India announced withdrawing the special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state into two union territories in August, 2019. India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir "was, is and shall forever" remain an integral part of the country. It also advised Pakistan to accept the reality and stop all anti-India propaganda. India has told Pakistan that it desires normal neighbourly relations with Islamabad in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. Prime Minister Khan also expressed hope for a "peaceful solution" to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as he emphasised that military conflicts could never solve problems. "I am not a believer in military conflicts. I believe the civilised societies resolve the difference through dialogues and countries that rely on military conflicts have not studied history properly," Khan said during the interview. Khan said he was sure that people in Ukraine and Russia were aware of the consequences of an impending conflict. President Putin on Monday signed decrees to recognise Ukraine's regions of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent, escalating the tension in the region and increasing fears of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. He also ordered Russian troops into eastern Ukraine in what the Kremlin called a "peacekeeping" mission in the Moscow-backed regions. The US-led West has warned Russia that it would face severe consequences for its actions in Ukraine. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister on Tuesday rejected the opposition campaign that the construction of embankment for his government's flagship Silver Line rail corridor project would partition the southern state into two, saying the propaganda was just "exaggeration" and "factually incorrect". The embankment, to be raised for 292.73 kilometers of the total 532 kilometer-rail corridor, would help maintain proper alignment of tracks and prevent water from entering there and it has been an existing practice by the Railways across the country, he told the state Assembly. The Chief Minister was replying to a series of questions raised by the ruling and opposition members in the House regarding the multi-crore project. Embankments, upto 17 meter height, already existed in as part of various railway tracks and the majority of such constructions as part of the upcoming Silver Line project would be below five meter, he said. "The height of the 74 kilometer stretch of embankment will be between five and eight meters. The propaganda that the construction of embankments will divide the state into two is just exaggeration and factually incorrect," Vijayan said as a reply to a question by Shafi Parambil (Congress). He also assured the House that a sufficient number of underpasses and culverts would be constructed as part of the project, helping the local people to cross the tracks and ensuring the natural flow of water in the area. Though he did not give a clear answer for the question on how many tones of natural resources would be required for the construction of the embankments, he said a comparatively minimum amount of such resources may be used for the mammoth work, envisaged to be built under the green protocol. Asked whether the embankments would aggravate the natural disasters in the state, Vijayan said the construction would be completely taking into consideration the environmental priorities and special arrangements would be made to avoid such catastrophes. The Left government's ambitious SilverLine project, which is expected to reduce travel time from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod to around four hours, is being opposed by the opposition Congress-led UDF, which has been alleging that it was unscientific and impractical and will put a huge financial burden on the state. The 540 kilometre stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod would be developed by K-Rail a joint venture of the government and the Railway Ministry for developing railway infrastructure in the southern state. Starting from the state capital, SilverLine trains will have stoppages at Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur before reaching Kasaragod. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The situation in Ukraine has its roots in the post-Soviet politics, the expansion of NATO and the dynamics between Russia and Europe, External Affairs Minister said on Tuesday, amid escalating tension between Moscow and the West after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway Ukrainian regions as independent states. In an interactive session at a think-tank in Paris, he said the world today is in the midst of "multiple crises" and these developments have generated new challenges to the international order. Separately in an interview published in French daily Le Figaro on Monday, Jaishankar said that the situation in Ukraine is the result of a complex chain of circumstances over the last 30 years and most countries are seeking a diplomatic solution. "The situation in Ukraine is the result of a complex chain of circumstances over the last thirty years. Most countries, such as India and France, which is very active, are seeking a diplomatic solution," he said. "The real question is: are you mobilised to find a good solution or are you content with posturing? India can talk with Russia, with other countries, within the UN security council and support initiatives like those of France," Jaishankar said when asked why India has not condemned the concentration of Russian troops on the Ukrainian borders. The Ukraine crisis deepened further after Russian President Putin announced recognising two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent states. In his address at the French Institute of International Relations, Jaishankar extensively delved into fast-expanding Indo-French ties and said India looks at France as a "trusted" partner in countering myriad security challenges from the seabed to space and from cyber to oceans. "I can assert with genuine confidence that it (Indo-French ties) is the strongest now since our journey as an independent nation began 75 years ago," he said. "Through the tumult of our times, India's relations with France have continued to move forward on a steady and clear course. It is a relationship that is free from sudden shifts and surprises that we sometimes see in other cases," Jaishankar added. The external affairs minister said there is a great trust and sense of confidence in the relationship in India He also referred to France showing an understanding of India's "strategic compulsions" after its nuclear tests in 1998. "French support played an important role in India getting an exemption from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008 to resume international cooperation in civil nuclear energy," he added. Asked to compare the Ukraine crisis with the situation in Taiwan, Jaishankar said different problems have different histories, different contexts and players and transposing issues of one theatre to another can be misleading. "Both are products of very complex histories of that particular region. In the case of Ukraine, a lot of it derives from the post-Soviet politics, the expansion of NATO, the dynamics between Russia and Europe, and Russia and the West broadly," he said. "I think, in the case of Taiwan, it is a product of what happened in Chinese history and what happened the way the Cold war and other developments played out in Asia," he said. On the eastern Ladakh border row with China, Jaishankar said both sides held 13 rounds of military talks and as a result of that significant headway has been made in many of the friction points. At the same time, he said there are some friction points that remained to be resolved. Jaishankar said India is absolutely clear that it will not agree to any change in the status quo and will not accept any attempt to change the Line of Actual Control unilaterally. "So however complex it is, however long it takes, however difficult it is, that clarity is what guides us and I would say other than optimism, it is also very important to have perseverance," he said replying to a question on whether he was optimistic about the resolution of the row. Asked about India's views on trilateral security grouping AUKUS (Australia, the UK and the US), Jaishankar did not give a direct reply. He said it is important that democratic countries with shared values and interests work together with a cooperative spirit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's government may conduct more debt auctions after its last scheduled tender for the fiscal year on Friday, two people familiar with the matter said, to take advantage of the relatively low cost of borrowing. The government had cancelled its last two weekly debt sales worth 240 billion rupees ($3.21 billion) each as global yields surged and as the state had achieved a comfortable cash balance for the fiscal year that ends March 31. But in a surprise move for markets, the government on Monday said it will borrow 230 billion rupees at the last bond sale for the current fiscal year on Feb. 25. Sources said while the government had a comfortable cash position even without further auctions, it would consider completing its planned borrowing if market conditions were appropriate. "(We) will not commit if this would be our last borrowing for the year. We are watching the yields and will take a call accordingly," a senior official directly involved in the matter told Reuters. A second source said it would be recommended for the government to borrow now to take advantage of the relatively lower yields. The 10-year benchmark yield hit a two-and-half-year high of 6.95% after the government announced a record 14.95 trillion rupees worth borrowing for 2022/23 at the Feb. 1 federal budget. The yield, however, has retraced almost all its post-budget gains after the auction cancellations and is currently at 6.73% as of 0648 GMT. India's finance ministry did not immediately respond to mail seeking comments. Though the government cited the official reason for the cancelled auctions as a comfortable cash balance, sources had told Reuters at the time officials were concerned about the sharp market reaction after the announced borrowing plan. However, traders warn new auctions could drive yields higher again. "The belief is that we are done with the borrowing for this year. If the government decides to borrow towards the cancelled auctions later, it will lead to a lot of pressure on bonds, especially in the current geopolitical backdrop," a senior trader at a foreign bank said. "If we have more auctions this year, yields will likely climb back to 6.95% levels," a trader at a private bank said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Finance Minister on Tuesday said rising prices amid escalating Ukraine-Russia tensions posed a challenge to Indias financial stability and the government was monitoring the situation. Even at the Financial Stability and Development Council (meeting) today (Tuesday), (we looked) at the challenges that posed a threat to financial stability, crude (oil) was one of the things. The international situation is worrisome where we voiced that we want a diplomatic solution for the situation that is developing in Ukraine. Crude (is) one of the most important considerations ... we will keep a watch, she said while interacting with the media. When asked about any decision to cut taxes on fuel, she said a day prior to Deepawali the prime minister had announced a cut. Brent crude prices shot up to $99.1/barrel from $96/barrel on Monday after the Russia-Ukraine crisis deepened, but it fell to $97.86. ALSO READ: Keen to fill vacant posts at regulatory bodies at the earliest: Sitharaman NSE CONTROVERSY Sitharaman said the government was looking into the controversy around former National Stock Exchange managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) Chitra Ramkrishna. She said shed get to the bottom of what is available to take a view if the sector regulator had done enough in terms of penalising the stock exchange. I have no view this way or that way till I get to the bottom of what is available. I am looking into it. I wont comment whether it (the penal action taken by the Securities and Exchange Board of India, or Sebi) is enough, she said. The NSE has been criticised over the controversy surrounding Ramkrishna sharing confidential information with an outsider, a purported spiritual guru, and lapses in HR practices. The matter, although it has come to light now, dates back to 2013-16. Some have even criticised Sebi for delaying matters and letting off Ramkrishna and former group operation officer Anand Subramanian lightly. Earlier this month, Sebi imposed a penalty of Rs 3 crore on Ramkrishna and Rs 2 crore each on the NSE, Subramanian and Ravi Narain, another former MD and CEO. An order passed by Sebi on February 11 showed she supposedly ran Indias largest exchange in an arbitrary manner and shared information such as board agendas and business plans with a Himalayan yogi. LIC IPO The minister said the market feedback on the proposed initial public offering (IPO) of the Life Insurance Corporation was positive but declined to answer the question if it could slip into the next financial year because the markets had turned volatile, mainly due to global headwinds. I can see in the market now the DRHP [LIC] is out, there is a lot of buzz in the market interest in the market and I am glad the way in which it has been crafted. We will be going ahead with it, she said. According to the draft red herring prospectus, the government will sell 316 million shares of the insurer through an offer for sale in the IPO, which will be the largest ever in India. The IPO has seen a strong investor interest as evident in the roadshows, merchant bankers said. Large investors will be keen to participate because LIC is expected to be an index stock. BANK PRIVATISATION Even if the Union Budget this year was silent on the privatisation of public sector banks and general insurance companies (an announcement was made in the previous years Budget), Sitharaman said the government was staying the course on the disinvestment process. On privatisation, we have been on course since last Budget the Cabinet has already given its clearance, Sitharman said while saying the government went ahead with Air India disinvestment and the IPO of the LIC. That time the question was Air India. The fact is that we are moving forward and that is how Air India got cleared. NINL (Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd) got cleared. The LIC IPO was eagerly awaited and that has come out, the minister said. Air India was sold to Tata Group, which acquired a 100 per cent stake in the airline in a deal that closed in the last week of January for Rs 18,000 crore. In her Budget speech on February 1, 2021, the finance minister had announced two public sector banks, in addition to the disinvestment of IDBI Bank, and one general insurance company would be privatised. Plywood is used to seal the garage of a new home, right, in Sacramento, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2022. The home-building industry is having the most difficult time in decades meeting demand, the sum of many pandemic complications. But this moment reaches peak absurdity with garage doors. Voicing deep concern over the escalation of tension after Russian President ordered his troops into eastern Ukraine, India has told the UN Security Council that the immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions and said it was convinced that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. President Putin on Monday signed decrees to recognise Ukraines regions of Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics as independent. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on on Monday, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said, we have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including developments along the eastern border of and the related announcement by the Russian Federation. The escalation of tension along the border of with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, he said. India called for restraint on all sides and stressed that the immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond. Following Putins decision, the UN Security Council, under Russias Presidency for the month, held an emergency open briefing called for by Ukraine. India strongly emphasised the vital need for all sides to maintain international peace and security by exercising the utmost restraint and intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure that a mutually amicable solution is arrived at the earliest. We are convinced that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. We need to give space to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to diffuse tensions, Tirumurti said, adding that in this context, New Delhi welcomes the intense efforts underway, including via the Trilateral Contact Group and under the Normandy format. We need Parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests. We cannot afford to have a military escalation, Tirumurti said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stocks of with exposure to Europe fell on Tuesday amid concerns about the impact on their sales in case the Russia- crisis worsens and the US and its allies impose economic sanctions on . While top conglomerates, including Reliance Industries, the Tata group, and Aditya Birla Group, said they did not have any significant exposure to Russia, executives of some of the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and tea companies said they were monitoring the situation closely as they earned substantial income from the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered troops into two breakaway regions of eastern after announcing that would recognise their independence. This led to sharp reactions, with Germany freezing a new gas pipeline and Britain hitting Russian banks with sanctions on Tuesday. British Health Minister Sajid Javid told a TV channel that the invasion of has begun. US President Joe Biden has not yet used the word invasion, but it is widely expected that the US is set to order sanctions on separatist regions of Ukraine. India and China have asked all sides to show restraint. ALSO READ: De-escalation of Russia-Ukraine tensions immediate priority: India Shares of Tata Motors, the parent firm of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), fell 3.28 per cent on the BSE as investors feared any conflict would hit JLRs sales in Europe. Pharma major Dr Reddys Laboratories was down 2 per cent, while shares of Motherson Sumi, a key automobile parts supplier to European companies, closed almost flat. Oil and gas sector officials said the Ukraine crisis was unlikely to have any immediate impact on India, but any rise in crude oil prices could be a cause for concern as it would push the import bill up. On Tuesday, Brent crude was hovering near the $100 per barrel mark. HPCL Chairman and Managing Director M K Surana warned of supply chain disruptions if the situation in Ukraine worsened. There are three factors affecting crude oil prices. One is the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The second is a contrarian view coming over Iran-US discussions. The third is the constant inability of OPEC to ramp up production up to the need. So, there is a shortage of 900,000 barrels per day, Surana told a TV channel. The worsening geopolitical situation may also impact a few acquisitions by Indian oil companies in the region. Currently, talks are on between Novatek, Russias largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and an Indian private player for a long-term supply deal. Besides, a consortium of Indian companies, including Petronet LNG and ONGC Videsh (OVL), were in talks to acquire a 9.9 per cent stake from Novatek in Arctic LNG 2, a gas field. Sources said if any sanctions were imposed, then these discussions could slow down. At present, GAIL is having a long-term LNG deal with Gazprom for importing around 2.5 million tonnes (MT) of LNG per year. Officials of the government-owned companies, including OVL, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Oil India (OIL), and Bharat PetroResources (BPRL), are worried about their investments to the tune of $13.63 billion in Russias oil and gas projects. Of this, $4.84 billion was spent on two assets Vankor and Taas Yuryakh. As of now, there is no impact on OVL and other companies. Issues may appear only if the crisis intensifies and the US and EU impose sanctions, said a top PSU official, asking not to be quoted. Russian major Rosneft-backed Nayara Energy's Vadinar refinery in Gujarat is also unlikely to have any impact on its crude procurement as the company is dependent on west Asian crude oil. The share of in India's crude oil imports is around 1 per cent, while the country is dependent on west Asia for around 63.4 per cent. A Nayara official refused to comment. Executives of the pharmaceutical industry said Russia was one of the key markets for exports -- ranking fourth after the US, South Africa, and the United Kingdom -- and any disruption would be a concern. Russia accounted for 2.41 per cent of India's pharmaceutical exports in the fiscal year ended March 2021, according to the data from the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council. The US, in comparison, accounted for 31.57 per cent of India's pharma exports in FY21. Indian firms exported $591 million worth of medicines to Russia in 2020-21, as compared to $7,723.5 million worth of exports to the US. ALSO READ: All you need to know about the escalating Ukraine-Russia crisis Sun Pharmaceutical Industries and Dr Reddy's Laboratories have a significant presence in the Russian market. A Sun Pharmaceuticals spokesperson said the company was monitoring the situation in Russia and Ukraine and was hoping for the best outcome. We are in constant touch with our employees in both countries and they are safe. A DRL spokesperson said the company has had a strong presence in the region for over three decades. We hope for a peaceful resolution. In case of an escalation, ensuring the well-being of our staff, meeting patient needs, and business continuity would be our main priorities. We are monitoring developments closely and are preparing accordingly, the official said. Officials representing Indian tea exporters said Russia is one of the biggest markets for Indian tea, accounting for about 18 per cent of its total exports, though Ukraine is a very small market at around 3 million kg. Russia is a very important market for Indian tea. As it is, Iran shipments continue to be plagued by payment issues. Now, if tea exports to Russia get impacted, then more tea will be available in the domestic market and there will be an oversupply situation. It will be a serious challenge for the industry, said Nayantara Palchoudhuri, chairperson, Indian Tea Association. Finance Minister on Tuesday said the government was keen to fill the vacant position of Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (Irdai) chairman at the earliest. She, however, stopped short of giving a timeline on when the appointment for the post, lying vacant since May 2021, will be made. She said the government was also in the process of filling up the soon-to- be vacant chairmans post of Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi). Incumbent Ajay Tyagis term as the chairman will come to an end on February 28. In a press meet, the finance minister, referring to the vacant chairmans position, said: I recognise its been vacant. The person holding additional charge is probably steering it forward and the government will appoint somebody. I would like to have somebody at the earliest. Subhash Chandra Khuntia, the former chairman, left office in May, 2021, after completing his three-year term. He was not given any extension. Although the government had invited applications for the chairmans post, no appointment has been made so far. In the interim, T L Alamelu, member non-life, has been heading the insurance regulator, a source said. The Irdai chairmans position is lying vacant at a time when life insurance behemoth, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), is supposed to get listed on the bourses, making it, perhaps, the biggest moment for the industry since privatisation. Also, during this time the insurance sector has had to pay a huge number of claims due to the ongoing Covid crisis. There were many names in the fray for the chairmans post, including incumbent members of the regulator. Referring to the chairmans post, she said: The process for calling for application has already happened. Shortlisting is, probably, yet to happen. So, you will have to wait till February 28 to know what we are going to do. The Centre had invited applications for the chairpersons position in October 2021. Tyagi, who took over as chief in 2017 for a three-year term, was given a six-month extension in February 2020. In August 2020, the government had granted an 18-month extension during the Covid-19 pandemic. Tyagis predecessor UK Sinha, who too was initially appointed for a three-year term, was also given multiple extensions. He remained at the helm for six years from 2011 to 2017. Meanwhile, the FM said the government was aware of the soon-to-be vacant post of chairman at the largest state-owned general insurer, New India Assurance, as the term of the incumbent, Atul Sahai, is coming to an end later this month. This is of particular significance as the Delhi High Court has ruled that the head-hunting body of state-owned banks Banks Board Bureau (BBB) is not the competent body to appoint heads of state-owned insurance companies. The court had held that circulars enabling BBB to select the GM and directors of government-owned general insurers are not legally valid. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 21. It was reported that, perhaps, Anjan Dey, the current chairman of state-owned Oriental Insurance Company, would be appointed as the acting chairman of New India Assurance, in addition to his charge as the chairman at Oriental Insurance. But, this move is said to have faced resistance from the insurance regulator, citing corporate governance issues. Tensions between and continue unabated even as President ordered forces Monday to maintain peace in separatist regions of eastern . Closer home, the Indian government published a draft policy to open up access to government data. Head further down for more on these stories and other top headlines in our morning newswrap. Putin orders forces to 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine Russian President ordered forces Monday to maintain peace in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognized the areas independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter . But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. Read more The government on Monday published a draft data policy for public consultation, which says all data collected, generated, and stored by every government ministry and department will be open and shareable barring certain exceptions. Also, detailed datasets that have undergone value addition could be monetised by the government. The policy document, called Draft India Data Accessibility & Use Policy 2022, prescribes that a regulatory authority called the Indian Data Council (IDC) and an agency by the name India Data Office (IDO) will oversee framing metadata standards and enforcement, respectively. Read more LIC dividend payout likely to restart after IPO, say market experts of India (LIC) has not paid any dividends in nearly three years, something that may have helped shore up the insurers net worth ahead of its initial public offering (IPO), said experts. No dividends have been paid this financial year as well as in financial year 2019-20 (FY20) and FY21, years when the insurer reported a net profit of Rs 2,710 crore and Rs 2,974 crore, respectively. This was after six consecutive years from FY14 to FY19 when it had high dividend payout ratios. Read more $8.5 bn splits to grow: What's changed structure-wise? The month of February saw a comparatively muted but significant change in the history of Chennais corporate landscape. The $8.5 billion received final approval for a family resettlement on February 4 from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). It is an arrangement that is noteworthy because unlike many other corporate settlements this one was sorted out amicably and without any open conflicts. Read more Tata Motors domestic bizs valuation sees a dramatic change Tata Motors domestic business which was not accorded as much importance by brokerages in the overall sum-of-the-part (SOTP) valuation, has seen a reversal in fortunes. Analysts have now started giving it a higher weight in the overall valuation as compared to the companys UK subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The equity value of the India business comprising commercial and passenger vehicles now accounts for more than half the value in the SOTP calculations as compared to 0-30 per cent two years ago. Read more president on Tuesday alleged that chief has taken an oath to protect terrorists and wondered whether such a person can be entrusted the reins of Uttar Pradesh. He claimed that Yadav as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh had freed terrorists and withdrew cases against them. Nadda also hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, saying even though her father, former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, "died in a terrorist attack, terrorism is a 'fizul ka mudda' (a pointless matter) for her". At a poll meeting in Deoria's Rudrapur, the chief said, "Last Friday, 38 people were sentenced to death in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blasts case. Shadab Ahmed, the father of Mohammad Saif, a convict in the case, is a worker working closely with ." "Other people swear by God to protect the Constitution but Akhilesh (Yadav) says he swears by God that he will protect terrorists," the Bharatiya Janata Party president told the rally. Maintaining that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ended 'mafia raj' and 'goonda raj' in the state, Nadda said all anti-nationals have been jailed. "Five years ago, Azam Khan, Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed used to spread terror. But for the last five years, all the three have been playing 'Gulli Danda' in jail," he said. Nadda urged people to vote for the saying under Yogi Adityanath's rule festivals like Holi and Diwali are celebrated in the state with greater fervour. "Diwali used to be celebrated in Uttar Pradesh earlier also but why was there no Deepotsav in Ayodhya? Why was Mathura not decorated? Why Varanasi was not decorated on Dev Deepawali earlier? All this is now happening under the BJP's rule," he said. Targeting Priyanka Gandhi, the BJP chief alleged that she had termed the issue of terrorism as a pointless matter. "Her father Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack but terrorism is a 'fizual ka mudda' for her." He claimed that neither the nor the Congress have the power to count their developmental works for the state in public. "Only the BJP people can thump their chest and say we did what we said. The politics of the report card has been taught by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Nadda said. Reiterating his allegations in Ballia's Phephana, he said, " says terrorists should be jailed. Blasts had occurred in court premises of Lucknow, Varanasi and Ayodhya (in 2007) in which 15 people died and the Indian Mujahideen had claimed responsibility." "The Indian Mujahideen had also claimed responsibility for the blasts at Dashashwamedh Ghat in Varanasi, onboard the Shramjeevi Express and at other places. A terror attack took place at the CRPF camp in Rampur." "As chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav freed the terrorists from jail... and withdrew cases registered against them. Can the reins of the state be given to Akhilesh Yadav who withdrew cases against terrorists? Will UP remain safe in their rule?" Nadda posed. He alleged that the Samajwadi Party and hooligans are synonymous. "Dividing the society, making brother fight his brother, fear, terror, land grabbing and extortion are the works of the Samajwadi Party." Deoria will go to the polls on February 3 during the sixth of the seven-phase elections in Uttar Pradesh. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president on Tuesday accused chief of taking an oath to protect terrorists and not the Constitution. In an election meeting in Deoria's Rudrapur here, Nadda accused former Chief Minister of seeking to withdraw during his tenure cases against terrorists involved in several terror attacks. "Other people swear by God to protect the Constitution but Akhilesh says he swears by God that he will protect terrorists," the president told the rally. "Last Friday, 38 people were sentenced to death in the Ahmedabad bomb blasts case. Among them, Shadab Ahmed, father of Mohammad Saif, is a worker and is working closely with Akhilesh, Nadda said. The BJP president also hit out at Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accusing her of describing the issue of terrorism as a fizul ka mudda (useless issue). "On the issue of terrorism, Priyanka Gandhi says it is a 'fizul' (useless) matter. Her father Rajiv Gandhi died in a terrorist attack but terrorism is a 'fizual ka mudda' for her," the BJP president said. Maintaining that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ended 'mafia raj' and 'goonda raj' (rule by mafia and hooligans) in the state, Nadda said Adityanath has put all anti-nationals in jails. "Five years ago, Azam Khan, Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed used to spread terror but for the last five years, all three have been playing 'gulli danda' (a village game) in jail," he said. Nadda urged people to vote for the BJP saying it was under the Yogi Adityanath's rule that festivals like Holi and Diwali are now celebrated in the state with greater fervour. "Diwali used to come in earlier also but why there was no Deepotsav in Ayodhya? Even Krishna Janmashtami used to come earlier but why was Mathura not decorated? Why even Varanasi was not decorated on Dev Deepawali earlier? Now all this is happening under the BJP rule. This is the power of your vote," Nadda said. He claimed that no SP or Congress leader has the power to go to the public and count his developmental work for the state. "Only the BJP people can thump their chest and say we did what we said. The politics of report card has been taught by none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. Deoria will go to the polls on Feb 3 during the sixth phase of the seven-phase elections in UP. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Sabha MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi's son met chief on Tuesday, a day before polling in Lucknow in the fourth of the seven phase Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. Yadav tweeted a photo of Mayank Joshi meeting him and described it as an "informal meeting". is the Lok Sabha MP from Prayagraj and was pitching for her son to be declared the candidate from Lucknow Cantonment assembly seat. However, the gave the ticket to Uttar Pradesh Minister Brijesh Pathak. In a tweet in Hindi, Yadav said, "An informal meeting with Mayank Joshi (Shri Mayank Joshi jee se shistaachaar mulaakaat)." However, what was discussed in the meeting is not known. was elected as MLA from Lucknow Cantonment on a Congress ticket in 2012. In the 2017, assembly elections, she contested on a BJP ticket, and defeated SP candidate Aparna Yadav, the younger daughter-in-law of SP patron Mulayam Singh Yadav. Aparna Yadav recently joined the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance is heading for a landslide victory in the to the urban local bodies in held on February 19. The alone has already won 213 municipal corporation wards and 960 municipality member posts and 3,272 town panchayat posts across the state till 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The AIADMK won only 38 seats in Municipal corporation wards and 262 Municipality ward member posts and 915 town panchayat ward seats. The ruling has made inroads in Western which is considered an AIADMK bastion. The has already won 6 member posts in Coimbatore municipal corporation and in 18 ward seats in Erode corporation. The DMK candidates have already won 36 seats in Greater Chennai Corporation also. The Congress has already won in 22 corporation wards, 64 municipality wards, and 225 Town panchayat seats. BJP candidates have won in 1 corporation, 24 municipality wards, and 102 Town panchayat seats so far. --IANS aal/svn/bg (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DMK-led alliance on Tuesday swept the urban local body in with 75 per cent of the results declared. The urban polls were held in the state after a gap of 11 years and the win of the is considered as a stamp of approval for the nine-month-old M.K. Stalin government in the state. The dismal performance of the was reflected with the party losing its bastions and the winning several seats in western including Coimbatore, Erode and Salem. In Edappadi, the home constituency of former Chief Minister K. Palaniswami too, the candidate lost the polls to the . Palaniswami's own ward no 23 in Salem Municipal Corporation was also wrested by the DMK leading to a major loss of face for the former Chief Minister who is also the Leader of Opposition in . According to the State Election Commission till the late afternoon, the DMK alliance won 494 seats in corporations, 2,021 in municipalities, and 4,619 seats in town panchayats. The AIADMK, on the other hand won only 81 wards in corporations, 511 in municipalities, and 1,188 seats in town panchayats. The BJP, which contested alone, won 255 wards - 7 in corporations, 113 seats in municipalities, and 135 seats in town panchayats. Five candidates supported by Vijay Makkal Iyyakam, the fans association of superstar Vijay, won in corporation wards, including 3 in Chennai. Transgender candidate, R. Ganga of the DMK, won from the Vellore Municipal corporation by a margin of 15 votes. This is the first time a transgender candidate has won from the DMK in urban local body polls. Three candidates, including an candidate, got only zero votes in Karambukudi panchayat in Pudukottai district even though all three had votes in the same constituency. --IANS aal/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some youths here disrupted the election speech of Defence Minister over the issue of Army recruitment and a man was detained after he raised a slogan in favour of opposition leader during the rally. The minister was addressing the rally at Banshi Bazar when the youths disrupted his speech and claimed that recruitment in the Army is on hold for three years now. To it, Rajnath replied that the process is underway. When they did not relent, Rajnath told them that things turn wrong when politics is brought in (Netagiri se baat bigad jaati hai). "I have full understanding of the problem. Due to the Covid pandemic, this problem cropped up. This is for the first time we are facing such a pandemic. Entire world is appreciating India for the way Narendra Modi worked in this situation," he said. Later, when his address was about to end, a man raised a slogan "Garibon ka masiha, zindabad". When some BJP workers headed towards the man, Singh from the dais told them to leave him. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Tiwari said that the man was identified as Angad Yadav and has been detained. He is being questioned, the police officer said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Any political alliance or third front without the cannot fight the BJP, J&K Peoples Democratic Party president said on Tuesday, accusing the saffron party of "shaking the basic foundations of the country by its divisive policies. She said the are part of the democratic process and holding it in Jammu and Kashmir is not a favour to its people. Without the Congress, no alliance or third front can succeed in defeating the . The has played a pivotal role in building this nation over the past 70 years and there is no alternative to the in the country, she said, winding up her five-day tour of Jammu province. Reacting to the reports about Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's bids to forge an anti- front ahead of the 2024 general elections, Mehbooba said what the Congress and other governments build over the past seven decades is being sold by the which needs to be dislodged in the interest of the country. It is not possible without the Congress. No third front or any alliance, minus Congress, can defeat the BJP, she said. On Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement that the J&K will be held within six to eight months of the completion of delimitation exercise, the PDP president said the election is a normal activity in a democratic setup but the BJP government is behaving like it is going to give a big favour to the people by holding the polls. Election is a routine process in a democracy which should happen without any delay. There is no need to give much hype to it. By holding the elections, they are not doing any favour to the people of J&K, she said. Mehbooba said the interim report of the delimitation commission has caused an uproar across Jammu and Kashmir as all the parameters under which the exercise should have been conducted were thrown to the winds. Quoting the interim report which the delimitation shared with its five associate members -- three of the National Conference and two of the BJP -- the PDP leader said there are some constituencies which have 70,000 voters, while some have two lakh voters. They were supposed to carry out the exercise on (2011) census which is not evident, she said, adding the BJP-led government is stubborn and one does not know if the commission will address the concerns of the people and make necessary changes in its report. Over 750 farmers died during their agitation for revocation of three central farm laws which were finally revoked ahead of the state . When they are making a decision, they feel it is something unalterable, Mehbooba said. She said India is a country of all its citizens irrespective of their religion, creed and caste but they want to turn it into (Mahatma Gandhi's assassin) Godse's country. There is a need for all opposition parties to come together against the BJP which is shaking the basic foundations of the country through polarisation and divisive politics, she added. She also alleged that the BJP wants to end the (secular) identity of the country by following the RSS agenda and sidelining the Constitution. What the BJP is doing is going against the interests of the country. Different countries have started advising us on what is happening which is badly harming us, she said, in an apparent reference to the hijab issue. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence Minister on Tuesday accused opposition parties of misleading people over the border issue with China, saying politics should be kept aside on the matter of security and the unity and integrity of the country. He said on this issue all political parties should forget differences and come together. Addressing an election meeting at Banshi Bazar in the Sikanderpur area here, he said, "The opposition parties are misleading the country regarding the China dispute." He said an attempt was made to mislead the country on the issue of Galwan Valley. "The bravery and courage of the soldiers should not be questioned. This affects the morale of the army personnel. Keeping politics aside on the issue of security as well as the unity and integrity of the country, all political parties should forget all differences and stand together," he said. Ridiculing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath said he should "read the history of independent India". "Statements should be made based on facts," he said apparently referring to a statement made by the Congress leader in Parliament. "No matter what, the head of Mother India will not be allowed to lowered," he said. Rajnath said he can never forget the pain caused by Uri and Pulwama terror attack. After the Pulwama incident, India took a decision in 10 minutes and carried out a surgical strike, he said. "Through this, India has given a message to the world that India is no longer a weak India and it can hit across the border," he added. Singh also accused the Congress, SP and the BSP of doing politics of hatred. The Congress started the politics of hatred and the SP carried it forward, he alleged. He said, "We do not do politics of hatred nor do we discriminate on the basis of caste. e believe in Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam. We are one who feed milk to a black snake on Nagpanchami. Our policy is clear--justice to all, but appeasement to no one". The BJP leader said in the past 75 years, political parties made a lot of promises to people but never kept them. "If they were fulfilled even partially, India would have been the richest country in the world today. Due to this, trust in politics and leaders has been lost today and the crisis of credibility has deepened. Politics has lost its meaning," he said. Rajnath said Jana Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee had promised to abolish Article 370 in 1951 and the Narendra Modi-led Union government fulfilled the promise. The BJP had promised to build a grand Ram temple in 1984 and the Modi government has also accomplished this, Rajnath said. "Kashi Vishwanath temple was given a grand look. Roads have been constructed for four dhams. Not only do we build temples, we also build temples of democracy. A grand Parliament is being constructed in New Delhi," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as 800 companies of paramilitary forces and over 60,000 policemen will provide security across 59 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh, where elections will be held in the fourth phase on Wednesday, according to officials. Voting will be held at 13,813 polling stations and 24,580 polling booths in 208 police station areas, from 7 am till 6 pm, across the nine districts of Fatehpur, Banda, Pilibhit, Hardoi, Kheri, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Sitapur and Unnao, the state police said. Of the 59 assembly constituencies, three have been categorised as sensitive and 590 localities marked as vulnerable, according to the police. In the fourth phase, according to the instructions of the Election Commission, a total of 137 'pink booths' have been made to specially motivate women for voting, the UP police said in a statement. At these pink booths, 36 women inspectors and sub-inspectors, and 277 women constables and chief constables have been deployed, it added. Three assembly constituencies -- Hussainganj, Bindki and Fatehpur -- have been kept in the 'sensitive' category in the fourth phase, while a total of 590 majras and localities have been marked as 'vulnerable' and 3,393 polling booths considered as 'critical', the police said. For the fourth phase of assembly polls, the northern state has got 860 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), whose personnel will be deployed at all polling stations, it said. While 800 companies will be engaged for booth duty, 52 companies put on law and order duties, 23 on QRT (quick response team), 10 on inter-state barrier points, among others, it added. Similarly, in the fourth phase, 7,022 inspectors and sub-inspectors of Uttar Pradesh Police, and 58,132 head constables and constables will be deployed along with 21 companies of PAC, 50,490 home-guards, 185 PRD jawans, and 8,486 chowkidars, according to the statement. In the run-up to the polls, the police said 1.52 lakh licensed arms have been deposited, while 342 licensed arms have been seized and licenses of 449 arms cancelled since the day the model code of conduct came into force in these districts. In view of the possibility of breach of peace during elections, 45,553 preventive actions have been taken against 5.36 lakh persons under CrPC sections 107/116, while 5.09 lakh people have been bound under CrPC section 116(3), the police said. A total of 38 illegal arms factories have been busted across the 59 assembly seats, while 1,361 illegal arms and 1,527 cartridges have been recovered and 29 kg of explosives and 38 bombs have also been seized, it said. Till now, Rs 6.65 crore cash, precious metals worth Rs 87.63 lakh and illegal liquor worth Rs 4.02 crore have been seized, the police said. So far, 142 cases of cognizable offenses and 76 cases of non-cognizable offenses have been registered for violation of code of conduct in the districts of phase four polls, while 36 cases have been registered over various election-related violations, it added. As many as 624 candidates are in fray during the fourth phase of elections across the 59 seats, of which the BJP had won 51 seats in 2017 polls. Election results will be declared on March 10. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cautioned the general public that sRide, a company based out Gurugram, Haryana, is operating a semi-closed pre-paid instrument (wallet), without any authorisation from the central bank. Hence, they should exercise extreme caution while using any such application. In a statement the said, Members of public are urged to exercise utmost caution while using such application/s, dealing with and before parting with their money to any such unauthorised entity. In their own interest, members of the public should verify and satisfy themselves that the application used or the entity they are dealing with is authorised to carry out the activity it performs or assures to perform, the further said. sRide is a carpooling mobile application, which connects people within the community to share rides. sRide is present across four cities in India with over one million rides offered and 8 cities in the United States of America, according to the companys website. There are 68 authorised payment system operators under the Payments and Settlements Act, 2007. World leaders condemned Russian President and prepared Tuesday to hit his administration with sanctions as he heightened fears of war with legislation that would allow the deployment of troops to rebel-held regions of eastern Ukraine. From a hastily convened meeting of the United Nations Security Council to capitals around the world, leaders condemned Putin's recognition of the two pro- regions and order to send troops there. They warned of global fallout from a conflict in Ukraine. A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin late Monday did not say if Russian troops were on the move, and it cast his order as an effort to maintain peace. Lawmakers in the Kremlin-controlled parliament are likely to rubber-stamp legislation authorising the use of troops in in the separatist regions, an area known as Donbas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. The US ambassador to the United Nations dismissed as nonsense Putin's statement that Russian troops would be acting as peacekeepers, saying their presence is clearly the basis for Russia's attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine. The White House issued an executive order Monday to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions. Additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday by the US, the UK and the European Union. Here is a look at the latest developments in the security crisis in Eastern Europe: What's happening in Eastern Ukraine? Convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories late Monday. It wasn't immediately clear if they were Russian. Russian officials haven't yet acknowledged any troop deployments to the rebel east, but Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that Russian troops already had moved in, taking up positions in the region's north and west. The legislation expected to quickly sail through both houses of Russia's parliament Tuesday envisage military ties, including the possible establishment of Russian military bases in the separatist regions. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine, the overrunning, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country and I think, let's be absolutely clear, that would be absolutely catastrophic. Is there still room for diplomacy? With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the US warned Friday that Putin had already decided to invade. Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, though, said it's premature to talk about specific plans for a summit. Ukraine's United Nations ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, said during a Monday night Security Council meeting: We are committed to a political diplomatic settlement and do not succumb to provocations. What is EU doing? European Union foreign ministers are set to meet Tuesday to decide on what sanctions to impose over Russia's decision to recognise the two separatist regions, the 27-nation bloc's top diplomat said. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the aim is not to impose the whole range of sanctions the EU has prepared should Russian invade Ukraine, but rather to address the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian was clear about the goal of the meeting in Paris. Obviously, we will take the initiative to impose sanctions he said. The United Kingdom, while no longer part of the EU, will follow suit. Johnson said the UK would introduce immediate economic sanctions against . He said the sanctions would target Russian economic interests as hard as we can and told broadcasters the package would be just the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against ." What happened at the UN Security Council? Ukraine's UN ambassador demanded that Russia cancel its recognition of the independence of the separatist regions in the east, immediately withdraw its occupation troops and return to negotiations. Sergiy Kyslytsya said during Monday night's emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday that Ukraine called the rare evening session to protest and condemn Putin's illegal and illegitimate decision to recognize the separatist-controlled regions. Kyslytsya said Ukraine's internationally recognized borders "have been and will remain unchangeable regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation. He said Putin's moves may be considered as Russia's unilateral withdrawal from the Minsk Agreements, which were aimed at restoring peace to eastern Ukraine, and its disregard of the Normandy format comprising Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany which has tried to resolve the eight-year war in the east. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed as nonsense Putin's assertion that Russian troops would be in Donbas as peacekeepers. She said he gave the world a choice, and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State on Tuesday held a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss the ongoing tensions at the and Russia border. This phone call comes in light of Russia's recognization of the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern which has increased tensions in the region. "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with PRC State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi about developments in the DPRK and Russia's aggression against . The Secretary underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. The United States has strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as "independent," calling this decision a complete rejection of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements. Meanwhile, has urged all parties involved in tensions in Ukraine to continue the dialogue and seek a diplomatic solution. Amid an intense spike in shelling in eastern Ukraine by opposing sides, media reports say that the concentration of Russian troops reportedly continues to increase at the country's borders. UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over Russia's decision on the status of certain areas of eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In a statement issued by Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, the UN chief calls for "the peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015)". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Britain on Tuesday slapped sanctions on five Russian banks and three men, including Gennady Timchenko, who have close links to after the Kremlin chief ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern . said Russia was heading towards "pariah status" and that the world must now brace for the next stage of Putin's plan, saying that the Kremlin was laying the ground for a full-scale invasion of . Britain has threatened to cut off Russian companies' access to U.S. dollars and British pounds, blocking them from raising capital in London and to expose what Johnson calls the "Russian doll" of property and company ownership. Johnson told parliament that five banks - Rossiya, IS Bank, GenBank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank - were being sanctioned, along with three people - Timchenko, Igor Rotenberg and Boris Rotenberg. "This is the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do," Johnson said. "Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen and the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here," Johnson said of the individuals being sanctioned. Some British lawmakers asked Johnson to be tougher on Russian money, even demanding that Russian oligarchs be ejected from Britain and Russian money be dug out of the City of London. Hundreds of billions of dollars have flowed into London and Britain's overseas territories from Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and London has become the Western city of choice for the super-wealthy of Russia and other former Soviet republics. Timchenko Britain said that Timchenko, one of the founders of Gunvor trading company, was a major shareholder in Bank Rossiya, itself a stakeholder in National Media Group which supported the destabilisation of after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea. "Bank Rossiya has supported the consolidation of Crimea into the Russian Federation by integrating the financial system following the annexation of Crimea," Britain said. Timchenko, who Forbes says is worth 23.5 billion pounds, is a close ally of Russian President Putin, as are the Rotenbergs, Johnson said. "Boris Rotenberg... is a prominent Russian businessman with close personal ties to (the) Russian President," Britain said. "Igor Rotenberg is a prominent Russian businessmen with close familial ties to President Putin." The U.S. Treasury has also sanctioned the Rotenbergs as being billionaires who have made fortunes under Putin. Britain has threatened to cut off Russian companies' access to U.S. dollars and British pounds, blocking them from raising capital in London and to expose what Johnson calls the "Russian doll" of property and company ownership. "We must now brace ourselves for the next possible stages of Putin's plan," Johnson said. "Putin is establishing the pretext for a full scale offensive." Russia's once mighty superpower economy is now smaller than Italy's based on IMF data, with a nominal GDP of around $1.7 trillion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) will unveil bigger tax and fee cuts this year and step up payments to local governments to offset their hit to revenues, Finance Minister Liu Kun said on Tuesday, amid efforts to support a slowing . Tax fee cuts will be larger in 2022 than last year's 1.1 trillion ($173.56 billion) in reductions, Liu told a news conference without specifying the size of the planned cuts. "This year, the central government will significantly increase the size of transfer payments, especially general transfer payments, continue to favour regions with difficulties and underdeveloped areas," Liu said. Planned transfer payments to local governments will help largely offset the impact from tax and feed cuts on local governments' revenues, he said. China's strong economic recovery from its sharp pandemic-induced slump started losing momentum in the middle of last year, weighed by debt problems in the property market and strict anti-virus measures that hit consumer confidence and spending. Liu acknowledged the difficulty of increasing spending to spur the amid declining growth in fiscal revenues, as the government's planned tax and fee cuts take effect this year. "We want to properly resolve these issues and hopefully that could be achieved this year," Liu added. He said the transfer payments from the central to local governments will continue to favour difficult areas and less developed regions. The size of the tax and fee cuts this year will be unveiled at the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, or the parliament, which commences on March 5. ($1=6.3378 Chinese yuan) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's embassy in on Tuesday warned Chinese nationals and businesses in against venturing to "unstable" areas, but stopped short of telling them to consider leaving the country as many other nations have advised their own citizens. Accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern to "keep the peace" after recognising them as independent. "At present, the situation in eastern Ukraine has undergone major changes," the Chinese embassy said in a statement on its website. "The Chinese Embassy in Ukraine reminds Chinese citizens and Chinese-funded enterprises in Ukraine to pay attention to the safety notices issued locally and do not go to unstable areas." Earlier this month, countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have told their nationals to leave Ukraine on concerns of an impending invasion by . In contrast, has told its citizens in Ukraine to closely follow local developments, and kept its embassy in Ukraine operating normally, while criticising the for "hyping up" the threat of war. denies any plan to attack Ukraine but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbour will never join . (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is concerned about the "worsening" situation in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday, repeating his call for all parties to show restraint and resolve differences through dialogue. The legitimate security concerns of any country should be respected, Wang, who is also a Chinese state councillor, told U.S. Secretary of State on a phone call, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Accelerating a crisis the West fears could spark a war, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern after recognising them as independent. denies any plan to attack but has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees including a promise that its neighbour will never join NATO. "The situation in is worsening," Wang told Blinken. " once again calls on all parties to exercise restraint." will continue to stay in touch with all parties, Wang said. On the call, Blinken underscored the need to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity amid Russia's "aggression", said Ned Price, a spokesperson at the U.S. State Department. Blinken also spoke with Wang about developments in North Korea, Price said in a brief statement. China calls for direct dialogue between the United States and North Korea, and will, as always, seek to play a constructive role in promoting the resolution of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, Wang said. TAIWAN The United States should not include Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, in America's Indo-Pacific strategy, Wang told Blinken. Earlier this month, the United States said it would commit more diplomatic and security resources to the Indo-Pacific. Washington also said it would work with partners inside and outside the region to maintain peace and stability in the strait dividing Taiwan from China. The attempt to include Taiwan in the strategy to contain China is sending all the "wrong signals", Wang told Blinken on the call, according to the Chinese foreign ministry statement. Still, China is willing to manage its differences with the United States and stabilise bilateral ties, Wang said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) authorities said they found COVID-19 in samples taken from the packaging of imports of frozen from and frozen pork skin from Poland, vowing to step up inspections of imported food. The global financial hub deploys a "dynamic zero COVID" strategy similar to mainland China's, aiming to eradicate any outbreaks at all costs. Authorities have been on high alert as a new wave of infections is proving harder to control. Daily infections numbers have risen sharply this year, reaching a record 7,533 cases on Monday, overwhelming the government's testing, hospital and quarantine capacities. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) took 36 samples for testing from a batch of around 1,100 cartons of frozen beef, weighing a total of 29 tonnes, imported from by sea. It found one outer packaging and two inner packaging samples tested positive. It also collected 12 samples from a batch of around 300 cartons of frozen pork skin, weighing around 7 tonnes, imported from Poland via sea. One inner packaging sample tested positive for COVID-19. "The CFS has ordered the importers concerned to dispose the and pork skin of the same batches," the government said in a statement late on Monday. "In addition, the CFS will step up the sampling of similar products for testing." has been monitoring frozen food imports for COVID-19 since mid-2020 and found positive samples on pomfret fish packaging in August 2021 and on cuttlefish packaging in November 2021. Authorities said COVID-19 is predominantly transmitted through droplets and cannot multiply in food or food packaging, and that it is unlikely that it can be transmitted to humans via food consumption. Nevertheless, they recommend people handle raw food separately, observe hygiene rules and cook food thoroughly. With stepped up inspections on food imports, is again following in the footsteps of mainland China on COVID-19 policies. Unlike other countries, China cites frozen food packaging as a risk of spreading COVID-19. Mainland China had announced a number of cases of the virus being found on chilled food packaging, prompting rejections of goods and complaints from exporters. The World Health Organization says neither food nor packaging are known transmission routes. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HSBC aims to cut emissions associated with loans made to its clients by 34% this decade, the bank's sustainability chief told Reuters, marking the first time that Britain's biggest lender has committed to such a target. More than 100 banks have pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and are under pressure to provide details on the deep shorter-term cuts to "financed emissions" that are needed if banks are to have any chance of meeting their goal. "This is rewiring the way we make financing and investment decisions from here on in," Group Chief Sustainability Officer Celine Herweijer said of HSBC's 2030 targets. HSBC is a major lender to corporate clients across Asia and some of the world's biggest companies, and its plan is expected to set the tone for other banks in the region, most of which have yet to release targets. HSBC said its target was based on 'absolute' reductions rather than 'carbon intensity', which measures emissions per unit of energy or barrel of oil and gas produced, and so could see actual emissions rise. Climate activists say intensity-based targets do not go far enough if the world is to keep global warming from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, which scientists deem crucial to prevent catastrophic climate change. "There's no way that you can move to a net-zero economy by 2050 if you have intensity-based metrics in the energy sector," Herweijer told Reuters. Among the biggest global banks, few have committed to absolute targets, although Citigroup last month vowed to reduce its energy-sector absolute emissions by 29% by 2030. HSBC's new targets also include a plan to reduce by 75% the intensity of financed emissions for power and utility clients. Herweijer said this target was intensity-based, rather than absolute, because electricity consumption globally would need to rise during the transition to a lower-carbon economy. The bank's targets are aligned with the Energy Agency's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario, which Herweijer said was the hardest to meet but "doable". HSBC said on Tuesday targets for the coal, aluminium, cement, iron, steel and transport sectors would follow in 2023. BIGGEST CLIENTS Around 100 large upstream and integrated are responsible for 90% of HSBC's oil and gas sector financed emissions, and the bank has given them an end of 2022 deadline to produce plans on how they intend to decarbonise. The targets will cover so-called Scope 1 and 2 emissions, those linked to a company's own operations, and Scope 3 which are produced when customers use their products and which Herweijer said account for 80% of their emissions. While focused on helping clients to plan, those who did not risked losing access to finance, Herweijer said, adding that a major challenge is the variability in emission disclosures. "There's a big diversification on how different are measuring and reporting, if at all, on Scope 3, and the extent of that," she said. Like most banks, HSBC's targets exclude capital markets activity such as underwriting bonds and share placements, although this would change as standard accounting for 'facilitated emissions' becomes available. While that may not happen until later this year, Herweijer said HSBC was not "ignoring capital markets" and for future deals was "thinking about the financed emissions of them as part of our decision making". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian lawmakers gave President permission to use military force outside the country on Tuesday a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. . Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized their independence. But it was unclear how large the movements were, and Ukraine and its Western allies have said Russian troops have been fighting in the region since the separatist conflict erupted in 2014. Moscow denies those allegations. Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. The White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said in an interview on CNN. An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway. The White House decided to begin referring to Russia's actions as an invasion because of the situation on the ground, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The administration resisted initially calling the deployment of troops because the White House wanted to see what was actually going to do. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, the official added. White House press secretary Jen Psaki also alluded to the Russian action as being an invasion in a twitter post commenting on Germany chancellor Olaf Scholz decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in response to Russia's actions. The U.S. president made clear that if invaded Ukraine, we would action would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward, Psaki said. For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine. They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialized. The European Union and Britain announced Tuesday that some of those measures were coming. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels in a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has recognized the rebel regions' independence in borders that existed when they proclaimed their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under the rebel control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. Putin's move to recognize the territories' independence opened the door for him to formalize his hold on them and send forces in, though Ukraine and its Western allies have charged Russian troops have been fighting there for years. Moscow denies those allegations. Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While the U.S. clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, the name for the area where the two separatist regions are located, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But in a distinction that could complicate a European and Western response, he added: I wouldn't say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Poland's Defense Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered Ukraine's east, with Javid telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive. The Kremlin hasn't confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didn't confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasn't immediately clear if they were Russian. In response to the moves thus far, top EU officials said the bloc was prepared to impose sanctions on several Russian officials and banks financing the Russian armed forces and move to limit Moscow's access to EU capital and financial markets. They gave few details. EU foreign ministers are meeting later Tuesday to discuss the measures but they did not appear to include the massive punishment repeatedly promised in case of a full-fledged invasion. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. While he said that Russian tanks have already rolled into eastern Ukraine, he warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. The White House has also moved to respond, issuing an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The Russian moves also pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. As world leaders scrambled to decide on their response, legislation that will likely set the stage for a deeper move into Ukrainian territory moved through Russia's parliament. The bills, which sailed quickly through the Kremlin-controlled parliament, envisage military ties between Moscow and the separatist regions, including possible deployment of Russian military bases in the separatist regions. Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the current crisis and describing Ukraine's bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. Ukraine's membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russia's security, he said. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Putin warned Monday that the Western rejection of Moscow's demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security. It was a piece of fast-moving political theater in Moscow, a carefully orchestrated political announcement years in the making. Russian President Vladimir Putin moved quickly on Monday to recognise the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, framing his show of defiance against the West in a series of nationally televised appearances that came amid Western fears of Russian invasion in . Immediately after the pro-Russian leaders of Ukraine's separatist people's republics were shown on Russian TV pleading with Putin to acknowledge them as independent states, Putin chaired a Kremlin meeting Monday in which a lineup of senior Russian officials all backed the move. Hours later, Putin spoke in an hour-long televised address to the nation and then was shown on TV signing the recognition decrees. The quick move by Putin represents a sharp change of course for the Kremlin, which in the past hoped to use a 2015 peace agreement brokered by France and Germany to have Ukraine's rebel regions gain more power inside the country to stymie its bid for NATO membership. The strategy didn't work, because most Ukrainians resented the deal as a betrayal of national interests and its implementation has stalled. During the Kremlin meeting on Monday, several top officials suggested that Putin wait for several days to recognize the separatist regions to give the West the last chance to persuade to abide by its obligation under the deal to offer the rebels a broad self-rule. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials argued that it makes no sense to wait, saying that a delay wouldn't change the situation. The recognition of the rebel regions came as over 150,000 Russian troops have surrounded from three sides in what the US and its allies saw as a sign of an imminent invasion. The US has warned that Moscow could try to create the pretext for attacking Ukraine with false-flag attacks in the volatile rebel east or other similar action. On Thursday, tensions spiked along the line of contact between Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists in the conflict that erupted in 2014 and has killed over 14,000 people. The rebels have charged than a sharp increase in skirmishes heralded Ukraine's intention to reclaim control of the region by force. Ukrainian authorities have rejected any such intentions, said they were not responding to increased shelling, and accused the rebels of provocation. In a fast-moving chain of events, rebel leaders announced massive evacuation in a video that was aired Friday but was recorded two days earlier, according to the data embedded in it a sign of a pre-arranged plot. They followed up Monday by asking Putin to recognise their regions' independence, setting stage for the Kremlin's political show. In a long ranting address to the nation before the signing ceremony, Putin described Ukraine's bid to join NATO as an existential threat to Russia, brushing off Western assurances that the alliance doesn't threaten . He described the prospective deployment of US missiles in Ukraine as a knife to our throat, saying that they would be capable of reaching Moscow in just 4-5 minutes. Ukraine's membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russia's security, he said. The Russian president spent a large part of his address denigrating Ukraine and trying to delegitimise the country as a creation of the Communist rulers of the Soviet Union. He said sarcastically that Ukraine could be named after Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin, who had handed over wide swathes of Russia's historic lands to it. Putin mocked Ukraine's decommunisation campaign that saw the destruction of Lenin's monuments, saying: You want decommunisation, it suits us well. We are ready to show you what the real decommunisation would mean for Ukraine, Putin said in a stark warning that appeared to reflect a threat to take back the lands that he felt were robbed from by the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If Russia further invades Ukraine, the Biden administration could deprive it of a vast swath of low- and high-tech US and foreign-made goods, from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. President would achieve that by expanding the list of goods that require US licenses before suppliers can ship them to Russia, and his administration would then deny those licenses, the people said. The measures, whose details have not previously been reported, are part of a suite of export control penalties that the United States has prepared to damage Russia's economy, targeting everything from lasers to telecoms equipment and maritime items. They were not announced on Tuesday as part of a round of sanctions unveiled by Biden to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent and deploying troops into the regions to "keep the peace." The White House, and the Commerce Department, which oversees U.S. export controls, did not respond to requests for comment. ALSO READ: Ukraine crisis: EU nations unanimously approve Russian sanctions The package, which was still being fine-tuned over the weekend and could change, comes even as some White House officials have pledged to spare the Russian consumer from the brunt of the penalties. The goal of the export control measures "is really to degrade Russia's ability to have industrial production in a couple of key sectors," Peter Harrell, who sits on the White House's National Security Council, said in a speech last month. "We're sort of thinking about how do we degrade Russia's industrial production and sort of high-tech sectors rather than how do we sort of target the Russian people writ-large," he added. The administration has been vowing to hit Moscow with a potent cocktail of banking sanctions and export controls for weeks, in response to a massing of hundreds of thousands of Russian troops along Ukraine's borders. Reuters reported on Saturday that the Biden administration had prepared a package of sanctions against Russia that includes barring U.S. financial institutions from processing transactions for major Russian banks. By far the most sweeping measure contained in the export controls package would take a page from restrictions placed on Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd by former President Donald Trump. It would dramatically expand the scope of the so-called Foreign Direct Product Rule (FDPR), requiring firms that use US tools to make technology overseas to obtain a U.S. license before shipping them to Russia. "It's extraordinarily novel and has the potential for being far more significant than controls just on exports of these items from the United States," said Washington lawyer Kevin Wolf, a former Commerce Department official. ALSO READ: Escalating Russia-Ukraine crisis ripples via markets; Sensex falls 383 pts US suppliers would also have to obtain licenses for certain Russia-bound items that do not currently require them, such as civil aircraft parts. Whether Europe would follow suit with similar measures remains to be seen. Japan said on Tuesday it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialised nations in slapping sanctions on Russia. On Monday, as an initial response to Putin's moves into eastern Ukraine, Biden vowed to end investment in and trade with the regions while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced initial sanctions targeting Russian banks and billionaires. Under changes proposed in the US export control package, the license applications, in turn, would face a strict "policy of denial" standard of review, meaning only in rare cases would the administration approve them. In addition, Russian companies listed as so-called military end users for their alleged ties to the Russian military, including a handful of aircraft producers, would be added to a trade blacklist known as the entity list. That would broaden the scope of items the companies would need licenses to obtain. Finally, Washington would expand the scope of products that would need approval from the United States when sent to Russian military end users through an even broader application of the FDPR rule, subjecting to U.S. licenses requirements all items made abroad with U.S. tools and destined for companies that support the military. U.S. exports to Russia were under $5 billion in 2020, according to the Commerce Department, and already face many curbs. But the use of the FDPR rule dramatically expands the impact of the moves included in the package. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern after recognising them as independent on Monday, accelerating a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war. A Reuters witness saw tanks and other military hardware moving through the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk after Putin formally recognised the breakaway regions and ordered the deployment of Russian forces to "keep the peace". About five tanks were seen in a column on the edge of Donetsk and two more in another part of town, a Reuters reporter said. No insignia were visible on the vehicles. Putin's announcement drew condemnation and immediate U.S. sanctions to halt U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions and ban import of all goods from those areas. The measures were separate from sanctions the United States and its allies had prepared if launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said. A senior U.S. official said the deployment to breakaway enclaves did not yet constitute a "further invasion" that would trigger the harshest sanctions as already had forces there, but that a wider campaign could come at any time. Britain, France and Germany also agreed to respond to Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions with sanctions, and the White House said it would announce further measures on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who received a solidarity call from U.S. President Joe Biden, accused of wrecking peace talks and ruled out territorial concessions. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told an emergency meeting of the Security Council that Moscow's recognition of the eastern regions was part of its attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of . "Tomorrow, the United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of law and sovereignty and territorial integrity," she told reporters after the Security Council meeting on Monday evening. "We can, will, and must stand united in our calls for Russia to withdraw its forces, return to the diplomatic table and work toward peace." read more The Russian U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, warned Western powers to "think twice" and not worsen the situation. China called for all parties to exercise restraint while Japan said it was ready to join sanctions on Moscow in the event of a full-scale invasion. U.S. diplomatic staff, who had been moved from Kyiv to the western city of Lviv, were ordered to spend the night in Poland as the crisis deepened. Oil jumped to a seven-year high, safe-havens currencies like the yen rallied and global stocks tumbled as Europe's eastern flank stood on the brink of war. read more The rouble extended its losses as Putin spoke, at one point sliding beyond 80 per dollar. read more ANCIENT LANDS In a lengthy televised address packed with grievances against the West, a visibly angry Putin said eastern Ukraine was ancient Russian land. read more . Russian state television showed Putin, joined by Russia-backed separatist leaders, signing a decree recognising the independence of the two Ukrainian breakaway regions - the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. Putin had announced his decision in phone calls to the leaders of Germany and France earlier, the Kremlin said. In his address, Putin delved into history as far back as the Ottoman empire and as recent as the tensions over NATO's eastward expansion. His demands that Ukraine drop its long-term goal of joining the Atlantic military alliance have been repeatedly rebuffed by Kyiv and NATO states. read more "I deem it necessary to make a decision that should have been made a long time ago - to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic," Putin said. A French presidential official said the speech "mixed various considerations of a rigid and paranoid nature". DIPLOMATIC WINDOW NARROWS The United States says Russia has massed a force numbering 169,000-190,000 troops in the region, including the separatists in the breakaway regions, and has warned of invasion at any moment. Putin has for years worked to restore Russia's influence over nations that emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with Ukraine holding an important place in his ambitions. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but it has threatened unspecified "military-technical" action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join NATO. Recognition of the separatist-held areas will narrow the diplomatic options to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) moved quickly Tuesday to secure its hold on Ukraine's rebel regions following the recognition of their independence with legislation allowing the deployment of troops there in a challenge to Western governments, which are preparing to announce sanctions against Moscow. The new Russian bills, which are set to be quickly rubber-stamped by the Kremlin-controlled parliament, may set the stage for Russian troops to move deeper into as the US and its allies have feared. Quickly after he signed the decree, convoys of armoured vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasn't immediately clear if they were Russian. President Vladimir Putin's decision Monday to recognise the rebel regions as independent states follows a nearly eight-year old separatist conflict that has killed more than 14,000 and devastated Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland called Donbas. The latest developments and move by Putin were met with reprehension by many countries around the world. Ever since the conflict erupted weeks after Russia's 2014 annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean Peninsula, and its Western allies have accused Moscow of backing the separatists with troops and weapons, the charges it has denied, saying that Russians who fought in the east were volunteers. Putin's move Monday formalises Russia's hold on the regions and gives it a free hand to deploy its forces there. Several senior lawmakers suggested Tuesday that could recognise the rebel-held territories in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of in their original administrative borders, including the chunks of land currently under the Ukrainian control. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. The White House responded quickly, issuing an executive order to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. Britain and European Union countries have separately indicated that they also are planning to announce sanctions. While Ukraine and the West said the Russian recognition of the rebel regions shatters a 2015 peace deal, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, challenged that, noting that Moscow isn't a party to the Minsk agreement and arguing that it could still be implemented if Ukraine chooses so. The 2015 deal that was brokered by France and Germany and signed in Minsk, the Belarusian capital, required Ukraine to offer a sweeping self-rule to the rebel regions in a diplomatic coup for after a series of Ukrainian military defeats. Many in Ukraine resented the deal as a betrayal of national interests and a blow to the country's integrity, and its implementation has stalled. Putin announced the move in an hourlong televised speech, blaming the US and its allies for the current crisis and describing Ukraine's bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Ukraine's membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russia's security, he said. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Putin warned Monday that the Western rejection of Moscow's demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security. Sweeping through more than a century of history, Putin painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct used by the West to contain Russia despite the neighbours inextricable links. In a stark warning to Ukraine, the Russian leader charged that it has unfairly inherited Russia's historic land granted to it by the Communist rulers of the Soviet Union and mocked its effort to shed the Communist past in a so-called decommunisation campaign. We are ready to show you what the real decommunisation would mean for Ukraine, Putin added ominously in an apparent signal of his readiness to raise new land claims. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the US has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. Macron's office said Biden and Putin had accepted the principle of such a summit, to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could devastate Ukraine and cause huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Tensions have continued to fly high in eastern Ukraine, with more shelling reported along the tense line of contact between the rebels and Ukrainian forces. Ukraine's military have rejected the rebel claims of shelling residential areas and insisted that Ukrainian forces weren't returning fire. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister said the UK will hit Russia with a first barrage of economic sanctions, warning that President is fixed on a "full-scale invasion of Ukraine". He was speaking soon after chairing an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) on Tuesday in the wake of Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The UK PM accused Putin of "plainly" violating Ukrainian sovereignty and "the over-running, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country. "He's sent troops in, he's broken law, he's repudiated the Minsk agreements, and torn up the understanding from Budapest in 1994 that Ukraine's territorial integrity would be respected," said Johnson. He's completely torn up law and we will immediately institute a package of economic sanctions, which I think his people would expect. Targeted not just at entities in Donbas, in Luhansk and Donestsk, but in Russia itself targeting Russian economic interests as hard as we can," he said. The COBRA meeting was held as UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said given that tanks have been seen near one of the rebel regions of Donetsk, it can be concluded that the invasion of Ukraine has begun". Details of the fresh sanctions against Russia are expected to be laid out in the House of Commons soon. The COBRA meeting follows widespread condemnation of Russia's move, which Johnson termed a violation of law and an ill omen and very dark time, indicating that things are moving in the wrong direction in the region. Downing Street said the COBRA meeting would discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and coordinate the UK response, including agreeing a "significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately". The United Kingdom will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to its breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. There will be severe economic consequences to its actions, UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward told an emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine. This Council must be united in: calling on Russia to de-escalate immediately; condemning aggression against a sovereign nation, and defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine; calling on Russia to respect its obligations under the Charter to the peaceful resolution of disputes. Russia has brought us to the brink. We urge Russia to step back, she said. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has confirmed the sanctions, which will use recent legislation to impose restrictions on people and organisations linked to Russia. These will be further enhanced in the event of a feared invasion of Ukraine. Earlier this month, the UK government passed new legislation that expanded its powers to impose sanctions on those directly linked to Russian actions in Ukraine. The legislation gave the government powers to impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in strategically significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, ICT and financial services industries. Several of the UK's western allies, including the US, France and the European Union, made similar statements condemning Putin's move and promising sanctions. On Monday evening, Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to outline his grave concern and warn that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days. During the phone call, Johnson promised to "explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine" at the request of the country's government, as well as detailing sanctions. The leaders agreed that the West needed to support Ukraine in the event of an invasion but should continue to pursue a diplomatic solution until the last possible second, Downing Street said. Regardless of President Putin's actions, the UK would be steadfast in its full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Prime Minister said, it added. On Monday, Putin's actions were classed as escalation of conflict as he signed a decree recognising the independence of the self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces in those regions since 2014 and the fears are that military forces could cross Ukraine's borders to occupy the rebel regions recognised by Russia. Putin claims the troops heading into the two rebel regions will be completing peacekeeping functions. Russia's ambassador to the UN said the country was open to diplomatic solutions but also repeated Putin's accusations blaming Ukraine for escalating aggressions. Ukraine has strongly denied this and declared that it was not afraid and would not yield to Russia. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Surging energy prices and fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine are making European leaders think hard about energy security particularly their decades-old reliance on Moscow for . The crisis shows Europe's vulnerability after years of limited progress in completing an energy union a 2015 vision to allow affordable gas and electricity to flow across borders while diversifying suppliers and reaching climate goals. As renewables like solar and wind are slowly built up and coal and other fossil fuels are phased out, still needs natural gas, and it's dependent on Russia to get it. That came into sharp relief as Europe's gas supply dropped and prices soared partly because Russia sold less gas than normal, squeezing households and businesses with rising costs. With gas reserves low and concerns a war could interrupt pipeline flows from Russia, the European Union is focused on getting liquefied or LNG, by ship from the United States, Qatar, Algeria and elsewhere until renewables catch up. Environmentalists fear making that even a short-term priority could set back Europe's goals to move away from fossil fuels. Doubling down on renewables would help reduce dependency on Russian gas, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said Monday, but reiterated that energy security was critical. An advisory group to coordinate the EU's gas supply security was meeting Tuesday because it's important that contingency plans are ready for the worst-case scenario", she said. The 27-nation EU is on the safe side for this winter but doing everything possible to get rid of this dependency, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said Saturday at the Munich Security Conference. She accused Russia's state-owned gas giant Gazprom of deliberately trying to store and deliver as little as possible while prices and demand are skyrocketing. Russia has fulfilled long-term contracts but failed to sell additional gas on the spot market, while pushing for German approval of its contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline as a way to solve Europe's gas squeeze. The crisis escalated Monday with Russia recognising separatist regions in Ukraine, which could allow troops to deploy there. Moscow has said it has no intention of cutting off gas supplies and has continually stressed its role as a reliable energy supplier. Security analysts say Russia would have little interest in a total gas cutoff that would deprive it of revenue and give a further incentive to find other sources of energy. Countries like Lithuania and Poland have managed to reduce Russian gas imports. But Russia accounts for more than one-third of the EU's supply, and its dominance is entrenched in the Baltic states, Germany, Italy and parts of southeastern . The core issue is that the 27 EU countries retain substantial control over energy policy. Clashing regulations and standards make transport of gas from one country's system to another difficult, even when the network to do it actually exists. Energy companies moving gas across borders, for example, are sometimes charged tariffs more than once or twice. Unfortunately, energy interconnection in Europe is an unresolved issue, Miguel Arias Canete, former EU energy and climate commissioner who oversaw a proposal for more gas infrastructure, told The Associated Press. It's in moments of crisis that we see the need for market integration and enough infrastructure from a security and procurement point of view, he said, adding that the focus on renewables shouldn't neglect the role of . After Russia seized Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014, diversifying energy supplies to reduce Russian reliance was enshrined in the EU's 2015 energy union plan. Since then, there has been some significant progress: More two-way pipeline connections have been built and more LNG import terminals are planned. A new pipeline transports gas from Azerbaijan to western Europe via Turkey and Greece. There's also a planned pipeline extension from northeast Greece to southern Bulgaria that would relieve Bulgaria's total dependence on Russian gas. And Greece is moving forward with plans to build a facility to take in LNG imported by sea. But connecting Europe's energy markets hasn't been done sufficiently well, said energy policy expert Simone Tagliapietra, a senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. In particular, a pipeline connection from Spain to France was shelved, leaving a major bottleneck that we didn't manage to solve", he said. Now, gas industry groups are talking about reviving the idea. Following the Crimea crisis, the priority shifted from energy security to climate change, leading up to the EU's 2019 Green Deal, a wide-ranging plan to cut emissions. Energy security disappeared," Tagliapietra said. It was all about sustainability, decarbonization. Now we are seeing the great comeback of energy security as an issue in Europe. The question always seems more urgent among newer, eastern EU members with bitter memories of Russian domination during the Cold War. Poland has been working on pipeline connections with neighbouring countries, including the Baltic Pipe, which is set to deliver Norwegian gas to Denmark and starting in 2023. The country also has built the Swinoujscie LNG port on the Baltic Sea, near the German border. Since 2015, the facility has helped reduce gas imports from Russia via the Yamal pipeline by a third, to less than 60% of its total gas imports. Polish authorities have vowed not to extend the Yamal deal when it expires next year, relying on more LNG from places like the US, Qatar and Australia. But investing billions in more pipelines or import terminals risks them becoming obsolete amid the long-term shift to renewables, Tagliapietra said. Instead, Europe could require gas companies to begin the winter with adequate storage levels, he said. Russia's Gazprom didn't fill its underground storage in Europe last summer. It's up to them to decide, and that's not acceptable, Tagliapietra said. Governments also are talking about creating a strategic reserve of gas, either shared among several countries or organized at the EU level. Energy-consuming countries have done that with crude oil since the 1970s. Environmentalists say the solution isn't more gas but action to promote renewables. It is a little bit surreal and surprising, said Elif Gunduzyeli, fossil fuels policy campaigner for the Climate Action Network. This approach of adding more gas to the grid to solve the energy supply issue is a little bit like adding another lane to a highway to solve the traffic issue: more cars come in and it gets even more complicated. Getting unhooked from Russia and hooked to the US, I don't think it's going to solve any of the EU's energy security issues, she said. "And it definitely doesn't solve the climate urgency. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has dismissed as nonsense Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement that he is putting Russian troops in separatist areas of eastern as peacekeepers, saying their presence is clearly the basis for Russia's attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of . Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday night that this move and Putin's earlier announcement that will recognize the separatist areas as independent states are also an unprovoked attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. By his actions, she said, Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds. Thomas-Greenfield said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. She said Putin is testing to see how far he can push us all, and all countries must stand up for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries. Thomas-Greenfield warned that the consequences of Russia's actions will be dire across Ukraine, across Europe, and across the globe. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stressing that India stands for peace, Defence Minister on Tuesday said the Russia- dispute should be resolved through talks. On the sidelines of an election meeting at Banshi Bazar here, Singh said "As per information received, the US president has said that they are ready to hold talks with the Russian president." "The US president has taken some initiative on his behalf. India wants peace to be established in any way. We are sure that when talks take place, some way or the other will come out," Singh said. When asked about India's stance, he said, "We want peace. We have always been in favour of world peace." India has called for restraint on all sides as tensions between and NATO escalated further after Russian President on Monday recognised the independence of two states of . Earlier, had amassed it troops near the border and has been demanding that NATO never admit Ukraine and other ex-Soviet nations as members and the military alliance roll back troop deployments in former Soviet bloc nations. At a UN Security Council meeting following the Russian decision, India voiced concern over the escalating tension along the Russia-Ukraine border and called for de-escalation of the situation and resolution of the crisis through diplomatic dialogue. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Electric vehicle company Tesla's automated lane changing system, known as Autopilot, is being probed by German regulators, newspaper Bild am Sonntag reported. The Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Motor Transport Authority) is reportedly assessing whether the technology, which offers as an upgrade, is safe to use on German roads. According to CNBC, the regulator is also in talks with the Netherlands' vehicle agency, which is responsible for approving vehicle use across Europe, according to the report. and the KBA did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment. Tesla's technology is facing increasing scrutiny around the world following a series of fatal accidents. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the US launched its second probe into a potential Autopilot fault after users complained of "phantom breaking" at high speeds. The KBA launched a separate probe last January into possible safety risks of the touchscreen in the center console of various models. --IANS vc/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British Prime Minister is chairing an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Office Briefing Room A (COBRA) on Tuesday morning as the UK plans further sanctions on Moscow, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern . The meeting comes as UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said given that tanks have been seen near one of those regions of Donetsk, it can be concluded that the invasion of has begun". The COBRA meeting follows widespread condemnation of Russia's move, which Johnson termed a violation of law and an ill omen and very dark time, declaring that things are moving in the wrong direction in the region. Downing Street said the COBRA meeting would discuss the latest developments in and coordinate the UK response, including agreeing a "significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately". The United Kingdom will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to its breach of law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. There will be severe economic consequences to its actions, UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward told an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine. This Council must be united in: calling on Russia to de-escalate immediately; condemning aggression against a sovereign nation, and defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine; calling on Russia to respect its obligations under the Charter to the peaceful resolution of disputes. Russia has brought us to the brink. We urge Russia to step back, she said. UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss confirmed that sanctions are in the works, which will use recent legislation to impose restrictions on people and organisations linked to Russia. The UK government's crisis response meetings are held in the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms and are most commonly take place in Briefing Room A - leading to them being referred to as Cobra. Earlier this month, the UK government passed new legislation that expanded its powers to impose sanctions on those directly linked to Russian actions in Ukraine. The legislation gave the government powers to impose sanctions on Russian businesses and individuals in strategically significant sectors, such as the chemical, defence, extractives, Information and communication technologies (ICT) and financial services industries. Several of the UK's western allies, including the US, France and the European Union, made similar statements condemning Putin's move and promising sanctions. On Monday evening, Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to outline his grave concern and warn that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days. During the phone call, Johnson promised to "explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine" at the request of the country's government, as well as detailing sanctions. The leaders agreed that the West needed to support Ukraine in the event of an invasion but should continue to pursue a diplomatic solution until the last possible second, Downing Street said. Regardless of President Putin's actions, the UK would be steadfast in its full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Prime Minister said, it added. On Monday, Putin's actions were classed as an escalation of conflict in the region as he signed a decree recognising the independence of the self-declared people's republics of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine. Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian forces in those regions since 2014 and the fears are that military forces could cross Ukraine's borders to occupy the rebel regions recognised by Russia. Putin claims the troops heading into the two rebel regions will be completing peacekeeping functions. Russia's ambassador to the UN said the country was open to diplomatic solutions but also repeated Putin's accusations blaming Ukraine for escalating aggressions. Ukraine has strongly denied this and declared that it was not afraid and would not yield to Russia. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK government on Tuesday imposed tough sanctions against five Russian banks and three super-rich oligarchs from the country over President Vladimir Putin's aggressive action on the border. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that this is the "first tranche of measures in response to Russian troops moving into two separatist regions of . The sanctions target Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank, as well as billionaires Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg as three "very high net worth individuals". All three have been on the US sanctions list for a number of years as associates of Putin. Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here, and we will prohibit all UK individuals and entities from having any dealings with them, Johnson told Parliament. This is the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do: we will hold further sanctions at readiness, to be deployed alongside the United States and the European Union if the situation escalates still further...we should steel ourselves for a protracted crisis. "The United Kingdom will meet this challenge side-by-side with our allies, determined that we will not allow Putin to drag our continent back into a Hobbesian state of nature, where aggression pays and might is right, he said. And it is precisely because the stakes are so high that Putin's venture in must fail, must ultimately fail and be seen to fail. That will require the perseverance, the unity and the resolve of the entire Western alliance, and Britain will do everything possible to ensure that that unity is maintained, Johnson added. The UK action follows the recognition of breakaway areas of eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent states by Russia, with troops moving in under the garb of peacekeeping duties and Russian tanks and armoured personnel seen rolling in. Johnson categorised this as a flagrant violation of the Minsk peace agreements, which amounts to a renewed invasion of that country. And by denying Ukraine's legitimacy as a state and presenting its very existence as a mortal threat to Putin is establishing the pretext for a full-scale offensive, Johnson said in his Commons statement. The sanctions received the backing of cross-party support in Parliament, with many MPs calling for further action against Putin. Downing Street said the UK's new sanctions against were part of a "coordinated" approach to the Ukraine crisis together with the US and EU. Earlier on Tuesday, Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrey Kelin, was also summoned to the UK Foreign Office to register the UK's formal protest with the Russian Federation over Russia's continued undermining of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The UK has urged to explain its recognition of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic' and Luhansk People's Republic' and the movement of military forces into Ukraine, said a spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). We have summoned the Ambassador today to stress that such actions are a violation of law. The UK reiterates its unshakeable commitment to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Ukraine, and insists that Russia immediately withdraw all of its military forces. We made clear to the Russian Ambassador that Russia would pay the price for its actions through further sanctions if it did not withdraw its troops, the spokesperson said. Sir Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary for the FCDO, warned the envoy of the sanctions being imposed and that further measures would follow unless Russia withdraws its troops. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President on Monday delivered an address where he said that was entirely created by under Communist rule but radicals take credit for its independence. This comes at a time when there is a massive military build-up along the border of and the West has expressed their worries over the possible invasion of by . He said that "radicals and nationalists take credit for Ukraine's independence, but they have nothing to do with it," adding that the "communist party never thought about future of utopian fantasy, infection of nationalism was waiting in the wings." Putin made lengthy remarks on the Soviet's history and the formation of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic under Communist rule in the 20th Century. Furthermore, Putin said that "despite injustice and deceit, Russian people recognized states after collapsing of the soviet union and helped countries, including Ukraine. fully paid off Ukraine's debts, but Kyiv refused to comply with agreements on the return of property. Parasitic attitude took over the partnership in Ukraine-Russia relations. Kyiv tried to use dialogue with Russia for bargaining with the west, from the very beginning began to build statehood on contradictions. Ukraine never had its true statehood but copying model instead," reported Sputnik. He stated, "Ukrainian leaders pursued policy dictated by radicals, and the latter became impudent, imposed their will on authorities. Corruption in Ukraine corroded Ukrainian statehood, nationalists took advantage of this in 2014 with the support of the west. Ukraine is split, going through an acute economic crisis. Radicals who seized power in Ukraine organized terror, people were brutally murdered in Odessa, we will do everything to punish these criminals." Talking about Ukraine's economy, Putin said, "In Ukraine, many do not have money to pay for utility bills, this happens because fortune from the Russian empire was squandered and stolen. The collapse of the Ukrainian economy was accompanied by the outright robbery of the country's citizens, brainwashing; the state was driven under external control. Power of 'patriots' in Ukraine lost its national character, leading to de-sovereignization of country," reported Sputnik. He blamed Ukraine's authorities to have "outdone their western sponsors and invented sanctions against own citizens. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President announced on Tuesday new sanctions in retaliation for Russia recognising two breakaway regions of Ukraine and sending troops there, adding to Western efforts to stop what they fear is the beginning of a full-scale invasion. The measures target Russian banks and sovereign debt, among other steps. One of the worst security crises in Europe in decades is unfolding as Russian President authorised sending what he calls peacekeping troops to the separatist areas of Donetsk and Luhansk after recognising them as independent. Both adjoin Russia and have been controlled by Russian-backed fighters since 2014. Weeks of intense diplomacy have so far failed as Moscow calls for security guarantees, including a promise that its neighbour Ukraine will never join NATO, while the United States and its allies offer Putin confidence-building and arms control steps. ALSO READ: Wall Street trims losses as Joe Biden comments on Ukraine tensions "He's setting up a rationale to take more territory by force," Biden said at the White House. "I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014," he added, in a reference to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. ALSO READ: Russia-Ukraine crisis: India Inc braces for fallout, monitors situation Sanctions are being applied to VEB bank and Russia's military bank, referring to Promsvyazbank, which does defence deals, Biden said. Starting on Wednesday U.S. sanctions will begin against Russian elites and their family members. The hit to Russia's sovereign debt meant the Russian government would be cut off from Western financing, according to Biden. Earlier on Tuesday, Germany put the brakes on a new gas pipeline from Russia and Britain also hit Russian banks with sanctions. The Russian foreign ministry criticised the new measures as "illegitimate". The European Union also agreed new sanctions that will blacklist more politicians, lawmakers and officials, ban EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with separatist entities. ALSO READ: Ukraine crisis: Crude oil surge a challenge to financial stability, says FM Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier brushed off the threat of sanctions. "Our European, American, British colleagues will not stop and will not calm down until they have exhausted all their possibilities for the so-called punishment of Russia," he said. What world leaders are saying about the Ukraine crisis We see this decision by Russia as unacceptable. We repeat our call for common sense and respect for law by all sides Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President, Turkey ++++ Legitimate security concerns should be respected Wang Wenbin, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, China ++++ This is the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do. Any assets they (Russia) hold in the UK will be frozen and the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, UK ++++ Welcome to the brave new world where Europeans are very soon going to pay ^2,000 for 1.000 cubic meters of natural gas! Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Russia ALSO READ: Rupee weakens, bond yields rise as Russia-Ukraine crisis deepens (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) sanctions on Russia could including putting hundreds of politicians and officials on black lists, a ban on trading in Russian state bonds and an import and export ban on separatist entities, EU diplomats and officials said on Tuesday. Poland's Defence Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered Ukraine's east. Javid went further, telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. The bloc's ambassadors agreed unanimously at a meeting in Brussels on the principle of imposing sanctions after Russia formally recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. EU foreign ministers will meet later in Paris to agree on the details of the measures, several diplomats told Reuters. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on ice, in one of the most far-reaching reactions to Moscow's moves. Russian President Vladimir Putin's announcement on Monday, followed by his signing a decree on the deployment of Russian troops to Donetsk and Luhansk, drew condemnation and immediate US sanctions. The White House is expected to impose additional significant sanctions. The EU has repeatedly said it was ready to impose "massive consequences" on Russia's economy if Moscow invades Ukraine but has also cautioned that, given the EU's close energy and trade ties to Russia, it wants to ratchet up sanctions in stages. ALSO READ: Russia-Ukraine crisis: India Inc braces for fallout, monitors situation "We've got to ensure that whatever happens, Russia will feel the pain ... to make sure Russia has absolutely no incentive to go further," Irish EU affairs minister Thomas Byrne said earlier on Tuesday. The package of sanctions could include putting on an EU blacklist those members of the lower house of Russia's parliament that voted in favour of recognising the independence of the two breakaway regions, one EU official said. The ambassadors also discussed sanctioning companies and banks involved in financing separatist activities in eastern Ukraine, a European Commission source said. The two regions could also be removed from a free trade deal between the EU and Ukraine, the source added. Not all of the bloc's 27 member states have the same relation to Russia or dependency on its gas, which could eventually complicate the adoption of sanctions. EU officials and diplomats said some EU countries, including Austria, Hungary and Italy, Russia's closest allies in the bloc, would prefer more limited sanctions in response to Putin's move on eastern Ukraine. Others want to see a fuller, tougher range of measures discussed in recent weeks for the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine to be rolled out now. Baltic, central and eastern European states say tough sanctions should be imposed immediately as Russia is already showing military aggression towards Ukraine. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, whose country relies on Russian for much of its gas, told a news conference in Rome that any sanctions should not include energy imports. "How we react as will define our character and indeed the future of Europe," Lithuanian vice minister of foreign affairs Arnoldas Pranckevicius said at a meeting in Brussels. The sanctions "should not be symbolic. If we want to deter further actions from president Putin, if we want to stop the war from happening, we need to move ahead with serious measures." may break off diplomatic relations with after Moscow decided to recognise two breakaway regions of eastern as independent, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said at a briefing on Tuesday. Speaking alongside his Estonian counterpart, Zelenskiy said he was weighing a request from his foreign ministry to break off ties. He also urged Ukraine's allies not to wait for a further escalation to impose sanctions, which he said should include shutting down the Russian-led Nord Stream 2 pipeline, awaiting approval to carry Russian gas under the Baltic Sea to Germany. "I've received a request from the foreign ministry. I will consider the issue of severing diplomatic relations between and the Russian Federation. Immediately after our press conference, I will consider this issue," Zelenskiy said. Putin's announcement on Monday, and his signing of a decree on the deployment of Russian troops to the two breakaway regions, drew condemnation and immediate U.S. sanctions, with President Joe Biden signing an executive order to halt U.S. business activity in the breakaway regions. The United States and its European allies were set to announce fresh sanctions against on Tuesday. Zelenskiy, who in his nighttime address to the nation accused of destroying peace efforts, played down the prospect of a large-scale conflict with Russia but said he was prepared to introduce martial law if that happened. "As for martial law ... this question is clear to us. We believe that there will be no war, there will be no powerful (war) against Ukraine and there will be no wide escalation by the Russian Federation. If there is a (wide escalation), then martial law will be introduced," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary-General has expressed his deep concern over Russia's decision on the status of Donetsk and Lugansk of . The secretary-general is "greatly concerned" by the decision by the Russian Federation related to the status of certain areas of Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN chief, said on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Through a statement attributable to Dujarric, the called for "peaceful settlement" of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, in accordance with the Minsk Agreements, as endorsed by the Security Council in resolution 2202 (2015). "The secretary-general considers the decision of the Russian Federation to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations," said the statement. The United Nations, in line with the relevant General Assembly resolutions, remains "fully supportive of" the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, according to the statement. "The secretary-general urges all relevant actors to focus their efforts on ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around and prioritizing diplomacy to address all issues peacefully," it added. At the day's press briefing, Dujarric said, "The secretary-general is greatly concerned with the latest reports of increased ceasefire violations, including the use of heavy weapons across the contact line in eastern Ukraine." "We are particularly concerned regarding reports of civilian casualties, targeting of critical civilian infrastructure and evacuations," Dujarric said. "We underline our call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, maximum restraint and for all parties to avoid any actions and statements that would escalate tensions further. All issues must be addressed through diplomacy," the spokesperson added. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Monday that he had signed a decree recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" as independent and sovereign states. --IANS int/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The will hold an emergency meeting Monday night after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of separatist regions in eastern and ordered Russian troops to maintain the peace there. The meeting comes at the request of Ukraine, the United States and six other countries. Russia, which currently holds the rotating council presidency, has scheduled it for 9 p.m. New York time. Yet undetermined is whether the meeting will be open or closed. Ukrainian UN Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya says in a letter to his Russian counterpart that Kyiv is requesting the urgent meeting because Putin's actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the UN Charter and a 2014 UN General Assembly resolution. It is virtually certain the Security Council will not take any action or issue any statement because Russia has veto power. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Individual users should be allowed to take U.S. tech giants to court for breaching landmark EU rules aimed at curbing their power, Privacy International, pan-European consumer group BEUC and a number of academics said on Tuesday. The call by the coalition of 31 groups and academics comes as EU lawmakers and EU countries thrashed out the final points of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) proposed by EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager just over a year ago before it can become law. The draft DMA sets out a list of dos and don'ts for online gatekeepers, in effect targeting Apple, Alphabet unit Google, parent Meta, Amazon and Microsoft. It only allows business users to sue violating . "The DMA must enable users, both individually and collectively, to bring enforcement actions for violation of DMA rules before national courts," the group said in an open letter to EU institutions. While EU lawmakers are open to the idea, EU countries have so far ignored the demand. The coalition also urged lawmakers and EU countries to let consumer bodies and representatives of civil society take part in processes set out under the draft rules so that their needs would be reflected in the Commission's decisions on the tech giants. Other signatories of the open letter include U.S.-based Center for Digital Democracy and the Consumer Federation of America, the Civil Liberties Union for Europe, European Digital Rights and academics from the University of Oxford, the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the University of Amsterdam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A long-feared Russian invasion of appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern . A Vaguely worded decree signed by Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to maintain peace. But it appeared to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Putin's directive came hours after he recognised the separatist regions in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history. The move paved the way to provide them military support, antagonising Western leaders who regard it as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by the U.S. and others to respond. Underscoring the urgency, the U.N. Security Council held a rare nighttime emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo opened the session with a warning that the risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to project calm, telling the country: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone. The White House issued an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The State Department, meanwhile, said U.S. personnel in Lviv in Ukraine's far west would spend the night in Poland but return to to continue their diplomatic work and emergency consular services. It again urged any American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately. The developments came during a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe could use as a pretext for an attack on the Western-looking democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to . Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to . He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, Putin said. Afterward he signed decrees recognising the two regions' independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists with arms and troops, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognising the regions' independence. One slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russia but Putin quickly corrected him. Recognising the separatist regions' independence is likely to be popular in Russia, where many share Putin's worldview. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk setting off fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russia's national anthem. Ukrainians in Kyiv, meanwhile, bristled at the move. Why should Russia recognise (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbors come to you and say, This room will be ours,' would you care about their opinion or not? It's your flat, and it will be always your flat," said Maria Levchyshchyna, a 48-year-old painter in the Ukrainian capital. Let them recognise whatever they want. But in my view, it can also provoke a war, because normal people will fight for their country. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could devastate Ukraine and cause huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macron's office said Biden and Putin had accepted the principle of such a summit, to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. During Monday night's emergency meeting, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. China's U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun called for restraint and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Putin's announcement shattered a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukraine to offer broad self-rule to the rebel regions, a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the country's integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that the Ukrainian government has shown no appetite for implementing it. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in the eastern industrial heartland of Donbas in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday along the tense line of contact separating the opposing forces. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an incursion from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the smell of war in the air over Europe, world leaders got over the shock of Russian President Vladimir Putin's order to deploy troops to separatist regions of eastern and they are focused on producing as forceful a reaction as possible. Germany made the first big move, taking steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow, but criticized by the US for increasing Europe's reliance on Russian energy supplies. The West insisted Putin's bold moves in violated countless agreements and since the words of diplomacy had failed, it was time to move towards action. With Western powers long having made clear that the fate of wasn't worth a hot and direct military confrontation with Russia, and the potential of a world war, sanctions were the only, limited, option to crystalize their anger. "No lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said in summing up the political disgust felt from Europe to North America and democracies hugging Russia's borders in Asia like Japan and South Korea. However, Putin continued to knock the world off-kilter with a strategy where confusion about the true extent of an invasion, which would automatically kick in major sanctions, remained unclear and debatable. says it's sending what it deems "peacekeepers" into eastern Ukraine, but the European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed they were "troops" on sovereign Ukrainian territory. "I wouldn't say that's a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil," Borrell said. The latest developments were enough to force the 27-nation bloc into a mode of high alert, and the EU's foreign ministers would be deciding later Tuesday on how deep a first batch of sanctions would have to cut. It would likely stop far short of the massive package threatened by the EU and Washington for a full military invasion into national territory that Kiev still controls. "The way we respond will define us for the generations to come, Simonyte said. Too much too soon, though, could also hurt the response, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said. "There is a variety of sanctions options that now need to be used in a targeted way, because we have to assume that we haven't yet reached the peak of the escalation, he said. A conflict could devastate Ukraine and cause huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. But Asian nations are also worried. President Moon Jae-in instructed his officials to prepare for the economic fallout in South Korea if the Ukraine crisis worsens and US-backed nations levy stringent economic sanctions on . Hopes are dwindling that a major conflict can be averted. Putin's directive came hours after he recognised the two Ukrainian separatist regions, setting up Russian military support and antagonizing Western leaders who regard it as a breach of world order. Putin blamed NATO for the current crisis and called the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. The global condemnation came amid rising skirmishes in the eastern regions of Ukraine that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the Europe-facing democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said there was no basis under law for Putin to recognize the Ukrainian separatist regions. "We are concerned that this is a calculated act by President Putin to create a pretext for invasion, which would be a clear act of aggression. We again call for urgent diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution, Mahuta said in a statement. Those on a saddle between Russia and the West were in an uncomfortable position. NATO-member Turkey, which has close relations to both Ukraine and Russia, criticized Moscow's decision to recognize the independence of the regions in eastern Ukraine. "We consider this decision by Russia as being unacceptable, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said. "We reiterate our calls to the parties to respect common sense and international law." China, a traditional ally of Russia, sounded a cautious note, calling for restraint and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Washington could be much more straightforward. The White House issued an executive order to restrict investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the US has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of zoomed 12 per cent to Rs 115.55 on the NSE in Tuesdays intra-day trade in an otherwise weak market on the back of heavy volumes after the company clarified that Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation did not pertain to the company and has no bearing on the business and operations of the company. At 11:40 am; the stock traded 10.6 per cent higher at Rs 114, as compared to a 1.1 per cent decline on the S&P BSE Sensex. The trading volume at the counter jumped considerably times with a combined 39 million equity shares changing hands on the NSE and BSE. On Monday, the stock of real estate company slipped 15 per cent to Rs 103 after ED raided the premises of Indiabulls Finance Center in Delhi and Mumbai. This was in connection with money laundering allegations made against the firm and promoter Sameer Gehlaut in April 2021. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS We wish to clarify that ED has sought some information from Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL) regarding certain of their clients and it is understood that the necessary data has been provided to ED by IHFL and its officials. The said ED investigation did not pertain to Limited (the 'Company') and has no bearing on the business and operations of the Company, said in an exchange filing. Sameer Gehlaut has resigned from the office of non-executive director and chairman of the company effective from 31st December 2021. Further, the outgoing Promoters have submitted that they are not involved in the day to day management of the company, Indiabulls Real Estate said. Adani Enterprises signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ballard Power Systems to evaluate a joint investment case for the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells in various mobility and industrial applications in India. Under the MoU, both parties will examine various options to cooperate, including potential collaboration for fuel cell manufacturing in India. Hydrogen is increasingly viewed as a critical medium for the decarbonization of energy, industry and mobility. Adani Enterprises aims to be one of the largest green hydrogen producers in the world through accelerated investment in renewable energy. The efforts under this MoU will be anchored by Adani New Industries (ANIL), the newly formed subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, focused on generation of green hydrogen, including downstream products, green electricity generation, manufacture of electrolyzers and wind turbines, among others. Adani Enterprises (AEL) reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 12 crore in Q3 FY22 as against a net profit of Rs 297 crore in Q3 FY21. The loss was due to losses in developing business. Total income increased by 61% Y-o-Y (year-on-year) during the quarter to Rs 18,963 crore due to improved realization on the back of higher index prices in IRM segment. Shares of Adani Enterprises (AEL) slipped 1.40% to Rs 1,660.75 on BSE. AEL is the flagship company of Adani Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates. The company's business investments are centred on the fields of airport management, technology parks, roads, data centre and water infrastructure. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indiabulls Housing Finance fell 1.68% at Rs 163.95 as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at Indiabulls Finance Center in Mumbai and Delhi. Indiabulls Housing Finance clarified to the bourses late evening on Monday (21 February 2022) that ED sought some information regarding certain clients and the matter originates from ECIR No. 07/HUI/2021 filed by ED on the basis of FIR lodged in village Wada, Palghar, Maharashtra in April 2021. The company and its officials have provided the data of clients to ED. The ECIR registered by ED stems out of an FIR filed by one Ashutosh Kamble who is part of the long-running extortion and blackmail racket against the company. The FIR is a copy-and-paste of earlier several patently false, vexatious and malicious complaints that the blackmailers have been circulating for last 3 years now, a similar allegations petition under name of Abhay Yadav was dismissed by Supreme Court in 2019, the company said in its clarification to the bourses. The clarification further reads, "The company had immediately approached the High Court seeking quashing of the false & malicious FIR filed against the company in village Palghar last year." The Division Bench of Bombay High Court on 27 April 2021 passed a detailed order staying all investigations in the matter. Reacting to reports, shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance plunged 9.67% on Monday (21 February 2022). On a consolidated basis, Indiabulls Housing Finance's net profit declined 8% to Rs 302.9 crore on 9.4% slide in total income to Rs 2,277.8 crore in Q3 FY22 over Q3 FY21. Indiabulls Housing Finance is a housing finance company, regulated by the National Housing Bank (NHB). The company offers competitively priced home loans in the affordable housing segment. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The benchmark indices were trading with deep cuts in early afternoon trade. All the sectoral indices on the NSE were in the red. The Nifty was trading below the 17,000 mark. Escalating geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine weighed on the sentiment. There are concerns that rising tensions in Eastern Europe will boost crude oil prices and could spark global supply chain disruption, resulting in rising input costs. Thousands of U.S. and European companies do business with suppliers in Russia and Ukraine. Many of them could be at risk during a prolonged military conflict. At 12:30 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 818.39 points or 1.42% at 56,865.20. The Nifty 50 index lost 248.05 points or 1.44% at 16,958.60. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index fell 1.21% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slipped 1.61%. The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 533 shares rose and 2,706 shares fell. A total of 99 shares were unchanged. Amid growing concerns of geopolitical tensions, Russian President Putin has ordered to deploy troops into two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, which it has recognized as independent on Monday, a move strongly criticized by the world leaders. Moscow calls the operation of launching the Russian army in these two regions in Ukraine as 'peacekeeping operation' in the area, however worrying the Western leaders of a potential invasion by Russia, and ringing the bells of war. Post this development, US President Biden signed an executive order to block trade and investment in parts of Ukraine which were declared independent by Russia by Putin. Economy: Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman asked the industry leaders to explore ways to further strengthen their sector and help in the post-pandemic revival of economy. Addressing a post-budget interaction with various industry leaders in Mumbai, the Finance Minister expressed satisfaction about the resilience displayed by the financial markets even during pandemic times. Sitharaman urged the market participants to strive for efficiency and transparency to help to channelize the resource for productive investment in the most effective manner. During her opening remarks, the Finance minister asserted that the government wants a sustained recovery. She highlighted that the budget proposals on infrastructure building are an attempt to create the multiplier effect to help the economy. Stating that technology has helped the government make payments to the affected people during the pandemic, Smt Sitharaman said it is also looking at how digital solutions can be deployed in the education and the farming sectors. She also said that banks will have to be a lot more customer-friendly not in terms of taking adverse risks, but in how they engage with and serve customers. During the interaction, various ideas and suggestions related to investor awareness, KYC norms, mutual fund penetration, deepening of corporate bonds, commodity derivatives, and effectiveness of the market system were also discussed in detail. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, jumped 17.66% to 26.9475. The Nifty 24 February 2022 futures were trading at 16,957.45, at a discount of 1.15 points as compared with the spot at 16,958.60. The Nifty option chain for 24 February 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 90.3 lakh contracts at the 18,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 65.5 lakh contracts was seen at 17,000 strike price. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Auto index fell 1.15% to 11,231.15. The index has lost 2.77% in five sessions. Balkrishna Industries (down 3.32%), Tata Motors (down 2.72%), Amaraja Batteries (down 2.02%), Exide Industries (down 2.01%) and Maruti Suzuki India (down 1.79%) were the top losers in the Auto segment. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The domestic indices traded with deep cuts in early trade, mirroring the weakness in global markets. The continued escalation of geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine depressed the investor community. All sectoral indices on the NSE are trading in the red. At 09:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 1,021.46 points or 1.77% to 56,662.13. The Nifty 50 index slumped 289.80 points or 1.68% to 16,916.85. The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, surged 18% to 27.03. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index declined 1.47% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index lost 2.10%. The market breadth was weak. On the BSE, 334 shares rose and 2,403 shares fell. A total of 58 shares were unchanged. Stocks in Spotlight: Adani Enterprises fell 2.16% to Rs 1647.90. The Adani Group announced it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ballard Power Systems to evaluate a joint investment case for the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells in various mobility and industrial applications in India. Under the MoU, both parties will examine various options to cooperate, including potential collaboration for fuel cell manufacturing in India. Vedanta declined 2.21% to Rs 345.90. The company announced that it has made an oil discovery in its exploratory well in Rajasthan's Barmer district. The company holds 100% participating interest in the block. Indiabulls Housing Finance was up 0.30% to Rs 167.25. The company informed that the Enforcement Directorate has sought some information regarding certain clients. The company and its officials have provided the data of clients to Enforcement Directorate. Global Markets: Asian stocks were trading lower on Tuesday as tensions surrounding Russia and Ukraine continue to keep investors on edge. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly ordered forces into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, following a Monday announcement that he would recognize their independence. After that development, the White House responded, with U.S. President Joe Biden ordering sanctions against the separatist regions of Ukraine. U.S. markets were closed for a holiday on Monday. Oil jumped to a seven-year high as Europe's eastern flank stood on the brink of war after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Steel Ltd is quoting at Rs 1126.5, down 4.68% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The stock jumped 54.46% in last one year as compared to a 15.16% rally in NIFTY and a 46.75% spurt in the Nifty Metal index. Tata Steel Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1126.5, down 4.68% on the day as on 13:24 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 1.56% on the day, quoting at 16937.8. The Sensex is at 56792.03, down 1.55%.Tata Steel Ltd has gained around 2.48% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Metal index of which Tata Steel Ltd is a constituent, has increased around 1.51% in last one month and is currently quoting at 5658.95, down 2.77% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 55.25 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 86.12 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark February futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1123.25, down 4.93% on the day. Tata Steel Ltd jumped 54.46% in last one year as compared to a 15.16% rally in NIFTY and a 46.75% spurt in the Nifty Metal index. The PE of the stock is 4.63 based on TTM earnings ending December 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voicing "deep concern" over the escalation of tension along the Russia- border, India has told the UN Security Council that the immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions, taking into account the "legitimate" security interests of all countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed decrees to recognise Ukraine's regions of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent, escalating the tension in the region and increasing fears of Moscow's invasion of . Putin has also ordered troops into eastern in what the Kremlin called a "peacekeeping" mission. Addressing an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said, We have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including developments along the eastern border of Ukraine and the related announcement by the Russian Federation. "The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, he said at an emergency UNSC meeting held at the request of Ukraine. "The immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond, Tirumurti said, urging for restraint on all sides. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday voiced great concern over Russia's decision, saying it is a violation" of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. He urged all relevant actors to focus their efforts on ensuring an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, preventing any actions and statements that may further escalate the dangerous situation in and around Ukraine and prioritising diplomacy to address all issues peacefully, a statement issued by the spokesperson of the UN chief said. Russia's move was strongly condemned by the US, which said that the decision represents a complete rejection" of Moscow's commitments under the Minsk agreements, directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. US President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order blocking trade and investment in parts of Ukraine that have been recognised as independent by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The White House, which described the Russian actions as blatant violation of Moscow's commitments, said that economic sanctions are in the pipeline. The European Union too said it would slap sanctions on for recognising Ukraine's breakaway regions. Russia's move comes a day after President Biden accepted "in principle" a meeting with President Vladimir Putin provided does not invade Ukraine. However, the Kremlin on Monday said it would be premature to talk about the organisation of any such meeting at the moment. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launched in India this January, the 2021 edition of the Surface Pro X is a small step forward from the 2020 edition. It is more of a refresh with some cosmetic changes and Windows 11 operating system. Like the predecessor, it is a portable device that is easy to carry and ready to go places with you to help you get your work done on-the-go. However, it still does not make a take anywhere, do everything device simply because there are things that you cannot do on this ARM chip-based device that are otherwise possible with conventional two-in-one devices powered by Intels processors. Lets start with things it can be used for: The Surface Pro X (2021) is primarily a tablet with a 13-inch touchscreen stretched in 3:2 aspect ratio. It is the same screen as that on the predecessor, but there is a difference in experience enabled by the Windows 11 operating system. For example, the large and evenly spaced apps icon pinned on the taskbar are easy to touch, multitasking is smooth with support for the same gestures with touch as when using a trackpad, and the new touch optimised on-screen keyboard is convenient to use. Besides, the screens 3:2 aspect ratio is a good fit for a device that is primarily a tablet. This aspect ratio screen is a boon for productivity tasks on a tablet running full-fledged Windows 11 OS. Not only does it accommodate more content on screen, it takes full advantage of the Windows 11 snap layouts to fit about four windows on four corners of the screen with content on each window still readable. Except for the videos in wide formats, the screen is just the right type for almost everything else. Complementing the display is the front firing dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos. The speakers are loud, clear, and balanced. These speakers are good for listening to music, attending voice and video calls, and everything else that falls in between. Now that I mentioned video calls, it is enabled by the 5-megapixel front-facing camera and 10MP camera on the rear. Both the cameras are good for video conferencing use, and the front camera also doubles up as a biometric sensor for face-unlock mechanism through Windows Hello. Surface Pro X 2021: Specifications Display 13-inch, 3:2 aspect ratio, 10-point multitouch Processor Microsoft SQ1 Graphics Adreno 685 iGPU RAM 8GB LPDDR4x Storage 128GB, removeable Camera Front - 5MP | Rear - 10MP autofocus Ports 2 x USB-C Surface Connect Surface Keyboard connector port Power supply 65W If you fancy a tablet with support for digital stylus, keyboard and touchpad, the Microsoft Surface Pro X is the answer. It doubles up as a laptop when attached to a keyboard with touchpad (Microsoft Surface Pro Signature Keyboard -- sold separately), which makes it a whole lot easier to navigate the operating system, type a lengthy document, crunch numbers on spreadsheets, etc. The Microsoft Surface Pro X is capable of doing many things, but it has limitations. Powered by an ARM processor (Microsoft SQ 1 with Adreno 685 GPU), the device has restricted apps and applications support at the moment. Even the apps it supports, including Microsoft Office, the experience is far from smooth. The device is good for basic everyday use and not meant for power users. Aside from this glaring limitation, there are many small but crucial features the Surface Pro X have missing. For example, the front and rear cameras lack Apples centrestage-like value-added features, the screen is of 60Hz refresh rate and does not support HDR content, the 3:2 aspect ratio is not apt for wide format videos, etc. Priced Rs 93,999 onwards, the Microsoft Surface Pro X is an expensive two-in-one device based on Windows 11 operating system. In its current form, it makes a good supplementary device to get basic work done on-the-go but that is not enough to justify its price tag of above one lakh (with accessories). Nevertheless, the Surface Pro X still makes a good buy if you are a Windows user and want a portable device that comes close to Apple iPad Pro in terms of utility. It is a device aimed at a niche audience, not the masses. Apollo Tyres Ltd Apollo Tyres Ltd is the leading tyre manufacturing company in India. They are engaged in manufacturing of automobile tyres and tubes. They are the first Indian tyre company to launch exclusive branded outlets for truck tyres and also the first Indian company to introduce radial tyres for the farm category. Apollo Tyres currently has four manufacturing facilities in India -- two (including a leased...> More New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI/NewsVoir): The much-awaited annual celebration of Japanese Films in India is back again as an online edition in 2022. The festival's second digital edition is currently running from 14 to 28 February 2022 where we bring you a series of titles that you can enjoy for free from the comfort of your home. Here is your guide for February 2022, highlighting the 5 best titles suggested by the Programming Team of Japan Foundation that you must stream from the line-up this year to be enticed by the wonders of the Japanese cinema. The Japanese movie season with the Japan Foundation continues! 1. Under the Open Sky Premiering at Toronto IFF and bagging the Best Actor accolade at Chicago IFF, Miwa Nishikawa's touching and gritty drama about the life of a former yakuza (Japanese mobster) is a film that no cinephile should miss. One of the biggest highlights of the 2022 edition, this award-winning powerhouse is a testament to the profound creativity and humanism of female directors in Japan. Tags: drama, yakuza, female directors, award-winning 2. Rashomon Every person alive has heard of this masterpiece and every one to come will continue to hear of it. Japan's most legendary and celebrated director Akira Kurosawa's timeless masterpiece is streaming at JFF this year. Golden Lion, Honorary Oscar, and a place on every Film List does not even begin to do justice to the iconic status of Rashomon. If you've seen it, watch it again; if you've not, what are you waiting for? Tags: drama, classic, Oscar, iconic 3. It's a Summer Film! "Let's make a movie together!" Have you ever fancied that with a close friend? Well, in this film we've got a teenage girl passionate about samurai films and an enigmatic boy getting together to make a film that transcends life itself. This is one coming of age heartfelt teenage story that will pull at the strings of your heart and have you smiling goofily. Tags: coming of age, teenage, sci-fi 4. Masked Ward A tense mystery film set in the eerie confines of a hospital, where a chilling psychological battle unfolds and eventually leads into a chain of surprising twists. The film is an adaptation of a bestselling book written by a real-life doctor, and features two of Japan's leading young actors, Kentaro Sakaguchi and Mei Nagano. So, get ready to have your brains turned dizzy with a thriller that makes you scream at your screen. Tags: thriller, drama, psychological 5. Patema Inverted In two worlds set upside-down to each other, there is a girl and there is a boy, a love that makes characters fall into the sky and rise onto the underground. In conventional Japanese anime fashion, this film is a touching animation that creatively depicts the beauty of love, friendship and courage. So put on your adventure hats and glide into a world brimming with possibilities. Tags: sci-fi, anime, romance, fantasy, adventure JFF Online is currently available from February 14 - 27, 2022. A line-up for 20 films is available to stream on: (jff.jpf.go.jp/watch/jffonline2022/india). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 22 (ANI/NewsVoir): Kauvery Hospital Chennai, a unit of Kauvery Group of Hospitals, a leading multispecialty healthcare chain in Tamil Nadu, today announced the successful treatment of a child with the inability to open her mouth. The girl aged eight years, from Tirunelveli, was brought to the hospital with complaints of inability to open her mouth. The child, who developed early stages of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis (a condition where the mandible (lower jaw bone) is fused to the fossa (a hollow space) by bony or fibrotic tissues), could open her mouth only up to 1mm. Dr Manikandan Ramanathan, the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Kauvery Hospital Chennai, said, "The young girl came to us with an inability to open her mouth, a problem she had been facing for the previous three to four years. We thoroughly examined the child and inquired into the possible causes for this serious disability and discomfort. We speculated whether it was due to an injury from a fall that might have damaged the joint or a possible chronic ear infection. The parents confirmed that she did not have any major injuries but had a history of ear infection, and that surgery was done for the same. It was after this surgery that she was unable to open her mouth." When treatment is not given at the right time for such problems, the damaged joint would get fused, leading to such complications. CT scans and MRI showed that the right side temporomandibular joint (jaw) was indeed completely fused with the rest of her skull. "We then proceeded to make a model of the child's head based on the CT Scans that we took. Accordingly, we planned how to tackle the complexities, and perform the surgery using the head model. This particular procedure is called Stereolithographic model. After designing a detailed plan, we put the girl under Anaesthesia. This was a complicated procedure as it required the patient to open her mouth to undergo the intubation that was required to maintain the anesthetized state. We opted to use a procedure called Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy to intubate the child and put her under Anesthesia. (Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy is a procedure that allows the doctor to examine the breathing passages (airways) of the lungs of the patient). We were then able to perform the surgery where we removed the bone mass which restricted the opening of the mouth and placed a growing joint from the chest rib in the operated region," he added. Within two days of surgery the girl regained her ability to open her mouth to almost 30mm. She has since regained good opening of mouth which facilitates normal speech and has been able to perform all functions like eating and chewing solid food, which was a huge challenge earlier when she could only ingest fluids and mashed food. "Infections causing conditions such as these are very common in young children due to their inability to keep the region clean. Also, the distance between the joint of the jaw and the ear is very short so any infection in either region can easily spread to the other. This has been the primary reason for the child's inability to open her mouth, which further led to Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis. This, if left untreated, could have led to life-threatening problems such as choking, or aspiration into her lungs causing pneumonia or led to permanent damage to the jaw's growth. We were able to treat the child at the right time and restore the functions of her jaw. She would need regular monitoring for the next eighteen years as growth continues to take place actively," added Dr Manikandan. Commenting on the success of the treatment, Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, Co-founder & Executive Director, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, said, "This case is a reminder for parents to be wary of any unusual signs in their child's growth. When a child has a fall and sustains an injury, or undergoes an infection in an organ system it is best to have it checked completely to avoid complications such as these. We came to know that the child was not able to undergo the required treatment due to the risk involved in administering anaesthesia for surgery. The state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern technologies like Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy at our hospital, were keys to achieving such an excellent and happy outcome for the child and family. I congratulate Dr Manikandan and team for helping the child regain the normal functions of her jaw thereby enabling her to lead a better quality of life." This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In September 2021, flustered by the governments lack of clarity on its policy for chipmakers, Israel-based chipmaker Tower had threatened to pull the plug on its plan to set up a facility in India. The company had been in consultations with the government for several years. In a letter, Tower had called for Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention to fast-track a government proposal for chip manufacturing. It also wrote to the government six months after the latter started inviting chipmakers to India. The company had also stated that any delay on the governments part would mean that it would be unable to "stay active in the project in the near future". The company was the partner of a consortium formed by Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures to set up a chip plant in Gujarats Dholera. About three months later, the government unveiled a $10 billion production-linked incentive scheme to attract and display manufacturers, which seems to be bearing fruit. In the past decade and a half, India had tried unsuccessfully on several occasions to attract chipmakers. Therefore, the current response shows the companies confidence in the governments ability to provide the right infrastructure and incentives to build a semiconductor ecosystem. The government has received proposals worth $20.5 billion from five companies for setting up semiconductor and display fabrication units. Vedanta was the first one to hop on. A joint venture of Vedanta and Foxconn, a consortium led by Abu Dhabi-based Next Orbit Ventures and IGSS Ventures of Singapore are the three companies that submitted applications for semiconductor plants. The applications have been received for setting up 28 nm to 65 nm fabs with a projected investment of $13.6 billion. They have sought support from the Centre to the tune of $5.6 billion. The Next Orbit Ventures-led consortiums partner remains Tower Semiconductor, which was recently acquired by Intel for $5.4 billion. This time, the government is being seen as more welcoming of chipmakers than before. Vedanta and Elest, a subsidiary of gold jewellery retailer Rajesh Exports, have submitted proposals worth $6.7 billion to manufacture display fabs. They have sought incentives of $2.7 billion The duty of the government does not just end with the creation of a successful atmosphere for the semiconductor industry. It has larger problems to tackle. Making chips is an electricity and water-intensive affair that creates hazardous waste. The manufacturing process also involves toxic gases and chemicals that are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. Greenpeace estimates that the worlds largest chipmaker TSMC alone uses 4.8% of Taiwans electricity annually. This is expected to rise to 7.2% this year as production at new plants begins in TSMCs home country. When Taiwan was hit by a drought last year, TSMC ordered water from trucks to ensure no disruption to its manufacturing. When the government prioritised the supply of water to chipmakers, this led to tensions between the companies and the farmers. Environmental impact is something that India should keep in mind as it fosters a semiconductor ecosystem. The semiconductor market of India is estimated to touch $63 billion by 2026 compared to the $15 billion in 2020. Watch video An is a software programme required to operate and manage a computing device like smartphone, tablet, computer, smartwatch etc. It is the that eliminates the need to know coding language to interact with computing devices. At the heart of an is the kernel, which controls all major functions of a computers hardware. The kernel resides in the systems memory responsible for memory management and process management. It decides which process gets the processor resources when and for how much time. Applications that are visible to the users like web browsers interact with the kernel through a set of functions called system call interface (SCI). The three widely-used operating systems for computers are Microsofts Windows, Apples macOS and open source operating system Linux. Windows is pre-loaded on most computers, except Apple devices. MacOS comes as pre-loaded OS on all Apple computers. While Linux is not pre-installed on many computers, it is free to download. In the smartphone segment, Android commands a 70% market share and iOS 30% in India. Other mobile operating systems have a negligible presence. Indias plant to support the development of indigenous mobile OS could be aimed at countering the dominance of American tech giants Google and Apple. Previously, companies like Microsoft and Blackberry had developed their own mobile OS, but they have been discounted amid the growing influence of Android and iOS. Earlier, the government had attempted to develop its own OS named Bharat Operating System Solutions, which didnt find many takers. Indus OS, created by a group of IIT graduates in 2013, also couldnt garner many fans. This time, the government is hopeful to negate the Google-Apple duopoly riding on Indias thriving tech startup ecosystem. The government is looking for capabilities within start-up and academic ecosystems for development of the indigenous operating system. To this end, the union minister had hinted at plans to come up with a policy that will facilitate Indias startups and internet entrepreneurs to develop it. In fact, Indian startups have long been complaining about the charges levied by Apple AppStore and Google Play for hosting apps in their platforms. An indigenous operating system also gives the government a degree of control on the apps hosted, data sharing, security and more. The plan is in line with its Atmanirbhar Bharat or Self Reliant India policy. Watch video Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland have launched their programme for Local Enterprise Week consisting of over 220 virtual and physical events nationwide taking place from the 7th to 11th March. There are events being run by each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices around the county, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities, and they are free to attend. The events are open to all from budding entrepreneurs to established businesses and gives them the opportunity to get expert advice on key areas of business from financial skills, raising finance, exporting and boosting your business online to future trends such as sustainability and digitalization. Along with the local events there are 12 free National Spotlight events that will take place online and are open to everyone across the country. There are events on each of the days and some of the topics include Future Proofing Your Small Business, Internationalising Your Business, Going Green and Show Me The Money. Details for all the events taking place across the country during Local Enterprise Week, from March 7th to 11th, are available at www.LocalEnterprise.ie/Week Launching the initiative, An Tanaiste and Minster for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar said, Understandably, businesses have largely been preoccupied with dealing with the urgent and unexpected over the past couple of years due to Covid and Brexit. This years Local Enterprise Week is a fantastic opportunity to look forward and plan for a more predictable future. Theres a really interesting programme of events with some really practical sessions to help take your business to the next stage or help with a problem you are facing. Im particularly happy to see the events planned in new areas such as sustainability and digitalisation." Divisional Manager, Regions and Local Enterprise at Enterprise Ireland, Carol Gibbons added, "Enterprise Ireland is delighted to support Local Enterprise Week. This exciting programme of events not only showcases the supports that are available to entrepreneurs and business owners, but it also offers access to expert advice. Both Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices are working to boost the number of Irish companies that are exporting, and this initiative will have advice and information for business owners who hold that ambition." Source: www.businessworld.ie The terraforming of America By Scot Faulkner web posted February 21, 2022 The Left is moving rapidly to change America forever. Except for isolated pockets of resistance, such as during Virginias 2021 elections and 2022 executive and legislative actions, decades of the Lefts preparations are paying off for reshaping America into a unitary totalitarian state. Starting with the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the Left has acted like Chess Grandmasters. They devised a detailed strategy, thinking and implementing many moves ahead of their opposition. The Lefts actions, many decades in the making, is nothing less than Terraforming America into their Communist vision. They are deliberately, and systematically, changing our nations entire landscape, modifying Americas institutions, civic culture and society to make them more habitable for their uch-heralded Great Reset. [ John Holdren in his own (radical) words CFACT ] The Great Reset is the global devolution or destruction of capitalism, democracy, entire energy and economic systems, and personal freedoms, in the name of preventing climate change. It is about eradicating white privilege, and the institutions and cultures of white exploitation, to remake society based on equity, diversity and inclusion. [ The Great Reset | Reset and shape the future ] It all began with Stuart Chase, one of the founding members of President Franklin Roosevelts (FDR) Brain Trust. Chase coined the term The New Deal and promoted eliminating Americas free enterprise system, by firing squad if necessary. [ The Rise of the Administrative State The New American ] Chase gained inspiration and insights into how to implement a Communist state during his 1927 meetings with Stalin and Trotsky. In his 1932 New Deal book, Chase mused, Why should the Russians have all the fun of remaking the world? FDRs Brain Trust thought well beyond building the massive New Deal bureaucracy. Rexford Tugwell, another Brain Truster, drafted a Constitution for the New States of America. His goal was nothing less than remaking America as the next Soviet Union. [ Constitutional Convention | Proposed Constitution for the Newstates of America (sweetliberty.org) ] Tugwells Constitution abolished all aspects of federalism. It eliminated states, turning them into uniform administration districts with equal population. It abolished the Bill of Rights, creating a laundry list of Rights and Responsibilities for citizens to act on behalf of the state. Any individual actions could be erased based upon declared emergencies (think Trudeaus Canada in recent weeks) and for conforming to such standards as may improve health and welfare. Tugwell knew Sovietizing America would require the laying of rough, unholy hands on many a sacred precedent. [ The Rise of the Administrative State The New American ] The Lefts Terraforming of America is guided by the Chase/Tugwell vision. Capturing the cultural levers and the media were achieved by the 1960s. Dumbing down the youth, and ultimately indoctrinating them in Leftist thought, began with Howard Zinns 1980 revisionist history, A Peoples History of the United States, which became the standard high school textbook for a generation. [ A People's History of the United States: 1492 - Present Zinn Education Project (zinnedproject.org) ] A parallel project was shrinking civics education to the point where only 23% of eighth-graders perform at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) civics exam, and only 26% of Americans can name all three branches of government. [ 020618_CivicsEducation-UPDATED.pdf (AmericanProgress.org) ] An intensified phase of Terraforming began after a 2011 Harvard Study claimed that participating in historical/patriotic celebrations promoted conservative voting patterns. [ Harvard: July 4th Parades Are Right-Wing | Politics | US News ] The Left realized that Americas history must be entirely reshaped to achieve the Great Reset. The Left had to prevent Americans from separately honoring the morality, integrity and greatness of Washington and Lincoln. They did so by lumping all 46 Presidents birthdays together in 1971. Since then, all other presidents (including mediocrities like Pierce, Fillmore and Carter) get to dilute the commemoration of our most accomplished presidents. Communists usually use economic jealousy as their wedge issue. Focusing on Americas racial history was determined to gain more traction. In 2019, through the New York Times and other media, the Left launched their 1619 History Curriculum Project. Under the banner of inclusive history, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and dozens of other labels, versions of the 1619 curriculum rapidly spread to thousands of schools. [ Project1619 ] Their final solution was demonizing everything that made America America. Their mantra became a country built on stolen land and slavery. [ U.N. Official: U.S. Founded on Land Stolen From Indians, Built on Race-Based Slavery, BLM Movement Is Result | CNSNews ] 1619s politically correct wokism declared that everything is racist and built cases for eliminating the Electoral College, the Senate Filibuster, the Senate itself, our Founding documents, the American flag, Americas National Anthem, and even the nuclear family. All these initiatives aligned with Tugwells new Constitution. [ Citizen Oversight: The Lefts Final Solution] Reshaping our collective memory, and the physical touchstones that validate our memory, is directly from the Communist playbook. Eliminating statues and eradicating holidays are central to Terraforming America. Once our national symbols and rituals are uprooted, American society will be adrift, ripe for reshaping. Thus Juneteenth is now considered more inclusive than the Fourth of July. One day only the woke holiday will remain. [ Citizen Oversight: Assault on July 4th ] The Left is methodically replacing the existing pro-America calendar with their perverse Advent Calendar for Anarchy. We are now expected to annually focus on Floyd, Ferguson, Charlottesville and January 6, instead of true milestones like the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. The Left has a hundred-year head start on us and commands the levers of power. It will take years of dedication, courage, perseverance and providence to turn the tide. Let us begin in 2022. Scot Faulkner was the first Chief Administrative Officer of the U.S. House of Representatives; his business-based reforms generated sustained savings of $4.5+ billion. He is the author of the critically acclaimed bestselling Congressional memoir, Naked Emperors. The second edition is available on Amazon. China to sanction US weapons firms over arms sale 09:11, February 22, 2022 By WANG QINGYUN ( China Daily The Chinese government has decided to take countermeasures against Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin, two US weapon companies that have long been involved in the United States' arms sales to Taiwan, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Monday. The move came two weeks after the US announced a $100 million military sale to the island, which elicited opposition and condemnation from China. The sanctions were decided according to China's Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law and aim to safeguard the country's sovereignty and security interests, Wang told a news conference. The US' sale of weapons to China's Taiwan region violates the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, especially the one signed on Aug 17, 1982, and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and security and China-US ties as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, Wang said. "China once again urges the US government and relevant parties to observe the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, stop selling weapons to Taiwan and cut US-Taiwan military ties," Wang said. China will continue to take all necessary measures according to the development of the situation to protect its sovereignty and security, Wang added. Monday marked the 50th anniversary of the icebreaking visit to China of US president Richard Nixon. The visit showed that countries with different systems and development paths can peacefully coexist and expand their common interests as long as they respect one another, seek common ground while putting aside their differences, and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, Wang said. During the visit, which ended the long-term isolation between the two countries, China and the US signed the Shanghai Communique, which confirmed the one-China principle and was the first of the three bilateral joint communiques. The principle is one of several that have served as the political foundations for normalization of bilateral ties and the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Wang said. He called for the US to work with China to bring bilateral ties back to sound and steady development. "The root cause of the current difficulties in bilateral ties is that some people in the US hold erroneous understandings of China, deem China as a major strategic rival and even imaginary enemy, and try to contain China in all aspects," Wang said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The county is still concerned about the possible designation of critical habitat for the rufa red knot on area beaches and might comment when the federal government opens a new comment period on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal. (Contributed photo) Croatan High School student Tayla Statham, left, shares last April about a Student 2 Student program she and military student Ryan Michalowicz, right, started at her school to help military students transition into a new school and community. It was among ways school officials celebrated April as Month of the Military Child last year. The districts efforts to assist military students has earned it the State Superintendents Purple Star District Award. (Cheryl Burke photo) Photo: Contributed A strong explosion near a gold mining site in southwestern Burkina Faso killed 59 people and injured more than 100 others Monday, the national broadcaster and witnesses reported. The provisional toll was provided by regional authorities following the blast in the village of Gbomblora, RTB reported. The explosion was believed to have been caused by chemicals used to treat gold that were stocked at the site. I saw bodies everywhere. It was horrible, Sansan Kambou, a forest ranger who was at the site during the explosion, told The Associated Press by phone. The first blast happened around 2 p.m., with more explosions following as people ran for their lives, he said. Burkina Faso is the fastest-growing gold producer in Africa and currently the fifth largest on the continent, with gold being the countrys most important export. The industry employs about 1.5 million people and was worth about $2 billion in 2019. Small gold mines like Gbomblora have grown in recent years, with some 800 across the country. Much of the gold is being smuggled into neighboring Togo, Benin, Niger and Ghana, according to the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies. The small-scale mines are also reportedly used by jihadis linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, which have staged attacks in the country since 2016. The groups reportedly raise funds by taxing miners, and also use the mine sites for recruiting fighters and seeking refuge. Mining experts say the small-scale mines have fewer regulations than industrial ones and thus can be more dangerous. The limited regulation of the artisanal and small-scale mining sector contributes to increased risks that can be very dangerous, including the use of explosives which are often smuggled into the country and used illegally, said Marcena Hunter, senior analyst at Global Initiative, a Swiss-based think tank. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau's failure to communicate the anti-vaccine mandate Freedom Convoy truckers worsens as the rights were trampled with dire consequences for his government. Part of his retaliation is to order truckers' pets to be taken away with the possibility of killing them. It seems the government wants to show the convoy participants that he's serious but got condemned for his actions. Trudeau Threatens To Euthanize Truckers' Pets The latest threat added to unlawfully closing bank accounts and threatening arrests by PM Trudeau, who has been criticized for using emergency powers dictatorially. Reminiscent of what the Biden administration has done to US conservatives. The Ottowa government has allegedly allowed the harsh attack on the innocent animals, and no one expected such action from the government, reported the Express UK. A news program on Fox Network called the illegal break up of the blockade terrible and called the alleged attack on the animals downright shameful. One observation is the PM has not bothered to talk to organizers; instead took action after threats, cited NDTV. Dealing With Truckers Goes Overboard A tweet posted by the Ottawa by-law on social media remarked that any of the protestors at the convoy have pets with them. If police apprehend them, pets will be kept for eight days but at the owner's expense. Any more than eight days and nothing is done, the animals will be confiscated. Hearing of this, Fox News host Emily Compagno said that the Justin Trudeau government killing these animals is deplorable. Read Also: PM Justin Trudeau Freezes Truckers' Bank Accounts Illegally For Refusal of the Freedom Convoy To Back Down She called the action to cow truckers as a distasteful, crass, and sinister policy on social media. It also shows that the Canadian government is a cold-hearted attitude directed at its citizens. Another guest Julie Banderas remarked how low it is to target animals and their owners. Kayleigh McEnany, an ex-White House spokeswoman under Donald Trump, said how can animals be subject to the failed Canadian leader's reaction. It was unbelievable to think. Trudeau thought he'd be ignored, but world leaders have reacted. One of the presidents of El Salvador Nayib Bukele posted on social media that the international community should do something about it. Saying the Ottawa government should protest it as an attack on human and animal rights. A comparison was made if a Latin American government, not Trudeau; the media reaction will be. A US GOP, Jeremy Faison reacted to the news; he posted that pet will be killed by someone in the government who cannot resolve a public protest. Going after the owner is terrible, calling the PM a petty tyrant also unhinged. Cracking Down the Convoy Ottawa police were ordered to bring order to the Ottowa occupation; next, follows a series of actions to clear the blockade. A day before, the police went after the truckers and sympathizers hauling away more than 100 arrested people, even impounding the vehicles. The new Ottawa police chief, Steve Bell, called the protest and occupation unlaw and informed other arrests. A shaken Trudeau empowered authorities to use whatever means possible on citizens who protested against him. Violence and intimidation allowed by Justin Trudeau shocked the world; his actions are allegedly no better than a little Napoleon. Going after the trucker's pets was unbelievable too. Related Article: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Uses Emergency Powers Against Canadian Truckers Protesting Over Vaccine Mandates @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Photo: Nature Conservancy of Canada You still have time to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend. The Nature Conservancy of Canada is encouraging people to head outside for 15 minutes to help document the number of birds in backyards and subdivisions across the country. The 25th annual Great Backyard Bird Count ran from February 18-21 and participants are encouraged to document their findings through the eBird app. The information will be used to help experts track the health of bird populations in British Columbia and across the country. The Big Backyard Bird Count is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada. Last year, over 300,000 people in 190 different countries participated. In Canada, there were over 43,465 lists of birds submitted across all 10 provinces and 3 territories. Bird populations in Canada are in flux. On the one hand, waterfowl and birds of prey appear to be growing in number, more than doubling their populations since 1970. On the other hand, shorebirds and aerial insectivores like swallows appear to be disappearing at alarming rates. NCCs land conservation work protects critical habitat across the country for these species. Photo: The Canadian Press UPDATE 6:35 p.m. The East-West faceoff over Ukraine escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Russian lawmakers authorizing President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country and U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders responding by slapping sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks. Both leaders signaled that an even bigger confrontation could lie ahead. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on even tougher sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression. The measures, accompanied by the repositioning of additional U.S. troops to the Baltic nations on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia, came as Russian forces rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin said he was recognizing the independence of the separatist regions in defiance of U.S. and European demands. Speaking at the White House, Biden said the Kremlin had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine." He warned of more sanctions if Putin went further. We are united in our support of Ukraine, Biden said. We are united in our opposition to Russian aggression. When it comes to Russian claims of a justification or pretext for an invasion, Biden said, None of us should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification. Hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the threat of invasion, which U.S. officials have for weeks portrayed as all but inevitable, appeared to evaporate. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled plans for a Thursday meeting in Geneva with his Russian counterpart, saying it would not be productive and that Russias actions indicated Moscow was not serious about a peaceful path to resolving the crisis. Western nations sought to present a united front, with more than two dozen European Union members unanimously agreeing to levy their own initial set of sanctions against Russian officials. Germany also said it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy. The U.S., meanwhile, moved to cut off Russia's government from Western finance, sanctioning two of its banks and blocking it from trading in its debt on American and European markets. The administration's actions hit civilian leaders in Russias leadership hierarchy and two Russian banks considered especially close to the Kremlin and Russias military, with more than $80 billion in assets. That includes freezing all of those banks' assets under U.S. jurisdictions. Biden, though, did hold back some of the broadest and toughest of the financial penalties contemplated by the U.S., including sanctions that would reinforce the hold that Germany put on any startup of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; an export ban that would deny Russia U.S. high tech for its industries and military; and sweeping bans that could cripple Russias ability to do business with the rest of the world. Biden said he was moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltics, though he described the deployments as purely defensive," asserting, We have no intention of fighting Russia. The U.S. is sending about 800 infantry troops and 40 attack aircraft to NATOs eastern flank from other locations within Europe, according to a senior defense official. In addition, a contingent of F-35 strike fighters and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will also be relocated. Earlier Tuesday, members of Russia's upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly afterward, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and global economic chaos. Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed after seizing it from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now." He added that its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. The EU announced initial sanctions aimed at the 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for recognizing the two separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking sectors. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that Biden had said would result in severe sanctions. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel regions on Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending in troops. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about those sanctions, noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized the independence of the Donetsk and Luhansk separatist regions. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts of those two regions now held by Ukrainian forces, including the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Condemnation from around the world was quick. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties in Congress vowed continued U.S. support for Ukraine, even as some pushed for swifter and even more severe sanctions on Russia. Senators had been considering a sanctions package but held off as the White House pursued its strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia, and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. If Putin pushes farther into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay, he said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. He warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. Zelenskyy said he was calling up some of the countrys military reservists but added there was no need for a full military mobilization. In an address to the nation, Zelenskyy said his decree applied only to those assigned to the so-called operational reserve, which is typically activated during ongoing hostilities, and covers a special period of time, without clarifying what that means. Today there is no need for a full mobilization. We need to quickly add additional staff to the Ukrainian army and other military formations, he said. The head of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksii Danilov, said earlier this year that Ukraine can call up up to 2.5 million people. UPDATE 12:05 p.m. President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. None of us will be fooled by Russian President Vladimir Putin's claims about Ukraine, the U.S. President said. And he said more sanctions could be on the way if Putin proceeds further. Biden said he was also moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia. Biden joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed on Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine. ORIGINAL 9:30 a.m. Russian lawmakers on Tuesday authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. Several European leaders said Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized their independence. But it was unclear how large the deployment was, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops were fighting in the region, allegations that Moscow always denied. Members of Russia's upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly after, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and economic chaos around the globe. He called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraines NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there. The West has decried Russia's annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from the NATO alliance. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking ever more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow. He scheduled an address for later Tuesday. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The administration initially resisted calling the troop deployment an invasion because the White House wanted to see what Russia was actually going to do. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for this as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialized. The European Union and Britain announced Tuesday that some of those measures were coming and more were expected from the U.S., too. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in borders that existed when they proclaimed their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under the rebel control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While the U.S. clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, the name for the area where the two separatist regions are located, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But in a distinction that could complicate a European and Western response, he added: I wouldnt say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Poland's Defense Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered Ukraine's east, with Javid telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive. The Kremlin hasn't confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didn't confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasnt immediately clear if they were Russian. In response to the moves thus far, top EU officials said the bloc was prepared to impose sanctions on several Russian officials and banks financing the Russian armed forces and move to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. They gave few details. EU foreign ministers met Tuesday to discuss the measures but they did not appear to include the massive punishment repeatedly promised in case of a full-fledged invasion. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. While he said that Russian tanks have already rolled into eastern Ukraine, he warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. The White House has also moved to respond, issuing an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The Russian moves also pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the current crisis and describing Ukraines bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. Ukraines membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russias security, he said. Putin warned Monday that the Western rejection of Moscow's demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security. Photo: Ottawa Police Service Conservative senators speaking in a heated debate about the Emergencies Act are accusing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of stoking the flames of division. Marc Gold, the government's representative in the Senate, is facing a barrage of questions about whether the act is necessary now that protests outside Parliament and border blockades have ended. Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos accuses Trudeau of not speaking to protesters but speaking down to them and characterizing them as Nazis. Some protesters were seen flying swastika and Confederate flags and some organizers have been known to promote racist conspiracy theories online. But Housakos is criticizing the prime minister for labelling Tory MPs who have not condemned the protests as supporting people who wave swastikas. Housakos also questions provisions in the Emergencies Act that allow banks to freeze protesters' accounts, saying a court order is needed even to freeze the bank account of a member of the mafia. Gold is staunchly defending the prime minister and says he does not recognize the Tory senator's characterization of Trudeau's actions and comments. He says the Emergencies Act is justified because of the gravity of the protests, adding that everyone could resolve to listen more and listen better. Open letter to Kelowna-Lake-Country Conservative MP Tracy Gray I am a resident of Kelowna. I want to express my great disappointment in your party and the members of your party who have spoken in support of this so-called Freedom Convoy, whose goal was to destabilize our government. I believe in law and order as a way of protecting all citizens equally. I believe in science. I believe in the democratic process of honouring the vote of the populous. Many people are blaming our federal government for protocols put in place by provincial leaders(in some instances) Conservative provincial leaders, as well. It is clear many who support the Conservative stance simply do not understand the workings of government. However, those (Liberals) in office were elected as our government. We, as Canadians, can protest in a manner that does not terrorize neighbourhoods, shut down access to highways, block the availability of commerce to flow between our country and the U.S.. The end goal of making life difficult for all is not one I embrace. I have been appalled and shocked by your stance on Conversion Therapy. The amount of abhorrence I have felt has increased as I see the support for a resistance movement whose goal is to destabilize our democratic system, occupy and terrorize an Ottawa neighbourhood and close our country off. In Kelowna, hospitals and health centres have been met with angry protestors. Your party has called for police intervention when (Indigenous people) blockaded pipeline sites, but now show up in support of blocking traffic at the border. There is no consistency in your policy and stance. Laws are being broken and the law of the land is what separates us from anarchy. I understand the divisiveness this pandemic has created but I trust my doctors and the scientists around the world. The medical community has saved my life many times and I believe in their guidance. In conclusion, if the people have lost faith in their democratically elected government, vote it out. I see the party you represent as opportunistic and willing to push an agenda of chaos to destabilize a government that has kept Canadas COVID death count relatively low. I cannot understand why a party would want to be seen, or associated with, a movement whose three leaders have stated goals of white supremacy and separation of our provinces. We will not forget where you stood throughout this time of harassment and law-breaking. Cherie Hanson, Kelowna Pope Francis called for a day of prayer for peace in Ukraine on Jan. 26., amid fears of a potential deeper incursion into the Eastern European country by Russia. "I make a heartfelt appeal to all people of goodwill, that they may raise prayers to God Almighty, that every political action and initiative may serve human brotherhood, rather than partisan interests," Pope Francis said on Jan. 23, admonishing all to remember the many lives lost in Ukraine during World War II and inveighing against war. "Please, no more war," he said, appealing to those in power. The prospect of war between Ukraine and Russia, and the potential involvement of the United States, brings with it questions about the morality of war. Just what is the Church's teaching on war? Unlike the Quakers and other Christian denominations, the Catholic Church is not pacifist in principle. Church teaching on the morality of war is based on a theory expounded by St. Augustine in the fourth century known as just war theory, and recognizes a potentially just reason to engage in war under certain conditions. In 2019, expert theologians told CNA that applying this theory to modern warfare, which often involves missile and air strikes rather than pitched battles between troops, is more complicated but still normative. Kevin Miller, a moral theologian at Franciscan University of Steubenville, explained that the concept was a well-established part of Church teaching and thought. "The Catechism of the Catholic Church does a nice job of summarizing the criteria for entering into the use of military force for self-defense," Miller told CNA, "though I tend to think of just war as more of a 'doctrine' than a 'theory' in the Church." In his 2019 interview, Miller said the Church's moral criteria are divided into two categories: the ius ad bellum and the ius in bello, covering the right to war and how it is to be conducted once begun. To be morally licit, a war must be both just in its cause and conducted with justness. What constitutes a just cause? "The first criterion for the use of military force is, of course, a just cause," Taylor Patrick O'Neill, assistant professor of theology at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told CNA in another 2019 interview. All other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective. Paragraph 2309 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that at one and the same time "the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain; all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective; there must be serious prospects of success; the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition." According to the Catechism, weighing the above elements "belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good." As universal shepherds, popes have often sought to influence the prudential judgments about the morality of war made by world leaders. In 2003, Pope John Paul II sent a delegation to dissuade President George W. Bush not to invade Iraq. Pope Francis was joined by his call to prayer for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis by bishops in the European episcopate and other bishops around the world. The question of proportionality in war whether military action causes more evil and disorder than it remedies is an especially difficult question to answer, according to the theologians interviewed by CNA. Said Miller: "To have the moral justification and to make some calculus of proportionality, you have to have some good intelligence about who could be harmed. Obviously, there can be unintended consequences, but you have to have a good amount of information about what the effects of a military action could be before you can judge if it is a just response." Explained O'Neill, "Of course, so much of this is about thinking five or 10 steps down the road, and it is about balancing the need to prevent an escalation while keeping an eye on all the possible unforeseen consequences." Some European bishops who joined the Holy Father in calling for prayer for peace in the Ukraine this week voiced concerns about escalation. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and Archbishop Stanisaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops' conference, said earlier this week that rising tensions with Russia pose "a great danger" to the whole of Europe "which may destroy the progress made so far by many generations in building a peaceful order and unity in Europe." Ukraine, which has a population of 44 million people, borders Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus and Russia. What constitutes a just method? In addition to satisfying the first set of conditions simultaneously to arrive at a decision that a just cause exists, the war must also be carried out in a just way. The Vatican II pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world, Gaudium et Spes, teaches clearly, "The mere fact that war has regrettably broken out does not mean that everything becomes licit between warring parties." This means that military actions must meet certain moral conditions. For instance, indiscriminate destruction of cities or civilian life is prohibited, and the basic human rights of non-combatants, wounded soldiers, and prisoners of war must not be abrogated. But serious questions of what military actions constitute ius in bello, or just acts in war, have multiplied in recent years with the advent of drone strikes and other acts of war against infrastructure that serves dual military and civilian purposes. With modern means of warfare, there is a very high burden on governments to take all measures possible to limit the loss of potentially innocent human life. Modern conflicts often involve remote means of warfare and targets which are of unclear military status, such as governmental intelligence posts, radar stations, or other logistical installations. While the personnel in them might be primarily military, the presence of civilians has to be weighed carefully in discerning military action. "The classification of people involved can be very difficult to discern in modern conflicts," O'Neill said. "We don't necessarily see artillery shelling enemy lines. With strikes from distance on military targets, there are people involved who might not be military personnel: They might be government intelligence workers or people in a gray area," he said. "But then there's the possibility of just the civilian janitor in the building how do you put them in the balance of proportionality? "It makes things very difficult." O'Neill said that with modern means of warfare, there is a very high burden on governments to take all measures possible to limit the loss of potentially innocent human life. The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014, focused on the east of Ukraine. The conflict has claimed more than 14,000 lives and driven 1.3 million people from their homes, according to Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based confederation of Catholic charities raising funds for those affected. The warring parties agreed to a cease-fire in July 2020. But Russia has sent an estimated 100,000 troops to the Ukrainian border. U.S. President Joe Biden said on Jan. 19 that he expected Russian President Vladimir Putin to order an invasion. Since then, tensions have not cooled down. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday that Putin will take time to study documents hand delivered by Western leaders regarding the conflict. But, he added, "it cannot be said that our views were taken into account, or that a readiness to take our concerns into account was demonstrated." On July 27, 2021, a fully vaccinated* crew member on a U.S. Navy ship who had been symptomatic with cough and congestion for 4 days was evaluated in the ships onboard medical department and received a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The ship had approximately 350 personnel on board; COVID-19 vaccination rate was >98%. The ship had been on an 8-week deployment with port visits in Norway (July 1314) and in Reykjavik, Iceland (July 1821). Masking and physical distancing mandates on the ship were relaxed while at sea but were immediately reimplemented upon identification of the crew members positive test result. During the deployment, personnel had permission to go ashore only during the Iceland port visit and only if they were fully vaccinated. Before July 27, no one had been evaluated at the onboard medical department for respiratory symptoms. Although reported COVID-19 incidence was low in Iceland just before the port visit (17.5 per 100,000 population on July 18), incidence increased approximately elevenfold, to 219.5 per 100,000 on July 27 with emergence of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant.** At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks on some U.S. Navy ships led to attack rates greater than 25% (1) of the crew in the confined environment. In this outbreak during Delta variant predominance, the combination of a high vaccination rate with prevention strategies resulted in a lower (6.3%) attack rate of COVID-19 than seen at the onset of the pandemic. After identification of the initial case on July 27, all ship personnel were notified to report to the onboard medical department if they had any COVID-19like signs or symptoms, resulting in diagnoses of an additional 11 COVID-19 cases that day. The ship immediately instituted prevention measures, including mask use, physical distancing, increased cleaning, isolation of the 12 initial patients, testing of 69 close contacts, and testing and quarantine of six unvaccinated persons (two of whom were also close contacts). On July 28 and 29, six additional cases were identified through testing. Nasal swabs from these 18 persons with positive antigen test results were sent off the ship for reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and all were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Further analysis determined 17 of the 18 specimens were Delta variant AY.9 lineage; 16 of the 17 were identical.*** During this same time frame at the end of July, Delta AY.9 was identified in 8% of specimens in Iceland and fewer than 1% of specimens in Norway and the United States. The 18 infected persons were removed from the ship on July 31 to reduce the ships health care requirements and to prevent further transmission. Four additional cases of COVID-19 were identified during August 17 (including three diagnosed aboard the ship and one postdeployment) with onset July 28August 5. The overall attack rate was 6.3%. The ship returned to its home port on August 3, concluding its deployment as scheduled. Among the 22 infected personnel identified, all were fully vaccinated, and all were symptomatic. Most (91%) were aged <40 years (average age = 30.2 years). No patient required hospitalization or supplemental oxygen and no deaths occurred. Before the outbreak was identified on July 27, 13 (59%) of the 22 infected personnel had been symptomatic for a median of 3 days (range = 15 days) aboard the ship with no masking or physical distancing protocols in place (Figure). During the 15-day outbreak period (July 22August 5), 91 personnel received rapid antigen testing. Only one case was identified >14 days after the Iceland port visit, demonstrating very limited spread of infection despite exposure to symptomatic personnel for a median of 3 days in the confined shipboard spaces. In previous U.S. Navy shipboard outbreaks, before COVID-19 vaccines were available, SARS-CoV-2 spread was rapid and extensive, with attack rates of 26.6% (1,271 of 4,779 personnel) on one ship (1) and 36.3% (121 of 333) on another (Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, unpublished data, 2020). These attack rates were approximately four and six times higher, respectively, than that described in this report. The findings in this report are subject to at least four limitations. First, shipboard testing was limited to rapid antigen testing, which has a lower sensitivity than RT-PCR testing in asymptomatic persons (2). Second, testing relied on persons to report symptoms and close contacts, which is subject to recall bias. Third, this was an outbreak of Delta variant and findings might not be applicable to B.1.1.529 (Omicron) or other variant outbreaks. Finally, this outbreak occurred in a highly vaccinated, young, healthy population, thus limiting generalizability to the overall U.S. population. This outbreak in the enclosed environment of a ship suggests that high vaccination rates, in combination with COVID-19 prevention measures, can substantially reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, despite the high transmissibility of the Delta variant and introduction of SARS-CoV-2 into a congregate setting. Infections among vaccinated persons did occur, which is expected (3), but symptoms were mild. Vaccination, in coordination with multicomponent prevention strategies, are critical to limiting SARS-CoV-2 transmission and COVID-19related illness. The exact age of the Cerne Abbas Giant monument is an enigma to researchers who have some ideas about it but have yet to verify it. But there is a clue in the monument that might reveal how long ago it was created. A tall naked man holding a club best seen from high in the air has perplexed why it's built that way, not on ground level. Mystery of the Cerne Abbas Giant Standing tall with a massive club and nude at 55-meters which has been carved into a hillside found in provincial Dorset, reported the Express UK. It is one of England's most enormous humanoid figures demarcated by centuries-old chalk. The exact location of the figure is close to Cerne Abbas (hence the name). Whoever made it had to scour the grass on the hill to expose the chalk seen to this day. But, more chalk was added by the builders from quarries close to it. Another figure that exists in Long Man of Wilmington in East Sussex is the other hill figure other than the Dorset monument. Both hill figures are rare in England, but mystery shrouds their origins. To protect from alterations, they under scheduled monument status to preserve them. Over the centuries, they both existed; locals and others have speculated how exactly and who is responsible for it. No answers have been satisfactory to satisfy an answer to the Cerne Abbas Giant. Read Also: Stele Dating Back 2,600 Years Tells of a Pharaoh Who Was Murdered by His Subjects Scientists Analyze the Monument Archeologists documented the diggings for a series in the southwest to research the matter and analyze the results. One of the first known references to the monument is recorded way back in the 17th century, with antiquarians thinking it might be a Saxon god, and another could be related to Romans, per the New Yorker. During July 2020, snail shells found at the site have pointed to middle age or later origin. No snails have ever been found in the Roman era at the location. Another attempt to analyze the survey is to utilize optically stimulated luminescence from the lowest sediments. It showed a date from 700 to 1100 AD, estimated at the start of the Middle Ages and into the late Anglo-Saxon period, noted Newslanes. But according to Professor Alice Roberts, the Diggings for Britain presenter stated that archeologists could be glossing over a hint or clue missed in the investigation of the giant's age. Mike Allen, an environmental archaeologist, said other archeologists sometimes miss the other details they encounter. He added that the nude image of the giant is what is noticed most; the member in particular. There's an Abbey in the obvious backdrop. Professor Roberts stated that the Lay Cerne Abbey in 987AD was erected simultaneously, the Giant was created. Miss Robert's asked the National Trust archaeologist Martin Papworth how the figure and the Benedictine Monastery are linked. He indicated the close to his outstretched hands is the abbey built simultaneously. Pilgrims visited it to see St Eadwold of Cerne, a local holy man. Other theories were forwarded to explain the Cerne Abbas Giant by experts to explain its aspects, but the local monument has impacted everyone. Related Article: 4,000 Year-Old Bull Geoglyph in Russia Outdates Other Ancient Monuments by Several Thousand Millennia Causing A Stir Among Scientists @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pakistan's cement and clinker exports decline 22 February 2022 Pakistan's cement and clinker exports have decreased in the first seven months of the FY21-22. According to local analysts, historically, when domestic demand is booming, exports take a backseat, and when the domestic market is slowing down, exports contribute a critical share in total sales. It makes more economic sense to sell domestically where prices are more desirable and less competitive. The Indian supply has not been restored to date, and there is no momentum in dispatches to Kabul. The Pakistan cement industry earned US$160.926m in export revenue by dispatching 4.315Mt of cement and clinker overseas in the 7MFY21-22 (July 2021-January 2022), compared to US$163.67m from 4.93Mt of exports in the year-ago period. As a result, the sector saw a nominal slide of 1.7 per cent in dollar terms but reported a double-digit decline of 12.5 per cent in volume during the export period. However, exports valued in Pakistani rupees saw a growth of 3.1 per cent to PKR27.58bn (US$156.4m) during this period. Pakistan has been exporting clinker/cement to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania and India. In Jan 2022 alone, export revenues decreased 44 per cent MoM to US$17.15m on the shipment of 393,347t, compared to US$27.77m from 702,698t of exports in December 2021. However, when compared with January 2021 earnings of US$20.74m from 607,640t, this represented a drop of 17.3 per cent and 35.3 per cent YoY in value and quantity, respectively. Published under Officials said teachers, staff and schools across Hamilton County have gone above and beyond to stay connected to their students through unprecedented times and circumstances and now several have been nominated and honored with a new local award. Thanks to the HCS EdConnect Partnership, lead by Hamilton County Schools, EPB and The Enterprise Center, six HCS staff and seven schools received awards for their work during the first semester of the 2021-2022 school term, which recognized each winner for the time, energy and passion they devoted to ensuring students and families had access to the resources they needed to succeed. I applaud each and every one of these educators and schools for their efforts, said Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. Their dedication and commitment to maintaining connection to their students both in the classroom and online has made a profound impact on so many lives across the county. The HCS EdConnect Hero award specifically highlights staff who went above and beyond helping HCS families access high-speed fiber internet at no cost, powered by EPB. "Front office staff, school translators, classroom teachers and other educators all played (and continue to play) a critical role in contacting families," officials said. "They ultimately ensured that more than 15,000 area students were connected to no-cost internet by the end of 2021." Begun in November, this award recognizes three inspiring leaders, nominated by their peers, each month with a $500 prize. Three new leaders will continue to be chosen each month, through the end of the school year. The HCS EdConnect Exemplar School designation is awarded to schools who meet connective goals around the percentage of eligible families enrolled and receiving service. Fifty-seven schools exceeded the goals set for fall of 2021, with seven schools receiving competitive grants of $2,000 to $5,000. Another seven awards, this time up to $10,000, are available to schools in Spring of 2022. HCS EdConnects no-cost, in-home fiber internet, offered through the Hamilton County School system to students and their families, is provided by EPB. The program is facilitated by The Enterprise Center, a Chattanooga nonprofit focused on digital equity, access and connections that help create more inclusive futures for residents across the region. Providing pathways for our students to succeed has always been important, said The Enterprise Center CEO Deb Socia, who is also a former school principal. The pandemic certainly has highlighted the inequities that have always existed in our communities, and this group of teachers and schools deserve to be commended for the critical role they played in paving a new way forward. Their efforts are invaluable and changed the lives and futures of these 15,000 students and their families. For award-winning Brainerd High School Principal Crystal Sorrells, the program was not only a solution to provide students with access to technology and resources in the pandemic, but also to increase parent participation in the school by eliminating access to travel as a barrier for involvement. This partnership was a great opportunity to bridge the gap in terms of recognizable challenges that many of our students face, Principal Sorrells said. It has really helped level the playing field. Brody Scott, the Northside Neighborhood House Community School coordinator for Soddy Daisy Middle School, another recipient of the award, agreed. Through a combination of grassroots efforts, including knocking on doors, print mailers and more, his school was able to reach families in creative ways to notify them about the opportunity for technology and access through HCS EdConnects no-cost EPB services. Mr. Scott was a personal recipient of the HCS EdConnect Hero award for his community-driven creative solutions, in addition to earning his school the new Exemplar designation. Access to things beyond just school homework has also been deeply impactful, he said. A familys ability to access telehealth opportunities is so important, especially in a pandemic. And we havent had any reported internet or resource issues at our school in quite some time and thats huge, said Mr. Sott. At the end of the day its all about the babies, said award winner and Barger Academy of Fine Arts Principal Andrea Johnson. We do what we do for them. To learn more about HCS EdConnect or to nominate a Hamilton County HCS EdConnect Hero, visit edconnect.org. About the winners: HCS Hero Award winners, chosen via nomination: Tanya Rucker Hunter Middle School Brody Scott Soddy Daisy Middle School Anthony Miller North Hamilton County Elementary School Lizanette Olivencia-Rodriguez Clifton Hills Elementary School Tracy Higginbotham Tommie F. Brown Academy Joanna Wallace Lookout Valley Elementary Exemplar School Award winners: Wallace A. Smith Elementary School Barger Academy of Fine Arts Hixson Middle School Ooltewah Elementary School Soddy Daisy Middle School Brainerd High School Lookout Valley Middle High School Construction on the new outdoor Red Panda Habitat at the Chattanooga Zoo is now complete. "Our Red Pandas are enjoying their new outdoor habitat," said Dardenelle Long, Chattanooga Zoo president and CEO. "With construction now complete, guests can witness our pandas climb and explore their new space. This project was made possible by those who generously contributed to the Red Panda Rising campaign which funded the habitat. We continue to commit ourselves to excellent animal care, and this new habitat aligns perfectly with that mission. The new habitat features increased space, as well as added vertical climbing structures such as bridges, tunnels, ladders and platforms. Each feature of the exhibit was created with the Red Pandas natural climbing instincts in mind. Additionally, the Red Panda outdoor space has a new Panda Condo-- an enclosed space for pandas to access while theyre exploring. As always, the Red Pandas will continue to have access to the indoor Red Panda exhibit, viewable by guests by the second floor of the Himalayan Passage. Now that this habitat is open, guests will have the opportunity to learn more about Red Pandas, up close and personal. Previously, Red Panda viewing from the outdoor space was minimal. Now with new updates, guests have a largely unobstructed view. Visit chattzoo.org to learn more, and for daily activities and monthly events, follow the Chattanooga Zoo on social media. The first county mayor debate of the political season provided a news story about a new county school Future Ready Institute that was set to be unveiled soon. Sabrena Smedley, one of three Republican contenders who took part in the forum sponsored by Hamilton Flourishing, said the trucking firm, US Xpress, wound up with extra space after many employees began working remotely during COVID. She said that building will be put to use for training students in Information Technology. She said IT is one area where the county comes up short in providing enough workers for incoming industries. Weston Wamp, a second candidate, responded that he was the one who came up with the idea for the IT student program. He said he earlier convened local logistics leaders to discuss the program that would involve training from Chattanooga State. He said $12 million in funding was secured. Ms. Smedley responded, "When I was talking with Eric Fuller (US Xpress CEO) he didn't mention Weston Wamp." Mr. Wamp said Mr. Fuller would acknowledge his role if asked. Matt Hullander, the other candidate, began the debate by saying he felt it was God's will that he run for county mayor - given his extensive background in business. He said he began working at age 12 and then worked his way up at his father's window business until he finally took out a loan to buy it. He said he then increased Hullco five-fold until it covered all of East Tennessee before selling it. Ms. Smedley also stressed her religious background several times, saying with her it was "Christian first." She also told of her business experience, starting a realty firm while struggling as a single mother, then later launching two fitness centers just prior to COVID hitting. Mr. Wamp said he was proud to be part of the first debate in 28 years since the last "competitive race" for county mayor. He said he is the only candidate who has laid out an extensive campaign platform. He cited his work in starting two investment firms to back entrepreneurs in Chattanooga and in launching the Millennial Debt Foundation out of concern for federal overspending. Moderator Doug Daugherty asked about students not being ready to graduate, and Ms. Smedley said trying to raise third grade literacy rates from 30 to 50 percent would be a main goal for her. Mr. Hullander noted that half of the 800 employees at Miller Industries live out of county, and he said steps need to be taken to provide young people ready to handle the new jobs that come available. Mr. Wamp disputed a heavy focus on the literacy issue, saying to take a countywide approach on that would require a tax increase. He said a main problem was that the schools are geared to turn out college ready students, and he said many students are not a match for college. He said the focus should be on K-12, not pre-school. He said more vocational schools are needed, including one he would name Kirkman. And he said industry leaders looking at Chattanooga are often turned away by the failing downtown schools. He said a "world class" middle/high school should be built downtown to alleviate that situation. All of the candidates said they are pro-life. Mr. Hullander said public safety is his top priority. Ms. Smedley said she was part of shutting down the "deplorable" county jail and expanding the Silverdale Jail. She also said she had voted to raise the pay of county law enforcement up to 14 percent. Mr. Hullander said he has been a longtime student of business achievement and he would take that focus to the county, including leading the development of McDonald Farm at Sale Creek. He said he will stress customer service (to the public). Ms. Smedley stressed that she is the only candidate with eight years in office at the county, while citing the heavy turnover coming in county positions. On that point, Mr. Wamp said, "Our country has been able to change presidents during war time, so I reckon Hamilton County will be okay." The Collegedale Police Department will be getting license plate readers from Flock Group, Inc. Police Chief Jack Sapp said the company will be giving Collegedale access to one or two demo units for a period of 90 days for the department to see if buying units would be beneficial to the city. For the past year one tag reader has been used in Collegedale in a single location and has resulted in recovering seven instances of stolen automobiles or missing persons as they passed through the area, said the chief. That camera is owned and operated by the Hamilton County Sheriffs Department, but if the system detects a stolen car, they have shared some of the data with the Collegedale Police. The 90-day trial will give Collegedale Police access to services and equipment from Flock. Other municipalities in the area, including Red Bank, East Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Tn. and Signal Mountain, are already using this technology, said Chief Sapp. The end goal, he said, is to find one system that works best for all communities so information can be shared. One system would give Collegedale access to data and video from all Flock cameras in the area. The 90-day trial will have no cost to Collegedale. The cameras that are being considered for purchase will be portable units that can be moved around the city. If it is decided this would be beneficial, the equipment can be considered for the next budget. Collegedale has also recently installed speed readers around the city. The financial report for January, 2022 looks really good, said Finance Manager Michelle Toro. The report gives information at 58 percent through the year. She said revenue is up eight percent above the budget and expenditures are below the budgeted amount by around five percent. Revenue from the cable TV franchises will all be paid in February, she said. Commissioner Phil Garver recognized the East Tennessee Symphony for a successful Valentine's concert that was held at the Collegedale Commons. He said that he is happy that people from all around the area have been coming to enjoy events that are taking place in Collegedale and he expects that to continue. Two candidates that will be running in the Hamilton County primary elections came to the meeting Monday night to ask for votes. Judge Kevin Wilson has been Collegedales municipal judge for 32 years. He first won in 1990, and has been elected three times since then. He told the commissioners that it has been a pleasure working with them and hearing all the good things about Collegedale. Fay Robinson, a resident of the city, is running for the school board. She said she believes in more emphasis on early education and in teaching the basics of life in addition to the traditional curriculum. Vera Suzanne Ainscough, 74, went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 17, 2022, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She was born in Cleveland, to the late Bob and LaVerne Reynolds. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Gary Ainscough. Sue Ainscough is survived by her daughter, Michelle Hall (Brent) of Ringgold, son, Scott Ainscough (Beth) of Ringgold, grandchildren, Eleanor Rae Herring, Annabelle Grace Herring, Rhett Ainscough, sister, Caroline Holder (Gary) of Savannah, Ga., and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and her beloved dog Ryelee. Sue was a lifelong housewife and mother. She loved to be with family and took great pride in her grandchildrens life. She made sure her home was welcoming and comfortable. She always welcomed everyone into her home and made sure she prepared a home cooked meal for them. Through the years she involved herself in many hobbies: pottery, sewing, quilting, knitting, reading, scrapbooking, painting, canning foods, rubber stamping, card making and home renovations. She loved to entertain and loved to play games. She had a special gift of helping others all though out her life but most importantly she loved the Lord. She was involved in many church activities attended Sunday school, church, and womens ministries. She and Gary were longtime members of Woodland Park Baptist Church and Silverdale Baptist Church. A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 22, at 5:30 p.m. at Silverdale Baptist Church and visitation from 4-5:30 p.m. Arrangements are by Hamilton Funeral Home. AP Access for ALL, a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation, announced its enrollment numbers for the 2021-22 school year, with over 1,800 students from 192 high schools statewide now enrolled in AP Access for ALL classes- helping students prepare for college, skip introductory classes and earn college credit while still in high school. Additionally, students are encouraged to register for fall 2022 AP Access for ALL classes, which open on March 1. Before the launch of AP Access for ALL in June 2021, only 50 percent of Tennessee high school students had access to an AP class at their school. Now, 86 percent of all public high schools (110 school districts) have partnered with AP Access for All to give their students access to college level courses. In Tennessee, we recognize the importance of ensuring our high school students are given the same opportunity to earn college credit before graduation, said Dr. Jean Luna-Vedder, chief of Student Readiness, Tennessee Department of Education. AP Access for ALL is fulfilling an essential need to provide access to rigorous college preparation classes so our students are set up for postsecondary and workforce success, regardless of where they live. We are thrilled that so many students are taking advantage of rigorous, college preparatory classes for free online, said Gina Pavlovich, AP Access for ALL program director. Its so important that our students are introduced to college level work before they begin college level classes. This program allows students to start preparing as early as ninth grade. AP Access for ALL, a program developed and supported by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation, gives students free access to 15 online advanced placement courses and pays final exam fees. The program also provides free advanced placement training for Tennessee teachers. Students are encouraged to sign up for AP Access for ALL courses through their high school counselors. Registration for the fall 2022 semester begins March 1. AP Access for ALL is providing great opportunities for Fentress County students," said Mike Jones, superintendent of Fentress County Schools. "AP classes compliment our Dual Enrollment programs, allowing students to start preparing for college early and potentially earning college credit. All AP Access for ALL courses are taught by certified and trained Tennessee teachers. In order to provide the online coursework, AP Access for ALL has provided scholarships to 119 teachers to receive College Board certification. This summer, the program will once again offer free College Board training and certification to nearly 700 Tennessee teachers. In addition to college credit, students enrolled in AP Access for ALL courses also gain vital skills that will set them apart from their peers in the college admissions process, officials said. Funding for AP Access for ALL is provided through the federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) funds. For a full list of participating counties, courses offered and more information, visit tnapaccessforall.org. For additional information about Tennessees advanced placement courses, click here. The Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the 2022-23 proclamation for migratory game bird hunting seasons pertaining to the federal framework. The meeting, which concluded Friday, was also a rule making hearing where the commission considered changes to the regulations governing migratory game birds and hunts. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency recommendations to the migratory bird hunting seasons were made at the January meeting and for the statewide season dates and bag limits which fall within federal frameworks. There are no changes to the federal frameworks and will reflect only date changes. The proclamation does not include any regulations regarding seasons on wildlife management areas. However, the commission made an amendment to combine the Reelfoot zone and the statewide zone to have the same dates for a single statewide duck hunting zone. A preliminary summary of the post season surveys of waterfowl hunters was made. Waterfowl hunters had the opportunity to comment on the recently completed waterfowl season. The survey provided an opportunity for waterfowl hunters to provide input on the duck blind application process, the condition of Tier 2 blinds, and their overall hunting experience. The rule making hearing regarding migratory game birds and hunts established several changes to the existing rule. Major changes include only Tennessee residents can apply for season-long duck blinds and the number of wildlife management areas in which they can apply. In addition, 10 staked position sites will be reverted back to the pool of season-long draw sites. A presentation on the new TWRA license structure was given. Beginning this month, all commercial and all licenses and permits will be valid for year from the date of purchase. Exceptions to the new structure will be captive permits, Federal duck stamp, migratory bird permits, and slat basket tags. There are required purchasing deadlines which remain. Commercial turtle permit, commercial roe for residents and non-residents must be purchased by March 15 of each year. If they are purchased by that date, persons will again have to go through the approval process. Reelfoot permanent blind registration remains to be required by July 31 annually. Failure to register a blind will result in steps to begin moving the site to an annual blind draw. The TFWC elected its new officers. Angie Box (Humboldt) will move from vice chair to chairman. Tommy Woods (Piney Flats) will now serve as vice chairman after serving as secretary the past year. Jimmy Granbery (Nashville) becomes an officer as the new secretary. Chairman Jim Ripley (Kodak) served as chairman the past year and remains as a commissioner. Legendary fisherman and television personality Bill Dance was honored with the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commissions second Legacy Award winner. The award was established in 2021 to show appreciation for service and dedication to the people and wildlife in Tennessee. The popular angler and Tennessee native joined the meeting by video to receive notification of the honor. Sgt. Brad Bagwell, the 2021 Tennessee winner of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SEAFWA) Officer of the Year, was introduced to the commission and officially received his award. He works primarily in TWRA Region IIs Cheatham County. Dawson Rader, a senior at the University of Tennessee, was a guest at the meeting and was presented the Robert M. Hatcher Ornithologist Scholarship Award. The $1,000 scholarship is named in honor of the late Bob Hatcher, who served the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for 38 years, which included the Non-Game and Endangered Species Coordinator from 1987 until 2001. He initiated the state bald eagle recovery efforts in the early 1980s. Roy Exum's criticism of GPS's new Head of School, Megan Cover, is laced with misogynistic vitriol. After mocking Ms. Cover's efforts to facilitate modern conversations around race and gender, he suggests she instead tell students to "tighten their uniform belts." Mr. Exum's perspective on the proper education for girls is so disturbing, I am genuinely concerned for the women in his life. Underneath his sexism and colorful language, I detect fear - fear that the new ideas flowing at GPS are representative of a world that is unfamiliar to him, one in which race and gender are socially constructed and traditions are meant to be challenged. Unlike Mr. Exum, GPS girls are not afraid of new ideas. Like Mr. Exums, my family has a history with GPS. I am a descendant of Grace McCallie, one the school's three founders. Dozens of my family members have walked across the GPS graduation stage since 1906. My mother graduated in 1980. I graduated in 2013. The May Pole is certainly not my most cherished memory of GPS. On the contrary, I am the woman I am today because we read Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Would Mr. Exum prefer that we omit these texts because they recognize the impact of institutionalized slavery and break down socially constructed definitions of "men" and "women"? In May, I will graduate with honors from Columbia Law School. I learned a passion for intellectual discourse and an outstanding work ethic from GPS. My "liberal teachers" pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged the beliefs I took for granted. In truth, I could have done without the prayer in assembly. Even with the occasional Bible verse, GPS is not and has never been the evangelical Sunday School that Mr. Exums opinion essay describes. Mr. Exum fails to recognize that the very founding of GPS was an act of rebellion against sexist norms. When Spencer and Park McCallie founded a private college preparatory school in 1905, their sister Grace McCallie, volunteered to teach the girls who would be admitted. But the McCallie brothers did not think women should receive a college preparatory education. Grace was undeterred. With only a fraction of the funding of McCallie, Grace started GPS in her own home with Tommie Payne Duffy and Eula Lea Jarnagin. GPS was not founded on "Christian-principles." It was founded on a fierce commitment to the autonomy and intellectual development of women. Megan Covers leadership is realigning GPS with its intended purpose: to prepare young women for a world that is so much bigger than Chattanooga, Tennessee. In fact, Ms. Cover is actualizing an even deeper purpose for the school: to create a robust learning environment that is accepting of young women from different races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Conservative and affluent white parents who find this effort concerning are in need of some serious self-reflection. I am thrilled to see GPS taking decisive steps to be more inclusive. Although my experience at GPS was overwhelmingly positive, at times, I experienced homophobia that made me feel as though my identity should remain hidden. Today, I see a GPS where girls have more liberty to express and discuss sexual orientation and gender identity. That type of learning environment is nourishing to both the mind and the soul. I would have thrived under GPSs current leadership. Perhaps my fiance (who is also named Megan) and I will need to pay Megan Cover a friendly visit when we travel to Chattanooga for our wedding in March. Parents, if you are more comfortable sending your daughters to a school where they will not be presented with new, challenging ideas about race and gender, so be it. The last thing GPS needs is fire and brimstone from disapproving elites who prefer indoctrination to intellectualism. But just know that you are making the choice to keep your daughter's world small. Megan Cover, keep up the good work. Mary Rebecca Gardner, Class of 2013 * * * As a current parent of two girls at GPS, I want to provide some perspective from my point of view. My children are in the 7th grade, having attended GPS for the past two years. My wife and I are very happy with our decision to send our girls to GPS. My primary concern when we were looking for a school was for our girls to find a place where they belonged but also where they could be challenged and could grow. Fortunately for us here in Chattanooga, there are many schools that could provide this opportunity. As a Baylor alum, my heart always gravitated back to my alma mater. The admissions process at GPS opened my eyes to the benefits of single-sex education. Multiple parent meetings showed us the growth opportunities that GPS could offer. In our two years at the school, my girls have become more independent, and more self-assured. They have confidence in their own abilities and the strength to try new things that might not have been in their comfort zone previously. I was traveling for work this past week and spoke with several different people who either were alumni of GPS or parents of former students. The stories that they tell about their personal accomplishments or those of their children is what I desire for my own children. The ability that these women have to walk into any room, anywhere, and feel like they belong. The ability and strength of character they have to stand up and speak their mind. The opportunity to absorb multiple points of view and make decisions based upon those differing viewpoints is invaluable. I wish that every child had the opportunities that my girls are blessed with. I look forward to the conversations and debates with my girls about their feelings for what is right and what is wrong. Some of these conversations will be uncomfortable and we will disagree but that is the entire point: to build thoughtful, considerate, well-rounded participants in our society. It is disingenuous to try and put people into ideological boxes based on our perception of them or their actions. People just do not neatly fit into these boxes that we create. As a parent, I want my children to be open-minded to the people, the thoughts, and the beliefs of the people that they are exposed to. I want them to have many different opportunities to learn perspectives that are different from my own. Our perspective has to be formed and shaped by our experiences. That perspective also has to be flexible and have the ability to change and grow as experiences change us. This is what GPS provides my girls. I applaud the entire GPS Community starting with Megan Cover. The school, the Trustees, the faculty and the staff have a singular focus on living the mission of the school: to do what is best for the girl. Steven Sharpe * * * Several months ago I wrote an article for The Tennessean that highlighted ways in which I have seen residents of our state embrace the changing demographics associated with the booming real estate market in Tennessee that attracts so many newcomers. Ive been heartened in the past few years as Ive witnessed some in the Volunteer State open their arms to welcome a more diverse Tennessee. When I read my fathers article in The Chattanoogan yesterday, however, I wondered if Id spoken too soon. His hurtful and untrue comments about new resident Megan Cover do not reflect the kind of Southern hospitality that Tennessee is known for, and his rhetoric is miles from civil discourse. His article, How Woke is GPS?, begins as critical of Ms. Cover, the newest Head of School at Girls Preparatory School from which I graduated in 2001. I doubt my father has ever met Ms. Cover, but the article paints her to be a threat to the school and its students. On the contrary, when I met her in Nashville last fall, I was impressed by her compassionate warmth, courageous leadership, and gracious personality. If I lived in Chattanooga, Id send my girls to GPS in a heartbeat. As it turns out, as the article goes on, it is not as much about Ms. Cover - it is more about my fathers loathing of Critical Race Theory and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which he has made no secret of in previous columns. Ms. Cover is used as a decoy for him to really attack what I presume he fears - change. Ive been in ministry for nearly two decades, and from what I can tell in hours spent sitting with people, change is more terrifying for many of us than wed like to admit. We fear what we do not understand, and quite often change brings uncertainty which, of course, makes it hard to comprehend. So we fear change. The relativeness newness of terms like Critical Race Theory and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have the potential to come off as threats when in actuality, equality isnt to be feared at all. Who doesnt want a house with a crowded table and a wide porch? If I may assure you: you can be a practicing Christian, support Critical Race Theory, and be a proponent of inclusion at the same time. Loving Jesus and embracing diversity are not mutually exclusive. No one cast a wider net than Jesus himself. My husband and I have two daughters who attend a private all-girls school here in Nashville, similar to GPS, and Im continually in awe of how their school is committed to making sure every girl belongs in their community. One student writes that Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important in schools because they allow students to gain a stronger, more realistic perspective of the world around them. I couldnt have said it better, and I wish my time at GPS had been enhanced by more diversity when I was a student there. Im grateful that girls currently enrolled at GPS will be able to experience a broader range of ideas from their classmates. I suppose its easy to throw rocks from behind a mountaintop computer, but its not the critic who counts here, as Teddy Roosevelt once said. The credit here belongs to the (wo)man in the arena, Megan Cover, who is making sure that GPS really does, as my father wrote, produce some of the most outstanding young women in the South. As for my father, I can only quote Elizabeth Cady Stanton: Come, come, my conservative friend. Wipe the dew from your spectacles, and see that the world is moving. So, heres to the girls! And heres to Ms. Cover. Welcome to Tennessee. Mary Cady Bolin, M Div. GPS class of 2001 * * * There are so many things I find wrong with your article, enough that could have me debating for hours on end tonight. As an alumnus of GPS not once did I think or comment about the school being too woke when the new headmistress was announced, nor did I see classmates commenting or posting such. Mr. Exum, perhaps you should have consulted with all alumni before making claims in your article; I know one of the things I learned there was doing research and due diligence to get to the truth, I can thank my teachers there for making me the critical thinker I am today. Had you polled alumni you may have found that GPS taught us, and still teaches its students, to embrace others from every walk of life and background, to be curious and seek truths, and to be respectful of opinions that may not be like our own. GPS taught myself, and others, that just because we are women we shouldnt feel we need to hide our intelligence and opinions, we should feel confident to speak up and speak out, and that our gender in the male dominated south shouldnt make us any less worthy of advancement in the workplace. You know whats funny? The last time I remember reciting the pledge of allegiance is in the 5th grade; when I attended GPS students still started in the 7th grade so let this sink in, my last year of public school no pledge was recited. As for prayer in school, we never started each school day with one; this never happened when I attended public school either. Prayer was, indeed, allowed at GPS; my brother said one before my chapel talk senior year. I sat though 6 total years of many prayers during chapel talk. Perhaps, Mr. Exum, we should circle back to the whole doing research thing. You do realize that fact checking is at the center of your job, right? GPS is a school that embraced all religions. Why? Because we had a diverse student body made up of many religions and denominations. As such we were taught to be respectful of those who followed a religion other than our own, similarly we accepted those who followed no religion. As a Christian myself Im taught to treat others how I want to be treated, and to love my neighbors as myself; GPS never once taught me to only respect those who were like me, on the contrary it taught me to respect differences and stand up for those who are treated unjustly. Its interesting to me that Mr. Exum finds it radical that a female headmaster from the north is so woke. Sir, you do realize GPS was founded by women, right? Did you also know that for many decades we had a male head of school, I am going to assume you have conveniently left that out if so. My point in mentioning this is for far too long women were overlooked as being a headmaster OF AN ALL GIRLS SCHOOL. I find that absurd and silly, especially given the founders of our institution. So, Mr. Exum, I leave you with this. GPS has served as a school that fosters intelligence and forward thinking, always has and always will. If teaching its students to think for themselves, to use critical thinking when researching, to believe that gender doesnt define worth in a male dominated south, that being different is ok, and that speaking your mind is wrongwell, I guess I dont want to be right. Ill continue to apply what I learned from my alma mater: to speak up, to be a leader, to embrace my intelligence, to accept others, to think critically, and to work twice as hard. By your standards, Mr. Exum, all alumni and current students at GPS are a bunch of outspoken heathen women who have a lack of morals and lack certain ideals. Ive been taught to stand up for what I believe and to be respectful of people from all walks of life, as well as not to hide behind pre conceived notions; if that makes me radical so be it. Might I remind you, well behaved women rarely make history; I will continue to live my legacy and misbehave I suppose. Why? Because I want to leave this world better than how I came into it, I want young women to know they can achieve great things, and I want them to know being a leader, a good leader, has nothing to do with ones gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic status. You know what does make a great leader? Empathy, understanding, critical thinking, adaptability, strong morals, believing in something bigger than yourself, thinking outside the box, pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, and seeking truths. Where did I learn to think this way? My six years spent at GPS, and I wouldnt have it any other way. Oh, and one other thing? Heres to the girls. Shelly Ayers GPS class of 2000 * * * Id like to respond to Roy Exums recent opinion piece entitled How Woke" is GPS? While I understand the intent of Mr. Exums use of hyperbole is to shock and attract readers, it is unfortunate that he does so at the expense of GPSs new Head of School, Megan Cover. Mr. Exum uses the first two paragraphs to attack Mrs. Cover seemingly because she hails from Wilmington, Delaware. Are we really so insular that we have to assume someone is a threat simply based on the region of the country where she and her family used to live? Within the first sentence, Mr. Exum claims to have a pulse on the "general consensus of the alumnae." How many alums did he actually speak with, I wonder, to reach this consensus? Was it a multi-generational consensus? Did he poll alums living in other regions of the country, such as Delaware for example, to reach this consensus? I, too, have concerns about things like Critical Race Theory and gender ideology that are being pushed in schools across the country and I do not fault parents for being on alert for things that are being taught to their children that dont align with their values. For too long, parents have been marginalized by the public school system and their opinions about what is being taught in our schools seem to matter less and less. According to US intelligence, Russia intends to "crush" Ukraine with increased severity, as Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that diplomacy efforts had come to a halt. As Putin gathered his inner circle on Monday morning, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan discussed the possibility of Russia launching a full-scale assault. On Monday, Sullivan told ABC News' Good Morning America that "the possibility of a diplomatic settlement, given the Russians' moves - their army deployments, is lessening hour by hour." Biden-Putin Summit Remains Uncertain Biden agreed 'in principle' to meet with Putin, according to the White House on Sunday night. According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Europe on Thursday, 'if Russia does not take military action.' Putin's closest advisors, though, encouraged him not to meet with Biden on Monday. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesperson, told reporters that there are no "clear plans" for a summit. Military drills in Belarus, which were meant to finish on Sunday, have been prolonged indefinitely by Russia. More than 30,000 Russian troops and ballistic missile launchers and tanks are stationed on Ukraine's northern border, within striking distance of Kyiv. On Saturday, US troops were seen putting equipment onto vehicles in Rzeszow, Poland, after Vice President Joe Biden approved the deployment of over 5,000 troops to the 4,000 currently stationed in the NATO partner, Metro reported. According to a frightening letter from the US ambassador to the United Nations' European Office, Russia is developing a list of Ukrainians "to be murdered or deported to camps" in the event of an invasion. Read Also: Russian Scientists Develops New Technologies in Plasma Physics, Advanced Materials Applicable To Modern Weaponry Before the West Letter Reveals Russia's "Kill List" According to an undated letter from Bathsheba Nell Crocker to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the lists are being drawn up based on "credible information," and those targeted include Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, as well as vulnerable populations like religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQI+ people. The Washington Post got the letter first, and it was published late Sunday. It makes no mention of the intelligence that backs up Crocker's statements. In her letter to Bachelet, Crocker mentions "targeted assassinations, kidnappings/forced disappearances, unlawful detentions, and the use of torture" as examples of previous Russian human rights violations. The envoy also warned that Russian soldiers would most likely use fatal force to suppress Ukrainian protests and other nonviolent rallies. Crocker also accused Russia of enabling ongoing human rights violations in Crimea, which Russia invaded from Ukraine in 2014. She told Bachelet that her letter should serve as "an early warning that a subsequent Russian invasion of Ukraine may cause a human rights issue tragedy," as per New York Post. According to the Kremlin, Putin is blaming the Ukrainian military for the escalation of hostilities. Ukraine has vehemently denied this, claiming that Moscow is waging a provocation campaign to create a pretext for action. Earlier this week, Russia declared that military drills in Belarus, where 30,000 Russian troops are stationed, will be extended beyond Sunday. One reason for the exercises' extension, according to a Belarusian statement, is the "deterioration of the situation" in eastern Ukraine. Putin has demanded guarantees that Ukraine, a former Soviet state with close links to Russia, will not be admitted to Nato, despite the Western alliance's denial that Ukraine constitutes a threat to Russia. There are worries that a Russian military intervention may spark a war even bloodier than the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has already claimed the lives of at least 14,000 people, according to BBC. Related Article: US Intel Leaks Looming Russia Attack of Ukraine - But It Could Be Misinformation @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, on Tuesday released the following statement after the Biden Administration denounced the beginning of Russias "further invasion" of Ukraine. He said, I strongly and unequivocally condemn Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine. America needs to lead the world again with strength and resolve. With the White House now stating that the invasion has begun, I hope President Biden, as he has promised, moves immediately to respond with swift and severe economic consequences against Russia, including far-reaching primary and secondary sanctions, now that Putin has crossed Bidens red line. Russia, armed with formidable conventional forces and the worlds largest nuclear arsenal, is undermining international peace and security, and potentially emboldens other authoritarian powers to follow its path. In particular, Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, with their sights set on Taiwan, are closely watching what happens. The invasion could have been deterred. But the road to Russias further invasion of Ukraine was paved by months of concessions and lack of resolve from the Biden Administration and some European nations in the face of Putins growing aggression. From the day President Biden took office, he has handed Putin gift after gift. The Biden Administration made the decision to give Russia strategic space and roll back the Trump Administrations pressure in the naive hope that Putin would moderate his behavior. It extended the New START arms control treaty without any new conditions to constrain Russias rapidly modernizing nuclear arsenal. It failed to strongly and decisively respond to the hacking of Americas Colonial pipeline. It ended Americas Keystone XL Pipeline and drilling on federal lands, thereby helping to increase prices in energy markets and giving oil-and-gas-exporting Russia a windfall. It also refused to fully enforce bipartisan congressional sanctions that would have ended Putins Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which Russia will wield as a geopolitical energy weapon against European nations for generations. And it emboldened authoritarian regimes around the world with the disastrous and incompetent withdrawal from Afghanistan. The director and writer of Netflixs All of Us Are Dead have interwoven subtle nuances throughout its Korean drama storyline. Fans have already seen the small details concerning On-jos storyline. At first watch, fans might not have noticed the emotional backstory behind the whistle tune played by Cheong-san and Gyeong-su in All of Us Are Dead. Once knowing the backstory behind the tune, fans will find certain death scenes in the K-drama even more heartbreaking. Gyeong-su and Cheong-san from All of Us Are Dead | via Netflix Cheong-san and Gyeong-su whistle to each other in All of Us Are Dead In the hit Netflix K-drama, Cheong-san and Gyeong-su are best friends who have likely grown up together over the years. Like any pair of best friends, they have their own secret messages, interests, and inside jokes. In All of Us Are Dead when Cheong-san and Gyeong-su are leaving school in episode 1, Gyeong-su whistles a familiar tune. Fans might not think anything of it until episode 3. Gyeong-su is accused by Na-yeong of being infected and self quarantines in the music room. Cheong-san goes to check on him and whistles the same tune. Gyeong-su realizes what he is doing and whistles in unison. They share a knowing smile between friends. The scene becomes tragic when Na-yeon is proven wrong when Gyeong-su does not turn. She pretends to apologize and infects him with zombie blood. When he starts to turn, the characters have no choice. To get Gyeong-sus attention, Cheong-san whistles their tune and forces Gyeong-su to fall out the window. The tune the characters whistle in All of Us Are Dead is Auld Lang Syne RELATED: All of Us Are Dead Theory: The Jonas Virus Is Affected by Anger and Emotions Outside of Fear The rhythm and tune of the whistle Cheong-san and Gyeong-su use would sound familiar to many viewers. According to Classic FM, the whistle is Auld Lang Syne of Scottish origins. The tune is often sung during New Years to symbolize never forgetting old friends. Kowing this, the whistles scene in All of Us Are Dead Episode 3 is more emotional. Cheong-san whistled the tune to Gyeong-su when he was ostracized for possibly being infected. In his final moments with his best friend, Cheong-san whistled the tune. He knows he would likely lose his friend forever. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Auld Lang Syne has a different meaning in Korea. The whistle or tune is known as Aegukga. It is part of South Koreas national anthem. Korean composer Ahn Eak-tai changed the melody while studying abroad in the 1930s. In Korea, the lyrics continued to be sung to the Scottish folk song until the Korean government was established in 1948 following the nations independence from Japan, explains the site. The site explains the tune has been part of the peoples destiny both in good times and bad, they are reminded of the love that their forefathers held for the nation. Fans can interpret the whistle for Cheong-san, and Gyeong-su meant standing by each other through the good and bad in All of Us Are Dead. All of Us Are Dead soundtrack has another deeper meaning RELATED: All of Us Are Dead: K-Drama Changed the Viruss Backstory Compared to the Original Webtoon Accorsing to Classic FM, audiences can hear Gregorio Allegris Miserere mei, Deus. Once again, viewers might not think anything of it. The All of Us Are Dead director used the song for a reason. The song first appears in episode 1 as the students participate in after-school activities and cleaning. Viewers see a video recording of the school choir singing Miserere mei, Deus. The song continues to play for a short while as the scene changes. The scene shows patient zero getting infected by the mouse. It all makes sense when knowing the English translation of the song means Have mercy on me, O God. Viewers will get a chill when realizing the song foreshadows the horrid reality all the students will soon face. When the main characters hatch a plan to use sound to create a diversion to escape, they also use the choirs recording of them singing Miserere mei, Deus. Attack on Titan fans have had no shortage of new content recently, but the anime hasnt focused much on Levi Ackerman in its latest episodes. Although he and Hange finally reemerge in Attack on Titan Episode 82, fans may find themselves missing the beloved captain. And the No Regrets OAD is the perfect way to rectify that problem. Levi Ackerman is absent for much of Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 RELATED: 5 Attack on Titan Moments That Foreshadowed Erens Dark Turn Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 1 gave Levi Ackerman a few moments to shine, but the first half of the final season left his fate hanging in the balance. After another confrontation with the Beast Titan, Levi takes Zeke captive. Unfortunately, Erens half-brother proves more slippery than the captain expects. The final episode concludes with Zeke transforming, sending Levi flying from the blast. And when Attack on Titan Season 4 Part 2 opens, Hange finds Levi torn up and missing several fingers. The pair manages to escape Floch and the Jaegerists, but they dont partake in most of the action happening in the main storyline. Until now, Levi has played a critical role in the series, and hes become something of a fan-favorite character. Naturally, many are hoping to see him get a few more big moments before the anime comes to a close. But those feeling impatient can check out the No Regrets OAD. The No Regrets OAD makes a perfect watch for Levi Ackerman fans Key art for Attack on Titans No Regrets OAD | Hajime Isayama/Kodansha RELATED: Attack on Titan Season 4 Unravels the Tragic History of Ymir and the Titans Anyone missing Levi Ackerman should check out Attack on Titans No Regrets OAD. The two-episode original story delves into the captains history, showing how he came to join the Scouts Regiment in the first place. Believe it or not, Levi was once adamantly against the organization. In fact, he even had it out for Commander Erwin the same man he would come to care for and trust. And No Regrets explores their history, as well as the chain of events that leads Levi to his present-day circumstances. The OAD features plenty of action, something Levi hasnt been involved in during recent episodes of the main series. No Regrets also offers a suspenseful and emotional story that will keep fans engaged especially if they have a soft spot for Captain Levi and Commander Erwin. Where to watch Attack on Titans OAD episodes NEWS: Crunchyroll to Add Eight Attack on Titan OAD Episodes on December 19 MORE: https://t.co/PjCH43ElBh pic.twitter.com/dGsaaHJSyV Crunchyroll (@Crunchyroll) December 15, 2021 Anyone hoping to catch Levi Ackerman in Attack on Titans No Regrets OAD is in luck: the episodes are currently streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation. They arrived on both platforms ahead of the newest outing, so subscribers can view them in between new installments. Theyre currently available in the following regions: the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, LATAM, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia. Although No Regrets is the ideal choice for anyone missing Levi, there are several other OAD episodes on the platforms as well. Both Annie Leonhart and Mikasa Ackerman take the spotlight in Lost Girls, and Hange and the rest of the gang have some fun in the other installments. If nothing else, the OADs will take fans back to a simpler time if such a thing exists in the Attack on Titan universe. And most importantly, theyll fill the Levi void weve all been feeling watching season 4 part 2. RELATED: Attack on Titan: Does Levi Ackerman Die in the Manga? Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3 has things shaken up Bob (Billy Gardell), Abishola (Folake Olowofoyeku), Kemi (Gina Yashere), and the rest of the cast. Bob and Abishola had their wedding episode. Dele (Travis Wolfe Jr.) started spending time in Nigeria. And Abishola set her sights on medical school. However, new Bob Hearts Abishola episodes reveal that the couple plans to try a baby. The cast could see a new addition before Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4 airs. Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku as Bob and Abishola | Michael Yarish/CBS via Getty Images Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3, Episode 13 One Man, No Baby hints at Bob and Abishola trying for a baby After Bob and Abishola flew to Nigeria and married in the wedding episode, they returned to the US as newlyweds. However, when Abisholas mom, Ogechi (Saidah Arrika Ekulona), came to visit, Abishola reevaluated her life. In the 50th episode of Bob Hearts Abishola, she set her sights on attending medical school. However, she wanted to head to one in Baltimore, 500 miles from their home in Detroit. Just when we thought our s couldn't be any more full #BobHeartsAbishola has officially been renewed for Season 4! pic.twitter.com/WZx9aYlGKz BobAbishola (@BobAbisholaCBS) January 24, 2022 This would change the CBS sitcom drastically, but the following episode has an even bigger surprise. When word gets out that Bob and Abishola might be trying to have a baby, the expectations from family, friends, and employees start to take a toll on the couple, the official description read on Futon Critic. If Bob and Abishola try for children, a new baby could join the cast by Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4. Billy Gardell teased Bob and Abishola might have issues if they have a baby During an interview on Valentines Day, Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku talked about the rest of Season 3, Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4, and the couple starting a family. I think its important to know that you dont want them as it is to know that you do want to have children, Gardell said on WBTVs With Love TCA panel (via The Nerds of Color). Everything evolves in a relationship that grows healthily. You have to have those discussions, and when you change your mind, you have to talk to your partner and see where theyre at. There have been *so* many great moments this season. Which has been your favorite? #BobHeartsAbishola pic.twitter.com/ukhZbghkZu BobAbishola (@BobAbisholaCBS) February 2, 2022 He even hinted the Chuck Lorre CBS sitcom would have some difficulties for the couple if they did have a baby late in Season 3 or Season 4. Can we afford it? Are we too old to be running around [with a child]? Gardell said. Are you going to be changing my diaper too? Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku say the couples love is key to working with babies in Season 3 or Bob Hearts Abishola Season 4 In Billy Gardell shows, the actor often praises his casts and crews. His sentiment applies to Bob and Abishola in the series as well. One of the beautiful things our show does, without preaching, is just an example of love. Once you see that, it doesnt matter if you married someone from Mars, Gardell said. Once you marry into the family, youre going to get [the] crazy uncle, the drunk brother. Its about the merging of families, and when you get past that difference and look for the similarities, its the common thread that we all share in this world, he finished. His Nigerian co-star, Olowofoyeku, agreed. She spoke up about how the couple shows love in the CBS show. Love is the one thing that we all strive for. Its what unifies them, said Olowofoyeku. Everyone is on their A-game, including myself, living up to that standard. Its not surprising at all. I think we will come to understand later on just how much of an impact the show is having because [of the] global effects that were not really accounting for right now. RELATED: New Bob Hearts Abishola Season 3 Episode Titles and Synopsis Revealed by CBS The Bachelor producer Mike Fleiss says Clayton Echards season is totally spoiler-proof. Despite the spoilers about Echards season of The Bachelor that are already out there, the producer is confident Bachelor Nation wont see the finale coming. Find out what Reality Steve was right about thus far, plus how fans think Echards season will end. [Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for The Bachelor 2022 with Clayton Echard.] Clayton Echard | Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images Reality Steve presumes Clayton Echard proposes but doesnt know which woman he chooses In December 2021, spoiler king Reality Steve revealed almost everything Bachelor Nation could want to know about Echards season up to the final three women. From the villain of Echards season to who would receive hometown dates, Reality Steve broke down Echards season in podcast episode number 265. In an earlier post, Reality Steve wrote: Most people assume now Gabby [Windey] and Rachel [Recchia] are your final two based on that shot in Iceland. Certainly looks that way, but with the way the editing works and how tricky they can get sometimes, the only thing we know for sure is that whole scene happens in Iceland. That tracks because Windey and Recchia are heading to Hometowns next week. While Reality Steve could not determine Echards final girl, he did presume the Bachelor star found love during his season. Clayton has said in interviews he found love, so hes definitely with one of those 3, and most likely engaged, said Reality Steve. I doubt hed be saying he found love in his post-show interviews and theyre just dating. The Bachelor producer says Claytons season cant be spoiled During the Feb. 21 episode of The Bachelor, producer Fleiss took to Twitter. Major Historic Announcement! he started. Major Historic Announcement! This seasons finale of #TheBachelorABC is totally spoiler-proof. No one knows how it will end, cuz it aint over til its over! And it aint over Mike Fleiss (@fleissmeister) February 22, 2022 This seasons finale of #TheBachelorABC is totally spoiler-proof. No one knows how it will end, cuz it aint over til its over! And it aint over In years past, spoiler sites have accurately leaked what happens in The Bachelor and The Bachelorette seasons. But as more viewers grow tired of the predictable storylines, ABC has had to change its formula. Whether Echards season is the plot twist Bachelor Nation has been craving or not remains to be seen. Bachelor Nation tries to predict how Clayton Echards season will end Fleiss tweet got Bachelor Nation thinking about all of the possible ways Echards season might end. My prediction: Him being in love with the final three [and] sleeping with two of them upset his final pick (guessing it is Rachel), and there isnt an engagement at the end, replied one Twitter user. We will see at the ATFR will/did Rachel forgive him and take him back. Oh please! reads another reply to Fleiss tweet. All this means is he changed his mind about who he picked [and] is now pursuing one of the other girls OR he ended up [with] no one at the end [and] is now seeing one of them post-filming. Big deal. Thats nothing new or interesting. Another fan said, About time. Hate these seasons being spoiled. Bachelor Nation will have to tune in to find out if what Fleiss teased is true. Watch The Bachelor Monday nights beginning at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. RELATED: Joe Millionaire: For Richer or Poorer Fans Call the Show a Breath of Fresh Air From The Bachelor Camilla Parker Bowles has been a part of the royal family since 2005the year she married Prince Charles. She has often been a controversial figure, though she has risen in popularity in the United Kingdom. However, in the United States, the Duchess of Cornwall is still not very well-liked by the public. A royal expert recently explained the differences between the two countrys perceptions of Camilla. Camilla Parker Bowles | Tim Rooke/PA Wire Camilla Parker Bowles has risen in popularity in the U.K. Camilla first rose to fame in the 1990s when she was identified as Charles mistress during his marriage to Princess Diana. She was vilified by the media, and some members of the public accused her of tearing Charles and Diana apart. However, she married Charles in 2005 with both of them having divorced their respective spouses in the mid-1990s. Since becoming a royal, Camilla has dedicated a lot of time and energy to supporting causes such as literacy and womens health. She also works with organizations that support sexual abuse victims. Thanks to her work, Camillas popularity has risen in the past several years. According to YouGov, Camilla is the 11th most popular royal, and she has an approval rating of 34 percent. She is more popular than royals like Meghan Markle and Princess Beatrice. An expert explains why Camilla Parker Bowles is still not as popular in the U.S. RELATED: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles Have One of the Greatest Love Stories of Modern Times, Expert Says Despite Camilla getting some love in the U.K., she is reportedly not as popular in the U.S. Lee Cohen, an expert on U.S./U.K. relations shared with Express why this might be the case. I havent come across any polls on the topic here, but my sense is, here in the US where most people dont understand the nature of a constitutional monarchy and where people are often guided less by reason and fact and more by emotion, that there is less of a warm reception for the Duchess of Cornwall here than in the UK, Cohen said. This is owing largely to what Americans have concluded about events surrounding Diana, Princess of Wales. Cohen added, Here, in the land of Housewives of Beverly Hills, where celebrity and glamour are king, Camillas genuine charms, professionalism and dedication to her husband and his position are less likely to move people. On this side of the Atlantic, someone who acts admirably can be less valued than someone with superficial notoriety or celebrity. He also shared that many people still remember Dianas tragic life, which they see as a story of a beautiful young woman wronged by a husband and failed by a monarchical system. This would lead many people to view Camilla negatively. Queen Elizabeth approves of Camilla Parker Bowles becoming queen consort Charles will become king after Queen Elizabeth dies, and there have been some questions about which title Camilla would take. Previously, the palace had shared that Camilla would take the title of princess consort. However, Queen Elizabeth recently gave her approval for Camilla to be queen consort. When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me, she said in a statement during her Platinum Jubilee. And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service. RELATED: Royal Expert Shares 1 Lesson Difficult Meghan Markle Can Learn From Future Queen Camilla Parker Bowles John Stamos opened up about his Full House co-star Bob Saget after the comedian was found dead at age 65. The two stars became very close friends, and Stamos revealed some things about Saget that his fans may not know. Heres what Stamos said about his friends insecurities and ego. Bob Saget and John Stamos | Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic John Stamos said his Full House co-star Bob Saget was the most egotistical humble guy on the planet On Jan. 9, Bob Saget was discovered dead in his hotel room after performing a two-hour stand-up comedy set in Orlando, Florida. Since his death, Sagets friends and family have been mourning the actor, who was considered Americas Dad. In a Jan. 25 interview with The New York Times, John Stamos, one of Sagets Full House co-stars, got candid about his close friendship with the comedian. The actor shared that Saget was both egotistical and insecure. He was the most egotistical humble guy on the planet, Stamos said. He was the most insecure person Ive met in my life. The You actor revealed that Saget thought every female guest on Full House adored him. He did this thing where he would inflate himself, Stamos described. Every girl that came onto Full House She loves me. Shes got a crush on me. But Stamos didnt necessarily agree. I dont know, Bob. Cindy Crawford, really? I think he overcompensated sometimes, he said. Bob Saget and John Stamos | Michael Buckner/Getty Images John Stamos said Bob Saget didnt know how beloved he was According to John Stamos, Bob Saget had such a contradictory view of himself that he didnt know how beloved he was when he died unexpectedly at age 65. Stamos, who was a pallbearer at Bob Sagets funeral, talked about how he had to build his Full House co-star up and boost his ego. My job for many, many years was to help him to understand how good he was and how smart he was, how funny he was and how much people loved him, he said. I guarantee you he went into that grave not knowing the love that this world has for him, and that saddens me so much because he wanted that so bad. He added, He craved being accepted and loved and appreciated, and people knowing how damn good he was. And they did know it, but they didnt get it to him in time. Jodie Sweetin, Bob Saget, Candace Cameron Bure, John Stamos, Mary Kate/Ashley Olsen, and Dave Coulier | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images The Full House star said the comedian was his biggest cheerleader Although Bob Saget didnt recognize how adored he was by fans, that didnt stop him from being a supportive friend. John Stamos described Saget as his biggest cheerleader and fan. Next to my mom, he was my biggest cheerleader, my biggest fan. He would brag about me to people, Stamos said. He shared that Saget gave him credit for reuniting the Full House cast for the 2016 sequel, Fuller House. When I brought Fuller House back and it was a success, at first you could see he was like, Why didnt I think of that? Stamos said. And then almost every interview it was, John did this. Hes the one who got us together. We owe it to him. RELATED: Full House Star John Stamos Reveals He Forced Bob Saget to Go to Therapy: We Were Like a Married Couple John Lennons son, Sean Ono Lennon, said Cold Turkey is one of the songs by the former Beatle that he enjoys. John mentioned Cold Turkey when he sent a letter to Queen Elizabeth II that Sean called rude. Sean discussed what the letter revealed about his father. The Beatles John Lennon | Ron Howard/Redferns John Lennons son revealed his thoughts on the song Cold Turkey According to a 2020 article in Rolling Stone, Sean worked on a compilation album of his fathers work titled Gimme Some Truth. The Ultimate Mixes. Sean discussed the inclusion of Cold Turkey on the compilation. I really feel like this song has been an anchor for the whole project, the Gimme Some Truth 80th-anniversary compilation, [is] because he wrote that letter to the Queen of England returning the Member of the British Empire, the MBE, Sean said. For context, the MBE is an honor given to British people who have made a high contribution to their country outside of civil service. And in that letter, he says, I am returning the MBE in protest of Britains involvement in Vietnam, and Cold Turkey slipping down the charts,' Sean recalled. RELATED: John Lennons Son Said 1 of His Dads Hits Was His Favorite Song as a Kid Sean Ono Lennon thought the letter probably didnt offend Queen Elizabeth II Sean was a fan of this letter. I always felt like that was so funny and so great, he opined. And when we were trying to figure out how to represent or show the best part of my dads personality and his whole ethos, I was thinking about that letter as the message. Sean didnt think his father offended Queen Elizabeth II with his letter. From a cultural level, it was dangerous to be rude to the Queen, Sean said. Its something that was considered unthinkable, but he does it in such a nice way, in such a fun way. I cant speak for the Queen, but I can imagine she wasnt really offended. John Lennons son, Sean Ono Lennon | Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images RELATED: John Lennon Felt 1 Little Richard Song Was Better Than Anything by Elvis Presley It Was So Great I Couldnt Speak The way listeners in the United States and the United Kingdom reacted to John Lennons Cold Turkey Cold Turkey became a minor hit in the United States. The song peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 12 weeks. John released a live version of Cold Turkey on the album Live Peace in Toronto 1969. Live Peace in Toronto 1969 hit No. 10 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart for 32 weeks. Cold Turkey was even more popular in the United Kingdom. The Official Charts Company reports Cold Turkey reached No. 14 in the U.K. It lasted on the chart for eight weeks. On the other hand, Live Peace in Toronto 1969 did not chart there. In all, Cold Turkey was not one of Johns biggest hits but it has an interesting connection to the British monarchy. RELATED: The Beatles: John Lennon and Paul McCartney Used These 2 Words in Their Song Titles and Lyrics to Connect to Fans Kate Middleton often appears at events to represent the royal family, and she has met many people in her line of work. While a lot of folks seem to know who she is, one person once mistook her for Prince Williams assistant. However, the Duchess of Cambridge had a down-to-earth response during the encounter. Kate Middleton | Toby Melville WPA Pool/Getty Images Kate Middleton is one of the most popular royals Kate grew up as a commoner and married into the royal family in 2011. She has since become a huge part of the royal family. Kate is raising three kids while taking on a lot of work to represent Queen Elizabeth both in the United Kingdom and abroad. She often works with organizations and initiatives that support mental health, sports, and families. According to research firm YouGov, Kate is one of the most popular royals in the U.K. She is in third place on the popularity ranking, just after the queen and Prince William. About 65 percent of Britons approve of her work. Many people are also looking forward to the day when William takes over the throne and Kate would become queen consort. In fact, some onlookers have suggested for the crown to skip Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles and go straight to the Cambridges, but the queen has rejected this idea. Kate Middleton had a down-to-earth response when being called Prince Williams assistant RELATED: Kate Middleton Subtly Shows She Has Secret Plans Up Her Sleeve With 1 Pose, Body Language Expert Says Kate often shows her ability to connect with different groups of people during royal engagements. In May 2020, she and William visited the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, Wales. According to the Mirror, while the royal couple was meeting with various residents, one person pointed at Kate and asked William, Is that your assistant? In response, Kate laughed and said to William, Well, I am your assistant. I have been for a long time. Kate Middleton once had a relatable response when someone complimented her hairstyle Although Kate is widely-regarded for her beauty, it seems the duchess still has a humbled approach when it comes to her appearance. In a 2021 article by You Magazine, journalist Emily Andrews recalled a time when she gave Kate a compliment on her bangs. This was the first time Kate sported such a look, and she asked Andrews, Are you sure? Do you really think it suits me? I was a little hesitant. Andrews commented on the interaction Kate: That was the surprising but endearingly honest reply when I complimented our future Queen on her new hairstyle The most photographed and photogenic woman on the planet had had her hair cut, but even she was a little unsure. The journalist added, She patted her hair and smiled gratefully as I reassured her that, yes, the new do did indeed look fabulous. It was an intriguing insight that, despite her position, wealth, fame and gorgeous family, she shared the same worries and doubts as the rest of us. RELATED: Kate Middleton Inspired Her Parents Successful Business When She Was 5 Years Old The United States "Freedom Convoy" protesters plan to gather in Washington, D.C., later this week as American truckers opposed to President Joe Biden's vaccine mandates take inspiration from their Canadian counterparts. During an interview with a local D.C. media outlet, an organizer of one of the convoys, Bob Bolus, said that the plan was to "squeeze" the nation's capital similar to what a boa constrictor does to its prey. The truckers hope that their demonstrations and their effects will shut down the city. US Freedom Convoy Bolus said that he and the other protesters would gather along the Beltway and force authorities to shut the area down. The organizer owns a truck parts and towing business located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He said that he expected to be able to leave by Wednesday and travel to D.C. going to the Capital Beltway. It is there where he hopes to unite with other American trucker convoys which are also making their way, such as "The People's Convoy." Bolus said that like a boa constrictor, the convoys plan to squeeze, choke, and swallow the government, as per The Blaze. In an interview, Bolus was asked whether or not he understood the impact of the convoys on Americans who were trying to go to work and how they would affect emergency responders. He said that the truckers would leave a lane open for emergency vehicles to let them get in and get out. Read Also: US Freedom Convoy Gaining Traction Amid Huge American Support of Canada Protests; 3 Orgs Planning Washington Trip in March He added that the freedom convoys would not compromise the health or safety of any person despite their opposition to the Biden administration's vaccine mandates. But regarding the people who need to go to work, he said, "that's too bad." According to Fox5 DC, Bolus was also asked if he was prepared to be arrested for his actions, but he responded by saying that he would not be taken into police custody. While he did not disclose how many people would join the protest in D.C., he said he had heard interest from hundreds of people. Opposition to Vaccine Mandates Bolus argued that the federal policies the freedom convoys are opposing go far beyond just vaccine mandates. He said that the American government was trying to take away the rights of the people. He noted high fuel prices and illegals marching across the border, as well as children getting vaccinated against the coronavirus infection. The People's Convoy, which is leading the coalition of American truckers, describes itself as a "peaceful and unified transcontinental movement." Federal police have already started preparing for the arrival of the convoys, said D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee. The official said that there would obviously be disruptions to traffic and said that authorities would be candid about what people can expect to see as a result of the convoys, taking what happened in Ottawa as an example. Washington police temporarily canceled officers' leave over the next week to have a larger force. Authorities reportedly started mobilizing hundreds of law enforcement personnel as part of their response plan against the American truckers' freedom convoys, the Dailymail reported. Related Article: Authorities Reinstall Capitol Fence Ahead of President Joe Biden's State of the Union as Truckers Convoy Plan DC Protests @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a move many didnt think was going to happen Queen Elizabeth IIs second-oldest son, Prince Andrew, settled with the woman who accused him of having sex with her when she was a minor. On Feb. 15, it was announced that the Duke of York reached a settlement with Virginia Giuffre who said she was trafficked by convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and had sex with Prince Andrew three different times when she was 17. Giuffre came forward with her allegations years ago but it was the princes own denials that made things even worse for the monarchy. His televised interview in 2019 trying to deny Giuffres claims was seen as a complete disaster and his constant dodging and refusal to even speak to authorities about the case wasnt a good look either. Now, many are wondering if he has spoken to his mother since he settled. According to reports he has, but only visits the queen under the cover of darkness. Prince Andrew dressed in a heavy coat with a suit and tie as he leaves the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel | Neil Hall WPA Pool / Getty Images When Queen Elizabeth stripped Prince Andrew of his military titles and royal patronages After Andrews car crash interview, the backlash that followed, and mounting pressure as a judge ordered the civil case could go forward, the queen had no choice but to take away her sons military titles and remaining royal patronages. Buckingham Palace released a brief statement saying: With the queens approval and agreement, The Duke of Yorks military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the queen. The duke has reportedly been visiting his mother but only at night Prince Andrew driving to a Christmas lunch hosted by Queen Elizabeth for members of the royal family | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Andrew had been laying low for weeks and many werent sure if he had seen the queen since reaching the settlement with Giuffre. Now, the Express is reporting that multiple sources have claimed Prince Andrew has seen his mom since the announcement and even apologized to her over the distraction he caused during her platinum jubilee year. The insiders said that the duke has only been visiting the queens Windsor Castle residence, which isnt far from his home in Windsor, after dark. Andrew has been very careful and is trying to keep out of sight. He knows there are photographers in the daytime and his best chance to avoid them is after dark, the sources told the publication, adding: He knows he is meant to be keeping his head down and its a short trip, but he is extremely contrite and apologized to the queen for all the trouble he has caused her. He realizes how serious this whole issue has been and the damage it has done to the monarchy. The sources went on to say that Andrew is just so grateful for her support and its certainly true that the queen has a soft spot for Andrew and regards him as her favorite son. Andrew was always believed to be the queens favorite Prince Andrew and Queen Elizabeth II sharing a laugh at the Royal Windsor Horse Show | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The remarks about Andrew being the queens favorite are nothing new. For years, its been thought that he was always the monarchs favorite child. In the documentary Paxman on the Queens Children, royal historian Piers Brendon said one of the reasons why had to do with Andrews enthusiasm when he served in the military. He completed the Marines Commando course, just to show he could, before qualifying as a helicopter pilot, Brendon explained. Then, aged just 22, he fought in the Falklands. And so, its pretty clear that Prince Andrew is obviously Queen Elizabeths favorite son. He was heroic during the Falklands War. Its clear that she has a soft spot for him. RELATED: Former Royal Cop Says He Would Have Knocked Prince Andrew Out Over Ridiculous Demands Ree Drummond celebrated her mother Gerre Schwert in a new Instagram post and fans love seeing the two of them together. The Pioneer Woman star shared one cute photo of them drinking a cocktail and another image she said is the most representative photo of my mom. The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond | Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Ree Drummond shared new photos of her with her mom On Feb. 21, Drummond took to Instagram to share two pics of her with her mother. In the first, the two ladies are sipping a fruity cocktail and the second illustrates the way her mom lights up a room. Sharing this mother-daughter shot because it cracks me up, Drummond wrote in the caption. This isnt the most representative photo of my mom, though; swipe forward to see the one that is. Its when she first walked into the Lodge to film last Wednesday. The second photo shows her mom arriving and Drummonds reaction. Love and joy enter the room when she does, and everyones always so happy to see her. (So why did I lead with the cocktail shot? Middle children are so complicated.), she noted. The Pioneer Woman stars fans love the mother-daughter pics Drummonds fans loved seeing the sweet pics of her mom and sounded off with comments on the post, including, Love both of these pics!, So cute!, She looks so fun, and This is so sweet, thank you for sharing! Others pointed out how Drummond looks a lot like her mom. Shes truly adorbs in both shots, one fan noted. Another person commented, Now we know where you get your beauty from!, and a follower said, Apple never far from the tree!!! Good shot, pretty ladies!!! You look just like your mom! Beautiful!, another fan commented. Some fans pointed out the look of joy that Drummond mentioned. Beautiful, I love the joy in her face when she saw you and cheers, one person said. Another follower noted, Both of you are joyful and beautiful. Others commented, You are both beautiful, Your mom is just beautiful. LOVE her hair. You are both adorable, Aw your mama is so cute, Shes beautiful! I love her smile, and I love your mom! Shes classy. Some followers shared their love for Ree and her moms floral printed shirts while others wondered what cocktail they were sipping. Her mom is a natural on camera In February 2021, Drummond shared a photo of her mom helping her on The Pioneer Woman show. My mom came to film with the kids and me today!! We had a blast, Drummond shared in the caption. She did really great! In fact, I think Ill just sit back and film her cooking next time. She continued, Ill be the jabba the hut on the other side of the island, holding the camera, hunched over the counter, unconcerned with what top Im wearing, Spanxless, eating cheese. I feel thats my real identity and I somehow accidentally wound up in front of the camera many years ago? Anyway, I digress. The Food Network host added, So wonderful to spend time with my mom today! She moved back to Oklahoma last spring right before Covid landed. So we havent been able to hang out much over the past year. Looking forward to lots of good times ahead! RELATED: The Pioneer Woman: Ree Drummond Proves Shes Such a Football Mom and Fans Can Definitely Relate The Young and the Restless Summer Newman (Hunter King) is a popular legacy character. Viewers have watched Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) and Phyllis Summers (Michelle Stafford) daughter grow into a mature woman. In August 2021, fans said goodbye to Summer and Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor) as they embarked on their new life in Italy. However, she might be returning to Genoa City soon. Hunter King I Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for New Bloom Media The Young and the Restless producers recasting Summer Newman In October 2012, King joined The Young and the Restless as Summer. While many actors have portrayed the character, the role has become synonymous with King. Summer was a bit of a trouble maker like her mom, yet as the years went by, Summer became a heroine. Kings performances were praised by critics and earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. #Skyles relationship status? VERY complicated now that Tara is in town. You wont want to miss what happens next! #YR is new this week. Watch the latest The Young and the Restless episodes for free on @CBS or subscribe for more on @paramountplus. pic.twitter.com/eaXHZ9eF8S Young and Restless (@YandR_CBS) June 16, 2021 RELATED: The Young and the Restless Hunter King and Michael Mealor Return, but for How Long? After nearly nine years, King exited the role in 2021 after failing to negotiate a new contract. Since then, the actors been working on other projects and enrolled in school, where shes studying psychology. With King not returning full-time and Summer a popular character, producers are looking at alternatives. According to Soap Hub, the show has put out a casting call for a Summer recast. Summer Newman and Kyle Abbotts happy ending The Young and the Restless fans were captivated by Summer and Kyles love story. The two childhood friends went through a lot of drama in their quest to be together. In 2021, the engaged couple was met with more trouble from Kyles baby mama Tara Locke (Elizabeth Leiner). Tara threatened to take Harrison Locke (Kellen Enriquez) away from Kyle if Summer didnt break up with him. Not wanting to come between Kyle and Harrison, Summer ended their engagement then accepted a job in Milan. However, Phyllis exposed Tara and Sally Spectras (Courtney Hope) scheme, and Kyle flew to Italy to reunite with Summer. The couple decided to stay in Milan, where theyre raising Harrison together. Since then, Summer and Kyle have made a few appearances. The couple met with their families in Tuscany for Victoria Newmans (Amelia Heinle) wedding, revealing they were married. Summer has also been shown in several video chats with her parents catching up on the latest happenings in their lives. Possible storylines for her return If theyre recasting the role, The Young and the Restless might have something big planned for Summer. Of course, her return to Genoa City will be exciting for Phyllis, who missed her daughter. Yet, Summers return may not be all cheers. RELATED: The Young and the Restless Star Hunter King Hates Filming Love Scenes-Theyre so Weird and Awkward There appears to be no plans to recast Summers husband, Kyle, at the moment. This leads to speculation there may be trouble in paradise between the couple. With the two having marital issues, Summer could return to Genoa City to clear her head. While in town, Summer may fall for another guy, further confusing her about what she wants. Summers life will be more complicated when Kyle returns with hopes of reconciling with his wife. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. Interment will be at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Sevier Funeral Home. Elnora J Rock of Chickasha, OK, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the age of 85. She was born Dece A group of academic Christians in the Middle East has thrown down the gauntlet: The local church, bound in fear to its minority mindset, needs to walk afresh in the Holy Spirit. We must tell the truth and call for freedom, said Souraya Bechalany, coauthor of We Choose Abundant Life, a document released last September that makes 20 recommendations. We are powerful in Jesus Christ, but too often we dont believe it. Bechalany, a professor of theology and ecumenism at the University of St. Joseph in Lebanon, joined 14 other scholars across the region to challenge local Christians to give up their self-understanding of being a minority and to work for the rights of citizenship for all in a changing society. Local clergy, they say, have instead often wedded themselves to the regimes. Surveying experience from the Ottoman Empire onward, the document laments how many Christians have taken refuge in sectarianism, turning their vision inward toward survival. Arab nationalism provided an escape, as Christians took leading roles in developing a common political discourse independent of religion. So did relationships with Western churches, as Catholics and Protestants pioneered modern education and built hospitals to serve society. But as the regions nation-states increasingly sacrificed democratic norms in favor of political stabilitywhether secular or Islamicchurch leaders tended in one of two directions: Ally with the authorities, or plead to patrons in the West. If we continue in this direction, said Gabriel Hachem, a Melkite Catholic priest and editor in chief of the French-language journal Proche Orient Chretien, there is no future for us in the region. For now, the regimes are winning, as the challenge of ISIS and political Islam have pushed Christians to support the pillars of authority in alliances of minorities. But in doing so, they sided against human rights and dignity. This is inherently unstable, Hachem said, and Christians suffer also. Their rate of emigration is rapidly increasing. The ecumenical Abundant Life is the product of a three-year consultation involving 100 experts, youth, clergy, and selected Middle Eastern Muslims and Jews. The document also critiques Christians in their interactions with these communities. Toward Muslims, it criticizes the churchs doublespeak of dissembling courtesy that engages in superficial dialogue while promoting theories of systematic persecution. Toward Jews, while criticizing religious Zionism and its Western promotion, it nonetheless calls for a new page of serious dialogue. In some nations of the Middle East, such outreach can land one in jail. The controversial nature of Abundant Life, in fact, led 4 of the 15 drafting committee members to shield their names. Of the signatories, Lebanon leads with nine, reflective of the nations greater level of freedom. Other publicly identified scholars came from Palestine and Jordan. Those from Syria, Iraq, and Egypt, however, declined to identify themselves. The document denounces the regimes but does not call for revolution, said Hachem. We are not pretending to say what they should do. The heads of churches, however, should lead the way in careful collaboration. A better strategy is needed, said Bechelany, to work with moderate Muslim leaders aligned with the principles of Abundant Life . Needing full approval from clerical representatives, the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) has not endorsed the document. But this has not deterred the authors, many of whom have lengthy experience working with the MECC. Moving beyond the document, they formed the We Choose Abundant Life Group in order to spread their ideas beyond academic circles. Youth have been particularly engaged. We cannot wait for church authorities to accept everything before we do anything, said Rouphael Zgheib, national director of the pontifical mission societies in Lebanon. This is the faithful, prophetic voice, and the task of theologians. In fact, mission is a key theme in Abundant Life, and witness is repeated throughout. Christians misunderstand the meaning of their presence, said Hachem. It is not to play a role within these societies, but to witness to Jesus Christ, the resurrected one, and call for his universal salvation. For too long, he explained, Christians have relied on the leveraging of their institutions to gain influence in society. It has worked well, as they have educated generations of Muslims and healed them in their hospitals. But now, Muslims are catching up, and will no longer need this Christian role. What they really need is the witness to Jesus. I have to work on behalf of the gospelquietly, with wisdom, love, and respect, said Bechalany. But I have to be a witness, or they will never know him. Within Islam, most Muslims do not recognize the right of religious conversion, or to publicly give up their faith. A former secretary general of the MECC, Bechalany said she challenges Muslims to respect the right of religious conscience, without calling them specifically to Christianity. But Christians she challenges toward unity. Securing this paradigm shift will mean nothing if the church is not prepared to receive any who show interest in Jesus. How can we be witnesses to Christs resurrection when we are divided? Bechalany said. We have to work on ourselves first. Abundant Life calls for full engagement with the MECC, which it rattled by promoting a contextual approach that includes lessons from sociology and cultural anthropology, Zgheib said. The church, unfortunately, relies on dogmatism and resists frank discussion in an atmosphere of freedom, he said. But the whole church is needed, and Abundant Life calls for better incorporation of youth and women into leadership and decision-making. It even commended Protestants for their ordaining of female pastors. One of them, Najla Kassab, a Lebanese Presbyterian, served on the drafting committee. She was joined by two others of Reformed heritage, George Jabra al-Kopti, an Anglican from Jordan, and Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran from Palestine. And the document won endorsement from the evangelical SAT-7 television ministry. This is a group that wants to see change in the church, said George Makeen, executive director for Arabic programming. They have thrown a rock into the still waters. Makeen believes the documents call to witness is consistent with SAT-7s understanding. But it goes further. If traditional Christians have been focused on survival and their role in society, evangelicals in the Middle East have often reduced it to belief and moralism. We witness to the power of Jesus Christ, Makeen said, and how it changes us to work for the restoration of the world. And therefore, he also praises Abundant Lifes political orientation. For centuries we lived in the mentality of the victim, thanking the Lord we still endure, he said, with special reference to his Egyptian heritage. But here the core message is to develop a Christian character that will stand against injustice and inequality. Just be sympathetic with those who in the face of violence find whatever refuge they can, Makeen said. Abundant Life proscribes no method of either political activism or spiritual outreach. But to the Syrian, Palestinian, or Egyptian, he said the charge is clear: Witness is essential. Do not sacrifice it for existence. It calls for a level of faith most in the West cannot imagine, Makeen said. And to some degree, even by the drafting committee. Some in the group were threatened not to affix their signature, said Bechalany. Do we have the courage to witness to the truth? she asked. Jesus Christ offered his life. We must be willing to do the same. Recommendations for Mideast Christians A selection from the choices and policies section of the document, on the profound change of mindset needed to find abundant life: The social, political, and theological realities in the Middle East today, with all the challenges they pose, place before Christians crucial choices that require a profound change of mindset. This change requires us to move from an obsession with existence and survival to taking the risk of presence and witness. It means building durable policies based on biblical principles and enshrined in the prophetic role we need to play, the significance of our witness to the resurrected Christ, and our engagement in our societies with their different geopolitical contexts. The prophetic role of the Christians of the Middle East requires us to be biased towards the causes of freedom, justice, human rights, the right to self-determination, democracy, and the regular peaceful transfer of power in all the countries of the region. Christians in the Middle East should refuse to adhere to dictatorial political regimes, whether ideologically secular, theocratic, or feudal, or to identify with them. They must also reject a minority alliance and the choice of calling for protection. They must refrain from politicizing religion and religionizing politics, and from any authoritarian gains, influence guarantees, or personal benefits, while preserving their positive social role. We also urge the churches to develop strategies and undertake positive and practical initiatives to help Christians stay in their countries, and foster their involvement in the public sphere and the struggle for a civil state, a state of constitution and institutions, governed by full citizenship that will embrace diversity and be ruled by modern civil law. Hosting refugees and displaced people on the basis of human brotherhood/sisterhood is an obligation referred to several times in both Old and New Testaments It is important for Christians in the Middle East to be in solidarity with the oppressed and support those whose rights have been violated, to defend them, to empower them, to expose their oppressors, and to establish processes for calling those oppressors to account within the bounds of justice. Media and communication are a supporting pillar in establishing Christian and human values. Churches must give [them] utmost priority ... in terms of vision, policies, and technologies when mainstreaming their values, especially when it comes to living together with respect for diversity. We urgently need to develop a joint ecumenical action plan for media that would encourage a professional discourse in the service of mission and foster human dignity, speaking to both mind and heart, and free from rigid tradition, fake piety, and apologetic debate. Our Christian presence must be founded on service to every human being, dedicated love, and genuine forgiveness, in obedience to the will of God. Our aim must be a more just and humane society in which the kingdom of God may be fulfilled, so that human beings may receive life as God has desired it for them, according to the words of Christ in the Gospel of John: I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly. The former president's "free speech social network" soared to the top of the App Store download rankings within hours of its introduction and was trending on Twitter, Trump's erstwhile digital hangout. Truth Social - which bills itself as a "big tent" alternative to Twitter - was not in the headlines for the appropriate reasons, like its most famous fan. Thousands of people complained about having trouble signing up, seeing error messages, and being placed on a "waitlist" of hundreds of thousands of people. What Is Donald Trump's Social Media App About? The program, which was released on Presidents' Day in the United States, appeared incomplete, with logos missing and computer servers overheating under load. It was only available for download in the United States, and exclusively on iPhones. Its design, which employs block-style elements to form a capital "T," has been compared to Trailar, a little-known British solar energy firm, which has now announced that it is weighing legal options. If the initial rush of fans to Trump's new online hangout is any indication, the app may have a shot to compete with social media behemoths like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. It would mean the app succeeding where a slew of other rivals have failed, and most importantly, providing Trump with the platform he has lacked since @realDonaldTrump was removed from Twitter in the last days of his administration. Last January 8, two days after a crowd of his followers stormed the US Capitol and 12 days before Joe Biden's inauguration, Twitter permanently deleted his account, citing the possibility of "future encouragement of violence," according to Telegraph. The Truth Social app, created by Donald Trump, was released just before Presidents Day, but some users are having problems making accounts. After filling out their birthdate and entering an email to authenticate their account on the Apple App Store on Sunday night, some customers received an error notice. Due to the huge demand, people who were able to create an account on Twitter revealed that they were placed on a waiting list. People will not be allowed to change their "truths" after they are uploaded, according to Truth Social chief product officer "Billy B." On Feb. 15, Donald Trump Jr. shared a screenshot of his father's first post on the app, USA Today reported. Read Also: Cyberattack Hits Ukraine That Could Reveal Putin's Next Move in Plan To Invade How to Sign Up on Truth Social? Users will be sent to a screen inviting them to sign in or establish a new account after installing the program. You will be prompted to input your birth date if you create a new account. It's worth mentioning that the application is only available to individuals above the age of 18. When prompted, enter your email address and password, which will be confirmed via a verification email. After the verification, establish a new account by entering your username and password. The app is now placing users on a 'waitlist.' "We love you, and you're not just another number to us," the app adds, "but your waiting number is below." Users will be able to see their waitlist number when they create an account. After Trump revealed his ambitions to build his platform last October, the app was automatically downloaded on some iOS devices because it offered a pre-order option, Republic World reported. Related Article: Trump's Social Media App Opens to Hundreds of Testers Ahead of Expected Launch; Here's Former President's First Post @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Update (Feb. 24): Pastors are staying to serve now that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Facing imminent war, Ukrainian evangelicals preached peace the day before Russian President Vladimir Putin dramatically escalated tensions by recognizing the independence of two separatist regions on Monday evening. Go closer to meet those who are against you or fighting you, Yuriy Kulakevych, foreign affairs director of the Ukrainian Pentecostal Church, told his congregation on Sunday, February 20, at Gods Peace Pentecostal Church in the capital, Kyiv. We are not only to enjoy peace ourselves, but to share it. Preaching on the Sermon on the Mounts injunction toward peacemaking, Kulakevych continued his laser-sharp focus on the possible Russian invasion. Five weeks ago, as the separatist conflict in the eastern Donbas region began to escalate, he surveyed the Bible for its teaching on wars and rumors of war. He followed that with an application of Do not let your hearts be troubled and, on the next Sunday, a treatise on worry. Last week, he tried shifting to include more mundane examples in a sermon on Jesus calming the storm, such as pandemic, career, and relationship difficulties. But the Russian threat did not dissipate. Protect yourself and your family by all possible means, Kulakevych told the church. And serve as a mentor for people in a bad state. The latter spirit is also animating Ukraines Baptists. Pastors in the gray area are not leaving the area, said Igor Bandura, senior vice president of the Baptist Union of Ukraine, describing the frontline. Christians are determined to take an active part in the needs of the people around them. They have already, planting 25 churches in the past five years. At Irpin Bible Church in suburban Kyiv, Bandura quickly changed the sermon he had prepared on marriage. Instead, the focus turned to prayer: for wisdom, courage, ministers in the occupied territories, the national armyand even the enemies of Ukraine. I do not know in what mood you came here, he challenged his listeners, but I know for sure that if you open your heart to the Lord, you will come out renewed, strengthened in Jesus Christ, and ready for anything that is challenging our life. And on Sunday evening at Grace Church of Evangelical Christians in Kyiv, over 1,000 people gathered to pray for the unity, peace, and blessing of Ukraine. Representatives of many evangelical denominations were present, said Jaroslaw Lukasik, director of Eastern Europe Reformation. [Editors note: More sermon examples from last Sunday are listed below.] For weeks the Eastern European nation has lived in tension as an estimated 150,000 Russian troops amassed on the border. But the gray area has experienced this friction for much longer. The stretch of land in the Donbas, representing about 40 villages, lies between Ukrainian government control and Russian-backed militias in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. In 2014, Russia invaded Ukraine in support of the separatists. It annexed the Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea and recognized the proclaimed independence of the two republics. Last week, Elijah Brown of the Baptist World Alliance conducted a solidarity visit to Kyiv, the seventh most-populous city in Europe. The tension is real; you can feel it in this frozen air, he said in a video from the capital. Should there be chaos and confusion, the Baptist churches could be lighthouses in their community. Standing in front of St. Sophia Cathedral, the oldest church in Ukraine and an 11th-century rival to Constantinoples Hagia Sophia that helped spread the Orthodox faith through the Russian world, Brown said the Baptists have invested $2 million into local aid, relief, and development. The All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Baptist Churches, the largest Protestant community in Ukraine, reports among its ranks 2,272 churches, 320 missionary groups, and 113,000 adult believers. Many of these believers are mobilizing. Bandura explained that plans are underway to turn church basements into refugee centers, as they stock up on supplies. Members with medical backgrounds are readying for service. We very much hope that our house of prayer will not be needed to shelter people, said Volodymyr Nesteruk, pastor of Regeneration Baptist Church in Rivne, 200 miles west of Kyiv. But we are preparing so that people can come here, if necessary, to find safety and shelter. Far from the eastern gray zone, Rivne is only 100 miles south of the border of Belarus, a Russian ally where 9,000 troops have gathered for war drills. But preparations are being made even further west. If something happens, we will open our homes and our churches to you, said Yaroslav Pyzh, president of the Baptist seminary in Lviv, only 40 miles east of Poland. In recent days, Ukrainian officials have tried to downplay the threat of an invasion, especially from the Belarussian north. The troops gathered there are not sufficient for a rapid assault on Kyiv, they said. But conflict has been spiking in the Donbas, threatening Baptist unity. Christians are being forced to go to war against Ukraine, said a pastor in Luhansk, who requested anonymity, referencing reports he received from local churches. The brothers received summonses stating that they had to report to the military commissariat. In case of disobedience, they will be held accountable. Since 2014, about 14,000 people have been killed in the war. But until now the trend was downward. Only 25 civilians were killed in 2021, the lowest figure since the conflict began. Ukrainian positions were shelled 80 times on Sunday, according to a military spokesman. Two soldiers were killed, and troops were given orders not to return fire. Separatist authorities, however, said four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling. Evangelicals in Donbas give conflicting accounts. Amid a general conscription announced this past Saturday, only the women, children, and elderly are permitted to leave the occupied areas, said the Luhansk pastor. About 100,000 have done so, receiving 10,000 Russian rubles (about $127) in refugee camps near the Black Sea port of Rostov. But there is no reason to evacuate, he said, as the Ukrainian military is not pushing forward. Pavel Karamyshev, who directs an evangelical camp in Donetsk, confirmed the news about shelling and mass migration. But he said both sides were firing, though he was not sure who initiated. As the Lord lives, and blessed is our protector, he said, let us intensify prayers for the protection of Donbas. His remarks were given to Vitaly Vlasenko, general secretary of the Russian Evangelical Alliance, who had trouble believing Ukraine could be behind the shelling. It is not wise for Ukraine to start anything; dont provoke aggression, he said, Something wrong is going on. Confident that Russia was not directly instigating things either, he said the provocation could be from either side. Perhaps the military was seeking to stymie negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden. But seeing patterns from czarist and Soviet history, he worried that the rebels might be starting a fightready to call on Russia for help. Vlasenkos Church of the Annunciation of Evangelical Christian Baptists, in Moscow, held a special prayer for peace and reconciliation on Sunday. While there was no special emphasis in the sermon, assistant pastor Vladimir Tripolski shared a poignant testimony from his flight with his family from Chechnya, two decades earlier, when Muslim separatists fought for independence from Russia. I didnt know where I would go, but a Baptist church gave me shelter, Tripolski said, drawing tears from the audience. Let us turn our hearts toward the refugees. Vlasenko said discussions are underway about how the Russian evangelical alliance can assist in the camps outside Rostov. Brown expressed his thanks to both Ukrainians and Russians who are demonstrating faithful witness. As one Baptist family rooted in Jesus Christ as Lord, he said, we bear witness to the biblical truth that if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. Some Ukrainians, however, are calling out the Russians. Do you still sing spiritual songs on Sundays despite the bloodshed daily, on your behalf, by your troops, by your government of murderers, liars, and usurpers? asked Gennadiy Mokhnenko, pastor of the Church of Good Changes. Go on, don't be distracted from your fake Christianity. Mokhnenko, active in orphan ministry, has reason to fear the creation of more children in need. His church is in Mariupol, 30 miles from the Russian border. It is the second-largest city in the Donetsk region and its redesignated capital, as it remains under Ukrainian government control on the frontlines of the conflict. Though the situation remains unstable, Putin and Biden tentatively agreed to a coming summit later this monthif there is no invasion. But then Russia proceeded to recognize the independence of the two breakaway regions today, and authorized the sending of peacekeeping functions. (Update: On Wednesday [Feb. 23], the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations sent an open letter to Putin. [We] appeal to you with a request in the name of the Almightyto stop the growing fire of war, because it is in your power, wrote Hryhorii Komendant, chairman of the council and president of the Ukrainian Bible Society. We authoritatively and unanimously testify that the Ukrainian people do not seek war, and we consider it a common duty of believers to stop it before it is too late.) Despite the current escalation, the anonymous pastor in Luhansk said that grocery stores and communication networks remain open, though gas lines have begun to form. And Yuriy Ochkalov, pastor of House of the Gospel church in Donetsk, posted a call to prayer, noting the beautiful Sunday weather outside his place of worship. All parties do the same. If the occupation of these territories is a foreshadow of what may come to Ukraine, said Brown, recalling Baptists being designated as terrorists and 40 of their Donbas churches shut down, it should lead all of us to pray with greater fervor. Bandura agreed, anticipating victory. We believe that the Lord of Hosts will bless Ukraine, he said, and the plans of the devil and his servants will be destroyed. Kulakevych, however, directed the message back to his congregationand anyone listening in. However perilous the political situation, there is a greater spiritual battle. In the face of the growing aggression of war, we remain the ambassadors of Christ, he concluded his sermon. Peace comes through reconciliation with God. Examples of Ukrainian Baptist Pastors Sermons from Sunday (Feb. 20): Christians should not be intimidated, preached Vasyl Furta in Vyshneve, near Kyiv. Concentrating on Isaiah 41:13, where God says he takes hold of our right hand, the pastor reminded believers of Gods presence, his strength, and support. Why does God allow war? asked Pavlo Marchenko in Shostka, 200 miles northeast of Kyiv near the border of Russia and Belarus. Preaching on Psalm 135:6 that the Lord does what he pleases, the pastor reassured listeners that God is not indifferent to Ukrainians. But at times he will disturb us, said the pastor, that people might turn to him in repentance, both for themselves and their people. God is our protection and help, preached Alexander Pakhai in Dubno, 230 miles west of Kyiv. But drawing from examples in Psalm 44, the pastor reminded listeners that while sometimes God delivers miraculously, at other times he led his people through times of destruction. But in all cases it is for his glory, that people may know that he is God. Is our faith sufficient? asked Eduard Bondarovsky in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, 90 miles south of Kyiv. Making a comparison to a swimmer able to navigate a small river but not the high seas, the pastor warned the troops that may cross the border are far from friends. Will we be ready to continue in hope, he challenged believers, certain that God is still our protector? War at the gates of the city came when the people chose new gods, remarked Dmytro Polyarush in Zhashkiv, also 90 miles south of Kyiv. Preaching on Samson from the book of Judges, the pastor dismissed the idea that God enjoys such punishment. Instead, Polyarush encouraged the faithful that God was already at work preparing the next deliverer. Be grateful for US and British intelligence, said Vyacheslav Shcherbakov in Zhytomyr, 85 miles west of Kyiv. Comparing Russia to the enemy Tobias in Nehemiah 4, the pastor remarked how the work of spies thwarted the aggression against Jerusalem. Neither Putin nor anyone else can separate us from the love of God, he emphasized. Christians should not be intimidated, preached Vasyl Furta in Vyshneve, near Kyiv. Concentrating on Isaiah 41:13, where God says he takes hold of our right hand, the pastor reminded believers of Gods presence, his strength, and support. Why does God allow war? asked Pavlo Marchenko in Shostka, 200 miles northeast of Kyiv near the border of Russia and Belarus. Preaching on Psalm 135:6 that the Lord does what he pleases, the pastor reassured listeners that God is not indifferent to Ukrainians. But at times he will disturb us, said the pastor, that people might turn to him in repentance, both for themselves and their people. God is our protection and help, preached Alexander Pakhai in Dubno, 230 miles west of Kyiv. But drawing from examples in Psalm 44, the pastor reminded listeners that while sometimes God delivers miraculously, at other times he led his people through times of destruction. But in all cases it is for his glory, that people may know that he is God. Is our faith sufficient? asked Eduard Bondarovsky in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi, 90 miles south of Kyiv. Making a comparison to a swimmer able to navigate a small river but not the high seas, the pastor warned the troops that may cross the border are far from friends. Will we be ready to continue in hope, he challenged believers, certain that God is still our protector? War at the gates of the city came when the people chose new gods, remarked Dmytro Polyarush in Zhashkiv, also 90 miles south of Kyiv. Preaching on Samson from the book of Judges, the pastor dismissed the idea that God enjoys such punishment. Instead, Polyarush encouraged the faithful that God was already at work preparing the next deliverer. Be grateful for US and British intelligence, said Vyacheslav Shcherbakov in Zhytomyr, 85 miles west of Kyiv. Comparing Russia to the enemy Tobias in Nehemiah 4, the pastor remarked how the work of spies thwarted the aggression against Jerusalem. Neither Putin nor anyone else can separate us from the love of God, he emphasized. [ This article is also available in Francais and . ] Credibility of pastors waning as influence of Christianity loses cultural dominance: study Fewer than half of American adults, including non-Christians, see pastors as very reliable when it comes to handling spiritual matters, and the share of pastors who believe the general public sees them that way is even lower, according to newly published data from Barna Research. The research, which asks about pastors' general trustworthiness and credibility, was included in The Resilient Pastor, a book by the Rev. Glenn Packiam released on Feb. 15. It offers pastors and Christians a way to remain resilient in their calling as they contend with the challenges of a world where Christianity no longer holds a dominant place in culture. "Pastors are no longer perceived as a credible voice or a trustworthy source of wisdom on much," Packiam explains in an excerpt of the book. "Churches dont have much of a role in a community unless they can provide tangible help or practical care. And people arent likely to turn to a church for help when facing difficulties or crises. In fact, Christianity is just one way of making meaning of this world, and it isnt really even a respected way. For many, it is archaic and outmoded, prude and rude. Packiam, who's a senior fellow at Barna Group, is also an associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the lead pastor of New Life Downtown. The data show that when asked if pastors are a trustworthy source of wisdom, some 57% of Americans, in general, said pastors are at least somewhat wise. When that data is further broken down, however, only 23% of all adult Americans agree that pastors are "definitely" a "trustworthy source of wisdom." Among Christians, the figure increases to 31% but drops to 4% among non-Christians. Larger shares agree that pastors were somewhat a trustworthy source of wisdom, with 40% of Christians agreeing to this assessment. Non-Christians have the strongest reaction against pastors, with 29 percent saying a pastor is definitely not a trustworthy source of wisdom. That may be unsurprising in our present culture, but it is still telling and discouraging, Packiam notes. While a significant majority of pastors, 67%, were very confident that their own congregations considered them to be a trustworthy source of wisdom, only 21% expressed a similar level of confidence in how the general community where their church is located sees them. Another 62% felt that the general community was only somewhat confident in their role as a trustworthy source of wisdom. Pastors were also not very confident in how the general population sees them as a reliable source of information on spiritual matters. While 36% of all adults see pastors as very reliable when it comes to giving advice on spiritual matters, only 25% of pastors see themselves that way. A majority, 59%, said they were somewhat reliable. Fewer than half, 44%, of Christians described their pastors as very reliable in this area, while another 39% said they were somewhat reliable. Packiam, in his book, suggests that pastors need to examine themselves to see whether the credibility issues the profession is now facing have to do with the way they have stewarded power. If the mishandling of power has led to the loss of credibility, returning to the source and shape of a pastors authority is the way back home, he contends. I dont mean that we can find a way to return to a central place in our communities. But we can once again become trustworthy people when we rediscover the source and the shape of pastoral authority. SBC must deal with 'stains' of racism, sex abuse to regain moral credibility,' Ed Litton says Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton called racism and sexual abuse the most outstanding stains on the denomination on Monday, adding that the convention must take steps to cleanse itself. The head of the nations largest Protestant denomination gave an address before a meeting of the SBC Executive Committee, saying that the denomination must regain moral credibility. We all love to see progress. We love to hear great reports. We love to see good examples. But in order to do the Gospel that God has given us to do we must regain moral credibility. We must deal with the stains on the Southern Baptist Convention, Litton, the pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, said. Litton, who was elected to the helm of the SBC last June, assumed the role amid deep divisions in the SBC over how leaders had been responding to racism, critical race theory and enduring sexual abuse in member churches. He had promised shortly after his election that he would build bridges, not walls during his tenure. So how do we dare face the stains of our great family? Litton asked before highlighting the 2017 book Removing the Stain of Racism from the Southern Baptist Convention: Diverse African American and White Perspectives by Jarvis Williams and Kevin Jones. They have collected a series of essays by prominent SBC voices on the struggle we have had from our beginning with race. It was groundbreaking in many ways, because at its basic level, it admitted something that many have failed to admit in the past, and that is this is a historic stain. He then quoted heavily from a chapter written by Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Racism is so insidious that it appears even when it is declared to have been eradicated. In 1995, on the 150th anniversary of the founding of the SBC, the denomination publicly repudiated its roots in the defense of slavery. That was a start, a horribly delayed but an important start, Mohler wrote, as quoted by Litton. Today, far more is required of us. Repudiating slavery is not enough. We must repent and seek to confront and remove every stain of racism that remains and seek with all of our strength to be the kind of churches of which Jesus would be proud, the kind of churches that will look like the marriage supper of the Lamb. So what do we know about stains? They are pernicious and hard to remove, Litton added. We must identify the source of our sin and stain. We cannot deny history, the history of our beginnings, or the lingering effects of racism throughout our time. This requires us to confront the sin of racism and to seek to remove the stain from SBC life. Litton argued that just as Paul was not going to allow the Ephesian believers to neglect this issue by simply covering up the outside stain it left on their witness, Southern Baptists need to work intentionally to eradicate racism. Dr. Mohler concludes in his chapter: If the church gets this wrong, it is not just getting race and ethnic differences wrong. It is getting the Gospel wrong, Litton said. Litton further noted that he plans to present a practical, grassroots, simple, straightforward plan to help churches build bridges and tear down walls at the annual SBC meeting and pastors conference scheduled for Anaheim, California, in June. In Anaheim, it is my plan and intention and the intention of others to present to this convention a practical, grassroots, simple, straightforward, direct way that our churches can begin to cross these barriers, tear down walls, build bridges, and bring peace, and show the world that we are followers of Jesus Christ, Litton said. In addressing the issue of sexual abuse, the SBC leader said while he does not yet know what will be fully unearthed in an ongoing assessment of sexual abuse in the denomination by the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Committee, we can acknowledge that there has been a culture among us where predators found safe places to hide and the vulnerable found no safe place to rest. This is a stain. It can be dealt with. It can be solved, Litton said. Not in one meeting or one vote. It has to be dealt with, with intentionality over a long hall. We must take this [sex abuse] report seriously when it is delivered. And we must receive it with humility and brokenness. We must make changes necessary to protect the vulnerable and to bring healing as God will and God only can to the hearts of those who have suffered. We should not just brace for impact with this report. We should stand ready to act upon it. The SBC Executive Committee is in the midst of an independent investigation into how leaders handled allegations of sex abuse impacting member churches. Whether the committee would waive attorney-client privilege was a source of contention for some on the committee last year. After the committee approved a motion to waive the privilege, several members of the committee resigned, including the committee's former head Ronnie Floyd and its legal team. SBC Pres. Ed Litton gives update on sex abuse investigation: 'We need to remain very sober' Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton shared a brief update with the SBC Executive Committee on behalf of the Sexual Abuse Task Force and urged the convention to remain very sober and determined as the investigation is still underway. The work is progressing, Litton, the pastor of Redemption Church in Saraland, Alabama, said during the SBCs second plenary session in Nashville Tuesday morning. Let me commend the staff of the EC for their cooperation on every level. The cooperation among the EC members, you may have had misgivings; Ive heard people say, I havent been a part of this, Im new. Yet, you have cooperated. Continue to cooperate, and I would encourage you to do that. The process is working; its moving. Litton, elected president of the SBC last year, said the Committee on Cooperation the committee that acts as a liaison between the Executive Committee, the Sexual Abuse Task Force and Guidepost Solutions has had a few challenges to help bring people together. But, hes happy to report that those challenges seem to be resolved and we are cooperating. And the people that were asking to cooperate, at this point, are cooperating, he added. Later in the session, Litton fielded questions regarding the ongoing sexual abuse inquiry. The investigation, expected to be completed by June, concerns how the executive committee has handled abuse allegations against member churches over the past 21 years. Last year, the committee approved a motion to waive attorney-client privilege in the wake of the investigation, prompting several members to resign, including the committees former head Ronnie Floyd and its legal team. Hannah-Kate Williams, a survivor of alleged abuse and rape at the hands of her father, James Williams, an SBC pastor, asked Litton about addressing instances outside the scope of the investigation. The task force is charged with finding the agency that will do the investigation best; theyve been transparent reporting everything through this, Litton replied. The report will have suggestions and recommendations, and thats what theyre going to deal with. Of course, one of the things theyll look at is how any decisions will fit into our polity and how we function as a convention. EC member Mike Keahbone told Williams the investigations report and how the EC responds is not the ending of where we stand with sexual abuse; its the beginning. You can bet that were going move forward aggressively with how to address that. We are all committed to that, he said. On Feb. 7, the Sexual Abuse Task Force released an update on its work, revealing Guidepost Solutions had reviewed and processed a substantial amount of information pertinent to the investigation through the review of documents and contacting and interviewing a substantial number of current and former SBC committee members, staff and trustees. These interviews are essential in conducting a full, fair, and comprehensive investigation and assessment. They also provide an opportunity for interviewees to offer recommendations and provide feedback as to how the SBC EC can create a safer community going forward, the report said. On Tuesday, Litton said that Guidepost Solutions will send the results of its investigation to the Sexual Abuse Task Force 30 days before the June 12-15 annual meeting in Anaheim, California. The Sexual Abuse Task Force will have a week to formulate recommendations, and then the findings will be released to the public. I would encourage you to allow the Lord to humble us and to embrace it, Litton said. Setting agendas aside, this is serious; peoples lives have been damaged, hurt, ruined. And I think we all need to remain very sober about this and yet determined. Litton prayed: We pray for wisdom, Lord, that we as we said last night, would not just brace for the impact, but that we would embrace You to act and to do what is right, and Lord, that we know we are being scrutinized by You, above all. Lord, we ask you to move, move upon our hearts, our minds. Help us to reconcile things, help us to deal with this. And Lord, we know it is not a quick fix. And so we, Lord, ask that we would truly be transformed, that the culture of our great convention would become even more like Christ, for Your glory. Supreme Court agrees to hear Christian web designer's same-sex wedding website case The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case of a Christian web designer challenging a Colorado state law requiring her to create wedding websites for same-sex couples if she also offers similar services for other couples. In an orders list released Tuesday morning, the high court agreed to hear an appeal in the case of 303 Creative LLC et al v. Aubrey Elenis, et al. The petition for a writ of certiorari is granted limited to the following question: Whether applying a public-accommodation law to compel an artist to speak or stay silent violates the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment, the order states. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group representing web designer Lorie Smith and her company, 303 Creative, praised the high courts decision to hear the appeal. This could be a landmark case for religious liberty and artistic freedom, stated the ADF on Twitter shortly after the order was released. We look forward to representing Lorie before the high court. The government doesnt have the power to silence or compel creative expression under the threat of punishment. Its shocking that the 10th Circuit would permit Colorado to punish artists whose speech isnt in line with state-approved ideology, ADF General Counsel Kristen Waggoner said in a statement. Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent. Colorados law and others like it are a clear and present danger to every Americans constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation. In 2016, Smith filed a pre-enforcement legal challenge to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, arguing that the law would force her to provide services contradicting her religious views that marriage is a union between one man one woman. A key issue was that Smith wanted to start building websites for weddings, but she did not want to provide those services for same-sex weddings due to her religious objections to the unions. In July of last year, a panel of the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against 303 Creative, concluding that Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting both the dignity interests of members of marginalized groups and their material interests in accessing the commercial marketplace. When regulating commercial entities, like Appellants, public accommodations laws help ensure a free and open economy, wrote Circuit Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, a Clinton appointee, in the majority. Thus, although the commercial nature of Appellants business does not diminish their speech interest, it does provide Colorado with a state interest absent when regulating noncommercial activity. Circuit Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, a George W. Bush appointee, authored a dissent, concluding that the Constitution protects Ms. Smith from the government telling her what to say or do. But the majority takes the remarkable and novel stance that the government may force Ms. Smith to produce messages that violate her conscience, wrote Tymkovich. In doing so, the majority concludes not only that Colorado has a compelling interest in forcing Ms. Smith to speak a government-approved message against her religious beliefs, but also that its public-accommodation law is the least restrictive means of accomplishing this goal. No case has ever gone so far. In 2018, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian baker Jack Phillips, arguing that the state of Colorado violated the bakers First Amendment rights when it penalized him for refusing to bake a custom cake for a same-sex wedding. In the 7-2 ruling, the court reasoned that laws must be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion. Last July, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case of a Washington-based Christian florist punished by the state for refusing to provide floral arrangements to a same-sex wedding. Last November, the florist, Barronelle Stutzman of Arlenes Flowers, agreed to pay $5,000 and retire as part of a settlement in the yearslong legal battle. A university professors sobering picture of Christianity in America today George Yancey (PhD, University of Texas) is professor of sociology at Baylor University and the author of a number of books on racial reconciliation, as well as books on the increasingly hostile, anti-Christian environment in America, especially in academia. And he is a fair-minded scholar, basing his views on hard data and not afraid to criticize his own, evangelical side. Yet he, too, is sounding the alarm, with one volume actually titled, So Many Christians, So Few Lions: Is There Christianophobia in the United States? (He defines Christianophobia as an unreasonable hatred toward conservative Christians and he wrote this in 2014). Prof. Yancey began his 2015 book, Hostile Environment: Understanding and Responding to Anti-Christian Bias, with a striking personal illustration. He wrote: I remember vividly a disturbing conversation that I once had with a good Christian friend who taught in a high school. He told me that he mentioned one day in class that some Christians around the world were being killed for their faith. To his amazement, some students approved of these murders. In their minds, it was time for Christians to face the same death that Christians had inflicted on others. I was struck by the ahistorical nature of this line of thought. Although Christians in the United States do not face jail or death for their faith, there is a long history of Christians around the world being punished for their faith. I also wondered how so much hatred had developed against Christians. This conversation took place almost two decades ago, and I see little evidence that this type of hatred has abated. In fact, my recent research has confirmed that such hatred is still very powerful. David Williamson and I conducted a survey of culturally progressive activists using open-ended questions. The survey questions elicited a variety of hostile statements aimed at conservative Christians. One statement in particular (from a male, age 36-45) caught my attention: The only good Christian is a dead Christian. In short, when one is in a war, one should offer no mercy to the enemy. The respondent made it clear that he sees Christians as the enemy and believes that no mercy should be given to them. Other respondents had comments like this: The only difference I see between [a] Christian fundamentalist and [an] Islamic fundamentalist is terrorism. At their heart both movements are attempts to replace their countrys government with theocracies. Religion in the political arena is dangerous to freedom and should be not allowed. Even minor intrusions such as allowing religious groups to distribute public funds to the poor should not be allowed (male, age 4655). The Christian rights influence in our government is as dangerous as the Taliban in Afghanistan or the ayatollahs in Iran. We cannot allow them to get a solid foothold in our government. The only way to do this without infringing on rights is to be especially vigilant and point out their bigotry and hypocrisy often and loudly so as to discredit them in the eyes of their followers and, more importantly, the eyes of the voting populace (female, age 6675). As Yancey explains, in many cases, what lies behind this hatred is the fear that Christian conservatives want to take over the country and impose their values on it, from outlawing abortion to discriminating against gays. And so, whatever we say or do is part of that not-so-secret plot. (Remember that he has been sounding this alarm for years now.) Yancey writes, For example, a female age 5665 stated that its pretty troubling to me what theyre doing, how sneaky they are, how they project their negativity onto others, mostly how they are trying to . . . and succeeding . . . take over our public education system. Another female age 6675 stated that Christians are dangerous attending law school so they can infiltrate government and take over our country. From our perspective, of course, we are trying to save the lives of babies and to preserve Gods order for the family, which we are convinced is also in the best interest of our country. We are simply pushing back against the increasing radicalism of our society, noting that abortion was illegal in most of America until 1973 and that same-sex marriage was not recognized until 2015. We also believe that the vision of our founding fathers has been violated, and we are simply fighting for what is right even more, these days, we are simply fighting for our rights, since the so-called progressives would like nothing more than to silence us in the public square and take away our rights. Stay out of the schools, stay out of the media, stay out of politics just stay out of our way. Thats why you have churches. Go and worship your God there. This is the silencing of the lambs. (Excerpted and adapted from Michael L. Brown, The Silencing of the Lambs: The Ominous Rise of Cancel Culture and How We Can Overcome It) 'How High is Heaven?': ABC News correspondent helps families talk afterlife with new kids' book Emmy Award-winning ABC News correspondent Linsey Davis has authored a new book to help families discuss Heaven with their children. How High Is Heaven?is the latest installment of Davis childrens books. The ABC News Live Prime and World News Tonight anchor thinks its essential to share messages of faith and hope through her writing. Published by Zonderkidz, Davis' latest book was inspired by her 7-year-old son, who began to ask questions about some of his deceased loved ones. My parents are both still alive. But my husbands parents have both passed away, and Grandma P, who is my husbands mother, passed away when my son was just 1, Davis, a professing Christian, shared with The Christian Post in a recent interview. So he didnt remember her, and so, I started getting out pictures and showing pictures of her with him when he was a baby. Following that conversation, Davis son kept asking her when he could visit his grandmother. That dialogue and the months that followed are what inspired the book. Fast forward a few months later, we were on a plane, and he was looking out the window, and he said, I dont see her. I said, You dont see who? And he said, I dont see Grandma P. I thought we were going to see her since were here in Heaven,' Davis recalled. Heaven can be really complicated conversation to have with anybody. So then, we just went to the basics of what my son was thinking he could physically do in order to get to Heaven. It just really inspired me. Davis achieved much success with her previous bestselling childrens books The World Is Awake, One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different and Stay This Way Forever. Now with her fourth book, she hopes to grasp Heaven from the eyes of a child. In a fun, whimsical way of a child, my son was thinking about physically trying to build a Lego staircase to Heaven, or a pogo stick or a hot air balloon or a trampoline or build a rocket ship to physically get to this place, Davis said. In the book, Davis says the main character travels on a plane, similar to her sons experience. But ultimately, he goes to visit one grandparent and attends church to learn that its not about what you physically do to get to this place. In the end, he decides that for now, hell enjoy Heaven on earth, she said. The overarching message that I hope the kids will take away with is when someone dies in your life, someone especially youre used to seeing all the time or that you look forward to seeing, that youre going to see them again, She continued. You can still look forward to that time that you will ultimately see them again and be reunited. I think that thats a really hopeful aspect of it all. It was something that I think made my son feel better: [the notion that], Well, maybe not today but one day I will see Grandma P. And that was some small consolation for him. In the Bible, Heaven is the place followers of Jesus Christ will spend eternity, where there is no sorrow. Jesus clearly states that He is the only way there. I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me, Jesus said in John 14:6. In John 8:24, Jesus said: For unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins. Davis, 44, maintained she wants Children to know in this season of so much loss that Heaven is not the end but something to which all believers can look forward. With the pandemic starting in early 2020, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 900,000 Americans. A study published in the journal Pediatrics last October found that for every four COVID-19 deaths, at least one child had lost a parent or primary caregiver. Data showed that from April 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, more than 140,000 children under age 18 in the U.S. lost a parent, custodial grandparent or grandparent caregiver. Additionally, the study shows that one out of 500 children in the U.S. has experienced COVID-19 associated orphanhood or death of a grandparent caregiver. Im hopeful that this [book] will offer them some hope that again theyll be reunited with that loved one, Davis told CP. In the midst of all the darkness and despair, I think that I can say for my own family during COVID, Its brought us together. We really had a greater appreciation for the family time. A lot of the distractions were taken away. Although working in a news industry where the reports are often discouraging, Davis said she tries to stay hopeful and focus on the positive. I found joy in just the quality time and the conversations and physically being close with my family, she added. I feel blessed when Im around my family, and I just think that whatever it is that we enjoy, a little piece of Heaven, I think thats a way to imagine the way that I feel right now. Thats what Heaven is going to be like. I think that we have to delight in those things, still looking forward to the promise of God. But, I believe that God wants us to feel joy, and experience joy, and experience His love, and His presence here on earth as well. Davis wants families to take away faith as the supernatural element to Heaven. Thats where I think it becomes more of an idea of what the Bible and what the Scripture talks about with regard to faith being the substance of things hoped for, without seeing it walking by faith and not by sight. I think that you have to believe the Word, and it talks about Heaven being our reward and that we will be reunited with the Father, Davis explained. This is our belief that God tells us that we will ascend into Heaven, and were longing to hear, Well done good and faithful servant, The New York resident said. Its going to be a better place. There wont be crying anymore, and theres just rejoicing and joy and singing and laughter. And that is our reward. The loving mother said she is honest with her son about what she does not know when it comes to Heaven. She said she just has to believe and trust that we will get there and that we will be reunited with our Father and with our loved ones. As I preach to my son, I preach to myself. Were all about having the knowledge and learning constantly every day the Word and then trying to apply it, Davis noted. What we do know about God is that He is a God of love. So I think that we want to really embrace our kids and meet them where they are. How High Is Heaven?is available everywhere books are sold. The book features engaging illustrations by Lucy Fleming, who created characters to whom her son could relate. I have a black son, and I do think its important for children of color, its important for all children to see people who look like them and people who dont look like them, Davis concluded. When I was seeing the lack of representation in childrens books, I figured rather than just bemoan the issue and complain about the problem, let me help be a part of the solution. So thats what has given me a real energy and have a larger purpose is really adding much-needed diversity to childrens books. On Washington's birthday, let's remember his biblical economics Happy Washington's Birthday. That's the official federal holiday, although the press and some states have attempted to transition the day over to being a general recognition of past presidents, the day remains Washington's Birthday. I think that's appropriate, because, although all mankind is created equal, not all presidents have been equally good models for the office. Washington deserves special recognition for setting the template for all who came after. Not all his successors followed Washington's example, but nevertheless, he set the standard by which all have been to come degree compared. Most important, is the way in which Washington appealed to scripture to set out a vision for America. His favorite verse was: "And each of them will sit under his vine And under his fig tree" (Mic. 4:4 NAS) Similar statements occur in 1 Kings 4:25 and Zachariah 3:10, with some minor variations. The former verse uses that phrase to describe the conditions associated with the reign of King Solomon: peace and prosperity. Zachariah treats it as a prediction and adds the element of sharing with neighbors, and Micah connects it with the lack of war and the absence of fear. It is likely that Washington was quoting the Micah version, since he sometimes in his correspondence added the phrase about no one making them afraid, which is unique to Micah's version. Per professor Daniel Dreisbach, an authority on the use of Scripture during the founding era, the verse was quoted over 40 times by Washington in his writings, more frequently than any other passage. Interestingly, he quoted in his the famous Letter to a Hebrew Congregation. The passage affirms the principle of private property, treating it as a social good. It also affirms the universality of the system of private property in that Washington applied it to the Jews, a group which had often suffered the seizing of property by the state. The verse also was associated with refugees from the old world. Peoples who had their property seized would come to America as economic, religious and/or political refugees. Americans greeted them and welcomed them to a place where they would be afforded the opportunity to "sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree". Washington's repeated and wide invocation of this passage reveals important things about him and about the founding. He believed in private property. He believed that private property was for all people. Yes, of course, he held slaves. He knew it was wrong, but was unwilling to give up that advantage, though he did arrange things in his will so that the slaves that he owned could be freed upon the death of his wife: A Decision to Free His Slaves George Washington's Mount Vernon. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and Washington on this point failed to trust and obey God, favoring his wife over justice for his slaves. But Washington stood out among his contemporaries as a man of humility, willing to leave behind power when he could have made himself an emperor. When the king of England learned that Washington would willingly give up power he declared him "the greatest man in the world". Why did Washington leave power? He gave posterity the reason; he wanted to sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree at Mount Vernon. Some historians believe that Washington's example as an entrepreneur came close to matching his example as a president and there is some reason to believe that Washington's desire was to do just that, mentioning "commerce" or "commercial" several times in his Farwell Address: George Washington's Farewell Address George Washington's Mount Vernon. What is clear is that the Scriptures were important to Washington in the formulation of his economics, giving him a firm foundation for private property, for that right to apply to all, to believe in human betterment through economic productivity. This last point is important because it shows that Washington avoided medieval forms of spiritual otherworldliness. Western civilization struggled under an economic system which saw wealth creation as inherently unspiritual, an idea which comes from pagan Greek theology and its contempt for commerce and not from the Bible (though there were, and still are, attempts to force an economic stagnation agenda onto certain Gospel texts ripped from their original context). Washington didn't push these Hebrew prophecies back into Judaism writing them off as no longer relevant in the New Testament era. Neither did he push such promises off into a some "end-times" future after the Second Coming. He saw those blessings as inherently good and properly a pursuit for Americans. By doing so, America prospered beyond the wildest dreams of previous history. Today, on Washington's Birthday, we take a moment to remind ourselves of these passages which so moved him, and also moved history towards human flourishing and to remind ourselves of this foundational vision for our drifting nation. Hillsong docuseries aims to show how megachurch toed the line between 'cult and culture' (trailer) Discovery Plus will stream a three-episode docuseries titled Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed, contending how the Australia-based global evangelical church network has toed the fine line between cult and culture, according to the newly released trailer. The trailer features several people who have had interactions with Hillsong and their celebrity pastors. The docuseries will delve into the controversy surrounding former Hillsong NYC Pastor Carl Lentz, who was fired for moral failures in November 2020. The subscription streaming service partnered with the New York Post and investigative journalist Hannah Frishberg, who has written several articles about Hillsong and the former minister. Ranin Karim, the New York-based fashion designer who has stated publicly that she had a five-month affair with Lentz, is seen speaking in the docuseries of her relationship with the pastor. Other interviewees include PreachersNSneakers founder and author Ben Kirby as well as Jaclyn Hayes and Janice Lagata, two women who volunteered for Hillsong to work under Lentz in a volunteer capacity. There is a fine line between cult and culture, a woman in the trailer said. With more than 150,000 global members, Hillsong has recently been entangled in scandal. Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed will profile numerous ex-members of the church who have come forward to share harrowing allegations of the trauma, abuse, financial and labor exploitation that created a culture of chaos within the church, the synopsis of the project reads. The series will also examine how Hillsong was able to grow into a global brand, while uncovering the truth behind the headlines of recent scandals and shining a light on the fine line between culture, corporation and cult. Brian Houston, who founded Hillsong in 1983, recently stepped down as Hillsong global senior pastor as he fights criminal charges in Australia. Houston is accused of failing to report decades-old child sexual abuse allegations against his father after he was informed of them in 1999 while serving as the head of the Australian branch of the Assemblies of God. The history of Hillsong is an incredibly compelling story we wanted to explore, Howard Lee, the president of TLC streaming and network originals, shared in a statement. Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed will take viewers on an eye-opening journey that will provide new insights into a controversy that continues to be examined. The docuseries is presented by The Content Groups Breaklight Pictures and the New York Post. Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed will also reportedly examine corruption within megachurches at large. Lentz led all Hillsong campuses across the East Coast and was often pegged as a celebrity pastor by secular media. His friends and church attendees included A-list stars such as Justin and Hailey Bieber, Kevin Durant, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner and others. He was also credited with having baptized Justin Bieber in the bathtub of former New York Knicks player Tyson Chandler. But following Lentzs public scandal, Bieber publicly distanced himself from Hillsong, saying that he was never a member of Hillsong and his pastor has always been Judah Smith of Churchome. Lentz first admitted to the affair in an Instagram post after his firing from Hillsong. When you lead out of an empty place, you make choices that have real consequences, he wrote. I was unfaithful in my marriage, the most important relationship in my life and held accountable for that. This failure is on me, and me alone and I take full responsibility for my actions. In his post, Lentz said that he and his family gave all they had to serve and build Hillsong NYC over the years. At the time, he said he would focus his energy on rebuilding his family. I now begin a journey of rebuilding trust with my wife, Laura, and my children and taking real time to work on and heal my own life and seek out the help that I need, Lentz stated. I am deeply sorry for breaking the trust of many people who we have loved serving and understand that this news can be very hard and confusing for people to hear and process. I would have liked to say this with my voice, to you, in person because you are owed that. But that opportunity I will not have. So to those people, I pray you can forgive me and that over time I can live a life where trust is earned again. Hillsong stated in December 2020 that it had investigated and taken action in response to a 2018 letter alleging inappropriate sexual relations between staff and volunteers at Hillsong NYC. In addition to inappropriate sexual relations, Hillsong NYC staff members were accused of misusing tithed money to fund lavish lifestyles. Former Hillsong NYC Pastor Reed Bogard and his wife, Jess, were among those accused of misusing church funds. They stepped down from leading Hillsongs Dallas campus last year while they were under investigation for leadership failures. All three episodes of Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed will premiere on Discovery Plus on March 24. Christian web designer opposed to creating same-sex wedding websites loses at 10th Circuit A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit has ruled that a Christian web designer must create websites that conflict with her religious views. In a 2-1 decision released Monday, the circuit panel ruled against Lorie Smith and her web design company, 303 Creative, stating that they must provide services for same-sex marriages if they offer said services for traditional weddings. Smith filed a pre-enforcement legal challenge in 2016 to the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, arguing that the law would compel her to provide services that go against her religious beliefs and is unconstitutional. At issue was a plan to start building websites for weddings, but with the desire to not provide those services for same-sex weddings due to religious objections to the unions. In 2017, a district court ruled that Smith couldn't challenge the law and upheld that decision in a subsequent ruling. Circuit Judge Mary Beck Briscoe, a Clinton appointee, authored the majority opinion. The appeals court acknowledged that 303 Creative could face prosecution under CADA if they refused to build websites celebrating same-sex weddings while offering such services for opposite-sex weddings. Nevertheless, Briscoe concluded in part that CADA is a neutral law of general applicability, and that it is not unconstitutionally vague or overbroad. Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting both the dignity interests of members of marginalized groups and their material interests in accessing the commercial marketplace, wrote Briscoe. When regulating commercial entities, like Appellants, public accommodations laws help ensure a free and open economy. Thus, although the commercial nature of Appellants business does not diminish their speech interest, it does provide Colorado with a state interest absent when regulating noncommercial activity. Regarding the intentions of 303 Creative to put a statement on its website explaining its refusal to create websites for same-sex weddings, the majority opinion concluded that Colorado may prohibit speech that promotes unlawful activity, including unlawful discrimination. Lawyers for Smith say that the state has placed a "gag" rule that prohibits designers and artists from expressing religious views in the online marketplace about marriage that indicate someone is unwelcome, objectionable, unacceptable, or undesirable." Having concluded that the First Amendment does not protect Appellants proposed denial of services, we also conclude that the First Amendment does not protect the Proposed Statement, continued the majority opinion. Parts of the Proposed Statement might not violate the Accommodation Clause, such as those parts expressing Appellants commitment to their clients or Ms. Smiths religious convictions. Yet, the Proposed Statement also expresses an intent to deny service based on sexual orientation an activity that the Accommodation Clause forbids and that the First Amendment does not protect. Tenth Circuit Chief Judge Timothy M. Tymkovich, a George W. Bush appointee, authored a dissenting opinion. He argued that the Constitution protects Ms. Smith from the government telling her what to say or do. But the majority takes the remarkable and novel stance that the government may force Ms. Smith to produce messages that violate her conscience, wrote Tymkovich. In doing so, the majority concludes not only that Colorado has a compelling interest in forcing Ms. Smith to speak a government-approved message against her religious beliefs, but also that its public-accommodation law is the least restrictive means of accomplishing this goal. No case has ever gone so far. Tymkovich contends that while Colorado is rightfully interested in protecting certain classes of persons from arbitrary and discriminatory treatment, the state should not turn the tables on Ms. Smith and single out her speech and religious beliefs for discriminatory treatment under the aegis of anti-discrimination laws. CADA forces Ms. Smith to violate her faith on pain of sanction both by prohibiting religious-based business practices and by penalizing her if she does speak out on these matters in ways Colorado finds unwelcome or undesirable, he continued. Attorney John Bursch of the nonprofit legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, representing Smith, denounced the panel decision and declared plans to appeal the ruling. The government should never force creative professionals to promote a message or cause with which they disagree. That is quintessential free speech and artistic freedom, Bursch said in a statement. Lorie is happy to design websites for all people; she simply objects to being forced to pour her heart, imagination, and talents into messages that violate her conscience. Critics of 303 Creatives efforts include Americans United for Separation of Church & State. The progressive advocacy group joined several other groups in filing amicus briefs in 2020. The sweeping exemption for religiously motivated discrimination that 303 seeks so that it may deny equal service to same-sex couples would necessarily also permit businesses to deny service to people of the wrong religion (or race, or sex, or any other characteristic protected by the Act), the Americans United brief argues. A ruling in 303s favor would therefore undermine, not strengthen, religious freedom by impairing the ability of the people of Colorado to live as equal members of the community regardless of faith or belief. In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Colorado's treatment of a Christian baker punished for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding in defiance of the state's discrimination laws. However, the Supreme Court this month refused to hear the case of a Washington florist who was punished for refusing to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding. In the ongoing Ukraine standoff, a chimed observed that Russian President Vladimir Putin gives Joe Biden a run for his money. Nile Gardiner, a Washington-based political analyst, stated the US president is out of his league, as the Kremlin allegedly masses troops on the Ukraine border. He made this assessment and thinks it might not be suitable for the allies, and the US needs to keep its affairs in order. Putin Confuses the Allies Gardiner, who worked for Margaret Thatcher, is rooted in several causes, and the coming war in Ukraine shows how ruling elites' borders on an appeasement mindset. But what is more disturbing is Biden's leadership that does not look strong in the eyes of allies and adversaries, reported the Express UK. Furthermore, Putin has more than 150,000 troops on the border shared with Ukraine, and Joe Biden is not doing anything much in the White House. Gardiner remarks that Vladimir Putin dismisses and feels weakness, a pushover US leader trying to keep afloat as a failing domestic agenda. The White House does not exhaust all means to stop an invasion as Washington spreads hysteria over an alleged Russian juggernaut regarding reactive foreign policy. The US instead looks incapable, unlike the way it was before. Compared to his successor, former President Donald Trump would not hesitate to apply lethal force against Putin, says the Gardiner, even told Germany it's a bad idea to have Nord Stream 2. Foreign policy is predictable in the Ukraine standoff, and it does not have force behind it. Read Also: Ex-Trump Security Adviser Says Taliban Could Get Nukes if Pakistan Falls to Them that Could Endanger the West US, EU Allies To Sanction Russia The political commentator wrote in the Telegraph why Putin is getting his cake and eating it. Biden allowed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to continue, and it is the best bet of the Kremlin to have a stranglehold on Europe, a geopolitical tool to squeeze the bloc. These advantages are a big deal to encourage Moscow to further its actions, seeing how Washington is lethargic. The defeat and pull out of the US in the most disgraceful manner from Afghanistan due to the decisions of Biden made the Kremlin push to the Ukraine predicament that America cannot fight. Gardiner says that Joe Biden is not on par with extraordinary presidents, too short-sighted in goals. Still, worse is he cannot allegedly decipher foreign policy leading to dreadful errors. A natural leader would be in Europe to perk up allies to be more steadfast against the Russian bear, but he's sinking in polls. Add that to the left-oriented politics of the Democrat party, which are ejected. US and EU allies say that sanctions will come, with Kyiv asking to activate them. A free world needs the strong US to keep order, but America is getting derailed by the Biden administration. According to Josep Borrell, an EU foreign policy official, there will be no sanction on Russia yet, cited The Kyiv Independent. He told Ukraine to be less hysterical about an alleged invasion. Gardiner thinks the Ukraine standoff where Putin is sure of what he'll do next and that Joe Biden exudes less statesmanship as the Russian leader has been one up on all his strategies. Related Article: Joe Biden Earns Low Rating in Foreign Policy as War Looms in Ukraine, Gets Accused of Not Providing Strong Leadership @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 50 Afghan evacuees brought to US had 'potentially significant security concerns:' Defense Dept. report A report from the U.S. Department of Defenses Inspector General raises questions about the security threats posed by dozens of Afghan evacuees brought to the United States following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Central Asian country last year. The report, released Tuesday, provided an Evaluation of the Screening of Displaced Persons from Afghanistan. As noted by Acting Assistant Inspector General Andre Brown, the purpose of the evaluation is to determine the extent to which the DoD managed and tracked displaced persons from Afghanistan through the biometric enrollment, screening, and vetting process. President Joe Biden helped ensure the arrival of displaced persons from Afghanistan in the U.S. by initiating an inter-agency effort to evacuate and relocate Afghans who had applied for a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) along with other vulnerable Afghans to address the rapid takeover of Afghan cities by the Taliban. Upon arrival in the U.S., Afghan evacuees were placed at safe havens, primarily consisting of military bases that allowed federal agencies to determine whether they posed a national security threat. The report concluded that U.S. agencies did not use all available data when vetting Afghan evacuees, stating that Afghan evacuees were not vetted by the National Counter-Terrorism Center [NCTC] using all DoD data prior to arriving in [the continental United States]. This occurred because Customs and Border Patrol [CBP] enrollments were compared against the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] Automated Biometric Identification System [IDENT] data, the report stated. This data did not initially include all biometric data located in the DoD Automated Biometric Identification System [ABIS] database and because the DoDs National Ground Intelligence Center [NGIC] has agreements with foreign partners that prohibits the sharing of some ABIS data with U.S. agencies outside of the DoD, the report added. While NGIC personnel expanded their normal analytic review of all biometric watchlist matches to also include non-watchlist matches of Afghan evacuees, the agreement between the NGIC and the Department of Homeland Security that enabled them to do so expired on Dec. 27. The agreement was ultimately renewed, and it will remain in effect until June 27. Based on the results of the review thus far, the NGIC personnel identified Afghans with derogatory information from the DoD ABIS database who were already in the United States. As of November 2, 2021, NGIC had identified 50 Afghan personnel in the United States with information in DoD records that would indicate potentially significant security concerns, the report stated. However, government officials could not locate every Afghan evacuee with derogatory information on their records because of field representatives or operators failing to upload data or maintain devices properly. The NGIC had identified 31 Afghans with derogatory information present in the U.S. as of Sept. 17 but were only able to locate three of them. As a result of the NCTC not vetting Afghan evacuees against all available data, the United States faces potential security risks if individuals with derogatory information are allowed to stay in the country, the report warned. In addition, the U.S. Government could mistakenly grant SIV or parolee status to ineligible Afghan evacuees with derogatory information gathered from the DoD ABIS database. Security concerns are exacerbated by the fact that Afghan parolees have the right to leave the safe havens at any time after receiving the required vaccinations and tuberculosis testing. Those seeking immigration parole status are separate from those seeking special immigrant visas after working on behalf of the U.S. government in Afghanistan by working on a military base or serving as an interpreter or translator. Although parolees must provide their address to [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] and notify USCIS of every change of address in order to obtain parolee status, many Afghan evacuees chose to leave the safe havens before completing the immigration process required to secure a two-year stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons. Reuters previously reported that more than 700 Afghan evacuees had left the safe havens before completing the resettlement process as of early October. Regardless of whether Afghan evacuees have known terrorist connections, crimes committed by Afghans brought to the U.S. have caused some elected officials at the state level to call on the Biden administration to halt the refugee program. In Montana, for example, the identification of a rape suspect as a 19-year-old Afghan evacuee caused Gov. Greg Gianforte to ask the Biden administration to conduct a careful, immediate reevaluation of the refugee resettlement program, citing issues with your vetting system. Gianforte lamented that what happened in Montana was one of several tragic events over the last few weeks involving Afghan evacuees. Just weeks before, two Afghan evacuees were charged with committing crimes while staying at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, one of the safe havens mentioned in the Inspector Generals report. A grand jury indicted one of the men for attempting to have sex with a minor and engaging in sex acts with a minor while the other man allegedly strangled and suffocated his wife. Most adult US Christians don't believe Holy Spirit is real: study Of an estimated 176 million American adults who identify as Christian, just 6% or 15 million of them actually hold a biblical worldview, a new study from Arizona Christian University shows. The finding was published by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University in its recently released American Worldview Inventory, an annual survey that evaluates the worldview of the U.S. adult population. Conducted in February, the survey included a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults. The study shows, in general, that while a majority of Americas self-identified Christians, including many who identify as evangelical, believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and is the Creator of the universe, more than half reject a number of biblical teachings and principles, including the existence of the Holy Spirit. Strong majorities also errantly believe that all religious faiths are of equal value, people are basically good and that people can use acts of goodness to earn their way into Heaven. The study further showed that majorities dont believe in moral absolutes; consider feelings, experience, or the input of friends and family as their most trusted sources of moral guidance; and say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue. Too often, it seems, people who are simply religious, or regular churchgoers, or perhaps people who want a certain reputation or image embrace the label Christian, regardless of their spiritual life and intentions, George Barna, the lead researcher at the Cultural Research Center, explained in a statement. 'Christian has become somewhat of a generic term rather than a name that reflects a deep commitment to passionately pursuing and being like Jesus Christ. A closer examination of the data on Christians showed that while some groups of Christians, like self-identified born-again Christians and self-identified evangelicals, hold views that were more closely aligned with a biblical worldview, the survey still found errant beliefs among the groups. From a sociological standpoint, self-identified born-again Christians are the siblings of self-identified evangelicals. There is tremendous overlap between the two niches: in fact, roughly seven out of 10 consider themselves to be part of both segments, the study noted. While the groups arent considered interchangeable, Barna found that there are slightly fewer self-identified evangelicals, 28%, than self-identified born-again Christians, 35%. Despite using different terminology to identify themselves, self-identified born-again and self-identified evangelical Christians possess nearly identical views on most of the beliefs evaluated. Across more than a dozen attributes studied, the average difference was only 2 percentage points, with the largest gap being only 4 percentage points, he noted. Some 62% of self-identified born-again Christians contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of Gods power, presence or purity. Another 61% say that all religious faiths are of equal value, and 60% believe that if a person is good enough, or does enough good things, they can earn their way into Heaven. All these positions challenge a biblical worldview. The study identified another group of self-identified Christians who were more closely aligned with a biblical worldview known as the Theological Born-again but only Christians identified as integrated disciples were classified by Barna as having a biblical worldview and that group represented the 6%. As the groundbreaking American Worldview Inventory surveys have demonstrated, just 6% of U.S. adults possess a biblical worldview. Labeled Integrated Disciples for their demonstrated ability to assimilate their beliefs into their lifestyle, this group consistently albeit imperfectly comes closest to reflecting biblical principles into their opinions, beliefs, behaviors, and preferences, Barna explained. More than 99% of this group believe that the Bible is the accurate and reliable words of God, believe that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful and just Creator of the universe who still rules the universe today and say they have a unique, God-given calling. Significant minorities still held beliefs that challenge the biblical worldview. These include: 25% say there is no absolute moral truth; 33% believe in karma; 39% contend that the Holy Spirit is not a real, living being but is merely a symbol of Gods power, presence, or purity; 42% believe that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue; and 52% argue that people are basically good. The survey results clearly demonstrate how careful you have to be when interpreting data associated with a particular segment of people who are labeled as Christians, Barna warned. Political polling, in particular, may mislead people regarding the views and preferences of genuine Christ-followers simply based on how those surveys measure the Christian population. Nebraska church wins settlement to build new facility in village A Nebraska church will now be allowed to construct a multipurpose facility on property that a small town had previously prohibited them from building on. Light of the World Gospel Ministries, a small, multiethnic church, was previously denied a permit by the Village of Walthill to build a facility off Main Street that would be used as its new worship space. In a turn of events, however, First Liberty Institute announced last week that the ministry will now be allowed to construct the building, thanks to a settlement reached with the village. Roger Byron, senior counsel for FLI, which has been helping to represent the church since it began the building application process, supported the settlement that ended a legal battle that began in 2018. The church is pleased with the settlement and grateful to the Village officials for working with the church to reach a fair agreement, said Byron in a statement emailed to The Christian Post on Monday. Paul Malcomson, Light of the World's pastor, said the congregation is "grateful that we can now bring the light and love of Jesus to our community and help revitalize our town." "We just want to live in peace, worship and serve our neighbors," he said. Malcomson continued: "What we're trying to do is breathe life into this community both spiritually and economically. Our heart is not to fight the politicians; our heart is to work with the politicians and with them to see this community turned around." A congregation of about 100 people in a village of around 800, Light of the World had been meeting in a former funeral home when it decided that it needed a new worship space. The church had initially purchased multiple buildings off Main Street with the intention of tearing them down to build a new facility to meet their needs, as well as a couple of small businesses, according to FLI. In July 2018, after village officials denied multiple permits related to the construction off Main Street or having existing permits revoked, the church decided to file a lawsuit. Village lawyer Matt Munderloh told ABC News affiliate KCAU 9 in Sioux City, Iowa, that the churchs requests violated local zoning laws, which were in keeping with state and federal regulations. In February 2020, the U.S. Justice Department filed a suit against Walthill. Siding with the church, the government argued that the village had violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when it denied the church a permit. Treating places of worship less favorably than nonreligious assemblies is unlawful discrimination against religious exercise, stated Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division in a 2020 press release. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that governments do not deny congregations their federally protected right to exercise their faith through construction of places of worship. Tennessee church seeks justice after elderly member is robbed during prayer When Pastor Larry D. Robertson got up to address his congregants at a Wednesday evening prayer and Bible study meeting nearly two weeks ago, he was mad. I ask your forgiveness for being a few minutes late, Robertson, the senior pastor of Hilldale Baptist Church in Clarksville, Tennessee, said as he spoke to the congregation, which can be seen in a video posted on YouTube. Weve had an issue and I am, Im just gonna tell you right now, Im mad. Im ticked. Im a pretty even keel guy, so I dont break things when Im mad. I dont scream, cuss, anything like that, but Im very angry. Robertson then recounted how two African American women had arrived early at the diverse but predominantly white church to attend their 6:30 p.m. service on Feb. 9 but ended up robbing a 78-year-old congregant as she prayed for them. We had a couple of women who came at about 5:40 and said they thought the service started at 6 p.m. and I directed them in this direction (the sanctuary), Robertson said. One of our ladies came early and was here. And long story short, they stole, they robbed her. The robbery, which was caught on the churchs security cameras and posted on YouTube, shows one of the young women asking the elderly member for prayer. As soon as she engaged the church member, the accomplice began rifling through the elderly womans purse. While they had their eyes closed and their heads bowed, the other girl got into our church members purse and got credit cards, cash, everything. And closed it back up. And amazingly thats when the prayer finished, Robertson recalled. And then when this church member picked her wallet up, she thought that just feels lighter. Looked in it and by this time, the girls were gone. Vengeance is mine. I will repay sayeth the Lord, Robertson declared, pointing to the ceiling. The Lord knows who they are and where they are. Last Thursday, the Clarksville Police Department, which is now seeking the publics help in identifying the suspected robbers, said in a statement posted on Facebook that there were four females working together at Hilldale Baptist Church. Three of them were recorded leaving a Sam's Club after they used the church members credit card. As Robertson ponders how to ultimately respond to the women who committed a crime against his congregation, he's offering the power of prayer and a chance to call them to repentance. But he also believes they must pay the earthly costs once they're caught. The Lord is a God of justice and righteousness. And we believe in that," Robertson said in an interview with The Christian Post on Monday. "And we support the law and the judicial system that prosecutes crime. Our government has the authority of God, to act on our behalf to keep order in society. And we believe that the law should do what the law is supposed to do. And that would be to find these criminals and to prosecute them. We believe that is just. So the law should be what the law does, but the church should always do what the church does. And we've been called to preach the Gospel to all creation. Our message is a message of hope. And our desire would be that these girls would, even in prosecution, would see the error of their ways and repent of sin, not because they got caught, but because they truly understand that they have sinned against God, he added. Robertson, who has been at the church for about 20 years, said it was the most brazen of a handful of robberies to have happened at the church under his watch, and his congregation is still in shock. Among the congregation, everybody's still in a spirit of shock, you know. And, sadly, I think people are going to be suspicious for a while if a stranger approaches them and asks for something so personal as prayer, Robertson explained. I've said on a number of occasions since (the robbery) that money was the least of things that this lady lost, she lost a certain innocence. And she lost a certain trust. And so I think that's going to be shared among other church members as well, he added. The Tennessee pastor explained that the church has a very robust security system, including cameras and volunteers with law enforcement experience, but no one was monitoring the security cameras almost one hour before the start of the Wednesday evening service. The security team is usually in place about 30 minutes before service begins, Robertson said. These girls, I think, knew what they were doing. And some of our church members had seen them before, which makes me think maybe they had come and had they knew what they were doing and, unfortunately, churches can be easy targets, he added. He explained that the first thing that the women did when they got to the church was ask to see him, and he obliged because he wanted them to feel welcome and hoped that they would stay for the service. They arrived and said they were visiting our church and wanted to meet the pastor. ... I know enough about the African American church culture to know that the pastor is a very central figure. And so I didn't think twice about them saying we're visiting your church we wanted to meet you, Robertson said. I'm thinking they're operating within a certain faith tradition. They wanted to meet the pastor. You know, if I gave them bad vibes they might not stay. So I didn't think anything bad about it. I thought that they were truly there to check us out, he continued. We have people, you know [of] all skin tones in our church. ... We're not as diverse as we hoped that we were, but we have a certain diversity. I mean, I just didn't think anything about the fact that they wanted to meet me and they were there for the worship service. Texas attorney general calls trans surgeries, puberty blockers 'child abuse' in formal opinion Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has released a formal opinion concluding that performing certain gender reassignment procedures on children constitutes child abuse under state law. In Opinion No. KP-0401, released last Friday, Paxton said that certain sex-change procedures and treatments can legally constitute child abuse under several provisions of chapter 261 of the Texas Family Code. Such procedures and treatments include castration, the removal of healthy body parts as well as the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs among others. Beyond the obvious harm of permanently sterilizing a child, these procedures and treatments can cause side effects and harms beyond permanent infertility, the opinion states. The medical evidence does not demonstrate that children and adolescents benefit from engaging in these irreversible sterilization procedures. Paxton argued that such invasive gender reassignment procedures, like removing private parts, would deprive the child of the fundamental right to procreate, which supports a finding of child abuse under the Family Code. Because children are legally incompetent to consent to sterilization, procedures and treatments that result in a childs sterilization are unauthorized and infringe on the childs fundamental right to procreate, the opinion continued. The lack of authority of a minor to consent to an irreversible sterilization procedure is consistent with other law. The federal Medicaid program does not allow for parental consent, has established a minimum age of 21 for consent to sterilization procedures, and imposes detailed requirements for obtaining that consent. In a statement Monday, Paxton said that there was no doubt that these procedures are abuse under Texas law, and thus must be halted. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) has a responsibility to act accordingly. Ill do everything I can to protect against those who take advantage of and harm young Texans, he added. Last August, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Jamie Masters published a letter asserting that genital mutilation of a child through reassignment surgery is child abuse, subject to all rules and procedures pertaining to child abuse. Masters' letter came after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott requested that the agency issue a determination of whether genital mutilation of a child for purposes of gender transitioning through reassignment surgery constitutes child abuse. Last December, Paxtons office announced an investigation into Endo Pharmaceuticals and AbbVie Inc. under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act due to the promotion of medications as puberty blockers. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of puberty-blocking drugs for the sake of gender transition but has approved such medication for children who start puberty at a very young age. Some medical organizations, however, contend that puberty blockers and other gender transition procedures for minors can be beneficial to children suffering from gender dysphoria. The American Medical Association, for example, released an open letter last April arguing that state governments should not prohibit gender reassignment procedures for youth. Such decisions must be sensitive to the childs clinical situation, nurture the childs short and long-term development, and balance the need to preserve the childs opportunity to make important life choices autonomously in the future, stated the AMA in a letter. We believe it is inappropriate and harmful for any state to legislatively dictate that certain transition-related services are never appropriate and limit the range of options physicians and families may consider when making decisions for pediatric patients. According to the Mayo Clinic, the benefits of puberty-blocking medicines for gender dysphoria might include reducing depression among youths and preventing the need for future surgery. Nevertheless, the clinic warns that taking puberty blockers remains a big step that can have a long-term impact on bodily growth, bone density and fertility. In addition, delaying puberty beyond ones peers can be stressful, the Mayo Clinic explained. Your child might experience lower self-esteem. The conservative American College of Pediatricians, an association of physicians and healthcare professionals "dedicated to the health and well-being of children," has long voiced its opposition to using puberty-blocking drugs on children with gender dysphoria. "There is not a single long-term study to demonstrate the safety or efficacy of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgeries for transgender-believing youth," the association says in an online statement. "This means that youth transition is experimental, and therefore, parents cannot provide informed consent, nor can minors provide assent for these interventions. Moreover, the best long-term evidence we have among adults shows that medical intervention fails to reduce suicide." Virginia withdraws from legal battle to get ERA added to US Constitution Virginia has pulled out of a legal battle to get the Equal Rights Amendment added to the U.S. Constitution, an amendment pro-life activists fear would constitutionally cement legal access to abortion and create obstacles for religious freedom. Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, who is part of the new Republican-led executive branch that took office last month, withdrew on Friday from an appeal seeking to compel certification of the ERA. Proponents of the litigation claimed that when Virginia became the 38th state to pass the ERA in 2020, the amendment had garnered the support of the necessary number of states to take effect even though the ratification deadline had expired decades ago. Judge Rudolph Contreras, appointed to the bench by former President Barack Obama, disagreed with their analysis and dismissed the case last March. Christopher Schroeder, an assistant attorney general with the Biden administrations Office of Legal Counsel, agreed that the deadline had passed for the ERAs ratification. Miyares office cited the opinions of the Democrat-appointed legal scholars as justification for pulling out of the lawsuit. Considering that a Democrat appointed judge, and the Biden administration all concluded that the deadline to ratify the ERA passed decades ago, Virginia will no longer participate in the ERA lawsuit with Illinois and Nevada, said Victoria LaCivita, Miyares communications director, said in a statement to The Washington Post. Any further participation in this lawsuit would undermine the U.S. Constitution and its amendment process, she added. First conceived in the 1920s, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the ERA in 1971, followed by the Senate in 1972. After securing the required two-thirds support from both houses of Congress, the ERA went to the states for ratification. To take effect, the ERA needed to receive support from three-fourths of the states, the equivalent to 38 out of 50, within a seven-year deadline. The deadline was eventually extended to 1982. The proposed amendment stated that Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Although the ERA failed to get the necessary 38 states for ratification by 1982, three states, including Virginia, recently passed the amendment, concluding that the deadline was not an issue. Nevada ratified the amendment in 2017, and Illinois approved the ERA in 2018. While supporters of the proposed constitutional amendment see it as a necessary measure to enshrine equal rights for women into the Constitution, critics warn of its implications for religious liberty. For example, the National Right to Life Committee has argued that the ERA was a constitutional stealth missile to make abortion permanently legal. The ERA is a stealth missile with a legal warhead that could be used to attack any federal, state, or local law or policy that in any way limits abortion, stated Douglas D. Johnson, an NRLC senior policy adviser, in 2021. Pro-abortion advocates failed under the constitutional amendment process provided in Article V of the Constitution the ERA expired unratified over 40 years ago so now they are attempting to achieve their goal by brazenly political means, hoping to cow the courts into ignoring the flimsiness of their constitutional claims. Additionally, Mat Staver of the Christian conservative legal nonprofit Liberty Counsel expressed concern in a previous interview with The Christian Post that the ERA could be used as a hammer against religious organizations, including churches, to provide abortion or abortion-inducing drugs or devices and include an LGBT agenda that would conflict with churches and religious organizations with respect to biblical doctrines and beliefs of male and female in uniquely created and complementary sexes. The lawsuit Virginia has just withdrawn from is not the only legal effort to get the ERA added to the Constitution. In 2020, the feminist groups Equal Means Equal and the Yellow Roses joined a Massachusetts woman named Katherine Weitbrecht in filing a lawsuit against the National Archivist of the United States, David Ferriero, over his refusal to add the ERA to the U.S. Constitution. In late June 2021, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit issued a unanimous ruling against the groups, arguing that they lacked the standing to sue. Equal Means Equal and The Yellow Roses do not purport to premise their standing here on any benefit that has been denied to them by the challenged actions of the defendant in the way in which the plaintiffs in those three cases did, wrote First Circuit Judge David Barron on behalf of the panel, affirming a lower court decision. They instead premise their standing on the risk of harm that they contend they face because of the Archivistsfailure to publish the ERA. Thus, those precedents fail to support the conclusion that the plaintiffs plausibly assert the requisites for standing. San Francisco voters recall 3 school board members: 'This is a revolution' As outrage over the presence of sexually explicit material and the embrace of woke ideology in public schools continues to influence American politics, voters in one of the most progressive cities in the United States have decided to oust three of their school board members. A recall election took place in San Francisco on Tuesday, where the overwhelming majority of voters supported recall efforts against three of the seven school board members in the San Francisco Unified School District: School Board President Gabriela Lopez, former School Board Vice President Alison Collins and Faauuga Moliga. When asked if they wanted to remove the board members from office, nearly 79% of San Francisco voters supported the recall effort against Collins, followed by 75% for Lopez and 72% for Moliga. Supporters of the recall effort point to actions taken by the school board during the coronavirus pandemic as the cause of their frustration. Specifically, the Recall SF School Board website alleges that our school board wasted time renaming schools instead of reopening them. As explained in a New Yorker article, during the pandemic, San Franciscos Board of Education voted, 6-1, to change the names of forty-four schools, including schools named after Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. A committee formed by the school board following the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017 called for the renaming of schools named after individuals who engaged in the subjugation and enslavement of human beings; or who oppressed women, inhibiting societal progress; or whose actions led to genocide; or who otherwise significantly diminished the opportunities of those among us to the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Washingtons name was struck because he held slaves, Lincolns because of his policies toward Native Americans. Senator Dianne Feinsteins name will be removed from a school, owing to the decision, when she was San Franciscos mayor, in the 1980s, to replace a Confederate flag that was part of a Civic Center display and had been taken down by a protester. In addition to accusations of misplaced priorities, outrage over one of its members tweets also plagued the school board. Collins, the board member who the greatest number of San Francisco residents voted to recall, sent out tweets following the 2016 presidential election seeking news stories highlighting hate speech or bullying of Asian students because she was looking to combat anti-black racism in the Asian community at my daughters mostly Asian Am school. 30 REASONS TO RECALL THE SF SCHOOL BOARD 19. Commissioner Collins appears biased against Asian Americanshttps://t.co/lX2Q0IhFywpic.twitter.com/LyAe6gty13 Recall SF School Board (@recallsfboe) March 19, 2021 Collins went on to say that many Asian [students] and [teachers] I know wont engage in critical race convos unless they see how they are impacted by white supremacy. Collins also implied that Many Asian Am. believe they benefit from the model minority BS before insisting that many Asian American [teachers], [students], and [parents] use white supremacist thinking to get ahead. The school board member lamented that more Asians were not speaking up against Trump, and asked, Dont Asian Americans know they are on his list as well? Do they think they wont be deported? Profiled? Beaten? Being a house n----- is still being a n-----. Youre still considered the help. Ryan Girdusky, the founder of the 1776 Project PAC that supports school board candidates opposed to critical race theory and woke ideology, appeared on Fox News Tucker Carlson Tonight Wednesday to elaborate on the criticism of the school board. He reported that they were talking about abolishing the gifted and talented program and they refused to have one gay dad with a bi-racial daughter speak at a public school event because he wasnt diverse enough because he was white. .@RyanGirdusky Joins Tucker Carlson To Discuss His @1776ProjectPac's Plan To Get CRT Out Of The Classrooms Through School Board Elections Ryan: "I think we can flip 300 school board elections easily this year." pic.twitter.com/XmIs51e37e The Columbia Bugle ???????? (@ColumbiaBugle) February 17, 2022 The result of the recall vote is especially significant because San Francisco is a liberal bastion that gave more than 85% of the vote to the Democratic presidential ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential election. According to Rhodes Cook, a senior columnist at the University of Virginia Center for Politics, San Francisco gave the Democrats the sixth highest vote share in the 2020 presidential election out of all the more than 3,100 counties and county-equivalents in the U.S. In terms of raw votes, San Francisco gave the Republican ticket of Donald Trump and Mike Pence less than 60,000 votes in the 2020 election. More than 100,000 San Francisco voters supported ousting Collins, while more than 95,000 supported removing Lopez from office and more than 90,000 voted in favor of ousting Moliga. The success of the recall in a very liberal city did not go unnoticed by the 1776 Project PAC. On Tuesday, the group took to Twitter to declare this is a revolution. During his appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight Wednesday, Girdusky predicted, I think we can flip 300 school board elections easily this year. Even in the progressive stronghold of San Francisco, school board members are being recalled. This is a revolution. pic.twitter.com/iRjcVYj9hM 1776 Project Pac (@1776ProjectPac) February 16, 2022 Concerns about the direction of American education are not limited to San Francisco. Parents and community members across the U.S. have descended on school board meetings to express displeasure with the inclusion of sexually explicit material in school libraries and as part of the curriculum. Last fall, a parent in Fairfax County, Virginia, has condemned the presence of the books Gender Queer and Lawn Boy in high school libraries, which she likened to pornography and promotions of pedophilia. At around the same time, the mayor of Hudson, Ohio, called on the members of his citys school board to resign for allowing a book containing sexually explicit writing prompts to make it into the curriculum of a college-level English class offered at the districts high school. The recall of the San Francisco school board members comes less than four months before a recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin is scheduled to take place. Boudin has faced criticism for taking actions that critics maintain have upended San Franciscos criminal justice system. Criminals are emboldened due to a lack of accountability; those perpetrators arrested are simply let go, commit more crimes, and unfortunately, many are deadly, the Recall Chesa Boudin website states. Our beloved city has seen an astronomical increase in violent crime, home invasions, shops looted, car-jackings, rampant and unchecked drug dealing and business property theft, even under Covid-19 restrictions. Texas church lady sentenced to 7 years in prison for stealing over $667K from accounts A Texas woman was sentenced tosevenyears in prison after being convicted of stealing over $667,000 from a church. The stolen money was used to pay for a trip to Hawaii, shopping sprees and other expenses, according to the Bexar County District Attorneys Office. Lavelle Wilson Ruvader pleaded guilty on Feb. 4 to stealing $667,542 from Creations Christian Fellowship Church in San Antonio between Jan. 6, 2014, and Sept. 12, 2019, to pay for meals, personal loans, and other expenses. She's now in the Bexar County Jail awaiting a transfer to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division. Ruvader had worked for the church for over 30 years and last served as the executive assistant to New Creation Bishop David Copeland and was in charge of two of the churchs bank accounts. She had no previous criminal record. Members give to their church with the best of intentions. In this case, the money that was meant to be used by the church was instead funding this defendants lifestyle," said Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales in a statement on Wednesday. The theft was discovered in 2019 after the church's executive committee asked Ruvader to hand over the church's financial statements from Ruvader to conduct a review of expense reports. At the time, Ruvader refused to provide access to any of the churchs financial documents, thedistrict attorney's office said. Following her refusal, the committee requested the financial statements from the bank. "New Creation Christian Fellowship trusted this defendant to help them do some good for our community," Gonzalez added. "Her violation of that trust hurt this community. Now that she has accepted responsibility for her crime, I know the church and its members can focus on their faith and service to our community. UMC agrees to extend Boy Scout charters through June amid sex abuse lawsuits The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America have reached an agreement that will extend church-sponsored charters through June 30, with the future between the two entities uncertain after that. In an announcement released Monday, the UMC said the denomination had reached an agreement with the Boy Scouts to extend existing charters that many of their congregations have with the youth organization until the end of June. The mainline Protestant denomination had previously extended an earlier deadline from the end of 2021 to March 31 due to ongoing legal proceedings over the BSAs bankruptcy case. Organizational leaders are working together to develop a long-term solution regarding the churchs relationship with Scouting as they plan for new relationship agreements that will help to improve the program and safety of Scouting for future generations of young people, stated the UMC Office of Public Information in the announcement. The United Methodist Church and the Boy Scouts of America have worked together to develop the character and values of youth through Scouting for more than a hundred years. According to the UMC, churches with scouting troops do not presently need to take action on the issue of charter renewal, though they are encouraged to move forward with the annual membership renewal process for all youth and adults who participate in Scouting programs. Charter renewal and membership renewal are distinct processes. Charter renewal focuses on the organization-to-organization relationship, while membership renewal involves the relationship between individual Scouts and volunteers and the BSA, the UMC added. Annual membership renewal is a vital step in allowing Scouting to continue, as maintaining active membership registrations for all Scouts and volunteers is critical to ensuring that Scouts and volunteers are covered by BSAs insurance, that volunteers meet training and safety standards, and that both youth and volunteers continue to receive communications. Membership renewal should be completed by no later than Feb. 28, according to the announcement, with the UMC noting that local council representatives can offer support. Last August, the UMCs Office of Public Information released a statement advising congregations that chartered BSA chapters to consider ending their agreements with the scouting group in light of the Scouts sexual abuse lawsuit settlement. The BSA is working to resolve approximately 82,000 claims of sexual abuse leveled against it, with the expected compensation presently estimated to be around $2.7 billion. The UMC explained at the time that the BSA did not include its sponsoring organizations, charter groups, in the agreement with the claimants, thus leaving as many as 5,000 United Methodist U.S. congregations or more than 15 percent of U.S. congregations exposed to potential lawsuits by the survivor claimants. Questions remain about how that agreement might affect chartered organizations, including thousands of United Methodist congregations that have sponsored scouting programs, stated the UMC last year. The interests of those congregations are represented by an ad hoc committee established to represent United Methodist interests, which is actively engaged in the bankruptcy process and related negotiations. In 2019, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, previously the religious group that sponsored the largest number of BSA troops, cut its ties with the scouting organization. In a joint statement with the BSA in 2018, the denomination said the decision to halt the relationship was related to a decision by LDS leadership to create and implement a uniform youth leadership and development program that serves its members globally. University to let Christian student group elect only Christian leaders: settlement A conservative law firm has declared victory after a Texas university agreed that a Christian student organization could require leaders to hold specific religious beliefs. The Alliance Defending Freedom released a statement on Tuesday announcing it was voluntarily dismissing a lawsuit against the University of Houston-Clear Lake that the organization had filed on behalf of Ratio Christi. According to ADF, the university agreed as part of a settlement to enact a policy confirming that registered student organizations could limit their leaders to those who shared their beliefs. ADF Legal Counsel Caleb Dalton said in the statement that he commended the university for taking swift action to ensure Ratio Christi is given equal opportunity among its peer groups. The University is supposed to be a free market of ideas. To meet that ideal, public universities must vigilantly protect the constitutional rights of students to freely speak and gather according to their religious beliefs, Dalton said. The Christian Post reached out to the University of Houston-Clear Lake for this story, with a spokesperson emailing a statement to CP on Thursday regarding the situation with Ratio Christi. According to the statement, the approval of Ratio Christi was consistent with the policies that are in place and were in place prior to the filing of this lawsuit. A clarification was added to the universitys Student Organization Handbook to ensure there was no confusion regarding selection of officers for student organizations, stated the university. Regardless of the clarification, the University of Houston-Clear Lake has always allowed officers of student organizations to align with the tenets of the organization they represent. Last October, ADF filed a lawsuit on behalf of Ratio Christi against the university, arguing that the school had wrongfully refused to grant the group official student organization status. The university gave the group official recognition soon after the lawsuit was filed, claiming in a statement that the litigation had nothing to do with their decision on Ratio Christis status. The University of Houston-Clear Lake has approved Ratio Christi as a registered student organization, said University spokesperson Shawn Lindsey in a statement given to The Washington Times last year. This is not the reversal of a prior decision. The application was never denied and was still in process when the lawsuit was filed. In 2019, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs reached a settlement with its Ratio Christi chapter after initially stopping the group from becoming an official student club. The University of Colorado not only granted Ratio Christi registered status, but it also paid $20,574 in damages and revised its handbook to include a provision explaining that all student clubs can require leaders to adhere to a specific set of beliefs. United States President Joe Biden's administration announced on Monday night that it will impose sanctions after Russian President Vladimir Putin's recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. The Democratic leader recently signed an executive order that would prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic regions of Ukraine. Sanctions Against Breakaway Regions In a statement announcing the order, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the recent sanctions were separate from the consequences that would be waiting for Russia if Moscow continues with its invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, Psaki said that the Departments of State and Treasury will share further details of the Biden administration's course of action. The situation comes after an hour-long televised address on Monday evening where Putin said Moscow was recognizing the breakaway areas in the Donbas. One senior Biden administration official said that Putin's address was made to justify Russians going to war. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said that the Russian president's speech was not about security but was an attack on the idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine, as per CNBC. The situation comes as the U.S. and European Union strongly condemned Putin's announcement, describing it as a violation of international law. They also called the recognition a major blow to the peace process in eastern Ukraine. Many people are concerned that it could also be a pretext for an invasion. Read Also: Joe Biden Agrees To Hold Summit With Vladimir Putin If Russia Won't Invade Ukraine as Moscow Denies "Kill List" Ukrainian officials revealed that they have already requested that the UN Security Council convene an urgent meeting to discuss the situation. On Monday, Biden spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to condemn the Russian president's actions. According to Axios, the three officials also discussed how they can continue to coordinate their response against Moscow's aggression. Furthermore, the Democratic president also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reaffirm that the U.S. is committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia-Ukraine Tensions The Biden administration also warned that Russian troops could begin their entry into the Donbas region of Ukraine as soon as Monday evening or Tuesday after Putin's address. Currently, the United States said it was still seeing preparations for a broader potential invasion that includes loading amphibious ships and equipment for airborne units. The meeting with the UN Security Council will be an open session where all member nations, including Russia and the United States, are expected to make statements. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the American government supported Ukraine's call for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council. Despite Biden's orders, the sanctions are seen as far from devastating consequences to Russia, causing the president and officials to warn Moscow of more severe consequences. Furthermore, the U.S. is refusing to specify whether so-called "peacekeeping" forces sent from Russia to eastern Ukraine would constitute a further invasion of the country. The situation comes as officials argued that Russian forces have been operating in the Donbas region since 2014, CNN reported. Related Article: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: US Warns 'Extremely Violent' Attack, Joe Biden Administration Planning Relocation of Ukraine President @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 4 reasons why returning to Iran nuclear deal is bad idea Ukraine isnt the only foreign policy crisis the U.S. is facing. After months of negotiations, the Biden administration may be on the verge of restoring the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (aka the Iran nuclear deal), with no chance of replacing it with a longer and stronger deal, as the administration promised. Doing so is a really bad idea. The 2015 Obama-era agreement with the Iranian regime is seriously flawed, and returning to it will at best only postpone, but not end, Tehrans potential nuclear threat to the U.S., its allies, and partners, including Israel. The Trump White House rightfully left the agreement in 2018 due to its many serious shortcomings, but we apparently need to remind ourselves and the Biden administration of those flaws once again before the die is cast 1. Sunset provisions: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action didnt end Tehrans nuclear program. It only slowed it down. The pact was more of a speed bump than a stop sign. A striking example is that most major restrictions on uranium enrichment the key process used in making a weapon begin to sunset, or expire, after 2025 and permit Tehran to expand enrichment to an industrial scale after 2030. That essentially means that under the deal, Iran would eventually be free to produce more bomb-making material more quickly, which would facilitate a nuclear breakout or sneakout. 2. Ballistic missiles: The Iran nuclear deal also didnt capture Tehrans determined development of ballistic missiles which are, by the way, a perfect delivery vehicle for a nuclear weapon. Tehran currently has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, and its so-called civilian space program, which could support the building of intercontinental-range military missiles capable of reaching the U.S, is very active. 3. Inspection regime: The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action strangely doesnt allow for anytime, anywhere inspections. Essentially, International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors arent allowed to visit undeclared facilities without permission. On top of that, Tehran has put its military bases off-limits to inspections, which clearly improves Irans ability to hide any nuclear work that violates the agreement. Considering Irans record of denial and deception on nuclear matters over the years, this is deeply unsettling and no way to verify Irans compliance with the deal. 4. Possible military dimensions: As part of the nuclear deal, Iran was supposed to reveal to the International Atomic Energy Agency all military aspects of its earlier nuclear weapons work in order to facilitate oversight of the pact. Not surprisingly, Tehran hasnt cooperated on this issue. Of course, thanks to Israels exfiltration of secret Iranian nuclear documents from Tehran, we now know Iran planned to build five nuclear weapons for delivery by ballistic missile. So, its clear that Iran must be transparent on this issue. Indeed, why should we believe that Irans atomic aspirations have changed one iota, considering its ongoing anti-American, anti-Israeli views and its desire for hegemony over its Arab neighbors in the Middle East? Though not part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, one misguided expectation of the Obama administration was that the nuclear agreement would moderate Irans belligerent behavior by reducing its international isolation and increasing its international engagement. It hasnt. Iran is still the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls key parts of the nuclear program, also coordinates Irans terrorist network, working closely with Hezbollah, Hamas, radical Iraqi militias, Yemens Houthi rebels, and Syrias Bashar Assad regime, another state sponsor of terrorism. Unfortunately, permanently lifting punitive economic sanctions on Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in exchange for short-term restrictions on Irans uranium-enrichment program will put money in the regimes pockets that it will undoubtedly use for troubling purposes, as it did following the 2015 nuclear deal. The Biden administration talked of a longer and stronger deal as the goal of its talks with Iran a deal that would strengthen restrictions on Irans bomb-making enrichment and ballistic missile capabilities, lengthen the agreement, and tighten verification. At this point, it doesnt look like that will happen. Considering the regimes ambitions and behavior, preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon is a national security imperative. Team Bidens failure to seize this historic opportunity to diplomatically redress the shortcomings of the original deal could make a nuclear Iran inevitable. Originally published at The Daily Signal. The American Bar Association just got more woke The American Bar Association has just decided to mandate critical race theory (CRT) in American law schools, further enshrining the dominance of CRT in jurisprudence. According to Cornell law professor William A. Jacobson, This race-focused mandate is being forced on law schools through the American Bar Associations Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar (ABA).. Law students must attend schools whose accreditor is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to receive federal student loans. The ABA is the only federally recognized law school accreditor. Jacobson went on to write of the mandates obsessive focus on systemic racism, a subject of scholarly dispute... Jacobson also writes of the ABAs clear bias for progressivism: ABA membership dropped from 300,000 (over 50% of the bar) in 1980 to 194,000 (14.4%) in 2017. ABA may once have been a proxy for the American legal community, but now its just a proxy for the left wing of the American legal community. From my own experience as a lawyer, Jacobson is spot on. Ironically, this mandate comes on the heels of the recent woke mob treatment of Native American law student Trent Colbert. Trent was dogpiled by fellow Yale law students and administrators calling him racist after a misunderstanding of the word trap house in an email to classmates. Wokism is becoming the American established religion, in violation of the First Amendment, in a way progressives would never tolerate if it were Christianity. Legally, religion does not require an expressed belief in God. The Supreme Court has interpreted religion as [w]hether a given belief that is sincere and meaningful occupies a place in the life of its possessor parallel to that filled by the orthodox belief in God of one who clearly qualifies for the exemption. Where such beliefs have parallel positions in the lives of their respective holders we cannot say that one is 'in relation to a Supreme Being' and the other is not." Merriam-Webster dictionary includes the following definition for religion: a cause, principle, or system of belief held to with ardor and faith. Critical race theory doctrines drive wokism and those tenets meet the definition of religion. Church planter Voddie Baucham, who did post-graduate work at the University of Oxford while studying CRT, has written extensively on the subject from the perspective of an African-American pastor, author, and dean of theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. According to Baucham, CRT holds Racism as normative (its normal, its everywhere, and its unavoidable). Baucham goes on to claim CRT teaches that the only way to know the truth is to elevate black, marginalized voices and listen to their stories. People and their feelings become arbiters of truth, and anyone who disagrees with those feelings is either racist or has internalized racism. As a competing religion to Christianity, Baucham asserts CRT advocates, such as Ibram X. Kendi, criticize white Savior theology, which maintains that people need to be saved from their sins. Instead, they tout Black liberation theology, which maintains that people (as identity groups) need to be delivered from oppression. Thoughtful evangelicals and Western intellectuals have warned against established religion for hundreds of years. The famous 18th century Baptist preacher John Leland wrote that government should never give indulgence, preferment, or even protection to a religious denomination. He described the harm to individuals of the coercive power of law in matters of religion. Thomas Jefferson wrote famously in his Danbury letter, Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions. With the move to require American lawyers and judges to inculcate CRT tenets in their work with the American judicial system, we are in dangerous territory. We will be seeing people like Trent Colbert and other accused heretics of wokism excised from the law like victims of the Spanish Inquisition. Those involved with the judicial system will expect wokism to tip the scales of justice. Americans will have to show appropriate submission to wokism or face judicial and social consequences. Ironically, many secularists are also becoming alarmed at wokism becoming what they perceive as established religion. From a secular publication The Critic: The reason the social justice movement is causing so much trouble at the moment is because it is a quasi-religious movement posing as an authority on issues of social justice. It has been allowed to set itself up as a secular moral authority because our laws and principles of secularism have not yet expanded to include belief systems that do not fit our outdated understanding of religion. Its time to recognize wokism as a religion, subject to the establishment clause of the Constitution. For the same reason we dont enforce the teaching of Christian religious dogma in law school, we should not mandate the tenets of CRT. All Americans, believers and nonbelievers alike, should demand the freedom to follow their God-given conscience in matters of religion. Authentic Social Media Rabia Kamara, who has a degree in marketing, started from scratch one day on her Instagram for Ruby Scoops. She realized she had to tell her own story and not just share dessert photos in order to grow her ice cream business. She started becoming more intentional about sharing who she is and what she believes in. That was a game changer. Representation Matters Sharing her story is important because representation matters. Rabia was well into her 20s before she said she saw anyone that looked like her on television. Kids should be able to see people like them excelling in the media. Getting Media Coverage Do research to find television opportunities and start filling out applications or emailing news stations. Pitch interesting segments to local news based on national holidays and other timely or interesting happenings. Show up early, be nice, and make eye contact so your personality can shine on camera. *** Ruby Scoops Ice Cream & Sweets Owner Rabia Kamara grew her successful brand by staying true to herself. After winning the Food Network competition Ben and Jerrys Clash of the Cones, Rabia Kamara saw her social media reach drastically increase with thousands of new fans following @RubyScoopsIC on Instagram. Such is the power of media coverage and storytelling to grow a brand. There was an unlock in me where I realized that people didn't just want to know about my business, they wanted to know about me as well, said Ruby Scoops owner Rabia Kamara on the Restaurant Influencers podcast with host Shawn P. Walchef of ttps://calibbq.media. I just decided to let people know who I am and what's important to me. And really started to invest in causes that meant a lot to me. Ice Cream is a Blank Canvas: Rabia Kamara has a deep-rooted love for desserts that she cant keep to herself. The heart and mind behind Ruby Scoops in Richmond, VA, Rabias cultured taste palette and love that spans generations of the past, present and future has her sharing warm stories and celebrated traditions through the cold canvas that is ice cream. I'm a person who absolutely loves food and sharing, the business owner said. It is my love language. So, being able to turn my passion into something profitable and making a bit of myself by doing the thing I wanted to do my whole life means a lot to me. In Fall 2021 Rabia Kamara won Ben and Jerrys Clash of the Cones on the Food Network. Her winning flavor was called Bias Black Joy Sundae, which included Salted Malted Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream with Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie Chunks, Blondie Brownie Chunks, and Seafood Seasoning Caramel. A Maryland native, Rabia returned to Richmond after attending college in Virginia. Now more than a decade in the food industry, shes spent the past years spreading joy and altering opinions in the media through her creative approach to craft ice cream. I'm a first generation African-American, Rabia shared. My mother is Egyptian, Mauritian and Indian and my father is Sierra Leonean. I also grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's a big melting pot, a diverse place. I've had the privilege and honor of being able to experience a lot of different kinds of foods. While main courses catch the eyes of most in their culinary come-up, there was something about that frozen dessert dish that not only spoke to Rabia but allowed her to better speak to others. Ice cream is such a blank medium, you can do whatever you want with it as long as it scoops, believes Rabia. I'm allowed to introduce people to flavors in a way that they're comfortable with." For Rabia, those flavors take inspiration from her Northern African and Middle Eastern heritage. Unique homages to favored Filo, Kataifi and Nutcakes allow her to flip American ideals on ice cream and even cheesecake by playing with shredded texture toppings and ricotta fillings. Getting our eyes opened up to different cuisines that make our eyes twinkle and sparkle opens up the world for us in an entirely new way, Rabia states on the Restaurant Influencers podcast. As expressed, ice cream is not only a way to challenge the taste buds of her regulars, its also a way to educate and storytell. That has proven particularly true in February, as Ruby Scoops has celebrated Black History Month by offering weekly flavors inspired by African American pioneers in the food industry. Alfred L. Cralle, the inventor of the modern ice cream scooper, received tribute as Ruby Scoops was dubbed Alfreds Pop Shop for the entire month. Specialty ice creams honored Nathan Nereus Green who taught Jack Daniels how to distill whiskey, George Crum who created potato chips and George Washington Carver who is well known for his work with peanuts but less known for his background as an artist. While Rabia is clearly a culinary entrepreneur, shes just as ambitious when it comes to building community. Her reverence to the past as presented by her Black History Month celebrations is only one part of the equation as every detail from the Ruby Scoops logo to her spaces mural artwork is intended to inspire and uplift younger patrons who look just like her. It was really important to me that the logo and anything surrounding it made it very clear that I am a black woman and that I want to encourage people that look like me, especially younger people that look like me, to follow their dreams and do what they want, shares Rabia Kamara. Not only does her logo inspire Rabia each day she goes to work, it proves the unexpected jolt of joy for children to get excited about more than just a much-appreciated sugar rush. Little kids come in and see the mural of me in the shop or they see the logo and they say, Mommy that looks like her. She looks like me, beams Rabia. *** EPISODE LINKS: NOMINATE A RESTAURANT INFLUENCER Do you know someone who is killing it on social media? Let us know by emailing influencers@calibbq.media or sending the @calibbqmedia team a DM on social media. SIGN UP & SUBSCRIBE ABOUT RESTAURANT INFLUENCERS: Are you SICK and TIRED of scrolling through your social media feeds and not seeing your business anywhere? Welcome to the Restaurant Influencers podcast series, sponsored by Toast. Copyright 2022 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The folks at Trash Panda Drinking Club like to have fun. The team's latest project is a series inspired by fast food chains. Last month, it was Whataburger. This month, it's Taco Bell. Or rather: Whatatrash and Trashy Bell, happening Tuesday starting at 6 p.m. The Northside cocktail bar is known for its devil-may-care vibes. A neon sign claiming "Death is coming, Eat trash, Be free" greets guests upon entering. The fast food series is an ode to the chains that keep the team fed after their shifts. "We're in the bar industry, so we get off late," said Greg Perez, owner of Night Moves Hospitality, the group behind Trash Panda. "We thought it'd be a fun idea to recreate the food we like to get at 3 in the morning." On Feb. 22, Trashy Bell will feature chef Jonathan Lindauer's takes on Taco Bell staples like the Crunchwrap Supreme and Doritos Locos Tacos, as well as the dearly departed Mexican pizza and Meximelt, which the company discontinued in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Two special cocktails will be on the menu: a Baja Blast margarita with Milagro tequila and an Orange Fanta margarita "with a fancy syrup," says Perez. Perez says there was there was a great turnout for the Whatatrash event. The kitchen served a #1, a chicken strip sandwich and a patty melt. Lindauer made his own barbecue sauce, and the drinks included a Dr. Pepper spiked with Maker's Mark bourbon. As well as the food and drink, the team is also putting a lot of thought into other details, such as making special branded bags and wraps, and displaying the menu on a screen like at a fast food joint. Merchandise is available for sale, too, including limited edition T-shirts that say "Yo quiero Trashy Bell" based on the Taco Bell Chichuahua advertisements of the late '90s and early '00s. Trash Panda is planning more pop-ups in this series, including Trash Panda Express, a collaboration with Washington Ave restaurant Ninja Ramen, and McTrash emulating you guessed it McDonald's. Authorities said an Arkansas man was apprehended after reportedly hitting a bicycle and fleeing with the deceased victim in his vehicle. At around 8 pm, James Ray Jones, 42, reportedly hit the bicycle with his pickup vehicle in Fort Smith. According to authorities, the incident occurred on Friday. When a body part was recovered by the road, cops were finally notified about the occurrence around 12 hours later. After reviewing CCTV video from the location, Jones was recognized as the culprit. Cyclist Attempting To Cross Highway Was Hit by a Car Jones was apprehended at his house, where the pickup vehicle was parked in his backyard, according to police. According to authorities, the victim's corpse was still in the truck's bed. Jones was arrested and charged with manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an accident at the Sebastian County Jail. What body part was uncovered at the location was not immediately known. The deceased cyclist has been recognized, but authorities have yet to inform the victim's family before releasing his or her identity to the public, as per New York Post. Cops were able to track down the owner of the pickup, and officers arrived at Jones' home later that day to discover his vehicle parked in his backyard with the rider still inside. Jones said in an interview that he was 'panicked' over the incident's consequences. According to an unnamed person who lives near the disaster, this isn't the first time an accident has occurred in that region. It's 'frustrating' and 'concerning,' she says, because there isn't enough illumination, per Daily Mail. Read Also: Travis the Chimp Mauls a Woman Ripping Her Face Off in a Fit of Unexplained Rage Suspect in Deadly Wisconsin Hit-and-Run Pleads Not Guilty The defendant in a tragic hit-and-run during a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last year pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts on Friday. During a brief arraignment session in Waukesha County court, a counsel for Darrell Brooks, 39, entered pleas to 77 charges, including six counts of homicide. Brooks' bail is set at $5 million, and he remains in the Waukesha County Jail. On March 11, he is scheduled to appear in court again. According to a request filed Thursday, Brooks' attorneys are also seeking a change of venue in the lawsuit. Commissioner Kevin Costello said last month that the court had found the reasonable cause and ordered Brooks to stand trial. If convicted, he might spend the rest of his life in jail. On Nov. 21, a motorist slammed an SUV through the Christmas procession, killing six people and injuring hundreds more. Brooks allegedly drove his SUV into a throng, ignored many demands from cops to halt, and proceeded to strike paradegoers, zigzagging across the roadway for several blocks, according to a criminal complaint. Based on the report, the defendant looked to have "no expression on his face" while doing so. Hundreds of children were killed, including Jackson Sparks, an eight-year-old boy who died just days after the incident. Tamara Durand, 52, Wilhelm Hospel, 81, Jane Kulich, 52, LeAnna Owen, 71, and Virginia Sorenson, 79, were among the victims. According to court records released last month, Brooks reportedly battered the mother of his kid minutes before the parade because she refused to bail him out of prison after he was jailed for allegedly running her over with the same vehicle, a 2010 maroon Ford Escape, earlier in November. Brooks was detained in that event, but according to court papers, he was freed on Nov. 19 after posting $1,000 bond, ABC News reported. Related Article: New York Family Sues Staten Island Cemetery After Mom of 5 Dies When 2,000 Pounds Headstone Falls on Her @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) Three white men who chased and killed Ahmaud Arbery on a residential street acted out of pent-up racial anger and should be convicted of hate crimes, a federal prosecutor told a jury Monday. Defense attorneys argued that the Black man was fatally shot in self-defense and had acted suspiciously during prior trips to the neighborhood. The jury of eight white people, three Black people and one Hispanic person adjourned without a verdict Monday evening after deliberating about for about three hours following closing legal arguments in U.S. District Court. Verdicts on hate crime charges rest not on whether the pursuit and shooting were justified, but whether they were motivated by racism. The jury was to resume deliberations Tuesday morning. The trial, which began a week ago, has been taking place simultaneously with that of three former Minneapolis police officers who have been charged with violating the civil rights of George Floyd. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, when then-officer Derek Chauvin pinned him to the ground and pressed a knee to his neck for what authorities say was 9 1/2 minutes. Defense attorneys for the third officer rested their case Monday, paving the way for closing arguments. In Georgia, prosecutor Christopher Perras argued that Travis McMichael was just looking for a reason to hurt a Black person when the 25-year-old Arbery jogged past his home on a Sunday afternoon. Perras cited a slew of racist comments and videos the defendant had posted online. And when McMichael, his father and a neighbor began chasing Arbery, they had no evidence he had done anything wrong, but they assumed he had because he was Black, Perras said. When McMichaels father, Greg McMichael, saw Arbery jogging down the street, he didnt grab his phone and call police, Perras said. He called his son and grabbed his gun. Theres a big difference between being vigilant and being a vigilante, said Perras, later adding: Its important for you to understand the full depth of the defendants racial hatred. Defense attorneys insisted past racist statements by their clients offered no proof that they targeted Arbery because of his race. They urged the jury to set aside emotions when deciding the case. It's natural for you to want retribution or revenge," said Pete Theodocion, Bryan's attorney. But we have to elevate ourselves ... even if it's the tough thing. Its been nearly two years since Arbery fell dead from two shotgun blasts on Feb. 23, 2020, after a five-minute chase through the Satilla Shores subdivision just outside the port city of Brunswick. The slaying was captured in a graphic cellphone video that sparked outrage far beyond Georgia. Basic facts of the case arent disputed. The McMichaels armed themselves and chased Arbery in a pickup truck after he was spotted running past their home on a Sunday afternoon. A neighbor, William Roddie Bryan, joined the pursuit in his own truck and recorded the video of Travis McMichael firing the fatal shots at point-blank range. Travis McMichael's attorney, Amy Lee Copeland, told the jury prosecutors presented no evidence that he ever spoke to anyone about Mr. Arbery's death in racial terms or committed prior acts of racial violence. Copeland noted the McMichaels pursued Arbery because they recognized him from videos recorded by security cameras inside a neighboring home under construction, which Arbery had entered at night four times in the months before the shooting. She said the behavior was suspicious, though there was no evidence Arbery had stolen anything. As for the shooting, Copeland said it was based on self-defense, with Travis McMichael opening fire after Arbery tried to grab his shotgun. Mr. Arbery tried to wrestle the gun out of Travis McMichael's hand," Copeland said. You can see the struggle on the recording. The McMichaels and Bryan were all convicted of murder last fall in a Georgia state court. The U.S. Justice Department charged them separately in federal court with hate crimes, alleging that all three men violated Arbery's civil rights and targeted him because he's Black. They are also charged with attempted kidnapping, and the McMichaels face counts of using guns in the commission of a crime. Regardless of the outcome of the hate crimes case, the McMichaels have been sentenced to life in prison without parole for their murder convictions. Bryan also received a life sentence, with parole possible only after he's served at least 30 years. Legal experts have said that it's tougher to prove hate crimes than it is the crime of murder. The McMichaels and Bryan have all pleaded not guilty to the hate crimes. Defense attorneys insisted the trio pursued Arbery based on an earnest, though erroneous, suspicion that he had committed crimes in their neighborhood. Greg McMichael told police he recognized Arbery from security camera videos from the neighboring construction site as he came running out of the same unfinished house the day of the shooting. Greg McMichaels attorney, A.J. Balbo, said Monday that his client had previously confronted a white person he suspected of possibly committing crimes in the area. Balbo said his client didnt chase Arbery because he was a Black man, but because he was THE man from the security videos. Those videos showed Arbery taking nothing from the construction site. An officer told the McMichaels there was no evidence of him stealing. Bryan, who knew nothing of the security footage, told investigators he assumed Arbery had done something wrong when he ran past Bryan's house with the McMichaels in pursuit. Theodocion argued it was entirely reasonable for his client to assume that a truck he recognized as belonging to someone in the neighborhood was chasing Arbery because he had done something wrong. He said the chase and Bryan's participation in it would have happened regardless of race, based on the circumstances." FBI agents uncovered roughly two dozen racist text messages and social media posts from the McMichaels and Bryan in the years and months preceding the shooting. In 2018, Travis McMichael commented on a Facebook video of a Black man playing a prank on a white person: Id kill that f----ing n----r. Greg McMichael had posted a Facebook meme saying white Irish slaves were treated worse than any race in U.S. history. And for several years on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Bryan wrote messages in which he mocked the holiday honoring the civil rights leader. Some witnesses testified they heard the McMichaels' racist statements firsthand. A woman who served under Travis McMichael in the U.S. Coast Guard a decade ago said he made crude sexual jokes after learning she had dated a Black man and called her nr lover. Another woman testified Greg McMichael had ranted angrily in 2015 when she remarked on the death of civil rights activist Julian Bond, saying, All those Blacks are nothing but trouble. Ukraine requests urgent UN Security Council talks on de-escalating tensions with Russia CGTN) 09:13, February 22, 2022 Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Monday he had asked member states of the United Nations Security Council to hold urgent discussions on practical steps to guarantee his country's security and on de-escalating the tensions with Russia, Reuters reports. The call comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would make a decision on recognising two breakaway regions in East Ukraine later on Monday. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Guy Verhofstadt, a Pro-European MEP, says that in 2024, the future of the EU will be decided by the US elections, which is a crucial time, but Joe Biden is not doing that well in the United States or abroad. He posits that Donald Trump should not win only Democrat victory could benefit the European Union. This claim could be ravaged after Biden has spectacularly and single-handedly given Vladimir Putin the red carpet. European Democrats Don't Want Trump Verhofstadt posted on social media saying should Donald Trump beat the Democrats for another term, the MEP called the 45th president among the tyrants and dictators in his rant, reported the Express UK. He added that a 2024 victory kick out of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris from the White House is not the best situation. Somehow thinking that he's in league with Putin echoes the Russia hoax, getting more evidence of spying by the Durham Probe. Proclaiming that the EU is better if it's united in times of tension. He says there should be an EU military and defense force that should be central to NATO. Only one of many bloc officials who are unhinged by the prospect of Ukraine invasion by Moscow; reportedly, there are 100,000 Russian troops part on the Ukraine border which is for defense, according to the Kremlin, per BBC. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the West should stop provocation and placing arms on the border. On more demand is that Ukraine is prevented from entering NATO; this has been ignored by the western alliance drawing the anger of Putin for not considering it. GUY Verhofstadt seems to forget that the problem was not existing when Trump was the president. Read Also: Nigel Farage Says European Union Cannot Stop Alleged Russian Aggression That Gets Worse With Internal Bickering Issues Verhofstadt Push for a European Army Twitter buzzed about the possibility that members of the block organize a European Army for mutual defense. That will be an EU NATO. One user Edoardo Sarotto remarked on social media his thoughts. A European Army, a diplomatic corps with an intelligence arm that is not an EU NATO, is a federal army needed. Since the suggestion of an EU Army, this would represent the bloc in military matters and campaigns. No need for NATO or the US to intervene externally. Man on the Clapham omnibus posted that NATO is ineffective and disbanded it to reconstitute as the EU army. Many Europeans have never thought that the US was concerned about Euro-interests; it solely theirs. Russia is part of Europe, but many dispute it. The culprit is gross disunity amongst Eu states which is regrettable. Albo for PM remarked on his social media post, been a tool long, good luck on getting to agree on anything. Vladimir Putin is too powerful, and his schemes have lessened trust between EU members that is seen now. The bloc needs to work together, not against each other; better for the Russians. Chris asked a crucial question to consider, who will pay the bills for the army. Spending for defense is low in the bloc member, but Belgium is the weakest. The MEP's comment comes as the midterm, and in 2024 that has been good for Trump but a Biden slumping disastrously. GUY Verhofstadt does not believe that a victory by the MAGA visionary will benefit the EU, but look at what one of year that a Democrat won. Russia is bolder and does not think the US president is good enough. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Game To Win Pivotal Concessions From the West by Deft Statesmanship Not War Leaving NATO, the US Perplexed @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A massive leak from Swiss bank Credit Suisse revealed the hidden financial fortune of many high-profile individuals, including the King of Jordan, Abdullah II. King Abdullah II of Jordan was revealed to have a vast fortune hidden in Swiss accounts after a leak at Credit Suisse, which his administration has called inaccurate, old, and misleading. The situation comes amid a massive leak of data that included details about thousands of bank accounts at Credit Suisse, a Swiss bank, between the 1940s and 2010s. The information was published by several media outlets on Sunday. King of Jordan's Vast Fortune The data leak suggests that the Jordanian monarch owned at least six different accounts each with tens of millions of Swiss francs. In a statement, the palace said that the recent reports were being used to smear His Majesty and Jordan's reputation and distort the truth. The palace said that the numbers in the accounts were overblown by counting the amount of money in them multiple times. The statement added that the bulk of the funds inside the accounts was the replacement of planes that the king inherited from his father, the late King Hussein. Officials cited a $212 million sale of an Airbus A340 plane that the administration replaced with a much smaller and cheaper Gulfstream jet that the monarch was currently using. Furthermore, authorities said that the savings were used with the monarch's personal wealth to cover royal family costs, such as royal initiatives across the country in the last few years that aim to help the underprivileged, as per Reuters. The lawyers for King Abdullah II and Queen Rania said that their clients have abided by every relevant tax law. They argued there had been no wrongdoing done by the couple because the majority of the money in the accounts was inherited. Read Also: Russia-Ukraine Conflict: US Warns 'Extremely Violent' Attack, Joe Biden Administration Planning Relocation of Ukraine President While Jordan's economy was strong compared to other regions in the Middle East, it has also been a victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities reported that the region's economy contracted by 1.6% during 2020 based on data from the World Bank. Meanwhile, the region's king has been the recipient of corruption allegations in recent years. The Times of Israel reported that the reveal of the Panama Papers suggests that King Abdullah II purchased 14 luxury homes that had an overall estimated value of $106 million in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The sales were conducted between 2003 and 2017 through front companies. Massive Swiss Accounts Leak Other high-profile individuals included in the list of compromised accounts include the sons of Hosni Mubarak, the ousted president of Egypt, and business tycoons who benefited from his rule that lasted for three decades. Spy chiefs from Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen who cooperated with the United States are among others who have been accused of human rights abuses. For a long time, citizens across the Middle East have not had any idea about the finances of their countries' elites. The only indication they have of their fortune is what they could glean from peering over palace walls. The executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative, Nadim Houry, said that what we had was a very sophisticated, corrupt elite that had been integrated into the global financial system. He argued that enabling the politically connected to make themselves richer was a failure of many states, the New York Times reported. Related Article: Joe Biden Agrees To Hold Summit With Vladimir Putin If Russia Won't Invade Ukraine as Moscow Denies "Kill List" @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Invoking the Emergencies Act has been "essential," according to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and it will continue to be needed in the face of future blockades. In reaction to demonstrations over Canada's COVID-19 limitations, the House of Commons is slated to vote on the legislation Monday night. On February 14, Trudeau used the Emergencies Act for the first time in Canadian history. Trudeau Believes Trucker Protest Threats Remain The blockades that halted billions of dollars in trade and the occupation in Ottawa's downtown core have since been lifted. Trudeau, on the other hand, cautioned that trucks outside of Ottawa may be preparing future blockades and that special powers are still required. The Emergencies Act gives authorities more ability to put a stop to prolonged protests, such as establishing no-go zones, ordering tow truck firms to haul away cars, and suspending truckers' bank accounts. Following weeks of illegal activity, demonstrators pestering neighbors, billions of dollars in halted commerce, and vandalism of the National War Memorial, Trudeau claimed the uncommon measure was required. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Ottawa City Council will present a package of assistance measures to help harmed small companies. The takeover of downtown Ottawa by the "Freedom Convoy" has had a long-term impact on local businesses, Newsweek reported. Read Also: Boris Johnson To Announce "Living With COVID" Plan in UK; Questions Spark as Legal Restrictions End Canada Parliament Backs Justin Trudeau's Emergency Powers On Monday (February 21), Canada's Parliament endorsed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to employ seldom-used emergency powers to terminate pandemic-related demonstrations that have shut down Ottawa's streets for more than three weeks. The Emergencies Act was passed by a vote of 185 to 151 in Parliament, with the left-leaning New Democrats supporting the minority Liberal administration. Some opposition MPs have called Trudeau's extraordinary measures, which he unveiled a week ago, unnecessary and an abuse of authority. Over the weekend, Canadian police in Ottawa were able to restore order. Initially, the demonstrators intended to put a halt to cross-border COVID-19 vaccination regulations for truck drivers, but the occupation morphed into a larger anti-Trudeau rally. For six days, protesters snarled trade by blocking the busiest land border between Canada and the United States. Trudeau told reporters earlier on Monday that his government still needs temporary emergency powers, citing "serious worries" about threats in the coming days. By the time the operation finished on Sunday, police had cleared demonstrators from downtown Ottawa, making 191 arrests and towing 79 cars. Trudeau also urged people to band together, adding, "We don't know when this pandemic will stop, but it doesn't mean we can't begin to heal as a nation." Trudeau is accused of misusing his authority by certain members of the main opposition Conservative Party. Dean Allison, a legislator, condemned the use of "authoritarian military-style techniques" against the demonstrators, as per Straits Times. On "Jesse Watters Primetime," Laura Berger, head of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, stated that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision to activate the Emergencies Act amid the upheaval in Ottawa, Ontario, was a power overreach. It was the first time the administration has used the statute since it was introduced in 1988, according to Laura Berger. "Extraordinary instructions allowing for authorities that don't ordinarily exist," she remarked, referring to the legislation. A "Freedom Convoy" rally, in which truckers and demonstrators opposed to COVID-19 restrictions blocked down the capital city of Ottawa for three weeks until police were able to evacuate the region, prompted Trudeau's response. The act is not limited to terrorism, according to Berger, but "the threshold established in the language is extremely and deliberately high." It must be something so serious that it exceeds the provinces' capacity or authority to deal with it, and it must be something so serious that it cannot be dealt with under any other existing Canadian law, according to Fox News. Related Article: PM Justin Trudeau Freezes Truckers' Bank Accounts Illegally For Refusal of the Freedom Convoy To Back Down @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Because of a YouTube video, the story of a 19-year-old student who acquired sepsis and lost his legs after eating leftover food has gone viral globally. The case of the guy from New England, named only as "JC," was initially reported in The New England Journal of Medicine last March. The video has been seen over 900,000 times. Teen Loses Both Fingers, Legs After Eating Leftovers According to the study's authors, JC was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to "shock, multiple organ failure, and rash." When he arrived at Massachusetts General Hospital, JC had a severe high temperature of over 105 degrees Fahrenheit and a heart rate of 166 beats per minute, which was higher than the average heart rate for his age resulting from vigorous exercise. After being sedated, the patient developed a purple rash and was evacuated to the hospital's PICU. The rash quickly spread across JC's face, chest, belly, back, arms, and legs, sparing only his palms and foot soles. This was a sign that his skin was deteriorating. Amputations of sections of all ten of JC's fingers and amputations of his legs below the knees were required due to necrosis of his arms and legs and the development of gangrene. The patient had been OK until 20 hours before admission when he began to develop diffused stomach discomfort and nausea after eating leftover rice, chicken, and lo mein from a restaurant lunch. Vomiting bouts ensued, along with cold, weakness, chest pains, headaches, neck stiffness, and even hazy eyesight. A buddy opted to take him to the hospital when his skin grew darkened around five hours before admission. A guy who had eaten the same dinner informed hospital officials that he had vomited once thereafter but hadn't gotten any sicker. The young guy, who worked part-time in a restaurant and stayed with a friend for five days after being accepted to college, was diagnosed with Neisseria meningitidis, a potentially fatal bacterial infection that caused his blood to clot and his liver to fail, after blood and urine tests, Newsweek via MSN reported. Doctors allegedly amputated both legs below the knees, as well as portions of all fingers. JC was diagnosed with purpura fulminans owing to meningococcemia despite having had all of his childhood vaccines and appearing to be in good condition. He'd been living with a friend for five days, although he still resided in northern New England with his mother and brother, working part-time at a restaurant. JC had not had all of his meningococcal immunizations, it was subsequently discovered. Considering the severity of the illness, the patient "had a reasonably decent recovery," according to the medical journal article. Read Also: Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Ends: Things To Know About the Closing Ceremony How To Avoid This Deadly Condition? To prevent consuming germs, the US Department of Agriculture suggests carefully keeping leftover food in the refrigerator or freezer and then cooking it to a high enough temperature (165 degrees) to avoid ingesting bacteria that are tasteless and odorless. According to WebMD, bacteria may multiply fast in food left at room temperature, reducing the risk of food poisoning. After removing leftover food from a heat source such as an oven or warming pan, it should be refrigerated within 2 hours. According to the website, the misconception that food must be allowed to cool before being refrigerated is false, and hot items can be placed right in the refrigerator. WebMD recommends separating dishes into small portions and storing them in leak-proof bags in ice water basins if people wish to chill their meals faster. When it comes to leftover takeaway food, WebMD recommends avoiding waiting until it smells bad before throwing it out since bacteria may hide in places where they can't be seen or smelled. In addition, the website warns against consuming cold leftover takeout meals. "To destroy hazardous germs, heat food to 165 F. A food thermometer is the best method to check if it has reached that temperature." "Place it in different spots, especially the thickest or deepest section, because dishes might cook unevenly." 165 degrees Fahrenheit is hot enough to destroy germs and viruses, as per Fox 8. Related Article: Bird Flu Alert Raised in Vermont; How Would It Impact US Poultry Supply? @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KSAT 12 is saying goodbye to reporter Japhanie Gray. She was first hired at the TV station in March 2018 and has spent the last few years bringing you some of the biggest stories of San Antonio. Her last day is Wednesday. Before making the leap to the Alamo City, Gray worked at KAIT Region 8 News in Jonesboro, Arkansas where she started her career in production, before transitioning to on-air talent. She also served as a radio DJ for the Jonesboro Radio Group stations. During our conversation, Gray talked about what initially drew her to San Antonio, even though she didnt have an idea of the culture or what Texas was all about. I think it was that experience on the River Walk, says Gray. I got lost and ran into so many people that were so nice and that reflected in the (KSAT) newsroom. One of her many accomplishments at the local ABC affiliate include creating a segment called Whats up South Texas. She told community stories and embraced her new adoptive home as her own. Courtesy, Japhanie Gray You never know who youre speaking with. There is a deeper story there that relates not only to yourself but to the community. As Gray prepares to embark on a new life journey in the mountains of Roanoke, Virginia as the new morning anchor of WSLS 10 News, she says San Antonio has left an emotional mark on her heart. San Antonio is a very, very special place. It will always be a place in my heart that I will never forget. I will definitely find my way back. Gray also expressed her gratitude for her team at KSAT and to the community she has served for the past four years. KSAT is the reason my love for news has continued. I saw a different side of that world when I was brought here and being with leadership and down to earthiness, I think that was very special to me. Courtesy, Japhanie Gray Gray and her rescue dog Beau are now preparing to head north, bringing a little piece of San Antone with them. Steve Prezant/Getty Images MIDVALE, Utah (AP) Investigators believe a man told his 4-year-old child to fire at officers following a dispute over his order at a McDonald's drive-thru in suburban Salt Lake City on Monday, police said. An officer was able to swipe at the gun as it was fired, directing the bullet away. The unidentified man brandished a weapon at the pick-up window at the restaurant in Midvale, demanding that his order be corrected, a spokesperson for the Unified Police Department, Sgt. Melody Cutler, said . After workers asked that he pull to a waiting area while they corrected his order, they called police, she said. No matter how we try, its impossible to avoid it altogether. Death is not naturally a pleasant part of life, and we avoid it at all costs. Still, it happens. This past week weve been face to face with it. After several months of fighting cancer, Daniels Aunt Fannie, who was 63 years old, went to be with the Lord. All of us our six children, Daniel and myself headed for Danville, Ohio, to grieve with the family and see our dear aunt once more. During Daniels growing up years, Fannie and her husband raised their nine children right next door. Get more from the Citrus County Chronicle Subscribe Today Now her life is but a memory. Can it be true? Im comforted to know that each seed of love and care that she scattered to the many people that knew her would remain and grow in all of our hearts. Before our seven-hour trip, Daniel and I pondered together over the absolute reality of death. We talked of the importance of our children being faced with it at a young age, equipping their hearts with the fact that life on earth is only a stage of preparing for heaven and telling others the good news about Jesus. The children had been sick that week, the chances of going by Friday forenoon looked slim. We prayed as to what we should do. Daniel wasnt sold on the thought of going without his wife and children. Somehow, both of us felt like all going as a family would still be the thing to do; but this flu bug hung on stubbornly. Departure day was creeping up. Early Friday morning was rough still. We knew that if God wanted us to go, hed pave the way. When I got up that morning, I felt refreshed despite the extremely minimal amount of sleep I had gotten. Only moments before I had awakened, I dreamed that a messenger from God came with a poem for me. It was exactly what I needed to have the courage to go on in my dream. In my heart, I knew that there would be no chance of staying home even though the odds of making the trip had escalated during the night as several of the children slept fitfully. Daniel and I discussed our options at the breakfast table and agreed that God would provide a way for the children to be good enough for the trip. With hoots and hollers from around the table, the children sprang into action, following Moms instructions to help get the house presentable and clothes packed. An hour and a half later, our driver with a 15-passenger van pulled in the driveway with Daniels brother John, his wife, and daughter. Daniel took the car seats out and loaded them in the van while I stayed in the house with the children before taking them through the chilly weather. Moments later, we were all strapped in as the tires crunched over the gravel road. We were off. It wasnt long until the typical question popped up, Mom, when will we drive under the Ohio arch? In our family, its always a race to see who can first spy the arch on the Indiana/ Ohio border on Interstate 70. This time it was Daddy, on the back seat, who won. There it is! he exclaimed. As we drove under it, I explained to the children how the sign used to say, Welcome to Ohio. So much to discover, when Daniel and I were dating. Thats just how it was; there was so much for me to discover as I got to know Daddy! They smiled at the thought of me getting to know him and the rich dimension it added to my life. Several hours later, we pulled into Grandpas driveway. We quickly unloaded the van before getting dressed to go to the viewing, hosted at the Amish churchs community building next door. Upon our arrival, long rows of buggies stood parked to the side of the building, and vehicles (primarily vans used for driving Amish folks) were lined up in front. Inside were several hundred people, many of which we knew. We all shared the common ache. We hurt to see Fannie go, deeply hurting the family, including two of her daughters who are expecting their first baby soon. We shook hands; we cried; we hugged; we agreed that indeed Gods ways are higher than our own. But most of all, we knew that all of us, who live for the Lord with our whole hearts, will one day see Jesus where Fannie was already experiencing perfect splendor. Throughout the evening, people were constantly coming and going. By 8 oclock, Daniel helped me walk the children back to his parents house, and I got them ready for bed and tucked them in while Daniel went back to spend more time with family. The following day was the funeral, which accommodated 850 people. There were people everywhere! I dont recall ever before being to a gathering quite that size. The afternoon of the funeral, we started our homeward journey. By 9, we were home safe and sound. Theres nothing quite like home sweet home. OK, wrapping up, Ill leave you with Potato Ranch Casserole which was served as part of the noon meal on the day of the funeral. Potato Ranch Casserole 1 1/2 pound hamburger 1/3 cup chopped onion 1 can cream of mushroom soup 2 quarts cooked and shredded potatoes 8 ounces sour cream 1 cup Ranch dressing 8 ounces Mozzarella cheese 1/2 pound bacon, fried and crumbled Fry and drain hamburger and onions then add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Mix with remaining ingredients except bacon and cheese. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with cheese and bacon. Return to oven until cheese is melted. Delicious! Gloria Yoder is a young Amish mother, writer and homemaker in rural Illinois. The Yoders travel primarily by horse-drawn buggy and live next to the settlements one-room schoolhouse. Readers with culinary or culture questions or stories to share may write Gloria directly at: Gloria Yoder, 10510 E. 350th Ave., Flat Rock, IL 62427. Florida, US (34429) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Prince Harry might skip Prince Philip's memorial ceremony next month due to a court struggle over security. The Duke is suing the United Kingdom because he was denied the ability to pay for police protection for himself and his family while in the country. He says he wants to bring his children Archie and Lilibet from the United States, where he now lives with his wife Meghan Markle, to visit UK, but his attorney told the High Court on Friday that he "does not feel secure" visiting under the existing security arrangements. Prince Harry Might Miss Prince Philip's Memorial Service He claims that his private protection team in the United States lacks the necessary international jurisdiction and access to UK intelligence material to keep his family safe, according to Mirror. On March 29, an invitation-only thanksgiving ceremony for the life of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, will be conducted in London, with numerous members of the Royal Family likely to attend. The presence of Prince Philip's grandson, Prince Harry, has been called into doubt due to his ongoing security concerns in the United Kingdom. Also, a legal expert has declared Prince Andrew's presence "extremely doubtful" in the wake of the Duke of York's legal issues in the United States. Prince Harry is thought to have only visited the UK a few times in the previous two years, as the Duke of Sussex relocated to the United States in 2020. In April 2021, Prince Harry traveled to his native nation for his grandpa Prince Philip's burial, and then again in June and July 2021 for the installation of a statue of his late mother Princess Diana at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday, as per Express. Read Also: 'Sister Wives' Star Kody Brown Refuses To Continue Tell-All Topic After Christine Brown Reveals Divorce; Fan-Favorite Scores New TLC Spinoff Prince Harry's Concerns Over "Cash-For-Honors" Scandal Exposed According to leaked emails, Prince Harry terminated relations with a Saudi billionaire at the core of his father's "cash for honors" investigation due to worries about the tycoon's objectives. Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz is being investigated by police to see if he was given honors or a road to citizenship in exchange for donating to Prince Charles' charity. After a letter made by Charles' assistant Michael Fawcett in August 2017 to a representative of Mahfouz was revealed by The Mail in September, a formal investigation was initiated. According to emails obtained by the New York Times, Mahfouz reportedly offered Harry's HIV charity, Sentebale, a $1.39 million gift in 2014. Sentebale aids HIV-positive children in Lesotho, southern Africa. When Mahfouz wanted a private meeting with Prince Harry, Prince Harry's staff became concerned that it was approaching the "pay for access" area. A close friend of Prince Charles said the heir to the throne was enraged when he learned that, in exchange for donations to his organization, his closest adviser promised the wealthy Saudi donor accolades and British citizenship. Any police probe against the Prince would be hindered if Fawcett disputes that Charles had any knowledge of his signed pledge. However, Fawcett might still face criminal charges. The former footman's character will be put to the ultimate test. The Heir to the Throne, Prince Charles, finds himself in the firing line and must be praying that his servant remains faithful and silent, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: Queen Elizabeth II Experiencing 'Mild Cold-Like Symptoms' Due to COVID-19; But Monarch Still Working @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Understanding the terminology The deductible is the amount the city must pay toward a claim before an insurance company will pay on a claim. The total incurred loss for each claim in the loss report includes any cash reserves the insurer puts aside for a claim plus any payments made to lawyers or for other expenses but does not include the city's deductible. Cash reserves as well as payments are considered losses when calculating premium payments. Oklahoma City, OK (73106) Today Mostly cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early with scattered thunderstorms developing late. Low 53F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Republicans don't think that Joe Biden is doing enough to stop an alleged Russian offensive that never materializes. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine regions that are partial to Russia despite keeping these republics.Kremlin acknowledges the independent state, but the west hasn't recognized that war hysteria is more magnified. Republicans Call on Biden The allies called it an invasion and breakaway areas where they are pro-Russian, and the Kremlin should be sanctioned for it, reported Newsmax. Sending troops to Donbas and Donetsk by order of the Kremlin might be seen as a provocation by the allies despite being in friendly territory. No Russian attack, but the White House is spreading hysteria about it. Even Kyiv told Washington to pipe down because it was counterproductive for everyone. The United States says it will use diplomacy; instead, the administration speaks rhetoric and declaration. Nevertheless, some House adherents think Biden's reaction has failed to live up to the escalation. Two House Republicans, Mike McCaul and Mike Rogers, issued a statement that represented a strong rebuke of the administration's reactions to Moscow's growing aggression. The statement read according to indications that soldiers are sent to Donetsk and Luhansk regions called peacekeepers. Now is not the time for half-hearted means that will only encourage Putin and put our friends in Ukraine at risk. Now is the moment for President Biden to impose sanctions to hit the Russian economy in the face, forcing a halt to Nord Stream 2 for good, as he promised the world he would. These Republicans want him to be harder on an alleged Russian offensive predicted. Read Also: Republican Senator Tells Joe Biden To Take Responsibility For Rising Fuel Prices, Stop Using Putin as an Excuse To Deflect Blame Following Putin's declaration, the White House immediately announced that US engagement in specific areas would be restricted, and one white house official informed reporters that additional penalties would be announced on Tuesday. However, all of these actions were different from a broader package of penalties that Washington has promised to impose with its allies if Russia decides to invade Ukraine. Russia Invades Russian forces are in Donbas, which is not new. They are currently debating whether or not to do so more overtly and openly. Moscow is continuing the standoff that has begun, but trying to lessen pressure is needed to prevent conflict. One of the reasons for keeping these Russian troops is a deterrent in these regions that the Kremlin has backed up. The allies in the conflict do not consider these pro-Russian separatists. Instead of toning down the rhetoric, Biden is directly countering Putin; that has never worked. Many are not sure based on the weak responses of Joe Biden, who declared he would meet the Russian leader if there were no invasion. Compared to Putin, the US president has not been on an equal stage to deal and do what is needed to push Putin back. Moscow has been probing and pushing the buttons of Washington, but the White House seems to lag, allowing the Kremlin to do what it wants. Biden was not definite when asked what an invasion is, which is a dangerous signal to observers. Republicans are unsure if the president is up to it, stopping an alleged Russian offensive in Ukraine. The allies are divided, and Putin is doing what he wants. Related Article: Ric Grenell Says Joe Biden Disputes With Russia To Draw Attention From Failure of US Foreign Policy in Afghanistan @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greek emergency workers rescued a Belarussian truck driver Sunday from a burning ferry off the island of Corfu and found the body of a Greek truck driver as they combed the wreckage for missing passengers. The discoveries left 10 people still unaccounted for. The survivor, 21, was able to make his way up to the left rear deck on his own, and told rescue workers he heard other voices below. The fact that this man succeeded, despite adverse conditions, to exit into the deck and alert the coast guard gives us hope that there may be other (survivors), coast guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state broadcaster ERT. The victim was identified as a 58-year-old Greek truck driver by his family. The Italian-owned Euroferry Olympia, which was carrying more than 290 passengers and crew as well as 153 trucks and 32 cars, caught fire Friday, three hours after it left the northwestern Greek port of Igoumenitsa bound for Brindisi in Italy. The company that operates the ferry said the fire started in a hold where vehicles were parked. The Greek coast guard and other boats evacuated about 280 people from the ferry to the nearby island of Corfu. The ferry has been towed to the port of Kassiopi, in northeastern Corfu. Firefighters were still battling the blaze in spots Sunday and a thick smoke still blanketed the ship. Alexiou said his understanding was that the truck driver hadnt heard any voices just before making his way onto the deck but added the situation is evolving. The survivor was taken to a hospital for a medical exam. The extreme heat in some parts of the ship has impeded the Greek fire services Disaster Management Unit and a team of private rescuers from searching the whole ship. The ferry is slightly listing from the tons of water poured into it to douse the fire but authorities say its not in danger of capsizing. Two passengers were rescued Saturday. One wasnt on the ships manifest and was presumably a migrant. The other person, a 65-year-old Bulgarian truck driver, had respiratory problems and is on a ventilator in a Corfu hospitals intensive care unit. A Greek prosecutor on Corfu has ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire. The ships captain and two engineers were arrested Friday but were released the same day, authorities said. Passengers described the initial evacuation as dramatic. We heard the alarm. We thought it was some kind of drill. But we saw through the portholes that people were running, truck driver Dimitris Karaolanidis told The Associated Press. You cant think something at the time (other than) your family When I hit the deck, I saw smoke and children. Fortunately, they (the crew) acted quickly. Petros Giannakouris and Lefteris Pitarakis contributed to this report from Corfu. About the photo: Smoke rises from the Italian-flagged Euroferry Olympia, which is on fire for third day, in the Ionian sea near the Greek island of Corfu, on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022. A survivor has been rescued Sunday morning from the stern of a still burning passenger ferry, Greeces coast guard said. There are 11 people still missing. The Italian-owned ferry, which was carrying more than 290 passengers and crew, as well as 153 trucks and 32 cars, caught fire on Friday, three hours after it left the northwestern Greek port of Igoumenitsa, on the mainland, bound for Brindisi, Italy. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Gail Marsha Malitz, age 83, of Beachwood, was born June 11, 1938, in Cleveland, and passed away on May 2, 2022. Arrangements under the direction of Berkowitz-Kumin-Bookatz Memorial Chapel. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz blasted United States President Joe Biden for the Democrat's commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court, arguing that the decision was both illegal and racial discrimination of White people. The GOP member is one of the most recent to join a host of Republicans who have expressed their disagreement with Biden's commitment. The Democrat's promise to have a Black woman on the Supreme Court is a history-making event. Cruz Blasts Biden Biden's promise was only made possible earlier this month after it was announced that Justice Stephen Breyer, a member of the Court's liberal wing, would step down at the end of his term. Cruz made his remarks during an interview on Sunday and argued that the U.S. president was being racially discriminatory to any potential nominee who was not a Black woman. Cruz compared the nomination to a traditional job application process despite the nomination being solely at the discretion of the U.S. president. The Republican senator argued that Biden made 94% of Americans ineligible when he promised he would only be choosing African-American women, as per Independent. South Carolina congressman and House whip James Clyburn were crucial in securing Biden's promise. The official supported the nomination of J Michelle Childs, a judge from his state who was also backed by Lindsey Graham, who is, similar to Cruz, an influential Republican on the Senate judiciary committee. Read Also: Donald Trump Launches Social Media App on Apple Store; Here's How To Create Truth Social Account as Thousands Sign Up! However, the Texas senator continued to claim that the Biden administration was discriminating against the majority of Americans. Furthermore, the host during Cruz's interview, Bill Hemmer, did not point out that in history, there have been instances of judges being chosen based on their identity. According to The Guardian, former United States, President Donald Trump promised to choose a woman to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a promise that came to fruition after the liberal lion's death in September 2020. Cruz championed Amy Coney Barrett, a hardline Catholic conservative, who was Trump's nominee. Black Woman in the Supreme Court Biden first promised to appoint a Black woman Supreme Court justice in 2020 while on the campaign trail. And despite Cruz's criticism of the commitment, he said he would still consider the Democrat's nominee "on their record." He said he was confident that the Senate Judiciary Committee would have a vigorous process examining that nominee's record. Cruz argued that Biden should have made his promise by saying he would be looking at a lot of people and their credentials, choosing the best one to nominate based on their experience and credibility. He said that if the nominee happened to be an African-American woman, then so be it. Earlier this month, some reports showed Biden has allegedly narrowed down his choices to three candidates; Ketanji Brown Jackson, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge for the District of Columbia; Leondra Kruger, a California Supreme Court Justice; and Childs, a federal judge from South Carolina. Many people believe that the top candidate right now is Jackson, who was nominated to the federal bench by former President Barack Obama, Business Insider reported. Related Article: Ted Cruz Says Biden's 'Fecklessness' Allows Russia To Be Aggressive Against Ukraine @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nine Network, a major Australian commercial free-to-air television network, apologized for mistakenly implying that Queen Elizabeth II was being given Ivermectin, a drug designed for animals, to treat her infection. The alleged error has already garnered support and has been boosted by anti-vax and anti-lockdown groups that believe Ivermectin to be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19. However, it has already been labeled as "ineffective" by Australia's chief medical officer. Queen's Use of Ivermectin? On Monday night, A Current Affair (ACA), a TV program, broadcast a segment talking about the monarch's coronavirus diagnosis. The footage featured Dr. Mukesh Haikerwal, a Victorian GP and former Australian Medical Association leader. He has been at the forefront of the COVID-19 response in the region, including leading testing and vaccination clinics in Melbourne's west. Haikerwal discussed how drug treatments benefited elderly patients who contracted the coronavirus during the segment. The program showed stock images of vials of sotrovimab, an intravenous monoclonal antibody treatment used for high-risk cases. Shortly after, the video switched to a medication box with a label reading, "stromectol, containing 3mg ivermectin." Haikerwal said that during his remarks, he did not mention any specific treatment and explicitly ruled out the recommendation of Ivermectin for coronavirus patients, as per The Guardian. The medical professional argued that Ivermectin was never even part of the conversation on the program. He added that what he said was that various medications were available for people who are vulnerable to the disease. Read Also: COVID-19 Omicron Variant: US Deaths Among Unvaccinated Worryingly High Buckingham Palace was the first to announce that the Queen had tested positive for the COVID-19 infection. Authorities said that the monarch was experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms, adding that the 95-year-old would continue carrying out her duties. According to Fox10 Phoenix, the palace added that the Queen would focus on "light" duties at Windsor Castle over the coming week while monitoring her health. They said that professionals will continue providing medical attention and will follow all appropriate guidelines in a statement. Positive Coronavirus Test It was also noted that the Queen's eldest son and heir, the Prince of Wales, tested positive for the coronavirus on Feb. 10 after meeting his mother on Feb.8. Many people believed that many people at Windsor Castle had contracted the virus. The palace issued a congratulatory message on Sunday from the Queen sent to the Team GB Curling teams. The monarch heralded the teams' "outstanding performance" at the Winter Olympics, where women managed to win a gold medal and men acquired a silver medal. The monarch also said that she was aware that people from local communities and throughout the United Kingdom were sending good wishes to the Queen. Additionally, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he wished Her Majesty a swift recovery from the infection. Labour's Sir Keir Starmer, the opposition leader, also wished the Queen "good health and a speedy recovery. The monarch's positive coronavirus test comes days before England is expected to drop the legal requirements to self-isolate for people who have become infected, as the last of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are removed, as BBC reported. Related Article: Boris Johnson To Announce "Living With COVID" Plan in UK; Questions Spark as Legal Restrictions End @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Clinton, IA (52732) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 36F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has formally asked the Commission on Elections to temporarily suspend its drive against campaign materials posted in private property pending review of its regulations. In a letter addressed to the Comelec dated Feb. 21, Macalintal requested the temporary suspension of Resolution 10730, the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act, at least until the start of the campaign period for local officials on March 25 "in order to have a uniform policy for both national and local candidates." Macalintal said the removal of allegedly oversized campaign posters on properties of private individuals or non-candidates without notice or hearing "is so arbitrary and a clear violation of one's constitutional right to his property and due process." He added that the Comelec "does not have the authority to regulate enjoyment of the preferred right to freedom of expression exercised by a non-candidate," citing the 2015 Supreme Court decision on the Diocese of Bacolod vs Comelec case. The SC previously ruled in favor of the Diocese of Bacolod and upheld the legal display of tarpaulins containing names of certain candidates and their stand in the Reproductive Health Law. Macalintal disagreed with the Comelec's position that the said case supposedly applies only to campaign materials about advocacies. He said that a non-candidate posting on his property a campaign material "is expressing more than the name; he is espousing ideas." He also noted that limiting campaign posters to a fixed size without relation to distance from its intended audience "renders ineffective the person's message and violates his right to exercise freedom of expression." Macalintal also cited a "highly untenable" provision of Resolution 10730 which noted that those who post campaign materials on prohibited places "shall be liable." "RA 9006 does not provide for the said 'presumption of guilt' of the candidates and political parties," he added. Supporters, primarily those from the Leni Robredo-Kiko Pangilinan tandem, previously slammed the controversial Operation Baklas and the Comelec's supposed "overreach" in taking down election materials in private properties. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez previously said that it is not deaf to the public's concerns, and there may still be room for recalibration in Comelec rules. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) An ally and founder of a pro-administration party supporting President Rodrigo Duterte maintained Tuesday that they are still solidly behind him despite pending consensus on who he will endorse as his successor. Greco Belgica, founder of Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan or PDDS, which is allied with Duterte's PDP-Laban party, said they remain optimistic about the "99%" chance that the President will endorse someone ahead of the elections. "The party is still intact. Ang aming mga leadership sa (Our leaders in the) local government are still with us," Belgica told CNN Philippines' The Source. "Ang proclamation rally hindi pa natutuloy dahil wala pa kaming presidente pa. Pero amin nang pinagpaplanuhan yan sa PDDS at PDP." [Translation: Our proclamation rally has not yet pushed through because we don't have a president yet. But we are already planning that under PDDS and PDP-Laban.] Belgica said that they have re-submitted three names for Duterte's presidential choices based on "loyalty to the country and adherence to the programs of the President after he finishes." "We are re-submitting three names to the President, so he can choose one. Naghihintay po kami kung sino. And we will do it again kasi hindi pa po siya pumipili (because he has not chosen anyone yet)," he noted. Belgica did not bare the three names pending Duterte's decision. PDDS and the Alfonso Cusi-led PDP-Laban previously adopted presidential daughter Sara Duterte as their vice-presidential bet. The top five candidates in the presidential race are Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Vice President Leni Robredo, and former senator Bongbong Marcos. But Belgica noted that majority of their members in the coalition are still waiting for Duterte's endorsement before they can openly support anyone. He acknowledged, however, that some members have already resorted to endorsing their own preferred tandems. This includes former Agrarian Reform secretary and PDP-Laban senatorial candidate John Castriciones, who just endorsed an Isko Moreno-Sara Duterte candidacy, despite the two bets coming from different parties. Moreno is running alongside Dr. Willie Ong, while Mayor Duterte is with standard bearer Bongbong Marcos. Moreno has previously sought for support from the PDP-Laban. RELATED: Doc Willie to continue VP campaign despite support for Isko-Sara tandem Meanwhile, Belgica, also a senatorial bet, said he will continue to stand by Duterte regardless of the latter's decision. His party has also prepared a campaign schedule and has requested for Duterte's physical presence in some of their events. PDDS previously adopted PDP-Laban's Sen. Bong Go as presidential bet and President Duterte as vice presidential candidate, but the two eventually backed out from the race. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has yet to resolve the dispute between Cusi's PDP-Laban and the other faction led by Senators Pacquiao and Koko Pimentel. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Senatorial candidate Greco Belgica is pushing for the creation of an anti-corruption police as part of his campaign platform. The former chairman of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission told CNN Philippines' The Source on Tuesday that this is in line with his goal of creating an anti-corruption council to monitor erring national and local officials, if he gets elected. "Similar to ICAC (Independent Commission Against Corruption) of HongKong, the anti-corruption campaign has to have a law enforcement arm here para lumakas (to strengthen our campaign)," he said. "Itatatag ko ang national anti-corruption council para ilagay ang struktura hanggang sa LGU at barangay sa anti-corruption campaigns. Lalagyan ko po ito ng anti-corruption police para maging active at proactive ang kampanya natin laban sa corruption," Belgica proposed. [Translation: I want to create a national anti-corruption council to put up a structure down to the local government units and barangays to be covered by the anti-corruption campaigns. I will designate an anti-corruption police so that we can have an active and proactive campaign against corruption.] He added: "If you want to campaign an active campaign like the drug war merong PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), 'pag crime war merong pulis, 'pag anti-terror war merong sundalo. Ang anti-corruption war dapat meron din pong anti-corruption police." [Translation: For the drug war we have PDEA, for the crime war, we have the police, for the anti-terror war we have our soldiers. So for the anti-corruption war we must have an anti-corruption police.] Belgica also called for the hiring more judges, investigators and prosecutors to speed up the resolution of cases and improve the country's justice system. The bank secrecy law and anti-wiretapping law must be amended to easily trace those accused of stealing from public coffers, he added. Belgica is running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, which is allied with President Rodrigo Duterte's PDP-Laban party. He ranked 36-48 in the January Pulse Asia survey of senatorial preferences. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Party-list lawmakers are seeking a House investigation into the reported cyberattacks on some news websites in the country. House Resolution No. 2493 filed by Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat urged the House Committee on Information and Communication Technology to look into the rampant attacks against several media outfits especially in the middle of the election season. [T]he government should identify and stop the perpetrators of these cyber criminal acts and hold them accountable for these undemocratic acts that are probably aimed not only to interfere and disrupt the operations of the affected media entities but also at influencing the outcome of the May 9, 2022 elections, read the resolution dated Feb. 17 but released to the media on Tuesday. The representatives also called on the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct their own probe on these incidents, citing the need for the public to have accurate information during the poll season. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines first appealed to the government to take action after several media companies reported experiencing distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, making their respective websites inaccessible for a period of time. The group stressed that censorship "has no place in a democracy." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) At least five mayors back the easing of restrictions in Metro Manila, citing the improving COVID-19 situation in the past few days. In a statement on Tuesday, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said she will vote to deescalate the National Capital Region (NCR) to Alert Level 1 the lowest classification in the government's COVID-19 alert level system. "After studying our data [and] consulting [with] our local health officials as well [as] experts like OCTA," Belmonte said, explaining her decision. "Also other indicators like HCUR (healthcare utilization rate) are good." San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora echoed the sentiment, noting there are now only 28 active COVID-19 cases in the city. Pateros Mayor Miguel Ponce also pushed for relaxed protocols to further open up the economy. "I believe we are ready to go a little easier on restrictions for full economic recovery but push for maximum effort at vaccination," he said. Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez and Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco also supported the shift to Alert Level 1. NCR mayors were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening to discuss their recommendation for the next alert level status. The council has yet to release an update on the matter as of publishing. The region has been seeing lower coronavirus trends with the positivity rate dipping below 5% for the first time this year, according to independent watchdog OCTA. READ: Positivity rate in NCR drops to 4.9% since Omicron surge, on track to meet WHO standards OCTA said Metro Manila remains low-risk for COVID-19. CNN Philippines' AC Nicholls contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) Malacanang on Tuesday reiterated that community doctor Natividad Castro was arrested for the criminal charges against her and not because of her alleged position in the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles echoed the Department of Interior and Local Governments statement that it was not a warrantless arrest. Una sa lahat hindi po yun dahil sa sinasabing red-tagging (First of all, her arrest was not a case of red-tagging). If you look at the facts of the case, the arrest was made by virtue of an arrest warrant issued by a regional trial court for serious illegal detention and kidnapping, he said in a public briefing. Nograles added that Castros legal counsel was given the opportunity to contest the charges. Again, the arrest warrant issued by the court, but even previous to that dumaan po ito ng proseso ng investigation ng prosecutor (this went through the process of investigation by the prosecutor) ...They had all opportunities to contest it, he added. The police and the military arrested Castro in her San Juan City home last week. The warrant of arrest was issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur. Castro, whom authorities claim is head of the national health bureau of the CPP-New Peoples Army, is currently detained at the Bayugan City Police Station. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Party-list filed House Resolution 2496 urging the House to condemn and investigate Castros arrest. The resolution said Castro has been a victim of red-tagging, citing tarpaulins put up by suspected state agents in 2020 in public places in Caraga region identifying her and other human rights defenders as communist NPAs. It is imperative for members of Congress, as representatives of our people, to defend the rights of our people and check on excesses and violations, especially in this time of crisis, the resolution read. It must bring perpetrators to account to put a stop to the killings and rights violations against its people. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) - Seeking the endorsement of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi won't be a good move for presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, according to Senator Koko Pimentel. The senator told CNN Philippines' Politics as Usual on Tuesday that an endorsement from the ruling party's "rebel faction" would only be questionable. "Si Mayor Moreno better not seek that endorsement anymore from the hijackers of the party. Magiging political issue 'yun [That will become a political issue]," said Pimentel, who belongs to the other PDP-Laban group which backs Senator Manny Pacquiao's presidential bid. "Kung 'yung certificate of nomination nga nung rebel faction namin, the hijackers of the party, magiging kwestyunable, then all the more, a late informal endorsement, lalong kwestyunable," he also said. [Translation: If the certificate of nomination of our rebel faction, the hijackers of our party, becomes questionable, then a late informal endorsement from them would all the more be questionable.] Moreno earlier said he hopes to secure the support of the PDP-Laban party. However, Pimentel - who maintains his group is the legitimate faction - said this wouldn't be possible, as they already have Pacquiao as their presidential bet. "From personal knowledge, I know of no application or desire of Mayor Isko Moreno to get the PDP-Laban nomination, because it's no longer open. Pero maybe doon sa kabila [Maybe with the other group]. But...that's why I issued a warning," he said. Pimentel also shot down rumors that Pacquiao will eventually drop out of the race amid low ratings in voter preference surveys. He said these claims are only part of psychological warfare and urged the public to be critical of survey results being released. "May 9, we will still be standing and fighting and slugging it out," he said. "We will never surrender...Up to the very end, fight po kami [we will fight]. We will let the people decide." (CNN) -- Air France and Lufthansa are the latest airlines to suspend flights into Ukraine as fears of a Russian invasion grow. The French carrier said that it would cancel flights to and from the capital Kyiv on Tuesday as a "precautionary measure," citing the security situation. "Air France will regularly reassess the situation and reminds that the safety and security of its flights, its customers and its crews, is an absolute imperative," Air France said in a statement on Monday. Germany's Lufthansa said on Saturday that it would suspend flights to and from Kyiv and Odessa, a southern port city, until the end of February. Swiss International Air Lines, Eurowings and Austrian Airlines, which are part of Lufthansa Group, have also suspended flights until the end of the month. Dutch carrier KLM was the first major international airline to suspend flights into Ukraine earlier this month. "The safety of our passengers and crew members is our top priority at all times. Due to the current situation in Ukraine, Lufthansa Group airlines are suspending their regular flights to Kyiv and Odessa," Lufthansa Group said in a statement. Lufthansa Group flights to Lviv, located in western Ukraine, will continue to run as normal. The United States moved its embassy from Kyiv to Lviv last week. Lufthansa Group, which normally runs 94 flights into and out of Ukraine every week, said it would re-book affected passengers onto alternative routes. US officials have estimated that as many as 190,000 Russian and separatist troops are stationed near Ukraine's border, ready to mount an attack. Russia reclaimed Crimea, which had been part of an independent Ukraine, in 2014, despite protests by the West. Intense fighting also left portions of the Donbas region's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts in the hands of Russian-backed separatists. In 2014, 298 people on board a Malaysia Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were killed when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine. An investigation by Dutch authorities concluded that a missile launcher belonging to the Russian military was used in the attack. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement. This story was first published on CNN.com "Airlines cancel Ukraine flights as threat of war grows". Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently ordered his nation's troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine after his Monday announcement recognizing the independence of regions. On Tuesday, UK Health Minister Sajid Javid said that Moscow's invasion of Ukraine has begun despite United States President Joe Biden avoiding using the word "invasion" to describe the recent development. Sanctions After Sanctions The situation has prompted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to schedule a meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday afternoon. The event will be held at the State Department and comes after Blinken last spoke to Kuleba on Monday night. State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the two officials discussed ways to retaliate against Russia by imposing U.S. sanctions and additional measures. Blinken and Kuleba are expected to hold a joint press briefing following their Tuesday discussions. Furthermore, the Biden administration has expressed support for Germany's decision to halt Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The White House said that the American government would follow up with its own measures on Tuesday, as per CNBC. On top of the sanctions handed out by the United States federal government, Britain imposed its own on Tuesday on Gennady Timchenko and two other billionaires who have close ties with Putin. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Moscow was heading straight towards "pariah status." He argued that the entire world must now brace itself for the stage of the Russian president's plan, claiming that the Kremlin was already preparing for a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Johnson said that his administration had sanctioned five banks; Rossiya, IS Bank, GenBank, Promsvyazbank, and the Black Sea Bank. Read Also: Is Russia Invading Ukraine? Kyiv Official Says 'Keep a Cool Head' Amid War Threat According to Reuters, Johnson did not hand out sanctions that limit Russia's biggest state banks that would result in cutting off capital for Russian companies or ejecting other prominent so-called Russian oligarchs from Britain. Consequences of Putin's Announcement Furthermore, German business leaders have called off a meeting with Putin that was scheduled in March. Germany's Ost-Ausschuss Eastern Business Association canceled its annual meeting with the Russian president after the latter recognized the breakaway regions. Chairman Oliver Hermes blasted Moscow's decision to recognize Luhansk and Donetsk as "independent" regions in eastern Ukraine. However, he urged the German government to remain open to dialogue with the Russian government. In a statement, Hungary's Defense Ministry said that it would deploy supporting troops to its border with Ukraine. The move was made partly to prepare a humanitarian response and provide protection to the country's border. Authorities noted that Hungary's security was essential and would use the troops to reinforce its region with Ukraine. Charge d'affaires Kristina Kvien, the most senior U.S. diplomat in Ukraine right now, called Putin's Monday speech not one made by a reasonable man. Kvien said that the Russian president's outrageous statements about Ukraine and the country's people were "delusional." She added that the address reflected a warped vision reminiscent that was not of a global leader, DW News reported. Related Article: Joe Biden, US Hit Ukraine Separatist Regions With Economic Punishments After Vladimir Putin Recognition: Full Details @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) As credit card transaction fraud in the Philippines increased by 21% since the start of the pandemic, an expert shared tips on how not to be a victim of such scheme. While credit card fraud has long been a problem, criminals have also taken advantage of Filipinos' increased presence online to target more consumers, according to Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Executive Director Alex Ilagan. Ilagan told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon on Tuesday that criminals usually use phishing, where these persons send an email or mobile message pretending to be a part of banks to secure customers' personal information. Asked on how to avoid being a victim of these scams, the CCAP official said consumers should always be on guard. "Dapat hindi mo i-share kahit anong information sa card mo, kagaya ng card number, expiry date, yung cvv number ng card, kahit sa taong nagsasabi na taga bangko siya," he said. [Translation: You must not share any information on your card, such as the card number, expiry date, the cvv number of the card, even with the person claiming to be from your bank.] He said banks will never ask for such information. Ilagan said there is also a scheme where a fraudster would ask a customer to surrender his credit card in exchange for an upgraded one. "'Wag kayong maniniwala kapag sinabi na kailangan niyong i-surrender ang lumang credit card mo," he said. [Translation: Dont believe them when they say that you have to surrender your old credit card.] Banks would instruct their clients to destroy old credit cards instead, Ilagan noted. He said clients should always keep their banks updated regarding their contact information as these companies send email or SMS notifications, alerting them of their card transactions. If there is an unknown transaction, Ilagan advised customers to immediately inform their banks to block their accounts. Using public wifi for a bank transaction must also be avoided as personal data may be compromised through hacking, Ilagan said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) A year ago, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) launched a program that not only aims to make use of its idle land in its Ortigas head office, but also help its employees develop new skills in urban farming. Now, the company's "Backyard Bukid" urban farming project has not only produced kilos of harvest, but also empowered its support staff by allowing them to produce their own food supply and even earn extra income. "Our goal is to create an environment where our employees and support staff can learn new skills and gain new experiences to help them become more resilient and self-sufficient especially in these uncertain times," SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang said. He noted the same program is being implemented at some of their host communities in the regions, but this one at SMC's main office is much smaller in scale as it involves only 25 maintenance and security staff. They all went through a month of agri-entrepreneurship training and mentorship program with the School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) Philippines. Participants were taught about organic vegetable production, soil management, and pest and disease management. "We learned how to grow vegetable the right way. More than that, we also learned to make our own fertilizers, to counter pests. We learned that you can plant and make money even on a small plot of land," SMC's maintenance staff Nestor Reofier said in Filipino. As for Andy Detorres, one of SMC's messengerial staff, she noted how the project pushed them to work together to make it successful. A year since "Backyard Bukid" started, SMC employees' joint efforts resulted to 300 kilos of bokchoi, camote, eggplant, kangkong, green lettuce, romaine lettuce, mustard, okra, siling labuyo, pechay, cilantro, winged bean, and kale. Participants visit their plot of land twice a day, six times a week. For each visit, there is an assigned team leader; others are assigned to sow seeds, water the plants, apply organic fertilizer, and remove weeds. Mentors from SEED are also at the site every day to guide them and help ensure that the urban farm is thriving. Employees also take part in the selling process, which covers gathering and consolidating orders, purchasing commodities, repackaging and delivering orders, and maintaining records. In recent months, they have also tried their hand at trading, since demand for "Backyard Bukid" vegetables has been higher than supply. They compile a list of orders from employees weekly and work with Silong Kabataan Community Farm Enterprise to augment their supply and sell these for a profit. From this, they learn about farm and supply chain management and agri-enterprise development. Beyond urban farming The COVID-19 pandemic led to the imposition of lockdowns, which disrupted food supply chains, altered produce prices, widened inequality, and affected income and livelihoods. Around 62.1% of Filipino households experienced moderate to severe food insecurity in 2020 amid the ongoing pandemic, according to a survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute. This is why SMC's "Backyard Bukid" program was timely as it serves as another solution in the country's food supply problem. Aside from this, SMC has been active in addressing the issue even early on the pandemic as it launched numerous initiatives to help farmers and agriculture workers. In 2020, it enabled farmers to open Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita pop-up stores at its Petron gas stations throughout Metro Manila, allowing them to sell their produce directly to consumers, and prevent food waste. SMC also increased its purchase of local crops to support farmers and cooperatives. It even purchased excess dairy production and donated these to poor communities, to avoid spoilage and financial losses for carabao growers. The company also partnered with social enterprise Rural Rising to put up Better World Diliman, a ready marketplace for excess produce from all over Luzon which also aims to avoid food waste and help keep farm incomes up. It is, however, the company's "Backyard Bukid" initiative, that has had a direct impact on the very people providing everyday services to the company and its employees. As SMC's "Backyard Bukid" program and other initiatives continue to grow, it also hopes more businesses and individuals are encouraged to transform urban spaces into functional eco-spaces, and help agriculture flourish. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) The Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc kicked off its search for the next batch of queens as it opened the applications for the 2022 pageant. According to its Facebook page on Tuesday, the application form can be downloaded from its website. Submissions are until April 8. The application form emphasizes that only those who have completed their two primary doses and those who already received their booster shots will be accepted. There are four titles at stake: Bb. Pilipinas International, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Bb. Pilipinas Globe, and Bb. Pilipinas Grand International. Two of the four titleholders last year won their respective international pageants: Maureen Montagne was crowned Miss Globe in Albania while Cindy Obenita bagged the Miss Intercontinental in Egypt. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) Face shields are no longer required on election day, May 9, in areas under alert level 3 or lower, according to new rules issued by the Commission on Elections. The poll bodys New Normal Manual published over the weekend factored in the latest policy of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, which states that the wearing of face shields is voluntary for people in areas under alert levels 3, 2, and 1. Face shields are a must in areas under alert levels 4 and 5. Voting centers will open at 6 a.m. on election day. Voters must wear face masks and go through a temperature check before entry. If the body temperature is above 37.5 degrees Celsius, a voter will be led to an isolation polling place as part of COVID-19 precautions. People should proceed to the Voters Assistance Desk to know their precinct assignment and sequence number. Upon reaching the classroom or voting place, hands must be sanitized. After checking ones identity, a voter is given a ballot, marking pen, and a ballot secrecy folder to use. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women will be led to an emergency accessible polling place, where they will cast their ballots without climbing a set of stairs. A one-meter physical distancing and other minimum health protocols must be observed at all times. A limited number of voters may vote at a time, depending on the size of the classroom or voting area. The ballots are then fed to the vote counting machine. COVID-19 marshals will be on standby while regular disinfection of shared marking pens and waiting areas will be carried out on election day, according to Comelec. Precincts will close at 7 p.m. but may be extended if there are still voters waiting to vote. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 21) Metro Manila mayors will come up with their recommendation on the regions next alert level status at their meeting on Tuesday based on data and on the ground situation, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said. "Asahan po ng ating mga kababayan na 'yan po ay ibabase ng mga mayors sa datos po na araw-araw naman po nare-receive namin from DOH, IATF, NTF at ganon din po yung kanilang experience sa ground, MMDA general manager Don Artes said Monday in a public briefing [Translation: Our fellow citizens can expect that the mayors will base it on data we receive every day from the Department of Health, Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, National Task Force Against COVID-19, along with what they experience on the ground.] DOH chief Francisco Duque III earlier told CNN Philippines there's a likelihood Metro Manila will ease to Alert Level 1 depending on factors like its safety seal coverage. RELATED: Metro Manila mayors ready to shift to Alert Level 1 as COVID-19 cases decline MMDA The National Capital Region is currently classified under moderate risk by the DOH, faring better than its prior critical risk classification last month due to the Omicron-driven uptick in fresh infections. Cases have recently been on a downtrend in the region. READ: OCTA: Daily COVID-19 cases in NCR could fall to 200 by end-February Given the regions high vaccination rate, Artes said Metro Manila is now focusing on vaccinating young children along with increasing its booster coverage. NCR is currently under Alert Level 2 until end-February. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) The Department of Interior and Local Government on Tuesday urged authorities to reconsider the possible shift to Alert Level 1 especially since the local campaign season starts next month. DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the challenge to uphold minimum public health standards will double once local candidates also begin their campaign on March 25. "Sa tingin namin pagpasok ng local campaign period it will be much more difficult for the department, Philippine National Police, and of course Comelec to enforce the minimum public health standards. So dapat po natin pagisipan nang mabuti kung tayo ay handa na sa Alert Level 1," DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in the government-hosted Laging Handa briefing. [Translation: We think it'll be harder for the department, PNP, and Comelec to enforce the minimum public health standards. So we have to think twice if we are ready to shift to Alert Level 1.] Metro Manila mayors will meet on Tuesday to discuss their recommendation if the region should extend the Alert Level 2 or shift to the most relaxed Alert Level 1 or new normal by March 1. Malaya said the mayors have relayed to DILG that they are ready to ease to Alert Level 1 if that will be the decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force. OCTA Research fellow Guido David said Metro Manila would be ready for the new normal by next month based on its encouraging testing positivity rate, healthcare utilization rate, and ICU bed usage. He urged supporters who want to attend campaign sorties to get vaccinated and get their booster shot. He added events should ideally be held outdoors, ensure ventilation in indoor spaces, and minimize physical contact to avoid another COVID-19 spike. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) -- After dropping two candidates from their Senate slate, the Lacson-Sotto tandem got a boost with the show of support of a guest candidate during their campaign sortie in vote-rich Laguna on Tuesday. Former Senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan II joined presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III during a town hall event in Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Lacson called it a "pleasant surprise" -- Honasan helping them woo voters for the first time on Day 15 of the official campaign period. "Di ko napigilan ang sarili ko na yakapin siya kanina kasi nang makita ko na kasama rin siya sa aming entablado talagang it was really a pleasant surprise," Lacson told reporters. [Translation: I could not stop myself from hugging him because when I saw that he is also in the stage with us, it was really a pleasant surprise.] "Kasi alam niyo naman sa Senate kami ang original na macho bloc (Because you know in the Senate we are the original macho bloc)," Lacson said, referring to his group with Sotto, Honasan, and Senator Lito Lapid. Meanwhile, Sotto said it was "good timing" that it happened on February 22 -- the same day the macho bloc was formed years ago, which also coincides with the start of the 1986 People Power Revolution. Honasan took part in the overthrow of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship as the chief security aide of then defense minister Juan Ponce Enrile. As a comebacking senator, Honasan is now part of the Senate slate of the late dictator's son, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos. The younger Marcos is eyeing Malacanang with presidential daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte as his vice president. Honasan is an independent candidate and guest in both Lacson-Sotto and Marcos-Duterte senatorial lineups. The former Information and Communications Technology Secretary is also among the senatorial bets endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The chief executive has yet to anoint a successor. In a short speech at the Lacson-Sotto event, Honasan was all praises for his former colleagues, while reminding voters to choose wisely. "Ang pangunahing pangangailangan ng ating lipunan, ng ating demokrasya ay kaayusan. Iyan po ang plataporma at programa ni Senador Ping Lacson at ni Senator Tito Sotto," Honasan said. [Translation: The primary need of our society and democracy is order. That's the platform and prorgram of Senators Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto.] As the election season heats up, Honasan reminded voters: "Kailangan patapos ng halalan magkaisang muli (We need to unite again after the elections)." Earlier, Lacson and Sotto removed from their Senate slate former Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian. The two hopefuls are now exclusive to the Marcos-Duterte lineup, with Bautista stating he can now freely and openly campaign for the UniTeam. Meanwhile, also joining Lacson and Sotto on Tuesday are Senate bets JV Ejercito, Guillermo Eleazar, Minguita Padilla, and Manny Pinol. Despite the torrential rains, they went around Laguna, starting early with a visit to the Sta. Cruz Public Market, then to a town hall meeting with various sectors, and a tour of the University of the Philippines Los Banos-National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology -- where they affirmed support for research and development. They also paid a courtesy call on Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez and Vice Governor Karen Agapay who are partymates of Duterte in PDP-Laban. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) - The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,019 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the fourth straight day the tally was the lowest since the start of the year. The DOH said the count did not include data from five testing laboratories, which contributed 1.5% of the samples tested and 0.7% of the positive results in the last 14 days. The figures are based on laboratory outputs from Sunday, which traditionally has the lowest outputs per week, it added. Of the newly announced cases, 982 (96%) were detected within the past two weeks. Metro Manila was the top contributing region with 197 (20%), followed by Calabarzon with 124 (13%), and Ilocos Region with 85 (9%). The total number of infected is now at 3,654,284, of which 56,668 or 1.6% are active cases. Based on the DOHs breakdown, 51,395 of those currently ill show mild symptoms; 704 have no symptoms; 2,480 have moderate infection; 1,425 have severe symptoms; and 304 are critically ill. Thirteen more fatalities were also confirmed, including six from this month, five from last month, and two from September and October of last year. These pushed the death toll to 55,776. Meanwhile, the department said 2,988 more survivors raised the recovery count to 3,541,840. After final validation, the DOH removed 260 duplicate entries from the total count, along with one case found to have tested negative. It also corrected as deaths 13 cases it mistakenly declared as recoveries. Batangas City (CNN Philippines, February 22) Should Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte win in the upcoming May elections, expect President Rodrigo Dutertes war against illegal drugs and crime to continue in the next six years. The presidential daughter, however, said she is looking at implementing her fathers trademark program in a different way. Ang gagawin natin is kung ano yung ginawa natin doon sa Davao City. I-emphasize natin sa ating mga law enforcement agencies particularly sa ating mga kapulisan, sa Philippine National Police (PNP) natin, na ang unang-unang trabaho nila, isang pantay-pantay na enforcement ng ating batas, the vice presidential candidate said in an interview with journalists in Batangas City Tuesday. [Translation: We will do what we did in Davao City. We will emphasize to our law enforcement agencies, particularly to the Philippine National Police, that their primary task is to ensure the fair enforcement of the law.] She said it was the reason why the police office of Davao City, where she currently sits as mayor, was once recognized as one of the countrys best. Dahil naiintindihan nila (law enforcers) kung ano yung mga dapat nilang gawin, particularly against anti-criminality, Mayor Sara added. [Translation: Because law enforcers really understand what they should do, particularly against anti-criminality.] International non-government organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported that President Dutertes controversial campaign has left 12,000 Filipinos dead. It said over 2,500 or nearly a fourth of the deaths were attributed to the PNP. HRW said President Duterte and other senior officials have instigated and incited the killings in a campaign that could amount to crimes against humanity. Mayor Sara, however, argued that the campaign had led to the significant lowering of crime rates nationwide during her fathers administration. President Duterte currently enjoys one of the highest Social Weather Stations (SWS) satisfaction ratings by a chief executive on his final year, compared to his predecessors since Cory Aquino in 1986. War on Drugs With Love The tandem of Marcos and Mayor Sara earlier said the war on drugs shall be pursued and won through "love." Their "War on Drugs With Love" includes more rehabilitation centers, health workers, and livelihood programs for illegal drug dependents. The UniTeam Alliance added that law enforcers should also intensify security checks in the countrys ports to prevent the entry of illegal drugs. They are also pushing for the continued cleansing of police ranks by constantly being vigilant and dismissing officers found using illegal drugs, as well as going after police officers involved in the drug trade. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 22) The government aims to vaccinate 80% of the vulnerable population against COVID-19 before the country eases to Alert Level 1. In a televised briefing Monday night, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the recommendation is from presidential adviser for COVID-19 response Vince Dizon. "Bago ma-de-escalate to Alert Level 1, kinakailangang 80% [ang vaccination rate] ng ating A2 and A3... At kung hindi po sila makarating sa panukatan na 'yan ay hindi tayo puwedeng ibaba," he said. [Translation: Before we de-escalate the country to Alert Level 1, the vaccination rate of the A2 and A3 groups should be 80%. If they will not reach this, then we cannot de-escalate.] The vaccination rate is also a good metric to use when deciding which areas are ready to shift to Alert Level 1, he added. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said health authorities want to focus on immunizing the remaining three million senior citizens and people with comorbidities. Duque reported that from Feb. 15 to 21, the country's average number of daily reported cases was 1,972, down 44% compared to the previous week. Healthcare utilization rate was classified as low risk. Currently, the National Capital Region and several other areas are under Alert Level 2 until the end of February. Metro Manila mayors will meet on Tuesday and they are expected to come up with a recommendation on the capital regions next alert level status. They already expressed readiness to de-escalate the region to the lowest classification to be able to open more industries. A meeting hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy takes place to discuss corresponding export measures over the Ukraine-Russia crisis, at the Korea Trade Insurance Corp. in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo Concern is growing over the economy falling into the trap of twin deficits, as the country's trade balance is on the verge of remaining in the red for the third consecutive month while its budget deficit tops 100 trillion won ($83.74 billion). The looming risk of twin deficits, which refers to deficits in both budget balance and current account balance with the trade balance being its main component is fueling concerns it will also negatively affect Korea's credit ratings to be updated by S&P and Moody's as early as April. Any possible downgrade in sovereign ratings, according to analysts, Tuesday, will add to multiple stumbling blocks to be faced by the next president in revitalizing the pandemic-stricken economy after the March 9 presidential election. Korea's trade deficit during the first 20 days of February is estimated at $1.67 billion, according to the Korea Customs Service (KCS), Tuesday. The deficit is attributed to soaring oil and other energy prices. If the trend continues until the end of this month, the losing streak of the trade balance will be extended for the third month straight. In a separate finding released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Feb. 1, the trade shortfall went up from $452 million last December to $4.89 billion in January. It was the largest monthly deficit the government has recorded since it started compiling related data in 1966. "As far as I remember correctly, S&P cited Korea's trade surplus and stabilized government budget balance when it upgraded the country's credit rating in 2016," Lee Sang-ho, head of the Korea Economic Research Institute's (KERI) economic policy team, told The Korea Times. "But it could change its mind this time considering Korea's budget balance and trade balance are getting far worse." One of the three global ratings agencies, S&P, has kept Korea's long-term sovereign credit rating since August 2016 at "AA," the third-highest level on the company's table. It is anticipated to update the rating in April. Moody's currently maintains an "Aa2" rating on Korea with a stable outlook. The new rating is expected to be announced in the next two or three months, based on the outcome of the agency's ongoing annual consultation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Bank of Korea and other relevant government groups from Feb. 21 to 28. Fitch affirmed Korea at "AA-," the fourth-highest level in its system, last month. Lee warned that the ratings from any of the three agencies can be downgraded, pointing to the sluggish pace of export growth amid concerns over the depreciation of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar and subsequent outflow of foreign capital. The Ukraine-Russia conflict can deal a blow to the energy market, thereby aggravating Korea's slowdown in export growth in the long term. "And you can imagine the heavy burden the next president will face," Lee said. Another analyst speculated there could be an outflow of foreign capital from Korean bond investments, possibly a record high of 214 trillion won, if S&P and Moody's downgrade Korea's ratings and present a negative outlook on its economy. (CNN) Australia is demanding China investigate the alleged use of a laser to "illuminate" an Australian jet in waters off the country's north coast in an incident that threatens to worsen relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday he'd called on the Chinese government to explain the "dangerous" and "reckless" act allegedly carried out by a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship last week. "This was dangerous, it was unprofessional and it was reckless for a professional navy, and we want some answers as to why they did this," Morrison said. "At worst, it was intimidating and bullying." "They're the ones who need to explain, not just to Australia, but to think of all the countries in our region," he added. "It could occur to anyone else who is just simply doing the normal surveillance of their own Exclusive Economic Zone." Morrison said Monday Chinese authorities had not yet responded to his call for answers. At a regular briefing in Beijing, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters the ship was abiding by international law. "After checking with relevant Chinese authorities, the information released by the Australian side is not true. The normal navigation of the Chinese ship on the high seas conforms to relevant international law and practice and is completely legitimate and lawful," Wang said. "We urge the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese vessels in relevant waters in accordance with international law and stop maliciously spreading false information about China." Earlier, state-run tabloid the Global Times accused Canberra of trying to damage Beijing's reputation in the South Pacific. "The Australian military knowingly hyped this with the aim of throwing mud at China," the article said, citing an anonymous analyst. The paper accused Canberra of trying to draw attention away from the Chinese military's aid efforts in the South Pacific, citing the recent delivery of aid to Tonga in the wake of a large volcanic eruption and tsunami and the shipping of Covid medical supplies to the Solomon Islands. "Australia does not like China providing concrete benefits to other countries near Australia, so it is finding all ways to discredit China," the story said, citing unnamed analysts. A defensive act or provocative move? The incident in question allegedly occurred last week when an Australian P-8A aircraft, a reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare plane, was flying over the Arafura Sea, the body of water between Australia's Northern Territory and the island of New Guinea to the north. The Australian Defense Force said in a statement Saturday the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel used a laser to "illuminate" the Australian plane. In the Global Times story, China did not explicitly deny a laser was used on the Australian aircraft, but said it would be normal for a warship to use a laser range finder if an aircraft got to close to a vessel. "Australia failed to tell the public how close its aircraft flew near the Chinese vessels, so people could not tell if the Chinese vessels were forced to take defensive countermeasures," the Global Times said, attributing the statement to Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator. In the past, pilots targeted by laser attacks have reported disorienting flashes, pain, spasms and spots in their vision and even temporary blindness. "During critical phases of flight when the pilot does not have adequate time to recover, the consequences of laser exposure could be tragic," according to a US Federal Aviation Administration document. Using a laser rangefinder on an aircraft could be considered a provocation as it shows the warship is trying to determine a fire control solution on the aircraft without using the ship's fire control radar, said Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain. He said it's possible inexperienced operators on the Chinese ship tried to aim the laser at parts of the plane other than its cockpit and failed. But Peter Layton, a former Australian Air Force officer and analyst at the Griffith Asia Institute, discounted the possibility of the incident being inadvertent. "The PLA Navy is a highly disciplined navy and there will be several Communist Party political officers on board to advise the captain and make sure he acts in accordance with Party guidance. This means this is not an accident but is a purposeful act, authorized at the highest levels," Layton said. The ship that allegedly pointed the laser at the Australian jet was one of two PLAN warships sailing east across the Arafura Sea at the time, the Australian military said. It released photos of two Chinese ships with the statement, which, according to their hull numbers, were the guided-missile destroyer Hefei and the amphibious transport dock Jinggang Shan. Australia did not say which of the two ships pointed the laser at the Australian aircraft. The incident is not the first report of Chinese vessels pointing lasers at Australian aircraft. In May 2019, Australian pilots said they were targeted multiple times by commercial lasers during missions over the South China Sea. And in a report in June 2018, US military officials told CNN that there were at least 20 suspected Chinese laser incidents in the eastern Pacific from September 2017 to June 2018. Military tensions between China and Australia have been on the rise, and spiked in November when Canberra said it was entering a pact with the United States and United Kingdom to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. The day the sub deal was announced, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijan said Australia should "seriously consider whether to view China as a partner or a threat." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Australia demands answers from China over alleged laser incident at sea" (CNN) Another weekend of protests against Canada's Covid-19 mandates saw around 200 arrests in the nation's capital as authorities moved to end the weekslong demonstration, towing vehicles and going after protesters' pocketbooks with financial penalties. Police said they employed pepper spray and escalated tactics over the weekend to disperse crowds and make arrests with protesters gathered in front of the Parliament building. Some of those arrests included protesters who allegedly had smoke grenades and fireworks, and were wearing body armor, police said. Ontario's Special Investigation Unit is also reviewing an incident where a woman was reportedly seriously injured after an interaction with a police officer on a horse, and a second where an officer discharged a less-than-lethal firearm at protesters. Ottawa Interim Police Chief Steve Bell told a news conference Sunday police operations had seen a dramatic decline in the number of protesters. But he said downtown residents had woken to fencing and a "very heavy police presence" as well as checkpoints throughout the city. "While I know that everyone is pleased to see many of the unlawful protesters are gone, this is not the normal state of our city," he said. "Despite the successes of the past few days, we still require these measures to prevent unlawful protesters from returning." Bell said 191 protesters had been arrested and 107 people charged. Charges included obstructing police, disobeying a court order, assault, mischief, possessing a weapon and assaulting a police officer, he said. Chris Harkins, deputy commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police reported at the news conference 76 vehicles had been seized and towed. The Ottawa protests were started in late January by a group of truck drivers opposed to a Covid-19 vaccine and testing mandate. But others outside the trucking industry have joined to express their frustration with an array of other Covid-19 health measures, such as requirements to wear masks in schools. Officials vowed to end the protests through unprecedented protocols, including the Emergencies Act. The law allows the Canadian government to tap into military forces, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has made it clear troops will not be needed. Although Ottawa's streets were calm, quiet and free of protesters Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended invoking the Emergencies Act, saying the situation remains "fragile." "Right now, when the situation is still of people pre-positioning, people being out there indicating that they are ready to blockade, to continue their illegal occupations, to disrupt Canadians' lives, we feel that this measure needs to remain in place while this emergency situation is still in place," Trudeau said at a news conference on Parliament Hill Monday. Protesters hit with financial penalties as funding sources investigated Mike Duheme, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner of federal policing told Sunday's news conference the Emergencies Act had helped with the police operation. Trudeau on Monday alleged that "foreign money," including from the US, was helping to support the unlawful protest. "There needs to be a reflection about misinformation and disinformation and how Canadians' lives can be disrupted by it. There needs to be a reflection on foreign funding of illegal actions in our country designed to disrupt or destabilize our democracy." "Provisions of this Emergencies Act have allowed us to maintain the perimeter, restrict travel and ensure that we can continue to choke off financial support and other assistance to protesters," Duheme said. Canadian authorities on Sunday froze the finances associated with certain individuals and companies believed to be involved in the protest, Duheme said. The RCMP froze 206 financial products, including bank and corporate accounts; disclosed the information of 56 entities associated with vehicles, individuals and companies; shared 253 bitcoin addresses with virtual currency exchangers; and froze a payment processing account valued at $3.8 million, Duheme told the news conference. "We continue to work at collecting relevant information on persons, vehicles and companies and remain in daily communication with the financial institution to assist them," Duheme said. Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly told CNN's Christiane Amanpour officials were looking into how the blockades had been funded. "We've launched inquiries to see whether there was foreign influence. I've raised the issue with Secretary Blinken, my counterparts also within Canada have raised issues, because we're very preoccupied with the financing, through crowdsourcing, first, and also the disinformation campaign linked to it," she said. In the meantime, Canadian officials Saturday announced small businesses that had been unable to open due to blockades and who had suffered financial loss could apply for up to $10,000 they would not have to pay back. The funds, totaling up to $20 million, may only be used for nondeferrable operational costs not covered by other federal programs, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Canada looks to end Covid-19 protests with tougher financial measures after another weekend of arrests." (CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine in what the Kremlin called a "peacekeeping" mission, just hours after he signed decrees recognizing the independence of the Moscow-backed regions. It is unclear if Russian troop movements marked the beginning of an invasion of Ukraine that Western leaders have warned about for weeks. But multiple US and Western officials warned Monday's move could serve as the opening salvo of a larger military operation targeting the country. In a fiery speech on Monday night, Putin blasted Kyiv's growing security ties with the West, and in lengthy remarks about the history of the USSR and the formation of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, appeared to cast doubt on Ukraine's right to self-determination. "Ukraine has never had traditions of its own statehood," he said, calling the eastern part of the country "ancient Russian lands." The decrees signed by Putin conveyed Moscow's official recognition over two breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine -- the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic (DPR and LPR). The decrees recognized them as independent states and guaranteed their security with Russian troops. The decrees said that Russian so-called peacekeeping forces would be deployed in the regions. A senior US administration official said the speech was meant to "justify war" to the Russian people and that it amounted to "an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine" using "a number of false claims" meant to justify military action. "The human costs of a further Russian invasion and occupation will be devastating," the official said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation early Tuesday saying Russia's actions violate the country's "national integrity and sovereignty" and Ukraine's international borders will "remain as such." "We are on our land. We are not afraid of anything and anyone. We don't owe anything to anyone, and we will not give away anything to anyone. And we are confident of this," Zelensky said in his video address. He said Ukraine had initiated an emergency meeting with the Normandy Four, which also includes Germany, Russia and France. Separatists in eastern Ukraine have long had substantial backing from the Kremlin, with the US, NATO and Ukrainian officials saying Moscow supplies them with advisory support and intelligence, and embeds its own officers in their ranks. Russia has always denied having its own troops on the ground. Moscow has also distributed hundreds of thousands of Russian passports to people in Donbas in recent years, with Putin attempting to establish facts on the ground by naturalizing Ukrainians as Russian citizens. Kyiv and the West maintain that the region is part of Ukrainian territory, although the Ukrainian government asserts the two regions have been in effect Russian-occupied since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine began. Claims of Russian peacekeepers 'nonsense' In a last-minute UN Security Council meeting convened Monday evening, US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Putin's recognition of the pro-Moscow regions in eastern Ukraine was an "attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion." She said his claim that Russian forces are entering those regions as "peacekeepers" is "nonsense." "We know what they really are," Thomas-Greenfield said. Earlier on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Putin's decision to recognize the breakaway regions "a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty" and said US President Joe Biden would sign an executive order prohibiting "all new investment, trade and financing by US persons to, from, and in the so-called 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.'" The order would also allow the US to impose sanctions on anyone operating in those areas. French President Emmanuel Macron has requested the European Union adopt targeted sanctions on Russia, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the United Kingdom will announce new sanctions on Russia Tuesday. "There will be severe economic consequences to its actions," the UK's ambassador to the UN Barbara Woodward told the Security Council Monday. Biden said last month that "if any assembled Russian units move across Ukrainian border, that is an invasion. But it will be met with severe and coordinated economic response that I've discussed in detail with our allies, as well as laid out very clearly for President Putin." Putin increases combative rhetoric On Monday, Putin held a highly choreographed televised meeting with his top officials, accusing Kyiv of carrying out acts of aggression. Putin also accused the West of threats and blackmail during the previously unscheduled convening of the Russian security council that, in an unusually theatrical setting, was shown on television. The broadcast aired just hours after the White House announced that US President Joe Biden agreed "in principle" to French-brokered talks with Putin as long as Russia does not further invade Ukraine. The Kremlin said earlier on Monday that there were "no concrete plans" for a meeting. Speaking about the possibility of talks with Biden, Putin -- who held two lengthy phone calls with Macron on Sunday -- hinted he was skeptical. "Yesterday I spoke with the French President on two occasions, with the second call lasting until 2:00 a.m. or so. He assured me that the American position has changed somewhat. But when I asked what these changes are, he, unfortunately, could not say," Putin said. He then referred to remarks made on Sunday by Blinken, who stressed once again that the issue of Ukraine's membership in NATO is "an issue for Ukraine and for NATO." Assurances that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO in the future are one of the central demands made by the Kremlin. The increase in combative language from Putin came as tensions grow in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said it recorded 32 ceasefire violations as of 4 p.m. Monday local time, a number that was roughly in line with those over the weekend. New satellite images showed intensified activity among Russian units close to Ukraine's north-eastern border and the Ukrainian Defense ministry said it recorded dozens of ceasefire violations on Sunday. (CNN) The threat of a full-scale war weighed heavy in Europe on Tuesday as the international community scrambled to finalize sanctions and further rounds of diplomacy following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to order troops into separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainians have watched the situation unfold with a mixture of disbelief and fatalism, with President Volodymyr Zelensky pleading for the international community to impose "urgent sanctions" on Russia, including calling a "complete halt" to the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. "The Russian escalation against Ukraine is an unprecedented challenge not only for Ukraine, but for Europe and the world as a whole," Zelensky said on Tuesday. Putin, who has steadily amassed some 150,000 military personnel near Ukraine's borders, appeared to cast doubt on the sovereignty of Russia's neighbor in an angry speech on Monday. "Ukraine has never had traditions of its own statehood," he said, seemingly calling into question the country's right to exist as an independent nation, and referring to its eastern region as "ancient Russian lands." The same day, he signed decrees conveying Moscow's official recognition of two breakaway territories in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine -- the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). The decrees recognize the Moscow-backed territories as independent states and guarantee their security with Russian troops -- described by the Kremlin as a "peacekeeping" force -- ordered in to the region. But on Tuesday, Moscow declined to confirm whether Russian troops had yet entered the DPR or LPR. Moscow also asserted it was still open to talks with the United States. "No, I cannot confirm this information. I don't know anything about this," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said when CNN asked about the entry of Russian forces into Donbas overnight following Putin's orders. "Even in the most difficult times we said we were ready for a negotiating process," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said when asked if Putin's decision on Monday affected an upcoming meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to Russian state news agency TASS. Putin's actions, seen by American officials as an "attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion," have nonetheless crossed red lines set out by Western leaders. US President Joe Biden plans to impose new sanctions on trade and financing in the two territories, the White House said Monday. While far from the devastating consequences to Russia that Biden and US officials have warned would be imposed if Russia invades, the move is a sign that more sweeping measures are being kept in the event that Moscow moves forward with military action to invade Ukrainian territory. On Tuesday, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced it was halting certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline following Moscow's actions in eastern Ukraine on Monday. The $11 billion, 750-mile pipeline bypasses Ukraine and connects Russia directly to Germany. The European Union sanctions package will be decided on Tuesday afternoon, EU High Representative Josep Borrell told reporters, adding that he would not frame Russian troops in the Donbas region as a "fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil." The UK announced sanctions against five Russian banks and three Russian oligarchs on Tuesday. Other nations, including Australia and Japan, vowed to work in lockstep with the international community on sanctions. The Baltic states -- long fearful of Russian encirclement -- watched Monday's events with alarm. "Putin just put [Franz] Kafka & [George] Orwell to shame: No limits to dictator's imagination, no lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross," Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte, wrote on Twitter. "What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come," she said. International condemnation Amid the clamor of countries condemning Russia's planned incursion, some voices have been notable for the tone of their response. During an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council Monday evening, India called for "restraint on all sides," stopping short of criticizing Russia. China's envoy to the United Nations on Monday called for "all parties" to exercise restraint and avoid "fueling tensions" in Ukraine, but stopped short of condemning the Kremlin's recognition of independence for the DPR and LPR. China's Foreign Ministry evaded more than a dozen questions regarding Ukraine at a briefing on Tuesday. Kenya's envoy to the United Nations, however, delivered a blistering statement on Putin's imperial ambitions in Ukraine. "We believe that all states formed from empires that have collapsed or retreated have many peoples in them yearning for integration with peoples in neighboring states. This is normal and understandable. After all, who does not want to be joined to their brethren and to make common purpose with them?" Martin Kimani said Monday, according to a read out of his remarks. "However, Kenya rejects such a yearning from being pursued by force. We must complete our recovery from the embers of dead empires in a way that does not plunge us back into new forms of dominion and oppression," he said, adding that Kenya rejected "expansion on any basis, including racial, ethnic, religious or cultural factors." For almost eight years, the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk have seen a low-intensity conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, which has left more than 14,000 people dead. The US, NATO and Ukrainian officials say Moscow supplies the separatists with advisory support and intelligence, and embeds its own officers in their ranks. Russia has always denied having its own troops on the ground. Moscow has also distributed hundreds of thousands of Russian passports to people in Donbas in recent years. Western officials and observers have accused Putin of attempting to establish facts on the ground by naturalizing Ukrainians as Russian citizens. Kyiv and the West maintain that the region is part of Ukrainian territory, although the Ukrainian government asserts the two regions have been, in effect, Russian-occupied since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine began. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Western nations scramble response after Putin orders troops into pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine." Three of Penn State's political clubs came together Monday night in the HUB-Robeson Center's Freeman Auditorium to discuss solutions to what the College Democrats, College Republicans and College Independents all agreed is an ineffective American healthcare system. Ethan Wright, of the College Independents, began his argument stating a limited supply of healthcare options, such as doctors and medical equipment, and "near limitless" demand for healthcare hinder politicians' efforts to achieve the goal of healthcare as a human right. Wright (senior-data sciences) said America should adopt a single-payer healthcare system like most of the rest of the developed world one that "does not completely suck." Wright said most current congressional bills, such as Medicare for All, "would most likely be detrimental to the United States." The Medicare for All act supports the establishment of a universal medicare program, and "every individual who is a resident of the United States is entitled to benefits for health care services under this act. The Secretary shall promulgate a rule that provides criteria for determining residency for eligibility purposes under this act," according to the Senate Bill. For example, most other developed countries that use single-payer systems do not include hearing, eye or dental coverage, while congressional Democrats like Bernie Sanders want to include these in Medicare for All, according to Wright. David Morgan of the College Republicans said the limited healthcare programs that America has right now, like the Affordable Care Act, account for 17.7% of the federal budget, citing CNBC from 2020. Morgan (junior-political science and communication arts and sciences) said expanding America's current healthcare systems to cover the entire country would be "entirely economically infeasible." Sydney Robinson of the College Democrats said a vial of insulin in Canada costs $30, but in America, it costs $300. She said this is because "our government hasn't been fighting" on Americans' behalf. Robinson (sophomore-English and global and international studies), who said the College Democrats support Medicare for All, also said Medicare for All would not ban private insurance. "The government system would be so competitive without deductibles and without premiums and low co-pays that most people wouldn't want [private insurance]," Robinson said. Wright said even if healthcare became free, the availability and quality of healthcare would decrease which he said was seen during the coronavirus pandemic with many hospitals being overrun. Hospitals "would eventually be so bad that those who could afford it would get out, and we would be back to just a two-tier system of rich people with private insurance and poor people with absolutely horrific government-funded insurance," Wright said. About 150 Penn State students attended the event. Initially, supporters of the debaters clapped after each argument, but the moderators requested they stop in order to streamline the debate. The attendees tried snapping but with the same result. Ultimately, the students resorted to jazz hands shaking their outstretched hands in the air silently. Rafael Lara Matos of the College Democrats said one of the main healthcare problems that was exposed during the coronavirus pandemic was the lack of health insurance for people without a job. Lara Matos (sophomore-political science) said this lack of coverage in 2020 was only prevented by an expansion of government programs like the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and also the free market. "While it is not the best system, it is a better system than we had had beforehand," Lara Matos said. According to Lara Matos, while the ideal of healthcare as a human right might not be achievable as the College Independents suggested, the ideal should still be pursued. Lara Matos pointed to National Parks, which "are not necessarily good for budgets," Lara Matos said. "But they exist because we had the ideal to preserve nature." Joshua Reynolds of the College Republicans said after the debate, he was "grateful," and said it was an "insightful conversation." Reynolds (junior-economics, political science, Chinese, Spanish and Asian studies) said all sides presented their platforms well. "Everybody was able to leave here tonight a bit more informed, I hope, which is always the goal," Reynolds said. "I know that I was more informed." MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE Foundation vows to carry on Snow spirit By MAY ZHOU in Houston and NATHAN WILLIAM in Beijing (China Daily) 09:24, February 22, 2022 Edgar Snow (left) and his wife Helen Foster Snow. Organization's head 'very pleased' when he gets Xi's letter, praises intl friendship Adam Foster, a great-nephew of trailblazing United States journalist Helen Foster Snow, has long believed in the value of building connections between nations through people coming together. His great-aunt, together with Edgar Snow, whom she met and married in China, had championed the practice by making the Communist Party of China known to the world through their writings on the Party and the Chinese revolution. If ever Adam Foster could do with some reinforcement on the need for people-to-people exchanges, it came in late January in the form of a letter from President Xi Jinping. Xi told Foster in the letter that he highly appreciates the positive contributions made by his family to the development of relations between China and the United States over the years. The president highlighted the work of the Helen Foster Snow Foundation, an organization named after the accomplished journalist and writer in her own right who helped convey a more accurate picture of China to the world. Xi said he hopes that Foster and the foundation, based in Utah, will continue to follow the example of Edgar and Helen Snow. Foster, the foundation's president, told China Daily's Edgar Snow Newsroom: "I'm grateful that the leaders of our countries understand the importance of people-to-people relationships and building bridges and working together. Our work has also received a tremendous amount of support from people across the United States and China. So to me, this really is international friendship in action." Foster spoke of feeling "very pleased" when he received Xi's letter, a treasured delivery ahead of Spring Festival. The president's words of encouragement came in response to a letter Foster had sent him. Foster decided to write to Xi when he was taking stock of the foundation's accomplishments over the past four years to "emphasize the spirit of international friendship, which Helen Foster Snow embodied". Last year marked the 90th anniversary of Helen Foster's arrival in China, and Adam Foster said he wanted to thank the Chinese people for honoring his great-aunt's work over the years. Adam Foster let slip that there's also a connection between Helen Foster Snow and Xi Zhongxun, father of President Xi. Helen Foster Snow encouraged her friend Rewi Alley to establish the Bailey School in Shandan, Gansu province, in 1940 to help underprivileged children get an education. "Later, I learned that Rewi Alley invited President Xi's father to serve as an honorary principal of the Bailey School," he said. "So the spirit of international friendship, which Helen began so long ago, continues today. And I think this spirit was really echoed by President Xi's letter." With his great-aunt's charitable work in mind, Foster said that China's feat of raising millions of people out of poverty counts as the most remarkable change he has witnessed over the years. Foster said the foundation is committed to creating a platform for dialogue, engagement and practical cooperation focusing on exchanges in education, culture and business, as well as in the subnational sphere. To achieve that goal, the foundation is working with universities, museums and other institutions to promote language learning, education and cultural exchanges. "For example, we are working with partners in Jiangxi province to create a ceramic cultural center based in Utah, to share this amazing cultural tradition of ceramic artistry with Americans; with Northwest University in Xi'an, we are working to promote the Helen Foster Snow Translation Award to be a world-class translation competition," he said. The foundation is also planning to create a high-level award in Helen Foster Snow's name to recognize those who have helped to build bridges between the peoples of China and other nations. Foster said that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation has held several events in Chinese provinces to share his great-aunt's work as a photojournalist in 1930s China. "Events like these create a chance for subnational governments to engage and dialogue with each other on nonsensitive topics," he said. Last year, his daughter MakennaFoster was chosen as a young ambassador to represent the US at the Silk Road Children's Emissary for Chinese New Year. "We feel the best way to honor Helen is to continue the work she was engaged in, adapted to current conditions," Foster said. Adam Foster's first connection with China came when he met a Chinese student in southern France when he was 19. He was serving as a volunteer for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a faith whose adherents are known as Mormons. "While there, I met a young college student named Ge Yi from Beijing who was studying art at the university in Marseille," Foster said. "He was the first person from China I had ever met. I told him I was related to Helen Foster Snow and he said, 'Wow, your family is very famous!' I didn't really know what that meant at the time since I had never been to China." Of course, he heard about his great-aunt's trip to China when the US and China resumed contact in the early 1970s. However, he had no clue of the impact she had on China and US-China relations. He remembered her mostly as a generous family member who, while not wealthy herself, helped to pay for his father's college education. Helen Foster went to China in 1931 and reported on China for several US publications. There she met Edgar Snow and married him. In 1937, she traveled to Yan'an, befriended Red Army leader Mao Zedong and was granted full access to other Communist leaders and the military. Her photos gave a big boost to Edgar Snow's celebrated book Red Star Over China, which amplified Mao's thinking on the world stage. The Snows also helped to develop Chinese Industrial Cooperativesthe Gung Ho movementto create jobs and income for Chinese people to gain economic power against the Japanese invaders. She returned to the US in 1940 and resumed contact with China following president Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972. Little known in the US, Helen Foster Snow is a household name in China. Adam Foster became friends with Ge and calls him his very first Chinese friend. "The most astonishing thing was how alike we were. His sense of humor was similar to my own. He was honest, hardworking and very hospitable," Foster recalled. "These were values that I was taught at a young age growing up in the culture of Utah, and I marveled how someone who lived on the other side of the world could be so similar to the people I grew up with." That encounter prompted Foster to read Helen Foster Snow's work My China Years after he returned to Utah to attend college. "I was spellbound learning about 1930s China, Helen and Edgar Snow's courtship, the Dec 9 Movement, the Xi'an Incident, Helen's escape from her hotel window to visit Yan'an, and the Chinese Industrial Cooperative (Gung Ho) Movement. It had romance, adventure and intrigue. I remember thinking, this should be a movie!" In 2016, Adam Foster was invited to China by Northwest University in Xi'an and spent several days traveling to sites associated with Helen and Edgar Snow's past. In 2018, Foster visited again to attend the dedication ceremony for the Gung Ho Museum in Baoji, Shaanxi province. There, he realized how the model of Utah's industrial cooperatives promoted by Brigham Young, Utah's first governor, had been promoted by Snow in China and then India. Inspired by his great-aunt, Foster established the Helen Foster Snow Foundation in 2018 to continue her remarkable legacy of bridge-building, and he has never looked back. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) The office of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Republic of Korea / Newsis By Park Han-sol During the early stage of the 1950-53 Korean War, North Korean soldiers in retreat from the South massacred over 1,100 Christians in accordance with the regime's drive toward religious persecution, a state commission announced, Tuesday. In the wake of the successful Incheon Landing Operation of the United Nations Command the covert amphibious landing of 75,000 troops at the port of the city on Sept. 15, 1950 the North's army, which had previously reached the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, was soon forced to withdraw. It was during the course of this retreat that the North Korean military killed at least 1,145 Christians, said a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was made based on research by the Seoul Theological University. The violent religious persecution, which lasted for over a month particularly in the Jeolla and South Chungcheong provinces, was launched after the North Korean authorities ordered its forces to "eliminate any reactionary groups" ahead of its withdrawal on Sept. 26, 1950. Specifically, the paper states that the Korean People's Army of the North beat and murdered 66 members of a Protestant church in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, for two days from Sept. 27 to 28, after deeming the church itself to be a hostile enemy force. The same month, in Jeongeup of North Jeolla Province, 167 church elders and those on the right wing were burned to death after being locked up in the city's police station. Another 150 were massacred and buried in an abandoned mine tucked away in the region's Mount Dusung. While statistical data in regards to the North's massacres released by several religious bodies and individual scholars in the past remained largely unreliable, the university's latest research compiled a list of the victims' names based on months-long documentary research, visits to local churches and the gathering of personal testimonies. The research team further argued that such mass killings of Christians should be viewed not as an accidental event, but rather as a planned purge that resulted from the North Korean authorities' political branding of Christianity as "pro-American, anti-communist" rebel forces. "Communism and Christianity have been at odds here since the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea, which continued well after the liberation in the process of building the new nation," the report reads. "The oppression of Christianity was in full swing during the Korean War and became evident in a series of massacres during the North Korean soldiers' retreat." As the 100th running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb approaches, Colorado Springs lawmakers are seeking to honor the annual race with a new license plate. If passed, Senate Bill 107 would create the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb special license plate. This would be Colorados 40th special license plate, available for drivers to purchase beginning in 2023 for a one-time fee of $50. (The race) is a major event in our community every year, said Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, who is sponsoring the bill with Colorado Springs Democrat Rep. Marc Snyder. This great license plate mockup is going to contribute to Colorados economy and to the great history of Colorado, Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak. The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is the second-oldest ongoing motorsport race in the United States; the Indianapolis 500 is the first. Colorado Springs benefactor Spencer Penrose started the Pikes Peak race in 1916 in an attempt to attract visitors to his new hotel, The Broadmoor. The course is 12.42 miles long, featuring 156 turns and nearly 5,000 feet of elevation gain beginning at around 9,300 feet above sea level and ending at 14,115 feet. The current race record is just over 7 minutes and 57 seconds, set by French driver Romain Dumas in 2018. The winner of the first race was Rea Lentz from Seattle with a time of 20 minutes and 55.6 seconds. The race will mark its 100th running on June 26 this year, with 13 international racers coming to Colorado Springs to participate. The race has been held nearly every year since 1916, halting only for World War I and World War II. The proposed license plate design features the phrases Pikes Peak Hill Climb and the events nickname, The Race to the Clouds. The design also includes images of two racing vehicles, one old and one new, to demonstrate the events rich history, said Alex Feeback, coordinator of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. (The race) attracts many prestigious international competitors some nationally recognized celebrity drivers but also a lot of homegrown, grassroot competitors from Colorado, Feeback said. Last year, our 2021 spectators were made up of 55% Colorado residents, which shows great support from the state. The bill went through its first House panel Wednesday, advancing in a 4-1 vote. Sen. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, was the only panel member to vote against the bill, saying he is concerned there wouldnt be enough demand for the new license plate. The state estimates 4,171 of the new license plates would be purchased by 2024, generating over $200,000 that would go to the Highway Users Tax Fund and the Licensing Services Cash Fund. The new license plates would cost the state just over $48,000 to roll out in the first two years. The state House of Representatives unanimously approved legislation that seeks to modify Colorados sexual assault law by adding the word consent. The House passed House Bill 1169 on Tuesday with 64 members voting in support and one member, Eaton Republican Rep. Tonya Van Beber, excused. The bill's next stop is the state Senate. Im so thrilled that the entire body recognized the importance and urgency of adding the word consent to the law, said bill sponsor Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City. One more step in making it harder to get away with sexual assault in Colorado. The bipartisan bill also sponsored by Rep. Matt Soper, R-Delta aims to change Colorados legal definition of sexual assault from sexual intrusion when the actor causes submission of the victim by means sufficient to cause submission against the victims will to when the actor causes sexual intrusion knowing the victim does not consent. The current law was written in the 1970s and Colorado is one of only two states in the country that still uses the language. Soper said 34 other states currently use the language proposed under the bill in their sexual assault laws. Colorado also includes the term consent in its law for misdemeanor sexual contact, but not for sexual assault. Both bill sponsors said they hope the change would clarify the law to help jurors make decisions in sexual assault cases and to help victims understand whether what happened to them legally qualifies as sexual assault. This bill come as, last year, the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault reported that Colorados sexual violence rate is higher than the national average. The organization said 23.8% of women in Colorado had experienced sexual violence, compared to 18.3% nationally. A sexual assault occurs in the U.S. every 68 seconds, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. Less than one in three sexual assaults are reported to law enforcement, and, of those reported, only around 16% result in arrests and 9% result in felony convictions, the network said. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Would you like to receive our news updates? Signup today! Sign up to receive notifications when a new Columbia Gorge News e-Edition is published. Error! There was an error processing your request. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. News and Info from our Community Partners Information from the News and our advertisers (Want to add your business to this to this feed?) Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. A medical worker takes a nasal swab sample from a man at a makeshift COVID-19 testing site in Seoul, Feb. 21. AP-Yonhap New COVID-19 infections rose again to just shy of 100,000 for Monday amid fears that cases could further surge due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus across the country. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 99,573 new infections, including 99,444 local ones, raising the total caseload to 2,157,734. New daily infections have risen at a fast pace in recent weeks, surpassing the 100,000 mark for the first time Thursday. They remained above the threshold for two more days before falling to 95,362 for Sunday due to fewer tests over the weekend. The health authorities have warned that the caseload could spike further to as high as 270,000 by early next month due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant. The ongoing death toll from COVID-19 came to 7,508, up 58 from Sunday for a fatality rate of 0.35 percent, according to the KDCA. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form As the Cubs were beating the Braves 6-3 Wednesday night Steve left to see the game with his mom and dad, Reva and Harold, brother Ron and baby niece Elizabeth Henney. He left behind to run the store his wife Kathleen (Knight), Amelia (27), Nathan (24) and his beloved cat Lewis Black. His sis Sohn Hyuk-sang, left, president of Korea International Cooperation Agency and Antonio Guterres, right, the United Nations Secretary General, deliver remarks at the PyeongChang Peace Forum, which kicked off Tuesday at Alpensia Convention Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, Tuesday, in person and via video, respectively. Courtesy of Korea International Cooperation Agency By Jung Da-min The leaders of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the United Nations have vowed to maintain their efforts for peaceful diplomatic solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. KOICA President Sohn Hyuk-sang and U.N. Secratary General Antonio Guterress delivered their messages emphasizing peace efforts, Tuesday, during the PyeongChang Peace Forum 2022, co-hosted by KOICA and the local governments of Gangwon Prvoince and PyeongChang City and organized by the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation. Noting that challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change have deepened conflict between social groups and regions, Sohn said the risk of global conflicts and disputes has increased, requiring more effort to secure peace. Sohn addressed the need for cooperation and solidarity in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) amid the global crisis. "Development and progress cannot exist unless they are founded on peace. Even if they do occur, they are not sustainable. It is inevitable for peace to be threatened and lead to conflict if poverty, hunger, marginalization, and discrimination persist," Sohn said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also emphasized the importance of peace and cooperation in his congratulatory remarks, delivered via video. "The latest developments in the region have reminded us of the need for peaceful diplomatic solutions," Guterres said. "We are living in a time of escalating geopolitical tensions and divisions, when misunderstanding or miscalculation could have disastrous consequences for humanity," he said. "It will take unity and solidarity to turn the tides and realize the PyeongChang Peace Forum vision of 'Peace, Here and Now.' Inclusive and participatory dialogue for peace is imperative," the secretary general added. KOICA, as a co-host of the PyeongChang Peace Forum, will hold an online video conference under the theme "Development, Environment and Peace Nexus In Borders and Borderlands: Theories and Practice," open to domestic and foreign experts and the general public, Wednesday, the second day of the three-day forum. Based on cases discussed at this meeting, KOICA plans to cooperate with relevant domestic and foreign organizations to apply the findings in selecting and operating future development cooperation projects. The video conference will be streamed live on the official website of the PyeongChang Peace Forum (www.ppf.or.kr) and its official YouTube channel at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Registration for the event is free. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-334-2557 or email legals@bulletinjournal.com. What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 319-352-3334 or email legals@waverlynewspapers.com. It may be a cliche, but words really did give Mary Goodrich Jenson wings. When she was a young child, her grandfather constantly read to her. He read fairy tales filled with heroes completing impossible-seeming tasks, and shared Shakespeare and articles about current events. By 5 she was reading the newspaper herself and had developed a lifelong love of the news business. In 1927, a 20-year-old Jenson went to the Hartford Courant to apply for a job as a reporter. They kind of laughed at me, Jenson recalled during a video interview conducted in 1999 in honor of her 2000 induction into the Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame. They thought it was very funny that a girl should come into the city room and ask for a job. It was definitely a mans province. However, when the city editor learned that she was taking flying lessons, he agreed to hire her to write about aviation. Though her professional ambition was to work for a newspaper, Jenson was smitten with flight after an impromptu trip on a plane with friends at a Boston airfield. As the ship gathered speed and the wheels left the ground, I was not exactly scared, but leaving the ground like that seemed such an unnatural thing to be doing that it rather took my breath away, she wrote in the Hartford Courant in September 1928. Many years later, she could still remember the magic of that moment. [I] fell in love with the air, being up and looking down it was just an experience. Unbelievable. It was more than a thrill. It was just perfect, she said in the 1999 interview. When I came home and announced that I would like to take flight lessons, I dont think my mother and father thought it was a wonderful idea. But they were supportive. On her first visit to Brainard Field (today the Hartford-Brainard Airport) in search of flight lessons, she was struck by a sign on the side of one building beckoning in big, prominent letters, Learn to Fly. Thanks to her enthusiasm for flight, Jenson became the first woman to have a byline in the Courant, writing a series in the fall of 1928 chronicling her flight lessons called A Woman Learns to Fly. The following year, she became the first woman in Connecticut to achieve a private pilots license narrowly beating out Irene Chassey, an employee of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co., whose pilots license was issued 48 hours later. To earn her license, Jenson needed to fly solo, an experience she recalled as being like no other. My first solo, of course, was the thrill of a lifetime, she said in the video. Getting up in an airplane by yourself I think all fliers have to express a feeling of wonder and achievement. Its a wonderful feeling to be up in the air by yourself. In the Courant she wrote of her palpable sense of excitement the first time she flew a plane. The first rush of wind in my face as the throttle was opened full warned me that this experience would be in no way comparable to my first airplane ride in a closed ship. I felt the stick slip forward. The plane dashed along the ground, gathering speed constantly. The roar of the engine grew so intensely that it was deafening. I had been so absorbed, that I was not aware that the ship had left the ground. Suddenly came the realization that we were actually flying. Jensons passion for flight would stay with her for the rest of her life. According to the Connecticut Womens Hall of Fame, she was one of 99 charter members of the famed womens aviation group, the Ninety-Nines, of which Amelia Earhart was also a member. Jenson was the only female passenger on the Hindenburg in 1936 when it flew over Hartford, and was the first woman to fly solo to Cuba. She was also director of the Betsy Ross Corps, a group of female pilots organized to assist in national defense during emergencies, and, on the eve of World War II, she promoted the Women Flyers of America, a unit of female pilots that transported supplies and ferried planes from factories to airfields, so male pilots could be spared for wartime service. Despite these milestones, her flying career ended in the early 1930s after declining depth perception made landing an aircraft difficult for her. However, this was not the end of her adventures. She moved to Los Angeles and took a job working for Walt Disney Studios where she started the story research department. She told the Hartford Courant in 2000 that while at that job she found a childrens book at a library called Dumbo the Flying Elephant and suggested to Disney that he make a movie out of it. (While we couldnt verify this story, its easy to see how the flight- and fairy tale-loving Jenson would be enchanted by a story about a flying elephant.) While working at Disney, she met her future husband, Carl D. Jenson, and the two moved back to Connecticut. The couple raised two children in Wethersfield, and Mary Goodrich Jenson served on the Wethersfield Board of Education for several years and was a member of the Wethersfield Republican Town Committee. She remained active and sharp into her 90s before dying in 2004 at age 96. Despite her accomplishments and daredevil drive, she always remained humble. To me, its all related with a great deal of luck all the way through, she said of her life in the 1999 interview. So many people are at the right spot at the wrong time. And it seems to me I was at the right spot at the right time very often. This article appears in the March 2022 issue of Connecticut Magazine. You can subscribe to Connecticut Magazine here, or find the current issue on sale here. Sign up for our newsletter to get our latest and greatest content delivered right to your inbox. Have a question or comment? Email editor@connecticutmag.com. And follow us on Facebook and Instagram @connecticutmagazine and Twitter @connecticutmag. 100% Website ispr.gov.pk uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap and Php. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 359919 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 148639 bytes (145.16 kb uncompressed) and 19154 bytes (18.71 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2022-02-22, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. People read about the lifting of curfew, published in The Korea Times Dec. 29, 1982. / Korea Times Archive By Matt VanVolkenburg From the 1950s to the 1970s, at 10 p.m., radio stations would begin telling listeners to begin thinking about heading home, and within an hour, public transportation would become crowded as people tried to rush home before curfew began. At midnight a curfew siren would sound, and police would set up barricades in the streets and detain anyone caught outside. This continued in Seoul until Jan. 5, 1982. Before that, the curfew had only been lifted on specific evenings, such as President Syngman Rhee's birthday (in the 1950s), or Christmas Eve , but from that night on, people would be free to move about after midnight for the first time in 36 years. While precedents for the curfew existed in Seoul during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, during which a gendered curfew system allowed men to take to the streets during the day, and women in the evening, South Korea's curfew was first imposed in Seoul and Incheon on Sept. 8, 1945, by the U.S. military government. It was expanded nationwide on July 8, 1950, after the outbreak of the Korean War, and shortened to four hours on April 1, 1955. Some places were not always subject to the curfew. It was lifted on Jeju Island and Ulleung Island in early 1964, in the inland province of North Chungcheong Province in 1965 and at tourism resorts in Onyang and Gyeongju in 1966. As well, even in Seoul, various bars and teahouses would close their doors at midnight with the patrons still inside, who would then while away the hours over food, drink and conversation. Go-go clubs in hotels also remained open throughout the curfew. Things began to change in late 1981. The unpopular authoritarian government of Chun Doo-hwan, having come to power the year before in a military coup, managed to earn some respectability when it was awarded the right to host the 1988 Summer Olympics. In early November 1981, the ruling party decided to submit a proposal to the National Assembly urging that the nighttime curfew be lifted the following year. On New Year's Day, the Korea Times noted that "The year 1982...will see the removal of the 67-year-old curfew sometime in the spring." To "boost the festive mood," curfew was lifted for three days after New Year's Eve. During his New Year's Day speech, however, Chun Doo-hwan surprised everyone by announcing that the curfew would be lifted permanently on the evening of Jan. 5. "As a Korea Times editorial put it, "Noting the fact that no serious troubles had taken place during the no-curfew hours on Christmas Eve and during the New Year holidays, President Chun told the Cabinet to take action and procedures necessary to lift the curfew". A map shows shaded regions where the curfew will remain in place, published in The Korea Times Jan. 5, 1982. Not all areas were to have the curfew lifted, however. Districts near the DMZ and along the coast would continue the curfew out of military necessity, though 16 port cities along the coast, including Sokcho, Ulsan, Busan, Mokpo and Incheon were exempted from this rule. More surprises followed the next day, when Chun "instructed the Education Ministry to moderate, if not get rid of, decades-old rules under which middle- and high-school students of the nation have had to wear more or less identical school uniforms and their hair cut short." The day after that, the public was presented with a major Cabinet reshuffle in which six high-level officials were replaced. As Stars and Stripes put it, "The presidential pronouncements took most South Koreans and foreigners by surprise." An editorial cartoon depicts surprise at Chun Doo-hwan's many surprise changes, published in The Korea Times Jan. 5, 1982. The Korea Times argued that "what is significant about the [school] measure together with the removal of curfew is that the government has amply demonstrated its determination in action to set the national life on a course of liberalization, wiping out restrictive vestiges of the past." The Washington Post, on the other hand, described these measures as being "part of a bid by President Chun Doo Hwan to enhance his popularity," and quoted a diplomatic analyst in Seoul as saying, "Lifting the curfew was intended primarily for foreign consumption Can you imagine a country that has a curfew sponsoring the Olympics?" On Jan. 5, people in Seoul experienced their first night of freedom. City bus and subway schedules were extended for an extra 30 minutes, taxis operated throughout the night and gas station hours were lengthened. Stars and Stripes printed the thoughts of a 28-year-old Seoul resident who said, "I always got nervous around midnight I'm glad it's over. It's fantastic." An American infantryman agreed. "I think it will cut down on tension," he said. "Police won't have to rush people off the streets now. It will just be a more relaxed atmosphere." Though the streets were no longer off limits, not as many people were on the streets after midnight as might have been expected. In Itaewon, most bars were closed by 1 am. Though they hoped for more business on weekends, no club owners expected that business would boom immediately. Seoulites stroll around after midnight following the lifting of the nightly curfew, published in The Korea Times Jan. 6, 1982. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Community News -AI reaction to whistle improved. -Players get detected by enemies when using environmental traps. -Wild animals detecting Eivor regardless of distance/angle and alerting nearby NPCs. -NPCs disengaging from conflicts extremely quickly. -Enemy detection cones reducing when using a bow. -Monks having difficulty to leave the music crowd stations in the quest Taken (Kidnap Estrid). -Combat: Enemies inflict less damage and don't scale with players. -Stealth: More time allowed to perform actions when being detected (assassinating, shooting, disengaging, etc.). -Damage Eivor Takes. -Eivor Damage Output. -Ration Healing Ratio. -Adrenaline Regeneration . -Enemy Health Modifier. -Eivor gets teleported randomly in some instances. -Headshots are blocked by the NPC's shield when shooting from behind while undetected. -Players can remain stuck in any Boss fight if Dive of the Valkyries is used as last hit while having the Night Rogue Set equipped. -PC players losing all input after pressing the ; key on their keyboard. -Light Fingered skill not activating when dodging through a lootable body. -Cannot defeat the Black Shuck Alpha Animal as the end QTE is not appearing. -Enemy's attacks become weaker if Combat Difficulty value was set to Custom. -Unable to use the fishing line. -Unable to use rations. -Several option changes made from the pause menu were not applied. -Hero stats not updated correctly upon equipping the Arenhare'ko:wa Gear Set. -Feign death ability not working properly when used on specific terrain or objects. -Eivor's bow disappearing when using the Goule Breath. -Mouse and keyboard icons remain visible despite adding a controller. -Wrath of the Druids: Enemies in Dublin and Meath territories do not scale with Eivor's Power Level after changing Level scaling options. -The Siege of Paris: Keyboard input being displayed while using a controller in some instances. -Dag is not present near the longhouse making it impossible to complete A Brewing Storm. -Cannot progress The Prodigal Prince as the assassination prompts are not showing up during the training sequence. -Cannot collect the Offchurch Key during the Tilting the Balance quest. -Cannot assassinate Gorm in Hunter of Beasts. -Missing quest marker in Closing the Vault after following Ljufvina. -Unable to complete The Forge and the Flame quest as a cutscene would not be triggered. -Unable to complete Pilgrimage to St. Albanes as players cannot interact with Fulke. -Unable to kill the Pict Chief during the quest Old Friends. -Unable to proceed in Road to Hamartia as Beonton the dog is stuck. -Unable to interact with Ivarr during King Killer. -Unable to complete A Feast to Remember after defeating Suttungr. -Unable to proceed in Abbots Gambit with the objective Find Fulke and Sigurd. -Unable to complete This Son of Jorvik as Faravid does not get on his horse. -Old Wounds cannot be completed as Rollo is stuck outside his camp. -Guards are stuck in the brothel in Old Wounds. -Cannot complete King of Shitsby World Event due to NPC spawning outside of the church. -Deviled Water world event cannot be completed as NPC is stuck in the river. -Haunting of Neist Point and The Drink of the Picts world events cannot be completed if a meditation is performed during the Dialogue Scene. -The NPC does not show up in the camp in the World Event The Twit Saga Part 2. -The Siege of Paris: Siegfried does not move in Warlord of Melun. -Wrath of the Druids: Barid and Ciara will not go to the coronation for Flann over Ireland. -A Fated Encounter does not update upon completing A Wise Friend and building Valka's Hut. -The Temple could be opened by throwing a fire pot at the door in What Dream May Come. -What Dreams May Come quest does not update after exploring the Cave of Gold if the objective is reached after entering a conflict state. -Enemy villagers can be found again at the light puzzle in the Cave of Gold after completing What Dreams May Come. -Two of the five shards remain marked on the map upon collecting them in Counting Sheep. -Kassandra's voice does not match in a segment of the Dialogue Scene in Night and Day. -Extensive loading times when transitioning from River Raids to the Ravensthorpe. -Unable to progress in A Challenge From the Gods after the first cutscene. -Enemies are not highlighted when using Odin Sight in Odin Mine Hideout. -Goliath NPC can throw the boar outside of the arena making it impossible to complete the Outpost Fight Challenge. -NPC fall to their death in Lolingestone bandit camp. -Platforms descending before the push/pull object is on them. -Carriable snaps in Eivor's hands if thrown behind the spike wall in Swamp tomb. -Various issues where Eivor would remain stuck in a free fall animation and/or get desynchronized. -Wrong gameplay options present in the Discovery Tour: Viking Age menu. -Online Service Error (0x20100302) when viewing photos on world map. -Assassination cutscenes are still playing when activating Photo Mode. -Horses can photobomb dialogues scenes. -Achievements / Trophies are not unlocking after playing AC Crossover stories when sharing progression on multiple platforms. -Meteorites not being spawned in England. -Store items disappearing from the inventory or not being visible on Eivor. -Smoke Bombs not exploding when returned to the enemy with the missile reversal skill. -Instances of misplaced or floating objects or textures. -Numerous clipping issues. -Numerous graphics, texture, animation, or lighting issues. -Various issues with missing SFX. -Numerous Menu Narration issues. -Numerous UI/HUD issues. -Added various improvements to the Codex menu. Le jeuprofite d'un, le telechargement se lancera automatiquement lorsque le launcher de votre jeu se connectera, sur PC, le poids du patch est de 15.09 Go.Il a pour vocation d'ameliorer les phases d'infiltration, certaines mecaniques de combats et corrigent evidemment de nombreux bugs.AddressedAdded a Saga Difficulty Mode: Write your own Viking Saga without having to worry about the challenges of stealth and combat.Added new combat settings.Added support for more controllers on PC (Nintendo Switch Pro & Stadia).AddressedAddressedAddressedAddressedAddressedAddressedAddressedAddressed Crossville, TN (38555) Today Thunderstorms this evening with a few showers possible overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms this evening with a few showers possible overnight. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. By Jon Dunbar After almost three decades, Korea's punk scene remains inextricably linked with the area near Hongik University, known as Hongdae but that's despite many attempts to escape and disperse or relocate scene activities. "Hongdae is going through a personality crisis and has been for a while," Mathew Nolan, guitarist of the punk band , told The Korea Times. "The pandemic just made it worse." His band is attempting to break free from Hongdae's orbit this Saturday, heading to eastern Seoul's Seongsu-dong (no, not Sangsu-dong) for a show. "Seongsu has the reputation of being a hot place with tons of hipster culture like cafes, art galleries, graffiti," Nolan said. "Apparently it's called the Brooklyn of Seoul that could be debatable. But it lacks aggressive and energetic live music." To fix that problem, he's organizing a show, titled " ," at the new venue Club Music Space. "I haven't been in Korea that long and really haven't done much in the scene until recently but even so I remember a time where there were some venues outside of Hongdae. They never seemed to last but it was cool to not have everything so centralized and I think that could still be possible," Nolan said. "Punk is supposed to be infiltrative and get in people's faces to let them know it's here and it has something to say. When I was a kid we would have shows anywhere we could: Elks lodges, YMCAs, community centers, backyards, you name it. In high school we drove three hours to a small town to play a show at a venue we only knew as The Laundromat. It was literally a laundromat. People were diving off of the machines while we played. Why not Seongsu?" He mentioned that he needed some convincing, after the venue owners reached out to him a few months ago about putting on a show there. "At first I thought it was a crazy idea," he said. "Who is going to see a punk show in Seongsu? It probably is a crazy idea but they were really cool and the space looks like a Hongdae venue with good equipment and a nice setup." Nolan stressed that he tried to keep the price low to make the show accessible. "Nowadays you have shows with three or four local bands from 25,000 to 35,000 won and I understand things are weird and difficult now but I'm really worried this is the new normal and once we're out of this mess it'll stay that way," he said. "Punk rock is a hard sell for people that don't know much about it and it's even harder here in Korea where most people don't know underground music like it exists. If you're charging 30,000 won for a few bands then you aren't attracting new fans that may be curious." Tickets cost 15,000 won for five bands, which comes to 3,000 won per band. The punk bands include , , and the hardcore band . His own band, 18Fevers, was formed last year, a ragtag bunch of foreign guys and Korean women who all wear too much eye makeup and get along like a house on fire. "I wanted kind of a mixed lineup with different styles represented like when I was a kid," Nolan said. "Really I just tried to think of bands I want to see and hang out with. When all your friends are musicians and you're a musician it's hard to see them play sometimes unless you play together." Tickets are limited to 50 people, and all COVID-19 requirements will be followed at the show. Doors open at 5 p.m. Visit for more information or to listen, or go to to RSVP for the show. I've already been to some live sporting events. Yes, I plan on attending several events. I may go to one or two. I like sports but I doubt it. I'm not into sports. Vote View Results Encryption can keep bad actors from peeking at critical data, but it can also allow them to hide malicious activity from network defenders. That's why LiveAction, a network visibility company, has introduced ThreatEye NV, a platform that gives SecOps teams powerful tools to find threats and anomalies in encrypted traffic. "In 2014, about 30% of traffic was encrypted. Now it's 80% to 90%. By the end of 2025, it will be almost all traffic," says LiveAction Director of Product Marketing Thomas Pore. "For a network defender, this creates a problem. If you're unable to get visibility into these encrypted tunnels and connections, how can you identify threats?" Ed Cabrera, chief cybersecurity officer at Trend Micro adds: "Encrypted traffic provides more opportunities for cybercriminals to forge or create legitimate SSL/TLS certificates for their credential phishing sites, deliver malware using encrypted C2 servers, and exfiltrate stolen data using asymmetric and symmetric encryption." ThreatEye can analyze more than 150 packet traits and behaviors LiveAction explained in a news release that ThreatEye uses Deep Packet Analysis to eliminate the need to decrypt network traffic and inspect it for malicious payloads. The platform can analyze more than 150 packet traits and behaviors across multi-vendor, multi-domain, and multi-cloud network environments. That helps accelerate real-time threat detection, eliminates encryption blindness, validates encryption compliance, and allows teams to better secure the entire network and coordinate responses with other security tools such as SIEM and SOAR, the company added. Other benefits of the platform include: Real-time threat and anomaly detection Elimination of encryption blindness without decryption or performance degradation Simple deployment through a SaaS model with software sensors that can be deployed anywhere visibility is needed SOC support, including dashboards to drive response efficiency Use of machine-learning models custom-built for specific security and visibility use cases 91.5% of malware discovered and blocked was in encrypted traffic "Web encryption and encryption, in general, are good things. They serve a huge business purpose we all want," says Corey Nachreiner, CSO of Watchguard, a network security company in Seattle, Washington. "Unfortunately, it offers easy and new ways for threat actors to hide from traditional and legacy security controls." Watchguard tackles the encryption blindness problem with a network appliance. Inside the appliance the traffic is decrypted, inspected, encrypted again, and sent on its way. The approach doesn't seem to be very popular, though. Nachreiner concedes that only about 20% of Watchguard's customers use the feature. "Setting it up does require some effort from an administrator," he admits. However, there are some significant benefits to making the effort to set up the process. Nachreiner notes that in the organizations using decryption, 91.5% of the malware discovered and blocked was in encrypted traffic. Encrypted traffic analysis the future for fortifying security posture "The world has shifted from a security response perspective," Pore says. "Security analysts can't rely on only syslog messages to identify challenges. We need to leverage machine learning and identify network traffic and patterns for these advanced attacks." Pore adds that encryption will continue to get better, making it more difficult and expensive for solutions that depend on decrypting and re-encrypting data to address the issue of encryption blindness. "In future versions of encryption, you'll have zero visibility," he says. "That will be a massive problem for defenders. That's why encrypted traffic analysis is really going to be the future for fortifying an organization's security posture." 99 cent introductory offer Includes everything we offer online for 24-7 news. This option allows you to read unlimited stories at ctnewsonline.com, and access our e-Edition (digital replicate of the daily newspaper). $7.99 per month after the introductory offer. This service comes with a complimentary CT Select Card allowing for local discounts. Rates are subject to change. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT The untimely death of a local woman whose family said they were never contacted by police after she was found unresponsive in December was due to natural causes, the city said Tuesday. The states Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined 53-year-old Brenda Lee Rawls cause of death to be cardiovascular disease with diabetes as a contributing cause, according to a prepared statement from Bridgeport Police Capt. Kevin Gilleran. The Detective Bureau will officially close this case once the OCME legal documents are physically received at the Bridgeport Police Department, he said. The deaths of Rawls and 23-year-old Lauren Smith-Fields, both Black women, in unrelated incidents on Dec. 12 have garnered national media attention after their relatives complained they were not properly notified of the fatalities by police and that the force has not seriously investigated the cases. Rawls sister, Dorothy Washington, reiterated those concerns Tuesday after saying she was confused by the statement put out by the city. They never opened an investigation into her death, so what are they talking about? she said. The investigation we want is how they dropped the ball in handling my sisters case and how they treated the family like trash. In his statement Tuesday, Gilleran said detectives had been investigating Rawls death as is protocol. Toxicology tests came back negative last month, he said, and the medical examiner officially ruled the death natural on Tuesday. The city has said the detectives initially investigating the womens cases are the subjects of a separate Office of Internal Affairs investigation into the handling of both cases. Bridgeport police spokesman Scott Appleby said Tuesday the internal investigation is independent of the probe into Rawls cause of death. One investigation has nothing really to do with the other, he said. The OIA investigation is still on-going. Washington, said her sisters cause of death is beside the point. The point is how they handled her death. We never said my sister was murdered, Washington said. Our argument was about how the case was handled and how they dropped the ball without any investigation of the scene or anything. Washington referred specific questions about the familys litigation plans to their lawyer, Darnell Crosland, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment. No one has been charged in connection with either death. Smith-Fields died of an accidental overdose, according to the medical examiner. Washington said Tuesday that the Rawls family had been contacted by the medical examiner but had not yet reviewed any documents. But they have decided to initiate litigation against the city, Washington said, and are raising money through a gofundme page. We will be suing and thats all I have to say on that note, she said. BRIDGEPORT The recent controversy surrounding the police forces handling of the untimely deaths of Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls has raised questions about whether Bridgeport municipal employees are free to engage with the media. Mayor Joe Ganim last week insisted the police chief or any other department heads can speak at any time to the press and the public after city residents called out Acting Chief Rebeca Garcia for her silence on the two womens cases. After Hearst Connecticut Media noted in a report that department heads do not speak to the press without permission from the administration, Darnell Crosland, the attorney representing the Smith-Fields and Rawls families, urged the mayor to allow Garcia to hold a press conference to answer questions from the press and the people of Bridgeport. We reject this idea that Mayor Ganim has a policy of not allowing department heads to speak to the people, Crosland said. Rowena White, Ganims communications director, in a Feb. 10 email re-circulated the city directive on media, writing, I want to clarify that we are here to help answer questions, not avoid them. But the communications and media policy Ganim signed December 12, 2018 that was re-distributed throughout City Hall the day before Ganims comments requires all reporters inquiries be forwarded to his communications department. Below the word enforcement, the policy states: Before responding to the reporters query, please call the Communications Director with the following information: Name of reporter and media outlet; Question(s) comment(s) they wish to discuss or are requesting; story deadline and publication or feature. The policy also states that all matters shall be referred to the Mayors Office Communications Director for consultation on response. Some, like activist Carmen Lopez, a retired state Superior Court judge, and City Councilman Matthew McCarthy, view the language as a gag order on employees. It seems like they want to control anything that comes out of the city, McCarthy, a Democrat like Ganim, said. They want to paint the narrative. It seems like they dont have any faith in what department heads will say, because maybe theyll tell the truth. Lopez said such a policy results in information being filtered to the public. Richard Hanley, associate professor of journalism at Quinnipiac University, said, I understand why the communications director wants to be in the loop. Shes trying to make sure the information being released is accurate. Theres a certain quality control aspect of this. But he also warned that media policies worded like Ganims can be abused and go from quality control to being employed to control and contain the narrative. You should be confident enough in your department heads to handle media requests of an ordinary, routine nature, Hanley said. The overall communications strategy should be train your people to speak to the media as necessary, but make sure the communications director is in the loop to see if theres other information the department head may not know. City policy Smith-Fields, 23, and Rawls, 53 died in unrelated incidents Dec. 12. Their relatives have complained they were not properly notified of the fatalities by police and that the force has not seriously investigated the cases. No one has been charged in connection with either death. Smith-Fields died of an accidental overdose, according to the medical examiner. Rawls cause of death has not been released. The cases garnered national media attention last month, resulted in hundreds demonstrating downtown on Jan. 23, and in calls for Garcia to resign or for the mayor to remove her from command. All the while the police chief has been relatively silent and not held any press conferences or directly addressed the criticism. She did, however, in a Feb. 7 letter to the mayoral-appointed police board, provide a timeline of steps she took from late December through late January to address the concerns over the Smith-Fields and Rawls investigations. Ganim, through White, has said, It has never been a city policy under my administration that department heads are not able to speak with members of the press. The chief or any other department head can speak at any time on this matter or any matters to the press or the public. Then, this past Friday, Ganim in a subsequent statement added he had repeatedly told White, Janene Hawkins, who is his chief administrative officer helping oversee city government, and as recently as yesterday both the police and fire chiefs that there is no policy that I am aware, put forth by me or others, that prevents anyone from speaking to the media. I am sorry if that has been mis-characterized by anyone or by the press, the mayor said. But it is common practice for Bridgeport staffers when contacted by a reporter by phone, email or text to either respond that they cannot talk without permission from the mayors office, or ignore or not acknowledge receipt of the requests. Ganim also refers questions sent to him to White and is not easily accessible for a conversation. Streamline information The 2018 policy states that White and her staff are responsible for ensuring accuracy, consistency and quality in the citys overall responses to the media. And there is nothing wrong or unusual with that stated purpose when it comes to government agencies, according to Victor Rodriguez, chair of legal studies and political science at the University of New Haven. It is typical for elected officials and offices at all levels of government to have communications staffs to field inquiries. Speaking of Bridgeports policy, Rodriguez noted the mayors office may have a better understanding of which departments/employees should handle which questions and make sure reporters and the public are not receiving incorrect or contradictory information. That coordination effort is legitimate, Rodriguez said. But, Rodriguez added, Bridgeport staffers should also feel free to have conversations with reporters. The access should be there, he said. If you try to access a department head and they constantly tell you, I cant say anything or wont until somebody else responds, that is creating some of the concerns. Brett Broesder was one of former Mayor Bill Finchs communications directors and is no longer involved in Bridgeport government. He said his job was to deliver fact-based information but acknowledged, Obviously, there are nuances to how and when information is released. Broesder said having a centralized office for dealing with the media can be helpful to the press because its often difficult for communications staff and reporters alike to track down information from city staff, most of whom are incredibly busy with their day-to-day workload. One of the roles that communications staffers have is to streamline the process of gathering information, he continued. But, Lopez argued, such a strict policy as Ganims can either prevent government employees from exercising their right to free speech, or, alternatively, be used as an excuse by department heads who want to avoid media scrutiny, making them less accountable to the taxpayers. They like it, Lopez said. They dont want to have to speak with anybody. 5 1 of 5 West Redding Fire Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 2 of 5 West Redding Fire Department / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Redding Police / Contributed Photo Show More Show Less 5 of 5 REDDING A single-vehicle crash that sent one person to the hospital shut down Route 53 for about two hours, according to the Redding Police Department. Police received a call at 4:20 p.m. for a single-vehicle crash with moderate injuries. Police found one occupant unconscious and trapped in the vehicle, according to the West Redding Volunteer Fire Department. A makeshift memorial center set up at the southwestern port of Paengmok on Jindo Island, South Jeolla Province, to commemorate the victims of the 2014 sinking of the ferry Sewol. Korea Times photo by Shin Ji-hoo By Bahk Eun-ji The local government and families of the victims of the 2014 sinking of the passenger ferry Sewol in the waters off the southwestern port of Paengmok have clashed, as Jindo County tried to remove a makeshift structure that was set up there eight years ago to commemorate the tragic maritime disaster. The county office sent a notification that it would impose a fine, saying the memorial facilities are illegally set up at the port. The port is the closest one to the site of the ferry disaster. In the wake of the maritime tragedy, the bodies of the victims were retrieved and sent here where the families of the victims gathered. The tragedy left 304 passengers dead, most of whom were teenage students of Danwon High School in Ansan, southwest of Seoul, heading to Jeju Island on a school excursion. There are still group photos of the young victims at the center, which still many people visit to pay tribute and vow that they won't let such a tragedy happen again. The makeshift memorial facilities have become a source of tension between the local provincial government and the bereaved families, as the government plans to set up a passenger ferry terminal at the location. While the families insist that the memorial space, which consists of seven containers, should stay at the harbor where the victims' bodies were recovered, Jindo County argues that there is no need to install another memorial space as there will be one at the national maritime safety center, scheduled to be opened in May, about a kilometer away. The committee for the creation of Paengmok memorial center, which consists of the bereaved families and local civic groups, urged the county office to immediately withdraw its notice of the fine imposed on the memorial facility. Earlier on Jan. 20, Jindo County sent a notice that it would impose a 563,000 won ($472) fine if the containers being used as a memorial center, restaurant and auditorium were not removed. "The space of Paengmok Harbor commemorating the victims should be kept as it is in order not to forget the disaster, which left an emotional scar on many people and has remained a national trauma," the committee said. However, Jindo County said it has done everything it can for the families of the victims. "We have done our best by promising to install memorial stones and markers at Paengmok Harbor, but the families have asked for more than that," a county official said. "Although the passenger ferry terminal is about to be launched, we have no choice but to install a temporary terminal nearby, as the place for the memorial center at Paengmok is where the terminal was supposed to be built." The county official then said the national maritime safety center will be opened in May, about 800 meters from Paengmok Harbor, and a memorial facility will be built inside the center. "At the time of the disaster in 2014, Jindo County and residents took the lead in helping the families including in salvage operations. We now urge them to be considerate of our residents and the county," he said. Thank you for tuning in to episode 26 of The CUInsight Network, with your host, Lauren Culp, Publisher & CEO of CUInsight.com. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together. My guest today is Jack Lynch, Chief Risk Officer at PSCU and President at TriVerity. PSCU is the nations premiere credit union organization (CUSO) that evolved from being a payment processor to being an end-to-end financial technology provider. They currently offer a full range of services such as risk management, data analytics, digital banking, contact center services and more. TriVerity is a PSCU company working as a full-service collection agency managing non-performing and charged-off loans with a comprehensive menu of third-party collection services. During this conversation, Jack talks about the focus on helping credit unions digitally transform and serve the evolving needs of their members. Fraud attempts are on the rise after the pandemic sparked an increase of digital transactions. Jack explains ways that leveraging third-party CUSOs can help credit unions address the significant fraud challenges that consumers face. We chat about how credit unions can educate their communities and the best approach for credit unions of all asset sizes to protect their members. Jack talks too about the sophistication of new fraud attempts, and the need for sophisticated tools to help fight these attempts. He shares his insights on risk tolerance, contactless cards, and data analytics. Gain insight on building an integrated, multi-layer approach of fraud management to become a more seamless, easy-to-use, and protected financial institution. By working together with CUSOs like PSCU, credit unions can address financial crimes in this digital world. In our rapid-fire questions, Jack talks about a guitar model he cant get enough of, his thoughts on George Washington, and his interest in the oboe. Enjoy my conversation with Jack Lynch! Connect with Jack: Jack Lynch, Chief Risk Officer at PSCU and President at TriVerity jlynch@pscu.com https://www.pscu.com/ https://www.triverity.com/ LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Show notes from this episode: What an amazing interview with Jack! Check out all the exceptional work his team is doing over at PSCU here. Want to hear more from Jack Lynch? Click here. Shout-out: Carnegie Hall Shout-out: Jacks dad Place mentioned: Juneau, Alaska Shout-out: Apple Shout-out: American Express Shout-out: eBay Shout-out: Santa Shout-out: Fender American Stratocaster Shout-out: George Washington Artist mentioned: Meg Myers Artist mentioned: Celine Moinet Artist mentioned: Chvrches Artist mentioned: Depeche Mode Artist mentioned: The Cure Book mentioned: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Shout-out: Peter Jackson Shout-out: Jacks wife Place mentioned: Florida Place mentioned: Cancun, Mexico In this episode: [00:48] Jack Lynch remembers his father being an advocate of credit unions. [02:17] Jack explains what he currently busies himself with. [04:43] More digital transactions means more chances for fraud attempts. How can credit unions manage fraud attempts? [07:25] Leverage partnerships to launch new innovations. [10:08] How far can fraud attempts go? [11:47] Jack suggests a holistic approach to fraud management rather than stopping at the technology portion. [14:12] Come to an agreement on a risk management approach. [17:01] Are you aware of all the channels engaged in your fraud management strategy? [19:17] Jack talks about the future needs of members, and investing in data analytics. [21:46] How can a cooperative approach make fraud management easier? [24:08] Jack talks about two of his passions: music and history. [26:23] Here are Jacks recommendations for music and books. [29:14] Jack encourages everyone to remain positive and hopeful. Cullman, AL (35055) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Dalton, GA (30720) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds light and variable. North Korea's military massacred more than 1,100 South Korean Christians and Catholics during the 1950-53 Korean War, a state reconciliation panel said Tuesday. The North's Korean People's Army killed 1,026 Christians and 119 Catholics during its retreat from the South following an amphibious Incheon landing operation by United Nations forces, also known as Operation Chromite, on Sept. 26, 1950, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission said, citing a report from Seoul Theological University. South Korean and U.N. forces were pushed back to the southern tip of the peninsula after the war broke out on June 25 but the successful Operation Chromite turned the tide in favor of the South. The massacres of religious people were carried out after North Korea issued an order to "eliminate reactionary forces" ahead of its retreat from the South, according to the report based on document research, witness testimonies and visits to victim churches. By region, the central province of South Chungcheong and the southwestern provinces of Jeolla suffered the most from the massacres, the report noted. It said North Korean soldiers killed 66 members of a protestant church in Nonsan of South Chungcheong from Sept. 27-28, considering the church itself to be a hostile force. In Jeongeup of North Jeolla Province, 167 elders and right-wing members of a protestant church were burned to death on Sept. 27, the report said. The North's massacres also occurred in Yeonggwang and Yeongam, both of South Jeolla Province, it added. The report said the massacres may have stemmed from the North's policy of defining Christianity as an impure force and oppressing it. (Yonhap) The Oregon Health Authority will remove the general mask mandate for indoor public places no later than March 31, the Oregon Health Authority announced on Feb. 7. At this time, the University of Oregon has no changes to its policy requiring masks in indoor spaces. Mel Keller, Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation president, said the GTFF has not been in any conversations with UO about the mask requirement. The GTFF has been a strong advocate for mask-wearing throughout the pandemic. We do firmly believe that the university should maintain a mask mandate for in-person, on-campus activities, particularly because masks have been shown to be so protective and useful to stopping the spread of coronavirus, Keller said. Even if the cases of Omicron are going down, we don't believe that we are in the clear yet. We still need to be taking protective measures and protecting our members and our students in their classroom spaces. OHA said health scientists expect Oregon to return to pre-Omicron hospitalization numbers 400 or fewer across the state by late March. There were 113 COVID-19 cases reported on campus from Feb. 7 to 13, and cases have been on a downward trend since the week of Jan. 3. The OHA announcement quoted Dean Sidelinger, state epidemiologist: The evidence from Oregon and around the country is clear: masks save lives by slowing the spread of COVID-19, he said. We should see COVID-19 hospitalizations drop by the end of March because so many Oregonians are wearing masks and taking other steps to protect themselves and each other, such as getting a booster shot or vaccinating their children. At that point, it will be safer to lift mask requirements. If Oregons hospitalizations reach the late-March target early, the mask mandate could be lifted sooner. Mask mandates in K-12 schools will be lifted on March 31 regardless of the hospitalization levels in order to give schools time to prepare for the change. While UO considers the latest health guidance from OHA and organizations like it, the university will not be affected the same way as K-12 schools. UO receives funding from the state, but no UO funding has been tied to any of the universitys COVID-19 policies, UO spokesperson Saul Hubbard said in an email. Throughout the pandemic, UO has distributed over 36,000 cloth masks and has ordered over 48,00 surgical masks and over 330,000 KN95s, according to records obtained by the Emerald. There are no plans to change the current mask distribution options, which include KN95s available for pick up across campus. This OHA announcement is consistent with a national trend. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a White House briefing that the CDC is cautiously optimistic about the trajectory of COVID-19. We want to give people a break from things like mask-wearing when these metrics are better, and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen, she said in the briefing. Both the CDC and OHA said lifting mask mandates is a consideration in tandem with other protections, like vaccination. Approximately 65% of Americans are vaccinated, and roughly 96.5% of the UO community is vaccinated. As UO considers the mandate, Keller urges decisiveness. When UO pivoted to partially remote instruction this term, it left a lot up to professors, which caused confusion, she said. If the mask mandate is put in that same kind of boat of being up to the discretion of the individual teacher for a classroom policy, I worry that that will cause the same types of confusion that we've been having to deal with, and will force instructors to take on increased work when they have to enforce massive mandates in their own classrooms, as well. Hot: Traveling by bus Independent, environmentally conscious, and I get to star in a music video in my head for three hours? Count me in. Just be sure to avoid seats near kids; they kill the vibe. Sadie Tresnit Hot: House Bill 4147 This Oregon bill will allow convicted criminals to vote. With that, prisons will no longer be used to prevent marginalized groups from voting. Hopefully more states will follow if the bill passes. Green Johnson Meh: Pets in college Post lockdown loneliness, adopting cats and dogs for companionship is very in for students. Sure, the emotional support from the critters is great but should we consider the intergenerational trauma we are passing on? Sophia Cossette Meh: Single-Ply Toilet Paper Yeah, it is cheaper and you can get a lot more of it. At what cost? The satisfaction of saving is always balanced with the excruciating pain for the next few months. Parsa Aghel Not: NFTs They dont exist. Its fiction. Youre hanging trust funds on an intangible PDF. Also, they just look stupid. Go buy a poster. Go to a concert, anything. Use your money to experience something. Braydon Iverson Not: Charging for laundry Students living in UO residence halls have to pay extra to wash their laundry. Not only is living in the residence halls already incredibly expensive, most of the time, the laundry machines barely work. Petra Molina Eugene is a labor town, a fact that will soon come to the heart of campus as the EMU Starbucks unionizes. Not only will this be a great win for the employees, but also sets a precedent for all student workers to leverage their own conditions. If your fellow students in the EMU make $15 an hour with benefits, why should your position be any different? But until that point, we must practice solidarity with workers and make it clear that union-busting is not welcome at our university. Our Starbucks efforts to unionize is one in a national trend and represents a shift to give those that actually do the labor the workers just compensation. Of course, Starbucks would prefer its stores not unionize and will union-bust however possible, such as firing staff like in a Memphis store earlier this month. Trinity Smith, a student worker at the EMU Starbucks spoke to me about the stores decision to unionize. We look at the work we put in, and the pay doesn't reflect that, Smith said. We are left to drown. The store is cramped and not designed to handle the magnitude of orders, and because it serves broke college kids, it receives few tips. But the outlook was good among the Starbucks employees I talked to, including Owen Wach, a supervisor at the store. It's hard because Starbucks portrays themselves as a progressive company that meets the needs of everybody, but then you see what it really is, and its people being paid as little as possible, Wach said. Because no matter how many times your boss says youre partners, theyll just as quickly turn around and publish anti-union propaganda with quirky corporate art like Starbucks did. However, there is still cause to worry, as both employees shared a story of a coworker who was overheard talking about unionizing by the district manager. The worker was promptly fired for a violation that happened a year prior while working at a Starbucks in California. This is blatant union-busting and has no place on our campus or any workplace. I asked Saul Hubbard, the UO media and communications manager, in an email if the administration has a position on Starbucks unionizing. To which Hubbard replied: The University is not involved in the labor relations of outside businesses. But dont view the universitys non-interventional rhetoric as neutrality, as the current organization of student labor on campus has almost certainly been intentionally designed to operate as covert union-busting. Across campus student workers are divided arbitrarily within positions to keep them isolated and to make it difficult to map a workplace. For instance, take the EMU, which employs catering, information services and janitorial workers; theyre kept separated despite being paid by the same employer and working in the same space. I spoke to Avery Summers, a student worker in EMU event services who asked to be referred to by pseudonym, about how their workplace is setup. My job is very insulated and does not interact with other student workers, Summers said. Even if it's not intentionally against organizing, it is inherently preventative of organizing. Summers described feeling like an independent contractor, as according to documents shared with me event services staff regularly work above the weekly limit of 25 hours for student workers. Moreover, because scheduling is handled digitally, it is common to not see the same coworkers for weeks at a time. Or take residence assistants; RAs are essential for the operation of residence halls but are not designated as university workers. Theyre just assistants and dont receive hourly pay or fair compensation for their integral labor. Related: Opinion: RAs are underserved UO has always been adamant that its workers should see themselves as students first, a phrase I initially thought was a positive message promising security in their academic career. Now I see it as an obfuscation of their real role as the workers who do essential labor. If students are not conscious of themselves as workers, they are less likely to bargain for their rights on the job. Because of that, UOs union-busting is more insidious to me than Starbucks; it is clandestine and structural, never overt. So show solidarity to the workers who make our campus function. Dont let the university alienate you from those in similar conditions, for an injury to one is an injury to all. And a win for one is leverage for the rest. Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 76F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected and South Korea will join efforts for a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Moon made the remarks during a National Security Council meeting convened after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in Ukraine after recognizing their independence. "Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected," he said. "Countries around the world must come together and work for a swift and peaceful resolution to the situation in Ukraine. South Korea will actively participate in these efforts as a responsible member of the international community," he said. On Thursday, the English will finally be free again. It might sound dramatic but, as Boris Johnson announced all Covid laws are finally being axed and we will be able to make sensible decisions for ourselves again, I let out a visceral sigh of relief and my shoulders all of a sudden felt lighter. After 23 months of soul destroying and, frankly, deadly restrictions, I rejoice that one of the most shameful eras in our recent history, where our civil liberties and freedoms were stripped away en masse with virtually no debate or opposition, is at an end. The scientific establishment, the media hysterics and the scare mongering Labour opposition have lost their battle to trap us into a liberty destroying Covid blackhole for years to come and by God they tried. As the Leader of No Opposition Keir Starmer made clear in Parliament today, if he had his way the UK would be following his pals Justin Trudeau in Canada and Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand into divisive, unnecessary and never-ending regulations like vaccine and mask mandates that are currently tearing those two Commonwealth countries apart. Of course, there is much to criticise: Boris plunged the country into draconian lockdowns three times with no evidence they actually worked; increasingly, it looks like they killed far more folk than they saved. Pictured: Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks following a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions at the House of Commons Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance address the nation during a press conference on plan for Living With Covid yesterday But I do feel proud to be British today; proud that we have a Prime Minister prepared to stand up to the terrifying new international health establishment and allow his citizens to move on from a virus that is now no more deadly than a run of the mill flu. I'm proud too that we have a 95-year-old monarch who has continued to work during her brush with the variant Omicron, sending a clear message to her people that the days of Covid hysteria are at an end. The focus now must be on ensuring we never react in the same way again. That's going to be hard, especially given so many of those with influence are addicted to the damaging lockdown policies they have followed since March 2020 and are unable to have the good grace to admit they called it wrong. And because we have a media elite obsessed with encouraging the government to deprive us of freedom wherever possible who always manage to ask the wrong questions. Like Sky News' lockdown-breaking star presenter Kay Burley who, upon hearing the news of the Queen's cold-like symptoms, tweeted: 'Might this impact on any decision by the Government to further lift #COVID19 restrictions?' Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) laid out 'Living With Covid' strategy to MPs yesterday Er, no, of course not, Kay! The fact the Queen is likely to breeze through her brush with Covid, thanks to the milder nature of the variant, her triple vaccinated status and (probably) the use of antiviral drugs, means ordinary life beckons. We have beaten the virus, but what we now need to battle is the establishment blob which wants to continue to inflict control. SNP's village idiot at Westminster Ian Blackford described Boris's plan today as 'reckless' because it 'flies in the face of advice of scientists at the World Health Organisation'. What, you mean the organisation that effectively colluded with the communist Chinese regime to cover up the outbreak in the first place and have continually refused to hold China to account? And it might not be popular in polite society circles to question our own scientific and medical masterminds, but Saint Christopher Whitty and Lord Patrick Vallance have proved total flops when it comes to their pandemic advice. Boris Johnson (C), Britain's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (L), and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance attend a press conference to outline the new long-term Covid-19 plan Remember, Whitty wanted to destroy all of our Christmases and damage countless businesses by locking us all down again in December for Omicron, despite South African medics insisting the variant was a pussycat. We were told we could have as many as 6,000 deaths and a million infections a day. But, sparked by the rebellion from brave Tory backbenchers and an even braver Cabinet resignation from Lord Frost, Boris didn't lock down and the worst case scenario never eventuated. Not even close. And that's despite Omicron being far more transmissible. Even Bill Gates reluctantly admitted over the weekend Omicron is working as a natural vaccine. He said: 'Sadly, the virus itself, particularly, the variant called omicron, is a type of vaccine, that is, it creates both B-cell and T-cell immunity, and it's done a better job getting out to the world population than we have with vaccines.' I have no idea what he's sad about Omicron should be celebrated as a natural vaccine that is providing a path out of this two-year hellscape. And we know now that natural immunity provides stronger protection from Covid than vaccines, anyway. But these should be yesterday's arguments and it's tragic and pathetic to see so many vested parties seemingly wanting the Covid and lockdown chaos and carnage to continue for another moment longer than necessary. Labour's Starmer and his mini me Wes Streeting have been out the past 24 hours trying to convince us that Boris handing back our God given freedoms that were only ever meant to be compromised while the NHS was under imminent threat of being overwhelmed is somehow irresponsible. But remember they also said Freedom Day last July shouldn't go ahead and pushed for a path to lockdown before Christmas. The Be Kind left around the world has collapsed morally internationally thanks to the totalitarian path of segregating society between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. For months, I've heard people wish Ardern or Trudeau were in charge in the UK. Things would be so much better, they insist. Well, I beg to differ as riot police currently clash with non-violent protestors in Canada's capital of Ottawa and New Zealand's capital of Wellington to try and deal with the unjabbed truckers, paramedics, doctors and teachers who have lost their jobs thanks to the cruel and counterproductive vaccine mandates. Boris implored us today to get back to the days where personal responsibility was king 'It is time that we got our confidence back,' he said, in a storming speech to parliament. 'We don't need laws to compel people to be considerate to others. We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to avoid infecting loved ones and others. 'So let us learn to live with this virus and continue protecting ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms.' That's all I've ever asked for. It was always a pipe dream to think we could shut down a respiratory virus. Food must still get to your door, delivery drivers still need to enter the country, essential workers still need to get to work, we still need to socialise with other human beings. I believe that, in time, when all the costs have been properly analysed, lockdown will prove to be one of the most disastrous policy approaches, both in terms of public health and the economy, in history. There is certainly no longer any justification for legal requirements to self-isolate, the 15.7 billion test and trace white elephant, perpetual boosters for the healthy or the terrifying provisions of the Coronavirus Act. I celebrate that they're all going. The biggest danger now to society is those folk in the media and politics who should know better continuing to propagate the myth that we remain in the midst of a dangerous pandemic when Omicron has rendered Covid defeated. Jacob Rees-Mogg has recently been appointed Minister for Brexit Opportunities. Where should he start his search? Here are 38 places where no one would ever think of looking. 1. At the back of Piers Corbyns wardrobe, in the section marked Formal Wear And Smart/Casual. 2. At Royal Lodge, Windsor, in the filing cabinet marked Future Engagements. 3. In the suggestions box at Tate Britain, inside the envelope labelled The Glories Of Empire. 4. In HRH Princess Annes wardrobe, in the section marked Onesies. Jacob Rees-Mogg has recently been appointed Minister for Brexit Opportunities. Where should he start his search? 5. In Jimmy Carrs joke book, under U for Unlikely To Cause Offence. 6. In Joan Collinss anorak drawer. 7. In a cabinet in the Museum Of Good Taste in Monaco. 8. Beneath the WELCOME mat by Gordon Ramsays front door. 9. In the queue for the lecture Looking Forward to A Bright Future Under Jeremy by Rebecca Long-Bailey. 10. In the statuary wing of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, in the section marked Acceptable Victorians. 11. Inside Priti Patels leather-bound copy of Debretts A-Z Of Modern Manners. 12. At the Annual Moth Convention, in the lecture on Thoughtful Nibbling. 13. At an All You Can Eat evening at Nandos, hosted by Anna Wintour, then in the conga line immediately behind Hillary Clinton at the after-party. 14. In the section of Lucy Worsleys next TV script clearly marked Just deliver your speech straight to camera without bothering to dress up as an 18th-century aristocrat, a Victorian chimney sweep or Nell Gwynn. 15. Within Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in Adeles rehearsal room. 16. By a Russian fireside, sharing a yarn and a laugh or two with Vladimir Putin. 17. At the AGM of the Tony Blair Appreciation Society. 18. In the Research and General Preparation folder in Nadine Dorriess office at the Ministry of Culture. 19. In John Bercows agents in-tray. 20. In Boris Johnsons Honesty Box. 21. At Katie Prices house, where shes having a quiet night in. 22. At the Kardashian family residence, in the room marked Private. 23. In the box in Carol Vordermans office marked No Publicity. 24. Between the Wise Men and the Virgin Mary in the crib in Richard Dawkinss private chapel. 25. In the Light Comedy studio at Scandinavian Drama headquarters. 26. Squeezed between the pages of Dominic Cummingss copy of How To Make Friends And Influence People. 27. In the gym at Mar-a-Lago, on Donald and Melania Trumps exercise tandem. 28. At Greta Thunbergs house, by a roaring log fire in the Cigar Room, over a glass of port and fresh fish dipped in palm oil. 29. In the offices of Radio 4s You And Yours, between the files marked Stand On Your Own Two Feet and Dont Come Whining to Us. 30. In the Office of the Mayor of London, in the file marked Completed Initiatives. 31. In the overflow room at the next Liberal Democrat party conference. 32. On the Non-Alcoholic Beverages shelf in Nigel Farages minibar. At the back of Piers Corbyns wardrobe, in the section marked Formal Wear And Smart/Casual. 33. In Madonnas wardrobe, in the drawer marked Slacks, Slippers and Cardis. 34. In Russell Brands study, in the file marked Recent Requests from Newsnight for Interviews on the State of the World. 35. At the Annual Conference of Sharks, in the lecture entitled Snacking with Consideration for Others. 36. In Ken Livingstones office, in the file marked Recent Press Cuttings. 37. In Liz Trusss room at the Foreign Office, beneath the map of the world. 38. In the costumes department of Bridgerton, on the rack labelled Not too tight. How do you navigate through the confusing world of gender fluidity and modern sexuality without causing offence? Now, the campaign for sexual equality and gender recognition has moved to the primary school playground, with activists keen to make their mark on impressionable youngsters. Some school heads say the words 'mum and dad' are not fit for purpose in modern society, and teachers are being encouraged to use the word 'grown-ups' instead. Schools have stopped using the words in letters home, replacing mums and dads with 'parents and carers.' Heads say this stops single-sex families, single-parent families and foster carers being stigmatised or feeling left out. Understandably, many mums and dads are up in arms, confused and hurt, side-lined overnight in the name of political correctness and 'inclusivity'. The campaign for sexual equality and gender recognition has moved to the primary school playground, with activists keen to make their mark on impressionable youngsters, writes Janet Street-Porter. Pictured: file photo of a gender neutral restroom sign Teachers say it's important that children learn about every kind of modern family, but is it necessary to ram their point home so insensitively? After all, most children at primary school will have a mum or a dad, or both, or two mums or two dads. They will naturally mix with and become friends with children from every kind of family structure through play and learning. Demonising the words mum and dad is the latest step in a campaign to rewrite our everyday language and airbrush out any term deemed offensive to snowflakes. First, the word 'woman' was targeted by sexual activists, forcing the NHS and many hospitals to refer to 'people with wombs' or 'birth parent'. JK Rowling has been trolled and abused for daring to state the unsayable - only women are born with wombs. Even if you don't agree with her rationale, the outcry that greeted her comments was totally out of proportion. Those who want to eliminate everyday words like mum and dad say their campaign is driven by the fact that so many people feel anxious and frightened about modern life and want to be addressed correctly, taken seriously, not threatened by worrying ideas or controversial turns of phrase. That might be true of a minority. It is also true that many young people - compared to previous generations - are far less concerned about defining their sexuality in a particular way. But does that mean that mums and dads must be consigned to the dumper? Militant campaigners say we us must adapt, modify our language, or be deemed offensive. At school, out shopping, in the workplace - we must adopt the new terminology if we do not want to cause unnecessary upset. It's totally bonkers. Most of Britain has eventually learnt to say LGBT+ in the correct order, but now we must use the correct pronoun when meeting someone for the first time. Marks and Spencer- the voice of middle-class England- recently announced badges for staff to enable customers address them correctly Forget the old words like madam, sir, or even 'hey you' or 'excuse me' when you're not sure all are totally unacceptable to today's woke generation. Marks and Spencer - the voice of middle-class England - recently announced badges for staff to enable customers address them correctly. They carry the operatives' name with (for example) 'They/them/their' written alongside - something I think the average shopper seeking a 10 dinner for two (over 70, wearing a hearing aid and carrying a stick) finds incomprehensible. Now, the British Library (which receives 92million of government funding annually) has bowed to advice from Stonewall, the LGBT+ charity, adopting the same badges for their staff. Stonewall, whose 'diversity' scheme promoting gay and trans rights has been dumped by the BBC and many government departments, claim that using the wrong gender can be 'harmful'. No-one actively seeks to cause offence, but surely there's a more subtle way of being inclusive? Where will this madness end? I'm pleased to see that there are commercial opportunities to be milked in this new gender fluid world - Marks and Spencer best seller Colin the Caterpillar cake has been joined by Connie the Caterpillar. It's only a matter of time before a non-binary sponge will nestle alongside them in the bakery section. Head teachers talk of 'significant adults' in a child's life. But whatever a child's relationship with the most important person in their life, isn't it most likely they'll be calling them 'mum' or 'dad' or 'auntie', or papa, even if they are adopted or fostered? When I was growing up life was so much simpler. There were two bossy people sharing my home - adults who I could not imagine ever having sex, so how I came to live there was a mystery. They were called mum and dad. At school, another bossy person stood at the front of the class, and they were addressed as Miss Whatever. Or MISSMISSMISS when you were desperate for the toilet and could not get their attention with frantic hand waving. Demonising the words mum and dad is the latest step in a campaign to rewrite our everyday language and airbrush out any term deemed offensive to snowflakes. Pictured: gender neutral toilets at Swanmore College To this day, I have no idea what my teachers' first names or marital status was, they were just Miss or Mrs, a sexless drab figure of authority, the people who issued detentions for a multitude of tiny rule infractions. Some kids in my class only had one parent, but we never discussed the details of our lives at home. All adults were viewed like aliens, people who told us what to do the entire time. Kids are so much more resilient than gender-equality lobbyists understand. Now, these crusaders want to stop kids calling teachers Sir or Miss, in a bid to promote a 'gender free environment'. The National Education Union says that as an increasing number of teenagers are identifying as non-binary, teachers, and the language they use should acknowledge this. One speaker at a recent conference wanted schools to display a board in reception areas showing a 'code of conduct' listing the characteristics protected under the Equalities Act. Anyone who disagreed should be banned from entering school premises. This is starting to sound like brain-washing or thought control. Removing the words 'boys and girls' from everyday use in schools, banning the terms Sir or Miss. Rebranding a 'mother' as a 'parent'. Are we in danger of adopting the tactics that we find so repugnant in modern China or North Korea? A mother has special skills. I've never had children, but I refuse to hear a word against any mum. Equally, let's hear it for dads- often denigrated, patronised, and taken for granted. But in fifty years time, will these tags seem as antiquated as 'madam'? You can address me as you like - I'm not bothered - I fall into the unfashionable category called heterosexual white female. As if that means anything. Boris Johnson continued to favour 'patient diplomacy', he said. But from his tone, it was obvious that hopes of peace were now a pipe dream. The Prime Minister was making a statement on the Ukraine crisis. His voice dripped with exasperation and sorrow. He stopped short of describing Vladimir Putin as deranged but only just. The Russian president had spent the past week hurling 'false accusations and aspersions', said Boris. Boris Johnson (pictured) continued to favour 'patient diplomacy', he said while making a statement on the Ukraine crisis Russian president Vladimir Putin (pictured) had spent the past week hurling 'false accusations and aspersions', said Boris as he warned that 'we must steel ourselves for a prolonged crisis' Putin's reasons for ordering troops into eastern Ukraine were 'absurd and mystical' and the PM warned: 'We must steel ourselves for a prolonged crisis.' His words were received in sombre silence. The PM pondered with dismay that in 2022 a national leader could 'calmly and deliberately' plot the 'destruction' of a peaceful neighbour. 'Yet the evidence of his own words suggests that is exactly what president Putin is doing,' Boris said. Around the eerily hushed chamber, which prickled with tension, the message was clear diplomacy had failed. Once again, war was casting a terrible shadow over Europe. On the frontbench, Boris's cabinet stared forlornly. His chief of staff Steve Barclay absent-mindedly tapped his feet. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss gazed into the distance as though examining an object on some distant horizon. We heard that Moscow would now face a 'barrage' of sanctions. 'A dark day for Europe,' said Sir Keir Starmer (pictured). The Labour leader pledged his support for the Government Five Russian banks would be blacklisted. As would three 'high-net-worth' individuals Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg. Crikey. Names savage enough to make the eyeballs of a passport control official tingle. The PM's announcement was met with enthusiastic nods of agreement from Labour's foreign affairs spokesman David Lammy. A parliamentary first? 'A dark day for Europe,' said Sir Keir Starmer. The Labour leader pledged his support for the Government. 'We must show Putin we will not be divided,' he said. On top of economic sanctions, Starmer demanded the UK ban the state-sponsored RT (formerly Russia Today) news channel which pumps out Kremlin-approved gibberish here each day. Someone on the SNP benches shook his head. His former gaffer Alex Salmond remains in RT's employ. Mr Johnson welcomed Starmer's spirit of co-operation. But the PM also gently lobbed a pebble into this calm millpond by noting Labour's change in attitude towards Russia over the past couple of years. This was 'massively beneficial', he said. Cue embarrassed murmurs and an awkward shifting on Labour's benches. Watching them recoil over the wayward Jeremy Corbyn era is like an old duke squirming over an ancestor who frolicked with the chamber maids and spanked the family fortune. Mr Corbyn, incidentally, was not present for either Johnson or Starmer's speeches. Nor John McDonnell, Diane Abbott or any of his other Stop the War Coalition cronies. Fifteen minutes into the debate, Corbyn's angry white beard eventually appeared through a side door where he purposefully plonked himself in a corner. He briefly examined the PM's statement in the way a bored child inspects the in-flight safety instructions. Moments later, he skedaddled. The mood of the House was unanimously hostile toward the Russian dictator. Theresa May described the battle in which the Government must now engage as 'nothing short of a defence of democracy itself'. Strong hear-hears. Disappointingly, the former PM then scuttled off for an early lunch. Some members who remained said Boris's sanctions didn't go far enough. 'Hit them with sanctions hard and hit them now!' cried Iain Duncan Smith (Con, Chingford and Woodford Green). 'They need to feel the pain!' Lib Dem leader Ed Davey (pictured), his paunchy frame thrust forward in a prize fighter's pose, demanded the man in the Kremlin be made to pay a 'terrible price' And Ben Bradshaw (Lab, Exeter) demanded more Russians in London be slapped with unexplained wealth orders. Certainly, Belgravia's long-suffering residents would be unlikely to complain if there were fewer Russkis splashing their cash around. Though you might hear a bit of wailing coming from Bond Street's clothing emporiums. We heard some striking language occasionally from surprising quarters. Chris Bryant (Lab, Rhondda) labelled Putin a 'bloodthirsty liar'. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, his paunchy frame thrust forward in a prize fighter's pose, demanded the man in the Kremlin be made to pay a 'terrible price'. Davey urged the PM to reverse the Government's decision to cut 10,000 troops. Wowzers. When even the drippy Lib Dems are calling for increased defence spending, we really are entering troubling times. We have been utter fools. We have treated Russia with amazing stupidity. Now we pay the price for that. We had the chance to make her an ally, friend and partner. Instead we turned her into an enemy by insulting a great and proud country with greed, unearned superiority, cynicism, contempt and mistrust. I have to endure, often several times a day, listening to people who are normally perfectly sensible and reasonable, raging wildly against Russia and Russians. Once, I was just like them. I had the normal anti-Russian prejudice of so many Western people. But, by great fortune, I am not like them now. I lived in Russia, I knew Russians as friends. I learned to distinguish between what was Russian and what was Communist. And I saw something most people will never see a pivotal event in history, when we could have changed the world for the better. We have been utter fools. We have treated Russia with amazing stupidity. Now we pay the price for that. We had the chance to make her an ally, friend and partner, writes PETER HITCHENS. Above: PETER HITCHENS in Moscow in 2007 One of the most joyful moments of my life was the day Communism died in Moscow. I could have sworn the sky was actually clearer and brighter, the people looked happy instead of downtrodden even the revolting, corrupt traffic police, for once, went into hiding. The litter bins were full of red-and-gold Communist Party membership cards, burning merrily in the late summer sunshine as they dissolved into grey ash. So I drove my red Volvo through the liberated city, a lot faster than usual, proudly displaying the special yellow number plate (with its 'K' for 'Korrespondent' and its '001' for Britain, top nation) which had up until then simply made me a target for bribe-hunters and officious cops who prevented me from going on picnics in the missile-crammed woods outside the city. I even found myself singing the hymns of my childhood. Just a few days earlier I had been sunk in the most abject gloom. Communism, after a long retreat, had struck back. The reforming Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, had been kidnapped in his Crimean holiday home. Tanks, barrels aslant and tracks grinding the surface into dust, came growling down my majestic Moscow street in the early morning light. This was not some ancient newsreel. I was there, and it was unfolding before me in full colour. My elite block of flats, which I shared illegally with dozens of hoary old Stalinists, KGB men and Kremlin loyalists, exploded into exultation as this nasty putsch unfolded. Neighbours who I'd previously thought of as sweet old pensioners stiffened their spines, grew several inches taller, donned crimson armbands, and set up a propaganda stall in the lobby. The horrible thing, which I had thought was dying, was coming back to life. These were the people I hated and had seen defeated in Prague, Bucharest, Budapest and Berlin. People and governments who now claim to despise Vladimir Putin for his aggression, for his suppression of freedom and for his corruption did not seem to be bothered by these things when his forerunner, Boris Yeltsin, did them I had thought they were done for. Was it possible they were on their way back, as their fellow Communists were in China? Would they, like their Chinese comrades, use their tanks to massacre the people in Red Square and re-establish the iron rule of the Party? That day it all seemed terribly possible. Then, equally swiftly, the tanks turned round and vanished, the putschists lost their nerve and scattered in a haze of vodka and panic, and it was all over. It was bliss to be alive in that dawn, as someone once wrongly said of another momentous event. I have never got over it. The black beating heart of an evil empire had stopped. A black sun had been removed from the sky. All the filthy lies and repressions which I had witnessed in the vast zone of tyranny that stretched from the heart of Germany to the heart of Korea had lost their life force. I do not think the world has had such an opportunity since 1945. In fact, it was better, for in 1991 there was no Stalin, no Soviet Communist Party. Like a knight dead inside its armour, the once-mighty Soviet armed forces might look from a distance like a menace, but they were rotten and done for, and in a matter of months would keel over and fall to the ground. Yeltsin (left), a former Communist machine politician with a far from perfect past, ordered tanks to shell his own parliament, while his police shot down demonstrators In fact the problem quickly be-came trying to find any way to govern that vast country at all, as the spells and incantations which had kept it together no longer worked. What an opportunity this was for the rich, stable, well-governed West to come to the rescue. Had not Marshall Plan aid revived and rebuilt a ruined Western Europe after World War Two? Had Britain and the other occupying powers not vowed to bring democracy, freedom and the rule of law to a prostrate Germany? Was this not a moment for an equally unique act of generosity and far sight? No it wasn't. What was unleashed instead was an army of carpetbaggers from the West, shouting about the free market, who quickly found their match in the crooks and corruption experts, many of them high Communist officials, who rushed to exploit and fool them. At the same time formal 'democracy' was introduced that is to say, there were some elections, which were of course rigged by big money. And in the minds of Russians whose savings were vaporised, who were turned out of their homes by thugs, who lost their jobs and pensions, democracy became a swear word. People and governments who now claim to despise Vladimir Putin for his aggression, for his suppression of freedom and for his corruption did not seem to be bothered by these things when his forerunner, Boris Yeltsin, did them. It is a fascinating contrast. Yeltsin, a former Communist machine politician with a far from perfect past, ordered tanks to shell his own parliament, while his police shot down demonstrators. He savaged Chechnya. His own re-election to the presidency stank of money. Corruption under his rule was so flagrant and grotesque that, when he quit, many Russians welcomed with relief the return of what the film-maker Stanislav Govoryukin called 'normal corruption'. Yeltsin, often paralysed with drink, was a welcome guest in the West, even the White House, despite his embarrassing and crude behaviour. But Yeltsin, unlike Putin, did nothing to control the oligarchs, allowed the West to continue its rape of Russia's economy, and above all made no protest against the humiliation of his country by the continued expansion of Nato eastwards across Europe. This was by then a more or less openly anti-Russian alliance (who else is it directed against?). It wasn't just that the West had promised not to do this, as numerous documents now show beyond doubt. It was that it was stupid, and created the very crisis it claimed to be protecting us against. Interestingly the leading protesters against this Nato expansion were not Russian nationalists but highly intelligent and experienced independent figures. One was the Russian liberal politician Yegor Gaidar, a man Western leaders claim to have admired. He prophesied with total accuracy that the policy would strengthen hardliners and nationalists in the Kremlin. Then came the brilliant American diplomat George F. Kennan, a man nobody could accuse of being soft on Communism. But, unlike so many others, he could tell the new transformed Russia apart from the old USSR. Kennan had been architect of the USA's policy of containment of the USSR. He came out of retirement to deplore Bill Clinton's support for pushing Nato east. I quote his prediction at length because he was so right. 'I think it is the beginning of a new Cold War,' said Mr Kennan. 'I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. 'I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anybody else. 'This expansion would make the Founding Fathers of this country turn over in their graves. 'We have signed up to protect a whole series of countries, even though we have neither the resources nor the intention to do so in any serious way. '[Nato expansion] was simply a light-hearted action by a Senate that has no real interest in foreign affairs. 'What bothers me is how superficial and ill-informed the whole Senate debate was.' He added: 'I was particularly bothered by the references to Russia as a country dying to attack Western Europe. 'Don't people understand? Our differences in the Cold War were with the Soviet Communist regime.' Exactly. After 1991 Russia had, for the first time since the Bolshevik putsch of 1917, got the chance to build a new and free society. As Mr Kennan put it, Nato expansion was an insult to Russian democrats. 'We are turning our backs on the very people who mounted the greatest bloodless revolution in history to remove that Soviet regime.' He asked why East-West relations should 'become centred on the question of who would be allied with whom and by implication against whom in some fanciful, totally unforeseeable and most improbable future military conflict'. These questions demanded an answer, and never got one. It is my unflinching view, amid all the current anti-Putin hysteria, that the leaders of the West have made the crisis we now face today out of thin air. I also happen to think that many of them, for varying reasons, are such lightweights that they enjoy the chance to posture and threaten and do not realise this is deadly serious. In hints, in pleas, in public speeches and private approaches, Russia has begged us for years to show it the most basic respect. Our response has been to react with mistrust and abuse, and with blatant attempts to worsen the situation in Ukraine and Georgia, two incredibly dangerous flashpoints where real war might all too easily begin. Having been there when everything was possible, on that Moscow summer's day in 1991, I cannot forgive or forget this great missed opportunity to bring Russia into the free and lawful world. And I think the peoples of the West should think very carefully before they follow the path to a new and bitter division of Europe. It is wholly avoidable. It gains us nothing. And it might lose us everything. British TikTok users who've filmed themselves using tanning nasal sprays before getting on a sunbed have been accused of encouraging a dangerous trend. A tanning salon has joined other social media users in promoting the use of tanning nasal sprays for darkening skin, and have racked up over 25,000 likes on a video of a woman using their product. The clip shows a woman preparing for her tan by inhaling the tanning nasal spray, consuming tanning fruit drops then rubbing her skin with a cream before getting in a sunbed. Despite impressing viewers, doctors have warned tanning nasal sprays are dangerous as they aren't regulated and can have serious side-effects. Doctors have warned against the viral trend for using tanning nasal sprays to darken skin (pictured), as seen on TikTok A TikTok user posting under the handle @MadisonSutton gushed about the tanning nasal sprays working without the use of a sunbed, while another posting under @HannahTayy lip synced in her clip saying: 'I'd rather die hot than live ugly, so if this is going to take 10 years off my life I don't care. 'I don't want to be old anyway. Old people are ugly.' The clips have each racked up thousands of views with commenters admitting they are eager to try tanning nasal sprays for themselves. One person wrote: 'I've never bough something so fast. Can't wait to try' 'I want a nasal spray,' another said. Tagging a friend, a third added: 'We need those drops and spray' Dr. Gabriella Birley of The Doctor Clinic told FEMAIL that tanning nasal sprays can be dangerous because they usually haven't gone through a thorough testing process. Dr. Gabriella said: 'Nasal tanning sprays are not licensed in the UK which means that they have not undergone the stringent safety, quality and effectiveness testing that all medicines have to undergo before they can be licensed for use. TikTok user Madison Sutton (pictured left) gushed about the tanning nasal sprays working without the use of a sunbed, while Hannah Tayy (pictured right) joked about not caring about the risks associated with the products 'Because they have not undergone this level of testing, there are serious concerns amongst medical professionals about the potentially serious side effects of the product meaning that it is, therefore, unsafe to use. 'Due to tanning nasal sprays being unregulated, the products can also contain other impurities that could be damaging to your health. 'Like with most medications, there are side effects and users of nasal tanning sprays have already reported significant side effects, such as nausea, headaches, spontaneous erections, darkening of moles, stomach and heart problems, as well as blood and eye disorders and life-threatening allergic reactions. 'The products have been designed to try and stimulate melanocytes which are the cells in your skin that produce pigment. Due to the lack of testing, it is unknown whether this has the potential to overstimulate those cells and potentially cause something more sinister like Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Many TikTok users have left comments admitting they are eager to try the tanning nasal spray and have encouraged others to also purchase it 'Administering products via the nasal cavity provides direct access to the systemic circulation via the nasal mucosa which will increase your risk of experiencing side effects. I would strongly advise anyone not to use any unregulated products like nasal tanning sprays.' Dr Ahmed El Muntasar of The Aesthetics Doctor reiterated, saying: 'Nasal tanning spray contains melanotan. They are not very regulated and are quite unsafe. There is no clear regulation of the concentration and chemical structure. 'So I would not advocate using them; they can increase blood pressure and cause headaches. 'Because they increase melanin production, theoretically it might increase long-term chances of skin cancer/ make the pre-distinct freckles change colour which could cause a skin cancer scare, in my opinion, I would not advocate using them.' A crochet artist who uses social media to promote her handmade designs has blasted cheap fashion websites and wholesalers that copy her pieces to sell for a fraction of the price. Evvia Gonzales, 24, from Norwich, launched Loupy Studio after her handmade crochet designs grew in popularity during lockdown, with made-to-order tops selling for around 140. The crochet artist, who learnt the skill from her grandmother, explained that it's difficult to stop fast-fashion brands and wholesalers from 'copying' her designs and even passing off images of her wearing the pieces as their own. She revealed the shocking extent of the problem to Refinery29, saying: 'I probably get about one DM a week about a different wholesaler on Pinterest that uses my photos with my face visible and their watermark. I've requested that they take it down and every time they do, then repost it.' Evvia Gonzales, 24, (pictured) from Norwich, claims fast-fashion retailers and wholesalers have been 'copying' her intricate crochet designs Evvia (pictured left) said she receives a message almost every week about her designs appearing on websites such as Dolls Kill (pictured right) Evvia said her designs started being 'copied' after she appeared on the Discovery page on social media sites including Pinterest Evvia, who is also a carer, has had her work appear on the Discovery page of social media sites since creative hobbies became a trend during lockdown. Inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier and Isa Boulder, Evvia revealed her brown stretchy squares top was the first design to be copied. It's since popped up on the fashion wesbite y2kaesthetic.com, which used a photo from Evvia's Instagram Loupy Studio account to promote a copy of her design, costing $41.72, while another site Emmiol is selling a very similar look for 17.84. She explained that 'the crochet pieces are an imitation but have been made by hand. Crochet is impossible to replicate by machine, and its very worrying that someone would have spent five hours hand making a top only to be paid a fraction of the retail cost.' Evvia vented the frustration of having her photos stolen (pictured) by brands claiming to sell her crochet designs Evvia (pictured), who learnt crochet from her grandmother, said it's troubling to see crochet being sold in bulk when she knows how long it takes to make one item Evvia (pictured) claims it's difficult for small creators to pursue copyright violations and many fast-fashion websites don't have a legitimate contact The Cambridge graduate said it's unlikely that fast-fashion brands such as Dolls Kill and Emmoil are recreating the design made-to-order. She said that it 'really hurt' because she will never be able to recreate the top made from secondhand acrylic mohair again. All her pieces are made using yarn sourced in charity shops or from eBay, and are compleltely unique. Evvia explained that it's difficult to pursue copyright violations as a small creator, saying: 'You feel like they pulled you into this really tricky, wholesale exploitative situation and you feel like you have to do something. But what am I supposed to do?' She claims that many websites don't have a legitimate contact that you can speak to about any issues and images taken down from Pinterest are often reposted. The designer said it's likely people aren't being paid when wholesalers pull an item from their website following a complaint and the bulk made items end up just sitting somewhere. She added that it's important to support small creators as there isn't a way of solving the issue of designs being stolen. 'You can have a design stolen and it's just lost you have no more control over it forever. But the fact that my face is attached to all of these scammy sellers is another level,' Evvia added. Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, is approached by reporters while entering the Suwon District Prosecutor's Office in Gyeonggi Province in this 2018 file photo. Korea Times file By Lee Hae-rin The cover of Kim Hye-kyung's cookbook "Let's Make Meals" The 2018 cookbook, "Let's Make Meals," depicts Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK)'s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, as a picture-perfect housewife. As a wife and stay-at-home mother, she wrote that she has been dealing with her "demanding" husband Lee, then mayor of Seongnam City in his second term, who kept asking her to serve home-cooked meals, instead of ordering out. Introduced as a "professional housewife" of 27 years, Kim is portrayed as a master of home cooking. "Since my husband earned the nickname, 'sam-sik-ee,' or 'a man who eats all three meals at home,' some have come to me and asked, 'What is my secret that made my husband a lover of home-cooked meals?'" the prologue of the book reads. In the epilogue, Lee clarified that in fact he is an "aspiring sam-sik-ee" who seeks to have three home-cooked meals every day, but most of the times ends up having only one meal at home daily because of his busy schedule. In the book, photos of Kim wearing several different comfortable pastel outfits with different aprons and various main and side dishes she herself prepared, are paired with her essays delivering her brief thoughts on the food. According to the book, her mother and mother-in-law have passed down their time-honored recipes to Kim and it has been cooking classes and years of trial and error in the kitchen that taught her basic cooking skills. Kim says "nutritious seasonal vegetables, simple recipes and organic homemade ingredients" are the three key factors that have made her family's home-cooked meals irresistibly delicious. "I don't usually do grocery shopping for my own meals. Grocery shopping makes me tired, and I don't even have the energy to set the table. When I am at home alone, I rummage through the refrigerator to see if there are any leftover ingredients and side dishes that I always prepare just in case we run out of food, and then make my own home-cooked meal," she wrote. Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung, eats a homemade lunch with Lee at their home in an episode of the SBS reality show, "Same Bed, Different Dreams," aired on July 17, 2017. Screenshot from YouTube Kim's cookbook was published in February 2018, months before her husband ran successfully in the local election for governor of Gyeonggi Province. Given its timing of publication, Kim's cookbook, which was released after the Lees' appearances on a SBS reality show, seemed to be part of Lee's campaign to position himself as a national figure. Kim's image as the dedicated housewife of strong-willed politician Lee, however, has been called into question recently. Some are wondering if the portrayal of her as a "home-cooked meals ambassador" in the cookbook represents her true self. Such suspicions have been raised after a former government employee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government blew the whistle on her with allegations of misusing her husband's corporate card for personal reasons. The man, who is identified only by the initial, A, disclosed his private phone conversations and Telegram messages exchanged with the woman who was his former supervisor to support his allegations that Lee and wife Kim are living lives that are very different from how they are portrayed in the public eye. 'A' claimed that he ran various types of errands, including picking up Kim's dry cleaning, as well as pre-ordered food from restaurants as if she were her personal assistant. His revelations were jaw-dropping. He said he delivered sushi, rice noodles, Chinese food, sandwiches and beef he purchased from local restaurants with then-Governor Lee's corporate card to the couple's home. There was a protocol he was supposed to follow. He hung the packed food on the door handle and left immediately afterwards. He was told to behave like he didn't exist. Don't be spotted. Don't even think of saying hello to the governor. The disclosed phone conversations, Telegram messages and receipts of Lee's corporate card that were suggested as pieces of evidence tell a very different story of Lee's wife. Contrary to the image of her as the master of home-cooked meals, which was built through her TV appearances and the 2018 cookbook, Kim is seen as a woman who is too busy to make home-cooked meals and relies most of the time on food delivered from gourmet restaurants well-known by area locals with sophisticated taste buds. Since her alleged misuse of her husband's corporate card for personal reasons was first reported earlier this month, fresh allegations about her food taste have been made almost every day. The latest allegation disclosed by the Monthly Chosun magazine says that the former government official also ran errands for Lee. The disclosed Telegram messages he exchanged with his supervisor said he worked even during weekends to deliver a lunchbox for the then-governor. Publicizing the list of delivered food that was purchased with Lee's corporate card from April 23 to Oct. 5 of last year on social media, the main opposition People Power Party called it, "Ms. Kim's Guided Tour to Gourmet Restaurants in Bundang." A woman has revealed her predicament after a man she's been dating confessed to her that he was previously accused of attempted rape. In a post on the British parenting forum Mumsnet, the unnamed woman revealed that on their third date, her new love interested admitted that he had been arrested and investigated a few years back. He referred to this as a 'revenge accusation' and showed her emails from the police saying that there was no 'further evidence' against him. The majority of commenters urged the woman to end the relationships, claiming she could be in danger and that his confession might be a 'classic softening up manoeuvre of abusers', while others pointed out that false allegations of sexual assault are very rare. However, some did think she should give him the benefit of the doubt, praising him for being honest early on, and sharing stories of people close to them who have been falsely accused. A woman on Mumsnet sought advice on whether she should continue to date man that was accused of rape, even after the investigation was dropped (stock image) In a post on the British parenting website Mumsnet , the unnamed author explained how on their third date he told her that it was revenge accusation and admitted to not knowing how she should react to this information Explaining the situation, the woman said that the revelation came up on her third date with a new man. 'He is nice and we connect well. I just felt comfortable around him,' she said. 'He told me a few years back he was arrested and investigated for attempted rape. He was accused by an ex as revenge. He was investigated for 6 months, but charges dropped (no further evidence?). He said it tore his life apart as he couldnt work and nearly suffered a breakdown. 'Said it was a revenge accusation. It didn't happen, but he wanted to be honest. He showed me emails from the police saying "no further evidence". He said she got investigated for false allegations, but police decided not to charge. 'I spoke to a friend who is a police detective and he said it will most likely be false as it was investigated very quickly as these things can take up to a year or more. 'How would you feel being told this? I am undecided as he seems really nice and was broken telling me. But it has made me slow things down, as it was very serious allegation that got investigated!' In a follow-up most, she explained that she has Googled him, but nothing has come up other than professional information. 'My gut says trust him, but my head is saying be uncomfortable,' she explained, adding that 'he wanted to be honest and told me early on. He has waited in the past and was accused of hiding stuff.' Commenters were quick to label this as red flag and encourage her err on the side of caution. Whilst some recognised that there was insufficient evidence, they could not get past the fear that it might be true and the woman is at risk if she carries on seeing him One said that they 'wouldn't carry as seeing him' because charges not being brought is 'not proof he didn't do it.' 'Even if it was a 0000000.1% chance he was a rapist rather than being falsely accused I wouldnt want even that amount of risk of being with a rapist,' a fellow commenter added. Another asked accuser confessed to lying or was there insufficient evidence to proceed with a prosecution, saying that 'unless it is on record that she genuinely confessed to making it up' they would be wary. Others encouraged the poster to put her own safety first and move on. 'I would run. I gave someone the benefit of the doubt about rape aligations and he raped me. He also denies raping me. I wouldn't even risk spending any time with this man. Put your safety ahead of hurting this man's feelings,' another explained. Commenters discussed between themselves how likely it was that this was revenge accusation Mumsnet users looked at their own findings and experience to offer up advice, with the majority coming to the conclusion that 'no one can honestly know who is lying.' This sparked further debate from the forum, with a handful of commenters sharing stories about men being falsely accused of rape. Another questioned why he would volunteer the information if he had done something wrong. 'Its totally illogical that he would volunteer up this information about himself if he were a potential or past rapist,' one said. 'My reading of this is that hes a man thats had a serious allegation made against him (which would have been hellish ) and really likes you so hes telling you his experience up infront rather than six months down the line when it would be a question of why didnt you tell me sooner. 'Trust your instincts if you like him and it is indeed very possible that what he is telling you is true. Next step meet his friends.' A Starbucks barista is being applauded for finding a sneaky way to offer help to a teenager. Brandy Roberson from Corpus Christi, Texas says her 18-year-old daughter was at a Starbucks alone when a man she didn't know began talking to her. Noticing this and not knowing whether the girl felt threatened a barista brought over a free drink with a secret note telling her how she could silently signal for help. 'Are you okay?' read the note, written in marker on the side of cup. 'Do you want us to intervene? If you do, take the lid off the cup.' When a strange man began talking to an 18-year-old girl in a Texas Starbucks, a barista brought over a cup with a secret message telling her to take off the lid if she needed help Her mother, Brandy Roberson, loved that the employees were looking out for her and shared a photo on Facebook Roberson told WKYC that her daughter, who went to Starbucks to study, didn't believe she was in any danger. 'She was sitting at her table alone studying and this man came by and noticed what she was studying and wanted to talk to her about it,' Roberson said. 'He, I think, just kind of became really loud and animated about it.' The barista had come over with a cup, telling her it was 'an extra hot chocolate someone forgot to pick up.' She said her daughter felt fine and didn't remove the lid, but she later thanked the barista for trying to help and making sure she was safe. The teen came home and told her mother what had happened. 'She was holding the cup and knew that I would love that someone did that for her,' Roberson told Today. 'It made me feel so grateful that the Starbucks employees were watching out for her. As a mom, that is my worst fear that something would happen to my child and nobody would be there to help.' Robertson said her daughter felt fine and didn't remove the lid, but she later thanked the barista for trying to help and making sure she was safe (pictured: stock photo) 'As a mom, that is my worst fear that something would happen to my child and nobody would be there to help,' Robertson (pictured) said Touched, Roberson shared a photo of the cup with the story on Facebook. 'My 18 year-old daughter was at Starbucks, alone, the other night. A man came up to her and started talking to her. A barista handed her an extra hot chocolate someone forgot to pick up. How grateful I am for people who look out for other people!' she wrote. 'Side note: She felt safe and did not remove the lid, but let them know. She said the whole team was watching over her the rest of the time she was there. Thank you to the team at Starbucks on Staples and SPID in Corpus Christi.' The post has gone viral, racking up over 90k likes. WKYC also confirmed the story with a Starbucks representative. Commenters 'The best of humanity right there!!!' one woman wrote. 'Totally brilliant. And such a shame that we have to do such things. Looking out for each other is so important,' a man commented. A community of Australian parents are outraged their council has forced the closure of a popular swimming school following noise complaints from neighbours. On February 17 Barrenjoey Swim School, in Sydney's esteemed northern suburb of Avalon, received an order from the Northern Beaches Council to shut down within 90 days. The close-knit community has rallied behind the swim school, which is a family-run business that's been operating for the past decade, and are appealing to the council to revoke their decision. The order from the council states noise from the school is 'clearly audible and causing impact'. Locals are outraged and appealing to the Northern Beaches Council after their decision to shut down the Barrenjoey Swim School in Avalon because of noise complaints from neighbours 'The nature of the noise emanating from the swim school is typically the voices of children and instructors and splashing from within the pool, and also parents chatting from outside the pool,' it read. A letter from the school appealing to the community for help has been circulating online. 'Unless we can get council to change their mind or we successfully appeal the decision, this will be our last term in operation,' the letter read. Young mum Indy Clinton rallied behind Barrenjoey Swim School in a lengthy rant to her Instagram Stories on Monday. 'How sad the world has become. Northern Beaches Council shutting down a family run local swim school which has been operating for 10 years because one angry neighbour has complained about noise... aka children, young kids learning how to swim,' she wrote. Sydney-based influencer and mum, Indy Clinton, rallied behind Barrenjoey Swim school in a lengthy rant to her Instagram stories 'To the angry neighbour - why target a family run swim school who are teaching the children of our community an essential life skill? Sad.' More locals took to social media to express their anger at the council's decision to close the school. 'My daughter goes to this swim school and patrons are quiet as to not disturb neighbours and other children while in their class. It would be a shame to lose such a wonderful local small business - as if small businesses haven't suffered enough?!' another mum wrote in a post to Facebook. 'I live around the corner from Patrick Street and walk up and down the street on my daily walk. I have never been disturbed or negatively impacted by the swim school.' 'This swim school offers so much to our community and they have helped to keep the local children safe for 10 years! Why now?' she said. 'To the angry neighbour - why target a family run swim school who are teaching the children of our community and essential life skill. Sad.' she said in the post A post from concerned local Eliza Viney to Facebook group Avalon What's On said the closure would be 'a dangerous loss for a community that revolves around water' and drew in dozens of angry responses. 'This is ridiculous! We just recently sold in Patrick Street almost opposite the swim school and never had any problems during over 20 years living there,' one resident said. 'There were one or two neighbours who were always anti the swim school and we had heard that they were spreading rumours that we sold because of the swim school which was totally false.' 'Unbelievable! I can think of far worse noises than laughing children or even squealing children for that matter. Swimming lessons for children are absolutely vital everywhere, but especially when they live in the beaches. How absurd!' a second said. The Northern Beaches Council told the Daily Mail Australia after an investigation it was determined the noise and traffic impacts from Barrenjoey Swim School, which is currently classified as a 'home business', are such that it should be considered a 'recreation facility' which is prohibited in their current zoning. Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said the council is in talks with Barrenjoey Swim School. 'While this outcome will no doubt be disappointing for patrons of the swim school, residents do need to operate within the law so as to not impact on neighbours,' he said. 'Councils Director of Planning and Place and I have offered to meet with the owners of the swim school in the coming weeks to discuss the matter further and this offer has been accepted.' A young Australian woman has cast doubt over the professional nature of her psychologist after she claims he purposefully matched with her on Hinge. The dating app user reached out to a group on Facebook to decipher whether the behaviour she was seeing exhibited by her confidant was worth warning others about or not. 'I need a bit of help and don't know what to do. My psychologist, who I haven't seen in a few months but have been in contact with, messaged me on Hinge,' she wrote. 'He literally messaged me on February 2 trying to organise another session and on February 15 he liked me on Hinge and has messaged me. The dating app user reached out to a group on Facebook to decipher whether the behaviour she was seeing exhibited by her psychologist was worth warning others about or not She admitted to feeling 'scared and violated' by the match because he knows some 'deeply personal things' after her as well as where she lives and her phone number 'I matched with him unintentionally and didn't realise it was him until he messaged me. Surely this goes against some ethical code.' She admitted to feeling 'scared and violated' by the match because he knows some 'deeply personal things' after her as well as where she lives and her phone number. 'A part of me wants to do something about it because I worry about other patients of his who he might do this to. Any help and advice on whether I should do something or not would be appreciated,' she said. The northern NSW local, who has a unique name not easily forgotten, said his connecting with her on the dating app couldn't have been a mistake because it's a small town and he knows what her face looks like. 'I found him through a local Facebook community group asking for a psychologist and he messaged me on Facebook to organise appointments through his clinic,' she said. When she asked him on Hinge whether he was her psychologist he apologised, said 'that's why you look familiar' and proceeded to ask her how she was going She claimed the psychologist went by a different name during their sessions than he did online, which is why she initially matched with him. When she asked him on Hinge whether he was her psychologist he apologised, said 'that's why you look familiar' and proceeded to ask her how she was going. 'I'm in my fourth year of psychology and this is a major breach of ethical conduct and should most definitely be reported,' one woman replied to the thread. 'They make it very clear to us early on in teaching that these things are quite serious and wrong. Also messaging you through Facebook to organise appointments is inappropriate, it should have been done through the clinic and in a much more professional manner.' 'As a psych it's all kinds of wrong, he wouldn't have hundreds of clients especially not in a small town. A typical case load would be less than 50. If he's seen her for more than a few sessions he'd 100 per cent have recognised her and even if he wasn't sure it's his responsibility to be cautious,' said another. A business student with a keen eye for vintage photography has explained how she used just $250 to create a sustainable film camera that has raked in $1million since its launch six months ago. When Madi Stefanis, 21, tried to flog a vintage camera for $50 on Facebook Marketplace in 2019, she was inundated with offers before settling on a bid of $250. Astounded by the demand, she invested the money into more and sold 10 in the space of a week. The budding entrepreneur spent a year sourcing and reselling discontinued models on her website, 35mmco, but in the background she was hard at work developing her own line of reusable film cameras. The $99 Reloader has sold out twice since launching on August 15 last year, earning Ms Stefanis a six-figure monthly turnover - all while doing its bit for the planet by creating an alternative to single-use disposable cameras. On February 24 the brand will launch in two new colourways - pink and green - and finally move into a warehouse space after Ms Stefanis packed 12,000 orders in her parents' home. Scroll down for video Melbourne student Madi Stefanis (right) created a reusable film camera The $99 Reloader (left and right) is a clever alternative to to single-use disposable cameras, notorious for creating huge amounts of plastic waste that wind up in oceans and landfill Reflecting on her extraordinary success, the businesswoman described the interest in the first camera she sold on Facebook as a 'lightbulb moment' that illuminated her path to success. 'It's been incredible, I literally can't keep up with the demand,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I've outgrown my manufacturing space in two months.' Made from ABS plastic, the palm-sized camera has a 31mm lens and a focus of up to one metre, with a shutter speed of 1/120S and a built-in flash powered by a triple A battery which is brighter than what is used in traditional disposables. Ten months in the making, the camera has a vegan leather strap and can be refilled with $14.95 Kodak Gold 200 film, which is also stocked on Ms Stefanis' website. Disposable cameras are cheap, retailing from $19 to $29.95 at the likes of Amazon and Officeworks, but their single-use nature creates a huge amount of plastic waste that winds up in oceans, rivers, and landfill. Ms Stefanis says her Reloader - which has been designed to suit beginners with zero experience in photography - is also better value for money in the long run. 'A roll of film only costs $14.95 so it ends up being less expensive than buying single-use cameras again and again,' she said. Ms Stefanis is struggling to keep up with demand for her invention, which has sold out twice - to the tune of 5,000 units - since launching in August The camera (pictured) has a vegan leather strap and can be refilled with $14.95 Kodak Gold 200 film, which is also stocked on Ms Stefanis' website TikTok has been the biggest source of sales for the business, according to Ms Stefanis, who says the website saw 'huge' traffic after a video about the camera went viral with more than one million views. Her best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs thinking about starting a business is simple: 'Just do it.' 'I'm surrounded by so many people who say they want to do it, but they're paralysed by fear. The worst thing you can do is fail,' she said. A pelvic floor therapist has revealed the simple stretching exercises she recommends for alleviating period cramps, and fans who have tried them insist they really work. Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, a Massachusetts-based doctor of physical therapy, demonstrated the yoga moves in a video shared on her popular @scrambledjam TikTok account. 'Some of my go-to's,' the 30-year-old captioned the clip, which has be been viewed more than 4.1 million times since it was posted earlier this month. Scroll down for video Dr. Alicia Jeffrey-Thomas, a Massachusetts-based doctor of physical therapy, demonstrated her 'go-to' stretching exercises for alleviating period cramps in a now-viral TikTok video Jeffrey-Thomas, who started with the child's pose, recommended doing each of the exercises for a minute or longer while focusing on the breath Stretch the pain away! The best moves to help your period cramps Child's pose Pigeon Cat/cow Spinal circles Legs up on the wall Hold each for one minute while inhaling for five seconds and exhaling for five seconds Advertisement Jeffrey-Thomas started with the child's pose, showing how she sits on her knees and leans forward, stretching her arms in front of her. The physical therapist then brought her left leg forward as if she were about to step into a lunge and dropped her knee to the floor into the pigeon pose. Her left leg remained extended behind her as she stretched. Next up was the cat-cow pose combined with spinal circles. She was kneeling on all-fours as she inhaled and curved her lower back and brought her head up like a 'cow.' She then arched her spine and lowered her head down like a 'cat.' While alternating between those two positions, she made circles with her back. For her final pose, she just rested with her legs on the wall in front of her while lying on her back with her hands on her stomach. Jeffrey-Thomas recommended doing each of the exercises for a minute or longer while focusing on the breath. She explained that you should inhale for five seconds, 'letting the lower abdomen inflate like you swallowed a beach ball,' and then exhale for five to seven seconds. The physical therapist then brought her left leg forward as if she were about to step into a lunge and dropped her knee to the floor into the pigeon pose Next, she was on all fours doing the cat-cow pose combined with spinal circles For her final pose, she just rested with her legs on the wall in front of her while lying on her back with her hands on her stomach More than 11,000 TikTok users have commented on the video, and a number of women shared what poses work best for them. 'Childs pose hits SO DIFFERENT during a bad cramp,' one woman wrote, while another added: 'I've actually fallen asleep in child's pose during bad night cramps.' 'The child pose and pigeon are the best for me,' someone else shared. Others were surprised that they already 'instinctively' knew to do these stretches when they were suffering from menstrual pain. The video seemed to be incredible timing for a number of viewers who had just started their periods and were looking for relief. 'Perfect timing I just started my period and Im in pain,' one TikToker shared. The video has been viewed more than 4.1 million times, and many fans took to the comments to share what poses work best for them Jeffrey-Thomas also went viral last summer after she warned against peeing in the shower, saying it could possibly lead to 'leak issues' in the future 'I literally just started my period 10 mins ago,' another added. 'But how did the algorithm know?' someone else joked. Jeffrey-Thomas made headlines last summer when she warned against peeing in the shower, saying it could possibly lead to 'leak issues' in the future. 'If you pee in the shower or turn on the faucet or turn on the shower and then sit on the toilet to pee while the water's running, you're creating an association in your brain between the sound of running water and having to pee,' she told viewers. 'We combo that 'with pelvic floor dysfunction either now or down the line then that's going to potentially lead to some leak issues when you hear running water outside of the shower.' She added that people who were born with female anatomy 'were not designed to pee standing up,' explaining the bladder won't empty as it should because the pelvic floor isn't relaxed properly. Advertisement She's typically the picture of regal refinement. But the Duchess of Cambridge showcased her playful side on a visit to the Lego Foundation Play Lab in Copenhagen this afternoon. Giggling Kate, 40, whizzed down a winding tube slide instead of taking the stairs, raising her hands in the air as she shot out the bottom. Screaming with laughter after emerging from the slide, she joked with the press saying 'you stood far enough away!' adding 'In the spirit of where I am, I had to do it.' After chatting to parents with their babies at Copenhagen's Children's Museum, the duchess confessed she felt 'broody' and joked husband William worries about her working with under one-year-olds because she returns home wanting 'another one'. She also joked that her children - Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six and Prince Louis, three, were 'very jealous' they weren't able to come along. The duchess clearly enjoyed her visit to the Lego Foundation PlayLab at University College Copenhagen where students training to be early years professionals are encouraged to play. The Duchess is on a whirlwind two-day solo visit to Denmark to promote her work in early childhood development. Demonstrating her flair for diplomatic dressing, Kate, 40, stepped out in a 59.99 red Zara blazer and white ruffled blouse - the colours of the Danish flag - for her first day of engagements, which kicked off to a visit to the University of Copenhagen. Later she visited the Play Lab to meet students who are training to be early years professionals. Scroll down for video The Duchess of Cambridge , 40, opted to go down a slide instead of the stairs on a visit to the Lego Foundation Lab in the Danish capital. Kate giggled as she whizzed down the winding tube slide then shot out the bottom Weee! The Duchess looked delighted as she embraced her fun side and slid down the slide at the Lego play lab Ready for round two! Kate looked in her element after gracefully landing after sliding down the tunnel at the Lego HQ Nailing the landing! Despite wearing heels and business dress, Kate was ready to embrace the fun at the Lego HQ Kate laughs as she comes down a slide during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen Ready to go! Kate looked delighted to try out the toys as part of her trip to promote Early Childhood Education in Denmark Learning from the best! Kate looked intrigued to learn during a visit to the LEGO Foundation PlayLab at the Carlsberg Campus, University College Copenhagen Kate speaks to parents about the program, 'Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project' (CIMPH) 'Understanding Your Baby Project' during a visit to the Children's Museum at Frederiksberg, Copenhagen The Duchess of Cambridge waves as she arrives at the University of Copenhagen on Tuesday Kate - herself a mother-of-three - looks in her element meeting babies at the Children's museum in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen Ready for business! The future Queen sported at red jacket from H&M and sleek black trousers for the day on in Denmark Blazing a trail in her 60 Zara Kate was flying the flag for the High Street yesterday as she stepped out in a red tweed blazer from Zara. Following her usual mantra of rewear and repeat, she last wore this wardrobe favourite to the England v Germany game last June. And she loves it so much that she also owns the green version. The Zara blazer, which is no longer available, was 59.99. With a nod to Chanel, the tweed look is a fail-safe choice. Its smart yet still feminine, tailored to nip in at the waist. Never one to go over the top, the rest of her look is elegant if undramatic. A ruffle shirt by Me and Em (85) is the ultimate choice for pared back luxe, as are the beautifully cut black trousers a similar pair at Jigsaw is 130. She is also wearing her favourite pumps by Gianvito Rossi (535). Aspinals faux croc leather Mayfair bag (595) may not hold much but its a label that many successful career girls dangle from their wrists. She completed her look with a pearl necklace by British designer Monica Vinader (120). Advertisement Typically polished, the royal finished the look with a pair of black wide-leg trousers, black suede heels and a favourite Aspinal of London handbag. The duchess revealed she had spent some of the recent half-term school break playing with Lego with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who were envious when they learnt she would be visiting the Lego Foundation PlayLab. 'My children are very jealous they weren't coming to see the Lego Foundation. 'They were like, 'hang on, there's Lego and we're not coming?'' she said. At the Children's Museum, Kate heard about the Understanding Your Baby research project which trains health visitors to help new parents as they begin to notice and interpret their babies' behavioural cues. After meeting with two eight-month-old baby boys and their parents, she joked: 'It makes me very broody. 'William always worries about me meeting under one-year-olds. I come home saying, 'let's have another one'.' During the museum visit, Kate praised fathers for taking time off work to 'get to know' their babies and she spoke of the universal struggle of parenthood where even the most well-educated can struggle to ask for help. It is the first time she has taken the work of her foundation, which she launched in June, to the international stage. The visit will also pay tribute to the historic ties Britain shares with Denmark and celebrate the countries' joint jubilees - the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the Golden Jubilee of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, both of which fall in 2022. Effortlessly chic: The royal's brunette locks looked sleek around her shoulders and she added a touch of dark eye makeup Learning all about it! Kate beamed with joy as she chatted to local mums as she visited the Children's Museum in Frederiksberg Kate reacts as she speaks to parents about the program, 'Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project' (CIMPH) 'Understanding Your Baby Project' during a visit to the Children's Museum at Frederiksberg Red-dy for action! Kate looked impeccable during a visit at the LEGO Foundation PlayLab in Copenhagen, Denmark Balls of fun! Kate explored the site including looking at balloons and various toy. She launched The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in June 2021 Kate's centre aims to drive awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years. Hands-on as ever, Kate looked delighted as she smiled and got involved with the little ones paintings Duchess of Cambridge visits the Lego Foundation PlayLab on Campus Carlsberg in Copenhagen The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks in a sleek down do and beamed as she arrived for her first event Kate on a visit to the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project, University of Copenhagen Kate is on a two-day fact-finding mission to Copenhagen and will meet members of the royal family while in Copenhagen The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in a red Zara blazer as she kicked off her whirlwind solo visit to Denmark today The Duchess of Cambridge is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists as she arrives at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Program at The Duchess of Cambridge looked radiant as she arrived at the University of Copenhagen for the engagement today The Duchess of Cambridge put her best foot forward in a pair of black suede heels with chunky heels for the engagement Kate, who has made early childhood develop a key part of her work as a royal, heard from Danish academics in the field The visit to Copenhagen marks the first time she has taken the work of her foundation, which she launched in June, to the international stage. Pictured, the Duchess of Cambridge at the University of Copenhagen Kate takes part in a talk with Mette Skovgaard Vaever, second from right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies, and other scientists, as she visits the Children's Museum Told how even well-educated mothers and fathers struggle with feeling 'insecure' about their parenting, she agreed: '(There is) the expectation that maybe they should know already. 'Whereas some of the more disadvantaged families probably have different challenges.' And later she said certain 'milestones' in a baby's development were favoured over others: 'There is a lot of talk about feeding and nutrition and physical milestones, but less on the emotional and social milestones.' The duchess chatted to researchers from the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project (CIMHP), which aims to promote the mental wellbeing of, and relationships between, infants and their parents. Parents Nikolene and Nicolai Gudomlund told the duchess about a programme delivered by CIMHP psychologists they enrolled on after they became 'completely panicked' by their son, now four, not making eye contact when a few months old. Kate said: 'There is so much joy and happiness associated with having a newborn baby but actually people don't necessarily talk about the worry or the anxiety that comes with having a newborn, and particularly if you are noticing things with your own child that you feel you are worried about, and things.' During the visit the Duchess will also carry out an engagement with Australian-born Crown Princess Mary, 49. The duchess travelled by a scheduled flight to the capital Copenhagen but it is thought her plane was delayed by around 30 minutes. She made up some time for her first visit to the University of Copenhagen to meet researchers from the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project (CIMHP), which aims to promote the mental wellbeing of, and relationships between, infants and their parents. The Duchess of Cambridge looked ready for business in a vibrant red blazer, which she previously wore to watch England football team play last summer. She wore the jacket over a smart white V-neck blouse with frill detailing. Keeping her accessories simple, Kate added a pair of 150 Mother-of-Pearl Drop Huggie Hoop Earrings from Maria Black and a 120 Nura Pearl Necklace by Monica Vinader. Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is greeted by Rector Henrik C. Wegener at the University of Copenhagen Kate is greeted by Mette Skovgaard Vaever, right, Director of the Center for Early Intervention and Family Studies The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured at the University of Copenhagen, is on hand to promote her work in early childhood The Duchess of Cambridge wore red and white - the colours of the Danish flag - for her first outing in Copenhagen on Tuesday Radiant Kate smiled as she arrived at the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project in Copenhagen today The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the university to learn more about the world-class work in early childhood development The Duchess of Cambridge appeared in excellent spirits and smiled at one of her hosts on arrival The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to scientists working in the field of early childhood development in Copenhagen The Duchess of Cambridge smiled as she heard more from the experts in the field, which is of great interest to the Duchess The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, is eager to bring her work with the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood to the global stage The royal's brunette locks looked sleek around her shoulders and she added a touch of dark eye makeup. The Duchess heard more about an innovative screening tool, the Alarm Distress Baby Scale, used to help health visitors identify infants at risk of adverse social and emotional development. The duchess will meet leading researchers running the initiative and will hear from health visitors who are implementing these tools in their work. Alongside the screening tool, academics have launched the Understanding Your Baby research project which provides further training for health visitors so they can help new parents as they begin to notice and interpret their babies' behavioural cues. Beaming! Kate looked delighted as she arrived in the Scandinavian city wearing a pretty pair of pearl earrings Typically polished, the royal finished the look with a pair of black wide-leg trousers, black suede heels and a favourite Aspinal of London handbag (pictured) At Copenhagen's Children's Museum the duchess will meet a few of the 1,300 first-time parents benefiting from the project, begun in 2019 and ending in July, that involves more than 200 health workers. Kate's final event of the day is a trip to the Lego Foundation PlayLab at University College Copenhagen where she will join students, training to be early years professionals, taking part in activities. The Duchess of Cambridge will receive an official welcome to Denmark from Queen Margrethe II on the second day of her trip. The Duchess will also join Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and visit a project supported by the Page 2 of 2 Mary Foundation, founded in 2007 by the Crown Princess, to protect vulnerable women and children from domestic violence. Kate and Mary have met on a number of previous occasions, including at Royal Ascot in 2016 and on William and Kate's joint visit to the Danish capital in 2011. The Duchess will also learn about how Denmark promotes infant mental wellbeing alongside physical health, and how it harnesses the power of nature, relationships and playful learning in the first five years of life. The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in black trousers, a white shirt and red blouse for the engagement The Duchess of Cambridge waved as she arrived for the engagement, the first stop on a busy two-day schedule Her schedule will focus on innovative initiatives and projects which support children in their growth, particularly their social and emotional development, as well as their parents and the wider communities surrounding them. Throughout the visit, The Duchess will have the opportunity to meet with a broad range of people including children and families, leading researchers, representatives from academia, and those working in the early education sector. Denmark is a beacon of best practice with its approach to early childhood as well as consistently ranking near the top of countries with the happiest people in the world. A cookery writer has left Britons divided after suggesting a bacon sandwich should be slathered with marmalade instead of ketchup or brown sauce. Award-winning British culinary writer Felicity Cloake, author of Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey, told the Guardian that marmalade and bacon sarnies are a match made in heaven. And ex-Blur bassist turned cheesemaker Alex James also agrees - yet Twitter users have been split by the suggestion, with some saying they've been using the combination for years, while others were horrified by the recommendation. A cookery writer (pictured) has left Britons divided after suggesting a bacon sandwich should be slathered with marmalade instead of ketchup or brown sauce Award-winning British culinary writer Felicity Cloake, author of Red Sauce, Brown Sauce: A British Breakfast Odyssey, told the Guardian that marmalade (pictured) and bacon sarnies are a match made in heaven Felicity explained: 'I feel like a bad British person for saying this I much prefer English mustard in a bacon sandwich. And marmalade. 'Think about it ham is often glazed with mustard and honey. A friend introduced me to it, and it feels like a Damascene moment every time I eat one.' Cloake has been researching whether red or brown sauce go best with a bacon butty, and has spoken to people across the UK about their preferences. She discovered ketchup is a 'southern' and 'more middle class' option compared to brown sauce. Meanwhile, James, 53, told The Sun in January 'how to make a perfect bacon sarnie' - with one of his surprising ingredients being marmalade. 'Bacon takes other flavours really well, so mustard, red, brown roll them all out,' he said. 'There is something magnificently indulgent about dunking, but I prefer a smear of pure ketchup on one side and a smear of mustard down the other. And ex-Blur bassist turned cheesemaker Alex James also agrees - yet Twitter users have been split by the suggestion, with some saying they've been using the combination for years, while others were horrified by the recommendation (pictured) 'Marmalade is surprisingly good, too. It sounds spooky but it's no weirder than honey-roast ham.' Yet top chefs have previously criticised the pairing, with Fergus Henderson saying oddities like marmalade are a step too far. Britons took to social media yesterday to discuss the suggestion. One wrote: 'Marmalade in a bacon sarnie... MARMALADE?!' Britons took to social media yesterday to discuss the suggestion. One wrote: 'I have been advocating marmalade on a bacon butty for years!' Another said: 'I like an occasional bacon sandwich but I would draw the line at MARMALADE! Never.' A third person added, however: 'I have been advocating marmalade on a bacon butty for years!' While a fourth wrote: 'Going out on a limb here, but if you are okay with sweet chutney in cheese sandwiches and with apple sauce on pork or cranberry jam on turkey... marmalade in bacon sandwiches is fine.' Proving a passion for fashion runs in her family, Lady Kitty Spencer was joined by her twin sisters Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer and younger brother Samuel Aitken at a London Fashion Week after-party last night. Princess Diana's niece, 31, who is the eldest child of Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer, appeared glamorous in a lace, leopard print frock, teamed with a black leather jacket when attending Perfect Magazine's LFW celebration at The Standard. She was joined at the occasion by her equally glitzy twin sisters Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, who sported shimmering dresses from the Michael Kors Collection. Also in attendance was their 18-year-old brother Samuel, the son of Victoria Aitken - who was previously married to Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer - and her second husband Jonathan Aitken. Proving a passion for fashion runs in her family, Lady Kitty Spencer (pictured second right) was joined by her twin sisters Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia Spencer and younger brother Samuel Aitken (left) at a London Fashion Week after-party last night Edgy: Lady Kitty Spencer, 31, opted for a leopard print satin number with a cropped leather jacket Samuel, who walked Kitty down the aisle during her lavish wedding to business tycoon Micheal lewis, 62, in July and said it was one of the 'proudest moments' of his life, looked handsome in a white denim jacket. Looking typically stylish, Kitty completed her look with black tights and matching high heels, while keeping her blonde locks tied back in a curly ponytail. Adding plenty of glitz to her satin ensemble, Kitty wore a layered necklace while sporting matching golden drop earrings and a smattering of glamorous makeup. Lady Eliza and Lady Amelia, meanwhile, opted for matching cut out maxi dresses from Michael Kors, with the former opting for a silver one, while the latter donned a shimmering black version. Both ladies opted to team their dresses with dainty drop earrings and strappy high heels, while keep their locks down. She was joined at the occasion by her equally glitzy twin sisters Lady Eliza (pictured right) and Lady Amelia (pictured second left), who sported shimmering dresses from the Michael Kors Collection Also in attendance was their 18-year-old brother Samuel (centre), the son of Victoria Aitken - who was previously married to Princess Diana's brother Earl Spencer - and her second husband Jonathan Aitken Elsewhere, their brother Samuel paired his white denim jacket with a matching logo top and dark denim jeans. He finished his outfit with black shoes and a dainty golden necklace. Society beauties Amelia and Eliza are following in the footsteps of their older sister, Kitty, who has forged a career in modelling after becoming a firm fixture on the London social scene. Earlier this year, the pair were hailed by society bible Tatler as among the hottest and most elegant socialite siblings from across the world who are used to moving in the same circles as supermodels, aristocrats and royals. They were ranked among others as one of the most glamorous sets of twins on the elite social scene. Lady Eliza (pictured) and Lady Amelia, meanwhile, opted for matching cut out maxi dresses from Michael Kors The sisters have an unbreakable bond as twins, with Lady Amelia telling Tatler she and Lady Eliza have always been close and are 'very similar'. 'We love doing the same things and share the same friends,' she said. 'You're guaranteed to have a best friend there always you can't really compare it to anything else.' Meanwhile, Samuel told Tatler's March issue he has his sights on joining Edinburgh University, which was previously attended by his brother Louis Spencer, 27. Contemplating a possible future in the UK, he said: 'I would like to end up at Edinburgh University. Thats where Louis was, so I would like to follow in his footsteps.' And the socialite teased he rarely covers up his abs, saying: 'Most of the time when Im at home I rarely even have a T-shirt on: Im just in my shorts as it can get quite hot. Im like Tarzan; Im hardly in much.' Kate Middleton has been 'looking around schools in Windsor' as the Cambridges 'prepare to move closer to the Duchess' parents Carole and Mike', sources have claimed. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who currently split their time between their London home Kensington Palace and their weekend home Amner Hall in Norfolk plan to relocate to Windsor, according to The Times. Royal commentator Hilary Rose wrote that Windsor Castle has been 'earmarked' as a new base for the couple, adding: 'It's said that they'll head for the discreetly wealthy little web of rural villages near her parents whom William adores where the locals have taken an oath of omerta about the Middletons in their midst.' The relocation, which would bring the family closer to both the Queen and Kate's parents in Bucklebury, is the most significant sign yet that the couple are preparing to take on a far more senior role at the heart of the Royal Family. Kate Middleton has been 'looking around schools in Windsor' as the Cambridges 'prepare to move closer to the Duchess' parents Carole and Mike', sources have claimed Meanwhile he said the couple hoped Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three. could all attend the same school. Teddy Wolstenholme, the editorial director of Talk Education and a former editor of the Tatler Schools Guide, said: '[The Duke and Duchess] have been doing their research on local schools for the last year. 'One pupil at Lambrook was asked by the cheery future king how he'd rate Latin. And when Kate was looking round another school, Papplewick, a pupil told her that she looked just like the Duchess of Cambridge.' It comes after a source claimed Prince William and Kate 'will move to Berkshire and start a quiet life in the country' because they recognise at 'this stage in their life suburbia makes perfect sense'. Royal commentator Hilary Rose said that the couple will head for the discreetly wealthy little web of rural villages near Kate's parents Carol and Michael Insiders told The Telegraph they have their eyes on Fort Belvedere, a Grade II listed house with tower towards the southern end of Windsor Great Park, where King Edward VIII the Queen's uncle signed his abdication papers in 1936. The fort is owned by the Crown Estate and leased to the billionaire Weston family, close friends of the royals. The relocation, which would bring the family closer to both the Queen and Kate's parents in Bucklebury, is the most significant sign yet that the couple are preparing to take on a far more senior role at the heart of the Royal Family. The couple are said to also believe they can make the commute from Windsor to west London in just 25 minutes if they have a police escort. While the Queen is based at Windsor castle, many of the royals have made the town home. Harry and Meghan made Frogmore Cottage in Windsor their UK base before relocating to the US - their home is now rented to Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank. Insiders previously said Prince William and Kate 'would move to Berkshire and start a quiet life in the country' because they recognise at 'this stage in their life suburbia makes perfect sense'. The couple are pictured with their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are also based at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, while Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and their children live at Bagshot Park just 11 miles away. Windsor is also just 32 miles away from Chapel Row, where the Middleton family are based in a 4,7million estate called Bucklebury Manor. Kate's sister Pippa, her husband James Matthews and their two children also have a home in the village. At the moment, the Cambridges split their time between their London base at Kensington Palace, where they also have their offices, and their country home of Anmer Hall in Norfolk. The home on the Sandringham Estate was a wedding gift from the Queen and, after carrying out refurbishment work, William and Kate made it their permanent home from 2015 to 2017. Sources say they have their eyes on Fort Belvedere, a Grade II listed house with tower towards the southern end of Windsor Great Park, where King Edward VIII the Queen's uncle signed his abdication papers in 1936. Its rural location had several key advantages at the time: William was working as a helicopter pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, and the couple were keen to give their young children as normal an upbringing as possible, away from the public gaze. But now, with their eldest two children at school in London, it has become rather far to travel for weekends. At Windsor, they could work in reverse basing the family there full time and commuting in to London when required. Following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh last year, it would also no doubt prove a boost to the Queen to have the Cambridges nearby. The 95-year-old monarch has a close relationship with William, and during his time at Eton College which is close to the castle he would often have Sunday lunch with his grandparents in the castle's panelled Oak Room. For years the Queen used Windsor as a weekend residence, and a retreat from the working week at Buckingham Palace. But the monarch now plans to base herself permanently at Windsor. Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly been quietly scoping out new schools - and potentially homes - in Berkshire. Pictured: William on George's first day at school in 2017 She and Prince Philip stayed at Windsor during the lockdown. It meant she was close to her youngest son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, who live nearby at Bagshot Park, and Prince Andrew, who lives at Royal Lodge with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. Having the Cambridges nearby would mean most of the Queen's immediate family barring Prince Charles and Princess Anne were close at hand to support her. Kate has long spoken kindly about the county she grew up in, with the family making regular trips back to see her parents. The duchess's parents Michael and Carole Middleton live in a seven-bedroom Grade II listed mansion, Bucklebury Manor. They also run their party goods business from a business park in the area and are very much hands-on grandparents. Her brother James has also reportedly bought a 1.45million home in the same village for himself and fiancee Alizee Thevenet. George and Charlotte are currently attending private Thomas's prep school in Battersea, south-west London, which takes children until they are 13. Their youngest child, three-year-old Prince Louis, attends the Willcocks Nursery a stone's throw from their Kensington Palace apartment. Both William and his younger brother Prince Harry happily boarded at Ludgrove School in Berkshire from the age of eight before moving to Eton at 13. Kate and her siblings were also boarders at one point or another in their formative years. gettyimagesbank This article is the fourth in a series about the 2022 presidential election candidates' campaign pledges. In this article, their pledges for Korea-Japan relations are examined and compared. ED Lee pursues strategic ambiguity; Yoon eyes multi-level diplomatic efforts By Kwon Mee-yoo South Korea's relations with Japan, its closest neighbor geographically with the exception of North Korea, have been put to the test under the Moon Jae-in administration after sinking to an unprecedented low. Two leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), have presented starkly contrasting views of the causes of soured relations and how the two countries can mend the frayed ties. The two sides also revealed significant differences in their diagnosis of the current South Korea-Japan relations. Worst bilateral ties: undesirable vs. awfully wrong Wi Sung-lac, former South Korean ambassador to Russia who is currently in charge of foreign policy at the Lee Jae-myung camp, said South Korea-Japan relations were headed in the wrong direction. "It's true that South Korea's relations with Japan are at their lowest point since the two sides established diplomatic relations," he told The Korea Times. "There's no doubt that the current situation is not desirable at all and thus must be improved." His counterpart, Kim Sung-han, a professor at Korea University and former vice foreign minister who is in charge of diplomatic policy at the Yoon Suk-yeol camp, however, assessed current bilateral relations very differently. Kim said current South Korea-Japan ties are "completely out of control, so much so that it's really tough to find a way out." Kim added, "Bilateral ties are so troubled that we don't even know where to start to improve them," he said when asked how he views the current relations. After gaining independence from Japan's colonial rule in 1945, Korea established official diplomatic relations with Japan in 1965. Despite both being an ally of the U.S. and their geographical proximity, the relationship between Korea and Japan deteriorated considerably in recent years due to a number of disputes. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling that awarded compensation to laborers forced to work for a Japanese company during World War II. The ruling infuriated Japan, which claimed that the verdict violates the 1965 agreement on the settlement of disputes concerning property and claims between the two countries. The following year, Japan imposed an export ban on semiconductor materials to Korea and the two countries ended up removing each other from their "whitelist" of preferred trading partners. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga even skipped a summit with President Moon during his tenure from 2020 and 2021, reflecting the icy relations between the two countries. Lee Jae-myung, right, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, shakes hands with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul in this Dec. 27, 2021 file photo. Korea Times file Historical animosity vs. populism The Lee and Yoon camps were miles apart on why South Korea-Japan relations had soured so much. Wi said that the rekindled historical animosity has fueled the deterioration of bilateral ties. "In addition to that, the Korean Supreme Court's ruling in favor of Korean forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period played a part to bring the issue back to the table. The two governments responded to each other in a hostile manner, making the situation go from bad to worse," Wi said. DPK candidate Lee seeks to mend ties with Japan through a two-track approach the separation of historical issues and economic and diplomatic cooperation to pave the way for a better future for the two countries while resolving historical issues. Lee has reiterated the importance of pragmatism in diplomacy, but blamed Japan for historical issues, which could end up repeating what has happened during the current administration. In a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi in late December, Lee said Korea and Japan should move toward future-oriented, cooperative relations. However, Lee has been rather firm about historical issues involving Korea and Japan. When Japan placed a bid to enlist the Sado mine, where Koreans were forced into labor during Japan's colonial rule, as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Lee immediately criticized Japan's move. "The Sado mine is evidence of wartime forced labor and a result of Imperialist plunder. Japan should stop distorting and sugarcoating the history of Imperialism... The Lee administration will make efforts to improve Korea-Japan relations, but won't overlook Japan's distortion of history," Lee wrote on his Facebook. However, Lee's camp did not unveil specific diplomatic measures to deal with Japan. "We are looking for ways to improve Korea-Japan relations. It is important to create an atmosphere to improve relations as many issues involving Korea and Japan are sensitive to public opinion. We will prevent unfavorable factors such as the Sado mine issue from popping up and interfering with communications between Korea and Japan," Wi said. "Under a more amicable environment, we can try new ways to solve problems. (An improvement of Korea-Japan relations) cannot be done at one, but can be achieved gradually if we take a small step and Japan takes another step in response." Regarding the source of diplomatic friction, the Yoon camp blamed Korean politicians for using diplomatic issues to fan nationalist sentiment and bolster voter support, resulting in soured South Korea-Japan relations. "The deteriorating relations have been escalated by the Korean administrations which used diplomatic feuds, especially those related to history, in domestic politics. We should separate history and security issues from domestic politics," said Kim at Korea University. In protest against Japan's export restrictions of key products to South Korea, consumers in the South launched a boycott of Japanese products, representing an example of diplomatic relations getting entangled in domestic politics. Kim emphasized that Japan is a key U.S. ally and an important partner in the US-Japan-South Korea trilateral relationship. "South Korea is an ally of the U.S. Some may think that it would be okay to maintain good relations only with the U.S., but an amicable South Korea-Japan relationship is a must for smoother trilateral relations," Kim said. "Even if South Korea and Japan do not get along well, the two countries should cooperate on security issues continuously to pressure North Korea and eventually China with the U.S." Yoon Suk-yeol, right, presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks with Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi at the party's headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul in this Nov. 26, 2021 file photo. Korea Times file A grieving mother who nearly died during childbirth and delivered a stillborn son has donated 50 pints of her breast milk to sick babies. Sarah Lampley, 34, was bleeding heavily during her 38th week of pregnancy only a week before her scheduled induction date and quickly rushed to a hospital in Georgia with her husband, Lewis, 34. She learned that she had experienced placental abruption and was forced to undergo a blood transfusion before giving birth to her little boy, whom they named Legend. Tragically, he died just before the traumatic birth. Upon returning home from the hospital, Sarah began to lactate and decided to donate her breast milk in Legend's memory. She has pumped pints of it for an organization called Mothers Milk Bank of Alabama, which donates breast milk to premature babies. A grieving mother who nearly died during childbirth and delivered a stillborn son has donated 50 pints of her breast milk to sick babies Sarah Lampley, 34, was bleeding heavily due to placental abruption and was forced to undergo a blood transfusion before giving birth to a stillborn boy, whom they named Legend Upon returning home from the hospital, Sarah began to lactate and decided to donate her breast milk in Legend's memory Sarah who has three living sons, Lewis, 15, London, eight, and Leo, six immediately went to the hospital when she realized she was bleeding in her 38th week of gestation. Doctors informed Sarah and Lewis that she had been bleeding for 24 hours, but their son had saved her life as his positioning in the womb prevented blood clots from moving to other parts of her body. But she was passing out due to the blood loss, and ten hours later, she delivered her stillborn son. While grieving for the son that didn't survive, Sarah's body was still prepared to care for him and began producing breast milk and she felt terrible about wasting it. 'A few days after delivering my son, I still had to go through postpartum which was really hard for me, but what made me feel worse was the thought of throwing my milk away,' she said. 'I felt so grateful for people who donated blood when I was in the hospital, so I reached out to a couple of milk banks in our area to give them my breast milk,' she said 'It brought purpose and comfort in my grief, knowing Legends legacy could live on,' she said 'I felt so grateful for people who donated blood when I was in the hospital, so I reached out to a couple of milk banks in our area to give them my breast milk,' she said. Within 14 weeks, Sarah had donated over 800 oz. of the liquid gold to the Mothers Milk Bank of Alabama, where it is currently being held for testing before it will go to premature infants. 'It brought purpose and comfort in my grief, knowing Legends legacy could live on,' she said. Her husband, Lewis, initially worried that donating her milk would be too emotionally challenging for Sarah, but he soon recognized how it was benefiting her. 'My husband was worried that it would be hard, and he was protective of my feelings, but once he saw how happy it made me, he was on board,' she said. The couples three sons were also supportive of her decision. She has pumped pints of milk for an organization called Mothers Milk Bank of Alabama, which donates breast milk to premature babies Sarah has documented her journey through a blog and social media pages, and her story has gained the attention of other women who have been through a similar experience 'When my sons asked who the milk was for, their little faces lit up and they said: "Good job mummy,"' she said. 'They also call Legend a superhero for saving my life. 'Its amazing how resilient they are,' she went on. 'They are great at talking about it and they like to draw pictures which we put in a memory box.' Sarah has documented her journey through a blog and social media pages, and her story has gained the attention of other women who have been through a similar experience. Not only has Sarah been contacted by mothers who have also lost babies, but she has now spoken with women whose premature children have benefited from milk donations. 'It was really encouraging and kept me going,' she said. 'Ive met some moms who donated because they didn't want their babies to be forgotten. 'I dont want that for Legend either. Over the years, I hope he will always be remembered as the hero that he was.' 'When my sons asked who the milk was for, their little faces lit up and they said: "Good job mummy,"' she said. 'They also call Legend a superhero for saving my life.' 'Its amazing how resilient they are,' she went on. 'They are great at talking about it and they like to draw pictures which we put in a memory box' Sarah and her family are still coming to terms with the loss of Legend. She revealed that she has not yet been able to go into the nursery which the couple had painted for his arrival. But amid the sadness, Sarah and Lewis have been sustained by the 'overwhelming love and support' from their family and friends. 'For us it was great to feel so much love and warmth and Im amazed that were doing as well as we are,' Sarah said. 'It makes you realize that you do have strength inside, even if you didnt think it was there. I feel forever changed but I want to use this for good. 'I know that even in our darkest hours we can still be a light to others,' she said. Less than a year after announcing their engagement with a loved-up photo on Instagram, Prince Louis of Luxembourg and fiancee have called it quits. The royal, 35 and French lawyer Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue, 30, told the French magazine Point de Vue that they have put an end to their four-year-long romance due to differing life goals. The couple announced they were engaged on April 6 2021 with a relaxed picture accompanied by official snaps with Louis' parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. They have vowed to remain friends, and added they still have a lot of love for each other and each other's families. Prince Louis was previously married to Tessy Antony, whom he shares two sons with, Prince Gabriel of Nassau, 14, and Prince Noah of Nassau, 12. The couple divorced in 2019. Prince Louis of Luxembourg, 34, and fiancee French lawyer Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue, 30, have called off their engagement Speaking to the French publication, Louis said: 'We have been in love with each other for the past four years. We always have tried to be completely honest with each other. Even when this honesty hurts us like today, we are more than ever convinced it is crucial.' 'Thinking about things a lot and getting to the bottom of it, we eventually admitted that as a family, as parents, our visions are too divergent. Our ambitions in life are too different,' Scarlett added. Scarlett added that Louis' family had given her a warm welcome and added that even though their loved ones are saddened by the news, their affection for her wouldn't change. Prince Louis said Scarlett is still his best friend, and that she enjoys a close relationship with his parents, siblings and his two sons, Gabriel and Noah. The couple, who announced they were engaged on 6 April 2021, told French magazine Point de Vue that their ambitions in life are 'too different' and their vision of life are 'divergent' (pictured at the time of their engagement with Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg He added he has explained the situation to his sons, and that although they are sad, they know they'll continue to see Scarlett and can always count on her. He also he still holds Scarlett's family dear and that the couple cherish their close friendship and their tight bond. In the same interview, Prince Louis explained that when the couple got engaged in April last year, they had gone over how Scarlett would join the royal family and the concessions that would have to be made, which he said had not been an issue for either party. The couple, who work for the same company, have been dating for the past four years and have said they intend to remain friends (pictured in November 2018) The couple have issued an official statement, in which they said: 'We have decided not to pursue our romantic relationship, while remaining deeply bound by friendship and tenderness. 'It is a decision we have made together upon serious reflection,' the statement went on. The couple also said they have a lot of respect and admiration for each other. Less than a year ago, the pair were announcing their engagement with a casual picture were they both sported knitwear and showed off Scarlett's gold engagement ring. Born in Bordeaux on 8 August 1991, Scarlett-Lauren is the youngest child of lawyers Pierre Sirgue and Scarlett Sigrue. At the beginning of her career, she worked alongside her mother in Family Law, before decided to focus more specifically in Victims' Law. Louis has remained close with his ex-wife Tessy, who married Swiss business man Frank Floessel last year. Louis and Scarlett were both present at Tessy's son Theodor Christening last year Scarlett-Lauren works for the firm which was founded by her parents, which is also where Prince Louis works as a mediator. Louis was previously married to Tessy Antony de Nassau, with whom he shares his two sons. The entrepreneur, who is now married to hunky Swiss businessman Frank Floessel and welcomed their son Theodor in August, has talked candidly about the pressures of royal life in the past. Last year, she told Hello magazine that it 'took a long time' after her divorce, when she was stripped of her royal titles, explaining: 'After every relationship it takes a while to heal when the heart has been broken. It has been really, really wonderful for me to realise that I am able to trust and love again. It's nice to see that life goes on.' Tessy went on to reveal how she is 'very happy' that her ex-husband Prince Louis maintains a close bond with their sons, despite the fact they can't see each other during quarantine. She said her son's 'love and trust' with their father had 'become stronger' because of the separation during the pandemic. Tessy has previously told how her family 'suffered greatly' when she became a princess in 2006 after marrying Prince Louis, whom she met in 2004. Speaking on Sky News special report The Meghan Effect, Tessy explained: 'My little cousin needed to change schools twice. My twin brother was incredibly bullied at work he still is today. 'My sister, my parents suffered, my oldest brother doesn't talk to me anymore because of that, because it was too much for him to handle. 'That was when I married in, and when I got divorced, oh my gosh the same.' Born a commoner, Tessy joined the Luxembourg Army in 2002 at the age of 18, rising to the rank of corporal. Two years later, when she was one of a handful of female UN peacekeepers in Kosovo, she met Prince Louis, who was visiting the army. His family only became aware of their love affair when Tessy fell pregnant and gave birth aged 19, and unmarried, in September 2005, providing Grand Duke Henri with his first grandson. It infuriated the royal family, and Prince Louis renounced any claim to the title of Grand Duke due to the constitutional crisis they had created by having a child out of wedlock. When Tessy married Prince Louis in September 2006, six months after giving birth, in a modest country church wedding, the Grand Duke stripped her of any claim to his title. The couple's fairytale marriage broke down in 2016, and they were granted a decree nisi in February 2019. Products featured in this Mail Best article are independently selected by our shopping writers. If you make a purchase using links on this page, DailyMail.com may earn an affiliate commission. As a working member of the Royal Family, the Duchess of Cambridge must have an array of wardrobe staples ready at any moment for a multitude of tasks. Case in point we see Kate step out in yet another sophisticated ensemble for a visit to the University of Copenhagen during an official visit promoting her work for the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood. Kate's latest outing proved she knows how to combine style and practicality with this elegant blazer and trouser combination. She selected this structured tweed jacket that features Balmain-inspired gold buttons and a padded shoulder. She accented the look with a blouse from ME + EM and black trousers. The Duchess accessorized with one of her go-to top handle bags from Aspinal of London and black suede Gianvito Rossi heels. Sophisticated styling! Kate wore a tailored double breasted Zara blazer and carried a bag by Aspinal of London to visit to the University of Copenhagen If youd like to smarten up this winter in a chic way like the stylish royal, you may be interested to know that her actual jacket was by high street favorite Zara. The Spanish label has some similar blazers still in stock and while you're shopping pick up her frill collar blouse from ME + EM for just $101.35. The tweed trend continues! Zara's gold-button tweed blazer has structured shoulders and a figure-skimming silhouette. Shop a similar style while stocks last! But for a closer match to this red tweed blazer, River Island have an almost identical alternative, which is $130 at Nordstrom. The River Island double breasted blazer is similar to the blazer worn by Kate Middleton in Copenhagen and is still available in select sizes at $130 Modestly priced at 89.90, it has all the sophisticated elements Kate's style is known for. Currently available in a few select styles, its advisable to add it to your basket fast before any other admirers of Kates closet beat you to it. Want the look for less? Fashion Finder have a lot of love for the $28 Boohoo double breasted blazer, which features the same cinched in waist, structured shoulders and regal red hue. The quality of the material and the fit of the blazer makes it look a lot more expensive than $28, which is ideal if you want to smarten up without splashing out too much cash. Ravishing in red! A purse-friendly way to copy Kate Middleton's style on a budget is with the $28 Boohoo double breasted blazer But for a truly royal look, you need to think about heels that allow you to stride like a princess. It's important to complete the look with shoes that look beautiful but that allow you to keep up the pace with out any discomfort. Kate opted for a pair of suede pumps we've spotted on her numerous times on occasion. These Gianvito Rossi 'Piper' pumps are one of her favorites and we can see why! Follow her lead and shop them now for $695 at NET-A-PORTER. Step out in style like Kate Middleton in Gianvito Rossi 'Piper' pumps available at NET-A-PORTER and Aspinal of London 'Mayfair' bag Add a touch of ladylike flair with a crocodile embossed leather bag by Aspinal of London $850 that features a gold clasp and structured top handle. We never see the Duchess of Cambridge step out without jewelry or accessories and she's very smart in mixing fine jewelry with more affordable costume jewelry. Giving her a polished and elevated appearance. Here we see her wearing a Monica Vinader 'Nura' pearl necklace $165 that has a gold vermeil chain and a lustrous cultured baroque pearl pendant. Monica Vinader 'Nura' cultured pearl necklace on a recycled gold vermeil chain $165 Pair your tweed blazer with Kate's accessories for a timeless and elegant winter look. The Prince of Wales has continued his royal duties with a visit to Hereford Cathedral two days after news of the Queen's Covid diagnosis. Charles, 73, emerged from isolation on Friday to present the Queen's Anniversary Prizes at St James's Palace a week after Clarence House confirmed he tested positive for the virus. It was the second time Charles, who is triple jabbed, tested positive for Covid after contracting the virus in March 2020. The Duke of Cornwall, who became Patron of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust in 2004, is understood to have toured the building ahead of a visit to the Duchy Of Cornwall's Hereford Estate. It comes as his mother cancelled her planned virtual engagements today because still is 'still experiencing mild cold like symptoms' after testing positive for coronavirus. The Prince of Wales has continued his royal duties with a visit to Hereford Cathedral two days after news of the Queen's Covid diagnosis During his visit the Duke discussed the history of the 11th-century building with Hereford Cathedral archivist Elizabeth Semper O'Keefe In April 1985, Charles visited the building with his late wife Princess Diana launch a 1 million Hereford Cathedral restoration appeal and has visited numerous times over the years. He last visited the cathedral with his wife Camilla, 74, was also required to self-isolate after contracting Covid earlier this month, in January 2009. During his visit the Duke discussed the history of the 11th-century building with Hereford Cathedral archivist Elizabeth Semper O'Keefe and librarian Rosemary Firman. He was seen discussing potential works within the Cathedral Nave with Glyn Morgan of the Perpetual Trust and Cathedral Architect Robert Kilgour. Charles was seen discussing potential works within the Cathedral Nave with Glyn Morgan of the Perpetual Trust and Cathedral Architect Robert Kilgour The Duke of Cornwall, who became Patron of Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust in 2004, chatted librarian Rosemary Firman during his visit today 'It was wonderful to welcome His Royal Highness to Hereford Cathedral,' said Hereford's Dean, the Dean Revd Canon Sarah Brown in a statement. 'His Royal Highness first visited the cathedral in the 1980s and has supported our work throughout that time. It was a pleasure to be able to talk to him about our future aspirations.' Meanwhile, the 95-year-old monarch will continue with 'light duties' such as dealing with official papers in her private Windsor Castle apartments - and further engagements over the coming week will be decided upon nearer the time. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said this morning: 'As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today, but will continue with light duties.' Royal officials announced on Sunday morning that the Queen had tested positive but was suffering from only mild 'cold-like' symptoms, and it was made clear that she would undertake 'light duties' during her isolation period. Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle on February 16, which was four days before her positive Covid-19 test was announced A telephone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson tomorrow is still scheduled in her diary as it stands - and the Queen has been keeping up with the red boxes of official documents that follow her everywhere. The Queen also has a major engagement planned next week when she is set to host the Diplomatic Reception on March 2, where it is hoped that she will meet hundreds of members of the Diplomatic Corps at Windsor. She is also due to attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on March 14 and then the Duke of Edinburgh's memorial service, also at the Abbey, on March 29, nearly a year after the death of her husband. The Queen's doctors will be keeping a close eye on her and monitoring her progress, with Professor Sir Huw Thomas, head of the Medical Household and Physician to the Queen, expected to be in charge. Advertisement Poppy Delevingne led the arrivals at the the Longleat estate in Wiltshire today as Vogue editor Edward Enninful's prepared for his wedding to his long term partner Alec Maxwell in the A-list event of the year. The wedding is expected to have 300 guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Donatella Versace with Poppy among the first pictured arriving at the stately home in Wiltshire that boasts a 9,000-acre safari park famed for its lions. The English model arrived clutching a Covid test and travelled with Italian model Bianca Brandolini. The celebration is expected to combine Edward's 50th birthday celebrations and his wedding. Also in attendance was designer Marc Jacobs who sported a weather appropriate puffer jacket as her headed into Babington House where guests are staying. Anders Christian Madsen, a fashion critic at British Vogue, shared a picture with Vogue Australia fashion editor Christine Centenera and Victoria Beckham - who sported a bridal inspired white dress. 'Off to @edward_enninfuls birthday ball with my two dates, because prom dreams come true. Thank you @davidbeckham and @joeledgerton for letting me stand in,' he wrote, suggesting the former England football captain wouldn't be making it to the celebrations as he is is currently away skiing. The event is set to be filled with supermodels with Naomi Campbell on the guest list. The mother-of-one, who has been friends with Edward for 30 years, was also the cover star for the most recent edition of Vogue, where she shared the first picture of her baby's face. Vogue supremo Edward counts Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Orlando Bloom and Bella Hadid among his close circle. LA-based Karlie Kloss also shared a post this morning saying she's in London, suggesting she might be joining the festivities tonight. Bella's sister and perpetual Vogue cover girl Gigi Hadid shared a trio of snaps saying she would be unable to make it to the celebrations - and thanking the editor for his 'support, guidance and friendship'. Dua Lipa also shared an Instagram saying she couldn't attend wishing Edward a happy birthday and saying she wishes was there. Poppy Delevingne lead the arrivals at the the Longleat estate in Wiltshire as Vouge editor Edward Enninful's gets ready for his wedding to his long term partner Alec Maxwell in what's set to be the A-list event of the year Spotted arriving on the estate today was model Poppy Delevingne who arrived clutching a Covid test alongside Italian model Bianca Brandolini Anders Christian Madsen, a fashion critic at British Vogue, shared a picture with editor Christine Centenera and Victoria Beckham - who sported a white dress Edward Enninful will tie the knot with his film-maker fiance Alec Maxwell on his 50th birthday this week Also in attendance was Marc Jacobs who headed into Babington House where guests are staying. The wedding, which takes place today on his 50th birthday, is expected to 300 guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio , David and Victoria Beckham , Kate Moss and fashion designer Donatella Versace, are expected at the stately home in Wiltshire that boasts a 9,000-acre safari park famed for its lions Last night he shared a snap to Instagram at the Laylow restaurant in west London, which he captioned 'pre-birthday dinner. It showed him on the table with a posse of models including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Maxwell, Irina Shayk as well as Burberry Vice President Rebecca Martinez and Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci and stylist Zoe Bedeaux, suggesting he may be sporting the British brand for his vows Poppy Delevingne arrived clutching a alongside Italian model Bianca Brandolini and a designer suitcase Bianca Brandolini looked effforlessly stylist with her monogrammed Louis Vuitton suitcase as she arrived with Poppy Delevingne Travelling in style: The guests appeared to be in casual clothes ahead of the celebrations where they are sure to be dressed to the nines Bianca held a bottle and a suitcase as she headed into the luxury estate today Men in black suits were among the guests arriving at the estate in Wiltshire Supermodel style! Bianca Brandolini and Poppy Delevingne shared a snap on their way to the nuptials today Last night Edward shared a snap to Instagram at the Laylow restaurant in west London, which he captioned 'pre-birthday dinner. It showed him on the table with a posse of models including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Maxwell, Irina Shayk as well as Burberry Vice President Rebecca Martinez and Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci and stylist Zoe Bedeaux, suggesting he may be sporting the British brand for his vows. Guests arriving at the wedding appear to be treated to a tour of Longleat. Socialite Richie Akiva - who is known as 'the king of New York nightlife' as he owns many clubs in the US, shared a video to his Instagram story showing his arrival at the estate and a tour headed by Emma Weymouth, followed by afternoon tea. It is believed that Mr Enninful's close friend Emma Weymouth, the Marchioness of Bath, has given him the use of Longleat where she lives with her husband Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath. The model and socialite, Britain's first black marchioness, is a contributing editor to Vogue and is regularly seen socialising with the fashion magazine's staff at swanky restaurants in London. Supermodels Eva Herzigova and Irina Shayk are also expected to be invited, but it is not known if Dame Anna Wintour, Vogue's editor-in-chief, will be there following rumours of tension between Mr Enninful and her. Some believe he may invite her if only to scotch further rumours of a rift. She is currently in London. Earlier today, Mr Enninful posted a snap to Instagram writing: '50th birthday on 22.2.22. Lets go,'. The post was quickly flooded with comments from A-listers who couldn't wait to celebrate with him, including Poppy Delevingne, Munroe Bergdorf, Madison Headrick and Bianca Brandolini. Mr Enninful and Mr Maxwell, who live in west London, are expected to bring their beloved black-and-white Boston terrier Ru to the event for a double celebration that will also mark the Vogue editor's milestone birthday. Snaps from today show preparations for the celebration underway, with dozens of bouquets arriving at the glamorous estate. Protecting themselves from the British weather! Guest were seen sheltering under umbrellas as they arrived at the estate Glamourous guests were clutching bags sure to be full of designer clothes as they headed to the festivities today Guests sported fashionable looks as they headed into the wedding celebrations Flowers arrived at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire today as preparations began for the wedding of Vouge editor Edward Enninful to his long term partner his long-term partner Alec Maxwell in what's set to be the A-list event of the year Guests arriving at the wedding appear to be treated to a tour of Longleat. Socialite Richie Akiva - who is known as 'the king of New York nightlife' as he owns many clubs in the US, shared a video to his Instagram story showing his arrival at the estate and a tour headed by Emma Weymouth, followed by afternoon tea Richie shared a snap heading into the venue showing the luxurious estate from outside and inside Earlier today, Mr Enninful posted a snap to Instagram writing: '50th birthday on 22.2.22. Lets go,'. It is believed that Mr Enninful's close friend Emma Weymouth, the Marchioness of Bath, has given him the use of Longleat where she lives with her husband Ceawlin Thynn, the 8th Marquess of Bath Mr Enninful and Mr Maxwell, who live in west London, are expected to bring their beloved black-and-white Boston terrier Ru to the event for a double celebration that will also mark the Vogue editor's milestone birthday. Photographers were seen on the estate, alongside vendors carrying in various items on what's set to be an incredibly lavish celebration Vendors unpack flowers, food and more in what's set to be the A-list celebration of the year In an interview in 2019, Mr Enninful confirmed that he had proposed to Mr Maxwell, whom he met at a party 15 years earlier. Flowers arrived at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire today as preparations began for the wedding of Vouge editor Edward Enninful to his long term partner his long-term partner Alec Maxwell, a director and editor Partying with the lions! The editor is set to be among animals in a safari park at the grand Wilshire wedding Security are seen ariving At Vogue Editor In Chief Edward Enninful's Longleat wedding today Photographers were seen on the estate, alongside vendors carrying in various items on what's set to be an incredibly lavish celebration. 'This is going to be the wedding of the year there will be no expense spared and no detail ignored,' a source previously told the Mail on Sunday. 'Edward is one of the best-connected people in Britain, and across America too, so expect super-famous guests. People are already saying you won't see so many A-listers in one room ever again. 'Edward appears to have saved some money on the venue as he is thought to have been given it by Emma Weymouth as a wedding present. 'Edward and Alec have been wanting to marry for some time and Edward's 50th birthday seemed such a special day to do it.' In an interview in 2019, Mr Enninful confirmed that he had proposed to Mr Maxwell, whom he met at a party 15 years earlier. 'Over dinner I just asked if we should get engaged. We'll marry eventually there's no rush,' he said then. The journalist also revealed that he would like to be a father. Advertisement The 24-year-old girlfriend of convicted Tinder Swindler con artist spoke out for the first time this week to furiously defended her beau, accusing his victims of 'lying' about his scams, while vowing to remain devoted to the scammer despite his past crimes. Israeli-born con artist Shimon Heyada Hayut - whose scams were the focus of an explosive new Netflix documentary - broke his silence in his first interview since the movie dropped on February 2, while also making his first on-air appearance with his stunning Ukrainian model partner, Kate Konlin. Hayut, 31, and Konlin, 24, recently sat down with Inside Edition for a shocking two-part interview, during which they both discussed the documentary and the claims of his victims, several of whom spoke out about his during the film. The first part aired on Monday, and Konlin made it clear that she supported her boyfriend, who claimed he was the victim of a witch hunt and that his dating exploits were exaggerated to make for good television. Konlin insisted that she did not believe the women who claimed to have been scammed by Hayut - calling it all a 'fake story' - and insisted that he never borrowed any money from her. Prepare to meet the 'Tinder Swindler's girlfriend - a Ukraine-born Israeli model who is sticking by the convicted felon, despite him allegedly scamming women out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. They are pictured together in July 2021 Israeli-born con artist Shimon Heyada Hayut (pictured with his girlfriend) - whose tricks were the focus of an explosive new Netflix documentary - broke his silence during a two-part interview with Inside Edition The first part aired on Monday, and Hayut was accompanied by his devoted girlfriend, Kate Konlin, 24, who made it clear that she supported her boyfriend. They are pictured during the interview Konlin insisted that she did not believe the women who claimed to have been scammed by Hayut - calling it all a 'fake story' - and insisted that he never borrowed any money from her. He is pictured during the interview 'My God, it is like, how someone can build such a fake story?' she asked during the interview, before giving Hayut a big smooch. But who exactly is Hayut's blonde bombshell girlfriend? The model, who is signed to Metropolitan Models and IMG Models, has appeared in numerous fashion magazines over the years, including Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong and Vogue Japan. According to Konlin, their relationship began after Hayut messaged her on Instagram in November 2020. He then pursued her for four months before she finally agreed to meet up with him. She spoke out about their romance for the first time during an interview with Mako in July 2021, and she insisted to the outlet that Hayut told her 'everything' about himself on their first date. 'He did not hide anything from me, it was important to him that I know everything about him from the beginning,' she said at the time, claiming that he even showed her documents allegedly proving his innocence. She added: 'Listen, the sums they said he stung were equal to the gifts he buys me on Saturday. It's absurd, why should he take a girl for tens of thousands when he spends such a sum as a matter of routine? It does not make sense.' The model, who is signed to Metropolitan Models and IMG Models, has appeared in numerous fashion magazines over the years, including Harper's Bazaar Hong Kong, Wallpaper (center), Vogue Japan (right), and more According to Konlin, their relationship began after Hayut messaged her on Instagram in November 2020. They are pictured together in July 2021 He then pursued her for four months before she finally agreed to meet up with him. Konlin is pictured in September 2021 She spoke out about their romance for the first time during an interview with Mako in July 2021. Konlin is pictured in the Louvre in January She insisted to the outlet that Hayut told her 'everything' about himself on their first date 'He did not hide anything from me, it was important to him that I know everything about him from the beginning,' Konlin (pictured on a private jet in February 2021) said When asked how Hayut had so much money, she claimed that he was a successful property tycoon and businessman. Konlin also revealed that they were living together in Tel Aviv at the time. Their relationship has been kept mostly private since then, however Hayut did share a one pic with her to his Instagram last year, which showed her sitting with him in his Rolls-Royce. Amid the immense media backlash and public scrutiny from the Netflix doc, he has since deleted his social media accounts. Konlin originally kept her Instagram account private but recently made it public, and she has since gained more than 125,000 followers. She has posted a few snaps with Hayut, and often shares pictures of herself living a lavish lifestyle - which includes taking private jet rides, attending yacht parties, eating in luxury restaurants, and traveling the world. It appears that they briefly broke up earlier this month, since Konlin told RadarOnline in an interview published on February 4 that they were no longer together, adding that she still believed the accusations against him were 'lies.' She reiterated that Hayut was 'doing very big business in real estate in Israel,' and claimed the people who spoke out in the Netflix doc 'wanted to bring him down.' She also called him 'the greatest man she ever knew.' However, it appears that they are going strong again now, since she stood by his side during the Inside Edition interview. Konlin (pictured in Paris, France, in January) said the accusations against Hayut did not 'make sense' since he was flooding her with expensive and lavish gifts When asked how Hayut had so much money, she claimed he was a successful property tycoon and businessman. She is pictured in July 2020 Konlin (pictured on a yacht in February 2021) also revealed at the time that they were living together in Tel Aviv Konlin posed with a giant teddy bear, surrounded by pink balloons and roses in July 2021 - writing, 'Happy valentines Day .. still,' and some of her followers wondered if Hayut had sent them to her Konlin (pictured in Paris, France, February 2022) originally kept her Instagram account private but recently made it public, and has since gained more than 125,000 followers Throughout 2018 and 2019, Hayut allegedly tricked multiple single women - who he met through the dating app Tinder - into giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars while pretending to be a billionaire named Simon Leviev. Hayut - who was ultimately arrested and charged with fraud, theft, and forgery - spent five months in prison before he was released on 'good behavior' in May 2020. In the Netflix documentary, which came out on February 2, three of his victims - Cecilie Fjellhy, Pernilla Sjoholm, and Ayleen Charlotte - revealed how Hayut convinced them to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars. Hayut - who stole an estimated $10 million over the years, according to People Magazine - told them he was the son of Israeli diamond merchant Lev Leviev. The Times of Isreal reported that although Lev and his diamond business LLD Diamonds is real, he has no relation to Hayut and has 'filed a complaint against him with police for falsely presenting himself as his son.' She often shares pictures of herself living a lavish lifestyle - which includes taking private jet rides, attending yacht parties, eating in luxury restaurants, and traveling the world. She is pictured getting onto a private plane in April 2021 It appears that the couple briefly broke up earlier this month, since Konlin told RadarOnline in an interview published on February 4 that they were no longer together She told the outlet that she still believed the accusations against him were 'lies' and said the people who spoke out in the Netflix doc 'wanted to bring him down.' Konlin is pictured in Tel Aviv, Israel, in June 2021 She also called Hayut 'the greatest man she ever knew.' Konlin is pictured in May 2020 However, it appears that they are going strong again now, since she stood by his side during the Inside Edition interview. Konlin is pictured at her birthday celebration in December 2021, which included a drawn portrait of her and Hayut Norwegian graduate student Fjellhy, who was 29 when she dated Hayut, claimed she gave him more than $270,000 over the course of their relationship, after they connected via Tinder in January 2018. She explained in the doc that she was completely wooed by Hayut after he flew them from Bulgaria from London via a private plane for their first date. He would shower the women he met on the dating app with expensive trips and opulent gifts, using the money he had taken from his other victims. He would then ask them for funds - claiming he was in danger and needed money to protect his identity from people who were out to kill him due to his dangerous diamond business. Hayut was eventually arrested - after he was caught with a fake passport - and was convicted in December 2019. He was released the following May, after serving five months of his 15-month sentence. He was also ordered to pay his victims $43,289, and to pay a fine of $5,771 under the terms of a plea deal. Now, he denied all of their claims and insisted that Netflix twisted the story to make him look bad. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Hayut (pictured in 2021) allegedly tricked multiple single women - who he met through the dating app Tinder - into giving him hundreds of thousands of dollars while pretending to be a billionaire named Simon Leviev Hayut (pictured in July 2019) was ultimately arrested and charged with fraud, theft, and forgery. He spent five months in prison before he was released on 'good behavior' in May 2020 In the Netflix documentary, which came out on February 2, three of his victims - Cecilie Fjellhy (right), Pernilla Sjoholm (left), and Ayleen Charlotte (center) - revealed how Hayut convinced them to hand over their money They claimed he would shower them with expensive gifts, using the money he had taken from his other victims. Sjoholm (left), Charlotte (center), and Fjellhy (right) are pictured in the documentary They said he would then ask them for funds - claiming he was in danger and needed money to protect his identity from people who were out to kill him due to his dangerous diamond business. Hayut is pictured with Fjellhy 'They presented it as a documentary but in truth it's a completely made-up movie,' Hayut told Inside Edition. 'I'm the biggest gentleman in the world. 'I am not this monster that everybody has created. I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder. 'They weren't conned and they weren't threatened. No, I am not, and I never presented myself the son of a billionaire diamond mogul. 'I'm a legit businessman. I got into Bitcoin in 2011, it was nothing. I don't need to say how much it is worth now. 'I feel bad for something that I didn't do? No, I feel bad for whatever happened to myself. I want to clear my name. I want to say to the world, this is not true. 'I am not a fraud and I'm not a fake. People don't know me, so they cannot judge me.' Shimon had previously served two years in a Finnish prison back in 2015, after being charged for defrauding three different women. He was also reportedly forced to flee his home country of Israel in 2011 to avoid fraud-related offenses that he had committed in his early 20s. Not every woman will want to have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but there are many who do and as we reported last week in the first part of our essential guide, they struggle to get it. But even those who do can face an apparently bewildering choice, with a wide range of formulations and combinations of the treatment from tablets and gels to patches and implants. Each form has its own merits; while a once-a-day tablet or pessary may be convenient, a patch or implant can be applied and then forgotten about. A gel, cream or spray applied to the skin will reduce the potential side-effects of tablets. Some formulations contain 'body identical' hormones, where the oestrogen or progesterone is derived from yams or other plant sources this type of oestrogen (known as 17 beta oestradiol) and progesterone ('micronised progesterone'), are 'the safest types in HRT', says Dr Vikram Talaulikar, a menopause expert at University College London Hospital, who trains GPs and nurses in treating menopause symptoms. Each form has its own merits; while a once-a-day tablet or pessary may be convenient, a patch or implant can be applied and then forgotten about. A gel, cream or spray applied to the skin will reduce the potential side-effects of tablets Other formulations contain synthetic versions, made in a lab. There is also 'bioidentical' HRT, available privately these are essentially bespoke combinations of different plant-based hormones tailored to the individual woman's blood or saliva test results. These products are not regulated by the watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) unlike conventional HRT. Dr Talaulikar explains: 'The problem is that these formulae may be effective but there's not enough long-term safety data from randomised controlled scientific studies.' This route can also prove expensive (around 100 a month). To help you decide what's best for you, we spoke to some of the country's leading menopause experts about the options. Combined HRT The most common form of HRT, this is a combination of oestrogen (to reduce symptoms such as hot flushes, low mood, reduced sex drive) and progesterone (to thin the lining of the womb and reduce the risk of womb cancer). It can be taken in two ways: oestrogen and a low-dose of progesterone taken every day (in this case, a woman will have no periods this is mainly for post-menopausal women) or daily oestrogen and progesterone for the last ten to 14 days of the month, after which the woman will have a bleed, like a period (this option is often used by perimenopausal women who are suffering menopausal symptoms). Although it can be taken in one treatment, such as a tablet, you can also take 'combined' HRT in separate oestrogen and progesterone form for example, as a progesterone pill or via the contraceptive coil and an oestrogen gel or patch. Exactly how it is prescribed i.e. the formulation and frequency will be down to personal preference. It is also based on whether a woman is perimenopausal and still having periods, in which case a cycle of progesterone may be recommended; or through the menopause, in which case a continuous, combined daily dose is more likely. Types of formulations available: Tablets, patch, gel, spray, implants and the coil. Some will contain both oestrogen and progesterone, others will be separate products. Brands: Pills Combined oestrogen and progesterone: Femoston, Kliovance, Clinorette, Elleste-Duet, Kliofem, Novofem, Trisequens (these all contain the natural/body identical oestrogen but synthetic progesterone). Not every woman will want to have hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but there are many who do and as we reported last week in the first part of our essential guide, they struggle to get it. But even those who do can face an apparently bewildering choice, with a wide range of formulations and combinations of the treatment from tablets and gels to patches and implants Progesterone only: Utrogestan (body identical). Gel: Estrogel (oestrogen only, body identical) usually applied once a day to the arm, belly or thigh for convenience. Patch: Estradot, Evorel (oestrogen only, body identical), usually worn on the buttock or thigh. Implants: Small pellets of oestrogen (body identical) are placed in the skin in the stomach area, slowly emitting the hormone before being replaced every 6-8 months (implants are not widely used). Spray: Lenzetto (oestrogen only, body identical) usually used on the arm, belly or thigh. Coil: Mirena (progesterone only, synthetic) the coil is a contraceptive implant fitted into the womb, which releases the hormone over three to five years. Available on the NHS? Yes Expert comment: 'The majority of women who take HRT are post-menopausal, i.e. more than a year since their last period, and continuous combined HRT is the most commonly used form of HRT in the UK,' says Dr Edward Morris, a consultant gynaecologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust and president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. 'Oestrogen helps with symptoms while progesterone protects the lining of the womb.' Taking progesterone can cause symptoms such as mood swings, headaches and bloating if you're postmenopausal, taking a low dose each day can reduce hormonal 'ups and downs', he adds. Working out the right combination of these hormones 'is a decision between the woman and the specialist, and may need to be tailored to the individual woman's needs', adds Dr Mike Savvas, a consultant gynaecologist and menopause expert at King's College Hospital, London. 'The progesterone in HRT is either a synthetic version of the hormone or the natural, body-identical version called micronised progesterone the body-identical one is generally better as it is a replica of the hormone a woman produces naturally.' An example of a continuous combined HRT using micronised progesterone would be oral Utrogestan capsules (100mg daily) at bedtime along with separate oestrogen (tablet, patch, spray or gel), says pharmacist Sid Dajani. 'Current recommendations advise that the lowest effective dose of oestrogen be used, but this may need to be increased to adequately control symptoms, as every woman's needs are unique.' For women who are at high risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), either because they are over- weight or have other medical risk factors or they have had a DVT in the past, oestrogen patches, sprays or gels are recommended because this bypasses the liver and reduces the risk of DVT (see below). An example of a continuous combined HRT using micronised progesterone would be oral Utrogestan capsules (100mg daily) at bedtime along with separate oestrogen (tablet, patch, spray or gel), says pharmacist Sid Dajani. A stock image is used above Oestrogen-only Oestrogen-only HRT is generally suitable only for women who have had a hysterectomy. That's because oestrogen on its own thickens the lining of the womb and increases the risk of womb cancer. It can also be used by women who have a Mirena coil, as it thins the womb's lining, countering the effect of oestrogen. Fewer than 10 per cent of women use an oestrogen-only form of HRT. Types of formulations available: Oestrogen is available as a tablet and spray, but it's most commonly taken via a patch or gel rubbed on the arm or thigh. There are also creams, tablets and rings which can be applied to the vagina to alleviate symptoms of dryness. Brands: Some of these may be used in a combined HRT regimen. Patch: Estradot, Evorel (body identical) changed twice a week Spray: Lenzetto (body identical) Pills: Elleste-Solo, Progynova (body identical) daily tablet. Gel: Sandrena, Oestrogel (body identical) rubbed onto the skin once a day. Pessary: Gina (body identical) inserted into the vagina to treat dryness and thinning of the skin one tablet daily for the first two weeks, then twice a week. For women who have gone through the menopause. Available on the NHS? Yes Verdict: 'The best way to give oestrogen is through the skin, most commonly via a patch or gel,' says Dr Mike Savvas. 'By mouth increases the risk of blood clots and stroke as the hormone travels to the liver where it can affect production of blood clotting factor. Taking it via the skin circumvents this problem.' This month, UK medicines watchdog, the MHRA launched a consultation on changing the Gina pessary from a prescription-only medicine to one that is available to buy from pharmacies. Women would still be able to get it on prescription. A decision will be made following the consultation, which ends on February 23. 'Gina is a form of HRT that contains an extremely low dose of oestrogen and treats only the local area in the vagina rather than circulating around the body, so is very safe,' says Dr Savvas. 'It can successfully treat one symptom of the menopause vaginal dryness but it won't help with others. 'Other forms of HRT will treat vaginal dryness as well as other symptoms. They can also help to prevent recurrent urinary tract infections after the menopause, as oestrogen increases production of natural antimicrobial substances in the bladder and makes the urinary tract tissue stronger.' Tibolone Tibolone is a man-made substance that's been found to have beneficial effects on the brain, vagina and bones. It's similar to taking combined HRT and mimics the effects of oestrogen and progesterone. It also has a testosterone-like effect, mimicking the male hormone which women also produce and which declines during the menopause since some of it is produced by the ovaries. Tibolone is suitable only for women who haven't had a period for 12 months. This is because if they're still ovulating, they may have bursts of naturally occurring hormones. These could upset the delicate balance of the lining of the womb that tibolone and any other continuous, combined HRT require, resulting in irregular bleeding. Types of formulations available: In tablet form. Brand: Livial (synthetic) Available on the NHS? Yes Verdict: 'This can be really good for helping mild menopausal symptoms but as the oestrogen isn't as potent as other forms of HRT, it doesn't always work,' says Dr Savvas. 'It was very popular in the 1990s and 2000s, but less so now.' Testosterone This male sex hormone is very important for women, too, as it affects libido, energy levels, mood and sleep and can also help to keep bones healthy. It is produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands in women, so when a woman goes through the menopause, testosterone levels will fall. This can lead to low sex drive and if HRT doesn't alleviate this problem, testosterone may then be prescribed. Types of formulations available: As a gel. Brand: Tostran, Testogel (body identical) which is rubbed on to the skin daily. Available on the NHS? Only on an off-licence basis, supervised by a specialist and prescribed by a GP either on the NHS or privately. Verdict: 'Although testosterone isn't one of the core elements of HRT, it is approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for women with low libido, although not for other symptoms,' says Dr Morris. 'But there currently isn't a licensed testosterone product for women in the UK. There is a licensed testosterone gel for men, so women can be prescribed it by a specialist 'off-label'. However, this means access to testosterone for women is not a level playing field, with some GPs unprepared to prescribe it. We desperately need a testosterone product for women in the UK.' Additional reporting: Thea Jourdan It's the one thing I'd take to my desert island By Dr Clare Bailey Having been a GP for more than 30 years, I have seen the popularity of HRT come and go Having been a GP for more than 30 years, I have seen the popularity of HRT come and go. But it is clear to me that with the right combination of medication, and in women for whom it's suitable, it can transform their lives as their natural hormone levels wane. I, too, have benefited from HRT. In fact, it would be the one thing I would take to my desert island. I started to get hot flushes at 53, and my nights were spent tossing and turning hot, then cold; duvet off, duvet on. I was exhausted. Brain fog swirled and sapped my energy. At times it felt like wading through treacle. My flaky hormones were letting me down, leaving me irritable and forgetful. I lose my keys at the best of times, but even managed to leave them on the top shelf in the fridge once. For me, HRT was transformative. I was back to sleeping like a baby. The other battle was more of an inconvenience irregular bleeding. I opted to take a form of combined HRT where, rather than the traditional pill containing both oestrogen and progesterone, I take these hormones separately to suit my needs. The irregular bleeding settled as soon as I had a Mirena coil inserted this delivers the hormone progesterone straight to the lining of the uterus, stopping the random periods. More importantly, progesterone is needed to protect the lining of the womb from the slightly increased risk of cancer with oestrogen therapy. With that risk covered, I was able to have the oestrogen the safest way through the skin. I use a gel, but patches work, too. For many women this is a winning combination, although there are other options. For decades there has been a lack of clarity and confidence in many health professionals when it comes to prescribing HRT. Overly fearful of the risks (HRT is, of course, not suitable for everyone), some are reluctant to prescribe it, and women are left to soldier on, struggling, and often with needless fall-out at work and at home. The menopausal body is a bit like a car that's done a good mileage, but the engine is running low on oil top it up, and it should be good to go for some time yet. I've been on HRT for seven years, and plan to remain on it for as long as my doctor says it's all right for me to do so. I was lucky to have an interest in women's health and a well-informed GP, as well as access to research and up-to-date advice. So, with the right combination of progesterone and oestrogen, life for me returned to normal probably with a little sigh of relief all round! Women who take hormone replacement therapy to cope with the menopause may age at a slower rate, research suggests. Around one in seven women going through the menopause in England are believed to be on HRT, which can help to relieve symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and depression. Those who have the treatment see a rejuvenating, anti-ageing effect in their cells, a study shows. Researchers examined cells taken from cheek swabs and smear tests for 45 women who had received combination HRT the most common type, containing oestrogen and progestogen, which is given to women who have not had a hysterectomy. They compared the cells with those from 126 women who had never undergone HRT. The cells of the post-menopausal women given hormone therapy had aged less rapidly. Around one in seven women going through the menopause in England are believed to be on hormone replacement therapy, which can help to relieve symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats and depression (stock image) Dr Chiara Herzog from the University of Innsbruck in Austria, a co-author of the study, said: We saw an anti-ageing, rejuvenating effect in the cells of women who had received HRT, but that unfortunately doesnt necessarily mean these women will feel decades younger or have more energy. It may have an effect on their health, as cells which age more slowly are linked to better health and living longer, although much more research is needed on that. The evidence is mixed on HRT, which can improve bone density but may carry a small increased risk of breast cancer. However, the therapy provides relief from the misery of hot flushes by topping up oestrogen, which women lose when they go through the menopause and no longer need to produce an egg every month. The study found the longer women had been taking HRT, the stronger the apparent anti-ageing effect in the cells from their cervix. Dr Louise Newson, a menopause specialist and GP who was not involved in the study, said: Previous studies have shown that women who take HRT have a lower future risk of developing diseases including heart disease, osteoporosis, dementia, diabetes and bowel cancer. These are age-related diseases related to inflammation in the body. This important study has shown that HRT can have anti-ageing effects which is likely to be a mechanism to why women taking HRT have a lower risk of these diseases. A study found the longer women had been taking HRT, the stronger the apparent anti-ageing effect in the cells from their cervix (stock image) The researchers developed a method to calculate the rate of ageing in epithelial cells the cells which line organs and are also found in the cervix and cheek. To work out the biological age of cells, scientists can examine markers on their DNA which accumulate over the years. The study, published in the journal Genome Biology, found the cells of women on HRT were not biologically younger when they had breast cancer which could be an early warning sign of the disease. Athena Lamnisos, chief executive of gynaecological charity The Eve Appeal, which helped to fund the research, said: This is a really positive step towards personalising womens healthcare, with the potential for a test that can monitor how your body is reacting to HRT. Advertisement Covid cases have continued to drop dramatically, and hit another milestone as the seven day average of new infections dropped below 100,000-a-day for the first time since December 1. The United States is now averaging 85,495 new cases a day, according to Johns Hopkins data - a 44 per cent drop in a week, and the lowest figure in almost three months. Covid's grip on the country has weakened considerably over the last month. Daily case averages have dropped for 28 consecutive days, dating back to January 24. A surge caused by the super-infectious but milder Omicron variant peaked in mid-January, reaching 800,000 cases per day before beginning its plummet. Since the peak, cases have fallen 89 percent. The rapid decline in Omicron cases after reaching their peak - a phenomenon recorded in other countries like the UK, South Africa and Denmark as well - combined with the relatively mild nature of the highly infectious strain has officials hopeful the variant is the final stage of Covid's 'pandemic' phase. Between a robust booster campaign - with more than 70 percent of eligible Americans having received the shot - and millions of Americans also having natural immunity because of previous infection, Omicron may have just run out of people to infect. Many experts are hopeful this will usher in the 'endemic' phase of Covid where humans may be able to live alongside the virus with virtually no restrictions whatsoever, similar to the flu. California has become the first state to declare Covid as an 'endemic', with Gov Gavin Newson announcing last week that the nation's most populous state was set to move on from the pandemic. The Golden state joined a group of nearly a dozen blue states that lifted pandemic-related restrictions in mid-February. Falling Covid numbers, along with the slew of blue states to relax measures, has increased pressure of the White House and the CDC to lift remaining pandemic-related restrictions. The CDC still recommends masking in schools and other indoor public places despite many remaining states dropping restrictions. Americans must also mask in airports and on planes, thanks to an ongoing federal law, with Amtrak and other public transit organizations also imposing the rules. Pressure is coming from abroad as well, as European nations start to declare the pandemic over and move back to a 'normal' life. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to lift the little remaining Covid restrictions - including isolation requirements for a positive test - this week. Earlier this month, the nation removed many other restrictions like work from home orders, mask mandates and capacity restrictions on certain venues. A requirement for National Health Service employees to be vaccinated in order to stay on the job may be removed. Proof of vaccination requirements at some venues will be dropped as well. U.S. federal officials are reportedly looking towards the end of the pandemic, though. Controlling Covid will now require the use of regular, likely annual, booster shots. Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Food and Drug Administration has already begun the process of reviewing data for fourth doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has suggested since last year that it was likely there could be a fourth shot. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in January that these repeated shots would be necessary long-term to keep Covid under control. Israel, which has been ahead of the U.S. during its vaccine rollout, recently made fourth shots available to its elderly population as well. Some Americans already can receive fourth vaccine doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that immunocompromised Americans receive the additional shot to shore up protection against Omicron. While the Omicron variant poses little risk to the general population, some people with serious comorbidities are still at risk of severe infection if they do catch the virus. There are fears that Americans will not be willing to continue receiving Covid vaccine doses, though, especially if they do not feel the virus is a major threat. Despite booster shots becoming available to the general population in late-September, uptake of the boosters did not peak until Omicron arrived in December. The population waiting for Covid cases to spike, or waiting for a variant that is perceived to be more dangerous, to arrive before receiving additional shots is what opens the door to future variants and outbreaks. Covid deaths are starting to drop at a rapid rate in the U.S. as well. The nation is averaging 1,862 daily Covid deaths, down 20 percent over the past week. It is the first day since January 19 that daily deaths in the country have fallen below 2,000 per day, though lags in reporting caused by the Presidents Day holiday is likely playing a role. Covid cases are falling over the past two weeks in every state in America. The largest fall is being recording in Mississippi, a promising sign for a state still being hit hard by the Omicron variant. The Magnolia state, which has a vaccination rate of only 51 percent, has had its daily cases drop 79 percent over the past two weeks. The state is still among the leaders in Covid mortality, though, with 1.33 of every 100,000 residents dying from the virus daily, one of the highest rates in America. Deaths often lag behind cases, though, and it is likely that this figure will begin to plummet in the near future as well. Maryland has the lowest infection rate in America, recording 12 daily cases for every 100,000 residents. In total, eleven states are now recording 20 or less daily cases per every 100,000 residents, as Covid continues to recede all across America. None of the 50 states are recording more than 100 daily cases per 100,000 residents. Kentucky was the last remaining state in this group during the Omicron surge but has now fallen below the threshold as well. Seven states, including Mississippi, are recording more than one daily Covid death per 100,000 residents. All but one are southern states with relatively low vaccination rates. Tennessee is once again the nationwide leader in Covid mortality, with 1.43 deaths per 100,000 residents every day. The state has only vaccinated 53 percent of its residents. West Virginia (1.33 daily deaths per 100,000 residents; 57 percent vaccination rate), Oklahoma (1.23; 56), Arkansas (1.07; 53), Alabama (1.05; 50). Maine is an outlier, with the state recording 1.4 deaths per 100,000 residents despite having one of the nation's best vaccination rates at 78 percent. Americans of all political leanings, gender, race and education levels want medical regulators to show more transparency, a new study finds. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, surveyed Americans on whether they agree with certain statements about the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and transparency in some of its decisions. Of the ten statements presented to participants, all received support of 65 percent of higher. Researchers also found little difference in responses from participants based of demographic factors like education or political leanings. During a time of increased political polarization in the U.S., it is rare that Americans agree with each other from across the aisle. It seems like the need for more transparency from the FDA is universally agreed upon, though. 'The idea behind the project was that in a time where the FDA's public profile has probably been higher than [any other time] in the living memory of everyone is there a reason that the that the agency should be communicating more clearly, and are there opportunities for do so,' Dr Tej Azad, a resident in neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins and lead author of the study told DailyMail.com. Azad and the team, who published their findings last week in JAMA Network Open, gathered data from 4,002 participants for the study. The study population was surveyed on ten statements about FDA transparency and evaluated each on a five point scale from 'strongly agree' to 'strongly disagree'. Dr Tej Azad (pictured), a neurological resident at Johns Hopkins University, said that the 'pendulum' of decision making between experts and average people should swing back to the middle Questions include whether the FDA should provide more information on drug decisions, when drug trials are halted or suspended, and more explanations for actions and decisions made by federal regulators. All ten of the statements had significantly higher levels of approval than disapproval from participants. The most approved statement was: 'If drug companies provide false or misleading information about the development of medications to the public, the FDA should share the correct information with the public', with 90 percent of participants being in support, with only 0.6 percent showing opposition. Only one statement had more than 11 percent opposition, 'The FDA should share with the public the agency's analyses of medications that drug companies have stopped developing.' There was at least a 50 point margin between support and opposition for every single one of the ten statements. Researchers also split the data across race, education level, household income, geographic region, political party identification and even who a person voted for in the 2020 presidential election. Across the board, Americans wanted transparency from regulators. Azad described this as a surprise, noting that Americans seem to not agree on much anymore. Calls for transparency from the government are not novel ideas, though, and it is expected that citizens will want organizations funded by their taxes to answer to them. There are potential downsides to expanded access to information, though. A lot of misinformation spread about COVID-19, for example, comes from genuine sources being misinterpreted - whether maliciously or not. Researchers found that, across all demographics, Americans want the FDA to be more transparent. One lead researcher says that experts must properly convey information to regular people without being 'paternalistic' (file photo) Ivermectin has become a household name in recent months for this very reason. The anti-parasite drug has risen to prominence in some conservative-leaning and anti-vaccine circles as a potential Covid cure. The source of these claims is a legitimate, peer-reviewed, Australian study that showed the drug could inhibit replication of the virus in a lab environment. Doses used in the study are so concentrated that they would not be safe for human use, though, and the findings are only replicable inside of a lab and not in human subjects. There have been multiple studies of ivermectin in treating Covid patients in the time since the drug's rise to prominence and each have shown that it has no ability to fight the virus in humans. Azad says that the onus is on health experts to properly communicate information in a way that does not come off as 'paternalistic', and make sure to provide enough information to people to allow them to make the correct decision for themselves. 'We think about paternalism a lot,' he said. 'Where you come out in the balance between trying to get folks to adopt what you truly believe to be the right thing or the right behavior, versus truly taking a step back and [saying] "hey, here's all the information you make the call." 'I think the reality is for something like this is the the right answer lies somewhere in between.' Americans misinterpreting an ivermectin study led to many falsely believing the anti-parasite drug could treat COVID-19 symptoms, a potential mark against greater access to information (file photo) Biogen's Aduhelm was denied Medicare funding and the FDA was largely criticized after approving the drug despite two failed clinical trials, in what could be seen as a positive outcome of more transparency (file photo) He describes the situation as a pendulum that is currently swinging in the direction of experts, leaving many average people feel like they are being left out of key medical decisions. The pendulum should be more towards the middle, Azad says. An example counter to that on ivermectin is what occurred after the Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm received FDA approval last summer. The drug still managed to receive a greenlight from the FDA despite two failed clinical trials and limited data showing it was effective. A wave of neurological experts investigated the data for themselves, and scathed the FDA decision. Intense backlash to the drug, fueled by these experts having access to trial date, led to the drug being rejected for reimbursement through Medicare and former FDA Acting Director Janet Woodcock even called for an investigation into her own agency for approving the drug. In that case, transparency and easy accessibility to information may have fixed a mistake made by regulators, Azad believes. Interview: Chinese investment in Argentina a boost to community development Xinhua) 09:25, February 22, 2022 BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's investment and infrastructure projects in Argentina have helped jumpstart development in various underserved communities and offer dynamic business opportunities, said Alejandra Conconi, executive director of the Chinese-Argentine Chamber of Production, Industry and Commerce. On the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Argentina and China, Conconi highlighted the increase in Chinese investment in the South American country over the past decade, emphasizing renewable energy projects, telecommunications and transportation, among other areas crucial to improving quality of life. "We see that China began to invest in the country in the late 1990s and again at the beginning of the 21st century. However, the vast bulk of Chinese investment and capital began in 2010," said Conconi. "An estimated 36 billion U.S. dollars have been invested in our country through 38 companies. There has been investment in energy resources, in agri-food, and today we see with special interest investment in renewable energies, everything from solar parks and wind farms to hydroelectric dams," she said. Among the projects completed under bilateral cooperation is the photovoltaic plant in the country's northern province of Jujuy. Considered the largest of its kind in Latin America, it powers some 160,000 homes. With the solar plant in place, the net profits for the northern province at the beginning of 2021 were estimated to reach 400 million dollars, an amount earmarked for the construction of 258 schools and the renovation of another 700, the governor of Jujuy Gerardo Morales told Xinhua earlier. In the first quarter of 2021, the Chinese-constructed Loma Blanca Wind Power Projects launched a commercial operation, injecting energy into the national power grid. "Some of the Chinese investment has been made in provinces and major cities where there have already been a lot of industrial development," but recently, "it has also been made in provinces with a lower degree of development," Conconi said. Whether completed or underway, large-scale Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Argentina have spurred the development of a "business ecosystem" that has generated greater employment opportunities and increased sources of income for residents. The projects "opened up a range of opportunities in the provinces," including long-term job opportunities and the development of the service sector, such as logistics, transportation and catering, Conconi said, adding she hopes the growth opportunities "will be sustainable over time." In addition, noting that "Argentina is a country lacking infrastructure," Conconi said the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Argentina joining China's Belt and Road Initiative would serve to broaden the country's development outlook through greater infrastructure building. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Main opposition presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol and ruling party candidate Lee Jae-myung are running neck and neck with 42.7 percent and 42.6 percent support, respectively, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey by Hangil Research was conducted on 1,027 adults from last Saturday to Monday. Yoon of the conservative People Power Party gained 0.3 percentage point from the pollster's previous survey conducted Feb. 12-14, while Lee of the liberal Democratic Party gained 0.7 point. In third place was Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party at 6.5 percent, followed by Huh Kyung-young of the National Revolutionary Party at 1.6 percent. Sim Sang-jeung of the minor progressive Justice Party came fifth with 1.2 percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. (Yonhap) Moderna is starting the next phase of clinical trials for its mRNA-based respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine as the company moves along in its plan to explore further uses of the budding technology. The company announced Tuesday that it has begun Phase 3 of trials of its vaccine, which would treat the cold-like illness. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-base company, plans to enroll 34,000 people over the age of 60 in multiple countries in what is set to be a massive global study. This vaccine is part of a larger movement within the company, and the biotechnology industry as a whole, to expand the use of mRNA technology that was previously written off. Moderna has launched Phase 3 trials of its RSV vaccine that uses the same mRNA technology used for its COVID-19 jab. The company hopes to one day combine the RSV shot, the flu shot and Covid boosters into one (file photo) 'RSV is one of the most widespread respiratory viruses, causing severe disease and hospitalization in older adults, and yet there is no vaccine available on the market,' said Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a statement. 'We believe that our vaccine candidate against RSV has the potential to protect against over 1 million infections globally each year, improving quality of life for those at high-risk of becoming infected and reducing the burden on health care systems.' Bancel also said that the company plans to combine the RSV jab with its COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot in the future. RSV is similar to influenza, in that it is an airborne virus that presents itself as cold-like symptoms in those it infects. While cases are rarely severe, elderly people and very young children to face an increased risk. The virus is responsible for over 175,000 hospitalizations and 14,000 deaths in elderly Americans every year. mRNA technology was first developed over 30 years ago, but was overlooked as a potential platform for vaccines until the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike standard, 'protein', vaccines which inject a neutralized virus into a person's body, mRNA jabs instead deploy an instruction packet to the body to create a neutralized virus protein by itself. In both cases, the body's immune system detects the foreign protein and acts to destroy it. In doing so, the immune system would now have antibodies necessary to fight the protein in case it appears in the body again. Germany-based BioNTech was the first company to develop a COVID-19 vaccine using mRNA technology, and partnered with New York City's Pfizer to manufacture and distribute its shot. Around the same time, Moderna created an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine as well. These shots are generally easier to develop for biologists, and are also easier and cheaper to manufacture. Now that mRNA vaccines have been put into large-scale, everyday use, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are trying to incorporate the tech into other parts of medicine as well. Moderna is also working on an mRNA shingles vaccine, cancer vaccine, herpes vaccine and HIV vaccine, hoping investments made into the tech during Covid can help crack other diseases as well. The company's Covid vaccine has already been a widespread success, having been administered 207 million times to fully vaccinated 75 million people in the U.S., only trailing the Pfizer shot. Concerns about these shots causing heart inflammation, particularly in young males, have arisen, though, giving pause to some about the expansion of mRNA use. Few moments in modern financial history carry the same weight as the famous Big Bang - delivered by Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson in 1986. This deregulation of the stock market which made it easier and cheaper to trade shares - helped turn the UK into a world-class financial centre. Thirty-six years later, Rishi Sunak is promising his own Big Bang to revitalise the British economy. Boom time? 36 years after the famous Big Bang - delivered by Margaret Thatcher and Nigel Lawson in 1986 - current Chancellor Rishi Sunak is promising one of his own According to reports, the Chancellor will scrap EU rules which dictate how pension and insurance funds manage their money. The move could free up 95 billion for infrastructure projects rail lines, renewable energy plants and hyper-fast broadband and start-up companies. But how can you cash in on Rishis Big Bang? With more than 5 trillion under management, pension and insurance firms are some of the biggest investors in Britain. They own around 10 per cent of all UK shares and are among the biggest backers of investment funds and trusts increasing their slice of the pie. These institutional investors tend to be very conservative in outlook, sticking to blue-chip investments and defensive assets such as bonds. This is partly a deliberate strategy (in order to generate predictable returns), but also partly down to strict regulations. The EUs Solvency II rules (which the UK still follows) govern how much cash insurers need to hold back in case they run into trouble. Crucially, the requirements are much stricter for so-called illiquid investments for example, big infrastructure projects that cant be sold easily. Last year, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak pledged to update these rules and unlock a tidal wave of investment. Now John Glen, economic secretary to the Treasury, has confirmed the Government will ditch the Brussels rulebook. The chief executives of two major pension firms Legal & General and Phoenix Group have said they could collectively invest 80 billion into the UK economy under the new plans. They highlighted the net zero transition, levelling up and the life sciences sector (i.e. vaccine development and medical technologies) as areas of interest. The impact for retail investors is harder to gauge. Firms such as Standard Life, Legal & General, Aviva and Prudential currently make up about 10 per cent of the FTSE 100. Reforms: According to reports, Chancellor Rishi Sunak (pictured) is planning to scrap EU rules which dictate how pension and insurance funds manage their money The sector hasnt been hugely popular with investors, with most share prices languishing around the same levels as five years ago. If the Big Bang helps firms become more profitable, it should be good news for their share prices and for their dividends. On the other hand, a large shift away from liquid assets (i.e. listed companies) and into infrastructure could sap prices elsewhere. Dividend-payers such as Shell, BP and Rio Tinto have been popular with pension funds due to their ability to pay out regular profits. But they may lose out if big investors start to look elsewhere for their returns. The more interesting question is likely to be what the plans might mean for the UK economy in the long run. Unlike some of his Conservative predecessors, Boris Johnson has shown a fondness for big spending as a way to boost the economy. The Big Bang plans seek to deliver that investment without it coming directly from the Government or, more accurately, from the taxpayer. The markets have tended to share the PMs enthusiasm for ploughing money into the economy. Joe Bidens election in the U.S. saw a surge in share prices as investors reacted to plans to ramp up infrastructure investment. Johnson and Sunak want the Big Bang to deliver a cash injection to the UKs life sciences sector, which covers everything from medical research to drug development. If institutional investment can help build the next Oxford Nanopore the 4 billion DNA research company which joined the stock market last year it could pay off handsomely for investors. Investors feeling optimistic about UK plc wont be short of choice when it comes to funds. FTF Franklins UK Mid Cap fund, one of broker AJ Bells preferred funds, has a solid record for FTSE stock-picking, having turned 10,000 into 13,400 in five years. Janus Hendersons Global Life Sciences fund invests across the sector including 5 pc in the UK. Over five years, the fund would have turned 10,000 into 16,300. moneymail@dailymail.co.uk Millions of Australians desperate for a post-lockdown getaway can now apply for a free $50 voucher to holiday in their own backyard. Every NSW resident will receive a Stay and Rediscover voucher to go towards accommodation in hotels, camping grounds and caravan parks across the state. The vouchers have been available since Monday, February 21, and will be rolled out in stages, with every NSW resident expected to access their $50 credit by March 3. NSW residents will receive a $50 voucher to go towards intrastate travel. Pictured is a tourist in Byron Bay in far northern NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the initiative as part of his $250million Stay NSW package in October, designed to give the economy a much-needed boost. Unlike the previous Dine and Discover initiative the two $50 vouchers can be combined to cover a larger expense. Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the vouchers would encourage travel in NSW and boost the accommodation industry. 'This is a win-win for NSW the vouchers will give hard-hit businesses much needed stimulus, while also encouraging residents to explore our great state,' he said. 'The Stay NSW program has been expanded and fast-tracked, so people can enjoy a staycation sooner. 'Whether it's a quiet country inn, the family-run caravan park or a hotel in the Sydney CBD, every budget needs a boost this year.' Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello (pictured) said the vouchers would encourage travel in NSW and boost the accommodation industry Stay and Rediscover vouchers to go towards accommodation in hotels, camping grounds and caravan parks across the state. Pictured are holidaymakers in the Hunter Valley wine region Mr Dominello said mates and relatives could put their vouchers together to pay for a significant accommodation cost, with no redemption limit. The vouchers can be used seven days a week and on public holidays, with more than 1,200 businesses applying for the program. Mr Perrottet in October said he was confident the travel initiative will be as successful as the government's initial Dine and Discover vouchers. 'Millions of people around the world dream of visiting Sydney and our regional areas. This package not only ensures they can, but that they'll experience the very best of what we have to offer,' Mr Perrotett said at the time. 'It's also great news for people right across our state, reviving events and businesses and bringing our major draw-cards back to life. 'Our aim is to reclaim our position as one of the world's favourite destinations.' Tourism minister Stuart Ayres added: 'Every dollar counts when you're a tourist and we want to stretch that dollar as far as we can.' Mr Perrottet (pictured) in October said he was confident the travel initiative will be as successful as the government's initial Dine and Discover vouchers Sydneysiders can put their $50 Stay and Rediscover vouchers towards accommodation in hotels, camping grounds and caravan parks (pictured, country dancers in Tamworth) The Stay and Rediscover initiative will work similar to the successful Dine and Discover scheme and will replace the $100 vouchers for stays in the CBD. It comes just a few days after NSW Treasurer Matt Kean announced the state government would be extending a lifeline to the events and festival sector and providing an additional $43 million in funding. The industry was particularly hard-hit by restrictions during the latest Omicron outbreak with organisers forced to cancel some events just days prior. 'What we want to do is preserve the fabric of the economy,' he said. 'Ensure that we come through this, not only safely but we come out stronger. 'So my message to the community is very clear - we will stand with businesses, with families and with workers in NSW to make sure that we come through this safely but also make sure that we come out the other side stronger.' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can continue to wield his iron hand against Canadians protesting his COVID-19 restrictions after lawmakers voted late Monday night to extend the emergency powers. Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted 185 to 151 to affirm the powers, giving police the right to quell any potential restart of blockades by those opposed to Trudeau's Covid restrictions. Trudeau said earlier that the powers were still needed despite police ending the occupation of the nations capital by truckers over the weekend and police ending border blockades before that. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the protesters were going for the 'lifeblood of this nation, which is trade with the United States.' Trudeau noted there were some truckers just outside Ottawa who might be planning further blockades or occupations. His public safety minister said there was an attempt to block a border crossing in British Columbia over the weekend. The emergencies act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, shown at a news conference Monday, insisted emergency powers are still needed despite police ending border blockades and the occupation of the nation's capital by truckers and others angry over Canada's COVID-19 restrictions Truckers and supporters looking to end Canada's COVID-19 mandates regroup at truck stop outside Ottawa in Vankleek Hill, Ontario, on Monday The trucker protest grew until it closed a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts and shut down key parts of the capital for more than three weeks. But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet. Ottawa protesters who vowed never to give up are largely gone, chased away by police in riot gear in what was the biggest police operation in the nation's history. 'The situation is still fragile, the state of emergency is still there,' Trudeau said before the vote. Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh's party supported it, ensuring Trudeau had enough votes. Singh said they know there are protesters waiting in the surrounding areas of Ottawa and in the capital itself. A cop mans a checkpoint in Ottawa on Monday after protesters were cleared out 'They need to be cleared out,' said Singh, who also noted there have been convoys that have been intercepted. The lawmaker also tried to paint the protesters as right-wing fanatics despite the majority of demonstrators being average citizens. 'This is an attack on our democracy. This is a group of folks who are very clearly connected to the extreme right wing. The organizers clearly have a goal in mind to undermine democracy. That's something we cant allow to continue.' Trudeau has been blasted for invoking the emergency powers, seen as draconian and an affront to the right to protest. It also allows police to freeze truckers' personal and corporate bank accounts and compels tow truck companies to tow away vehicles. On Monday, a reporter in Ottawa tweeted that Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair told CTV that the act it 'isn't targeted at small donations.' CTV asked, 'what's the threshold? Does the law allow a financial institution to say 'hey Joe and Jane gave $200 to Canada Unity, to the truckers, we're going to freeze their accounts and investigate.' Does it allow them to do that?' Blair responded, 'no one is interested in that.' The Ottawa protests - the movement's last major stronghold - appeared to be largely over by Sunday. Fencing and police checkpoints remained. But as of Monday, Canadian authorities said 206 bank accounts had been frozen under the power granted by federal emergencies act. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said those who had their bank accounts frozen were 'influencers in the illegal protest in Ottawa, and owners and/or drivers of vehicles who did not want to leave the area.' Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said earlier anyone affected has an easy way to have their accounts unfrozen: 'Stop being a part of the blockade.' Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said allowing police to designate Ottawas downtown a no-go zone has been particularly effective. About 100 police checkpoints remain. Streets of Ottawa are empty after the nation's capital was paralyzed for three weeks by truckers protesting COVID restrictions 'We saw calm, peace and quiet,' Mendicino said. The trucker protests grew until it closed a handful of Canada-U.S. border posts and shut down key parts of the capital city for more than three weeks. 'While we always will defend people's right to opinion, expression and assembly there are limits to rights when they begin to impact so severely on the rights of others and we saw that here in Ottawa,' said Blair, the emergency preparedness minister. 'We also watched with growing concern as part of this protest group starting targeting critical infrastructure when they went to the border at Windsor.' But all border blockades have now ended and the streets around the Canadian Parliament are quiet. The protests, which were first aimed at a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for cross-border truckers but also encompassed fury over the range of COVID-19 restrictions and hatred of Trudeau, reflected the spread of disinformation in Canada and simmering populist and right-wing anger. The self-styled Freedom Convoy shook Canadas reputation for civility, inspired convoys in France, New Zealand and the Netherlands and interrupted trade, causing economic damage on both sides of the border. Hundreds of trucks eventually occupied the streets around Parliament, a display that was part protest and part carnival. For almost a week the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing, the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, was blocked. The crossing sees more than 25% of the trade between the two countries. Authorities moved to reopen the border posts, but police in Ottawa did little but issue warnings until Friday, even as hundreds and sometimes thousands of protesters clogged the streets of the city and besieged Parliament Hill. On Friday, authorities launched the largest police operation in Canadian history, arresting a string of Ottawa protesters and increasing that pressure on Saturday until the streets in front of Parliament were clear. Eventually, police arrested at least 191 people and towed away 79 vehicles. Many protesters retreated as the pressure increased. Trudeau said people in Ottawa were harassed for weeks and said billions of dollars in trade was stalled by the border blockades, putting peoples jobs at risk. The protests have been cheered on in the U.S. by Fox News personalities and conservatives like former U.S. President Donald Trump. Millions of dollars in donations have flowed across the border to the protesters. 'A flood of misinformation and disinformation washed over Canada, including from foreign sources,' Trudeau said. 'After these illegal blockades and occupations received disturbing amounts of foreign funding to destabilize Canada's democracy it became clear that local and provincial authorities needed more tools to restore order.' A teenager who was stolen 16 years ago by a woman dressed as a nurse following his birth at a Mexican hospital has been returned to his parents. Salvador Macias was reunited with his biological mother and father last Thursday after authorities raided the home in El Salto, Jalisco, where he was living with a couple who was pretending to be his real family. Both individuals fled the home last Wednesday and left Macias alone. No arrests had been reported as of Monday. 'They told me and that indeed it is my son,' his long-suffering mother Rosalia Lopez Martinez told Mexican network Canal 10. Macias, who is nicknamed 'Chava,' was snatched from Lopez Martinez and her husband Yacir Macias on December 14, 2005, just hours after they had become parents for the first time. Salvador Macias (left) was several hours old on December 14, 2005, when he was stolen from a hospital in Jalisco, Mexico, by a woman pretending to be a nurse. Authorities in Mexico rescued him last Wednesday and reunited him with his family a day later after a DNA test matched the missing child with the parents. A digital photo (left) was released in September 2021 after a newborn was also taken by a fake nurse from a different another medical facility in Jalisco. The image was key as a resident in the city of El Salto tipped off authorities and led them to the residence where he was living with a couple, who remain on the run Rosalia Lopez Martinez and her husband and Yasir Macias pose with their first child, Salvador Macias, after he was born December 14, 2005 Rosalia Lopez Martinez was finally reunited with Salvador last Thursday, 16 years after a woman posing as a nurse snatched the newborn from a hospital in Jalisco, Mexico, hours after he was born Sketch of the woman pretending to be a nurse who stole Salvador Macias in December 2005 Mexican newspaper El Informador reported that the bogus nurse approached the family's room at the Mexican Social Security Institute 45 Clinic in Guadalajara to check on the newborn's health and to check if Lopez Martinez had fed Salvador Macias. The woman later returned to the room to escort Yacir Macias out of the hospital because visiting hours had ended and went back to pick up the baby to take him to another room to feed him before she disappeared from the medical facility. The investigation into the boy's disappearance gained traction in September 2021 after a newborn was stolen from a different Jalisco hospital. The Jalisco Institute of Forensic Sciences proceeded to utilize face comparison technology and released a photograph that gave them a guess of what Salvador Macias could look like. Salvador Macias pictured hours after he was born on December 14, 2005 Yasir Macias and his wife Rosalia Lopez Martinez pose next to a table with news clippings on their son Salvador Macias, who was reunited with them last Thursday The comparative image caught the attention of a resident in El Salto who reached out to the Jalisco State Office of the Attorney General and provided valuable information, including photos, of a neighborhood child who strikingly resembled the same boy who was pictured in the missing person's handout. After months of investigations, authorities last week were able to locate the home and organized an operation to rescue Macias. The district attorney's office was able to confirm the results of a genetic DNA test that matched Salvador Macias to his parents, who had two other children after their teenage son was abducted. 'There is news that drives us to continue working hard day by day, like this: after 17 years and thanks to coordinated work, Chava was able to find out who his parents were after he was robbed in 2005,' Jalisco state strategic coordinator Ricardo Beruben tweeted. At least 124 children under the age of 13 have been reported missing over the past 24 months in Mexico, according to the Network for the Rights of Children in Mexico. Of those, 30% have not been found. Police have come in for heated criticism from outraged Catholics for mocking the church by cavorting with a men dressed as a nuns at a Mardi Gras event. NSW Police sparked the criticism by posting a photo of a group of officers standing with the fake nunsat the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day last Sunday to its official Instagram page. A statement from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney claimed the image made a 'mockery' out of religion. NSW Police were blasted by the Catholic church for making a 'mockery' of their religion by posting a photo of officers with a fake nun The Catholic church spokesman said it was 'upsetting' that people involved did not extend the same 'respect' to the church that its leader, Pope Francis, offered to gay and lesbian people 'It's sad to see an event created more than forty years ago to promote equality and end discrimination now evolve into something that celebrates and promotes the mockery of others,' a spokesman for the archdiocese told Daily Mail Australia. 'Our Church, as articulated by Pope Francis, believes that gay and lesbian people should never be marginalised, but respected and welcomed at all times. It is upsetting that as Catholics we are not afforded the same respect. It added that police's role was to safeguard the 'entire community' but that their actions in posting the photo amounted to promoting 'disparaging acts'. After copping flak over the image, which also featured an officer holding a rainbow fan, the police social media team deleted the image on Monday. The former police minister David Elliott called the police Instagram post 'sad'. 'If police paid such disrespect to Islam, Judaism or Hinduism like this I would sack them,' he told the Daily Telegraph. The police have publicly backed the gay, lesbian, trans and intersex community in recent years - after a poor relationship with the queer community in the 1970s and 1980s. NSW police have engaged withy the LGBTI community in recent years after a poor relationship with it around the time the Mardi Gras started. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are a common sight during Mardi Gras Police have marched in the famous Mardi Gras parade in recent times but there has also been a push to remove them A document explaining the founding of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in Sydney from 1981 Assistant NSW police commissioner Gelina Talbot said the force was 'proud' to support the LGBTQI community and would continue to engage with it. 'The New South Wales Police Force has a policy and program area supporting members of sexuality, gender diverse and intersex communities,' according to an official NSW police web page. 'The 'GLLO' program - Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers - have served the LGBTIQ communities for almost 30 years.' Police have even marched in the Mardi Gras parade in recent times. Members of the Mardi Gras debated banning police and prison officer floats from the famous pride parade last December. The proposal was put forward by Pride in Protest, an activist group seeking to steer the world-famous event back to its radical roots. They said police's presence in the march makes Indigenous people feel unsafe to participate, in light of the high rates of incarceration and over-policing that are the focus of the Black Lives Matter movement. Fake nuns have been a fixture of Mardi Gras events for 41 years with the formation of a satirical order called the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence that even has its own mission statement. It reads 'we are an order of gay male nuns dedicated to the promulgation of universal joy and the expiation of stigmatic guilt'. Ben Fordham has slammed a push to open Australia to hundreds of thousands of skilled migrants as a 'quick fix' to pay back debts. The 2GB radio host questioned if enthusiasm surrounding foreign workers was prompted by the tens of millions of dollars owed by the federal government. He explained the influx would mean more tax could be collected but claimed it would stretch public services, inflate house prices, and pull wages down. This is despite Australia having virtually no immigrants for two years since Covid closed the borders, and accepting 200,000 net a year before that. Ben Fordham questioned if Australia's public services could cope with the arrival of 235,000 skilled migrants every year (pictured, East Timorese people board a plane to Australia) The radio host said the influx of foreign workers would put pressure on hospital system, house prices and would bring down wages (pictured, arrivals at Sydney) Treasurer Josh Frydenberg recently called for 235,000 new arrivals every year. 'That's the population of Hobart arriving in Australia every year,' Fordham said on his 2GB radio show. 'Our leaders see this as a money tree but is this really in our best interests? 'We're not talking about government interests or the treasurer, we're talking about the best interests of everyday Australians. 'It may satisfy economists but it won't help those who are waiting years for surgery and it won't assist anyone who can only dream of buying a house.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce backed the push to bring skilled migrants Down Under but said they had to be prepared to settle down in regional areas. 'We have to say 'if you want to come to Australia you have to live in Tamworth. Sydney's full,' he said on the 2GB show. 'Sydney does not want more people but regional areas do.' The 2GB radio host (pictured) questioned if the fresh push for foreign workers was prompted by the tens of millions of dollars owed by the federal government More than 230,000 visa holders and 133,000 students were expected to touch down in Australia when the borders were thrown open on December 15 (pictured, arrivals in Sydney) Fordham said though immigrants were crucial in building Australia, he worried housing, health services and transport would suffer. He said a mass influx of 190,000 or even 235,000 skilled workers may satisfy economists but make life tougher for residents. 'For our political leaders it's a quick fix,' he said. Fordham said Sydney was crippled by some of the worst traffic congestion in the world with 500 schools already crowded with too many students. 'Before Covid came along, one in three patients in our hospitals were waiting too long to be treated in emergency rooms,' he said, with 100,000 on the waiting list for elective surgeries. House prices in the Harbour City also soared up to three times the rate of wages, faster than the rest of the country. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) backed the push to bring skilled migrants Down Under but said they had to be prepared to settle down in regional areas He said the demand for housing in Sydney would result in many having nowhere to live, putting pressure on public services to help the homeless. The influx of skilled migrants would also put pressure on the 900,000 Australians currently surviving on unemployment benefits, he claimed. Business leaders are complaining of a job shortage and there are fears employers will favour migrants to avoid paying higher wages to Australians. 'More needs to be done to put Aussies in jobs, before sending an SOS to the other side of the world,' Fordham said. 'You've got to show some tough love to those who refuse to work. And if you're a leaner and not a lifter you can't keep on collecting a cheque from taxpayers.' Economists say the arrival of foreign workers will fill the gaps in high and low-skill jobs and contribute one billon a year to the economy (pictured, arrivals from Singapore in Sydney) Economists said the arrival of foreign workers would fill the gaps in high and low-skill jobs and contribute at least $1 billion a year to the economy. Accounting giant KPMG has suggested bumping net migration levels beyond 350,000 a year to reverse a population decline and stimulate demand, increasing the size of the labour pool. The report said pushing migration to 350,000 people a year - equivalent to adding a city the size of Brisbane every seven years - would boost GDP by 4.4 per cent. However, the Grattan Institute said numbers alone would be counter-productive and the migration policy must tilt even more towards skilled workers, even though they far outnumber family reunion arrivals. Business groups demanded the nation's cap on permanent skilled migration to be bumped up to 200,000 per year, rather than the current 160,000. National wages growth has been stuck below the long-term average of 3 per cent since mid-2013 and last year grew by just 2.2 per cent, Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed. Property prices in the year to January 2022 rose by 22.4 per cent, the fastest annual pace since June 1989, as professionals who could work from home took advantage of record-low interest rates to buy a bigger house or move to coastal regional areas. The CoreLogic data showed an even more dramatic 29.8 per cent surge in Sydney's median house price to $1.39million, putting a home with a backyard beyond the reach of an average, full-time income earner on $90,329. A grieving widow has issued a grave warning about vapes after they claimed the life of her husband, who heartbreakingly still died despite having given up cigarettes for the health of his grandchild. An autopsy of Queensland grandfather Peter Hansen, 71, revealed an acute lung injury associated with vaping probably killed him. His family requested the autopsy after he collapsed at an Airlie Beach holiday resort last October and died three days later. His death came around the same time a 15-year-old Sydney girl had to be ventilated after recently taking up vaping. A grieving widow has issued a grave warning about vapes after they claimed the life of her husband, Peter Hansen (pictured), who heartbreakingly gave up regular smoking for the health of his grandchild Peter Hansen collapsed after going running on holiday with his wife of 32 years, Pam Ashdown (pictured, Mr Hansen and Ms Ashdown on their wedding day) What is EVALI - the potentially deadly vaping lung condition? EVALI, or is a serious lung condition that can have fatal consequences. It may present at first as a flu-like illness, but it is accompanied by hypoxia (low oxygen in the blood) and respiratory failure. At least 68 people are believed to have died in the United States after use of unregulated cannabis products. The presence of vitamin E acetate in vaping fluids, as well as cannabis oils, is thought to be partly responsible in many cases. Anyone using e-cigarette products or who is exposed to e-cigarette emissions and/or e-liquids is potentially at risk. SYMPTOMS respiratory (shortness of breath, cough or chest pain) gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea) non-specific (fatigue, fever or weight loss). Advertisement Mr Hansen's widow Pam Ashdown said people need to know vaping 'can cause death'. 'If somebody does suddenly pass away and they have been vaping, find out why they died I don't want his death to be in vain,' she told the ABC. The autopsy results showed Mr Hansen's death met the criteria for EVALI, or 'e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury'. It showed his lungs were red, airless and very heavy - about twice the normal weight. EVALI is a new disease first identified in 2019. The autopsy showed damage from cigarette smoking but acute lung damage consistent with vaping was piled on top of that - and was likely what killed him. Intensive care doctor Sean McManus said he believed the autopsy was correct. He said Mr Hansen had 'huge cystic lesions' in his lungs not normally found with emphysema. Mr Hansen vaped for over 10 years after giving up cigarettes. His step-daughter Kellie Butterworth encouraged him to quit cigarettes because she didn't want second-hand smoke around her newborn. 'That was his real turning point of going, 'OK, I'm going to ring the Quitline and get some help and make a change,' because he desperately wanted to hold this baby,' Ms Butterworth said. Ms Ashdown said vaping 'seemed to be better' than regular smoking but she noted he was constantly vaping. She said his death had left her 'very sad, very lonely'. Ms Ashdown said she wants people to know that vaping can cause death Mr Hansen was placed in an induced coma and his family gathered around him for three days before making the heart-breaking decision to urn off his life-support Mr Hansen complained of shortness of breath after running while on holiday at Airlie Beach last October. An ambulance was called and he was taken to Mackay Base Hospital, then his condition deteriorated. He was put in an induced coma and ventilated while his family gathered around and tried to comfort him. Sydney schoolgirl Dakota Stephenson, 15, spent three days on partial ventilation struggling to breathe after taking up vaping Dakota pictured left. Doctors at Randwick Children's Hospital believe she was suffering from a recently discovered lung condition called EVALI They played him videos of his grandsons and his favourite rock music from the 1970s. A CT scan showed his lungs had 'ground glass opacities', which meant they were full of puss. After three days the family made the heart-breaking decision to turn off his life support. Last October the first case of EVALI was diagnosed in a Sydney teenager Dakota Stephenson. She went to hospital with a high temperature and back pain last September, seven months after she first started vaping with friends at school. She was ventilated but survived. Pictured is a scan of the teenager's lung, which was filled with fluid. Within hours of being admitted to hospital she was diagnosed with hypoxia - meaning her lungs weren't getting enough air Nationwide changes to vaping laws came into effect on October 1 last year, criminalising the importation of e-cigarettes, pods and liquids containing nicotine from overseas without a valid prescription. There was considerable concern vape vendors were sidestepping the ban on Chinese-made disposable devices by selling them on the black market anyway. Advertisement The heated debate over whether Mexico City should ban the centuries-old sport of bullfighting picked up steam over the weekend as this season's bullfights came to an end. Activists were pictured outside the city's arena Sunday - as has become routine - holding signs with photos of mutilated bulls that read, 'Torture is not Culture' and burning bullfighting capes. Last year, the assembly's Animal Welfare Commission gave preliminary approval to a law banning public events 'at which animals are subject to mistreatment and cruelty that result in their death.' But the bill never made it to a vote before the full assembly. Animal rights activist Alberto Luvianos said legislators may have been cowed by the potential lost income. 'They (legislators) recognized that animals have rights, but the issue they are worried about is the income from bullfighting,' said Luvianos, who estimated the fights create about 3,000 jobs. The bullfighting association claims the real number is ten times that amount. Arturo Macias plunges his sword into a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City on Sunday. This season's bullfights in Mexico City may be the last, as legislators in the city assembly seek to revive a bill banning the activity Members of 'Forcados Amadores de Mexico' are trampled by a bull during a bullfight in Mexico City A bull topples a mounted bullfighter armed with a lance, or Picador during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring A 'banderillero' nails two 'banderillas' on a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City, Sunday, February 20, 2022. This year's season closed Sunday at the city's Plaza Mexico arena, and it was marked - as has become routine - by protesters Arturo Macias makes a pass as the public shouting 'Ole,' during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring. If the bill is approved, bullfight stagers could face fines of up to $231,000 - or 49million Mexican pesos Activists were pictured protesting in the streets outside the city's Plaza Mexico arena Sunday - as has become routine If the bill is approved, bullfight stagers could face fines of up to $231,000 - or 49 million Mexican pesos. Mexico City would be the sixth state to ban the traditional sport in the country after Sinaloa's ban in January. Conquistadores brought the sport to the country 500 years ago. However, cities in Spain, Bolivia and Ecuador have issued bans on the brutal sport, while it's still largely allowed in France, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru. Evangelina Estudillo is one of those opposing the ban. She has worked as street vendor outside the area for 20 years, and the income helped her raise nine children. The prospect of a ban makes her uneasy. A bull dies on the arena after a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City Members of 'Forcados Amadores de Mexico' release a bull during a bullfight at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring Arturo Macias shouts as he fights a bull at The Plaza de toros Mexico bullring in Mexico City. A bullfighting ban in Mexico City - currently the largest venue for the events - would be an international setback for bullfighting Mexico City would be the sixth state to ban the traditional sport in the country after Sinaloa's ban in January. Above, an activist burns a traditional bullfighting cape 'The president would have to do something,' Estudillo said. 'Look how many families rely on this.' Since 2013, five states in Mexico - Sinaloa, Sonora, Guerrero, Coahuila and Quintana Roo - have banned bull fights, and polls indicate substantial support for a ban. According to Humane Society International, bullfighting still takes place in 27 states, with thousands of bulls being killed every year in the country. A ban in Mexico City - currently the largest venue for the events - would be an international setback for bullfighting. A man sells souvenirs at a stand outside The Plaza de Toros Mexico. It is estimated the fights create more than 3,000 jobs in Mexico City 'I respect those who are against it, but I don't agree, said Paco Dominguez, who sells bullfighting merchandise and posters. 'I see it as an art, a part of culture, and I make a living off of it.' 'This is a movement that comes here from outside of Mexico and tries to take away an ancestral tradition,' Jose Saborit Santa, director of the professional bullfighting association told The Washington Post last year. Bulls used in the sport are usually raised for the fight and die in the ring. 'The prohibitionists seem not to understand that we aren't fighting elephants or dolphins or cats. We are fighting animals who are raised for this, to show their abilities, to have a chance and, if not, to die nobly in the ring,' said Guillermo Leal, a correspondent for the the local newspaper Reforma. Australia's most wanted fugitive was living in a rubbish-strewn house full of animal cages and junk when police finally tracked him down. Graham Potter, 64, was arrested on Monday after spending more than a decade on the run. He had allegedly skipped bail on charges in Melbourne for conspiracy to murder in 2010 and is accused of evading authorities by constantly changing his appearance. Body-cam vision released by Queensland Police of the raid to capture Potter revealed the shocking condition of the house in which he hid out at Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns in far north Queensland. He was found in a squalid room filled with empty cardboard boxes, a chicken coop and old bed. Potter was hiding behind a bunk bed topped with multiple old mattresses. There were large cobwebs on the walls. 'This is the police. Do not move. Put your hands where I can see them,' a police officer yells at him. 'Yeah, yeah,' Potter nonchalantly responds. Graham Potter is allegedly seen stumbling on a chicken coop after police discovered him inside a squalid room filled with old cardboard boxes and rubbish Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the Ravenshoe house in which Potter was found A stack of old mattresses are pictured on the bunk bed behind which Potter was found hiding Potter was taken in handcuffs from the house down a staircase piled with old newspapers, magazines and general rubbish The house on Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns, where fugitive Graham Potter was found by police As he is led from the house in handcuffs, piles of newspapers and magazines are seen stacked on a staircase. Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the house. Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the house, with the curtains tightly drawn. Police said Potter denied his identity when located, while the home's owner said Potter was known to her as 'Ned'. The owner, Sandi Feller, told The Australian she would not comment about Potter's discovery at the house under she'd spoken to a solicitor. 'They didn't arrest me. They havent charged me, but that might come yet too, who knows?' she said. Potter had evaded police for 12 years before he was located at the far north Queensland property Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the Ascham St property, with the curtains tightly drawn A neighbour told Nine News Queensland he had never seen Potter at the house. 'I've never seen the man they arrested this morning,' the man said. Another resident of the street, Paul Adamson, said the house where the fugitive was found was known as a junkyard but had actually been 'tidied up' recently. 'At the moment it looks the best it's been since Ive been here. You couldn't even see the house two weeks ago.' he said. Mr Adamson said Potter had been known to visit the house. 'He was there years ago. He was on the run years ago and theyd found hed been staying there,' he said. Graham Gene Potter was released from prison in 1996 after serving 15 years. He was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police in 2017 Potter was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry (pictured), 19, in Wollongong in 1981 On Tuesday Potter appeared via video link from the Mareeba watchhouse to hear Magistrate Thomas Braes make an order for him to be returned to Victoria to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. Victorian detectives travelled from Melbourne on Tuesday morning to escort Potter from Queensland. There was no application for bail. The convicted murderer, who has an extensive criminal history, was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police acting assistant crime commissioner Paul De Santo in 2017. Historical police records show Potter lining up for a mugshot as early as 1976, when he was aged just 18. Five years later, he was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry, 19, in Wollongong, after he beat her and cut off her head. He was released in 1996 after serving just 15 years. Local police update on the capture of Graham Gene Potter Detective Inspector Kevin Goan discussed the capture of Australia's most wanted man, Graham Potter, at a press conference at Mareeba police station on Tuesday morning. - 'Hes a personable fellow,' Det Insp Goan said of Potter. 'He is happy to speak with to us in relation to any number of issues. We've had no acts of violence that warrant concern for our detectives.' - Police suspect Potter has lived in the far north Queensland area for the last 12 years. - Det Insp Goan said there was evidence Potter had at times 'assimilated' himself with others members of the local community. Detective Inspector Kevin Goan discusses the capture of Australia's most wanted man, Graham Potter, at a press conference at Mareeba police station on Tuesday morning - Potter claimed to be 'Josh Lawson' when approached by police at the Ravenshoe property, until finger-printing at Mareeba police station confirmed his identity. - Queensland police are waiting on Victorian detectives to arrive before deciding whether charges will be laid against the woman found at the Ascham St property. The woman is not in custody. - No warrant was needed to enter premises because police possessed 'credible' information a wanted person was at the property. - Det Insp Goan confirmed police had visited the house a number of times over the years after reports Potter had visited the premises. - The dog squad attended the arrest because Potter had been known to 'take flight' on previous occasions when police closed in on him. Advertisement At the time of his arrest in 2010, Potter was connected to Victorian and New South Wales organised crime figures and had allegedly been recruited to carry out gangland killings. He was one of three charged over the alleged planned murders of two men related to disputes within a drug syndicate over a failed importation. Potter allegedly skipped a court appearance in February 2010 and has eluded police ever since. In August 2010 he allegedly bragged about how he had used a number of costumes, including wigs, fat suits, and hair colour changes, to mingle in society undetected. His alleged strategies were unearthed in letters discovered at a campsite in Tully, 140km south of Cairns, on August 28 that year by officers investigating a tip-off about his possible location. Potter's stint in Tully was the closest police would come to catching him before he was finally apprehended this week, in another town 128km north west. Acting on a tip off, an army of officers and police dogs stormed the ramshackle Ravenshoe house around 8.45am on Monday to find Potter lying at the top of a dingy bunk-bed. Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop speaks during a press conference at City Hall, Feb. 18, to respond to People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol's pledge to build a large shopping complex in the city. Newsis By Ko Dong-hwan Gwangju Metropolitan City Mayor Lee Yong-seop criticized People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol and the party's leader Lee Jun-seok for their common pledge to build a large shopping mall in the city, calling it "populism politics mindful of votes" in the run-up to the March 9 presidential election. Talking to reporters at City Hall, Feb. 21, the mayor blasted the main opposition politicians for their unwelcome intervention in the city's affairs, adding the presidential hopeful and the party leader must consider "more impending, serious issues like relocating the city's military airbase, developing the city on par with the U.S. Silicon Valley and introducing a manufacturing cluster for eco-friendly car parts." "I don't understand why the politicians are nosing around our city affairs," the mayor said. "We control the licensing rights for our city's local businesses and have been planning to build a large shopping complex that caters to both local residents and business operators. Their meddling only poses a nuisance to us. It doesn't spur the process, it doesn't help and it isn't right." The mayor held a press conference at City Hall previously on Feb. 18 to respond to Yoon's controversial pledge, saying that building a new shopping complex in the city is "the local mayor's responsibility to discuss with local residents." It was his initial hint for Yoon to step back. Yoon pledged to build a shopping mall in the city on Feb. 16 during a campaign stop in Songjeong Market, a traditional street market in Gwangju. There, he also claimed that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been objecting to the idea, saying "The politicians don't have the right to reject what all citizens want." PPP leader Lee grabbed the baton shortly after, announcing his plan to visit the city on Feb. 22 to meet local residents at a local coffee shop to discuss the idea. In response to the PPP party leader's visit, the mayor accused him of "leisurely tinkering with something a local government is supposed to handle." "He is clearly going for votes," the mayor said, urging him to take care of more urgent problems linked to the city. Yoon Suk-yeol meets people at Songjeong Market in Gwangju during a campaign stop, Feb. 16. Newsis A San Diego woman who was locked out of her home during a family quarrel became trapped head-first in a chimney after attempting to slide down the flue into the residence. Before she attempted the unorthodox break-in, the 31-year-old was hurling objects off the rooftop Sunday shortly before 5 pm, police said. By the time cops arrived, the situation had escalated as the unidentified woman was trapped in the middle of the chimney, OnScene.TV reported. She was extricated from the predicament by firefighters after being stuck for about an hour, and transferred to a local hospital for a psychological evaluation. Video from the scene showed firefighters discussing how to carry out the rescue at the brick bungalow in the city's Paradise Hills neighborhood. A San Diego rescue crew was tasked with extricating a 31-year-old woman from a chimney after she attempted to break into the home through the flue during a family quarrel About an hour after being stuck, crews were able to free her by using a tripod, rope, and wench system and hoisting her back to the rooftop Once freed, the woman was gently lowered to the ground and transferred to a waiting ambulance Once they'd established a strategy, crews gently hoisted the woman back up the chimney and transported her via stretcher to a waiting ambulance. San Diego Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Tommy Charpentier said when crews initially arrived, they confirmed the woman was stuck upside down in the flue, with her feet sticking up. Her head was about six feet off the ground, and she was about 10 feet from the top of the chimney, he said. She was transferred to hospital, where she underwent a psychiatric evaluation 'We had crews put a plan into place and started working multiple angles,' Charpentier told OnScene.TV. 'We had crews inside that were attempting to breach the wall to access her, as well as crews go to the roof of the house and use a tripod and a rope and wench system. And that's how we ended up getting her out.' He said that the situation is tricky because they wanted to rescue the women quickly, but did not want to compromise her safety with a rushed job. The extent of her injuries were unknown. It wasn't the first time a woman tried - and failed - to sneak into her house through the chimney. Last June, an 18-year-old Nevada woman who was locked out of her home tried to gain access via the chute, only to get stuck. She was also rescued by local fire crews using a similar rope extraction procedure. Australia's second richest man Mike Cannon-Brookes has promised more renewable energy will make electricity cheaper - despite a warning from Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The 42-year-old billionaire co-founder of software giant Atlassian has refuted Mr Morrison's suggestion the early closure of coal-fired power stations would cause consumers to pay more for their power. 'He guaranteed that prices will go up,' he told Sunrise on Tuesday after presenter David Koch asked him if he would pay consumers if their bills rose. 'We have a free market for energy prices: we have a logical plan that shows why prices would go down as we have more and more renewables in the grid.' Koch asked again if he would pay the difference, only for Cannon-Brookes to sidestep the question. 'We wouldn't be doing very well if it delivered more expensive energy to consumers - that's the product and the customer experience that it delivers,' he said. Cannon-Brookes is campaigning for a faster phasing out of coal generation a day after AGL Energy publicly rejected his joint $8billion bid, with Canadian asset management group Brookfield, to take over the whole company and speed up renewable energy production. The federal government last year pledged to invest $20billion in renewable energy technology by 2030 but Mr Morrison on Monday warned the early closure of coal-fired power stations would push up electricity prices, with less power in the grid before more green energy was available. 'Let me be really clear about something. We need to ensure that our coal-fired generation of electricity runs to its life because if it doesn't electricity prices go up,' he said. 'They don't go down.' New South Wales Treasurer Matt Kean, an advocate for renewable energy within the Liberal Party, last week warned of higher electricity prices after Origin Energy announced it would close the Eraring power station at Lake Macquarie, north of Sydney, in 2025. Now Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is suggesting Australians face higher power bills, pointing to the UK's experience of relying heavily on renewable energy as it tried to reduce its reliance on coal imports. 'They got a 600 per cent increase in their power price by reason of the fact they had what they call a "wind drought" apparently - they couldn't supply the power,' he told 2GB broadcaster Ben Fordham. Australia's second richest man Mike Cannon-Brookes (right) has promised more renewable energy will make electricity cheaper after Sunrise presenter David Koch (left with co-host Natalie Barr) asked him if he would compensate consumers should their bills rise The federal government last year pledged to invest $20billion in renewable energy technology by 2030 but Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured on Monday in Tasmanian with wife Jenny) warned the early closure of coal-fired power stations would push up electricity prices, with less power in the grid before more green energy was available 'So the power there, the prices went through the roof. 'Many people had to make a choice then whether they heat or whether they eat.' The Nationals leader didn't present data on the extent of power price rises to back up his claim, even though UK electricity prices did hit record highs in 2021. Cannon-Brookes last year ranked third on The Australian Financial Review Rich List with an estimated fortune of $20.2billion behind only mining magnates Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest. Mr Joyce, who is close to Mrs Rinehart, suggest Cannon-Brookes had the luxury of not having to worry about rising electricity prices. 'It won't worry him, he's a billionaire,' he said. Labor's lead over the Coalition is increasing just three months out from the May election, according to a new poll. The ALP is on 49 per cent and the Coalition is on 45 per cent on a two party preferred basis, while six per cent of voters are undecided, according to an Essential poll of 1,000 people for Guardian Australia. Two weeks ago the figures were closer with Labor on 47 and the Coalition on 46. Scott Morrison with wife Jenny (left) at Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia, Tasmania on Monday The ALP's primary vote jumped three points to 38 per cent while the Coalition's dropped two points to 35 per cent. Meanwhile, a Reserve Political Monitor poll for Nine newspapers put Labor on 35 per cent and Coalition on 33 per cent. But the saving grace for Mr Morrison - who hit the campaign trail with wife Jenny this week - is that he's still preferred as Prime Minister. Some 39 per cent of voters are back him and just 30 per cent prefer Anthony Albanese to lead the nation. The most recent Newspoll on February 13 put Labor a massive 10 points ahead by 55 to 45 on a two-party basis. It comes after Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese traded blows over leadership as a pre-poll campaign blitz continues. The prime minister spent Monday touring marginal seats in regional Tasmania. Mr Morrison used the visit to announce an $86 million grant for the state's forestry industry, pledging 150 million new trees. Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese (second right) with Northern Territory Labor politicians in Darwin Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was in Sydney, before heading to Tasmania on Tuesday. Mr Albanese used a radio interview in Sydney to attack the prime minister, following a series of TV and live appearances by Mr Morrison. 'If you want a guy to shampoo your hair and weld without a mask on and all that, then play a ukulele, kind of, then Scott is your guy,' he said. 'People are wanting him to do his job, and his job was to order enough vaccines.' Mr Morrison said the shutting down of rail services in NSW on Monday showed what would happen under a federal Labor government led by Mr Albanese. 'If people want to hand the country to unions under a Labor government led by the most left-wing Labor leader in 50 years... this is what they can expect,' Mr Morrison said. The campaigning in Tasmania reflected the importance of the electorates of Bass and Braddon which the government holds by slim margins. With AAP Fox News Channel anchor Neil Cavuto returned to the air following a five-week absence and revealed he was in the ICU battling COVID-induced pneumonia. The longtime host, who is fully vaccinated and had already battled COVID-19 in October, said the second bout nearly killed him. 'I did get COVID again - but a far, far more serious strand, what doctors call ''COVID pneumonia,''' he said during his Coast to Coast with Cavuto Monday morning segment on the Fox Business Network. 'It landed me in intensive care for quite a while and it really was touch-and-go... Some of you who've wanted to put me out of my misery darn near got what you wished for! So, sorry to disappoint you!' Cavuto joked. 'This was scary. How scary? I'm talking, ''Ponderosa suddenly out of the prime rib in the middle of the buffet line scary!'' That's how scary.' '...Let me be clear, doctors say had I not been vaccinated at all, I wouldn't be here,' he added. The host also called out anti-vaxxers who suggested he suffered complications from the coronavirus because he was vaccinated and urged viewers to get the jab. 'The vaccine didn't cause that. That grassy knoll theory has come up a lot. My very compromised immune system did... I'm among the vulnerable three percent or so of the population that cannot sustain the full benefits of a vaccine,' he said. Cavuto is severely immunocompromised, having gone through open-heart surgery in 2016 and receiving treatment for cancer in the 1980s. He was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1997. Meanwhile, US virus cases and hospitalizations continue to steadily decline, with confirmed cases Saturday barely exceeding 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 on January 16, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Fox Business anchor Neil Cavuto returned to air on Monday following a five-week absence and revealed he was in the ICU battling COVID-induced pneumonia US virus cases and hospitalizations continue to steadily decline, with confirmed cases Saturday barely exceeding 100,000, a sharp downturn from around 800,850 on January 16 WHAT IS 'COVID PNEUMONIA'? COVID-induced pneumonia occurs when the coronavirus causes significant damage and inflammation in the lungs, resulting in fluid and debris building up and making complicated for a person to breath. The condition, which usually affects both lungs, can quickly become life-threatening. When COVID pneumonia develops, it causes additional symptoms, such as: Shortness of breath Increased heart rate Low blood pressure Additionally, the widespread inflammation that occurs in some people with COVID-19 can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) a severe type of lung failure. For the 15% of infected individuals who develop moderate to severe COVID-19 and are admitted to the hospital for a few days and require oxygen, the average recovery time ranges between three to six weeks. For the 5% who develop severe or critical illness, recovery can take much longer. Source: Houston Methodist Advertisement COVID-induced pneumonia occurs when the coronavirus causes significant damage and inflammation in the lungs, resulting in fluid and debris building up and making complicated for a person to breath. The condition, which usually affects both lungs, can quickly become life-threatening. For the 15 percent of individuals experiencing moderate to severe COVID-19 and are, the average recovery time is three to six weeks, while the 5percent who develop severe or critical cases can take even longer to recover, according to the Houston Methodist. On Monday, Cavuto featured comments of viewers who seemed not to mind his absence, and were even delighted by it. 'It's very easy not to miss Cavuto,' one read, while another said 'Dead or alive, as long as he isn't on my TV, it's a good day. The cable channel had fill-in hosts David Asman, Ashley Webster and Jackie DeAngelis during Cavuto's time away. Cavuto had previously defended the COVID vaccine after he had his first breakthrough infection in October 2021. 'Life is too short to be an ass,' he said at the time. 'Stop the deaths. Stop the suffering. Please, get vaccinated.' 'I hope anyone and everyone gets that message loud and clear. Get vaccinated, for yourself and everyone around you,' the journalist said. Cavuto has hosted Coast to Coast on the Fox Business Network since 2018. He also hosts Your World with Neil Cavuto and Cavuto Live, on Fox News. Average daily COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to fall in the US, an indicator that the omicron variant's hold is weakening across the country. In New York, the number of cases went down by more than 50% over the last two weeks. Cavuto also made light of his absence, featuring comments of viewers who seemed not to mind his absence Cavuto has hosted Coast to Coast on the Fox Business Network since 2018. He also hosts Your World with Neil Cavuto and Cavuto Live, on Fox News 'I think whats influencing the decline, of course, is that omicron is starting to run out of people to infect,' said Dr. Thomas Russo, professor and infectious disease chief at the University of Buffalo's Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. More than 934,000 Americans have died of the virus since the pandemic began COVID-19 hospitalizations are down from a national seven-day average of 146,534 on Jan. 20 to 80,185 the week ending in Feb 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID data tracker. Public health experts say they are feeling hopeful that more declines are ahead and that the country is shifting from being in a pandemic to an `endemic' that is more consistent and predictable. However, many expressed concern that vaccine uptick in the U.S. has still been below expectations, concerns that are exacerbated by the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The United States currently has more than 79 million active cases of COVID, while more than 934,000 Americans have died of the virus since the pandemic began. An Austin police officer charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for his actions during the George Floyd protests of 2020 has claimed that the prosecution is politically motivated, and the 'woke' District Attorney is trying to 'de-police' the city through trumped-up cases. Justin Berry, a 14-year veteran of the force, was one of 19 officers indicted on Thursday. Berry, who is running as a Republican for election to the House in Texas, with the primary to be held on March 1, said that the Travis County top prosecutor, Jose Garza - a member of the Democratic Socialists of America party backed by funds from George Soros - has a vendetta against police. 'This has nothing to do with justice, has nothing do with any wrongdoing,' Berry told Fox News. 'This is simply about politics and a political agenda that has taken place with these radical liberal district attorneys. 'If they can't defund us and get rid of us that way - now they're going to try and de-police us by sending us to prison and indicting us.' Justin Berry, an Austin police officer who is running for the Texas House as a Republican, was among 19 police officers indicted last week for excessive use of force during the George Floyd protests. Berry told Fox News the charges were politically motivated Protesters are seen in Austin on July 6, 2020. The protests in response to the May 2020 killing of George Floyd by a white policeman in Minneapolis frequently turned violent Protesters confront police in Austin on June 4, 2020 Jose Garza was elected on a progressive platform as Travis County DA, with campaign donations from George Soros, and took over in January 2021 Garza's move is among the most indictments against a single police department in the US over tactics used by officers during the widespread protests methods that led to the resignation or ouster of several police chiefs across the country. The indictments last week came hours after Austin city leaders approved paying $10 million to two people injured by police in the protests, including a college student who suffered brain damage after an officer shot him with a beanbag round. Berry has insisted that the force used to control the demonstrations was proportionate. 'We were responding to a riot,' Berry told Fox News. 'People throwing Molotov cocktails at us, frozen water bottles, bottles filled with urine, bottles full of gasoline, and they were engaging in criminal activity by obstructing the passage road that goes to the main hospital. 'Our actions were not unlawful by any means at all.' Berry said that the indictments were part of a wider war on law enforcement. A protester confronts a police officer in Austin on May 30, 2020 - five days after George Floyd was killed Protesters are seen marching towards the Texas state capital in Austin on June 7, 2020 Austin police keep watch as demonstrators gather on June 4, 2020 Garza, who was elected on a platform of reassessing prosecution for low-level offenses, was backed in his campaign by Soros, founder of the progressive Open Society Foundations. Soros contributed $652,000 to the Texas Justice & Public Safety PAC in the months leading up to the 2020 Travis County DA election, according to campaign finance records obtained by Fox. That same PAC spent almost $1 million on digital and mail advertisements to help Garza's campaign. Berry said that Garza's policies were causing a rise in crime in the city. 'Look at our homicide rates,' Berry said. 'They're through the roof right now. 'Look at anywhere George Soros has planted one of his DAs in there. 'It's gone to chaos and destruction.' Garza last week insisted the charges were justified, saying: 'Our community is safer when our community trusts enforcement. When it believes law enforcement follows that law and protects the people who live here. 'There cannot be trust if there is no accountability when law enforcement breaks the law.' Austin Police Department has faced scrutiny in recent years after nearly a third of their budget was cut or reallocated in August 2020. The Austin City Council restored police funding the next year after new state legislation threatened cities with penalties for reducing law-enforcement funding. Berry is seen along the US-Mexico border. He is campaigning ahead of a Republican primary on March 1 Austin Chief of Police Joseph Chacon said he respects the grand jury process but was 'extremely disappointed' to hear the district attorney announce indictments of his officers. Chacon stressed that his command staff had prepared officers to face hundreds of people, when thousands actually showed up to protests. 'I am not aware of any conduct, that given the circumstances that the officers were working under, would rise to the level of a criminal violation by these officers,' Chacon said. But beanbag rounds fired by officers did not always perform 'in the manner anticipated,' Chacon said, and his agency now prohibits the use of 'less lethal munitions in crowd-control situations.' Austin Police Association President Ken Casaday called the move 'devastating' for law enforcement in the city, but also said he's confident that no officer will be convicted. He, like Berry, criticized Garza, calling the investigation politically motivated. 'DA Garza ran on a platform to indict police officers and has not missed the opportunity to ruin lives and careers simply to fulfill a campaign promise,' Casaday said. Garza said his office prosecutes anybody who causes harm 'regardless of who causes it.' Berry was unimpressed. 'This war on policing is real,' Berry said. 'They couldn't get away with defunding us, so now they're trying to indict us.' The hot-headed reporter in the latest edition of Serial, the hit U.S. true crime podcast run by The New York Times, can hardly contain his fury about the rampant racism and Islamophobia in Britain. When his fellow presenter urges him to stop yelling at anyone who disagrees with him, he retorts: I dont give a f*** mate. He a British-Asian student journalist named Hamza Syed doesnt give a f*** for impartiality in general in this jaw-droppingly one-sided investigation into the racist lie that lay behind the Trojan Horse scandal which erupted in 2014 in Birmingham. The hot-headed reporter in the latest edition of Serial, the hit U.S. true crime podcast run by The New York Times, can hardly contain his fury about the rampant racism and Islamophobia in Britain That national controversy was set in train by an anonymous letter sent to the city council outlining a conspiracy to take over state schools in the city and run them on strict Islamic lines. The letter was quickly dismissed as bogus, but some of the claims it contained turned out to be genuine. Two official reports found that Muslim teachers and governors were, indeed, guilty of trying to Islamicise schools. The eight-part podcast series finds time for myriad critics of those inquiries but not, for instance, the five Birmingham head teachers who later spoke of the bullying they suffered from hardline Muslim governors as the latter tried to impose Islamic practices. Conflicting evidence such as a WhatsApp chat group in which Muslim teachers described homosexuals as satanic and animals who should be burnt alive is either downplayed or completely omitted. But even the unashamedly partisan Syed can see it looks bad when, in the course of the investigation, hes taken to task by his colleague for writing to potential witnesses telling them that he never believed any of the allegations and only wants to help fellow Muslims. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex alleged racism within the Royal Family, the Times banged the drum with not one but two long articles explaining to readers in the U.S. home of segregation and the Ku Klux Klan that many other black Britons knew exactly how Meghan Markle felt Their investigation, Syed concedes on air, now looks like its in the hands not of impartial journalists but of a biased mob. And so it does. But then thats true of so much of the coverage of Britain by the so-called Grey Lady the nickname given to The New York Times in tribute to its reputation as a dry but authoritative paper of record. Its a reputation that looks ever more out-of-date as the newspapers supremely sanctimonious Left-wing politics increasingly infect every page. You may wonder why a U.S. newspaper should be so interested in such a parochial UK story. But then you would be ignoring the NYTs obsession with portraying modern Britain particularly since Brexit as a country riven by prejudice, culturally backward, economically disintegrating and crumbling into irrelevance. Does it matter? Yes, it does. The NYT is still read religiously by those in power in the U.S. and as the UK seeks a U.S. trade deal, the message from Americas most self-important newspaper would be: Whats the point? Boris Johnson is the principal target. Despite their glaring differences, he is lazily lumped together by the newspaper with its most loathed hate figure, Donald Trump. For the NYT, the Brexit vote and Trumps election as President were synonymous. If Britain could sue the NYT for defamation, it would have a field day. Reporters and photographers search out the most negative, depressing stories and pictures of life in the UK that they can. Boris Johnson is the principal target. Despite their glaring differences, he is lazily lumped together by the newspaper with its most loathed hate figure, Donald Trump. For the NYT, the Brexit vote and Trumps election as President were synonymous Indeed, Times readers have been reassured for years that the UK is on the brink of utter collapse. The privations of Austerity Britain spawned its own series of articles in 2019 with doom-laden headlines such as Shrinking Lives in the English Countryside and In Britain, Austerity is Changing Everything. In the latter, a journalist visited Prescot in Merseyside and infuriated locals by wildly misrepresenting the scale of its woes, incorrectly claiming it no longer had a police station, library or museum. Critics in the UK have also accused it of selective reporting on post-Brexit NHS nurse numbers, university applications and hate crime. More recently, it devoted acres of space to castigate the UK over its handling of the pandemic. Even British food is deplorable, apparently. In 2018, an NYT travel writer ludicrously claimed that Londons restaurant cuisine revolved around boiled mutton and porridge until well into the 21st century. (He reported eating out in Mayfield: he meant Mayfair). The paper has far more scope for unsubstantiated smears on its comment pages. An especially obnoxious example was published in October 2018 under the headline I Didnt Hate the English Until Now. Quite why its author, an Irish expat named Megan Nolan, chose to live in London was anyones guess, as she described the toxic mix of dismissal and casual disdain she experienced. After her spittle-flecked invective drew a significant backlash from Irish and British readers, she complained to the Irish Times she hadnt written the headline and had never used the word hate. Its as if successive contributors try to outdo each other with their apocalyptic imagery about the UK. Last summer, a British commentator, Tanya Gold, reported on a man in Cornwall beating a seagull to death with a plastic spade. If you love metaphor, England used to be the spade. Now it is the seagull, she opined on the pages of the NYT. No matter what Johnson says, nothing can dispel the sense that we are a country in decline, segueing to crisis. The latest hatchet job, headlined Britain on the Brink . . . The Prime Minister is in peril but is the country in crisis too? appeared earlier this month. Insiders say the NYT spends so much time attacking Brexit and the Conservatives because it wants to take British readers from The Guardian. But what has struck some as particularly curious is that the criticism started under the watch of a Brit. Mark Thompson, former director-general of the BBC, was chief executive of the New York Times Company from 2012 to 2020. A wily political operator, Mr Thompson once described Brexit as an ugly shambles and, in a 2016 book, compared the tactics of the Vote Leave campaign to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. The NYT insists that Mr Thompson had no editorial input, so the newspapers endless Brexit invective and his own strong views are, then, merely a strange coincidence. But what most fixates the New York Times about Britain is racism. As far as the paper is concerned, the UK is awash in race hatred. When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex alleged racism within the Royal Family, the Times banged the drum with not one but two long articles explaining to readers in the U.S. home of segregation and the Ku Klux Klan that many other black Britons knew exactly how Meghan Markle felt. Even when Sajid Javid was appointed Home Secretary in 2018 the first British Asian to hold one of the great offices of state the NYT accentuated the negative with a story headlined A New Face Wont Change the British Governments Racist Heart. Even when Sajid Javid was appointed Home Secretary in 2018 the first British Asian to hold one of the great offices of state the NYT accentuated the negative with a story headlined A New Face Wont Change the British Governments Racist Heart A spokesman for the NYT told the Mail: We are very proud of our work in the United Kingdom. Our groundbreaking, deeply reported journalism, across many platforms, is intended to serve the public and hold the Government to account. The Grey Lady has recently been lambasted for advancing a controversial alternative view of U.S. history, the so-called 1619 Project, which claims that it really starts with the arrival of the first African slaves that year. Historians have widely condemned it as inaccurate rubbish that puts Left-wing ideology before facts. Sound familiar . . .? A postman's biggest fear is traditionally a nasty nip from an unruly dog. But now there is a new menace a marauding pheasant. For this bad-tempered game bird is forcing Mark Brough to run the gauntlet as he makes his daily round. Mr Brough, 49, says he is often attacked by the feisty pheasant in the Staffordshire village of Cheddleton. Pictured: Royal Mail postman Mark Brough who regularly gets attacked and terrorised by this male pheasant while making his rounds in Vale view, a road in Cheddleton, Staffordshire 'It can be quite nasty', he said. 'Yesterday it was biting everything in sight, even my bike. 'It seems to react to my bag if I approach it without the bag it tends to just stand there and look at me.' Images show the male pheasant in attack mode. Mr Brough has to swing his bag to scare it off as it chases him down the street. The father of two says he sees the funny side, even though he is often pecked on the legs. Mark, a father-of-two, says he can see the funny side even though the feisty bird adds time to his deliveries as he tries not to get cornered during his round in Cheddleton, Staffordshire 'It's adding time on to my round', he added, 'but luckily I've got an understanding boss. 'The street is only a little street, but the bird is causing mayhem. I've had geese come after me before, but never a pheasant.' He believes the bird is protecting its territory a cul-de-sac bordering fields. Window cleaner Chris Stubbs, 35, has fallen victim to the aggressive bird too. 'There's a family that run the local shoot and breed pheasants,' he said. 'This one seems to have taken that street as its territory.' A coin enthusiast has revealed that many Aussies are unaware they possess 20 cent coins which are worth $4,000. Michael McCauley, from Victoria, has urged everyone to check their coin jars and behind sofa cushions for the coins that have rare markings which could in turn earn them thousands. In a TikTok that received more than two million views, Mr McCauley said some 20c coins from 1966 had a 'wavy baseline' on the number 2. 'It looks a bit like a cursive 2,' he said. Michael McCauley, from Victoria, has urged everyone to check their pockets for coins that have rare markings which could in turn earn them thousands. He says 1966 coins that have a 'wavy baseline' on the number 2 can be worth up to $4,000 (pictured is flat baseline on 2) '$250 to $4,000 if you can find that, I've been lucky enough to find two of those over the years.' He also noted that 20c coins dating back to 2004 were considered valuable if they had a 'pointy A' in the word Australia, instead of a flat top. While these are not worth anywhere near the pieces from 1966, Mr McCauley said they could still earn you $10. Another feature to look out for is on a 2010 coin. The expert said coins with a small bubble above the platypus' right claw are currently fetching $55 on eBay. Mr McCauley has racked up more than 82,000 followers on TikTok for his detailed videos about rare coins. His tip to Aussies is to keep an eye out for rare dates and to try their luck and sell them online to other coin collectors. The devastated family of Miss Alabama Zoe Sozo Bethel have pushed back against suggestions the mother-of-one leapt to her death from a Miami condo. In a lengthy statement provided to DailyMail.com, Zoe's loved ones insisted that the 'devout believer in Jesus' and 'proud conservative' would never have taken her own life. The beauty queen, 27, was in a coma for eight days after suffering catastrophic brain injuries when she fell from a third-floor window in the waterfront Edgewater neighborhood. Family members announced last Friday that Zoe, who has a five-year-old daughter, had died as a result of an unspecified February 10 'accident'. The Miami Police Department investigated the horror plunge as an attempted suicide but clarified Tuesday that the death is now being considered a 'tragic accident', and have ruled out foul play. Miss Alabama Zoe Sozo Bethel, 27, died of head injuries suffered a week earlier The beauty queen was in a coma for more than a week after suffering brain injuries when she fell from this seven-story residential building 'She was growing and becoming more successful each year of her life, and she was only just beginning. And if she had a choice, she would still be here with us today,' Zoe's heartbroken family said. Their statement went on: 'As is common with any death that is not due to natural causes, law enforcement will conduct an investigation into the cause of death. 'Thus, the investigation into the cause of Zoe's death is part of the normal protocol for law enforcement, and is still open and pending. 'The initial police report is simply preliminary and is not conclusive, and is further absent specific facts from eyewitness testimony that would alter the 'incident type' status listed on the preliminary police report. 'The family reserves the right to release information as is appropriate in conjunction with the investigation and will make certain necessary information available at the conclusion of the investigation.' Zoe of Loxley, Alabama is believed to have been staying with a family member when cops were called to the seven-story La Piazza Navona building, where apartments rent for around $2,400 per month. 'On Friday, February 11, 2022 at approximately 12:05 am, Miami Police Officers responded to a call of a possible suicide attempt,' the Miami Police Department said in a statement. 'The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim fell out of a third-floor window. The victim was identified as 27-year-old, Zoe Sozo Bethel. She was transported by Miami Fire Rescue to Jackson Memorial Hospital in critical condition. 'On Friday, February 18, 2022 at 5:24 a.m., Zoe Sozo Bethel succumbed to her injuries. The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death as 'Blunt Force Trauma' and the manner of death is 'Accidental'. This was a tragic accident, and no foul play is suspected.' Bethel, 27, a deeply religious beauty pageant contestant and conservative commentator, died Friday in Miami of head injuries that she sustained in a 'mysterious accident' The family's statement said, 'As is common with any death that is not due to natural causes, law enforcement will conduct an investigation into the cause of death. Thus, the investigation into the cause of Zoe's death is part of the normal protocol for law enforcement, and is still open and pending. 'The initial police report is simply preliminary and is not conclusive, and is further absent specific facts from eyewitness testimony that would alter the 'incident type' status listed on the preliminary police report. 'The family reserves the right to release information as is appropriate in conjunction with the investigation and will make certain necessary information available at the conclusion of the investigation.' Bethel represented Alabama in the Miss for America Strong pageant, which honors single women. She was also a political commentator for RBSN, a conservative media company known for covering former President Donald Trump's rallies, according to her family. According to the family's social media posts, Bethel suffered 'severe damage to her brain/brainstem' on February 10 in an accident in Miami. She was in a coma until February 18 before she passed away. 'Zoe touched the hearts of many people,' the family posted on social media. A message posted on February 14 said that 'unfortunately the doctors are saying the damage cannot be repaired & that she may not have much time left.' Zoe Sozo Bethel, shown with Donald Trump Jr., was a political commentator for RBSN, a conservative media company Bethel had also worked for the anti-abortion group Students for Life and Project Veritas, the right wing organization that aims to show liberal bias in media reporting. 'Today we are praying for VICTORY for those without a voice in overturning Roe vs Wade,' she posted on Facebook from the Supreme Court building during arguments over a Mississippi law limiting abortion to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. The issue was very personal to her. 'I decided to choose life over terminating the innocent life God blessed me with (My daughter),' she wrote on social media. 'No matter how bad the situation may be, choosing LIFE is always the right choice.' Her smile lights up her Instagram page, which usually shows her dressed to the hilt, sometimes in a form-fitting gold lame evening dress, other shots show her casual side in a stylish saffron frock sitting by a river bank. Bethel's brother posted this photo from the hospital in Miami before she died Bethel is shown with her five-year-old daughter. DailyMail.com can now reveal cops believe she tried to commit suicide by leaping off a Miami condo She also worked for the anti-abortion group Students for Life and Project Veritas, the right-wing organization that aims to show liberal bias in media reporting A video on her Facebook tribute has her striding through a pine tree grove in a white dress and boots, flashing her mega-watt smile and waving a large read banner that says 'Jesus is Kind.' The 27-year-old beauty seemed ready to take on the world for her conservative beliefs. She was reported to have been fired in 2018 from a modeling gig for her beliefs. Atlanta-based Ursula Wiedmann Models sent an email to Bethel telling her that they would no longer work with her because of her 'racist political connections,' according to Fox News. Bethel told Fox that it was because she posted a photo of herself with Donald Trump Jr. Wiedmann confirmed the email to Fox, but said Bethel was not on contract. The beauty queen was in a coma for more than a week after suffering brain injuries when she fell from a seven-story residential building 'We work in a diverse industry and we do not tolerate intolerance of any kind,' Wiedmann said in a statement. 'We wish her the best in her future endeavors.' Bethel's family said that they were stunned by the suddenness of her death. 'This has been an abrupt & very traumatizing situation for our family, & we can imagine how much of a shock this will also be to everyone who knows & cares for her,' they wrote on Facebook. The family is accepting donations to cover Bethel's funeral costs through a GoFundMe page. Burial arrangements are still being planned. An Australian woman whose grandparents fled Ukraine after World War II is flying back to Kiev despite the looming threat of Russian invasion because she misses life in the eastern European country. Sydneysider Pixie Shmigel and her partner decided to leave Australia for Kiev six months ago to start a new life. They have spent the past three weeks in Montenegro as fears grow Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But Ms Shmigel said she is planning to go back to Kiev this week as she was thriving in Ukraine, which she described as a 'truly vibrant place'. Sydneysider Pixie Shmigel is flying back to Ukraine this week despite the daily threat of a Russian invasion Ms Shmigel has spent the past three weeks in Montenegro as fears grow Russian President Vladimir Putin is about to back pro-Russian separatists by launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine 'Despite the drums of war, people kept going about their business; planning birthday parties and raves, enjoying their morning coffees, continuing life,' she wrote in an opinion piece for The Sydney Morning Herald. 'The panicked headlines from around the world did not square with our daily lives.' She said Ukrainians were well aware of the threat of invasion, but were willing to fight to keep their independence. 'I can choose to be afraid of a bully in the Kremlin, or I can continue to stand strong like all the Ukrainians who are currently doing the same,' Ms Shmigel wrote. She said her grandparents, who fled after World War II as the USSR brought Ukraine back under its control, had inspired her partner to move to eastern Europe. 'I will be thinking of only one thing [when she returns to Kiev] how safe I feel surrounded by those strong, proud, fearless Ukrainian giants,' she said. Her column came as Putin ordered Russian troops to enter two breakaway regions of Ukraine to 'maintain peace' on Monday - soon after he recognized the area's independence. That latter move triggered US President Joe Biden to impose an executive order banning US investment or trade with the two regions. Ms Shmigel and her partner are planning to fly back to Kiev this week as they were thriving in the city and miss their life there Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine celebrated on Monday evening as fireworks went off following Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree recognizing two Eastern Ukrainian regions as 'independent republics' The US, UK and France called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday evening. Putin justified his decision in a pre-recorded speech that blamed NATO for the current crisis and railed against the way the West had triggered the collapse of the Soviet Union. 'I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic,' he said. By Yoo Yeon-chul In 2022, it is expected that discussion of sustainable development and other global frameworks for protecting the environment will be revitalized. The United Nations is initiating a series of celebrated conferences, as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. Also known as the "Rio Earth Summit," this conference outlined how sustainable development should proceed in the world. In this context, it is instructive to look at the brief history of the concept of sustainable development as an overarching paradigm in the first place. In 1972, at the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, the challenge of maintaining sustainability in the context of economic development was first brought to the global forefront. In 1987, the concept of sustainable development was clearly articulated in the report, "Our Common Future," of the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), chaired by former Prime Minister of Norway, Dr. Gao Harlem Brundtland. This report, better known as the "Brundtland Report," gave a clear definition of sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. In 1992, this intergenerational concept of sustainable development was widely adopted in the Rio Earth Summit and became the fundamental basis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) later on. Over time, the definition of sustainable development evolved to have a more practical approach at the U.N. World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002. It focused on a holistic approach linking three areas: economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustainability. In 2012, this three-part vision of sustainable development was emphasized again in the report, "The Future We Want," adopted on the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit. These discussions all paved ways for a new set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the U.N. in 2015. The SDGs are 17 goals based on 169 targets as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030, all people will enjoy peace and prosperity. The SDGs are the new targets that followed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were set from 2000 to 2015. The SDGs have specific targets to be achieved for "Peace and Prosperity for People and the Planet" over the next 15 years. The 8th U.N. Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, described the 2030 Agenda as "universal, transformative and integrated". The Sustainable Development Goals have three pillars. The first pillar is economic sustainability to eradicate extreme poverty. The second one is environmental sustainability to protect the environment through investment in natural capital. The third pillar is social sustainability to promote social inclusiveness through investment in human capital. These 17 SDGs are integrated in that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Despite the efforts many countries have made in implementing the SDGs, the progress has not been sufficient and the goals are not guaranteed to be achieved by 2030, pointed out in the report of Ban Ki-moon Foundation entitled, "Redesign Our Future." Then why is sustainable development so difficult to promote? It can be said that the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are delaying the achievement of the SDGs. However, the implementation of the SDGs did not met our expectations even before the current COVID-19 era. It is viewed that policy makers as well as business leaders tend to focus on short-term economic gains without understanding the long-term benefits and social values of the SDGs. No one wants to pay the price for future generations. Furthermore, the main stakeholder in achieving the SDGs has been largely the public sector. However, the stakeholders should be rebalanced with more active participation from the other stakeholders the private sector and civil society. In this regard, the following suggestions for each stakeholder can be made, according to the Ban Ki-moon Foundation. First, the public sector should establish a long-term vision for a paradigm shift, while realigning COVID-19 pandemic recovery with the SDGs. Moreover, integrating the SDGs into national development plans and establishing the designated authority of the SDGs are vital to achieving them. Secondly, the private sector should widely adopt an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) index, which will be crucial in evaluating the possible cost and impact of projects that consider the non-economic aspects of the SDGs. An ESG framework puts forward the three central dimensions of environmental, social and corporate governance to measure the sustainability performance and social influence of the company. Lastly, civil society should take more initiative to promote social consensus, and actively monitor and evaluate the relevant activities of the other sectors, as the voices of young people and women in particular are growing. Indeed, enhancing public awareness of the SDGs will cultivate strong leadership from the government and business sector that is committed to the values of the SDGs. Global multi-stakeholder partnerships are necessary in order to achieve our development commitments under the SDGs despite the ongoing pandemic. Now is the time for us to do everything possible on our part to implement the SDGs. I look forward to that when we meet one day in 2030, we can say, "Mission accomplished!" Yoo Yeon-chul (ycyoo87@gmail.com) was the ambassador for climate change at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now serving as vice chair of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He also served as Korea's ambassador to Kuwait. Scott Morrison has slammed China's attempt to blame Australia for a Chinese navy warship pointing an industrial laser at an RAAF plane, saying 'the facts are very clear'. Beijing has rejected any blame, claiming its ship was in international waters and it was the Australian plane that was acting dangerously. 'We urge Australia to respect the lawful rights that China's vessels are entitled to in relevant waters under international law and stop maliciously disseminating China-related disinformation,' a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman claimed. The prime minister firmly rejected Beijing's accusation that Australia was just slinging dirt and that the Chinese vessel was so close to Australia's coast it could have been seen from the shore. An RAAF reconnaissance photo of a Peoples Liberation Army-Navy Luyang-class guided missile destroyer involved in a laser incident with an RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft 'The facts are very clear. There was a Chinese naval vessel in our exclusive economic zone, and it pointed a laser pointer at an Australian surveillance aircraft. That's what happened,' Mr Morrison said. The Chinese vessel, along with another People's Liberation Army navy ship, was sailing east through the Arafura Sea between northern Australia and western New Guinea at the time of the incident. The RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft was in Australia's EEZ off the Top End when the laser was pointed at it. Mr Morrison said China must explain what it was 'doing undertaking such a reckless act, for what's supposed to be a professional navy. There's no explanation that Australia has to give here.' The PM said Australia's surveillance planes had 'every right' to be in the EEZ 'and keeping a close eye on what people are up to'. He said the action should not just be dismissed by China, but he was not confident that any explanation would be given. 'But what I do know is that's what occurred and I'll call it out,' Mr Morrison said. 'We make no apology for where our surveillance aircraft are, looking after and protecting Australia.' The vessel was in the company of another Chinese ship and sailing east through the Arafura Sea at the time of the incident. Pictured is the defence department's trace of their movements The RAAF P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (pictured) was in Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone off the Top End when a laser was pointed at it by a Chinese navy warship With each side casting blame on the other, an Australian defence expert said the incident was far more serious than people may realise, and that someone could have been blinded by the laser. Professor John Blaxland from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University called it 'military intimidation'. He said while China did this before to Australia and the US in the South China Sea, it has never happened this close to Australia. 'From what we can ascertain, this is the closest an attempt at military intimidation by China has gotten to our shores,' Professor Blaxland wrote in The Conversation. What is an Exclusive Economic Zone? The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea with a 200 nautical mile limit. 'In the EEZ, Australia has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing all natural resources of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil together with other activities such as the production of energy from water, currents and wind. 'Jurisdiction also extends to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations and structures, marine scientific research, the protection and preservation of the marine environment, and other rights and duties.' Source: Australian government Advertisement 'This is also not a tactic known to have been used by Australia against other nations' naval vessels, particularly not close to or within China's exclusive economic zone. So, this seems to be an escalation.' Professor Blaxland also spoke on ABC Radio Sydney's Drive program, telling host Richard Glover that the act of pointing a laser was a 'precursor to war'. 'In the military context that kind of laser designation is all about the precursor act to a hostile firing of a missile or some sort of trajectory of a bullet or a machine gun or a gun,' he said. 'Let's be realistic, that's the exact precursor act to an act of war. 'It's intimidatory behaviour and its designed to unnerve the pilots of this aircraft. 'It's like you know you are a hair trigger away from being shot out of the sky. It's pretty intimidating behaviour, there's no question about it.' He warned of the consequences of such a laser hitting a target. 'Choosing to point a laser at an Australian aircraft, it's a hostile act,' he said. 'This is an industrial grade laser pointing, nothing like you have in the school classrooms. 'This is something that will completely blind somebody. Not only will it blind a human if they happen to look at it wrong time, wrong place, but it will also damage some of the important sensors on the aircraft. 'That can have potentially catastrophic effects on the aircraft itself so this is not a benign act, it is genuinely adversarial behaviour, it is not appropriate.' Australia's Department of Defence agreed, telling Daily Mail Australia: 'Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives. 'These actions could have endangered the safety and lives of the ADF personnel. 'Such actions are not in keeping with the standards we expect of professional militaries.' On Tuesday, Mr Morrison announced that Australia would spend just over $804 million to buy drones and helicopters and set up mobile stations in Antarctica to strengthen Australia's national interests. Both Chinese navy ships (pictured) have since passed through the Torres Strait and on to the Coral Sea Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has strongly condemned the pointing of an industrial laser at an RAAF plane Mr Morrison said the funding, to be used over the next 10 years, would bolster Australia's strategic and scientific capabilities as China looks to step up its presence in the frozen continent. 'The money we are investing... will enable us to explore areas of East Antarctica's inland that no country has ever been able to reach before,' he said. Drones and other surveillance vehicles will establish an 'Antarctic eye' with integrated sensors and cameras feeding real-time information. Four new helicopters with a range of 550km will be procured, which can be launched from Australia's icebreaking ship, Nuyina. The investment will also help support jobs, with Australian businesses reaping the benefits of local procurement of supplies, Mr Morrison said. Australia's Antarctic operations currently include four permanent research stations in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. About 42 per cent of the continent is claimed by Australia. Australian women should be given a $5,000 superannuation 'baby bonus' when they take maternity leave, according the nation's peak super lobby group. The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia has called on the federal government to introduce a lump sum payment program after a baby is born or adopted. The proposed payment could benefit up to 300,000 Australian women per year and would be equivalent to the amount a person receives from super contributions on a $60,000 annual wage. The aim is to address the 'significant' 23.4 per cent gap in superannuation balances between men and women as they approach retirement. There are growing calls for the federal government to top up the super balances of women who take time out of the workforce to have children (stock image) The average superannuation balance of a woman aged 60-64 is $137,050, compared to $178,800 for men. 'The reasons for this gap for women are well documented, including time out of the workforce (predominantly to raise children and care for ageing parents), part-time working hours for at least a portion of their career, and gender segmentation of the labour force with traditionally female jobs receiving lower wages on average,' ASFA's Pre-Budget submission states. 'In today's dollars, each $5000 contributed on behalf of a 30-year-old leads to a super balance at age 67 being $11,000 higher.' 'For someone on $60,000 a year who has two children, that is an increase from $395,000 to $417,000 using the default settings of the ASIC Moneysmart calculator.' ASFA recently conducted a survey where more than 80 per cent of respondents agreed the government should top up the super balances of women who take time out of the workforce to have children. 'Broken work patterns, Covid -19, and the early release of superannuation, which was used to help get Australians through the pandemic, have eroded the retirement savings of low-income earners and women in particular,' ASFA boss Dr Martin Fahy said. 'It is now essential that repair be undertaken to low-income earners and women's retirement budgets through targeted assistance.' ASFA adds that payment should also apply to men if they take time out of the workforce to be the primary carer of a baby. The proposed $5,000 Super Baby Bonus would benefit up to 300,000 women each year The lobby group has also called on the government to top up the balances of low-income earners with a $3000 lump sum contribution to 30-year-olds with less than $25,000 in super and $5000 to 50-year-olds with less than $85,000 in super. The payments would be limited to individuals earning less than $90,000, the lobby group added. Their proposal would also supplement recently passed legislation which abolished the $450 per month threshold where workers receive no superannuation. Australians earning less than $450 a month before tax will be paid superannuation for the first time from July after legislation was passed earlier this month. Businessman and political aspirant Clive Palmer has cancelled an address to the National Press Club due to illness. Mr Palmer was due to deliver a nationally televised address on Tuesday outlining Australia's economic future and the United Australia Party's financial policy. The National Press Club said in a statement Mr Palmer is showing COVID-like symptoms and was advised not to travel to Canberra. Businessman and political aspirant Clive Palmer has cancelled an address to the National Press Club due to 'Covid-like symptoms' Mr Palmer is the United Australia Party candidate for the Senate in Queensland, with his party seeking seats in the upper and lower house at the upcoming federal election. Last election he spent more than $80 million on advertising, which is expected to be replicated in the lead up to the 2022 poll. Mr Palmer is not vaccinated and has voiced strong opposition to vaccine mandates and Covid-19 lockdowns. In January, he claimed he did not need the jab because he's 'not in bad shape' and leads a 'healthy life'. 'I don't think I need a vaccination for Covid personally, I haven't caught it, I have a healthy life,' he said. 'I don't think I'm in bad shape. I think I look a lot more trim now than when I did when I was in Parliament.' Several federal members of the UAP are opposed to Covid vaccine mandates, including the party's leader Craig Kelly. Mr Palmer is not vaccinated and has voiced strong opposition to vaccine mandates and Covid-19 lockdowns Mr Kelly has publicly backed anti-mandate rallies and was spotted at Canberra protests this month. The party expects to generate strong support among anti-vaxxers and anti-mandate voters. The ABC was planning to broadcast Mr Palmer's speech to the Press Club on a 90-minute delay. It is unclear if Mr Palmer's address will be rescheduled. Advertisement Scott Morrison has urged Vladimir Putin to withdraw his order to send troops into Ukraine as Europe teeters on the brink of the biggest war since 1945. The Russian President on Monday night signed a decree recognising two parts of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian fighters as sovereign states and ordered his forces to enter to 'keep the peace'. Western allies fear this will pave the way for an invasion of Ukraine - which President Putin described as 'ancient Russian lands' in a speech on Monday. Speaking on the campaign trail in Tasmania on Tuesday morning, Mr Morrison said the suggestion these troops would enter to keep peace was 'nonsense' and told President Putin to withdraw. This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 21, 2022, shows bombing during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at a firing range near Brest Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognising the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday 'Russia should step back. It should unconditionally withdraw, back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours,' he said. Referring to Russia's 2008 war with Georgia, he said: 'We've seen this behaviour before and seeking to take opportunity to threaten a neighbour for their own advantage is just simply not on. 'Is unacceptable, it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted, and Russia should understand that by seeking to invade another country, that this cannot advantage them and it would seriously and significantly cost Russia. Mr Morrison said he hopes for a peaceful solution but warned that Australia will support the West in imposing sanctions on Russia. 'I can assure you that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions, on Russia, we will be in lockstep with them,' he said. Mr Putin has been building up troops on the Ukrainian border since November. He fears the pro-European Ukrainian government will join the anti-Russian alliance NATO and wants to prevent this. Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991 and Mr Putin describes it as 'historical Russia'. The two separatists areas in eastern Ukraine - which have experienced fighting since 2014 - are the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. Recognising the rebel regions' independence effectively shatters the Minsk peace agreements and opens the door for Russia to sign treaties with the 'states' and openly send troops and weapons there to defend them against Ukrainian 'threats'. Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a visit to Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia, Tasmania on Monday The move fuels further tension with the West and narrows the diplomatic options available to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, still touted as the framework for any future negotiations on the wider crisis. The Kremlin said that upon hearing that Putin will sign the order to recognise the independence of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had 'expressed disappointment' over the decision in phone calls with the Russian President. Boris Johnson said Putin's decision to recognise the two separatist Ukrainian republics was in breach of international law and an 'ill omen' and 'dark sign' that things are moving in the wrong while UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the move would not go 'unpunished' as she announced new sanctions on Russia. The UK Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and agree on a 'significant package of sanctions' on Moscow. The EU's top officials also said they will impose sanctions, while the U.S. has ordered sanctions which will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognised by Putin. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg also condemned Mr Putin, accusing Russia of 'trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine yet again'. Earlier, Mr Putin vowed to decide 'today' whether to recognise Ukraine's eastern regions as independent states. He made the remark at the end of an hours-long security council meeting that was broadcast on Russian TV during which the country's top security officials were called up one by one and asked to lay out the case for war - seemingly aimed at persuading a sceptical public of the need to attack. Having spent days staging what are widely believed to be false flag attacks on Ukrainian soil and blaming them on Kiev, ministers presented the 'evidence' to Putin today, claiming Russians in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions are under threat of 'genocide', that no peace deal can save them, and that he must intervene to save lives. But in evidence that the entire spectacle was being staged - with the West warning a decision to invade has already been made - eagle-eyed viewers noticed that defence minister Sergei Shoigu's watch was five hours behind Moscow time, suggesting the hearing was pre-recorded. All eyes will now turn to Ukraine's border regions for evidence that Russian troops have crossed, after videos published earlier in the day showed tanks and armoured vehicles in 'battle formations' - some of them less than three miles from the frontier. Elsewhere today... US officials warned Russian battle plans call for 'overwhelming' fire against Ukraine that could cause 'tens of thousands of casualties' within days of an invasion US also warned Russia has prepared a hit-list of people it wants to kill or send to detention camps if Ukraine falls, with dissidents, journalists, political figures , ethnic minorities and LGBTQ people all on the list Fresh explosions were heard in Ukraine's eastern regions with separatist leaders claiming a Ukrainian citizen was killed and that Kiev's troops had crossed the border in armoured vehicles Russia claimed that a Ukrainian shell hit its territory in the Rostov-on-Don region, destroying an unoccupied guard post. Kiev has strongly denied shelling separatist or Russian positions Pro-Russian separatists said 60,000 people have now been evacuated from rebel-held areas to Russia Air France announced it is halting all flights to and from Kiev, following similar move by Germany's Lufthansa Vladimir Putin today chaired a meeting of Russia's full security council, with top aides getting to their feet one by one to lay out the case for war in Ukraine Ukrainian servicemen are seen outside of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on February 21 Putin addresses the nation as he recognised the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on Monday But in evidence the spectacle was being staged, viewers noticed defence minister Sergei Shoigu's watch was running five hours slow - suggesting the hearing was pre-recorded Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine celebrated on Monday evening as fireworks went off following Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree recognizing two Eastern Ukrainian regions as 'independent republics' Russian tanks an armoured vehicles are seen in what observers described as 'battle formation' close to the border with Ukraine today, with a 'Z' symbol painted on the sides which is believed to denote a battle group Russia has moved its forces to within three miles of the Ukrainian border, with tanks spotted on manoeuvres in Kursk (left) at the weekend and support trucks in Belgorod (right) on Monday Russian 'terminator' tanks - armoured vehicles that are designed to support infantry units fighting in urban areas - were spotted being transferred to the frontlines at the weekend Russia 'used body parts from morgue to fake attacks in Donbass' Ukraine today accused Russia of taking corpses from morgues and using them in incidents of fake attacks blamed on Kiev. In one piece of footage, pro-Moscow journalists reporting from a market in the Donetsk region claimed a 'saboteur' had attempted to plant a bomb there in the morning while people did their shopping. Reporters claimed the 'criminal ' had been blown up by security forces before showing images of body parts scattered around the road. But Kiev said the limbs had likely been taken from a local morgue and placed to appear as if an attack had taken place, in an effort to justify Russia marching troops into the region to protect locals. 'We assume that they take corpses from morgues and blow them up for imitation,' said an official. A second such incident was reported elsewhere in the Donbass region, as separatist channels reported that a miner had been killed in a blast. Advertisement Dymtro Kuleba, Ukraine's defence minister, said after the council meeting that 'the entire world' will watch what Russia does next and that 'everyone realises the consequences' if Putin vows to recognise the breakaway regions. 'We all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts, [there is] no other way,' he tweeted. It comes as two Ukrainian soldiers died on Monday and three were wounded in a shelling attack in Zaitseve, a village 18 miles north of the rebel stronghold Donetsk, Ukraine's national police said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had a phone call with Putin on Monday evening, warned him that recognising the eastern regions would be a 'one-sided' breach of peace negotiations and that he has a 'responsibility' to de-escalate tensions by removing troops from the border. Meanwhile Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Putin slammed the U.S. for 'colonizing' Ukraine and using it as a 'puppet regime' in televised remarks before signing the decree. Putin told the public in a lengthy televised address on Monday evening: 'I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.' He was then shown signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin. At the end of his lengthy speech, Putin asked Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, to 'support this decision'. Both Russia's lower and upper houses of parliament are due to vote on the recognition on Tuesday. The Russian leader also demanded that Ukraine end military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern part of the country, or face more possible bloodshed. 'We demand an immediate end to military operations,' Putin said, accusing Kyiv of 'trying to organise a blitzkrieg' in east Ukraine. 'Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine,' he added. The West had repeatedly warned Putin not to recognise Ukraine's rebels, a move that effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict. Putin spoke for over an hour in a speech heavy with historical references questioning Ukraine's right to sovereignty and alleging the West had spent years cheating Moscow. 'Modern Ukraine was entirely and completely created by Russia,' Putin said. Appearing visibly angry, Putin said Ukraine should be called 'Ukraine of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin', saying it owes its creation to the Russian revolutionary. He also accused Kiev of waging 'genocide' in eastern Ukraine and of preparing to get hold of a nuclear arsenal. He said the West 'spat' on Russia's security concerns for years by 'moving NATO eastwards and putting military infrastructure closer to Russia's borders.' The Russian leader said the West was trying to 'blackmail' Moscow, 'regardless of the situation in Ukraine.' 'There is only one aim: to stop Russia from developing. And they will do it, as they did before, even without any formal pretext at all,' the longtime Russian leader said. UK joins Biden and the EU in ordering sanctions against Russia after 'breach of international law' The UK is to join the US and the EU in imposing new sanctions on Russia 'in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity', Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Tuesday. It comes as the Ukraine crisis intensified after Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would recognise two breakaway republics. The decision to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine was an 'ill omen' and a flagrant breach of international law, Boris Johnson said in a press conference. Ms Truss tweeted about the new sanctions on Monday evening after saying Mr Putin's actions could not be allowed to go 'unpunished'. 'Tomorrow we will be announcing new sanctions on Russia in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' she said. Earlier on Monday, the Foreign Secretary said the recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states 'demonstrates Russia's decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue'. 'We will co-ordinate our response with allies,' she said. We will not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished.' The move follows a decision by US President Joe Biden to immediately impose sanctions on the two breakaway regions in Ukraine, a move which was met with criticism for not being strong enough. Jim Scuitto, who served as chief of staff to the U.S. Ambassador to China under Obama, said of the sanctions: 'Is this really it?' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured in her Monday statement that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia further invades Ukraine. 'We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,' she wrote. The European Union's top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions against Russia. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel say in a joint statement that the recognition is 'a blatant violation of international law.' The statement added that the bloc 'will react with sanctions' and 'reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.' Advertisement In response, Ms Truss said the UK will announce new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday 'in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity'. Meanwhile Mr Johnson will chair a Cobra meeting at 6.30am UK time on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, a No 10 spokesperson said. The spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister will chair a COBR (Cobra) at 0630 tomorrow morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and to coordinate the UK response including agreeing a significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately.' President Biden has also ordered new sanctions after calling Putin's announcement a 'blatant violation of Russia's international commitments'. The sanctions will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognized by Putin. The absence of sanctions directly on Russia or Putin was immediately met with backlash from those who said the Biden administration isn't doing enough in response to the latest Russian movements and announcements. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia invades Ukraine. 'We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,' she wrote. The European Union's top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions against Russia. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel say in a joint statement that the recognition is 'a blatant violation of international law.' The statement adds that the bloc 'will react with sanctions' and 'reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.' Responding to Putin signing a decree formally recognising rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine as independent states, Mr Johnson told a press conference: 'I gather that Vladimir Putin has effectively announced that Russia is recognising the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. 'This is plainly in breach of international law. It's a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. 'It is a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk agreements. And I think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign, and certainly does seem to me that it's certainly an indication - yet another indication - that things are moving in the wrong direction in Ukraine. 'The UK will continue to do everything we can to stand by the people of Ukraine with a very robust package of sanctions, as you know, fortifying the Eastern flank of NATO in all the ways that we have, but also being one of the few countries to have given the Ukrainians, the defensive weaponry that we think is appropriate to their needs and we will continue to to think about what more we can do to support Ukraine in what is clearly a very, very dark and difficult time.' Mr Johnson later told the Ukrainian president that he believes a Russian invasion is 'a real possibility in the coming hours and days'. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this evening to discuss the deteriorating situation in and around Ukraine. 'Outlining his grave concern at recent developments in the region, the Prime Minister told President Zelenskyy that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days. 'The Prime Minister strongly condemned the Kremlin's decision today to recognise Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states, and said the move made the Minsk agreements and process unworkable. 'He added that the UK was already engaging with partners on the issue and said the UK would raise it at the United Nations Security Council and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the coming days.' Mr Johnson also told President Zelenskyy that he would 'explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine' at the request of the country's government. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'He told President Zelenskyy that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. 'The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government. 'The leaders agreed that the West needed to support Ukraine in the event of an invasion, but should continue to pursue a diplomatic solution until the last possible second. 'Regardless of President Putin's actions, the UK would be steadfast in its full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Prime Minister said.' Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21 Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions' independence paves the way for the long-feared Russian invasion. Pro-Russian residents in Donestk celebrated independence with a fireworks show on Monday Russian and Belarus soldiers during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus in a handout video grab taken and released by the Belarussian Defence Ministry on February 19, 2022 U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Poland to reassure NATO allies and deter Russian aggression, encamp at an operating base 6KM from the Ukrainian border, near Przemysl, Poland, February 21 What did Vladimir Putin say in his speech? ON DONBASS 'Those who embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed, lawlessness did not recognize and do not recognize any other solution to the Donbass issue, except for the military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. I ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision, and then to ratify the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with individual republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed in the very near future. And from those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities. 'Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. Announcing the decisions taken today, I am confident in the support of the citizens of Russia. Of all the patriotic forces of the country.' ON UKRAINE MEMBERSHIP OF NATO 'If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.' ON ORIGINS OF MODERN UKRAINE 'Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917... 'As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called 'Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's Ukraine'. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents... And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunisation. Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.' ON UKRAINIAN STATEHOOD 'Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.' ON BREAK-UP OF USSR 'Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine... '(Ukraine) preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations... 'From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.' ON NATO'S 2008 MEMBERSHIP PROMISE TO UKRAINE AND GEORGIA 'Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a pronounced anti-Russian policy. A number of member states of the alliance are still very skeptical about the appearance of Ukraine in NATO. 'At the same time, we are receiving a signal from some European capitals, saying what are you worried about, this will not happen literally tomorrow. Yes, in fact, our American partners are also talking about this. Well, we answer, if not tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow. What does this change in a historical perspective? Basically, nothing. Moreover, we know the position and words of the U.S. leadership that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not exclude the possibility of this country joining NATO if it can meet the criteria of the North Atlantic alliance and defeat corruption. At the same time, they try to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance, saying that there are no threats to Russia. Again they propose that we take them at their word. But we know the real value of such words.' ON THREATS TO RUSSIA 'We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. I pay special attention to the fact that the danger of a sudden strike against our country will increase many times over. Let me explain that U.S. strategic planning documents contain the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike against enemy missile systems. And who is the main enemy for the U.S. and NATO? We know that too. It's Russia. In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly declared the main threat to North Atlantic security. And Ukraine will serve as a forward springboard for the strike. If our ancestors had heard about it, they probably would simply not have believed it. And today we don't want to believe it, but it's true.' ON SANCTIONS 'They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia's sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine. There is only one goal - to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values. I want to say clearly and directly that in the current situation, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country is increasing significantly, Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security. That is exactly what we will do.' Advertisement There are now thought to be 190,000 Russian troops on the border of Ukraine comprising around three quarters of its conventional forces backed by 500 fighter jets, 50 heavy bombers, and dozens of attack helicopters. The Kremlin denies it has plans to attack, but Western allies say Putin is trying to concoct a pretext to invade by stirring up conflict in two breakaway eastern regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - and staging 'false flag' attacks to justify marching his troops in on a mission to 'protect' them. Should Russia go ahead with its attack, the US has warned the UN security council that Moscow has prepared a list of targets for assassination and imprisonment in detention camps. Officials say the list includes anyone who might oppose the Kremlin - including political figures, journalists, Russian and Belarusian dissidents sheltering in the country, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. 'As we've seen in the past, we expect Russia will try to force cooperation through intimidation and repression,' a US official told Foreign Policy magazine on Friday, before a letter containing the allegations was sent to the US on Monday. 'These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions. '[That] includes Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBT persons.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the claims an 'absolute lie'. Heavy shelling was reported along the frontline at the weekend, leaving several Ukrainian troops dead, following what Russian state media claimed were terror attacks targeting top officials and a gas pipeline in the two regions - which the West said was staged. Fighting continued on Monday, with separatist commanders alleging that artillery had been fired into the Donetsk region and struck a hospital with 'clashes' reported near Mariupol. Russia separately claimed that a Ukrainian shell had blown up a guard post in Rostov-on-Don. Ukraine denies firing at either separatist or Russian territory. The Kremlin has also been pushing claims that 'mass graves' containing the bodies of civilians killed by Ukrainian troops have been discovered in the region, and today submitted documents containing those allegations to the UN Security Council. Tens of of thousands of civilians - mostly women, children and the elderly - have now being evacuated from rebel-held areas into Russia due to the 'threat'. Fighting-age men have been ordered to stay behind under the threat of legal sanctions if they try to leave. In what appeared to be a last-ditch diplomatic gambit brokered with the aid of French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said Biden has agreed 'in principle' to a meeting with Putin as long as he holds off on launching an assault. But the Kremlin said no 'concrete' plans had been made. It is the second time that Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to position himself as Europe's top security negotiator, has been embarrassed by Moscow - given guarantees which were revoked when he made them public. Two weeks ago he claimed Putin had agreed to stop military drills on Ukraine's border, which Russia immediately denied. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration has been clear that 'we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are set to meet on Thursday in Europe - as long as Russia does not send its troops into Ukraine beforehand. 'We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war,' Psaki said in statement. 'And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.' Despite the threat, life in the capital Kiev outwardly continued as usual for many Sunday, with brunches and church services, ahead of what Biden said late last week was an already decided-upon Russian attack. Katerina Spanchak, who fled a region of eastern Ukraine when it was taken over by Russian-allied separatists, was among worshippers crowded into the capital's St. Michael's monastery, smoky with the candles burned by the faithful, to pray that Ukraine be spared. 'We all love life, and we are all united by our love of life,' Spanchak said, pausing to compose herself. 'We should appreciate it every day. That's why I think everything will be fine.' 'Our joint prayers will help to elude this tragedy, which is advancing,' said another worshipper, who identified himself only by his first name, Oleh. A U.S. official said Sunday that Biden's assertion that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine was based on intelligence that Russian front-line commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive intelligence. The United States and many European countries have charged for weeks that Putin has built up the forces he needs to invade Ukraine - a westward-looking democracy that has sought to move out of Russia's orbit - and is now trying to create pretexts to invade. Western nations have threatened massive sanctions if Putin does. U.S. officials on Sunday defended their decision to hold off on their planned financial punishments of Russia ahead of any invasion, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called passionately Saturday for the West to do more. 'If you pull the trigger on that deterrent, well then, it doesn't exist anymore as a deterrent,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Fox on Washington's sanctions threat. Russia held nuclear drills Saturday as well as the conventional exercises in Belarus, and has ongoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea. The announcement that Russia was reversing its pledge to withdraw its forces from Belarus came after two days of sustained shelling along a contact line between Ukraine's soldiers and Russian-allied separatists in eastern Ukraine, an area that Ukraine and the West worry could be the flashpoint in igniting conflict. Ukrainian tanks take part in training drills at an unknown location somewhere in Ukraine, in an image taken on Sunday but released by the military on Monday Ukrainian soldiers and helicopters take part in military drills at an unspecified area somewhere in Ukraine on Sunday A Ukrainian soldier aims his rifle during training exercises somewhere in the country, which took place on Sunday Canadian military aid arrives at Lviv airport, in the west of Ukraine, late Sunday as the West continues to supply the army with defensive weapons against a Russian attack Biden hits two pro-Russian regions in eastern Ukraine with sanctions after Putin declared them independent Joe Biden will issue sanctions on the two regions declared 'independent republics' by Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday in his first real move toward full-scale invasion. The absence of sanctions directly on Russia or Putin was immediately met with backlash from those who said the administration isn't doing enough in response to the latest Russian movements and announcements. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia further invades Ukraine. 'We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,' she wrote. Biden almost immediately called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Vladimir Putin slammed the U.S. for 'colonizing' Ukraine and using it as a 'puppet regime' in remarks where he announced he would sign a decree recognizing two eastern regions of Ukraine as independent states. The president also hopped on a secure call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after Putin's remarks. 'We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately,' Psaki wrote in her Monday statement following Putin's remarks. 'President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,' she detailed, adding 'the Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly.' 'We will also soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments,' Psaki added. A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers pledged on Monday to 'work toward whatever emergency supplemental legislation will best support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine.' 'No matter what happens in the coming days, we must assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions,' they wrote. Zelensky said he discussed with Biden on Monday afternoon 'the events of the last hours'. 'We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,' he posted, adding: 'A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.' The White House confirmed that Biden did have a roughly 35-minutes call with Zelelnsky. Advertisement Biden convened the National Security Council at the White House on Russia's military buildup around Ukraine. White House officials released no immediate details of their roughly two hours of discussion. 'We're talking about the potential for war in Europe,' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said earlier Sunday at a security conference in Munich, Germany, that saw urgent consultations among world leaders on the crisis. 'It's been over 70 years, and through those 70 years ... there has been peace and security.' Zelenskyy on Sunday appealed on Twitter for a cease-fire. Russia has denied plans to invade, but the Kremlin did not respond to Zelenskyy's offer Saturday to meet with Putin. After a call with Macron, Putin blamed Ukraine - incorrectly, according to observers there - for the escalation of shelling along the contact line and NATO for 'pumping modern weapons and ammunition' into Ukraine. Macron, a leader in European efforts to broker a peaceful resolution with Russia, also spoke separately to Zelenskyy, to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and to Biden. Blinken intentionally raised the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit in interviews with U.S. television networks on Sunday, in a bid to keep diplomacy alive, a senior U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. reasoning. Blinken said that Biden was 'prepared to meet President Putin at any time in any format if that can help prevent a war' and the U.S. official said Macron had then conveyed the offer of talks to Putin - conditioned on Russia not invading - in his phone calls with the Russian leader. Tensions mounted further, however. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued an advisory urging greater caution by Americans in Russia overall. 'Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance,' it warned. Immediate worries focused on eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting the pro-Russia rebels since 2014 in a conflict that has killed some 14,000 people. In the eastern Ukraine regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, separatist leaders have ordered a full military mobilization and sent more civilians to Russia, which has issued about 700,000 passports to residents of the rebel-held territories. Claims that Russian citizens are being endangered might be used as justification for military action. Officials in the separatist territories claimed Ukrainian forces launched several artillery attacks over the past day and that two civilians were killed during an unsuccessful assault on a village near the Russian border. Ukraine's military said two soldiers died in firing from the separatist side on Saturday. 'When tension is escalated to the maximum, as it is now, for example, on the line of contact, then any spark, any unplanned incident or any minor planned provocation can lead to irreparable consequences,' Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in an interview that aired Sunday on Russian state television. On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers said they were under orders not to return fire. Zahar Leshushun, peering into the distance with a periscope, had followed the news all day from a trench where he is posted near the town of Zolote. 'Right now, we don't respond to their fire because ...' the soldier said before the sound of an incoming shell interrupted him. 'Oh! They are shooting at us now. They are aiming at the command post.' Russian attack helicopters are pictured taking part in joint drills in Belarus on Sunday, as the Kremlin announced the drills will not end as expected but will be extended to an unknown date - meaning 30,000 troops remain in the country Smoke rises into the air after Russian attack helicopters blew up a target on a firing range in Belarus during joint training exercises on Sunday - amid fears of an invasion Tanks and armoured vehicles of the Russian and Belarusian militaries take part in training exercises at the weekend, shortly before the Kremlin announced the drill will be extended and its forces will remain in the country Russian and Belarussian machine-gunners take part in joint training exercises in Belarus at the weekend Russian troop tents and tanks (left and centre) are seen near a forested area of the Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine, on Sunday amid fears the order to attack will be given soon Russian troops and tanks (left) are shown parked up next to attack helicopters (centre) near the town of Valuyki, Belgorod region, close to the border with Ukraine Russian tanks and trucks are seen parked in the tree line of a forest in the Belgorod region of Russia (right) in an apparent attempt to hide them from prying satellites A satellite image shows additional armor and equipment deployed along a tree line, near Valuyki, Russia A satellite image shows an overview of a new deployment, east of Valuyki, Russia On Friday, separatist officials announced the evacuation of civilians and military mobilization in the face of what they described as an imminent Ukrainian offensive on the rebel regions. Ukrainian officials have strongly denied any plans to launch such an attack and described the evacuation order as part of Russian provocations intended to set the stage for an invasion. The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours and several others were injured. Ukraine's military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk said the Ukrainian positions were shelled 80 times Sunday and eight times early Monday, noting that the separatists were 'cynically firing from residential areas using civilians as shields.' He insisted that Ukrainian forces weren't returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. 'It's worse than 2014,' she said, her voice trembling. 'We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns. And there is nowhere to run.' Evseeva said that residents were hunkering down in basements amid the renewed fighting: 'Yesterday I saw my neighbor with her 2-month-old as she was running to the basement. It shouldn't be like this.' Russian troops and tanks are spotted in a forest area near civilian buildings (bottom left) near Belgorod, just a short distance from the border with Ukraine Russian military vehicles are spotted formed up into a convoy and heading south next to a highway and near a forest in Soloti, around 10 miles from the Ukraine border Satellite images reveal Russian tanks and armoured vehicles are now being concealed within civilian areas and forests close to the border, such as these vehicles on farmland near Soloti Ukrainian troops near the frontlines with pro-Russian separatist forces train using a British NLAW anti-tank missile launcher Moscow denies any plans to invade Ukraine, but wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. It also urges the alliance to halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West. Russian officials have shrugged off Western calls to deescalate by pulling back troops, arguing that Moscow is free to deploy troops and conduct drills wherever it likes on its territory. Last week, Western officials dismissed Russian statements about some of the troops returning to their bases, saying that Moscow was actually beefing up its forces around Ukraine. A U.S. official said Sunday that Biden's assertion last week that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine was based on intelligence that Russian front-line commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive intelligence. Russia also upped the ante Saturday with sweeping nuclear drills that included multiple practice launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles and cruise missiles that Putin personally oversaw. Ukraine's president reaffirmed his call for a quick meeting with Putin to help defuse tensions, but there was no response from the Kremlin. The European Union's top diplomat, foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, welcomed the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit but said that should diplomacy fail the 27-nation bloc has finalized its package of sanctions for use if Putin orders an invasion. 'The work is done. We are ready,' said Borrell, who is chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers and was tasked with drawing up a list of people in Russia to be hit with asset freezes and travel bans. He provided no details about who might be targeted. The European Commission has prepared other sanctions to 'limit the access to financial markets for the Russian economy and (impose) export controls that will stop the possibility for Russia to modernize and diversify its economy,' its president, Ursula von der Leyen, said over the weekend. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock welcomed Macron's summit initiative and warned Russia against any false flag action to provoke hostilities. 'I appeal urgently to the Russian government, to the Russian president: Don't play with human lives,' she said as she arrived at the EU top diplomats' meeting. A Ukrainian soldier inspects a rocket-propelled grenade in Novognativka village, near the frontlines with pro-Russia separatists, as fighting in the region escalates Ben Fordham has slammed a push to open Australia to hundreds of thousands of skilled migrants as a 'quick fix' to pay back debts. The 2GB radio host questioned if enthusiasm surrounding foreign workers was prompted by the tens of millions of dollars owed by the federal government. He explained the influx would mean more tax could be collected but claimed it would stretch public services, inflate house prices, and pull wages down. This is despite Australia having virtually no immigrants for two years since Covid closed the borders, and accepting 200,000 net a year before that. Ben Fordham questioned if Australia's public services could cope with the arrival of 235,000 skilled migrants every year (pictured, East Timorese people board a plane to Australia) The radio host said the influx of foreign workers would put pressure on hospital system, house prices and would bring down wages (pictured, arrivals at Sydney) Treasurer Josh Frydenberg recently called for 235,000 new arrivals every year. 'That's the population of Hobart arriving in Australia every year,' Fordham said on his 2GB radio show. 'Our leaders see this as a money tree but is this really in our best interests? 'We're not talking about government interests or the treasurer, we're talking about the best interests of everyday Australians. 'It may satisfy economists but it won't help those who are waiting years for surgery and it won't assist anyone who can only dream of buying a house.' Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce backed the push to bring skilled migrants Down Under but said they had to be prepared to settle down in regional areas. 'We need the labour. We need people to do the work in abattoirs, fruit picking, the jobs Australians wont do,' Mr Joyce told Nine Radio. 'We have to say 'if you want to come to Australia you have to live in Tamworth. Sydney's full,' he said on the 2GB show. 'Sydney does not want more people but regional areas do.' The 2GB radio host (pictured) questioned if the fresh push for foreign workers was prompted by the tens of millions of dollars owed by the federal government More than 230,000 visa holders and 133,000 students were expected to touch down in Australia when the borders were thrown open on December 15 (pictured, arrivals in Sydney) Fordham said though immigrants were crucial in building Australia, he worried housing, health services and transport would suffer. He said a mass influx of 190,000 or even 235,000 skilled workers may satisfy economists but make life tougher for residents. 'For our political leaders it's a quick fix,' he said. Fordham said Sydney was crippled by some of the worst traffic congestion in the world with 500 schools already crowded with too many students. 'Before Covid came along, one in three patients in our hospitals were waiting too long to be treated in emergency rooms,' he said, with 100,000 on the waiting list for elective surgeries. House prices in the Harbour City also soared up to three times the rate of wages, faster than the rest of the country. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) backed the push to bring skilled migrants Down Under but said they had to be prepared to settle down in regional areas He said the demand for housing in Sydney would result in many having nowhere to live, putting pressure on public services to help the homeless. The influx of skilled migrants would also put pressure on the 900,000 Australians currently surviving on unemployment benefits, he claimed. Business leaders are complaining of a job shortage and there are fears employers will favour migrants to avoid paying higher wages to Australians. 'More needs to be done to put Aussies in jobs, before sending an SOS to the other side of the world,' Fordham said. 'You've got to show some tough love to those who refuse to work. And if you're a leaner and not a lifter you can't keep on collecting a cheque from taxpayers.' Economists say the arrival of foreign workers will fill the gaps in high and low-skill jobs and contribute one billon a year to the economy (pictured, arrivals from Singapore in Sydney) Economists said the arrival of foreign workers would fill the gaps in high and low-skill jobs and contribute at least $1 billion a year to the economy. Accounting giant KPMG has suggested bumping net migration levels beyond 350,000 a year to reverse a population decline and stimulate demand, increasing the size of the labour pool. The report said pushing migration to 350,000 people a year - equivalent to adding a city the size of Brisbane every seven years - would boost GDP by 4.4 per cent. However, the Grattan Institute said numbers alone would be counter-productive and the migration policy must tilt toward skilled workers. Business groups demanded the nation's cap on permanent skilled migration to be bumped up to 200,000 per year, rather than the current 160,000. Torrential rain, dangerous flash flooding and high winds are already beginning to smash millions on the east coast of Australia, while on the west coast there is a 'severe fire danger' from hot, dry conditions and winds. LATEST: Sydney is smashed by a months' worth of rain in just two hours as streets turn into rivers, cars are washed away and city's biggest river breaks its banks - and there could be even WORSE to come Heavy rainfall due to high humidity could make the next seven days the wettest week of the year so far for Australia's east coast, the Bureau of Meteorology told Daily Mail Australia. The New South Wales Central Coast had seen the heaviest rain by Tuesday afternoon - 142mm at Wyong since 9am, including an extraordinary 35mm downpour in just 15 minutes. The rain started bucketing down in Western Sydney and the Central Coast mid-morning on Tuesday and was getting heavier and heavier as the day went on - and it is not expected to stop for a week Work shifted indoors on sites across Sydney as the city began to get a soaking from mid-morning Tuesday Sydney weather radar shows the heavy rainfall descending on the city from lunchtime on Tuesday - and it won't let up for a week The Bureau of Meteorology issued urgent warnings to motorists not to attempt driving across any flooded roads in NSW Just 20km to the northwest Whiteman's Ridge Road copped 80mm in two hours. Sydney's west copped a soaking, with Penrith and Parramatta in line first for 'intense rainfall', but the storm was headed east, bringing heavy rain to the whole city by early afternoon. The BoM warned the 'intense rainfall may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding' and warned people not to cross flooded roads. Sydney and the upper Hunter Valley were issued a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall - including flash flooding on Tuesday afternoon. The BoM warned that NSW will be wet for a further seven days with little prospect of any sunshine, while south-east Queensland is also forecast to see heavy rain from Wednesday. The BoM warned the 'intense rainfall [in NSW] may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding' and warned people not to cross flooded roads - by any means The forecast shows New South Wales will cop a hammering from the storm on Tuesday Meanwhile across the nation, the weather office has urged people from Western Australia's north-west to action their bushfire survival plans. The BoM's 'fire weather warning' applies for people living between the Exmouth gulf coast, the northern part of the coastal central west, Gascoyne, Inland central west. Exmouth will see temperatures at or above 40 degrees for the next seven days, while inland towns of Paraburdoo and Gascoyne Junction will bake in mid-40 degree days with no respite all week. Western Australia faces the opposite problem in late February - extremely hot and dry conditions, especially in the north-west where there are severe fire danger warnings Exmouth will see temperatures at or above 40 degrees for the next seven days, while inland towns of Paraburdoo and Gascoyne Junction will bake in mid-40 degree days with no respite all week Parts of Sydney expected to be worst affected by Tuesday's thunderstorms include: Gosford, Penrith, Parramatta, Campbelltown, Toronto, Morisset, Wyong, The Entrance, Woy Woy, Kulnura and Springwood. Most parts of Sydney will see up to 50mm of rain on Tuesday alone, although isolated downpours could produce rainfall totals of twice that in some suburbs. The NSW districts affected are the metropolitan area, the upper Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, Lower Western and Upper Western areas. People in these districts are urged to stay alert. Among the warnings issued were a warning not to drive through flood waters, or attempt to ride a bike or walk. People were also warned to unplug computers, steer clear of fallen power lines and 'stay indoors away from windows', keeping children and pets inside. Sydney looks set to be stormy and wet for the rest of the week too - with showers and thunderstorms forecast for the rest of the week. South-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast, will cop heavy rain from Wednesday until Friday. Melbourne and Adelaide are competing for the best weather in the country for Wednesday, each with a sunny 32 day forecast. Billionaire U.S media tycoon Lachlan Murdoch has quietly flown into Australia with his multi-million dollar signing Piers Morgan. British TV host Morgan stepped off Murdoch's AU$90million Gulfstream G650 private jet in Sydney on Monday night after a brief cocktail stop in Hawaii. Morgan, 56, who is believed to have secured a massive AU$95million deal over three years from News Corp, posted a picture of himself enjoying a 1am Mai Tai on the tarmac in Honolulu, Hawaii. Morgan, who is the former editor-at-large of Daily Mail Australia, has vowed to continue his war on 'cancel culture' on his new show, which will be broadcast on Sky News in Australia and Fox in the U.S. Latest star-signing Piers Morgan (pictured) joined his new boss for the flight and was spotted first off the jet ahead of starting his new show on Fox News Corp chief Lachlan Murdoch (pictured) flew back into Australia with an entourage on his private jet Piers Morgan enjoyed an early morning cocktail during a brief stopover in Hawaii Morgan, a devoted cricket fan, has a strong affinity with Australia. He once faced off in the nets against fast bowler Brett Lee for a stunt on Nine's cricket coverage. He's previously presented several documentary series shown on Australian TV including Killer Women and Confessions of A Serial Killer with Piers Morgan. He was also one of the the judges on both Britain's Got Talent and America's Got Talent. Murdoch, 50, moved back to Australia last year with his family - ex-model wife Sarah, 48, and their sons Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10 - although the media baron regularly travels between the two countries for business. Lachlan Murdoch, 50, (pictured) moved back to Australia last year with his family - ex-model wife Sarah, 48, and their sons Kalan Alexander, 16, Aidan Patrick, 14, and daughter Aerin Elisabeth, 10 His flash twin-jet aircraft seats eight passengers in the lap of luxury with a crew of four, and is capable of flying 11,000km non-stop at close to the speed of sound. It has been removed from online flight tracking sites by request of the Murdochs. The News Corp co-chairman and Fox boss returned to Australia with his family last March in what was initially reported to be a short-term stay but is now said to be more permanent, with the children enrolled in a nearby school as they settle back into local life. Piers Morgan, 56, (pictured) has vowed to wage war on 'cancel culture' on his new daily show which will be broadcast in the US, UK and Australia While no reason was given for the family's return to Australia, a report claimed that it was the political climate in the US that helped make the decision for the family to leave LA in favour of their Sydney home. A source said: 'The school communities here are very close knit, and it extends into the wider families and the circles and parties they all go to. That Hollywood set is very pro-Democratic. 'They are mostly big fundraisers for Biden, so you can imagine how well it went down when one of their classmates' dads is at the helm of the biggest anti-Biden machine in the country.' Morgan and Murdoch were joined by others on the private jet Several people were part of the Murdoch party on the private jet from Los Angeles to Sydney with a brief refuelling stop in Honolulu The couple have long maintained a palatial home Le Manoir at Bellevue Hill in Sydney's eastern suburbs, which was the venue for last year's News Corp Christmas party. But now Murdoch will be playing host to new recruit Morgan who returns to TV screens in his first regular role since walking off the set of the UK's Good Morning Britain. He quit the show after falling out with other hosts over his criticism of Meghan Markle in the wake of her Oprah Winfrey interview with Prince Harry. Now he says he intends to use his platform on Fox to challenge woke society and fight back against cancel culture. Murdoch added: 'Piers is the broadcaster every channel wants but is too afraid to hire. Piers is a brilliant presenter, a talented journalist and says what people are thinking and feeling.' Lachlan Murdoch and wife Sarah (pictured) were the hosts of the Christmas event at their Bellevue Hill in Sydney's eastern suburbs The show - being filmed daily in London - is part of a massive deal that will see Morgan broadcast on Fox Nation in the US, TalkTV in the UK and Sky News Australia. The journalist was last on US screens daily when he replaced Larry King on CNN in 2011 during a controversial stint that ended three years later when his Piers Morgan Tonight show was cancelled. Pictured: The Murdoch's palatial home Le Manoir in Sydney's east. Party host Lachlan Murdoch is the co-chairman of Sky's parent company News Corp Sky News presenter Peter Stefanovic and Sky First Edition presenter Laura Jayes were also on the Christmas guest list Malicious fake rumours about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her fiance Clarke Gayford are being circulated by thousands of online trolls. The baseless claims target almost every facet of the couple's life - including their relationship - and are being circulated on Facebook and Reddit forums dedicated to unfounded hearsay about the prime minister and her partner. The rumours are understood to have existed in some form since Ms Ardern became the New Zealand leader in 2017. But they are believed to have spread even more rapidly in recent weeks as thousands of protesters rallied outside the country's parliament building in Wellington to demonstrate against Covid vaccine mandates. A spokesman for Ms Ardern's office told Daily Mail Australia it doesn't respond to 'fake internet rumours' but declined to comment further. Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to reveal the nature of the claims for legal reasons. Clarke Gayford and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern were due to marry this summer before the country's escalating Covid situation forced them to delay their plans (pictured, Clarke Gayford and Jacinda Ardern) Daily Mail Australia has also contacted Mr Gayford's representatives for comment. The PM was due to wed her television host fiance this summer in Gisborne on the North Island after becoming engaged in early 2019. But she postponed the nuptials after raising the national Covid alert to red in January following the discovery of nine Omicron cases in the community with no link to the border. Mr Gayford is a celebrity in his own right in New Zealand, well known as a DJ and radio host, and more recently as a television presenter of shows including Extraordinary Kiwis, Fish of the Day and Moving Houses. He revealed in a Valentine Day's tribute to his fiance last year he would turn up at her house with crayfish in the early stages of dating in 2013. The couple planned to walk down the aisle earlier but have been set back by a series of tragedies including the Christchurch terror attack and the White Island volcano eruption in 2019 and the coronavirus pandemic. Ms Ardern first met the 44-year-old at an awards event in 2012 but didn't begin dating until the following year. Clarke Gayford, 44, is a celebrity in his own right in New Zealand and well known as a DJ, radio host and television presenter The couple welcomed daughter Neve Te Aroha in June 2018. Ms Ardern confirmed in April 2019 her partner popped the question that Easter after she was spotted wearing what appeared to be an engagement ring on her left hand. The proposal took place at the top of Mokotahi Hill in Mahia on North Island's east coast with a ring that belonged to Gayford's grandmother. 'It was Clarke, myself, a member of the DPS (Diplomatic Protection Squad), a couple of locals from Mahia and a dog which tried to eat the chocolate that Clarke bought me at the same time, so it was very romantic,' she said at the time. The couple have been together since 2013 and are parents to three-year-old Neve Te Aroha 'There are some things I don't mind keeping for ourselves.' 'This is a very public job and I'm quite happy to put quite a bit of ourselves out there. But there are some things I wouldn't mind keeping to ourselves.' Ms Ardern previously revealed honeymoon plans will be put on the backburner. 'I'll probably be going back to work,' she told MoreFM in July of last year. 'I guess it's my choice, for having major life events while in this job. So, no one's fault except my own. No complaints from us.' Clarke Gayford popped the question to his fiancee Jacinda Ardern over Easter in April 2019 Ms Ardern became only the second elected female leader to have a child while in office and the first since Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990. Her fiance shared a gushing romantic tribute after she was elected as Prime Minister for a second term in 2020. The fake rumours come as it emerged protesters demonstrating against vaccine mandates are planning to cause disruption in the national capital Wellington for weeks to come. Hundreds are expected to camp on the front lawn for up to three months, police claim. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster last week said illegally parked cars may be removed by police, but that officers have not begun towing vehicles yet. Protestors have gathered on the New Zealand parliament lawns, carparks and surrounding areas in recent weeks to protest against Covid vaccine mandates Daily Mail Australia received a statement from speaker Trevor Mallard, the Chair of the Parliamentary Service Commission, following Commission discussions. 'There will be no dialogue with protesters currently occupying the Parliament until the protest returns to one within the law. 'Including the clearing of all illegally parked vehicles that are blocking streets, the removal of unauthorised structures, and the cessation of the intimidation of Wellingtonians,' the statement reads. Ben Fordham described Lidia Thorpe as the 'most toxic politician in Canberra' after the senator blasted Scott Morrison for his Stolen Generations speech. Ms Thorpe, who is a member of the Greens, said the prime minister had shown 'outright disrespect' to the Aboriginal children who were removed from their families. 'This is outright disrespect to all those affected by Stolen Generations in this country,' she wrote on Twitter. 'How dare you ask for forgiveness when you still perpetrate racist policies and systems that continue to steal our babies. That is not an apology.' The 2GB host responded to her comments on his radio show on Monday, labelling her a 'lunatic' and saying 'she doesn't belong' in parliament. 'Senator Thorpe is possibly the most toxic politician in Canberra, and that's saying something,' Fordham said. 'Her conduct is embarrassing. She entered office in 2020 and ever since she's had an appetite for destruction.' Ben Fordham described Lidia Thorpe (pictured) as the 'most toxic politician in Canberra' after the senator blasted Scott Morrison for his Stolen Generations speech The 2GB host responded to Ms Thorpe's comments on his radio show on Monday, labelling her a 'lunatic' and saying 'she doesn't belong' in parliament During his speech last week - 14 years after former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered the historic apology - Mr Morrison said forgiving was harder than apologising. 'Sorry is not the hardest word to say, the hardest is I forgive you,' he said, repeating a line from an address he gave 14 years ago. Mr Morrison said each anniversary was an opportunity for Australia to remind itself of times past and lessons learned. He said progress was being made in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and the government was taking action to right past wrongs. 'Out of great tragedy and loss there can be hope,' he said. Ms Thorpe took issue with the PM's wording, prompting a scathing attack from the Greens MP on social media. Fordham responded on Monday by saying she 'never misses an opportunity to accuse someone of racism' and outlined a series of her own indiscretions. Prime Minister Scott Morrison before he delivers a speech recognising the anniversary of the apology to the stolen generation in the House of Representatives Senator Thorpe criticised the Prime Minister on Twitter 'Lidia Thorpe is a lunatic. She showed it when protesters set fire to the old Parliament House, she celebrated it. A few weeks later, she was caught saying something disgusting to Liberal Senator Holly Hughes when she allegedly said: 'At least I keep my legs closed',' the 2GB Radio host said. 'A few days later she was uncontrollably yelling in the chamber, she is unhinged. She was sent home at the end of last year and removed from the Parliamentary Committee. Fordham also referenced an incident between Ms Thorpe and Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, where the Aboriginal elder accused her of being 'highly aggressive' and tried to 'intimidate her'. 'Senator Thorpe again aggressively spoke over the top of me, saying that I am being very well paid in my work. When I retorted that she too was being well paid in her role, she interrupted me and became even more aggressive, stating that she doesn't respect me and would not meet with me again,' a letter written by Ms Atkinson said. 'At that point, I was so upset at the continued abuse that I got up and left the meeting.' Ms Thorpe took offence when Amanda Stoker called her 'indigenous' and accused her of 'whitesplaining' Fordham said she later required 'medical attention' after falling 'physically ill' as a result of the argument. 'She also implied the Attorney General of the Northern Territory was a white male when in fact the Attorney General is an indigenous woman.' The radio host then played a clip where Ms Thorpe got upset during a senate estimates hearing where she was described by Liberal MP Amanda Stoker as an 'indigenous Australian', instead accusing her of 'whitesplaining'. 'I'm not going to sit here and by told by a white senator that I'm an indigenous Australian, that is insulting,' the Greens MP said. 'If you're not an indigenous Australian, what are you?' Fordham responded. 'Apart from a drama queen, who calls racism at every turn. 'And what about saying she's being whitesplained? She is a fruit cake.' Fordham said Ms Thorpe 'never misses an opportunity to accuse someone of racism' and outlined a series of her own indiscretions The First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, a group of Aboriginal leaders, also slammed the speech, releasing an official response containing only the four words: 'Get in the bin.' Senator Thorpe, a vocal Indigenous rights campaigner, has represented Victoria in the senate since June 2020. In November she was kicked out of Parliament after she took off her jacker in the middle of a debate and shouted: 'Black lives don't matter in Beetaloo' while protesting new gas projects in the Northern Territory. In 2008, Mr Rudd gave a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly to the Stolen Generations, who had been impacted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese reaffirmed Labor's commitment to implement all recommendations from the Uluru Statement of the Heart. This includes a constitutionally enshrined Indigenous voice to parliament which Labor would hold a referendum for if elected. The Coalition proposes to legislate a voice to Government instead. 'Speeches which do not lead to action are a hollow, bitter undertaking,' Mr Albanese said. 'But now we should feel within our own hearts the insistent rhythm of Uluru's three generous requests: Voice, truth, treaty. Labor is committed to all three.' Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt told parliament powerful words must be followed by practical action, and said the government's nearly $400million wellbeing redress scheme was an important commitment. Through the scheme, survivors of the Stolen Generations will have access to free legal advice and counselling, as well as other financial and wellbeing support. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Prime Minister's office for comment. With AAP The bear has been breaking into homes for pizza and gorging on bins Hank the tank, a black bear, has spent month scavenging in California Thirty-five stone. Over six feet tall. Always hungry. Meet Hank the Tank, the black bear whose voracious appetite could lead to a sticky end. The bear has spent months scaring residents in South Lake Tahoe, California, while breaking into homes for food such as pizza and gorging in bins for leftovers. Ann Bryant, of wildlife rescue service the Bear League, said: He didnt get fat like that eating berries and grubs. Police have tried and failed to scare him off with paintballs, sirens and tasers Police have tried and failed to scare him off with paintballs, sirens and tasers. Now they are trying to trap him, but if that fails euthanasia is on the cards. Officials said Hank has broken into at least 28 homes since last summer as he searches for food. The most recent saw him break and then squeeze through a small window on Friday, with the terrified homeowners having no idea how to get him out. Eventually Hank wandered out of the open back door after officials banged on the outside of the house but they were unable to contain him. Peter Tira, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said: This is a bear that has lost all fear of people. Its a potentially dangerous situation. Residents in South Lake Tahoe, north of San Francisco, have called the police about Hank more than 100 times since July. Mr Tira added: Its easier to find leftover pizza than to go in the forest. A trap set last month failed to catch Hank so the authorities are now coming up with new ideas. A plan to euthanise him would be the last option, Mr Tira said. Many locals are against the idea. Policy failures are to blame for snowballing liabilities The amount of debt held by the 10 largest public corporations increased by more than 40 trillion won ($33.5 billion) in the three-and-a-half years since President Moon Jae-in stepped into office. According to a report by All Public Information in-One (ALIO), the liabilities of the 10 public enterprises rose from 351.76 trillion won in 2017 to 392.27 trillion won in the first half of 2021. In other words, their debt increased by nearly 1 trillion won every month. Accordingly, public-sector debt the sum of government debt and state companies' liability is approaching 1,500 trillion won. The snowballing debt at public corporations is due to defective policies pushed by the Moon administration, such as the phaseout of nuclear power plants and converting part-time workers into full-time staff. A case in point is the damage to Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) caused by the push to phase out nuclear power plants. The Moon administration suspended the construction of nuclear power stations to increase the utilization of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power. That forced the state utility to expand the purchase of renewable energy with generation costs five times higher than nuclear energy, incurring massive losses. Incheon International Airport Corp. and KORAIL also saw their debts soar to 557.8 billion won and 3.61 trillion won, respectively, burdened by the Moon government's national task of converting non-regular employees into regular workers at state enterprises. As a result, the debt-ridden public corporations cut down on new employment. The number of workers hired by 35 state enterprises stood at 5,917 last year, which was only 47.3 percent of 11,238 in 2019. These policy failures hurt public corporations while imposing enormous burdens on the government's finances. Next governments and future generations should shoulder the debt the Moon administration passes on to state-run companies. The incoming government should rectify failed policies and reform public corporations. It must discontinue "parachute" appointments from the top and prevent lax management under the collusion of managers and labor unions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has withheld vast swaths of the information it holds about the impact of COVID-19, leading to anger from the scientific community and speculation the agency is not releasing the data because it weakens the case for booster shots in certain demographics. Two weeks ago, the CDC published the first significant data on the effectiveness of boosters in adults younger than 65. But the agency, led by Dr Rochelle Walensky, did not share the information on those aged 18-49, who are considered to be the least likely to benefit from a booster. It has also failed to provide information they held on child hospitalizations, scientists complained. Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the CDC, said the agency has been slow to release the different streams of data 'because basically, at the end of the day, it's not yet ready for prime time.' She said the agency's 'priority when gathering any data is to ensure that it's accurate and actionable,' and told The New York Times that they were concerned it might be misinterpreted to show the vaccines were ineffective. She also said that they were reluctant to publish the data because it represents only 10 percent of the population of the United States - accounting for 33 million people - the same sample size the CDC has used to track influenza for years. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC. The agency has been criticized for withholding some of its data The 18-49 year old age group is considered least likely to benefit from the booster, given that death rates among the age group are already low. It is far more likely for the elderly and immunocompromised to get sick without their booster than healthy young and middle aged people. Boosters became available for children aged 12 and upwards only last month, and so would not be covered by the dataset. As of Monday, 65 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. There were 103,150 new cases reported nationwide, on a seven day rolling average - a dramatic decrease from January, when there were regularly over 700,000 new cases a day. Outraged scientists stressed that publishing the data went hand in hand with educating the public about vaccines - explaining that as more people are vaccinated, the percentage of vaccinated people who are infected or hospitalized would also rise. They urged the CDC to publish the information. Dr Paul Offit urged the CDC to 'tell the truth, present the data' 'Tell the truth, present the data,' said Dr Paul Offit, a vaccine expert and adviser to the Food and Drug Administration. 'I have to believe that there is a way to explain these things so people can understand it.' He noted that, because the CDC had not published the information, American scientists were forced to rely on Israeli data. 'There's no reason that they should be better at collecting and putting forth data than we were,' he said. 'The CDC is the principal epidemiological agency in this country, and so you would like to think the data came from them.' Another expressed shock that the CDC had the data at all. 'We have been begging for that sort of granularity of data for two years,' said Jessica Malaty Rivera, an epidemiologist and part of the team that ran the Covid Tracking Project, which brought together data on the pandemic for a website they ran until March 2021. She denied that there was a risk of the data being misinterpreted, adding that it instead 'builds public trust, and it paints a much clearer picture of what's actually going on.' She added: 'It gets really exhausting when you see the private sector working faster than the premier public health agency of the world.' Pitt student Michael Burke, 21, gets a COVID-19 booster shot on January 21 in Oakland, Pennsylvania. The CDC withheld data about the effectiveness of the boosters for people aged 18-49 - the least likely to benefit Dr Yvonne Maldonado, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics's Committee on Infectious Diseases, said that she had requested from the CDC data on the proportion of children hospitalized for COVID who have other medical conditions. She eventually found the information she needed thanks to a New York Times report. 'They've known this for over a year and a half, right, and they haven't told us,' she said. 'I mean, you can't find out anything from them.' Part of the problem is that the CDC computer systems are outdated. The agency recently received $1 billion which will help it modernize its technology and process the data faster. Among the first to benefit will be a program that analyzes wastewater, telling scientists when there has been an outbreak of COVID even before tests confirm the news. Wastewater provided the presence of the Delta variant far before testing of individuals. At present, 31 states have their data on the dashboard: the CDC hope to have the rest up later on this year. Australia's most wanted fugitive had been living under the alias of 'Josh Lawson' while on the run, police claim. Biometric testing was needed to confirm the identity of fugitive Graham Gene Potter who evaded capture for more than a decade. The 12-year manhunt for the convicted killer ended in Far North Queensland on Monday when detectives found the 64-year-old at a home in the Tablelands region. Potter initially used the pseudonym 'Josh Lawson' when police arrived at the Ravenshoe address, about two hours south of Cairns, Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said on Tuesday. Detectives believe Graham Potter initially used the pseudonym 'Josh Lawson' when they found him in a hide-out a Ravenshoe address, about two hours south of Cairns But detectives involved with the case for several years had enough cause to arrest him anyway. 'They had reasonable cause to effect his arrest, bring him into custody (and) do the biometric testing through the live-scan machine,' Det Insp Goan said. The results confirmed that 'Josh Lawson was in fact Graham Gene Potter'. Potter has been wanted since 2010 after he allegedly failed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on charges of conspiracy to murder and Commonwealth drug offences. Police have previously attended the address where Potter was eventually found, but said 'our approach on this occasion was different'. 'The credible information that came through to investigators was sufficient for them to gain lawful entry to the premises,' Det Insp Goan said. Potter had evaded police for 12 years before he was located at the far north Queensland property While he's been 'keeping a low profile', police said he had assimilated with some members of the local community. No one has been charged in connection with Potter's hiding spot. Potter was allegedly hired in 2008 to kill a man at a wedding of the son of Melbourne underworld figure, Mick Gatto. He also faces charges over a $440 million ecstasy and cocaine haul the same year. Potter served 15 years in jail for the 1981 mutilation and murder of NSW woman Kim Barry. He was known to use disguises, such as wigs and fat suits, and there were several unconfirmed sightings over the years. Potter was previously spotted by police at Tully, in North Queensland, in August 2010 but escaped. Victorian police are on route to Mareeba and Potter is expected to face an extradition hearing on Tuesday. 'It's likely that he will be remanded into their custody to appear back in Victoria in the coming days,' Det Insp Goan said. Beer bottles in the window, piles of cardboard boxes and Australia's most wanted man on top of a chicken coop: Inside rubbish-strewn home where fugitive who beheaded a teenage girl was finally found after evading cops for 12 years Australia's most wanted fugitive was living in a rubbish-strewn house full of animal cages and junk when police finally tracked him down. Graham Potter, 64, was arrested on Monday after spending more than a decade on the run. He had allegedly skipped bail on charges in Melbourne for conspiracy to murder in 2010 and is accused of evading authorities by constantly changing his appearance. In body-worn vision released by Queensland police during the raid to capture Potter, the shocking condition of the house in which he hid out at Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns in far north Queensland, was revealed. The footage shows police locating Potter in a squalid room filled with empty cardboard boxes, a chicken coop and old bed. Potter is seen hiding behind a bunk bed topped with multiple old mattresses. There are large cobwebs on the walls. 'This is the police. Do not move. Put your hands where I can see them,' a police officer yells at him. 'Yeah, yeah,' Potter nonchalantly responds. Graham Potter is allegedly seen stumbling on a chicken coop after police discovered him inside a squalid room filled with old cardboard boxes and rubbish Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the Ravenshoe house in which Potter was found A stack of old mattresses are pictured on the bunk bed behind which Potter was found hiding Potter was taken in handcuffs from the house down a staircase piled with old newspapers, magazines and general rubbish As he is led from the house in handcuffs, piles of newspapers and magazines are seen stacked on a staircase. Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the house. Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the house, with the curtains tightly drawn. Police said Potter denied his identity when located, while the home's owner said Potter was known to her as 'Ned'. The owner, Sandi Feller, told The Australian she would not comment about Potter's discovery at the house under she'd spoken to a solicitor. 'They didn't arrest me. They haven't charged me, but that might come yet too, who knows?' she said. Graham Gene Potter was released from prison in 1996 after serving 15 years. He was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police in 2017 The house on Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns, where fugitive Graham Potter was found by police Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the Ascham St property, with the curtains tightly drawn A neighbour told Nine News Queensland he had never seen Potter at the house. 'I've never seen the man they arrested this morning,' the man said. Another resident of the street, Paul Adamson, said the house where the fugitive was found was known as a junkyard but had actually been 'tidied up' recently. 'At the moment it looks the best it's been since I've been here. You couldn't even see the house two weeks ago.' he said. Mr Adamson said Potter had been known to visit the house. 'He was there years ago. He was on the run years ago and they'd found he'd been staying there,' he said. Potter was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry (pictured), 19, in Wollongong in 1981 Victorian detectives are travelling to the Queensland to seek the extradition of Potter to Victoria when he appears in Mareeba Magistrates Curt today. The convicted murderer, who has an extensive criminal history, was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police acting assistant crime commissioner Paul De Santo in 2017. Historical police records show Potter lining up for a mugshot as early as 1976, when he was aged just 18. Five years later, he was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry, 19, in Wollongong, after he beat her and cut off her head. He was released in 1996 after serving just 15 years. ve Local police update on the capture of Graham Gene Potter Detective Inspector Kevin Goan discussed the capture of Australia's most wanted man, Graham Potter, at a press conference at Mareeba police station on Tuesday morning. - 'He's a personable fellow,' Det Insp Goan said of Potter. 'He is happy to speak with to us in relation to any number of issues. We've had no acts of violence that warrant concern for our detectives.' - Police suspect Potter has lived in the far north Queensland area for the last 12 years. - Det Insp Goan said there was evidence Potter had at times 'assimilated' himself with others members of the local community. - Potter claimed to be 'Josh Lawson' when approached by police at the Ravenshoe property, until finger-printing at Mareeba police station confirmed his identity. - Queensland police are waiting on Victorian detectives to arrive before deciding whether charges will be laid against the woman found at the Ascham St property. The woman is not in custody. - No warrant was needed to enter premises because police possessed 'credible' information a wanted person was at the property. - Det Insp Goan confirmed police had visited the house a number of times over the years after reports Potter had visited the premises. - The dog squad attended the arrest because Potter had been known to 'take flight' on previous occasions when police closed in on him. Advertisement At the time of his arrest in 2010, Potter was connected to Victorian and New South Wales organised crime figures and had allegedly been recruited to carry out gangland killings. He was one of three charged over the alleged planned murders of two men related to disputes within a drug syndicate over a failed importation. Potter allegedly skipped an appearance at Magistrates court in February 2010 and has eluded police ever since. In August 2010 he allegedly bragged about how he had used a number of costumes, including wigs, fat suits, and hair colour changes, to mingle in society undetected. His alleged strategies were unearthed in letters discovered at a campsite in Tully, 140km south of Cairns, on August 28 that year by officers investigating a tip-off about his possible location. Potter's stint in Tully was the closest police would come to catching him before he was finally apprehended this week, in another town just 128km north west. Acting on a tip off, an army of officers and police dogs stormed the ramshackle Ravenshoe house around 8.45am on Monday to find Potter lying at the top of a dingy bunk-bed. Average petrol prices were yesterday less than a penny away from reaching the grim milestone of 1.50 a litre. Industry figures showed the fuel hit a record 149.12p a litre on Sunday and is likely to top 1.50 by the end of the week. It has never hit the milestone before. Filling up the typical 55-litre tank in a family car with unleaded now costs nearly 82. Average petrol prices were yesterday less than a penny away from reaching the grim milestone of 1.50 a litre (stock photo used) Average diesel prices also set a record at the weekend, hitting 152.58p a litre, making a full tank nearly 84. The RAC's fuel guru, Simon Williams, said: 'The unrelenting rising price of fuel is hurting households, furthering the cost of living crisis. 'Businesses are also suffering with diesel reaching new heights.' Prices look set to surge further if Russia the world's third biggest oil producer invades Ukraine, with any resulting Western sanctions potentially pushing up prices. Growing demand amid economies reopening as the pandemic subsides has also been blamed for the price rises, along with less competition between forecourts run by supermarkets. Industry figures showed the fuel hit a record 149.12p a litre on Sunday and is likely to top 1.50 by the end of the week Some forecourts are already charging more than the nationwide average for petrol and diesel, particularly motorway service stations. Prices have surged over the last few weeks, with several new records being set. Meanwhile retailers fleeced motorists over Christmas and New Year after wholesale prices fell by around 10p a litre but only about 2p of this was passed on at the pumps. Mr Williams added: 'While the price of oil is still close to 100 US dollars a barrel wholesale fuel prices don't merit further retailer rises across the board at the pumps. 'We realise that smaller retailers who don't buy fuel as frequently will be hit by higher wholesale costs, but the biggest retailers who buy all the time shouldn't currently be increasing their forecourt prices. 'We urge them to play fair with drivers at this difficult time. 'Tension between Russia and Ukraine is still weighing heavy on the oil price but there is now a glimmer of hope that more oil may come on to the market from Iran due to a possible nuclear agreement with the US to end sanctions.' One of Carrie Johnson's closest allies is leaving Whitehall as the shuffling of the Prime Minister's top team continues. Henry Cook is leaving his position as a senior adviser to Boris Johnson, according to the Telegraph, after more than a decade for the Government. Formerly part of the team working with the levelling-up secretary, Michael Gove, Mr Cook has spent the past two years working on the Covid response, the newspaper reports. Senior Government adviser Henry Cook, a close ally of Carrie Johnson (pictured with Boris) is leaving Downing Street after more than a decade working in Government, it has been reported But as the Prime Minister unveiled his 'Living with Covid' plan, it is understood Mr Cook feels the timing is right to move on from his role. A Downing Street source suggested to the Telegraph that Monday's announcement was the ideal time for him to seek a career elsewhere as the Government ends all legal virus restrictions and tapers pandemic spending. It comes just weeks after his colleague - and second half of 'the two Henries' - Henry Newman was moved out of Downing Street to work with Mr Gove in the Levelling Up department. Mr Newman is also a long-standing friend of Mrs Johnson and his removal from No 10 followed pressure from Conservative MPs to disband the clique which had allegedly formed around the Prime Minister's wife. Mr Newman may be embroiled in the partygate scandal himself, after reports suggested he had allegedly attended a party in the flat shared by Mr and Mrs Johnson during Covid measures. Henry Newman (pictured), a long-standing friend of the Prime Minister's wife was moved from No 10 to return to work for Michael Gove in the Levelling Up department earlier this month Boris Johnson has made a myriad of changes to his top team as he continues to face scrutiny over the partygate scandal. Earlier this month, the Prime Minister saw at least five of his more senior advisers resign including his longstanding policy chief Munira Mirza and his communications director Jack Doyle. Resignations also followed from chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, principal private secretary Martin Reynolds, and special adviser in the policy unit Elena Narozanski. Brexiteer and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Steve Barclay, 49, has been made the PM's chief of staff, while former GB News presenter and outspoken Remainer Guto Harri, 55, is heading up the communications role. Mr Johnson said at the time both men will 'improve how No 10 operates, strengthen the role of my Cabinet and backbench colleagues, and accelerate our defining mission to level up the country'. Anthony Albanese has blasted Scott Morrison for a series of campaign 'stunts' in recent weeks, urging the Prime Minister to 'do your day job'. With just three months to go before the May election, the former marketing guru PM has been packing in the photo opportunities while touring marginal seats around the nation. So far this month he has washed a woman's hair in a Melbourne salon, played the ukulele at Kirribilli House and welded without a facemask in a blunder in Alice Springs. Mr Morrison played the ukulele at Kirribilli House during an interview with 60 Minutes Mr Morrison washes an apprentice's hair during a visit to Coco's Salon in Mount Eliza, south-east of Melbourne on February 4 After copping heavy criticism for the welding blunder Mr Morrison defended himself by saying it's not his day job. Labor leader Anthony Albanese on Tuesday urged the PM to stick to his regular profession. 'This Prime Minister seems to be more interested in stunts than he is in doing his day job,' he said while campaigning in the Tasmanian marginal seat of Bass. 'I notice on the issue of the rather bizarre welding exercise... that he said, well, it's not his day job. 'I say to the Prime Minister, do your day job, forget about the photo ops and the shampooing people's hair, and driving motor cars, and the welding, and indeed, maybe even the ukelele playing, if he can give that a miss too, and do your day job. 'Australians are facing challenges and they want someone to be on top of issues like aged care.' Mr Morrison poses in a truck during a visit to KOR Equipment Solutions in Mulgrave, Melbourne on February 4 Anthony Albanese (pictured) has blasted Mr for the series of campaign 'stunts' in recent weeks, urging the Prime Minister to 'do your day job' Mr Albanese, who leads by a massive 10 points in the latest Newspoll, declared: 'Labor is ready for government. We have done the hard policy work. 'We have continued to critique the government, but we've put forward constructive alternatives going forward,' he said. Mr Morrison insists he performs stunts such as welding and hair-washing because Aussies like to show him their jobs. He accuses those who criticise him of 'sneering' at millions of Australians. Footage of the welding incident was shared widely online by Mr Morrison's political opponents including trade union boss Sally McManus who posted it with the caption 'what do the tradies of Australia think of this?' Asked about the blunder on Sydney's Radio 2GB on Monday, Mr Morrison said: 'This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use. I hadn't used that one before.' 'So if people want to have a chip at me because I'm not a good welder, well, that's not my day job,' he said. 'And if all the narcs in the bubble want to have a crack at me, well, they can. But what I'm doing is showcasing the great work of our apprentices and small businesses.' The PM wore a regulation welding safety visor during a visit to the workshop in the Northern Territory. But he lifted the protective helmet moments before he touched the blazing arc of the welding torch to a metal beam. His face lit up with the intense white light from the searing flame, which should only be viewed from behind the specially darkened screen. Richard Pusey has asked a magistrate to refer to him as 'them/they' in another bizarre court appearance which saw him again berate police. The disgraced Porsche driver fronted a Melbourne court after being charged with allegedly posting a picture of the body of a police officer killed in 2020s Eastern Freeway truck crash. 'My pronouns are they/them,' Pusey insisted from a prison phone after his matter was called on Tuesday. Pusey walked free from jail in August donning a bizarre outfit (pictured) after serving 10 months for filming the dying police officers. Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and and Constable Josh Prestney all died in the horror crash (pictured left to right) Four officers were killed after they pulled over Mr Pusey Porsche (pictured) for allegedly speeding on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway POLICE ASSOCIATION CHIEF'S ATTACK ON PUSEY AFTER CRASH Police Association of Victoria secretary Sergeant Wayne Gatt slammed Richard Pusey after his sentence for outraging public decency last year. 'Four upstanding heroes died on that day. One coward, one soulless coward lived. He is a worthless individual that lacks any human trait that would be, and should be, and is a feature of the Victorian community, he said. 'Each and every one of us will face our mortality one day. 'When his day comes, I hope that he faces the same coldness and the same callousness with which he provided my members when they faced theirs.' Pusey had been pulled over for speeding when a truck driven by an ice-crazed driver crashed into the emergency lane. Pusey escaped as he was urinating on the side of the road and avoided being hit. He disgusted Australia by filming and swearing at the four dying police officers. Advertisement The 44-year-old had his bail revoked after he was charged earlier this month with two counts of using a telecommunications device to menace and two counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail. Pusey was previously dubbed 'the most hated man in Australia' by a magistrate after he was convicted of filming four police officers who had pulled him over for speeding in his Porsche who were fatally struck by a truck. The despised Melbourne businessman, who was previously represented by high priced criminal barrister Dermot Dann QC, was unrepresented during his brief hearing on Tuesday. It is a decision he may live to regret, with the court hearing an application from Pusey to receive documents related to a 'Google something or other'. When told the virtual hearing was being observed by journalists eager for documents outlining the allegations, the cocky criminal had no objections. 'That's fine. Just make sure I get front page,' Pusey said. Earlier, Pusey had embarked on a wild rant in which he suggested he could not obtain justice in a Victorian court. Interrupting Magistrate Cynthia Lynch, Pusey took aim at Victorian Police Association boss Wayne Gatt, who had been critical of Pusey following his behaviour along the Eastern Freeway in 2020. 'Wayne Gatt ... made a statement stating that justice for people like Richard Pusey isn't done in court, which raises the question of why am I here today, your honour?' Pusey said. 'If justice isn't done in court for people like myself as stated by Wayne Gatt then where is justice done?' A picture of Pusey's wrecked black 2016 Porsche 911 was posted online with the caption: 'You don't need one of these to bend a cop'. Pusey was reportedly trying to claim insurance over the crash Bizarre social media posts began appearing on an account called 'the Richard Pusey show' shortly after he was released from jail (pictured) Pusey continued his tirade, referring to police as part of Mr Gatt's union 'family'. 'His family members, the Victoria Police members, keep authorising charges to be sent to the department of prosecution for them to prosecute,' he said. 'Which doesn't really make sense and seems contradictory to what Gatt said when he was describing justice for someone like myself isn't done in court so I'm just a little bit lost as to why I'm being brought into a courthouse.' Pusey was told he was before the court due to the allegations put before it by police. Police allege Pusey posted a Google review of the Porsche Centre Melbourne, which included one of the pictures he took at the scene of the April 2020 crash over which he was previously sentenced on outraging public decency charges. Pusey told the magistrate he intended to plead not guilty to his latest charges, which are set to return to court next month. Just weeks ago, a memorial for the four police officers - Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constables Josh Prestney and Glen Humphris - was held at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium. Police Association boss Wayne Gatt was targetted by Richard Pusey during a wild court outburst on Tuesday Richard Pusey was defended by high-priced Melbourne barrister Dermot Dann, QC (far right) during his proceedings related to the Eastern crash. He represented himself in court on Tuesday Richard Pusey pictured atop of his Fitzroy mansion after another blow-up About 2,000 people attended the memorial including the victims friends, colleagues and families. 'Police are human, they cry, they suffer, they worry, but they do what they do because the community expects it of us and because they want to be of service,' Victoria Police Commissioner Shane Patton said. 'I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am that they did not come home from their shift that night,' he said. Colleagues in the stadium's stands were pictured wiping away tears as members of the officers families shared stories. 'Our police officers wear a uniform, but underneath that uniform is a person who has people that love them and look forward to them coming home,' Constable Glen Humphris' partner Todd Robinson said. Premier Dan Andrews said the incident had resonated with Victorians and he felt for the officer's families. 'Their loved ones has chosen to live a life in the service and protection of others. It's essential, it's honourable and it can be tragic,' he said. 'To run toward the danger in order to protect others is a special thing,' he said. Pusey in April 2020 after his arrest over his role in the Eastern Freeway crash, which claimed the lives of four officers Word breaks that Richard Pusey was involved in yet another police incident, this time at his own home In October 2021, Pusey was reportedly fighting for a $250,000 payout for the wrecked Porsche but had been denied by two insurance firms He was rejected payment from his own insurer after it found out Mr Pusey had not disclosed his prior indiscretions to the company. It is understood the 44-year-old then turned to Connect Logistics, which owned the Semi-trailer driven by Mohinder Singh - the driver convicted over the deadly collision. Pusey had walked free from jail just a couple of months earlier in August donning sunglasses and a mask that read 'fake news'. He had served 10 months for filming the crash scene and at one point commenting 'this is f****ng justice'. Just three weeks after his release he was sent back to jail, charged with assaulting police and stalking after a disturbance at his Fitzroy home. In December, social media accounts popped up online which appeared to be operated by Pusey and contained pictures and comments that repeatedly referenced the crash and bizarre thinly veiled insults towards police. A convicted cocaine smuggler and former Rio Tinto employee found dead in his prison cell had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after previously being assaulted in jail. Bennet Schwartz, 34, was awaiting trial over further drug smuggling charges when he was found dead at Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre on Saturday. A California-based lawyer previously contacted Daily Mail Australia stating Schwartz's time in custody over an earlier conviction for importing a commercial quantity of cocaine had ruined his life. 'Mr Schwartz's involvement with the alleged drug ring was highly sensationalized and results in Mr Schwartz being labelled a drug "kingpin" whilst incarcerated and subsequently assaulted,' attorney Lars F Kushner wrote. Convicted cocaine smuggler and former Rio Tinto employee Bennet Schwartz, who was found dead in his prison cell last Saturday, had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after previously being assaulted in jail Accused drug kingpin Mostafa Baluch and alleged Bennet Schwartz associate allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor. He is pictured at Bankstown Airport after his extradition from Queensland to NSW in November 'Mr Schwartz has been clinically diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and reports ongoing mental health issues. 'He has had no previous or subsequent involvement with the criminal justice system and has been unable to secure gainful employment.' In 2016, Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers intercepted 25kg of cocaine worth $4.5million imported from the United States and linked to Schwartz. The Sydney Grammar graduate had used an encrypted Blackberry device to communicate about the drug importation with associates including a criminal known as Dr Octopus. NSW District Court Judge Peter Berman sentenced Schwartz to a maximum six years with a non-parole period of three and a half years in April 2018. 'Many offenders coming for sentence to this court have terrible backgrounds,' Judge Berman said. Corrective Services confirmed Schwartz was found unresponsive at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater (pictured) about 11.45am on Saturday. He was pronounced dead by NSW Ambulance officers at approximately 12.18pm Pictured: Texts allegedly exchanged between accused cocaine kingpin Mostafa Baluch and Bennet Schwartz on encrypted messaging app ANOM in April last year as revealed in court documents 'They are raised by parents who model illegal behaviour. They are abused, they do not have guidance and they associate with criminals. 'The offender has no excuse whatsoever for his behaviour. 'He was raised by his widowed mother in an appropriate way. She made sacrifices to give him a good education, he studied, he had a job and the support of his family.' Schwartz, a onetime capital projects analyst with Rito Tinto, had been the victim of extortion attempts while behind bars and was released in March 2020. He was arrested at his home at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs last October over another drug importation scheme, this time allegedly involving accused cocaine kingpin Mostafa Baluch. Baluch is now in Australia's most secure prison, Goulburn's Supermax, after allegedly cutting off an ankle monitor while he was on bail and going on the run. Schwartz was accused of texting Baluch on the police-run encrypted messaging app ANOM while allegedly trying to smuggle 27kg of cocaine into Australia. The drugs were allegedly concealed in modelling clay (pictured) Schwartz was accused of texting Baluch on the police-run encrypted messaging app ANOM while allegedly trying to smuggle 27kg of cocaine into Australia. The drugs were allegedly concealed in modelling clay. AFP Superintendent Matthew Parsons said when Schwartz was arrested that police had information he had been in contact with Baluch before he skipped bail on October 25. 'He's a successful qualified young gentleman with links to the mining industry and hospitality industry but obviously he's chosen this road, be it for the fame and fortune of the gangster lifestyle,' Superintendent Parsons told reporters. Corrective Services New South Wales confirmed Schwartz's death in a statement on Sunday. 'The inmate was found unresponsive in a cell at around 11.45am and was pronounced deceased by NSW Ambulance officers at approximately 12.18pm,' the statement read. In 2016, Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers intercepted 25kg of cocaine worth $4.5million imported from the United States and linked to Schwartz. The drug haul is pictured Mr Kushner's letter of May 2020 requested that a story about Schwartz's 2016 drug running be removed from the internet because it was causing him ongoing harm. Stories about Schwartz's arrest and conviction ran in most major Australian media outlets at the time. 'Unfortunately, the notoriety that has arisen from this arrest ......continues to cause ongoing personal and professional harm to our client,' the letter stated. 'He has been advised that he has been turned down from multiple employment offers and further educational opportunities as a result of this association. 'He also advises that he has suffered personal embarrassment.' Court documents from 2018 show Schwartz had been targeted in prison during his first time in custody, with other inmates wrongly accusing him of being a police informant. He was the victim of several attacks, including one involving a sandwich press. A former cellmate told the District Court court that prisoners chanted 'dog, dog, dog' at Schwartz after news of his crimes aired on television. Schwartz told his cellmate that he had been stabbed, with other criminals saying they had seen wounds on his body, according to court documents. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death are underway and Corrective Services confirmed there would be a coronial inquest. Pictured: Bennet Schwartz being arrested outside his Rose Bay home in October last year. He was accused of smuggling drugs into the country before his death on Saturday Baluch was caught hiding in the back of a luxury car in a truck at the Queensland-NSW border on November 10, 16 days after he went on the run. Police allege Baluch was involved in an organised crime syndicate that conspired to import and distribute three tonnes of cocaine, potentially worth an estimated $900 million. With help from US authorities, 1.77 tonnes of cocaine was seized from vessels off the coast of Colombia in October 2020 and Ecuador in April 2021. Five men have been charged so far over their alleged involvement in the syndicate. Families have been given a boost for Easter holiday hopes as the EU has unveiled plans to permit all fully-vaccinated Brits to travel to Europe without pre-departure tests. The EU Council is set to approve recommendations for a one-size-fits-all approach to travel in Europe which would simplify entry requirements for those travelling from outside the EU, according to the Telegraph. The plans, which could get the green light today, will also mean British children who have not been fully vaccinated are also permitted to travel to the EU. The newspaper reports that the European Commission is 'optimistic' most EU and EEA countries will implement the new recommendations but member states may deviate if they choose as they are not rules. If approved, the plans will be introduced from March 1, meaning families will be able to enjoy Easter holidays in Europe without facing confusion from each country's entry requirements. It comes as Boris Johnson hailed a new post-Covid era yesterday as he declared that self-isolation laws are being axed from Thursday and free Covid tests will go from April. The EU could be about to introduce uniform travel requirements which would mean all fully vaccinated Brits can travel within the EU without pre-departure tests. Pictured: Majorca In a dramatic statement to MPs, the PM confirmed that people with the virus will no longer be compelled to stay at home in England - although they will be advised to avoid spreading the disease in the same way as with flu. Those who are not fully-vaccinated will be treated as if they are unvaccinated by EU member states, according to the Telegraph, when travelling to Europe and will be subject to each country's isolation rules. Meanwhile, it is expected that most countries will keep Passenger Locator Forms, even though the UK's transport secretary Grant Shapps is in the process of trying to have them scrapped. It is understood the Transport Secretary wants to see the end of passenger locator forms (PLF) by the start of April, making it easier for families to fly off on a break. As an interim measure the forms, in which people must provide contact and travel details, are to be significantly simplified in the coming weeks. The travel industry has been calling for the cumbersome documents to be scrapped, saying they are acting as a drag on British holiday firms. It is understood the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps wants to see the end of passenger locator forms (PLF) by the start of April, making it easier for families to fly off on a break The travel industry has been calling for the Passenger Locator documents to be scrapped But moves to get rid of the forms have been slowed down by objections from the Department of Health, which has been in favour of tougher curbs. Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: Ministers are absolutely right to remove the remaining restrictions but this needs to cut across all elements of the economy, including travel. If there is no requirement to self-isolate for those with Covid in the UK, jabbed or otherwise, there can be no justification for continuing with travel restrictions for the unvaccinated, including the continued use of the PLF which, although not as bad as testing, remains a deterrent to travel. A spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents said: ABTA believes that all Covid restrictions introduced on international travel, including the passenger locator form, should be kept under review and removed as soon as this can be delivered in line with the Governments public health objectives. If the Government isnt willing to remove the PLF at this time, a clear rationale must be provided as to why it is being retained and the policy objective it is serving, and there should be further changes to make the system easier to use for all travellers. Recent simplifications to the PLF are a step in the right direction, but the UKs system for collecting passenger data remains much more complex than that used by many other countries, especially competitor markets in Europe. Last month Mr Shapps said fully vaccinated UK arrivals will no longer need a post-arrival test Last month Mr Shapps announced that fully vaccinated UK arrivals will no longer need a post-arrival test. But he said the forms would remain for the time being, adding: It is our only way of distinguishing between those who are vaccinated and those who are unvaccinated when they use e-gates to come into this country. Last month Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport, called for the forms to be ditched, saying: It will take some time for consumer confidence to fully return. The documents have already been simplified once, to shorten the time it takes to fill them in. And by the end of the month, people will be given an extra day to fill them out. It is a criminal offence to provide false or deliberately misleading information when filling out the form. People who do not provide accurate details about the countries they have visited in the ten days before they arrived in the UK can be fined, imprisoned or both. Six vehicles including at least two trucks have collided on a Melbourne motorway, leaving one person trapped in the wreckage and causing major traffic delays. Emergency crews were rushed to the scene of the serious crash on the Western Freeway in Derrimut just before 11am on Tuesday. Firefighters freed the trapped person, who was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries about midday. One person was trapped after six vehicles including at least two trucks collided on Melbourne's Western Freeway at Derrimut on Tuesday Emergency crews were rushed to the serious crash just before 11am on Tuesday There were no other serious injuries. The truck driver is helping police with their inquiries and the freeway is expected to stay shut for several hours. The Deer Park Bypass was closed outbound between the M80 Ring Road and Robisons Road. Motorists were told to use Fitzgerald Road or Ballarat Road as alternative routes and allow plenty of time to complete their journey. President Joe Biden touted his appointment of Clinton confidant and Kamal Harris-bestie Minyon Moore to help him choose the first black female Supreme Court justice, but he never mentioned that she's a Black Lives Matter board member, CRT promoter and supports the Defund the Police movement. Moore's deep blue political credentials go all the way back to Jesse Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. But when the president announced that he would be setting up a board of advisors to help him with his SCOTUS pick and confirmation strategy he soft-peddled Moore's history. 'These advisors bring decades of experience to the table and will join the White House team working with the President on the selection of the nation's first Black woman to the Supreme Court' the White House said in its announcement appointing Moore. Minyon Moore, an advocate of Critical Race Theory who sits on the board of Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, will advise President Joe Biden on his SCOTUS pick President Biden soft peddled the more controversial credentials of Minyon Moore, who he tapped to help advise him on his Supreme Court pick He never mentioned her affiliation with BLM Global Network Foundation, which has consistently advocated for the dismantling and defunding of police departments across the country because they consider them racist institutions. The foundation has found itself on the defensive after co-founder Patrisse Cullors resigned amid questions about the whereabouts of millions of dollars in donations. The California Department of Justice demanded an accounting of the money. AmazonSmile, a charity network affiliated with the online commerce site, suspended donations to the organization. BLM told Fox News that Moore 'has been required to cease all involvement in matters pertaining to her work with Black Lives Matter while she is part of the White House confirmation team.' The White House also failed to mention that Moore is tight with Columbia Law School professor and crucial Critical Race Theory advocate Kimberle Crenshaw. In a Facebook video Moore asks Crenshaw how to further spread the word on CRT to counter resistance, like Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive orders banning the teaching of the theory in public schools. Minyon Moore (left front) was former President Bill Clinton's field director for his 1992 campaign. She was also director of White House Political Affairs and, head of the Office of Public Liaison and the Democratic National Committee COO Moore, who cowrote the book 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics,' was a senior political advisor to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign Vice President Kamala Harris counts Moore as a close advisor The president's press release gushes over her leadership of the Democrat-connected Dewey Square Group's State and Local Affairs and Multicultural Strategies arm. DSG was founded by Moore after being named former President Bill Clinton's field director for his 1992 campaign. She was also director of White House Political Affairs and, head of the Office of Public Liaison and the Democratic National Committee COO. She later was a senior political consultant to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential run and remains part of her inner circle. Moore, who was born in Chicago and graduated film school in Boston, also co-wrote the book For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics in 2018. She's been selected to be Biden's Advisor for Engagement to mobilize the nationwide effort to get American's interested and behind whoever the president picks for the high court. 'The president is proud to have Minyon Moore on his team as he prepares to announce and confirm an extraordinarily qualified nominee after seeking the recommendations of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate,' White House spokesman Andrew Bates told the Washington Examiner. Moore also helped advise Harris during her failed presidential run and has since pushed the vice president to promote candidates for the upcoming midterm elections. 'Where [Harris]is moving the needle is for people that look like us,' Moore said at a 2021 conference on Black Women in American Politics. Political columnist Matt Bai described Moore as one of 'several African-American women who have reached the highest echelons of Democratic politics,' the others include Donna Brazile and Leah Daughtry, both former chairs of the Democratic National Committee. By Bernard Rowan Before the next South Korean presidential election, I have framed a series of suggestions for Korea-U.S. policy relations. While the world remains transfixed by COVID-19, with rising attention to the tomfoolery of Putin, friends of Korea would do well to keep their eyes focused. Whether it receives enough recognition, the Korea-U.S. alliance forms the center for security in Northeast Asia. Its next cycle of opportunities will arise with electing a new South Korean president. Our two countries should solidify and extend positive security relations and arrangements among South Korea, Japan and the United States for the Northeast Asian region and beyond. These three partners need to develop their productive relations further. Given Korea's history of colonial occupation and aggravating events such as the comfort women issue, it will be important to cultivate political capital carefully among the partners. Second, our two countries should solidify and extend positive security relations and arrangements. South Korea, the United States and the ASEAN nations must coordinate in the present context. The alliance must work to include the Philippines, Vietnam and other Asian nations even more. The Indo-Pacific region has several hotspots, such as the South China Sea straits, that should form bases for cooperation among democratic nations instead of yielding the initiative to China as sites of competition and militarization. Third, it will help in the first two objectives if South Korea and America connect and intensify bilateral and multilateral trade relations. We must work to connect the United States, Korea and a widening circle of partners in an Indo-Pacific trade bloc. The Biden administration has shown its openness to doing so. It will be important to strengthen these ties further, given Chinese power projection, concerns about security in Europe and elsewhere and related trade matters. Fourth, our countries should develop a new partnership for creating sustainable and eco-friendly 22nd-century energy technologies and sources. If oil's eclipse is 50 to 100 years away, Korea and the United States should work together to create sustainable sources of energy and technology for the 22nd century and beyond. Seawater is plentiful, but is currently getting inadequate attention for creating energy. Fifth, the Roh and Moon administrations had great hopes, but they have failed to bring about any real change in the North's posture and pursuits. While it's too late to prevent the North's development of nuclear weapons, it's not too late to induce the Soviet path. This more patient strategy will take time and investments in conventional and nuclear deterrence. They should include cooperation to short-circuit, as well as continue international sanctions against nations supplying the North Korean regime. Sixth, more investment must occur for cybersecurity development and redundant security measures for key infrastructure, networks and institutions. The enemies of democracy again are hard at work to sow division by harming cybersecurity. Korea and America should work together on related technologies and their provision. Our nations must counter threats and strengthen security and communications structures in this century. Last but not least, let us develop a project to promote the further development of democracy as a technology. Autocratic powers today pour money into unaligned and friendly nations, as well as other antidemocratic powers. Freedom needs further conversions to democracy as a world technology that admits plural forms. The educational, cultural and technical developments and related purposes discussed in this column need and will benefit from the growing practice of democracy throughout the region and the world. The next decade is the critical time for action. Let's ramp the progress potential for our nations, the region and the world for decades to come. Too little has occurred to date that suggests optimization, but a window of opportunity is beginning to emerge. Here's hoping we make the most of it. Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is the associate provost for contract administration and a professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and a former visiting professor at Hanyang University. Trains will run freely across Sydney's rail network as early as tomorrow after all services were cancelled in a crippling outage on Monday. A day after blaming the Rail, Tram and Bus Union for the rail chaos, the NSW Government has backed down and called a truce. Sydney Trains bosses suddenly shut down the network with a 1.38am 'dummy spit' email in a dramatic escalation to a dispute with the union. Millions of commuters woke up on Monday morning to find they had no way to get to work, choking roads with traffic jams up to 22km long. Transport Minister David Elliott (pictured) said the NSW Government would be withdrawing its Fair Work case against the rail union during a press conference on Tuesday Trains will run freely across Sydney's rail network as early as tomorrow after all services were cancelled in crippling outage on Monday (pictured, commuters on Tuesday) Services restarted on Tuesday morning but were only every 15-30 minutes, leading them to be crammed with essential workers unable to socially distance. But life will soon be much easier for Sydneysiders as a truce between the two sides was declared on Wednesday morning following a terse but productive meeting. Transport Minister David Elliot said the NSW Government had agreed not to challenge the union's limited industrial action over the next two weeks. Trains will from as early as Wednesday run at the same frequency they did last week, and are hoped to ramp up to full capacity by next Monday. 'Ideally that would return tomorrow, but of course, I do understand that the union needs to go back to its members, and they need to ensure they have the staff able... to return to that timetable as soon as possible,' Mr Elliott said. Mr Elliot said neither he nor Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) knew about the city-wide shutdown until they woke up and checked their emails at 4am Bemused Sydney Trains workers (pictured) were seen at train stations and depots with nothing to do on Monday with the cancellations catching some by surprise The union will continue with its ban on 'altered working' and other flexible rostering that Sydney Trains uses to respond to changes on the network. The enterprise agreement which expired in May of last year will be rewritten to meet the union's basic safety, privatisation and hygiene asks. 'I have agreed with the union today that we will start to commence rewriting the enterprise agreement which expired in May last year,' Mr Elliot said. 'That will see us working with the union to ensure that we provide them with the certainty that they require but will also allow the taxpayers and government a certain level of certainty.' Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland at 12.43am on Monday decided to cancel all services after government lawyers failed to convince the Fair Work Commission to block the union's industrial action. Transport for NSW secretary Rod Sharp sent an email to staff at 1.38am announcing the decision, claiming the industrial action would compromise safety. Sydney Trains bosses suddenly shut down the network with a 1.38am 'dummy spit' email in a dramatic escalation to a dispute with the union (pictured, Sydney Trains workers on Monday) Millions of commuters woke up on Monday morning to find they had no way to get to work, choking roads with traffic jams up to 22km long Mr Elliot said the pair made the decision unilaterally and neither he nor Premier Dominic Perrottet knew until they woke up and checked their emails at 4am. The minister has insisted he was asleep when Sydney Trains made the operational call to cancel the city's rail services past midnight. 'I don't expect them to send a car around at 2 o'clock in the morning and wake me up and tell me,' he said. 'We pay these people to do their job and I accept the fact that at 12.43am it was their judgment call, as executives of the organisation, that they needed to use their discretion and close the system.' The minister stressed he usually goes to bed between 10 and 11pm stating: 'At 12.43am on a Monday morning I'm in bed.' He described the shutdown on Monday as a 'day of high emotions' and said he wanted to see the industrial action 'short-circuited' as soon as possible. Mr Elliot did not repeat any of the government's statements from Monday blaming the union, and said the two sides had had a constructive discussion. He added officials at the agency would not be in danger of losing their jobs if the decision made by Transport NSW could be justified. Sydney Train workers gathered at stations and depots to take part in the protected industrial action on Monday (pictured) Mr Elliot has insisted he was asleep when Sydney Trains made the operational call to cancel the city's rail services at 12.43am (pictured, commuters on Tuesday) Mr Elliot (pictured) said Mr Sharp made the decision unilaterally and neither he nor Premier Dominic Perrottet knew until they woke up and checked their emails at 4am 'It was industrial action, there is no doubt about that. The union and I had a chat about that,' the transport minister told reporters. 'Whenever there is a dispute that means the services that the employers, ie. Transport for NSW, expected weren't delivered by the employee, that's an industrial dispute.' The minister said he was comfortable with the decision made by Transport NSW, which ruled the wellbeing and safety of communities would be in danger. 'Did I like it? Absolutely not. Am I still asking for information and details to justify the decision? Absolutely. And I've had conversations with them about that as recently as today,' he said. Mr Elliot said the withdrawal of the government's case against the rail union was done in the interests of transparency and good faith. He said he hopes the decision would encourage the union to promptly return services to the 'Covid-normal' timetable from Wednesday. Services restarted on Tuesday morning but were only every 15-30 minutes, leading them to be crammed with essential workers (pictured, traffic jams on Monday) Mr Elliot said his attitude to whether the shutdown was justified could change once he had seen a risk assessment which he has requested from the union. 'The risk assessment hasnt been forthcoming, but just moments after we issued a subpoena for it, the NSW Government dropped all of its claims against the union in the Fair Work Commission,' RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens said. 'The NSW Governments dummy spit might be behind us now, but the reason were in this situation still remains the NSW Government is refusing to deliver an enterprise agreement that enshrines basic safety and employment conditions for rail workers and commuters.' Meanwhile, Labor leader Chris Minns questioned why the NSW government couldn't come to an agreement before chaos ensued on Monday. 'It's good news that some kind of agreement has been made (but) why didn't this agreement occur on the weekend?' He said. 'The transport department in NSW is completely off the rails It's the people of this state that suffer as a result. We can't have a debacle like this again. 'We're still no closer to finding out what happened.' Labor Transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen said the government needed to provide further details on the cancellations and what individuals were involved. 'No such decision would ever be made without the minister's knowledge and for him to say otherwise is simply unbelievable. The buck stops with him,' she said. Labor leader Chris Minns (pictured) questioned why the NSW government couldn't come to an agreement before the mass cancellations caused chaos on Monday Mr Elliot said he hoped decision would encourage the union to return services to the 'Covid timetable' Wednesday (pictured, commuters at Parramatta Railway Station on Tuesday) Mr Claassens on Monday called Mr Sharp's safety claims a 'bulls**t excuse' and insisted trains could run smoothly during the protected industrial action. 'We have said all along that the NSW Government could run services with our bans in place, and we are pleased that they have finally listened. Services may be disjointed, but at least there will be trains moving again,' he said on Wednesday. 'The union said their aim has always been to reach an agreement that will allow the trains to run while also allowing workers to 'exercise their right to take action over the government's refusal to agree to their basic safety, privatisation and hygiene asks'. Mr Claassens told 2GB radio both the premier and the minister for transport had been 'out there verbalising' the union 'pretty badly' yesterday. He said Tuesday's meeting had been productive despite a little bit of 'bloodletting' at the start, following a day of high emotions and grandiose speeches. A poster at a Sydney train station claimed the shutdown was the work of Sydney Trains in response to protected industrial action from the union Mr Elliot said Mr Sharp made the decision to shutdown the network unilaterally and neither he nor Premier Dominic Perrottet knew until they woke up (pictured, commuters on Tuesday) The union, transport authorities, and the state government have been at each others throats for months over a new agreement, with 30 meetings in the past six months alone, after the old one expired last May. Workers want better safety and hygiene standards, improved pay and conditions, and no job losses from privatisation and successive negotiations have failed. A new agreement would end the possibility of more train strikes for at least the next three years and provide stability to the government, rail workers and the public. Meanwhile, fed up commuters took to social media to vent their frustrations on Tuesday following a day of confusion and major delays. 'I don't care what you think is right or wrong but you need to step up and sort this s***t out. It's getting out of hand now Sydney Trains,' one Sydneysider fumed. Another added: 'I don't know how to feel about Sydney Trains cancelling trains entirely for one day and then the next day only running trains every 30 mins. Not trusting the system very much.' Meanwhile, heavy downpours across Sydney has exacerbated lingering delays with flooding forcing the closure of roads in Mascot, Dural and West Pymble. A truck driver in Canada who was filmed being beaten by Ottawa police while he was on the ground, giving himself up for arrest, said: 'They broke my body a little bit, but not my spirit.' Csaba Vizi, a Romanian-born driver who has lived in Canada for 20 years, told Fox News' host Tucker Carlson about his violent arrest. 'So they dragged me in, they lied me down on my belly, and I don't - I don't remember how many were on top of me,' said Vizi, who has spent the last three weeks protesting against COVID-19 mandates in the Canadian capital. 'They were squeezing me slowly, slowly. I felt like I was beaten, but I took it like a man,' he continued. 'They broke my body a little bit, but not my spirit.' Late Monday, Canadian lawmakers voted to extend the emergency powers that police can invoke to quell any potential restart of blockades by those opposed to COVID-19 restrictions. The vote in the House of Commons was 185 to 151 to affirm the powers that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has wielded to help end the blockade of the Canadian capital. Csaba Vizi on Monday night told Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson about his arrest by Canadian police during the trucker protest This footage shows one of many police beatings in Ottawa during the governments ongoing crackdown on peaceful protesters. It was shot this morning by a bystander named Brian Kanabrowski. pic.twitter.com/3ypeTb8lc4 Gregg Re (@gregg_re) February 19, 2022 Vizi, a 20-year resident of Canada, is pictured near his truck, before he was arrested Trudeau told reporters his government still needed temporary emergency powers citing 'real concerns' about threats in the days ahead. 'This state of emergency is not over. There continue to be real concerns about the coming days,' Trudeau said. Some members of the official opposition Conservative Party accuse Trudeau of abusing his powers. Legislator Dean Allison decried what he called 'authoritarian military style measures' against the protesters. The footage from the weekend backs up some of those claims as it shows Vizi, in his truck, speaking to a police officer. The officer and Vizi appear to agree that Vizi will be arrested. Footage showed Vizi then being pressed to the ground by at least three officers, in the snow, and repeatedly kneed by the police. Carlson on Monday night asked Vizi if he was resisting arrest. 'No, sir, not at all,' Vizi said. 'I get down from my truck, I went down, right on my knee. 'I put my hands behind my head. 'And I was waiting for them to take me away.' Vizi said a police officer told him to 'go back', but Vizi replied that he was the driver of the rig. 'Then somebody yelled, arrest him, arrest him. Canadian police officers face off with protesters in Ottawa on Saturday, using pepper spray to repel them Police push back protesters as they take action to put an end to the protest on Friday Police in Ottawa are pictured on Monday standing near the fence protecting the 'secure zone' Vizi told Carlson that he was astonished by the way Trudeau's forces put down the protests. 'I moved to Canada - everything was wonderful,' Vizi said. 'People talk to you in the street, without knowing you - asking you hey, how are you? I had never experienced stuff like that before. 'So I was so happy. I said jeez, that is so nice. Everything was beautiful.' Vizi said that the pandemic, and the restrictions - Trudeau has presided over some of the strictest lockdowns in the world - made Canada an unpleasant place. 'I can say that the last two years - it's impossible to live here anymore,' said Vizi. Ottawa police arrested 170 people on Friday and Saturday as they enclosed the area around Parliament Hill, describing it as a 'secure zone' and preventing anyone who did not live and work there from entering. Those within the zone were repeatedly asked to leave and, when they did not, Ottawa police advanced to arrest those who remained - using pepper spray and police horses at times. By early Saturday afternoon, protesters were gone from the street in front of Parliament Hill, the collection of government offices that includes the Parliament buildings, which had the heart of the protests. It had been occupied by protesters and their trucks since late last month, turning into a carnival on weekends. Tow truck operators wearing neon-green ski masks, with their companies' decals taped over on their trucks to conceal their identities, arrived under police escort and started removing hundreds of big rigs, campers and other vehicles parked shoulder to shoulder near Parliament. Police smashed through the door of at least one camper on Friday before hauling it away. The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began Friday morning, when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying automatic weapons, descended into the protest zone and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs through the snowy streets as holdout truckers blared their horns. The capital and its paralyzed streets represented the movement's last major stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S. and created one of the most serious tests yet for Trudeau. They also shook Canada's reputation for civility, with some blaming America's influence. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada's vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broad attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau's government. A trainee teacher has been ordered to stay away from a male student after she allegedly indecently assaulted the 15-year-old and sent him a sexual message. Petra Shasha, 26, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday after she was arrested at her home in Gowrie, in Canberra's south, a day earlier. The educator was charged with using a carriage service to transmit indecent material to a young person and committing an act of indecency on the underage boy. Shasha was granted bail and ordered to stay 100m away from Canberra Girls Grammar School, St Edmund's College, and St Clare's College. Petra Shasha, 26, has been charged with using a carriage service to transmit indecent material to a young person and committing an act of indecency on someone under 16 Magistrate Beth Campbell told Shasha any evidence she contacted the boy would be 'seen as a breach' of court orders, after a prosecutor indicated she reached out to the student, News Corp reported. 'If you see them in a shopping centre and they approach you, you get away as quickly as you can because a court order trumps everything,' she said. The sex crimes are alleged to have occurred between November 2020 and February 2022. Shasha will be escorted by Australian Federal Police to get her belongings from Canberra Girls Grammar. Prosecutor Sam Bargwanna said it was likely more charges would be laid. The teacher will return to court on March 21. Aussies have been left infuriated after the price of a Gold Coast townhouse skyrocketed by $250,000 in less than two years. The three bedroom, two bathroom, property in Labrador was snapped up for $770,000 last month, after it last sold for $520,000 in October 2020, a 48 per cent increase in value. The sum is well above the suburb's median property price of $687,500, according to Realestate.com.au. A four bedroom, two bathroom, Gold Coast townhouse in Labrador has left struggling potential homeowners reeling (pictured) The property's sale history shows the townhouse was originally purchased for $480,000 in August 2015 before increasing in 2020 and 2022. But it's the whopping price jump of $250,000 between October 2020 and February 2022 that has Australians fuming after the listing was shared online. '$250,000 increase in two years... What is happening,' one Aussie wrote. The property's sale history shows the townhouse was originally purchased for $480,000 in August 2015 before increasing in 2020 and 2022. '48 per cent increase in 16 months! Yikes,' commented another person. '2020 prices were a bargain,' added a third. The post prompted social media users from around the country to share their own struggles with rising house prices. 'Bought my place two-and-a-half years ago for $565,000, I'm in a newish town full of four bed, two bath and two garage houses. House across the road sold for 790k,' another said. 'I brought my house in Sydney for $380k in 2008, was valued at $700k in 2019. And then $990k last month,' one added. 'Block of land, 650sqm, nothing on it, $850,000 in Canberra in Bonner (in the outskirts of Canberra),' revealed a third. The whopping price jump of $250,000 between October 2020 and February 2022 has Australians fuming Recent data from Corelogic shows house prices in the Gold Coast jumped by 36.3 per cent in the last 12 months as first-home buyers turn away from capital cities. Properties in the region are also selling at an exponential rate with houses on the market for a median time of just 16 days. While regional markets show a substantial growth in house value, three of eight Australian capital cities are now recording a median house price over $1 million. In Sydney, the median house value reached just below $1.39million, while Canberra's median house price surpassed $1million for the second month in a row. Melbourne passed the $1million mark for media house value for the first time in January despite a slowing trend in price rises. House prices in Brisbane and Adelaide continuing to rise at more than two per cent month-on-month while growth conditions across the remaining capital cities has slowed. Ben Roberts-Smith told SAS soldiers in training to shoot Afghan prisoners and 'surprised' a comrade by ordering a mock execution, a witness has testified in the Federal Court. The former SAS soldier codenamed Person 19 described on Tuesday a 2012 training exercise in Perth simulating 'live fire' conditions in Afghanistan. Person Nine playing the role of a 'civilian' and 'not an enemy combatant,' was kneeling facing a wall while the other troop members watched on, he said. 'Mr Roberts-Smith said ... Person 10 'I want you to shoot the PUC',' Person 19 said, using the abbreviation for a person under control. He said he 'distinctly' remembers the moment as it was unusual, and noticed 'the look on Person Nine's face' was 'quite surprised as well'. 'No one had expected to hear that phrase,' he said. Person 10 then went 'bang' pretending to shoot the captured man, he said. Ben Roberts-Smith told SAS soldiers in training to shoot Afghan prisoners and 'surprised' a comrade by ordering a mock execution, a witness in his defamation trial said Mr Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over reports that he committed war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012. The 43-year-old Victoria Cross recipient vehemently denies those allegations and accusations of bullying. Person 19 is among a number of serving and former SAS soldiers the newspapers - who have mounted a truth defence - have called to give evidence. On Tuesday the court was told of another training exercise assault on a makeshift mud Taliban compound, when the war hero allegedly detailed missions where officers would be 'kept outside' until the troop was ready to receive them. The trainees sat in a semi-circle and began discussing how the conduct of 'sensitive sight exploitation' would follow, Person 19 said. 'Any people we suspect are enemy combatants we take them into a room and shoot the c***s,' he recalled his leader saying. Mr Roberts-Smith (pictured in 2009) is suing Nine Newspapers after reports accusing him of war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012 He said he also recalled Mr Roberts-Smith discussed with Person 35 how 'throw down weapons' could be placed on a dead body for photographic evidence 'so they could be deemed an enemy combatant'. Mr Roberts-Smith also ordered the 'blooding' of a rookie, and explained Person 10 was inexperienced and 'needed to prove himself' in that way. Person 19 said he understood the phrase referenced a junior soldier getting their first kill in action to 'prove their worth by having the fortitude to shoot a prisoner if required'. Five days ahead of his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan, Person 19 was removed from the patrol due to disciplinary action. An ADF investigation found his car had been stolen while carrying a 'bag from work' along with body armour and ammunition, which the ex-soldier said he had intended to hand in. Following a military court hearing, he was sentenced to 42 days in the defence force jail, while the process unearthed his 'false declaration' regarding his girlfriend living with him at the time. The 'gross error of judgement' ruined his 14-year military career, he said, as he was subsequently discharged from the Defence Force in 2014. The 43-year-old Victoria Cross recipient vehemently denies allegations of war crimes and accusations of bullying Arthur Moses SC acting for Mr Roberts-Smith said Person 19 blamed his client and he wanted to 'damage' him for what happened. 'I completely reject that,' Person 19 said. He repeatedly denied assertions from Mr Moses that he was lying about his evidence. Person 19 admitted he felt like a 'scapegoat', and was 'hung out to dry,' but accepted his misconduct had potentially serious consequences. The trial continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 Open Arms 1800 011 04 Australian officials have been told to evacuate Ukraine immediately as war appears imminent between Russian and NATO forces. Embassy staff have been told to make plans to leave the embattled country, with operations in the Australian building in Lviv now closed. Workers had been moved to the city in Ukraine's west after growing fears for the safety of people in the Australian embassy in Kyiv. Bureaucrats are now being sent to nearby Poland and Romania to assist with the evacuation of all Australian workers. Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed the withdrawal of Australian officials in Ukraine and urged people: 'do not delay'. 'We continue to urge all Australians to leave Ukraine immediately. The safety of Australians and officials is our priority. 'Due to the increased risk, Australian officials have been directed to depart Ukraine. Our Embassy and operations in Lviv are now temporarily closed. Australian officials have been deployed to eastern Poland and Romainia to assist Australians seeking to depart Ukraine.' The Australian Embassy in Lviv has been evacuated with all officials being told to leave Ukraine immediately (pictured: Australian building in Kyiv prior to closing last week) The Australian embassy in Lviv has been closed on Tuesday 10 days after officials were moved out of the building in Kyiv Ms Payne said the Russian dictator had led an 'unprovoked assault' on Ukraine and Australia stands in solidarity with its people. 'The Australian Government condemns President Putin's declaration today that the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine are independent states,' she said in a statement on Tuesday. 'This flagrantly undermines Ukraine's soveriengty and territorial integriy and has no validity under international law.' Ms Payne confirmed Australia continue to work closely with NATO forces and will be imposing heavy sanctions on Russia as a result of their aggression. 'We are prepared to announce swift and severe sanctions that would target key Russian individuals and entitites responsible for undermining Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity,' the defence minister said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the embassy situation last week, saying they had moved to the temporary location in Lviv due to the heavy buildup of Russian troops in the capital. 'The situation is deteriorating and is reaching a very dangerous stage,' Mr Morrison said. 'I want to send a very clear message on behalf of Australia that the autocratic, unilateral actions of Russia, to be threatening and bullying Ukraine, is something that is completely and utterly unacceptable.' He was asked again about the evolving crisis, which threatens to be the first major war Europe has seen since 1945, on the campaign trail on Tuesday, again condemining President Putin's behaviour. The Australian embassy in Kyiv (pictured) was evacuated last week under orders from Prime Minister Scott Morrison Prime Minister Scott Morrison during a visit to Josef Chromy Wines in Relbia, Tasmania on Monday 'Russia should step back. It should unconditionally withdraw, back behind its own borders and stop threatening its neighbours,' he said. Referring to Russia's 2008 war with Georgia, he said: 'We've seen this behaviour before and seeking to take opportunity to threaten a neighbour for their own advantage is just simply not on. 'Is unacceptable, it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted, and Russia should understand that by seeking to invade another country, that this cannot advantage them and it would seriously and significantly cost Russia. Mr Morrison said he hopes for a peaceful solution but warned that Australia will support the West in imposing sanctions on Russia. 'I can assure you that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions, on Russia, we will be in lockstep with them,' he said. Scores of military vehicles including tanks have been seen moving through Donetsk, the capital of one of two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, just hours after Vladimir Putin recognised them as independent states. A Reuters witness saw unusually large columns of military hardware in the city in the early hours of Tuesday, after the Russian President ordered his troops to enter Ukraine on a 'peacekeeping mission'. Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognising the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday This handout video grab released by the Russian Defence Ministry on February 21, 2022, shows bombing during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at a firing range near Brest Putin on Monday ordered his defence ministry to send Russian troops to eastern Ukraine's two separatist regions - the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic - according to a decree signed by Putin recognising their independence. Following days of Moscow staging what are widely believed to be false flag attacks on Ukrainian soil and blaming them on Kiev, Putin said during a televised speech that Ukraine faces more 'bloodshed' if the country does not end military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern regions. Recognising the rebel regions' independence effectively shatters the Minsk peace agreements and opens the door for Russia to sign treaties with the 'states' and openly send troops and weapons there to defend them against Ukrainian 'threats'. And within hours of signing the decree, which paves the way for a long-feared Russian invasion, a Reuters reporter saw about five tanks in a column on the edge of the city and two more in another part of town. No insignia were visible, and it was not clear tonight if they belonged to Russian backed separatists or they were in fact the Russian military. Sources said tanks had not been seen on the streets in previous days. The move to recognise the two eastern Ukrainian regions as independent fuels further tension with the West and narrows the diplomatic options available to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year-old ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, still touted as the framework for any future negotiations on the wider crisis. Ukrainian servicemen are seen outside of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on February 21 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace efforts and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation in the early hours of Tuesday. Mr Johnson said Putin's decision to recognise the two separatist Ukrainian republics was in breach of international law and an 'ill omen' and 'dark sign' that things are moving in the wrong while UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the move would not go 'unpunished' as she announced new sanctions on Russia. The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and agree on a 'significant package of sanctions' on Moscow as well as more weapons for Ukraine. The EU's top officials also said they will impose sanctions, while the U.S. has ordered sanctions which will prohibit new investment, trade and financing in the two separatist regions of Ukraine recognised by Putin. All eyes will now turn to Ukraine's border regions for evidence that Russian troops have crossed, after videos published earlier in the day showed tanks and armoured vehicles in 'battle formations' - some of them less than three miles from the frontier. The scissors Kumanjayi Walker stabbed Constable Zachary Rolfe with could not have killed the policeman, a forensic pathologist has told a jury. Rolfe is accused of murder after shooting the Aboriginal teenager three times during a failed arrest attempt in Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs, on November 9, 2019. The 19-year-old died on the floor of the local police station 74 minutes after the second fatal shot ripped through the teen's spleen, liver, left kidney and right lung. The constable is fighting the charge, saying he was doing his job and defending himself from a violent offender who had stabbed him in the shoulder with a pair of scissors. A screengrab taken from police body camera video footage tendered as evidence to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory shows Kumanjayi Walker shortly before he was shot in Yuendumu, 290km north-west of Alice Springs on November 9, 2019 Prosecutors have conceded the first shot, which was fired while Mr Walker was standing and resisting arrest, was justified. But they say the second and third shots went 'too far' because the teen was 'effectively restrained' on the ground by another officer when Rolfe pulled the trigger. Pathologist Marianne Tiemensma performed an autopsy on Mr Walker's body three days after he died. She told the Northern Territory Supreme Court on Tuesday that the teen had no scissor injuries on his hands and they were likely to have been closed when he stabbed Rolfe. Asked whether the 'small and blunt scissors' could have killed Rolfe or his partner Constable Adam Eberl, Dr Tiemensma said it was unlikely. 'I do not think he would have been able to generate enough force to overcome all of the resistance and go into the skin and soft tissue and structures of importance to cause significant injury,' she said. Dr Tiemensma said she had watched body-worn camera footage of the shooting incident and Constable Eberl had control of Mr Walker within seconds. 'From the moment the scissors are withdrawn from his right pocket ... In less than three seconds he is far too restrained by Eberl who is moving in from behind Kumanjayi's back, grabbing him around the shoulder and neck, so that was very fast,' she said. 'I don't think these scissors could have caused fatal injury. Fatal stab wounds by scissors are not common.' Zachary Rolfe (right) and NT Police Association President Paul McCue arrive to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Darwin Dr Tiemensma also found that Rolfe's first shot into the right side of the teen's back would not have killed him. 'It did not really travel very far. It just got stuck in a large muscle group ... adjacent to the spine,' she said. 'It caused minimal injuries to some structures. Not to the vascular structures. It did not result in excessive bleeding. 'If untreated over time it could cause trouble but in the immediate first hours and days after it was inflicted I do not think it was going to cause a fatal injury.' A screengrab taken from police body camera footage shows Kumanjayi Walker shortly before he was shot on November 9, 2019. Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Walker, 19, when attempting to arrest him She said Mr Walker had a very low blood alcohol level the night he died and an insignificant amount of cannabis in his system. Earlier, military surgeon Michael Reade said Rolfe's second shot may not have killed Mr Walker had there been trained medical staff in Yuendumu. An autopsy found Mr Walker died from breathing difficulties caused by a collapsed lung and blood loss. Dr Reade said nursing staff at the local clinic may have been able to keep him alive long enough to get him to Alice Springs for lifesaving surgery. But they had fled the community of about 800 over safety concerns earlier in the day after their homes were broken into the night before. The trial continues. The NSW Labor opposition leader has defended taking a trip to China seven years ago that was funded by the Chinese Communist Party. Chris Minns says in 2015 he was looking to see how Australia could prosper from the relationship and both countries have changed in the intervening years. The trip was funded by now-exiled Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo, a property developer who was heavily involved in Australian politics who fronted the Australia-Guangdong Chamber of Commerce, before becoming the subject of an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation. NSW Labor opposition leader Chris Minns (pictured) has defended taking a trip to China seven years ago that was funded by the Chinese Communist Party Mr Huang's links with then-Labor senator Sam Dastyari ended his political career in 2018 and his citizenship and permanent residency was cancelled by ASIO in 2019. '(The ICAC) revelations were only publicly investigated two years ago,' Mr Minns told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday. The Labor leader said the trip to Hong Kong and China was 'almost exclusively about trade' and he had 'absolutely not' had any contact with Mr Huang since. He apologised for using his maiden speech to NSW parliament - delivered shortly after his visit to China - to call for Mandarin to be taught to all school children. 'It was a mistake on my part, one I regret,' Mr Minns said. 'At the time I was looking at the economic size of China, the growth of their economy, the potential. 'I realised even a small fraction of trade with China would bring billions into the Australian economy, the NSW economy. But I was wrong.' The remarks came just a year after President Xi Jinping had been elected, before the protests in Hong Kong and before the 'coerced labour of Uyghurs'. Mr Minns said he was looking at the economic size of China and the growth of its economy when he suggested Mandarin should be mandatory in NSW schools 'Obviously Australia has changed since then and China has changed since then,' Mr Minns said. Federal shadow treasurer Chris Bowen also attended the trip and completed a declaration of interests in 2015. Mr Minns did not declare the trip, as he was newly elected and a clerk from the state's Legislative Assembly informed him it was not required. Other politicians, including some from the coalition, had at the time taken trips to China, Mr Minns added. Hunter Biden's ex-girlfriend told a grand jury she was instructed by the president's son to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATMs and the two partied at lavish hotels from coast to coast while Hunter was in the throes of drug addiction. Zoe Kestan, 28, who goes by the social media handle weed_slut_420, testified for five hours at a federal courthouse in Joe Biden's home state of Delaware last Tuesday morning in the investigation focused on the president's son for alleged tax crimes. Kestan - a garment, lingerie and textile designer - faced a range of questions over what Hunter Biden was doing during his time with her and what his spending habits were like in 2018, when he admitted to learning to cook crack at the infamous Chateau Marmont in Beverly Hills. The pair had been seen going to the openings of art shows and were regularly spotted at parties together in Manhattan. Kestan told the grand jury she was instructed by Biden to take out 'thousands of dollars at a time' from cash machines. In her testimony, Kestan reeled off a list of pricey five-star New York City hotels, including the Soho Grand and Four Seasons, where she had stayed with Biden, reports the New York Post. She also detailed their West Coast hotels, which included celebrity hot spot Chateau Marmont, where the pair stayed together for a month. An ex-girlfriend of Hunter Biden, left, Zoe Kestan, 28, right, gave evidence at a federal courthouse in Joe Biden's home state of Delaware for several hours last Tuesday morning Kestan, who is a lingerie designer, was subpoenaed to give evidence in the DOJ's secretive three-year probe into Hunter's murky financial affairs and business with China The DOJ's is conducting a secretive three-year probe into Hunter's murky financial affairs and business with China In his memoir Beautiful Things, released last year, Hunter reveals how he was banned from the legendary celebrity hangout because of 'drug use.' The money she took out at ATMs was used to buy clothes and food, but she explained she did not know how he came to have the funds, reports the Post. Kestan joined a growing list of former business partners and associates who have been subpoenaed to give evidence in the Department of Justice's secretive three-year probe into Hunter's murky financial affairs. Federal agents went directly to Kestan's New York City apartment where they served her with a subpoena to testify at the grand jury after her name came up during the broad investigation. She appeared directly after Hunter Biden's baby mama, Lunden Roberts, 30, sat for the grand jury. As well as having a three-year-old daughter with the president's son, who he refuses to publicly acknowledge, Roberts spent more than a year working in a junior position at his investment firm, Rosemont Seneca. The fashion designer, Kestan, pictured, spent months living in hotels with Biden in 2018 in New York and LA The Marmont is infamous for its many stories of celebrities doing drugs and acting scandalous Kestan also reeled off a list of posh and price New York City and Los Angeles hotels including the Soho Grand, pictured above, where the couple stayed for a time During her testimony, a source for the Post revealed how Kestan believes she is responsible for helping Hunter Biden turn sober, noting that she was 'with him at the craziest point of his life' and persuaded him to become a painter having explained how 'art was a great way to see a hopeful future, rather than using drugs.' This current probe is said to involve Hunter Biden's dealings overseas. Last month, JPMorgan Chase Bank was subpoenaed to hand over records of transactions between Hunter's various ventures and the Bank of China for the previous five years. The document offered the first real clues as to the specifics of Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss's probe, which was launched in late 2018 but controversially kept under wraps until weeks after the 2020 Presidential election, supposedly to avoid becoming a campaign issue. Zoe Kestan and Hunter Biden were often seen at parties and art gallery openings together in Manhattan. Kestan is pictured at an event in Austin, Texas in 2019 CNN has reported that the investigation is focused on Hunter's business dealings in China while Politico claims it relates to whether he paid taxes on all of his income. 'I learned yesterday for the first time that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware advised my legal counsel, also yesterday, that they are investigating my tax affairs,' Hunter announced in December 2020. 'I take this matter very seriously but I am confident that a professional and objective review of these matters will demonstrate that I handled my affairs legally and appropriately, including with the benefit of professional tax advisors.' Lunden Roberts also gave evidence to the grand jury last week. Scandal-plagued Hunter claimed in his 2021 memoir that he had 'no recollection' of Roberts, nor the 'encounter' that led to the birth of their daughter, Navy Joan, in 2018. Lunden Roberts also gave evidence at a federal courthouse in Joe Biden's home state of Delaware for several hours last Tuesday morning Roberts, 30, was subpoenaed to give evidence in the Department of Justice's secretive three-year probe into Hunter's murky financial affairs. Left, Hunter Biden puts his mounting scandals aside to enjoy a two-hour lunch with friends at a fish restaurant in Malibu earlier this month In his memoir, Beautiful Things, Hunter claimed he went on so many 'rampages' in the wake of his 2017 divorce from Kathleen Buhle that he couldn't recall his conquests And he has never mentioned the little girl's name in public despite paying her mom a reported $2.5 million settlement after a court-ordered DNA test proved he was the dad. DailyMail.com revealed last year that Hunter, 52, had an affair with Roberts, he once hired her to work at Rosemont Seneca, his Washington, D.C.-based investment firm that now finds itself in the crosshairs of the federal inquiry. It was initially reported that Hunter met Roberts while she was studying crime scene investigation in graduate school and working as a stripper at a DC club which he frequented. In his memoir, Biden says he has 'no recollection' of his 'encounter' with Roberts. 'I was a mess, but a mess I've taken responsibility for it,' he writes. A tribe of clever magpies has outsmarted scientists, ruining their elaborate experiment with a series of extraordinary 'rescues'. Queensland-based animal ecologist Dominique Potvin is still laughing at how fast the Australian songbirds undid about a year's worth of work when the magpies teamed up to remove sophisticated harnesses holding GPS trackers. The upside is she may have documented the world's first case of animals altruistically removing trackers from encumbered companions. The experiment saw five magpies fitted with harnesses and released to see how the devices would perform in the wild. Great care was taken to ensure it was robust, well fitting, tamper-proof, and tested before it was deployed. A tribe of clever magpies have successfully outsmarted a team of scientists, ruining a 12-month elaborate experiment with a series of extraordinary 'rescues' in the wild Scientists from the University of Sunshine Coast in Queensland were stunned after five magpies tracked with GPS trackers had the devices removed by other determined magpies in the wild A single release point - just one millimetre wide - was positioned under the breast so the kitted-out birds couldn't reach it to free themselves. But Dr Potvin and PhD student Joel Crampton weren't counting on the magpies getting help from their friends. Soon after the five were released, the University of Sunshine Coast researchers noticed one 'chatting' to a magpie that was not in the experiment. 'A magpie that didn't have a tracker on came up to one of the individuals that did and started pecking at it. 'We were thinking, 'what's going on? Are they trying to get it off? And then we were thinking, 'Oh, it's really hard to get these things off. There's no way it'll be able to do it'.' Less than 30 minutes later the magpie was freed. Within three days, all five were relieved of their devices. Dr Potvin and her team personally witnessed two rescues. 'The motions they were doing, it was clear, targeted, like, 'I'm going to take this giant thing off you',' she says. 'If they were fooling around with the tracker, at the top, they would never have gotten it off. 'They either had to show tremendous tenacity or problem-solving by doing a range of different behaviours, and snipping at different points, to be able to get it off.' Queensland-based animal ecologist Dominique Potvin couldn't believe how fast the Australian songbirds undid about a year's worth of scientific work when the magpies teamed up to remove the sophisticated harnesses holding GPS trackers Dr Potvin was so impressed by the behaviour she researched any other documented cases of animals taking trackers off each other Dr Potvin says the behaviour was so impressive she decided to do some digging to see if there were any other documented cases of animals taking trackers off each other. 'We found there wasn't anything in the literature. This was actually a completely new behaviour in a completely new situation, which was kind of cool.' Mr Crampton, who helped conduct the study as part of his honours research, said the observations should be considered when planning future tracking studies involving highly social species, such as magpies. The team's work was recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Australian Field Ornithology. A bird's-eye view of Sejong Government Complex. Korea Times file By Lee Kyung-min SEJONG The number of new COVID-19 infections in Sejong and nearby Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province soared over the weekend, with residents becoming increasingly concerned that the administrative city south of Seoul and its surroundings will no longer remain relatively insulated from the raging Omicron variant. Many expressed anxiety that infections in the sparsely populated region will spread just as rapidly as in Seoul, with the fear of death and losing their elderly loved ones spreading faster. "I have been in self-quarantine since I was confirmed last week," a government official said on condition of anonymity. "Those who came into contact with me at work including the ones who were in the same office as me rushed to get tested at my urging. I'm sorry because I feel like I caused them the trouble." The official who works for one of the Sejong-based government ministries is one of over 650 newly infected people confirmed Saturday. Daejeon reported 3,110 new infections the same day, and South Chungcheong Province saw 3,348 new cases. Data from Sejong City showed it registered 11,748 total confirmed cases as of Tuesday, with 5,485 undergoing treatment and 6,259 fully recovered. Four have died thus far. Mark McGowan has pledged to quarantine after returning from his Sydney-based court battle to prove a delay in the hearing wasn't in an attempt to dodge having to isolate. The premier was due to appear at the Federal Court in NSW from February 26 to 28 to give evidence in his defamation case with mining magnate Clive Palmer. But the Federal Court on Tuesday announced the two-day hearing would be postponed to begin on March 7 'due to the change in border restrictions'. The Western Australia border will reopen for quarantine-free international and interstate travel for the fully vaccinated on March 3, meaning Mr McGowan will not be subject to Covid restrictions when he re-enters his state. Mark McGowan has pledged to quarantine after he returns to WA from his Sydney-based court battle against Clive Palmer despite isolation restrictions being lifted days earlier However, the premier has vowed to enter seven days of self-isolation at a hotel in a bid to prove the date change was coincidental and not altered to align with his NSW trip. 'This is outside my control. This was initiated by the court. Thats the courts decision and I dont have any control over that,' Mr McGowan said. 'Ive decided that Ill still do the quarantine period afterwards even though Im not required to just to remove any argument that somehow this has been manipulated in my favour.' The premier made the announcement on Friday while revealing his state's long-awaited re-opening date, which was pushed back from February 5th due to the Omicron wave along Australia's east coast. Clive Palmer (pictured with wife Anna) is suing the WA premier for defamation While Attorney-General John Quigley will also be required to physically present at the trial, Mr McGowan said he was unlikely to go into quarantine as it was only the premier's duty to 'set the right example'. Although Mr McGowan plans to undergo self-imposed Covid restrictions, he will take a brief break during his week-long isolation stint to attend a National Cabinet meeting on March 11. A spokesperson said the premier will only leave his hotel room 'to travel directly to the secure telepresence room in West Perth' to participate in the event 'unless a secure link can be established in quarantine'. 'If I cant Zoom into that, Ill come out of quarantine with the appropriate PPE, attend the national cabinet meeting and then go back into quarantine,' Mr McGowan told reporters. 'Whilst Im in quarantine, Ill be working.' Meanwhile, Mr Palmer cancelled his appearance at the National Press Conference in Canberra on Tuesday after falling ill with 'flu-like symptoms'. The business mogul was set to give a speech detailing the United Australia Party's financial policy ahead of the federal government election expected in May. 'Unfortunately, Clive Palmer has been forced to withdraw from todays scheduled National Press Club address,' the United Australia Party wrote in an email to its supporters. 'Mr Palmer is suffering flu-like symptoms and has been medically advised not to travel.' The legal stoush over their defamation claims got underway in the Federal Court (pictured) on Monday Asked about reports of Mr Palmer potentially having Covid-19, Mr McGowan told reporters on Tuesday he wished the Queensland businessman 'all the best'. Mr Palmer is suing Mr McGowan claiming public comments, including labelling him the 'enemy of West Australia', made in July 2020 had damaged his reputation. The premier has lodged a counter-claim, accusing the billionaire of defaming him in several interviews. The legal stoush over their defamation claims got underway in the Federal Court on Monday. Lawyers have argued over the meaning implied by each of the statements in question after playing footage from media conferences Mr McGowan held in July and August 2020 and interviews Mr Palmer gave around the same time. Justice Michael Lee was set to rule on the meanings at the end of proceedings on Tuesday, but delayed handing down his decision as Mr McGowan's lawyer Clarissa Amato had been unable to get instructions from her client on the draft order. Mr Palmer is due to take the stand on Wednesday. The extended jury selection process in the trial of the only officer charged in the death of 26-year-old Breonna Taylor is set to conclude this afternoon. Lawyers in the trial of Brett Hankison, 45, the former Kentucky police officer involved in the deadly narcotics raid that left Taylor dead, will return to court Tuesday to whittle down the pool of 48 people to 12 jurors and three alternates. Court officials initially gathered an expanded pool of 250 potential jurors to account for the widespread publicity in Taylor's death, which sparked months of marches and protests against police brutality in downtown Louisville in the summer 2020. After four days of questioning potential jurors on their knowledge and beliefs about Hankison's case, prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on a pool of 48 they believe wouldn't have any bias in this case to choose the final jury from. Hankison could face up to five years in prison after being charged with wanton endangerment for shooting into a neighboring apartment the night Taylor was killed. Charges of wanton endangerment are brought when a person is found to have recklessly engaged in conduct, without concern for human life, that puts a person at risk of death or serious injury. Taylor, a 26-year-old black woman who worked as an emergency medical technician, was shot multiple times during a botched narcotics raid on March 13, 2020. Hankison is the only officer to be fired and charged in relation to the Taylor case. Brett Hankison (pictured left on February 8) is on trial for allegedly firing shots into the apartment next door to Breonna Taylor's the night she was killed Hankison (pictured) faces up to five years in prison after being charged with wanton endangerment for shooting into a neighbor apartment the night Taylor was killed Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman who worked as an EMT was shot multiple times during a botched narcotics raid in March 2020 The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment when he and two other officers opened fire. They do not relate to the shooting death of Taylor. 'A person is guilty of wanton endangerment in the first degree when, under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, he wantonly engages in conduct which creates a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury to another person,' state law says. Before charges were brought, Hankison was fired from the city's police department on June 23, 2020. A termination letter sent to him by interim Louisville Police Chief Robert Schroeder said the white officer had violated procedures by showing 'extreme indifference to the value of human life' when he 'wantonly and blindly' shot 10 rounds of gunfire into Taylor's apartment. His trial is expected to begin on Wednesday and will last about two weeks. Hankison's two colleagues, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly and Detective Myles Cosgrove, were not charged because the investigation found their actions were justified, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said. Those two other officers were reassigned to administrative duties in the aftermath of the shooting. The charges stem from Hankison's bullets travelling into a neighboring apartment when he and two other officers opened fire. They do not relate to the shooting death of Taylor Taylor's death at first escaped widespread attention, but it suddenly became a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters following George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020 Six bullets hit Taylor (pictured) but there is no 'conclusive' evidence that any came from Hankinson's gun, Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron said Hankison's two colleagues, Sergeant Jonathan Mattingly (right) and Detective Myles Cosgrove (left), were not charged because the investigation found their actions were justified. Taylor's front door was breached by Louisville officers who obtained a controversial no-knock warrant as part of a drug raid. She was asleep with her boyfriend Kenneth Walker in her apartment around midnight when they heard noise at the door. They knocked on Taylor's apartment door and announced their presence outside, which Cameron said was corroborated by a neighbor who witnessed the arrival. Getting no answer, they 'breached the door.' Mattingly entered first, and at the end of a corridor saw Taylor and her boyfriend, with Walker pointing a gun. Walker fired, injuring Mattingly in the thigh. Mattingly returned fire, and his colleagues began shooting soon after, Cameron said. Hankison fired 10 bullets. Six bullets hit Taylor but there is no 'conclusive' evidence that any came from Hankinson's gun, Cameron said. Bullets fired by Hankison traveled into a neighboring apartment. Taylor's death sparked outrage across America. At first it escaped widespread attention, but it then became a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters following George Floyd's death on May 25, 2020, at the hands of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin. Protesters took to the streets of the nation demanding an end to police brutality, systemic racism and widespread police reform. A woman who died after being crushed by a tree in north London during Storm Eunice has been remembered by her husband as the 'perfect wife'. Juliana Da Silva Queiroz Murilo, 37, was in the passenger seat of cab driver husband Carlos' silver Honda when the tree collapsed on top of her amid gale force winds in Highgate on Friday. Mr Murilo, 39, had just picked up his house cleaner wife from work, and had to be cut from the car and taken to hospital himself following the tragedy in Muswell Hill Road. En route in the ambulance, he was given the devastating news that his Brazilian wife had died. He told the Evening Standard: 'She was a sweet and adorable wife. She was perfect, so friendly, always laughing and making jokes. We loved each other so much it was as if we were one.' Juliana Da Silva Queiroz Murilo, 37, was in the passenger seat of cab driver husband Carlos' silver Honda when the tree collapsed on top of her amid gale force winds in Highgate on Friday Mr Murilo (pictured with his wife), 39, had just picked up his house cleaner wife from work, and had to be cut from the car and taken to hospital himself following the tragedy in Muswell Hill Road Scene on Muswell Hill Road in Muswell Hill, north London, where Ms Murilo died after a tree fell onto a car she was travelling in In numbers: Storm Eunice, which shattered wind speed records and claimed at least four lives 4 deaths in the UK and Ireland 122mph record wind speed for England 1.1million properties suffer power cuts 435,000 properties still affected last night 20million told to stay at home 10 severe flood warnings 10,000 cancelled rail services 1,000 people evacuated from O2 Arena 36,000 pupils sent home in Swansea Advertisement He went on to explain how he was 'in a daze' following the incident, which left him with cut hands and bruised ribs, and that a passer-by came and held his hand and spoke to him in the immediate aftermath. 'I'm heartbroken, I can't get the scene out of my head,' he added. 'In many ways I died as well we were inseparable.' Following the tragedy last week, Peray Ahmet, leader of Haringey Council, said: 'I was deeply saddened to receive the news that a member of the public has died after a tree fell on a car in Highgate. 'On behalf of everyone at Haringey Council I express my deepest sympathies to her family at this incredibly difficult time. 'Our teams are working tirelessly to clear fallen trees and debris and to secure any structures that pose a risk to the public. I urge all residents to follow official advice and be alert to the dangers that come with the extreme weather that continues to affect the borough.' Mrs Murilo was one of four people killed in the carnage caused by Storm Eunice on Friday. Last night, a 'popular' father who died in Merseyside after debris smashed through a van windscreen was pictured for the first time. Stephen Matthews, 68, was travelling as a passenger when he was struck at around 2.10pm in Netherton. Police rushed to the scene where he was pronounced dead. Mr Matthews, from Aintree, was a father-of-two. Paying tribute to him, Mr Matthews' family said he was 'taken too soon'. 'Popular' father Stephen Matthews, from Aintree, Merseyside, died after storm debris smashed through a van windscreen during high winds as Britain was ravaged by Storm Eunice Merseyside Police rushed to Netherton, Merseyside, at around 2.10pm last Friday following reports of debris hitting a vehicle Once at the scene officers found debris from Storm Eunice had flown through the windscreen of a van and hit passenger Mr Matthews, 68, who was pronounced dead at the scene He was one of four people killed during last Friday's Storm Eunice, which saw record-breaking gales of 122mph wreak havoc across the country. At the height of the storm, dramatic scenes saw the roof of The O2 in Greenwich, London torn apart, while trees were ripped up, debris was sent flying, shoppers were blown over, and the spire of St Thomas Church in Wells, Somerset came crashing to earth. Mr Matthews's family said: 'Stephen was a popular and well-known member of the Aintree community who was tragically taken from us too soon. 'The beloved husband of Sylvia and devoted Dad to Jonathan and Robert, he will be sadly missed by all of his family and friends.' The man driving the van was not injured in the incident. News of his death comes after tributes were paid to an Irish council work and a father-of-one who were two of the other victims of Storm Eunice. Billy Kinsella, 59, was clearing debris from a road close to his home in Co Wexford, Ireland when he was crushed by a tree as it came tumbling down during yesterday's carnage. The employee of Wexford County Council had been attending the scene of another fallen tree in Ballythomas when he was fatally injured. Another man was killed in Alton, Hampshire, after a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter pick-up collided with a 40ft tree in Old Odiham Road just before midday. He was named locally as Jack Bristow, 23. Billy Kinsella (pictured left), 59, was clearing debris from a road close to his home in Co Wexford, Ireland when he was crushed by a tree as it came tumbling down during yesterday's carnage. Jack Bristow (pictured right) , 23, died on Friday when the flat-bed truck he was travelling in was crushed by a 40ft tree in Alton, Hampshire amid Storm Eunice A member of the public also suffered 'serious injuries' after being struck by debris from a roof in Henley-on-Thames. Two men were hospitalised following similar, separate incidents in south London. Meanwhile, a huge 400-year-oak tree crashed through a large family home in Brentwood, Essex, narrowly missing 23-year-old Sven Good. Australia's most wanted fugitive was holed up in a rundown weatherboard shack covered with rubbish when cops caught up with him after 12 years on the run. Graham Potter, 64, was arrested in a police raid on Monday after he allegedly skipped bail in Melbourne in 2010 on conspiracy to murder charges. He was dubbed the 'head and fingers killer' after serving 15 years for the 1981 murder of Kim Barry, 19, who he bashed to death and decapitated. Police vision of the arrest shows the inside of dilapidated house where he hid out at Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns in far north Queensland. He was found in a squalid room filled with empty cardboard boxes, beer bottles on the windowsill and a chicken coop - with a terrified cat filmed in police vision. Potter, who allegedly evaded police for so long by changing his appearance, was hiding behind a bunk bed topped with multiple old mattresses and there were large cobwebs on the walls. It has since been announced he will be extradited from Queensland to Victoria to face court. A 12 year manhunt for Potter ended when police found him hiding out in this dilapidated shack (pictured) in remote North Queensland Old planks of wood, sheets of corrugated iron are strewn about the yard (pictured) Graham Potter is seen stumbling on a chicken coop after police discovered him inside a squalid room filled with old cardboard boxes and rubbish Images of the outside of the property in the small town of about 1,400 residents show the iron roof completely rusted and a tarp strung up around the lower level. Old planks of woods, sheets of corrugated iron, and rubbish are strewn haphazardly around the yard. There also looks to be half-finished landscaping work done with branches cut from trees piled up and the lawn dug up. Footage of the dramatic arrest shows hiding amongst the debris inside the property. 'This is the police. Do not move. Put your hands where I can see them,' a police officer yells at him. 'Yeah, yeah,' Potter nonchalantly responds. The weatherboard house has a tarp hung up around the lower level and the lawn dug up Other tarps are strung up around the property where the 64-year-old had hid out along with piles of clutter Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the Ravenshoe house in which Potter was found A stack of old mattresses are pictured on the bunk bed behind which Potter was found hiding Potter was taken in handcuffs from the house down a staircase piled with old newspapers, magazines and general rubbish The house on Ascham St, Ravenshoe, 120km south-west of Cairns, where fugitive Graham Potter was found by police As he is led from the house in handcuffs, piles of newspapers and magazines are seen stacked on a staircase. Old furniture, fridges and other junk are strewn randomly through the house. Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the house, with the curtains tightly drawn. Police said Potter denied his identity when located, while the home's owner said Potter was known to her as 'Ned'. The owner, Sandi Feller, told The Australian she would not comment about Potter's discovery at the house under she'd spoken to a solicitor. 'They didn't arrest me. They haven't charged me, but that might come yet too, who knows?' she said. Potter had evaded police for 12 years before he was located at the far north Queensland property Empty beer bottles can be seen lined up in the front windows of the Ascham St property, with the curtains tightly drawn A neighbour told Nine News Queensland he had never seen Potter at the house. 'I've never seen the man they arrested this morning,' the man said. Another resident of the street, Paul Adamson, said the house where the fugitive was found was known as a junkyard but had actually been 'tidied up' recently. 'At the moment it looks the best it's been since I've been here. You couldn't even see the house two weeks ago.' he said. Mr Adamson said Potter had been known to visit the house. 'He was there years ago. He was on the run years ago and they'd found he'd been staying there,' he said. Graham Gene Potter was released from prison in 1996 after serving 15 years. He was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police in 2017 Potter was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry (pictured), 19, in Wollongong in 1981 On Tuesday Potter appeared via video link from the Mareeba watchhouse to hear Magistrate Thomas Braes make an order for him to be returned to Victoria to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. Victorian detectives travelled from Melbourne on Tuesday morning to escort Potter from Queensland. There was no application for bail. The convicted murderer, who has an extensive criminal history, was dubbed Australia's 'number one fugitive' by Victoria Police acting assistant crime commissioner Paul De Santo in 2017. Historical police records show Potter lining up for a mugshot as early as 1976, when he was aged just 18. Five years later, he was jailed for life for the murder of teenager Kim Barry, 19, in Wollongong, after he beat her and cut off her head. He was released in 1996 after serving just 15 years. Local police update on the capture of Graham Gene Potter Detective Inspector Kevin Goan discussed the capture of Australia's most wanted man, Graham Potter, at a press conference at Mareeba police station on Tuesday morning. - 'He's a personable fellow,' Det Insp Goan said of Potter. 'He is happy to speak with to us in relation to any number of issues. We've had no acts of violence that warrant concern for our detectives.' - Police suspect Potter has lived in the far north Queensland area for the last 12 years. - Det Insp Goan said there was evidence Potter had at times 'assimilated' himself with others members of the local community. Detective Inspector Kevin Goan discusses the capture of Australia's most wanted man, Graham Potter, at a press conference at Mareeba police station on Tuesday morning - Potter claimed to be 'Josh Lawson' when approached by police at the Ravenshoe property, until finger-printing at Mareeba police station confirmed his identity. - Queensland police are waiting on Victorian detectives to arrive before deciding whether charges will be laid against the woman found at the Ascham St property. The woman is not in custody. - No warrant was needed to enter premises because police possessed 'credible' information a wanted person was at the property. - Det Insp Goan confirmed police had visited the house a number of times over the years after reports Potter had visited the premises. - The dog squad attended the arrest because Potter had been known to 'take flight' on previous occasions when police closed in on him. Advertisement At the time of his arrest in 2010, Potter was connected to Victorian and New South Wales organised crime figures and had allegedly been recruited to carry out gangland killings. He was one of three charged over the alleged planned murders of two men related to disputes within a drug syndicate over a failed importation. Potter allegedly skipped a court appearance in February 2010 and has eluded police ever since. In August 2010 he allegedly bragged about how he had used a number of costumes, including wigs, fat suits, and hair colour changes, to mingle in society undetected. His alleged strategies were unearthed in letters discovered at a campsite in Tully, 140km south of Cairns, on August 28 that year by officers investigating a tip-off about his possible location. Potter's stint in Tully was the closest police would come to catching him before he was finally apprehended this week, in another town 128km north west. Acting on a tip off, an army of officers and police dogs stormed the ramshackle Ravenshoe house around 8.45am on Monday to find Potter lying at the top of a dingy bunk-bed. A man who died after paying a fruit picker to hack off his leg with a circular saw sought out the brutal amateur surgery as he was suffering with a crippling health condition, police will allege in court. Locals in Innisfail, a town of 10,000 people south of Cairns in North Queensland, woke on Saturday morning to find the 66-year-old man dead outside a fish and chip shop. Police have charged banana-picker John Yalu, 36, with the unnamed man's alleged murder - who detectives believe injected himself with a sedative beforehand - and are investigating whether he was offered $5,000 to saw off the man's leg. Yalu arrived in Australia from Vanuatu last year and regularly sends money from his fruit picking job home to his young family. Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter, who is heading the police investigation, told Daily Mail Australia that the unnamed alleged victim had previously asked around for someone to amputate his leg, but had been knocked back. Police allege John Yalu, 36, (pictured) a fruit picker, amputated the older man's lower leg in parklands Pictured: A car park sitting along the banks of Innisfail's Johnstone River, near where police believe the alleged amputation took place Detective Acting Inspector Gary Hunter (pictured) is leading an investigation into the alleged amputation death of a man in Innisfail, North Queensland, on Saturday It is understood the alleged victim had a serious health condition and was agitated about the state of his leg, with foot complications relatively common among those living with the condition. Multiple local residents told Daily Mail Australia the suffering man had asked a doctor to amputate his leg, but no medical professional would agree to do the procedure. Police will allege the 66-year-old alleged victim then brought his own battery-operated table saw to the banks of Innisfail's Johnstone River around 3am last Saturday and then injected himself with a sedative. Then, Yalu, a summer fruit picker who arrived in Australia from Vanuatu last year, took up the saw and severed the man's left leg below the knee, police will allege in court. Police then alleged Yalu helped the man back to his car and fled from the scene. Pictured: The Innisfail fish and chip shop where the man was allegedly found dead on Saturday Police believe the alleged victim got out of his car and slumped into the gutter next to the Innisfail Seafood shop (pictured, the area around the cafe) It is then believed Yalu returned to his nearby boarding house - the Innisfail Accommodation hub for Non-Resident Workers - which overlooks the river bank, according to investigators. Police believe the man then pulled himself out of his vehicle before slumping into the gutter next to the Innisfail Seafood shop. Two brothers aged in their 20s found him there and called police, with paramedics unable to save his life. Inspector Hunter said there was 'really good CCTV' footage from Innisfail taken early last Saturday morning which is assisting with his investigation. The dead man is a father who lived but did not work in Innisfail and Inspector Hunter said his family were in complete shock. Police believe the deceased man paid the 36-year-old (pictured) $5,000 to perform the amputation Police will allege the man had a serious health condition and had asked Yalu to cut off his leg after several failed attempts to have his limb amputated (pictured, the local police headquarters) Inspector Hunter arrived on the scene from Cairns around 5am, when he said junior officers were still dealing with 'the very confronting scene' out the fish and chip shop, saying there was 'lots of blood'. Although Insp Hunter could confirm 'the two men knew each other', he said investigators were still trying to discover 'the extent of their relationship'. He said despite reports of an alleged $5,000 payment by the man to Yalu, police were still 'trying to establish whether cash was exchanged'. Police said 'no screams' had been heard from the scene of the alleged amputation and the area 'had been very quiet'. Yalu is understood to have been residing at the Innisfail Accommodation hub for Non-Resident Workers (pictured) Yalu (pictured) remains in police custody after he was refused bail earlier in the week Inspector Hunter said the dead man was not originally from Queensland and had lived in different states before coming to Innnisfail. The alleged victim's body, car and circular saw are still under examination by forensic officers. Yalu was still in police cells on Tuesday after he was refused bail earlier in the week. He is expected to be transferred soon to a correctional centre while on remand until his next court appearance in May. One local business proprietor said Yalu was a 'nice young man who regularly sent money home to his wife and children' back in Vanuatu. Police are seen in Innisfail after the man's body was found outside a fish and chip shop Investigations by detectives from Innisfail, Cairns, Mareeba and Tully are being co-ordinated under an operation named Uniform Cremini. Yalu left his young family behind in Vanuatu to do farm work in Australia in June last year. His social media account is littered with pictures of his young children in his native country. Fellow farm workers and countrymen who lived with the Vanuatu national at the Rankin St property said they were 'shocked' by his arrest. They said he flew to Australia on the same plane in June last year, with the group quarantining together before moving into the non-resident accommodation centre. The pig farming crisis is a 'disaster' and a 'disgrace' which could and should have been avoided, agricultural leaders have warned. The sector is rapidly 'deteriorating' with stockmen set to downsize their herds next year, paving the way for an influx of poorer quality foreign meat. Experts said it will be a 'lose lose for everyone' because there are '60million people on this island that need to be fed'. It comes as 40,000 healthy pigs have been culled and their meat thrown away while 200,000 are backed up on farms due to a lack of butchers to process them. Industry leaders blame the country's dysfunctional immigration system that has been 'exacerbated massively' by the pandemic. They also launched a broadside at the government for not understanding of how food production works. The sector is rapidly 'deteriorating' with stockmen set to downsize their herds next year, paving the way for an influx of poorer quality foreign meat (file photo) Pig farmer Tom Allen from Oxfordshire says he's struggled getting workers since before Brexit and coronavirus Pig farmer Tom Allen from Oxfordshire says he's struggled getting works since before Brexit and coronavirus 'Even before Brexit and Covid-19 I was having difficulty attracting people to work in the industry. 'I pay well and look after our staff, but around 40 per cent of our roles were filled with European labour and now this has gone. 'I advertise our job roles in various ways, but only receive a small number of applications. 'Roles are multi-skilled. People need to be able to care for the animals to the highest welfare standards, run complicated computer systems, but also be willing to get their hands dirty in more manual jobs. 'This is holding the business back, making it hard to progress and leaving a reliance on expensive relief labour to fill the gaps. 'I've tried mechanising the business, but in the pig sector manual roles are still really important and it is difficult to mechanise further as profit margins are so small. 'Working with the younger generation is key to solving the issue. I've recently partnered with a recruitment agency to bring on apprentices. 'We'll train them in the sector, send them on relevant courses, and we hope this helps with job retention going forward.' Advertisement National Farmers' Union president Minette Batters told the Today programme: 'It's not getting better. It's a very very serious situation.' She said: 'But the situation is if anything deteriorating. We've had 40,000 pigs culled that have been simple thrown away, we've got 200,000 backed up.' She continued 'this truly is an utter disgrace and a disaster for the pig industry', adding: 'The impact on these pig farmers is so precarious and we have to resolve it.' Ms Batters, who will give the keynote speech at the NFU conference in Birmingham today, said one farmer of 52 years had culled 4,700 sows. She said: 'I mean it's unprecedented, so no the situation is not resolved.' The BBC interviewer tried to pin the blame for the crisis on Brexit, with the NFU chief saying: 'It is an immigration problem. 'It's exacerbated massively by the situation with Covid, which is why the whole industry asked for a Visa recovery scheme to get through this. 'But ultimately the situation with leaving the EU, the new immigration policy, which of course is different, has created this problem.' Asked it could lead to farmers rearing smaller herds, she said: 'Without doubt. We've seen a massive contraction in the pig sector already, 10 per cent contraction. 'So it is contracting further and yet you've got retailers - M&S the other day can't fulfil their British commitment. 'They've committed to 100 per cent British and they're struggling to fulfil it. So while we produce less here, we're the only country in the world that has outdoor pigs, the only ones with the climate to do it. 'So we're contracting our sector with higher standards, bringing in more imports produced to lower standards that is not what the British public wants. 'We will get at some stage to this fully automated world, we're not there yet. So we need to work together to plan for that and avoid the situation that is going on at the moment because it's a lose lose for everyone.' She added: 'Ultimately this isn't just about farmers this is about the 60million people that live here, on an island that needs to be fed.' National Farmers' Union president Minette Batters (pictured) told the Today programme: 'It's not getting better. It's a very very serious situation' NFU President Minette Batters launches 'British farming: a blueprint for the future' with five key areas to fix Commitment and investment from both government and retail to sell more British food at home and abroad; Using the powers in the Agriculture Act to enable farmers and growers to trade fairly; A new economic model that drives investment back into the land, ensuring the tenanted sector is not disadvantaged; A dial-up, dial-down immigration policy; Future farm policy with a properly funded Sustainable Farming Incentive. Advertisement Ms Batters will say today the Government needs to urgently implement a clear plan for British farming and food production - or face sleepwalking into more crises. She will unveil a report calling for action including commitment and investment from Government and retailers to sell more British food at home and abroad. It will also argue the UK needs properly funded sustainable farming payments and a 'dial-up, dial-down' immigration policy. Ms Batters will say: 'British farming has a lot to be positive about, to be proud of, and to believe in. 'Our high standards of food production, our net zero ambitions, our education programme which reached a third of a million children last year. 'But Government does need to understand that we need certainty, commitment and consistency. 'We need a plan that preempts crises rather than repeatedly runs into them. The current situation in the pig sector should have, and could have, been avoided. Ms Batters will blame the Government's 'poorly designed change to immigration policy', and a lack of understanding of how food production works, for the crisis. And she will urge: 'This country needs a strategy and a clear vision for what we expect from British farming.' She will criticise 'contradictory Government policies' that are raising the bar for environmental standards at home but pursuing trade deals which support lower standards overseas. She will say ministers are making it difficult to find workers to harvest or process domestic food and are failing to prioritise resources to open up new export markets. She will warn 'polarised debates' around the environment and agriculture are not allowing the UK to focus on the challenges around food supply in the future. She will say: 'There needs to be a plan, a plan which enables Britain to keep on farming and to continue to be world leaders in high quality, safe and sustainable food.' The NFU conference is also set to hear from Environment Secretary George Eustice. Advertisement Russian legislators have authorised Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country, a move that could pave the way for a wider invasion of Ukraine after he rolled troops into rebel-held areas. The unanimous vote in the upper house of parliament formalises the Russian strongman's order to send troops into Ukraine's breakaway eastern regions and allows him to use military force outside of Russia with immediate effect. Holding a press conference to defend his decision today, Putin raised fears he is about to stage a land-grab in eastern Ukraine by saying his 'peacekeeping' mission will cover the whole of Donetsk and Luhansk regions including areas held by Ukraine. Russia still has around 190,000 troops massed on the border. It is thought more than 10,000 Russian troops have now moved into rebel-held areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, with videos revealing columns of tanks rolling through the streets in the early hours. Some 6,000 troops were sent to Donetsk, 5,000 to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka, a source with links to Ukrainian intelligence said. Putin denied that Russia has already sent in troops but vowed that he will 'fulfil its obligations' if necessary. He also issued a fresh list of demands to Ukraine - calling on Kiev to drop its NATO bid, declare neutrality, 'demilitarize', and negotiate directly with separatists. It is expected the demands will be rejected out of hand. Meanwhile the White House began describing Putin's actions as an 'invasion' following hours of dithering, paving the way for Joe Biden to impose crippling financial sanctions on Russia and send more U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank after his resolve initially appeared to be wavering. 'We think this is the beginning of an invasion... and you're already seeing the beginning of our response, that we said will be swift and severe,' Biden's deputy national security advisor Jonathan Finer said early Tuesday, after top aides had shied away from using the word overnight. As Russia's troops rolled in, fighting in the region escalated - with shells striking a power plant on the Ukrainian side of the line Tuesday morning after explosions killed two of Kiev's men and wounded 12 overnight. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had earlier led the Western response to Russia, ripping up a deal to open the Nord Stream 2 gas pipe - a move that will cost Russia billions of dollars in revenue but also hurt his own economy, saying that Putin's actions must have 'consequences'. Boris Johnson then announced sanctions on five Russian banks - Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and Black Sea Bank - and three 'very high net wealth' individuals - Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg - in what he called a 'first barrage', accusing Putin of 'a renewed invasion'. Boris Rotenberg, a former judo training partner of Putin, is the co-owner of SMP Bank while Igor Rotenberg is his nephew. Igor became a billionaire after being handed a raft of investments by his father Arkady - who is currently fighting his ex-wife over ownership of a 27 million mansion in Surrey. Timchenko is Russia's sixth richest man thanks to his ownership of investment firm Volga Group, and also an ice hockey fanatic. Biden later ordered heavy U.S. financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs and vowed steeper punishments ahead continues its aggression. He also said was moving additional American troops, fighter jets and helicopters to the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank to 'deter any potential aggression against NATO member states'. The EU also announced new sanctions on Russia that will blacklist more politicians, lawmakers and officials, ban EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with separatist entities - but they did not go as far as sanctioning Putin. Elsewhere today: Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told Russia's parliament that Ukraine has 'no right to exist' as a sovereign state, as lawmakers voted unanimously to approve Putin's order Andrey Rudenko, Russia's deputy foreign minister, said the country has the right to establish military bases in eastern Ukraine off the back of Putin's decree - but has no plans to do so Ukraine's defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov steeled his troops to face 'losses', saying they will have to 'overcome fear and despair' but vowed 'certain victory' in the face of Russian threats Dymtro Kuleba, Ukraine's defence minister, called for 'tough' sanctions against Moscow, before flying to Washington to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Zelensky said he is considering cutting all ties with Russia and told his countrymen to be 'ready' for Russian provocations, but added he still does not expect widespread fighting Pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine continued staging what are widely believed to be false flag operations, claiming three civilians were killed in a car bombing Russian stocks fell more than 8 per cent at opening, the ruble dipped to a two-year low, but oil prices rose 2 per cent amid fears of shortages Vladimir Putin vowed to keeping supplying Europe with gas despite threats of sanctions, though some have already accused him of choking supplies Russian artillery pieces are pictured in Rostov-on-Don, on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border, on Tuesday - as Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to advance on to Ukrainian territory Russian mobile artillery and armoured troop carriers are seen in Russia's Rostov-on-Don region on Tuesday, close to the border with Ukraine's separatist-held areas Putin is thought to have moved thousands of troops into rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine today (dark red area on the map), but there are fears he will try to seize control of the wider regions that separatists lay claim to (lighter shade area) Russian troops are seen as armoured vehicles manoeuvre in muddy conditions in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, close to rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine Vladimir Putin gave a press conference defending his decision to roll into eastern Ukraine today, vowing that Russia stands ready to 'fulfil its obligation' to defend the regions if necessary A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine Military vehicles drive along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops A military truck drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield leads international condemnation of Russia at an emergency session of the UN security council convened in New York after he recognised parts of eastern Ukraine as independent Global markets tumble after Putin orders 'invasion' of Ukraine The FTSE 100 index fell by more than 1.5 per cent today and European shares hit a seven-month low as a long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine now appeared to be underway. As Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, the benchmark index of Britain's leading companies dropped by 1.53 per cent or 115 points to 7,370 in early trading in London this morning. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's DAX fell 2.07 per cent or 311 points to 14,731 this morning, and the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 1.91 per cent or 129 points to 6,659. Investors were reacting to the apparent end of slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Brent crude surged to its highest level since September 2014, reaching $99.50 a barrel at one stage due to fears over disruption to supplies, with Moscow's actions set to prompt new sanctions from governments worldwide on Russia. The prospect of economic sanctions has rattled investors, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index falling 1.7 per cent this morning, entering its fourth straight session of losses. The benchmark has shed nearly 10 per cent from its all-time high in early January. Advertisement A huge military convoy of more than 100 trucks with soldiers was on Monday night seen heading in the direction of the Ukrainian border in Russia's Belgorod region, a witness told Reuters. Kharkiv, Ukraine's second city, is closest to that border, and has long been suspected as a possible target in a Russian invasion, according to western analysts. General Sir Richard Sherriff, Britain's former top Nato commander, warned that Europe is now facing its most-perilous moment since the end of the Cold War. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'This is the most dangerous moment in Europe probably at least since 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis, but it could be much worse than that because this is the invasion of a sovereign country which could turn into a catastrophic war with warfare on a scale not seen in Europe since 1945. 'So I think it's difficult to overstate the seriousness of the situation.' For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed 75 per cent of its total forces on three sides of neighboring Ukraine. They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe - and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialized. The European Union and Britain announced Tuesday that some of those measures were coming. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade - and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels in a conflict that has killed over 14,000 people. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has recognized the rebel regions' independence 'in borders that existed when they proclaimed' their independence in 2014 - broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under the rebel control and that include the major Black Sea port of Mariupol. Putin's move to recognize the territories' independence opened the door for him to formalise his hold on them and send forces in, though Ukraine and its Western allies have charged Russian troops have been fighting there for years. Moscow denies those allegations. Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While the U.S. clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. 'Russian troops have entered in Donbas,' the name for the area where the two separatist regions are located, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. 'We consider Donbas part of Ukraine.' But in a distinction that could complicate a European and Western response, he added: 'I wouldn't say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil.' Poland's Defense Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered Ukraine's east, with Javid telling Sky News that 'the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace didn't mince words either. 'Russia has already invaded Ukraine. They did it in 2014, occupied illegally Crimea and Donbas. This is a further invasion of their sovereign territory,' Wallace said. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted 'if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive.' The Kremlin hasn't confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didn't confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasn't immediately clear if they were Russian. Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russia's sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. In response to the moves thus far, the EU agreed new sanctions on Russia that will blacklist more politicians, lawmakers and officials, ban EU investors from trading in Russian state bonds, and target imports and exports with separatist entities. However, EU foreign ministers chose not to sanction Putin, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said following a meeting in Paris on Tuesday. 'This package of sanctions that has been approved by unanimity by the member states will hurt Russia, and it will hurt a lot,' Borrell told a news conference alongside France's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at a meeting in Paris. Separately, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that further Russian aggression in Ukraine would result in more sanctions, in coordination with the United States. It was not immediately clear when the sanctions would take effect, but diplomats expect them in the coming hours or days, when names and details will be made public. Borrell also said: 'We are going to target 27 individuals and entities who are playing a role in undermining or threatening Ukrainian territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.' Borrell said those individuals and entities were in Russia's defence, banking and financial sector. 'We target the ability of the Russian state and government to access our capital and financial markets and services,' Borrell said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. While he said that Russian tanks have already rolled into eastern Ukraine, he warned a full-scale offensive would bring 'further powerful sanctions.' But the first deputy chairman of the Russian State Duma's committee on international affairs said sanctions imposed by Johnson would have 'zero' effect. Vyacheslav Nikonov told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: 'What would be the result of sanctions like they're introduced today by Boris Johnson? Zero, it's nothing. It's sanctioned about three oligarchs and five... small banks. You know, this is a laughable affair, of course. 'We expected something more serious, like switching from... Swift, or cancelling the (buyers) of gas and so on.' The White House has also moved to respond, issuing an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions. President Biden announced on Tuesday a decision to move additional U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank bordering Russia as well as damaging economic sanctions. He added the U.S. would continue to supply 'defensive' weapons to Ukraine. 'I have authorized additional movements of US forces and equipment, already stationed in Europe, to strengthen our Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,' Biden said in a televised speech at the White House. 'Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part.' The move involves 800 troops in an infantry battalion task force from Italy to the Baltic region and up to eight F-35 Strike fighter jets from Germany to 'several operating locations along NATO's eastern flank', the Pentagon said. Twenty AH-64 attack helicopters were to be moved from Germany to the Baltic area and 12 more would be relocated from Greece to Poland. The steps would bolster the now more than 90,000 US troops temporarily or permanently deployed in Europe. 'These additional personnel are being repositioned to reassure our NATO allies, deter any potential aggression against NATO member states, and train with host-nation forces,' a US senior defense official said in a statement. Biden also announced the first wave of sanctions against Russia after accusing Putin of flagrantly violating international law in what he called 'the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine', and vowed steeper punishments ahead if Russia continues its aggression. The sanctions, among others things, target Russian banks and sovereign debt. Speaking about Putin's decision to send troops to eastern Ukraine, Biden said from the White house: 'He's setting up a rationale to take more territory by force. 'I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014,' he added, in a reference to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. He added: 'We're implementing full blocking sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions, VEB and their military bank. 'We're implementing comprehensive sanctions on Russian sovereign debt. That means we've cut off Russia's government from Western financing, it can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either. He said: 'Starting tomorrow and continuing in the days ahead we will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well.' Mr Biden said the US had worked with Germany in the halting of Nordstream 2, and he added: 'As Russia contemplates its next move, we have our next move prepared as well. Russia will pay an even steeper price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions.' 'None of us will be fooled' by Putin's claims about Ukraine, the President said. Why gas and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline are so significant in Putin's standoff with Ukraine? What is Nord Stream 2? Nord Stream 2 is a 750-mile, $10billion natural gas pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea, which finished being built just last year - meaning it only needs the approval of Germany to start pumping gas. The US has bitterly opposed the project, viewing it as a geopolitical weapon that Russia will make Europe more dependent on Russian fossil fuels and exert influence over the region. Nord Stream 2 would also largely replace existing pipelines running through Ukraine and Poland, depriving their governments of billions of dollars in transit revenues. But for Europe, and in particular for Germany whose economy largely relies on fossil fuels, the pipe is viewed as a valuable resource - providing access to huge fields of cheap gas trapped under Russian soil. Given the continent is currently in the midst of an energy crisis combined with peaking inflation, the pipe is seen as especially valuable. Europe gets almost 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia, having become more reliant on Moscow as it takes its own gas fields offline to meet carbon targets. Russia's natural gas exports to Germany via the existing Nord Stream pipeline crossing the Baltic Sea account for around a third of the total gas sent to Europe, but Moscow hopes it can double capacity with the new line. Nord Stream 2 would supply 26 million German homes when and if it is turned on, while allowing surplus to be sold on to Germany's neighbours. What has Germany previously said about the pipeline? Angela Merkel, the former German chancellor, with a big supporter of the project - viewing it as a way to replace German nuclear power that she mothballed in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Olaf Scholz, her successor, largely stayed quiet about the pipe in the opening months of his chancellorship despite coming under intense pressure to explicitly state it would be threatened if Russian attacked Ukraine. Pressed on the issue several times, he demurred - saying only that 'all options' would be considered and that Germany was willing to act 'against its interests' to preserve European security. What did Scholz say today? In a move that surprised many, Scholz said Tuesday morning that he would cancel approval of the project after Putin recognised areas of eastern Ukraine as independent and ordered his troops to move in. Scholz said his government made the decision in response Putin's order, which he said marked a 'serious break of international law' by attempting to redraw the border of Ukraine by force. 'Now it's up to the international community to react to this one-sided, incomprehensible and unjustified action by the Russian president,' he told reporters in Berlin, He added that it was necessary to 'send a clear signal to Moscow that such actions won't remain without consequences'. Benchmark European gas prices jumped by 13 per cent off the back of the news, while the UK equivalent rose 8 per cent. Will Russia cut off gas supplies if it invades? No one knows for sure, but a complete shutoff is seen as unlikely, because it would be mutually destructive. Russian officials have not signaled they would consider cutting supplies in the case of new sanctions. Moscow relies on energy exports, and though it just signed a gas deal with China, Europe is a key source of revenue. Europe is likewise dependent on Russia, so any Western sanctions would likely avoid directly targeting Russian energy supplies. More likely, experts say, would be Russia withholding gas sent through pipelines crossing Ukraine. Russia pumped 175 billion cubic meters of gas into Europe last year, nearly a quarter of it through those pipelines, according to S&P Global Platts. That would leave pipelines under the Baltic Sea and through Poland still operating. 'I think in the event of even a less severe Russian attack against Ukraine, the Russians are almost certain to cut off gas transiting Ukraine on the way to Germany,' said former U.S. diplomat Dan Fried, who as State Department coordinator for sanctions policy helped craft 2014 measures against Russia when it invaded and annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula. Russia could then offer to make up the lost gas if Germany approves the contentious new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, whose operators could face potential U.S. sanctions even though a recent vote to that effect failed. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the Biden administration has coordinated with its allies and that 'if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.' Interrupting gas supplies beyond the Ukrainian pipelines is less likely: 'If they push it too far, they're going to make a breach with Europe irreparable, and they have to sell the oil and gas someplace,' Fried said. Advertisement Smoke and flames engulf a power and heating plant generator in Shchastya, on the Ukrainian side of the front line, after being hit by shells fired from the separatist side Smoke is seen billowing from a Ukrainian power plant close to rebel held areas in the country's east, after shelling Tuesday morning by separatist troops Russian troops are seen entering Donetsk in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after Vladimir Putin said he was sending in 'peacekeepers' Boris Johnson (left) is seen leaving Downing Street after vowing that the UK is ready to issue an 'initial barrage' of sanctions against Russia, while foreign secretary Liz Truss (right) is seen arriving hours earlier at a COBRA meeting EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured on Tuesday) and EU Council President Charles Michel said sanctions would also 'target trade from the two breakaway regions to and from the EU' Vladimir Putin last night chaired a meeting of Russia's full security council, with top aides getting to their feet one by one to lay out the case for war in Ukraine Russian tanks and armoured vehicles partially covered in white camouflage paint are pictured rolling towards the border with Ukraine, amid fears a wider invasion is still on the cards How Putin's recognition of breakaway republics has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions before WWII Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions prior to the Second World War, the Commons has heard. Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash (Stone) said: 'This evening Mr Putin has recognised the two separatist regions in Ukraine as independent states with dangerous parallels to Germany's recognition of the Sudetenland in 1938.' In the run-up to the Second World War, the Sudetenland, in which three million Germans lived, was part of what was then Czechoslovakia. In the famous Munich Agreement of 1938 the region was ceded to Adolf Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany's territorial ambitions. Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions prior to the Second World War, the Commons has heard Hitler had been planning an invasion of the territory prior to the signing of the agreement. Britain's then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who was the main driver of the agreement, famously told the British public after it was signed that he believed it was 'peace in our time'. Hitler, who had already absorbed Austria into Germany in March 1938, rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1. It was that last act of aggression which was the final straw even for the peace-loving Chamberlain, who declared war on Germany on September 3. France followed soon after, sparking a conflict that finally ended with Germany's defeat in May 1945. In the famous Munich Agreement of 1938 the region was ceded to Adolf Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany 's territorial ambitions. Above: Hitler (right) with the then British PM Neville Chamberlain (centre) Advertisement Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. If Russia further invades Ukraine, the Biden administration could deprive it of a vast swath of low- and high-tech U.S. and foreign-made goods, from commercial electronics and computers to semiconductors and aircraft parts, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. President Biden would achieve that by expanding the list of goods that require U.S. licenses before suppliers can ship them to Russia, and his administration would then deny those licenses, the people said. The measures, whose details have not previously been reported, are part of a suite of export control penalties that the United States has prepared to damage Russia's economy, targeting everything from lasers to telecoms equipment and maritime items. They were not announced on Tuesday as part of a round of sanctions unveiled by Biden to punish Russian President Vladimir Putin for recognizing two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent and deploying troops into the regions to 'keep the peace.' The White House, and the Commerce Department, which oversees U.S. export controls, did not respond to requests for comment. The package, which was still being fine-tuned over the weekend and could change, comes even as some White House officials have pledged to spare the Russian consumer from the brunt of the penalties. The goal of the export control measures 'is really to degrade Russia's ability to have industrial production in a couple of key sectors,' Peter Harrell, who sits on the White House's National Security Council, said in a speech last month. 'We're sort of thinking about how do we degrade Russia's industrial production and sort of high-tech sectors rather than how do we sort of target the Russian people writ-large,' he added. And if Putin pushes further into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. 'If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay,' he said. The West insisted Putin's bold moves in Ukraine violated countless international agreements and since diplomacy has failed, it was time to move towards action. Western powers have long made clear the fate of Ukraine wasn't worth a direct military confrontation with Russia and the potential of a world war, so sanctions were the only, limited, option to channel their anger. 'No lows too low, no lies too blatant, no red lines too red to cross,' Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said in summing up the political disgust felt by nations from Europe to North America and the democracies hugging Russia's borders in Asia like Japan and South Korea. The Russian moves also pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. As world leaders scrambled to decide on their response, legislation that will likely set the stage for a deeper move into Ukrainian territory moved through Russia's parliament. The bills, which sailed quickly through the Kremlin-controlled parliament, envisage military ties between Moscow and the separatist regions, including possible deployment of Russian military bases in the separatist regions. Russia also ordered its diplomats to flee Ukraine on Monday night, in another likely sign of impending full-scale war. The Russian Federation will close its embassy in Kyiv as well as consulates in Odessa, Kharkiv and Lviv. Moscow alleged its staff had been repeatedly attacked in yet another false flag claim. Ukrainian protestors today planted crosses outside Russia's Kyiv embassy and vowed to send occupiers home in coffins. But they were outnumbered by Ukrainian security forces who formed a human barrier to protect the shuttered diplomatic compound. Russia's ministry of foreign affairs announced: 'To protect their life and safety the Russian leadership decided to evacuate the personnel of Russian foreign missions, which will be realised as soon as possible.' Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, sought to project calm, telling the country in an address overnight: 'We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone.' His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, will be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the current crisis and describing Ukraine's bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. 'Ukraine's membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russia's security,' he said. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe - demands flatly rejected by the West. Putin warned Monday that the Western rejection of Moscow's demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security. Sweeping through more than a century of history, Putin painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct used by the West to contain Russia despite the neighbors inextricable links. In a stark warning to Ukraine, the Russian leader charged that it has unfairly inherited Russia's historic land granted to it by the Communist rulers of the Soviet Union and mocked its effort to shed the Communist past in a so-called 'decommunization' campaign. 'We are ready to show you what the real decommunization would mean for Ukraine,' Putin added ominously in an apparent signal of his readiness to raise new land claims. Amid the soaring tensions, U.S. President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. But the U.S. always said that if Russia moved in, the meeting would be off. Ukraine U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya demanded that Russia cancel its recognition of the independence of the separatist regions, immediately withdraw its 'occupation troops' sent there by Putin, and return to negotiations. He called the Security Council 'sick' for its past inaction, and urged members to defend Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Despite Putin's actions, he said, 'The internationally recognized borders of Ukraine have been and will remain unchangeable regardless of any statements and actions by the Russian Federation.' While Ukraine has the right to self-defense under the U.N. Charter, he said, 'We are committed to a peaceful and diplomatic path and we will stay firmly on it. We are on our land. We are not afraid of anything or anyone. We owe nothing to anyone, and we will not give away anything to anyone.' He said 'there should be no doubts whatsoever' about this because 'it is not February 2014,' when Russia invaded Crimea, which it later annexed, and Ukraine was not prepared. 'It is February 2022,' he said. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the United States and its Western allies of egging on Ukraine - which he said has concentrated a 120,000-strong military contingent along the contact line with pro-Russian separatists in the east - toward 'an armed provocation.' He accused Ukraine of sharply increasing shelling in residential areas of Luhansk and Donetsk over the past weekend as well as in some Russian towns and villages near the border. 'So it has become clear that Donbas is on the brink of a new Ukrainian military adventure as was already the case in 2014 and 2015,' he said, explaining that is why Putin made the announcements earlier Monday. Putin announced the decision to recognise eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions as independent in a lengthy televised address on Monday evening. He said: 'I believe it is necessary to take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.' He was then shown signing mutual aid agreements with rebel leaders in the Kremlin. At the end of his lengthy speech, Putin asked Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, to 'support this decision'. Both Russia's lower and upper houses of parliament are due to vote on the recognition on Tuesday. The Russian leader also demanded that Ukraine end military operations against pro-Moscow rebels in the eastern part of the country, or face more possible 'bloodshed'. 'We demand an immediate end to military operations,' Putin said, accusing Kyiv of 'trying to organise a blitzkrieg' in east Ukraine. 'Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine,' he added. The West had repeatedly warned Putin not to recognise Ukraine's rebels, a move that effectively buries a fragile peace agreement regulating the conflict. Putin spoke for over an hour in a speech heavy with historical references questioning Ukraine's right to sovereignty and alleging the West had spent years cheating Moscow. 'Modern Ukraine was entirely and completely created by Russia,' Putin said. Volodymyr Zelensky, in a speech to the Ukrainian nation last night, vowed 'we are not afraid of anyone or anything' and that 'we will not give anything to anyone' in defiance of Russian pressure Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21 Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions' independence paves the way for the long-feared Russian invasion. Pro-Russian residents in Donestk celebrated independence with a fireworks show on Monday Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya attends as the United Nations Security Council meets after Russia recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, in New York City, U.S., on February 21 Kiev mayor Klitschko pays tribute to Ukrainian soldier killed in shelling Former World boxing champion Vitali Klitschko today paid tribute to a Ukrainian officer killed by shelling. Captain Anton Sidorov, 35, a keen musician, wrote and performed a poignant song in 2017 to his fallen comrades called Sleep My Brothers. Today he was laid to rest himself in a moving service at the tiny Holy Trinity Cathedral. Mayor of Kyiv Mr Klitschko said: 'Anton Sidorov from the first days of Russian aggression defended the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine in the east of our state. 'He was assistant chief of staff - head of intelligence. 'He died during shelling by illegal armed groups and Russian occupation forces in Donbas. 'Anton Sidorov was remembered by his brothers as worthy, devoted and professional servicemen. A real defender of Ukraine. And many Ukrainians heard his song dedicated to the fallen soldiers, 'Sleep, my brothers.' Blessed memory of the Hero... The city will do everything to support the daughters and widow of the fallen Hero.' Captain Sidorov was blown up by an artillery shell on February 19 as Russian separatist forces attacked. His uniformed colleagues gathered to carry his coffin into the Orthodox church service today. Advertisement Appearing visibly angry, Putin said Ukraine should be called 'Ukraine of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin', saying it owes its creation to the Russian revolutionary. He also accused Kiev of waging 'genocide' in eastern Ukraine and of preparing to get hold of a nuclear arsenal. He said the West 'spat' on Russia's security concerns for years by 'moving NATO eastwards and putting military infrastructure closer to Russia's borders.' The Russian leader said the West was trying to 'blackmail' Moscow, 'regardless of the situation in Ukraine.' 'There is only one aim: to stop Russia from developing. And they will do it, as they did before, even without any formal pretext at all,' the longtime Russian leader said. In response, Ms Truss said the UK will announce new sanctions on Russia on Tuesday 'in response to their breach of international law and attack on Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity'. Meanwhile Mr Johnson will chair a Cobra meeting at 6.30am on Tuesday morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, a No 10 spokesperson said. The spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister will chair a COBR (Cobra) at 0630 tomorrow morning to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and to coordinate the UK response including agreeing a significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately.' The European Union's top officials have also said the bloc will impose sanctions against Russia. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel say in a joint statement that the recognition is 'a blatant violation of international law.' The statement adds that the bloc 'will react with sanctions' and 'reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.' Responding to Putin signing a decree formally recognising rebel-held territories in eastern Ukraine as independent states, Mr Johnson told a press conference: 'I gather that Vladimir Putin has effectively announced that Russia is recognising the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. 'This is plainly in breach of international law. It's a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. 'It is a repudiation of the Minsk process and the Minsk agreements. And I think it's a very ill omen and a very dark sign, and certainly does seem to me that it's certainly an indication - yet another indication - that things are moving in the wrong direction in Ukraine. 'The UK will continue to do everything we can to stand by the people of Ukraine with a very robust package of sanctions, as you know, fortifying the Eastern flank of NATO in all the ways that we have, but also being one of the few countries to have given the Ukrainians, the defensive weaponry that we think is appropriate to their needs and we will continue to to think about what more we can do to support Ukraine in what is clearly a very, very dark and difficult time.' Mr Johnson later told the Ukrainian president that he believes a Russian invasion is 'a real possibility in the coming hours and days'. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this evening to discuss the deteriorating situation in and around Ukraine. 'Outlining his grave concern at recent developments in the region, the Prime Minister told President Zelenskyy that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days. 'The Prime Minister strongly condemned the Kremlin's decision to recognise Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states, and said the move made the Minsk agreements and process unworkable. 'He added that the UK was already engaging with partners on the issue and said the UK would raise it at the United Nations Security Council and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe in the coming days.' Mr Johnson also told President Zelenskyy that he would 'explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine' at the request of the country's government. A Downing Street spokesperson said: 'He told President Zelenskyy that the UK had already drawn up sanctions to target those complicit in the violation of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and that those measures would come into force tomorrow. 'The Prime Minister also said he would explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine, at the request of the Ukrainian government. 'The leaders agreed that the West needed to support Ukraine in the event of an invasion, but should continue to pursue a diplomatic solution until the last possible second. 'Regardless of President Putin's actions, the UK would be steadfast in its full support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Prime Minister said.' Ms Truss said 'we will not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished' after Putin said he would recognise two separatist Ukrainian republics. Russia 'used body parts from morgue to fake attacks in Donbass' Ukraine on Monday accused Russia of taking corpses from morgues and using them in incidents of fake attacks blamed on Kiev. In one piece of footage, pro-Moscow journalists reporting from a market in the Donetsk region claimed a 'saboteur' had attempted to plant a bomb there in the morning while people did their shopping. Reporters claimed the 'criminal ' had been blown up by security forces before showing images of body parts scattered around the road. But Kiev said the limbs had likely been taken from a local morgue and placed to appear as if an attack had taken place, in an effort to justify Russia marching troops into the region to protect locals. 'We assume that they take corpses from morgues and blow them up for imitation,' said an official. A second such incident was reported elsewhere in the Donbass region, as separatist channels reported that a miner had been killed in a blast. Advertisement She added: 'President Putin's recognition of the 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic' as independent states shows flagrant disregard for Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements. This step... signals an end to the Minsk process. 'It demonstrates Russia's decision to choose a path of confrontation over dialogue. We will co-ordinate our response with allies. We will not allow Russia's violation of its international commitments to go unpunished.' Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg tonight condemned Putin's action in recognising the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine and accused Russia of 'trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine yet again'. 'I condemn Russia's decision to extend recognition to the self-proclaimed 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic',' NATO's secretary general Mr Stoltenberg said. 'This further undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, erodes efforts towards a resolution of the conflict, and violates the Minsk Agreements, to which Russia is a party.' The former Norwegian Prime Minister added: 'In 2015, the United Nations Security Council, which includes Russia, reaffirmed its full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Donetsk and Luhansk are part of Ukraine. 'Moscow continues to fuel the conflict in eastern Ukraine by providing financial and military support to the separatists. It is also trying to stage a pretext to invade Ukraine once again. 'NATO supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders. Allies urge Russia, in the strongest possible terms, to choose the path of diplomacy, and to immediately reverse its massive military build-up in and around Ukraine, and withdraw its forces from Ukraine in accordance with its international obligations and commitments.' UK Foreign Office minister James Cleverly said sanctions imposed by Britain will be ratcheted up because of 'what has already happened' and not just in response to 'what might happen in the future'. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Cleverly told MPs: 'I can confidently inform the House that they are demanding of the Government something which the Government is absolutely determined to do. You are pushing at an open door.' The Foreign Office minister added: 'The question that was asked is, 'are these sanctions only going to be escalated in response to further aggression?' 'I can assure this House that these sanctions will be ratcheted up because of what has already happened, not just in response to what might happen in the future. Our intention, as I say, is to prevent even further invasion of Ukraine, to have those troops that are currently in Ukraine removed and then have them returned to their own barracks once they are back in Russia.' Liberal Democrat Layla Moran said: 'While so far we may have talked the talk, I'm afraid to say today's list of sanctions were gruel. I don't think that they've done anything. I don't even think there is a line in the sand there.' The MP for Oxford West and Abingdon told the Commons she welcomed the sanctions but she wants the Government 'to do so much more than it's done today'. She spoke of the need to tackle 'Putin's cronies' and also used her parliamentary privilege to name 35 people she said were on a list of 'key enablers' compiled by Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his team over a year ago. Russian tanks an armoured vehicles are seen in what observers described as 'battle formation' close to the border with Ukraine, with a 'Z' symbol painted on the sides which is believed to denote a battle group Russia has moved its forces to within three miles of the Ukrainian border, with tanks spotted on manoeuvres in Kursk (left) at the weekend and support trucks in Belgorod (right) on Monday Russian 'terminator' tanks - armoured vehicles that are designed to support infantry units fighting in urban areas - were spotted being transferred to the frontlines at the weekend Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, toasts with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev from a distance after their talks in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday What did Vladimir Putin say in his speech? ON DONBASS 'Those who embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed, lawlessness did not recognize and do not recognize any other solution to the Donbass issue, except for the military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. I ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision, and then to ratify the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with individual republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed in the very near future. And from those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities. 'Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. Announcing the decisions taken today, I am confident in the support of the citizens of Russia. Of all the patriotic forces of the country.' ON UKRAINE MEMBERSHIP OF NATO 'If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.' ON ORIGINS OF MODERN UKRAINE 'Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917... 'As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called 'Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's Ukraine'. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents... And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunisation. Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.' ON UKRAINIAN STATEHOOD 'Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.' ON BREAK-UP OF USSR 'Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine... '(Ukraine) preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations... 'From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.' ON NATO'S 2008 MEMBERSHIP PROMISE TO UKRAINE AND GEORGIA 'Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a pronounced anti-Russian policy. A number of member states of the alliance are still very skeptical about the appearance of Ukraine in NATO. 'At the same time, we are receiving a signal from some European capitals, saying what are you worried about, this will not happen literally tomorrow. Yes, in fact, our American partners are also talking about this. Well, we answer, if not tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow. What does this change in a historical perspective? Basically, nothing. Moreover, we know the position and words of the U.S. leadership that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not exclude the possibility of this country joining NATO if it can meet the criteria of the North Atlantic alliance and defeat corruption. At the same time, they try to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance, saying that there are no threats to Russia. Again they propose that we take them at their word. But we know the real value of such words.' ON THREATS TO RUSSIA 'We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. I pay special attention to the fact that the danger of a sudden strike against our country will increase many times over. Let me explain that U.S. strategic planning documents contain the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike against enemy missile systems. And who is the main enemy for the U.S. and NATO? We know that too. It's Russia. In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly declared the main threat to North Atlantic security. And Ukraine will serve as a forward springboard for the strike. If our ancestors had heard about it, they probably would simply not have believed it. And today we don't want to believe it, but it's true.' ON SANCTIONS 'They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia's sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine. There is only one goal - to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values. I want to say clearly and directly that in the current situation, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country is increasing significantly, Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security. That is exactly what we will do.' Advertisement President Biden called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Putin signed the decree. Zelensky revealed the call with Biden on Twitter Monday and said they 'discussed the events of the last hours'. 'We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,' he posted, adding: 'A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.' Mr Johnson's spokesman said that it appears Putin's invasion plan has 'already begun' while Ms Truss, after meeting with NATO, said an invasion appears 'highly likely' but that diplomacy must continue until the last moment. There are now thought to be 190,000 Russian troops on the border of Ukraine comprising around three quarters of its conventional forces backed by 500 fighter jets, 50 heavy bombers, and dozens of attack helicopters. The Kremlin denies it has plans to attack, but Western allies say Putin is trying to concoct a pretext to invade by stirring up conflict in two breakaway eastern regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - and staging 'false flag' attacks to justify marching his troops in on a mission to 'protect' them. Should Russia go ahead with its attack, the US has warned the UN security council that Moscow has prepared a list of targets for assassination and imprisonment in detention camps. Officials say the list includes anyone who might oppose the Kremlin - including political figures, journalists, Russian and Belarusian dissidents sheltering in the country, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ community. 'As we've seen in the past, we expect Russia will try to force cooperation through intimidation and repression,' a US official told Foreign Policy magazine on Friday, before a letter containing the allegations was sent to the US on Monday. 'These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions. '[That] includes Russian and Belarusian dissidents in exile in Ukraine, journalists and anti-corruption activists, and vulnerable populations such as religious and ethnic minorities and LGBT persons.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the claims an 'absolute lie'. Heavy shelling was reported along the frontline at the weekend, leaving several Ukrainian troops dead, following what Russian state media claimed were terror attacks targeting top officials and a gas pipeline in the two regions - which the West said was staged. Fighting continued on Monday, with separatist commanders alleging that artillery had been fired into the Donetsk region and struck a hospital with 'clashes' reported near Mariupol. Russia separately claimed that a Ukrainian shell had blown up a guard post in Rostov-on-Don. Ukraine denies firing at either separatist or Russian territory. The Kremlin has also been pushing claims that 'mass graves' containing the bodies of civilians killed by Ukrainian troops have been discovered in the region, and on Monday submitted documents containing those allegations to the UN Security Council. Tens of of thousands of civilians - mostly women, children and the elderly - have now being evacuated from rebel-held areas into Russia due to the 'threat'. Fighting-age men have been ordered to stay behind under the threat of legal sanctions if they try to leave. In what appeared to be a last-ditch diplomatic gambit brokered with the aid of French President Emmanuel Macron, the White House said Biden has agreed 'in principle' to a meeting with Putin as long as he holds off on launching an assault. But the Kremlin said no 'concrete' plans had been made. It is the second time that Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to position himself as Europe's top security negotiator, has been embarrassed by Moscow - given guarantees which were revoked when he made them public. Two weeks ago he claimed Putin had agreed to stop military drills on Ukraine's border, which Russia immediately denied. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration has been clear that 'we are committed to pursuing diplomacy until the moment an invasion begins.' U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov are set to meet on Thursday in Europe - as long as Russia does not send its troops into Ukraine beforehand. 'We are always ready for diplomacy. We are also ready to impose swift and severe consequences should Russia instead choose war,' Psaki said in statement. 'And currently, Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon.' Despite the threat, life in the capital Kiev outwardly continued as usual for many Sunday, with brunches and church services, ahead of what Biden said late last week was an already decided-upon Russian attack. Katerina Spanchak, who fled a region of eastern Ukraine when it was taken over by Russian-allied separatists, was among worshippers crowded into the capital's St. Michael's monastery, smoky with the candles burned by the faithful, to pray that Ukraine be spared. 'We all love life, and we are all united by our love of life,' Spanchak said, pausing to compose herself. 'We should appreciate it every day. That's why I think everything will be fine.' 'Our joint prayers will help to elude this tragedy, which is advancing,' said another worshipper, who identified himself only by his first name, Oleh. A U.S. official said Sunday that Biden's assertion that Putin has made the decision to roll Russian forces into Ukraine was based on intelligence that Russian front-line commanders have been given orders to begin final preparations for an attack. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the sensitive intelligence. The United States and many European countries have charged for weeks that Putin has built up the forces he needs to invade Ukraine - a westward-looking democracy that has sought to move out of Russia's orbit - and is now trying to create pretexts to invade. Western nations have threatened massive sanctions if Putin does. U.S. officials on Sunday defended their decision to hold off on their planned financial punishments of Russia ahead of any invasion, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called passionately Saturday for the West to do more. 'If you pull the trigger on that deterrent, well then, it doesn't exist anymore as a deterrent,' Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told Fox on Washington's sanctions threat. Russia held nuclear drills Saturday as well as the conventional exercises in Belarus, and has ongoing naval drills off the coast in the Black Sea. The announcement that Russia was reversing its pledge to withdraw its forces from Belarus came after two days of sustained shelling along a contact line between Ukraine's soldiers and Russian-allied separatists in eastern Ukraine, an area that Ukraine and the West worry could be the flashpoint in igniting conflict. Britain's Defense Secretary Ben Wallace opens delivers somber comments Tuesday as he opens a conference of defense ministers in the UK following Putin's decision to send troops into Ukraine Natalia, the widow of a Ukrainian soldier killed in fighting on the border with separatists, weeps during the funeral of Captain Anton Sidorov in Kiev this morning The coffin of Ukrainian Captain Anton Sidorov is seen in Kyiv this morning, who died on the front line on Feb 19th Russia is continuing to evacuate citizens from rebel held areas of Ukraine, with tens of thousands of women, children and the elderly bussed across the border A child is seen on board an evacuation bus in rebel-held areas of Ukraine, as he is driven to Russian because of 'threats' from Kiev - which the government has dismissed as 'fake news' propaganda Women and children are loaded on to buses in rebel-occupied Ukraine, so they can be 'evacuated' to Russia Lawmakers in the self-declared Luhansk People's Republic meet Tuesday morning to ratify Russia's acknowledgement of the territory as independent from the wider state Biden hits two pro-Russian regions in eastern Ukraine with sanctions after Putin declared them independent Joe Biden will issue sanctions on the two regions declared 'independent republics' by Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday in his first real move toward full-scale invasion. The absence of sanctions directly on Russia or Putin was immediately met with backlash from those who said the administration isn't doing enough in response to the latest Russian movements and announcements. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki assured that there will be further measures taken in coordination with U.S. allies and partners if Russia further invades Ukraine. 'We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,' she wrote. Biden almost immediately called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and convened a meeting of his National Security team after Vladimir Putin slammed the U.S. for 'colonizing' Ukraine and using it as a 'puppet regime' in remarks where he announced he would sign a decree recognizing two eastern regions of Ukraine as independent states. The president also hopped on a secure call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz shortly after Putin's remarks. 'We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately,' Psaki wrote in her Monday statement following Putin's remarks. 'President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,' she detailed, adding 'the Departments of State and Treasury will have additional details shortly.' 'We will also soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments,' Psaki added. A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers pledged on Monday to 'work toward whatever emergency supplemental legislation will best support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine.' 'No matter what happens in the coming days, we must assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions,' they wrote. Zelensky said he discussed with Biden on Monday afternoon 'the events of the last hours'. 'We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,' he posted, adding: 'A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.' The White House confirmed that Biden did have a roughly 35-minutes call with Zelelnsky. Advertisement Biden convened the National Security Council at the White House on Russia's military buildup around Ukraine. White House officials released no immediate details of their roughly two hours of discussion. 'We're talking about the potential for war in Europe,' U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said earlier Sunday at a security conference in Munich, Germany, that saw urgent consultations among world leaders on the crisis. 'It's been over 70 years, and through those 70 years ... there has been peace and security.' Zelenskyy on Sunday appealed on Twitter for a cease-fire. Russia has denied plans to invade, but the Kremlin did not respond to Zelenskyy's offer Saturday to meet with Putin. After a call with Macron, Putin blamed Ukraine - incorrectly, according to observers there - for the escalation of shelling along the contact line and NATO for 'pumping modern weapons and ammunition' into Ukraine. Macron, a leader in European efforts to broker a peaceful resolution with Russia, also spoke separately to Zelenskyy, to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and to Biden. Blinken intentionally raised the prospect of a Biden-Putin summit in interviews with U.S. television networks on Sunday, in a bid to keep diplomacy alive, a senior U.S. official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. reasoning. Blinken said that Biden was 'prepared to meet President Putin at any time in any format if that can help prevent a war' and the U.S. official said Macron had then conveyed the offer of talks to Putin - conditioned on Russia not invading - in his phone calls with the Russian leader. Tensions mounted further, however. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued an advisory urging greater caution by Americans in Russia overall. 'Have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance,' it warned. Immediate worries focused on eastern Ukraine, where Ukrainian forces have been fighting the pro-Russia rebels since 2014 in a conflict that has killed some 14,000 people. In the eastern Ukraine regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, separatist leaders have ordered a full military mobilization and sent more civilians to Russia, which has issued about 700,000 passports to residents of the rebel-held territories. Claims that Russian citizens are being endangered might be used as justification for military action. Officials in the separatist territories claimed Ukrainian forces launched several artillery attacks over the past day and that two civilians were killed during an unsuccessful assault on a village near the Russian border. Ukraine's military said two soldiers died in firing from the separatist side on Saturday. 'When tension is escalated to the maximum, as it is now, for example, on the line of contact, then any spark, any unplanned incident or any minor planned provocation can lead to irreparable consequences,' Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said in an interview that aired Sunday on Russian state television. On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers said they were under orders not to return fire. Zahar Leshushun, peering into the distance with a periscope, had followed the news all day from a trench where he is posted near the town of Zolote. 'Right now, we don't respond to their fire because ...' the soldier said before the sound of an incoming shell interrupted him. 'Oh! They are shooting at us now. They are aiming at the command post.' Relatives and friends attend a funeral service for Anton Sidorov, a Ukrainian serviceman who was reportedly killed by shelling in eastern Ukraine, at a church in Kiev Ukrainian servicemen attend a funeral service for Anton Sidorov, a Ukrainian serviceman who was reportedly killed by shelling in eastern Ukraine Vladimir Putin has used these identical tactics and trickery before when he sparked war in Georgia... the West must punish this thug as he rips apart another nation, writes IAN BIRRELL When Georgia was on the verge of joining Nato in 2008, Russia's president Vladimir Putin stirred up bitter separatist tensions, made baseless claims of genocide, and carried out military exercises nearby. His proxies fired pot-shots over the border, then evacuated civilians from areas under their control, on the bogus pretext of saving them from aggression. There was a short war that ended with Russian tanks 30 miles from the capital Tbilisi and two chunks of the country breaking away as self-declared republics. But the former KGB chief denied he had any imperial ambitions, insisting Russia had 'no wish or grounds to encroach on the sovereignty of former Soviet republics'. How hollow those words sound now as history looks set to repeat itself, with this hateful dictator using identical tactics and trickery in Ukraine. Just as when he invaded and illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, he is operating through proxies to achieve his aims of corroding democracy and thwarting a sovereign nation's desire to find stability under the defensive shield of Nato. Yet for all his talk of Western influence in Ukraine, Putin's real aim is simple: To prevent democracy from infecting his own blighted citizens and leading them to challenge his corrupt regime, one that has failed them so badly. Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognising the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday Once again we see Putin's stooges in two breakaway republics Donetsk and Luhansk in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine fabricating attacks and evacuating civilians. And, once again, Putin makes phoney assertions of genocide, as well as lying about Ukrainian attacks on mother Russia. With his customary twisting of the truth, the president claimed last night he had always treated his neighbour in an 'honest way and with respect to Ukraine's interests'. That could not be further from reality especially as he signed the decree formally recognising the two republics, paving the way for a possible further invasion that might have cataclysmic consequences for our continent. The current conflict began in 2014 when a corrupt Russian-backed president of Ukraine fled after pro-democracy protests erupted across the nation following his decision to abandon moves to sign a co-operation deal with the European Union. Putin reacted to the ousting of his ally by stealing Crimea the first annexation of sovereign territory in Europe since the Second World War. He then sent in his tanks and troops when it seemed Ukraine was on the point of crushing rebels that he supported in Donbas. This led to full-scale fighting, followed by a peace deal known as Minsk 2 that resulted in a 173-mile frontline across eastern Ukraine between the Kiev regime and the two self-declared republics. The conflict, which left 14,000 people dead and two million people displaced, has flickered ever since. Russian and Belarus soldiers during joint exercises of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus as part of an inspection of the Union State's Response Force, at a firing range near Brest U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Poland to reassure NATO allies and deter Russian aggression The hastily-agreed peace treaty, backed by Putin and signed under pressure by Kiev, was imperfect and never fully implemented. It envisaged 'special status' for the two 'republics' although their status and political structures were ill-defined and would have given Russia control over Ukraine's future. Now Putin has torn up the treaty after a carefully-choreographed routine that began last Tuesday when the lower house of the Russian parliament voted to ask their puppet-master to recognise the separatist regions. Then the Russian leader called a meeting of his security council, at which ministers and security chiefs lined up to demand recognition of the 'republics'. 'We were left with no choice,' claimed foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. So what can we deduce from the latest manoeuvres? First, that Putin has effectively stolen another chunk of Ukraine and breached international law by undermining another nation's territorial integrity even if those in charge of the 'republics' have not yet asked to formally join Russia as I write. However, they have signed a 'friendship and mutual assistance' treaty which means Putin can be asked to send in 'military assistance' or 'peacekeepers' and last night, in an ominous move, it emerged he has already given an order to send his armed forces into the 'republics'. Given the forces massed on the border and his ceaseless lies about Ukrainian attacks and Nato aggression, this could lead to 'defensive' intervention elsewhere in the country. Indeed, if full-scale war erupts, the start might be dated to last Thursday when the shelling across the border was massively increased from an average of five a day to 60 66 on Friday, and more than 100 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Putin claimed last night that 'Ukraine's military strategy is nothing less than the preparation for military actions against Russia' an absurd suggestion that would be suicidal for Kiev given the imbalance of forces between the two nations. We must hope the West stands firm and imposes every possible sanction on this brutal thug to punish him as he rips apart a neighbouring nation based on specious historical arguments and makes preparations to invade again on utterly spurious grounds. Pictured: Boris Johnson on Monday Yet this malevolent dictator with four yachts and a billion-pound palace on the Black Sea who has overseen the pillaging of his resource-rich nation by his band of patsy oligarchs, even had the cheek to argue that corruption had eroded Ukrainian 'statehood' and Kiev's politicians were robbing their people. Having spent five weeks in Ukraine and having previously been witness to the appalling events of 2014 I can feel only sorry for all those decent people I have met and interviewed whose only desire is peace and security for themselves, their families and their friends. And my sorrow extends to a nation that has been struggling to escape the Soviet shadow in pursuit of democracy but is being dismembered by a despot who once worked for the Communist secret police and now seeks to protect himself and his thieving pals from his own people. We must hope the West stands firm and imposes every possible sanction on this brutal thug to punish him as he rips apart a neighbouring nation based on specious historical arguments and makes preparations to invade again on utterly spurious grounds. Despite being described as 'portly' and barely 5' 2", Bibhu Prakash Swain (pictured) was able to dupe many women, investigators have said An overweight 66-year-old allegedly duped 27 younger women into marrying him before running off with their money in what is being called India's biggest ever marriage scam. Among Bibhu Prakash Swain's victims were a high-ranking border police officer, a chartered accountant, teachers, a doctor and even two Supreme Court advocates. Despite being described as 'portly' and barely 5 feet 2 inches tall, the alleged fraudster was able to dupe women by targeting those in their 40s, while posing as a medical professional on a large salary, investigators have said. In status-conscious India he allegedly used fake identification cards and appointment letters to bolster his credentials and family background to con the high-powered career women who came from all over the country. It was originally reported that he had married 14 women, but police say they now believe it was more, while the the Hindustan Times newspaper reported there have been as many as 27 victims. According to local reports, he kept the names of the women on his phone, along with where they were from. According to phone records, he was in touch with another 70 to 75 women who could have potentially been further victims. Indian police were finally able to track down Swain, they said, after months of untangling his web of false identities which he maintained through the use of 128 forged credit cards. 'He primarily did this for their money, and some sexual pleasure,' senior police official Sanjiv Satpathy told AFP. Satpathy's team arrested Swain in recent days after months on his trail, discovering his multiple identities, bank accounts and plans for two weddings in February and March. He is said to have forged 128 credit cards and defrauded 13 banks. 'He was always very persuasive,' Satpathy said, 'and only targeted successful single, widowed or divorced women in their late 40s.' A few 'happy and satisfying days into the marriage', the police said, Swain used to make excuses to borrow his new wives' money or jewellery to help him with an emergency. He then moved on to his next target, hoping that the women's circumstances - as a single, widowed or divorced woman who had remarried in a conservative society - would scare them off going to the police. Investigators believe Swain married more than 18 times and are now going through his mobile phone records where he saved his wives' contacts - as Madam Delhi, Madam Assam or Madam UP (Uttar Pradesh) - named after the places in India where they stayed. Police said he posed as a deputy director general under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who was required to travel to different states in order to check medical facilities. Despite being described as 'portly' and barely 5 feet 2 inches tall, the alleged fraudster (pictured) was able to dupe so many women by targeting those in their 40s, while posing as a medical professional on a large salary The lie allowed him to spend long periods of time away without raising suspicion, police said. Police launched a probe into Swain's multiple lives in May 2021 after a complaint by one 48-year-old wife who, by chance, discovered that he was already married to at least seven other women. The victim, feeling angry and cheated, police say, 'quietly retrieved' the contact details of his other wives from his phone and contacted them individually about their shared predicament. 'This is when we came in and made discoveries about his long history of cheating, impersonation and deceit,' Satpathy said. Swain, born in a small village in the eastern state of Odisha, first married in 1978 and has three children - two of them doctors and one a dentist - with his first wife. Trained as a lab technician, he fell out with his family and moved to the state capital Bhubaneshwar where he started introducing himself as a doctor and ultimately married a doctor, his second wife, in 2002. 'He has since used multiple names but always introduced himself as doctor or a professor while looking for wives online,' Satpathy said. The police doubt his ruses were a one-man job and are looking for people who helped him with his elaborate setups and moved his money from one place to another. The Hindustan Times newspaper described him as 'no Don Juan', saying that he married at least 27 women in 10 states. For good measure he also allegedly defrauded 13 banks out of 10 million rupees ($135,000) with 128 forged credit cards, and ran a chain of medical labs where doctors and other staff went for months without pay, the paper said. An alligator has escaped his pen by swimming over a fence at a reptile park as an entire month's worth of rain was dumped across Sydney in two hours. Torrents of rain battered NSW on Tuesday causing widespread flooding from the Harbour City through to the Central Coast as roads turned into rivers and cars became stuck underwater. Waterways across the region quickly swelled, including Leask Creek, which runs through the Australian Reptile Park in Somersby, an hour north of Sydney. An American alligator who lives at the zoo seized the opportunity to make a break for freedom, swimming over the fence enclosing his lagoon. A sneaky alligator absconded from his enclosure at Australian Reptile Park, on the NSW Central Coast, on Tuesday as water levels breached the top of the boundary fence But once he made it to the other side, he became trapped by another surrounding fence and had to be rescued by zookeepers, who promptly reunited him with the other 55 alligators. 'Although there was no danger of him breaching the main boundary fence near visitors, there was still no way he would have been able to get back into the lagoon on his own,' Head Reptile Keeper Jake Meney told 7News. Footage of the rescue was shared on the wildlife centre's Facebook page, where it rapidly racked up more than a 1000 reactions. The video shows several men attaching a lasso around the reptile's jaw, before using the rope to pull the beast towards a low-lying section of the boundary fence. The men then pick the runaway up by its torso and place it back inside its enclosure. It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology warned heavy rainfall due to high humidity could make the next seven days the wettest week of the year so far for Australia's east coast. Wild weather lashed the NSW east coast on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding from Sydney to the Central Coast. Pictured: Wolli Creek The NSW Central Coast had the heaviest rain by Tuesday afternoon - 142mm at Wyong since 9am, including an extraordinary 35mm downpour in just 15 minutes. Just 20km to the northwest Whiteman's Ridge Road copped 80mm in two hours. In Sydney, the Parramatta River broke its banks while Marrickville in the city's inner west had 61mm of rain in an hour. Rising waters sparked commuter chaos, with cars needing to be towed across the city after becoming stuck in flood waters. Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra, Central Tablelands, Lower Western and Upper Western Forecast Districts, were warned to brace for heavy rain and damaging winds. The BoM warned the 'intense rainfall may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding' and warned people not to cross flooded roads. NSW is forecast to be wet for a further seven days with little prospect of any sunshine, while south-east Queensland is also forecast to see heavy rain from Wednesday. The founder of the energy firm who told customers to do star jumps and cuddle their pets for warmth has had a polluting woodburner fitted in his 3.2million mansion. Ovo Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick, 45, had to get permission for the posh 1,199 Anevay Tana stove at his Gloucestershire home. Cotswold District Council passed the request from Mr Fitzpatrick worth an estimated 675million two months ago. It appears at odds with his own company's aims to become the 'UK's zero carbon living partner in the home'. Ovo Energy boss Stephen Fitzpatrick, 45, had woodburning stove fitted in his mansion The charming Cotswold Manor owned by the founder of OVO Energy Stephen Fitzpatrick The cooker had to be given permission by his local council in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire Trendy wood burners TRIPLE the level of harmful pollution particles inside homes Wood burners are a danger to children and elderly people and should be sold with a health warning, a study finds. Researchers from the University of Sheffield placed pollution detectors in 19 homes for a month and collected data every few minutes. Wood burners were lit for four hours at a time and, while operating, the levels of harmful particles was three times greater than when they were unlit. These particles have been linked to a number of health issues and can cause damage to the lungs - particularly in young and old people. The burners were all 'smoke exempt', meaning they meet government standards due to be compulsory by 2022. Advertisement Ovo's self-described 'visionary strategy' is called Plan Zero and says: 'This means reducing our carbon emissions and removing carbon from the atmosphere. 'We've set tough targets to help us achieve both of these objectives.' Woodburning stoves contribute to particle pollution and last year were labelled a health risk. University of Sheffield researchers said they should be sold with a health warning because of the pollution they emitted into homes. Mr Fitzpatrick was in hot water last month after Ovo's sister firm SSE Energy gave embarrassing and insulting advice to customers trying to save money on fuel bills. The blog said it was giving ten simple and cost effective tips to keeping warm in winter without turning up the heating. But they included the pets and star jumps advice, as well as 'challenging the kids to a hula-hoop contest' and leaving the oven door open after cooking food. The outcry saw the webpage deleted and Mr Fitzpatrick admit 'It was a bad day, we made a mistake'. After learning about the word burner the Green Party's Amelia Womack told The Sun: 'It's clear he's found a cosy alternative to cuddling his cat and doing star jumps to keep warm. 'Meanwhile his customers are left shivering unable to pay bills. Founder of OVO Energy Stephen Fitzpatrick seen outside BBC late last year after an interview Ovo energy had been criticised over advice to keep warm that included cuddling pets Stephen Fitzpatrick: The 675m 'Robin Hood' ex-City trader who was born to a Belfast grocer and founded firm with his childhood sweetheart Mr Fitzpatrick, who was dubbed a disruptor to the UK energy market when he founded Ovo in 2009, which has made him one of the nation's richest people. The stunning weekend home is set in 12 acres of pristine countryside and also has a swimming pool, four bathrooms and elegant dining room with stunning views, giving Mr Fitzpatrick and his family adequate space to follow his company's controversial advice on Mr Fitzpatrick, who is worth an estimated 675million, is usually seen by locals and workers on his estate during the weekends. Mr Fitzpatrick founded Ovo Energy in 2009 and led its growth to become the largest independent energy provider in the UK, with around five million customers. He co-founded the company with Sophie using 350,000 they raised by selling their first home. They have known each other since the age of 16 and with their children, enjoy an elaborate life of plush country living and exotic foreign holidays. After establishing Ovo, Mr Fitzpatrick, who was born in Northern Ireland, became known as the 'Robin Hood' of the energy sector for taking on the big six established energy companies. The son of a Belfast grocer he studied at Edinburgh University and then started a successful property newspaper before becoming a City trader, which he quit in his mid 30s to set up on his own with OVO. In 2014, he controversially made headlines after it was revealed that he had taken 2million out of OVO, when it was struggling to break even, to buy a family home in Gloucestershire. A keen Formula One fan, in 2015 he invested 30million of his own money into the Marussia F1 team after it went into administration. Advertisement 'We can't all live in mansions but we all have the right to a warm home, and that needs system change.' Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay added: 'It seems another instance of do what I say but not as I do.' Ovo declined to comment to MailOnline. Last month it announced at least 1,700 jobs were set to be cut by the energy firm. Staff were given details of plans in January, which include reducing the number of offices from 10 to three. Unions said they will oppose the job cuts, and criticised the Government for 'doing nothing' to tackle the energy crisis. The cut-back represents a quarter of the number of employees at Ovo, which has around 4.5 million customers. Ovo said it is also increasing its minimum wage by 15% to 12 an hour, giving a pay rise for 1,000 employees. The company added it will reverse the policy of offshoring from the previous owner and create more high-skilled jobs in the UK, and open a new Ovo Academy in Glasgow. Around 1,000 call centre staff will be trained to become zero-carbon living advisers, with specialist knowledge of green home products and technologies from tariffs to making homes more energy efficient. The three remaining offices will be in Bristol, Glasgow and London, while more employees will be supported to work flexibly from home should they wish. At the time the Unite union said it warned in 2020 that Ovo was taking a risk when it took over the retail base of energy giant SSE. General secretary Sharon Graham said: 'We will do everything in our power to defend our members' jobs. 'All and every option will be on the table. As a first step the company must now open the books to union experts. 'We will not sit by and watch our members being made to pay the price of the pandemic.' Unite national officer for energy Simon Coop added: 'We warned the directors about blundering into the SSE takeover. 'In recent years the same directors have plundered the accounts for amounts estimated to be touching 5 million. 'Ovo must be subject to severe scrutiny before the union decides on our next moves, but if they move to compulsory redundancies they will be fully opposed by the union.' By Baek Byung-yeul Samsung, LG, POSCO, Coupang and other Korean companies are rushing to hire Korea-friendly former U.S. politicians and bureaucrats to more effectively respond to rapidly changing political and business conditions in the world's largest economy, according to company officials and analysts Tuesday. They said there has been growing need in recent years for companies to strengthen their ability to lobby the Biden administration and Congress as they expand in the U.S. By opening offices in Washington, D.C., and appointing former political figures and administration officials as their public affairs executives, Korean firms have been seeking to convey their opinions successfully to American policymakers and thus deal more flexibly with any policy changes there. "The hiring of bureaucrats or politicians familiar with Washington's situation at local U.S. offices is aimed at appealing and representing Korean corporate interests in the U.S. government's policy changes such as supply chain issues," said an official at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). "The role of their local offices, especially the Washington, D.C., office, has a separate function from their manufacturing bases in the U.S. The move is seen as a strategy to respond more flexibly to uncertain situations." She also said Korean companies are trying to open offices in the U.S. capital and strengthen their lobbying more actively during the Biden administration than the previous Trump administration. "The trade disputes between the U.S. and China have intensified since the Trump administration, but the Biden administration has often taken action in the process of the dispute. This means that uncertainties about the business environment have increased." The latest example of such lobbying activities in the U.S. came from LG Group, which appointed former White House deputy chief of staff Joe Hagin as head of its Washington office, to be opened in March. "We are about to open our Washington, D.C., office. We have searched for a person with competence and decided to appoint Hagin as chief," a spokeswoman of LG Corp. said. Hagin is expected to oversee public affairs for the U.S. government and Congress. For LG, which has a diverse business portfolio ranging from home appliances and chemical products to battery cells for electric vehicles, it is crucial to increase its lobbying capabilities as semiconductors and batteries increase in value, and are classified as national strategic assets in many advanced countries. Samsung Electronics also said it hired former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert as executive vice president for its U.S. branch. The tech giant said Lippert will lead Samsung Electronics America's North America public affairs starting next month. He served as U.S. ambassador to South Korea from 2014 to 2017. "Mark brings decades of public policy experience to Samsung Electronics America, as well as a deep understanding of how geopolitics impacts business in the U.S.," K.S. Choi, president of Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement released Feb. 16. "He is a proven leader and an effective diplomat, and we are thrilled that he will be bringing his profound expertise and enthusiasm to Samsung in Washington, D.C." In addition, Korean steelmaker POSCO hired Stephen Biegun, former U.S. deputy secretary of state, as adviser for its American business in 2021. "He has a long history of working as an executive at Ford, so he has a deep knowledge of the automotive industry and is quick to grasp local policy trends with abundant networking assets. POSCO Group is considering a number of new global investments, including in the U.S., following the expansion of its battery material business, so we expect that we are able to receive advice from him," a POSCO spokesman said when asked why the company recruited Biegun. Coupang, a Korean e-commerce company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, also appointed Alex Wong, former deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as its head of public affairs last June. The e-commerce company said it recruited the ex-Pyongyang negotiator, as "Coupang scales and grows its operations in South Korea and beyond, transforming the global e-commerce model by launching its services in new markets across Asia." The FTSE 100 index fell by more than 1.5 per cent today and European shares hit a seven-month low as a long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine now appeared to be underway. As Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, the benchmark index of Britain's leading companies dropped by 1.53 per cent or 115 points to 7,370 in early trading in London this morning. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's DAX fell 2.07 per cent or 311 points to 14,731 this morning, and the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 1.91 per cent or 129 points to 6,659. Investors were reacting to the apparent end of slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Brent crude surged to its highest level since September 2014, reaching $99.50 a barrel at one stage due to fears over disruption to supplies, with Moscow's actions set to prompt new sanctions from governments worldwide on Russia. PAST MONTH: The FTSE 100 plunged this morning amid concerns over the invasion of Ukraine PAST THREE YEARS: The FTSE 100 fell sharply when the pandemic began but has recovered The prospect of economic sanctions has rattled investors, with the pan-European STOXX 600 index falling 1.7 per cent this morning, entering its fourth straight session of losses. The benchmark has shed nearly 10 per cent from its all-time high in early January. The DAX is seen as more vulnerable than other regional indices due to Germany's heavy reliance on Russian gas supplies and the lack of energy companies on the index. Investors scurried to the relative safety of gold and government bonds as the US and its European allies were poised to announce harsh new sanctions against Russia. The FTSE is the index of Britain's leading companies. The London Stock Exchange is pictured It comes after shares fell sharply in Asia overnight, with Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index dropping 1.7 per cent and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong falling 2.8 per cent. Russia's MOEX index dropped nearly 11 per cent but oil prices jumped with US crude up 2.8 per cent. Russia is a major energy producer and the tensions have led to extremely volatile energy prices. Oil prices already have surged to their highest level since 2014, with US benchmark crude oil advancing $2.57 to $92.79 per barrel today in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, the basis for international pricing, added $1.45 to $96.84 per barrel. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine Yesterday, shares slipped in Europe as investors awaited developments in the Ukraine crisis, with the FTSE falling 0.3 per cent, the DAX giving up 2.1 per cent and the CAC declining 2 per cent. US markets were closed yesterday for Presidents' Day. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said the latest sell-off came as investors moved to dump shares in commodity producers, particularly those with exposure to Russia or Ukraine. He said this would keep volatility high on stock markets across the globe. Mr Mould said: 'The threat of Russia invading Ukraine was clearly visible at the end of 2021, but most investors were more concerned about inflation and how fast interest rates might go up. 'Now the threat of war is very real, and investors will need to add it to their growing list of things to worry about. This could prompt another bout of panic and lead to heightened market volatility.' It comes as a vaguely worded decree signed by Mr Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to 'maintain peace'. Mr Putin's directive came hours after he recognised the separatist regions in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history. The move paved the way to provide them military support, antagonising Western leaders who regard it as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by Britain, the US and others to respond. Aristocratic pop star Bo Bruce has beaten her viscount brother in a bitter court battle over their multimillion pound inheritance. The Voice UK star and her brother, Thomas Viscount Savernake have been embroiled in a lengthy legal spat over the future of their late mother's Wiltshire estate. Lady Rosamond had left her estate to her two children in equal shares, including the 2million Leigh Hill House, which she had received in divorce from the earl in 2009. But the High Court heard that ten years after her death, the viscount - who was named administrator of their mother's estate - has still not sold the house and shared the inheritance with his sister. When she signed with Mercury Records in 2012 after finishing as runner-up in the Voice UK, the pop star agreed to step aside as co-executor and allow her brother to administer their mothers estate. However, the court heard, she changed her mind in 2015 and emails to her brother and his representatives showed 'a desperate need for money.' The 37-year-old - real name Lady Catherine Brudenell-Bruce - spent years trying to force her brother to sell up or buy her out of the house, where he still lives, but claimed he did nothing. Ms Bruce subsequently sued her sibling in the High Court and won - leaving her as the sole executor of her late mother's estate and paving the way for her to sell the home and receive her split of the inheritance almost a decade on. The judge, Deputy Master John Linwood, said the viscount - who wants to buy the house himself and keep it in the family - had 'ignored his responsibilities' to his sister as executor of the will. The Voice UK star Bo Bruce, 37, has beaten her 'extremely wealthy' viscount brother in a bitter court battle over their multimillion pound inheritance. Ms Bruce is pictured above leaving the High Court Bo Bruce's aristocrat brother, Thomas, Viscount Savernake, 40, had been embroiled in a High Court spat over the future of their late mother's 2m Wiltshire home Leigh Hill House, the 2m home on the Savernake Estate, Wiltshire that was at the centre of the court row between Brudenell-Bruce siblings Bo Bruce and Thomas, Viscount Savernake Lady Rosamond (above) had left her estate to her two children in equal shares, including the 2million Leigh Hill House, which she had received in divorce from the earl in 2009 The siblings' father, the Earl of Cardigan (pictured), attended the two-day trial, but sat at the back of court, separate from his children's entourages The siblings were born into a family with an illustrious history stretching back to the Norman Conquest, their father is the 31st Hereditary Warden of Savernake Forest, the only privately owned forest in England, and a direct descendant of Richard Estormit who was given the title in 1083 for his service at the Battle of Hastings. The court heard Ms Bruce - whose lawyers say is in 'parlous financial circumstances' - and her brother grew up on the family's historic Savernake Estate, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. The estate has been in the family since it was gifted to the Brudenell-Bruces' ancestors by William the Conqueror and has passed down through the generations in an unbroken line ever since. The Grade-I listed 92,000 square feet Tottenham House, which has 100 rooms, was at its centre, but has more recently been used as a prep school and by a charity, before being sold for 11.5m in 2015. Lady Rosamond died of pancreatic cancer, aged 63, in 2012. She left her estate to her two children in equal shares following her divorce from Mr Budenell-Bruce, the Earl of Cardigan. The Voice UK star Bo Bruce is applying to have her brother removed as estate executor so that the house can be sold and she can get her money The Earl and Countess of Cardigan (centre) with their children, Thomas, Viscount Savernake and Miss Bruce, known formally as Lady Catherine Brudenell-Bruce Ms Bruce, 37, and her brother, 40, were brought up at Savernake Lodge, another substantial property on the estate, before moving into the six-bedroom Leigh Hill House with their mum after their parents' divorce in 2009. Ms Bruce's barrister, Steven Ball, told the judge that relations had been 'fairly amicable' between the siblings in the aftermath of their mum's death and Ms Bruce wanted the house to stay in the family. The pair had also been in a dispute over an alleged 600,000 debt the pop star owed to her 'extremely wealthy brother', but this sum was later rubbished in court. The viscount did not want the house - a part of the old Savernake Estate still in family hands - to be sold to a stranger and agreed he would continue living there and pay 20,000-a-year rent to his sister to reflect her half ownership. Claiming he wanted to ultimately buy her out of her share, he also advanced her regular loans to help cover her living expenses and 11,000 towards her wedding. The viscount later claimed that, in addition to the money she owes him, Ms Bruce should pay back thousands spent by her father on her private education and medical expenses dating back to her childhood. But Mr Ball said that in the years that followed, the viscount did nothing to progress to a buyout or sale, leaving his sister out of her inheritance. In a note to him and his representatives, she wrote in 2018 that she felt 'locked into ownership' of a property which was her 'only financial security' but which she did not live in. 'If Tom doesn't buy out then it is only fair that it be sold,' she wrote. Mr Ball continued: 'Contrary to the inference we are invited to draw that the defendant has always wanted to buy this property and having expressed that desire in 2016, by 2019 nothing had happened. 'One would have expected in the circumstances for the defendant to have got on with it and got the wheels moving straight away, but we get to the third year and nothing has been done.' It was only after 2019 that the viscount began claiming that a sale or buyout of the property could not go ahead until his sister's debt to him had been agreed or calculated in court, he said. Initially, he claimed she owed him over 600,000, but later reduced that to 450,000 and, although Ms Bruce accepts she owes him some money, she continues to dispute the full amount. After signing with Mercury Records in 2012 after finishing as runner-up in the Voice UK, Ms Bruce (above) agreed to step aside as co-executor and allow her brother to administer their mothers estate. However, the court heard, she changed her mind in 2015 and emails to her brother and his representatives showed 'a desperate need for money' Her barrister said the loans had been brought up as an 'entirely illegitimate impediment' to sale, since they were personal loans and had nothing to do with the estate. The fight ended in court last week after Ms Bruce sued her brother to have him removed as executor of the estate, having failed to share out the siblings' inheritance. And it was claimed the Viscount had a clear conflict of interest - as both beneficiary and representative of the estate, and as a potential buyer of the house. 'My client is not opposed to a buyout,' said Mr Ball. 'In fact, quite the contrary, it's a question of the amount. 'It's by no means the proposition itself, it's the conditions that always seem to be attached which give rise to the concern that matters are simply not going to be properly administered unless someone independent is holding the reins. 'We are left with a clear picture of the defendant as a person who cannot and will not disengage his personal interests from those of the office of executor,' he continued. For the viscount, barrister Harry Martin said Ms Bruce had agreed from 2015 that the property be retained, accepting rent and loans from her brother. The Grade-I listed 92,000 square feet Tottenham House (above), which has 100 rooms, was at the Brudenell-Bruce's expansive estate's centre, but has more recently been used as a prep school and by a charity, before being sold for 11.5m in 2015 He had done nothing wrong in his administration, gathering in the assets of the estate, with only realisation of the value of the house remaining. Appointing a professional administrator to deal with a valuation and buyout or sale would be a waste of money, he argued. But describing the battle as 'an unfortunate case of sibling distrust,' Deputy Master Linwood said the 'breakdown in relations' meant removing the viscount from his role as executor was necessary. 'I will remove Tom as executor,' he said. 'I don't accept that the administration of the estate has been or will in the future be carried out properly. 'Whilst in the initial period she wanted to retain the property, her position changed in January 2015. Her emails showed her desperate need for money. 'Tom, as executor, has taken no action whatsoever to progress the sale or realisation of the property.' The initial debt he claimed of more than 600,000 - including her school fees going back decades - was 'clearly an exaggerated sum' and should never have been suggested, he continued. Although he said he found no 'wrongdoing' on the viscount's part, he said his replacement with an independent executor was in the best interests of the beneficiaries, as they could now get the house properly valued and sold or bought out at a fair price by the viscount. The judge said there had been no agreed valuation of the house, with the most recent suggesting a value of 1.7m, but potentially up to 2.4m if maintenance works are undertaken. The siblings' father, the Earl of Cardigan, attended the two-day trial, but sat at the back of court, separate from his children's entourages. It is the latest in a long line of domestic, legal and financial dramas which have plagued the family. Lord Cardigan, son of the 8th Marquess of Ailesbury, has fought on-and-off battles with the trustees who control his estate. In 2012 he launched an unsuccessful High Court action against them to prevent the sale of dozen of portraits of his ancestors. The judge found in favour of the trustees who told the court that the estate was in severe financial difficulties. The following year, he revealed he was claiming Jobseekers Allowance, living in an unheated house and travelling to Marlborough Leisure Centre to use the showers and blamed the estate trustees for cutting off his income. World leaders today reacted with fury after Russian forces were ordered into eastern Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin on what he called a 'peacekeeping mission'. International leaders called for sanctions and warned that a war in Ukraine could cause a global economic crash after armoured vehicles were spotted in Donetsk, the main city of one of the two so-called 'republics' that Putin recognised as independent yesterday, in the early hours of this morning. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said there was no basis under international law for Putin to recognize the Ukrainian separatist regions, branding the decision to recognise them as a 'calculated act' to create a 'pretext for invasion'. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida criticised Russia for violating Ukrainian territorial integrity and said his country would discuss possible 'severe actions,' including sanctions, with the international community. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Russia should 'unconditionally withdraw' from Ukrainian territory and stop threatening its neighbours, describing the Kremlin's actions as 'unacceptable, unprovoked and unwarranted'. Meanwhile South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned Putin to 'respect' Ukraine's sovereignty and territory - and said that 'a military clash against the wishes of the international community... would bring huge ramifications in the politics and economies of not only Europe, but to the whole world.' Hopes are dwindling that a major conflict can be averted. Putin has ominously vowed 'bloodshed' if Ukraine's troops try to resist him and argued the nation has no history of statehood, was 'created by Lenin', is a corrupt US and NATO vassal, and has been directly threatening Russia's security. And Putin still has 190,000 troops backed by hundreds of tanks, artillery pieces, fighter jets, heavy bombers and missile batteries encircling Ukraine from three sides - including just a few dozen miles north of the capital, Kiev. A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine Ukraine's Military Forces servicemen sit in the back of military truck in the Donetsk on the eastern Ukraine front-line with Russia-backed separatists on February 21 World leaders (pictured, an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York on February 21) today reacted with fury after Russian forces were ordered into eastern Ukraine by President Vladimir Putin on what he called a 'peacekeeping mission' Putin has ominously vowed 'bloodshed' if Ukraine's troops try to resist him and argued the nation has no history of statehood, was 'created by Lenin', is a corrupt US and NATO vassal, and has been directly threatening Russia's security Ukraine has demanded severe sanctions against Russia as Western diplomats debated whether Moscow's decision to deploy troops to rebel-held eastern Ukraine is enough to trigger massive economic punishment. In a statement issued during a visit to Washington, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he was working with Kyiv's Western friends 'to impose tough sanctions against the Russian Federation.' The United States, Britain and the European Union all moved to announce new economic sanctions within hours, as European and Russian stocks tumbled and oil prices surged over news of the recognition. Italy's foreign minister Luigi Di Maio said that EU foreign ministers would give the greenlight to impose sanctions today. 'What happened yesterday with the recognition by Russia of two self-proclaimed republics of the Donbass is unacceptable, and Italy is convinced to proceed with sanctions,' Di Maio said in a video message. Meanwhile South Korea's Moon has instructed his officials to prepare for the economic fallout in South Korea if the Ukraine crisis worsens and US-backed nations levy stringent economic sanctions on Russia. South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said diplomats were trying to persuade 63 of its nationals who currently remain in Ukraine to leave. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida told reporters today that Putin's 'actions are unacceptable, and we express our strong condemnation.' He warned Russia that 'Japan is watching the development with grave concern.' Japan has a separate territorial dispute with Moscow over four Russian-controlled northern islands taken at the end of World War II. The standoff has prevented the signing of a peace treaty between the two sides. The global condemnation came amid rising skirmishes in the eastern regions of Ukraine that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the Europe-facing democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit. New Zealand's Mahuta called for 'urgent diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution' in a statement as she warned 'we are concerned that this is a calculated act by President Putin to create a pretext for invasion, which would be a clear act of aggression.' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for 'like-minded countries who denounce this sort of behavior' to 'stick together'. 'I can assure you that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions on Russia, we will be in lockstep with them and we will be moving just as quickly,' he said. Britain's health secretary Sajid Javid this morning said Russia had invaded Ukraine. 'We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe,' Javid said early today. 'We have seen that Putin has recognised breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine celebrated on Monday evening as fireworks went off following Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree recognizing two Eastern Ukrainian regions as 'independent republics' Ukrainian servicemen are seen outside of Svitlodarsk, Ukraine on February 21 Vladimir Putin today chaired a meeting of Russia's full security council, with top aides getting to their feet one by one to lay out the case for war in Ukraine Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking moments later, said a 'first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia' will be revealed today - though stopped short of calling last night's move an 'invasion', saying instead that Putin is 'bent on a full scale invasion.' Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, avoided the word 'invasion' as he vowed sanctions against Russia this morning - acknowledging that 'Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil' but adding: 'I wouldn't say that's a fully fledged invasion'. The threat of new sanctions underscores the West's difficulty in preventing a military conflict that's long been portrayed as inevitable. NATO-member Turkey, which has close relations to both Ukraine and Russia, criticised Russia's decision to recognise the independence of the regions in eastern Ukraine. A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement released today said: 'We find this decision by Russia unacceptable and reject it.' US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reaffirm US support for Ukraine. The White House issued an executive order to restrict investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures - likely sanctions - were to be announced on Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. Russian tanks an armoured vehicles are seen in what observers described as 'battle formation' close to the border with Ukraine today, with a 'Z' symbol painted on the sides which is believed to denote a battle group Russia has moved its forces to within three miles of the Ukrainian border, with tanks spotted on manoeuvres in Kursk (left) at the weekend and support trucks in Belgorod (right) on Monday At the United Nations, meanwhile, an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Monday night was called by Ukraine, the US and six other countries. Russia's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the United States and its Western allies were egging on Ukraine toward 'an armed provocation.' Nebenzia accused Ukraine of sharply increasing shelling in residential areas of the separatist regions over the past weekend as well as in some Russian towns and villages near the border. Ukraine's UN ambassador demanded that Russia cancel its recognition of the independence of the separatist regions, immediately withdraw its 'occupation troops' sent there by Putin and return to negotiations. Sergiy Kyslytsya condemned Putin's 'illegal and illegitimate' decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. China, a traditional ally of Russia, sounded a cautious note, calling for restraint and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. And in an unsurprising move, Syria said today it supports the decision of its ally Russia to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. 'Syria supports President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and will cooperate with them,' the state TV quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying during an event in Moscow. Syria has been a staunch ally of Moscow since Russia launched an air strike campaign in Syria in 2015 and helped turn the tide in a civil war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad. 'What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war,' said Mekdad Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off. Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists with arms and troops, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. The bikie's house was targeted in a night-time drive-by shooting in March 2021 Brajkovich reportedly objected to other members partying with rival bikie gangs Former sergeant at arms was kicked out of his own bikie gang in Perth last week eavily inked Hells Angel Dayne Brajkovich, 42, is selling his home in Ascot, WA A notorious bikie who was sensationally booted out of the Hells Angels gang last week has listed his luxury home for sale. Former sergeant-at-arms Dayne Brajkovich, 42, lived in the Ascot house in Western Australia for the past few years - but after a reported major dispute with other senior gang members, the heavily inked enforcer is said to have bought elsewhere in the state. The property, east of Perth's CBD, is priced at a 'bargain' $900,000 - and has been listed for sale since February 3. The house is described on the Domain website as a 'sublime and sophisticated sanctuary' and 'perfect for 'a busy professional.' It features hardwood floors, a grand entry foyer, an alarm system, CCTV and security grill doors. Tattoo clad former Hells Angels bikie Dayne Brajkovich has listed his luxury home in Western Australia on the market Bikie Dayne Brajkovich leaves a sentencing hearing at Perth Magistrates Court last year dressed in an outfit WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson described as 'disrespectful' The home is located in Ascot, Western Australia (pictured right) and has a current asking price of $900,000 The Ascot home also features hardwood floors, a grand entry foyer, an alarm system, CCTV and security grill doors The house also features a gym with all the latest equipment for those happy to exercise within the comfort of their own home Tellingly, there was no mention online that the lavish home was sprayed with bullets on March 2 last year. Court documents showed a passenger in a stolen Porsche fired up to five shots from a handgun soon after arriving at the home. Brajkovich, his partner and her seven-year-old child were inside at the time - but the trio miraculously escaped uninjured. The Porsche was found burnt out a short time later at nearby High Wycombe, with police holding the belief a white Mercedes was then used to pick up the occupants from the scene. The Mercedes was set alight the next day in Keysbrook. Following the terrifying incident last March, Jacob Peter Gorton was arrested in Brisbane and extradited to WA, where he is facing arson and stealing charges in relation to both vehicles, the West Australian reports. Tattoo clad Brajkovich, who was convicted of bashing Rebels gang chief Nick Martin just weeks before his assassination in 2020, was reportedly set upon by a series of Hells Angels members before getting booted from the club last week. He is also infamous for his distinctive 'HAMC' the acronym for Hells Angels Motorcycle Club tattooed on his nose. Additionally, Brajkovich has a '1 per cent' tattoo on his throat and above his top lip, a direct reference to select bikies who openly choose to live as outlaws. Brajkovich was expelled from the Hells Angels in WA after expressing his displeasure with some members partying with bikies from rival gangs, including attending a birthday party for a Rebels bikie Advertisement Boris Johnson was urged to use more 'clout' by MPs today as he announced sanctions on five Russian banks and three 'cronies' of Vladimir Putin in the 'first barrage' of the Western response to the invasion of Ukraine. The PM lashed out at Mr Putin's aggression and dismissed his rambling justifications as 'absurd and even mystical' as he unveiled the measures in a statement to the House of Commons. Warning that Nato and its allies are ready to turn Russia into a 'pariah', he insisted there will be moves to prevent Russian businesses trading in dollars and pounds. 'Today, the UK is sanctioning the following five Russian banks: Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank,' the premier told the House. 'And we are sanctioning three very high net worth individuals: Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg.' Suggesting that members of the Russian Duma could be among those to face action next, he added: 'Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here and we will prohibit all UK individuals and entities from having any dealings with them.' Mr Johnson 'saluted' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz for his 'brave' decision to pull the plug on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, and held out the prospect of sending more weapons to Kiev. He also made clear he backs stopping the Champions League football final happening in St Petersburg this year. But anti-Kremlin campaigner Bill Browder immediately voiced disappointment at the 'pretty tepid' response, pointing out the named oligarchs have been on the US sanctions list for several years. Keir Starmer urged the PM to go further, saying Russian businesses should be barred from using the Swift international finance messaging system and Moscow's RT channel should be prevented from broadcasting. Tories lined up to appeal for Mr Johnson to get 'dirty' money out of the UK 'rouble by rouble', saying the West needs to 'hit hard' straight away. Foreign Affairs committee chair said the approach should be 'clout, don't dribble'. And Labour's Margaret Hodge complained of 'serious flaws' in the sanctions regime that meant individuals such as Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and former Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov could not be covered. Mr Johnson told MPs: 'Now the UK and our allies will begin to impose the sanctions on Russia that we have already prepared using the new and unprecedented powers granted by this House to sanction Russian individuals and entities of strategic importance to the Kremlin.' He added: 'This the first tranche, the first barrage of what we are prepared to do and we hold further sanctions at readiness to be deployed.' Boris Rotenberg is a former judo training partner of Mr Putin, who handed him rich control over gas and electricity concession in post-Communist Russia. His nephew Igor became a billionaire after being handed a raft of investments by his father Arkady - who is currently fighting his ex-wife over ownership of a 27 million mansion in Surrey. Timchenko, meanwhile, is the sixth richest man in Russia and an ice hockey fanatic. As the three oligarchs have been on a US sanctions list since 2018, it is unlikely many UK businesses have dealings with them to avoid facing problems with any US interests. The five banks named by Mr Johnson only have a small footprint in the UK - although the largest one, Promsvyazbank, did have ambitions to float on the London Stock Exchange a decade ago. Outside Parliament, Ms Truss tried to offer more reassurance that the sanctions package is merely a first step - heralding curbs on use of financial markets and Russian exports. 'We are prepared to go much further if Russia does not pull back from the brink,' she said. 'We will curtail the ability of the Russian state and Russian companies to raise funds in our markets, prohibit a range of high tech exports, and further isolate Russian banks from the global economy. 'These will be surgically targeted sanctions that will hit Russia hard.' After chairing a pre-dawn Cobra meeting, the PM said Mr Putin has 'completely torn up international law' after recognising separatist areas and must now face an 'immediate' response. Boris Rotenberg (pictured right) meeting Vladimir Putin when he was awarded a medal in 2019 Left: Boris Rotenberg, a gas and electricity billionaire, with his glamorous wife Karina. Right, Russian billionaire and businessman Gennady Timchenko Boris Rotenberg and his wife Karina Rotenberg posing for the cameras Russian billionaire Igor Rotenberg, one of those targeted by the UK sanctions today The natural gas pipeline has long been opposed by the US and some European nations who argued it would increase Europe's reliance on Russian energy A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine Putin addresses the nation as he recognised the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics on Monday Who could be next on the UK's sanctions list? Boris Johnson unveiled sanctions against three super-rich associates of Vladimir Putin today - but immediately faced calls to go further. Labour's Margaret Hodge used parliamentary privilege to complain of 'serious flaws' in the sanctions regime that meant individuals such as Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and former Arsenal shareholder Alisher Usmanov could not be covered. She also named Once Russia's richest man, oil tycoon Oleg Deripaska, who is reported to have two homes in Belgravia. She told the Commons: Its too narrow in defining the individuals it covers; unlike US legislation it is limited in how we can sanction Russian government officials, and the definition of government of Russia excludes the legislative branch like the Duma. That means that kleptocrats who have stolen from the Russian people and support Putin, would not be caught. Of (Alexei) Navalnys list of 35, only 13 would be caught: Abramovich, Usmanov, Timchenko (sic) or Deripaska would escape.' Alisher Usmanov: Worth 13.4billion Alisher Usmanov (right), until recently a Arsenal shareholder, pictured with Vladimir Putin in 2013. He has links to Everton Uzbek-born Russian Alisher Usmanov is ranked by Forbes Magazine as the third most-important oligarch in Russia, with an estimated net worth almost 14billion - up 2billion over the past two years. He lives in London, where his Russian telecoms giant MegaFon is listed. His main home is Beechwood House, in north London. He also owns Sutton Place, a grade I listed Tudor mansion near Woking in Surrey, which was once famously owned by Jean Paul Getty. Both properties are worth a combined 100million or more. He made a fortune by investing in metal and mining companies in the 1990s. He headed Gazprom Investholding, a subsidiary of the world's biggest extractor of natural gas Gazprom, from 2000 to 2014 and still owns a stake in iron ore and steel giant Metalloinvest. He also owns the Moscow newspaper Kommersant and a telecoms company. For more than 10 years he owned 30 per cent of Arsenal - but recently sold out to American billionaire Stan Kroenke. Born in Uzbekistan when it was part of the Soviet Union, he hoped to become a diplomat, but was jailed in 1980 for corruption. He served six years but the Uzbek supreme court later quashed the conviction, saying the case had been politically motivated. Now 68, he has spoken of his pride at his friendship with Vladimir Putin, adding: 'The fact that everybody does not like him is not Putin's problem.' Oleg Deripaska: Worth 3.2billion Oleg Deripaska (pictured), who was once Russia's richest man, owns a house in Belgrave Square and is a grandson by marriage to the late leader Boris Yeltsin Once Russia's richest man, oil tycoon Mr Deripaska came to prominence in the UK when he entertained Labour grandee Lord Mandelson on his yacht in Corfu. Deripaska is a close associate of Putin who's been accused of helping the Kremlin conduct foreign influence operations. The tycoon quit as a director of Russian energy giant EN+ Group after being targeted by sanctions. He owns a house in Belgrave Square and is a grandson by marriage to the late leader Boris Yeltsin. Last year he tore into the FBI and 'utter stupidity' of the American government in a lengthy statement on Wednesday, a day after homes linked to him in New York and Washington were raided by the agency. A spokesman for Deripaska said the searches stemmed from sanctions imposed on him in 2018 and that the homes belonged to his relatives. But on Deripaska indicated both pieces of luxury real estate were 'abandoned.' A 1,000-page Senate Intelligence Committee report released in 2020 also links him to former Trump 2016 campaign chair Paul Manafort and ex-MI6 spy Christopher Steele. Deripaska and other members of Putin's inner circle as well as 12 Russian businesses connected to them were blacklisted by the Treasury Department in 2018 over alleged international crimes. However, Donald Trump lifted sanctions on three companies connected to him despite objections from Congressional Democrats. Roman Abramovich: Worth 9.2billion Mr Abramovich strongly denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. Abramovich has been the owner of Chelsea FC for almost two decades. His wealth has been used to help the side win silverware including five Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues. Mr Abramovich strongly denies he is close to the Kremlin or has done anything that would merit sanctions being imposed against him. Last year publisher HarperCollins apologised and settled out of court over unsubstantiated claims in a book that he was ordered to buy Chelsea by the Russian president. The publishing giant has agreed to pay an undisclosed sum to a charity and make amendments to author Catherine Belton's book Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Turned on the West. Belton's book includes claims that in the early 2000s that Abramovich bought Chelsea for 150million in 2003 on the personal orders of the Russian president. The former Financial Times journalist's publication quoted exiled oligarch Sergei Pugachev - once dubbed 'Putin's Banker' - as the source of the Chelsea FC claims, but Abramovich maintained the allegations were untrue and damaging both to him and the club. Now, several references to Chelsea will be deleted or changed, making it clear that the allegation came from Pugachev and that there is no hard evidence to support the claim. A judge had previously upheld Abramovich's claims that the book contained nine statements against him that were defamatory. Advertisement The latest developments on the Ukraine crisis came as: Oil prices have spiked after the Ukraine situation escalated dramatically; The UK's permanent representative to the UN, Dame Barbara Woodward, told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council that 'Russia has brought us to the brink', as she urged the country to 'step back'. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said 'we are waking up to a very dark day in Europe' and 'you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun'. Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to Nato, said Russia's actions in Ukraine have created a 'very dire' situation. General Sir Richard Sherriff, Britain's former top Nato commander, called the Ukraine situation the most perilous in Europe for decades as he told the BBC it is 'the most dangerous moment in Europe probably at least since 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis'. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said 'all of us in Europe should worry and not hesitate to take whatever action we need to to deter President Putin from undermining both Nato, but also Europe and, more importantly, our values'. A Ukrainian reservist with links to military intelligence told MailOnline that more than ten thousand soldiers entered separatist areas overnight, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 sent to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. The Foreign Office is sending 'rapid deployment teams' to countries neighbouring Ukraine to assist British nationals who cross over the border. In the Commons, Mr Johnson suggested the UK will consider offering further military support to Ukraine. He told the Commons: 'The UK will continue to offer support to our Ukrainian friends. 'I do think it's been right for us to be out in front in offering military assistance, defensive military assistance to the Ukrainians. I think that has been the right thing to do. 'I spoke last night to President Zelensky, who made further requests, and we will consider them we're doing everything we can to offer support in the time that we have and we will do that.' Sir Keir welcomed the sanctions and the collective international response, but said 'we must be prepared to go further'. Sir Keir said he understands the tactic of holding back sanctions to try to deter an invasion of the rest of Ukraine, 'but a threshold has already been breached'. He said a sovereign nation 'has been invaded in a war of aggression', and 'if we do not respond with the full set of sanctions now Putin will once again take away the message that the benefits of aggression outweigh the costs'. He said he would work with the Prime Minister and international allies 'to ensure that more sanctions are introduced'. He said Russia should be excluded from financial mechanisms like Swift, trading in Russian sovereign debt should be banned, Russia Today should be prevented from 'broadcasting its propaganda around the world', and Nord Stream 2 should be cancelled. Conservative former prime minister Theresa May said the world was in the 'gravest of times' which shows 'we can never take our eyes off Russia'. Mrs May told the Commons: 'While the focus today is rightly on protecting Ukrainian independence and territorial integrity, what lies behind this is a wider worldwide trend of authoritarian states trying to impose their way of thinking on others. 'And that the battle in which we must now engage is nothing more or less than the defence of democracy itself.' Mr Johnson said Mrs May was 'entirely right', adding: 'That is what's at stake and what happens in Ukraine now is being watched around the world, and the echoes will be heard in Taiwan, in east Asia and throughout the world.' Another Tory former leader Iain Duncan Smith said the West should 'hit them with sanctions hard and hit them now'. Sir Iain told MPs: 'Should it not be now and I commend what he has done so far but should it not be that we need to hit them if we are going to hit them with sanctions hard and hit them now? 'They need to feel the pain of the first part of this decision. The second thing is, what is the ultimatum to them now? If they move further, are we going to take further action? 'And I simply say right now, we are facing the growth of the axis of totalitarian states. China will watch this and look at Taiwan, how we behave now and what we do as an alliance will dictate what happens in the far east.' Mr Johnson replied: 'We are hitting them hard now and we will hit them harder in the future with every day that goes by which they violate the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine, we will continue to punish Russia and, in the end, I don't believe that President Putin has thought this through and I do think that he will fail.' The PM said it was 'inevitable that there will be more sanctions to come because I am afraid I think it's inevitable that Vladimir Putin is going to continue with his flagrant violation of international law'. Tory MP John Howell, the leader of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe, told the Commons he will be calling later today for 'the suspension of Russia from the Council of Europe' and asked for the Prime Minister's support. Mr Johnson replied: 'I wholeheartedly support what he just said.' Dame Margaret said she had seen 'expert legal advice' that there are 'serious flaws in the new sanctions regime'. 'It may not affect oligarchs close to Putin who do not hold an official position in a company or own less than 50 per cent of shares,' she told the House. 'It's too narrow in defining the individuals it covers; unlike US legislation it is limited in how we can sanction Russian government officials, and the definition of 'government of Russia' excludes the legislative branch like the Duma. 'That means that kleptocrats who have stolen from the Russian people and support Putin, would not be caught. 'Of (Alexei) Navalny's list of 35, only 13 would be caught: Abramovich, Usmanov, Timchenko or Deripaska would escape. 'Will the Prime Minister look again at the sanctions regime, so that in the words of the Foreign Secretary, nothing is off the table?' Mr Johnson responded that Mr Abramovich is 'already facing sanctions'. However, it is understood No10 intends to correct the record on the remark. Briefing journalists later an official said: 'The UK Government did take action against Abramovich in terms of his visa in 2018, I believe it was a reference to that and it will be corrected in the record.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that he is taking steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia What is Nord Stream 2 and why is Germany's decision to pull the plug significant? Nord Stream 2 is a 750-mile gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany. It has been a source of fierce political debate both in Europe and the United States. The US is opposed to the pipeline, arguing that it makes Europe too reliant on Russian energy. The $11billion Nord Stream 2, which is yet to be turned on, is now at the centre of the the Ukraine standoff. Why has gas and Nord Stream 2 become an issue in the Ukraine crisis? Like in the US, Europe is dealing with soaring gas prices. There are also splits over how to be more climate friendly and move away from fossil fuel. Europe gets almost 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia and will become more reliant on that supply during the winter months. Nord Stream 2 would supply 26 million German homes with energy. Building has been completed but it has not yet been certified by German's energy regulator. That has made it a hugely political topic in Germany. What is at stake if the pipeline doesn't come online, and how can it be used as leverage? Ukraine believes it is missing out on $2billion in lucrative 'transit' fees because the pipeline bypasses Kiev. Pulling the plug on the pipeline had been touted as one of the sanctions the West could threaten if Mr Putin invaded Ukraine. The pipeline has been considered 'leverage' against Moscow. For Russia, Nord Stream 2 would cut the costs of pumping its gas supplies through Ukraine. Sanctions or leaving it shut off would reduce Russia's revenue. Russia's natural gas exports to Germany via the existing Nord Stream pipeline crossing the Baltic Sea totalled 59.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021, in line with record volumes a year earlier. Moscow hopes to double the route with the recently finished Nord Stream 2 pipeline which requires EU and German regulatory approval to begin operations. The current pipeline already accounts for around a third of Russia's gas exports to Europe. Advertisement No10 'correcting record' after PM claims Roman Abramovich sanctioned No10 has admitted it needs to correct the record after Boris Johnson claimed Roman Abramovich is subject to sanctions. The PM said the Chelsea boss is 'already facing sanctions' as he was grilled by Labour's Margaret Hodge on whether the regime would be expanded. But briefing journalists later an official said: 'The UK Government did take action against Abramovich in terms of his visa in 2018, I believe it was a reference to that and it will be corrected in the record.' Advertisement The PM also raised doubts about Mr Putin's state of mind, after the president gave a rambling address on Russian TV last night dwelling on history. There was also an extraordinary stilted performance on camera as he 'consulted' his chief aides about whether they should recognise separatist areas. 'We are in a position to impose very considerable economic costs on Putin,' Mr Johnson said. 'The question is whether he is going to care enough about it because he is clearly in an illogical and irrational frame of mind.' One Cabinet minister told MailOnline that Putin's long speech had been 'bizarre', mocking what appeared to be a bank of antiquated phones on his desk. 'Those phones were something else, like a Soviet throwback. He was probably playing Call of Duty as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.' Putin's judo pal among oligarchs being hit with British sanctions A former judo pal of Vladimir Putin is among three billionaire Russian oligarchs hit with economic sanctions and banned from Britain today over the invasion of Ukraine. Boris Rotenberg, co-owner of SMP Bank, and his nephew Igor Rotenberg, have had their assets frozen following Putin's decision to send troops across the border last night, along with Gennady Timchenko, a billionaire who controls the Volga Group. Boris is a former judo training partner of the diminutive Russian president, who handed him rich control over gas and electricity concession in post-Communist Russia. His nephew Igor became a billionaire after being handed a raft of investments by his father Arkady - who is currently fighting his ex-wife over ownership of a 27 million mansion in Surrey. Timchenko, meanwhile, is the sixth richest man in Russia and an ice hockey fanatic. Advertisement One Western official said the UK sanctions package was being co-ordinated with the US and the EU, adding: 'We are hitting the Russian economy where it is hardest.' He added that there was 'scope to go much, much further' and it was a 'declaration of intent' to target a 'small but high value group of oligarchs'. 'This is a clear demonstration that there is a cost borne by the Kremlin rather than the people of Ukraine who are in the firing line.' Area-based sanctions applied to Crimea after it was annexed are being extended to cover the Donbas and Luhansk enclaves, barring UK citizens or firms from doing business there. Mr Scholz announced this morning that he is taking steps to halt the process of certifying the pipeline from Russia. It represents a major escalation as the West begins to take punitive action against Moscow after Mr Putin last night controversially formally recognised separatist areas in eastern Ukraine. The natural gas pipeline has long been opposed by the US and some European nations who argued it would increase Europe's reliance on Russian energy. Mr Scholz said his government had decided to 'reassess' the certification of the pipeline, which is yet to begin operating, and told reporters in Berlin that process 'will certainly take time'. He stressed the decision had been made in direct response to the worsening Ukraine crisis. The Nord Stream 2 announcement came as Mr Johnson warned Mr Putin is bent on a 'full scale invasion' and Foreign Secretary Liz Truss summoned Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, to explain the Russian President's actions. After chairing a pre-dawn Cobra meeting, the PM said Mr Putin has 'completely torn up international law' after recognising separatist areas and must now face an 'immediate' response. He said sanctions will be aimed not just at entities in occupied Ukraine regions but also 'in Russia itself, targeting Russian economic interests as hard as we can'. The premier also hinted at supplying more weaponry to Kiev's forces, saying the UK had already given 'lethal but defensive' assistance and 'we're looking at what we can do'. Tanks have been seen rolling across the border after Russian troops were ordered to carry out what Moscow described as 'peacekeeping' duties in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. A column of armoured vehicles was spotted in Donetsk, the main city of one of the two so-called 'republics', in the early hours of this morning. No insignia were visible on the vehicles, but there is little doubt they are Russian forces deployed on Mr Putin's orders. At the same time, Ukraine said heavy shelling had broken out along nearly all 250 miles of its frontline with the breakaway provinces, leaving two of its soldiers dead and 12 injured in a major escalation in violence. Military sources today claimed that thousands of Russian troops may already be in Ukraine. A Ukrainian reservist with links to military intelligence told MailOnline that more than ten thousand soldiers entered separatist areas overnight, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 sent to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. However, there are signs of divisions among Western allies - many of whom rely heavily on Russian gas and oil - over how strongly to react to the breach. The White House has issued an executive order to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional sanctions are expected to be announced later. Russia should not host Champions League final, says Boris Russia should be axed as the host of the UEFA Champions League final, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said today. Mr Johnson told MPs in the House of Commons that there is 'no chance' of holding football tournaments in a Russia that 'invades sovereign countries'. His comments come after UEFA are reportedly considering stripping Russia of hosting this season's Champions League final amid the threat of war between Russia and Ukraine. UK health secretary Sajid Javid said on Tuesday morning that Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine after Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks were seen rolling into eastern regions overnight. After initially insisting there were 'no plans' to move this season's Champions League final from St Petersburg, UEFA are now discussing alternatives, according to The Times. Advertisement But France has urged for sanctions to be 'targeted' and it could be harder to agree a strong response to recognition of the separatist areas than to a full invasion. With EU ministers meeting in Brussels to agree their response, Josep Borrell, the bloc's foreign policy chief, avoided using the word 'invasion' as he vowed sanctions against Russia. He acknowledged that 'Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil' but added: 'I wouldn't say that's a fully fledged invasion'. Moscow's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov shrugged off the threat of sanctions, saying they would be imposed whatever Russia did. 'Our European, American, British colleagues will not stop and will not calm down until they have exhausted all their possibilities for the so-called ''punishment'' of Russia,' he said. 'They are already threatening us with all manner of sanctions or, as they say now, 'the mother of all sanctions',' Lavrov said. 'Well, we're used to it. We know that sanctions will be imposed anyway, in any case. With or without reason.' Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney condemned the Russian move as a 'blatant' breach of international law but admitted there were discussions about 'how far do we go'. 'The question is how far do we go in relation to that sanctions package,' he said. 'I think that there's no way that the EU can ignore what is a blatant breach of international law.' Mr Scholz had said overnight: 'The first sanctions already have to be painful for the Putin system.' Belgian PM Alexander De Croo said the EU had to keep 'cool heads'. 'It has to be appropriate sanctions, we have to keep a cool head, but we have to show that this leads to a high cost for Russia.' Lithuania's deputy Europe minister Arnoldas Pranckevicius warned that the reaction has to be 'serious' and 'real' to deter Mr Putin. 'If we want to deter further actions of President Putin, if we indeed want to stop the war from happening, we need to move ahead with serious measures,' he said. Mr Johnson said of the UK sanctions package: 'This is I should stress just the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia because we expect I'm afraid that there is more Russian irrational behaviour to come. 'I'm afraid all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full scale invasion of the Ukraine, the overrunning, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country and I think, let's be absolutely clear, that will be absolutely catastrophic.' Mr Johnson renewed his call for European countries to wean themselves off Russian energy. 'In the UK we have been able to reduce our dependency on Russian gas very substantially,' he said. 'Only 3 per cent of our gas supplies now come from Russia.' Mr Johnson said the response includes granting licences for UK gas reserves but also shifting to low-carbon energy, including nuclear power. He added: 'The faster this country can be more self-reliant on our own energy, the more prosperous we will be, but also, of course, the more sustainable our energy prices will be, and that will benefit the UK consumer.' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured speaking, right) met fellow ministers in Leicestershire today to discuss Ukraine Mr Johnson told the Commons the UK was ready to go 'further' on sanctions if the situation deteriorates even more British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss arrives for a COBRA meeting in Downing Street this morning A military truck drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops Russia 'has moved 10,000 troops into contested areas in 12 hours', Ukraine military sources claim Thousands of Russian troops may already be in Ukraine, military sources have warned today, just hours after Putin gave the order for his forces to enter the country amid fears he is about to launch a land-grab in the country's east. Ten thousand soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a Ukrainian reservist with links to military intelligence told MailOnline, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 sent to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. 'It is difficult to believe [Putin] could have moved that quickly - but he has a long time to prepare,' the source said. It came off the back of videos which showed a column of Russian vehicles rolling through Donetsk, including tanks, armoured troop carriers and support trucks. Insignia were not visible, but there was little doubt they were Russian forces deployed on Putin's orders. Meanwhile Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin's order to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent stretches to the entire provinces - not just the bits currently occupied by rebels - raising the prospect he is about to launch a land-grab and spark direct confrontation with Ukrainian troops dug into trenches there. As Russia's troops rolled in, fighting in the region escalated - with shells striking a power plant on the Ukrainian side of the line Tuesday morning after explosions killed two of Kiev's men and wounded 12 overnight. 'We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe,' UK health secretary Sajid Javid said early Tuesday. 'We have seen that Putin has recognised breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz led world leaders in responding, announcing that the multi-billion dollar Nord Stream 2 gas pipe from Russia - a pet project of predecessor Merkel - will not be approved and that his country will begin looking elsewhere for gas to power its fossil-fuel dependent economy. Joe Biden also slapped limited sanctions on rebel areas of Ukraine overnight, banning Americans from doing business there, but promised harsher measures were to come. Advertisement Earlier, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said explicitly that Russia has 'invaded' Ukraine. 'We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe and it's clear from what we have already seen and found out today that the Russians, President Putin, has decided to attack the sovereignty of Ukraine and its territorial integrity,' he said. The Health Secretary told Sky News: 'We have seen that he has recognised these breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. 'From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' The Cobra meeting follows an emergency session of the UN Security Council where the UK's ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward said Russia has 'brought us to the brink', warning that the country's actions 'will have severe and far-reaching consequences'. She said an invasion would unleash 'the forces of war, death and destruction' on the people of Ukraine. 'The humanitarian impact will be terrible on civilians fleeing the fighting. We know that women and children will suffer most.' She said the Security Council must be united in calling on Russia to 'de-escalate immediately', as well as 'condemning aggression against a sovereign nation and defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine'. 'Russia has brought us to the brink,' she said. 'We urge Russia to step back.' The Kremlin said Russian forces will 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine. The Cobra meeting was to co-ordinate the UK response and agree a 'significant package of sanctions to be introduced immediately', No 10 said. The PM will have calls with other world leaders before updating MPs. Last night Mr Johnson voiced 'grave concern' in a call with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. 'Outlining his grave concern at recent developments in the region, the Prime Minister told President Zelensky that he believed an invasion was a real possibility in the coming hours and days.' Downing Street also said Mr Johnson told President Zelensky that he would 'explore sending further defensive support to Ukraine' at the request of the country's government. Later, President Zelensky told his nation 'we are not afraid of anyone' after Russia recognised the independence of the separatist regions. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted about the new sanctions from the UK last night after saying Mr Putin's actions could not be allowed to go 'unpunished'. The European Union and United States were also imposing sanctions in response to the crisis. A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine The gas tycoons banned from Britain: Boris Johnson orders sanctions against Russian oligarchs including billionaire who wrestles with Vladimir Putin after invasion of Ukraine - but why has it taken so long? A former judo pal of Vladimir Putin is among three billionaire Russian oligarchs hit with economic sanctions and banned from Britain today over the invasion of Ukraine. Boris Rotenberg, co-owner of SMP Bank, and his nephew Igor Rotenberg, have had their assets frozen following Putin's decision to send troops across the border last night, along with Gennady Timchenko, a billionaire who controls the Volga Group. Boris is a former judo training partner of the diminutive Russian president, who handed him rich control over gas and electricity concession in post-Communist Russia. His nephew Igor became a billionaire after being handed a raft of investments by his father Arkady - who is currently fighting his ex-wife over ownership of a 27 million mansion in Surrey. Timchenko, meanwhile, is the sixth richest man in Russia and an ice hockey fanatic. Five Russian banks will also be barred from trading in the UK as the West seeks to hit back economically, Boris Johnson told MPs. MPs asked Mr Johnson to be tougher on Russian money, even demanding that Russian oligarchs be ejected from Britain and Russian money be dug out of the City of London. Hundreds of billions of dollars have flowed into London and Britain's overseas territories from Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and London has become the Western city of choice for the super-wealthy of Russia and other former Soviet republics. The new action was criticised after it emerged that the trio targeted have been subject to sanctions in the United States for years, while freely able to make money in the UK. Bill Browder, the financier and arch Putin critic, tweeted: 'Pretty tepid if you ask me. The oligarchs have been on the US sanctions list since 2018. Boris Rotenberg, co-owner of SMP Bank and president of the Dynamo Moscow football team, with Mr Putin in 2017 President Putin with Arkady Rotenberg. Both Rotenberg brothers have competed in judo with the Russian president in the past Gennady Timchenko (left) is the sixth richest person in Russia and president of SKA Saint Petersburg ice hockey team Bill Browder, the financier and arch Putin critic, tweeted that the sanctions were 'pretty tepid' The three oligarchs targeted by Britain Boris Rotenberg: 65-year-old judo mate of Vladimir Putin. Father of five with interests in gas, electricity, construction and chemicals. Vice president of the Russian Judo Federation. Net worth: $1.2billion Igor Rotenberg: 48-year-old son of Boris's brother Arkady. Received a host of assets belonging to his father in 2015 after the elder Rotenberg was placed under US sanctions. Married father of three owns drilling company Gazprom Bureniye. Net worth: $1.1billion Gennady Timchenko: 69-year-old billionaire founder of the Volga Group investment firm. The sixth richest person in Russia and president of SKA Saint Petersburg ice hockey team. Holds Russian, Finnish and Armenian citizenship. Net worth: $18.1billion Advertisement 'Where is VTB and Sberbank? Where are the other 50 oligarchs? The ones whose names we can't mention out of fear of libel.' Mr Johnson had earlier told the Commons: 'Today, the UK is sanctioning the following five Russian banks: Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank. 'And we are sanctioning three very high net worth individuals: Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg. 'Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here, and we will prohibit all UK individuals and entities from having any dealings with them. 'This is the first tranche, the first barrage, of what we are prepared to do: we will hold further sanctions at readiness, to be deployed alongside the United States and the European Union if the situation escalates still further.' Conservative former minister Mark Harper asked for assurances that Boris Johnson will implement 'further and stronger measures even if President Putin does no more'. Mr Johnson replied: 'I think it's inevitable, given what is happening in Ukraine and on the borders of Ukraine, that we will be coming forward with a much bigger package of sanctions. 'What you have today is an opening barrage that we're doing in common with our friends and allies.' Conservative MP John Baron (Basildon and Billericay) told Mr Johnson: 'I hope he takes away from this exchange today the strong cross-party support for tougher sanctions now, because that is what is needed.' He also asked the Prime Minister to consider a 'substantial and sustained increase' in defence spending to ensure peace and stability. With his brother Arkady, Boris Rotenberg is the co-owner of Stroygazmontazh (SGM) group, Russia's largest construction company for gas pipelines and electrical power supply lines. In 2017, Forbes estimated his fortune at $2.5 billion, but he and his brother are subject to personal sanctions by the United States' government relating to events during the Ukrainian crisis in 2013 and 2014. Their relationship with Vladimir Putin dates back to 1963 - when they joined a sambo club (a Soviet martial art), and in 1978 Arkady became a judo trainer. Upon Putin's return to Russia in 1990, the pair trained together several times a week, and Rotenberg secured funding to found Yavara-Neva, a professional judo club. Boris is a former judo sparring partner of the diminutive Russian president, who handed him rich control over gas and electricity concession in post-Communist Russia. His wife Katerina is a keen user of Instagram, opening a window into their opulent life Boris Rotenberg's brother Arkady is fighting his ex-wife over ownership of a 27 million mansion in Windlesham, Surrey. However, the Rotenberg brothers faced international backlash following the annexation of Crimea in 2014, which saw Barack Obama sigh an executive order imposing sanctions on their businesses, as well as on other Putin allies. Visa and Mastercard stopped servicing the Rotenberg's bank - SMP Bank - and in 2014 Italy seized 30 million euros of real estate. The US added Arkady and Igor Rotenberg to their blacklist of Russian oligarchs, freezing assets worth $65 million in the same year. In 2016, the General Court of the European Union confirmed the sanctions. A number of the Rotenberg's business ventures in recent years have been in response to the sanctions, with a bill being proposed - known as the Rotenberg law - that would allow sanctioned Russians to be compensated by the state. The bill was declined. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today said we must also get our own house in order', adding 'we have failed to stop the flow of illicit Russian finance into Britain' and that 'Russian money has been allowed to influence our politics'. 'We have to admit that mistakes have been made,' he said, adding 'this must be a turning point, an end to oligarch impunity'. He said Companies House must not provide 'easy cover' for shell companies, and that anti-money laundering laws must be enforced, 'we need to crack down on spies', and 'we have to make sure money isn't pouring into UK politics from abroad'. He also asked what international efforts were going on to pursue diplomacy, saying 'even at this late hour we must pursue diplomatic routes to prevent further conflict'. Sir Keir offered the support of the opposition to 'do the right thing' and said President Putin 'believes the benefits of aggression outweigh the consequences, so we must take a stand'. Hedge funds and financial speculators piling into the European gas market have contributed to high and volatile prices over the past year, according to Shell. The energy giant said the movement of large amounts of money in and out of the market meant prices were less linked to actual supply and demand. Steve Hill, an executive vice-president at Shell, insisted high gas prices were still largely due to the 'fundamentals' of limited supply and strong demand. But he added, in comments reported by The Times: 'One of the other factors that also played into the high European prices and volatility we saw last year was the increased financial activity, and in particular a lot of new financial players like hedge funds coming into this market. 'Historically, these players have operated in crude oil markets and Henry Hub [American gas] markets. But we saw a big introduction of new financial players bringing money in and out of European gas markets, and that increased volatility and uncertainty in those markets.' The rising price of gas has clobbered hard-pressed consumers, with the annual bill for the average household set to rise from 1,277 to 1,971 from April 1 - with further increases predicted in the future. The price per therm in pence is shown for UK natural gas prices, which could be set to soar due to the situation in Ukraine Global markets tumble after Putin orders invasion The FTSE 100 index fell by more than 1.5 per cent today and European shares hit a seven-month low as a long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine now appeared to be underway. As Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, the benchmark index of Britain's leading companies dropped by 1.53 per cent or 115 points to 7,370 in early trading in London this morning. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany's DAX fell 2.07 per cent or 311 points to 14,731 this morning, and the CAC 40 in Paris dropped 1.91 per cent or 129 points to 6,659. Investors were reacting to the apparent end of slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Advertisement Shell executives also warned of the 'vulnerability' of European gas supplies and warned it would be difficult to import new liquified natural gas (LNG) in the event of sanctions on Russia because supplies 'aren't freely available'. The company, which is now based solely in London after abandoning a dual listing in the Netherlands - is the world's largest independent LNG producer. Mr Hill cited the factors behind high gas prices as including 'supply constraints in the LNG industry and in European pipeline gas supply; strong economic growth and demand that came with it; starting the year with low inventories following the cold winter in 2020-21; the fact that gas is part of a global energy complex and we saw high prices in other commodities; and certain weather events'. The price of gas is currently 173 pence per therm, up from 49 in January 2021. It came as the price of Brent crude, an international benchmark for oil, reached a seven-year high of $97.76 (72) a barrel. Soaring gas prices have caused a raft of UK energy firms to go bust after supplying energy to households for far less than the price they were buying it wholesale. And there could be yet more supply failures resulting from a Russian invasion of Ukraine, officials warned on the weekend. The conflict could cause the UK gas price to increase to as much as 1,000 pence per therm - more than double its peak in December which stood at just over 450 pence per therm. The annual bill for a typical household is due to go up from 1,277 to 1,971 from April 1, but some industry analysts are predicting it will go up again to 2,300 from October 1. An official told the Telegraph, preparations for 'more supplier failures' had commenced following the ongoing Ukraine crisis, 'low levels of storage across Europe and nuclear power plants closing'. This graph shows the average gas price per kilowatt hour in Great Britain Britain was self-sufficient for natural less than 20 years ago - but now imports more than half of it from Europe including some from Russia This comes as 25 UK power firms went bust within three months last year including Zog Energy, Entice Energy, which had 5,400 households on its books, and Orbit Energy, which supplied 65,000 customers. On Friday, Whoop Energy, which supplied 50 households and 212 businesses and Xcel - used by 274 businesses - announced they are ceasing to trade due to the sudden energy price hike. Regulator, Ofgem, told MPs last week that current forecasts suggest another increase is likely to come into effect before next winter. Ofgems chief executive, Jonathan Brearley, said wholesale gas prices are volatile and it is impossible to make any firm predictions. But, he said: When you look at the forward prices right now, there is upward pressure in prices still, so you may see a rise in October. A map showing gas pipelines from Russia to Europe. The dotted line at the top is the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which when built with make land in Germany - which is heavily reliant on Russia for its energy needs On Friday, Whoop Energy, which supplied 50 households and 212 businesses and Xcel - used by 274 businesses - announced they are ceasing to trade due to the sudden energy price hike. The 25 UK energy firms which have gone bust so far Neon Energy Limited Social Energy Supply Ltd CNG Energy Omni Energy Limited MA Energy Limited Zebra Power Limited Ampoweruk Ltd Bluegreen Energy Services Limited GOTO Energy Limited Daligas Limited Pure Planet Colorado Energy Igloo Energy Symbio Energy Enstroga Avro Energy Green Supplier Limited Utility Point People's Energy PFP Energy MoneyPlus Energy HUB Energy Entice Energy Orb Energy Zog Energy Advertisement It is really hard to say what the price cap will be if Russia invades Ukraine, but...you would see significant rises again in the price that people pay. He added: We are not experts in geo-politics but we expect that if Russia invades Ukraine - there is a sanctions regime and that Russia limits gas supplies to Europe. 'That would drive high price rises and that would ultimately feed through to customers. He did not put a figure on it, but said it could be of the scale we have seen before. If so, that might mean a second increase this year of 700. The watchdogs director of strategy, Neil Kenward, said: What the data is telling us now, if you look at futures markets for next winter, is suggesting there could be a further increase in the price cap, but actually we dont know that yet. Over the next six months, markets will respond to events such as Russia-Ukraine and other factors and that will then determine the price cap level in the coming winter. Details emerged in evidence to MPs on the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, who are investigating prices. It also emerged that the collapse of over 25 energy firms in recent months saw some 200million of customers money go missing. This is money people had overpaid and was being held by their supplier. Ofgem said it will now be up to all consumers to repay this money through a levy on bills that could amount to 10. Mr Brearley admitted that the regulator should have acted faster in testing the financial resilience of new suppliers coming into the market to make sure they would survive increases in wholesale prices. Ofgem has put forward plans for tougher financial checks. It is also proposing to change the price cap more frequently to quickly reflect changes in wholesale costs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Covid measures were not meant to stay in place Sajid Javid today admitted he will continue to wear a face mask on busy trains and urged ill workers to stay at home in the post-Covid era. Despite masks no longer being compulsory in public settings in England, the Health Secretary said he would still cover up on a 'packed' London Tube because cases are still high. He also called on people to take more 'personal responsibility' over their decisions, saying workers should 'stay away from others' and no longer battle into the office if they feel unwell. Boris Johnson last night hailed the end of the 'darkest, grimmest years in our peace-time history' as he confirmed the final Covid curbs would be axed. After almost two years of on-off lockdowns, the PM revealed that all remaining legal restrictions will be lifted at midnight tomorrow. The requirement to self-isolate for at least five days after testing positive for Covid is being dropped, and free testing thought to cost No10 2billion a month will end on April 1 for all but the elderly and vulnerable. Asked about the next steps for the swabbing programme on a broadcast round this morning, Mr Javid dodged questions over rumours of a funding row between him, Rishi Sunak and the PM. Instead, he said: 'We must not forget that the restrictions that we had in place were extraordinary, and they were never intended to be a daily part of life.' He heralded the end of restrictions as a 'historic moment', and claimed England was already the 'freest country in Europe' before the announcement. But Mr Javid also warned people to remain 'vigilant' because Covid 'isn't done with us'. And he insisted the nation would be ready to 'bring back online' tests at a moment's notice, should another dangerous variant emerge. England will end free tests for everyone from April 1, it was announced last night. Pictured above is a testing centre in London Mr Javid reportedly clashed with the Treasury over the weekend after insisting over-50s with Covid symptoms should still be able to get free tests after April. Whitehall sources said at one point Mr Javid was warning he would be forced to take the money from cash earmarked to cut NHS waiting lists. The idea was ruled out by both the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the PM, who said that Mr Javid find the cash from other parts of the Department of Healths vast 180billion annual budget. EU unveils plans to to allow ALL fully-jabbed British tourists into Europe without pre-departure tests Families have been given a boost for Easter holiday hopes as the EU has unveiled plans to permit all fully-vaccinated Brits to travel to Europe without pre-departure tests. The EU Council is set to approve recommendations for a one-size-fits-all approach to travel in Europe which would simplify entry requirements for those travelling from outside the EU, according to the Telegraph. The plans, which could get the green light today, will also mean British children who have not been fully vaccinated are also permitted to travel to the EU. The newspaper reports that the European Commission is 'optimistic' most EU and EEA countries will implement the new recommendations but member states may deviate if they choose as they are not rules. If approved, the plans will be introduced from March 1, meaning families will be able to enjoy Easter holidays in Europe without facing confusion from each country's entry requirements. It comes as Boris Johnson hailed a new post-Covid era yesterday as he declared that self-isolation laws are being axed from Thursday and free Covid tests will go from April. Advertisement The dispute came to a head yesterday morning before Cabinet, just hours before the PM unveiled his 'Living With Covid' strategy in the Commons. Asked about the dispute today, the Health Secretary did not rule out a confrontation over the end of free testing in England. He told BBC Radio 4: 'What I am saying is that there was a debate like there is on any major policy before it is announced. 'Thats perfectly normal, thats how good governance works, and once weve reached an agreement that were all happy with including myself and of course every other member of the cabinet thats what we presented in our living with Covid plan.' He added: 'It was a historic moment yesterday. We were already the freest country in Europe and now we were able to go even further. 'When it comes to testing we set out that our universal offer is still there until March but it doesn't make sense to continue that indefinitely.' But the Health Secretary still called for caution over the virus as case rates remain high. Although Covid cases have been falling for the last three weeks, around 42,000 are still being recorded every day. Surveillance suggests one in 20 people in England were infected in early February. Asked on LBC about the rates, Mr Javid said: 'For now, although the infection levels have been falling significantly, week after week, I think where infection levels are at the moment, if I was on the London Tube, for example, and it was packed, I would wear a face mask. He said 'these are now personal decisions, we want people to take more personal responsibility'. 'I would look at whats the general prevalence, where case numbers are, where infection numbers are, hospitalisation numbers we provide that data on a daily basis, its there for everyone to see. 'I think taking all that into account, I would make a decision.' Masks were completely scrapped in England last month when 'Plan B' came to an end, but they remain a 'condition of carriage' on Transport for London. London mayor Sadiq Khan revealed yesterday, however, that the rule is likely to be dropped in the coming weeks as ministers shift to 'personal responsibility'. Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Covid is still out there. We may be done with Covid, but it is certainly not done with us and we have to remain cautious and vigilant. 'That is why we set out yesterday just how we will continue to do that, so vaccines remain an important part of our defences. The antivirals and other treatments that we have also will play a continued important role. 'But also weve put in place a surveillance system so that were able to detect any potential future threats, and also the ability for us to react quickly.' The Covid test stockpiling begins Shameless stockpilers have been showing off their 'towers' of NHS lateral flow packs after a rush for free swabs when it was revealed each test will cost between 3 and 5 each from April 1. The Government website ran out last night with packs still unavailable online and via the 119 phone line this morning after Boris Johnson said they would be phased out in six weeks. People who opt to keep testing face spending 20 to 25 for a box of seven around 3 to 5 per test, MailOnline understands. Yesterday the Government already started secretly rationing, limiting orders to one pack in 72 hours rather than every 24 hours. And extraordinary pictures show the lengths that some Britons have gone to stockpile packs, proudly sharing pictures of mounds of tests that are costing the taxpayer 2billion per month. One person, who has stockpiled more than 25 packs, tweeted: 'When the Government wants to start charging for lateral flow tests. I've come fully prepared so I don't run out of covid tests'. English dramatist and academic Dan Rebellato tweeted a picture of his own 'absurd tower' of tests in his office. He said: 'Both of us working in education, we test very regularly - to protect ourselves and our students. I knew theyd scrap the free testing so have been ordering test packs whenever I remember'. Advertisement Asked by Times Radio about whether people with cold or flu-like symptoms should pay for a Covid test, Mr Javid said: 'Thats a decision for you to make. For people who want to buy tests, they will no doubt be available. 'We are returning more or less to the situation pre-Covid Im sure you woke up pre-Covid and had cold or flu like symptoms and I think we all know what to do then. 'I think when we look back at the height of Covid and the lessons weve all collectively learned, certainly one of those lessons might be if youre not feeling well, whether you think its Covid or not, its always best to stay away from others at least for a short time to make sure youre not infecting others.' Mr Johnson heralded last night's plans as a 'historic moment' but he, too, said this was not 'victory' over the virus. The Prime Minister warned there was still a risk that new variants could emerge which were more dangerous than Omicron. His plans were blasted by the British Medical Association last night, which claimed removing all restrictions was 'premature' and 'completely illogical'. Dr Chaand Nagpul, its chairman, said: 'Living with Covid must not mean ignoring the virus all together which in many respects the Government's plan in England seems to do. 'Far from giving people more freedom, today's announcement is likely to cause more uncertainty and anxiety.' He warned England risked creating a two-tier system between those who could and could not pay for Covid tests. Dr Nagpul also accused ministers of 'neglecting' the most vulnerable people in society with their plan, which he said failed to protect those at highest risk. The head of the NHS Confederation which represents hospital trusts Matthew Taylor urged the Government to 'reconsider' its plans. He called for 'dedicated funding for continued access to Covid tests for all NHS workers in patient-facing roles.' Some scientists blasted the plans today, saying the Government was relying too heavily on an 'incomplete' vaccination programme. Dr Stephen Griffin, a virologist at Leeds University, said: 'I am dumbfounded by the majority of these announcements. 'Some comfort can be taken from retaining an albeit whittled down ONS survey, but other than the note of caution evident from the chief medical officers presentation yesterday, it would seem that the over reliance on an as yet incomplete vaccination programme is the sole remaining protective measure left for the UK population.' Julia Faulconbridge, the vice-chair of the British Psychological Society, said: 'Living with Covid does not mean consigning groups of our society to living in isolation, and it does not mean we have to put vulnerable people at risk of damage to their physical and mental health. 'Collective responsibility and coming together as society has been what has seen us through this pandemic so far, we must look to these values now and ensure no-one is left behind in the wish to declare the pandemic "over".' Yesterday Labour also slammed the 'living with Covid' strategy as coming too early and risking flare-ups in Covid cases. DAN WOOTTON: Boris has given us back our freedom but the Covid control-freaks haven't gone away and they will try and lock us up again at the first bump in the road On Thursday, the English will finally be free again. It might sound dramatic but, as Boris Johnson announced all Covid laws are finally being axed and we will be able to make sensible decisions for ourselves again, I let out a visceral sigh of relief and my shoulders all of a sudden felt lighter. After 23 months of soul destroying and, frankly, deadly restrictions, I rejoice that one of the most shameful eras in our recent history, where our civil liberties and freedoms were stripped away en masse with virtually no debate or opposition, is at an end. The scientific establishment, the media hysterics and the scare mongering Labour opposition have lost their battle to trap us into a liberty destroying Covid blackhole for years to come and by God they tried. As the Leader of No Opposition Keir Starmer made clear in Parliament today, if he had his way the UK would be following his pals Justin Trudeau in Canada and Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand into divisive, unnecessary and never-ending regulations like vaccine and mask mandates that are currently tearing those two Commonwealth countries apart. Of course, there is much to criticise: Boris plunged the country into draconian lockdowns three times with no evidence they actually worked; increasingly, it looks like they killed far more folk than they saved. Pictured: Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks following a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions at the House of Commons Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson and Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance address the nation during a press conference on plan for Living With Covid yesterday But I do feel proud to be British today; proud that we have a Prime Minister prepared to stand up to the terrifying new international health establishment and allow his citizens to move on from a virus that is now no more deadly than a run of the mill flu. I'm proud too that we have a 95-year-old monarch who has continued to work during her brush with the variant Omicron, sending a clear message to her people that the days of Covid hysteria are at an end. The focus now must be on ensuring we never react in the same way again. That's going to be hard, especially given so many of those with influence are addicted to the damaging lockdown policies they have followed since March 2020 and are unable to have the good grace to admit they called it wrong. And because we have a media elite obsessed with encouraging the government to deprive us of freedom wherever possible who always manage to ask the wrong questions. Like Sky News' lockdown-breaking star presenter Kay Burley who, upon hearing the news of the Queen's cold-like symptoms, tweeted: 'Might this impact on any decision by the Government to further lift #COVID19 restrictions?' Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured) laid out 'Living With Covid' strategy to MPs yesterday Er, no, of course not, Kay! The fact the Queen is likely to breeze through her brush with Covid, thanks to the milder nature of the variant, her triple vaccinated status and (probably) the use of antiviral drugs, means ordinary life beckons. We have beaten the virus, but what we now need to battle is the establishment blob which wants to continue to inflict control. SNP's village idiot at Westminster Ian Blackford described Boris's plan today as 'reckless' because it 'flies in the face of advice of scientists at the World Health Organisation'. What, you mean the organisation that effectively colluded with the communist Chinese regime to cover up the outbreak in the first place and have continually refused to hold China to account? And it might not be popular in polite society circles to question our own scientific and medical masterminds, but Saint Christopher Whitty and Lord Patrick Vallance have proved total flops when it comes to their pandemic advice. Boris Johnson (C), Britain's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty (L), and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance attend a press conference to outline the new long-term Covid-19 plan Remember, Whitty wanted to destroy all of our Christmases and damage countless businesses by locking us all down again in December for Omicron, despite South African medics insisting the variant was a pussycat. We were told we could have as many as 6,000 deaths and a million infections a day. But, sparked by the rebellion from brave Tory backbenchers and an even braver Cabinet resignation from Lord Frost, Boris didn't lock down and the worst case scenario never eventuated. Not even close. And that's despite Omicron being far more transmissible. Even Bill Gates reluctantly admitted over the weekend Omicron is working as a natural vaccine. He said: 'Sadly, the virus itself, particularly, the variant called omicron, is a type of vaccine, that is, it creates both B-cell and T-cell immunity, and it's done a better job getting out to the world population than we have with vaccines.' I have no idea what he's sad about Omicron should be celebrated as a natural vaccine that is providing a path out of this two-year hellscape. And we know now that natural immunity provides stronger protection from Covid than vaccines, anyway. But these should be yesterday's arguments and it's tragic and pathetic to see so many vested parties seemingly wanting the Covid and lockdown chaos and carnage to continue for another moment longer than necessary. Labour's Starmer and his mini me Wes Streeting have been out the past 24 hours trying to convince us that Boris handing back our God given freedoms that were only ever meant to be compromised while the NHS was under imminent threat of being overwhelmed is somehow irresponsible. But remember they also said Freedom Day last July shouldn't go ahead and pushed for a path to lockdown before Christmas. The Be Kind left around the world has collapsed morally internationally thanks to the totalitarian path of segregating society between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. For months, I've heard people wish Ardern or Trudeau were in charge in the UK. Things would be so much better, they insist. Well, I beg to differ as riot police currently clash with non-violent protestors in Canada's capital of Ottawa and New Zealand's capital of Wellington to try and deal with the unjabbed truckers, paramedics, doctors and teachers who have lost their jobs thanks to the cruel and counterproductive vaccine mandates. Boris implored us today to get back to the days where personal responsibility was king 'It is time that we got our confidence back,' he said, in a storming speech to parliament. 'We don't need laws to compel people to be considerate to others. We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to avoid infecting loved ones and others. 'So let us learn to live with this virus and continue protecting ourselves and others without restricting our freedoms.' That's all I've ever asked for. It was always a pipe dream to think we could shut down a respiratory virus. Food must still get to your door, delivery drivers still need to enter the country, essential workers still need to get to work, we still need to socialise with other human beings. I believe that, in time, when all the costs have been properly analysed, lockdown will prove to be one of the most disastrous policy approaches, both in terms of public health and the economy, in history. There is certainly no longer any justification for legal requirements to self-isolate, the 15.7 billion test and trace white elephant, perpetual boosters for the healthy or the terrifying provisions of the Coronavirus Act. I celebrate that they're all going. The biggest danger now to society is those folk in the media and politics who should know better continuing to propagate the myth that we remain in the midst of a dangerous pandemic when Omicron has rendered Covid defeated. Nicola Sturgeon today unveiled her plan for a 'sustainable return to a normal way of life in Scotland as she promised to axe remaining coronavirus rules amid a furious row with Boris Johnson over scrapping free Covid tests. The First Minister said the use of Covid certificates will end from Monday February 28 and the legal requirement to wear a face mask in certain indoor settings will be converted to guidance from March 21. But she said access to free tests will continue 'from now until further notice despite Mr Johnson committing to axing them in England from April 1. The Scottish government will publish a detailed document in March setting out how it will gradually transition away from mass free testing in a 'careful and phased manner'. That raises the prospect of people in Scotland still being able to access free tests when people in England will have to pay for them. However, it is currently unclear how Ms Sturgeon would fund continued access to free tests, with Downing Street stressing it will not be providing any extra funding given the provision is ending in England. The SNP is calling on the Treasury to provide more money but Chancellor Rishi Sunak is not expected to budge on the issue. That means Ms Sturgeon would likely have to cut spending in another area if she wants to continue to provide free tests beyond Mr Johnson's April 1 cut-off date. Ms Sturgeon said this afternoon that she is still seeking clarity from the Treasury on the testing issue. The UK-wide testing regime is thought to cost the Treasury approximately 2billion a month - equating to roughly 30 per person in the UK. That means the monthly cost of the testing regime in Scotland could be around 160million. The SNP leader's pandemic exit plan is noticeably more cautious than Mr Johnson's in England after he yesterday announced the end of self-isolation rules from February 24 as well as the end of free tests from April 1. Ms Sturgeon also said advice to self-isolate after a positive test will remain in place in Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon today unveiled her pandemic exit plan for Scotland amid a furious row with Boris Johnson over his decision to scrap free coronavirus tests Ms Sturgeon's approach is more cautious that Mr Johnson's in England after he yesterday announced the end of self-isolation rules from February 24 and the withdrawal of free tests for the general public from April 1 Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government's new plan for living with Covid will mean focusing 'much less, hopefully not at all' on imposing legal restrictions. The SNP leader said that 'instead we will rely predominantly on vaccines, treatments and sensible public health behaviours and adaptations' to keep the virus in check. Delivering a statement at Holyrood this afternoon, Ms Sturgeon said: 'At the heart of the framework is a desire for, and increasing confidence in our ability to achieve, a sustainable return to a normal way of life, even as we remain prepared for future threats that Covid may present.' Confirming the lifting of restrictions, she told MSPs: 'I can confirm firstly that the Covid certification scheme, requiring certain venues and events to check the vaccine or test status of attendees, will come to an end next Monday, February 28. 'The app which supports the scheme will remain operational, however, so any business that wishes to continue Covid certification on a voluntary basis to reassure customers will be able to do so. 'Second, as of March 21, assuming no significant adverse developments in the course of the virus, we expect that the legal requirement to wear face coverings in certain indoor settings and on public transport will be converted to guidance. 'We will continue to strongly recommend the wearing of face coverings in shops and other indoor public places and on public transport.' Ms Sturgeon said that Covid testing 'has been, and it will continue to be, a vital part of our management of Covid'. 'However, as the nature of the threat and our approach to managing it evolves, so to will our approach to testing,' she said. 'It is reasonable over time and barring adverse developments, to move away from mass population-wide asymptomatic testing towards a more targeted system, focused on specific priorities.' The First Minister said that it is 'vital that we make this transition in a careful and a phased manner', with a detailed plan to be published in March once Holyrood has secured 'clarity' from the Treasury on 'available resources'. That plan will confirm 'the duration beyond the end of March of any transition period during which the system will operate broadly on the same basis as now'. Ms Sturgeon said: 'As we do this work in the coming weeks and for the transition period, subject to one change I will set out shortly, access to testing will continue on broadly the same basis as now. 'We will be considering separately advice for schools and health and care workers in line with expert advice. 'But for the general public, let me set out clearly what this means from now until further notice. 'Firstly, if you have Covid symptoms, you should continue to go for a PCR test, access to these tests will remain free of charge at testing sites across the country. Ms Sturgeon said she believes it is 'reasonable' to eventually move away from mass asymptomatic Covid testing to a more targeted approach but stressed it must be done in a 'careful and phased manner' 'Second, you should continue to make regular use of lateral flow tests, even if you don't have symptoms. 'The only immediate change we are making to current arrangements on lateral flow tests for the general population is in our advice on the frequency of testing. Instead of advice to test before going anywhere to mix with others, we will from Monday next week revert to advice to test at least twice a week and in particular if you are going to a crowded place or mixing with someone who is clinically vulnerable. 'Lateral flow tests will remain free of charge in the transition phase. Indeed, we consider it important in line with the principle of healthcare free at the point of use that they should remain free of charge for any circumstance in which government recommended testing and this is a principle we will seek to uphold in our longer term plan for testing.' Ms Sturgeon said she 'must express frustration at the UK Governments position' on free tests. 'As of now we have no clarity on how much of the Covid testing infrastructure the UK Government intends to retain, no clarity on how much investment will support it in future and no clarity on whether the Treasury will provide additional resources or demand instead that funding is taken from elsewhere in the health budget,' she added. Ms Sturgeon said advice to self-isolate after a positive test will remain in place in Scotland. She said that it 'remains one of the most fundamental public health protections that we have available to us'. 'In Scotland for now we will continue to ask those who test positive for Covid to isolate for the recommended period and we will continue to make self-isolation support payments available to those who are eligible,' she said. The Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Francisco has changed its name over the British explorer's historical links to the slave trade. After shuttering during the Covid pandemic, the 426-room hotel will now reopen as The Beacon Grand following a huge renovation project. The 94-year-old landmark in the city's Union Square is the latest to bow to pressure following the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement in June 2020 - which caused hundreds of historic statues to be toppled and names to be changed. Built almost a century ago, the Sir Francis Drake has attracted Hollywood royalty through its doors, flanked by Beefeater doormen in tribute to the seafaring explorer who discovered nearby Drakes Bay over 400 years ago. The Sir Francis Drake hotel in San Francisco has changed its name over the British explorer's historical links to the slave trade The 94-year-old landmark in the city's Union Square is the latest to bow to pressure following the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement in June 2020 Tom Sweeney, a doorman at the hotel for 43 years said of the name change: 'Its going to be a sad day in San Francisco for sure I think people will be pretty shocked to see a new name' Built almost a century ago, the Sir Francis Drake has attracted Hollywood royalty through its doors, flanked by Beefeater doormen in tribute to the seafaring explorer who discovered nearby Drakes Bay over 400 years ago San Francisco and neighboring Marin County named several landmarks to the English explorer following his voyage to the Californian coast while circumnavigating the world between 1577 and 1580. Drake however also went on trips to Africa, where he is said to have enslaved thousands of Africans to be taken to Britain and the Americas - which was highlighted by protestors last year. Critics then spoke out, saying Drakes name should not be on local landmarks because of his ties to slave trading and colonialism. A spokeswoman for the Northview Hotel Group, which bought the hotel last year for about $157 million, confirmed Drake's name was being dropped on Saturday. Tom Sweeney, a doorman at the hotel for 43 years said of the name change: 'Everybody knew the Sir Francis Drake, it was world-known. San Francisco and neighboring Marin County named several landmarks to the English explorer following his voyage to the Californian coast while circumnavigating the world between 1577 and 1580 'Its going to be a sad day in San Francisco for sure I think people will be pretty shocked to see a new name.' Leah Goldstein, public relations manager for the hotel, added: 'Everything was done with so much thought for such an iconic property. We are not just changing the name and then quickly changing everything about the hotel. It is all much more intentional than that.' It's the latest Bay Area landmark to drop Drake's name, following protests across the US by anti-racism campaigners including the Black Lives Matter movement. Last year, Marin County officials removed a 30-foot-tall steel artwork of Drake at Larkspur Landing 'in response to planned demonstrations to tear down or demolish the statue' by protestors. Just hours later, workers were seen tearing down the sign on the front of Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo. Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, Marin County was renamed after notable US Olympian Archie Williams in 2021 Not every link to the 16th century explorer has been removed however. In March 2021, Marin County council members voted 4-1 to reject a proposal to rename Sir Francis Drake Boulevard which runs from the Bay Area to the Pacific coast It has been renamed after a former math and computing teacher Archie Williams, who was also a gold medalist in the 1936 Summer Olympics and one of the first African-American meteorologists. Former student Federal Sousa said he was astonished at the name being removed. 'I just find it so shocking that some of the history is gone,' Sousa told CBS at the time. 'I dont necessarily agree with history, but its a part of Marin Countys history. I dont like all history, but its history. Its not pretty.' Not every link to the 16th century explorer has been removed however. In March 2021, Marin County council members voted 4-1 to reject a proposal to rename Sir Francis Drake Boulevard which runs from the Bay Area to the Pacific coast. To confuse matters however, Fairfax Town Council has decided to change the name along its 2-mile section of the road. A child sex offender is pleading with the prison service to chemically castrate him so he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life behind bars. Ashley Colville, 31, formerly of Peterlee, County Durham, has 17 convictions relating to child sex offences and breaches of orders designed to stop him reoffending. Yet he has continued to be a threat to children and on Monday appeared before a court for defying another order. Ashley Colville, 31, (pictured) formerly of Peterlee, County Durham, wants the prison service to chemically castrate him so he doesn't have to spend the rest of his life behind bars The convict has 17 convictions relating to child sex offences and breaches of orders designed to stop him reoffending Colville's barrister Shada Mellor told Teesside Crown Court the sex offender had decided drastic action was required. She said: 'He is willing to engage in chemical castration. 'He says this is because he does not want to spend the remainder of his life in and out of prison. 'He is fighting to get this assistance. He asked those instructing me to campaign on his behalf to find which prisons are able to offer him the medication. 'He was top of the list but for various reasons, including the [pandemic], he has ceased to be so.' Colville has continued to be a threat to children and on Monday appeared before a court for defying another order He had been speaking to a woman who claimed to sexually abuse her daughter while they were messaging Prosecutor Tom Mitchell said a police officer monitoring Colville's behaviour after being released from prison found an illegal phone with hundreds of deleted messages on it. Colville had been speaking to a woman who claimed to sexually abuse her daughter while they were messaging. Despite a nationwide hunt, police were unable to trace the woman. Judge Jonathan Carroll dismissed Colville's claim the interaction with the woman was a fantasy. He told him: 'In my judgment you believed you were talking to an adult female and that she had a female child and that she was engaging in sexual abuse of that child. 'Over a number of hours you engaged in quite repugnant conversations with her, a form of conversation that is shocking to any right-minded person.' Colville was sentenced to 10 years with six years custody and four years on extended licence after he pleaded guilty to two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). Colville's barrister Shada Mellor told Teesside Crown Court (pictured) the sex offender had decided drastic action was required He was convicted of arranging or facilitating a child sex offence. The SHPO will last for life and he must register as a sex offender for life. Colville's conviction is the latest in a long string of a sexual offences he has committed stretching back more than a decade. In September 2010 he pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of a 16 year old girl in a shop. Four years later he pleaded guilty to 11 offences of possessing indecent photographs of children in January 2014. In April 2015 he pleaded guilty to breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order when he had a phone that he had not declared. He was jailed for 54 months in July 2018 for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order by attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. Only a little more than a year ago he broke his licence by sending a Facebook friend request to a woman with four children including a 14-year-old girl in November 2020. Religious leaders read a statement at Pohang City Hall in North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday, urging POSCO to establish its holding company in the city. Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk POSCO's plan to set up a holding company in Seoul next month is expected to continue facing protests from the local community until the local elections in June, as politicians have been developing the conflict into a political issue to attract voters, according to industry officials, Tuesday. Earlier this week, a taskforce led by the Pohang City Government in North Gyeongsang Province threatened to bring 30,000 residents to a massive rally in front of POSCO headquarters next Monday, unless POSCO Group Chairman Choi Jeong-woo responds to the requests to establish the holding firm and research facilities in the company's hometown and to make more contributions to the region. As of Tuesday afternoon, POSCO remained silent about the requests, reiterating that the establishment of its holding company in Seoul will not cause an outflow of the workforce nor a reduction in tax revenue in Pohang. "POSCO is a private enterprise with the right to make its own decisions," a POSCO official said. "It is unreasonable for the Pohang mayor to meddle with our management." POSCO was initially founded as a state-run enterprise in 1968, but it was privatized in 2000. Despite the company's insistence, the governments of North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu Metropolitan City have also opposed the establishment of POSCO's holding company in Seoul. In addition, the four leading presidential candidates have all urged the company to reconsider its plan. In particular, Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition Justice Party mentioned the issue directly on Monday, during the first of three TV debates by the National Election Commission. Politicians in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, the site of another one of POSCO's steel mills, also raised their voices. "Concerns are spreading across the local community over the possibilities of the steel manufacturing business being downgraded to a mere subsidiary and becoming less important than new businesses," Gwangyang City Council said in a statement, Tuesday. The council members urged POSCO to prioritize investing in the city, when pushing ahead with new businesses related to secondary cells and hydrogen. POSCO announced that day that its joint venture with POSCO Energy will invest 750 billion won ($628 million) to construct two more LNG storage tanks at Gwangyang LNG Terminal. In addition, the company reportedly advised its employees recently to change their KakaoTalk profile pictures to images containing slogans to appease Pohang residents. Main opposition People Power Party Rep. Kim Byong-wook, who represents Pohang, said that whistleblowers told him that the company has been forcing its employees to change their social media profile pictures. Some employees have hinted that the lawmaker's remarks were based on fact. Through Blind, an anonymous chat app for verified employees, they cynically expressed their gratitude to KakaoTalk for the recent introduction of the "multi-profile" function that allows users to set up different profiles for each contact. Russia has been accused of orchestrating a 'false flag' event after Moscow claimed it killed five Ukrainian troops in Russian territory. In what would be the first fatal clash between Russian and Ukrainian forces since Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Ukraine's east on Monday, Moscow claimed it had ambushed two military units, destroyed two armoured vehicles and killed five. But analysts were quick to cast doubt over the claims, which have resulted in fresh warnings that the Kremlin is looking to manufacture conflict as justification to begin a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In another incident, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) claimed that bombing carried out by 'Ukrainian saboteurs' killed three civilians. A video of a reporter showing the damage was also questioned by analysts. Ukrainian officials also dismissed the alleged incidents, with one calling on the Kremlin to 'stop your fake-producing factory now'. The claims came as Russian tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks were seen rolling into eastern regions overnight following Putin's orders to deploy on so called 'peacekeeping' missions. And at the same time, Ukraine said heavy shelling broke out along nearly all 250 miles of its frontline with the breakaway provinces, leaving two of its soldiers dead and 12 injured in a major escalation in violence. Russia has been accused of orchestrating a 'false flag' event after Moscow claimed it killed five Ukranian troops in Russian territory, without supplying evidence. A video allegedly showing the incident (pictured) has been widely debunked by analysts as fake The video showed a 'soldier' following an armoured vehicle through a field, and was filmed on a camera by another person following them holding a weapon (pictured) The head of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed on Monday Russian forces destroyed two Ukrainian military units that crossed into Russian territory. The Russian military said it killed five suspected 'saboteurs' who crossed into Russia's Rostov region and also destroyed two armoured vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukraine dismissed the claims saying no such clash had taken place involving its troops, having earlier disputed Russia's claim Ukraine's forces had destroyed a Russian military checkpoint. Officials said no troops were missing in the region, while Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba took to social media to deny Moscows claims, writing: Russia, stop your fake-producing factory now. Ukrainian military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Pavlo Kovalchuk said: 'This whole flase claim of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team being caught somewhere near the Russian border is completely false.' Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as 'disinformation.' Helmet-cam footage of the alleged incident was posted online and shared on social media. It was claimed that it was filmed by soldiers in the Ukrainian units allegedly in Russia, with the footage being seized by Russian troops and posted online by officials. The video showed a 'soldier' following an armoured vehicle through a field, and was filmed on a camera by another person following them holding a weapon. As the group passed down a dirt track, shots can be heard being fired, and the two people in military gear run down the road and dive to the floor. Another video reportedly showed the armoured vehicle in flames, and was posted by state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today. Others on twitter pointed out that the vehicle shown in the second video did not match that seen in the first But experts said digital locators embedded in online videos about the supposed incident, along with another alleged attack, showed both had been filmed in the same area, despite Russian claims that they took place far apart. Elliot Higgins, founder of investigative journalism website Bellingcat, shared the footage and claimed the video was 'fabricated'. He said his publication had been able to geo-locate where the footage was filmed through landmarks shown in the video, writing on Twitter that it was filmed inside separatist territory on the border with Russia. Others questioned the legitimacy of the footage as well, with Oliver Alexander - another journalist and analyst - writing: 'They have now released 'helmet cam' footage for the claimed incursion by Ukrainian troops. 'Because if you are going sneak into Russia to perform sabotage, you of course bring a helmet cam and BTRs,' he added sarcastically. Another video reportedly showed the armoured vehicle in flames, and was posted by state-controlled broadcaster Russia Today. Others on twitter pointed out that the vehicle shown in the second video did not match that seen in the first. On Monday, Ukraine dismissed a Russian claim that its forces had shelled a border post, denouncing it as 'fake news' designed to inflame tensions. The FSB had earlier alleged that a projectile fired from Ukraine had destroyed a border facility used by its guards. Video released by the FSB showed a small, apparently one-room shed with its roof and walls caved in and a Russian flag leaning against strewn debris. But Ukraine's spokesman for its joint military operation against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine was unimpressed by the Russian allegation. 'They conduct different provocations and produce fake news every day, even a couple of times per day,' Kovalchuk told reporters in Kramatorsk. 'We couldn't stop them producing this fake news, but we always emphasise that we do not shoot at civilian infrastructure,' he said. 'We don't use artillery to shoot back at occupation forces,' he added, referring to the Moscow-backed rebels holding parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. Moscow was accused last night of producing Hollywood-style fake news videos to inflame tensions with Ukraine. News bulletins in Russia yesterday were full of reports of shelling and other apparent provocations by Ukraine that were unverified or denied by the West and Kiev. One video, released by the DPR in eastern Ukraine, appeared to show a man pretending his leg had been blown off by a Ukrainian artillery strike. A video released by the Donetsk Peoples Republic in eastern Ukraine, showed a man pretending his leg had been blown off by a Ukrainian artillery strike It was mocked online as it showed the man's left leg, supposedly blown off under the knee, was already a prosthetic with the lower half detached. The video was later removed from social media. Another clip from Russian state TV station Rossiya 1 showed a senior war correspondent in Donetsk claiming the city was coming under fire from Ukrainian shelling and that a Ukrainian invasion was imminent. Washington has repeatedly warned that Moscow is trying to justify a planned invasion by planting fake stories of Ukrainian aggression. Latvias foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics told Bloomberg: Its all made up like a Hollywood movie. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said there had been a proliferation of false flag operations, propaganda stunts and Russian news outlets carrying fictitious allegations. Social media experts have debunked several videos put out by Moscow by analysing embedded data. For example, footage of a car allegedly loaded with explosives to attack Ukrainians fleeing to Russia had data showing it had been filmed in 2019. Ukraine has even accused Russia of taking corpses from morgues to use in incidents of fake attacks blamed on Kiev. Moscow claimed yesterday it had killed five Ukrainian saboteurs who allegedly crossed the border to stage an attack Another video, released by the Peoples Militia of the Donetsk Peoples Republic on February 18, claimed 'Polish saboteurs' were planning to blow up a tank. Bellingcat's Higgins discovered the audio matched another video uploaded to YouTube in 2010. Christo Grozev, Bellingcats executive director, tweeted: 'If youre wondering if [the] Kremlins poorly executed war propaganda works on its domestic audience: sadly, it does. 'Have been talking to young people from Russias countryside. They are convinced Ukraine is shelling.' Referring to the video of the man pretending his leg had been blown off, analyst Oliver Alexander said: 'The propaganda is reaching crazy levels.' UK health secretary Sajid Javid said this morning that Russia has invaded Ukraine. A column of armoured vehicles was spotted in Donetsk, the main city of one of the two so-called 'republics', in the early hours of this morning. A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine A military truck drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops No insignia were visible on the vehicles, but there is little doubt they are Russian forces deployed on Putin's orders. 'We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe,' Javid said early Tuesday. 'We have seen that Putin has recognised breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking moments later, said a 'first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia' will be revealed today - though stopped short of calling last night's move an 'invasion', saying instead that Putin is 'bent on a full scale invasion.' Before Putin's order, world leaders including Joe Biden and Johnson had made it clear that any Russian incursion, no matter how limited, into Ukrainian territory would be considered a fresh invasion and spark an unprecedented flurry of sanctions. But the word 'invasion' was barely mentioned overnight and action was limited. Biden banned all new US trade with the breakaway regions but stopped far short of the 'swift and decisive' response that had been threatened. White House spokesman Jen Psaki promised more sanctions will follow later. US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield leads international condemnation of Russia at an emergency session of the UN security council convened in New York after he recognised parts of eastern Ukraine as independent Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognising the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Monday Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, also avoided the word as he vowed sanctions against Russia today - acknowledging 'Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil' but adding: 'I wouldn't say that's a fully fledged invasion'. Even Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, avoided it in a 2am address to the nation, speaking instead of a 'violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine'. General Sir Richard Sherriff, Britain's former top NATO commander, was more forthcoming - telling the BBC: 'This is the invasion of a sovereign country which could turn into a catastrophic war with warfare on a scale not seen in Europe since 1945. I think it's difficult to overstate the seriousness of the situation.' Ukraine foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, speaking this morning, demanded 'harsh' penalties for Russia's actions. Eyes will now be on the eastern frontlines to see exactly how far Putin is willing to test the West's resolve. In recognising Donetsk and Luhansk as independent, it was not clear whether he meant the parts currently occupied by separatist troops or the wider regions, which could mean rolling troops into a much larger piece of territory. There are also strong doubts about whether Putin will stop at recognising the two 'republics'. In an nerve-jangling 65 minute speech to the Russian nation before signing his order, the strongman leader seemed to be laying out a case for seizing the whole of Ukraine - arguing it has no history of statehood, was 'created by Lenin', is a corrupt US and NATO vassal, and has been directly threatening Russia's security. Ukraine has been fighting separatists since 2014, when Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula after street protests in Kyiv overthrew a pro-Moscow president. More than 14,000 people have already died in the fighting. Kyiv's Western allies have warned in recent weeks of an escalation in the conflict with Russia massing more than 150,000 troops around Ukraine. The southern Rostov region, where the FSB said the shelling took place, declared a state of emergency last week over an anticipated influx of civilians from the rebel-controlled territories. Hospitality bosses desperate for a post-pandemic boost are encouraging the return of 'business lunches' and post-work drinks for hybrid workers. Companies and employees are being urged to work hard and play hard as they help kick-start the recovery of businesses in Edinburgh's city centre after two years of strict Covid curbs championed by Nicola Sturgeon's SNP. The Eat Out Edinburgh campaign will encourage the return of business breakfasts and lunches, as well as post-work gatherings for office-shy employees to boost the hospitality industry after a tough two years. Edinburgh city councillors and business leaders have already criticised the 'disproportionate' burden that pubs, bars and restaurants faced during lockdowns. And Glasgow-based proprietor Michael Bergson slammed Nicola Sturgeon's 'overreaction' and called on the SNP to end the 'damaging, trade-crippling' restrictions to ensure pubs could start turning profits again. He told MailOnline: 'This 23 month Punch and Judy act and the quest for the U.K. nations safest government medal of honour needs to end now that covid rates are so low. 'Lets see some positivity from the First Minister. Its time to get fully back to normal.' It comes as Ms Sturgeon confirmed Scotland's vaccine pass scheme is set to end on Monday and the legal requirement for the use of face coverings will be scrapped from March 21. Hospitality bosses desperate for a post-pandemic boost are encouraging the return of 'business lunches' and post-work drinks for hybrid workers. [File image] Kate Russell, general manager at Bonnie & Wild in the city's famous St James Quarter, said the company was proud to 'champion Scotland's world-class food and drink producers' Hannah McConnachie (above) from Edinburgh-based Signature Group - which runs a chain of hospitality venues in the country - was eager to finally welcome back punters for the 'Eat Out Edinburgh' campaign after two years of restrictions The business group behind the Eat Out Edinburgh campaign has admitted it does not expect the number of office workers to return to pre-pandemic levels in the city centre. But Roddy Smith, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said a boost was expected from the ongoing transformation of offices to meet demand for flexible working. He said: 'We want to re-engage the whole city to come back and spend money. We have nearly 40 hospitality businesses involved in a campaign to entice back residents and visitors, but especially office workers. 'If someone is coming in three days a week rather than five, I think they'll be more likely to want to meet someone for lunch or go for a drink after work in future. 'Rather than bringing a sandwich into the office, we're looking for people to support our world-class hospitality industry. 'A lot of people haven't been in the city centre at all over the last two years, but there have been huge changes, with so many places opening up. 'For those businesses to thrive, we need to fill them throughout the year. We can't just rely on tourists.' It comes as new statistics published by the All Party Parliamentary Pub Group showed the devastating impact Covid had on boozers across the UK. At its peak, 2,500 pubs closed in 2020 alone - equating to an average of six pubs being lost each week throughout the pandemic's worst year. Damningly, of the 15,000 publicans, punters, industry groups and academics surveyed for the inquiry, 60% disagreed with the Government's level of support offered to pubs. Companies and employees are being urged to work hard and play hard as they help kick-start the recovery of businesses in Edinburgh's city centre after two years of strict Covid curbs championed by Nicola Sturgeon. The SNP leader is pictured, right, in Edinburgh on Monday Commenting on the report's findings, Nik Antona, chairman of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: 'This is a crucial moment for pubs, and I hope Government will see this report as an opportunity to raise the bar. 'Without legislative reform and greater investment in the trade, thousands of pubs across the country face an uncertain future. We need action from the Government to keep these vital businesses, and local communities they serve, thriving.' Covid has ravaged the already struggling pub industry, with lockdowns and rapidly see-sawing restrictions keeping drinkers away. In December, Fullers announced it would close 20 central London pubs 'indefinitely' as its chief executive, Simon Emeny, slammed the 'pitiful' level of support provided by the government. Alastair Kerr, South West Regional Representative for the Campaign for Pubs, told MailOnline: 'It is vital that pubs this year receive maintained support from punters across the UK and it is especially welcome that businesses outside of the hospitality sector are encouraging their staff to support our pubs and their local economies after they finish in the office. 'This year is the first full trading year for Pubs since the pandemic and it is exceptionally important for Pubs to recieve as many customers as they can get. 'It is a great reassurance that businesses are seeing the importance of the role that pubs play in our society and actively encouraging their staff to support them when it is needed more than ever.' Now, several influential voices in Edinburgh have also hit out at the adversity that pubs, bars and hospitality venues have endured since the pandemic began. Pauline Weddell, area leader for Edinburgh at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: 'City centre businesses have suffered disproportionately over the last two years, with hospitality and retail in particular having faced unpredictable periods of restrictions and a fall in demand due to the absence of large numbers of office workers.' Edinburgh City Council leader Adam McVey said every effort was being made to best support the centre, which he described as 'one of the most resilient in the UK'. He said: 'We fully support this campaign to encourage local people to get back out there and enjoy everything our city centre has to offer. 'We're very aware lockdown restrictions have had serious repercussions on many city centres businesses.' Nicola Sturgeon has come under fire for the draconian Covid curbs she has insisted on Kate Russell, general manager at Bonnie & Wild in the city's famous St James Quarter, said the company was 'proud to champion Scotland's world-class food and drink producers' in the campaign. 'We're passionate about supporting those smaller businesses who perhaps wouldn't be able to have a high-profile, city centre outlet otherwise,' she added. Hannah McConnachie from Edinburgh-based Signature Group - which runs a chain of hospitality venues in the country - was eager to finally welcome back punters for the 'Eat Out Edinburgh' campaign after two years of restrictions. She said: 'Each of our venues is unique, taking inspiration from its surroundings and customers, with food and drink offerings sourced locally to showcase the best of Scottish produce. 'Our Edinburgh venues are well known for their historic architecture and community involvement.' The Scottish Government is extending its Covid powers for another six months, with regulations underpinning the use of face masks and vaccine passports now due to expire in September. That does not necessarily mean that rules will remain in place for another six months because they are subject to review every three weeks. Fox News presenter Sean Hannity has led tributes to his fellow host Bob Beckel who has died at the age of 73. The political analyst, who was a former co-host of The Five on Fox News, passed away yesterday. During his illustrious career, Beckel, served as a campaign manager for Walter Mondale's Democratic bid for the Presidency in 1984 and was the youngest Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Carter Administration. On Monday night, Hannity paid tribute to his 'dear friend' and said he 'missed him already'. He told viewers: 'A very dear friend of this channel and a dear friend personally that man right there Bob Beckel. I got a call from his son Alex, great kid, earlier today that his dad had passed away. Bob Beckel, who was a former co-host of The Five on Fox News, has died at the age of 73 Fox News presenter Sean Hannity led tributes to his fellow host and said he 'missed him already' 'What people might not know is he and I got along great. He had a key to my house, he was always full of joy, happiness, light, sunshine. He loved God and Jesus and we miss him already. 'God bless you, godspeed Bob Beckel.' The television host added: 'My kids would call him uncle Bob because he was here a lot when I was home and he would come to my house and he would be up at 7am smoking cigars and I would have to explain to my kids why he was smoking cigars. 'Now I have to explain my e-cigarette but I loved him and godspeed to him. We miss him.' Meanwhile Fox News host Laura Ingraham called Beckel an 'old time liberal' who you could 'always have a laugh' with. She said: 'That's really sad news. I liked him so much too. I'm just in shock, I'm just learning this from you. 'He was an old time liberal who you could fight with and you and I fought with him many times over the 20 plus years but we always had a laugh afterward.' Beckel, who was born in New York City in 1948, began his career working for the State Department and became the youngest Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the department's history. He went on to serve as a campaign manager for Walter Mondale's Democratic bid for the Presidency in 1984. In 2000, he joined Fox News as a contributor and would provide viewers with an analysis of the political stories. He left the network in 2015 to join CNN as a political commentator before rejoining the news channel as a co-host of The Five. During his illustrious career, he also made appearance on NBC Nightly News, DCBS This Morning and Nightline and was a columnist for USA Today. In 2007 he and American columnist Cal Thomas co-authored the book Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America which how analyzed bipartisanship and consensus politics are good for the democratic process. The Democratic strategist married Leland Ingham in 1992 before the pair parted ways in 2002. The couple share two children. Hannity said he had received a call from Beckel's son Alex telling him that his father had passed away Fox News host Laura Ingraham called Beckel an 'old time liberal' who you could 'always have a laugh' with In 2015, Beckel's memoir I Should Be Dead: My Life Surviving Politics, TV, and Addiction, in which he discussed his long battle with substance abuse, was published. The cause of his death is not yet known. Last night a host of names from the world of broadcasting joined in paying tribute to Beckel, including American columnist Cal Thomas. Thomas wrote on social media: 'My friend and spiritual brother, Bob Beckel, has passed into the presence of the Lord he loved. Friends of Beckel paid tribute to the former co-host of The Five last night 'We did so many things together and I hope we modeled what two people of different political persuasions can be like when they love one another. 'For ten years we wrote the 'Common Ground' column for USA Today and a book by that title. The name of his ironically titled autobiography is 'I Should Be Dead.' 'It is a highly readable book about a difficult life that was dramatically changed in the last 15 years. I will see you soon Bob. You are loved.' While chief Washington correspondent Mike Emanuel said: 'Rest in Peace, Bob.' And Fox News reporter Joseph A. Wulfsohn said: 'I was probably the only person at my college to set my DVR for The Five every weekday. 'Bob Beckel constantly had me laughing and you can always count on him to spice up the conversation. He will be missed.' Security guards used 'unreasonable' force to restrain a man with mental health issues who died while being pinned to the ground at London's Excel Centre during a psychotic episode, an inquest has ruled. Jason Lennon, 37, was acting in a 'delusional, agitated and paranoid' manner, assaulting bystanders and walking into traffic, during an acute relapse in July 2019. Police received 13 separate 999 calls in the 35 minutes before Mr Lennon was restrained by security after pursuing a member of the public into the conference centre. He was held in a prone position by 'five large males', who pinned several parts of his upper and lower body to the floor, an inquest heard. When police arrived, they handcuffed Mr Lennon and rolled him over, but soon realised he was not breathing and had no pulse. Officers removed the handcuffs and began emergency CPR, but Mr Lennon died in hospital less than two hours later having suffered a cardiac arrest while being restrained. An inquest into his death at Walthamstow Coroner's Court concluded earlier this month, with a jury arriving at a narrative conclusion that failures in Mr Lennon's mental health care and the duration, location and 'unreasonable' force used by security to restrain him had contributed to his death. Acting Senior Coroner for East London Graeme Irvine penned a prevention of future deaths report, published on Monday, slamming failures and flaws in the assessments of Mr Lennon's mental health in the days prior to his death. Jason Lennon, who had a history of mental health issues dating back to an attempted suicide in 2002, was enduring a psychotic episode when he was restrained Mr Lennon was rushed to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest while being restrained, but died in hospital less than two hours later The inquest heard Mr Lennon lived in supported accommodation and had a medical history of anoxic brain injury and enduring schizophrenic illness. In 2002, after being remanded into custody at Feltham Young Offenders Institute, he had tried to hang himself after claiming he was the victim of a sexual assault. He was treated at hospital, where it was found he had sustained a brain injury. The following year, he was diagnosed with a schizophrenic illness and in 2011 was deemed unsuitable to live outside supported accommodation in the community. He was sectioned in 2017 when he walked into traffic asking drivers to kill him and his mental health fluctuated over the following four years. This included periodic relapses, resulting in acute psychosis that caused an increasing risk of harm to both himself and others. On the morning of July 28, 2019, Mr Lennon assaulted another resident at his supported accommodation, with staff assessing that he was in relapse. He was described as 'delusional, agitated and paranoid' before staff reported the incident to police and the local mental health service - the East London Foundation NHS Trust Community Recovery Team. A drop-in review was arranged for the following day, but Mr Lennon left the meeting before its conclusion. However, nursing staff assessed that he was stable and 'not in crisis'. On July 31, Mr Lennon left his accommodation at 6.55am and made his way to Prince Regent's Lane in Plaistow. Thirteen 999 calls were made regarding his conduct over a 35-minute period in which members of the public reported Mr Lennon acting in an 'unusual and confrontational manner', including assaulting bystanders and walking into traffic. The Excel Centre in east London, where Mr Lennon died while being pinned to the floor by security guards The inquest heard an assault on an Asian man was captured on CCTV, with a delivery driver stopping to intervene and allow the victim to escape, before Mr Lennon walked into the path of a bus. Police were directed to the Excel Centre, where Mr Lennon then had pursued a member of the public before being restrained by security staff at around 7.29am. Officers arrived at six minutes later, but Mr Lennon was found unresponsive and CPR was immediately commenced prior to the arrival of paramedics. He was then transported to hospital, but was pronounced dead at 9.31am. Acting Senior Coroner Mr Irvine has slammed the 'flawed' review of Mr Lennon's mental state that failed to identify that he was in relapse two days prior to his death. He said expert psychiatric evidence had indicated Mr Lennon was a 'suitable candidate' for a 'Care Programme Approach mental health pathway' that would have reduced the risk of his mental health deteriorating, but mental health services failed to effectively monitor whether he was on an appropriate pathway. East London Foundation NHS Trust carried out a serious incident investigation report into the events leading up to his death, but Mr Irvine said the subsequent action plan 'was found to have been incomplete by February 6 due to errors attributable to the Trust's governance team'. He also highlighted 'individual failings by staff' within the trust's community recovery team that 'fell below standards set by their regulator'. A spokesperson for the East London NHS Foundation Trust said: 'In the aftermath of Mr Lennon's death, the East London NHS Foundation Trust carried out a review of Mr Lennon's care. 'Subsequently, a number of improvements to how care and support is managed were made. 'Our thoughts are with Mr Lennon's family and friends at this difficult time.' Sir Chris Whitty was last night accused of allowing the Government to 'abandon' vulnerable people under Boris Johnson's 'living with Covid' blueprint. Angry scientists claimed England's chief medical officer had endorsed 'bad public health' and questioned why he hadn't done 'more' to protect millions of vulnerable adults. Sir Chris stood alongside the Prime Minister last night as he hailed the end of the 'darkest, grimmest years in our peace-time history'. Speaking at a historic Downing Street press conference, the PM confirmed the legal requirement for infected people to self-isolate will be scrapped from Thursday. Free testing will end on April 1 for all but the elderly and vulnerable. High vaccine uptake and the receding Omicron wave means England can move from Government restrictions to 'personal responsibility', he said. England's top medic Sir Chris Whitty urged people to act cautiously but didn't publicly question the move, which will see the country live alongside the virus like flu. Professor Richard Horton, editor of scientific journal the Lancet, questioned why Sir Chris did not do 'more' to protect vulnerable groups. He said it was 'extraordinarily depressing' to see Sir Chris and Sir Patrick Vallance, the Government's chief scientific adviser, 'lend their credibility to this broken Prime Minister'. Critics say the move will fuel the spread of Covid and abandons older and at-risk groups, who are the most at risk of becoming severly unwell and dying from the virus. Independent SAGE members, a group of scientists who have repeatedly push for Covid curbs, questioned how clinically vulnerable people can stay safe if there is no support for isolation or widespread testing. British scientists accused England's top medic Sir Chris Whitty (pictured) and Sir Patrick Vallance, chief scientific adviser, of 'debasing their titles' for supporting the PM's plans, which are 'politically, not scientifically driven' At a Downing Street press conference last night, Mr Johnson (centre) set out that from Thursday, the self-isolation law will be axed, while contact tracing and quarantine payments will come to an end. Sir Chris Whitty (left) and Sir Patrick Vallance (right) stood alongside Mr Johnson and issued a stark warning that Covid is not 'trivial' and more severe variants could emerge At a Downing Street press conference last night, Mr Johnson revealed that the self-isolation law will expire on Thursday. Routine contact tracing and quarantine payments will also come to an end. However, people will still be advised to stay at home if they are infected. Nicola Sturgeon will demand MORE cash to keep free Covid testing in Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will today unveil her pandemic exit plan for Scotland amid a furious row with Boris Johnson over his decision to scrap free coronavirus tests. Ms Sturgeon will set out her proposals for a gradual return to normal life in a statement to Holyrood this afternoon. Her approach is expected to be more cautious that Mr Johnson's in England after he yesterday announced the end of self-isolation rules from February 24 and the withdrawal of free tests for the general public from April 1. Ms Sturgeon wants some isolation rules and free testing to continue but Downing Street has said on the latter that it will not provide any extra cash to pay for it, given the provision is ending in England. The SNP is calling on the Treasury to provide more money but Chancellor Rishi Sunak is not expected to budge on the issue. That means Ms Sturgeon would have to cut spending elsewhere if she wants to continue to provide free tests. Advertisement Enhanced statutory sick pay for the infected will be axed next month. And from April, lateral flow and PCR tests will no longer be available to the public for free. However, some elderly and vulnerable people will still be able to get free tests. But Sir Chris and Sir Patrick who have previously tried to call on the Government to introduce restrictions didn't publicly disagree with the move. And the PM insisted there was not 'some division between the gung ho politicians and the cautious, anxious scientists'. Standing alongside Mr Johnson at the 7pm press conference, the pair issued a stark warning that Covid is not 'trivial' and more severe variants could emerge. The chief medical officer warned the Omicron wave is 'still high' and large numbers are in hospital with the virus. He said if the public had not acted cautiously after Omicron emerged, the situation would be 'a lot worse'. And Sir Chris cautioned new variants will inevitably appear and trigger 'significant problems', a point echoed by the PM himself. He also urged people to still isolate if they have Covid to 'try to prevent other people getting it'. But a stream of British scientists hit out at Sir Chris and Sir Patrick for endorsing the PM's strategy. Professor Horton tweeted: 'Its just extraordinarily depressing to see two intelligent and respected individuals, Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance, lend their credibility to this broken Prime Minister. 'The UK governments decisions on self-isolation and testing roll-back are politically, not scientifically, driven. 'The chief medical officer and chief scientific advisor should have had no part in this. They have debased their titles. 'At this time of releasing protections, the UK government should be strengthening, not relaxing, surveillance. This is bad public health. 'The UK government is abandoning those most at risk of Covid: those over 65 years, the immunocompromised, and those with multiple morbidities. Why is the CMO not doing more to protect these groups?' Dr Deepti Gurdasani, a clinical epidemiologist at Queen Mary University of London, noted that the top medic and scientists mentioned protecting the vulnerable. 'But how on earth do they think clinically vulnerable people will keep safe if infected people are not required to or supported to isolate? And if testing for most people ends?', she tweeted. Dr Kit Yates, a mathematician at the University of Bath and member of Independent SAGE, said Sir Chris and Sir Patrick's comments on safeguarding vulnerable people 'doesnt square with the governments plan'. He tweeted: 'How will clinically vulnerable people stay safe if there is no support for isolation and no community testing?' Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, a primary healthcare expert and GP, tweeted: 'Whitty and Vallance are good men with good motives. 'But I, too, am troubled by the corrupt company they keep and the fine line between acquiescence and endorsement.' Advertisement Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine has dangerous parallels to Adolf Hitler's actions before the Second World War. Prior to the outbreak of WWII, an expansionist Hitler demanded self-determination for all German-speaking peoples living in the Sudetenland - asserting that they should no longer be part of Czechoslovakia and Austria. Meanwhile, Putin - who is widely seen as intent on restoring his country's former empire - on Monday recognised the Russian-speaking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine as independent states. After Hitler's declaration, the Sudeten Nazi Party called for a union with Germany and began rioting, prompting the Czechs to send in the army. Hitler then used this as evidence that the Sudeten Germans were being persecuted by the Czech state in a further attempt to make the case for the territory's absorption into Germany. In a rambling television address last night, Putin called Ukraine 'a colony' which was oppressing its Russian speakers, and directly questioned the legitimacy of its democratically elected government. Last week, a car belonging to a pro-Russian rebel leader in Luhansk was blown up as part of a suspected 'false flag' plot to give Putin an excuse for war. Hitler brought his territorial claim to the Sudetenland to the Munich Conference in 1938, where naive Western leaders, including chief appeaser Neville Chamberlain, agreed to annex the territory to Germany in return for peace. The Nazi leader then sent his troops into the territory, where they were treated to a rapturous welcome by crowds of ethnic Germans pulling Nazi salutes. Putin has already sent thousands of troops into Ukraine, according to military sources, after announcing he was launching a 'peacekeeping' operation in the country. The Munich Agreement ceded the Sudetenland region to Hitler in the hope of avoiding war. Pictured left, after signing the 1938 agreement, are Mussolini and French PM Edouard Daladier, with Hitler and Neville Chamberlain behind them. On the right is Chamberlain making his infamous 'peace in our time' speech after returning to Britain Prior to the outbreak of WWII, an expansionist Hitler demanded self-determination for all German-speaking peoples living in the Sudetenland - asserting that they should no longer be part of Czechoslovakia and Austria A map showing the border between Ukraine and Russia, and the areas occupied by Russian separatists Ethnic Germans wearing traditional regional costumes give the Nazi salute and cheer Hitler on his visit to the town of Carlsbad in the Sudetenland, just after annexation by Germany in October 1938 Part of a Nazi invasion force complete with cars, horse cavalry, and men on foot, advances further into Poland in September 1939 German troops enter Schonlinde (Krasna Lipa) in the Sudetenland, after Nazi Germany annexed the region (pictured from October 2, 1938) Hitler greeting crowds from the balcony of the Reich Chancellery building after returning to Berlin following the signing of the Munich Agreement Following the signing of the Munich Agreement, Neville Chamberlain infamously told the British public after it was signed that he believed it was 'peace in our time'. But Hitler, who had already absorbed Austria into Germany in March 1938, rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1. There are now fears Putin could act in a similar manner by using claims of oppression against Russian speakers in Donetsk and Luhansk as a pretext to invade the whole of Ukraine. Chamberlain eventually declared war on Germany on September 3. France followed soon after, sparking a conflict that finally ended with Germany's defeat in May 1945. Western powers including the UK could equally be dragged into a conflict in Ukraine if the country is granted its wish to join NATO and Russia then invades. Nazi supporters removing signs marking the border between the Czech territories and Germany in September 1938 Ethnic Germans salute a message of liberation from German commander Wilhelm Ritter von Leeb after the German annexation of the Sudetenland on October 2, 1938 A German soldier is greeted by young Sudeten Germans in 1938 following the Nazi's annexation of the disputed region Pictures show the rapturous welcome received by Nazi troops from the German-speaking population of the Sudetenland (image taken on September 22, 1938) The Sudeten crisis began in February 1938 when Hitler demanded self-determination for all German-speaking peoples living in Austria and Czechoslovakia. The Sudeten Nazi Party called for a union with Germany and began rioting, prompting the Czechs to send in the army. This was then presented by the Nazis on newsreels as 'evidence of Czech atrocities against the Sudetens'. The Ukraine crisis has also been rumbling for years, with the buildup of Russian troops along the Ukrainian border dating back to 2021. Putin's regime has accused the Ukrainians of genocide in an apparent attempt to pave the way for an invasion. Fearing the Germans were about to invade, the Czech government mobilised its army twice in 1938, in May and September. But it was powerless to act after the decision to cede the Sudetenland to Germany, and Nazi troops entered the territory in October 1938. Ukrainians have been readying for war and even old ladies have been trained how to fire automatic weapons. German-speaking schoolchildren welcome Hitler in a street decorated with swastikas in the Sudetenland in 1938 Hitler's triumphal entry into Danzig, Poland. Lots of Polish cities had substantial populations of German immigrants The annexation of the Sudetenland preceded the Nazi invasion of Poland. Pictured are German troops receiving an enthusiastic welcome from the German residents of Lodz. Many German immigrants came to the city to work in its booming textile industry The parallels between Hitler and Putin have been widely picked up in Ukraine, with flags and banners comparing the two leaders and telling Russia to keep its 'hands off Ukraine'. Today, military sources warned that thousands of Russian troops are already in Ukraine, just hours after Putin gave the order for his forces to cross the border amid fears he is about to launch a land-grab in the country's east. More than 10,000 soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a source with links to Ukrainian military intelligence told MailOnline, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. 'It is difficult to believe [Putin] could have moved that quickly - but he had a long time to prepare,' the source said. It came off the back of videos which showed a column of vehicles rolling through Donetsk in the early hours, including tanks, armoured troop carriers and trucks. Insignia were not visible, but there was little doubt they were Russian forces deployed on Putin's orders. Russia officially denied sending any troops, saying a decision on deploying will be made in response to 'threats'. Polish civilians are seen surrendering with their hands up in front of a local shop in Westerplatte following the German invasion A family were left appalled after their takeaway was 'half-eaten' by a 'slob' female Just Eat driver who was allegedly caught on CCTV eating the food on their driveway. Stuart Knight ordered a Pizza Express meal to share with his girlfriend and their three children last month, which was delivered via Just Eat from the branch in Aldershot, Hampshire. The 46-year-old said he noticed that the seal on the dough ball boxes appeared to be broken, before opening them to discover only four out of 16 and the side of garlic butter dipped into and half empty. Mr Knight, from Farnham, Surrey, insists the CCTV footage shows the driver rifling through their order while sat on their driveway and apparently munching on a dozen dough balls dipped in garlic butter. Mr Knight, who is the managing director of a photography business, has now shared the clip from January 22 to warn other delivery customers to check their takeaways before. Although he has received an apology and refund for the missing food items from Just Eat, Mr Knight is now calling for more to be done about 'cheeky' delivery drivers stealing customers' food. Stuart Knight, 46, of Farnham, Surrey, and girlfriend Toni Greenaway, 37, say they were left disgusted after their Just Eat takeaway arrived half-eaten, allegedly at the hands of a delivery driver Just Eat said they are currently investigating the 'self-employed independent contractor' and if she has acted in any way that does not uphold their standards then appropriate action will be taken. Mr Knight said: 'The pizzas were fine but the boxes looked open for the dough balls. 'The kids opened it up and one of the girls said, 'I've only got three dough balls'. 'First of all I thought they might be trying to save money and just put a few in at a time so I checked online to see how many you're meant to get and the picture showed a lot more. 'We were left with four dough balls from two boxes and the butter was half eaten as well. There were still bits of bread in the butter so it was no accident. 'As soon as we saw the butter I said 'one of them has had it' so then I checked the CCTV and there she was sitting in the driveway eating it. 'I think there's meant to be about eight in each packet so she'd stuffed quite a few. 'You're not even meant to open the food and she was just sitting there going through it on our driveway.' Mr Knight subsequently checked the CCTV and claims he caught the delivery driver red-handed tucking into food The family noticed that the seal on the dough ball boxes appeared to be broken, before opening them to discover only four out of 16 were left The dad ordered two margherita pizzas and two portions of dough balls to share with his girlfriend Toni Greenway, 37, and children Chloe Greenway, 15, Molly Greenway, 13, and Daniel Knight, 13. But the family claim they were left disappointed when the order, totalling 31.70, arrived with only four dough balls remaining out of two boxes that should have had eight per portion. Due to concerns about catching Covid through the delivery driver handling the food, they threw the remaining dough balls away and were left with only the pizzas, which were still in sealed boxes. Mr Knight said: 'We said 'do not touch anything' to the kids and my son had already taken his box up to his room so I told my daughter to run up and get it and take it away from him. 'The pizzas were okay because we checked and they were still sealed and from what we could see on the camera it looked like she'd gone into the boxes of the dough balls. 'If there was a little box on there to say 'donate a box of dough balls to the driver' then I would've ticked that if they're that hungry and it wouldn't have been a problem to me but she stole it, that's the thing. 'She didn't have very good customer service when she came to the door either, she looked like a bit of a slob.' A side of garlic butter to go with the dough balls also appeared to have been well used After complaining to Just Eat, the dad received a refund for the two boxes of dough balls but says there was no mention of investigating the driver, who he feels should be sacked. He says he now checks every takeaway order thoroughly to ensure it hasn't been tampered with and encourages other Just Eat customers to do the same. Mr Knight added: 'I think it's too easy because we complained to Just Eat and all they did was just refund us for the two dough balls, so it's just too easy for them to get away with it. 'They should've got rid of that driver or at least disciplined her but they're more interested in just giving the money back. 'If she's still working for them then she's probably still doing that for her dinner every night. 'It makes you think twice about ordering from them really because you just don't know what you're going to get.' Just Eat said that the food was delivered by a self-employed independent contractor in this instance and if their investigation into the incident finds they acted in any way that does not uphold their standards then appropriate action will be taken. The brand said they are in touch with the customer and have refunded the missing part of the order. A Just Eat spokesman said: 'At Just Eat, we want all of our customers to have a positive experience when ordering food online and expect all couriers delivering on our behalf to act respectfully and responsibly at all times. 'We are currently investigating the incident and are also in touch with the customer.' A Pizza Express spokesman said the company had no comment. Teachers at 23 private schools have been offered a pay rise and an 'updated' offer to stay in their pension scheme for longer, following walkouts over pension plans. They have been called upon not to strike this week following the new proposals, with walkouts currently planned for Wednesday and Thursday. Earlier in February, teachers from 23 independent schools within the Girls' Day School Trust began six days of strike action throughout this month and early March. Around 1,500 members of the NEU teaching union are involved over the trust's proposed withdrawal from the Teachers' Pension Scheme. The NEU, the recognised union for staff across the 23 schools run by the GDST, said exiting the scheme would leave affected teachers 20 per cent worse off on average. The GDST said today its trustees 'carefully considered' feedback from teachers during the consultation period around pension changes and proposed a 'strong updated offer which will meet teachers' concerns'. They have been called upon not to strike this week following the new proposals, with walkouts currently planned for Wednesday and Thursday. Pictured: Protesters outside Sheffield Girls' School earlier this month Earlier in February, teachers from 23 independent schools within the Girls' Day School Trust began six days of strike action throughout this month and early March. Pictured: Protesters outside Sheffield Girls' School earlier this month The GDST said: 'Under the proposal, teaching staff will now stay within the TPS for a longer period and all GDST staff in independent schools will be awarded a pay rise.' The new proposals would mean teachers could stay in the TPS until September 30, 2023. The trust said a 'strong alternative' to the TPS was being proposed, with 20 per cent employer contributions 'alongside other benefits'. It said the new scheme included an option where teachers could expect a drawdown pension that would 'match or exceed' what they would receive from the TPS pension beyond an average life expectancy. The GDST said: 'The Trustees have a legal duty to secure the GDST's future and deliver on its charitable mission to reach as many girls as possible. 'They have concluded that the additional annual financial burden of 6m created by increased TPS costs is unsustainable and therefore the GDST cannot remain within the scheme indefinitely.' Around 1,500 members of the NEU teaching union are involved over the trust's proposed withdrawal from the Teachers' Pension Scheme. Pictured: Protesters outside Sheffield Girls' School earlier this month The NEU, the recognised union for staff across the 23 schools run by the GDST, said exiting the scheme would leave affected teachers 20 per cent worse off on average. Pictured: Protesters outside Sheffield Girls' School earlier this month A growing number of private schools have left the TPS after the Government raised the rate of employers' contributions by 43 per cent in 2019. While state schools were covered for the increase by the Government, private schools were not. More than 300 private schools have given notice to leave the scheme since 2019. The GDST trustees said they knew teachers would 'want time to consider the new proposal and we are ready to talk these through in detail'. They said they were committed to reaching a settlement, and had invited the NEU to meet with them, but had also 'requested that they call off this week's proposed industrial action while these discussions take place'. 'With the Trustees' decision announced today, the pursuit of strike action with a new proposal on the table would cause unnecessary disruption for students,' they said. They added that they 'care deeply about our teachers' and would not have put proposals forward unless they felt they were 'absolutely necessary' for the long-term future of the trust. They said the sustainability of the trust's future would enable them to 'continue to provide an excellent and affordable independent education for our students' and at the same time offer teachers a 'comfortable retirement'. Sheffield Girls' School, as teachers at 23 independent schools within the Girls' Day School Trust went on strike over pensions earlier this month Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU, said: 'It is very disappointing that the GDST has not reversed their decision to withdraw from the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS).' 'If they were really listening to the strength of feeling from their staff, they would realise that short term financial sweeteners offer no compensation for the long-term security of the TPS.' 'There is no financial imperative for GDST to insist on removing staff from the TPS next year. The NEU will of course enter the negotiations with GDST which we have been asking for. However, this offer gives our members no reassurance that the TPS will remain in place and the strike action will go ahead on this week.' Vaccine adviser Professor Adam Finn raised the prospect of Covid jabs being dished out every winter There is a 'strong possibility' that Covid booster vaccines will be rolled out every year alongside flu shots, a Government vaccine adviser claimed today. Approximately 8million elderly Britons and immunocompromised over-12s will be offered their second top-up jab this spring. They will then be called in again in the autumn as part of a mass NHS booster programme, which could cover all over-50s. Professor Adam Finn, who advises No10 on the roll out, today raised the prospect of an annual Covid jabbing drive, saying it was an 'open question'. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) member told BBC Breakfast: 'It's hard to be absolutely sure about that, but the direction of discussion at the moment is certainly a booster campaign in the autumn, directed probably at the people who... we think are most at risk. 'Whether that goes on year after year like the flu programme is still an open question and depends on what Covid does to us in the interim. 'But it's a strong possibility we may have a winter-time campaign, combined with the flu vaccine campaign, going forward.' Ending two years of on-off lockdowns yesterday, Boris Johnson said vaccines had been key to 'restoring our liberties in full'. Government scientists say the extra spring shots are needed to maintain immunity levels, amid concerns over the waning of protection. Israel, Denmark and several other countries are already rolling out second boosters. The over-75s, older care home residents and immunocompromised people aged 12 and over will be eligible for the top-up dose in the coming months to maintain their protection against becoming severely unwell with the virus. They will either be given a Pfizer or Moderna jab (pictured) Ministers have made no secret of plans for an annual Covid jabbing programme, which could cost in the region of 600million. SAGE scientists have also backed the strategy, saying this will likely be part of Covid's gradual transition to becoming endemic like the flu. But other scientists have claimed a never-ending cycle of boosters might not be needed, if the virus continues to become milder over time. No10's vaccine advisers have also hinted that not everyone will need boosters annually, with the top up shots likely reserved for the oldest and most at risk groups. Flu vaccines are normally offered to all adults over the age of 65 every winter, alongside the vulnerable. But last year the offer was extended to over-50s amid concerns the NHS could be hit by a 'double-whammy' of flu and Covid. Last year's uptake hit a record high of 80 per cent among the over-65s, but for 50 to 64-year-olds only 26 per cent got the jab. Sajid Javid reveals he will STILL wear a face mask on a 'packed' Tube Sajid Javid today admitted he will continue to wear a face mask on busy trains and urged ill workers to stay at home in the post-Covid era. Despite masks no longer being compulsory in public settings in England, the Health Secretary said he would still cover up on a 'packed' London Tube because cases are still high. He also called on people to take more 'personal responsibility' over their decisions, saying workers should 'stay away from others' and no longer battle into the office if they feel unwell. Boris Johnson last night hailed the end of the 'darkest, grimmest years in our peace-time history' as he confirmed the final Covid curbs would be axed. After almost two years of on-off lockdowns, the PM revealed that all remaining legal restrictions will be lifted at midnight tomorrow. The requirement to self-isolate for at least five days after testing positive for Covid is being dropped, and free testing thought to cost No10 2billion a month will end on April 1 for all but the elderly and vulnerable. Advertisement Around 70 per cent of over-65s get the flu jab every year on average, figures suggest. Britain has already 'future-proofed' its supplies of Covid jabs by securing another 114million doses to arrive over the next two years. Made up of Moderna and Pfizer shots, the amount on order is almost enough to inoculate all 67million Britons twice more. Last winter's booster drive saw 66 per cent of adults getting a top-up dose amid concerns over the Omicron variant. But uptake was patchy with more than 90 per cent of over-70s getting the jabs, compared to less than four in ten people in younger age groups. Professor Finn, a paediatrician at Bristol University, also refused to support Boris Johnson's decision to axe the final Covid rules in England. He told BBC Breakfast: 'This is a tricky business, we really can't predict the future with all that much confidence. 'We have to make a best guess, we have to base it on the evidence that we've got and we clearly all of us don't want to go back to a position where large numbers of people are dying and being admitted to hospital. 'But we have to make the best call that we can. 'And I think the public have done a lot to mitigate the seriousness of the pandemic by being cautious, avoiding transmitting infection to each other, taking vaccines, wearing masks and so on. And I hope they'll go on doing that.' Over-75s, all care home residents and immunocompromised people aged 12 and over will be eligible for the top-up dose in the coming weeks. The JCVI, which advises No10 on the rollout, said the spring roll-out will 'maintain high levels of protection for the most vulnerable individuals'. Eligible over-18s will receive a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine this spring, while immunocompromised people aged 12 to 18 will receive a Pfizer jab. They will only be eligible for the additional jab six months after their last. Officials say it will mean that some severely immunocompromised people who have already had four jabs will get a fifth this group includes blood cancer patients and transplant recipients. It is unclear how many Britons have already had four vaccines. Health Secretary Sajid Javid greenlit the plans, which will apply to the entirety of the UK, not just England. The vaccination campaign forms part of Mr Johnson's blueprint for living with the virus, which saw the Prime Minister yesterday confirm that self-isolation rules will be axed from Thursday. Speaking to MPs in the Commons, Mr Johnson claimed the 'targeted' rollout will safe guard against a 'possible resurgence of the virus'. The precautionary vaccination approach comes even though just a small amount of waning has been recorded among the vulnerable groups. Cases have been are falling and no new concerning variant has been identified since Omicron. Official data suggests older people who have had two doses have roughly 90 per cent protection against hospitalisation straight after their booster dose. The figure drops to roughly 88 per cent 10 weeks later. But the JCVI believes that even a small drop off in protection among vulnerable people can heap pressure on the NHS. Older and immunocompromised people are most at risk from the virus, with 160 Covid hospital admissions per 100,000 over-85s recorded in January. Among 75 to 85-year-olds, 60 admissions per 100,000 people were logged at the start of the year. For all other age groups, around 20 people were hospitalised because of the virus per 100,000 people. Professor Wei Shen Lim, chair of Covid vaccination at the JCVI, said: 'Last year's booster vaccination programme has so far provided excellent protection against severe Covid. 'To maintain high levels of protection for the most vulnerable individuals in the population, an extra spring dose of vaccine is advised ahead of an expected autumn booster programme later this year. Pictured here for the first time is a depraved cocaine-addicted killer who strangled his grandmother to death before repeatedly raping her corpse. Donovan Miller choked 76-year-old Phyllis Grant and beat her over the head with a vase at her home in Kent Street, Plaistow, east London. The 31-year-old killer then had sex with her body twice, before admitting his horrifying acts to paramedics, telling them 'I raped her'. Ms Grant was a regular churchgoer who neighbours described as a 'matriarch of the community' and a 'lovely' woman. She had been released from hospital after recovering from Covid prior to her killing in March last year. Donovan Miller choked 76-year-old Phyllis Grant and beat her over the head with a vase at her home in Kent Street, Plaistow, east London. Ms Grant was a regular churchgoer who neighbours described as a 'matriarch of the community' and a 'lovely' woman The incident took place at her home in Kent Street, Plaistow, east London in March last year The Old Bailey heard how police arrived at Ms Grant's address after 10pm on March 25 last year after Miller called police saying he had killed his grandmother the previous night. He told paramedic the night of his arrest: 'I raped her as well for what it's worth, yesterday and today.' Miller later confirmed he had sex with his grandmother's corpse after she had died. He also told police he was dependent on cocaine but that he had no mental health issues. Miller, also of Kent Street, Plaistow, appeared in court via video link from the John Howard Centre secure psychiatric unit. He denied murder but admitted manslaughter and sexual penetration of a corpse. The Crown Prosecution Service accepted the plea in light of the conclusions of three psychiatrists. Miller is now due to be sentenced next month. Though Donovan faces a prison term, he could also be sentenced to a hospital order under guidelines for diminished responsibility. Hospital orders are used if a medical practitioner suggests that an offender suffered from a mental disorder at the time of the offence and the court considers that a hospital order may be an appropriate way of dealing with the case. Ms Grant (pictured left and right) was a regular churchgoer who neighbours described as a 'matriarch of the community' and a 'lovely' woman. She had been released from hospital after recovering from Covid prior to her killing in March last year Ms Grant a regular churchgoer who neighbours described as a 'matriarch of the community' and a 'lovely' woman. She had been released from hospital after recovering from Covid prior to her killing in March last year. Pictured: Police at the scene Speaking about the plea, prosecutor Caroline Carberry QC said: 'Careful consideration has been given in advance of today to the acceptability of a plea and in light of the conclusions of three forensic psychiatric consultants, the Crown's position is that this is a proper approach to take in this case.' Judge Anthony Leonard, QC, said: 'So on the basis of diminished responsibility as we used to call it.' Adjourning sentence until March 28 while further psychiatric reports are prepared the judge told Miller: 'The fact you pleaded guilty today will be taken into account by the sentencing judge.' Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Feb. 21. AP-Yonhap The U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting Monday night (local time) after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and ordered Russian troops to ''maintain the peace'' there. The meeting comes at the request of Ukraine, the United States and six other countries. Russia, which currently holds the rotating council presidency, has scheduled it for 9 p.m. yet undetermined is whether the meeting will be open or closed. Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya says in a letter to his Russian counterpart that Kyiv is requesting the urgent meeting because Putin's actions violate Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the U.N. Charter and a 2014 U.N. General Assembly resolution. It is virtually certain the Security Council will not take any action or issue any statement because Russia has veto power. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting in Moscow, Feb. 21. AP-Yonhap Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces Monday to ''maintain peace'' in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognized the areas' independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. The Kremlin's announcement came just hours after Putin, in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history, recognized the independence of the eastern separatist regions, paving the way to provide them military support and antagonizing Western leaders who regard such a move as a breach of world order. The U.S. and other nations scrambled to respond, calling for the emergency meeting. The White House issued an executive order to restrict investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The developments came amid a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the western-looking democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. ''I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic,'' Putin said. Afterward he signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions' independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions' independence. At one point, one slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russian territory but Putin quickly corrected him. Recognizing the separatist regions' independence is likely to be popular in Russia, where many share Putin's worldview. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk launching fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russia's national anthem. People evacuated from Donbass are seen at a railway station on Feb. 22. TASS-Yonhap Ukrainians in Kyiv, meanwhile, bristled at the move. ''Why should Russia recognize (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbors come to you and say, 'This room will be ours,' would you care about their opinion or not? It's your flat, and it will be always your flat,'' said Maria Levchyshchyna, a 48-year-old painter in the Ukrainian capital. ''Let them recognize whatever they want. But in my view, it can also provoke a war, because normal people will fight for their country.'' With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could cause massive casualties and huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macron's office said both leaders had ''accepted the principle of such a summit,'' to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other ''relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe.'' U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. Putin's announcement shattered a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukrainian authorities to offer broad self-rule to the rebel regions, a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the country's integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that Ukrainian authorities have shown no appetite for implementing it. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in the eastern industrial heartland of in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. People evacuated from separatist-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine walk at a tent camp set up by the Russian Emergencies Ministry near the Matveyev Kurgan border checkpoint in the Rostov region, Russia, Feb. 19. REUTERS-Yonhap Potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday along the tense line of contact separating the opposing forces. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an ''incursion'' from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. Some residents of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk described sporadic shelling by Ukrainian forces, but they added that it wasn't on the same scale as earlier in the conflict. The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours, and several others were wounded. Ukraine's military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk insisted that Ukrainian forces weren't returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the Ukraine government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. ''We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns,'' she said, her voice trembling. ''And there is nowhere to run.'' In another worrying sign, the Russian military said it killed five suspected ''saboteurs'' who crossed from Ukraine into Russia's Rostov region and also destroyed two armored vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as ''disinformation.'' Amid the heightened invasion fears, the U.S. administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by the New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. (AP) Daniel Andrews has come under fire from health experts over a 'silly' primary school mask mandate for students in grades 3 to 6. Victorians will no longer need to wear face masks in most indoor settings from Sunday and the working from home advisory will be dropped as the state government moves to further ease Covid restrictions. But thousands of children as young as seven will be forced to continue wearing masks in classrooms, with the premier citing low vaccination rates among 5-11 year olds as the reason. Announcing the decision on Tuesday, Mr Andrew said the rule would only apply to older students because they would be more likely to follow it. 'I think its much harder to get a little kid in prep, or (grade) 1 and 2 to wear their mask than it is for kids who are a bit older,' he said. Daniel Andrews has been slammed over a decision to force primary school students in grades 3 and above wear face masks while mandates are scrapped in most indoor settings 'Youve got to draw the line somewhere. Its not an epidemiological issue, its a common sense issue.' Professor of infectious diseases modelling Emma McBryde, of James Cook University, said the move was illogical. 'Its a silly measure to keep a small cohort of young children wearing masks. It almost feels as though they cant let go of control. To me, theres no genuine rationale of it,' she told the Herald Sun. Professor McBryde said measures should be focused on protecting vulnerable members of the community rather than on those more likely to transmit the virus. WHAT ARE VICTORIA'S NEW COVID RULES? From 11:59pm on Friday February 25: The public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will be removed, while masks will no longer be needed in most indoor settings. Masks will only be required indoors in the following circumstances, unless an exemption applies: People on public transport, in taxis and rideshare, on planes, and indoors at an airport People working or visiting hospitals, and indoor areas at care facilities Workers in hospitality, retail and the court system Workers at justice and correctional facilities Students in year 3 or above at primary school, and workers at early childhood centres and primary schools (masks can be removed in secondary school) People working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending In special circumstances, such as if you have COVID-19 or are a close contact and youre leaving home Source: Victoria Health Advertisement Infectious diseases physician Peter Collignon said predictions about catastrophic Covid outbreaks ripping through schools would not materialise. 'The people who are pushing these restrictions are the ones who have been wrong with the predictions so I think we have to be quite reticent on taking their advice,' Professor Collignon said. 'The biggest spreading events come from bars, pubs and clubs but they dont wear masks. Its good news that younger children are now exempt (from masks) but it really should be all primary school children.' Mr Andrews said the decision was made in light of low vaccination rates among children aged 5 to 11 (pictured, a Melbourne school) Werribee GP Joe Garra said children's risk from Omicron is low and it did not seem necessary to keep them masked to protect adults, who had already had the opportunity to get booster shots. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, a father of kids in grades three and six, said the partial primary school mask mandate didn't make 'any sense'. 'How's that going to work in ... a grade two/three composite? Half the class is going to wear a mask and half won't,' he said. Under the changes from 11.59pm on Friday, masks will no longer be required in offices and most other indoor workplaces but remain mandatory on public transport, in taxis and rideshares, planes and in airports, and at hospitals and care facilities. On top of primary school students in year 3 and above as well as teachers, hospitality, retail, court and corrective services workers must also continue to don a mask. In addition, the state government confirmed remaining elective surgery caps will lift on Monday and granted a deadline extension for education workers to get their mandated third Covid jab. The controversial decision comes as Victoria pushes for Covid isolation rules to be further eased before winter to avoid a repeat of chaotic scenes during this summer's Omicron wave Health experts said the mask rule did not make sense and all primary school students should no longer need to don face coverings On Tuesday, Mr Andrews also revealed he had spoken to NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet and at national cabinet about easing isolation protocols. He proposed the changes could be linked to a person's third vaccine doses and potentially operate under an 'honesty' policy rather than a mandate. 'This would be another way of trying to encourage people to go get a third dose,' Mr Andrews told reporters. 'What we know as we head into winter is we've got to do everything we can to try and have a better outcome when it comes to furloughing.' With tens of thousands Australians forced into seven-day isolation, national cabinet in late December agreed to change the close contact definition to those who spend more than four hours with a confirmed Covid case in a household setting. A raft of essential workers in Victoria identified as close contacts were later allowed to continue working on site if they were asymptomatic and returned daily negative rapid antigen tests for five days. Masks will no longer be needed in most Victorian indoor settings from Saturday, as the state's work at home recommendation is also scrapped Mr Andrews flagged Victoria and NSW could form a unity ticket to expand exemptions to other workers if a national approach isn't brokered. 'It's a big shift. That's something our health team are working on and I know that Dom (Perrottet) and his people are as well,' he said. 'I don't know if we'll get a national position on that. But if we can get a consistent position between Victoria and NSW, then we'll absolutely work towards that.' Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has indicated support for the NSW and Victorian stance, saying the measures had been successful for essential workers. Victoria reported a further 14 Covid-related deaths and 6786 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the state's number of active infections to 47,464 - a reduction of more than 80 per cent since the peak on January 19. The number of Covid-positive people in hospital also dropped to 345 - the lowest case load since December 13 last year. nyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 Youngster, 15, was wearing her school uniform, Pacific Islander in appearance searching for missing girl last seen in Eagleby on February 21 A teenage girl has suddenly vanished, as police launch an appeal for the Queensland student last seen in her school uniform. The girl, 15, is from Eagleby in Brisbane's south-east and was last seen at 5pm on Monday. The youngster has not been seen or heard from by anyone in more than 24 hours as of Tuesday night. Police hold grave concerns for the safety of a 15-year-old girl who was last seen at an address in Brisbane's south-east around 5pm on Monday evening The youngster reportedly left the suburb Eagleby on foot and was reportedly wearing her distinctive maroon coloured high school uniform (pictured) It is also unknown if she was carrying a mobile phone. Queensland Police are said to hold grave concerns for the girls safety due to her age. She is described as Pacific Islander in appearance and is approximately 165cm tall, of slim build with brown hair and brown eyes. The youngster reportedly left Eagleby on foot and was last seen wearing her distinctive maroon coloured high school uniform. She could be using public transport to travel nearby or around Brisbane. Police are urging the girl, or anyone who knows her current whereabouts, to contact Crime Stoppers immediately on 1800 333 000. A British general has warned that Europe is facing war on a scale not seen since the defeat of Nazi Germany after Vladimir Putin ordered his troops into Ukraine - locking him into a collision course with the West. Sir Richard Sherriff, who served as NATO's deputy supreme commander from 2011 to 2014, said the 'invasion' of Ukraine overnight 'could turn into a catastrophic war... on a scale not seen in Europe since 1945.' He also described the current situation as 'the most dangerous moment' that Europe has faced since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. 'I think it's difficult to overstate the seriousness of the situation,' he told the BBC. Europe is facing its most perilous moment since the Cold War and could see its worst fighting since the Second World War after Putin (pictured) ordered his troops into Ukraine NATO could easily be dragged into fighting in Ukraine, General Sir Richard Sherriff has warned, sparking all-out war (pictured, Russian tanks on the border today) While any war would initially be between Ukraine and Russia, Sir Richard said the possibility that NATO could get involved is 'very real'. He told Radio 4's Today programme that 'NATO has got to man the ramparts now' and the West has to 'assume the worst' when it comes to Russia's nuclear strategy. Sir Richard spoke out after Putin last night signed an order recognising two of Ukraine's eastern provinces - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent republics. Parts of the provinces have been under occupation by pro-Russian separatists since Putin last invaded the country in 2014, in a conflict that has claimed 14,000 lives. While Russia is widely known to have been supporting the separatists including via its armed forces, the Kremlin has always denied having boots on the ground. But that changed last night when Putin ordered tanks and troops across the border to defend the two regions, setting up a clash with Western leaders and NATO. Videos showed armoured vehicles in the city of Donetsk early Thursday, and while insignia were not visible there is little doubt they are Russian. Western leaders are now deciding how to respond. Russian tanks were pictured in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine overnight, after Putin ordered his troops in on the pretense of a 'peacekeeping mission' A Russia tank is silhouetted against car headlights in Ukraine's Donetsk region overnight, after moving into the area on Putin's orders Despite warning that any movement of Russian troops into Ukraine, no matter how small, would constitute an 'invasion' and trigger unprecedented sanctions, the word has been barely uttered since and action has been limited. Joe Biden signed an executive order last night forbidding Americans to trade with Donetsk and Luhansk, but stopping short of the 'decisive' measures promised. White House spokesman Jen Psaki said tougher measures would follow. Boris Johnson vowed sanctions would be announced by the UK today while saying Putin seems 'bent on a full invasion' - without saying what he believes is happening at the moment. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign minister, also refused to use the term while vowing a package of EU economic measures saying only that 'Russian troops have entered Ukrainian territory'. Video taken overnight showed Russian tanks and troops are now in rebel-occupied regions, but it remains unclear whether Putin will stop there. Donetsk and Luhansk are much larger than their rebel-occupied territories, and Putin's order does not make it clear whether Russian troops plan to enter all of it. Putin also gave an ominous warning of 'bloodshed' if Ukraine's troops try to resist him, indicating that a wider invasion is still on the cards. Russia has up to 190,000 troops backed by thousands of tanks, hundreds of fighters A teenager accused of killing a five-year-old boy was heard singing 'I love to punch kids in the heads, it's orgasmic' after being arrested on suspicion of murder, a court today heard. Prosecutors allege the 14-year-old was overheard making the comments by a social worker a fortnight after the death of little Logan Mwangi, who was found dead beside the River Ogmore, south Wales, in July last year. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial accused of murder, alongside Logan's mother Angharad Williamson, 30, and her 40-year-old partner John Cole. All three deny murdering Logan, who jury members were told was found dumped like 'fly-tipped rubbish' beside the river having suffered 56 injuries to his head, face, torso, arms and legs. Speaking in the trial at Cardiff Crown Court, prosecutor Caroline Rees QC told jury members: 'She (the social worker) heard him (the teenager) singing 'I love kids. I f***ing love kids. I love to punch kids in the head. It's orgasmic'. 'He repeated the phrase loudly. In the light of the mechanism of injury to Logan, the prosecution say that this is a significant comment. 'It certainly doesn't demonstrate any sadness this five-year-old has died in traumatic circumstances.' The teenager is later claimed to have said: 'I might plead guilty next week', as well as 'I did some bad stuff but I'm not allowed to talk about it'. Court artist sketch of Angharad Williamson, 30, and her partner, John Cole, 39, in the dock at Cardiff Crown Court, where along with a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are charged with killing five-year-old Logan Mwangi Jury members were told how officers found Angharad Williamson, 30, 'wailing and shouting' when they visited the family's flat in Bridgend, South Wales, to investigate her son Logan Mwangi's (pictured) disappearance Logan's stepfather John Cole (pictured here with Williamson) and a teenage boy, who can not be named for legal reasons, are accused of dumping his body in the river just an hour before he was found Jury members heard how the five-year-old's body was later found dumped like 'fly-tipped rubbish' beside the nearby River Ogmore (pictured: Police at the scene) later that morning It comes after jury members heard how Logan's mother, Ms Williamson, was found washing the youngster's bloodied Paw Patrol bedclothes when police showed up to look for him. They were told how officers found Williamson 'wailing and shouting' when they visited the family's flat in Bridgend, South Wales, on July 31 last year to investigate Logan's disappearance. The court heard Williamson had hours earlier made a 'distraught' 999 call to South Wales Police to report her son missing. She is heard screaming 'help me please' before telling the call handler that she has woken up and found her son was not there. The call handler tells Williamson to stop hyperventilating and breathe. Williamson loudly shouts 'Logan!' during the 13-minute-long call, as well as 'please' and 'help me'. She tells the call handler: 'My back gate is open, my back gate is open' before stating that her partner is out looking for Logan. 'Logan has had Covid for the past week so he has been in lockdown for the past week,' Williamson says. 'He has never had symptoms. Please help me. He's my baby. I can't just stand here and do nothing. Please, I'm begging you. He's my baby.' Williamson repeatedly suggests that another woman may have taken him. She tells the call handler that Logan's self-isolation period was due to finish that day. 'I can't just stand here,' she says. 'He is five. He can't be on his own, there's no parent with him, he must be scared. If one of your children was missing, what would you do?' At one point she can be heard calling out to a passer-by, asking them: 'Excuse me, have you seen a boy? He hasn't got his shoes, he ain't got his coat.' She tells them: 'I need someone to be looking for him and there's not one person. There's a whole park here.' However prosecutors allege it was 'all an act' and a 'callous performance designed to cover up her involvement in her son's death'. Jury members were told that when police arrived at the property a tumble dryer and washing machine could be heard. Later that morning Logan, who had been in Covid isolation in the lead up to his death, was found dumped like 'fly-tipped rubbish' beside the river. The youngster, who was last seen alive on Facetime on July 27, was still dressed in his mismatched pyjamas having suffered 56 injuries to his head, face, torso, arms and legs. His blood was found on bed sheets recovered from the tumble dryer four days later, the court was told. Meanwhile, Cole, who is alleged to have dumped Logan's body with the help of the teenage boy, is said to have told a prison guard while in custody that he had a 'moral dilemma'. Cole and the teenager are both jointly charged, alongside Williamson, with murdering Logan sometime between 28 July and 1 August last year. All three deny murder. Prosecutor Caroline Rees QC told jurors at Cardiff Crown court that Williamson made a distraught 999 call to South Wales Police at 5.45am on July 31. Later that morning police attended her address in Sarn, which is located around 400 metres from the river where Logan's body discovered later that morning. Speaking about the body-cam footage of police at the home, Ms Rees said: 'Angharad Williamson is dramatic, wailing and shouting, playing the part of a distraught mother to the full extent of her acting abilities.' She told the court that in the police body-cam videos, the sound of a tumble dryer and washing machine can be heard in the background. She told the jury: 'Why on earth would the family be doing the laundry as a matter of such urgency in the circumstances? 'The prosecution suggest that this was to dispose of incriminating evidence and that one of the items laundered was part of Logan's bedlinen.' The sheet, which was missing from Logan's bed, was recovered from the tumble dryer four days later when the property was searched on August 4. Logan's Paw Patrol duvet and pillow were found to have small amounts of Logan's blood on them consistent, the prosecution said, with him having been bleeding in bed. The court also heard about the 999 call made to police by Williamson. Ms Rees said: 'Within just three hours of Logan's body being carried from the house with the full knowledge of Angharad Williamson, she was engaged actively and deliberately in a calculated plot to manipulate and mislead the police, friends and family into believing that her son Logan had gone missing in the night. 'She telephoned the police via a 999 call to report Logan as missing.' The court heard Williamson (pictured here with Logan) had earlier made a 'distraught' 999 call to South Wales Police. Prosecutors allege was 'all an act' and a 'callous performance designed to cover up her involvement in her son's death' Prosecutor Caroline Rees QC said Williamson (pictured right) made a distraught 999 call to South Wales Police at 5.45am on July 31. Later that morning police attended her address in Sarn, which is located around 400 metres from the river where Logan's (pictured left) body discovered. Ms Rees told the court that during the call Williamson blamed another woman for potentially kidnapping Logan (pictured) in the night ' in callous attempt to send the police off in the wrong direction.' Ms Rees said: 'It might sound like a heartfelt call of distress from a mother reporting her child missing. 'But with knowledge of the CCTV and the proof that she knew exactly what was going on that night, the prosecution say that the 999 call is in fact chilling.' 'It demonstrates the extent to which Williamson was prepared to lie and her ability to put on a performance to save her own skin, even when dealing with the death of her own five-year-old child.' Ms Rees told the court that during the call Williamson blamed another woman for potentially kidnapping Logan in the night ' in callous attempt to send the police off in the wrong direction.' Jury members heard the young boy had been in self-isolation from July 21 after testing positive with Covid and the last time he was seen alive was on a Facetime call on July 27, four days before he was found dead. Ms Rees said: 'Despite the fact that she was within close proximity of her five-year-old son's dead body Angharad Williamson put herself first and rather than tell even a grain of truth about what happened in the night. 'She continued to pretend that Logan must have wandered off into the river.' The jury was told Williamson told one nurse 'that she wished she had taught him to swim'. Ms Rees said: 'This must have been with the intention of causing others to believe he had met his death by drowning, even though Angharad Williamson must have known this was untrue because she was up and about when his dead body was removed from the home. Jury members heard the young boy had been in self-isolation from July 21 after testing positive with Covid and the last time he was seen alive was on a Facetime call on July 27, four days before he was found dead. Pictured: Police at the scene 'Williamson's priority was hiding her true involvement in Logan's death rather than telling anyone the truth about what happened. The court heard one nurse 'was clearly troubled by Williamson's demeanour whilst at the hospital and how Williamson appeared to be 'performing' giving attention to Logan but that it only happened when the nurse was watching.' Williamson, Cole, 40, and the 14-year-old boy, are on trial accused of murdering the youngster between July 28 and August 1. All three are also accused of perverting the course of justice, including moving Logan's body to the river near Pandy Park, removing his clothing, washing bloodstained bed linen, and making a false missing person report to police. Williamson and the youth have pleaded not guilty to both offences. Cole has denied murder but admitted disposing of Logan's body and incriminating evidence. He claims Williamson was aware of and actively took part in the cover-up of the crime. Williamson and Cole are also charged with causing or allowing the death of a child, which they both deny. The trial continues. Advertisement Police forces in Canada are coming under scrutiny for their excessive violence with peaceful Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa, as leaked text messages reveal a group of officers applauded the moment a grandmother was trampled by a police horse and joked about being kinder, gentler and handing out free hugs and unicorn stickers' to the demonstrators. The text messages, which were leaked by Rebel News and whose authenticity has not yet been verified, appear to show several officers delighting in the brutality via a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) group chat. The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began Friday morning, when hundreds of police descended into the protest zone in Ottawa and began arresting demonstrators. At least 196 people had been arrested as of Monday and 115 vehicles had been towed, police said, while other trucks and vehicles left the protest zone after being warned starting Friday. Heavily-armed riot cops used pepper spray, while mounted police and armored vehicles were also brought in to help begin clearing the downtown area, which had been paralyzed by a three-week blockade over the truckers' Covid jab protest. Several clips have shown peaceful protesters being beaten into submission, including a truck driver who claims he was attacked after having given himself up to authorities. Other footage shows a woman, who appeared to be using a mobility scooter, being trampled by mounted police in Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday. One of the text messages in the exchange appears to show officers applauding the incident involving the woman. 'Just watched the horse video - that is awesome,' the chat member allegedly wrote. 'We should practice that manoeuvre.' Meanwhile, one group participant wrote: 'Time for the protesters to hear our jackboots on the ground,' while another said: 'Don't kick all of them out until next weeks group gets our turn.' Another joked the officers could not act harshly because they were a 'kinder, gentler RCMP,' to which someone replied: 'Okay, we can give out free hugs and unicorn stickers.' Moments before the unidentified woman was trampled, she told another Freedom Convoy participant - who was recording the protests - that she was rallying to ensure a better future for her grandchildren. Our grandchildren. This is what were doing it for. So they all can have peace and love and happiness,' she is heard saying on video, before chanting: Peace, love, happiness. Peace, love, happiness. It comes as the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced it was investigating an incident in which a 49-year-old woman was 'seriously injured' in an interaction with a police horse. The incident also followed an incident two weeks ago in which a 4foot-10inch great grandfather was cuffed and shoved to his knees for honking his car horn in support of the Freedom Convoy. The RCMP said it plans to launch an inquiry into the text chats. But the RCMP did not confirm the authenticity of the messages in its Tuesday morning response to DailyMail.com, nor did the organization answer an inquiry about disciplinary consequences for the officers involved. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada's vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country, but morphed into a wider protest against the country's highly restrictive Covid precautions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's faux-liberal government. Ottawa protesters are largely gone from the Parliament Hill area Tuesday after having been chased away by officers sporting riot gear in what was the biggest police operation in Canada's history. Moments after a grandmother was seen protesting peacefully in Ottawa in Friday, a mounted officer gallops through the crowd and rushes a line of protesters The officer trampled the woman, who was then knocked to the floor by the horse and is subsequently trampled Police forces in Canada are coming under scrutiny for their excessive violence with peaceful Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa, as leaked text messages show a group of law enforcement officers allegedly celebrating the moment a grandmother was trampled by mounted police The unidentified woman, pictured, told another Freedom Convoy participant - who was recording the protests - that she was rallying to ensure a better future for her grandchildren Police made 196 arrests, with 110 facing a variety of charges. Law enforcement also said 115 vehicles connected to the protest have been towed. Tamara Lich, one of the leading organizers behind protests, was denied bail on Tuesday after she was arrested last Thursday and charged with counseling to commit mischief and promised during a bail hearing on Saturday to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta. The RCMP gave DailyMail.com a statement it released on Sunday in response to the video of the woman being trampled and the accompanying texts, saying it was 'aware of the material circulating on social media pertaining to a chat group that includes some of its members' and confirmed that it is 'looking into the matter.' 'This material is not representative of those who have committed themselves to serving Canadians with integrity and professionalism,' the statement read, claiming the RCMP had 'put in place measures to ensure the continued integrity of police operations as well as the safety of our members.' It also reiterated that police officers have a 'responsibility to hold themselves to the highest professional standards and are subject to the Code of Conduct of the RCMP at all times.' The RCMP has not yet confirmed the authenticity of the messages, nor has it given details of any repercussions for the officers allegedly involved. An SIU spokesperson told DailyMail.com in a statement Tuesday morning that the organization is aware of the alleged messages but unable to verify the authenticity. The spokesperson noted the SIU does not have jurisdiction to investigate RCMP officers and said: 'The SIU conducts investigations of the circumstances around serious injuries, allegations of sexual assault, firearm discharges, and deaths in cases involving officials.' Parliament Hill, the area where the convoy protests were taking place, has since been cleared of demonstrators after at least 196 people were arrested, including the protest organizers - Tamara Lich and Pat King. Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois denied Lich bail on Tuesday, saying she believed there was a substantial likelihood she would reoffend if released. A separate bail hearing is scheduled Tuesday for fellow protest organizer Pat King. King was arrested on Friday and faces charges of mischief, counseling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offense of disobeying a court order and counseling to obstruct police. The text messages, which were leaked by Rebel News and whose authenticity has not yet been verified, appear to show several officers delighting in the brutality via a RCMP group chat Ottawa police on Tuesday morning took to Twitter, thanking local citizens and businesses for their 'patience' during the 'illegal protest.' 'We would like to sincerely thank the residents and businesses of downtown Ottawa for their patience throughout this illegal protest,' the department wrote. 'As businesses in the ByWard Market and downtown reopen, you will continue to see an increased police presence in these areas. Our presence is aimed at keeping residents safe and supporting reopenings.' Authorities had reduced the size of the 'secured area' on Monday, noting that officers would continue operations to return the core of downtown 'to a state of normalcy.' Residents were warned to expect an increased police presence in the area in the coming days and have been given permission to travel to the secured area if they 'have a lawful reason' to do so, such accessing their residence, workplace, shopping venues or other businesses. Police checkpoints will remain in place and travelers will be asked to specify their reasons for entering the area. Officers have given businesses the green light to reopen if they had closed during the protests, saying it is safe to do so. Trudeau has not yet commented on Tuesday's reopening status. Tamara Lich - one of the main fundraisers, organizers and participants of the Freedom Convoy - appeared in Ottawa court (pictured) on Tuesday and was denied bail Lich was arrested Thursday (pictured) and charged with counseling to commit mischief and promised during a bail hearing on Saturday to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta. Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois said she denied Lich bail because she believed there was a substantial likelihood she would reoffend if released Trudeau can, however, continue to employ brute force measures after lawmakers Monday voted 185 to 151 to extend the emergency powers, giving police the right to quell any further protest. The 'liberal' prime minister said that the powers were still needed despite the fact that police disbanded the truckers' city blockade over the weekend and had ended border blockades before that. The trampling incident is just one of many reports of excessive violence employed by Canadian law enforcement when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying weapons firing less-lethal rounds, descended into the protest zone on Friday and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs as holdout truckers blared their horns. One truck driver, who was filmed being beaten by Ottawa police after having peacefully given himself up for arrest, spoke to Tucker Carlson on Fox News over the weekend. Csaba Vizi, a Romanian-born driver who has lived in Canada for 20 years, told Carlson: 'They dragged me in, they laid me down on my belly, and I don't - I don't remember how many were on top of me.' 'I get down from my truck, I went down, right on my knee. I put my hands behind my head. And I was waiting for them to take me away.' Csaba Vizi was filmed being beaten by Ottawa police after having peacefully given himself up for arrest Csaba Vizi, a Romanian-born driver who has lived in Canada for 20 years, is pictured near his truck, before he was arrested and beaten by police 'They were squeezing me slowly, slowly. I felt like I was beaten, but I took it like a man,' he continued. 'They broke my body a little bit, but not my spirit.' Other videos have emerged of police firing less-lethal rounds and using tear gas to dispel protesters, alongside several clips of citizens involved in the demonstrations being beaten into submission. A 78-year-old great-grandfather was left heavily bruised after he was forcefully handcuffed by Ottawa police for honking his car horn in support of the Freedom Convoy just over two weeks ago. Standing at 4ft-10inch, Gerry Charlebois now suffers from PTSD after the arrest, his son told DailyMail.com. The family shared photos of his injuries, which reveal dark purple bruises on his hands and along his arms and knees. His attorney David Anber said: 'He's pretty traumatized by the entire situation. We are going to fight these provincial charges and explore the possibility of filing a civil suit.' Charlebois, a retired high school janitor, was fined $118 for 'unnecessary noise' but has not been criminally charged. Ottawa police arrested 196 people over the weekend as they enclosed the area around Parliament Hill, describing it as a 'secure zone' and preventing anyone who did not live and work there from entering. Those within the zone were repeatedly asked to leave and, when they did not, Ottawa police advanced to arrest those who remained - using pepper spray and police horses at times. Police horses lined up in Ottawa on Friday, before they were given the order to disperse the crowd of protesters Police clash with demonstrators against Covid-19 mandates in Ottawa on Friday A man holds a Canadian flag in front of the parliament on Friday, as truckers face the final crackdown on their protest by police Ottawa police are seen advancing on protesters Friday in Trudeau's final crackdown on the Freedom Convoy Police deploy to remove demonstrators against vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Friday A shirtless protester dances in front of police on Friday as they work to bring a protest in opposition to vaccine mandates to an end (left). Police are also pictured Friday arresting a demonstrator holding a sign (right) Unsettling photos show heavily bruised great-grandfather, 78, after being forcefully handcuffed by Ottawa cops for honking his car horn to support Freedom Convoy Gerry Charlebois, 78, was left heavily bruised after he was forcefully handcuffed by Ottawa police for honking his car horn in support of the Freedom Convoy on Feb. 6. Police restrained him and brought him down to his knees in the middle of the street before handcuffing him against his van. The great-grandfather, who stands at 4ft 10in, was fined $118 for 'unnecessary noise' but has not been criminally charged. He now suffers from PTSD after the arrest. Charlebois' attorney David Anber told DailyMail.com: 'He's pretty traumatized by the entire situation. We are going to fight these provincial charges.' Gerry Charlebois was handcuffed and hauled away by two Canadian cops for honking his horn in support of Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa on Sunday Charlebois' family shared photos of his injuries with DailyMail.com, which reveal dark purple bruises and on his hands and along his arms and knees A bystander filmed the ordeal, asking: 'What did he do wrong?' 'None of your f****** concern, man,' one officer responded. In the video, the bystander filming is heard criticizing the officer for following the ruling and encouraging Charlebois to not give out his information. 'You don't have to answer his questions, sir,' he tells Charlebois. He then tells the officer, 'You're abusing old men.' The officer and Charlebois then walk back toward the trunk of the van. 'Because I tooted the horn,' Charlebois begins. 'That is why you're pulled over,' the officer states. 'It's called communism. It's communism. You don't have to show anything. You didn't do anything wrong,' the man behind the camera continues. The officer tells the man recording that it's an offense to beep the horn before ultimately restraining Charlebois. Charlebois' attorney said, 'Based on the info I have, it seems clear that the officer either had the mans name or chose not to ask the mans name prior to arresting him. Failing to provide a drivers license is NOT an arrestable offence if the person provides their verbal identification. (R. v. Plummer). 'I meant no harm,' Charlebois told the Toronto Sun in an interview after the incident. 'I just gave the trucker a thumbs-up and a honk.' 'I was in shock,' he added. 'When (the police) pulled me over, he told me I was in trouble for honking the horn.' Charlebois said he drove to the area to look at the trucks and planned on parking his van and walking to Parliament Hill. Though he was at the protest in support of other demonstrators, he says he's fully vaccinated and plans to get his booster shot soon. Advertisement The crackdown on the self-styled Freedom Convoy began Friday morning, when hundreds of police, some in riot gear and some carrying automatic weapons, descended into the protest zone and began leading demonstrators away in handcuffs through the snowy streets as holdout truckers blared their horns. By early Saturday afternoon, protesters were gone from the street in front of Parliament Hill, the collection of government offices that includes the Parliament buildings. It had been occupied by protesters and their trucks since late last month. Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell, speaking to the media Saturday said: 'If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. Absolutely.' 'This investigation will go on for months to come. It has many, many different streams, both from a federal financial level, from a provincial licensing level, from a criminal code level, from a municipal breach of court order, breach of court injunction level.' A woman kneels before police in Ottawa on Friday as protesters are arrested at the end of a three week protest Police confront demonstrators against vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Friday. Demonstrators shouted 'Freedom!' as police closed in and began making arrests in the final crackdown Ottawa Police Chief Steve Bell, speaking to the media Saturday said: 'If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. Absolutely' The department reaffirmed Bell's statements on Twitter Sunday, threatening to arrest any demonstrators who failed to remove their vehicles and leave the protest site The department reaffirmed Bell's statements on Twitter Sunday, threatening to arrest any demonstrators who failed to remove their vehicles and leave the protest site. 'If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges,' Ottawa police tweeted. The department added later Sunday: 'You must leave. You must cease further unlawful activity and immediately remove your vehicle and/or property from all unlawful protest sites. Anyone within the unlawful protest site may be arrested.' Meanwhile, critics have slammed the police response to the convoy, calling the officers 'fascists,' 'communists' and 'tyrants'. 'Actual tyrants,' wrote We Are Change leader Luke Rudkowski. 'Fascism alive and well,' echoed Jeffrey Peel, a United Kingdom-based activist and businessman.' Critics have slammed the police response to the convoy, calling the officers 'fascists,' 'communists' and 'tyrants' 'It's not too late for you to just quit your jobs. You don't have to actively engage in human oppression,' former New Hampshire congressional candidate AJ Olding said. Writer Katherine Brodsky implied that Trudeau was a hypocrite by sharing a screenshot from one of his previous tweets reading: 'We'll always defend the rights of Canadians to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.' The capital and its paralyzed streets represented the movement's last major stronghold after weeks of demonstrations and blockades that shut down border crossings into the U.S. and created one of the most serious tests yet for Trudeau. For almost a week the busiest U.S.-Canada border crossing, the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan was blocked. The crossing sees more than 25 percent of the trade between the two countries. Trudeau said people in Ottawa were harassed for weeks and said billions of dollars in trade were stalled by the border blockades, putting people's jobs at risk. The protests are also said to have shook Canada's reputation for civility, with some blaming America's influence. The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada's vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country but soon morphed into a broad attack on COVID-19 precautions and Trudeau's government. A four-year-old boy fired a gun at police officers on the instruction of his father following a dispute over his order at a McDonald's drive-through. Officers were called to the scene after Sadaat Johnson, 27 brandished a gun at the pick-up window of the fast food chain in Midvale, Salt Lake City, at around 1.30pm on February 21 and demanded that his order be corrected. Johnson, of Salt Lake City, was asked to pull into a waiting area while staff corrected his order but he refused to co-operate. He was issued 'several verbal commands' to exit the car before he was forcibly removed from the vehicle by officers as his son and three-year-old daughter sat in the back. The four-year-old boy fired a gun at police officers after his father brandished a gun at the pick-up window of the fast food chain in Midvale, Salt Lake City, on February 21. Pictured: GV of the McDonald's in Midvale An officer noticed the child with the gun and was able to point the weapon away from police when the four-year-old fired. The bullet hit the side of the McDonald's building Salt Lake County sheriff Rosie Rivera said she had never seen anything like this before As officers were taking the man into custody, one looked back and saw a gun, which was being held by the man's four-year-old son in the backseat, pointed at the police from the rear window. The police officer was able to swipe the gun to the side as the child opened fire and directed the bullet away. He then shouted 'kid' to other officers after seeing how young the shooter was. A witness observed the father tell the four-year-old, who was in the backseat with a three-year-old sibling, to shoot the gun, Sergeant Melody Cutler, a spokesperson for the Unified Police Department, said. Today Salt Lake County sheriff Rosie Rivera said the 'campaign against police officers needed to stop' before going on to say she had 'never seen anything like this in her 28 years.' She told reporters: 'This campaign against police officers just needs to stop. We're here to protect and serve, and this is getting out of hand. Rivera also praised the officer who noticed the armed toddler and his handling of the situation. 'He's a hero in my mind, River told KUTV. 'He saved a life today.' The Unified Police Department said it was a 'sad day for law enforcement and our community' to have an adult encourage a four-year-old to pull a firearm and shoot at police. Pictured: Unified Police Department 'This is a child who thought it was okay to pull a firearm and shoot that firearm at police,' she added. I've never seen anything like this in my 28 years.' In a statement the Unified Police Department said: 'This is a sad day for law enforcement and our community. 'To have an adult think it is okay to encourage a four-year-old to pull a firearm and shoot at police illustrates how out of hand the campaign against police has gotten. 'This needs to stop and we need to come together as a community to find the solutions to the challenges we face in our neighborhoods. 'Officers are here to protect and serve and we are beyond belief that something like [that] could happen.' After the shooting, police said Utah state social workers took custody of the children. A perfectly preserved first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone left untouched on a shelf for 25 years could sell for over 100,000 at auction, setting a new UK record. J.K Rowling's first Potter novel has been republished countless times but the book's success was far from assured when the 500 copies printed for its first edition appeared in shops in 1997. The collector, who paid 12.99 for the book at the time, almost returned it to the store where he bought it from as it didn't come with a dust jacket - which he mistakenly believed was a fatal flaw. He decided to keep it on 'the toss of a coin' and left it on a shelf. The 68-year-old owner from West Sussex, who is not being named, later realised that none of the hardback copies came with the protective cover and so his book is as it should be. Jim Spencer (pictured), a book expert at Hansons, said: 'I receive countless Potter enquiries every single day, but this one had grabbed me and I hoped it would be right' The 500 copies in the book's first edition all contain the same 'typos' - granting them a unique quality for collectors. One error is 'one wand' being printed twice on a list of items Harry needs for Hogwarts on page 53. The misprint 'Wizardry and and witchcraft' can also be seen on the back cover - a subtle variation of the title for 'Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry' which features in the novel. The first editions have massively gained in value over the years and this one is expected to fetch over 100,000. But that figure would still be way off the world record price of 356,000 paid for a mint condition first edition in the US last December. The vendor decided to sell his now and plans to use the proceeds to pay off his mortgage. A pristine first edition of the most valuable Harry Potter book ever published could smash all records at auction after being kept in darkness for 25 years He said: 'I've really looked after it. It's in the best condition it possibly can be - almost perfect I would say. It's never been read. 'A year after I bought it, with Harry Potter excitement growing at my daughter's school, she asked if she could read it. I said, "no, absolutely not". 'Instead, I bought her another copy. My daughter's copy of Philosopher's Stone was a fourth issue - with a dust jacket. So, I put that on my first edition to protect it and tucked it away. 'In recent years, I noticed Philosopher's Stone first editions were selling well at auction but, as mine didn't have a dust jacket, I didn't think it could achieve those prices. 'Eventually I realised a dust jacket was not specified. Now I've reached the time of life when it would be useful to pay off the mortgage so I've decided to sell. It's not easy to part with.' The hardback copy is one of only 500 in the first ever Harry Potter book print run in 1997 Hansons Auctioneers of Derby are selling the book and have given it a pre-sale estimate of 40,000 to 60,000. Jim Spencer, a book expert at Hansons, said: 'I receive countless Potter enquiries every single day, but this one had grabbed me and I hoped it would be right. 'My only fear was that it was too good to be true. I inspected the book closely, again and again, comparing it with two other first issues of the same work, studying the covers and text with a magnifying glass. 'Everything added up perfectly. I couldn't believe it. It was like stepping back in time to 1997.' Auctioneer Charles Hanson added: 'I'd like to think our copy could achieve 100,000 or better still, smash the world record. 'It's in fantastic, bright condition. It should spark interest from collectors all over the world.' Of the first run of 500 Harry Potter books, about 300 were given to libraries and schools and the remaining 200 passed into private hands. The book will be sold on March 9. A brave woman who has a rare genetic condition is being forced to fork out $21,375-a-month for life-saving medication because it's not approved by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with her parents re-mortgaging their house to fund her treatment. Jess Ragusa, 27, from NSW's Central Coast, was born with cystic fibrosis, a life-shortening disease that causes cells to produce a thick mucus which damages the lungs and digestive system. She defied doctors predictions that she would not survive childhood, only to be told at 18 she only had six months to live. 'I was so unbelievably sick, I was surprised they even gave me six months. I was terrified, sad, shocked and heartbroken. Every upsetting emotion you can feel,' she told 7News. Jess Ragusa, 27, from NSW's Central Coast, was born with was born with the life-shortening genetic condition cystic fibrosis Ms Ragusa is now taking life-extending drug Trikafta which has radically improved her quality of life, allowing her to 'breathe', 'run', and 'laugh' without coughing, puffing, or vomiting. But because the medication is not approved under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, it comes at an exorbitant cost - and Ms Ragusa only has four months left until she runs out. 'Without the drug, my body will ultimately stop working and it will deteriorate,' she said. Ms Ragusa said her parents refinanced their mortgage and used the equity gained on their home amid the booming property market to fund the drug. 'Unfortunately with the ludicrous pricing, we can only afford it for nine months, Ive used five and I have four months to go before we run out of money, and we stop paying for the medication,' she said. Ms Ragusa feels hopeful for a future and building a family with her husband (pictured together) ever since she started taking Trikafta Ms Ragusa has beaten two death sentences after her parents were told she wouldn't live past six then she was given six months to live at age 18 At the time Jess was born, the predicted life expectancy for Cystic Fibrosis was 30, although children born with the disease after 2015 are now expected to live to 46-years old. The horrible diseases causes her to suffer from constant breathlessness, nose bleeds, and exhaustion, taking anywhere between 30 to 50 tablets a day to manage symptoms. After Ms Ragusa was given a death sentence at 18, she did everything in her power to improve her health. She worked out frequently with a personal trainer to improve her breathing and stayed at home to prevent catching immune-depleting viruses, beating her terminal diagnosis. Last November, she started taking Trikafta which 'changed her life', boosting her lung capacity by 24 per cent to 84 per cent. The disease, which affects about 3,500 Australians, causes an abnormal build-up of mucus in the lungs and digestive system Ms Ragusa is now thriving and determined to surpass her 30-year life expectancy and build a family with her husband - but fears she will soon no longer be able to afford the $300,000-a-year drug. Cystic Fibrosis Australia has launched a petition calling on the Australian government to subsidise the expensive drug, which saves the lives of 90 per cent of recipients. Ms Ragusa is urging the government to take action and has called on Australians to sign the petition to help get her have a 'future'. Friends have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money to fund Ms Ragusa's treatment while they work to try and get the expensive drug added to the PBS. A 'hero' sniffer dog proved pooches really are man's best friend after being awarded the highest service medal an animal can receive for helping to save the lives of British troops. Retired RAF working dog 'Hertz' received the prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross for animals - for his life-saving devotion to protecting Allied troops while serving in Afghanistan in 2013. The German short-haired pointer was the first dog in British military history to be able to detect mobile phones, voice recorders, GPS devices and SIM cards. During his service in Afghanistan, Hertz uncovered hundreds of illegal items deemed contraband - including drugs and electronic devices. Warrant Officer Jonathan Tanner, Hertz's former handler, shared his delight that the working dog was going to be recognised with the highest honour possible. 'At no point during the training process or our operational deployment did I expect or even suspect that Hertz would be acknowledged on the global stage by the PDSA,' he said. 'I will forever look back at what we achieved with a massive smile on my face.' 'Hero' sniffer dog Hertz (right) proved pooches really are man's best friend after being awarded the highest service medal an animal can receive for helping to save the lives of British troops Following weeks of specialist training to detect personal electronic devices (PEDs), German short-haired pointer Hertz and his handler, WO Jonathan Tanner (left), were deployed to Afghanistan After being bred in Croatia, the pooch joined the RAF Police as a one-year-old puppy after wowing trainers during drug detection tests. Following weeks of specialist training to detect personal electronic devices (PEDs), Hertz and his handler, WO Jonathan Tanner, were deployed to Afghanistan. The pair worked together in both military and civilian compounds in Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand Province and later in the capital of Kabul. Retired RAF working dog 'Hertz' received the prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal (pictured above) - the equivalent of the Victoria Cross for animals - for his life-saving devotion to protecting Allied troops while serving in Afghanistan in 2013. After being bred in Croatia, Hertz joined the RAF Police as a one-year-old puppy after wowing trainers during drug detection tests During Hertz's 13-month tour, there was not a single rocket attack on Camp Bastion. Over the course of his service, the dog also discovered more than 100 items of contraband which was used to aid British intelligence efforts in the region. Corporal Simon Dack from RAF Police, who also worked with Hertz, said: 'As a team I would put Hertz into an area which I believed prohibited items were hidden and without fail he would find them. 'Hertz has an incredible drive to search - paired with a finely tuned nose - making him one of the most naturally gifted dogs I have had the privilege to work with.' Commenting on the award, the PDSA said: 'His work was vital to ensure the safety of all the personnel working there, both locals and military. It is difficult to truly estimate how many lives he saved through his actions.' The PDSA Dickin Medal was founded in 1943 by Maria Dickin, who wanted a permanent honour to recognise outstanding acts of bravery by animals serving in the Armed Forces during war. Previous winners of the prestigious honour include White Vision, a pigeon that battled through nine hours of adverse conditions to deliver a message that led to the rescue of a ditched aircrew in October 1943. Another of the 74 recipients was Simon the cat, who was praised for 'gallantry under fire' in 1949 and for rat-disposal services aboard the warship HMS Amethyst. The brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi has been sentenced to another three years and 10 months of jail time after attacking two Belmarsh prison officers - but vowed 'we will be leaving soon'. Ringleader Hashem Abedi, 24, hit Paul Edwards, 57, with a chair before he, Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan, 22, and a third convicted terrorist, Muhammed Saeed, 23, repeatedly punched and kicked him. The terrorist trio - who had been housed in the High Security Unit that prevents the most dangerous terrorists from mixing with other inmates - rampaged through Mr Edwards' office before setting upon him 'like a pack of animals'. Abedi seemed particularly proud of himself in the dock, declaring: 'I did assault that filthy pig, but don't see any wrongdoing'. All three prisoners denied assault causing actual bodily harm to Mr Edwards but were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday by a jury after around three and a half hours of deliberations. None of the jurors were told about the defendants' previous criminal histories and were visibly shocked post-verdict as they discovered who Abedi was. He had chosen to represent himself at trial and accused prison staff of lying in court, and was also found guilty of assault by beating of an emergency worker after kicking prison officer Nick Barnett as he came to his colleague's aid. Members of the jury looked visibly shocked when they were later told of Abedi's previous conviction, with the terrorist already serving a life term with a minimum of 55 years - the longest jail sentence ever imposed. Abedi was in Libya at the time of Manchester Arena attack, but was extradited to Britain in 2019 and finally convicted on March 17, 2020, two months before assaulting Edwards. His co-defendant, Ahmed Hassan had tried to set off a 'Mother of Satan' bomb on a tube train containing 93 people at Parson's Green station in September 2017. He set a timer and got off the train leaving the device, packed with shrapnel, in a Lidl bag. It ignited in a fireball but did not explode as it injured dozens of commuters. Abedi, 24, Hassan, 21, and a third defendant, 23-year-old Muhammed Saeed (pictured left to right) are on trial Injuries on prison officer Paul Edwards who was attacked at HMP Belmarsh on May 11, 2020 Mr Edwards suffered a laceration to his head, bruising to his back, rib cage and face (pictured above), and has lasting damage to his hearing The attackers: 'Mother of Satan' Tube bomber and Manchester Arena co-conspirator Hashem Abedi: Life sentence with a minimum term of 55 years Abedi was charged with 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to cause an explosion. He had helped his Manchester Arena bomber brother to source the materials used in the bombing and had assisted with making the explosives which were used in the attack Ahmed Hassan: Life sentence with a minimum jail term of 34 years Hassan was charged with attempted murder of commuters on the Parsons Green Tube in 2018. His bomb had been left in a white plastic bucket inside a Lidl shopping bag. Wires were hanging out, as well as a black towel. Reports also indicate the device had a timer attached and was packed with knives and screws and would have been deadly if it had gone off as he had planned. Muhammed Saeed: Five years Saeed was jailed for five years last May after pleading guilty to five counts of possessing an article for terrorist purposes. He had been caught on WhatsApp with two others talking about carrying out a terrorist attack in London with a knife. Advertisement Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb sentenced Abedi to another three years and 10 months, of which he will serve half. Hassan, who is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 34 years, and Saeed, who is serving a five-year sentence, were both handed three-year jail terms. Before he was sentenced, Hashem Abedi told the judge: 'I don't think the sentence is going to make any difference. Inshallah, myself and all my brothers will be leaving the prison very soon. 'The promises of Allah and the Prophet are more truthful than your sentence and your judgment.' Abedi conspired with his elder brother, suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, who killed 22 people and injured hundreds more at the Manchester Arena on May 22 2017. He was suspected of being the 'amir' or 'leader' of a group of Islamist terrorist inmates inside Belmarsh's 'prison within a prison,' Woolwich Crown Court heard. He is seen smiling in CCTV footage before he, Hassan and Saeed storm Mr Edwards' office, where he operated an 'open door policy'. Mr Edwards, a custodian manager who has worked at Belmarsh for 25 years, told jurors he was hit with a chair, repeatedly punched and kicked on May 11 2020. 'I feared for my life, and I genuinely thought if I hadn't fought back I would've ended up with at least extreme injuries or dead,' he said. He said 'it felt like a lifetime' before colleagues, including Nick Barnett, who has been a prison officer for 21 years, came to his aid seconds later. 'It was just like a pack of animals on Mr Edwards,' said Mr Barnett, who was kicked in the leg by Abedi during the melee. Mr Edwards, who can be seen with head injuries and blood on his shirt in pictures released by police, suffered a laceration to his head, bruising to his back, rib cage and face, and has lasting damage to his hearing. It came as the 24-year-old told Woolwich Crown Court he 'was not here to complain' over conditions inside HMP Belmarsh in London. Pictured: Three defendants smiling to each other before the alleged attack Hashem Abedi, 24 is the brother of Manchester Arena bomber Salman and conspired with him before the deadly suicide attack. Salman Abedi is pictured above at Victoria Station en route to the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017 Watchdog warns of the dangers of allowing terrorists to form gangs while in prison It's a 'problem' that three convicted terrorists were allowed to associate behind bars and form a gang, a terror watchdog has said. Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, Parsons Green Tube bomber Ahmed Hassan, and Muhammed Saeed - who spoke about carrying out a knife attack in London - were found guilty of attacking a prison officer in Belmarsh's high-security unit in May 2020. Jonathan Hall QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said the case demonstrated an attempt by an 'established gang' to seize power from authority, and suggested how measures like separation centres could be used to keep terrorists away from each other in custody. Abedi - who conspired with his elder brother, suicide bomber Salman Abedi, 22, who killed 22 people and injured hundreds more at the Manchester Arena on May 22 2017 - was suspected of being the 'amir' or 'leader' of a group of Islamist terrorist inmates inside Belmarsh's 'prison within a prison', Woolwich Crown Court heard. The trio were involved in a fight with a group of non-Muslim prisoners in the months before the attack, when their incentive and earned privileges (IEP) level was downgraded from 'standard' to 'basic'. Mr Hall said: 'Yes, I think it's a problem that they were allowed to associate in a way that led to the formation of a gang. 'There's territorial behaviour here. So, not just the attack on the prison officer ... but there was an orchestration of complaints and there was an attempt to get the regime changed on behalf of him and his brothers. And brothers here means fellow Islamist gang members. 'So this case demonstrates an attempt by an established gang to seize power from the authority.' Asked how terrorists can be prevented from colluding behind bars, Mr Hall said: 'In terms of what you do about it, I think you've got to recognise that these are not just gangs like any other gangs. 'This is a gang led by a terrorist mass murderer and the consequences of this sort of gang led by this sort of individual having influence within the prison are so serious that it has to be disrupted - in terms of the impact on other prisoners, recruitment and radicalisation within prison, and potential encouragement to further offences against the authorities.' Advertisement All three prisoners denied assault causing actual bodily harm (ABH) to Mr Edwards but were found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday by a jury after around three and a half hours of deliberations. Abedi was also found guilty of assault by beating of an emergency worker over the attack on Mr Barnett. Abedi is serving 24 life sentences with a minimum term of 55 years after he was found guilty by a jury in March 2020 of 22 counts of murder, attempted murder and plotting to cause an explosion likely to endanger life over the Manchester Arena attack. Prison officers believed Abedi considered himself the 'emir' or leader of the four Muslim prisoners in the high security unit. He had demanded changes to the prison regime after the three men took part in a fight with non-Muslim prisoners on Spur 4 of the high security unit on March 1 2020, while he was on trial for 22 counts of murder. Hassan was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years in 2018 after planting a device that injured 51 passengers in September 2017. The man who started the prison attack was Muhammed Saeed, from Trafford, Manchester, who was awaiting trial after encouraging an attack on two men who confronted a Muslim woman in a Youtube video at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London in December 2019. Saeed's reaction to the Youtube video was said by the judge to be one of 'extreme anger' - he exhorted others to join an attack and then discussed what sort of knife should be used with an undercover officer online, and instructed the officer to help him acquire the knife. However, he was only charged with possessing documents useful for terrorism, including a copy of Rumiyah, an online magazine produced by ISIS, which offered advice on what types of knife to use, where on the body to strike and to attack during the hours of darkness. He was eventually jailed for five years in May last year after pleading guilty in November 2020. The jury was not told about their convictions or that all three were involved in a fight with a group of non-Muslim prisoners on March 1 2020, when their incentive and earned privileges (IEP) level was downgraded from 'standard' to 'basic'. This meant they lost privileges including use of their televisions, and would have had less association time, fewer visits and no access to items such as games stations and DVD players. The court heard Abedi had orchestrated six complaint letters from prisoners, including Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 30, a jihadist jailed for life with a minimum term of 25 years in July 2020 after plotting a gun and knife rampage at London tourist hotspots. Abedi and Hassan had their IEP downgraded again by Mr Edwards after shaving their heads without permission and Abedi met with the HSU governor to complain 'he and his brothers wanted the regime changed' on the day of the attack. Mr Edwards, a custodian manager who has worked at Belmarsh for 25 years, told jurors he was hit with a chair, repeatedly punched and kicked on May 11, 2020 Blood on a desk at the scene of the incident in which prison officer Paul Edwards was attacked The office chair used in an attack on prison officer Paul Edwards at HMP Belmarsh in 2020 the scene of the incident in which prison officer Paul Edwards was attacked at HMP Belmarsh on May 11 2020 Items collected at the scene of the incident in which prison officer Paul Edwards was attacked at HMP Belmarsh Abedi, who defended himself, was not allowed to cross-examine his victims but accused other prison officers of lying in their statements as he questioned them from the dock. In a closing speech, he said: 'I don't think we get treated like other prisoners.' When Abedi appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court to answer the charge that he assaulted Mr Edwards, he said: 'I did assault that filthy pig, but I don't see any wrongdoing.' Asked about the second charge, he was said to have replied: 'Same as before, I don't see any wrongdoing.' At a later Crown Court appearance, Hassan told a judge: 'I hate you very much, you are an evil man.' Before he was sentenced, Hashem Abedi told the judge: 'I don't think the sentence is going to make any difference. Inshallah, myself and all my brothers will be leaving the prison very soon. 'The promises of Allah and the Prophet are more truthful than your sentence and your judgment.' U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order to prohibit trade and investment between U.S. individuals and the two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine recognized as independent by Russia, at the White House in Washington, Feb. 21. Reuters-Yonhap The United States took a wait-and-see attitude Monday to President Vladimir Putin's order for Russian troops to deploy to separatist areas of Ukraine, saying that talks remain possible "until the tanks roll." President Joe Biden imposed sanctions on the two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region. But a senior US official declined to characterize whether Putin's order for Russian armed forces to conduct "peacekeeping" there counts as an invasion, thereby triggering much wider and more severe Western sanctions against Moscow. "We are going to assess what Russia's done," the official told reporters, stressing that Russian forces have already been deployed covertly in the separatist areas for eight years. "Russian troops moving into Donbass would not be a new step," he said. "We'll continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll." In a speech accusing the West of turning Ukraine into an anti-Russian bastion, Putin said he was granting recognition of independence to the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk enclaves. He then tasked Russia with "peacekeeping" in the region, although no details were given as to what this meant in terms of troop movements. The Kremlin has for weeks denied plans to attack Ukraine, while at the same time building up an enormous force of troops and heavy weaponry on three sides of the country. The United States and its multiple Western allies warn that a full Russian invasion of Ukraine would prompt crippling economic sanctions. Biden signed an executive order to "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. The order will "provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," Psaki said, adding that the measures are separate from wider Western sanctions ready to go "should Russia further invade Ukraine." The two self-proclaimed republics already have extremely limited dealings with U.S. citizens. People wave Russian national flags to celebrate, in the center of Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, Feb. 21. AP-Yonhap U.S. officials continue to warn that heavy sanctions on Russia could be imposed at any time. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Russia's recognition of the separatist areas as a sign Putin had no interest in diplomacy. Blinken said in a statement that recognizing the territories' independence "directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty." "Russia's decision is yet another example of President Putin's flagrant disrespect for international law and norms," he said, adding in a separate tweet that the United States "will take appropriate steps in coordination with partners." On Friday, the deputy U.S. national security advisor for international economics, Daleep Singh, warned that the full set of sanctions under preparation would turn Russia into an international "pariah." Following Putin's speech, the White House said that Biden talked by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for 35 minutes to "reaffirm" the U.S. commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty. He also detailed the plan for sanctions. Biden also spoke for half an hour with two key European allies French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, an official said. The three leaders "strongly condemned" Putin's decision and discussed how to coordinate their response. The White House did not respond immediately to questions about whether there was still any consideration being given to a suggested summit between Biden and Putin. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were scheduled to meet this Thursday to discuss the possible summit. (AFP) A dog has been left with hundreds of quills in its face after it attacked a porcupine in Brazil. The dog, named Thor, was found by its owner impaled with hundreds of quills in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on February 20. Pictures showed the golden brown dog covered in hundreds of yellow quills around its mouth, forehead, nose, ears, and legs. The animal's owner, unemployed man Adriano Bertoline, launched an online appeal for treatment because he could not pay a veterinary bill. Local councillor Dr Jose Roberto Apolari stepped into help, taking Thor to a clinic and helping to cover the costs. It is understood to be the second time in 12 months that three-year-old Thor has had a fight with a porcupine and sustained the painful wounds. A dog named Thor was left with hundreds of spikes in its face after it attacked a porcupine in Brazil on February 20 The dog was found by its owner impaled with hundreds of quills in the municipality of Araras in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Pictures showed the golden brown dog covered in hundreds of yellow quills around its mouth, forehead, nose, ears, and right leg The animal's owner, unemployed man Adriano Bertoline, launched an online appeal for treatment because he could not pay a veterinary bill. Local councillor Dr Jose Roberto Apolari (pictured, holding the dog) stepped into help, taking Thor to a clinic and helping to cover the costs After discovering Thor impaled with porcupine quills, Bertoline launched an online appeal asking for help getting treatment. He wrote on social media: 'Good morning, guys... I woke up this morning and I saw my dog like this... Please, any clinic or vet that can come to help him? I cannot pay.' Councillor Dr Jose Roberto Apolari saw the dog owner's request and he stepped in, agreeing to help. Adriano wrote on social media: 'Dr Apolari was an angel in my dog's life because I couldn't afford to pay for a private veterinarian. I'm unemployed at the moment and I have four children to feed at home.' Adriano said the councillor took the dog to the clinic, helped with the costs, and brought Thor home afterwards. Councillor Dr Jose Roberto Apolari saw the dog owner's request and he stepped in, taking the dog to a veterinary clinic where the porcupine quills were removed from his face and body Hundreds of quills, some of them bloodied, were pulled from Thor's mouth, forehead, nose, ears, and legs According to Thor's owner, this is the second time the dog has been involved in a fight with a porcupine in one year. In February 2021, the injured dog was helped by Adriano's friend, who worked at a private veterinary clinic at the time. It was not immediately clear what condition the porcupine was in after being attacked by the dog. Chickenpox is one of few major infectious diseases spreading quickly in Australia despite Covid-19 lockdowns putting a lid on the flu. Authorities have revealed more than 10,000 cases of the varicella-zoster virus responsible for chickenpox were reported in Queensland last year, with similar numbers reported in 2020. The acute disease, often associated with children, typically results in an itchy, blistering skin rash and mild fever. It can be more severe for adults. Ominously, the virus has a reproduction number as high as 13, meaning one infected person can potentially pass on the virus to more than a dozen other people. Doctors across Australia have issued a grim warning about chickenpox, which spreads quicker than Covid-19 In Queensland, there are currently more than than 10,000 cases of the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox (pictured, a couple exercising in Brisbane) Clare Walker, a GP and secretary of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland, recommended residents check their vaccination status for chickenpox. 'Its been around for a long time and will be with us, probably, for a long time yet not one that we're probably going to get rid of,' she told the ABC. 'I always just recommend seeing your GP, as they can look at your history.' In serious cases, chickenpox can result in scarring, pneumonia, brain damage and even death. Because the virus stays in your body after it is initially contracted, it can return later in life in the form of shingles, a viral infection that causes a painful rash. Meanwhile, in welcome news with autumn looming, current influenza numbers across Australia are said to be declining. Mass double vaccinations - as well as booster shots - dating back the start of the pandemic in 2020 have proven to be pivotal in reducing those infected with the flu nationally. While Ukraine's airspace has been largely empty amid the crisis with Russia, a remotely piloted U.S. military vehicle called the RQ-4 Global Hawk has flown over the country in circles for hours at a time. Over the past month, two of the spy planes have travelled on regular missions from the Mediterranean Sea to Ukraine, where they have navigated in repeated loops in the north and the east, according to Flightradar24. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a $222 million spy drone that weighs 14,950 pounds, has a 130.9 foot wingspan, and can survey an area the size of South Korea or Iceland in one day, according to Task & Purpose. The drones' high-altitude, long-distance flights have coincided with a military build-up by Russia along the Ukrainian border and a flurry of diplomacy among leaders of the United States, Europe and Russia to avert war. At times, the two planes - under the call signs Forte10, Forte11 and Forte12 - have been the only active aircraft publicly visible over eastern Ukraine. Aviation watchers have taken note, speculating that the United States is making its presence known in a show of force. 'With these types of flights, leaving the transponder on is a conscious decision,' said Ian Petchenik, communications director at Flightradar24. U.S. Air Force's RQ-4 Global Hawk (see above in Guam last year) has been spotted flying in Ukraine skies The U.S. Air Force declined to comment on the details of the flights but said the United States routinely operates aircraft in support of intelligence objectives. 'These missions demonstrate our continued commitment to safety and security in the region,' a spokesperson said. On Monday evening, Forte11 returned to the Mediterranean after a nearly 24-hour trip over Ukraine. Its transponder went off at a low altitude near the Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily. It was the 13th similar mission. According to the Air Force's website, the mission of such aircraft is to collect intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance 'to support joint combatant forces in worldwide peacetime, contingency and wartime operations.' Their manufacturer, Northrop Grumman, says the planes see 'potential threats' and 'gather near-real-time, high-resolution imagery of large areas of land in all types of weather - day or night.' The flight path has stood out because international commercial aviation, out of an abundance of caution, has largely avoided Ukraine airspace, especially in the east along the Russian border. On Feb. 15, Flightradar24 said was its most tracked flight, and then later reported that it had been airborne for more than 21 hours. RQ-4 Global Hawk is a $222 million spy drone that weighs 14,950 pounds, has a 130.9 foot wingspan, and can survey an area the size of South Korea in one day The aircraft, with a wingspan of nearly 40 meters and length of 15 meters, can typically fly more than 30 hours. In 2014, the craft travelled 34.3 hours without refuelling to set a record for the U.S. Air Force, according to its website. Northrop Grumman has been providing the aircraft to the USAF for 20 years. In August, it won a five-year contract to maintain the craft for NATO. A woman and her boyfriend have denied involvement in the death of a 15-month-old boy in London. Jacob Lennon died after allegedly suffering a severe head injury at the property in Putney, south-west London, in August 2019. Medics found the toddler collapsed early on the morning of August 27 after receiving a 999 call that he was not breathing. He was taken to a west London hospital, where he was pronounced dead that morning. A special post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as a severe head injury, the Old Bailey heard. His mother, Louise Lennon, 31, is charged with child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child. Her boyfriend, Jake Drummond, 32, is charged with Jacob's murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between July 1 and August 27 2019. Jacob Lennon (pictured) died after allegedly suffering a severe head injury at the property in Putney, south-west London, in August 2019 The prosecution allege Jacob's death was the culmination of a series of concerted assaults. On Tuesday, Drummond, who is not the baby's father, and Lennon denied all the charges against them during a hearing at the Old Bailey. The defendants, who have separate addresses in Wandsworth, south London, face a trial starting on February 6 2023. His mother, Louise Lennon (pictured), 31, is charged with child cruelty and causing or allowing the death of a child The case is expected to last between four and six weeks. Drummond is in custody, while Lennon is on conditional bail. A further hearing was set for May 27. Advertisement Germany finally halted certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into Eastern Ukraine and declared regions of the country 'independent republics.' Joe Biden added to his Tuesday schedule a press conference for 2:00 p.m. to provide an update on the situation in Eastern Europe. Shortly after, an administration official said that the time had been bumped up by an hour to 1:00 p.m. It's expected the president will announce further sanctions during the remarks after receiving backlash for not being tough enough on Russia and Putin after invading Ukraine. U.S. lawmakers want to see Biden target specific Russian oligarchs and others want to see him impose his own sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Tuesday morning in his stunning reversal of previously standing behind the natural gas pipeline: 'The situation has fundamentally changed.' Scholz has long resisted including the Russia-to-Germany $10 billion natural gas pipeline as a potential sanction if Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Tuesday: 'I welcome Germany's move to suspend the certification of Nord Stream 2. This is a morally, politically and practically correct step in the current circumstances. True leadership means tough decisions in difficult times. Germany's move proves just that.' For several years spanning multiple administrations the U.S. has viewed the pipeline as a Kremlin project that would increase Europe's reliance on Russian gas. Biden, however, allowed for construction to resume last year to help repair and strengthen U.S. relations with Germany. A new Gallup poll released Tuesday shows Americans' faith in the president's foreign policy has dropped during the Russia-Ukraine crisis and 16 points over the last year. Only 40 percent of voters approved of Biden's handling of foreign affairs, a new Gallup poll found, while a low 36 percent gave the president a thumbs up for his handling of Russia's threat to Ukraine. Biden formerly chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and prides himself on knowledge of international relations, but has seen voters' faith in his ability in this area diminish. In February 2021, 56 percent approved of Biden's foreign policy. In the aftermath of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan followed by the current instability in Ukraine, Biden's approval has dropped down to the 40 percent mark. There is hesitation and skirting by world leaders to call Russia's encroachment on Ukrainian soil an 'invasion' but the White Housedid come out with that classification on Tuesday. 'We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine,' Biden's Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer told CNN on Tuesday morning. 'And you're already seeing the beginning of our response.' 'An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway,' he added. Ukrainian troops troops ride armored vehicles during tactical drills on Tuesday after Russia moved to ratify President Vladimir Putin's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) as independent states and move forces onto Ukrainian soil German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will cancel the Nord Stream 2 project from Russia. The natural gas pipeline has long been opposed by the U.S. and some European nations who argued it would increase Europe's reliance on Russian energy. President Joe Biden allowed the project to move forward to repair relations with Germany People hide out and take shelter in the basements of building in Schastia, Luhansk in Eastern Ukraine on Thursday as buildings are damaged by bullets and cannon balls following Putin's declaration that the region is now an independent state from Ukraine Protesters outside the Russian Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine hold a banner reading 'Stop Putin' on Tuesday the day after the Russian leader declared two regions in the eastern part of the country as independent states A group of Russian, Donetsk, U.S. and Italian journalists run and duck for cover as they came under mortar fire on the Gorlovka-Donetsk highway on Tuesday The group of international journalists took cover by the side of the road on the Gorlovka-Donetsk highway as they faced shellfire the day after Putin declared Donetsk an independent state from Ukraine Ukrainian service members participate in tactical drills at a training ground in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Tuesday following Russian invasion into the country's Eastern region German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced in a Tuesday press conference (pictured) that he's halting certifications of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline from Russia after Putin declared two regions in Eastern Ukraine 'independent states' and moved forces onto Ukrainian soil Monday night White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki praised the announcement Tuesday and assured that the U.S. will be taking more action later in the day. '[Biden] made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward. We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement,' she tweeted. Psaki added: 'We will be following up with our own measures today.' Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Biden to get tougher on Putin after he announced sanctions on Monday that both parties say doesn't go far enough in punishing Russia for the invasion. 'Mr. President, your Executive Order prohibiting new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine is a FAR CRY from enough,' GOP Representative Mark Green said Tuesday morning. Virginia Republican Representative Ben Cline tweeted: 'Glad to see Germany standing up to Russia and reversing one of Joe Biden's biggest mistakes. Biden's misguided approval of Nord Stream 2 sent the signal that he would roll over if Russia invaded Ukraine.' 'Biden now needs to show US resolve and impose strong sanctions immediately,' he demanded. Jim Scuitto, a CNN national security who served as chief of staff to the U.S. Ambassador to China under Obama, said on Monday in regards to the sanctions announcement: 'Is this really it?' Former President Donald Trump insisted if he were still in office the situation in Ukraine would not have transpired and called Biden's sanctions 'weak.' 'If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all,' Trump wrote in a Tuesday statement distributed from his Save America PAC email. 'The weak sanctions are insignificant relative to taking over a country and a massive piece of strategically located land,' he lamented. 'I know Vladimir Putin very well,' Trump added, 'and he would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way!' Trump slammed the Biden administration for allowing Russia to 'become very very rich' in the last year and warned that oil prices, while already doubled, will soon triple and quadruple. 'Now it has begun,' he warned, 'oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer. The U.S. was energy independent under the Trump Administration, an independence that we had never obtained before, and oil prices would have remained low. Now, what a mess our Country is in!' Biden signed an Executive Order on Monday prohibiting investments, trade and financing to, from or in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which Putin says Russia now recognizes as independent states from Ukraine. The president has not, however, imposed any sanctions directly on Russia or Putin and stopped far short of the 'swift and decisive' response that he had threatened and promised. A new poll shows Biden's approval rating for his handling of foreign affairs has dropped 16 points in the last year. Only 40% approve of his handling of foreign affairs while 56% disapprove Finer said that the administration will announce more sanctions later in the day. 'The U.S. is going to have a significant announcement of its own later today, including sanctions that we will impose in response to what Russia did yesterday,' Finer previewed on MSNBC's Morning Joe program. Secretary of State Antony Blinken explained the initial sanctions were designed to prevent Russia 'profiting off of this blatant violation of international law,' before tweeting: 'Russia's move to recognize the 'independence' of so-called republics controlled by its own proxies is a predictable, shameful act. 'We condemn them in the strongest possible terms and #StandWithUkraine, as I told Foreign Minister tonight.' Putin declared Monday that two regions in Eastern Ukraine are now recognized by Russia as independent states. He called the two regions the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). This move has paved the way for Russia to create pacts with the so-called states to assist in security in the area and get their forces on Ukrainian soil. New videos show the Russian army's so-called 'peacekeeping' force on the ground inside Ukraine, as the U.S. tries to convince European allies to impose tough sanctions. Military vehicles were seen after night fell on Monday in Makiivka, in the so-called DPR, recognized hours earlier as an independent state by Putin. Other footage showed armored vehicles at other locations in the DPR and neighboring LPR, also recognized by the Kremlin. No insignia were visible on the vehicles, but there is little doubt they are Russian forces deployed on Putin's orders. At the same time, Ukraine said heavy shelling broke out along nearly all 250 miles of its frontline with the breakaway provinces, leaving two of its soldiers dead and 12 injured in a major escalation in violence. Videos and images showed pro-Russian separatists lighting celebratory fireworks and waving Russian flags in Donetsk city following Putin's announcement of recognition and came as Biden issued an executive order banning U.S. investment or trade with the two regions. The State Department also ordered its remaining staff to leave Ukraine for the safety of Poland. Biden was on Monday night trying to get European allies to follow him in imposing sanctions. 'Clearly, the White House is talking to the Europeans,' said Bill Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, on CNN - suggesting the administration is holding off on tougher sanctions on Russia for the moment in order to get European partners on board. A senior U.S. official earlier declined to characterize whether Putin's order for Russian armed forces to conduct 'peacekeeping' there counted as an actual invasion, which would trigger much wider and more severe Western sanctions against Moscow. Ukrainians are preparing for Russian forces to arrive on their doorsteps after coming onto the country's soil Monday evening after recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states Kyiv Presidential Honor Guard Battalion members attend the funeral of Captain Anton Olegovich Sidorov at the Ministry of Defense on Tuesday. Sidorov was one of the first casualties in weeks following a wave of shelling by separatist rebels in Eastern Ukraine Members of Russia lower house of parliament applaud on Tuesday after they voted to ratify Putin's agreements with east Ukraine's separatist republics a move he can do now that he has recognized these regions as independent states from Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a joint press conference with his Estonian counterpart in Kyiv on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The U.S. was reportedly was in discussions with the Ukrainian government to evacuate Zelensky from Kyiv before Russians invaded A tank is seen on Monday night driving through Donetsk, in eastern Ukraine Why gas and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline are so significant in Putin's standoff with Ukraine Nord Stream 2, the 750-mile gas pipeline connecting Russia and Germany, has been a source of fierce political debate both in Europe and the United States. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has repeatedly called for sanctions on the operators because he feels it gives Moscow energy dominance in Europe, but Democrats have slapped down his attempts because they fear it would harm relations with Germany. President Biden has now said he will stop the pipeline, which has not yet been turned on, from going ahead if Vladimir Putin invades Ukraine, putting it's future in the balance. Here is why the $11billion Nord Stream 2 is at the center of the Ukraine standoff, that Republicans have described as the 'biggest threat to Europe since 1945'. Why has gas and Nord Stream 2 become an issue in the Ukraine standoff? Like in the United States, Europe is dealing with soaring gas prices. There are also splits over how to be more climate friendly and move off fossil fuel. Europe gets almost 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia and will become more reliant on that supply during the winter months. Nord Stream 2 would supply 26 million German homes when and if it is turned on. Building has been completed but it has not yet been certified by German's energy regulator. That has made it a hugely political topic in Germany. What is at stake if the pipeline doesn't come online, and how can it be used as leverage? Ukraine believes it is missing out on $2billion in lucrative 'transit' fees because the pipeline bypasses Kiev. The pipeline has been touted as one of the sanctions the West could threaten if Putin invades Ukraine and has been considered 'leverage' against Moscow. For Russia, Nord Stream 2 would cut the costs of pumping its gas supplies through Ukraine. Sanctions or leaving it shut off would reduce Russia's revenue. The EU needs unanimity among 27 member states to impose sanctions. Germany's voice would probably be decisive, but stopping Nord Stream 2 would need support from other member states, such as Austria and Bulgaria, who are highly dependent on Russian gas. Russia's natural gas exports to Germany via the Nord Stream pipeline crossing the Baltic Sea totalled 59.2 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2021, its operator said on Monday, in line with record volumes a year earlier. Moscow hopes to double the route with the recently finished Nord Stream 2 pipeline which requires EU and German regulatory approval to begin operations. The current pipeline already accounts for around a third of Russia's gas exports to Europe. Volumes last year topped the pipeline's annual nameplate capacity of 55 bcm. Russian gas exporter Gazprom has said the pipeline is able to transport more thanks to some technological peculiarities. The West has accused Russia of withholding gas exports to Europe recently in order to drive up prices and pressure regulators to approve Nord Stream 2. Russia and Gazprom have denied this. Will Russia cut off gas supplies if it invades? No one knows for sure, but a complete shutoff is seen as unlikely, because it would be mutually destructive. Russian officials have not signaled they would consider cutting supplies in the case of new sanctions. Moscow relies on energy exports, and though it just signed a gas deal with China, Europe is a key source of revenue. Europe is likewise dependent on Russia, so any Western sanctions would likely avoid directly targeting Russian energy supplies. More likely, experts say, would be Russia withholding gas sent through pipelines crossing Ukraine. Russia pumped 175 billion cubic meters of gas into Europe last year, nearly a quarter of it through those pipelines, according to S&P Global Platts. That would leave pipelines under the Baltic Sea and through Poland still operating. 'I think in the event of even a less severe Russian attack against Ukraine, the Russians are almost certain to cut off gas transiting Ukraine on the way to Germany,' said former U.S. diplomat Dan Fried, who as State Department coordinator for sanctions policy helped craft 2014 measures against Russia when it invaded and annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula. Russia could then offer to make up the lost gas if Germany approves the contentious new Nord Stream 2 pipeline, whose operators could face potential U.S. sanctions even though a recent vote to that effect failed. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press' that the Biden administration has coordinated with its allies and that 'if Russia invades Ukraine, one way or another, Nord Stream 2 will not move forward.' Interrupting gas supplies beyond the Ukrainian pipelines is less likely: 'If they push it too far, they're going to make a breach with Europe irreparable, and they have to sell the oil and gas someplace,' Fried said. Advertisement United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that 'the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia' will be revealed today after Putin 'completely tore up international law.' After chairing an early morning emergency meeting of top ministers, Johnson told reporters: 'This is I should stress just the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia because we expect I'm afraid that there is more Russian irrational behavior to come. 'I'm afraid all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the overrunning, the subjugation of an independent, sovereign European country and I think, let's be absolutely clear, that will be absolutely catastrophic.' Johnson said that Putin continues down on the path to 'encircling Kyiv itself, which is what he seems to be proposing to do, capturing the Ukrainian capital' then it is vital his efforts 'should not succeed and that Putin should fail'. It comes as UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid declared that Russia 'invaded' Ukraine. 'We are waking up to a very dark day in Europe,' Javid said early this morning on Sky News. 'We have seen that [Putin] has recognized breakaway eastern regions in Ukraine and from the reports we can already tell that he has sent in tanks and troops. From that you can conclude that the invasion of Ukraine has begun.' European Union foreign ministers are also set to meet today to decide what sanctions to impose, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. 'Clearly, the response will be in the form of sanctions,' he declared, but added that the aim is not to impose the whole range of sanctions that the EU has prepared should Russia invade Ukraine, but rather to address the recognition of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent. Asked whether Russia's decision to send 'peacekeepers' into the country already amounts to an invasion, Borrell said, 'I wouldn't say that's a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil.' The bloc has repeatedly said it is ready to impose 'massive consequences' on Russia's economy if Moscow invades Ukraine but has also cautioned that, given the EU's close energy and trade ties to Russia, it wants to ratchet up sanctions. An EU official said the bloc's 27 ambassadors would discuss a wider package of sanctions this afternoon, but warned there would be difficulty in agreeing on an approach. 'There's a whole escalation ladder, starting with Russian individuals and moving up to finance, trade, and eventually energy. So, technically, a lot is possible,' the official told Reuters. 'The problem politically is how to craft sanctions that all can agree to.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also refused to recognize an 'invasion' in a 2am address to the nation, instead speaking of a 'violation of sovereignty' before adding: 'We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone.' Zelensky has also demanded an immediate halt to the Nord Stream 2 project to pipe Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea. The President called on Europe to introduce 'immediate sanctions' that include 'the complete stop of Nord Stream 2'. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appeared to oblige his request, announcing this morning that he was suspending the pipeline project and had asked the German regulator for the pipeline to halt the review process. 'There can be no certification of the pipeline and without this certification, Nord Stream 2 cannot begin operating,' he said. Nord Stream 2 has long been a point of contention between Ukraine and Germany, with Ukrainian authorities pointing out that Germany cannot effectively impose sanctions on Russia while simultaneously securing a dedicated pipeline for Russian gas. Scholz's declaration that the project has been halted suggests that Germany is now willing to join Western allies in imposing strong sanctions. A military truck drives along a street in Donetsk after Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine Military vehicles are seen on the move on Monday night in Donetsk A tank drives along a street in Donetsk on Monday night Russian troops are seen entering Donetsk in the early hours of Tuesday morning, after Vladimir Putin said he was sending in 'peacekeepers' Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order prohibiting trade and investment between US businesses and citizens and two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine Putin gave a televised address on Monday and explained he would sign a decree recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions in Eastern Ukraine as independent 'republics' Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21 Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped short of declaring that Putin had ordered an invasion, but said that 'the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia' will be revealed today after Putin 'completely tore up international law.' After chairing an early morning emergency meeting of top ministers, Johnson told reporters: 'This is I should stress just the first barrage of UK economic sanctions against Russia because we expect I'm afraid that there is more Russian irrational behavior to come' President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the nation on a live TV broadcast in Kievat 2am this morning in which he declared: 'We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We don't owe anyone anything. And we won't give anything to anyone.' What did Vladimir Putin say in his speech? ON DONBASS 'Those who embarked on the path of violence, bloodshed, lawlessness did not recognize and do not recognize any other solution to the Donbass issue, except for the military one. In this regard, I consider it necessary to take a long overdue decision to immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic. I ask the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to support this decision, and then to ratify the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with individual republics. These two documents will be prepared and signed in the very near future. And from those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate cessation of hostilities. 'Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of the bloodshed will be entirely on the conscience of the regime ruling on the territory of Ukraine. Announcing the decisions taken today, I am confident in the support of the citizens of Russia. Of all the patriotic forces of the country.' ON UKRAINE MEMBERSHIP OF NATO 'If Ukraine was to join NATO it would serve as a direct threat to the security of Russia.' ON ORIGINS OF MODERN UKRAINE 'Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917... 'As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called 'Vladimir Ilyich Lenin's Ukraine'. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents... And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunization. Do you want decommunization? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunization means for Ukraine.' ON UKRAINIAN STATEHOOD 'Ukraine never had a tradition of genuine statehood.' ON BREAK-UP OF USSR 'Russia assumed obligations to repay the entire Soviet debt in return for the newly independent states giving up part of their foreign assets. In 1994, such agreements were reached with Ukraine, but they were not ratified by Ukraine... '(Ukraine) preferred to act in such a way that in relations with Russia they had all the rights and advantages, but did not bear any obligations... 'From the very first steps they began to build their statehood on the denial of everything that unites us. They tried to distort the consciousness, the historical memory of millions of people, entire generations living in Ukraine.' ON NATO'S 2008 MEMBERSHIP PROMISE TO UKRAINE AND GEORGIA 'Many European allies of the United States already perfectly understood all the risks of such a prospect, but were forced to come to terms with the will of their senior partner. The Americans simply used them to carry out a pronounced anti-Russian policy. A number of member states of the alliance are still very skeptical about the appearance of Ukraine in NATO. 'At the same time, we are receiving a signal from some European capitals, saying what are you worried about, this will not happen literally tomorrow. Yes, in fact, our American partners are also talking about this. Well, we answer, if not tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow. What does this change in a historical perspective? Basically, nothing. Moreover, we know the position and words of the US leadership that active hostilities in eastern Ukraine do not exclude the possibility of this country joining NATO if it can meet the criteria of the North Atlantic alliance and defeat corruption. At the same time, they try to convince us over and over again that NATO is a peace-loving and purely defensive alliance, saying that there are no threats to Russia. Again they propose that we take them at their word. But we know the real value of such words.' ON THREATS TO RUSSIA 'We clearly understand that under such a scenario, the level of military threats to Russia will dramatically increase many times over. I pay special attention to the fact that the danger of a sudden strike against our country will increase many times over. Let me explain that US strategic planning documents contain the possibility of a so-called preemptive strike against enemy missile systems. And who is the main enemy for the US and NATO? We know that too. It's Russia. In NATO documents, our country is officially and directly declared the main threat to North Atlantic security. And Ukraine will serve as a forward springboard for the strike. If our ancestors had heard about it, they probably would simply not have believed it. And today we don't want to believe it, but it's true.' ON SANCTIONS 'They are trying to blackmail us again. They are threatening us again with sanctions, which, by the way, I think they will introduce anyway as Russia's sovereignty strengthens and the power of our armed forces grows. And a pretext for another sanctions attack will always be found or fabricated. Regardless of the situation in Ukraine. There is only one goal - to restrain the development of Russia. And they will do it, as they did before. Even without any formal pretext at all. Just because we exist, and we will never compromise our sovereignty, national interests and our values. I want to say clearly and directly that in the current situation, when our proposals for an equal dialogue on fundamental issues have actually remained unanswered by the United States and NATO, when the level of threats to our country is increasing significantly, Russia has every right to take retaliatory measures to ensure its own security. That is exactly what we will do.' Advertisement The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in New York at 9pm on Monday evening - chaired by Russia, which is currently president of the Security Council. 'President Putin is testing our international system' and 'seeing how far he can push us all,' said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the U.N. The flurry of diplomatic activity came after Putin signed decrees declaring the so-called DPR and LPR as sovereign states. He justified his decision in a history-laden, grievance-ridden, pre-recorded speech that blamed NATO for the current crisis and railed against the way the West had triggered collapse of the Soviet Union. 'I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic,' he said. He said America was 'pumping' in weapons to Ukraine and said accused Kiev of creating 'weapons of mass destruction'. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said Putin's move puts 'Kafka & Orwell to shame'. She added: 'What we witnessed tonight might seem surreal for democratic world. But the way we respond will define us for the generations to come.' A senior Biden administration official said the speech was not just about Russia's security. It was a speech that laid out a greater plan. 'He made clear that he views Ukraine historically as part of Russia,' he told reporters. 'And he made a number of false claims about Ukraine's intention that seems designed to excuse possible military action. This was a speech to the Russian people to justify war.' The official said more sanctions will follow today. The increased level of threat led the State Department to temporarily move its remaining diplomats out of Ukraine to Poland, Bloomberg reported. They are expected to return later this week if an invasion is not launched. Biden spent 35 minutes on a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, promising a 'swift and decisive' response. He also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as the Western allies coordinated their response. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said more measures will be taken if Russia further invades Ukraine. 'We are continuing to closely consult with Allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine,' she wrote. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace this morning said: 'It's incredibly serious what's happening in Ukraine. 'Many of us were forewarning that President Putin already had an agenda - you heard that agenda in his speech last night. 'This is a sovereign state which has now had some of its land effectively annexed from it. 'This is a sovereign state, a democratic state in Europe. All of us in Europe should worry and not hesitate to take whatever action we need to to deter President Putin from undermining both Nato, but also Europe and, more importantly, our values.' Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions' independence paves the way for the long-feared Russian invasion and effectively shatters the Minsk peace agreements. It also opens the door for Russia to sign treaties with the 'states' and openly send troops and weapons there to defend them against Ukrainian 'threats'. US intelligence has warned for weeks that this would be the way Putin would go about trying to disguise his invasion of Ukraine. 'We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately,' Psaki wrote in her Monday statement following Putin's remarks. Elsewhere, leaders in Asia have voiced support for Ukraine's sovereignty and condemned the movement of tanks and troops into the breakaway provinces. 'Ukraine's sovereignty and territory must be respected,' South Korean President Moon Jae-in said this morning. 'A military clash against the wishes of the international community... would bring huge ramifications in the politics and economies of not only Europe, but to the whole world.'. South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Choi Young-sam said diplomats were trying to persuade 63 of its nationals who currently remain in Ukraine to leave. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meanwhile criticized Russia for violating Ukrainian territorial integrity and said his country would discuss possible 'severe actions,' including sanctions, with the international community. Putin's 'actions are unacceptable, and we express our strong condemnation,' Kishida told reporters today. 'Japan is watching the development with grave concern.' Japan has a separate territorial dispute with Moscow over four Russian-controlled northern islands taken at the end of World War II. The standoff has prevented the signing of a peace treaty between the two sides. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said there was no basis under international law for Putin to recognize the Ukrainian separatist regions. 'We are concerned that this is a calculated act by President Putin to create a pretext for invasion, which would be a clear act of aggression. We again call for urgent diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution,' Mahuta said in a statement. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Russia should 'unconditionally withdraw' from Ukrainian territory and stop threatening its neighbors. Morrison said Russia's actions were 'unacceptable; it's unprovoked, it's unwarranted.' 'It is important that like-minded countries who denounce this sort of behavior do stick together, and I can assure you that the moment that other countries put in place strong and severe sanctions on Russia, we will be in lockstep with them and we will be moving just as quickly,' he said. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, is pictured on Monday night at an emergency session of the Security Council US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield (C, bottom) speaks during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on the Ukraine crisis, in New York, February 21, 2022 Pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine celebrated on Monday evening as fireworks went off following Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a decree recognizing two Eastern Ukrainian regions as 'independent republics' Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk rebel regions' independence paves the way for the long-feared Russian invasion. Pro-Russian residents in Donetsk celebrated independence with a fireworks show on Monday Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough with Russia increased Sunday when the White House said Biden had agreed 'in principle' to a summit with Putin. That hope all but evaporated after the Russian president's speech. 'Our strong sense, based on everything that we are seeing on the ground in the areas around the Ukraine to the north, to the east, to the south, is that Russia is continuing to prepare for military action that could take place in the coming hours or days,' said the official, adding that administration could not commit to a meeting when invasion now seemed imminent. A bipartisan group of 21 lawmakers pledged on Monday to 'work toward whatever emergency supplemental legislation will best support our NATO allies and the people of Ukraine.' 'No matter what happens in the coming days, we must assure that the dictator Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay a devastating price for their decisions,' they wrote. Zelensky said he discussed with Biden on Monday afternoon 'the events of the last hours'. 'We begin the meeting of the National Security and Defense Council,' he posted, adding: 'A conversation with [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson is also planned.' The White House confirmed that Biden shared a 35-minute-long call with Zelensky but did not give details of the discussion. Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were all spotted arriving at the White House West Wing on Monday morning. 'President Biden is meeting with his national security team at the White House today and is being regularly briefed on developments regarding Russia and Ukraine,' a White House official confirmed. The site of a car explosion outside a building of the representative office of the Lugansk People's Republic in the Joint Centre for Control and Coordination (JCCC) on ceasefire An armed man stands beside the site of the blast after Putin declared the breakaway region of Luhansk 'independent' American soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division start a fire in Poland, near the Ukrainian border, after they were deployed to back up NATO allies Artillery is seen in the foreground to American armored vehicles in a camp in Przemysl, Poland, 3.7 miles from the Ukrainian border during the standoff with Putin Members of the 82nd Airborne Division, deployed to Poland, walks past a fleet of their vehicles in Eastern Europe The White House announced Monday President Joe Biden will sign an Executive Order issuing economic sanctions on the two regions Russia just declared it recognizes as independent 'republics' in Eastern Ukraine The White House is warning of a high scale of 'brutality' and 'extreme violence' Russians will have on Ukrainians civilian and military if they invade. Here US troops load equipment onto vehicles in Rzeszow, Poland on Saturday, February 19 President Joe Biden deployed a few thousand troops from the 82nd and 18th Airborne Corps to assist in Eastern Europe US troops load equipment onto vehicles in Poland on Saturday How Putin's recognition of breakaway republics has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions before WWII Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions prior to the Second World War, the Commons has heard. Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash (Stone) said: 'This evening Mr Putin has recognized the two separatist regions in Ukraine as independent states with dangerous parallels to Germany's recognition of the Sudetenland in 1938.' In the run-up to the Second World War, the Sudetenland, in which three million Germans lived, was part of what was then Czechoslovakia. In the famous Munich Agreement of 1938 the region was ceded to Adolf Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany's territorial ambitions. Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize two breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine has 'dangerous parallels' to Nazi Germany's actions prior to the Second World War, the Commons has heard Hitler had been planning an invasion of the territory prior to the signing of the agreement. Britain's then Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who was the main driver of the agreement, famously told the British public after it was signed that he believed it was 'peace in our time'. Hitler, who had already absorbed Austria into Germany in March 1938, rode roughshod over the deal the following year by annexing all of Czechoslovakia in March and invading Poland on September 1. It was that last act of aggression which was the final straw even for the peace-loving Chamberlain, who declared war on Germany on September 3. France followed soon after, sparking a conflict that finally ended with Germany's defeat in May 1945. In the famous Munich Agreement of 1938 the region was ceded to Adolf Hitler in the hope that the concession would be enough to avoid Europe-wide armed conflict after months of tensions caused by Germany 's territorial ambitions. Above: Hitler (right) with the then British PM Neville Chamberlain (centre) Advertisement Biden also convened with his National Security Council on Sunday to discuss the latest developments in Eastern Europe as the west was still hoping for a diplomatic path forward at that point. Putin assembled his inner circle on Monday as his top aides continue to advise him not to meet with Biden. 'We've been negotiating for eight years,' Putin said during the meeting, adding: 'We've reached a dead end.' The move fuels further tension with the West and narrows the diplomatic options available to avoid war, since it is an explicit rejection of a seven-year ceasefire mediated by France and Germany, still touted as the framework for any future negotiations on the wider crisis. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned in a statement last week that if Russia did take the very action that it did on Monday, it would 'necessitate a swift and firm response from the United States in full coordination with our Allies and partners.' He said it would further undermine the sovereignty of Ukraine, which was formerly a Soviet Bloc nation. Biden met with his national security team Monday to discuss the situation, having been rebuffed earlier in the day over a summit with Putin. France claimed to have brokered a meeting between the two leaders next week, which the White House agreed to 'in principle', before the Kremlin said talks were 'premature' and no 'concrete' plans had been made. It is the second time that French President Emmanuel Macron, who has tried to position himself as Europe's top security negotiator, has been embarrassed by Moscow - given guarantees which were revoked when he made them public. Two weeks ago, Macron claimed Putin had agreed to stop military drills on Ukraine's border, which Russia immediately denied. The Kremlin said that upon hearing that Putin will sign the order to recognize the independence of eastern Ukraine's separatist republics, Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had 'expressed disappointment' over the decision in phone calls with the Russian President. Earlier on Monday, Putin vowed to decide 'today' whether to recognize Ukraine's eastern regions as independent states during remark at the close of an hours-long security council meeting that was broadcast on Russian TV. During that meeting, the Kremlin's top security officials were called up one by one and asked to lay out the case for war - seemingly aimed at persuading a skeptical public of the need to attack. Having spent days staging what are widely believed to be false flag attacks on Ukrainian soil and blaming them on Kyiv, ministers presented the 'evidence' to Putin today claiming Russians in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions are under threat of 'genocide', that no peace deal can save them and that he must intervene to save lives. But in evidence that the entire spectacle was being staged - with the West warning a decision to invade has already been made - eagle-eyed viewers noticed that defense minister Sergei Shoigu's watch was five hours behind Moscow time, suggesting the hearing was pre-recorded. Ukraine's Defense Minister Dymtro Kuleba, said following the Russian council meeting that 'the entire world' will watch what Putin does next and claimed 'everyone realizes the consequences' of Russia recognizing breakaway regions. 'We all should calmly focus on de-escalation efforts, [there is] no other way,' he tweeted. The US has warned the United Nation's Security Council that Moscow has prepared a list of targets for assassination and imprisonment in detention camps. And now NBC News is reporting that two people familiar with discussions have detailed Biden administration officials discussions with the Ukrainian government for President Volodymyr Zelensky to leave Kyiv in the event of a Russian invasion. Two Ukrainian soldiers died on Monday and three were wounded in a shelling attack in Zaitseve, a village 18 miles north of the rebel stronghold Donetsk, Ukraine's national police said. Scholz, who had a phone call with Putin Monday, warned him that recognizing the eastern regions would be a 'one-sided' breach of peace negotiations and that he has a 'responsibility' to deescalate tensions by removing troops from the border. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Russia plans to 'crush' Ukraine. 'We believe that any military operation of the size, scope and magnitude of what we believe the Russians are planning will be extremely violent,' Sullivan told NBC News' Today show on Monday morning ahead of any Russian movements into the country. 'It will cost the lives of Ukrainians and Russians, civilians and military personnel alike. 'But we also have intelligence to suggest that there will be an even greater form of brutality, because this will not simply be some conventional war between two armies,' he continued. 'It will be a war waged by Russia on the Ukrainian people to repress them, to crush them, to harm them. And that is what we laid out in detail for the U.N. because we believe that the world must mobilize to counter this kind of Russian aggression should those tanks roll across the border as we anticipate they very well may do in the coming hours or days.' Putin convened a meeting with his top security officials Monday where he called them up one by one to lay out the case for recognizing eastern Ukrainian regions as independent republics seemingly aimed at persuading a skeptical public of the need to attack US intelligence has long warned that Russia would invade Ukraine by saying it needs to protect the interests of separatist ethnic Russians and Russian-speakers in the country. A handout image shows Russian cruiser Moskva conducting an artillery battle and destroying a mock enemy submarine in the Black Sea near Sevastopol, Crimea on February 18, 2022 Why Putin has the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk how they became separatist (SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Amid fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, tensions have spiked in the country's east, where Ukrainian forces are locked in a long conflict with Russia-backed separatists. More than 14,000 people have been killed in nearly eight years of fighting, and a sharp increase in skirmishes in recent days have raising concerns that Moscow could use the situation as a pretext for an incursion. President Vladimir Putin said Monday he was mulling the recognition of the rebel regions independence, a move that would further ratchet up tensions with the West. Here is a look at the rebel-controlled territories in eastern Ukraine: SEPARATIST REBELLION IN THE EAST When Ukraine's Moscow-friendly president was driven from office by mass protests in February 2014, Russia responded by annexing Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. It then threw its weight behind an insurgency in the mostly Russian-speaking eastern Ukraine region known as Donbas. In April 2014, Russia-backed rebels seized government buildings in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, proclaimed the creation of 'people's republics' and battled Ukrainian troops and volunteer battalions. The following month, the separatist regions held a popular vote to declare independence and make a bid to become part of Russia. Moscow hasn't accepted the motion, just used the regions as a tool to keep Ukraine in its orbit and prevent it from joining NATO. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of backing the rebels with troops and weapons. Moscow denied that, saying any Russians who fought there were volunteers. Amid ferocious battles involving tanks, heavy artillery and warplanes, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. An international probe concluded that the passenger jet was downed by a Russia-supplied missile from the rebel-controlled territory in Ukraine. Moscow still denied any involvement. The following month, the separatist regions held a popular vote to declare independence and make a bid to become part of Russia. Moscow hasn't accepted the motion, just used the regions as a tool to keep Ukraine in its orbit and prevent it from joining NATO. Ukraine and the West accused Russia of backing the rebels with troops and weapons. Moscow denied that, saying any Russians who fought there were volunteers. PEACE AGREEMENTS FOR EASTERN UKRAINE After a massive defeat of Ukrainian troops in August 2014, envoys from Kyiv, the rebels and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe signed a truce in the Belarusian capital of Minsk in September 2014. The document envisaged an OSCE-observed cease-fire, a pullback of all foreign fighters, an exchange of prisoners and hostages, an amnesty for the rebels and a promise that separatist regions could have a degree of self-rule. The deal quickly collapsed and large-scale fighting resumed, leading to another major defeat for Ukrainian forces at Debaltseve in January-February of 2015. France and Germany brokered another peace agreement, which was signed in Minsk in February 2015 by representatives of Ukraine, Russia and the rebels. It envisaged a new cease-fire, a pullback of heavy weapons and a series of moves toward a political settlement. A declaration backing the deal was signed by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany. A FROZEN CONFLICT IN UKRAINE The 2015 peace deal was a major diplomatic coup for the Kremlin, obliging Ukraine to grant special status to the separatist regions, allowing them to create their own police force and have a say in appointing local prosecutors and judges. It also envisaged that Ukraine could only regain control over the roughly 200-kilometer (125-mile) border with Russia in rebel regions after they get self-rule and hold OSCE-monitored local elections - balloting that would almost certainly keep pro-Moscow rebels in power there. Many Ukrainians see it as a betrayal of national interests and its implementation has stalled. The Minsk document helped end full-scale fighting, but the situation has remained tense and regular skirmishes have continued. With the Minsk deal stalled, Moscow's hope to use rebel regions to directly influence Ukraine's politics has failed but the frozen conflict has drained Kyiv's resources and effectively stymied its goal of joining NATO - which is enshrined in the Ukrainian constitution. Moscow also has worked to secure its hold on the rebel regions by handing out more than 720,000 Russian passports to roughly one-fifth of their population of about 3.6 million. It has provided economic and financial assistance to the separatist territories, but the aid has been insufficient to alleviate the massive damage from fighting and shore up the economy. The Donbas region accounted for about 16% of Ukraine's GDP before the conflict. EFFORTS TO REVIVE PEACE DEAL Amid soaring tensions over the Russian troop concentration near Ukraine, France and Germany embarked on renewed efforts to encourage compliance with the 2015 deal, in hopes that it could help defuse the current standoff. Facing calls from Berlin and Paris for its implementation, Ukrainian officials have strengthened their criticism of the Minsk deal and warned that it could lead to the country's demise. Two rounds of talks in Paris and Berlin between presidential envoys from Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany have yielded no progress. The lower house of the Russian parliament, meanwhile, urged Putin last week to recognize the independence of Ukraine's rebel regions. Advertisement Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of being an 'apologist for Russian imperialism' after blasting Nato and the UK over their support for Ukraine even as Vladimir Putin's soldiers launched their invasion. The hard Left former Labour leader attacked Britain's 'aggressive posturing' last night, hours after taking aim at Western efforts to help Kyiv defend itself as up to 200,000 troops massed on their eastern frontier. Mr Corbyn used his Peace and Justice Project to echo the anti-Western rhetoric of the Stop the War coalition. It today criticised the Russian invasion but accused Britain of 'playing a provocative role in the present crisis, talking up war, decrying diplomacy as appeasement and escalating arms supplies and military deployments to Eastern Europe.' The UK has supplied anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian army and has not ruled out more military equipment heading to Kyiv. Even after the invasion today Mr Corbyn was unable to level blame at Russia alone. In a tweet this afternoon he said: 'The Russian forces that have entered Eastern Ukraine should immediately withdraw. 'The UK government should encourage a return to the Minsk-2 agreement to end the crisis and oppose further eastward NATO expansion.' It came after Mr Corbyn was slapped down by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in the Commons last night. Mr Corbyn, now the independent MP for Islington North after being booted from Labour, asked in the Commons: 'Would he be prepared to countenance, if the Russians pulled back, any reduction in the Nato presence on the border as well in order to bring about a longer-term secure peace in the region?' Mr Wallace rather bluntly replied: 'We didn't put 165,000 combat troops on the edge of a sovereign country and hold a gun to the head of a democratically elected government. The hard Left former Labour leader attacked Britain's 'aggressive posturing' last night, hours after taking aim at Western efforts to help Kyiv defend itself as up to 200,000 troops massed on their eastern frontier. Mr Corbyn used his Peace and Justice Project to echo the anti-Western rhetoric of the Stop the War coalition. A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine After chairing a pre-dawn Cobra meeting, the PM said Mr Putin has 'completely torn up international law' after recognising separatist areas and must now face an 'immediate' response. 'We didn't do that. Russia did that. We have nothing to deescalate from, Russia does.' He added he hoped Mr Corbyn 'might condemn the Stop The War Coalition, who seem to always us paint us as the aggressor. Maybe he'd like to go and ask the people of Ukraine... who the aggressor is'. Mr Corbyn's intervention was the latest example of clear divergence with the Labour regime of his successor Sir Keir Starmer. Sir Keir told MPs today 'we must stand ready with more military support for Ukraine to defend itself and we must stand ready to do more to reassure and reinforce Nato allies in eastern Europe'. He added that 'we must also get our own house in order', adding 'we have failed to stop the flow of illicit Russian finance into Britain' and that 'Russian money has been allowed to influence our politics'. 'We have to admit that mistakes have been made,' he said, adding 'this must be a turning point, an end to oligarch impunity'. He said Companies House must not provide 'easy cover' for shell companies, and that anti-money laundering laws must be enforced, 'we need to crack down on spies', and 'we have to make sure money isn't pouring into UK politics from abroad'. He also asked what international efforts were going on to pursue diplomacy, saying 'even at this late hour we must pursue diplomatic routes to prevent further conflict'. Sir Keir offered the support of the opposition to 'do the right thing' and said President Putin 'believes the benefits of aggression outweigh the consequences, so we must take a stand'. The Prime Minister said in addition to military assistance for eastern European allies, 'we also need to share technology, particularly in renewables, to allow them to find a different future' and rely less on Russian energy. He was responding in the Commons to Conservative former business secretary Andrea Leadsom, who asked for assurance that the Prime Minister was already considering what more could be done to protect allies in eastern Europe 'from the inevitable consequences of the risky position we find ourselves in, in the dead of winter, with so much dependence on Russian gas'. Boris Johnson also said: 'We need to work together to wean ourselves off, to end the dependency on Russian gas.' Social media was awash with excitement today as the dates aligned to create a perfect palindrome. The 22nd February, 2022 can be written down as the satisfyingly symmetrical 22.2.22 - a once-in-a-lifetime lineup that won't happen again for another 200 years. The unique date, which reads the same forwards and backwards, has been dubbed 'Twosday' by social media users as it happens to fall on a Tuesday. As well as a palindrome, it is also an ambigram, which means the date remains the same when its digits are reversed upside-down. A number of further quirks were also raised by eagle-eyed Twitter users. Pointless star Richard Osman noticed that the odds for a 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Lille in the Champions League this evening were 22/1 - so, naturally, he placed a stake of 2.22. The same fixture will also likely feature American forward Timothy Weah, who celebrates his 22nd birthday today and, spookily, also wears the number 22 jersey for the French club. Some of the biggest brands also jumped on the bandwagon, with fashion giant Boohoo offering 22% off orders on its online site, as well as a competition to give away a 222 voucher. Magnum Ice Cream, meanwhile, posted images of pop star Miley Cyrus eating two of its desserts. Bosses at Stonehenge were also in on the act, pointing out that the tourist attraction was also around for another historic date in the 12th century - 11.11.1111. Comedian Tim Vine posted a video pointing out the date was a palindrome and an ambigram - but was disappointed to find it did not also stack up when 'reversed and put up to the light'. HOW HAS THE HUMAN BRAIN DEVELOPED TO SEE SIGNIFICANCE IN PATTERNS? The human brain has evolved to find meanings in patterns, in part because doing so helped our species survive. This included looking for changes in daylight to indicate when crops should be planted and harvested, as well as keeping an eye out for paw prints in the soil in case dangerous predators were near. The same could be said for those able to use patterns to detect poisonous plants from healthy ones. This enabled the survivors to pass on those pattern-friendly genes to future generations. But helping to keep us alive is not the only reason humans like to find meanings in patterns. When the brain finds one it zaps its synapses with a shot of dopamine, which in turn encourages itself to keep finding more connections. However, there is also a tendency to make connections where none exist, known as apophenia. This has been defined as 'the experience of seeing meaningful patterns or connections in random or meaningless data'. Taking the example of the date 2/22/22, although it is a unique milestone that looks appealing to the human eye, it carries no inherent meaning beyond its function in our particular calendar. This 'Twosday' is an example of numerology, where supernatural significance is attached to numbers. It may look mathematical, but it's more akin to reading tea leaves and extends to the belief that certain numbers are good or bad. For instance, 7 is often seen as lucky and 13 as unlucky. Advertisement Although a full Twosday isn't on the cards for another two centuries (2.22.2222), we've already seen a few patterns in our dates. More than a decade ago we saw two Onesdays with 11.1.11 and 11.11.11. This century there have been 11 other months with similar patterns, such as 02.02.02 and 12.12.12. In 11 years we'll be treated to Threesday (3.3.33) and Foursday another 11 years after that (4.4.44). However, it will be for future generations to enjoy a full flush of twos on Twosday as the next one is centuries away. Sadly for the people of the future though, that particularly special Twosday in the year 2222 will fall on a Friday. That will be the last time there is a full line up of twos until February 22 22222, exactly 20,000 years later. Of course there will be a 2.22.22 in 100 years' time, but because the year will be 2100 it is not counted in the same way as it is with a zero, or 2022. Aziz Inan, professor in electrical engineering at the University of Portland in Oregon, said he believed these unique dates had a 'magical power in terms of getting people's attention'. His website lists 500 years' worth of palindromes spanning from the 19th century to the 23rd century. He told CNN: 'I enjoy when I get somebody's attention to this, especially some kid or college student, and it makes me feel happy that I did something good in the long term to tap into their curiosity.' Meanwhile Morten Heedegaard, who created the website 22-2-22.com in 2019, said he tried to ask the United Nations to make the unique day a 'day of self-celebration and self-care'. He told the Washington Post: 'I tried to make a tweet at one point, addressing the United Nations to make that date the day of self celebration and self-care. They didn't respond.' The unique dates have always been busy days in the US and on a previous palindrome date, on November 11, 2011, Las Vegas saw more than 3,500 couples get married. Today, 222 couples are expected to get married in Sacramento, California, in a ceremony that starts at 2pm and conclude at precisely 2.22pm local time. Elsewhere in Singapore 483 couples were registered to get married on February 22 as of January 24, according to the South China Morning Post. In 2020, China asked couples to delay wedding ceremonies that fell on the palindrome date 02.02.2020. Today excited Twitter user Peter Murphy took to the platform to ask a question about Twosday. He said: 'Would it be too wrong to wear a tutu to work' to celebrate Twosday?' One Twitter user shared that they had woken up specially to celebrate the rare numerically satisfying day. Meanwhile, Google celebrated Twosday with an eruption of confetti and twos on searching for the word. The BBC brain drain continued today as Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel followed Andrew Marr and jumped ship for LBC in a golden handcuffs deal expected to earn them a huge pay rise and allow the pair 'to be more expressive in their personal views', insiders told MailOnline today. The veteran journalists have caused disarray at Broadcasting House after deciding to join Leicester Square-based Global, which is also home to Nick Ferrari, Eddie Mair, Shelagh Fogarty and James O'Brien. Maitlis, who hosted Newsnight, has had a series of impartiality complaints against her because of her tweets and on-air comments about the pandemic, the Tory Government and Boris Johnson's former chief aide Dominic Cummings. Tellingly perhaps, Andrew Marr is said to have admitted he was prompted to leave the BBC because of his desire to speak freely on major issues, including climate change and politics. Andrew Neil and Simon McCoy have also left the BBC in the past year. The deal, for a new show and podcast, is likely to lead to a salary uplift for Sopel and Maitlis, who earn at least 235,000 and 325,000 respectively at the BBC, according to the corporation's annual accounts. One LBC insider told MailOnline that Ms Maitlis will now be on 'at least' 400,000-a-year, with Mr Sopel likely to be through the 300,000-a-year barrier, but it 'could be more' because of the number of projects they will work on together. Leaving the BBC will also allow them to pursue more cash from speaking events and private functions worth another 50,000 annually, another insider said, adding: 'I think it's the potent appeal of money and freedom to be more expressive in their personal views than the BBC allows'. The deal will see them front a major new podcast for Global Player, as well as hosting a show together on LBC and providing commentary and analysis for lbc.co.uk as more on-screen talent drains from the BBC. Former Head of BBC Television News, Roger Mosey, said today: 'LBC has always had great broadcasters, but it's still extraordinary to have these kind of talent moves from the BBC. The most interesting things in audio are definitely no longer a BBC monopoly'. In another blow for the corporation, Mr Sopel, the longstanding reporter and North America editor who has worked for the BBC since 1983, was the favourite to replace Laura Kuenssberg as Political Editor until his shock decision to leave. It comes amid a 'brain drain' at the BBC, which is facing a 1.4billion hole in its finances after the licence fee was frozen until 2024. An analysis by The Times found that journalists with more than 1,000 years of experience have departed over the past two years, including senior editors and reporters. Ms Maitlis announced her departure days after her agenda-setting interview with Prince Andrew contributed to him settling with Virginia Roberts Giuffre. BBC veterans Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel are leaving the corporation to join Global, the owners of LBC, to front a new show and a podcast Sopel and Maitlis have been at the BBC for decades and are on big money, 235,000 and 325,000 respectively The journalists announced their joint departure on Twitter this lunchtime The Newsnight presenter, 51, retweeted a post by former Tory Cabinet minister Rory Stewart, in which he said 'it is difficult to see how much more of this the party or our political system can survive' How BBC veteran Emily Maitlis has been caught up in a raft of impartiality scandals Emily Maitlis apologised today after another apparent breach of the BBC's impartiality rules Emily Maitlis was born in Canada and raised in Sheffield. She began her career in news in the Far East, in the lead up to the Hong Kong Handover - and reported from Cambodia, China and the Philippines, before joining Sky News in the UK as a business correspondent. Maitlis came to the BBC in 2001, initially as the main presenter of the revamped BBC London News, before joining Newsnight. She became the programme's political editor in 2012, briefly, before moving into full time presenting for Newsnight and working on much of its US political coverage. Alongside the BBC Two programme she has a primary role in covering the US, UK and European elections for the BBC. She has made documentaries for BBC Two, on Donald Trump, Nicolas Sarkozy, Mark Zuckerberg and, for Radio 4, on Madonna. In March last year it was announced that she would be the new Newsnight presenter. She also writes regularly for UK newspapers and magazines. Maitlis was widely praised for her sensational interview with Prince Andrew in 2020 over his friendship with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, which led to him stepping down from royal duties. Experts believe his decision to do it - and some of his bizarre claims in it - led to him having to settle with Virginia Roberts Giuffre. During her time on the flagship news and current affairs programme, Maitlis was involved in a number of rows over impartiality. In June, she was reprimanded by the broadcaster after she shared a Twitter post by Piers Morgan about the pandemic which it described as "clearly controversial". The post said: "If failing to quarantine properly is punishable by 10yrs in prison, what is the punishment for failing to properly protect the country from a pandemic?" Advertisement The friends, who got to know each other while presenting on the BBC News channel, currently host the BBC's popular Americast podcast about US politics, which could be the format being looked at by LBC because they will also employ Dino Sofos, the former head of BBC News Podcasts who created it. Maitlis and Sopel join Global from the BBC, where Maitlis hosted Newsnight and Sopel was the corporation's North America Editor. The pair also hosted the BBC's critically-acclaimed Americast podcast, which explored the state of US politics. The move follows Global's signing of Andrew Marr, whose LBC show is set to be announced soon. As part of the deal, Dino Sofos, the founder of audio production company Persephonica, also joins Global as the podcast's executive producer. Sofos is the former head of BBC News Podcasts and created Brexitcast, Newscast and Americast formats. Announcing her departure from the BBC on Twitter, Emily Maitlis said: 'Some work news - @BBCJonSopel and I are going to launch a brand new podcast with @Global, exec produced by @dinosofos. It's an amazing opportunity to do something we all love, and we are so thrilled Global is giving us this opportunity to be big and ambitious with this project. '@dinosofos has been the powerhouse behind Brexitcast, Newscast and Americast, and we are delighted his new company @persephonica will be producing this major new podcast with Global. 'Nevertheless, it will be a wrench to leave the BBC after 20 phenomenal years. I am so grateful for the opportunities I've had there. More than anything I'm grateful to have worked with the most incredible people - many of whom are dear friends. I owe my BBC colleagues everything.' Jon Sopel, who was formerly the BBC's North America editor, said on Twitter: 'Some work news: @maitlis and I are going to launch a brand, spanking new podcast with @global. We're excited to be working with them on this innovative project. Opportunities like this just don't come along very often. But am sad to leave the BBC which has been home for so long.' Jonathan Munro, interim director of BBC News, thanked Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel for their work at the broadcaster. He said in a statement: 'We'd like to thank both Emily and Jon for their many years of sterling service to the BBC and wish them the very best in their new endeavours at Global.' Earlier this month Emily Maitlis apologised for retweeting a message criticising the 'sheer tawdry Trumpian shabbiness' of the Government's response to the Downing Street parties in what appeared to be yet another breach of the BBC's impartiality rules. The Newsnight presenter, 51, retweeted a post by former Tory Cabinet minister Rory Stewart, in which he said 'it is difficult to see how much more of this the party or our political system can survive'. Emily Maitlis in 2001 having joined BBC London as their main anchorwoman Jon Sopel joined the BBC in 1983, working as a political reporter as well as working inb France (right) and then on to America Andrew Marr will be presenting new radio shows on LBC and Classic FM in 2022 Jon Sopel was favourite to replace Laura Kuenssberg before shock decision to leave the BBC after 38 years Until today, Jon Sopel was the favourite to replace Laura Kuenssberg, who quit three days after the corporation's North America Editor revealed he was returning from the US. The married father-of-two was first linked with the political editor role in 2015, when it was given to Kuenssberg. London-born Sopel, 62, joined the BBC in 1983 as a reporter and producer on BBC Radio Solent and has worked in a variety of political roles within the corporation, such as chief political correspondent for BBC News and main presenter on The Politics Show. BBC Scotland editor Sarah Smith, who sometimes presents on Today, has now taken Sopel's North America job. Advertisement Mr Stewart was responding to a video of an interview in which Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries defended Boris Johnson's handling of the publication of Sue Gray's 'update'. In June last year, Maitlis was reprimanded by the broadcaster after she shared a post by Piers Morgan on social media which it described as 'clearly controversial'. Following the apparent breach of BBC impartiality rules, Maitlis wrote: 'I have deleted my earlier retweet of the below and would like to apologise for the hurt I have caused. 'For the avoidance of doubt I accept I should have added extra context - it was retweeted in haste - and was wrong to do.' In doing so, she reshared Mr Stewart's original message. A statement on the complaints section of the BBC's website criticised the journalist and presenter's social media activity after she shared the post by former Good Morning Britain presenter Morgan in February. The Twitter post said: 'If failing to quarantine properly is punishable by 10yrs in prison, what is the punishment for failing to properly protect the country from a pandemic?' BBC director-general Tim Davie warned staff over their use of social media when he took on the role at the end of 2020. In the same year, the BBC ruled a monologue by Maitlis on Newsnight about the row over Dominic Cummings' trip to Durham breached impartiality rules. Emily Maitlis' departure came days after her 2020 interview with Prince Andrew contributed to his decision settle a claim against him in a US court by Virginia Roberts Giuffre In October last year, Maitlis' former university friend appeared in court accused of breaking a restraining order not to contact her after previously pleading guilty to harassment. Edward Vines was alleged to have attempted to breach a restraining order against Ms Maitlis six further times by writing letters between May 31 last year and September 21 this year following more than 25 years of harassment. During cross-examination at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, the 51-year-old said writing 'testy and volatile letters' to the journalist 'is not so unreasonable that you should receive a criminal conviction for it'. Greater Sydney's crippled train network could be back to normal next week after the rail union was 'vindicated' in an industrial dispute with the NSW government, following two days of transport chaos across the city. After nearly 48 hours of rail turmoil in Sydney, the NSW government on Tuesday afternoon backed down in its fight with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, withdrawing proceedings against it at the Fair Work Commission. The about-face came after the union demanded to see a copy of the safety assessment used to justify shutting down the network on Monday morning, a decision that disrupted hundreds of thousands of commuters, before limited train services resumed on Tuesday. RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens described the union's industrial position as 'vindicated', and reiterated that the shuttering of the network was done by NSW transport officials. Rail workers were on shift on Monday but trains were not running, leaving commuters trapped across the city (pictured) With the stoush at the industrial umpire now finished, Mr Claassens said the challenge was to get the system 'back up and running properly', and pointed to Monday for a possible resumption of regular services. 'The reason we're in this situation still remains, the NSW government is refusing to deliver an enterprise agreement that enshrines basic safety and employment conditions for rail workers and commuters.' Trains on Tuesday ran at 25 per cent capacity, with buses supplementing some services, and a similar level of service is expected on Wednesday and for the rest of the week. 'As a minimum, the rail timetable being operated today will continue for the remainder of this week to ensure a basic level of frequency for customers who rely on our services while protected industrial action continues,' Transport for NSW told AAP on Tuesday evening. The NSW Government on Tuesday backed down at the Fair Work Commission (pictured: Sydney commuters this week) Trains will return to normal services but not until Monday at the earliest (pictured Sydney on Monday as commuters were forced to get to work by road) WHAT CAUSED THE TRAIN CHAOS? A blame game has ensured between rail unions and the NSW Government. The disagreement centres on 'altered working' - where workers are drafted in last minute to cover roster gaps. Unions want the practice banned, but the boss of Transport NSW claimed doing so means it's unsafe to run the trains. 'This was a difficult decision to make but we cannot and will not compromise on safety,' train boss Rob Sharp said. But RTBU secretary, Alex Claassens, said drivers are ready and willing to work - insisting they are not on strike. 'They were ready and waiting to crew the trains only to be told the trains arent running today,' he said on Monday. 'There is no impediment, only stubbornness on behalf of the NSW Government.' Advertisement In a bid to keep peace talks moving, the government is set to meet the union later this week to discuss the city's train fleet, wages and safety. Earlier, after meeting union officials, Transport Minister David Elliott fronted the media saying senior lawyers had advised the government to withdraw from the FWC proceedings, which he described as 'in the interest of not only transparency but also goodwill'. 'I have agreed with the union today that we will start to commence rewriting the enterprise agreement that expired in May last year.' He called the withdrawal an 'act of good faith' from the government to get train services back to normal, and shrugged off suggestions he knew about the shutdown before it happened, insisting he was asleep at the time the decision was made in the early hours of Monday. 'I don't expect them to send a car around at two o'clock in the morning and wake me up and tell me,' he said. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union said they were 'vindicated' by the Government's move on Tuesday (pictured, rail workers on Monday) Labor leader Chris Minns welcomed the backdown, but said it was still unknown why the network was shut down. '(Mr Elliott's) got to have some candour with the people of NSW, explain what happened over the last 48 hours,' he said. The system shutdown blindsided about half a million commuters, with many left stranded across Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Illawarra. The union at the time insisted limited industrial action planned for the day would not have affected safety and workers were ready to run the trains. It has been at loggerheads with the government over a new enterprise agreement since 2021 over safety guarantees, hygiene and privatisation concerns that has resulted in two work stoppages since September. Premier Dominic Perrottet called the stoppage part of a 'concerted attack' on the government by the union and Labor. Two women have been arrested by police investigating the death of a British campaigner for assisted dying in a Switzerland centre. Sharon Johnston, 60, from Cardigan, Wales, was told she would never walk again after a freak accident when she fell down the stairs. Although Sharon had no close family, before she died she admitted having someone in mind who might help with her assisted death. Sharon, who used to run a pub and also worked in a bookmaker's, was a prominent campaigner for a change in the law around assisted dying before her death. Dyfed-Powys Police said a 29-year-old woman from the London area and a 69-year-old woman from Cardiff were arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of assisting or encouraging suicide following Sharon's death. Sharon Johnston, 60, was told she would never walk again after a freak accident when she fell down the stairs They have been released pending further investigation. Dyfed-Powys Police said: 'The two women arrested are not believed to be family members.' Before she died, Sharon admitted she was worried whoever helped in her assisted death could face prosecution. 'I am worried about that, very worried but I know the person who might assist me has got the courage,' she told the BBC last year. Doctors had told her she would never get better and said: 'There's no medical intervention that's going to help.' Devastated Sharon, was a prominent advocate of assisted dying and in October last year said she was ready to go to Dignitas, an assisted dying centre in Zurich, Switzerland. She said dying with professional help was 'the way to go'. 'I know it's only going to get harder. My spine is going to crumble and the pain will get worse,' she told WalesOnline. 'I'm ready to go to Dignitas.' A 29-year-old woman from the London area and a 69-year-old woman from Cardiff were arrested after returning to Heathrow Airport. Sharon (pictured before her accident) previously said she was worried whoever helped her die would face prosecution She planned to travel to Switzerland to end her life after she was left unable to move her body apart from some movement in one hand. It was a simple fall that changed Sharon's life but she previously said it could have happened to anyone. 'I decided to go upstairs and wash and change, put my PJs on early,' she said. 'I must have turned to come downstairs and I lost my footing and went headfirst down and crashed into the bottom of the stairs. And then that was it - I just couldn't move.' Speaking in October last year, Sharon said: 'I go out in the town and I can get about. It's not that like I'm trapped in bed or bedridden. But I don't want the care. 'Physically I can't do a suicide, I can't take an overdose of medication because it's all done with the carers in a secure medical box. I don't want to do a botched suicide.' Swiss law allows doctors to assist certain patients to die but the process remains illegal in the UK. A bill to legalise assisted dying is currently in parliament at the Committee stage, which involves line-by-line examination of the potential law's wording. Deficit, GDP, spending under macroeconomy spotlight By ZHANG YUE (China Daily) 09:27, February 22, 2022 A woman shows banknotes and coins included in the 2019 edition of the fifth series of the renminbi. [Photo/Xinhua] As COVID-19 continues to affect economies, China's deficit to GDP ratio this year is likely to remain at a level slightly higher than usual, experts and analysts said on Monday. Yet, targeted fiscal spending must be improved to invigorate the market and guide high-quality development, they said. Zhou Mi, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said that given the downward pressure at home, which is compounded by growing external complexities, more forceful and front-loaded fiscal spending is needed this year. Yet such spending must be implemented in a more scientific and targeted manner. "Fiscal spending is a key measure in exercising macroeconomic regulation. As the impact of COVID-19 continues to linger, I believe the country's deficit to GDP ratio this year will still be slightly higher than regular years," Zhou said. "However, in light of the global debt level, it will be critical for China to keep deficit ratio appropriate, while working more relentlessly to maximize the effect of such funds." Fiscal funds, he said, should be spent on areas in need of them most, to support key areas critical for a sustained economic recovery, like technological innovation, manufacturing and the small business community. "These areas, being the country's weak links, are in need of more effective support from the government, and they are also critical for the country's high-quality development," he said. In an article published on People's Daily on Friday, Liu Kun, China's finance minister, confirmed that this year, China will cut tax rates more forcefully, make fiscal spending more targeted, and tighten fiscal discipline as an effort to keep economic growth stable, in line with the tone set by the Central Economic Work Conference. Liu said fiscal deficit will be kept at a reasonable level, while the intensity of fiscal spending will be scaled up and more targeted. Efforts will be made to pursue well-structured fiscal spending this year that is shaped around priorities of technological research, environmental protection, livelihood, major regional strategies, modern agriculture and the key projects under the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). Shi Yinghua, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Fiscal Sciences, said that the deficit to GDP ratio usually weighs upon a country's economic fundamentals. "While the Chinese economy has sustained its fundamentals of long-term growth and strong resilience, we've also noticed that both trade and domestic demand are in need of support," she said. "Therefore, I believe the proactive stance of the fiscal policy will be continued this year, and the deficit to GDP ratio will remain at a certain level, to hedge the downside risks to the economy and maintain fiscal sustainability." She said that besides areas of improving livelihood and boosting investment in weak links, one key factor to watch out for is fiscal spending, to avoid the possible crowding-out effect that fiscal spending may have on private investment. "This is why it is important to ensure that the scale of fiscal spending is appropriate and reasonable," she said. Also on Friday, when attending the meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bank governors via video link, Liu called for all countries to enhance macro policy coordination. He urged that major advanced economies should make their macro policies more responsible and watch out for any possible spillover effect. In December, the International Monetary Fund announced that global debt rose to a record $226 trillion in 2020 as the world was hit by the raging COVID-19 pandemic and a deep recession. "We've noticed that currently, the fiscal and monetary policies carried out by some countries. Many advanced economies see their own needs only when adjusting policies, which turned out to have a negative impact globally," Zhou said. "Such spillover effect is part of the external environment China will be facing. Therefore, I think it is important for China to keep upgrading its domestic market front and center, while ensuring solid progress in external circulation." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a video address to the nation, following the initiative of the country's lower house of parliament and security council to recognize two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, in Moscow, Feb. 21. Reuters-Yonhap President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two Moscow-backed rebel regions of Ukraine on Monday, defying Western threats of sanctions in a move that could set off a potentially catastrophic war with Kyiv. Earlier, the Kremlin leader recognized the independence of two rebel-held areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine, paving the way for an operation to deploy part of the potential invasion force he has massed around the country. In two official decrees, Putin instructed the defence ministry to assume "the function of peacekeeping" in the separatist-held regions. The recognition of the breakaway republics, which form an enclave held by Russia-backed rebels since 2014, triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union with a broader package of economic punishment to come in the event of invasion. As news of the late-night recognition hit the streets of Kyiv, many were in disbelief but ready to defend their country if called on. Civilians train with members of the Georgian Legion, a paramilitary unit formed mainly by ethnic Georgian volunteers to fight against the Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2014, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 19. AP-Yonhap 'We are on our own land' "I am very shocked," Artem Ivaschenko, a 22-year-old cook originally from Donetsk, told AFP in the capital, calling the recognition the "scariest news" since he had fled the region eight years ago. "I live here, I already lost a part of my homeland, it was taken away, so I will protect it." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky convened a meeting of his national security council and had telephone calls with several world leaders in a bid to shore up support. "We expect clear support steps and effective support steps from our partners," he declared in a late night televised address, vowing that Kyiv was not afraid of anyone. "It is very important to see now who is our true friend and partner, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words," he said. "We are on our own land." U.S. President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warned that Moscow's gambit "would not go unanswered". The U.S. announced sanctions, with the White House saying Biden will issue an executive order to "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in" the two rebel regions. A French presidential official said the European Union was preparing a list of Russian entities and individuals to sanction in a "proportionate" response to the recognition. Earlier, in an often angry 65-minute televised national address from his Kremlin office, Putin railed against his neighbor Ukraine as a failed state and "puppet" of the West, repeatedly suggesting it was essentially part of Russia. Putin orders Russian troops to Ukraine Seoul stocks slump over escalating Ukraine tensions Moon says Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected He accused the authorities in Kyiv of persecuting Russian speakers and of preparing a "blitzkrieg" against the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Lugansk in Ukraine's east. "As for those who seized and hold power in Kyiv, we demand an immediate end to their military operations," Putin said. "Otherwise, all responsibility for the possible continuation of bloodshed will be fully on the conscience of the regime in power in Ukraine." Putin said it was necessary to "take a long overdue decision, to immediately recognize the independence" of the two regions. He then signed partnership agreements with the rebels that declared the presence of Russian military forces "necessary to maintain peace... and ensure reliable security." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Feb. 19. AP-Yonhap EU 'will react with sanctions' The recognition effectively puts an end to an already shaky peace plan in the separatist conflict, which has rumbled on since 2014, after Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine, and has left more than 14,000 dead. Russia will now deploy troops with the support of separatist officials and Ukraine will either have to accept the loss of a part of its territory or face an armed conflict against its vastly more powerful neighbor. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the move "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of the Ukraine", with the UK cabinet's emergency COBR committee due to meet Tuesday and foreign minister Liz Truss promising "new sanctions on Russia." EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel promised the bloc "will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act." The United States and allies including France requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council later Monday. Putin told his own security council earlier Monday that there were "no prospects" for the 2015 Minsk peace accords aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict. 'Very big threat' to Russia And he made clear the stakes were bigger than Ukraine, whose efforts to join NATO and the European Union have deeply angered Moscow. "The use of Ukraine as an instrument of confrontation with our country poses a serious, very big threat to us," Putin said. The dramatic meeting with Putin sitting alone at a desk as his government, military and security chiefs took turns addressing him from a podium came after weeks of tensions between Moscow and the West over Ukraine. Western leaders warned that Russia was planning to invade its pro-Western neighbor after massing more than 150,000 troops on its borders, a claim Moscow repeatedly denied. Tensions then spiked in recent days after an outbreak of heavy shellfire on Ukraine's eastern frontline with the separatists and a series of reported incidents on the border with Russia. Monitors from the OSCE European security body on Monday reported more than 3,000 new ceasefire violations in east Ukraine the day before, a high for the year. A female tutor for the elderly has won 5,000 after being asked by bosses to speak to a 94-year-old student about complaints of him smelling of urine. Hayley Jones, who taught French and Italian, told an employment tribunal she was 'very embarrassed' after being chosen repeatedly to speak to the man. She claimed she had been selected because she is a woman and managers thought she was therefore more suited to the task. The tribunal ruled Miss Jones's bosses had assumed women are better placed than men to talk about personal hygiene issues. Miss Jones was awarded 5,000 as the tribunal ruled her bosses had harassed her by asking her to speak to him. Hayley Jones, who taught French and Italian with Open Age in London (pictured, where it is based), told an employment tribunal she was 'very embarrassed' after being chosen repeatedly to speak to the man The tribunal heard Miss Jones worked as a part-time self-employed tutor for Open Age, a London-based charity which delivers a range of classes to older people. Over the course of a year, from 2018 to 2019, Miss Jones was asked by more than one manager at the charity to approach an elderly student - identified only as Mr H - about him involuntarily urinating, which could be smelt by other students. The tribunal, in central London, heard this happened more than five times and, on each occasion Miss Jones felt 'very embarrassed'. The tribunal said: 'Miss Jones felt that it was not appropriate to ask a woman to address that particular sort of issue with a man and believes that the managers who made the requests of her did so because in part she was a woman and therefore in their view more suited to dealing with issues of personal hygiene.' Employment Judge Oliver Segal said: 'The tribunal finds there was a level of conscious or unconscious assumption that women were better suited to that task. 'We say so in part because on all occasions there was at least one man who could have performed the task and that on the latter occasions a male manager asked Miss Jones, a female tutor, to approach Mr H in circumstances where the tribunal consider it would have been more appropriate for the manager (of either sex) not a tutor to deal with the issue. 'It was unwanted conduct related to Miss Jones's sex and had the effect of creating a somewhat humiliating environment for her. It therefore amounted in law to harassment.' Miss Jones's contract with the charity was later terminated as bosses felt she had boundary issues with her students. They were concerned over her failure to report allegations of sexual harassment against a volunteer at the charity. She then sued the charity and was awarded 4,000 for injury to feelings plus 1,000 in interest after winning her harassment claim. Miss Jones brought other claims that she had suffered detriments because of protected disclosures and discrimination but these were dismissed. An Indiana mother of three was arrested and charged with neglect after her sickly three-month-old son died of COVID inside their filthy home while she allegedly left him with her other young kids to go vent about the stress of being a single mom. Madelissa Flores, 26, of Marion County, was booked on Friday for the death of her infant, who Indianapolis Metropolitan Police found unresponsive on November 28, 2021 as bystanders performed CPR on the baby, the Indy Star reported. A Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer arrived to perform mouth-to-mouth breathing before paramedics arrived to transport the baby to Riley Children's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy report revealed the infant died of complications from COVID-19. The report also indicated that his lungs were bleeding and that he suffered fractures in both femurs. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officials were at the home earlier that day investigating Flores, a single mother, for her history of child abuse going back to 2020, according to the Star. During the visit, the baby was described as 'gasping for air' but receiving no medication inside a home filled with garbage where a 9-year-old was left in charge to watch over his siblings. 'Madelissa stated that she left to go to a friend's house because she is [a] single mom that is under a lot of stress and needed to talk to someone and did not have anyone available to watch her children while she was gone,' police wrote in court documents obtained by the Star. The family lives in an apartment on East 42nd Street, in Indianapolis. The home was described as not having electricity and covered in trash and used diapers The baby, who was described as 'gasping for air' the day before his death, was found unresponsive and taken to Riley Children's Hospital. The autopsy report revealed the infant died of complications from COVID-19 Child abuse investigator Det. Daniel Henson had interviewed Flores the morning before the incident as he checked the conditions inside the residence, according to the court documents. Henson said there was no electricity in the apartment and that the floor was covered in used diapers and trash that included a marijuana cigar and an open bottle of antifreeze. There was also no food in the refrigerator, alcohol bottles were 'left in the open,' and a foul odor throughout the apartment, Henson wrote. He added that conditions matched previous complaints at the Indiana Department of Child Services in 2020 and 2021, which alleged Flores left her kids unattended for hours inside the squalid home, where her 9-year-old son would be tasked with caring for his sibling and visiting neighbors for food. There were also reports of a rodent infestation at the residence. The Indiana Department of Child Services and Indiana Metropolitan Police Department did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. During the visit hours before the baby's death, Henson spoke with one of the neighbors whose son was shocked by the conditions inside the apartment. The boy had gone over to play at the apartment with Flores' nine-year-old son the prior day when he recorded a video of the infant 'alone in the dark house, screaming with no adults in sight,' Henson wrote in court documents. When the neighbor discovered that the children were left unattended at the house while Flores was out, she instructed her son to bring the children over. The infant was described as wearing a soiled, wet diaper, and was having a hard time breathing as he coughed. Henson added in the court documents that the baby had been carried by his 7-year-old sister, who 'had difficulty carrying [the infant] and often dropped him,' the Star reported. Flores came back to pick up the children before leaving them home again, the neighbor told Henson. When the detective spoke with Flores, she said the baby was congested and wheezing, and was 'trying to gasp for air' on the day before his death. She told Henson she was trying to 'treat it naturally before going to any doctors,' the Star reported. Although she told Henson she was present at the home on November 27 and 28, she later admitted that she had gone out to dinner and was venting to a friend afterwards. She left them unattended again to visit a friend and vent, and by the time she came back, her baby was not breathing, the Star reported. Henson added that the fractures in the baby's femurs were common among children who are physically abuses through violent shacking due to their limbs being forcibly yanked. Flores is detained at the Marion County Jail and face with two charges of neglect of a dependent resulting in catastrophic injury and one charge of neglect of a dependent. For many music lovers, Hey Jude remains one of the most iconic recordings in the canon of popular song. Now, more than five decades after its release, the handwritten lyrics of The Beatles' 1968 classic has gone on display after it was donated to a museum by former Hollyoaks actress, Davinia Taylor. The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans. It also includes a part-lyric for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, recording notes by George Harrison for All You Need Is Love and lyrics for a number of other songs. Now valued at more than 1million, the jotter which also features drawings by Sir Paul was given to actress-turned-author Ms Taylor as a 21st birthday present. It was bought by her tycoon father Alan Murphy at a Sotheby's auction for 100,000 in 1998 because at the time she played a character called Jude in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks. Now Ms Taylor has lent it to The Beatles Story museum in Liverpool, where it will go on display from today. The handwritten lyrics of The Beatles' 1968 classic 'Hey Jude' has gone on display (pictured) after it was donated to a museum by former Hollyoaks actress, Davinia Taylor For many music lovers, Hey Jude remains one of the most iconic recordings in the canon of popular song. The notebook has been lent to The Beatles (pictured) Story museum in Liverpool, where it will go on display from February 22 It was bought by Ms Taylor's (pictured) tycoon father Alan Murphy at a Sotheby's auction for 100,000 in 1998 because at the time she played a character called Jude in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney (middle) in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans (right). It also includes a part-lyric for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, recording notes by George Harrison for All You Need Is Love and lyrics for a number of other songs She said: 'At the time I was an actor in Hollyoaks playing Jude Cunningham. 'Round about my birthday, Sotheby's had a big auction and my dad was at home in Wigan, a few bottles of wine in and started bidding against an American for the Hey Jude lyrics. 'He won - he said: 'It's not going to America, it's staying in Liverpool'.' Ms Taylor, 44, who unveiled the notebook at The Beatles Story on Tuesday, said her father had paid 'something stupid' for the memorabilia. She said: 'I think he wanted to pay no more than 5,000, but a bit of vino and that Scouse swagger and I think it went for something crazy like 100,000.' The museum, in Liverpool's Albert Dock, has insured the piece for more than 1 million. Ms Taylor said she was 'over the moon' to put the notebook, which had been stored in a safe, on display to the public. Diane Glover, marketing manager for The Beatles Story, said: 'It's not just Mal Evans' writing that's in there, it is actually John, Paul George and Ringo who have written in there as well. 'It's got poetry, scribblings, doodles, itineraries and, more importantly, handwritten lyrics.' Mr Evans, who was a part-time bouncer at the Cavern Club before going on tour with the band, features in the Peter Jackson documentary Get Back, released last year. The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans The lyrics to the The Beatles' 1968 classic were scribbled down by Paul McCartney The bass drum design (left) to feature on the Sgt Pepper album cover and the drum that was used (right) He died in 1976 when he was killed by Los Angeles police after brandishing an air rifle. Ms Glover said: 'You see in the Get Back documentary his relationship with the four lads and how important he was in their lives around that time.' The book is now on display alongside a digital demonstration which shows every page. Previously recalling the moment her father called to tell her about her milestone present, Ms Taylor said: 'My dad was bidding on a phone auction and there was someone from America also trying to buy it. Ms Taylor said her friend Jude Law a fellow member of the notorious Primrose Hill celebrity set in the Nineties was envious of the book and admitted to her that he would like to buy it because of the connection with his own name. Ms Taylor, 44, (pictured) said she was 'over the moon' to put the notebook, which had been stored in a safe, on display to the public The page featuring McCartney's Hey Jude lyrics in red will be on show at the museum at Liverpool's Royal Albert Dock, with the rest of the book in a digitised form allowing fans to turn the pages. The book also featured a page where Evans wrote down the equipment needed for the Sgt Pepper song, including a painted piano for John Lennon, a tea trolley, a harpsichord, a 'Burt Lancaster rifle' and 'Sergeant Pepper buttons'. Ms Taylor, who named one of her four sons Jude, added: 'This is a piece of rock'n'roll history which needs to be returned to its home city... to be seen by Beatles fans. I also want to support the tourism industry in the North West, which has suffered so badly due to Covid.' A Florida lawyer has been arrested after authorities say she stripped completely nude at a bar after being refused service because she was already too drunk. Kelly Elkins, 49, was booked into the Pinellas County jail on Friday on a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, making it her second time behind bars that week. She was released just hours later on her own recognizance. According to an arrest affidavit, Elkins walked into the Lounge Bar in St Petersburg just after 2.15am and was refused service by the bar manager because she was deemed too intoxicated. Kelly Elkins, 49, (in her mug shot) was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge for allegedly stripping naked in a St Petersburg, Florida, lounge, on Friday When a sheriff's deputy ordered Elkins to get dressed, she put on a hoodie but would not close it, and she also declared she was 'too tired' to put on her pants Elkins, a lawyer, was refused service at the Beach Lounge (pictured) because she was deemed too drunk 'Defendant walked into the restroom and then came back out into the bar unclothed and completely naked,' according to the complaint cited by The Smoking Gun. The manager told Elkins to put her clothes back on and leave, but she refused, prompting the manager to call the sheriff's office. The affidavit states that a deputy who responded to the lounge found Elkins in her birthday suit. She 'had to be told several times to get dressed, at which time she only put a zip up hoodie on and did not zip the shirt up,' the deputy wrote in the complaint. Elkins also allegedly refused to put her pants back on, saying that 'she was too tired.' The 49-year-old lawyer would not answer any questions about what had led up to her naked stunt at the bar. Just two days earlier, Elkins was arrested on a charge of obtaining food or lodging with intent to defraud. Elkins has been a lawyer for more than 20 years. Just two days before the bar incident, Elkins was arrested on a charge of obtaining food or lodging with intent to defraud. Two days before the disorderly conduct arrest, Elkins (left) was jailed for allegedly having no money to pay for lunch and drinks at a Thai restaurant According to a complaint filed in that case, and reviewed by DailyMail,.com, Elkins had lunch and multiple alcoholic beverages valued at just over $38 at Nori Thai restaurant in St Petersburg on Wednesday afternoon. When she received the bill, Elkins did not have money to cover the charges and instead offered her purse as payment. Elkins was hauled off to the county jail, from which she was released on her own recognizance the following morning. In 2019, Elkins was picked up on a charge of driving under the influence, which was later downgraded to reckless driving, after she was found drunk inside her BMW with the engine running. Elkins, a graduate of John Marshall Law School, was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2001 and is listed as a member in good standing with no history of disciplinary actions against her. Elkins' LinkedIn page indicates that she has operated a private practice for the past six years, and she also is a licensed real estate agent. Advertisement A six-year-old boy was threatened by a man wielding a baton after the child accidentally kicked him on the subway Tuesday - one day after Mayor Eric Adams' plan to combat crime and homelessness on the subways went into effect. Adams announced his plan to improve safety aboard the city's subways on Friday after hundreds of random attacks on New Yorkers, and complaints about mentally ill homeless people threatening commuters and leaving drugs paraphernalia around. The scheme, which officially began on Monday, involves sending more police into the subways to crack down on sleeping, littering, smoking, doing drugs or hanging out in the system. It also includes changes that are supposed to connect more homeless people, many of whom have mentally illness, substance abuse problems or both, to mental-health services and permanent housing. But within hours of the plan coming into effect, there were three serious attacks on the subway system; the one against the boy, a man who was attacked by a hatchet, and a woman who was slammed in the face by a metal bar. On Tuesday, riders of the city's subway system were able to intervene and protect the young child from the would-be attacker, who was later arrested. And just the day before, Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift. Meanwhile, photos by DailyMail.com show vagrants were continuing to sleep on New York City subways and at platforms Tuesday morning, sprawled out on the subway seats in each of the five boroughs as they covered themselves with blankets and jackets as they tried to keep warm in the February weather. Some appeared to be unconscious, not even moving as the subway reached its final stop and crews were cleaning the cars. A six-year-old boy riding the subway with his mother (pictured walking home) accidentally kicked another passenger on the subway, at which point the man threatened him with a baton The suspect in the attack on a Manhattan 4 train was arrested immediately following the ordeal on Tuesday Photos by DailyMail.com captured vagrants passed out on the New York City subway trains and platforms on Tuesday morning - one day after Mayor Eric Adams' plan to combat crime and homelessness on the subways went into effect One homeless man sat slumped over his belongings in a crate while not wearing a shirt One man was seen sprawled out across the subway bench on the E Train on Tuesday morning as people commuted to work It is unclear how many homeless people take shelter in the subways, but an annual survey in January 2021 shared an estimated figure at 1,300 during the pandemic Homeless people on the subways have been blamed for much of the city's transit crimes A homeless man was seen sleeping at the Fulton Street subway stop on Tuesday despite a crackdown on homeless people Evelina Rivera, a 30-year-old chef, was struck by a homeless man wielding a metal pole on her way home from her shift on Monday morning Adams vowed on Friday to combat the rising crime and homeless rates on the subway, unveiling his new safety plan The photos come following a brutal weekend in which several riders were slashed and attacked on the subways or at platforms. What does Adams's subway safety plan for NYC look like? The mayor's plan lays out how the Adams administration, in partnership with the MTA and other state entities, will confront these concurrent challenges on New York City's subway systems. Investments in people will provide immediate support and protection to New Yorkers, while investments in places like drop-in-centers, safe havens, stabilization beds, and Street Homeless Outreach Wellness vans, as well as policy changes at local, state, and federal levels will provide medium- and long-term solutions. These include: Deploying up to 30 Joint Response Teams that bring together DHS, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYPD, and community-based providers in high-need locations across the city Training NYPD officers in the city's subway system to enforce the MTA and New York City Transit Authority's rules of conduct in a fair and transparent way Expanding Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division 'B-HEARD' teams to six new precincts, more than doubling the precincts covered to 11. These teams will expand on the already-successful pilot of answering non-violent 911 mental health calls with mental health professionals Incorporating medical services into DHS sites serving individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Expanded DHS Safe Havens and stabilization bed programs will offer on-site physical and behavioral health care to immediately address clients' needs Immediately improving coordination across government with weekly 'Enhanced Outreach Taskforce' meetings that bring together senior leaders from 13 city and state agencies to address issues quickly Creating new Drop-in-Centers to provide an immediate pathway for individuals to come indoors, and exploring opportunities to site Drop-in-Centers close to key subway stations to directly transition individuals from trains and platforms to safe spaces Streamlining the placement process into supportive housing and reducing the amount of paperwork it takes to prove eligibility Calling on state government to expand psychiatric bed resources and amending Kendra's Law to improve mental health care delivery for New Yorkers on Assisted Outpatient Treatment Requiring instead of requesting everyone to leave the train and the station at the end of the line Advertisement On Monday, just hours before Adams' safety plan was set to go in effect, one man was attacked with a hatchet and a woman had her nose ring crushed by a homeless man wielding a metal pipe. The first of the brutal attacks on Monday came at around 12.30am when Kyle Westby, 42, was on his way home from a late dinner out with his girlfriend when he arrived at the Prospect Heights station and saw two men, one of whom asked 'Why are you staring at me,' the New York Post reports. 'I saw him reach into his jacket and pull out a brown object,' Westby told the Post. 'He swung at me, and I ran away, so I ran up the stairs and thank God the cops were there. 'I said "Officers, this man swung at me with an ax." Immediately, they went down and apprehended him.' Police report they took Robert Griffith, 58, into custody following the attack, and charged him with attempted assault, menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, saying Griffith also allegedly had a punch dagger and screwdriver. Hours later, Rivera was attacked. She was on her way home on a No. 4 train heading to the Bronx at 2.39am when a homeless man, who had earlier poured honey over himself, asked her and another female passenger: 'Oh would you guys just shut the f*** up?' 'We're like, "Anyway," and we keep talking, and he's like "I'll make you shut up,' she told the Post. At that point, she said, the man tried to strike the other woman, 'misses her by a millimeter' and instead broke the subway window, as the would-be victim used pepper spray to blind him. Unable to see, Rivera said, the man started swinging wildly and 'hit me so hard the ball came out of my [septum] piercing. It's crooked.' Rivera said she was 'about to have a panic attack' following the attack,' and she and the other woman got off at the next stop to report the incident to police. But when the cops showed up, the Post reports, they patrolled the subway to look for the suspect, who is described as having facial piercings and was last see wearing all black, but were unable to find him. Several other New Yorkers were also attacked in vicious slashings over the weekend, with some subway stops roped off by police as blood stained the walls. In the aftermath, MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan said the attacks should not be considered 'normal.' 'People who would prey on New Yorkers riding transit should get the message that it's not going to be tolerated,' he said in a statement to the New York Times, adding they 'underscore the urgent need' for the new safety plan. A spokesman for the mayor, Fabien Levy, also said that Adams strongly condemned the attacks, noting that they 'shouldn't be subject to sweeping generalizations. 'We should not conflate such isolated acts of violence on the subway with broad statements about the behavioral and mental health challenges the city is confronting, or the issue of aiding those experiencing homeless that the mayor's plan directly addresses.' In announcing the plan on Friday, Adams said it is 'cruel and inhumane' for homeless people to sleep on the trains, and is unfair to other riders and transit workers. 'No more just doing whatever you want,' Adams, who campaigned on improving public safety, said at a news conference at a Lower Manhattan subway station. 'Those days are over. Swipe your MetroCard, ride the system, get off at your destination. That's what this administration is saying.' 'People tell me about their fear of using the system,' Adams said. 'And we're going to ensure that fear is not New York's reality.' Another woman was seen sleeping on some of her belongings on the subway bench on the No. 4 train Others took shelter inside the stations, like this woman, who used jackets and blankets to keep her warm A homeless woman carried her belongings in Target bags onto a south bound E train in Manhattan on Tuesday One woman was seen bundled up on the bench at the Northern Boulevard, Queens stop with her belongings on Tuesday Prior to the pandemic, 1,700 people were living in the subway in January 2020, according to a survey Under Mayor Eric Adams plan, police would crack down on people sleeping on the subways and move them into shelters New York City's subway carried more than five million riders on an average weekday before the coronavirus pandemic; the weekday average is now about three million It is unclear exactly how many homeless people live in the subway, but an annual survey in January 2021 shared an estimated figure at 1,300 and that was when the subway system would be closed for four hours every night for disinfecting. The number of homeless people in the system is believed to have increased ever since. Prior to the pandemic, 1,700 people were living in the subway in January 2020. Meanwhile, New York City's subway carried more than five million riders on an average weekday before the coronavirus pandemic; the weekday average is now about three million. Crime has been rising on the subway system since the pandemic began. Last year, the rates of violent acts on the subway per million weekday passengers were up in almost every crime category compared with 2019. Thirty people were pushed onto the tracks, which is ten people more compared to 20 in 2019 and nine in 2017, NYPD said. Felony assaults in the system went up nearly 25 percent, despite fewer passengers riding the subways due to the effects of the pandemic. Slashings on the subway system have also increased, with 182 reported in 2021, compared to 141 reported in 2020. And, NYPD Transit Bureau Statistics also showed subway robberies are up nearly 47 percent in the last month, compared to the same time in 2021, and grand larceny cases jumped 88 percent. In recent weeks, a woman was also pushed in front of a train and killed under Times Square, and even the mayor said he didn't feel entirely safe riding the nation's busiest subway system. In a statement, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which runs the subways said they know 'that there are people in the subway system who need help and must and will be helped. But they can't stay in the subway system.' As of January 1, there have been 276 instances of crime in NYC's subway system - up 65 percent compared to the same period last year Stabbing incidents on the subways, were also up, with more than 40 more stabbings in 2021 than in 2020 A stabbing victim's blood could be seen staining the wall and floor at the Canal Street station in Manhattan on Sunday night Police say the 31-year-old victim was riding a southbound 6 train when he was attacked without any provocation by a knife-wielding stranger, who stabbed him twice in the arm An elderly Chicago couple were brutally attacked by a stranger as they walked home from a subway stop last week in yet another instance of the city's spiraling crime wave. Bob Tataryn and his wife, Kathryn, were walking home last week from the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line stop in the city's upscale Irving Park neighborhood, where houses go for $550,000 to $750,000, when a man started following them. As the suspect, who has not yet been identified, continued to stalk the couple, Bob confronted him and asked why he was following them. The man started punching them. It was only when Bob yelled that his wife was battling cancer, that the assailant left. Bob was left with a broken nose and severe bruises to his face in the aftermath of the attack, and Kathryn needed two surgeries to deal with broken wrists and a broken jaw. She is now unable to open her mouth, Bob told CBS 2, and can only eat liquid food. 'My wife and I are not doing well,' Bob told DailyMail.com, adding that they are 'mentally weak' and 'physically improving.' Bob clarified that his wife does not suffer from cancer but he had yelled it in a desperate move to try and get the attacker to stop. Despite the brutal attack, the couple said they won't let it deter them from enjoying the city, even as its crime rates continue to soar. 'It definitely crossed our minds but Im hoping we get over the shock,' Bob told DailyMail.com. 'The city is our city. [We] can't let the bad guys win!' Following the attack, Bob took to Facebook to share this photo of himself with a swollen nose and gauze taped to his face Bob Tataryn and his wife, Kathryn, were walking home from the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line stop on February 17 when they were brutally attacked Bob described to CBS 2 how the man stalked the couple as they walked home, and when Bob tried to confront the suspect he started attacking The attack on the couple occurred on February 17 at 4pm as they walked home from the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line stop in Irving Park. The suspect tried to squeeze through the turnstile with Kathryn, Bob told CBS 2, and as they walked down the platform the man remained four feet away. The Tartaryns, both 72, then decided to cross the street - but the man was still close behind them as they got to the intersection of Avondale Avenue and Irving Park Road. At that point, Bob decided to confront the stalker, asking him: 'Are you following us? 'And he mumbles something and says "You got a problem?" Bob told CBS 2. The suspect then began his brutal attack on the couple. 'He hit her - left, right, left, right, broke her jaw and broke her wrists,' Bob said. 'Then he clocked me - the same procedure - I would say six, seven, eight times to the head and I went down.' Realizing that the man was not going to stop, Bob decided to tell the man a fictional sob story about his wife's health. 'I yelled out "My wife - she's really sick, she's got cancer."' The man then fled westbound on Irving Park Road, then southbound on Tripp Avenue, the Chicago Police Department reports. Nobody has been arrested yet in connection with the assault. In the aftermath, Bob took to Facebook to share a photo of himself with a swollen nose and gauze taped to his face. 'Got mugged walking from the Blue Line. Broke Kittys jaw and Wrist. Fractured my nasal passage. Surgery for Kitty Sintov Tataryn tomorrow. Big mess, but we'll get through this,' he wrote. He told DailyMail.com he believes the man was 'really looking to get our car, which we were walking to, but when he realized that that wasnt going to happen, he got violent. 'It was snowing hard and he wanted a way to get around,' Bob suggested. He also said that these types of brutal attacks were not a common occurrence in the Irving Park neighborhood for the past 25 years, 'but within the last five years it is definitely more frequent.' Bob blamed the rise in crime on the city's woke policies, which he said has led to 'bad people... getting away with crime more easily.' In fact, crime rates across the board are already above what they were at this time last year, the Chicago Police Department's data shows. Murders are up in the city 7 percent over the same time last year, sexual assaults are up 12 percent from last year and aggravated assaults are up 14 percent from last year. The largest increases, however, were to the number of burglaries and thefts. Burglaries are up 28 percent over the same time period last year, with 835 already reported in 2022, compared to 651 reported at this time last year, and thefts are up a whopping 60 percent, with 1,636 reported in 2022, compared to 1,020 reported in February 2021. Motor vehicle thefts are also up 42 percent compared to the same time last year, with 1,571 reported in 2022 and 1,108 reported in 2021. Crime rates are up across the board when compared to the same time period last year Shooting incidents, meanwhile, are down 7 percent from last year - but there have already been a string of deadly shootings, with three minors killed in January. On January 12, a pair of Chicago teenagers were shot dead just hours apart from one another. The first shooting took place at around 4pm at the 2200 block of West Adams Street, where Javion Ivy, 14, had been standing on the sidewalk. He was shot twice in the chest and was later taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Chicago police. Witnesses at the scene reported that they heard gunfire and saw two people fleeing with one of them taking something from Ivy's backpack before running away. The other incident happened around 8:45pm that same day in Englewood where James Sweezer, 14, was walking with his friend on the sidewalk on the 1400 block of West 73rd Street. They had been passing by a dark-colored sedan when someone in the vehicle opened fire and shot Sweezer in the head. He was later taken to Comer Childrens Hospital where he was also pronounced dead. Then, just 10 days later, an eight-year-old girl who recently moved to the city from Mexico was killed when she was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting that targeted a 26-year-old gang member. Police at the time said Melissa Ortega was walking down the street with her mother at around 2.30pm that day when someone shot at the gang member, who was leaving a nearby store. The young girl and her mother attempted to sprint to a nearby bank, the Fifth Third Bank in the 4000 block area of West 26th Street, for safety, however it was too late and Ortega had been fatally shot as the two ran for their lives. She was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Melissa Ortega, pictured, whose family moved to Chicago from Mexico in August, was killed when she was struck by a stray bullet on January 22 14-year-old boys Javion Ivy (left) and James Sweezer (right) were shot and killed in separate incidents in Chicago on January 12 Meanwhile, 90 people accused of murder are free on electronic monitoring ankles in Chicago thanks to woke bail reforms that have put scores of violent criminals back on the streets. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart revealed the numbers to CBS earlier this month, along with his fears that it is making communities significantly less safe. Dart said that in his county alone, 90 people accused of murder are free along with 40 people charged with attempted murder and 852 people charged with aggravated gun possession. In Cook County, Chicago, there are 2,300 people free on electronic ankle monitors and 75 percent are accused of violent crimes In the year 2021, Chicago Police Department arrested 133 people for a violent crime while they were on electronic monitoring - 1 percent of the total. Chicago's top cops - Dart and Chicago PD Chief Superintendent David Brown - say that one percent is too high a rate and that while 99 percent may not have been arrested, it sends the wrong message to criminals. But Chief Justice Timothy Evans, who imposed the reform in 2017, is refusing to revoke it. 'A judge cannot hold someone pretrial without a finding that the defendant poses a real and present threat to the physical safety of any person. 'This must be found by clear and convincing evidence and the burden of proof is on the prosecution. 'The mayors proposal seems to require that defendants facing certain allegations be considered guilty until proven innocent,' he said, shooting down Lightfoot's request. Now, community organizations, including the Magnificent Mile Association, which promotes business in the city's shopping district, are taking matters into their own hands. 'Violent crime has been up and that's what has us concerned,' Kimberly Bares, the president and CEO of the group, told ABC 7. 'Carjackings, recovery of guns, some shootings - those kinds of things.' Ideally, she said she would like to see the Cook County State Attorney's Office prosecuting these criminals, saying: 'When the police have put together a solid case, we want to see that prosecuted. And we want to see the judiciary sentence appropriately.' But in the meantime, she said, the Magnificent Mile Association will step up to tamper these crimes. 'It's not been in our history to do a lot around public safety and advocacy, that's not what we're built for,' Bares said. 'But you have seen us respond, you have seen us step up to the challenge - we will continue to do that.' Two teenaged boys are in custody in connection to a triple murder after a five-year-old Michigan boy was killed execution-style inside his Detroit home along with his mother and her boyfriend. Caleb Harris, who had been shot multiple times in the face, was found Sunday inside the home along with his mother, Lashon Marshall, 28, and her boyfriend, Aaron Benson, 32, according to Detroit Police. Police wouldn't say how Marshall and Benson might have been killed. The shooting happened on the 15300 block of Evergreen Road near Fenkell Avenue. Police said they were able to identify the suspects because of tips from the community, Police Chief James White said Tuesday. Police obtained search warrants and the two suspects were taken into custody in the same neighborhood without incident, and are being held at a youth home. 'We are confident that we have those responsible in custody,' Chief White said. The suspects have not been named, but police say they are known to the victims. Police are in communication with the prosecutor's office and are submitting a warrant request with the hope charges will be filed soon. The victims were found around 5 p.m. Sunday when a concerned family member of the boyfriend who hadn't heard from him in about a week stopped by and discovered the horrific scene. It's unclear how long that period of time was before police were notified. Police believe the murders happened before Sunday but did not get into details. A motive for the murders is known to police but they are not sharing it at this time. Caleb Harris, 5, was found dead Sunday after being shot execution-style inside his Detroit home alongside his mother and her boyfriend Caleb Harris, 5, had been shot and killed inside the home with his mother, Lashon Marshall, and her boyfriend, Aaron Benson, according to Detroit Police Floyd said her grandson, Caleb, was a light, and that he should be looking forward to his sixth birthday right now Caleb's grandmother said his father lives out of state and says he is devastated When the family member arrived at the home to check on them, they found the back door had been kicked in, Chief White said. The family member discovered the bodies of the boy's mother and her boyfriend, and called the authorities. Detroit Police arrived on the scene and found Caleb's body on the floor of his bedroom in the home. Police said he had been shot execution-style. 'They continued to check the house for additional victims, and unfortunately they did find a third victim, a child, in a room deceased,' White said, adding that the child had been shot multiple times. 'Words can't explain what it's like to see a 5-year-old child laying deceased from gunshot wounds,' Commander Michael McGinnis added Tuesday, visibly affected by the tragedy. 'It's incredible how very sad that is.' Police noted that the boy's 6th birthday would have been in five days, on February 27. 'It's just unimaginable... that 5-year-old's birthday was just five days from now,' McGinnis said Tuesday. 'I imagine that family was prepping for a birthday celebration. Tragically, now their plans have changed.' Caleb's paternal grandmother, Shalesa Floyd, said it was the most devastating news of her life, Fox 2 reported. 'For you to shoot a five-year-old in the face? Twice? You could have let him go so he could remain and live,' Floyd said. 'To do this -- it's like a monster would do this.' Former state representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, who is a relative of the family, was by Floyd's side Sunday as she mourned her grandson. 'What mindset can anyone be in that would shoot a baby in the face intentionally?' asked Gay-Dagnogo. 'You have to be heartless. There is one thing to even a score or have issues with an adult but a child? A child is off limits.' Caleb's grandmother told Fox 2 that the boy's father lives out of state and says he is devastated. 'He loved to travel with his dad and with his mom,' Floyd said. 'He was her only child. He's only five, so he had not much life to live.' It's unclear if the boy's father and mother were divorced or separated. Family members say they just want to know who would have done this, and why. Caleb's paternal grandmother, Shalesa Floyd, said it was the most devastating news of her life Former state representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, who is also relative of the family, called the person who shot Caleb 'heartless' Caleb's family members Floyd and Gay-Dagnogo, comfort each other as they mourn the tragic murders of their family 'I just want justice for what they've done,' she said. 'He was only five years old and I just want to know why.' Floyd said her grandson, Caleb, was a light, and that he should be looking forward to his sixth birthday right now. 'He could have grown up to be anything he wanted,' she said as she broke down in tears. 'He's our future, he was our future. Why would you take my grandson from me? I'm just lost, I'm devastated.' Police say they are continuing to ask anyone with information about the crime to come forward and can call 1-800-SPEAK-UP. A student at Brigham Young University in Utah caused serious property damage after brewing rocket fuel on a dormitory stove, exploding into a massive fireball. A 22-year-old male resident told university officials that he was only trying to replicate something he had seen online, adding that it was not a school project. Flames from the explosion quickly spread onto the walls and ceiling around the stove, setting off fire alarms and sprinklers at Heritage Halls at around 4.30 p.m. Sunday. Several parts of the building were also flooded, according to campus police, before Provo firefighters rushed to the scene. 'The flames from the explosion had engulfed the walls and ceiling around the stove and the intense heat tripped the fire sprinkler system. Firefighters quickly secured the scene and were able to put out the remnants from the fire,' BYU police shared in a Facebook post. Photos of the incident were shared on social media, showing burnt walls and kitchen cabinets above the stove. Responders can also be seen in the building's hallways, walking through flood water on the main floor. BYU police officers and Provo firefighters responded to a fire incident at Heritage Halls Building on campus after a fire was caused by an experiment-gone-wrong involving rocket fuel Firefighters evacuated residents inside the building after fire sprinklers had gone off and were flooding the main floor However, nobody was injured in the explosion, even though 22 dorm residents were told to evacuate the building. Police said the dormitory suffered 'extensive damage'. 'Please keep your experiments in the lab and supervised by trained professionals,' read a Facebook post by BYU police. The ingredients used to make rocket propellent were common items bought at the store, according to local authorities. The resident was with his roommate, who was interviewed by police, when he was in the process of making about five pounds of the substance when it overheated. The college-owned facility where the fire occurred houses six residents. Thankfully, only two were home at the time as many students were not on campus due to the holiday weekend. Pictures on social media show the damage caused by the explosion in some of the dormitory's rooms (pictured) The building suffered 'extensive damage' but the total amount of damage to the building's structure and personal property have yet to be determined Brigham Young University's Heritage Halls, where the experiment had gone wrong. The school said it was working on finding alternative housing for the 22 residents impacted by the fire Meanwhile, police are still investigating the incident and have not yet assessed the total amount of damage to the building's structure and personal property. As of Tuesday morning, the resident is not expected to face charges, according to police, but once the investigation is closed, it will be overviewed by the prosecutor to determine if charges will be filed. 'It is clear that this situation could have been much worse and we are grateful that no one was injured,' BYU police said in an update on Monday. 'We urge students to be aware of circumstances around them and consider how their actions have the potential to affect not just themselves, but others as well.' BYU said it was finding alternative housing for those impacted by the incident. Former President Trump claimed that Vladimir Putin never would have invaded Ukraine if he were still president, and said that Russia has become 'very very rich' under President Biden. 'If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all,' Trump said in a statement Tuesday. 'I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way!' Trump hit out against Biden's 'weak sanctions.' 'The weak sanctions are insignificant relative to taking over a country and a massive piece of strategically located land. Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer.' Gas prices have already surged to an eight-year high, and are expected to rise even more as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalates. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on President Biden to get tough with sanctioning Russia after it moved troops into eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sent troops into the pro-Russian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as he declared those regions independent republics and no longer a part of Ukraine. Biden imposed some new sanctions on Monday prohibiting trade with the Kremlin-backed regions, but administration officials initially refused to call Putin's move an 'invasion.' The Biden administration has insisted that it uses sanctions as leverage and is trying to stave off a full-blown invasion. Trump hit out against Biden's 'weak sanctions' However on Tuesday, the administration admitted that Putin's move constitutes an 'invasion,' the red line Biden said would result in severe sanctions on Moscow. 'We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine,' said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said in an interview on CNN. 'An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway.' The president is expected to announced more sanctions Tuesday. Republicans and Democrats urged Biden to use every sanction in his arsenal before Putin fully invades. President Biden imposed some new sanctions on Monday prohibiting trade with the Kremlin-backed regions 'Joe Biden has refused to take meaningful action, and his weakness has emboldened Moscow,' Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote on Twitter. She called on Biden to 'immediately' impose sanctions on the Nord Stream II pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany and to remove Russia from the SWIFT international banking system. Germany announced Tuesday it was pulling the plug on Nord Stream II after Russia's move. 'It should never have reached this point. There was no good reason for President Biden to kill the Keystone XL pipeline last year while greenlighting Nord Stream 2 at the same time. It made absolutely zero sense. Very bad play calls that were the exact opposite of what was needed,' Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., wrote on Twitter. Biden last year lifted sanctions on the pipeline as a diplomatic favor to Germany, arguing the pipeline was already 98% complete anyways. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Monday that Biden had signed an executive order that 'will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. We will also soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments.' She said that Biden would announce new sanctions on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sent troops into the pro-Russian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as he declared those regions independent republics and no longer a part of Ukraine A tank drives along a street in Donetsk, Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine Military vehicles are seen on the move on Monday night in Donetsk Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21 Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on Biden to impose 'devastating sanctions against the Kremlin and its enablers.' 'The President should waste no time in using his extensive existing authorities to impose these costs.' 'Now is not the time for symbolic pinpricks that will serve only to embolden Putin and endanger our friends in Ukraine,' said Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Mike Rogers, R-Ala., in a statement. 'Putin's obsession with restoring the old Soviet Union has led to unprovoked and unnecessary aggressive military action,' said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. 'Biden should have issued sanctions long ago.' 'The time for taking action to impose significant costs on President Putin and the Kremlin starts now,' said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who is close with the president, according to Politico. 'We must swiftly join our NATO allies and partners in the European Union to impose forceful new sanctions on Russia, on all those responsible for this dangerous violation of international law, and to provide emergency support for Ukraine.' 'It's really important that we impose the sanctions now,' New Jersey Democrat Rep. Tom Malinowski said after returning from the Munich Security Conference, where Vice President Kamala Harris met with Western allies to discuss the path forward should Russia invade. 'This seizure of additional Ukrainian territory should trigger the start of the sanctions,' Malinowski said. 'The Biden administration and our European allies must not hesitate in imposing crushing sanctions. There must be tangible, far-reaching and substantial costs for Russia in response to this unjustified act,' said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Foreign Relations committee chair. More than 10,000 soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a source with links to Ukrainian military intelligence told MailOnline, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. 'It is difficult to believe [Putin] could have moved that quickly - but he had a long time to prepare,' the source said. Meanwhile Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin's order to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent stretches to the entire provinces - not just the areas currently occupied by rebels - raising the prospect he is about to launch a land-grab and spark direct confrontation with Ukrainian troops dug into trenches there. As Russia's troops rolled in, fighting in the region escalated - with shells striking a power plant on the Ukrainian side of the line Tuesday morning after explosions killed two of Kiev's men and wounded 12 overnight. Putin claimed the troops would be moving in to carry out peace-keeping operations. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed 'as nonsense' Putin's announcement that Russian troops would be in the separatist area known as Donbas as peacekeepers, saying their presence is 'clearly the basis for Russia's attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.' She said he gave the world a choice, and it 'must not look away' because 'history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path.' The U.N. Security Council set a rare nighttime emergency meeting at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries. Ukrainian service members participate in tactical drills at a training ground in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Tuesday Ukrainians are preparing for Russian forces to arrive on their doorsteps after coming onto the country's soil Monday evening after recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states Putin received no support for his move at the summit, with even close ally China urging diplomacy and a peaceful solution to the crisis. Russia happens to hold the Security Council's rotating presidency this month and wanted the meeting to be closed, but diplomats said they agreed to an open session under intense pressure from Western and other members. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, a member of the Banking Committee, called on Biden to implement all of the sanctions he has been preparing. 'I have worked with my Senate colleagues to ensure the president has the tools to sanction Russia's leaders, its banking and financial sectors, and other critical industries. Now is the time for these tools to begin to be used.' The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to take up the case of a Christian graphic designer who has refused to create websites for same-sex marriage over her religious beliefs. Lorie Smith, from Colorado, offers graphic and website design services and wants to expand to wedding website services, but she says her religious beliefs would lead her to decline any request from a same-sex couple to design a wedding website. She also wants to post a statement on her website about her beliefs, but that would run afoul of a Colorado anti-discrimination law. Smith had argued the law violates her free speech and religious rights. The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, indicated it would not look at the religious rights issue. But the high court did say it would decide whether a law that requires an artist to speak or stay silent violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment. The case is expected to be argued in the fall. In a 2-1 ruling last year, the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Smith's attempt to overturn a lower court ruling throwing out her legal challenge. Lorie Smith is a Christian graphic designer who said her religious beliefs would make her decline requests to design wedding websites for same sex couples She wants to post a statement on her website about her beliefs, but that would run afoul of a Colorado anti-discrimination law -- which she argues infringes on her rights The panel said Colorado had a compelling interest in protecting the 'dignity interests' of members of marginalized groups through its law, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. The law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, was previously at the heart of Colorado baker Jack Phillips' case, which was decided in 2018 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The court said at the time that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission had acted with anti-religious bias against Phillips after he refused to bake a cake for two men who were getting married. But it did not rule on the larger issue of whether a business can invoke religious objections to refuse service to LGBTQ people. Both Smith and Phillips were represented by the Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom. 'The government doesn't have the power to silence or compel creative expression under the threat of punishment. It's shocking that the 10th Circuit would permit Colorado to punish artists whose speech isn't in line with state-approved ideology,' said Alliance of Defending Freedom General Counsel Kristen Waggoner, Smith's attorney. The Supreme Court with a 6-3 conservative majority said it would decide whether a law that requires an artist to speak or stay silent violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment. The case is expected to be argued in the fall 'Colorado has weaponized its law to silence speech it disagrees with, to compel speech it approves of, and to punish anyone who dares to dissent. Colorado's lawand others like itare a clear and present danger to every American's constitutionally protected freedoms and the very existence of a diverse and free nation.' Late last year a group of 45 Republican federal lawmakers signed an amicus brief in support of Smith's case getting before the Supreme Court. Signatories included Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Senate Minority Whip John Thune, and Colorado Reps. Ken Buck and Lauren Boebert. In the brief they accuse the 10th Circuit Court of using the law to force an act 'conflicting with an individuals deeply held beliefs.' They claim, 'an atheist musician could be forced to perform at an evangelical church service. Or a Muslim tattoo artist could be forced to write My religion is the only true religion on the body of a Christian.' 'Religious speech holds a uniquely important and protected place in American history and jurisprudence. Ms. Smith and others like her deserve the strongest possible First Amendment protection,' the court filing reads. A traveler waits for a PCR test instituted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as he arrives at Hong Kong International Airport, Feb. 21. Reuters-Yonhap Hong Kong authorities said they found COVID-19 in samples taken from the packaging of imports of frozen beef from Brazil and frozen pork skin from Poland, vowing to step up inspections of imported food. The global financial hub has deployed a "dynamic zero COVID" strategy similar to mainland China's, aiming to eradicate any outbreaks at all costs. The authorities have been on high alert as a new wave of infections is proving harder to control. Daily infections numbers have risen sharply this year, reaching a record 7,533 cases Monday, overwhelming the government's testing, hospital and quarantine capacities. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) took 36 samples for testing from a batch of around 1,100 cartons of frozen beef, weighing a total of 29 tons, imported from Brazil by sea. It found one outer packaging and two inner packaging samples tested positive. It also collected 12 samples from a batch of around 300 cartons of frozen pork skin, weighing around 7 tons, imported from Poland via sea. One inner packaging sample tested positive for COVID-19. "The CFS has ordered the importers concerned to dispose the beef and pork skin of the same batches," the government said in a statement late on Monday. "In addition, the CFS will step up the sampling of similar products for testing." Hong Kong has been monitoring frozen food imports for COVID-19 since mid-2020 and found positive samples on pomfret fish packaging in August 2021 and on cuttlefish packaging in November 2021. The authorities said COVID-19 is predominantly transmitted through droplets and cannot multiply in food or food packaging, and that it is unlikely that it can be transmitted to humans via food consumption. Nevertheless, they recommend people handle raw food separately, observe hygiene rules and cook food thoroughly. With stepped up inspections on food imports, Hong Kong is again following in the footsteps of mainland China on COVID-19 policies. Unlike other countries, China cites frozen food packaging as a risk of spreading COVID-19. Mainland China had announced a number of cases of the virus being found on chilled food packaging, prompting rejections of goods and complaints from exporters. The World Health Organization says neither food nor packaging are known transmission routes. (Reuters) A gigantic bear nicknamed Hank the Tank has shot to fame in Lake Tahoe after he was caught on camera rifling for scraps - but one conservationist says she fears officials will kill the huge animal instead of rehoming him. Hank, who weighs 500 pounds, was caught on security footage wandering around Lake Tahoe homes in search of a meal bigger than his appetite. The bear has been spotting in the neighborhood more than 100 times since July and nothing - not even loud noises, paintballs, or Tasers - can scare him off. Local residents have described the animal as 'gentle' and said he just eats and leaves without causing any trouble. But wildlife officials say locals have made Hank too bold by leaving out unsecured food scraps for him to eat. And they now fear the bear - who is up to five times bigger than a regular member of his species - could hurt someone if they get too close. 'He doesn't attack [people]. He doesn't growl. He doesn't make rude faces,' a local resident insisted, according to TMZ. However, not everyone is too fond of having a 500lb teddy bear roaming the streets. A spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Peter Tira told The New York Times: 'This is a bear that has lost all fear of people. Its a potentially dangerous situation.' Scroll down for video Hank the Tank, a 500lb bear, is terrorizing a community in Lake Tahoe, California Hank was caught on home security footage in Lake Tahoe wandering around looking for his next meal Although Hank didn't enter the home, he has done so in the past. The bear has been spotted more than 100 times in the neighborhood since July and has prompted more than 150 calls to law enforcement Local authorities are reportedly trying to trap the animal and get him into a sanctuary, but some conservationists are worried Hank will be slaughtered before he can be taken to a safe place, if he does end up having an aggressive encounter with a human. Wildlife officials have tried to tamper Hank's wave of destruction by setting up traps but have been unable to contain him. 'The trapping activity is a measure of last resort to capture and euthanize a specific and what we call a severely habituated or human-food conditioned black bear,' Tira noted. There was outrage from residents over the bear hunt and even attempts to scare the bear away from the area by playing noisy music or even spray painting the phrase 'Bear Killer' on the trap, even though Hank can't read. A pro-bear activist group, The BEAR League, has been working with wildlife officials to try and get Hank to a safe new home. 'The BEAR League reached out to the director of an excellent out-of-state wildlife sanctuary who agreed he has room and would be very willing to give this bear a permanent home,' said executive director Ann Bryant. 'We notified [the California Department of Fish and Wildlife] on Tuesday morning asking that this option be seriously considered rather than killing the bear.' California wildlife authorities are facing numerous complaints from residents in the resort town of Lake Tahoe as the bear has prompted more than 150 calls to law enforcement and wildlife personnel in the area of late. 'This one individual bear has been linked to property damage at 38 different properties at least,' Tira told KCRA 3 in Sacramento on February 17. Authorities add that the curvy cub has caused 'extensive property damage and forcefully entered several homes - including occupied homes.' A home in California that has faced Hank's wrath A pro-bear activist group, The BEAR League, has been working with wildlife officials to try and get Hank to a safe new home. This trap has been vandalized in an apparent attempt to deter Hank - even though he can't read Not only is Hank's giant appetite making him come back, but ease of access to improperly secured trash. Bryant notes that sanctuaries are not a full-time solution and wants Tahoe residents to practice prevention. 'Homeowners and visitors need to do their part to keep the bears out of trouble so they can live wild and free,' she said. 'The various reasons that the bears get into trouble is because people do this and they teach the bears that's a good way to make a living.' There was outrage from residents over the bear hunt and even attempts to scare the bear away from the area by playing noisy music or even spray painting the phrase 'Bear Killer' on the trap The bear has caused caused 'extensive property damage and forcefully entered several homes - including 'occupied homes' This is another recent example of a bear attack on the west coast. An Oregon man took his own life after he accidentally shot dead his brother when he tried to defend himself against a black bear in his yard. The unidentified man was loading up his gun around 7am on February 8 when he 'accidentally shot his brother,' the Josephine County Sheriff's Office said. Police deputies located the man's brother with gunshot wounds at a residence in the 2000 block of Placer Road in Sunny Valley. Upon 'checking the residence,' officers found the caller 'with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.' 'It is believed the caller took his own life after calling 911 to report the accidental shooting,' the police report read. The investigation is ongoing and has been passed to the Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office. The Josephine County Sheriff's Office responded to a call on a the 2000 block of Placer Road on Tuesday when a man called to report that he 'accidentally shot his brother' while he was trying to load a gun to protect them from a black bear on the property Deputies found the man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the property and believes 'the caller took his own life,' the police report said The Sheriff's Office told DailyMail.com on February 10 that there is 'no further information available' at this time. A bear sighting isn't rare in the state, which is home to around 25,000 to 30,000 black bears, according to the Josephine County Parks Department, which calls Oregon 'Black Bear Country.' The Parks Department said bear attacks are 'uncommon' and the animals typically 'avoid human contact,' but reminds the public that it is 'never safe to approach a bear.' Boris Johnson swiped at Vladimir Putin's 'illogical and irrational frame of mind' today as ministers branded his rambling TV address 'bizarre'. The PM suggested the Russian president did not 'care' about the 'very considerable' economic punishment his country will suffer over the invasion of Ukraine because he is not thinking clearly. The jibe came after Mr Putin delivered a long televised speech to the Russian people dwelling on the historical status of Ukraine. He was flanked by an array of telephones on his desk, as well as a console featuring a bewildering number of white buttons. There was also an extraordinary stilted performance on camera as he 'consulted' his chief aides about whether they should recognise separatist areas. One Cabinet minister told MailOnline that the speech had been 'bizarre' and suggested he might have been playing too many war-based video games. 'Those phones were something else, like a Soviet throwback. He was probably playing Call of Duty as soon as the cameras stopped rolling.' Vladimir Putin delivered a long televised speech to the Russian people last night dwelling on the historical status of Ukraine Wider shots showed he was flanked by an array of telephones on his desk, as well as a console featuring a bewildering number of white buttons Speaking in the Commons this afternoon, Mr Johnson said: 'We are in a position to impose very considerable economic costs on Putin. 'The question is whether he is going to care enough about it because he is clearly in an illogical and irrational frame of mind.' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace also waded in, complaining that Mr Putin's speech had been littered with historical 'inaccuracies'. 'If you want to know what his next intentions are, I recommend you listen to his latest speech that he made last night, full of huge inaccuracies, one of them is that Ukraine is not a proper state,' Mr Wallace said after a meeting of ministers in the East Midlands. 'I should remind people Ukraine has been separate to Russia as a nation longer than its been part of Russia. Thats a simple fact of history. You should look at the history books and not selectively pick dates that suit the narrative.' The beauty queen wife of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman will serve the rest of her three-year sentence at a minimum security prison in Texas after spending a year in solitary confinement at a high security jail in Virginia. Emma Coronel, 32, was transferred to Federal Medical Center Carswell (FMC) in Fort Worth, by U.S. Marshals over the Presidents Day weekend. Coronel has been in jail since she was arrested in February 2021 for trafficking drugs and laundering money for her cartel leader husbands Sinaloa Cartel. She was sentenced to three years in prison by a Washington, D.C., federal court in November 30, 2021, after she pleaded guilty. She claims that she spent almost 23 hours a day in solitary confinement at the maximum security William Truesdale Adult Detention Center in Alexandria, Virginia. FMC Carswell will feel like a vacation in comparison. The prison complex - which is an 11-hour drive from the Florence, Colorado, super maximum security ADX Florence jail, where El Chapo is held - was originally an Air Force hospital before it closed in 1993 and later reopened as a federal prison in 1994. Coronel, who has twin 10-year-old daughters Emaly and Maria with El Chapo, will be among the 1,237 prisoners at the female-only detention center which has two sites; one where prisoners with medical and mental health needs are incarcerated, and the other where minimum-security inmates are held. Emma Coronel, the wife of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, was transferred to Federal Medical Center Carswell (FMC Carswell) in Fort Worth, Texas, by U.S. Marshals over the Presidents Day weekend. She will serve 31 of the remaining 36 months of her prison sentence at the minimum security prison Federal Medical Center Carswell (FMC Carswell) in Fort Worth, Texas, is the prison where El Chapo's wife, Emma Coronel, was transferred to over President's Day weekend FMC Carswell, where El Chapo's wife Emma Coronel is serving a three-year sentence - is currently not permitting visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, once housed former Olympian track star Marion Jones-Thompson in 2008 as well as Lisa Marie Montgomery, who was convicted for murdering a pregnant woman in 2004 and was then executed by lethal injection in 2021 The prison is used to famous - and infamous - inmates. It housed former American track and field star Marion Jones-Thompson for six months in 2000 after she was found guilty of check fraud. Lisa Marie Montgomery also served time there before she died by lethal injection in January 13, 2021 after she was convicted in 2007 for murdering Bobbi Jo Stinnett on December 12, 2004. Montgomery strangled the 36-year-old victim, who was eight months pregnant, and cut her unborn fetus from her womb. The facility also made headlines in 2020 when an inmate went public and exposed the jail's inhumane conditions and constant worries about the spread of the COVID-19. Coronel will be allowed to spend a maximum of $360 a month on food, drinks, clothing and electronic devices at the commissary. Even so, prison life is a far cry from the lavish lifestyle Coronel enjoyed previously. The wife of the notorious drug trafficker who built a $12 billion fortune would take to social media to share photographs of herself, including one in a wedding dress campaign she was hired to promote for a Colombia company in December 2020, just two months before her arrest. Coronel starred in the second season of VH1's 'Cartel Crew' reality show, which depicted the lives of eight reality stars with deep family ties to the drug world. She also enjoyed luxury vacations, jetting off to Italy two weeks after her husband's sentencing was announced. She caught international attention with her designer outfits and jewelry during her appearances in the New York courtroom where El Chapo was found guilty and eventually sentenced to life in prison in July 2019. Joaquin El Chapo Guzman is serving a life sentence at ADX Florence, a super maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado. The jail is an 11-hour drive from Federal Medical Center Carswell (FMC Carswell) in Fort Worth, Texas, where his wife Emma Coronel is serving a three-year term Coronel is expected to serve out the remaining 31 months of her three-year sentence to be released September 13, 2023 - despite unsuccessful petitions from her attorneys who argued she should be released four months early and that she should serve her time at Californian jail because it's closer to her family in Mexico. But Coronel was looking at a much longer prison term before her legal team, who also represented El Chapo, argued for a plea deal that would allow the judge to sentence her below the mandatory minimum term if she spilled all about the cartel. Known as the safety valve exception, the plea required Coronel to 'tell the government all that he knows of the offense and any related misconduct.' Emma Coronel is slated to be released from prison September 13, 2023 Coronel is pictured above in photos from her beauty queen days - before she met Guzman and married him in 2007 when she was 18 Court records showed that her criminal activities began in 2011 and continued through at least January 19, 2017. Coronel conspired with El Chapo and Sinaloa Cartel members to traffic five or more kilos of cocaine, one or more kilos of heroin, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 1,000 kilograms or more of marijuana. Prosecutors said that she was aware that the drugs would be smuggled into the United States and distributed throughout the country. Coronel admitted to acting as the middle person between El Chapo and other members of the Sinaloa Cartel during his incarceration in Mexico's Altiplano prison following his February 2014 arrest. As part of the plot, she purchased real estate property near the prison and provided her husband a watch that included a GPS tracking device. It was used to help the hired construction workers 'dig a tunnel from that nearby property, under the prison' to his jail cell. The notorious drug lord escaped in July 2015 and was recaptured in January 2016. He was extradited one year later to the United States. While El Chapo sat in a New York prison awaiting trial Coronel was been living the life of luxury Courtroom sketch of Emma Coronel during her February 23, 2021, court hearing in Washington, D.C., a day after she was taken into custody by federal agents at Dulles International Airport in Virginia Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (pictured following his arrest in Mexico in 2016) co-founded the Sinaloa Cartel Coronel does not appear to be El Chapo's only wife, according to a book penned by veteran Mexico crime reporter, Anabel Hernandez. Hernandez claimed that El Chapo is still legally married to Alejandrina Salazar, his first wife. The couple wed in 1977 and have five children, including Ivan Archivaldo and Jesus Alfredo, both of whom are wanted by the U.S. on drug trafficking charges. El Chapo is said to have also tied the knot with Griselda Lopez in the 1980s before exchanging vows with Coronel in 2007. They had four sons, including Joaquin Guzman-Lopez and Ovidio Guzman-Lopez. Both are wanted by the U.S. for trafficking drugs. FMC Carswell Coronel has two centers and 19 building that only hold female inmates Emma Coronel, the wife of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, with lawyer Mariel Colon leave a federal courthouse in Brooklyn after attending El Chapo's trial hearing on January 31, 2019 Emma Coronel shared a picture to Instagram in July 2019, taken on a gondola near the Rialto Bridge on the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy, almost two weeks after El Chapo was sentenced to life in prison Coronel was just 17 years old and had a boyfriend when she first met El Chapo, who was 49 at the time, after being crowned in a Sinaloa beauty pageant in 2006. She told Hernandez that they held a religious ceremony in Sinaloa and that El Chapo bribed a priest to officiate the wedding, which was attended by military members, politicians and the state governor. The pair chatted for Hernandez's book after Coronel texted her via WhatsApp on September 23, 2018. She admitted being oblivious to El Chapo's business dealings in the early stages of their relationship as security forces were poised to arrest him while he was on the run after escaping from prison in 2001. Coronel described her marriage to El Chapo as 'very normal' and claimed never to have witnessed the dark side of her kingpin husband who was known for having his rivals kidnapped, tortured and killed. 'He is a man like any other. He is not violent, he is not rude' she said in the book. 'I have never heard him say a bad word, I have never seen him get excited or be angry with anyone.' Police in New Orleans are trying to solve the mystery of what happened to a 21-year-old college student who died shortly after being dumped at a hospital, six hours after taking an Uber alone. Ciaya Jordan Whetstone, a business administration junior at University of New Orleans, was brought to New Orleans hospital at 7am on Saturday and was pronounced dead an hour later. Her cause of death is still unclear at this time. Whetstone, who was set to graduate in 2023, had traveled to suburb of Metairie with a friend, Juliet Orr, on Friday to attend a pre-Mardi Gras Carnival parade on Friday night, reported Nola.com. Ciaya Jordan Whetstone, 21, a business administration junior at University of New Orleans, was brought to a local hospital early Saturday and later died from an unknown cause Whetstone, a recent transplant from South Carolina, on Friday night attended her first Mardi Gras parade in a New Orleans suburb Whetstone, from Bamberg, South Carolina, later joined some other friends at a bar, before being driven to her boyfriend's home in Harahan. But Orr said that in the middle of the night, Whetstone decided to call an Uber to take her to her apartment in Gentilly to check on her dog, Zoe. Whetstone arrived at her apartment on Lakeshore Drive and went to check on her dog. Her roommate, Reese White, told WWL that the ride-share driver entered the home with her. 'She said, "This is my friend, Reese. I just met him." I said, "You need to stop getting in the car with strangers," but she said he was her Uber driver,' White told the outlet. Speaking to Nola.com, White said that Whetstone appeared drunk, and that she tried to convince her to stay home, but the UNO student insisted that the Uber driver was 'her friend,' and that she needed to go find her car. When Whetstone returned to the Uber car at around 1.30am on Saturday, she got a call on her cellphone from her friend Roberto Torres. Torres said that is when he heard the Uber driver in the background ask Whetstone if she liked to 'party.' After Whetstone hung up, Torres said he made several attempts to call her number, but she did not pick up. Friends say Whetstone had watched Carnival parades in Metairie on Friday, then went to a bar with friends and later headed to her boyfriend's home. In the middle of the night, Whetstone called an Uber to take her to her apartment in another neighborhood to check on her dog A friend called Whetstone while she was in the ride-share car and said he overheard the Uber driver ask the UNO student: 'do you like to party?' Less than six hours later, Whetstone was brought to the hospital in a private vehicle, but police would not say whether it was the Uber from the night before. Dawn Gegenheimer, Whetstone's co-worker and friend, however, claimed in a Facebook post that it was the ride-share driver who took the 21-year-old to University Hospital and left her there. 'My beautiful friend is dead, because she got in an Uber last night,' Gegenheimer wrote. A spokesperson for Uber said the company has temporarily disabled the access of the driver who was last seen with Whetstone to the ride-share app pending the outcome of the investigation. They declined to share his name. 'Our thoughts are with Ciaya Whetstones family as they grieve the loss of their daughter,' the company said. 'We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.' University of New Orleans President John Nicklow confirmed Whetstone's death in a statement. Whetstone (far left), pictured with several friends, including Elizabeth Nichole Saitz (2nd Left), was set to graduate from college next year Whetstone (2nd Left) was described by those who knew her as a bright and hopeful person Friend Mali Jordan (left) described Whetstone as a 'sweet angel.' The 21-year-old leaves behind her mother, stepfather and a younger brother 'As a University, few things are more challenging than dealing with the sadness of the death of a student,' he stated. 'Our thoughts are with Ciayas family and friends.' Chris Ferrand, Whetstone's stepfather, declined to comment on the investigation into Ciaya's death, telling DailyMail.com on Tuesday that he will wait on an official police report and coroner's report before making any statements. 'Right now my concern is getting Ciaya home so we can lay our angel to rest,' he added. Other loved ones remembered Whetstone as a bright, hopeful and uplifting person. 'She was like this bright light in a dark place. She was always happy. She never met a stranger,' her cousin Emily Carter told WISTV. 'My heart is torn to pieces,' friend Mali Jordan wrote on Facebook. 'Heaven gained one awesome Sweet angel! You will always have a special place in my heart Ciaya Whetstone!' Elizabeth Nichole Saitz, who said that Whetstone was like a sister to her, struggled to understand what happened. 'I still cant even believe its real,' Saitz wrote in a Facebook tribute. 'You lit up every room you ever walked into and had such a big impact on so many peoples lives. We may not have been blood but like you said, no matter what, we are sisters for life. My heart is so broken and I wish I could hug your neck a million times more.' The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked another bid by Donald Trump to stop the National Archives from releasing White House records to the panel investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. The decision will allow investigators to get their hands on White House logs from Trump's presidency and it follows the Supreme Court's earlier order on January 19 that led to other documents and materials being handed over to the select committee. Trump attempted to invoke executive privilege twice to stop the panel from receiving the materials from his presidency as it probes the events surrounding the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. Executive privilege protects the confidentiality of some internal White House communications, but the House panel insists the evidence is needed to fully understand any role Trump may have played in the violence last year. Earlier this month, the National Archives handed over a trove of documents sought by the panel, including 15 boxes that were seized from Trump's Florida residence at Mar-a-Lago. When the panel requested the documents from the White House, President Joe Biden approved it and instructed the National Archives to hand over the documents and materials. The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected Donald Trump's bid to try and block the National Archives from turning over his White House documents to the January 6 House panel This is Trump's second attempt to invoke executive privilege to keep the panel from obtaining documents and materials from his time as president The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on December 9 upheld a lower court ruling that Trump had no basis to challenge Biden's decision to allow the records to be handed over to the select committee. Trump then appealed to the Supreme Court, where his bid was further rejected. The committee asked the National Archives to produce visitor logs, phone records and written communications between Trump and his advisers. Biden, who took office two weeks after the riot, determined the records should not be subject to executive privilege. Trump fired back at the National Archives Friday night after the agency said he took classified documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago when he left office. 'The National Archives did not ''find'' anything, they were given, upon request, Presidential Records in an ordinary and routine process,' Trump said in a statement Friday night. 'If this was anyone but ''Trump,'' there would be no story here,' he said. 'Instead, Democrats are in search of their next scam.' Classified information was found in the 15 boxes of White House records that were stored at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, the National Archives and Records Administration said earlier Friday in a letter that confirmed the matter has been sent to the Justice Department. Federal law bars the removal of classified documents to unauthorized locations, though it is possible that Trump could try to argue that, as president, he was the ultimate declassification authority. No matter the legal risk, it exposes him to charges of hypocrisy given his relentless attacks during the 2016 presidential campaign on Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for her use of a private email server as secretary of state. The FBI investigated but ultimately did not recommend charges. Trump recently denied reports about his administration's tenuous relationship with the National Archives and his lawyers said that 'they are continuing to search for additional presidential records that belong to the National Archives.' Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., the chairwoman of the Oversight Committee, said in a statement Friday that 'these new revelations deepen my concern about former President Trump's flagrant disregard for federal records law and the potential impact on our historical record.' She added, 'I am committed to uncovering the full depth of the Presidential Records Act violations by former President Trump and his top advisors and using those findings to advance critical reforms and prevent future abuses.' The National Archives confirmed on Friday that Trump took classified documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago when he left office. Trump fired back in a Friday evening statement saying the Archives did not `find anything, they were given, upon request Such record-keeping has flared up repeatedly in recent years, and Clinton's use of private email was a driving element of Trump's 2016 campaign. It is the latest in a series of revelations in the past two weeks about Trump's handling of files when he left office, including claims he stuffed documents down the White House toilet and got the Pentagon to incinerate papers. The archivist said NARA had contacted the White House counsel in 2018 following a press report about Trump tearing up records. The counsel's office responded that the matter was 'being addressed.' After the end of the Trump Administration, it learned that 'additional paper records that had been torn up by former President Trump were included in the records transferred to us.' 'Although White House staff during the Trump Administration recovered and taped together some of the torn-up records, a number of other torn-up records that were transferred had not been reconstructed by the White House,' according to the letter. Among the other items the National Archives retrieved from Mar-a-Lago is the infamous hurricane map that the president allegedly scrawled on with a Sharpie pen to expand its possible path. People wait for a moving van after boxes of papers and materials were moved out of the Eisenhower Executive Office building inside the White House complex on January 14, 2021 The National Archives retrieved 15 boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago, where former President Donald Trump has offices and where he resides. Included was an infamous 'sharpie' map with the track of approaching Hurricane Dorian in 2019 One item that reportedly made its way to Mar-a-Lago is a mini replica of a redesigned Air Force One that Trump used to display in the Oval Office The National Archives confirmed that it recovered classified material from Mar-a-Lago The letter also confirmed that President Trump had 'torn up' paper records The newly torn up records had not been taped back together What are classified materials and who can declassify them? The letter from the National Archives and Records Administration to Congress stated that it has identified items 'marked as classified national security information' within 15 boxes of information returned by Trump from Mar-a-Lago. The government maintains various levels of classified information. According to the Senate Intelligence Committee, 'Top Secret' information applies to information that could reasonably be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security. One level down is 'secret' information, which could 'reasonably could be expected to cause serious damage to the national security.' Below that is information that is merely 'confidential.' That applies to information, 'the unauthorized disclosure of which reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national security.' Notably, the letter from Archivist of the U.S. David Ferriero did not state at what level the information is classified. The government classifies voluminous material, and there is a longstanding effort by watchdog groups and some lawmakers to reduce the amount of classification. The Washington Post previously reported that some of the documents Trump took to Mar-a-Lago were clearly marked as classified, with some at the 'top secret' level. It reported some were 'extremely sensitive' and would be limited to a small group of officials. It is a crime to mishandle classified information, and the letter from NARA states that it has been 'in communication' with the Justice Department. The president has broad unilateral authority to declassify information. In 2019, Trump tweeted out a high-resolution image of an Iranian rocket launch, leading to questions about whether he had put out classified information. He later tweeted: 'We had a photo and I released it, which I have the absolute right to do.' According to press reports, letters Trump exchanged with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un were among those documents he had with him at Mar-a-lago. The contents have already been publicly released. It is not known if the original letters still bore a classification level, or what information from the trove was 'top secret.' Advertisement Another keepsake that a source told the Post had been removed was a mini replica of Air Force One that Trump proudly displayed in the Oval Office, after involving himself in details of a redesign all the way down to its red, white, and blue paint job. A former aide said Trump displayed at Mar-a-Lago a 'mini replica of one of the black border-wall slats' that Trump helped design for his border wall. There are laws governing the removal of classified material however the president also has unilateral authority to declassify information, leading to a potentially murky area. The National Archives said it had 'ongoing conversations' with Trump before retrieving the 15 boxes of material. It said it expects to complete an inventory by Feb. 25th. On Thursday, President Biden rejected another executive privilege claim by Trump to withhold the White House visitor logs from the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. In a letter sent to the National Archives on Tuesday, Biden's White House Counsel Dana Remus told the archivist of the U.S. David Ferriero the agency should provide the material to the panel within 15 days. Former President Trump is attempting to invoke executive privilege to keep the panel from obtaining the logs, just as he did with other White House documents that were turned over to the committee earlier this month. Ferriero wrote a letter to Trump Wednesday informing him that he would be cooperating with the White House's request that the logs be released to the panel within 15 days. 'After consultation with the Counsel to the President and the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel, and as instructed by President Biden, I have determined to disclose to the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol ('Select Committee') the Presidential records from our January 14, 2022, Notification that you identified as privileged in your letter of January 31, 2022,' he wrote. He added: '[T]o ensure that personal privacy information is not inadvertently disclosed, the Select Committee has agreed to accept production of these records with birthdates and social security numbers removed.' Trump could try to block or slow the release of the logs like he did with other White House documents and materials. Remus requested the logs be turned over in 15 days 'in light of the urgency' of the committee's probe and insisted 'Congress has a compelling need' for the National Archives to disclose the documents. 'Constitutional protections of executive privilege should not be used to shield, from Congress or the public, information that reflects a clear and apparent effort to subvert the Constitution itself,' Remus wrote to the Archives. Trump's 'just a bad guy' prosecutors should 'go after': New York Supreme Court judge's scathing response to ex-president's lawyer's claim he is being unfairly targeted by Democratic Attorney General Tish James A judge delivered a withering put down to Donald Trump's lawyer's claim that the former president was being unfairly targeted by New York Attorney General Tish James on Thursday, saying she had every right to go after him if 'he's just a bad guy.' At the end of the hearing, New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron ordered Trump and two of his adult children to testify as part of a probe into the family's business dealings. But his language, delivered during a testy back and forth, will be seized on by Trump supporters as evidence that the investigation is a 'witch hunt.' Critics lauded the judge for telling truth. Trump's attorney Alina Habba argued that the former president was the victim of discrimination. James has 'such disdain for this person because he was president, because he is Donald Trump and he could probably win again in '24,' she said, according to Newsweek. 'He has First Amendment rights. He's allowed to be a Republican.' Engoron responded: 'There's no viewpoint discrimination. I'm just saying there is none.' Habba then contended that Trump was part of a 'protected class.' 'The traditional protected classes are race, religion, etcetera,' Engoron responded. 'Donald Trump doesn't fit that kind of mold or model. He's not being discriminated against based on race, is he? Or religion, is he? 'He's not a protected class. 'If Ms. James has a thing against him, OK, that's not in my understanding unlawful discrimination. 'He's just a bad guy she should go after as the chief law enforcement officer of the state.' Trump has claimed the investigation is 'racist.' During the hearing Trump and his family attorneys asked for New York's civil investigation to be put on hold until a separate criminal probe in completed. They argued that James was using the dual tracks to skirt protections on individuals under criminal investigation. At times the hearing was so bad tempered that Engoron and his law clerk had to call for timeouts. But in denying their motion, Engoron said it would be 'dereliction of duty' for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) not to continue its investigation. 'Indeed this court's in camera review of thousands of documents responsive to OAG's prior subpoenas demonstrates that OAG has a sufficient basis for continuing its investigation, which undercuts the notion that this ongoing investigation is based on personal animus, not facts and law,' he said. Advertisement A woman sent to prison after faking her own kidnapping in an attempt to swindle a former boyfriend out of 2,000 has today been set free after winning an appeal. Leah Jumeaux, 20, of Blackpool, sent the man photos of herself bound and gagged, using red felt-tip pen in a 'crude' effort to make it look like she was bleeding. The mother-of-one messaged her former boyfriend in October 2020 using the pseudonym 'Paddy' and demanded a 2,000 ransom. But her short-sighted scheme fell apart when he called police instead and officers found her safe and well. Jumeaux was arrested and instantly owned up to faking the kidnap, which she explained was in order to buy Christmas presents for her family, before pleading guilty to fraud. Last month, she was sentenced to 34 weeks' youth detention at Preston Crown Court, but today she walked free after senior judges at the Court of Appeal overturned the sentence. Lord Justice William Davis stated Jumeaux is a 'vulnerable' young mother, who had been suffering with mental health issues and should never have been locked up for the offence. Leah Jumeaux (pictured above), 20, from Blackpool, Lancashire, sent pictures of herself bound and gagged next to a gun to her partner in October 2020, a court heard The court heard Jumeaux and her victim had met online in 2018 and visited each other at their homes before the man began receiving messages purportedly from her ex-boyfriend 'Paddy' in September 2020. While away on holiday in France, the man received a 'disturbing' WhatsApp message from 'Paddy' which contained a photograph showing Jumeaux lying on the floor, bound and gagged. Further threatening messages contained demands for money, initially 2,000 but later reduced to 1,000, some of them accompanied by photographs of what looked like a rifle. The man called police and Jumeaux was found safe and well, arrested and interviewed. 'She admitted that it had been her sending the messages purporting to come from 'Paddy' and she had sent the photographs,' said the appeal judge. 'She said she did it to get money in order to buy Christmas presents. 'In one sense the photograph is quite disturbing. However, the disturbing nature is somewhat undermined by the crude application of red felt-tip pen, purporting to be blood, which obviously it wasn't.' Despite admitting what she had done, it was another year before Jumeaux was charged with an offence and not until last month that her case went to court and she was sentenced. Jumeaux appeared before Blackpool Magistrates' Court (file photo above) in September charged with blackmail and fraud by false representation Lord Justice Davis said Jumeaux should not have been locked up, given the delay in the case getting to court, her immediate admission of guilt and her mental health issues. A psychiatrist who assessed her told the Court of Appeal that she suffered from a disorder involving 'emotional instability' which would have affected her decision-making at the time of the offence. 'We are quite satisfied that the sentence imposed was manifestly excessive and wrong in principle,' said Lord Justice Davis. 'She was and is a vulnerable young woman. She was only 19 at the time of the offence. 'The judge said he took her age and vulnerability into account, but if he did so then he failed to do so to the appropriate and necessary extent. 'There were very substantial mitigating factors - her good character, her age and mental health, her caring responsibilities for her child, her early admissions to police and the substantial delay in criminal proceedings getting underway. 'She has been in custody for three-and-a-half weeks. In our view, the proper course for us to take now is to quash the sentence of detention and impose in its place a community order for two years.' The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Martin Spencer and Judge Alan Conrad QC, said the decision would mean Jumeaux can be freed today. They removed three botflies, one each from her eyelid, neck and right forearm Doctors at Fortis hospital, New Delhi diagnosed her with rare case of myiasis US woman, 32, complained of swelling in her right eyelid for at least four weeks An American woman complaining of something moving under her skin has had a live botfly surgically removed from her eye after getting bitten on a trip abroad. Hospital authorities on Monday said they had successfully removed 'three live human botflies almost 2 cm in size' from the woman. The 32-year-old had recently been on a trip to the Amazon rainforest, where it is believed that was bitten and became infected. It was reported that the US national visited the emergency department at Fortis hospital in New Delhi complaining of something moving under her eyelid for at least the last four weeks. A 32-year-old American woman complaining of something moving under her skin has had a live botfly surgically removed from her eye after getting bitten on a trip to the Amazon A statement from the hospital said that she was diagnosed with a rare case of myiasis where a botfly was living underneath her skin and would need surgery. According to the CDC, myiasis is the infection of a fly larva (maggot) in human tissue picked up only from insects in tropical areas. The woman claimed that she had consulted doctors in the US, but the botfly could not be removed and she was discharged with symptomatic relief medications. Doctors in India were able to remove three of the botflies 'in 10-15 minutes with all aseptic precautions, without any anesthesia.' Dr Narola Yanger of the hospital's surgery department said in a statement that they managed to remove 'three live human botflies almost of 2 cm in size - one from the right upper eyelid, second one from back of her neck and third from her right forearm.' The woman was discharged on symptomatic prescribed medicines from the emergency department, it said. The unidentified woman was quoted as saying in the official press release by the hospital: 'I had gone to the Amazon jungle and when I returned, I noticed a bite on my right upper eyelid. 'It started growing and bleeding. I thought it was a poisonous spider bite.' 'There was a small hole in the middle of the bite, and I saw something coming out of the hole. 'The doctors in the US could not get it out and so I came to Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj. The doctors here could take the botflies out without the help of anaesthesia.' It is not known why US consultants were unable to remove the botfly, however CDC guidance says that in some cases 'medication is given, depending on the type of larva that causes the problem'. Myiasis burrow into delicate membranes and feed on tissue. Had the myiasis not been removed, it could have caused considerable destruction of tissues, resulting in complications such as extensive erosion of nose, face, and orbit. This could have led to rare meningitis and death, doctors claimed. Russian tanks, accompanied by so-called 'peacemakers,' have rolled into Ukraine just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two breakaway regions in the eastern region of the country. We'll see what economic sanctions the United States and European Union ultimately decide to deploy against the Kremlin, but at this point it appears that Biden is getting the 'minor incursion' that he invited. 'I think what you're going to see is that Russia will be held accountable if it invades,' said Biden during a disastrous question and answer session after his prepared remarks on January 19th. When the president goes off-script, he usually gets in trouble, and he really got in trouble this time. 'And it depends on what it does,' Biden continued. 'It's one thing if it's a minor incursion and then we end up having a fight about what to do and not do, et cetera.' A reporter followed up giving the president an opportunity to walk back this blunder. 'Are you effectively giving Putin permission to make a small incursion into the country?' she asked. The president laughed and said, 'Good question. That's how it did sound like, didn't it?' At this point it appears that Biden is getting the 'minor incursion' that he invited. (Above) President Joe Biden delivers a national update on the situation at the Russia-Ukraine border at the White House in Washington, DC, February 18, 2022. Pro-Russian activists react after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing two Russian-backed breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities, in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine February 21, 2022. The official 'clarification' of Biden's remarks didn't come until later in a statement from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. 'President Biden has been clear with the Russian President: If any Russian military forces move across the Ukrainian border, that's a renewed invasion, and it will be met with a swift, severe, and united response from the United States and our Allies,' it read. But now, Biden's erratic and conflicted approach to Vladimir Putin is bearing bitter fruit. Biden has always had contrary impulses regarding Putin and Russia. On the campaign trail, Biden posed like John Wayne; two years ago, Biden or more likely, some campaign staffer -- tweeted, 'Vladimir Putin doesn't want me to be President. He doesn't want me to be our nominee. If you're wondering why it's because I'm the only person in this field who's ever gone toe-to-toe with him.' But then, once in office, Biden pledged he wanted a 'stable and predictable' relationship with Russia. In March, Biden touted an extension of an arms treaty with Russia. By May, Biden had dropped objections to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline running from Russia to Germany, which would increase European dependence on Russian energy exports. At a face-to-face summit with Putin in June, Biden called Putin 'bright,' 'tough,' and a 'worthy adversary.' Biden no doubt thought he was showing Putin the right balance of toughness and reasonable conciliatoriness. But clearly, Vladimir Putin with memories of the Obama administration's subdued response to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 -- looked at Biden and saw a pushover. (The disastrous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan probably further reassured Putin that Biden wanted to withdraw from the world and focus on issues at home.) Biden's weakness has invited Putin's aggression. This is what happens when deterrence fails. The movement of Russian troops into eastern Ukraine must rank among the least surprising surprise attacks in history; Russian forces have been moving into place for months. And throughout that time, Biden and his allies pledged devastating consequences if Putin violated Ukraine's sovereignty. 'We are ready to respond decisively to a Russian attack on Ukraine, which is still very much a possibility,' said Biden on February 15th. A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine following the recognition of their independence, in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk, Ukraine February 22, 2022. A military truck drives along a street in Donetsk after Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine Yet by dispatching so-called 'peacekeepers' into Ukraine, Putin is flummoxing Biden and America's European allies, who seemed convinced that Putin would be deterred by, as Vice President Kamala Harris put it, 'some of the greatest sanctions, if not the strongest, that we've ever issued.' Even before Putin made his move cracks in the West's resolve to confront him were showing. On Friday, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi signaled that he wasn't fully on board with hardline sanctions. 'We are discussing sanctions with the EU and in the course of these discussions we have made our position known, that they should be concentrated on narrow sectors without including energy,' said Draghi, whose country imports 90% of gas supplies with Russia as one of its biggest providers. Deterrence was crumbling. Putin keeping pushing. You'd assume Biden and the leaders of NATO countries would have game planned this out and responded immediately to a 'minor incursion', but again they're caught flatfooted. Biden's first move was to bar U.S. investment in what Russia calls the 'Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics.' But how many American businessmen were eager to invest in a war zone? It's not like Disney was planning to build new theme parks there. It was an entirely symbolic gesture and Russian soldiers don't turn around and retreat in the face of symbolic gestures. Putin probably laughed. Monday night, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting, and most of the representatives denounced Russia in fiery terms. And yet the meeting adjourned after 90 minutes, with no action taken. Yes, it is good news that German chancellor Olaf Scholz halted the certification of Nord Stream 2, but that's essentially halting the paperwork. The pipeline is still there, waiting to be used. Political and economic pressure to start using the $11 billion pipeline will inevitably build. The project was a major initiative of the two most recent German chancellors, Gerhard Schroder and Angela Merkel, who put a lot of political capital into the Nord Stream 2 project. If the West really wants to ensure Europe doesn't become dependent on Russian gas exports, that pipeline must be shut down permanently. Fill it with saltwater. Now we see how damaging Biden's 'minor incursion' gaffe was --- he said the quiet part out loud. He wanted to stop a Russian invasion, but not at a great cost, and the president's 'red line' was always a little blurry. Monday night, the Biden administration had two senior administration officials brief reporters and they emphasized that what Russia was doing was not necessarily going to trigger the whole package of retaliatory sanctions. 'Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. Russia has had forces in the Donbas region for the past eight years,' said an anonymous official. Another mixed signal, another sign that the West could live with a 'minor incursion,' right after Putin's frighteningly bellicose, grievance-filled speech in Moscow Monday. Finally, by Tuesday morning, the White House used the 'I' word. 'We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine,' deputy national security adviser Jon Finer told CNN. Now that's tough! A deputy adviser on CNN Putin must be frightened. America's allies must feel reassured that the US stands behind them. Give me a break! Right now, which side seems more determined to win? Which side wants control of these regions more? Which side is willing to fight, and which side keeps desperately talking up exit ramps? The question now is: Will Putin stop at a 'minor incursion'? The weak threat of economic sanctions hasn't deterred him yet. Jim Geraghty is the senior political correspondent for National Review and the author of five books, most recently, Hunting Four Horsemen. An iconic black swan in a seaside town has been killed by a dog that was on a lead - leaving behind six unhatched eggs. Dawlish Town Council said the father swan had been sitting on the eggs when the attack occurred on Sunday night at Tucks Plot. The male swan, or cob, was 'part of a mating pair whose cygnets are due to hatch later this week'. Waterfowl wardensin the south Devon town have placed six of the seven eggs from the nest in an incubator and they are 'hopeful' the cygnets may still hatch and can be reunited with their mother who has remained at the nest. The incident happened when it was dark and the council said the dog owner has been left 'devastated' following the attack, which happened whilst the animal was on a short lead. Dawlish Town Council in south Devon said the father swan (pictured) had been sitting on the eggs when the attack occurred on Sunday night at Tucks Plot The male swan was 'part of a mating pair whose cygnets are due to hatch later this week' (pictured) Waterfowl wardens have placed six of the seven eggs from the nest in an incubator and they are 'hopeful' the cygnets may still hatch and can be reunited with their mother who has remained at the nest The owner alerted wardens immediately after the attack happened and the incident is currently being investigated. Following the attack, the council have said confirmed that there are now just three black swans left in Dawlish. The birds were introduced to the town as a gift from Australia in the early 1900s by a Dawlish resident who had emigrated and they have become an iconic symbol of the resort and a major tourist attraction. Posting the news on Facebook, a Dawlish Town Council spokesperson said: 'We are sad to inform everyone that there has been an unfortunate incident where the father black swan has been killed by a dog on a lead in Tuck's Plot. The history of black swans in the south Devon town of Dawlish: The Black Swan is originally native to the West Coast of Australia and first recorded in the 17th Century. They were introduced in the early 1900s by a Dawlish resident who had emigrated from New Zealand. The birds have since become an unofficial symbol of the resort and a major tourist attraction. The female swan is more likely to have a number of partners that produce multiple clutches of eggs each year. Unlike most other breeds of swan, the male Black Swan not only helps with the building of the nest but also spends more time sitting on them than the female. Ever since the swans have been reintroduced, they have become a tourist attraction in the town and we are lucky enough once again this year to be able to see more cygnets have joined the bevy. Source: Welcome Family A black swan with a cygnet in Dawlish, south Devon (file image) Advertisement 'The waterfowl wardens have removed the eggs from the nest to continue their incubation in the compound. 'Mother swan is still at the nest, and we will be maintaining a careful watch on her welfare. The exact circumstances of the incident are still being investigated. 'We would remind everyone whether they have a dog or not to give all the waterfowl a distance and respect their space.' They added: 'The dog owner involved in the swan death is utterly distraught by what has occurred. The dog was on a short lead in the dark and it was an unforeseen occurrence which they tried to stop. 'The owner advised the wardens straighten after it happened. We are aware that some postings on Facebook about the owner are not appropriate and ask people to be mindful of their comments, no matter how much they love our beautiful waterfowl. ' Devastated local residents have taken to social media, with one user claiming the female swan has been 'calling for its mate'. One user wrote: 'If you cant control a dog on a leash then should not have a dog in your possession. So sad it was one our beloved swans but also could have been a child.' Another said: 'Shocking news and such a shame for all concerned. Something needs to be done, it's not the dogs fault its the owners. Name and shame and a heavy fine.' Another user wrote: 'Totally unacceptable, whatever is wrong with the owner of the dog!' One more added: 'Just watching the female swan calling for its mate. So very sad. Do they know whos dog it was?' The black swan population was tragically hit by bird flu last year, which dramatically affected their numbers and killed both adult swans and cygnets. They were also hit by infertility before the start of the Covid pandemic, which also reduced the population. This was the horrifying moment a woman rammed the car of a mother-of-two, who had her daughter with her, before running over her victim and dragging her across the parking lot. The victim, who only gave her name as Amaro, said she was 'terrified' during the attack which happened with two young kids, aged three and five, in her car. Amaro told Kron4 that the incident began when she accidentally cut off the aggressive motorist as she merged into the lane to go to a Bay Area McDonald's drive-thru on February 5, at around noon. Cellphone footage recorded by the victim, shows the unidentified suspect, who appeared to be wearing medical scrubs, getting out of her car and screaming at the victim before she begins to throw things. Amaro quickly rolls up her window as the crazed woman repeatedly throws a water bottle at her. Her terrified children can be heard crying and asking why they were being attacked in the chilling video. 'They were so scared,' she said. 'I was terrified, for my children, for myself.' Richmond Police are searching for a driver (left and right) who slammed her car into another vehicle after she accused a woman of cutting in front of her in the McDonalds drive-thru line in Richmond, California After yelling profane language and throwing items at the victim's car window, the woman rammed her Honda Civic into the other driver's van (pictured) The suspect, who police said was accompanied by an older male passenger, then gets back inside her vehicle to charge into the victim's van with her car. Amaro, who stopped recording on her phone after the crash, got out of her van to stand in front of the suspect's vehicle to prevent her from fleeing. However, the woman took off, running over Amara in the process. Amaro was able to hold on to the hood of the suspect's car for more than 150 feet before the woman hard-braked, causing Amaro to fall off. 'As I was trying to get up and get my balance back on my feet, she got out of her vehicle and started punching me multiple times,' said Amaro. 'I counted six times in my face, but it could have been more.' After the suspect rammed her car, Amaro (pictured) stood in front of the woman's vehicle so that she wouldn't flee the scene. But, the woman ran her over and Amaro had to hang onto the suspect's car roof. She was dragged for more than 150 feet before eventually falling off and received several punches while she was laying injured on the ground 'They were so scared,' Amaro said of her two kids who witnessed the incident. 'I was terrified, for my children, for myself.' The road-rage incident took place in the parking lot of the McDonalds on MacDonald Avenue in Richmond, California After the incident, police later revealed that the suspect was not the owner of the Honda Civic used in the assault. The car was eventually found by authorities, who said its owner was not cooperating with the investigation. Police have now asked for the public's help to identify the suspect, who faces several serious charges. 'We are investigating this as an assault with a deadly weapon because her vehicle was used specifically as a weapon to ram the other vehicle,' Sergeant Pomeroy told KTVU. Amaro has recovered from her injuries from the incident. However, she fears for her safety as well as the ones of her children, who have been having nightmares over the incident. 'Just the thought of me running into her again is terrifying,' she said. Richmond Police said they urge anyone with information on the assault to contact its hotline immediately. In this picture taken on Feb. 6, disk jockey (DJ) Kei Notoya, who has collected around City Pop 3,000 records, looks through various Japanese records from the 1970s and 1980s in Tokyo. AFP-Yonhap Tel Liyanto wasn't alive during Japan's 1980s boom, but she loves the "timeless" City Pop hits of the era, now going viral thanks to a new generation of young, international fans. The glamorous soundtrack that accompanied the country's economic miracle is exploding in popularity decades after its upbeat synths, influenced by soft rock, boogie and soul, first hit the airwaves. The retro genre is so hot that Canadian star The Weeknd sampled the 1983 track "Midnight Pretenders" on his latest release, and record companies are racing to reissue long-forgotten City Pop vinyl. "It's like disco: a nostalgic sound, but also modern," said Liyanto, a 27-year-old from Indonesia who works for a creative agency, as she danced to City Pop in a Tokyo bar. "I listen to it when I'm dancing, I listen to it when I'm chilling," she told AFP. From its origins in niche online music circles, the revival was amplified by YouTube's algorithm, which detects when a song is being liked and shared and recommends it worldwide. The most popular tracks, like Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love", have tens of millions of views on YouTube. The song's funk bass line and flamboyant brass have the optimistic vibe of "Club Tropicana" by Wham! but the soaring Japanese vocals tell another story. "Since the day I was heartbroken, I've been living life with day and night reversed," Takeuchi sings in the track that commenters call a "hidden gem." "Why am I suddenly listening to Japanese 80s pop? And why is it so good?" wrote one. In this picture taken on Feb. 2, disk jockey (DJ) Kei Notoya, who has collected around City Pop 3,000 records, poses for a photo following an interview with AFP at a studio in his house in the Koganei area of Tokyo. AFP-Yonhap Fresh, but familiar Kei Notoya, a 33-year-old DJ, was hooked by City Pop the first time he heard it at a university party. He has since collected around 3,000 records, some of which sell out in seconds from his online shop Tokyo Condition. "Japanese music back then copied a lot of American rock, soul, RB," he told AFP. "It sounds fresh, but at the same time, familiar." "People who weren't born can feel the energy, the atmosphere of the 80s and 70s by listening to these songs." The buzz has prompted Japanese record companies to upload more of their back catalogue onto streaming services. But the huge number of "slept-on" songs ignored for many years, but recently unearthed by music lovers keeps interest in the genre alive, Notoya said. He boasts of "new finds every week" in second-hand record shops, and released the compilation "Tokyo Glow" in December. The Weeknd's sample of Tomoko Aran's hit on his new track "Out of Time" is "the most mainstream example of any Japanese older music being introduced to a wider audience", said Patrick St Michel, a Japan-based music writer. "Midnight Pretenders" was reissued on vinyl last year along with other City Pop favorites including "Plastic Love", which has also been refreshed with a modern-day music video by record label Warner Japan. This picture taken on Feb. 2 shows some of the 3,000 City Pop records collected by disk jockey (DJ) Kei Notoya at a studio in his house in the Koganei area of Tokyo. AFP-Yonhap Boris Johnson today promised Britain will 'receive those who are fleeing in fear of persecution' from Ukraine as he faced calls to welcome all Ukrainian refugees who want to come to the UK. The Prime Minister said the UK 'will continue to do what it has always done' and help people displaced by conflict. But his commitment stopped far short of an absolute guarantee to help every person who may be forced out of Ukraine because of the crisis with Russia. Labour MP Nadia Whittome sought a firm commitment from the PM on refugees when he delivered a statement on the Ukraine crisis in the House of Commons this afternoon. Boris Johnson today promised Britain will 'receive those who are fleeing in fear of persecution' from Ukraine as he faced calls to welcome all Ukrainian refugees who want to come to the UK Labour MP Nadia Whittome sought a firm commitment from the PM on refugees when he delivered a statement on the Ukraine crisis in the House of Commons this afternoon She said: 'The Polish government has said that it must be prepared to accept up to one million refugees displaced by conflict or fleeing for fear of persecution. 'Yet last week when asked about accepting Ukrainian refugees, our Foreign Secretary said, and I quote, we can't make any commitments about any refugees at this stage. 'Amid conflict we must always put direct support for people first, so will the Government today commit to accepting all Ukrainian refugees who wish to come to the UK? 'And also those persecuted in Russia for their resistance to war and Putin's regime?' Mr Johnson replied: 'I thank her very much. What we are doing is helping the countries that are directly vulnerable to an exodus of refugees from Ukraine and we have put another 1,000 troops on standby. 'This country will continue to do what it has always done and receive those who are fleeing in fear of persecution. That is what we will do.' The UK Government is yet to set out any formal plan for welcoming potential refugees from Ukraine. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss today announced that British nationals leaving Ukraine will be given extra support. Ms Truss urged British nationals to leave the country immediately by 'commercial routes'. She tweeted: 'The safety and security of British nationals in Ukraine is our top priority. Russian mobile artillery and armoured troop carriers are seen in Russia's Rostov-on-Don region on Tuesday, close to the border with Ukraine's separatist-held areas 'All Brits should leave now via commercial routes while they are still available. 'We are bolstering our teams in the region to support British people as they leave and once they have crossed the border.' The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said 'rapid deployment teams' are being sent to Poland, Moldova, Lithuania and Slovakia to provide consular support to British nationals who leave Ukraine. Foreign Office travel advice warns: 'In the event of a military incursion, it is likely that commercial routes out of Ukraine will be severely disrupted and roads across Ukraine could be closed.' Crewmates used makeshift tourniquet to stop bleeding as they radioed for help A fisherman who was bitten by a shark was rescued in a dramatic helicopter airlift in the Bahamas. Footage shows US Coast Guard officers pulling the man to safety with a makeshift tourniquet made by his crewmates to stop him from bleeding out. The crew from Air Station Miami received a callout from the Shear Water fishing boat at around 12.50 p.m. Monday to report a shark attack at Bimini, a Bahamas island chain 80 miles off the coast of Florida. It was reported that the 51-year-old victim was losing blood so they had placed a tourniquet around his arm. The Coast Guard filmed the moment their Dolphin helicopter appeared above the vessel, the wounded fisherman seen clearly lying on the deck. After an officer safely lowers themselves down onto the boat before bringing down a rescue basket. The man is then seen being lifted up to safety and being flown to Miami. Footage shows US Coast Guard officers pulling the man to safety with a makeshift tourniquet made by his crewmates to stop him from bleeding out The man is now reported to be in a stable condition at a local Miami hospital. 'This was the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation,' said Sean Connett, command duty officer at Coast Guard District Seven. 'This individual was fortunate a fellow crew member was able to render aid prior to the Coast Guard's arrival which, allowed for a quick extraction from the vessel.' In 2021, the Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark File recorded 73 unprovoked bites and 39 provoked. British Airways passengers have slammed the airline over cancelled and delayed flights after its latest IT meltdown. Travellers branded the flag carrier a 'disgrace' and blasted the 'appalling' service after 34 flights were shelved and 114 were postponed. Some were left stranded abroad while others reported they were separated from their luggage for at least two days. Further problems were reported with electronic systems to check passenger documentation at boarding gates and with legal documentation provided to pilots before they can take off, leading to severe flight delays for those who were able to travel. The airline said this afternoon's IT problems were due to its online check-in service not functioning. The latest issues facing BA comes after passengers were left waiting 'up to three hours' to collect their baggage at Heathrow during Storm Eunice on Sunday. Travellers branded the flag carrier a 'disgrace' and blasted the 'appalling' service after 34 flights were shelved and 114 were postponed (file photo) Laura Dean, who works in the holiday sector, said on Twitter: '@British_Airways I would like a refund for my cancelled flight which was meant to leave Lisbon at 15:55 and you NOW cannot get me home until Thursday! 'Your system keeps failing during the cancel process but funnily will allow a rebook. seeking a refund IN FULL how is that done?' Mark Burgess put: 'Have tried and failed to return from Geneva today as @British_Airways have cancelled three flights we were successively booked on. 'Not confident of getting us back tomorrow either. Quite extraordinary. Have reverted to other means which I am also not confident of!' Alice Beardmore-Gray said: '@British_Airways flight cancelled for the first time yesterday, now for the second time today, told no space on later flights this evening - how am I supposed to get to work tomorrow?...not good enough!' Helen Ruth Wilson posted: '@British_Airways you're a disgrace my return flight from Jersey to Heathrow has been cancelled for the 2nd time in 2 days. 'It's unacceptable!!! Sunday due to the weather- yet all other airlines managed to keep to schedule. Today cancelled for operational reasons!! What operation!' BA firm asks pilots to become flight attendants A BA company has invited pilots to train to become flight attendants ahead of a predicted travel boom. CityFlyer wants to hire 4,000 cabin crew before summer. It offered captains the chance to do six weeks of training, which includes the safety routines and serving clients. The roles are temporary and pilots would still get their 100,000 plus salaries. Currently it is only available to workers at BA CityFlyer and London City Airport and the firm's headquarters. Advertisement BAs backup IT system failed to kick in properly and was not operating at full capacity according to reports, which further annoyed passengers. The airlines IT woes could not have come at a worse time as it struggles to return to pre-pandemic operating levels and with passenger numbers still severely down because of Covid restrictions. It could also leave the airline facing hefty compensation pay outs because of the delays and cancellations, with many passengers forced to make alternative travel arrangements. BA grounded internal flights and a handful of ones to Europe on Sunday, causing chaos due to Storm Franklin. Thousands arriving in London were forced to wait in the baggage claim area of the airport in a desperate bid to be reunited with their luggage. They claimed there was 'no food available' and vending machines 'aren't working' despite their long wait. BA asked passengers who do not want to wait to fill out an online form to allow travellers to track their bags - but many said the online system was not working. The chaos at Heathrow was a result of the 'continued bad weather conditions' as Storm Eunice has forced British Airways to also cancel dozens of flights. A BA spokesman said of today's IT failure: 'We experienced some system issues this morning which had an impact on the smooth running of our operation. 'We have back-up plans in place so we can continue to support our customers and we are getting the majority of our flights away as planned.' The High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of venture capitalist Julie Meyer after she failed to attend a sentencing hearing following a dispute with the Royal Family's law firm Farrer & Co. Meyer, the founder and chief executive of the Swiss investment fund Viva Investment Partners, was handed a six month suspended prison sentence earlier this month over almost 200,000 in unpaid solicitors' fees. Meyer was being represented by Farrer & Co - who have previously represented members of the Royal Family - in a court in Malta over a legal dispute regarding unpaid wages. A court heard Meyer failed to pay Julian Pike, a partner with the London law firm, 197,000 after she claimed she was given a poor standard of service over a period of five months and that she should only have to pay the firm 50,000. Meyer failed to attend multiple court hearings, suggesting she should be allowed to tune in remotely from her home in Switzerland, and failed to hand over financial documents relating to the case, the court was told. She was found guilty of contempt of court for failure to hand over the documents and refusing to attend hearings. After failing to appear for a hearing on February 14, the courts issued a warrant for Meyer's arrest. The High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of venture capitalist Julie Meyer after she failed to attend a sentencing hearing following a dispute with the Royal Family's law firm Farrer & Co The high-profile businesswoman told City A.M. that handing over financial documents would have been to breach laws in Switzerland, where she currently resides. She told the newspaper: 'The disclosure that the UK courts have required of me are not allowed in Switzerland, and we have had very clear Swiss legal advice that we should not comply because we would be breaching Swiss law.' Meyer had been ordered by the High Court to attend the February 14 hearing in person but when she failed to appear, the warrant for her arrest was issued. After Meyer failed to appear for a hearing on February 14, the courts issued a warrant for her arrest The High Court had previously ruled her medical evidence - conjunctivitis and not being vaccinated against Covid-19 - were not grounds to avoid attending the court hearings in person. High Court judge Mr Justice Kerr called Meyer 'cynical' and a 'selfish and untrustworthy person' for breaching the court's orders. Meyer told City A.M. that Farrer & Co 'abused their privileged position as the Queen's lawyers' and sent their invoice to the wrong addresses. She claimed the work included in the invoices was 'inadequate'. A spokesman for Farrer & Co told MailOnline the firm declined to comment. Pupil and teacher absence rates have dropped over the last two weeks, with the lowest levels of Covid-related absence seen this year, Government data showed. A total of 181,600 pupils, or 2.2 per cent, were absent for Covid-related reasons on February 10, down from 3.9 per cent a week earlier, according to figures released by the Department for Education. The rates of absences due to a confirmed case of Covid-19 also dropped, with just 135,600 pupils, or 1.7 per cent, off on February 10, compared with 3.1 per cent on February 3. The amount of pupils absent with a confirmed Covid case have fallen to below where they were on January 6, when 159,000 pupils were absent with a confirmed case. A total of 181,600 pupils, or 2.2 per cent, were absent for Covid-related reasons on February 10, down from 3.9 per cent a week earlier (stock image) Meanwhile, 7.5 per cent of teachers and school leaders were absent from open schools on February 10, compared with 9.1 per cent a week before. Out of these absences, just 2.8 per cent were off for Covid-related reasons on February 10 compared with 4.4 per cent on February 3. Around 7.3 per cent of teaching assistants and other staff were absent from schools on February 10, with 2.5 per cent absent for Covid-related reasons, down from nine per cent the weeks before. An estimated 17 per cent of all state-funded schools had more than 15 per cent of their teachers and school leaders absent on February 10, which dropped from 23 per cent on February 3. More teachers returned to the workplace this month as 45 per cent of all state-funded schools only had up to 5 per cent of their teachers and school leaders absent on February 10, which rose from 35 per cent on February 3. Commenting on the figures, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: 'We're pleased to see rates of pupil and staff absence caused by Covid are decreasing, and we very much hope that this means a corner has been turned in what has been a very difficult first half of the spring term.' While Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union, NAHT, said: 'Everyone is sincerely hoping that the two weeks of improved pupil attendance figures we've seen will be a continued trend.' But he argued that the Government needed to give clearer guidance to schools after the Prime Minister revealed that all remaining legal Covid restrictions will be lifted at midnight tomorrow. The requirement to self-isolate for at least five days after testing positive for Covid is being dropped, and free testing - thought to cost ministers 2billion a month - will end on April 1 for all but the elderly and vulnerable. Boris Johnson told the Commons: 'From today we're removing the guidance for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing.' The guidance said that from Monday, the Government was removing guidance 'for staff and students in most education and childcare settings to undertake twice weekly asymptomatic testing'. Following the announcement, Mr Whiteman said: 'Although the legal responsibility for testing and isolation has been removed, we all still have a personal responsibility to keep each other safe. 'Schools and families will still need to co-operate to minimise disruption and keep schools open. 'Parents and carers need to know what to do when a child has Covid, and that should be made clear by government, not left up to individual schools.' 'Free access to lateral flow tests is vital. Charging for them disproportionately impacts children and workers from disadvantaged backgrounds,' he added. Meanwhile, Mr Barton said heads were concerned the Government's 'living with Covid plan, and the lifting of virtually all control measures, does run the risk of causing a new wave of transmission and disruption in our schools and colleges'. 'We hope that is not the case, but vigilance is important,' he said. 'Schools and colleges have weathered a very tough half term with extremely high rates of pupil and staff absence caused by the virus, and they deserve enormous credit for all they have done to keep education going.' Speaking about the lifting of all Covid restrictions, Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the NEU teaching union, said 'it is not the case that we have defeated Covid, nor that everyone can "live" with it'. She said Government attendance data showed the 'high disruption caused by illness and isolation' and that although the Omicron variant had 'faded' across the population, 'it is nonetheless a presence in schools'. Dr Bousted said schools need to know whether chief medical officer Sir Chris Whitty and the chief scientific officer Sir Patrick Vallance supported the move to end isolation for those testing positive with Covid, which will come into place from Thursday. 'It is vital that public health, not political considerations, decide that date. We also want to know if the Government is planning any further investment in measures such as improved ventilation,' she said. The Covid rule changes come after daily UK Covid data today showed that cases in the UK have been tumbling for three weeks. It come as school leaders said Boris Johnson's lifting of Covid restrictions could cause further disruption to education, and create conflict between schools and parents (stock image) Daily data from the Government dashboard today shows 41,130 infections were logged 10.9 per cent lower than last Tuesday. The Omicron wave has now been shrinking since February 2. Another 205 Covid deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded, marking a week-on-week fall of 12.4 per cent. And the number of infected people admitted to hospital fell 6.1 per cent in a week. The UKHSA data shows infections have been falling week-on-week across the UK since the start of the month. The 41,130 figure brings the average number of infections detected over the last seven days to 41,916 the lowest figure since November 22, before Omicron was detected. The vast majority of the cases, 30,080, were registered in England, while 1,672 were logged in Wales and 2,951 were detected in Northern Ireland. Another 6,427 people tested positive in Scotland, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today revealed all legal Covid curbs including the requirement to wear masks and show vaccine passports would end by March 21. Meanwhile, 1,042 infected people were admitted to hospitals across the UK on Friday. The figure is 6.1 per cent lower than the week earlier and marks nearly three weeks of falling hospitalisations. And 11,357 people were in hospitals across the UK by 8am yesterday morning, down 8.3 per cent in a week. Meanwhile, another 205 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were registered, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 160,815. Vaccination data shows 91.4 per cent of over-12s in the UK have now had at least one Covid vaccine, while 85 per cent are double-jabbed and 66.2 per cent are boosted. A four-year-old girl from Tennessee is clinging to life on a ventilator after being shot in the neck while riding in her family's car during a road-rage incident last week. The parents of Itali Oakley said they were heading to dinner on Friday night in East Memphis when they inadvertently cut off another driver. According to the family, someone in that other vehicle opened fire in retaliation, striking the four-year-old. The incident took place in the 1000 block of South Perkins Avenue just before 9pm. Itali Oakley, 4, from Memphis, was left clinging to life on a ventilator following a road-rage shooting. Itali was struck by bullet fragments in the neck The incident took place in the 1000 block of South Perkins Avenue in Memphis just before 9pm on Friday Itali was in her parents' car heading to dinner when the road rage incident occurred outside her grandmother's home Charlene Dearing, Itali's grandmother, said she was supposed to go to dinner with the rest of the family, but then she changed her mind and decided to go to bed, reported WHNT. Five minutes later, she said she was jolted awake by loud noises outside, which she initially mistook for the sounds of a car crash. Moments later, Dearing said she heard her daughter banging on the door and yelling for her to call 911. Dearing said when her granddaughter was struck by bullet fragments in the neck, she told her father, 'Dad, I don't feel good.' The child then touched her neck and exclaimed, 'I'm bleeding, dad.' According to the grandmother, while the family were waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Itali's father was holding her in his arms and begging her: 'Itali, please dont go to sleep. Dont go to sleep. Dont go to sleep, reported Action News 5. Charlene Dearing (far left), Itali's grandmother, said she was supposed to go to dinner with the rest of the family, but she changed her mind and decided to go to bed. Itali is pictured with her grandma and mom (right) The car Itali was in was said to have accidentally cut off another vehicle, prompting someone inside to open fire. Itali told her father (right) she did not feel well, then touched her neck and said, 'I'm bleeding, dad' Itali underwent surgery and was put on a ventilator to help her recover Itali was eventually taken to Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and spent seven hours in surgery, after which she was put on a ventilator. On Monday, Dearing said that her granddaughter's condition has been improving. Police said the suspect or suspects fled the scene of the road-rage shooting in a dark-colored sedan. So far, no arrests have been made. Dearing said she is praying for the shooter who nearly killed her granddaughter. 'I pray that God heals your heart,' she said. 'I pray he heals your family as well because thats somebodys child.' A Florida stay-at-home dad who stole House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's lectern during last year's Capitol insurrection and bragged online about his involvement in the fatal riot could face a 90-day prison sentence and 'substantial fine.' Adam Johnson, 37, bragged that he 'broke the internet' and was 'finally famous' after photos of him carrying the podium went viral. Federal prosecutors, in a sentencing memo filed Friday, argue that the father-of-five showed a 'sense of entitlement and privilege' with his actions during the riot and that the viral photograph 'portrays Johnson as confident, arguably gleeful, while converting government property to his own use during an unlawful siege of the Capitol.' The government is seeking a sentence of 90 days imprisonment followed by one year parole, a $5,000 fine, $500 in restitution and 60 hours of community service. The prosecution also tried to justify the large sum by arguing that Johnson and his wife, who is a doctor, are in a 'financial situation so favorable that [he] has not had to work for the past 11 years.' 'In addition, Johnson has privately retained not one, but two, reputable attorneys. Surely, then, he can afford a substantial fine to reimburse taxpayers for his part in the mob that caused significant damage to the United States Capitol and has resulted in enormous burdens on the criminal justice system,' the memo states. Johnson, who has five sons between the ages of 6 and 14, pleaded guilty to entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds in November. He had also been charged with theft of government property and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, but both of those charges were dismissed. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday. Stay-at-home dad Adam Johnson, 37, who stole Nancy Pelosi's podium during the Capitol riot faces a sentence of 90 days imprisonment followed by one year parole, a $5,000 fine, $500 in restitution and 60 hours of community service (Pictured: The now-viral photograph of Johnson carrying Pelosi's lectern) Prosecutors argue the father-of-five showed a 'sense of entitlement and privilege' with his actions during the riot and that the viral photograph 'portrays Johnson as confident, arguably gleeful, while converting government property to his own use during an unlawful siege of the Capitol.' He is pictured in front of a Capitol sign Johnson's attorneys, in a statement to NBC News, claim he 'deeply regrets his participation in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.' His legal team argues his 'life-changing decision' to enter the Capitol has 'negatively impacted his family' and have asked the court to 'consider the significant and negative impact that incarceration would have on his sons.' They also argued that prosecutors wouldn't be considering jail time if he had been photographed with any other piece of Capitol furniture. 'Unfortunately, he received considerable attention simply because the lectern belonged to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi,' the attorneys wrote. 'Arguably, if he latched onto some other piece of government furniture for his photo opportunity jail time would not even be a consideration.' Attorney Dan Eckhart, who represents Johnson, declined to comment on the memo, telling DailyMail.com: 'We are not commenting until after Mr. Johnson is sentenced on Friday.' His attorneys claim Johnson (pictured at the riot) 'deeply regrets his participation in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.' They also argued his 'life-changing decision' to enter the Capitol has 'negatively impacted his family' and have asked the court to 'consider the significant and negative impact that incarceration would have on his sons' The prosecution also tried to justify the large fine by arguing that Johnson (pictured at the riot) and his wife, who is a doctor, are in a 'financial situation so favorable that [he] has not had to work for the past 11 years' Johnson entered the Senate Wing with other protesters (left) and was seen in a smoke-filled hallway (right) after the rioters attempted to breach the House Chamber Johnson was arrested by federal marshals in Florida in January 2021, just days after he was seen parading through the Capitol on Jan. 6 with Pelosi's lectern. Court documents reveal that the FBI consulted with members of Pelosi's staff to determine that the lectern was stored in the Speaker's Suite, located under a staircase to the third floor on the House side of the building. The podium was found on January 7 by a member of the Senate staff in the Red corridor of the Senate wing off the Rotunda in the Capitol building. It is worth more than $1,000, according to the House of Representatives' curator. Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts also showed Johnson posing next to a sign reading 'closed to all tours' inside the building. Johnson, a psychology graduate-turned-furniture maker, has previously faced possession of marijuana and violation of probation charges. Johnson (pictured with his attorneys in January 2021) was arrested by federal marshals in Florida just days after he was seen parading through the Capitol on Jan. 6 with Pelosi's lectern The FBI has made more than 740 arrests in connection to the January 6 insurrection during which hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to block congressional certification of President Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory by storming the Capitol The FBI has made more than 740 arrests in connection to the January 6 insurrection during which hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to block congressional certification of President Joe Biden's November 2020 election victory by storming the Capitol. Five people died the day of the riot, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick. There are still more than 350 people wanted by the FBI in connection to the attack. Federal investigators estimate the total number of people who could be charged is more than 2,500. Pictured: Rikki Neave, six, was strangled and posed naked in a star shape in woods near his home in Peterborough back in 1994 Accused killer James Watson was 'spot on' when he explained to detectives where schoolboy Rikki Neave's body was found 12 years after he was murdered. Watson, 40, is accused of strangling six-year-old Rikki Neave in Peterborough in November 1994, before stripping and posing his body in a 'star shape'. He was arrested after sophisticated technology found a 'definitive match' between his DNA profile and samples taken from Rikki's clothing when a new investigation was opened into the case in 2015. Today, jurors heard the transcript of a police interview conducted with Watson after he was arrested in April 2016. Detective constable Julia Searle was one of the officers who interviewed the defendant and today gave evidence at the Old Bailey. DC Searle read out police questions while the prosecution read out Watson's replies. One of the first questions Watson was asked on April 19, 2016, was whether he was responsible for Rikki's murder. 'No, of course not, no,' he replied. The court heard that Watson was given a copy of the witness statements he made to police in 1994 and 2015 and asserted that they contained a true account. When asked again about whether he was responsible for Rikki's death, he said: 'I'm going to go no comment.' After a slew of no comment answers, police explained that answers from him would help their investigation. Watson responded: 'I want to help you guys. 'I did a statement when I was 13 and again just months ago...when your colleagues came to reinterview me. Pictured: James Watson, who would have been 13 at the time, is now 40 and standing trial at the Old Bailey in London charged with six-year-old Rikki Neave's murder which he denies 'And then to get arrested this morning it just worried me slightly because of course I want to help you guys. 'Going over very old traumatic childhood memories...difficult for me to put my mind back. 'Throw in the severity of I'm now a 35-year-old man sitting in a police station being questioned about a murder, it's not just your average walk in the park. 'I'm a bit emotionally reluctant to. A suspicion of murder... that's a very different kettle of fish.' He was asked whether he knew where Rikki's body had been found 'I think so yeah,' Watson replied. 'We used to call it square dyke. I think there's a little dye or a brook which runs along the whole of Welland.' Police showed him a map of the Welland Estate in 1994 and he identified and marked the area he believed the body had been found. 'We were in there collecting fish as a kid. There's even a square on this map. Where that square is that's the square dyke.' The interviewing officer said: 'We've been to this area before today... and you are pretty much spot on.' Further on in the interview, Watson gave an account of meeting Rikki on the day he disappeared, one which differed from his original statements. A map showing the distance between Rikki's home and the wood where his body was found 'I remember him just looking through, looking through a knothole. I picked him up, chucked him over the, you know, over the fence. 'Not chucked him over the fence but you know held him up over the fence, watched the guys doing the work. 'And then we left and walked off down the second hill these, you know fatty Val's hills that I mentioned about, we walked off here and I carried on my route here across, through these houses across home.' Watson went on to say he was with Rikki 'literally only...minutes'. 'I'm guessing I would've just picked him up under his armpits and lifted him up the fence. 'I couldn't, I wouldn't swear on it... that I would've just picked him up from behind under his armpits and held him up against this fence for you know half a second or thirty seconds or so while he had a look at the diggers. 'It was no ninja move. I don't think it was by his earhole if that's what you wanted to ask.' In another interview in April 2016, Watson told police he had viewed a Crimewatch episode about the reinvestigation of Rikki's murder. 'I guess briefly what I could say is you know in those days I had heard from the media on the TV and stuff about a boy being found. 'And then after that I remember there was a lot of, something to do with his mum, I think his mum got arrested over some child care issues with him. Pictured: James Watson (right), in the dock at the Old Bailey, London, charged with the murder of Rikki who was found strangled in woodland 25 years ago, when the defendant was 13 'I think at one point she was arrested for his murder. I remember those kinds of other media interests around that at the time. 'And then not a lot until more recently. Until Crimestoppers. Once when I was watching Crimestoppers about... reopening the Rikki Neave case.' Watson went on to correct himself - Crimewatch, not Crimestoppers. He said he viewed the episode while he was an inmate at HMP North Sea Camp. 'I regularly watched Crimewatch to see if I could see my cell mates on there. Just joking. 'But Crimewatch is a monthly programme...as an ex-criminal it's something I watch regularly.' Watson said he would have watched 'the whole reconstruction' of the investigation because he was 'intrigued that they were using a new mapping system'. It was one month after he watched the programme, he told officers, that police came to the prison to reinterview him for the first time. 'That's pretty much all I've heard about it really,' Watson said. 'Over the last months been a couple of my friends on Facebook who still live on the Welland...they might comment on something about Rikki Neave. 'Always constantly little bits here and there. 'But generally, I know there was a little lad who was six and went missing and was found murdered but that was 20 years ago and the investigation has recently been reopened.' The interviewing officer then asked him what he knew of the circumstances of Rikki's death. Watson replied: 'He got found in the wood, that's pretty much all I think. I don't know much more. 'I think...was he strangled? I'm just pulling at straws. I think he was, he was strangled to death. 'He was down the square dyke as I mentioned to you earlier, I know that's where he was found down there.' Jurors will listen to two more police interviews when the trial continues tomorrow. Watson, of no fixed address, denies murdering Rikki between 28 and 29 November 1994. A debate between candidates running for Ohio's open Senate seat descended into chaos on Monday night as Republican Josh Mandel shared a testy exchange with an audience member over his past comments calling Black Lives Matter activists 'thugs.' Mandel, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2012 and 2018, faced off against Democrat attorney Morgan Harper in their second debate at City-God Baptist Fellowship in Cleveland. It was a heated hour-long head-to-head during which Mandel also called Harper 'like AOC only dumber.' Roughly 20 minutes into the event Mandel was being grilled about his calling BLM protesters 'thugs' in their first debate when an audience member made a loud noise of agreement. 'And you ain't coming in the black community. Put 'em out,' the female voice can be heard saying. The moderator, who is black, immediately attempted to de-escalate the situation. 'Hey hey, we're not doing that. Please,' he said. Speaking over his objections, Mandel confronted the audience member directly: 'You mean like put him out, like, with a, with a bullet? What do you mean put him out? What do you mean put him out?' Mandel, the former Ohio state treasurer, faced off with a heckler at his Monday night debate He also took a personal swing at his opponent, Democrat Morgan Harper (right), calling her 'AOC only dumber' The moderator fruitlessly called the candidate's name. 'Ask him to leave,' the woman in the audience continued. 'You don't belong in the black community.' Mandel shot back, 'I thought this was America where we debate freely.' Addressing the irate voter, the moderator said, 'Hey, sister, listen to me, don't do that.' He then declined the white co-moderator's efforts to intervene. 'I got this. I got this. Look, don't do that. Don't -- this is America, he can be here. Don't do that. Don't embarrass me,' he said as the woman muttered under her breath, 'They shouldn't have let him in here.' She countered, 'I'm not embarrassing you. But to bring that white man into the black community like that --' '-- I'm, I'm finished. But don't you suck up to him. He's in the black community. He's calling my parents thugs. Make him answer the question.' Mandel, who had been watching the protesting voter with a smile, jumped back into the fray to address her. Speaking over the moderator's continued objections, he said: 'Let me tell you something ma'am. I put my life in the hands of young black guys. I had young black men put their life in my hands in the United States Marine Corps in two tours in Iraq, so don't stand there and lecture me.' Mandel (left) and Harper (right), a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau adviser, are in a crowded race to replace retiring Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman 'Those were my brothers, whether they were black or they were white or they were Hispanic or they were Asian.' He pushed ahead, 'Don't stand there and lecture me about race and color. We put our lives in each others hands. Those were my brothers.' 'Mr. Mandel, I'm the moderator over here I'm asking you to pay attention to me. And ma'am...will you please stop,' the moderator finally broke through. Finally getting to the question, he asked Mandel whether he considered Donald Trump's supporters who were arrested for storming the Capitol on January 6 last year as 'thugs' as well. Mandel dodged the question, instead disputing the moderator's characterization of the rioters as 'insurrectionists' and pivoted to criticizing progressive groups like BLM. 'Listen I think the word "insurrection" is completely inaccurate for what happened that day. I do think there were some people who committed crimes and obviously they're working their way through the justice system,' he said. 'But at the end of the day, what violates my sensibilities over the past year or two in respect to behavior in that regard that you're describing, is organizations like Black Lives Matter that burned down police stations in places like Minneapolis.' At another point during the debate Mandel took a personal jab at his Democratic opponent when Harper accused him of being backed by 'big insurance companies and big pharma' and championed Medicare-for-all. Mandel avoided saying whether he would also compare Capitol rioters to 'thugs' as he did with BLM protesters, instead stating: 'What violates my sensibilities over the past year or two in respect to behavior in that regard that you're describing, is organizations like Black Lives Matter that burned down police stations in places like Minneapolis' 'I told the story earlier about being at a town hall, the bar and restaurant down the street, where I told folks, "I'm going to date Morgan Harper. She's like AOC only smarter." After hearing that answer I actually think she's like AOC only dumber,' Mandel said as muted gasps could be heard from the audience. At the end of the debate Harper could be seen declining Mandel's offer for a handshake. Voters in the Buckeye State are looking at a crowded race to replace retiring Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman, whose term ends at the end of the year. Harper, a former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau adviser, is running in the Democratic primary up against House Rep. Tim Ryan, an early 2020 presidential contender. Tech executive and Democrat activist Traci Johnson is also in the race. Mandel, who previously served as Ohio's state treasurer, is running in a crowded GOP primary up against a number of other high-profile candidates including Hillbilly Elegy author JD Vance and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken. TImken clinched Portman's endorsement earlier this month, with several other Republicans on Capitol Hill throwing her their support as well. Mandel is backed by Trump's controversial former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, as well as Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. Trump himself has yet to weigh in on the race, though he has already waded into Ohio's midterms with an endorsement of his former aide Max Miller in the state's 13th Congressional District. A Republican primary poll published by a local NBC affiliate last week shows Mandel in the lead with 21 percent of the vote. Businessman Mike Gibbons trails behind with 16.4 percent of support, and Vance at a close third with 14.3 percent. A mother-of-four snapped a photo her killer moments before he shot her dead in the middle of the street in Mexico after she confronted him about stealing her motorbike. Paula Ruiz was murdered Saturday evening moments after the assailant, identified only as Pedro, and his accomplice Sergio Antonio stealing her son's motorcycle in San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, local Mexican media outlets reported. Ruiz and her son, Miguel Alejandro, were walking back to the parking spot after she had concluded her shift at the Arrecife de Coral hotel around 11pm and noticed that the motorcycle was no longer there. The gunman, identified by the Chiapas (Mexico) State Office of the Attorney General as Pedro, opened fired and shot 41-year-old Paula Ruiz on Saturday night as he and an assailant attempted to rob her son's motorcycle. Ruiz reportedly fired a shot that impacted Ruiz above the heart. She was declared dead at a local hospital Sunday Paula Ruiz was executed in Chiapas, Mexico, after she confronted two suspects who were trying to steal her son's motorcycle Saturday. The 41-year-old mother-of-four challenged the gunman to fire his weapon as she stood between him and her son before the suspect fired and shot her above the heart. She was rushed to a local hospital in the Chiapas city of San Cristobal de Las Casas and was declared dead They subsequently searched the neighborhood and discovered Antonio pushing the motorcycle down a street. Ruiz confronted the men and asked them to return the motorcycle. Authorities say during the argument she stepped in between Miguel and Pedro to block her son from harm. As Pedro raised his gun at her, Ruiz whipped out her phone and snapped a photo of him. It was the last picture she would ever take. Pedro was arrested Tuesday in connection to the weekend murder of Paul Ruiz, a mother-of-four, in Chiapas, Mexico Moments later, Pedro opened fire and struck her above the heart. Both he and Antonio then fled, abandoning Miguel Alejandro's motorcycle on the ground. Local media outlets reported that paramedics were late in arriving at the scene. Ruiz was rushed to Las Culturas Hospital, where she was pronounced dead Sunday. Pedro and Sergio Antonio were apprehended together in the San Cristobal de Las Casas neighborhood of La Isla on Tuesday. Pedro was in possession of a gun. Two other suspects linked to the incident, identified as Yareli Concepcion, 27, and Rigoberto, 21, were taken into custody in La Isla. Authorities recovered a gun and a stolen motorcycle from Concepcion and Rigoberto. Charges against the four suspects are pending. U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order to prohibit trade and investment between U.S. individuals and two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine recognized as independent by Russia, at the White House in Washington, Feb. 21. Reuters-Yonhap The United States said it will impose sanctions on Moscow, Tuesday (local time), following an initially cautious response to President Vladimir Putin's order for Russian troops to deploy to two Kremlin-backed separatist areas of Ukraine. "We plan to announce new sanctions on Russia tomorrow in response to Moscow's decisions and actions today. We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement," a White House spokesperson told AFP, Monday. This came after President Joe Biden had already imposed limited sanctions on the two Russian-backed areas in eastern Ukraine's Donbass region that were earlier recognized as independent by Putin. The United States and other Western allies are condemning Putin's move as a violation of pro-Western Ukraine's territorial integrity. But a senior U.S. official earlier declined to characterize whether Putin's order for Russian armed forces to conduct "peacekeeping" there counted as an actual invasion, which would trigger much wider and more severe Western sanctions against Moscow. "We are going to assess what Russia's done," the official told reporters, stressing that Russian forces have already been deployed covertly in the separatist areas for eight years. "Russian troops moving into Donbass would not be a new step," he said. "We'll continue to pursue diplomacy until the tanks roll." The Kremlin has for weeks denied plans to attack Ukraine, while at the same time building up an enormous force of troops and heavy weaponry on three sides of the country. In a speech accusing the West of turning Ukraine into an anti-Russian bastion, Putin said he was granting recognition of independence to the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk enclaves. Putin then tasked the Russian military with "peacekeeping" in the region, although no details were given as to what this meant in terms of troop movements. The United States and its multiple Western allies warn that a full Russian invasion of Ukraine would prompt crippling economic sanctions. With his initially restrained response, Biden signed an executive order to "prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine," White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. The order will "provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine," Psaki said, adding that the measures are separate from wider Western sanctions ready to go "should Russia further invade Ukraine." The two self-proclaimed republics already have extremely limited dealings with U.S. citizens. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a press conference with Fijian acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during his visit to Nadi, Fiji, in this file photo taken Feb. 12. AFP-Yonhap U.S. officials continued on Monday to warn that heavy sanctions on Russia could be imposed at any time. Secretary of State Antony Blinken slammed Russia's recognition of the separatist areas as a sign Putin had no interest in diplomacy. Blinken said in a statement that recognizing the territories' independence "directly contradicts Russia's claimed commitment to diplomacy, and is a clear attack on Ukraine's sovereignty." On Friday, the deputy U.S. national security advisor for international economics, Daleep Singh, warned that the full set of sanctions under preparation would turn Russia into an international "pariah." Following Putin's speech, the White House said that Biden talked by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for 35 minutes to "reaffirm" the U.S. commitment to Ukrainian sovereignty. He also detailed the plan for sanctions. Biden also spoke for half an hour with two key European allies French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, an official said. The three leaders "strongly condemned" Putin's decision and discussed how to coordinate their response. The White House did not respond immediately to questions about whether there was still any consideration being given to a suggested summit between Biden and Putin. Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were scheduled to meet this Thursday to discuss the possible summit. (AFP) Elon Musk and his lawyers are escalating their fight with U.S. securities regulators, with a lawyer accusing them of leaking investigative information, and the Tesla CEO alleging on Twitter that government corruption is being exposed. Alex Spiro, Musk's lawyer, wrote on Monday to Judge Alison Nathan, expressing 'grave concerns' about the SEC's investigation into Tesla, and accused the agency of having 'weaponized the court's consent decree for illicit ends.' Musk, 50, tweeted early on Tuesday morning: 'This is just peeling back the first layer of the corruption onion. Stay tuned ' Neither Musk's tweet nor Spiro's letter offered any specifics about the leak, but the actions ramped up a war of words with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC launched its investigation into Tesla in August 2018, when Musk tweeted that he had the money to take the company private, at $420 a share, adding: 'funding secured'. The figure was a joke, referencing the slang for marijuana, but short sellers and long investors lost huge amounts of money as the stock skyrocketed on the funding-secured claim, then crashed when Musk couldn't verify the tweet was true. Musk and Tesla were fined $20 million each and the settlement specified governance changes, including Musk's ouster as board chairman, as well as approval of all Musk's tweets. Spiro's letter accused at least one SEC staff member of leaking information about an investigation of Musk and Tesla's compliance with a court-order aimed at controlling his tweets. 'It has become clearer and clearer that the commission is out to retaliate against my clients for exercising their First Amendment rights,' Spiro wrote. Elon Musk is seen on February 10 providing an update on SpaceX. Musk is at war with the SEC in a dispute that began with a 2018 tweet Musk has accused the SEC of harassing him over its investigation into his company 'At least one member of the SEC staff responded by leaking certain information regarding its investigation. 'This leak is emblematic of the vindictive, improper conduct that occasioned my letter: the SEC is retaliating against Mr Musk and Tesla.' Spiro also complained that the SEC had failed to remit the $40 million it had promised to Tesla shareholders. The SEC has accused Musk of violating the terms of the agreement. The agency isn't the only federal regulator that Musk is sparring with. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently has stepped up enforcement against Tesla. Last week, Musk called the agency the 'fun police' for making Tesla recall a 'Boombox' function that can play sounds over an external speaker and obscure audible warnings for pedestrians. Alex Spiro, lawyer for Elon Musk, has written to the SEC multiple times - last week accusing the agency of harassment, and on Monday accusing them of leaking information about Tesla The safety agency has launched multiple investigations of Tesla and is overseeing 15 Tesla recalls since January of 2021. Recalls include 'Full Self-Driving' software being programmed to run stop signs at slow speeds. Investigations include unexpected braking by Tesla vehicles. Spiro had also filed a letter with the court on Thursday, accusing the SEC of harassing Musk. The SEC responded the next day, saying it was following Nathan's instructions in trying to speak with Musk's lawyers about his posts on Twitter. Steven Buchholz of the SEC's San Francisco office wrote that the judge encouraged both sides to confer before raising issues with the court. He also denied that the agency had issued subpoenas in Musk's Twitter case and denied Spiro's allegation that the SEC is taking too long to distribute a $40 million penalty from Musk and Tesla that is supposed to go to Tesla shareholders. Police ran over a gunman who took dozens of people hostage at an Apple store in Amsterdam for five hours on Tuesday evening. Footage shows the assailant chasing a fleeing captive before suddenly being hit by a car in Leidseplein - a square in the centre of the Dutch capital. Amsterdam police said: 'We managed to stop the hostage-taker by hitting him as he ran out. Violent images of that collision can be seen. 'We now know that the suspect had no explosives on his body and medical personnel are now taking care of him.' A clip earlier showed a man in a headlock with what appeared to be a gun pointed at his head inside the shop. The hostage-taker could be seen waving around the weapon as he gestured towards customers sat in a restaurant across the street. Another video also captured approximately a dozen armed police officers taking cover and surrounding the store in the city. Local media reports suggest the assailant is an armed robber, but this has not been confirmed. Police said at 9.15pm that 'dozens' of people have left the building since the incident began at around 5.40pm. The force added: 'They are going to a police station for a witness statement and of course for aftercare such as victim support.' WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Footage shows the assailant chasing a fleeing captive (left) before suddenly being hit by a car (right) in Leidseplein - a square in the centre of the Dutch capital The hostage-taker lies next to a police robot on the street shortly after the end of the incident in the Apple Store. Police said the suspect had no explosives on his body Footage earlier showed a man in a headlock with what appears to be a gun pointed at his head at the shop in Leidseplein - a square in the centre of the Dutch capital An armed member of the DSI (Dutch Special Intervention Service) arrives at Leidseplein during an hostage situation in an Amsterdam's Apple Store today Police initially said: 'Due to a report at a shop on Leidseplein, police are now deployed there. More information will follow via this Twitter channel.' In an update at around 5.55pm, it added: 'There is someone with a firearm in/near the shop in question, the police are on site with many (specialist) units to get the situation under control.' A further statement said they were reluctant to provide information 'so as not to disrupt our investigation and efforts there'. The force said at 7pm that a 'hostage situation' is ongoing, before confirming around an hour later that 'several people have been able to leave'. One witness claimed they had to 'run for their life' after hearing gunshots. They told Dutch broadcaster AT5: 'I was standing on the zebra crossing opposite the apple store. An employee walked out in panic with a walkie-talkie, yelling. Another clip captured around a dozen armed police officers running near the store in the city Armed officers are seen standing by a police vehicle near Leidseplein during the hostage situation. Members of the public were advised to stay away from the site Security forces take measures around the store after armed robbers reportedly entered the store in the centre of Amsterdam 'At that moment the penny hadn't dropped yet and I was about to cross the zebra crossing opposite the entrance to the Apple store. 'And that's when I heard gunshots inside.' Members of the public had been advised to stay away from the site so police could 'focus on dealing with the situation'. Dutch journalist Wouter Laumans earlier tweeted: 'The Apple store Leidseplein hostage situation is still ongoing. 'Police officer on the ribbon talks about "possible explosion hazard".' Apple said: 'We are so incredibly grateful and relieved that our employees and customers in Amsterdam are safe after this terrifying experience. 'We want to thank local law enforcement for their exceptional work and ongoing investigation. 'Our teams and customers took swift action and showed incredible strength and resolve, and we are so thankful for the support and care theyve shown each other under such challenging circumstances.' Security forces take measures around the store during the hostage situation. One witness claimed they had to 'run for their life' after hearing gunshots But after a two-month assessment, the force said no further action will be taken Claimants alleged that information was suppressed about its health implications The Metropolitan Police has ruled that the UK's Covid-19 vaccine programme is not criminal and said 'no evidence' was found to support claims that information about 'adverse health implications' were 'suppressed'. The force said documents were submitted to a west London police station on December 20 in support of claims that alleged people in UK Parliament and other organisations had suppressed information about the severity of health implications for those taking the vaccine. Police said the complainants suggested that offences including gross negligent manslaughter and misconduct in a public office may have taken place. Last month, the force confirmed allegations of misconduct in a public office were made against two people who work for public bodies in the health sector, but added 'no investigation has been launched'. But following a two-month assessment, the Met said 'it is clear that no criminal offences are apparent' and that 'no evidence' had been found to support the allegations. The force said it will not be launching a criminal investigation and no further action will be taken in relation to allegations against the UK's Covid-19 vaccine programme (stock image) The force said it will not be launching a criminal investigation and no further action will be taken in relation to the claims. The complainants have been informed of the decision in writing, the Met said. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors said: 'The vaccines in use against Covid-19 have been approved by all the relevant national and international regulatory bodies. 'They underwent multiple trials and were subject to stringent approval processes. They are in use in more than 100 countries. 'We have found no evidence to support any claims that information about adverse health implications is being suppressed or withheld from the public in the manner that was alleged.' She said the existence of a crime reference number in relation to the allegations was 'widely misrepresented as evidence of a criminal investigation or of findings of wrongdoing'. Documents claimed alleged people in UK Parliament and other organisations had suppressed information about the severity of health implications for those taking the vaccine (file photo) Anti-vaxxers had been turning up at vaccine centres, police stations, schools and hospitals declaring themselves 'common law constables' and giving documents to workers at the sites in a bid to 'disrupt' the vaccine programme. The activists often videoed their exchanges with vaccine centres workers to spread disinformation. DAC Connors said: 'In recent months, the existence of a crime reference number in relation to these allegations has been widely misrepresented as evidence of a criminal investigation or of findings of wrongdoing. That is not the case. 'There have been a number of incidents where individuals quoting this crime reference number have attended vaccination centres, hospitals and other locations in an effort to disrupt the UK's vaccination programme. That is unacceptable. 'Staff and volunteers working in these places are doing a vitally important job and have the right to do so free from attempts to threaten, intimidate or otherwise disrupt them. 'Efforts to do so will not be tolerated by the Met or our partners across the country.' Advertisement The Pentagon could commission the National Guard to help manage thousands of big rigs expected to descend upon the nation's capital this week in protest of government mandates. Following the path of a Canadian convoy of anti-vaccine long haulers who congested Ottawa's streets for weeks this month, a group of fed-up American truckers from throughout the country are setting out Wednesday to launch their own mass protest in Washington, D.C., and plan to congest popular thoroughfares - including the Capitol Beltway. The Pentagon has been asked to help manage the protests by deploying the National Guard, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. 'The Department is analyzing a request for assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency,' Kirby said in a statement. 'Those agencies have asked for National Guard personnel to provide support at traffic control points in and around the District to help the USCP [U.S. Capitol Police] and D.C. government address potential challenges stemming from possible disruptions at key traffic arteries.' Although it's not clear how many people will participate in the protests, it could number in the thousands, Fox News reported. Those leading the movement have requested a National Park Service permit that could accommodate up to 3,000 truckers in D.C., according to the report. This comes as officials also plan to reinstall the fencing that surrounded the Capitol complex last year ahead of Biden's March 1 State of the Union address. The DC Beltway is among the thoroughfares being targeted by US truckers setting out to protest against a series of mandates Among the groups participating in the protests is the People's Convoy, which will begin the 11-day journey from Southern California to DC on Wednesday The Pentagon is being asked to deploy the National Guard to the US capital in anticipation of a mass group of truckers heading toward the city as part of a 'freedom convoy' The fencing erection comes as anxiety over security on Capitol Hill continues following the January 6, 2021 attack that saw a handful killed and dozens to hundreds injured in the midst of Congress certifying the 2020 presidential election results. The fencing remained in place for most of 2021, giving rise to Republican criticism and claims that Democrats were trying to create a barrier between government and the people. Democrats, mainly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, insisted the fencing was a needed precaution following the January 6 riot. The United States Capitol Police said it is working with several law enforcement agencies in the area as well as the D.C. National Guard to secure the complex before Biden's first State of the Union on March 1. The fencing that surrounded the Capitol Complex for much of 2021 will be reinstalled next week as U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) secure the area ahead of President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address on March 1 Some participants have already laid out the ruthless approaches they'll take to making their voices heard in Washington. Bob Bolus, who's leading a fleet of transports from Pennsylvania to Washington on Wednesday, plans to help shut down the Capital Beltway on Friday in protest of vaccine mandates, pandemic-related restrictions and more. The 64-mile road - whose formal name is the I-495 - encircles the capital, and is its most vital ground transportation link. One lane will be left open for emergency vehicles, but Bolus has said 'tough luck' to commuters. 'The Beltway will be shut down,' Bolus told Fox News. 'I'll give you an analogy of that of a giant boa constrictor that basically squeezes you, chokes you, and then swallows you. And that's what we're going to do to D.C.' 'We will not compromise anybody's safety or health. As far as if they [people] can't get to work, geez, that's too bad.' Bolus said in a flyer that he's leading a group of truckers from Harrisburg to Washington to take a stand against President Joe Biden's 'tyrannical machine's attempt to remove our inalienable rights.' Bob Bolus, who's leading a fleet of transports from Pennsylvania to Washington on Wednesday, likened the event to a boa killing and devouring its prey The U.S. trucker movement is being spearheaded by a number of groups, including one called the People's Convoy, which describes itself as a 'peaceful and unified transcontinental movement.' It will begin the journey from Southern California to D.C. on Wednesday. Both the Canadian and American convoys has drummed up plenty of support among truckers and Conservatives, including Senator Rand Paul, who previously said he was 'all for' such a protest. 'I'm all for it,' Paul told the Daily Signal earlier this month. 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights, you name it. Peaceful protest, clog things up, make people think about the mandates.' However, Canada has been criticized for the way it policed the largely peaceful protests. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been blasted as an authoritarian for his attempts to stomp out the protests and stop them from being funded. Ottawa's protests also led to the resignation last week of the city's police chief Peter Sloly, who failed to restore order to Canada's capital after thousands of truckers began protesting there in late January. The US protest is being held as part of a new trend launched in Canada when thousands of truckers formed a fleet to Ottawa, where they remained for weeks before being broken up. Protests are pictured supporting Canadian's efforts on February 12, 2022 in Buffalo, New York Canada's convoy has received support from some Americans, including those pictured above near the Peace Bridge in Buffalo, New York on February 13, 2022 Truck drivers had been parked in the city center since January 27, demanding an end to Trudeau's vaccine mandates. They vowed to remain there until mandates were lifted, but police last week began cracking down on the convoy, arresting at least 196 demonstrators and towing away 115 vehicles. Heavily armed riot cops used pepper spray, while Mounties and armored vehicles were also brought in to help begin clearing the downtown area, which had been paralyzed by the protest. Canadian cops came under scrutiny for their excessive violence toward protestors after leaked text messages revealed a group of officers applauded the moment a grandmother was trampled by a police horse and joked about being kinder, gentler and handing out free hugs and unicorn stickers' to the demonstrators. The text messages, which were leaked by Rebel News and whose authenticity has not yet been verified, appear to show several officers delighting in the brutality via a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) group chat. Several clips have shown peaceful protesters being beaten into submission, including a truck driver who claims he was attacked after having given himself up to authorities. Other footage shows a woman, who appeared to be using a mobility scooter, being trampled by mounted police in Ottawa, Ontario, on Friday. One of the text messages in the exchange appears to show officers applauding the incident involving the woman. 'Just watched the horse video - that is awesome,' the chat member allegedly wrote. 'We should practice that manoeuvre.' Meanwhile, one group participant wrote: 'Time for the protesters to hear our jackboots on the ground,' while another said: 'Don't kick all of them out until next weeks group gets our turn.' Another joked the officers could not act harshly because they were a 'kinder, gentler RCMP,' to which someone replied: 'Okay, we can give out free hugs and unicorn stickers.' Moments before the unidentified woman was trampled, she told another Freedom Convoy participant - who was recording the protests - that she was rallying to ensure a better future for her grandchildren. Our grandchildren. This is what were doing it for. So they all can have peace and love and happiness,' she is heard saying on video, before chanting: Peace, love, happiness. Peace, love, happiness. It comes as the province's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) announced it was investigating an incident in which a 49-year-old woman was 'seriously injured' in an interaction with a police horse. The incident also followed an incident two weeks ago in which a 4foot-10inch great grandfather was cuffed and shoved to his knees for honking his car horn in support of the Freedom Convoy. The RCMP said it plans to launch an inquiry into the text chats. But the RCMP did not confirm the authenticity of the messages in its Tuesday morning response to DailyMail.com, nor did the organization answer an inquiry about disciplinary consequences for the officers involved. It appears Washington is working to avoid a similar outcome with preemptive planning. A person holds their hand to their heart during a singing of O Canada during a rally January 30 against COVID-19 restrictions on Parliament Hill, which began as a cross-country convoy protesting a federal vaccine mandate for truckers Vehicles from the protest convoy are parked blocking lanes on a road January 30 in Ottawa shortly after the demonstrations began Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been widely criticized for his leadership during the protests, with some labeling him an authoritarian for his attempts to stomp out the protests and stop them from being funded. Peter Sloly, 55, resigned last week after failing to get the Ottawa protests under control Police have already begun gearing up for their arrival, D.C. police Chief Robert Contee said. 'There will be disruptions to traffic, that kind of thing,' Contee told reporters last Friday. 'I think we need to be very candid with the public about what some of the expectations [should be], based upon what we've seen in Ottawa.' Washington police have nixed officers' leave over the next week to prepare for the protestors heading their way, and are reportedly mobilizing hundreds of officers as part of a larger response plan. A 14-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in a daylight attack in east London. The teenager was airlifted to hospital after being found with knife wounds in Barkingside high street, Ilford, shortly after 4pm this afternoon. Police officers rushed to the scene and a cordon was put in place as two people were arrested in connection with the incident. A 14-year-old boy has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in Barkingside high street The London Ambulance Service sent an air ambulance to the scene as well as two land ambulances and the teenager was rushed to a London hospital. His condition and the severity of his injuries are not known at this time. Pictures from the scene show a large number of emergency service vehicles and dozens of police officers. The Metropolitan Police said there were a number of crime scenes being investigated in connection to the incident and as a result cordons are in place while enquiries are ongoing. Police and ambulance crews rushed to the scene in London shortly after 4pm this afternoon The police said there are a number of scene involved in their investigation after the stabbing A spokesman for the Met said: 'Police were called at around 16:10hrs on Tuesday, 22 February, to reports of a male stabbed on Barkingside High Street. 'Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service. A 14-year-old boy was taken to hospital and we await an update on his condition. 'Two males have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. 'A number of crime scenes are in place as enquiries continue.' The age of the men in custody is not known. It comes after a record number of teenagers were killed in London last year. In total, 30 teenagers lost their lives to violence, surpassing the previous record of 29 which was set in 2008. Just over a week ago, police named this year's first victim - Donovan Allen - an 18-year-old who was stabbed to death at a property in Enfield earlier this month. Both Democrats and Republicans increased spending on security last year by nearly 700% as lawmakers faced an unprecedented number of threats. Members of Congress from both parties saw a dramatic increase in security costs - both for personal protection and for cybersecurity measures. Some of the most prominent and high-profile names in politics were its top spenders on security: Senators Mark Kelly and Ted Cruz; and Representatives Liz Cheney and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In 2021, the campaign committees for lawmakers from both parties noted nearly $3 million for security-related spending, according to a CQ Roll Call analysis of federal election records. That's up nearly 700% over the entire 2019-2020 cycle when congressional candidates listed security-related expenses of $385,000. The bill is expected to go up as campaigning begins in earnest ahead of the November midterm election. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of the top ten spenders on campaign security in 2021: coming in at $73,000 Republican Rep. Liz Cheney was also in top ten at $59,000 Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona had some of the highest costs - $300,000 last year. His re-election contest is one of the most competative in the nation and the seat could be won by either party. Kelly is a target - literally. One of Kelly's Republican opponents, Jim Lamon, ran a Western-style ad that shows him shooting various Democrats, including Kelly. Additionally, Kelly is the husband of Gabby Giffords, the former member of Congress who was shot in the head while greeting constituents at a Tucson grocery market in 2011. But the biggest spender on security among Democrats was Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, who dropped $665,000. On the Republican side, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spent just shy of $250,000. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona had some of the highest security costs - $300,000 last year On the Republican side, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas was the biggest spender on security - just shy of $250,000 Rounding out the top ten, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York spent $73,000 and Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming came out at $59,000. Threats against lawmakers have reached an all-time high of 9,600 in 2021, according to U.S. Capitol Police data released last month, outpacing 2020 figures. The increase came after the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Additionally, Republican lawmakers who supported Donald Trump's impeachment for his role in that day reported an increase in threats. Last year the Federal Election Commission changed regulations to allow lawmakers to use campaign funds to pay for security expenses to protect themselves and their immediate families. Rounding out the top for lawmakers' security expenses in the last year were: Georgia Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff at $240,000 Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush at $170,000 Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Patrick J. Toomey at $96,000 Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California at $86,000 Democratic Rep. Mike Levin of California at $65,000 Warnock and Osoff won special elections in Georgia in January that gave Democrats control of the Senate and sparked a wave of GOP fury. Both Bush and Ocasio-Cortez are high-profile progressive Democrats who have been frequent targets of critics. Cheney has been a target of former President Donald Trump and his supporters since she voted for his second impeachment and joined the special committee investigating the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. And Swalwell told the Daily Beast last year that: 'Threats to my and my family's safety intensified dramatically when I was named an impeachment manager in January, and have not abated since.' A Wisconsin restaurant worker is recovering after being shot in the face when a pair of customers grew angry over a $3 hamburger missing from their order. Anthony Rodriguez, 26, a dad-of-one, miraculously survived the January 30 shooting, which left his spine fractured and a portion of the bullet still lodged in his throat. 'I do remember just laying on the ground and just bleeding out,' Rodriguez, wearing a neck brace to support his fractured spine, told local outlet WISN-TV last week of the brazen late-night attack at a Wauwatosa George Webb location, where he worked as a server. 'I was in so much shock. I dont really remember being in much pain, but I remember kind of internally freaking out and being very scared and just telling myself, "Wow, Im probably gonna die here."' Rodriguez was the only server working at the popular Wisconsin chain restaurant the night of the attack, which took place shortly after 12 a.m. Twin sisters Bryanna and Breanta Johnson, both 20, were allegedly 'impatient and rude' while waiting for their order and then became angry when a hamburger was missing, prompting one of them to walk outside and return with a pistol. The two proceeded to attack Rodriguez and one of them shot him in the face while he was down, police said. The twin sisters were subsequently tracked down and arrested by Wisconsin police, and are facing attempted homicide charges for the brazen attack. The are being held in jail on $100,000 bail, according to police records. If convicted, both of the sisters could face up to 65 years in prison, police say, as both took part in the attack. Rodriguez (pictured in an undated photo), a single father to a three-year-old, recalled how while bleeding out on the eatery's floor he thought he would never see his son again. 'I never expected to get shot being a server,' he said of his near-death experience Bryanna Johnson, who fired the near-fatal shot that pierce Rodriguez's face, is currently in police custody for attempted murder, along with her sister. Police say the altercation stemmed from the pair being unhappy over a missing burger - which cost $3 - from a food order Sister Breanta Johnson, who helped her sister during the attack by producing and handing off the gun, was also arrested and charged with attempted murder for her part in the shooting. She along with her sister is being held on $100,000 bail, police said A criminal complaint filed by the Wauwatosa Police Department chronicling the incident details how the Johnson sisters, along with two other women, were ordering food from Rodriguez at the eatery when employees said the group started becoming 'impatient and rude' while waiting for a food order. The women then began arguing with Rodriguez and another unnamed staffer, unhappy that they were not getting their food quick enough, the complaint states. When they became even more irate over a $3 hamburger that they said was missing from their order, Rodriguez and the other employee then asked the group to leave. At that point, one of the twins walked outside the establishment and returned with a pistol, the complaint continues. Surveillance footage and interviews with witnesses and the suspects confirm that one of the sisters, Breanta, proceeded to punch Rodriguez in the face and wrestle him to the ground, detectives wrote. The security footage then showed Breanta pass the handgun to her sister, who was still beating Rodriguez, police said. The woman, Bryanna, then attempted to pistol whip Rodriguez as he laid on the ground. She then allegedly aimed and shot an already downed Rodriguez in the face, the complaint states. When police arrived on the scene, they found Rodriguez in critical condition with 'a gunshot wound to the right side of his face,' per the complaint. Rodriguez, 26, survived the shooting, which left his spine fractured and portion of the bullet still lodged in his throat, after the shot pierced his cheek 'I do remember just laying on the ground and just bleeding out,' Anthony Rodriguez, wearing a neck brace to support his fractured spine, recalled last week of the brazen late-night attack January 30 at a Wauwatosa George Webb restaurant, where he worked as a server When police arrived at the George Webb location, they found Rodriguez in critical condition with 'a gunshot wound to the right side of his face,' a complaint chronicling the incident states 'The bullet went through my upper lip and took out my upper teeth and cracked my bottom teeth, so those will have to be replaced,' Rodriguez said two weeks after the attack, donning a neck brace to stabilize a part of his spine fractured by the bullet. 'There's still big fragments in my throat from the bullet,' said the George Webb staffer, who has not yet returned to work and has had friends start a GoFundMe to help cover hospital costs and help the single dad with his three-year-old son. 'I never expected to get shot being a server,' Rodriguez said. 'It's amazing I'm able to walk. Its amazing Im able to speak.' When interviewed by detectives, both sisters confirmed the contents of the complaint as accurate - though Breanta, the one who retrieved the gun and handed it off to her sister, said she had 'blacked out' during the fight and did not remember passing the gun to sister Bryanna, who allegedly pulled the trigger. Rodriguez will have a 'long and arduous recovery,' according to his GoFundMe, which is currently just $170 away from its $50,000 goal Rodriguez was the only server on shift at the popular Wisconsin chain restaurant the night of the attack, which took place shortly after 12 am Speaking to WISN-TV last week, Rodriguez recalled how, while bleeding out on the eatery's floor, he had thought he would never see his son again. 'Just disappointment that it had to come to this and disappointment that I was almost taken away from my family,' Rodriguez said when asked by interviewer Hillary Mintz what was going through his mind after the attack. Of his attackers, he says, 'I hope they get the judgment that they deserve because it was brutal what they did.' Rodriguez will have a 'long and arduous recovery,' according to his GoFundMe, which is currently just $170 away from its $50,000 goal. Alex Salmond is facing pressure to ditch his morning chat show on the Kremlin-funded network RT. The former Scottish first minister has continued broadcasting on the state-funded channel throughout the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Salmond, who resigned from the SNP and now leads Alba, has hosted his RT show since 2017 and has previously stated he has full editorial control. But this morning, The Alex Salmond Show included links to stories such as 'Putin orders Russian military to "secure the peace" in Donbas' and 'Donetsk and Lugansk celebrate' featuring videos of cheering crowds, fireworks and Russian flags. This comes in spite of Western leaders denouncing Putin's move as an invasion after he recognised the two republics as independent regions and ordered tanks and troops to enter Ukraine, violating international law. Alex Salmond is facing pressure to ditch his morning chat show on the Kremlin-funded network RT Keir Starmer today called for RT to be banned from airing in the UK, saying it helped Putin's campaign of misinformation'. On Monday, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace joked that Salmond could 'do an in-depth analysis' of Russian fake news on his chat show, adding: 'I'm sure he's open to the highest bidder.' Meanwhile Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservative external affairs spokesman, old The Times: 'It's an international embarrassment that a former first minister of Scotland has continued to take a pay cheque from what is effectively an extension of the Kremlin, amid these escalating tensions. 'Ukraine is on the edge of war with an aggressive Russia, yet Alex Salmond sees no ethical conflict in being hand and glove with a major propaganda outlet for Putin's invading regime. 'As if we needed any more proof, Alex Salmond has once again demonstrated a complete lack of credibility and moral fitness by continuing with this grubby deal.' Ross Greer from the Scottish Greens, who share power in Scottish government with the SNP, said: 'Alex Salmond's continued involvement with Putin's RT propaganda department is utterly disgraceful. 'As a former first minister this is causing real reputational damage to Scotland too. If he and the Kremlin's other useful idiot George Galloway still possessed an ounce of integrity they'd quit that channel immediately. The fact that neither will speaks volumes.' A tank, believed to be Russian, is spotted on a street near the city of Donetsk in separatist-held regions of eastern Ukraine Russian artillery pieces are pictured in Rostov-on-Don, on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border, on Tuesday - as Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to advance on to Ukrainian territory Vehicles carrying Russian flags are pictured in central Donetsk as some residents celebrate Putin's recognition of the republic, while Western leaders denounce the move as an invasion Salmond's party Alba has condemned the invasion but they also accused Western leaders of breaching assurances to Russia that NATO would not expand eastwards. The party's Westminster leader also called for Russia's 'security interests' to be respected. Neale Hanvey, who defected from the SNP last year, said: 'Alba condemns the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russian recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics is a serious breach of the Minsk protocols. 'This is a moment for cool heads and careful words if we are to avoid a Cuban Missile Crisis in reverse. 'We need an intensification of diplomatic efforts, dialogue and restraint. A hot war in Europe could quickly spiral with catastrophic consequences stretching far beyond the economy.' He added: 'Sanctions can and should be introduced and in terms of dirty London money are long overdue but they must be carefully targeted if they are not to be counterproductive to our own economic security. 'The spike in energy prices is already being felt in every household across these islands. But he said Russia's demands must also be considered by the West. He said: 'The task is, as it has always been, how to ensure respect for Ukraine's rights as an independent country including the recognition of the rights of the Russian speaking minority as stated in the Minsk accords. Keir Starmer today called for RT to be banned from airing in the UK, saying it helped Putin's campaign of misinformation' Russian mobile artillery and armoured troop carriers are seen in Russia's Rostov-on-Don region on Tuesday, close to the border with Ukraine's separatist-held areas 'All of which has to be reconciled with Russia's own security interests. That requires our acceptance that assurances were offered in the 1990s about NATO expansion eastward which have not been kept. 'The emphasis at this critical moment should be on de-escalation not escalation. At the end of the day conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and negotiation.' Alba's statement is in stark contrast to SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who retweeted today: 'Vladimir Putin is an unashamed imperialist and chauvinist and progressives should condemn him to the dustbin of history.' She also retweeted a statement by Stewart McDonald, the SNP defence spokesman, demanding sanctions including 'the targeting of Russian disinformation networks'. Critics have previously described RT coverage of the Ukraine invasion as propaganda and called on Ofcom to revoke its licence. Salmond's party Alba has condemned the invasion but they also accused Western leaders of breaching assurances to Russia that NATO would not expand eastwards Today, Starmer said: 'Putin's campaign of misinformation should be tackled, and Russia Today should be prevented from broadcasting its propaganda around the world.' Lisa Nandy, in Starmer's Shadow Cabinet, added: 'When the Russia Report was published we asked Ofcom to review Russia Today's licence. 'Given what is unfolding, why is it still freely broadcasting state propaganda in the UK?' RT has faced previous fines from Ofcom and was forced to cough up 200,000 in 2019 after what the regulator deemed were repeated breaches of impartiality rules in its reporting of the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. Putin is thought to have moved thousands of troops into rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine today (dark red area on the map), but there are fears he will try to seize control of the wider regions that separatists lay claim to (lighter shade area) When questioned about the chemical attack on British soil, Salmond refused to condemn Russia, and said evidence the Kremlin had tried to interfere in the 2016 US election was 'very slight'. Germany's media regulator moved to ban RT's German language version this month, accusing it of failing to adhere to licensing laws. A King's College London study found the network was being used as a tool of state propaganda. The study said: 'The use of western experts by Russian news outlets has been identified as a strategy for building credibility with target audiences... hiring political figures such as Alex Salmond and George Galloway to host shows on the network. The benefit to Russia is the generation of credibility and attention.' The govt is set to meet the union later this week to discuss wages The union is confident trains will return to a normal timetable by Monday NSW trains will hit the tracks at a reduced capacity of 25 per cent today NSW trains will again hit the tracks with a reduced capacity of 25 per cent as the showdown between the rail union and the government continues, leaving commuters frustrated. After nearly 48 hours of rail turmoil in Sydney, the NSW government on Tuesday afternoon backed down in its fight with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, withdrawing proceedings against it at the Fair Work Commission. Trains will run freely across Sydney's rail network on Wednesday after all services were cancelled in crippling outage on Monday (pictured, commuters on Tuesday) Trains on Tuesday operated at limited capacity, with buses supplementing some services. The same limited service will continue on Wednesday and for the rest of the week, Transport for NSW confirmed to AAP. 'As a minimum, the rail timetable being operated today will continue for the remainder of this week to ensure a basic level of frequency for customers who rely on our services while protected industrial action continues,' it said. In a bid to keep peace talks moving, the government is set to meet the union later this week to discuss the city's train fleet, wages and safety. Mr Elliot said neither he nor Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) knew about the city-wide shutdown until they woke up and checked their emails at 4am Bemused Sydney Trains workers (pictured) were seen at train stations and depots with nothing to do on Monday with the cancellations catching some by surprise What caused the train chaos? A blame game has ensured between rail unions and the NSW Government. The disagreement centres on 'altered working' - where workers are drafted in last minute to cover roster gaps. Unions want the practice banned, but the boss of Transport NSW claimed doing so means it's unsafe to run the trains. 'This was a difficult decision to make but we cannot and will not compromise on safety,' train boss Rob Sharp said. But RTBU secretary, Alex Claassens, said drivers are ready and willing to work - insisting they are not on strike. 'They were ready and waiting to crew the trains only to be told the trains arent running today,' he said on Monday. 'There is no impediment, only stubbornness on behalf of the NSW Government.' Advertisement Transport Minister David Elliott told reporters at a press conference the government's withdrawal was 'in the interest of transparency and goodwill'. RTBU Secretary Alex Claassens described the union's industrial position as 'vindicated', and reiterated that the shuttering of the network this week was ordered by NSW transport officials. With the stoush at the industrial umpire now put aside, Mr Claassens said the challenge was to get the system 'back up and running properly', and pointed to Monday for a possible resumption of regular services. Sydney Trains bosses suddenly shut down the network with a 1.38am 'dummy spit' email in a dramatic escalation to a dispute with the union (pictured, Sydney Trains workers on Monday) Millions of commuters woke up on Monday morning to find they had no way to get to work, choking roads with traffic jams up to 22km long 'We're fairly confident we can do that, even with our protected action in place,' he said. The system shutdown on Monday blindsided about half a million commuters, with many left stranded across Sydney, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Illawarra. The union at the time insisted limited industrial action planned for the day would not have affected safety and workers were ready to run the trains. The RTBU has been at loggerheads with the government since 2021 over a new enterprise agreement, with concerns regarding safety guarantees, hygiene and privatisation resulting in two work stoppages since September. A female suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 58-year-old woman was found dead in a home on Monday evening. The victim was discovered by emergency services after suffering multiple injuries in a property in Edmonton, Enfield, north London, on Monday. A 33-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of murder, police said today, and has been taken into custody for questioning. Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service attended the house at 8.32pm alongside police and found the woman's body inside the property. She was pronounced dead at the scene, police confirmed today. A female suspect has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 58-year-old woman was found dead in a home on Monday evening A post-mortem is due to take place in the next few days to establish the cause of death while officers work to find the woman's next of kin. Detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command are probing the circumstances of the killing and a police cordon is still in place at the house, the Met said. Chief Superintendent Simon Crick of the Met Police, responsible for local policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: 'I am deeply saddened by this tragic loss of life. 'My thoughts and condolences are with the victim's family and friends. 'Extra officers will remain in the area over the coming days and I would urge anyone with information or concerns to speak to them or to contact us by calling 101.' Anyone with information can call police on 101, tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 6735/21Feb or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Chinese and Taiwanese flags are displayed alongside a military airplane in this Apr. 9 illustration. Reuters-Yonhap China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi told U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Tuesday, the United States should not include Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, in America's Indo-Pacific strategy. Earlier this month, the United States said it would commit more diplomatic and security resources to the Indo-Pacific. Washington also said it would work with partners inside and outside the region to maintain peace and stability in the strait dividing Taiwan from China. The attempt to include Taiwan in the strategy to contain China is sending all the "wrong signals," Wang told Blinken in a phone call, according to a Chinese foreign ministry statement. Still, China is willing to manage its differences with the United States and stabilize bilateral ties, Wang said. (Reuters) A couple's romantic city break was ruined when they checked in to find their room was filthy and 'covered in blood and condom wrappers'. Luke Tait was visiting Liverpool for a late Valentine's trip with his girlfriend and he had booked a 'luxury suite' at Dream Apartments in the city centre. Mr Tait said he paid around 250 for the apartment including parking, a security fee and a late check out fee. But the 23-year-old said the trip to Dream Apartments was 'anything but a dream' due to the state the room was in when they arrived. Mr Tait booked the luxury apartment as a late Valentine's trip as he often finds himself working away for weeks on end. The couple said they checked in around 5pm and went up to their room to get ready for a romantic meal. Luke Tait (pictured) booked the city break to enjoy a weekend away with his girlfriend but they were left disgusted after they were checked into an apartment that hadn't been cleaned Dream Apartments, in Liverpool, (pictured) said the couple were checked into the wrong room by a new member of staff but that Mr Tait was asked to leave when he became aggressive But when they got inside the apartment they found a beer bottle next to a chair and a bin overflowing with rubbish. The mess was even worse in the bedroom where Mr Tait found blood covering the bed and used condom wrappers littering the floor. Mr Tait said: 'It was disgusting in there - it was an absolute disgrace. There was blood covering the bed - and when I say covering, I mean covering. 'We were quite agitated at this point because we had to get ready for our meal and had been looking forward to this trip for weeks. 'I only get a couple of days off a month so anytime we have together we want to make as special as possible.' Mr Tait said the experience went from bad to worse when he went to the reception to speak to staff about the mess. Mr Tait claimed the staff were 'rude and disrespectful' - and said they would clean the room but the cleaner was working in another room and wouldn't be free to deal with the problem until they were done. He claims the staff didn't offer any compensation for the mess. The couple say the bed was covered in blood when they arrived for their romantic getaway Mr Tait said he 'accepts mistakes do happen' but added: 'as disgusting as the room was, the attitude of the staff was worse.' He admits he lost his temper and raised his voice when complaining about the room - and he was later asked to leave the hotel because of it. Mr Tait said his special trip with his partner was ruined and they missed their dinner booking and had to pay to stay in another hotel. Mr Tait said he has requested a refund from Dream Apartments but has only been offered a refund for his late check out and the option to stay in the apartments in the future for free. Mr Tait said: 'Why would I want to return to stay in an apartment where I've received that kind of service? 'With the amount of time off I get a month, every second I get with my girlfriend is precious. 'We were made to feel like we'd inconvenienced them by asking for the room to be cleaned. 'Our trip to Dream Apartments was anything but a dream.' Pictures from the apartment show stained sheets and a condom wrapper on the bedside table A spokesperson for Dream Apartments, ranked 98 out of 112 Liverpool hotels on Tripadvisor, said they have agreed to refund the couple in full after a mix-up meant they were checked into the wrong room. The spokesman said: 'After a thorough investigation, we have discovered that Mr Tait was accidentally checked in to a room that had not been serviced by our housekeeping department following the departure that morning. 'A new member of the reception team who was still undergoing training unfortunately made the mistake which could have been quickly and easily resolved. 'However, Mr Tait's behaviour turned aggressive including swearing at staff on site, slamming doors and approaching other guests when he visited reception to report the error and he was asked to leave the premises because of this. 'The hospitality industry is facing an incredibly challenging time due to the effects of the global pandemic and staff shortages. 'We do have a number of new employees who are undergoing a training period and unfortunately mistakes do happen during a period of recovery. 'We received a request from Booking.com, who Mr Tait booked through, to address his complaint and agreed to refund him in full as he did not stay at our property. 'As Mr Tait paid the accommodation directly to Booking.com, any refund will need to be issued by them. 'When speaking with Mr Tait's mother, our Group Operations Manager also offered a free stay in any of our UK locations as compensation for the inconvenience.' Canadian Liberal MP Ya'ara Saks is claiming that the 'Honk Honk' catchphrase used by Freedom Convoy protesters over the past few weeks is actually a secret code for 'heil Hitler.' 'Honk Honk' became an unofficial slogan in support of the truckers who blared their horns incessantly in protest of pandemic mandates during demonstrations that paralyzed the capital city of Ottawa for nearly a month. During Monday's debate on the Emergencies Act invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Saks defended the Act to remove protesters from the Parliament Hill area Sunday as she launched into what she believed was the meaning of the 'Honk Honk' slogan - a code for supporting Hitler. 'How many guns need to be seized?' Saks asked in Parliament Monday. 'How much vitriol do we have to see of ''Honk Honk'' which is an acronym for ''heil Hitler'' do we need to see by these protesters on social media?' In the early days of the protests back in January, a Confederate flag and a swastika flag were spotted in the crowd, which led to Trudeau calling all protesters 'swastika wavers' in a speech addressing the demonstrations. The prime minister's comments sparked outrage for branding anti-mandate protesters of the Freedom Convoy 'swastika wavers' as demonstrators smeared Trudeau, and a lawmaker from his own party resigned after accusing the prime minister of dividing the people of Canada, saying the federal government's pandemic response has become 'politicized' and 'divisive.' Scroll down for video Canadian Liberal MP Ya'ara Saks is getting backlash for claiming that the 'Honk Honk' catchphrase used by Freedom Convoy protesters over the past few weeks is actually a secret code for 'heil Hitler' The MP replied to the backlash with a Twitter thread saying, 'For those who think that 'Honk Honk' is some innocuous joke. I'll just leave this here' She quote retweeted a 2019 post from Gwen Synder, that claimed 'honk honk' actually means 'heil Hitler,' which is sometimes abbreviated to 'HH.' Snyder had claimed that the phrase was explicitly chosen as a White supremacist symbol and posted a screenshot of a 4chan post without context as evidence Following Saks' comments on Monday, many took to social media to criticize the Liberal MP. She replied to the backlash with a Twitter thread saying: 'For those who think that 'Honk Honk' is some innocuous joke. I'll just leave this here.' She quote retweeted a 2019 post from Gwen Synder, who has been described as a 'antifascist' and 'organizer' that claimed 'honk honk' actually means 'heil Hitler,' which is sometimes abbreviated to 'HH.' Synder continued: 'HH phrases like "honk honk." They mean "heil Hitler." H is the 8th letter of the alphabet, thus 88. "Honk honk" is associated with the honkler and is often used "ironically" by alt-right trolls.' Snyder had claimed that the phrase was explicitly chosen as a White supremacist symbol and posted a screenshot of a 4chan post without context as evidence. ''Honk honk' is associated with the honker,' Synder wrote, referencing an image of internet meme Pepe the Frog in a rainbow wig. According to Urban Dictionary, 'honk honk' is a 'dog whistle commonly used by neo-Nazis' that's essentially code for 'Heil Hitler.' Its origins come from the 'right-wing side of the clown world movement,' with honk honk as the sound from a clown's nose. Another definition in Urban Dictionary for 'honk honk' refers to the Freedom Convoy. DailyMail.com has reached out to Saks for comment. Saks testified during Monday's debate on the Emergencies Act invoked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and defended the Act to remove protesters from the Parliament Hill Saks, who is the first member of Canadian Parliament with dual Israeli citizenship, previously faced criticism from the country's Jewish community after being elected Saks, who is the first member of Canadian Parliament with dual Israeli citizenship, previously faced criticism from the country's Jewish community after being elected to represent York Centre, where 15-20 percent of the residents are Jewish. Saks gained approval for raising the issue of anti-Semitism in her first parliamentary appearance, but many were also upset by the government's decision several days earlier to vote in favor of a pro-Palestinian resolution, The Times of Israel reported. She had previously been blasted for her comments about Israel before she was elected. In 2019, she published an essay on her personal blog, which also appeared in The Times of Israel's opinion section, where she depicted Israel as built on tropes of fear, protracted conflict and rising religious extremism. A woman kneels before police in Ottawa on Friday as protesters are arrested at the end of a three week protest Police confront demonstrators against vaccine mandates in Ottawa on Friday. Demonstrators shouted 'Freedom!' as police closed in and began making arrests in the final crackdown Cops are filmed shoving protesters during Saturday's operation to break up the remaining Freedom Convoy A great-grandfather was handcuffed and hauled away by two Canadian cops for honking his horn in support of Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa on Sunday The Freedom Convoy demonstrations initially focused on Canada's vaccine requirement for truckers entering the country, but morphed into a wider protest against the country's highly restrictive COVID precautions and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's faux-liberal government. Ottawa protesters are largely gone from the Parliament Hill area Tuesday after having been chased away by officers sporting riot gear in what was the biggest police operation in Canada's history. Police made 196 arrests, with 110 facing a variety of charges. Law enforcement also said 115 vehicles connected to the protest have been towed. One of the incidents involved a 4foot-10inch great grandfather, Gerry Charlebois, 78, who was cuffed and shoved to his knees for honking his car horn in support of the Freedom Convoy - a day before a judge outlawed blaring horns. Charlebois sustained injuries to his arms, hands, shoulders and knees. He was later fined $118 for 'unnecessary noise' but has not been criminally charged. Tamara Lich, one of the leading organizers behind protests, was denied bail on Tuesday after she was arrested last Thursday and charged with counseling to commit mischief and promised during a bail hearing on Saturday to give up her advocacy of the protest and return to Alberta. Parliament Hill, the area where the convoy protests were taking place, has since been cleared of demonstrators after at least 196 people were arrested, including the protest organizers - Tamara Lich and Pat King. Ontario Court Justice Julie Bourgeois denied Lich bail on Tuesday, saying she believed there was a substantial likelihood she would reoffend if released. A separate bail hearing is scheduled Tuesday for fellow protest organizer Pat King. King was arrested on Friday and faces charges of mischief, counseling to commit mischief, counselling to commit the offense of disobeying a court order and counseling to obstruct police. A barricade blocks a street near Parliament Hill a day after police cleared a demonstration by truck drivers opposing vaccine mandates that had been entrenched for 23 days Police vehicles have replaced big rig trucks and protesters Sunday in the main downtown area that has been fenced off with warnings for people to avoid the space or risk being arrested A winter service vehicle drives through Ottawa Sunday as Canadian police make possibly the final push to clear the capital city of demonstrators who have paralyzed it by parking and camping on the streets for more than three weeks to protest against pandemic restrictions Lawmakers in the House of Commons voted Monday 185 to 151 to affirm the powers, giving police the right to quell any potential restart of blockades by those opposed to Trudeau's Covid restrictions. Trudeau said earlier that the powers were still needed despite police ending the occupation of the nation's capital by truckers over the weekend and police ending border blockades before that. Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair said the protesters were going for the 'lifeblood of this nation, which is trade with the United States.' Trudeau noted there were some truckers just outside Ottawa who might be planning further blockades or occupations. His public safety minister said there was an attempt to block a border crossing in British Columbia over the weekend. The emergencies act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers' personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles. Ottawa protesters who vowed never to give up are largely gone, chased away by police in riot gear in what was the biggest police operation in the nation's history. 'The situation is still fragile, the state of emergency is still there,' Trudeau said before the vote. Opposition New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh's party supported it, ensuring Trudeau had enough votes. Singh said they know there are protesters waiting in the surrounding areas of Ottawa and in the capital itself. Republican Kim Reynolds is the first female governor of Iowa, a role she was elected to in 2018 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will be delivering the Republican rebuttal to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on March 1, federal GOP lawmakers announced Tuesday. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy touted Reynolds' commitment to keeping 'woke propaganda' out of classrooms and 'choosing freedom over lockdowns' during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Governor Kim Reynolds brave, bold, and successful leadership for Iowans has put her right at the front of that pack. She fought COVID without forgetting common sense and protected Iowans health and their rights at the same time,' McConnell said. 'Shes defended kids and parents with laws that have kept students in classrooms and woke propaganda out.' McCarthy said the Biden administration's 'disastrous decision making' was 'offset' in areas led by Republican elected officials, like Iowa. 'She handled COVID by choosing freedom over lockdowns and personal responsibility over mandates -- leading to real economic recovery from the pandemic. She kept kids in school and critical race theory out,' he added. The annual speech is an honor typically given to rising stars within the federal government's opposition party. Republican leaders' choice of a governor, while not unprecedented, comes after GOP state officials spent the better part of Biden's White House term so far as a thorn in his side. GOP-led states like Iowa have resisted imposing a majority of public health measures adopted by blue states like New York and California during the height of the pandemic. Reynolds said she was 'honored and grateful' after landing the coveted speaking spot on Tuesday She'll be speaking after President Joe Biden's State of the Union on March 1 at 9 p.m. Eastern (pictured addressing a Joint Session of Congress last year) Reynolds resisted calls to implement a statewide lockdown in spring 2020, instead opting for temporary school closures, limits on private gatherings and closures of many businesses. She's also been against levying a statewide mask mandate. She was also among the Republican governors who said her states would defy Biden's now-defunct COVID vaccine-or-test order for large private businesses. And last year she took on 'discriminatory indoctrination' by signing a law targeting teachings linked to critical race theory in Iowa schools and government training programs. Reynolds said on Tuesday: 'Republican Governors across America are leading the charge in defending liberty and securing unmatched economic prosperity in our states.' 'The Biden Administration is governing from the far-left, ignoring the problems of working-class Americans while pushing an agenda that stifles free speech, free thought, and economic freedom. The American people have had enough, but there is an alternative and that's what I look forward to sharing on Tuesday evening.' Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina delivered the GOP response to Biden's address to a Joint Session of Congress last year. The opposing party's rebuttal to the president's State of the Union is traditionally awarded to rising stars. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina (left), then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (center) and Florida Senator Marco Rubio (right) have all previously made the speech Then-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Senator Marco Rubio have also held the coveted speaking spot. The president's address next week will likely be marred by COVID-19 restrictions. All members of Congress will be allowed to attend, despite earlier reports the number may be capped, though they cannot bring guests. Attendees will also have to wear a mask at all times and show proof of a negative COVID test at the door. Reynolds was elected to be Iowa's first female governor in 2018 and is up for re-election in November. Before that she served as lieutenant governor from 2011 until 2017 to Governor Terry Branstad. Reynolds finished off Branstad's final term when he stepped down to serve as Donald Trump's ambassador to China. An Australian woman has been granted permission by a court to have her partner's sperm extracted after he dies, giving her the chance to have a baby with him. The decision in the West Australian Supreme Court gives Fertility Specialists of WA the right to remove her long-term partner's sperm. The 36 year old man, known only as 'Mr B', was placed on life support at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth while the matter was considered. 'The medical team at SCGH is waiting to receive consent from the applicant to turn off Mr B's life support,' the court judgement read. A 36 year old man, known only as 'Mr B', was placed on life support at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth while the West Australian Supreme Court heard an application from his partner to have his sperm removed An Australian woman has been granted permission by a court to have her dead partner's sperm extracted giving her the chance to have a baby with him The woman and the man had been in a relationship for eight years when he suffered a brain aneurysm and had to be rushed to intensive care on January 30, WAToday reported. His grieving parents supported his partner's application to the court. The decision does not actually allow the partner to use the sperm extracted. It only allows her to have the sperm stored. She must go back to court to get permission to use it. Justice Jenni Hill made it clear the decision didn't allow the sperm 'and associated tissue' to be used 'in any way'. WA law prohibits the use of donated gametes after the owners death to impregnate a woman. 'The effect of my orders was restricted to permitting something to happen which, if it did not happen urgently after the death of Mr B, would forever preclude the applicant seeking to make use of Mr Bs spermatozoa in an attempt to conceive a baby,' Justice Hill said. In a 2018 case a WA woman won the right to have her dead partner's sperm used by a clinic in the ACT. Assisted reproductive technology laws in WA are regarded as complex and not consistent with other Australian states. Michigan prosecutors argued in court on Tuesday that despite his young age, 15-year-old high school shooter Ethan Crumbley should remain in an adult jail, given his history of torturing animals, plotting a classmate's rape and murder, and expressing admiration for Adolf Hitler and Jeffrey Dahmer. Attorneys for Crumbley painted a different picture of the youth, saying that he was struggling with mental health issues, including hallucinations and severe anxiety, prior to the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School, and that he had asked his parents for help. Crumbley's defense team argued before the court that he needs to be placed at Children's Village, a juvenile facility in Oakland County, so that he could be around his peers, and not in almost complete isolation like at the adult county jail. In January, Crumbley pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges in connection with the school shooting, which killed four students and injured seven other people. His parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, are currently jailed on charges of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly making a gun accessible to their son. Ethan Crumbley, 15, attends a hearing at Oakland County Circuit Court on Tuesday to determine whether he should remained at an adult jail, or be transferred to a juvenile facility Crumbley pleaded not guilty in January to first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, terrorism and gun charges stemming from a November 30 school shooting Oakland County prosecuting attorney Markeisha Washington said Crumbley enjoyed torturing baby birds and plotted to stalk, rape, torture and murder a female classmate In her opening statement, Assistant Prosecutor Markeisha Washington with the Oakland County Prosecutors' Office, described Crumbley as a sadistic, anti-social youth 'with a sophistication well beyond an average 15-year-old' who 'enjoyed his dark side.' The prosecutor alleged that in his journal and in text messages to a friend, Crumbley had outlined a plan to stalk, rape, torture and ultimately murder a female classmate. He also allegedly 'expressed delight in torturing a family of baby birds, and he wrote about the joy he received in listening to them squeal as he killed them,' according to Washington. Crumbley has been charged as an adult and was ordered held in the county jail, but separated from adult inmates In other journal entries, the 15-year-old high school sophomore was said to have expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and the cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. 'When you die,' Crumbley was quoted as writing, 'you need to be remembered for a long time. doing something that would make people think of you until time ends.' in arguing for keeping Crumbley in the adult jail, Washington told Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Kwame Rowe that the teen's preparations for the mass shooting showed that he was acting in a methodical and calculated manner far beyond his years. She said that in his private writings, Crumbley described the kind of gun he needed, who would be his first victim, 'and ultimately he expressed that he would surrender so that he could witness the pain and suffering that he caused,' Washington told the court. Madisyn Baldwin, 17, (left) and Hana St Juliana, 14, (right) died in the shooting rampage at Oxford High School in suburban Detroit FILE - This undated combination of photos provided by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office shows James Crumbley, left, and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of Ethan Crumbley, a teenager accused of killing four students in a shooting at Oxford High School, in Michigan. The couple face a key hearing to determine if they will face trial. Attorneys for the Crumbleys have asked a judge to consider a postponement so they can further prepare. But there was no decision from the judge ahead of the hearing Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022. (Oakland County Sheriff's Office via AP, File) The prosecutor also revealed that investigators have obtained a video from his phone recorded before the slaughter at Oakland High School, in which, she said, Crumbley identified himself as 'the next school shooter' and sought to justify his future actions. 'To place the defendant with other at-risk juveniles, who are potentially the same risk as his victims, would not be safe for the other juveniles,' she added. Paulette Loftin, representing Crumbley, told Judge Rowe that prior to the shooting, her client was not sleeping or eating well, that he was 'extremely anxious' and suffering from visual and auditory hallucinations. During his stay at Oakland County Jail, Loftin said Crumbley has 'very little access' to anyone beyond his lawyers and a deputy who checks on him every 15 minutes. He enjoys a daily access to a tablet, where he can communicate with friends and family, and he is allowed to use a phone, but Loftin said he does not know his relatives' phone numbers, so he is unable to call them. 'This extreme isolation is not beneficial whatsoever, and actually harms Mr. Crumbley,' Loftin told the judge. During the hearing, the court heard testimony from three witnesses, including Heather Calcaterra, a manager at Childrens Village, who said that she was concerned about the prospect of housing Crumbley. 'Weve never had a situation like this involving a school shooting,' Calcaterra said. 'I have concerns about the trauma impact on other young people.' Heather Calcaterra, manager of Oakland County Children's Village, told the court that she was concerned about the prospect of housing Crumbley She also raised the possibility that having Crumbley at the facility could 'trigger' other residents, and that the 15-year-old could become a 'target.' Last month, the teen's lawyers signaled their intention to pursue an insanity defense. Under Michigan law, if someone is found not guilty by reason of insanity, they don't walk free. They must be referred to a state psychiatric center for custody and further evaluation. Someone who is found guilty but mentally ill still would be sentenced to prison but with recommendations that they get treatment. Crumbley is charged as an adult in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School. The teen is accused of killing four people Hana St. Juliana, 14; Tate Myre, 16; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Justin Shilling, 17 and injuring seven others, including a teacher. Ethan's parents, Jennifer and James Crumbley, are currently jailed on charges of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly making a gun accessible to their son The day of the shooting, a teacher found a note on Ethans desk and took a photo. It was a drawing of a gun pointing at the words, 'The thoughts wont stop. Help me,' McDonald said in December. The drawing also featured a person who appeared to have been shot twice and is bleeding with the words 'My life is useless' and 'The world is dead' written. The gun used in the shooting was bought days before by James Crumbley and their son had full access to it, according to authorities. McDonald has said that James and Jennifer Crumbley committed 'egregious' acts by buying a gun on Black Friday and making it available to Ethan Crumbley to resisting his removal from school when they were summoned a few hours before the shooting. MGM has its roaring lion, Universal Studios has its faraway picture of planet earth, and Paramount has a snowcapped mountain - but none are more iconic than the Columbia Pictures 'Torch Lady,' whose flame has been lighting the way for moviegoers since 1924. The untold origin story behind the modern logo we know today began in 1991, in the makeshift New Orleans studio apartment of local photographer, Kathy Anderson. Anderson was asked by her artist friend Michael Deas to shoot a reference photo for a painting that 'could potentially be used as the new logo' for the legendary film studio. 'I had no idea how iconic the image would become,' she told DailyMail.com. The iconic Columba Pictures film logo featuring the 'Torch Lady' was inspired by a 1991 photo taken by New Orleans based photographer, Kathy Anderson who was asked by her artist friend Michael Deas to shoot a reference photo for a painting that 'could potentially be used as the new logo' for the legendary film studio Anderson asked her co-worker Jenny Joseph to model for the photos and turned her apartment into a makeshift studio. They created her look using bedsheets, fabric and a lamp that resembled a torch At the time, Anderson was working as a staff photographer at the New Orleans newspaper, The Times-Picayune, and she asked her colleague, Jenny Joseph to stand-in as Lady Columbia. 'Joseph was not a professional model,' said Anderson. 'Instead, she was a graphic artist and had never modeled before or since that day.' She posed for the photos while on her lunchbreak. Deas, whose oil paintings have been used on U.S. postage stamps and bestselling books, came over to Anderson's apartment with a box full of various props, including sheets, fabric, an American flag, and a small lamp with a lightbulb that vaguely resembled a torch. 'I believe the painting was done on spec,' she recalled to DailyMail.com. After moving around the dining room table, Anderson set up a gray mottled backdrop with some boxes on the floor to let the fabric pool to the ground. Joseph was meticulously draped in white bedsheets to mimic a Roman goddess and the fabric was constantly rearranged for the best outcome. They tried a few looks with an American flag draped over one shoulder, but ultimately chose the blue fabric. She attached a Polaroid back on her Hasselblad camera to snap some test-shots while perfecting the softbox lighting to accentuate the folds in the fabric. Anderson says the soft lighting created the gentle sunrise light the painter envisioned and was meant to evoke a sense of beauty and timelessness. 'During the shoot, Jenny asked if she could sit down for a minute,' says the photographer. 'I shot one frame of her seated, which may be my favorite image from the shoot.' After chatting for a minute, Joseph confided that she was pregnant. 'During the shoot, Jenny asked if she could sit down for a minute,' says the photographer. 'I shot one frame of her seated, which may be my favorite image from the shoot.' After chatting for a minute, Joseph confided that she was pregnant Anderson says, the soft lighting was meant to evoke a sense of beauty and timelessness. Often posed with the flag draped around her, 'Columbia' came to be associated as the female personification of the United States during the 18th century. She fell out of popularity when Lady Liberty was erected The original Columbia Pictures logo was created in 1924. The name 'Columbia' was selected as a tribute to the early American female personification of the United States who stood for ideals like enlightenment and liberty. Over the years, many notable women have posed as Lady Columbia in various incarnations of the logo, some of them have been notable actresses like Evelyn Venable, Claudia Dell and Amelia Batchler Lady Columbia faded in popularity once the Statue of Liberty went up and became the new female symbol of America In 1924, the Columbia Pictures rebranded from its previous name Cohn-Brandt-Cohn Film Sales and opted for a new logo. They selected the name 'Columbia' as a tribute to the early American female personification of the United States who stood for ideals like freedom and enlightenment (hence the torch). Lady Columbia faded in popularity once the Statue of Liberty went up and became the new female symbol of America. Over the years, many notable women have posed as Lady Columbia in various incarnations of the logo. Some of them have been notable actresses like Evelyn Venable, Claudia Dell and Amelia Batchler. When Sony Studios bought Columbia Pictures in 1991, they decided they needed a brand revamp and hired Michael Deas to update the logo. 'I believe the painting was done on spec,' recalled Anderson. The image has since gone on to become a ubiquitous motif in American visual culture. The photographer says she stays in touch with Jenny Joseph and the two like to send each other memes of the logo online. 'Then we both have a good laugh.' 'She is just as surprised as I am at the continued interest in it.' The photographer has since gone on to win a Pulitzer Prize for her coverage Hurricane Katrina. While she is most proud of the 28 years working in print journalism, she says that Lady Columbia 'is the most famous of my images because of the enormous response from viewers, plus its really exciting to see it on the screen at a movie theater.' Donald Trump praised Vladimir Putin's plan to invade Ukraine as 'genius' and called the Russian leader 'very savvy' on Tuesday, hours after he put out a statement saying Russia would have never invaded Ukraine under his watch. Speaking with conservative podcaster Buck Sexton, the former president said: 'I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump recalled. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine of Ukraine -- Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful.' 'I said, "How smart is that?'" the former U.S. president continued. 'And hes gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. Thats the strongest peace force We could use that on our southern border. Thats the strongest peace force Ive ever seen. There were more army tanks than Ive ever seen. Theyre gonna keep peace all right.' 'No, but think of it. Heres a guy whos very savvy,' Trump went on. 'I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened.' Trump added: 'But heres a guy that says, you know, 'Im gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent,' he used the word 'independent' and 'were gonna go out and were gonna go in and were gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say thats pretty savvy. And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didnt have one for that. No, its very sad. Very sad.' Trump also called President Biden 'a man who has no concept of what he's doing.' Earlier Tuesday Trump claimed that Vladimir Putin never would have invaded Ukraine if he were still president, and said that Russia has become 'very very rich' under President Biden. 'If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all,' Trump said in a statement Tuesday. 'I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way!' Trump hit out against Biden's 'weak sanctions.' 'The weak sanctions are insignificant relative to taking over a country and a massive piece of strategically located land. Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer.' Trump hit out against Biden's 'weak sanctions' Gas prices have already surged to an eight-year high, and are expected to rise even more as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalates. Biden promised his administration was using 'every tool at our disposal' to limit the effect on gas prices back at home, but acknowledged that Americans would see price rises at the pump. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling on President Biden to get tough with sanctioning Russia after it moved troops into eastern Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sent troops into the pro-Russian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as he declared those regions independent republics and no longer a part of Ukraine. On Tuesday Biden announced his 'first tranche' of sanctions that included new financial restrictions on two of Russia largest banks, VEB and the military bank, specific Russian oligarchs, and cutting the nation off from Western financing. Biden imposed some new sanctions on Monday prohibiting trade with the Kremlin-backed regions, but administration officials initially refused to call Putin's move an 'invasion.' The Biden administration has insisted that it uses sanctions as leverage and is trying to stave off a full-blown invasion. However on Tuesday, the administration admitted that Putin's move constitutes an 'invasion,' the red line Biden said would result in severe sanctions on Moscow. 'We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine,' said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said in an interview on CNN. 'An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway.' The president is expected to announced more sanctions Tuesday. Republicans and Democrats urged Biden to use every sanction in his arsenal before Putin fully invades. President Biden imposed some new sanctions on Monday prohibiting trade with the Kremlin-backed regions 'Joe Biden has refused to take meaningful action, and his weakness has emboldened Moscow,' Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., wrote on Twitter. She called on Biden to 'immediately' impose sanctions on the Nord Stream II pipeline that runs from Russia to Germany and to remove Russia from the SWIFT international banking system. Germany announced Tuesday it was pulling the plug on Nord Stream II after Russia's move. 'It should never have reached this point. There was no good reason for President Biden to kill the Keystone XL pipeline last year while greenlighting Nord Stream 2 at the same time. It made absolutely zero sense. Very bad play calls that were the exact opposite of what was needed,' Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., wrote on Twitter. Biden last year lifted sanctions on the pipeline as a diplomatic favor to Germany, arguing the pipeline was already 98% complete anyways. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Monday that Biden had signed an executive order that 'will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. We will also soon announce additional measures related to today's blatant violation of Russia's international commitments.' She said that Biden would announce new sanctions on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sent troops into the pro-Russian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as he declared those regions independent republics and no longer a part of Ukraine A tank drives along a street in Donetsk, Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine Military vehicles are seen on the move on Monday night in Donetsk Waving Russian flags, people celebrated the latest announcement in the streets in Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday, February 21 Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on Biden to impose 'devastating sanctions against the Kremlin and its enablers.' 'The President should waste no time in using his extensive existing authorities to impose these costs.' 'Now is not the time for symbolic pinpricks that will serve only to embolden Putin and endanger our friends in Ukraine,' said Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Mike Rogers, R-Ala., in a statement. 'Putin's obsession with restoring the old Soviet Union has led to unprovoked and unnecessary aggressive military action,' said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga. 'Biden should have issued sanctions long ago.' 'The time for taking action to impose significant costs on President Putin and the Kremlin starts now,' said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., who is close with the president, according to Politico. 'We must swiftly join our NATO allies and partners in the European Union to impose forceful new sanctions on Russia, on all those responsible for this dangerous violation of international law, and to provide emergency support for Ukraine.' 'It's really important that we impose the sanctions now,' New Jersey Democrat Rep. Tom Malinowski said after returning from the Munich Security Conference, where Vice President Kamala Harris met with Western allies to discuss the path forward should Russia invade. 'This seizure of additional Ukrainian territory should trigger the start of the sanctions,' Malinowski said. 'The Biden administration and our European allies must not hesitate in imposing crushing sanctions. There must be tangible, far-reaching and substantial costs for Russia in response to this unjustified act,' said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Foreign Relations committee chair. More than 10,000 soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a source with links to Ukrainian military intelligence told MailOnline, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. 'It is difficult to believe [Putin] could have moved that quickly - but he had a long time to prepare,' the source said. Meanwhile Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin's order to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent stretches to the entire provinces - not just the areas currently occupied by rebels - raising the prospect he is about to launch a land-grab and spark direct confrontation with Ukrainian troops dug into trenches there. As Russia's troops rolled in, fighting in the region escalated - with shells striking a power plant on the Ukrainian side of the line Tuesday morning after explosions killed two of Kiev's men and wounded 12 overnight. Putin claimed the troops would be moving in to carry out peace-keeping operations. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed 'as nonsense' Putin's announcement that Russian troops would be in the separatist area known as Donbas as peacekeepers, saying their presence is 'clearly the basis for Russia's attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine.' She said he gave the world a choice, and it 'must not look away' because 'history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path.' The U.N. Security Council set a rare nighttime emergency meeting at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries. Ukrainian service members participate in tactical drills at a training ground in an undisclosed location in Ukraine on Tuesday Ukrainians are preparing for Russian forces to arrive on their doorsteps after coming onto the country's soil Monday evening after recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine as independent states Putin received no support for his move at the summit, with even close ally China urging diplomacy and a peaceful solution to the crisis. Russia happens to hold the Security Council's rotating presidency this month and wanted the meeting to be closed, but diplomats said they agreed to an open session under intense pressure from Western and other members. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, a member of the Banking Committee, called on Biden to implement all of the sanctions he has been preparing. 'I have worked with my Senate colleagues to ensure the president has the tools to sanction Russia's leaders, its banking and financial sectors, and other critical industries. Now is the time for these tools to begin to be used.' Australia's top epidemiologists have slammed Daniel Andrews' 'inconsistent' mask mandate that requires only some students to wear one. The Victorian premier scrapped the indoor mask mandate for all but a handful of areas starting 11.59pm on Friday, but kept it for primary schools. Students in years 3 to 6 are required to wear a mask indoors at school, while children in Prep to Year 2 are exempt from the mandate. Experts slammed the decision to ask only some primary school students to wear a mask at school as 'inconsistent' and lacking evidence. Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth accused Mr Andrews of using the mask mandate to boost vaccine rates in children. Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth (pictured) accused Mr Andrews of using the mask mandate to boost vaccine rates in children 'I haven't been a big fan of masks in primary school age children and that's because the disease is mild in that age group and we know the disease spreads far more readily in adults,' Dr Coatsworth told the Today Show. 'In my view, it doesn't make a lot of sense. It does trouble me that this is a sort mandate in a way to create the impetus for people to go and get their kids vaccinated when, really, it should be a choice.' About 54 per cent of children aged five to 11 are vaccinated against Covid in Victoria, compared with 93.9 per cent aged 12 and over. Other experts argue requiring some students to wear masks while their older siblings are exempt from the rule is impractical and unfounded. Mr Andrews pointed to lower vaccination rates as a driver behind the decision and the risk of the virus spreading from children to the elderly or immunocompromised. Students in high school and years 3 to 6 are required to wear a mask indoors at school, while children in Prep to Year 2 are exempt from the mandate (pictured, students in Melbourne) Australia's top epidemiologists have slammed Daniel Andrews' (pictured) 'inconsistent' mask mandate that demands only some children to wear one Australian National University epidemiologist Professor Peter Collignon reiterated the spread of Covid in schools was not a major concern to health experts. 'They're more a reflection of the community, and children are at less of a risk than 20-30-year-olds, so we've got quite a lot of inconsistency if we make children, young children, wear masks when they're less of a risk both to themselves and others than adults,' Professor Collignon told The Australian. The professor recently argued reduced vaccine effectiveness against the virus meant mask mandates caused more trouble than they were worth. 'When you've already got 94 per cent [of over 16s double vaccinated] - the question is 'do we need to go further?'' he told Daily Mail Australia. Experts argue that requiring some students to wear masks while their younger siblings are exempt from the rule is impractical and unfounded (pictured, secondary students in Victoria) Masks no longer mandatory for: From 11:59pm on Friday, February 25 masks will not be required for: High school students Shoppers Office workers Stadium crowds Advertisement He called for vaccine and mask mandates to be limited to the vulnerable aged care sector now Australia has such a high vaccination rate. 'Those most in danger of dying from Covid are those who are older with underlying health problems,' Professor Collignon said. 'We still need people to wear masks around the elderly but the rest of society is a very different situation.' Murdoch Children's Research Institute paediatrician Fiona Russell said the rule was unnecessary as children were at the lowest risk of hospitalisation or death. Professor Russell said the World Health Organisation would soon release advice that would see both adults and children follow the same mask rules. Epidemiologist Dr Catherine Bennett argued that parents could still enforce masks within their own households without a mandate. Dr Bennett said though vaccination rates were lower in primary schools there was no evidence to suggest infection rates were higher in that age group. Teachers and school staff are required to wear masks in all primary schools and early learning centres. In NSW, all primary and secondary school staff are required to wear masks. Professor Peter Collignon (pictured) has called for vaccine and mask mandates to be limited to the vulnerable aged care sector now Australia has such a high vaccination rate Teachers in NSW and Victoria are required to wear masks in all primary schools and early learning centres (pictured, students arrive to a primary school in Carlton, Victoria) Secondary school students are also required to mask-up while primary-aged students are 'strongly recommended' to wear them. However, both these rules will be scrapped by the end of the month. 'The judgement has been made and I think many teachers would support it,' Mr Andrews said of Victoria's school rules. 'It's a lot easier to get kids in Year 1 or 2 or 3 to get them to wear the masks properly than kids who are a bit older.' Epidemiologist Dr Catherine Bennett (pictured) argued that parents could still enforce masks within their own households without a mandate Mr Andrews said he had 'deja vu' from when he announced playgrounds would be banned for young children in 2021. 'We're talking about human behaviour and we're talking about complex issues,' the premier told reporters on Tuesday. 'Very rarely have we been able to point to any one specific measure and attribute a number of cases or an amount of spread to that one public health rule.' In response to being asked if he thought the mandate was proportionate given the low rates of sickness or death in that age group, Mr Andrews pointed to the spread of the virus to the vulnerable. 'Well, you mightn't get sick from it, but you can give it to Grandma, you can give it to someone who's had cancer, you can give it to someone who's got asthma,' he said. From 11.59pm on Friday, masks will only be mandatory on public transport and taxis, in airports, hospitals, and indoor areas of aged care facilities. While masks for most people will no longer be required, workers in prisons, courts, shops, and hospitality must wear them on duty. People working indoors at an event with more than 30,000 people attending In special circumstances, such as if they have Covid or are a close contact and are leaving home, must also wear a mask. From 11:59pm on Friday, masks will only be mandatory on public transport and taxis, in airports, hospitals, and indoor areas of aged care facilities (pictured, students in NSW) 'Same rules as Sydney, masks off and people back in the office this week,' Mr Andrews said as he announced the easing of rules on Wednesday (pictured, students in Melbourne) Masks are recommended but not required for workers serving or facing other people, such as at receptions, or meeting guests or serving customers. People travelling on public transport and planes will be required to wear face coverings at all times, as will taxi and ride-share services. The public health recommendation for Victorians to work or study from home will also be removed so staff can return to the office. 'Same rules as Sydney, masks off and people back in the office this week,' Mr Andrews said as he announced the easing of rules. 'We will have masks off inside and people will be coming back to work. That means there are literally no rules.' A trucker arrested as police cracked down on Freedom Convoy protestors in Ottawa has told of the farcical way the Canadian capitals Keystone Kops tried to bring the weeks long demonstration to an end. Even the officers themselves were complaining about how disorganized the whole operation was, Guy Meister told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. You could tell they were overwhelmed. They were as dumb as a bag of hammers, Meister, 53, said. They wanted to take my booking photograph, but I had to wait for several minutes because they were having issues with the mug shot board. They first took my picture before they realized that it didnt have any numbers on the board I was holding. What should have taken a few minutes turned into 20 minutes, all in the freezing cold. Long-haul truck driver Guy Meister said Ottawa police who broke up the protests in the Canadian capital were as incompetent as the silent-movie Keystone Kops Officers in full riot gear moved in Friday to break up the protests that had paralyzed Ottawa for weeks Meister said he was zip tied outside in -5 degree Celsius (5 degree Fahrenheit) temperatures after he was arrested And while I was in the paddy wagon waiting to be processed, I could hear the cops complaining to each other how disorganized the entire situation was and complaining about the lack of planning on the part of their superiors. Meister, from Aylesford, Nova Scotia, was arrested around noon on Friday as the protest was forcibly ended by hundreds of cops in full riot gear. Police arrested at least 196 people and towed 115 vehicles. He was charged with criminal mischief and given a March 10 court date. He says he will plead not guilty. His comments come as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are investigating leaked text messages that appear to show several officers delighting in the brutality of Friday's crackdown. One of the messages celebrated the moment a grandmother on a mobility scooter was trampled by mounted police. 'Just watched the horse video - that is awesome,' the chat member allegedly wrote. 'We should practice that manoeuvre.' Moments before the unidentified woman was trampled, she told a Freedom Convoy participant - who was recording the protests - that she was rallying to ensure a better future for her grandchildren. Police forces in Canada are coming under scrutiny for alleged excessive violence with Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa. Leaked text messages show a group of law enforcement officers appear to celebrate the moment a grandmother was trampled by mounted police The officer trampled the woman, who was then knocked to the floor by the horse and is subsequently trampled Meister said he was sitting with a friend in his big rig parked the other side of the Rideau Canal just outside the Hardened Zone in downtown Ottawa when he saw several police officers in riot gear coming toward their truck. I thought they were going toward the, but they stopped at our truck and surrounded us. One police officer had a hammer like instrument in his hand and smashed the driver side window of the truck and demanded my friend get out of the vehicle He had broken glass all over him got out of the vehicle, where he was quicky arrested. I quickly opened the door and got out, not wanting the police to smash my window, he said. I got down out of the truck, the police told me to face the truck and they quickly placed me in a zippy tie handcuff. Meister said there were several police officers dressed in tactical riot gear, helmets, bullet proof vests, and carrying AR-15 .223 caliber assault rifles. He said hes friend was quickly taken away by the police while another officer stood guard of him outside in -15-degree Celsius (5 degree Fahrenheit) weather. My hands were freezing, I asked the officer if we could stand at least closer to the engine exhaust so I can keep warm, the officer agreed and led me around to the back of the truck near the exhaust pipe. Meister said that he waited outside in the sub-zero weather for at least 30 minutes. The special forces police officer was extremely professional, he apologized to me at least 10 times. He told me that hes only doing his job and he didnt want to be doing this, and only following orders. He was a top-shelf guy, said Meister, at one point he even helped me straighten out my hat, while I was in zippy tie cuffs. Meister said the special forces officers who arrested him were professional unlike the local Ottawa Police. They were like the Keystone Kops, he said referring to the incompetent force depicted in silent movies in the 1910s. There was no organization. Like many other truckers, Meister had his vehicle impounded and now faces chrges of CAN$200 a day to get his rig back Once the protest was over workers were seen reinforcing fences inside the protected zone around Ottawa's Parliament Hill Discarded placards and garbage told the story of the three-week protest over Covid mandates in Canada While waiting outside the back of the truck the special forces police officer was calling on his radio requesting the local police come and get him and take him for processing but wasnt getting any answers on the radio. At one point Meister said he jokingly said to the police officer to zip tie him to the truck until he could be taken in for processing. I told him that I wasnt going to escape, but he said he couldnt leave me alone. 'It hurts me to say this, but under Trudeau, Canada is no longer a democracy., trucker Guy Meister told DailyMail.com After approximately 30 minutes of waiting in the freezing cold the special forces officer got clearance to take him to a paddy wagon. Meister said the special forces officer was kind and caring and made sure he didnt slip on the icy streets, but the demeanor changed as soon as he was put into custody of the local Ottawa Police department. He said the Ottawa police took him and bent him over face first against their vehicle to search him. They started pulling things out of my pockets, my cell phone, lighter, wallet and gloves. At one point they were putting their hands in my front pocket to pull out whatever I had in there. To make it easier for them I moved my hips so they could get a better angle in searching my pockets. The officer didnt like it and shoved me against the vehicle in an aggressive manner. This was after I told them several times, Im not going to resist, I am peaceful. After they searched me, they wanted to take a booking photograph, but I had to wait for several minutes because they were having issues with mug shot board. They first took my picture then realized that didnt have any numbers on the mug shot board I was holding. What should have taken a few minutes turned into 20 minutes, all in the freezing cold. He said they then placed him handcuffs, and put him in the paddy wagon, where he waited another 30 minutes before they left to take him for processing. By this time Meister said the handcuffs were so tight around his wrist that he was starting to lose the sensation in his fingers. They were going numb; I could feel any of my fingers. He said he asked cops if they could loosen his handcuffs and they refused. Meister said he was in the police van with around eight others. there arent any windows in the paddy wagon but there are breathing holes so you can get glimpses of the outside. We drove around for almost two hours before we arrived at some sort of gravel pit on the outskirts of Ottawa. It was there where a makeshift processing station with two trailers connected to each other had been set up. Meister said they took each detainee out one at a time for processing. Meister said he was photographed again and fingerprinted. The person who was fingerprinting us was this young kid about 25 years old. We were told it was his first time hes ever fingerprinted anyone. 'Hold the line' became the protesters' rallying cry as police broke up the demonstration. In the end the exhortation was unsuccesful against the massed police ranks Trucker Guy Meister likened the local Ottawa police to the Keystone Kops from the silent movies of the 1910s The summons issued to Guy Meister after his arrest Friday as the Freedom Convoy protests were ended in Ottawa By the time they took the handcuffs off, my hands were close to being frostbitten. My arms and hands had gone numb. I couldnt lift my arms to be properly fingerprinted and they had to physical lift me up so they could fingerprint me. Not holding back on how he felt about the local Ottawa Police, Meister said: They were complete clowns. I never thought they were could be so ignorant. He was released later that afternoon and given back his belongings after signing a promissory note and document stating he wouldnt come within one kilometer of the parliamentary district. Meister says hes hired an attorney and is hoping that the charges will eventually be dropped. He is paying his own legal fees. He is still in the Ottawa area; his truck was towed away after his arrest, and he is trying to get it out of the impound lot. It hurts me to say this, but under Trudeau, Canada is no longer a democracy Trucker Guy Meister Its going to cost at least CAN$2,000 (US$1,570) to get my truck back, Im being charge $200 a day Canadian for storage. He says hes tried contacting some of the mid-level leaders of the Freedom Convoy, but he hasnt been able to get a hold of them. Theyve gone underground and have appeared to drop off the face of the earth, he said with a chuckle. He said they sort of left him hanging. But he doesnt have any animosity toward those leaders I knew what I was getting into when I came here. Im old enough to make my own decisions. I didnt expect anything from them so I cant be disappointed. I was out there to make a difference and I think I did. Being arrested only has strengthen Meisters disgust for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Hes a piece of sh**, an idiot. He says it was overkill for Trudeau to enact the Emergencies Act against the truck drivers. The act allows authorities to declare certain areas as no-go zones. It also allows police to freeze truckers personal and corporate bank accounts and compel tow truck companies to haul away vehicles. On February 21, 2022, Canadas House of Commons voted to extend the Emergencies Act even though all the truckers have been removed from the Parliament Hill area. Trudeau is a dictator this is what he wanted all along, to control everything, said Meister. It hurts me to say this, but under Trudeau, Canada is no longer a democracy. A flight to Jamaica full of convicted criminals is said to have been delayed until after Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's visit to the country next month. The royal couple are set to visit the nation at the start of a Caribbean charm offensive, launched after Barbados opted to become a republic last year. According to a report in The Voice, a British African-Caribbean newspaper, a deportation flight to Jamaica due to go ahead imminently has now been delayed until after the royal visit. Such a flight could cause tensions between London and Jamaica, with the island's top diplomat in the UK commenting that he was 'deeply concerned' about the November deportation flight which planned to send back convicts who came here as children. A flight to Jamaica full of convicted criminals is said to have been delayed until after Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's visit to the country next month. Above: The couple during a royal visit to the Solomon Islands in 2012 The royal couple are set to visit the nation at the start of a Caribbean charm offensive, launched after Barbados opted to become a republic last year Deportation charter flights to Jamaica restarted in February 2019 after a two-year hiatus. It followed the Windrush scandal, which broke in 2018, when it emerged many people whose parents had, between 1948 and 1971, come to the UK from the Caribbean (part of the British Commonwealth) had been wrongly threatened with deportation and accused of being here illegally. Flights deporting convicted criminals have taken place every February since then, except last February because of the pandemic. In 2021, legal bids resulted in only seven people being deported in August despite 90 being originally earmarked for the flight. Three months later, another flight departed with just four criminals after last-minute legal challenges meant 33 people did not board as planned. Last year, Jamaica's opposition leader and equalities campaigners called for the Queen to be removed as the nation's head of state while it prepared to lobby Britain for slavery reparations. Deportation charter flights to Jamaica restarted in February 2019 after a two-year hiatus. It followed the Windrush scandal, which broke in 2018. Above: The 'Empire Windrush' arriving from Jamaica, 1948 William and Catherine will do a 12-day tour of the Bahamas, Jamaica and Belize to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. A spokesman for the Home Office refuses to say when the next deportation flight is scheduled to take place, explaining: 'We do not comment on operational matters.' However, the spokesman insists that 'removal flights do not operate on a fixed pattern and to suggest otherwise is misleading'. Some of the best years of my life I miss those people. Good times and memories, but I have moved on. Not my best days, but I have made peace with them. Glad to be away from those people I dont miss the high school experience. Vote View Results Danish police are seeking help to catch an escaped kangaroo spotted on the loose in the country's south as locals claimed it might have been living in local farmland for eight years. Footage of the Australian Kangaroo bounding through a field in the tiny Denmark village of Oster Ulslev was shared by police on social media. The police wrote 'does anyone know this kangaroo?' and went on to explain a startled motorist couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted it at 8am on Monday morning. Danish police are seeking help to catch a escaped kangaroo spotted on the loose in the country's south by a disbelieving motorist on Monday morning Nobody has reported the animal as missing and the local zoos say it is not one of theirs. On police social media speculation mounted it was the same marsupial that has had the jump on authorities for years, while others claimed it was a local pet. 'That would have to be Michael's,' said Stephanie Duvier. 'He lives in eastern Ulslev.' A woman, Connie Laerke, who lives at nearby, claimed to have seen the same roo 3km from the Oster Ulslev the previous Thursday. Student Martina Bull added 'we've had one jumping around for over a year in the Hedensted area and it still hasn't been caught.' On Facebook Claudia Ringmark said 'there was a kangaroo loose last summer'. Another user, Pernille Nielsen speculated it could have run away from Vordingborg on Masned island. 'They have kangaroos,' she claimed. South Zealand and Lolland-Falster appealed for help finding the owner of the rogue marsupial who was filmed 13,000km from home 'There's someone who has kangaroos out by the island,' agreed Camila Jacobsen. One local, Henrik Kroman, claimed the same roo has been on the run for eight years. 'It has been loose for a very long time, we have been trying to catch it without luck, we moved to Oster Ulslev in 2017 when it was already on the run from the owner, it has probably been on the loose since 20 14.' Mr Kroman even claimed to have lunged at the same roo in an attempt to catch it. 'It's incredibly hard to catch, let alone impossible, I almost got it in 2019, I was just about two metres away from it, then it jumped,' he said. Ministers' refusal to pay for free Covid tests for relatives visiting loved ones in care homes could have 'deadly' consequences, charities said last night. Downing Street confirmed this week people must pay for lateral flow tests (LFTs) from the start of April branded a 'tax on caring'. The full details of who will be eligible for free tests when charges are introduced have yet to be set out, but are expected in the coming weeks. But Boris Johnson's official spokesman confirmed that those visiting care homes would not be included, saying: 'This is targeted at the most vulnerable and frontline staff.' Downing Street said people must pay for lateral flow tests from April, but charities warned a lack of free tests for relatives visiting care homes could have 'deadly' results (stock image) The current guidance for visiting care homes states: 'Visitors should receive a negative lateral flow test result and report it on the day of their visit, either by conducting the test at home or when they arrive at the care home.' James White, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Free lateral flow tests are a crucial part of protecting people living in care homes, 70 per cent of whom have dementia, and it is essential their loved ones have free access to them so they can visit safely. 'A lack of testing when people were shockingly discharged into care homes at the start of the pandemic resulted in tens of thousands of residents catching the virus and by not offering free tests to visitors the Government is in danger of repeating the same, deadly mistake.' The Prime Minister announced the end of universal free lateral flow and PCR tests on Monday as part of a package ending all domestic Covid restrictions in England. The current guidance for visiting care homes states that 'visitors should receive a negative lateral flow test result and report it on the day of their visit' (stock image) LFTs are expected to cost a few pounds, but the Government's Living with Covid plan said they would be restricted to a 'small number of at-risk groups'. Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: 'It is simply unjust and unfair to force people to pay hundreds of pounds a year to safely visit their loved ones. 'It will make vulnerable people more alienated, more lonely, and act as a barrier for family and friends getting together. We must stop this tax on caring.' Ruth Driscoll, of Marie Curie, said: 'People with a terminal illness and their families already face major financial stress... We must ensure they can afford to get tested and stay safe when restrictions come to an end in April.' Obama-era foreign policy advisor Ben Rhodes said Tuesday after President Biden announced fresh sanctions on Russia that Vladimir Putin was not 'in any way caught off guard,' nor did he seem to care. Biden said two Russian financial institutions, VEB and Russia's military bank, will face sanctions. He also said Russia's sovereign debt will be sanctioned so Russia 'can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade its new debt on our markets, or European markets either.' He also promised financial restrictions on a slew of Russian oligarchs and their families and announced plans to send more troops to the region. 'I think again, the challenge here is, Vladimir Putin doesn't seem to care. He knew that these sanctions were coming,' the former White House advisor said on MSNBC. 'I think the U.S. had communicated to Russia precisely the kind of sanctions that would be coming, so I don't think he's in any way caught off guard by this announcement.' 'I think again, the challenge here is, Vladimir Putin doesn't seem to care. He knew that these sanctions were coming,' the former White House advisor said on MSNBC Russian President Vladimir Putin holds an impromptu press conference to discuss the recognition of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Lugansk at the Kremlin Grand Palace, February 22 The Biden administration has for weeks said it is drawing up a sanctions package, as Putin amassed some 190,000 troops at the Ukraine border. Rhodes further explained on Twitter: 'The Putin we saw yesterday quite clearly won't be deterred by sanctions. So this is more about imposing a cost over time, which is why it's important to focus above all on Russian elites who have participated in kleptocracy and aggression.' Biden had been under full pressure to utilize every sanction in his arsenal after Putin on Monday declared to regions in Ukraine independent and move troops in. The Russian president claimed his troops were being sent in on a peacekeeping mission. The two financial institutions 'hold more than $80 billion in assets and finance the Russian defense sector and economic development,' the White House noted in a fact sheet. 'These measures will freeze their assets in the United States, prohibit U.S. individuals and businesses from doing any transactions with them, shut them out of the global financial system, and foreclose access to the U.S. dollar.' And there could be more to come. 'No Russian financial institution is safe if this invasion proceeds,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call. Meanwhile Sec. of State Antony Blinken canceled his upcoming meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. 'Who in the Lord's name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called 'countries' on territory that belonged to his neighbors?' Biden questioned in his Tuesday afternoon remarks. The map above shows a large eastern region of Ukraine now occupied by pro-Russian separatists that Putin has legitimized with his decree on Monday 'Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy it does not make sense to go forward that meeting at this time,' he said in a news conference. In a rare sign of trans-Atlantic coordination, the U.S. sanctions on Tuesday overlapped with those announced by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. But Germany made the first big move, taking steps to halt certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, cutting off what Biden's administration called a 'cash cow' for Moscow. The international reaction was fast and furious after Putin recognized the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics including portions still under the Ukrainian government's control. And after making treaties with these so-called states, he moved his forces onto Ukrainian soil. In response to Russia's latest actions, Biden said he will 'begin to impose sanctions' that go 'far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014.' 'And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand to go further with sanctions,' he said. He also said that since Russia rejected demands it withdraw forces from Belarus, the U.S. will send more forces to the region to help. 'I have authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen our Baltic allies - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,' Biden said. 'Let me be clear, these are totally defensive moves on our part.' 'We have no intention of fighting Russia,' he assured. 'We want to send an unmistakable message though - that the United States together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO.' There are already thousands of U.S. forces from the 82nd and 18th Airborne Corps that have deployed from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Poland and Germany. Other U.S. forces that were already in Germany were repositioned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's eastern flank in Romania. More than 10,000 Russian soldiers entered separatist-occupied areas overnight, a source with links to Ukrainian military intelligence told MailOnline, with 6,000 sent to Donetsk, 5,000 to Luhansk and 1,500 to the city of Horlivka. 'It is difficult to believe [Putin] could have moved that quickly - but he had a long time to prepare,' the source said. During his news conference on Tuesday, Putin called on Ukraine to pledge neutrality, abandon its goal of joining NATO and demilitarize. A tank drives along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine Military vehicles drive along a street after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the deployment of Russian troops He said a further incursion of Russian troops will not happen 'right now' but added, 'predicting specific possible actions is impossible, it depends on the situation.' Putin made clear he recognized rebels' sovereignty over the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions -- despite only a small portion already being under their control. That would include the city of Mariupol, a major port, which as it stands is held by the Ukrainian government. The Russian leader publicly advised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to sit down with the rebel leaders, something Kiev officials have repeatedly refused. Students in NSW will no longer be required to wear a mask in classrooms as part of an easing of restrictions in schools. Masks will be scrapped for students on February 28, with teachers and school staff to ditch face-coverings the following Monday on March 7. Students will once again be allowed to mingle with other year groups next week, however it is unclear if parents will be permitted to return to school grounds. Teachers and secondary students in NSW are currently required to wear a mask while face-coverings are 'strongly recommended' for primary-aged students. Students in NSW will no longer be required to wear masks at school with the rule to be ditched by the end of the month (pictured, secondary students in Melbourne) It is unclear whether parents will be soon allowed to return to school grounds, as the state government continues to review its back-to-school plan (pictured, students in Sydney) It comes as the requirement for NSW school students to take twice-weekly rapid antigen tests is due to end in just a few days. In response to the waning Omicron outbreak and strong vaccination rates, the government will instead hand out eight kits per student to use as required. The self-test kits will also be handed out to school employees and will be given out in two drops starting this week. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said NSW had enjoyed 'incredible success' in getting children back to classrooms and thanked parents and teachers for their efforts. 'It was vital we got our students back in the classroom after two years of disruption to their education, social lives and well-being, and RATs have played an important part in enabling their safe return,' he said. 'The packs are there for families and staff to use at their discretion for their own peace of mind, for example, when a student is feeling unwell with a sore throat or cough, or if family members are sick.' Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the easing of rules on masks, testing and cohorting had meant life for students was now near-normal. She said the inter-mingling of students with other year groups would mean the return of co-curricular activities like choir and school plays. Masks will be scrapped for students in just under a week while teachers and school staff will be required to mask-up until March 7 (pictured, school students in NSW) Teachers and secondary students in NSW are currently required to wear a mask while face-coverings are 'strongly recommended' for primary-aged students (pictured, Sydney students) It comes as ANU epidemiologist Professor Peter Collignon argued the spread of the virus in school settings was not a major concern to health experts. 'They're more a reflection of the community, and children are at less of a risk than 20-30-year-olds, so we've got quite a lot of inconsistency if we make children, young children, wear masks when they're less of a risk both to themselves and others than adults,' Professor Collignon told The Australian. The professor recently revealed reduced vaccine effectiveness against the virus meant mask mandates caused more trouble than they were worth. 'When you've already got 94 per cent [of over 16s double vaccinated] - the question is 'do we need to go further?'' he told Daily Mail Australia. He called for vaccine and mask mandates to be limited to the vulnerable aged care sector now Australia has such a high vaccination rate. 'Those most in danger of dying from Covid are those who are older with underlying health problems,' Professor Collignon said. 'We still need people to wear masks around the elderly but the rest of society is a very different situation.' Australian National University epidemiologist Professor Peter Collignon (pictured) has argued the spread of the virus in school settings was not a major concern to health experts The requirement for NSW school students to take twice-weekly rapid antigen tests is due to end in just a few days (pictured, primary school students return to classrooms in Melbourne) In Victoria, students in high school and years 3 to 6 are required to wear a mask while indoors at school, while children in Prep to Year 2 are exempt from the rule. Teachers and school staff in the southern state are also required to mask-up. Mask rules in schools have been criticised by some of Australia's top epidemiologists who argue children are no more vulnerable to the virus within school settings. Premier Daniel Andrews defended the rule that requires only some primary-aged students to wear a mask, pointing to lower vaccination rates in that age-group. 'The judgement has been made and I think many teachers would support it,' Mr Andrews said of the school rules on Tuesday. 'It's a lot easier to get kids in Year 1 or 2 or 3 to get them to wear the masks properly than kids who are a bit older.' NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (pictured) earlier this week thanked parents, teachers and school administrators for getting children into classrooms on day one of term one About 8.2 million kits were distributed in the first two weeks of the 2022 school year to more than 3,000 schools and early childhood centres across the state. Though testing was never mandatory, parents and teachers were encouraged to do a test twice a week, and those who tested positive were required to stay at home. Murdoch Children's Research Institute paediatrician Fiona Russell said children were at the lowest risk of hospitalisation or severe disease from Omicron. Professor Russell said the World Health Organisation (WHO) would soon release new advice that would see adults and children follow the same mask rules. Health experts have flagged an announcement from the World Health Organisation will see the same mask advice for children and adults (pictured, primary school students in Melbourne) Some of Australia's top epidemiologists have criticised mask rules in schools arguing children were at the lowest risk of hospitalisation or severe illness (pictured, Melbourne students) Epidemiologist Dr Catherine Bennett argued that parents could still enforce masks within their own households without a mandate. Dr Bennett said while vaccination rates were lower in years 3 to 6 students there was no data to suggest infection rates were higher in primary school than secondary. In response to a reporter questioning if the mandate was proportionate given the low rates of sickness or death in children, Mr Andrews pointed to the spread of the virus to vulnerable groups in society. 'Well, you mightn't get sick from it, but you can give it to Grandma, you can give it to someone who's had cancer, you can give it to someone who's got asthma,' he said. The National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance found that in term four last year, three to four per cent of people exposed to a positive case in schools and early childhood education contracted Covid-19 compared to about 70 per cent in homes. Emmanuel Macron was ridiculed last night over his diplomatic efforts to avert war in Ukraine. Marine Le Pen, who is challenging the president at the April election, mocked him for claiming he had secured a potential negotiation with Vladimir Putin. 'I wondered whether he was really acting as president in this whole process, or whether he was looking to win the Nobel Peace Prize,' said the far-Right National Rally leader. Emmanuel Macron, pictured, was ridiculed last night over his diplomatic efforts to avert war in Ukraine Far-Left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon slammed Mr Macron's 'dismal record in this whole affair', adding: 'It is useless to hope that he will do better.' Macron aides lashed out at Mr Putin for backtracking on a deal in principle to hold talks with the French leader and US President Joe Biden. 'Putin has not kept his word,' a senior source said. 'For the time being, no new contacts are planned.' Senior officials in Paris slammed the Russian strongman over his 'paranoid' world view that sees Nato as a direct threat to Russia's national security. Mr Putin, effectively in power for more than two decades, used a rambling speech on Monday night to make bogus claims about the West helping Ukraine acquire nuclear weapons. Marine Le Pen (pictured), who is challenging the president at the April election, mocked him for claiming he had secured a potential negotiation with Vladimir Putin One EU source said the French president had been 'humiliated' by the Kremlin's manoeuvres. 'He seems to have been grandstanding ahead of April's election,' the source said. Before Putin gave the order for Russian tanks to enter Donetsk and Luhansk, French MEP Nathalie Loiseau rejected the criticism of the Elysee's efforts to seek a peaceful compromise. 'Even if the chances of a diplomatic solution in the Ukraine crisis are small, we have to try,' said Mrs Loiseau, Mr Macron's former Europe minister. Far-Left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon (pictured) slammed Mr Macron's 'dismal record in this whole affair', adding: 'It is useless to hope that he will do better' Vladimir Putin attending a meeting with French President Mr Macron in Moscow, Russia earlier this month One EU source said the French president had been 'humiliated' by the Kremlin's manoeuvres French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yesterday (TUESDAY) that planned talks in Paris for Friday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had been cancelled. An EU diplomat said: 'If you're too eager, they'll end up ghosting you.' Top German MEP Reinhard Butikofer also slammed the French leader for going too soft on the Kremlin. He said 'some people seem to believe they should hold back in order to facilitate more dialogue with Putin. 'What dialogue? Isn't it clear that appeasement feeds aggressive appetites?' Britain must be ready for soaring fuel prices up to 1.70 a litre and Russian cyber attacks over its support for Ukraine, authorities have warned. A senior Bank of England official fears that 'moderate' interest rates may also be required in order to bring prices back under control, leading to higher mortgage costs. Oil and gas prices surged yesterday in the wake of Vladimir Putin's decision to order Russian forces into eastern Ukraine with a close ally of the president warning that retaliatory sanctions would see gas prices more than double in Europe. UK gas prices climbed 9pc after Germany halted the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline amid the global crackdown on Russia. While Britain is less reliant on Russia for gas than continental Europe, the knock-on effect on the global wholesale market will still drive up prices. The latest surge means prices are currently four times the long-term average, with further rises expected, bringing another increase on the household energy bills cap in October. Ofgem has already announced a 54pc rise to 1,971 from April. The surge in oil prices, which could reach as high as $140 a barrel, analysts fear, could cause petrol to rise to 1.70 a litre, up from 1.49 this week, The Telegraph reported. Boris Johnson told MPs the UK had to brace itself for potential 'blowback' from Moscow over its show of solidarity with the regime in Kiev Meanwhile Bank of England Deputy Governor Sir Dave Ramsden fears interest rates may need to rise quickly to counter the energy shortage. He said: 'We did not foresee the recent rise in energy prices, and as we meet today the crisis in Ukraine is intensifying. 'Uncertainty makes it particularly difficult to make predictions about where monetary policy might be headed in the medium term. In the near term, some further tightening seems likely to be needed, to prevent current high inflation becoming embedded.' Meanwhile, Boris Johnson also told MPs the UK had to brace itself for potential 'blowback' from Moscow over our show of solidarity with the regime in Kiev. Oil and gas prices surged in the wake of Vladimir Putin's decision to order Russian forces into eastern Ukraine Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister said Putin's decision to send Russian troops into eastern Ukraine showed he was in 'an illogical and irrational frame of mind'. He told MPs: 'One of the things we will have to consider in the weeks ahead, as we continue to lead the world in our support for Ukraine, is the blowback for this country. We must be absolutely frank that there will be cyber attacks. We must understand that and be prepared for it.' Security sources are particularly concerned about the threat posed to ageing computer systems in the NHS and local authorities. One said: 'Russia has some of the most advanced cyber capabilities so it is a serious concern. It's also possible the Kremlin could licence some of the cyber crime groups it shelters to take action directly. Even if the UK is not directly targeted by Moscow there could be serious consequences here. 'The trouble is that once this stuff is in the system it can spill out all over the place, especially where you have organisations running old systems.' Mr Johnson also acknowledged that energy prices would be pushed to new levels as a result of the crisis. Former minister Robert Halfon called for financial support to help families cope with the reality that 'the war is likely to increase the cost of living for ordinary folk across the country'. Mr Johnson replied: 'He is quite right that one of the risks of Putin's venture is that there could be a spike in gas prices, in oil prices... 'The Government will do everything we can to mitigate it and help the people in this country but it's one of the reasons why the whole of Western Europe has got to end their dependence on Russian oil and gas.' Gas prices jumped by almost 11 per cent yesterday and Brent crude closed at almost $100 a barrel a seven-year high. Former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, warned that retaliatory sanctions would see gas prices more than double in Europe Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, said Germany's decision yesterday to cancel Nord Stream 2 the underwater pipeline due to carry Russian gas to Western Europe would see Europeans 'soon paying 2000 euros per thousand cubic meter of gas'. This is more than double the current price of around 900 euros. While the UK is not as dependent as other European countries on Russian gas, we will still feel the effect of a rise in global prices. The energy regulator Ofgem warned any rise could lead to a further 700 hike in the price cap in October, on top of the 700 rise coming into effect in April. The RAC's Simon Williams said petrol prices were set to top 1.50 per litre, adding: 'Russia's decision to invade Ukraine is already causing oil prices to rise.' Vadim was walking his pug dog when we met yesterday morning. The sky was blue, the sun shone and the park in front of Kiev's main drama theatre was filled with parents pushing prams past a few elderly folk sitting on benches. The scene, with its feeling of springtime, could scarcely have been more peaceful. Yet, like countless others of his fellow citizens, the 21-year-old engineering student is steeling himself for war. 'I'm tired of the Russian aggression,' Vadim said. 'I don't sleep at night, I just keep reading the news. I've been going to bed at 6am for the last four days.' Vadim has already suffered once from Putin's terrorism. He fled Donetsk with his family in 2014 when rebels backed by Moscow took over the city, declared independence and provoked a dragging conflict that has killed at least 14,000 people including a soldier who died in shelling over the front line last night. Activists hold placards during the Empire Had to Die rally at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kyiv on Tuesday Now the shadow of war hangs heavy over the entire nation and, as Vadim says, the situation feels eerily similar to 2014 with all the lies, tricks and provocations to justify Russian aggression. 'We can only sit and wait. If the war comes, I will not flee since I feel there's nowhere to run now.' His pain is all the more profound since his father is still in Donetsk, telling his son how the separatists create fake stories about Ukrainian shelling to feed Putin's propaganda machine. Yet now this student faces the prospect of fighting in a war and his adopted city, the capital of a European nation, might just be enjoying its last few days of halcyon normality. Indeed, as I talked to people going about their daily lives in this sprawling old city straddling the river Dnipro, it felt like we were trapped in a strange throwback to past times on our continent when nations clashed in battle, leaders drew lines on maps and ordinary lives were disposable. Oksana, 59, works for a Jewish care organisation, looking after people in their eighties and nineties who survived World War II. 'They tell me the stories about the bombings, the evacuations. They are very worried. I try to calm them down.' Like others, she says she fears Putin is mad and 'wants to rule the world'. But she cannot leave Kiev since her elderly mother lives in the city with her pets. Ukraine is a country scarred over the past century with civil war, while 10 million were killed in World War II (pictured: German armed forced advance into Ukraine during World War II) 'Besides, I have nowhere to go. I don't have any friends or relatives I can stay with.' Ukraine is a country profoundly scarred over the past century with civil war, communist dictatorship, four million people dying in Stalin's famine, 10 million killed in World War II and now it must confront the cruelties of Putin. Olga Lisowska, 30, an artist from Donbas, said her grandparents were uprooted eight years ago from their long-time home near Donetsk, due to Moscow's meddling. 'It's awful to think these people who survived World War II in their youth have fallen victim as old people to the insanity of the mad man,' she said. 'I would very much like to embrace all Ukrainians who are now as anxious as I am. I wish us all to be brave and hold on.' The country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian who finds himself leading his nation's fight for survival, said in a rallying call to his nation at 2am yesterday: 'We are not afraid of anyone or anything.' Lisa Yasko, 31, an MP in his party who entered politics after the pro-democracy protests in 2014 that sparked Putin's intervention, said life might seem calm on the surface but underneath there is often deep concern reflected in their conversations. She told me she recently met a close friend who works in IT who became so emotional and angry about the threat of war that she spoke of emigrating. An opinion poll published yesterday found that only 14.5 per cent of Ukrainians are ready to abandon hopes of joining Nato to appease Putin but 3.7 per cent plan to leave if attacked which equates to 1.6m citizens in a nation already suffering depopulation due to economic struggles. Miss Yasko says she was struck by Putin's bellicose speech on Monday, saying he seemed deeply pained about Ukraine being independent and not part of a greater Russia. 'His thinking dates from his Soviet mindset, his desire to show power and control to the world. He hates the West and cannot stand any success around him.' As Ukrainian MPs debated their response, there was a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict as the funeral took place of Anton Siderov, 35, a captain in the Ukrainian army and father of three daughters who was killed on Saturday alongside another soldier in a shelling. His devastated widow Natalia, clutching their six-month-old youngest daughter, led mourners in the Ukrainian Orthodox ceremony with candles, carnations and a choir singing over his open casket. Afterwards, his flag-draped coffin was carried out on the shoulders of eight military comrades. Little wonder Anatoliy Semenko, 50, a former law enforcement official, said he was afraid that the crisis might have 'strong impact' on his family. 'I have two sons in their twenties but, if needed, my sons and I will join the army. I don't want my sons to leave their normal life and have to fight. But we can't predict what will Putin do. We don't know what's in his head.' An Ukrainian serviceman close to the pro-Russian militant controlled city of Gorlovka, in the Donetsk area of eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday Yet for all the fortitude on display, Ukraine is woefully under-prepared for full-throttle military assault. Last year, for instance, an official study found just 11 per cent of its 21,000 underground shelters to be operational and when I checked the basements listed near my rented flat, the first four were locked with signs giving a number to call in a crisis. And at times yesterday, I was reminded of how people in Sarajevo told me how they never thought their nation would slide into civil war only to spend almost four awful years under siege from sniper fire and bombardment following the break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. 'I'm not worried,' said Oksana, 48, a housewife and mother of two daughters whom I met by a red London double-decker bus converted into a cafe. 'It feels very calm today. The schools are working, the shops are open, there are no queues at banks. I'm glad there's no panic. Life continues as usual for us.' She admitted, however, to concerns for mothers whose sons might be sent into battle. 'The boys don't want to die and it's very hard for the mothers. I'm worried that my son-in-law might be called to the military.' I met several more people similarly fatalistic, recognising that they are powerless pawns in a lethal game of global geopolitics between dictatorship and democracy. 'What's the point of being stressed will it change anything?' asked Elena, 31, outside a busy cafe. Yet she admitted the consequences could be terrible. 'We try not to discuss it with friends but I know that all men my dad, my friends, my boyfriend will take up arms and join the military. This is not even a matter of discussion. They say: 'We have to protect you our wives and daughters'. 'There will be a war but we'll have to wait and see what is going to happen.' A second Covid vaccine has been given the green light for Australian children. In a world first, the Therapeutic Goods Administration on Thursday gave the go-ahead for six to 11-year-olds to receive the Moderna vaccine. Now the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has given formal approval and Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the rollout would begin on Thursday. 'I'm delighted to be able to announce that we now have a double greenlight for the Moderna children vaccine, and this will be for six to 11-year-olds,' he said on Wednesday. 'It will be able to commence as of tomorrow. The important thing is it's the same formula, it's half of the adult primary dose, but it's the same as the adult booster dose.' Moderna has become the second Covid vaccine approved for children aged six to 11 in Australia following Pfizer Moderna was previously only available to people 12 and over. It now joins Pfizer as a Covid vaccine recommended for children. So far 49.4 per cent of children have been double vaccinated in Australia. The medical regulator said children should receive two doses of the Moderna vaccine, spaced four weeks apart. The approval decision was made after careful consideration of clinical trial data from the US and Canada, which included 4,000 children. 'Clinical trials also showed that the safety profile is similar to that seen in adults,' the TGA said. The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the vaccine on Thursday after careful consideration of clinical trial data from the US and Canada, which included 4000 children So far, more than one million children aged five to 11 have received their first Covid vaccine dose, or more than 48 per cent of the cohort. It comes as a leading infectious diseases expert warned state governments may need to reintroduce Covid restrictions in the upcoming winter. As jurisdictions such as Victoria look to ease measures such as QR code check-ins and density limits, Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University said colder months could bring with it a return to restrictions. 'We will have to reconsider what happens, we are likely to get another wave in winter,' he told the Nine Network on Thursday. 'It's appropriate (to ease restrictions now) as we have high levels of vaccination and there will be less spread for the next few months, but we will have to reconsider what happens in winter.' Despite the potential for relaxed restrictions, Prof Collignon said it was not a cause for people to become complacent about Covid. 'The virus is going to be here for years to come. The only good news is, with vaccination, we as individuals are much less at risk than we were before,' he said. 'The virus will circulate for years but it will be at different stages, we will probably get worse waves in winter.' Advertisement The crisis between Russia and the West has intensified following Vladimir Putin's decision to recognise breakaway republics in east Ukraine - and Joe Biden warning that the world is now on the brink of war. A convoy of 100 tanks was seen heading toward the border as Russia prepared for a full-scale assault on Ukraine, and the parliament in Moscow endorsed the Russian president's request to deploy troops abroad. Meanwhile, Mr Putin last night supported the territorial claims of Kremlin-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine including large areas currently held by Ukrainian forces raising fears of all-out war. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the situation was now as serious as the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, and Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg call it 'the most dangerous moment in European security for a generation'. Britain, the US and the European Union launched co-ordinated sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs close to the Russian president - and Boris Johnson said the West should now steel itself 'for a protracted crisis'. As Germany suspended approval of the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, here are answers to some of the key questions surrounding the crisis in eastern Europe: What is the cause of the tension in the region? The current difficulties date back to the overthrow in 2014 of the pro-Moscow Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovych, prompting fears in the Kremlin that the country was moving into the orbit of the West. President Vladimir Putin responded by sending in troops to annex Crimea while Russian-backed separatist rebels seized territory in eastern Ukraine in bloody fighting with the Ukrainian military. What has happened now? Mr Putin has decided to recognise the two Russian-backed regions in east Ukraine - Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic - as independent states. He has ordered troops into the two regions to 'maintain peace' - crossing the red line set by the West by deploying Russian forces on Ukrainian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the Kremlin Grand Palace in Moscow, Russia, today What has been the response? The UK, European Union and United States will all impose economic sanctions. Boris Johnson said the measures being imposed by the UK were the 'first barrage' because further action would be taken if the situation escalated. So, what next? The West will hope the economic pressure it can impose through sanctions will persuade Mr Putin to back down. But he has an estimated 150,000 troops ringed around Ukraine and Mr Johnson warned 'all the evidence is that President Putin is indeed bent on a full-scale invasion of the Ukraine'. An attempt to conquer Ukraine could lead to a prolonged and bloody conflict. Russian armoured vehicles are pictured yesterday in Rostov-on-Don on the Russian side of the Ukrainian border Could there be a wider war? Ukraine is not a member of Nato, so the alliance's members - including the UK - will not play a direct role in fighting. The UK has supplied anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian army and other support is being considered. But Russian aggression in eastern Europe is likely to increase anxiety among Nato's members. This could lead to a further build-up of forces, potentially increasing tensions even further in the region. What is the advice for Britons in Ukraine? They have already been told to leave while it is still possible to do so. The British ambassador in Ukraine Melinda Simmons has relocated from the embassy in Kyiv to Lviv in the country's west due to fears about the risk posed to the capital from an invasion. In a message on Tuesday she said: 'I strongly advise British nationals to leave the country while commercial travel is available.' Financial experts have pointed out Europe's dependency on Russia for natural gas, as shown in this Associated Press graphic Will Britain send troops to Ukraine? Britain has provided training to Ukrainian forces since 2015 following Russia's annexation of Crimea, and has supplied them with anti-tank weapons and body armour, helmets and combat boots. But it pulled its own troops around 100 military personnel providing training from Ukraine earlier this month. The Government has signalled it intends to rely on sanctions rather than military might to enforce its message to Vladimir Putin. But it sent more troops and equipment to Estonia a Nato member earlier this month amid fears that the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania could come under threat. Will Britain be hit by gas shortages? The UK only takes about three per cent of its gas supplies from Russia, but wholesale gas prices are determined by the international market and Europe is heavily reliant on Russia. As other countries try to find others sources to replace Russian gas, the price will be driven up, with predictions yesterday of another 700 on to annual bills once the price cap is raised. Some energy-intensive industries have warned they may be forced to shut down temporarily. The price per therm in pence is shown for UK natural gas prices, which could be set to soar due to the situation in Ukraine What about oil prices? Motorists have been warned to expect petrol prices to rise above 1.50 per litre, as oil prices reached their highest level since 2014. Russia is one of the world's largest producers of crude oil. Crude oil is approaching $100 a barrel, and analysts said that could rise to $120 if supplies were restricted, which could mean petrol prices would rise to more than 1.60 per litre. Such a rise would send inflation soaring in most Western economies. How has the stock market reacted? Stock markets around the world tumbled after Putin's troops announcement, but showed signs of recovery during the day. The FTSE 100 index in London closed 11 points lower at 7,495.97. The Centre for Economics and Business Research think tank warned that the Ukraine crisis could fuel inflation and slow down growth in the main Western economies. Some British businesses could also be affected by sanctions against Russia, including BP, which has a significant share in the Russian energy firm Rosneft. Any prolonged impact on the financial markets will also affect pensions, as most pension funds invest primarily in stocks and bonds. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (yesterday, at a meeting of the defence ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force nations at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire) said the UK will launch retaliatory cyber attacks on Russia if it targets Britain's networks Will this start a refugee crisis? Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has warned that a Russian invasion of Ukraine could lead to millions fleeing the country. He said Europe could face its biggest internal refugee crisis since the Second World War. Ukrainian defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov told the BBC: 'It will be a disaster not only for Ukraine, it will be a disaster for Europe.' Officials in Whitehall and their counterparts in Europe are already drawing up contingency plans for a possible influx of one million Ukrainians fleeing into neighbouring countries such as Poland and Romania. Tory MP Mark Pritchard, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on Ukraine, said it was 'highly likely' the UK and EU would be affected. He said: 'The EU needs to avoid another migration crisis. It is highly likely that the whole of the EU will be affected, the UK too, but France, Poland, Hungary and Germany are most likely to feel the biggest effect.' Will Russia retaliate over Britain's sanctions? Britain faces a wave of Russian cyber-attacks over its defence of Ukraine, senior military advisers have warned. Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told the Cabinet earlier this month that the UK should be ready for potential cyber offensives from the Kremlin if Russia invades Ukraine. Officials fear that the NHS, local government and business could be prime targets for Moscow, which has one of the most sophisticated cyber capabilities in the world. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a warning to businesses and institutions to beef up their defences in anticipation of a potential Russian attack. A cruel and callous father who executed his own daughter and her husband has been sentenced to a double life term of imprisonment. Truck driver Osman Shaptafaj, now aged 57, will likely die in jail over the murders of his daughter Lindita Musai, 25, and her new husband Veton, 29. Shaptafaj had tormented his estranged family for most of their lives before embarking on the horror New Year's Eve shooting in Yarraville, western Melbourne, to mark the end of 2019. So evil was the brute that he had previously severed his own finger and mailed it to his ex-wife. Osman Shaptafaj in a post from Facebook. He was estranged from his family when he gunned down his own daughter and her new husband The Albanian Australian Islamic Society mosque in Carlton North in January last year when thousands lined the street to pay their respects to the murdered couple The couple married about a year before they were murdered but had been dating for at least five years Blasted through the head: But not brain dead, Osman Shaptafaj survived despite putting two bullets into his own head He was sentenced by Justice Andrew Tinney in the Supreme Court of Victoria to spend no less than 35-years behind bars - an effective death sentence. An emotional Justice Tinney, who at times appeared close to tears, described Shaptafaj as a 'remorseless' killer whose appalling actions had shocked Melbourne's Albanian Muslim community. 'I have decided to fix a non-parole period, but of course I sentence you on the basis that you may be required to serve every day for the remainder of your life in custody under the head sentence,' Justice Tinney said. 'I will fix as the non-parole period the shortest term of imprisonment which in my view would meet the needs of justice in this case.' Shaptafaj had initially tried to contest the murder charges, but backflipped after he failed in an attempt to claim mental impairment. Psychiatrists acting for the Crown had dismissed claims the killer was unfit to plead to the crimes due to mental illness. Upon sentence, Justice Tinney too dismissed any suggestion mental illness played a role in Shaptafaj's 'evil plan'. 'There is to my mind no acceptable evidence that you were suffering from a major depressive condition on the day of your crimes,' he said. 'Significantly depressed you might possibly have been, but the well planned and premeditated crimes which you committed cannot be viewed as having been committed with anything less than a full appreciation of the wrongfulness of your conduct. 'You made the dreadful decision to murder your daughter and her husband. Having made the decision you enacted your plan to chilling effect. This was a choice you made for what could only have been the most powerful of reasons.' Justice Tinney said it was Shaptafaj's feelings of resentment and anger towards the couple that drove him to kill them. Lindita Musai (left) had been trying to start a new life away from her father when she and her new husband Veton (right) were shot in the back of their head Supreme Court Justice Andrew Tinney had spent his life as a prosecutor bringing crooks to justice. He has now handed out a remorseless killer a life sentence 'You've taken away two young lives. Your crimes were premeditated, carried out on two members of your family who should legitimately have expected you to be their protector not someone who would kill them so savagely,' he said. 'They had done you no harm and yet you allowed your unjustified feelings of resentment and anger towards them to drive you to commit unspeakable crimes.' Lindita had been trying to start a new life away from her father but she and husband Veton were shot in their heads by Shaptafaj on the front porch of their family's home. She had hated her father, who had shown her family nothing but cruelty and terror throughout his life. Lindita was dead before she hit the ground, with Veton hanging onto life until the next day until his life support was pulled. He had shot his daughter in the back of the head, but looked Veton in the eyes before blasting him. When done, he rang the door bell where the couple's relatives were inside. When they opened the door, Shaptafaj placed the Smith and Wesson 38-calibre handgun to his own head. They slammed the door shut and the killer decided not to shoot himself there. Instead, he walked to grassland just down the road where witnesses saw him put the gun to his chin and fire. The bullet took out most of his right eye, but didn't kill him. He rose to his feet and fired again, but death would not greet him warm. The court heard Shaptafaj could never accept that his daughter wanted nothing to do with him. Justice Tinney condemned Shaptafaj for his 'cold hearted, cowardly and vicious' actions. In the months before the murders, he had spent his days alone inside his Altona North home crying like a baby while playing video games and watching television. Osman Shaptafaj killed his daughter and her husband before turning the gun on himself The couple were found on the front porch of their house with gunshot wounds to their upper bodies TIMELINE TO EXECUTION 1988: Aged in his mid-20s, Osman Shaptafaj arrives in Australia 1989: Shaptafaj marries and later has two children 2008: Marriage falls apart and the family splits up 2011: Shaptafaj assaults daughter Lindita and threatens her life. His estranged wife, son and daughter all take out intervention orders against him 2018: Lindita and Veton marry in December that year and continue to live at home while their house is built 2019: After celebrating their anniversary, Shaptafaj lays in wait outside their home before shooting them both dead 2021: Shaptafaj finally pleads guilty to their murders Advertisement Born in Montenegro, the killer had travelled to Australia in 1988 and married a year later. It had not been a pleasant union, with Shaptafaj tormenting Lindita, her brother and their mother for years before they finally fled his cruel grip in 2008. Lindita's brother Arben Shaptafaj, who had initially stuck with his dad, told the court his father had been hellbent on vengeance against his daughter. He had got his hands on a gun in 2011, which he placed to his son's cheek. Shaptafaj believed she had ruined his life. Later that year he attacked the then 17-year old Lindita after she told him she wanted to live with her mother. The police were called, intervention orders were taken out and she swore never to see him again. 'Lindita hated him more than anything in the world as a result of the physical abuse we all suffered from him,' Arben told police. 'She always believed that our family would have been amazing if it wasn't for (him).' Cold-blooded killer Osman Shaptafaj in another Facebook post Osman Shaptafaj turned a gun on himself after killing his own daughter and her husband Cut off, the three lived in harmony for years oblivious that one day the 'monster' would return to haunt them. 'For the first time in a very long time we were a happy family with the three of us,' Arben said. 'There was love and a genuine positivity about our lives moving towards the future.' Lindita had fallen in love with Veton and the pair had been married nearly a year to the day they would ultimately die. 'We believed that we would finally be able to put behind us the nightmare we had to endure with the monster,' Arben said. The happy couple had celebrated their first anniversary with a stay in the city over the three days leading up to their deaths. They had just arrived home, where they lived with Veton's family, when Shaptafaj struck. They never knew what hit them. Shaptafaj shot them one-by-one from near point blank range in the head. The carnage of the immediate aftermath of that incident was laid bare before the court in December. Veton's older brother Drilon Musai delivered in person a harrowing victim impact statement. It was but one among 28 submitted to the court by friends and family of the victims. Mr Musai had been inseparable from his brother since birth. Such was their bond, the pair had been in the process of building adjoining townhouses so that their families could live together as neighbours. The couple had wed in 2019 before they were shot on the front porch of their house Osman Shaptafaj executed Lindita and Veton Musai (left and centre) a year after they were married. Her brother Arben Shaptafaj (right) described their father as a 'monster' Lindita and Veton Musai had spent three wonderful days celebrating their first anniversary when her father shot them both dead 'He was my best friend, he was my confidante, he was my partner in crime,' Mr Musai told the court. 'We lived under the same roof all of our lives and our rooms were never more than a metre apart from one another.' Mr Musai said the death of his brother had left him a shell of a man, who was now unable to even laugh because he shared the identical laugh to that of his dead brother. Breaking down in tears several times, Mr Musai said he was forced to plan his brother and sister-in-law's funerals a year after planning their weddings. He described his sister-in-law as having poise, grace and a silly side that would make those around her buckle with laughter. The court heard the despair felt by the Musai's loved ones remained raw, with one person seen to be making a 'gun-to-the-head' gesture toward Shaptafaj in the courtroom during that hearing last year. Shaptafaj's barrister Tanya Skortsova could provide little explanation for her client's outrageous behaviour. Like many a killer, Shaptafaj had been suffering depression, which was compounded by a motorbike accident that had left him unable to work. It was a condition the killer had tried to use to get out of taking responsibility for the murders. On Tuesday, Ms Skortsova passed on a message to the court that her client was 'profoundly' touched by the victim impact statements previously read to the court. Shaptafaj has already spent 784 days behind bars. The Yarraville home where Lindita and Veton Musai met their doom Lindita Musai, 25, (pictured) was shot dead and her husband Veto Musai, 29, critically injured in a hail of bullets at their western Melbourne home Over the next decade the number of satellites orbiting the Earth is expected to more than double to over 57,000 - presenting a serious collision risk, the NOAA warned. While the space around the Earth is vast, as numbers increase so does the risk of two objects colliding, and if that happens it creates hundreds more, smaller objects - which when travelling at thousands of miles per hour, still pose a major threat. To tackle this potential threat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is developing an early warning system, that tracks all satellites in orbit, as well as other, smaller object and pieces of debris using a network of ground sensors. It is currently a prototype, designed to alert operators of satellites when a spacecraft is potentially on course to hit another object, but should be operational by 2025. Known as the Open-Architecture Data Repository (OADR), it is a cloud database that keeps watch over all of the objects, and warns if there is a danger - similar to warnings issued if someone is within the path of an oncoming storm. Over the next decade the number of satellites orbiting the Earth is expected to more than double to over 57,000 - presenting a serious collision risk, the NOAA warned While the space around the Earth is vast, as numbers increase so does the risk of two objects colliding, and if that happens it creates hundreds more, smaller objects - which when travelling at thousands of miles per hour, still pose a major threat According to the NOAA, the prototype gathers data on space conditions from a range of scans taken from ground sensors - that cover most of the planet. It is linked to US-government-affiliated ground stations, as well as a network of commercial stations. As well as tracking satellites, and providing live telemetry on their movements, it can provide detailed updates on the latest space weather. This could include the strength of geomagnetic storms, like the one that took out 40 SpaceX Starlink satellites that were on their way to orbit. OADR gathers the data from a range of sources and uses it to create a picture of the environment in orbit above the Earth - that it can use to look for 'conjunctions'. This is what the space sector calls a close encounter between a pair of orbiting objects. If there are any impending conjunctions, OADR can relay the data to the satellite operators, and hopefully give them time to make any necessary movements. 'A hurricane notification displays a probability cone that continually changes as new data is obtained,' explained Scott Leonard, Special Advisor to the Director of NOAA's Office of Space Commerce, adding that 'a conjunction is similar.' The full system is unlikely to be operational until 2025, as the team say there are still kinks with the automated collection of data, and the prediction process. There are a number of companies offering a similar service, although the NOAA hopes that by being independent of any one company, and with access to a wider array of ground stations, it will have more data and better predictive abilities. To tackle this potential threat, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is developing an early warning system, that tracks all satellites in orbit, as well as other, smaller object and pieces of debris using a network of ground sensors WHAT IS SPACE JUNK? There are an estimated 170 million pieces of so-called 'space junk' in orbit alongside some $700 billion (555bn) of space infrastructure. This debris can be as big as spent rocket stages or as small as paint flakes. But only 22,000 are tracked, and with the fragments able to travel at speeds above 16,777 mph (27,000kmh), even tiny pieces could seriously damage or destroy satellites. However, traditional gripping methods don't work in space, as suction cups do not function in a vacuum and temperatures are too cold for substances like tape and glue. Grippers based around magnets are useless because most of the debris in orbit around Earth is not magnetic. Most proposed solutions, including debris harpoons, either require or cause forceful interaction with the debris, which could push those objects in unintended, unpredictable directions. Scientists point to two events that have badly worsened the problem of space junk. The first was in February 2009, when an Iridium telecoms satellite and Kosmos-2251, a Russian military satellite, accidentally collided. The second was in January 2007, when China tested an anti-satellite weapon on an old Fengyun weather satellite. Advertisement The European Union is also working on a new space traffic management system, that would also work alongside US and UN systems. 'We intend to propose a European approach to the management of space traffic, covering operational and regulatory needs, but also to enable us to continue international cooperation,' said Thierry Breton, EU commissioner. 'We are very grateful that we get collision warnings from our US partners, but it would be a lot nicer if we would not have to rely on others,' said Rolf Densing, director of operations for the European Space Agency. During the Russian anti-satellite demonstration in November, European tracking stations could only monitor 300 of more than 1,500 pieces, prompting officials to say that more money should be invested in solving hte problem. Former director of the Office of Space Commerce in the US, said during an FAA conference that the EU moves highlight how important this problem is becoming. However, he feels the private sector is the best positioned to solve the issue. 'I think we have to look to the private sector' for developing those rules of the road in space, he said, adding that for the maritime industry, 'the private sector led with the development of practical rules of the road that ultimately became codified.' Solace, Canadian-based data flow firm, works to help real time information get from one point to another, and says this is a key component in satellite tracking. Jamil Ahmed, Distinguished Engineer at Solace, told DailyMail.com said there is no point having the US, Europe and others gathering the data, but it being hours old. The NOAA is looking to the private sector for data to fuel its new system, which will also track non-satellite objects that could pose a problem in the future. What we have been largely concerned with are the tens of thousands of inert debris objects and a future that may be dominated by active satellites. In fact, we expect on the order of 57,000 new satellites in orbit by the year 2030, said Steve Volz, NOAA Satellite and Information Services assistant administrator said. Votz and colleagues are now in the process of battling for funding and visibility, and hope to have a more coordinated approach, with other parts of the government. While this is happening, the space industry has been complaining of a lack of action, with Joel Sercel, CEO of Trans Astra Corp saying space traffic management isn't getting the attention it deserves. Adding that this is shocking given that space is about to become a multi-trillion dollar industry, with a large percentage of private space firms based in the US. A 170 million-year-old pterosaur fossil unearthed in Scotland is the largest of its kind ever discovered from the Jurassic period, a new study reveals. The 'exquisite skeleton', extracted from the coast of the Isle of Skye, is the best-preserved skeleton of a pterosaur to be found in Scotland. The giant winged species, which is new to science, had an estimated wingspan of more than eight feet (2.5 metres) about the size of the largest birds today. During the Jurassic period, the creature would have flown over the ancient waters of Scotland, feeding on fish and squid. It had 'enormous and well-defined' teeth and fangs for plucking its prey out of Scotland's shallow waters, helped by its impeccable eyesight. It ruled the waters at the same time that meat-eating dinosaurs similar to Tyrannosaurus rex dominated the land. A spectacular fossil of a huge flying reptile known as a pterosaur, that was found on the Isle of Skye, is the largest of its kind ever discovered from the Jurassic period. Pictured is the new skeleton, as extracted from the Isle of Skye coast During the Jurassic period, the creature would have flown over the ancient waters of Scotland feeding on fish and squid (artist's depiction) The giant winged species had an estimated wingspan of more than eight feet (2.5 metres) - about the size of the largest birds today The fossil was on a tidal platform at Rubha nam Brathairean (known as Brothers' Point), Isle of Skye, Scotland DEARC SGIATHANACH: 'THE WINGED REPTILE' Dearc sgiathanach (pronounced jark ski-an-ach) is a species of pterosaur new to science. Neither birds nor bats, pterosaurs were reptiles who ruled the skies in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. D. sgiathanach lived around 170 million years ago, about midway through the Jurassic period. It had 'enormous and well-defined' teeth and fangs for plucking its prey out of Scotland's shallow waters, helped by its impeccable eyesight. At the time, Scotland was very different in terms of climate - warmer and humid. Advertisement The species has been given the Gaelic name Dearc sgiathanach (pronounced jark ski-an-ach), which translates as 'winged reptile'. The fossil was discovered in 2017, but only now are researchers describing it in detail, in a paper published today in Current Biology. 'Scotland back then was a very different environment much, much warmer and humid,' said study author Natalia Jagielska at the University of Edinburgh. 'It was almost tropical think Canary Islands, something like that. 'Pterosaurs preserved in such quality are exceedingly rare and are usually reserved to select rock formations in Brazil and China. 'And yet, an enormous superbly preserved pterosaur emerged from a tidal platform in Scotland. 'Dearc is a fantastic example of why palaeontology will never cease to be astounding.' Amelia Penny, a PhD student at the University of Edinburgh, discovered the fossil during a field trip in 2017, funded by the National Geographic Society. Ms Penny had spotted its jaw protruding from a limestone layer on a tidal platform at Rubha nam Brathairean (known as Brothers' Point). Pictured is PhD student Amelia Penny at the discovery site. The fossil was discovered in 2017, but only now are researchers describing it in detail, in a paper published today in Current Biology The creature's skull (pictured) has well-defined' teeth and fangs. Penny had spotted its jaw protruding from the limestone layer on a tidal platform at Rubha nam Brathairean (known as Brothers' Point) BABY PTEROSAURS FLEW THE NEST STRAIGHT AFTER HATCHING Extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs were likely able to fly out of the nest straight after hatching, a 2021 study found. A team led by a University of Southampton expert performed computer modelling based on the fossils of several pterosaur species. They conclude that pterosaur hatchlings were agile and 'flightworthy from the moment of hatching' known in biology as precociality. The hatchlings had wingspans of almost 10 inches (25cm) attached to bodies that 'could neatly fit in your hand'. Newly-born pterosaurs were also more nimble flyers compared with adults, but less adept at travelling long distances, the team say. Read more: Baby pterosaurs flew the nest straight after hatching Advertisement She alerted colleagues who inspected and identified the head of a pterosaur. A painstaking operation ensued to extract the fossil, involving the use of diamond-tipped saws to cut it from the rock, all while racing against time as the tide came in. 'She found the fossil out a a site on the coast at low tide,' said Professor Steve Brusatte, University of Edinburgh. 'We realised as we started to cut this bone out of the rock using diamond-tipped saws, that that head lead to a skeleton. 'We had to battle the tides to collect it we almost lost the fossil. We had to let it go, to let the tide lap over it, and we had to worry for several hours, come back nearly at midnight to collect it.' Professor Brusatte said that the 'superlative' fossil has 'amazing' preservation, far beyond any pterosaur ever found in Scotland. '[It's] probably the best British skeleton found since the days of Mary Anning in the early 1800s,' he said. 'Dearc is the biggest pterosaur we know from the Jurassic period and that tells us that pterosaurs got larger much earlier than we thought, long before the Cretaceous period when they were competing with birds, and that's hugely significant.' After the fossil was salvaged, it was brought to the University of Edinburgh for analysis and description, which has lasted the best part of five years. CT scans of the skull have revealed large optic lobes, which indicate that Dearc would have had good eyesight. The specimen will be the subject of further study by Jagielska, which aims to reveal more about Dearc's behaviour, particularly how it lived and flew. Artist's impression of the pterosaur, which would have existed at the same time the famous T.rex roamed the land A stunning shot of the creature's claws in the fossilised rock. After the fossil was salvaged, it was brought to the University of Edinburgh for analysis and description 'To achieve flight, pterosaurs had hollow bones with thin bone walls, making their remains incredibly fragile and unfit to preserving for millions of years,' Jagielska said. 'And yet our skeleton, around 160 million years on since its death, remains in almost pristine condition, articulated and almost complete. 'Its sharp fish-snatching teeth still retaining a shiny enamel cover as if he were alive mere weeks ago.' Professor Steve Brusatte is pictured conserving counterslab. Counter slab and slab are the matching halves of a fossil-bearing matrix formed in sedimentary deposits Removing skeleton from beach involved a battle with the Scottish tides and a multi-person team Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight, some 50 million years before birds. They lived throughout the Mesozoic era the so-called age of reptiles as far back as the Triassic Period, about 230 million years ago. In the later Cretaceous Period the time of Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops and immediately before the extinction event that wiped out the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, pterosaurs grew to the size of fighter jets. Dugald Ross from the Staffin Dinosaur Museum is pictured sawing away to extract the remarkable specimen Neither birds nor bats, pterosaurs were reptiles who ruled the skies in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Pictured, artist's depiction of Dearc sgiathanach However, they were previously thought to have been much smaller during the Jurassic Period. Fragmentary specimens from England had hinted at the possibility that larger pterosaurs lived during the Jurassic Period and Dearc sgiathanach is the first complete specimen to confirm this. The specimen will now be added to National Museums Scotland's collection and studied further. The new paper is authored by scientists from the University of Edinburgh, National Museums Scotland, the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow, the University of St Andrews and Staffin Museum on the Isle of Skye. The earliest evidence of ear surgery has been found on a 5,300-year-old skull taken from an ancient Spanish tomb, a new study reveals. The skull was found in a megalithic tomb known as the Dolmen of El Pendon in Burgos, Spain, which historically hosted ritual-funerary practices. It likely belonged to a prehistoric woman aged between 35 and 50 years old an advanced age for the time. At some point, she underwent two rounds of mastoidectomy an intervention aimed at eliminating infections in the skull behind the ear within the mastoid bone. Amazingly, analysis of the skull has confirmed she survived, making this operation, performed some 5,300 years ago, the first documented successful ear surgery. Researchers from the University of Valladolid, who led the study, said: 'This find would be the earliest surgical ear intervention in the history of mankind.' The skull, found in a megalithic tomb likely belonged to a woman aged between 35 and 50 years old, which was an advanced age for the time period. Top shows the skull and bottom the skull circled in the megalithic ossuary Dolmen of El Pendon is located in Reinoso, a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Spain DOLMEN OF EL PENDON Dolmen of El Pendonis an ancient funerary chamber in Burgos, Spain. Radiocarbon analysis has determined that the dolmen was built at the beginning of the 4th millennium BC. It's thought it was used for some 800 years between 3,800 and 3,000 BC. It consists of a central funerary chamber with a long entrance passage. In July 2018, a skull showing the earliest evidence of ear surgery was found at Dolmen of El Pendonis. Advertisement If left untreated, the woman's infections could have resulted in hearing loss, meningitis and likely death. The skull was actually found in July 2018, but only now is it being described in a scientific paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports. 'It is an elderly woman for the time, between 35 and 50 years old, who has two bilateral perforations compatible with two mastoidectomies,' said study author Manuel Rojo-Guerra at the University of Valladolid, Spain. This type of intervention, 'must have been carried out by authentic specialists or individuals with certain anatomical knowledge and accumulated therapeutic experiences', he added. Researchers know that the woman survived the procedure because of signs of bone regeneration around the puncture points. 'This effect of resorption and regeneration is simultaneous and is detected by the presence of small depressions Howship's lacunae formed by osteoclasts in the process of cleaning damaged bone surfaces and by small mounds of bone creation produced by osteoblasts,' said Rojo-Guerra. 'The presence of these two types of structures in the microscopic preparation allows us to ensure that, for at least one month, the woman survived the surgical intervention.' Dolmen of El Pendon in Burgos is pictured here, as it appears in the present day. Archaeological excavation has been carried out there since 2016 Thousands of years ago, Dolmen of El Pendon would have hosted ritual-funerary practices (artist's impression) The team also found a sheet of flint in the tomb with traces of having cut bone and having been reheated several times to high temperatures. This allowed the researchers to propose its use 'as an authentic cautery or surgical instrument to carrying out the operation'. The skull was found broken and missing some parts, but the neurocranium the upper and back part of the skull was complete and in place, as were the nasal bone, cheek bones and lower maxilla, according to The History Blog. She had lost all of her teeth and her thyroid cartilage in the throat was found fully ossified, meaning it had turned to bone. 'The loss of all teeth in life points to elderly individuals,' the authors point out. Selection of a set of flint lithic tools- blades, geometric microliths, and arrowheads- from Dolmen of El Pendon Computed tomography scans and details of both temporal bones of the skull under study and some samples of the comparative analysis According to the team, a hypothesis of surgical intervention is also supported by the fact external auditory canals of both ears had been enlarged by trepanation - a bizarre surgical procedure involving the drilling of holes into the human skull, historically performed to treat various health problems. The skull was found lying on its right side with the face pointing south, towards the entrance of the burial chamber. The Dolmen of El Pendon has yielded a huge amount of bone remains belonging to about 100 individuals 'who suffered from diverse pathologies and injuries', the study authors say. Map of the province of Burgos in the Iberian Peninsula and of the village of Reinoso and the Dolmen of El Pendon According to carbon dating, the tomb was used for some 800 years between 3,800 and 3,000 BC. The monument underwent a series of reuses, regroupings and reductions of corpses throughout its life as a tomb, showing it acted as a 'complex symbolic and ritual world', according to the experts. Archaeological excavation has been carried out there since 2016, which has 'uncovered the complex biography' of the megalith. 'Since its construction, [it] went through several phases of use until its permanent abandonment as a tomb and its transformation into a commemorative monument,' the authors concluded. An ancient forgotten continent that was wedged between Europe, Africa and Asia has been rediscovered. It covers the present-day Balkans and Anatolia and has been dubbed Balkanatolia by researchers. They say the continent may have allowed Asian mammals to colonise Europe some 34 million years ago, having previously been separated from neighbouring continents. However, a major glaciation 34 million years ago likely lead to the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet, lowering sea levels in the process and connecting Balkanatolia to western Europe, according to the team. A lost continent that was wedged between Europe, Africa and Asia has been rediscovered. It covers the present-day Balkans and Anatolia and has been dubbed Balkanatolia (pictured) WHAT WAS THE GRANDE COUPURE? The Grande Coupure was an extinction event which happened around 34 million years ago. It saw more than two-thirds of mammals in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula disappear during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, a period marked by global cooling and drops in sea level. In Eurasia, these global environmental impacts led to a mass extinction of marine organisms, plants, and land animals. It has largely been attributed to the influx of Asian mammals, but fossil evidence has suggested that certain Asian mammals were present in southern Europe 5 to 10 million years before the Grande Coupure. Now researchers led by the CNRS think they have the answer. They have rediscovered a forgotten continent that was wedged between Europe, Africa and Asia. It covers the present-day Balkans and Anatolia and has been dubbed Balkanatolia. The experts think Balkanatolia was separated from neighbouring continents until a glaciation lowered sea levels and connected Balkanatolia to western Europe. This may have allowed Asian mammals to colonise the continent and led to the Grande Coupure. Advertisement This saw more than two-thirds of mammals in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula disappear during the Eocene-Oligocene transition, a period marked by global cooling and drops in sea level. In Eurasia, these global environmental impacts led to a mass extinction of marine organisms, plants, and land animals known in Europe as the 'Grande Coupure'. For millions of years during the Eocene epoch, western Europe and eastern Asia formed two distinct land masses with very different mammalian faunas. European forests were home to native fauna such as Palaeotheres an extinct group distantly related to present-day horses, but more like today's tapirs whereas Asia was populated by a more diverse fauna including the mammal families that are found today on both continents. Around 34 million years ago, western Europe was then colonised by Asian species, leading to a major renewal of vertebrate fauna and the extinction of its native mammals - an event called the Grande Coupure. However, fossils found in the Balkans point to Asian mammals being present in southern Europe 5 to 10 million years before the Grande Coupure, suggesting an earlier colonisation that has puzzled scientists. Now, the team of French, American and Turkish paleontologists and geologists led by CNRS researchers think they have the answer. They discovered a new fossil deposit in Turkey (Buyukteflek) dating from 38 to 35 million years ago, which yielded mammals whose affinity was clearly Asian, and are the earliest discovered in Anatolia until now. They also found jaw fragments belonging to Brontotheres, animals resembling large rhinoceroses that died out at the end of the Eocene. It led them to conclude that Balkanatolia was colonised 40 million years ago by Asian mammals as a result of geographical changes that have yet to be fully understood. The researchers believe that a major glaciation some six million years later then lowered sea levels, connecting Balkanatolia to western Europe and allowed Asian mammals to colonise the continent. Researchers found a new fossil deposit in Turkey dating from 38 to 35 million years ago, which yielded mammals whose affinity was clearly Asian, and are the earliest discovered in Anatolia until now They also found jaw fragments belonging to Brontotheres pictured), animals resembling large rhinoceroses that died out at the end of the Eocene 'We show that this dispersal event possibly coincides with precursor faunal turnovers in western Europe predating the Grande Coupure, and thus indicates the initiation of a southern route for Eurasian dispersal as early as the late middle Eocene,' the authors wrote in their paper. They said this triggered the end of Balkanatolia having its own distinct native species. It may also have allowed Asian mammals to colonise Europe and led to the Grande Coupure. A comparable turnover in Asian fauna has since been called the 'Mongolian Remodelling'. The study has been published in the journal Earth Science Reviews. It is the most powerful telescope ever launched to space that will peer back through time to the beginning of the universe. But when NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is fully up and running by the summer, that is not the only thing it will be doing. A new study suggests that the $10 billion (7.4 billion) observatory may also be able to spot extraterrestrial life based on air pollution from their planets. The study, by the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science in Seattle, looked at the possibility of using JWST to search for industrial pollutants in the atmospheres of exoplanets. It claims that if the space telescope detects chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from alien worlds, it could indicate they are habitable - much in the same way we are identifiable here on Earth based on CFCs released industrially as refrigerants and cleaning agents. A new study suggests that the $10 billion (7.4 billion) James Webb Space Telescope may be able to spot extraterrestrial life based on air pollution from their planets Researchers said it would be best to look for dim, long-lived red dwarfs, such as TRAPPIST-1 (pictured in an artist's impression), which is 40 light-years away and has several Earth-sized planets orbiting within its habitable zone WHAT ARE CHLORO-FLUOROCARBONS (CFCS)? Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, nonflammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants. CFCs are classified as halocarbons, a class of compounds that contain atoms of carbon and halogen atoms. Individual CFC molecules are labelled with a unique numbering system. For example, the CFC number of 11 indicates the number of atoms of carbon, hydrogen, fluorine, and chlorine. Whereas CFCs are safe to use in most applications and are inert in the lower atmosphere, they do undergo significant reaction in the upper atmosphere or stratosphere where they cause damage. Advertisement The study focused specifically on CFCs, which were once widely used in refrigerators and insulating foams. They infamously created a huge hole in Earth's ozone layer in the 1980s, before an international ban on their use in 1987 helped reduce the level of CFCs back to less harmful levels. The researchers described the chemicals as 'potent greenhouse agents with long atmospheric residence times', which would almost certainly be the result of a civilisation capable of rapid industrialisation. However, they caution that there are limitations to JWST's ability to spot CFCs. For example, if a planet's star is too bright, it will drown out the signal. To have the best chance of spotting the chemical signature, the researchers said the telescope should be looking for dim, long-lived red dwarfs, known as M-class stars. They gave the example of TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf which is 40 light-years away from us and has several Earth-sized planets orbiting within its habitable zone. JWST would be able to see CFCs on TRAPPIST-1's planets, because the dim star won't drown out the CFC signature in the same way that a bright star such as our sun would. The only problem is that M-class stars are not usually conducive to life, because when they are young, they send out powerful solar flares that would prove highly deadly for any life on nearby planets. However, after this unstable phase they do calm down as they age, so it is still a possibility. The study claims that if the space telescope detects chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from alien worlds, it could indicate they are habitable - much in the same way we are identifiable here on Earth based on CFCs release industrially as refrigerants and cleaning agents Instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope NIRCam (Near InfraRed Camera) an infrared imager from the edge of the visible through the near infrared NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph) will also perform spectroscopy over the same wavelength range. MIRI (Mid-InfraRed Instrument) will measure the mid-to-long-infrared wavelength range from 5 to 27 micrometers. FGS/NIRISS (Fine Guidance Sensor and Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph), is used to stabilize the line-of-sight of the observatory during science observations. Advertisement The researchers, led by Jacob Haqq-Misra, wrote: 'CFCs are a notable example of a technosignature on Earth, and the detection of CFCs on a planet like TRAPPIST-1e would be difficult to explain through any biological or geologic features we know of today. 'Our civilisation continues along a path of growth in both population and energy consumption, while we are only beginning to understand the extent to which our technology could be detectable at astronomical distances. 'Continued exploration of how the past, present, and future of civilization will affect Earths detectability remains an important objective for understanding the prevalence of biosignatures and technosignatures in our galaxy.' They added: 'In this study, we have shown that with the launch of JWST, humanity may be very close to an important milestone... one where we are capable of detecting from nearby stars not just powerful, deliberate, transient, and highly directional transmissions like our own, but consistent, passive technosignatures of the same strength as our own. 'The detectability of CFCs in an Earth-like planet's atmosphere is strongly dependent on the radius and spectrum of the host star, and the TRAPPIST-1 system in particular is extremely favorable in that regard.' JWST blasted off from Guiana Space Centre on Christmas Day and settled into its orbit one million miles from our planet last month. The observatory is currently undergoing a three-month 'alignment process' to be ready to observe the universe. Earlier this month, James Webb returned its first ever images including a 'selfie' of its primary mirror and HD 84406, albeit in a random, disorganised mosaic. The research paper is available in pre-print at Earth and Planetary Astrophysics. A stunning Roman mosaic featuring colourful flowers and geometric patterns has been discovered near the Shard, archaeologists have revealed. The mosaic, which is the largest of its kind found in London for more than 50 years, was once the floor of a Roman dining room, according to the experts. The dining room might have been part of a Roman 'mansio' an upmarket 'motel' offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London. It was likely located on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, an area centred on the north bank of the Thames and roughly corresponding to the modern City of London. Archaeologists from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) made the 'once-in-a-lifetime' discovery during excavations prior to construction of a new cultural quarter. Although the site is currently cornered off from the public, experts have created an interactive 3D model that shows off the mosaic's remarkably intricate details. Scroll down for 3D model Archaeologists from MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) have uncovered an incredibly well-preserved mosaic that once decorated the floor of a Roman dining room The mosaic was found at an area of land being excavated for a new cultural quarter called The Liberty of Southwark. The exciting new finding is thought to have once lined a Roman dining room, part of a Roman mansio - an 'upmarket motel'. It was likely located on the outskirts of Roman Londinium, an area centred on the north bank of the Thames and roughly corresponding to the modern City of London (inset right) Discovered a stone's throw away from The Shard, experts have determined this to be the largest area of Roman mosaic found in London for over 50 years The mosaics will be carefully recorded and assessed by an expert team of conservators before being lifted and transported off-site, enabling more detailed conservation work to take place Mosaic by MOLA on Sketchfab TIMELINE FOR THE HISTORIC SITE - AD 43: the Romans, led by emperor Claudius, invade Britain - circa AD 48-50: London (Londinium) is founded - AD 72: The eastern building currently interpreted as a private residence was built circa AD 120-160: The building currently interpreted as a mansio was built - circa AD 175-225: Probable date for the largest mosaic panel in the 'mansio' - 4th century AD: both buildings fall out of use - AD 410: End of Roman control over Britain Advertisement The find will be carefully recorded and assessed by an expert team of conservators before being lifted and transported off-site, enabling more detailed conservation work to take place. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime find in London,' said Antonietta Lerz, MOLA site supervisor. 'It has been a privilege to work on such a large site where the Roman archaeology is largely undisturbed by later activity when the first flashes of colour started to emerge through the soil everyone on site was very excited.' The entire mosaic is made of two highly-decorated panels, one larger than the other but both no longer complete, although they are still in an amazing state of preservation. Both are made up of small, coloured tiles set within a red 'tessellated' floor one composed of closely-packed repeated shapes. The largest panel shows large, colourful flowers surrounded by bands of intertwining strands a motif known as a guilloche. There are also lotus flowers and several different geometric elements, including a pattern known as Solomon's knot, made of two interlaced loops. Dr David Neal, former archaeologist with English Heritage and leading expert in Roman mosaic, has attributed this design to the 'Acanthus group' a team of mosaicists working in London who developed their own unique local style. The smaller panel has a simpler design, with two Solomon's knots, two stylised flowers and striking geometric motifs in red, white and black. This has an almost exact parallel has been found in Trier, Germany, suggesting the same mosaicists were likely at work in both places. The entire finding is made of two highly-decorated panels, one larger than the other but both incomplete This photo shows the smaller panel in the background and the larger panel in the foreground being attended by excavation staff The two highly-decorated panels are made up of small, coloured tiles set within a red tessellated floor. 'Tessellated' describes patterns of shapes that fit together without gaps A bird's eye view of the second, smaller panel, which has two Solomon's knots, two stylised flowers and striking geometric motifs in red, white and black LONDINIUM: ROMAN LONDON Londinium was founded by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago, shortly before AD 50. Roman London was built on a 'green-field' site which is now occupied by the City of London and north Southwark. The early frontier town was an immediate success and was occupied for almost four centuries. For much of this time Londinium thrived, despite disasters that included destruction at the hands of Boudicca (who led an uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire), widespread fires, economic problems and political crises. Although abandoned in the 5th century, Londinium's layout determined the siting and shape of the medieval City of London and hence the modern metropolis. Over the centuries London's ground surface has risen inexorably and as a result Roman streets and buildings lie buried up to 23 feet (7m) below the modern street level. Source: MOLA Advertisement Combined, the two panels formed a large room, interpreted as a dining room, which the Romans called a triclinium. It would have contained dining couches where people would have gazed at the beautiful flooring whilst enjoying lavish food and drink. The walls of this room were likely brightly painted, with fragments of colourful wall plaster found on the site. While the largest mosaic panel can be dated to the late 2nd to early 3rd century AD, the room was clearly in use for a longer period of time. Astonishingly, traces of an earlier mosaic underneath the one currently visible have been identified. This shows the room was refurbished over the years, perhaps to make way for the latest trends. Given the size of the dining room and its lavish decoration, it is believed that only high-ranking officers and their guests would have used this space. The complete footprint of the building is still being uncovered, but current findings suggest this was a very large complex, with multiple rooms and corridors surrounding a central courtyard. It was built by the river crossing that led into the city and not far from the main road connecting London to other important centres in south-eastern Britain, including Canterbury and the cross-channel port of Dover. As such, it provided excellent transport links for visiting dignitaries. Neighbouring the so-called Roman 'mansio', archaeologists have identified another large Roman building, likely to have been the private residence of a wealthy individual or family. Traces of lavishly painted walls, terrazzo-style and mosaic floors, coins, jewellery and decorated bone hairpins all testify to the level of wealth enjoyed by the people living in this area 2,000 years ago. Combined, the two panels formed a large room, interpreted as a dining room, which the Romans called a triclinium. It would have contained dining couches, where people would have gazed at the beautiful flooring whilst enjoying lavish food and drink. Pictured is a sketch of a Roman feast MOLA site supervisor, Antonietta Lerz, called the discovery of what's thought to be a Roman dining room 'a once-in-a-lifetime find in London' The dining room might have been part of a Roman mansio an upmarket 'motel' offering accommodation, stabling, and dining facilities for state couriers and officials travelling to and from London Given the size of the dining room and its lavish decoration, it is believed that only high-ranking officers and their guests would have used this space Excavations on this site have been taking place as part of the wider regeneration of the area, set to be completed in 2024 with the opening of The Liberty of Southwark. Once completed, the new cultural quarter will provide new homes, shops, retail and workspace. The scheme will also create new pedestrian routes, reinstating some of the medieval yards and lanes of historic Southwark. 15 Southwark Street, which dates from the 1860s, will also be restored as part of the development. Future plans for the public display of the mosaics are currently being determined in consultation with Southwark Council. The complete footprint of the former building is still being uncovered, but current findings suggest this was a very large complex, with multiple rooms and corridors surrounding a central courtyard The complex was built by the river crossing that led into the city and not far from the main road connecting London to other important centres in south-eastern Britain, including Canterbury and the cross-channel port of Dover Astonishingly, traces of an earlier mosaic underneath the one currently visible have been identified. This shows the room was refurbished over the years, perhaps to make way for the latest trends Excavations on the site have been taking place ahead of the construction of The Liberty of Southwark, a new cultural quarter Vaping may cause gum disease by changing the unique community of bacteria in the mouth, new research reveals today. Researchers have studied dental exams to compare the oral health of cigarette smokers, vapers, and people who have never smoked. Vapes, also known as e-cigarettes, are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke. The experts found vapers have a 'microbial community' enriched in bacteria that have already been linked with gum disease. This unique oral microbiome is less healthy than non-smokers but potentially healthier than cigarette smokers, the experts stress. However, the research also found that vapers had more gum ligament and tissue separating from a tooth's surface even than cigarette smokers. Research confirms unique community of bacteria and immune responses among people who use e-cigarettes, also known as vapes Researchers compared the oral health of cigarette smokers (CS), e-cigarette users (ES), and people who have never smoked (NS) (listed are species of bacteria in the first study) WHAT ARE E-CIGARETTES? E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are devices that allow you to inhale nicotine in a vapour rather than smoke. E-cigarettes don't contain tobacco and don't produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most damaging constituents in cigarette smoke. E-cigarettes work by heating a solution (e-liquid) that typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine, and flavourings. Using an e-cigarette is known as vaping. Source: NHS Advertisement Since vaping has soared in popularity in the last decade, studies have revealed its potential adverse effects on our heath. However, one expert has stressed how these health risks just do not compare with the dangers of smoking cigarettes. Louise Ross at the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training said she's 'always pleased to see somebody vaping' as it means they're not smoking and that health differences between smoking and vaping are 'absolutely vast'. 'Vaping is a really effective way of having something else you can do if you're not going to smoke,' Ross, who was not involved with the new research, told MailOnline. 'Having a puff on a vape can be a really good substitute because there's no smoke in it, it's not harmful like a cigarette would be.' The new research, comprising two new studies, confirms the unique community of bacteria and immune responses among people who use vapes. 'To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study of oral health and e-cigarette use,' said Deepak Saxena, a professor of molecular pathobiology at NYU College of Dentistry, New York, author of one of the new studies. 'We are now beginning to understand how e-cigarettes and the chemicals they contain are changing the oral microbiome and disrupting the balance of bacteria.' Gum disease or periodontitis a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected is generally caused by poor oral hygiene. The human mouth is full of bacteria that combine with saliva to form a sticky film known as plaque, which builds up on our teeth. Gum disease or periodontitis a very common condition where the gums become swollen, sore or infected is generally caused by poor oral hygiene VAPING 'DOESN'T WORK AS A QUITTING AID' AND ACTUALLY LEADS TO TOBACCO Vaping doesn't work as an aid for quitting tobacco and actually has the opposite effect, suggests a study in PLOS One. Researchers said there was 'no evidence that e-cigarettes were helpful in the quit attempt' in a large-scale study in the US. Scientists from the University of California in San Diego carried out an analysis of data on 45,971 Americans included in the government-commissioned Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study. Participants in the study were interviewed in 2013 and 2014 and are interviewed every year. A quarter of smokers who tried to quit in the first years of their enrolment used e-cigarettes to help with their attempt. And at their follow-up interview one year later, 9.6 per cent had managed to stay away from tobacco over the previous 12 months. However, even though some had stopped smoking, researchers say the number who quit was hardly different at all from smokers who didn't use e-cigs. One of the studies' authors, Dr John P. Pierce, said: 'Among this representative sample of US smokers trying to quit, we found no evidence that e-cigarettes were helpful in the quit attempt. 'This lack of effectiveness was also apparent in the sub-sample who used e-cigarettes on a daily basis for this quit attempt.' Advertisement When we consume food and drink high in carbohydrates, bacteria in plaque turn carbohydrates into the energy they need, producing acid at the same time. Over time, acid in plaque begins to break down a tooth's surface and causes tooth decay. Other bacteria in plaque can also irritate gums, making them inflamed and sore. Smoking cigarettes is a known risk factor for developing gum disease, but less is known about the impact of e-cigarettes on oral health, especially the long-term consequences of vaping. For the first study, published in mBio, researchers studied the oral health of 84 adults from three groups cigarette smokers, e-cigarette users and people who have never smoked. Gum disease was assessed through two dental exams six months apart, during which time plaque samples were taken to analyse the bacteria present. All participants had some gum disease at the start of the study, although cigarette smokers had the most severe gum disease, followed by e-cigarette users. After six months, the researchers observed that gum disease had worsened in some participants in each group, including several e-cigarette users. Overall, the e-cigarette microbiome shared many characteristics with the microbiome of conventional smokers and some with non-smokers. However, it maintained a unique microbial community enriched in Fusobacterium and Bacteroidales - bacteria that have already been associated with gum disease. 'Our data suggest that e-cig use promotes a unique periodontal microbiome, existing as a stable heterogeneous state between those of conventional smokers and non-smokers and presenting unique oral health challenges,' the authors say. A key indicator of gum disease is 'clinical attachment loss' gum ligament and tissue separating from a tooth's surface, leading the gum to recede and form pockets. These pockets are breeding grounds for bacteria and can lead to more severe gum disease. In the second study of the same participants published in Frontiers in Oral Health, the team found that clinical attachment loss was significantly worse only in the e-cigarette smokers not non-smokers and cigarette smokers after six months. The researchers then analysed the bacteria found in the plaque samples and determined that e-cigarette users have a different oral microbiome from smokers and non-smokers. This builds on previous findings the team previously reported in the journals iScience and Molecular Oral Microbiology. While all groups shared roughly a fifth of the types of bacteria, the bacterial makeup for e-cigarette users had strikingly more in common with cigarette smokers than non-smokers. Several types of bacteria, including Selenomonas, Leptotrichia, and Saccharibacteria, were abundant in both smokers and vapers compared to non-smokers. Bacteroidales is a genus of bacteria known to be associated with gum disease. Pictured, Bacteroides biacutis Several other bacteria, including Fusobacterium and Bacteroidales, were particularly dominant in the mouths of e-cigarette users. When plaque samples were gathered and analysed in the six-month follow-up, the researchers found greater diversity in bacteria for all groups studied, yet each group maintained its own distinct microbiome. 'Vaping appears to be driving unique patterns in bacteria and influencing the growth of some bacteria in a manner akin to cigarette smoking, but with its own profile and risks to oral health,' said Fangxi Xu, a junior research scientist in Saxenas lab and an author on both the new studies. The researchers found that the distinct microbiome in e-cigarette users was correlated with clinical measures of gum disease and changes to the host immune environment. In particular, vaping was associated with different levels of cytokines proteins that help regulate the immune system. Louise Ross, an expert at the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training, told MailOnline that vaping is a vastly better option that smoking (stock image) Certain cytokines are linked to an imbalance in oral bacteria and can worsen gum disease by making people prone to inflammation and infection. TNF, a cytokine that causes inflammation, was significantly elevated among e-cigarette users. In contrast, cytokines IL-4 and IL-1 were lower among e-cigarette users. IL-4 tends to be reduced in people with gum disease and increases after treatment, which suggests that certain bacteria in the mouths of e-cigarette users may be actively suppressing immune responses. The researchers concluded that the distinct oral microbiome of e-cigarette users elicits altered immune responses, which along with clinical markers for gum disease illustrate how vaping presents its own challenge to oral health. 'E-cigarette use is a relatively new human habit,' said Scott Thomas, an assistant research scientist in Saxenas lab and the studys co-first author. 'Unlike smoking, which has been studied extensively for decades, we know little about the health consequences of e-cigarette use and are just starting to understand how the unique microbiome promoted by vaping impacts oral health and disease.' Sea ice in the Antarctic has fallen to its lowest level since records began 40 years ago, according to preliminary data from satellites. The new measurements show it has surpassed the previous record minimum, set in March 2017, of 810,000 square miles (2.1 million square kilometres), after dropping to 765,000 square miles (1.98 million square kilometres) on February 20. Campaigners say the situation is so dire that ice is now dwindling three times faster than in the 1990s, contributing to global sea level rise. Sea ice in the Antarctic is set to hit its lowest level on record this year, a new report has warned Preliminary measurements show it has surpassed the previous record minimum, set in 2017 (pictured), of 2.1 million square kilometres, after dropping to 1.98 million square kilometres Sea ice: Everything you need to know Sea ice forms as seawater freezes and, because it loses density, floats on the surface of the water. It is estimated to cover around 7 per cent of Earth's surface and about 12 per cent of the world's oceans. The lion's share of sea ice is contained within the polar ice packs in the Arctic and Southern oceans. These ice packs undergo season variations and are also affected locally on smaller time scales by wind, current and temperature fluctuations. Advertisement 'What's going on in the Antarctic is an extreme event,' Ted Scambos, a glaciologist at the University of Colorado Boulder and lead scientist at the National Sea Ice Data Center, told CNN. 'There's a link between what's going on in Antarctica and the general warming trend around the rest of the world, but it's different from what we see in mountain glaciers and what we see in the Arctic.' Scientists define the extent of sea ice as being the area in which the concentration of ice is at least 15 per cent. Antarctica's sea ice extent is highly variable, unlike the Arctic where scientists say climate change is accelerating the melting of the ice. Sea ice in the Arctic dropped to an area of just 1.82 million square miles in September last year its 12th lowest extent on record. The rate of sea ice loss between the two continents differs in part due to their location and proximity to other continents. The Antarctic is surrounded by a vast ocean where sea ice can stretch across the Southern Ocean, while because the Arctic is surrounded by land, the sea ice forms and extends throughout Europe, North America, Greenland and Asia. Satellite data from 1978 onwards shows that the Antarctic was still producing record-high sea ice extent in 2014 and 2015, before suddenly falling the following year. It has stayed lower-than-average ever since. The area in white shows where sea ice extended to in 2014-2015, compared to 2019-2020 Onboard a scientific expedition headed to the Antarctic, Laura Meller, from Greenpeace's Protect The Oceans Campaign, said: 'It is terrifying to witness this frozen ocean melting down. 'The consequences of these changes extend to the whole planet, impacting marine food webs around the globe.' She added: 'Our recent scientific expedition in the Antarctic confirmed that the climate crisis is already impacting key species in the region. 'In 2020 we witnessed the Arctic reaching its second-lowest sea ice extent on record, now we need a global network of ocean sanctuaries amid disruption from pole to pole. 'Every human being on Earth depends on healthy oceans to survive; this is a clear warning that we need to protect them for good.' While scientists are looking into the complex dynamics between global heating and sea ice trends, climate breakdown is evident in the region, with some parts of the Antarctic warming faster than anywhere else on the planet. The Antarctic ice sheet is losing mass three times faster now than in the 1990s and contributing to global sea level rise. Rapid warming has already caused a significant southward shift and contraction in the distribution of Antarctic krill, a keystone species, campaigners said. A recent Greenpeace expedition to the Antarctic also confirmed that Gentoo penguins are breeding further south as a consequence of the climate crisis. Scientists say protecting at least 30 per cent of the oceans with a network of sanctuaries is key to allow marine ecosystems to build resilience to better withstand rapid climatic changes. Greenpeace is campaigning for a Global Ocean Treaty which could allow for the creation of a network of ocean sanctuaries, free from harmful human activity, across international waters. Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has admitted he gave up his 350,000-a-week salary at Arsenal in order to join Barcelona. The 32-year-old had been banished by Mikel Arteta and stripped of the captaincy after returning late from a personal trip abroad in December. A month later, he left Arsenal by mutual consent before joining Barcelona in a dramatic deadline day move at the end of the January transfer window. It has been reported that Aubameyang now takes home 80,000 per week at his new club, which would mean he has taken a huge pay cut of 270,000 per week from his previous eye-watering Arsenal contract. However, reports also claim that Arsenal paid Aubameyang a lump sum of 7million to facilitate his move to Barcelona and get him off their books. It is a tactic they also used to push Mesut Ozil and Willian out the door months before the end of their contracts. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got his 'dream' move to Barcelona after leaving Arsenal Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the striker revealed that it was his 'dream' to join Barcelona, and knew the deal might happen a week before it went through. He said: 'My father did it all with my lawyer and they can say it best. 'But the week before we already knew that he could end up signing for Barca. The week before there were already contacts and I knew it. He added: 'I really wanted to go to Barca. I gave up my salary because it is an opportunity that you have once in your life. 'It was something incredible (his ovation at the Nou Camp). It is a dream to play on a field like this and receive this ovation. I was very pleased and happy. The truth is that it was incredible.' Barcelona had been interested in signing the Gabon striker back in 2020 but were unable to pull off the move. Aubameyang has revealed he and Mikel Arteta buried the hatched before his Gunners exit Aubameyang had been frozen out of the Arsenal team due to disciplinary issues a month before he left His future at Arsenal though looked over after he was dropped due to a 'disciplinary breach' after returning home late from a visit to France to visit his mother in December. Aubameyang Arsenal's 350,000-per-week contract was due to expire next summer, with the remaining time worth around 27million. He revealed that he spoke to a number of present and former Barcelona players including Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Hector Bellerin and Ousmane Dembele about the Catalan club. The striker arrived in Spain on deadline day though there was initially confusion after there had been no agreement between the clubs. Aubameyang is enjoying life in Spain at Barcelona after he was dropped out of the Arsenal team (pictured with Alysha Behague) The ace has family based in the region, but landed to the surprise of all parties. However, his arrival left him well-placed to have his medical later in the day. Aubameyang eventually completed his 'dream' move and has made a promising start to to life at the Catalan giants, scoring a hat-trick at the weekend in their 4-1 victory over Valencia. In doing so he became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1. The striker also revealed in the interview that he and Arsenal boss Arteta buried the hatchet before his departure from the Emirates. He confirmed that the Spaniard personally wished him good luck after the Gabon striker signed for Barcelona. Aubameyang joins Barcelona at a time where they are trying to recover from recent financial turmoil. Aubameyang scored a hat-trick for Barcelona in their recent 4-1 victory over Valencia Aubameyang also revealed he spoke to the likes of Thierry Henry and Ousmane Dembele about a move to Barcelona The club are fourth in LaLiga and were knocked out of the Champions League group stage. At Arsenal he won the FA Cup and Community Shield and he has high hopes of adding major trophies to his cabinet during his time at Barcelona. When asked what he would most like to achieve he responded: 'Winning the league and Champions League.' He also has his sights set on winning the Europa League this season, especially after losing in the final with Arsenal to Chelsea back in 2019. In the Europa League play-offs, Barcelona drew their first leg 1-1 with Napoli at the Nou Camp. He said: 'We are going to give everything and, personally, I am going to continue working as I have done since I arrived. 'I want to win games and I want to win this Europa League. It's been a thorn in my side since 2019. We must win in Naples.' Despite a sour ending to his time at Arsenal, he was a huge hit for the majority of his four years in London, scoring 92 goals in 163 games. Jurgen Klopp did not rule them out of Sunday's Carabao Cup final with Chelsea Liverpool forwards Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino will not be available to face Leeds on Wednesday but Jurgen Klopp refused to rule them out of Sunday's Carabao Cup final with Chelsea. The pair missed the 3-1 victory against Norwich at the weekend with minor injuries and are a doubt as Liverpool look to win their first piece of silverware since the Premier League in 2020. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp revealed neither Jota or Firmino have returned to training on Tuesday afternoon and so will miss their Premier League clash against Leeds on Wednesday. Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino remain a doubt for Liverpool's Carabao Cup final with Chelsea Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the pair are not back in training and will miss the Leeds clash However he refused to accept defeat and rule them out of Sunday's showdown with the Blues at Wembley at the weekend. 'For tomorrow, no chance. Then we will see,' Klopp said speaking ahead of Liverpool's game in hand over league leaders Manchester City. 'It would be easy to say "no" now, but we will see. They were not on the pitch for training, which is not a good sign.' Jota was replaced at half-time during Liverpool's 2-0 victory at Inter Milan with an ankle injury Firmino scored the first goal against Inter but picked up a hamstring issue during the match Season at a glance Live tables Fixtures Scores Premier League Premier League Championship League One League Two Scottish Premiership Scottish Div 1 Scottish Div 2 Scottish Div 3 Ligue 1 Serie A La Liga Bundesliga Jota was replaced at half-time with an ankle issue during Liverpool's 2-0 Champions League victory over Inter Milan last week. Firmino, who scored the first goal in their last-16 first leg tie, suffered a hamstring injury during the same match. The gap between Liverpool and City at the top of the Premier League has been cut to six points following the Merseyside giants' victory over Norwich and Spurs' shock win over Pep Guardiola's side last weekend. Liverpool's 50million January arrival Luis Diaz stepped up in Jota's absence alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane as the new-look front three were all on target in Saturday's 3-1 win. The deficit will be just three points should Liverpool prevail when they welcome Marcelo Bielsa's struggling Leeds outfit to Anfield on Wednesday night. 'If we are not ready for a fight, we will suffer,' Klopp warned ahead of the Leeds test. 'The one thing I learned over the years is not to have two or three games in mind. We have to try everything for this game. That's what we did against Norwich.' Leeds find themselves just five points above the relegation zone after suffering a 4-2 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday - with injuries plaguing their 2021-22 season. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. This Policy contains important information about your personal rights to privacy. Please read it carefully to understand how we use your personal data. We may update this Policy from time to time without notice to you, so please check it regularly. The provision of your personal data to us is voluntary. However, without providing us with your personal data, you will be unable to (as appropriate): contact us; subscribe to our mailing list; subscribe to any of our publications; or receive information about In Defence of Marxism. We collect information about you: (1) When you give it to us DIRECTLY You may give us your personal data in order to subscribe to a newsletter or publication, when you contact us by phone, email or post, when you sign a petition / statement, and/or when you donate money to us. (2) When you give it to us INDIRECTLY Your information will also be provided to us when you follow us or otherwise interact with on or via Twitter, when you like and/or join our page on Facebook or interact with us in other ways on or via Facebook. (3) When you give permission to OTHER ORGANISATIONS to share it or it is AVAILABLE PUBLICLY We may combine information you provide to us with information available from external publicly available sources. Depending on your privacy settings for social media services, we may also access information from those accounts or services. We use this information to gain a better understanding of you and to improve our communications and fundraising activities. (4) When you visit our WEBSITE We use cookies to identify you when you visit our website. Please refer to our Cookies Policy for details on the way our use of cookies affects your personal data. What information do we collect? We may collect, store and use the following kinds of personal data: (1) We will typically hold your name and contact details, including telephone number, location, and e-mail address. However, we may request other information where it is appropriate and relevant, for example: Your bank details or debit/credit card details (if making a donation). (2) any communication preferences you give; (3) information about your computer and about your visits to and use of this website including your IP address, geographical location, browser type, referral source, length of visit and number of page views; and/or (4) any other information shared with us as per clause 1. Do we process sensitive personal information? Applicable law recognises certain categories of personal information as sensitive and therefore requiring more protection, including political opinions and trade union membership. In limited cases, we may collect sensitive personal data about you. We would only collect sensitive personal data if there is a clear reason for doing so; and will only do so with your explicit consent. How and why will we use your personal data? Personal data, however provided to us, will be used for the purposes specified in this Policy or in relevant parts of the website. We may use your personal information to: (1) Enable you to subscribe to our hard copy publications; (2) Send you information about our work, campaigns, organisations and any other information, products or services that we provide (this will not be done without your consent); (3) Provide you with the services, products or information you have requested; (4) If you request, put you in touch with other supporters in your area (who have also provided such consent); (5) Handle the administration of any donation or other payment you make via credit/debit card, cheque, standing order or BACS transfer; (6) Collect payments from you and send statements and/or receipts to you; (7) Conduct research into the impact of our activity / campaigns; (8) Deal with enquiries and complaints made by you relating to the website or us in general; (9) Make petition submissions to third parties, where you have signed a petition and the third party is a target of the campaign to which the petition relates; and/or (10) Audit and/or administer our accounts. Supporter Analysis Google Analytics We may use some of your personal information to analyse our digital performance, for example to see how our website can be improved to help us achieve the purposes set out in section 9 below, to record how you are using our website or to assess the popularity of different articles / campaigns. For more information on how we use your personal information in relation to Google Analytics, please view our cookie policy by clicking this link cookies policy You can opt-out of the collection of information for such purposes here: http://www.aboutads.info/choices Communications, updates, fundraising Where you have provided appropriate consent, we will contact you by telephone and e-mail, with targeted communications to let you know about our events and/or activities that we consider may be of particular interest; about the work of In Defence of Marxism; and to ask for donations or other support. Donations and other payments All financial transactions carried out on our website are handled through either: PayPal (Europe) S.a r.l. (PayPal), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read PayPals privacy policy (available at https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full?locale.x=en_GB ) prior to effecting any transactions with us through PayPal; or GoCardless Ltd (GoCardless), a third party payment services provider. We recommend that you read GoCardlesss privacy policy (available at https://www.gocardless.com/legal/privacy) prior to effecting any transactions with us through GoCardless. We will provide your personal data to PayPal / GoCardless only to the extent necessary for the purposes of processing payments for transactions you enter into with us. We do not store your financial details. Childrens data We do not knowingly process data of any person under the age of 16. If we come to discover, or have reason to believe, that you are 15 and under and we are holding your personal information, we will delete that information within a reasonable period and withhold our services accordingly. Security of and access to your personal data We endeavour to ensure that there are appropriate and proportionate technical and organisational measures to prevent the loss, destruction, misuse, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or of access to your personal information. Your information is only accessible by appropriately trained staff and volunteers. We may also use agencies and/or suppliers to process data on our behalf. We may also merge or partner with other organisations and in so doing transfer and/or acquire personal data. Please note that some countries outside of the EEA have a lower standard of protection for personal data, including lower security requirements and fewer rights for individuals. We may transfer and/or store personal data collected from you to and/or at a destination outside the European Economic Area (EEA). Such personal data may be processed by agencies and/or suppliers operating outside the EEA. If we transfer and/or store your personal data outside the EEA we will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient implements appropriate measures to protect your personal data. Otherwise than as set out in this Privacy Policy, we will only ever share your data with your informed consent. Your rights Where we rely on your consent to use your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This includes the right to ask us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing purposes or to be unsubscribed from our email list at any time. You also have the following rights: (1) Right to be informed you have the right to be told how your personal information will be used. This Policy and any other policies and statements used on our website and in our communications are intended to provide you with a clear and transparent description of how your personal information may be used. (2) Right of access you can write to us to ask for confirmation of what information we hold on you and to request a copy of that information. Provided we are satisfied that you are entitled to see the information requested and we have successfully confirmed your identity, we have 30 days to comply. (3) Right of erasure as from 25 May 2018, you can ask us for your personal information to be deleted from our records. (4) Right of rectification if you believe our records of your personal information are inaccurate, you have the right to ask for those records to be updated. (5) Right to restrict processing you have the right to ask for processing of your personal data to be restricted if there is disagreement about its accuracy or legitimate usage. (6) Right to data portability to the extent required by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) where we are processing your personal information (i) under your consent, (ii) because such processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are party or to take steps at your request prior to entering into a contact or (iii) by automated means, you may ask us to provide it to you or another service provider in a machine-readable format. To exercise these rights, please send a description of the personal information in question using the contact details in section 15 below. You can also unsubscribe from our email list by sending a blank email to news-unsubscribe@marxist.com Where we consider that the information with which you have provided us does not enable us to identify the personal information in question, we reserve the right to ask for (i) personal identification and/or (ii) further information. Lawful processing We are required to have one or more lawful grounds to process your personal information. Only 4 of these are relevant to us: Personal information is processed on the basis of a persons consent Personal information is processed on the basis of a contractual relationship Personal information is processed on the basis of legal obligations Personal information is processed on the basis of legitimate interests (1) Consent We will ask for your consent to use your information to send you electronic communications such as newsletters and and fundraising emails, and if you ever share sensitive personal information with us. (2) Contractual relationships Most of our interactions with supporters are voluntary and not contractual. However, sometimes it will be necessary to process personal information so that we can enter contractual relationships with people. For example, if you subscribe to one of our publications, or purchase merchandise online. (3) Legal obligations Sometimes we will be obliged to process your personal information due to legal obligations which are binding on us. We will only ever do so when strictly necessary. (4) Legitimate interests Applicable law allows personal information to be collected and used if it is reasonably necessary for our legitimate activities (as long as its use is fair, balanced and does not unduly impact individuals rights). We will rely on this ground to process your personal data when it is not practical or appropriate to ask for consent. Achieving our purposes These include (but are not limited to) promoting socialist policies Governance Internal and external audit for financial or regulatory compliance purposes Statutory reporting Publicity and income generation Conventional direct marketing and other forms of marketing, publicity or advertisement Unsolicited messages, including campaigns, newsletters, and fundraising appeals Analysis, targeting and segmentation to develop and promote or strategy and improve communication efficiency Personalisation used to tailor and enhance your experience of our communications Operational Management Maintenance of suppression files Processing for historical, scientific or statistical purpose Purely administrative purposes Responding to enquiries Delivery of requested products or information Communications designed to administer existing services including subscriptions, administration of petitions and financial transactions Thank you communications and receipts Maintaining a supporter database and suppression lists Financial Management and control Processing financial transactions and maintaining financial controls Prevention of fraud, misuse of services, or money laundering Enforcement of legal claims Reporting criminal acts and compliance with law enforcement agencies When we use your personal information, we will consider if it is fair and balanced to do so and if it is within your reasonable expectations. We will balance your rights and our legitimate interests to ensure that we use your personal information in ways that are not unduly intrusive or unfair in other ways. Data retention The length of time each category of data will be retained will vary depending on how long we need to process it for, the reason it was collected, and in line with any statutory requirements. After this point the data will either be deleted, or we may retain a secure anonymised record for research and analytical purposes. In the event that you ask us to stop sending you direct marketing/fundraising/other electronic communications, we will keep your name on our internal suppression list to ensure that you are not contacted again. Policy amendments We keep this Privacy Policy under regular review and reserve the right to update from time-to-time by posting an updated version on our website, not least because of changes in applicable law. We recommend that you check this Privacy Policy occasionally to ensure you remain happy with it. We may also notify you of changes to our privacy policy by email. Third party websites We link our website directly to other sites. This Privacy Policy does not cover external websites and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external websites you visit via links on our website. Updating information You can check the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to update it where necessary, by emailing us at webmaster@marxist.com Contact We are not required by law to have a Data Protection Officer however we have a Data Protection Manager. Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com Some of Manchester United's travelling squad for their game against Atletico Madrid has been revealed after the Red Devils were spotted boarding their flight to Spain. Ralf Rangnick's side travel to Madrid to face last year's winner of La Liga in their Champions League last-16 tie, with the tournament being United's only real opportunity for silverware this season. With rumours of discontent emerging around the club, fans will be boosted by the sightings of some of United's biggest names ahead of their crucial match. Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted signing a fans shirt before boarding the flight to Spain Marcus Rashford (L) and Jadon Sancho (R) were pictured arriving for their trip to Madrid Paul Pogba (L) and Eric Bailly (R) will both be available for their clash against Atletico Madrid United's important names such as Paul Pogba, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho were all pictured arriving for their flight to Madrid. Promising youngster Hannibal Mejbri was also spotted boarding the plane alongside Anthony Elanga, the 19-year-old winger that's thrived for United in recent weeks. Eric Bailly's return will be a welcome sight for fans, as it'll be his first potential involvement since returning from the African Cup of Nations. Cristiano Ronaldo has 15 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions this season Youngsters Hannibal Mejbri (L) and Anthony Elanga (R) were seen arriving together Utd fans will be hoping for big performances from David de Gea (M) and Bruno Fernandes (R) Ralf Rangnick confirmed in his pre-match press conference that 35-year-old striker Edinson Cavani would not be travelling following a groin problem. Rangnick said: 'No, Edi will not be able to make the trip,' Rangnick said. 'He didn't train and he has not been training for the last couple of weeks, so he will not be part of the group. 'He has problems with his groin and, as long as he does not feel able to fully sprint, it does not make sense to train him and to force him back into training. 'I think he's got enough experience to know by himself if he's fully available again.' Advertisement Have you ever wished your place of work would disappear into a hole in the ground? Then this could be the office of your dreams. The newly opened 'Turbosealtech' office in Tehran has been designed to look like it's being swallowed up by the earth at one end, with the rectangular glass-panelled structure angled dramatically downwards. This inclined double-take-inducing structure is the brainchild of the New Wave Architecture firm, which has a track record for designing out-of-the-ordinary buildings. The new Turbosealtech building has been designed to look like its being swallowed up by the earth at one end The whole structure is wrapped in what its designers call a 'glass envelope' to allow lots of natural light in The company's other projects include the Semnan City Hall building, which looks like two tipsy lamp shades set side by side, and the W-shaped Meygoun Residential Complex. The Turbosealtech building features 2,500 square metres (26,909 ft) of space and has five floors connected by a transparent lift. The upper floors of the structure are home to offices while the lower levels feature open-plan work spaces, which have been created to 'increase interaction between users'. For staff, the highlight of the building will no doubt be the roof terrace, which has been cut out of the sloping roof, as shown in this image The roof terrace (pictured) has been included in the structure to give employees access to fresh air and a place to 'interact and accomplish their work', according to the designers This photo shows the roof terrace from above. The first plans for the Turbosealtech building were drawn up in 2016 The whole structure, located in the Pardis Science & Technology Park, is wrapped up in what its designers call a 'glass envelope', which allows natural light in through almost all sides. Coarse features, meanwhile, such as aluminium beams, concrete blocks and air vents have been left exposed to give it an 'industrial' feel. For staff, the highlight of the building will no doubt be the roof terrace, which has been cut out of the sloping roof. This outdoor space has been included in the structure to give employees access to fresh air and a place to 'interact and accomplish their work'. And what lies beneath? A handy subterranean car park. And what lies beneath? A handy subterranean car park. The building's designers, New Wave Architects, have a track record for creating out-of-the-ordinary structures These shots showcase the light-flooded upper floors of the new structure. Features such as aluminium beams, concrete blocks and air vents have been left exposed to give it an 'industrial' feel Pictured is a close-up of the 'glass envelope' that encases the building, which is located in Pardis Science & Technology Park. New Wave Architecture said: 'Pardis Technology Park is made up of developments by architects from Iran, and this project continues this pattern of expressing the vision of Iranian architects' There's 2,500 square metres (26,909 sq ft) of space in the new 'sinking' structure. The image on the left showcases an area where employees can meet. Pictured on the right is the entranceway to the building, which is lined with shrubs and trees. New Wave Architecture hopes that the building will 'provide a platform for people to research and innovate' The first plans for the Turbosealtech building were drawn up in 2016, so the project has taken more than half a decade to come to fruition. New Wave Architecture hopes that the building will 'provide a platform for people to research and innovate'. The company says: 'Pardis Technology Park is made up of developments by architects from Iran, and this project continues this pattern of expressing the vision of Iranian architects. 'The volume of the Turbosealtech building is drawn out of the ground [and] creates a visually beautiful skyline and harmony with the environment.' This shot shows the roof terrace from another angle. Beneath this roof there are five floors that are connected by a transparent vertical lift Australian star Cate Blanchett will receive the Chaplin Award in New York in April. At 52, Cate is the second youngest recipient of the prize, which is the highest honour presented by the prestigious Film at Lincoln Center, one of the major arts organisations in the US. The award, which was founded in 1972 and is named after Charlie Chaplin, is given to recognise the career and contribution of artists who left their mark on the medium. Winners are grinners! Australian star Cate Blanchett will receive the Chaplin Award in New York in April and at 52 she is the second youngest to receive the prestigious prize The prize has been awarded 47 times. Previous winners include Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep, Robert de Niro and Tom Hanks, the youngest to accept it. Announcing the news in the Hollywood Reporter on February 18, a spokesperson from Film Lincoln Center said that it would be a privilege to dedicate an evening of celebration to Cate. 'Ms. Blanchetts career includes extraordinary performances in films ranging from small independent efforts to major studio franchises.' Blanchett has worked tirelessly for the last 25 years racking up dozens of credits in theatre, film and TV. Flashback: Cate began making movies in Australia but quickly won worldwide acclaim for her role as the legendary monarch in Elizabeth a British production in 1998 (pictured) A regular on the global awards circuit, Cate has received major prizes from all over the world, including two Oscars, three BAFTAs, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, an Order of Australia, and in France a Chevalier, for her contribution to the arts. Born in Melbourne, Cate started her movie career in Australia but quickly made an international breakthrough in 1998 with one of her first films, the historical drama Elizabeth. By the early 2000s, global audiences knew her from the blockbuster Lord of the Rings series. She later appeared in the Hobbit trilogy. Iconic: Cate's role as Galadriel in Peter Jackson's blockbuster Lord of the Rings film series brought the Australian actor to a huge international audience She won great praise and a best supporting Oscar for playing Hollywood great Kate Hepburn in Martin Scorsese's Howard Hughes biopic The Aviator in 2005. In 2013, Cate won her first best actress Academy Award in the Woody Allen film Blue Jasmine. Always busy Cate can been seen on Netflix in the comedy Don't Look Up and appears in a major role in last year's Nightmare Alley, nominated for this year's Best Picture at the Oscars. Cate will return to filmmaking in Australia this year. She will play a rebellious nun in the 1940s drama The New Boy, directed by Warwick Thornton (Firebite). Film Lincoln Center will present Cate her prize in Manhattan at a Gala fund raising event on the 25 April. They shocked the radio industry in December by announcing their departure from The Edge 96.ONE after hosting the Mike E & Emma breakfast show for 11 years. But Mike Etheridge and Emma Chow have now announced their new home on the RnB FRIDAYS radio station on LiSTNR and DAB+. The popular radio duo will have a daily live breakfast show on the newly launched station from Monday, broadcasting weekdays from 7am to 10am. Back on the airwaves: Radio hosts Mike E and Emma have revealed their next move after leaving The Edge 96.ONE 'We're thrilled to be joining the LiSTNR family to host a breakfast show live on RnB FRIDAYS Radio!' the pair said of their debut on RnB FRIDAYS. 'We love the fun, feel and passion for music that this music genre presents. We cant wait to wake up every day with our listeners and bring back the show they love, with the music they cant hear anywhere else, all day, every day.' Mike E and Emma will be bringing the same content from their days on The Edge while playing the latest and hottest tracks from the hip-hop and R&B scene. 'We cant wait to wake up with our listeners and bring back the show they love': The popular radio duo will host a weekday breakfast show on the RnB FRIDAYS station from Monday 'It's a big task to launch a national breakfast show on LiSTNR, but were excited to be part of this new era in the future of broadcasting,' Mike E and Emma added. 'We know our existing loyal listeners will love it, and we cant wait to reach even more listeners around Australia.' RnB FRIDAYS began as an annual concert series that brought the world's best and most-renowned R&B artists Down Under for nationwide stadium tours. The popular music event was made famous through the Hit Network. Now RnB FRIDAYS has its very own 24/7 radio show on LiSTNR and DAB+, with Mike E and Emma taking the helm on weekday mornings. Popular: Mike E and Emma revealed they were leaving The Edge in early December, after 11 years at the station Mike E and Emma revealed they were leaving The Edge in early December, after 11 years at the station. During their time at The Edge, the duo grew the station into one of the best under-the-radar youth brands in Australia. They entertained their listeners with their unique mix of fun banter and celebrity guests, all while playing the best beats around. Mike E and Emma's new breakfast show on RnB FRIDAYS premieres Monday, February 28. It will air weekdays from 7am to 10am Sharon Stone is mourning the loss of her pet dog. The 63-year-old actress revealed on social media that she is grieving after the death of her pooch Joe and uploaded some pictures of her pet pal. Alongside a picture of the canine relaxing on a chair, Sharon wrote: 'Joe "Biggy" Stone on his throne R.I.P.' Family: Sharon Stone is mourning the loss of her pet dog Sharon first confirmed the sad news on Saturday when she explained that the pooch had passed away recently and that she had been grieving. She wrote: 'We lost Joe, the brindle, two weeks ago, just ready to share. It's a process.' Sharon's tragic news was met with a kind response from her fellow celebrities, with supermodel Naomi Campbell commenting: 'Sending love to you @sharonstone RIP Joe.' Rest in Peace: The 63-year-old actress revealed on social media that she is grieving after the death of her pooch Joe and uploaded some pictures of her pet pal Meanwhile, Sharon recently revealed that her iconic role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct helped her to develop a backbone. She told InStyle: 'I was 32 when I got the part of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct. It was probably as late as you could be in your career without a big break. 'But from the moment I read the script, I knew I was the right person for the role. It was an intellectually complex part, and I felt like I had a real grasp on it.' 1992: Meanwhile, Sharon recently revealed that her iconic role as Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct helped her to develop a backbone Sharon - who only made $500,000 on the picture while her co-star Michael Douglas took home $14 million - made sure that she was given the option to 'keep the clothes' in her contract for the film. And the blonde bombshell also said she had a hand in selecting the white mini dress with matching coat during the interrogation scene where she famously opened her legs. She said: 'People thought I was crazy, but the truth is I wasn't getting paid much compared to my male co-star, so keeping my costumes was a really smart thing to do.' An influencer couple have been trolled on social media over their new restaurant's takeaway menu, which features bizarre items such as a 'large short black'. Chloe Szepanowski and Mitch Orval, who have been accused of spreading Covid-19 conspiracies in the past, recently bought a shopfront at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast and are preparing to open a seafood restaurant called The Shack Take-Away. The pair last week shared a photo on Instagram of the menu printed on a large sign. 'Did no one proofread this?' Mitch Orval (left) and Chloe Szepanowski (right) have been trolled over their new restaurant's menu, which features bizarre items such as a 'large short black' But it didn't take long for their followers to notice the sign contained a litany of grammatical errors and several bizarrely named items. While Chloe and Mitch have since disabled comments on the post, fans flocked to Instagram watchdog account Aussie Influencer Opinions to share their thoughts. Among the many blunders was the inclusion of a 'large short black' - a drink that does not exist. Spot the mistakes: The influencer couple last week shared a photo on Instagram of the menu for The Shack Take-Away, a restaurant they are opening at Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast A short black, or espresso, is made by pushing hot, pressurised water through finely ground coffee, producing a dense, strong and slightly bitter drink about 30ml in volume. No extra hot water is added, otherwise it becomes a long black or Americano. By definition, it is impossible to make a 'large' short black. Bizarrely, Chloe and Mitch's menu also separately advertises espressos, even though the term 'espresso' is interchangeable with 'short black'. Eagle-eyed fans also noticed the restaurant's 'alternative milks' were listed with the incorrect price denomination '$0.8c'. Backlash: While Chloe and Mitch have since disabled comments on the post, fans flocked to Instagram watchdog account Aussie Influencer Opinions to share their thoughts on the gaffes Ouch: Chloe and Mitch were ridiculed for naming menu items after members of their own family and friendship circle, including the 'Kate Szep Protein Pack' Whoops! Among the many blunders was the inclusion of a large short black - a drink that does not exist Same difference: Bizarrely, Chloe and Mitch's menu also separately advertises espressos, even though the term 'espresso' is interchangeable with 'short black' 'On' almond milk? Other errors included unnecessarily capitalised words, the word 'or' misspelled as 'on', and the use of confusing terms such as 'alternative drinks' Presumably Chloe and Mitch meant to write '80', or alternatively '$0.80'. Other errors included unnecessarily capitalised words, the word 'or' misspelled as 'on', and the use of confusing terms such as 'alternative drinks'. The menu also incorrectly used the word 'ice' instead of 'iced' when referring to cold coffees. To make matters worse, Chloe and Mitch were ridiculed for naming menu items after members of their own family and friendship circle, including the 'Kate Szep Protein Pack', which was named after Chloe's influencer sister Kate Szepanowski. Venture: Chloe and Mitch (right, with construction worker Diogo Giglio) bought a shopfront at Mermaid Beach and are preparing to open a seafood restaurant called The Shack Take-Away Whoops! Eagle-eyed fans noticed the restaurant's 'alternative milks' were listed with the incorrect price denomination '$0.8c'. Presumably they meant to write '80' or '$0.80' Ice-cold feedback: The menu also incorrectly used the word 'ice' instead of 'iced' when referring to cold coffees Chloe and Mitch have come under fire recently for promoting misinformation about health on social media. The couple have posted anti-lockdown content on their Instagram pages despite a lack of medical qualifications, and also follow anti-vax accounts. Chloe, who regularly spruiks wellness products like 'immunity shots' and mushroom 'hot chocolate' online, last year lost more than 6,000 followers on Instagram after sharing a post supporting anti-lockdown protests. What does it mean? Fans were confused about the use of the term 'alternative' Strange: Chloe and Mitch named menu items after members of their own family She's a renowned style icon. So it came as no surprise to see Alexa Chung made a glamorous appearance at the the Perfect Magazine London Fashion Week party at The Standard on Monday. The model, 38, was a vision of beauty in a metallic gown as she cosied up to boyfriend Orson Fry, 25, at the glitzy bash. Gorgeous: Alexa Chung made a glamorous appearance at the the Perfect Magazine London Fashion Week party at The Standard on Monday Alexa's eye-catching maxi dress featured a high neckline, with the gold tone complementing her tanned complexion. Adding to the glamour, the socialite toted a small Louis Vuitton handbag and injected more colour with a slick of red lipstick. Orson - who is the heir to Fry's chocolate dynasty - looked dapper in a navy suit that he paired with a forest green shirt. Cute couple: The model, 38, was a vision of beauty in a metallic gown as she cosied up to boyfriend Orson Fry, 25, at the glitzy bash Alexa and Orson first sparked romance rumours in May 2019 when they were seen putting on an affectionate display at the All Point East Festival, it was then revealed that their relationship had begun two months prior. A source told The Mail's Katie Hind at the time: 'They instantly hit it off. Now they're inseparable and he's practically living at her place. It's all moving very fast, but she's smitten. 'They're also not shy when it comes to public displays of affection and were recently seen getting very cosy at the festival. They are very much enjoying themselves.' At the time, the source revealed that even though the romance was new, Orson had as good as moved into her apartment in Dalston, east London. Meanwhile, she is said to have been regularly cheering him on when he performed at pubs and small venues across the capital with his band, Soundtown. Before embarking on her romance with Orson, Alexa had split with True Blood actor Alexander Skarsgard in 2018. She never puts a fashionable foot wrong. And Naomie Harris didn't disappoint as she attended the Ozwald Boateng show during London Fashion Week on Monday. The actress, 45, was a vision of beauty in a jade green mini dress that highlighted her enviable figure. Gorgeous in green! Naomie Harris put on a leggy display in a jade mini dress as she attended Ozwald Boateng's London Fashion Week show on Monday The one shouldered garment combined with a matching jacket that she shrugged off her put her toned arms on display. A thigh-skimming hemline also ensured her toned pins were highlighted, and she swapped her typical heels for a pair of chunky black boots. Naomie completed the look by donning two gold necklaces and styling her raven locks in a ponytail. The Oscar nominee was joined by Thea Carroll at the party, who looked equally as glamorous in a revealing bralet that she paired with satin trousers and an oversized blazer. Dressed to impress: The actress, 45, was a vision of beauty in a jade green mini dress that highlighted her enviable figure Chic: The Oscar nominee was joined by Thea Carroll at the party, who looked equally as glamorous in a revealing bralet that she paired with satin trousers and an oversized blazer Naomie is currently on screen in No Time To Die and Venom: Let There Be Carnage, disproving warnings her career would dwindle after the age of 40. But two decades ago her circumstances were very different. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday's You magazine in December, she described how she couldn't even get shop work. Naomie recalled: 'Even Sainsbury's and Marks & Spencer turned me down. I tried waitressing and no one would have me. 'I didn't know what to call myself. I didn't think I could say 'actress' when no one would employ me.' Stunning: The one shouldered garment combined with a matching jacket that she shrugged off her put her toned arms on display Achieving professional success is not the first time she has conquered adversity having battled to recover from surgery to correct scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, aged 15. She explained: 'I had a rib removed, my lung deflated, then all the muscles near my spine cut through so they could insert a metal rod all the way up my back. I had to learn how to walk again. It was a horrific experience. 'Going through something so traumatic, I learned that my health is a very fragile gift. 'So at that young age, I made the decision to do everything that I possibly could to maintain it.' As a news anchor best known for his waggish quips when reporting on the love lives of the Royal Family, Simon McCoy was seen to be punching above his weight when he married 1980s pin-up Emma Samms last October. Now, the former BBC and GB News presenter is having to get used to be photographed by paparazzi. 'Simon and I got papped in Cheltenham this afternoon,' says the 61-year-old actress, who lives with McCoy, 60, in the Cotswolds. Dynasty actress Emma Samms MBE and her husband, the former newsreader Simon McCoy, out together in Cheltenham last week The former BBC and GB News presenter (pictured with Samms in 2019) is having to get used to be photographed by paparazzi Samms tweeted that she had gotten 'papped in Cheltenham this afternoon' while out with her husband Simon McCoy This amused her daughter Beatrice, 23. '[Her] reaction included the phrase 'scraping the barrel',' jokes Samms, who played fiery heiress Fallon Carrington Colby in Dynasty. She's a national treasure who was handed a damehood by the Queen before winning an Oscar for playing Her Majesty. But now Dame Helen Mirren has declared that she's an American. The celebrated actress, 76, has revealed that she sought U.S. citizenship after realising that her allegiances were to America during the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York. 'I saw the second tower come down. I had an epiphany,' explains Dame Helen, who was living in New York at the time. 'I realised where my allegiance and my heart and my intellect lay in that confrontation between extremism, religiosity all those things and everything that America represents. 'And I thought, 'I'm an American'. I got an American flag and I put it outside my window.' She suggests that the only reason it took her until 2016 to acquire dual citizenship was because she hadn't previously realised you could have both. Dame Helen Mirren (pictured in 2007) has revealed that she sought U.S. citizenship after realising that her allegiances were to America during the 2001 terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers 'When I understood, which I hadn't quite grasped before, that I could be a British citizen and an American citizen because I would not like to give up my British citizenship then I thought, 'Well, that's great'.' Dame Helen, who also played Elizabeth I, does admit there were practical reasons involved. 'My husband [film director Taylor Hackford] is American. My stepchildren are American. 'My nephew lived in America, worked in America. So I had certainly been an American resident for a very long time.' The couple have homes in Wapping, East London; Italy and Lake Tahoe, Nevada. In 2012, she criticised our 'narrowness of vision', claiming that Americans are less cynical. 'The one thing I really don't mind escaping, when I go away, is the alacrity with which Brits like to put people down,' she said. 'Sometimes there's a narrowness of vision in the UK maybe it's partly an island mentality. In America they are less cynical and maybe a bit more naive. 'Brits are somehow more critical and mealy-mouthed. And there can be a sense of small-minded jealousy sometimes.' Modfather Paul Weller's daughter Dylan is a fashion stylist, but wouldn't want to dress the Duchess of Sussex. Asked if she'd like to style Meghan, Dylan, 25, whose mother is make-up artist Lucy Halperin, replies: 'Not really. My mum does make-up for a lot of different actors and actresses, so I would love to collaborate with her one day.' When Sir Billy Connolly's daughter Cara started going out with boys, he left one of them shocked with his first comment when they were introduced. The comedian, 79, who wasn't scared of a fight during his tough Glaswegian upbringing, says: 'When Cara brought her boyfriend along, he said: 'Hello Mr Connolly'. 'I said: 'You get her pregnant and you marry her'. He turned white. I said: 'I'm only kidding'.' The Toff 'tarts' up for night with 'oligarchs' If president Putin orders an invasion of Ukraine, super-rich Russians in London may be hit by sanctions. So Georgia Toffolo is determined to party while she still can. The I'm A Celebrity winner, 27, attended a Oligarchs and Olitarts party at the weekend, where she posed with a fellow reveller dressed in a ushanka Russian fur cap and leather gloves, and pointing a toy gun at her. Georgia Toffolo attended a Oligarchs and Olitarts party at the weekend, where she posed with a fellow reveller dressed in a ushanka 'Oligarchs and Olitarts Party,' the former Made in Chelsea star gushes. 'So fun.' Toff was previously squired by George Cottrell a disgraced former aide to Nigel Farage who was jailed in America in connection with a money laundering conspiracy. The aristocrat, known as 'Posh George', was arrested for extortion, money laundering and fraud in 2016, but he was released from prison after agreeing a plea deal for a count of wire fraud. Troubled model Lottie Moss insists on dressing up for her stay at a rehabilitation centre, where she is being treated for cocaine addiction. The 24-year-old half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss remarks: 'Are you telling me not everyone brings 'stripper heels' to rehab?' Known for his extravagance, Prince Charles is advertising for not one, not two, but THREE chefs. The heir to the throne requires a head chef as well as a chef de partie for his country home, Highgrove, in Gloucestershire plus a sous chef to cook for him and his wife Camilla. 'The chefs team is responsible for the preparation, cooking and presentation of food for the Royal Family and employees at all royal residences,' explains the advert on the royal website. Crucially, pot-stirrers with loose lips need not apply, as applicants must be 'tactful and courteous, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion at all times'. Amanda helps her fallen love back on his feet The birthday of Sherlock star Amanda Abbington's 'daredevil' fiance, Jonathan Goodwin, was a particularly poignant occasion. For it was also the day that the television stuntman, 42, was discharged from hospital after four months. The Welshman was left fighting for his life after he fell 70ft and was crushed between two cars, which exploded in a ball of fire on Simon Cowell's show America's Got Talent: Extreme. The birthday of Sherlock star Amanda Abbington's 'daredevil' fiance, Jonathan Goodwin, was a particularly poignant occasion 'Finally out of hospital,' Goodwin says. 'My birthday today. Can't think of a better way to spend it than with my love.' Abbington, 47, who has two children with Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman, has said she is 'besotted' with Goodwin. British rapper Dizzee Rascal partied at the Ozwald Boateng show during London Fashion Week on Monday. The 37-year-old grime artist, whose real name is Dylan Mills, was seen at The Savoy Hotel in a brown suit with several other musicians including Goldie, 56. He posed for a group photo with Pa Salieu, Rapman, Nicholas Pinnock, Ozwald Boateng, Goldie and Unknown T. Only days before, he appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court accused of abusing the mother of his children. British rapper Dizzee Rascal partied at the Ozwald Boateng show during London Fashion Week on Monday The court heard how he allegedly attacked his ex-fiancee and pushed her to the floor during a 'chaotic' row. He has denied 'pressing his forehead against' Cassandra Jones and later 'pushing her to the ground' at a home in Streatham, south London. Speaking at court on Friday, Ms Jones - who has two children with Rascal - said she left the chart-topping artist in February 2021 because of 'domestic abuse'. Rascal entered a not guilty plea in September 2021 and has denied the domestic abuse allegations. Prosecutor Helena Duong said the alleged assault occurred in 'the context of a domestic dispute' about child contact during what was a 'fairly chaotic scene' when he dropped off their daughter at the property. Partying: The 37-year-old grime artist, whose real name is Dylan Mills, was seen at The Savoy Hotel in a brown suit with several other musicians including Goldie, 56 The court heard that during the incident Mills allegedly 'barged' his way into the house carrying their son, started 'shouting and screaming', 'put his forehead against hers and pushed her around the room', and 'pushed her [Ms Jones] to the ground'. When he arrived at the south London home, Ms Jones alleges he behaved 'erratically and was banging his head three times on the fridge with his son in his arms'. Ms Duong said Rascal then 'put his forehead against Ms Jones and pushed her around the room', before pushing her to the ground where she landed on her elbows. The rapper has denied assaulting Ms Jones. Mills wore a grey suit and black tie as he appeared before Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday. Rascal and Ms Jones, who have two children and had been together nine years before splitting in February 2021, were arguing about their children when he dropped his daughter off at the property, the court heard. Group snap: He posed for a group photo with Pa Salieu, Rapman, Nicholas Pinnock, Ozwald Boateng, Goldie and Unknown T Ms Jones described her ex-fiance as 'a ticking time bomb', explaining that she was calm when he arrived on the doorstep with their daughter as she knew he was in a bad mood and did not want to anger him. She gave evidence from behind a screen at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Friday, sobbing throughout her testimony. The court broke for lunch in the middle of Ms Jones' evidence as she was hyperventilating and unable to get her words out through tears. Ms Duong said the rapper had been 'confrontational' when he picked his daughter up earlier that day. Pictured: He appeared before magistrates accused of attacking his ex-fiancee during a 'chaotic' argument Later in the afternoon, Ms Jones rang Rascal when he was late dropping off their daughter and he began 'swearing' on the phone, the prosecutor said. When he arrived at the property an hour later than expected, Ms Jones said he could not come in but he picked up his son at the entrance and 'barged her out the way to make his way into the house with his son in his arms', the court was told. Ms Duong said he made his way into the kitchen where Ms Jones's mother, Dawn Kirk, was and he was 'screaming and shouting'. The rapper was described as 'out of control' during the incident, with Ms Jones fearing for the safety of her child. Ms Jones told the court through tears that Mills grew 'very angry' and 'was out of control' during the incident. Arrested: The rapper was arrested by police on June 8, 2021 on suspicion of common assault (pictured at a gig in Cornwall last year) She alleged he 'nearly dropped' their son, adding: 'He was screaming for me and I said "Please just give me him".' Ms Jones later said: 'He put his forehead on my forehead and he pushed me around the room' but added that it was not a 'headbutt'. She said he also 'barged' her and she 'fell to the floor', bruising and grazing her left arm. 'He was charging around, in and out of the house. He was out of control,' she added. The prosecutor said Ms Jones began to film Mills, adding: 'The crown say it shows him raising his voice towards Ms Kirk while he has his son under his arms. 'The crown say he became very angry and started acting erratically, banging his head three times on the fridge with his son in his arms.' Ms Duong said she tried to call the police but he lunged as her and grabbed the mobile phone, adding: 'Ms Jones wanted to get her son off him.' The prosecutor said he then 'put his forehead against hers and pushed her around the room' and Ms Jones then screamed: 'Get off me.' There was then a 'scuffle for the phone' and Mills 'pushed her to the ground and she landed on her elbows', the court heard. Sally Bennett-Jenkins QC, defending Mills, questioned 'inconsistencies' in several witness statements Ms Jones had made about the incident. Ms Bennett-Jenkins argued that both Mills and Ms Jones were screaming at each other during the argument. Denial: Rascal has denied 'pressing his forehead against' Cassandra Jones and later 'pushing her to the ground' at a home in Streatham, south London Ms Jones, who became increasingly upset during her cross-examination, replied: 'Yes, because I was screaming to give back my son. 'He said: "I cannot understand why you left me' and I said: 'I left you because of domestic abuse",' she added, raising her voice in tears. Ms Duong said: 'The shouting was sufficiently loud to cause concern to the neighbour' who came over to calm the situation down and found 'Mr Mills getting to 100% anger'. The prosecutor described the dispute as a 'fairly chaotic scene of moving around the house'. Rascal, of Sevenoaks in Kent, was just 18 when his debut album, Boy In Da Corner, was released in 2003. Since then he has become one of Britain's most successful acts and performed at the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic. He has scored a string of number one singles, including Dance Wiv Me and Bonkers. He released his latest album, E3 AF, in 2020 where in the same year he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Last year, Mills performed at the Boardmasters music festival alongside bands including The Kooks, Gorillaz and Foals. His private life is little reported on - but it is believed that he has previously dated model Kaya Bousquet, who died in a high-speed car crash in 2008. Mills has his own record label called Dirtee Stank and was able to win over new fans last March when he appeared on the Great British Bake-Off. The trial continues. ABC host Wil Anderson has revealed Kyle Sandilands is banned from his Wilosophy podcast, saying the outspoken radio presenter 'doesn't need the publicity'. Anderson, 48, launched Wilosophy in 2014 and it has since become one of the most popular podcasts in Australia, attracting major celebrity guests. He told news.com.au he refused to interview Sandilands, 50, because he has a policy of not inviting people with their own platforms and 'agenda' on his show. Blacklisted: ABC host Wil Anderson (pictured) has revealed Kyle Sandilands is 'banned' from his Wilosophy podcast, saying the outspoken radio presenter 'doesn't need the publicity' Anderson, who hosts Gruen on the ABC and used to front Triple M's Hot Breakfast show with Eddie Maguire, said: 'If you're interviewing someone with an agenda and you're asking them questions, you become a platform for spreading that agenda. 'So that's the reason [right-wing News Corp columnist] Andrew Bolt and Kyle Sandilands aren't going to get an invitation to be on the show.' He continued: 'And I just think Kyle is great at generating his own publicity. He doesn't need a hand from me.' Sandilands said on Tuesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show he'd suspected for a while Anderson had a problem with him, but was unsure what he'd done to offend him. Reason: Anderson told news.com.au he refused to interview Sandilands (pictured) because he has a policy of not inviting people with their own platforms and 'agenda' on his show 'He's not an a**ehole; I respect that he has his opinion, but he has a distorted opinion of me [from the press],' he said. He speculated that Anderson had banned him for his political views and support of former U.S. president Donald Trump. But Sandilands, who hosts Sydney's most popular FM breakfast radio show on KIIS 106.5, said he wasn't right-wing at all, but instead a centrist like many Australians. Mystery beef: Sandilands said on Tuesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show he'd suspected for a while Anderson had a problem with him, but was unsure what he'd done to offend him 'Maybe Wil thinks because I like Donald Trump that I'm a right-wing lunatic because a lot of these left-wing people don't understand most people sit in the middle,' he said. 'I liked Trump because he's entertaining. He was making America money.' 'A lot of radio people are jealous that I've been able to make millions of dollars but they're barely able to pay their rent,' he added. Dana Delany said that the recent death of her friend Bob Saget inspired her to get her head examined after she fell down a staircase. The 65-year-old actress took to Twitter on Friday to reveal that she had suffered the injury with a selfie in which she had a black eye. 'You should see the other guy,' the New York native said in an initial tweet before delving into detail on the circumstances behind her injury. 'Thank you all for your concern. I fell down some iron stairs head first (totally sober!) & all I could think of was poor Bob Saget. The latest: Dana Delany, 65, said that the recent death of her friend Bob Saget at 65 from head trauma inspired her to get her head examined after she fell down a staircase. She was seen Friday showing a black eye she suffered in the fall 'So I grabbed the handrail with my face. I was afraid it was fractured but thankfully, no. The folks at St John's emergency took great care of me.' The Emmy-winning China Beach star referenced her longtime friend after authorities with the Orange Country Medical Examiner's office in Florida and Saget's relatives earlier this month said that the Full House star's January 9 death at 65 in his bed in a Ritz-Carlton hotel room in Orlando, Florida was the result of head trauma. 'In the weeks since Bob's passing, we have been overwhelmed with the incredible outpouring of love from Bob's fans, which has been a great comfort to us and for which we are eternally grateful,' Saget's family said in a statement. 'Now that we have the final conclusions from the authorities' investigation, we felt it only proper that the fans hear those conclusions directly from us.' Saget's family said that the actor had 'accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep,' adding that 'no drugs or alcohol were involved' in the actor's death. The Emmy-winning actress said that she was cleared of fractures by medical officials The Desperate Housewives alum had a longtime friendship with Saget, and served with him on the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation. They were snapped in 2015 in NYC Saget and Delany were seen at a 2008 fundraiser for the Scleroderma Research Foundation in NYC The Orange County Medical Examiner released a statement saying that 'the death of Mr. Saget was the result of blunt head trauma' after a probe of the 'circumstances surrounding the death and after examination of the body, toxicology analysis, histology and a respiratory pathogen panel.' Medical officials said that Saget's 'injuries were most likely incurred from an unwitnessed fall' and 'the manner of death' was accidental. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2019, an average of 166 Americans died each day due to traumatic brain injury-related injuries. The Desperate Housewives alum opened up about her longtime friendship with Saget last month in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, noting that she knew him 'for 35 years' and they 'kind of started out together.' The American Guest star told the outlet, 'Bob was one of those guys that you could just call out of the blue and get right back into the groove, and Im so unhappy that I cant pick up the phone now to call him and say how ridiculous it is that hes dead. Bob would think its so absurd. Delany worked with Saget in his 1996 TV film For Hope, in which he directed and she starred as a woman named Hope Altman who was battling scleroderma The Full House star, seen in the final selfie he snapped before he died, was found dead January 9 at 65 in his bed in a Ritz-Carlton hotel room in Orlando, Florida 'But seeing the outpouring of love for Bob from friends and from all over the world, I feel like he would be so happy to be getting so much attention. That makes me laugh.' The Code actress served on the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation with Saget. The actor was a passionate fundraiser in the battle against the autoimmune disease scleroderma, which his sister Gay died from in 1994 at the age of 47. Delany worked with Saget in his 1996 TV film For Hope, in which he directed and she starred as a woman named Hope Altman who was battling scleroderma. 'I was basically playing a version of Bobs sister, Gay,' Delany told THR. 'Not long after that, both Bob and I joined the board of the Scleroderma Research Foundation.' Delany said that she feels Saget's 'work on behalf of scleroderma is whats going to really resonate for years to come,' adding, 'I think he would feel good about that because it was his legacy, especially for his sister and for his parents.' She's a mother to three children and has enjoyed a decades-long career in front of the camera. And Hilary Duff was ready for a weekend away from her normal day-to-day responsibilities as she celebrated a kid-free holiday with a few of her best friends in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 34-year-old actress dressed to the nines in a metallic pink mini skort from CultNaked and a leather jacket before trading in her threads for a cozy monogrammed robe at the celeb-favorite Wynn hotel. Stepping out: Hilary Duff was ready for a weekend away from her normal day-to-day responsibilities as she celebrated a kid-free holiday with a few of her best friends in Las Vegas Hilary sported a loose white blouse paired with her ultra mini skirt for a night out in Sin City with her favorite group of moms. She captioned a few Instagram snaps: 'Errrr other halves of our skirts got left. in Los Angeles ? Happy Birthday @tiffanythompsonglass love you beyond ! Black Jack partners for life?' The girls showed off a much cozier side of the city as they cuddled up in matching terry cloth robes with their names embroidered across the chest courtesy of the luxury hotel. Ladies of the night: The 34-year-old actress dressed to the nines in a pink mini skort from CultNaked and a leather jacket before trading in her threads for a cozy monogrammed robe at the celeb-favorite Wynn hotel This is the life: The girls showed off a much cozier side of the city as they cuddled up in matching terry cloth robes with their names embroidered across the chest courtesy of the luxury hotel 'A big boy suite for some tired moms in need of a weekend away with epic beds and black out curtains that cant be rivaled,' she wrote. '@wynnlasvegas I cant believe you monogrammed us robes.' The Lizzie McGuire star was having the time of her life away from home in LA as she jumped onto a coffee table and danced in a short clip. She shared a glam selfie while taking a break getting ready for another night out with her friends. 'A big boy suite for some tired moms in need of a weekend away with epic beds and black out curtains that cant be rivaled,' she wrote. '@wynnlasvegas I cant believe you monogrammed us robes' What happens in Vegas: The Lizzie McGuire star was having the time of her life away from home in LA as she jumped onto a coffee table and danced in a short clip Bold and beautiful: She shared a glam selfie while taking a break getting ready for another night out with her friends Duff ran into a few famous faces in town and shared a snap of her son's reaction when she told him she 'saw Matt Stafford at the elevators.' Hilary married husband Matthew Koma in the backyard of their Beverly Hills home two years ago after welcoming their first daughter, Banks, now three. The How I Met Your Father star gave birth to their second daughter, Mae, last year at home surrounded by her family, including her son Luca who she shares co-parenting responsibilities with her ex-husband Mike Comrie. Alice Evans has issued a rambling apology for being absent on video-sharing website Cameo. The actress, 53, took to Instagram on Monday to post a video to tell her fans that her account would 'be up and running again this afternoon'. Alice explained to her 846,000 followers that she put Cameo requests on hold after giving herself an 'embarrassing' black eye after 'flying across my backyard and landing my head on the steps'. Apology: Taking to Instagram on Monday, Alice Evans issued a rambling apology for being absent on Cameo after giving herself an 'embarrassing' black eye In the video, Alice could be seen rocking a blue and white top worn over a black bikini and completed her look with red lipstick and shades. She said: 'Hello there! I'm going to make a shortest Alice Evans video in the world. I want to apologise to everybody for my Cameo lack of appearances and your requests expiring. I love doing it.' She explained: 'I had a rather embarrassing black eye, which the story is quite funny... I did fly across my back yard onto the step and landed with my head on the step... 'Anyway, sorry I said I wouldn't ramble. In the comments some people are saying "enough of the red lipstick." I know! The red lipstick drives me insane, but my teeth are green for three years of not seeing a dentist... Alice added: 'My Cameo is going to be up and running again this afternoon. I'm going to catch up. If your request expired and you don't hate me by now, please request another one and I promise you I'll do the bestest, bestest, bestest ever.' Explanation: The actress, 53, took to Instagram on Monday to post a video to tell her fans that her account would 'be up and running again this afternoon' Ouch: Alice previously showed off her painful looking black eye Alongside the video, Alice penned: 'Shortest video didnt quite happen. BUT my Cameo will be back up and running this afternoon! 'Didnt quite explain in the video but red lipstick makes your teeth look less tea-stained. I have those really porous teeth that turn the color of almost anything you eat. And I drink four cups of tea a day at least..' She continued: '(Crest Whitestrips are a marvelous stop-gap though, now Im on the subject) My wonderful dentist is Rachel Marmor. DMD she is not only the best but also the kindest. 'Love to you all and PLEASE dont take it personally if your Cameo request ran out. ( They actually froze my account this morning because I had gotten so behind. I felt like I was in detention or something. Thank you Cameo for giving me the kick up the rear end I badly needed! )' Lippy: In the video, Alice could be seen rocking a blue and white top worn over a black bikini and completed her look with red lipstick and shades It comes after Alice requested full custody of her children with Ioan Gruffudd. Just days after Ioan, 48, filed a restraining order against his estranged wife she applied for legal and physical custody of their daughters Ella, 12 and Elsie, eight. In court documents obtained by People, the actress asked that visitation rights be granted to Ioan. Escalating: Alice is requesting custody of her daughters Ella, 12, and Elsie, eight, with her estranged husband Ioan Gruffudd... after he filed a restraining order She is also requesting 'spousal support, termination of the court's ability to award spousal support to Gruffudd, and for her attorney fees to be paid by her estranged husband', while citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split. The 102 Dalmatians star has asked the court to determine the rights to their family home in Los Angeles. Alice and Ioan's representatives have been contacted for comment by MailOnline. It comes after the actress laid into his new girlfriend Bianca Wallace in a series of abusive texts, calling her a 'vixen' and telling him she has 'your nuts stuck in her veneers' - according to a bombshell court filing. Happier times: Just days after Ioan, 48, filed a restraining order against her, 53, Alice applied for legal and physical custody of their daughters Ella, 12 (left) and Elsie, eight (right) Shock: The 102 Dalmatians star has asked the court to determine the rights to their family home in Los Angeles (L-R: Elsie and Ella) The Welsh actor submitted 113 pages of abusive text messages, emails and social media posts as he applied for a restraining order against his ex on Tuesday, claiming she threatened to do to him 'what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp' and paint him as a drug-addicted abuser. Ioan had been married to Alice for 14 years before he filed for divorce in March. Their messy split centres around his new relationship with Bianca. Ioan was seen sporting a cap with the letter 'B' on it on Wednesday, in a possible show of support for his girlfriend. In his court filing, Ioan claims he told Alice he wanted out of the marriage in August 2020 and since then, she has harassed him with hundreds of unanswered text messages, abusive emails and social media posts - many of which he included in the filing. Back then: In court documents, the actress asked that visitation rights be granted to Ioan 'If you throw me out of the house, I will call all the tabloids in the UK. There is NO going back now though. I just think you should know what you've gotten yourself into. You think you have a bad reputation now? Lol! You think once it's over I will stop talking? I am going to dedicate the rest of my life to spreading awareness of what you have done,' she said in one text. She went on to allege that he'd told her of times castmates bought cocaine, and that he never gave her sexual pleasure. 'Your face and body now look hideous to me. I am starting on dating apps...,' one text read, while in another she writes: 'I have no idea why the hell I fell in love with you.' At other times she appears apologetic, writing: 'I'm sorry I sent ranting texts last night, I'll try really hard not to do it any more.' But the messages quickly revert again to being abusive, but then quickly flips back to insulting him. In a written statement, Ioan claims she verbally threatened to tell the media he had abused her and do 'what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp'. Family drama: She is also requesting 'spousal support, termination of the court's ability to award spousal support to Gruffudd' 'Alice told me verbally multiple times that she would do to me what Amber Heard did to Johnny Depp. 'Alice threatened to tell people I had abused her and our daughters; she threatened to call the police on me if I did not comply with her demands; she threatened to tell people I am a drug addict and put me in prison; she threatened to write a fake diary that reflected an abused victim, and to have the diary published; and she threatened to destroy my mother. 'Alice told me she would win, and everyone would believe her over me,' Gruffudd said. In her response in court, Alice said she had 'never threatened' him with slanderous statements or harassed him. Her representatives have not responded to requests for comment about the texts and emails contained in the lawsuit. New woman: Ioan had been married to Alice for 14 years before he filed for divorce in March. Their messy split centres around his new relationship with Bianca Wallace (pictured) In the declaration, Ioan goes on to claim Alice had already made 'false and harassing' posts about him on social media', as well as sending 'hundreds' of abusive emails, texts and video calls. Dozens of messages were included in the court documents, in which Alice appeared to criticize the star for not working. 'It' embarrassing now that everybody is telling me you are done. That nobody wants to [employ] you. That Dom West is at the top of the lists because he 'did the right thing'. And by the way it doesn't matter what is really going on in the relationship, for god's sake. It's about appearances. Jesus Christ think of Cary grant and Rock Hudson. 'Why on EARTH do you think Tom Cruise and John Travolta went to such extents? I'm increasingly angry that you have sabotaged your career. Insanely angry. I GAVE UP my career for this. Bombshell: Texts from Alice to Ioan include many about their kids, custody agreements and her ranting about other portions of their lives At odds: In her court filing, Alice said she that had never 'threatened or harassed' Ioan. Her attorneys and reps have not commented on the texts that were submitted 'And you throw it away because you feel a stronger connection to [your parents] than you do to your own brethren? It's just o confusing. . . You KNOW your Mum is a mental case. Why on earth do you want to give up everything we've established for the sake of somebody who doesn't even love you?' She added: 'Your face and body now look hideous to me. I am starting on dating apps ( not had the balls to actually go live yet) because I want to find a man who really loves me after being deprived of that for 20 whole years. 'I am convinced I still have time, and my personality will shine through. I have no idea why the hell I fell in love with you. Biggest mistake if my life. ( except for the kids)' The actor claimed she had also turned on his new girlfriend, Bianca, such as by publishing private information about her. He continued: 'It was extremely upsetting and stressful for me to continuously receive these types of hostile and aggressive text messages from Alice. On July 22, 2021, I blocked Alice's phone number on my phone.' Serious: Alice is also requesting 'for her attorney fees to be paid by her estranged husband', while citing 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for their split One of the examples appeared to show Alice saying: 'Dude your film with Bianca is the most embarrassing thing I have EVER seen in Deadline. . . You have left a family you were providing for. You had SPECIFICALLY asked this loving family to wait for you while you worked abroad. We did. 'Then you met the most psychopathic succubus ever minnow to man, and fell for her. even Prince Harry... whatever. No NO NO NO nO. 'Find some financing then make whatever film you want. But don't take away everything you have because some vixen has your nuts between her veneers. PS: There is already betting on how long until she leaves you! PROPER BETTING! Now THAT'S famous.' Alice rejected all the claims made by Ioan in the restraining order application. She wrote: 'I believe that Petitioner is filing this request merely as a ploy to gain some sort of advantage over me in our divorce proceedings. Eek! It comes after she laid into his new girlfriend in a series of abusive texts, calling her a 'vixen' and telling him she has 'your nuts stuck in her veneers' - according to a bombshell court filing (Alice and Ioan pictured in 2016) Hollywood carcrash: Amber Heard publicly accused Johnny Depp of beating her and emotionally abusing her during their marriage. She won the case in court and was found to be telling the truth (pictured in 2015) 'As Petitioner has not seen our children for over 8 months, I believe he is trying to set some type of record that I am a horrible mother.' Alice and Ioan confirmed their split in a series of furious tweets posted in January 2021. She has since documented every toxic turn in their subsequent divorce proceedings across social media, and repeatedly slated him for being in a relationship with Bianca Wallace. Gruffudd and Alice's lawyers are due in court on March 11 for a hearing on the restraining order. Ashley Greene was seen out with her husband Paul Khoury in Los Angeles on Monday. The actress - know for her role as Alice Cullen in Twilight - was out celebrating her 35th with her partner, who she married in 2018. The two were loved-up as they smiled walking arm-in-arm in Pasadena. Stepping out: Ashley Greene was seen out with her husband Paul Khoury in Los Angeles on Monday The Florida native was dressed casually for the outing, opting for a knit cream sweater and denim. Her top had a matching crewneck component, which she topped with the corresponding button-down outer layer. Ashley's light wash blue jeans had a tear above one knee and she added white sneakers. The entertainer's long brunette hair was parted off-center and styled in luscious ringlet curls that fell over her shoulders. Birthday date: The actress - know for her role as Alice Cullen in Twilight - was out celebrating her 35th with her partner, who she married in 2018 The movie star accentuated her facial features with soft makeup to bring out her eyes, cheeks, and pout. Green complemented her outfit with a medium-sized brown Gucci bag. She and her husband stopped to take a selfie together as she wrapped an arm around his waist and kissed his cheek. Khoury wore a newsboy cap, graphic t-shirt, sweater, and dark pants. He rounded out his look with a pair of black Chelsea boots. Adorable: The two were loved-up as they smiled walking arm-in-arm in Pasadena Date day: Paul took to Instagram to share a photo of his wife sitting at a table in a restaurant, where he recreated their first date Paul took to Instagram to share a photo of his wife sitting at a table in a restaurant, where he recreated their first date. Ashley beamed with joy in the picture as she held her hands on her cheeks with a huge smile. In his caption he told his followers how they decided to go to Pasadena when they'd first started dating and were keeping it a secret. 'Little did I know this face would make me unimaginably happy for the rest of my life! I love you to the moon and back @ashleygreene happy birthday baby!!!' he said. Repost: Mrs. Khoury reposted the content in her Instagram Stories and added, 'I love you so much my soulmate' Mrs. Khoury reposted the content in her Instagram Stories and added, 'I love you so much my soulmate.' Greene was also active on the photo-sharing app on the eve of her birthday as she shared an image in red biker shorts. She reflected, 'Getting ready to kick off year 35.... I couldn't be more excited to be entering into my mid thirties - I've never felt so sure of who I am, so certain about where I want my life to go and so excited about the steps I'm going to take to get there.' Engaging her 1.9 million followers, she added the hashtags '#birthday #35 #manifestation.' She's never afraid to show off her ripped abs on social media. And on Tuesday, Pip Edwards flaunted her incredibly toned physique as she took part in a Pilates class. The 41-year-old displayed her lean figure in a crop top and leggings from her own activewear label, P.E Nation. Working up a sweat! Pip Edwards (pictured) showed off her washboard abs in a crop top and leggings from her activewear line as she completed a Pilates workout on Tuesday Pip stretched out on a yoga mat as she posed for a mirror selfie on Instagram. She also shared a photo of herself holding a yoga ball in the air during the workout. Pip is a regular at Fluidform Pilates, a movement method by Kirsten King that is popular in Sydney thanks to its celebrity clientele. Working hard: She also shared a photo of herself holding a yoga ball in the air during the workout 'I spent a lot of time in my early thirties doing weight training and HIIT workouts. I had a bad injury and kept training with it and then I hit a wall and realised that I needed to look after my body,' Pip once said about her Pilates practice. 'A friend then recommended a really good Pilates instructor who specialises in rehab Pilates.' 'Now I make sure that I fit Pilates classes into my schedule three times a week and it's changed my life,' she added. Dedicated: Pip is a regular at Fluidform Pilates, a movement method by Kirsten King that is popular in Sydney thanks to its celebrity clientele It comes after Pip shared a photo to Instagram of herself completing a Pilates class last week and admitted she was 'barely hanging on' this year. 'Barely hanging on. It's been super hard to click into gear this year and get my routine back, but each day I try and show up, even if it is only in a little way,' she wrote in the caption. 'It takes a day-by-day attitude to build back up to where I want to be. It's all a work in progress,' she continued. Long-running British crime drama Vera has become one of the biggest hits on Australia's ABC network. The series, which premiered in the UK back in 2011, is currently pulling in more viewers Down Under than Home and Away. Some episodes of the series are reaching as high as 600,000 viewers, beating hit reality shows like Dancing with the Stars: All Stars and Australian Survivor. Popular: Long-running British crime drama Vera has become one of the biggest hits on Australia's ABC network (pictured Brenda Blethyn) It's also regularly beating Channel Nine's 60 minutes, including Karl Stefanovic's interview with Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week. According to TV Tonight, Vera's ratings with consolidated figures easily top one million viewers per episode. In the UK, Vera pulls in more than seven million viewers per episode. Defeated: The series, which premiered in the UK back in 2011, is currently pulling in more viewers Down Under than Home and Away (pictured Sam Frost) The crime series follows temperamental Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, who is obsessed with her work and must fight many of her own inner demons while solving cases. Vera's leading lady Brenda Blethyn, 76, told Good Housekeeping last year she has 'no plans to retire anytime soon' and is excited that older performers are getting more opportunities now. 'My parents worked until their dying days, and I fully expect to be doing the same,' Brenda said. Millionaire! Vera's ratings with consolidated figures easily top one million viewers per episode 'Mum had about six jobs to put food on the table and dad spent the latter part of his life working in a ladies' dress shop as a handyman. 'They instilled that work ethic in me; if you want to earn some money, you've got to work for it. 'I enjoy being busy, too, so I'll always find something to do, even if it's painting a wall!' As fans get ready for the new NBC series America's Got Talent: Extreme, debuting tonight, one of the competitors is finally being released from the hospital after four grueling months. Jonathan Goodwin is a stunt performer who previously appeared on both America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent and performed an incredibly dangerous stunt for America's Got Talent: Extreme back in October. The stunt went horribly wrong and lead to him being hospitalized for four months, but the 42-year-old daredevil revealed today that he was finally released from the hospital today, and that it's also his birthday. Released: As fans get ready for the new NBC series America's Got Talent: Extreme, debuting tonight, one of the competitors is finally being released from the hospital after four grueling months Hospital: The stunt went horribly wrong and lead to him being hospitalized for four months, but the 42-year-old daredevil revealed today that he was finally released from the hospital today, and that it's also his birthday The stuntman shared a photo of him with his fiancee, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, as they celebrated his release from the hospital. 'Four months later finally out of hospital. My birthday today cant think of a better way to spend it than with my love,' Goodwin said. His post featured comments by Camilla Cleese, who wished him a 'Happy Birthday!' and Lena Headey, who posted three red heart emojis. James and Amanda: The stuntman shared a photo of him with his fiancee, Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, as they celebrated his release from the hospital The accident happened in mid-October, with NBC 'temporarily' suspending production on the show. The stunt was filmed at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Goodwin was suspended 70 feet in the air. He was supposed to free himself and fall into an inflatable airbag, before two cars slammed together on each side of him. Suspended: The accident happened in mid-October, with NBC 'temporarily' suspending production on the show Stunt: The stunt was filmed at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, where Goodwin was suspended 70 feet in the air Something went wrong and the cars both collided with Goodwin, with the cars both exploding on impact. Goodwin fell to the ground but missed the airbag and landed on his head. He was airlifted to a local hospital 'Our thoughts and prayers remain with Jonathan Goodwin and his family as he continues to recover from his accident on Thursday. Wrong: Something went wrong and the cars both collided with Goodwin, with the cars both exploding on impact 'In order to focus on the wellbeing of our crew, we will be temporarily pausing production on America's Got Talent: Extreme and will resume the last few days of filming at a later date.' The spokesperson added: 'The health and safety of our cast and crew continue to be our priority.' The accident happened during a rehearsal for the show so it's unclear if the accident will be addressed at all during the inaugural season of AGT: Extreme. Pause production: 'In order to focus on the wellbeing of our crew, we will be temporarily pausing production on America's Got Talent: Extreme and will resume the last few days of filming at a later date' She may be Australian, but swimwear designer Bianca Elouise sure knows how to bring the Miami heat. The Gold Coast native, 30, turned heads on Sunday as she hit Florida's golden shoreline wearing a very skimpy swimsuit from her own brand, Myra Swim. Giving Kim Kardashian a run for her money, the blonde bombshell showcased her hourglass frame in a high-cut black one-piece featuring a cut-out midriff and cheeky G-string bottoms. Sun's out, buns out! Aussie swimwear designer Bianca Elouise flaunted her hourglass frame in a skimpy G-string swimsuit at Miami Beach, Florida, on Sunday Bianca, who recently made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, proudly showed off her bronzed physique as she splashed around in the water and strolled across the sand. She completed her look with rectangular sunglasses, stud earrings and gold bracelets, and slicked back her cropped locks into a high ponytail. As the day came to an end, Bianca and her friends made their way back to a set of deckchairs on the sand and began getting dressed. Dangerous curves! The Gold Coast native, 30, showcased her hourglass frame in a high-cut black one-piece featuring a cut-out midriff and cheeky G-string bottoms Some like it hot! Bianca, who recently made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, proudly showed off her bronzed physique as she splashed around in the water and strolled across the sand She slipped on a figure-flattering pair of high-waisted black pants, and carried her belongings in a Christian Dior handbag worth $4,600. Bianca famously made the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, after founding bikini brand Myra Swim in 2014. She spoke to Forbes about how she built such a successful company. Beach bunny: She completed her look with rectangular sunglasses, stud earrings and gold bracelets, and slicked back her cropped locks into a high ponytail Covering up: As the day came to an end, Bianca and her friends made their way back to a set of deckchairs on the sand and began getting dressed 'I think my consistency has for sure played a huge role in my success,' she explained. 'Honestly, I have my moments where I doubt myself but most times I take control and keep pushing through. Consistency is key.' The former professional surfer said she founded her label because she couldn't find items to suit her body correctly. 'I lived in the garments and was sponsored by brands, but I couldn't find anything that I was 100 per cent happy with or fitted me the way I wanted, so I created what I couldn't find in the market,' she said. Her designs have been seen on the likes of Kim Kardashian, Chrissy Teigen and Jennifer Lopez. Expensive taste! Bianca slipped on a figure-flattering pair of high-waisted black pants, and carried her belongings in a Christian Dior handbag worth $4,600 Harrison Ford helped a crew member on the set of Indiana Jones 5 who was in the midst of a suspected heart attack. The Hollywood icon, 79, was on set as cameras rolled on the final scenes of the film at Pinewood Studios in England when the medical emergency occurred, a source told The Sun Monday. 'All of a sudden a male member of crew collapsed,' the source said. The latest: Harrison Ford, 79, helped a crew member on the set of Indiana Jones 5 who was in the midst of a suspected heart attack. The actor was snapped in Mexico in 2020 The Oscar-nominated actor 'was standing just yards away and yelled for a medic,' saying, 'Get me a medic quick,' a source told the outlet. The source said that 'there was a huge amount of panic' when the incident occurred, as 'the on-site first aider did CPR while they waited for an air ambulance and paramedics to arrive.' The insider told the outlet that cast and crew 'been at Pinewood and are due to finish Friday.' The incident is the latest in the troubled production in the latest installment of the action-adventure anthology featuring Ford, which is directed by James Mangold and produced by Steven Spielberg, with John Williams composing the score. Ford was seen shooting the film last October in Italy The Oscar-nominated actor 'was standing just yards away and yelled for a medic,' saying, 'Get me a medic quick,' a source told The Sun In November, a 54-year-year-old crew member named Nic Cupac was found dead in his hotel room during production of the film in Morocco. 'Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Nic Cupac, an incredibly talented colleague and member of the film community who will be greatly missed,' a production rep told the New York Post, adding that Cupac's 'sudden passing was not production related.' Ford was sidelined for three months last June after he 'sustained an injury involving his shoulder' while in rehearsal for a fight sequence. The film has faced multiple delays during the pandemic, as it was first scheduled to come out in July 9, 2021, then delayed to July 29, 2022, and in October, its release was delayed until June of 2023. It's the fifth installment in the anthology, which includes 2008's Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. After the dramatic turn in events, with Russian President Vladimir Putin recognising the breakaway republics in eastern Ukraine followed by the sending in of Russian military forces, we are publishing a statement by the Russian IMT comrades, elaborated together with Marxists in Ukraine and the Donbas, in opposition to this inter-imperialist conflict. On 15 February, the Russian State Duma voted in favour of a proposal for immediate diplomatic recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LPR). The majority of the Security Council of the Russian Federation spoke in favour of recognition on 21 February. The president followed suit. Finally, on the night of 21-22 February, a direct military intervention of Russian troops into these territories began. The initiators of this procedure appeal to the fact that the diplomatic recognition of the republics is a response to the military threat from Ukraine and the NATO bloc, and that the NATO countries are riven with internal divisions, both in relation to the Putin regime and the ongoing conflict. This line of argumentation reveals the hypocritical essence of the behaviour of the Russian political elite, which has so far stubbornly maintained that it does not participate in the intra-Ukrainian conflict. It was already obvious to anyone with eyes that there was Russian interference in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine. Now, it has turned into an open invasion. Equally hypocritical are the statements made by the leaders of the NATO countries and their media servants, who pretend that they care about human rights", territorial unity and Ukraine's freedom from interference. Hypocrisy is a trait common to all major parties in the conflict. The governments of Russia, the United States, the EU countries and Ukraine all justify their actions in every possible way by waxing lyrical about peoples interests and their rights. In practice, they are all interested in these people as nothing but cheap labour, and in the territory of the Donbas as an object for plunder and the creation of new markets. The lofty phrases of all bourgeois governments are but a cover for a cynical policy directed everywhere against the interests of the working-class majority and its rights. A propaganda war seeks to trap communists and leftists from different sides in a false choice between different imperialist forces, of an international or regional scale; between different cliques of capitalists; between different ethno-chauvinist positions. As internationalists, we affirm that we will not allow ourselves to be deceived by capital and its spokesmen, and turn ourselves into their voluntary servants, no matter where they are - in Moscow, Brussels, Washington or Kiev. We speak on behalf of only one interest - the common interest of the working class of all nations. However, the strategy and tasks of the communists in different countries differ at specific moments. Local workers and communists must proceed not from the position of geopolitics, not from arguments about who started what first. Our task is to stop a possible war, and support the formation of an anti-war movement of the working-class in Russia, Ukraine and the republics. The only way to do this is to act on the basis that the main enemy is in one's own country. Each side has a different enemy. We must not allow ourselves to be confused by shifting the blame to the external aggressor and cannot align ourselves with our governments in any way. Self-determination of the Donbas Before discussing a future peace settlement, it is necessary to point out the main thing: the people of the Donbas have the right to self-determination. And this self-determination must be predicated on a free, democratic choice. Any indication that the fate of the Donbas should be decided by all Ukrainians, the government of Ukraine, or, even more so, the United States and Russia, is a betrayal of the democratic principle of the right to self-determination, no matter how it is presented. Those who deny the right of the Donbas to self-determination say that it is not a people; they argue that it belongs to the Ukrainian or Russian people, depending on the nationalist inclinations of the speaker. They go so far as to deny the ability of the inhabitants of the Donbas to make an independent choice in principle. None of this stands up to scrutiny. In fact it comes down to shameful chauvinism and the denial of democratic rights to four million people. Any indication that the fate of the Donbas should be decided by all Ukrainians, the government of Ukraine, or, even more so, the United States and Russia, is a betrayal of the democratic principle of the right to self-determination / Image: Andrew Butko, Wikimedia Commons However, firstly, upholding the right to self-determination does not mean automatic support for any separatism. We unconditionally recognise the right to self-determination of the DPR and LPR, and recognise the democratic decision of their people, whatever it may be. But we also consider it possible to speak about the most-progressive ways of exercising self-determination from the point of view of general interests of the working class and the fight for socialism. We believe that the choice, within the framework of self-determination, should proceed from the prospect of future cooperation and comradeship between the workers of Kiev, Donetsk and Moscow; unity between a miner and a programmer, a doctor and a teacher; between all of those who create value in society. That is why the choice must be free and conscious. Secondly, we refuse to recognise a vote at gunpoint, with the imperialists and their satellites fingers on the trigger, as self-determination. A genuine democratic choice is possible only in conditions of political democracy and freedom of opposition. But at the moment, the authorities of the republics have degraded into corrupt clients controlled by Russia, and the opposition is being persecuted. Self-determination of the DPR and LPR is a matter for the future democratic and labour movement, which, in deciding on the fate of the Donbas, will inevitably act contrary to the existing authorities in the republics. Positions and intentions of the bourgeois governments The war is causing great damage to Ukraine and, it would seem, its government should be most interested in a peaceful resolution. However, the political forces that came to power after the Maidan are one of the main obstacles to this. Firstly, the leadership of Ukraine itself plays up to the ethno-nationalists and nurtures them, in fact legalising ultra-right political organisations, and bringing them under the wing of the authorities. Following the Poroshenko regime, and contrary to its campaign promises, the Zelensky government is using nationalist rhetoric and policies to oppose language freedoms for Russian speakers, and continues to glorify Nazi collaborators. Such a policy excludes any peaceful consensus with the population of the DNR and LNR, and precludes their voluntary reintegration. Secondly, for eight years, the grinding war has been a source of enrichment for corrupt Ukrainian oligarchs and kleptocrats. Therefore, the reactionary clique in power in Ukraine, contrary to the interests of the people of Ukraine, benefits from a low-key war, and not a truly democratic peace settlement. US imperialism is even less interested in a peaceful settlement to the conflict, and instead uses it to put pressure on Russia. To do this, for eight years, it has been supporting the so-called war party", consisting of the most reactionary and militaristic forces in Ukrainian politics, including neo-Nazis. The position of the Russian government is especially hypocritical. Despite official statements about non-interference in the internal affairs of Ukraine and of the DNR and LNR, in fact, Russian imperialism held these republics by the throat. After the recognition of the LNR and the DNR, there is no need to talk about non-intervention. Russia uses the Donbas republics to put pressure on the government of Ukraine and as a bargaining chip in political games with the US and the EU. Russian imperialism needs obedient regimes and malleable politicians in these republics. In the event of reintegration with Ukraine, these will serve as Russia's instruments to influence Ukrainian politics. Moreover, while pretending to speak about protecting people from the fascist junta, Russian capitalism uses the inhabitants of the Donbas as semi-disenfranchised and ultra-cheap labour, including in the coal mines of Kuzbass inside the Russian Federation. The biggest centres of EU capitalism exploit the labour force from the main part of Ukraine in the same way. In addition, the Russian government uses this conflict to sow toxic nationalism in Russian society, intimidating the people with threats of external aggression, NATO encroaching on Russian borders, etc. This is intended to distract the Russian people from class antagonism, inequality and injustice in their own country, redirecting their anger and fear towards an external enemy. The assertion of the Russian authorities that only Ukraine is the aggressor in the conflict does not stand up to criticism. The Russian regime has not only constantly maintained tension, but has repeatedly deployed lies and provocations. This was especially evident during the current escalation, underpinned by a large-scale campaign of misinformation, launched by the Russian regime to create a convenient justification for its actions. For instance, there was the pre-recorded video evidence of shelling of the republics, and appeals for support by the heads of the LPR and DPR, issued a few days before the start of the evacuation of the civilian population. All of this reveals the absurdity of statements about the Kremlin's unwillingness to escalate the current conflict, as well as attempts by some on the Russian left to portray it as a lesser evil. Therefore, a peaceful democratic settlement is not in the interests of Russian capitalism, which benefits from, at least, constant tension in the Donbas. And that is why left workers' organisations upholding a fundamentally anti-war position in Russia is progressive, and is the only way to develop the class consciousness and self-organisation of the working class in relation to this question. Finally, the governments of the LPR and DPR are currently the clientele of Russia and the local oligarchy, cut off from the people. The endless war is the source of their special position, and therefore they are not interested in a truly democratic solution either. Russia not only supports, but controls the LPR and DPR governments. Without this support, the current governments in the republics would not have survived. With the support of Russian imperialism, opposition is persecuted, all independent workers' initiatives are ruthlessly suppressed, and even field commanders who have shown any degree of independence have been assassinated with the participation of Russian special services. In sum, eight years later, neither the government of Ukraine, nor the Russian authorities, nor the United States, nor even the governments of the DPR and LPR are interested in a truly democratic peaceful settlement of the conflict. Reintegration or independence? If we proceed from the interests of the international socialist future of humanity and the growing forces of the labour movement, then, as a rule, the preferred option for resolving a national conflict will be one that will lead to the resolution of national contradictions, the cessation of sectarian divisions, the reopening of workplaces, and that will not create new protracted national conflicts. If we approach the conflict in the Donbas from this perspective alone, then one of the options for resolution would consist of the peaceful democratic reintegration of the republics into Ukraine, with the preservation of linguistic and other freedoms, and the guarantee of any degree of autonomy that the peoples of the DPR and LPR request. Any variant of forced reintegration will only deepen national divisions and inflict a deep wound on the labour movement / Image: OSCE, Flickr We are talking about peaceful democratic reintegration, and not about forceful annexation. Any variant of forced reintegration will only deepen national divisions and inflict a deep wound on the labour movement. And democratic reintegration into today's Ukraine is impossible as long as the current government and the party of war remain in power there. An alternative to reintegration is the true independence of the DPR and LPR. However, without a change of regime in Russia, the independence of the republics would be a fiction, because in reality the war-ravaged LPR and DPR will remain appendages of and a source of cheap labour for Russia. Moreover, if Ukraine remains hostile, then the republics will continue to depend on military support from Russia. At the moment, the independence of the DPR and LPR is not only recognised by Russia, but also reinforced by the introduction of troops. But under the circumstances, the official recognition of the republics by Russia means only a more official existence of the LPR and DPR regimes as Russian clientele. This has nothing to do with true independence, and even less with the self-determination of the DPR and LPR. Thus, the real independence of the DPR and LPR is possible only as a result of the democratic choice of their peoples, with the support of the democratic labour and anti-war movement in Ukraine and Russia. Regardless of the assessments of possible options for the future resolution of the crisis, the Marxist Tendency, first of all, fundamentally stands for the support of the right to self-determination. The final decision on the future of the Donbas must be made by the people of Donbas, in the course of exercising their right to self-determination through a peaceful, democratic process. Forced reintegration cannot be the basis for camaraderie and cooperation. It is also necessary to point out the most fundamental truth. That, in the long run, there can be no complete solution to the problem of linguistic, ethnic and social conflicts outside the movement towards socialism. The restoration of capitalism and the collapse of the USSR created the conditions in which various bourgeois cliques, within states of the post-Soviet sphere, will systematically set the working class of different ethnic and linguistic groups against each other. All this, in order to distract workers on opposing sides of national borders and lines of military demarcation from the fact that they have one common enemy: capital. The ethno-linguistic squabbling and mutual enmity between working people, imposed by the capitalists, serve only to divide the working class. In reality the conditions in which the working people of Ukraine, Russia, the DPR and the LPR find themselves mean that they have much more in common with each other than with their rulers and bosses. This fact alone means that there is an alternative. It is the duty of communists to fight in word and deed for a united independent movement of working people of different nations, capable of prosecuting a struggle for a genuine way out of the bloody impasse in which we find ourselves. For a free socialist federation of workers' states, not only of the former Soviet Union, but of the whole world! This means that we don't simply have to wait for something to happen, or for events to reach a natural conclusion. On the contrary, it is necessary for all genuine Marxists in Russia, Ukraine and the Donbas to work together, to create a force capable of unleashing the potential power of the organised working class throughout the post-Soviet sphere, to build a revolutionary communist party. A united democratic movement of workers is the only real way out The main condition for overcoming the current tragic situation in the Donbas is building a united, democratic movement of workers on all sides, free from the pressure of any imperialist blocs. This is an extremely difficult task, but it is also the only truly realistic one for anyone who wants to put an end to the barbarity of war, which destroys the living conditions of the working class on both sides of the military lines. It is also necessary to understand that, without a strong, independent labour movement, based on a socialist internationalist political programme, freedom for workers on either side will be a sham. The formation of a broad democratic movement, and a strong labour movement in the republics are the pre-conditions for making possible the self-determination of the republics, as well as winning genuine freedom for the working people of Ukraine and Russia. The authoritarian kleptocratic cliques, the governments of the republics, express only their own interests. If this future democratic movement decides to separate itself from Ukraine, such a decision should be made and respected. The key issue is that the working people should be able to carry it out without external pressure from alien class forces. The task of the left in Ukraine, Russia, the LPR and the DPR is to collectively strive for the freedom of the working people to determine their future, which can take the form of both the independence of the republic and the peaceful reintegration of the LPR and DPR, with respect for linguistic and other freedoms, as part of Ukraine, depending on the political will of the working-class majority. The movement to accomplish this must, as a necessity, be a single movement in Ukraine and the republics. A fundamental condition for its formation is a ceasefire, demilitarisation and mutual withdrawal of Russian and Ukrainian troops from the line of contact. We should reject the bourgeois blame game of each government accusing the other, which only seeks to confuse the working class. The real achievement of independence and freedom of self-determination in the territory of the current DPR and LPR is possible only through the taking of power by the working class, backed up by the force of the rifle, directed against their mutual class enemy. The current policy of the authorities of the isolated republics and, consequently, Russia is directed against this in principle. Both the official recognition and military intervention of Russia oppose this objective. The only real way out is the independent struggle of the organised working class for socialism! Our position is clear: Against Russian military intervention! Against the war and drawing the working class of Ukraine and Russia into mutual slaughter! For genuine freedom of self-determination of the working people! For a strong and independent democratic movement led by the working class! For a socialist federation of the working peoples of all countries! She was spotted partying over the weekend while she was in town for London Fashion Week. And Irina Shayk looked as if she was ready for more on Monday when she shared some glamorous photos of herself in a stunning black dress to Instagram. The 36-year-old model showcased her racy look while enjoying another fashion event with her fellow model Stella Maxwell and Burberry's Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci. Elegant: Irina Shayk, 36, stunned in a revealing black dress in photos she posted to Instagram on Monday from an evening out in London with fellow model Stella Maxwell and Burberry's Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci Irina highlighted her curves in her black figure-hugging dress, which reached down to the ground. The long-sleeve look included a series of circular cutouts over her chest and midriff that were held together by thick gold rings. A black-and-white photo showing her back side revealed similar cutouts. The 5ft10in beauty also wore black open-toe shoes, but they were swallowed up by her skirt. She wore her brunette hair parted just off center and swept back to showcase her dangling hoop earrings and a splash of crimson on her lips. Stunning: Irina highlighted her curves in her black figure-hugging dress, which reached down to the ground and featured modest long sleeves Showing skin: The look included a series of circular cutouts over her chest and midriff that were held together by thick gold rings Irina didn't bother to share where she snapped her photos, but she was joined by Stella, Riccardo, and her friend Rebecca Martinez. Stella complemented Irina's black dress with her lacy black tank top, which she tucked into matching high-waisted slacks. She looked cozy in a fleece-lined tan suede vest, and she wore dangling circular Burberry earrings. The fashion designer was more reserved in a black suit, but he spiced it up by accessorizing with a bag slung across his torso, and Rebecca opted for a classic little black dress. Reverse: A black-and-white photo showing her back side revealed similar cutouts. She complemented the dress with black open-toe heels Dressed to the nines: Her friend Stella wore a lacy black top with baggy slacks and a tan suede fleece-lined vest, while Riccardo wore a black suit with a charcoal bag around his torso Irina also spent time with Riccardo on Saturday night when they attended a birthday party thrown for fashion photographer Mert Alas. She shared some snaps of the two looking partied-out in the back of a taxi. The former partner of Bradley Cooper showcased her trim figure in a low-cut brown dress decorated with jeweled trim. Over the past month, the catwalk star has shared some of the recent projects she has collaborated on with Riccardo for Burberry. 'It is an honor to work with @riccardotisci17 who is never afraid to push the boundaries, be different and express his creativity. Always the first ! N 1 .. @riccardotisci17 -> #burberryss22 @burberry,' she captioned a photo of him that showed her and another male model with drooping elf-like ears. On the town: Irina also spent time with Riccardo on Saturday night when they attended a birthday party thrown for fashion photographer Mert Alas. She wore a sizzling brown dress in photos she posted from the back of a taxi Regular collaborators: Over the past month, the catwalk star has shared some of the recent projects she has collaborated on with Riccardo for Burberry Late on Monday night, Irina was spotted out again in London as she headed to the upscale restaurant China Tang. She went with a low-key look featuring a black top and a voluminous black jacket. The Russian-born model paired it with stylish thigh-high black leather boots and rocked chunky black sunglasses. On the go: Late on Monday night, Irina was spotted out again in London as she headed to the upscale restaurant China Tang Jessica Seracino has finally walked down the aisle after she was given a second chance at finding love. The Melbourne florist, 27, was paired up with Brisbane personal trainer Daniel Holmes, 30, during Tuesday night's episode of Married at First Sight, after her first groom Simon Blackburn was kicked off the show. And despite the odds stacked against them, it appears Jessica and Daniel hit it off. Second chance: Originally paired with disgraced groom Simon Blackburn, who was kicked off the show when his misogynistic and homophobic TikTok videos resurfaced, Jessica Seracino (left) finally got a second shot at the experiment with personal trainer Daniel Holmes (right) 'She is beautiful, she's got blue eyes, like the bluest of eyes,' Daniel gushed to producers. 'She looks like the type of girl that knows what she wants and is confident and can challenge me a bit for sure, yeah I'm happy,' he said. 'What's your name? I'm Jess. Nice to meet you,' she said upon meeting her groom. Success! Despite the odds stacked against them, it appears Jessica and Daniel hit it off Impressed: 'She is beautiful, she's got blue eyes, like the bluest of eyes,' Daniel said to producers Happy: 'She looks like the type of girl that knows what she wants and is confident and can challenge me a bit for sure, yeah I'm happy,' he gushed 'He seems very chill, calm and down to Earth, like I don't have much to go off but I'm feeling hopeful,' Jess later said of her first impressions. Married At First Sight were forced to find Jess a new groom after she alerted producers to her first husband's shocking rants, after asking her friends to 'do some research' on him after she noticed several 'red flags' during their wedding ceremony. Producers took unprecedented steps to make it appear 'like he was never there' - despite the fact Blackburn, a FIFO worker and divorced father of two, had already attended the bucks party and filmed his wedding by the time he was kicked off. Exit: Married At First Sight were forced to find Jess a new groom after she alerted producers to her first husband's shocking rants, after asking her friends to 'do some research' on him after she noticed several 'red flags' during their wedding ceremony Changes: Producers took unprecedented steps to make it appear 'like he was never there' - despite the fact Blackburn, a FIFO worker and divorced father of two, had already attended the bucks party and filmed his wedding by the time he was kicked off. A quick Google search revealed his history of hateful videos and tweets, and he was 'immediately' asked to leave. Producers assured Ms Seracino they'd had no knowledge of Blackburn's past when they cast him on the show, and promised to find her a new groom. They told Ms Seracino her wedding to Blackburn would not air on TV and she would instead be introduced as an intruder alongside her replacement 'husband'. She is believed to have spent about 'four weeks in hotel isolation' waiting for the producers to find her a last-minute replacement groom. Justin Theroux made a rare Instagram appearance on Monday as he shared new vacation photos with his dog Kuma. The 50-year-old actor posted a short carousel of images with his adopted pup and tagged Etereo, Auberge Resorts Collection in Mexico. Underneath the post he added wave, sun, heart, and paw print emojis and hashtagged 'adopt don't shop.' Social media drop-in: Justin Theroux made a rare Instagram appearance on Monday as he shared new vacation photos with his dog Kuma The first snapshot of the post was black and white and showed the Washington D.C. native in a fedora hat. He wore sunglasses and a vintage Britney Spears t-shirt with the sleeves cut off, displaying his chiseled arm muscles. Justin sat under a canopy on the beach with Kuma sitting nearby in the sand. He rocked a full beard and a pair of dark pants as lounge chairs and an umbrella were seen in the background. Vacay: The 50-year-old actor posted a short carousel of images with his adopted pup and tagged Etereo, Auberge Resorts Collection Activist: Underneath the post he added wave, sun, heart, and paw print emojis and hashtagged 'adopt don't shop' Special attention: He gave his dog the spotlight in the last two shots of the post, which was liked over 29,000 times by his 1.1 million followers A second outtake showed him in a nearly identical outfit, but in a different shirt with the same sleeveless style. The photo was in color and he sat in a cream-colored chair indoors. A few feet behind him was an outdoor space with palm trees and a pool. Theroux went barefoot and held a booklet in his hand while the strap of a bag rested across his torso. He gave his dog the spotlight in the last two shots of the post, which was liked over 29,000 times by his 1.1 million followers. Luxurious: Taking to Instagram Stories the Leftovers star continued to show off his vacation style Stylish: Justin wore white pants, black sneakers, a cutoff grey t-shirt, and a hat Taking to Instagram Stories the Leftovers star continued to show off his vacation style. He shared more photos with Kumo, including one of the duo walking around the Auberge Resorts grounds. Justin wore white pants, black sneakers, a cutoff grey t-shirt, and a hat. In another piece of content Justin posed on a boardwalk under the stars at night. Dreamy: He shared more photos with Kumo, including one of the duo walking around the Auberge Resorts grounds Videos of moments with Kuma filled the two-time Emmy-winning producer's social media account. In one snippet he shared that they were going on a 'road trip' as he posted the pit bull in a truck. In another the dog lapped around in the ocean water as Justin filmed. After the beach day Kuma was sat in a 'sand jail' shower to rinse the beach remnants off his paws. The Violet star famously adopted the female dog - whose name means 'bear' in Japanese - from Austin Pets Alive in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2018. Clayton Echard eliminated Genevieve Parisi and Sarah Hamrick after couples therapy sessions with a psychoanalyst on Monday's episode of The Bachelor on ABC. The 28-year-old medical sales representative from Eureka, Missouri sent them home after traveling with the final seven to Vienna, Austria. Clayton during a group date introduced Genevieve, Sarah, Teddi Wright, Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey to psychoanalyst Katherine after sending them a date card with the Sigmund Freud quote, 'How bold one gets when one is sure of being loved'. Psychoanalyst sessions: Clayton Echard eliminated Genevieve Paris and Sarah Hamrick after couples therapy sessions with a psychoanalyst on Monday's episode of The Bachelor on ABC 'Welcome to Vienna, the hometown of modern psychotherapy. Sigmund Freud was born here. He's the founder of psychoanalysis. It's all about unveiling the deepest layers of fears, emotions, anxieties, and it's all hidden in your subconscious mind. Each of you will have a couple therapy session with Clayton, your partner,' Katherine told them. Genevieve, a 26-year-old bartender from Los Angeles, admitted that she was scared. 'I'm terrified. It takes a lot for me to open up. And it's hard to do that unless I'm in a setting that I feel very comfortable,' she said in a confessional. Gabby, 30, of O'Fallon, Illinois, told Katherine during their couples therapy session that she was anxious but tearfully opened up about her childhood and her relationship with her parents. No trust: Sarah was sent home after Clayton declared that he lost trust in her Walls up: Genevieve during the couples therapy was unable to talk about her feelings Big development: Katherine revealed after their sessions that someone had been 'performative' Big decision: Clayton was serious about the group date ahead of the hometown visits Teddi, 24, of Redlands, California, was up next and showed her vulnerability. Genevieve told Katherine that she was nervous and didn't like being emotional in front of people. Katherine asked her to try and Genevieve struggled to open up. Feeling scared: 'I'm terrified. It takes a lot for me to open up. And it's hard to do that unless I'm in a setting that I feel very comfortable,' Genevieve said in a confessional. 'I think, oh, my God, sorry. I think...,' Genevieve said. Katherine asked Genevieve what Clayton needed to do and she answered, 'I don't know'. Genevieve told Clayton that it wasn't because of him and soon asked to speak with her in private. Good question: Katherine asked Genevieve what Clayton needed to do and she answered, 'I don't know' They stepped out and Clayton said they couldn't move forward because he couldn't see what was inside her walls. 'I don't think I realized how hard this would be. I'm not gonna get anywhere if I don't let my walls down,' Genevieve said as she was driven away. Rachel, 25, of Clermont, Florida, admitted to feeling insecure but won points during their session when she said that she trusted Clayton to make the 'best decision'. Journey ends: They stepped out and Clayton said they couldn't move forward because he couldn't see what was inside her walls Hard experience: 'I don't think I realized how hard this would be. I'm not gonna get anywhere if I don't let my walls down,' Genevieve said as she was driven away Sarah, 23, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, went into her session confident. 'So I am weirdly very excited. I love therapy, because I like talking about my problems to someone, and my connection with Clayton is really good. So yeah,' Sarah told the other women. Sarah thanked Katherine from the start for being there and said she was really excited. Really excited: Sarah thanked Katherine from the start for being there and said she was really excited Katherine asked if she ever felt judged by Clatyon or the other girls and Sarah said the past week had been hard after getting her second one-on-one date and becoming a target. She got emotional while denying accusations that she was cocky about getting engaged to Clayton. Katherine later dropped a bombshell as she addressed all of them after the group date. Probing query: Katherine asked Sarah if she ever felt judged by Clatyon or the other girls and she said the past week had been hard after getting her second one-on-one date and becoming a target 'So thank you, ladies, for being vulnerable and open today. It was hard, I know. Psychoanalysis is all about finding your own conclusions and solutions. I know you saw a lot of feelings. Some of them were honest. Thank you for that. Some of them weren't honest. And, um, they were... Let's call it performative,' Katherine said. Clayton looked surprised and later questioned all of the women about it. Rachel, Teddi, and Gabby all told him that Sarah had been sharing intimate details about their dates and making them feel as he'd already made up his mind. Called out: 'So thank you, ladies, for being vulnerable and open today. It was hard, I know. Psychoanalysis is all about finding your own conclusions and solutions. I know you saw a lot of feelings. Some of them were honest. Thank you for that. Some of them weren't honest. And, um, they were... Let's call it performative,' Katherine said Colton was shocked to hear from Rachel that Sarah told them they had cried together during a date and denied that it happened. He confronted Sarah about it and she cried while denying being manipulative. 'I'm just gonna be real with you, like, I really felt like you were trying to fake cry to me. Like, it didn't feel genuine at all,' Clayton told her. Shocking detail: Colton was shocked to hear from Rachel that Sarah told them they had cried together during a date and denied that it happened Clayton sounded angry as he told Sarah that he didn't believe her. 'And I think we're done. I just can't move forward with you, and so I would like to walk you out,' he told her. He then walked her out in front of the other women and told Sarah again that he didn't trust her. Got angry: Clayton sounded angry as he told Sarah that he didn't believe her Clayton then returned and told the women that he could not hand out a date rose and would see them at the rose ceremony. Teddi was later sent home during the rose ceremony setting up hometown visits for Gabby, Rachel, Serene Russell and Susie Evans. Clayton earlier eliminated Eliza Isichei and Mara Agrait during a rose ceremony. The Bachelor will return next week on ABC with the Hometowns episode. Fake crying: 'I'm just gonna be real with you, like, I really felt like you were trying to fake cry to me. Like, it didn't feel genuine at all,' Clayton told her. A preview of next week's episode showed Clayton during a rose ceremony saying that he was in love with three women and had been intimate with two of them. Clayton was then shown with his parents telling them that nobody wants to be there anymore. 'They have a right to be upset. You've put yourself in this situation. You've screwed the pooch, in my opinion,' his father told him. 'I wish I never would have fallen in love. I'm so broken,' Clayton said in another scene. Also elimianated: Teddi was later sent home during the rose ceremony setting up hometown visits for Gabby, Rachel, Serene Russell and Susie Evans Rose accepted: Serene accepted her date rose after a one-on-one with Clayton Kerry Washington paid tribute to late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks in recreating a February 1956 mugshot of Parks after her arrest in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. 'Back with some more #BlackHERstory! This time celebrating THE Rosa Parks,' the 45-year-old star said in the caption of Parks, who was famously arrested December 1, 1955 after refusing to relinquish her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama. In a side-by-side shot, Washington donned a grey patterned coat over a white button-up top with glasses and her hair parted and braided. She held up a sign reading '7053,' which was the booking number authorities assigned her in the wake of her arrest at the boycott. The latest: Kerry Washington, 45, paid tribute to late civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks in recreating a February 1956 mugshot of Parks after her arrest in the Montgomery Bus Boycott In the post, the Emmy-winning actress noted the tireless efforts Parks put forth prior to becoming a famed American icon for her actions on the bus. 'A lot of people think that Rosas activism started with her refusing to give up her seat on the bus,' said the Little Fires Everywhere star. 'But she lived a life of activism long before that. Fighting, boycotting, marching, and even working as an investigator for the NAACP, advocating against sexual assaults on Black women.' Washington, who is mother to two children with husband Nnamdi Asomugha, 40 - daughter Isabelle, seven, and son Caleb, five - noted how 'it was Parks' act of civil disobedience on that bus that sparked a revolution,' ultimately leading to the yearlong Montgomery Bus Boycott. The boycott helped launched the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to nationwide prominence, and racial segregation was ultimately outlawed on the buses in Montgomery following a lawsuit. Parks was pictured in February 1956 in Montgomery, Alabama working her then-job as a seamstress Parks was honored with with the Congressional Gold Medal by former President Bill Clinton in June of 1999 'She took that seat in order to take a stand,' Washington said of the seamstress-turned-NAACP activist. 'That seat on the bus was her fighting stance - and so we continue the fight today, in whatever way we can!' Washington, who portrayed Olivia Pope on the political drama Scandal, urged her 6.5 million followers to use their voices in issues dear to them. 'Let's ask ourselves, what can we do!' she said. 'Sit. Stand. March. Make calls. Volunteer. Talk to your family and friends. Do whatever you can and however you can. Rosa taught us that. And we are forever grateful. It was an honor to honor her.' Parks was honored with with the Congressional Gold Medal by former President Bill Clinton in 1999. She died in Detroit in October of 2005 at the age of 92. Washington shared an advertisement touting an appearance Parks made in Baltimore in 1956 Actress Jaida Benjamin has been reported missing, having last been seen at the intersection of Tujunga Ave and Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, California on Saturday. The Family Reunion star, 27, who suffers from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia according to her aunt Jihan Johnston, was dressed in a purple crop top with pink jogging shorts and white sneakers at the time she was last seen. Her missing poster has been shared by her family on social media - along with celebrities including Viola Davis, Brandy, Zoey Deutch and Porsha Williams. 'She has bipolar and is schizophrenic': Family Reunion actress Jaida Benjamin, 27, has been reported missing after being seen in Studio City on Saturday... as celebrities appeal for help Her mother Jocinda Benjamin took to Instagram on Monday to share a flyer with information about her missing daughter. She said: 'Never thought Id ever have to make this type of post. My baby is missing please help me find her. I cant breathe,' adding jaidabenjamin #JaidaBenjamin. Her aunt Jihan shared an updated flier from the Los Angeles Police Department that included her description and last-seen location. Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with the condition may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Heartbroken: Her mother Jocinda Benjamin (left) wrote: 'Never thought Id ever have to make this type of post. My baby is missing please help me find her. I cant breathe' Bipolar: Vincent M Ward said: 'Yooo if you're in Los Angeles and you see this young lady please call the number.. Jaida has played my daughter and Ive worked with her a number of times..' Whereabouts: Anyone with information on Benjamin's whereabouts is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800 The cause of schizophrenia is not understood and it is believed to be a mix of genetics (hereditary), abnormalities in brain chemistry and/or possible viral infections and immune disorders. Meanwhile, Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder which causes unusual and often sudden changes in mood and energy levels. Moods of those affected range from periods of extreme elation and energy (known as a manic episode) to periods of extreme somberness and lack of energy (known as a depressive episode). A number of stars helped spread awareness by re-posting Jocinda's Instagram post on their story, including Erykah Badu, Vincent M Ward and MC Lyte. Look out: The actress, 27, was dressed in a purple crop top with pink jogging shorts and white sneakers at the time she was last seen (pictured in 2018) Actor Kendrick Sampson also posted the flyer, adding she has 'had a difficult journey with mental health' while asking people to 'keep that in mind as we prioritize and wrap our resources around people.' Vincent added: 'Yooo if you're in Los Angeles and you see this young lady please call the number.. Jaida has played my daughter and Ive worked with her a number of times.. California friends and family, PLEASE SHARE! Note: She's Bipolar + SchizophrenicSczephrenic... Thank you.' Anyone with information on Benjamin's whereabouts is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Missing Persons Unit at (213) 996-1800 For those who wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or go to LACrimeStoppers.org. Talented: Jaida first appeared in Netflix's Family Reunion during the 2019 series as Kelly, going on to reprise her role in 2021 (pictured, left, in-character) Screen star: The episodes were titled Remember How This All Started? (2019) and Remember the False Idol? (2021) [Jaida pictured in-character] Benjamin was born in Charlotte, North Carolina and started her acting career as a teenager in the 2007 TV movie Halloween Special: Bad Things, Good Things. She would go on to put in several guest starring appearances in The Onion News Network, Austin & Ally, Southland, Liv & Maddie, Stuck In the Middle, Foursome, The Fosters, Insecure, Mad About You and Family Reunion. Jaida first appeared in the Netflix comedy during the 2019 series as Kelly, going on to reprise her role in 2021. She has also been featured in movies such as Life of a King, Daddy, Murder in the Vineyard, The Step Daddy and Christmas With My Ex, with Devilreaux starring Ward and Tony Todd currently in post-production. Lucy Hale kept a low profile as she walked her small dogs Ethel and Elvis in Los Angeles on a chilly Monday. The 32-year-old actress wore a white fleece coat over a juniper green top with peacock blue textured leggings and blue and white sneakers. The Pretty Little Liars star wore a pair of dark sunglasses with round frames and kept her brunette locks under a Los Angeles Dodgers ballcap. She accessorized with multiple necklaces. The latest: Lucy Hale, 32, kept a low profile as she walked her small dogs Ethel and Elvis in Los Angeles on a chilly Monday The Memphis native in December spoke with People about her love life and how it is impacted by her career. 'I mean, dating is hard in general, but L.A. is a strange place to date,' Hale told the outlet. 'It's tricky with my job taking me everywhere, and I know what I'm looking for.' The Truth or Dare star said she believes 'it's good to be picky' when choosing a partner, adding, 'Society makes you feel like you have to be married or have kids by a certain age, but that's outdated and doesn't work for my life.' Hale opened up about about she particularly enjoys 'just quiet moments' with herself and her beloved dogs when she has downtime. The actress wore a white fleece coat over a juniper green top with peacock blue textured leggings and blue and white sneakers The Pretty Little Liars star kept to herself as she walked down a trail with her two dogs Hale wore a pair of dark sunglasses with round frames and kept her brunette locks under a Los Angeles Dodgers ballcap Hale is slated to appear in the upcoming films Big Gold Brick and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry 'I love waking up with my dogs and drinking my coffee and watching the sunrise from my home,' she said. 'I don't know if it's because work constantly pulls me in a million different directions, but I love solitude. It's not unusual for me to not do anything social for months at a time ... I just really had to hang out with myself.' Hale also told the publication that she makes her mental health a foremost priority. 'In our industry, I do feel a responsibility to be open and honest, but I also have to take care of my mental health,' said Hale. 'Feeling like I have to please so many people made me hate myself. I can't live my life wondering what people think of me. I hope people like me, of course. 'And I hope people relate to what I'm saying, but if they don't, that's not my problem. Your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you'll ever have in your life.' The Memphis native in December spoke about her love life and how it is impacted by her career, saying, 'It's tricky with my job taking me everywhere' On Tuesday's episode of SAS Australia, Orpheus Pledger dramatically quit the show after refusing to do mundane tasks. The Home and Away actor was called in to see the Directing Staff after they became concerned about his mental state. The 28-year-old complained that he was being asked to do things that he didn't see a need to do, after he was forced to sweep the camp. Out: On Tuesday's episode of SAS Australia, Orpheus Pledger (pictured) dramatically quit the show after refusing to do mundane tasks 'If someone tries to make me do something that I need to do without telling me why, I find that intrusive, I find that annoying, that is all,' he said. With scruffy facial hair, the actor looked quite different to his days on the soap opera, and appeared sullen and deflated as he faced host Ant Middleton. 'When you're on it, you're on it. There's no between ground,' Ant said of Orpheus' performance on the show. Not a fan: The Home and Away actor was called in to see the Directing Staff after they became concerned about his mental state. The 28-year-old complained that he was being asked to do things that he didn't see a need to do, after he was forced to sweep the camp 'That is absolutely right,' the star conceded, as Ant encouraged him to 'chip away at every task'. 'You will grow and get stronger and stronger. You owe it to yourself, you know you can do it,' Ant said. Looking skyward and appearing upset, Orpheus then mumbled in response: 'Nah, I wanna go home. I wanna go home.' Different: With scruffy facial hair, the actor looked quite different to his days on the soap opera, and appeared sullen and deflated as he faced host Ant Middleton. 'Nah, I wanna go home. I wanna go home,' he intoned after being encouraged to 'chip away' at tasks Shocked Ant asked him if he was sure, and warned him that he would not have another opportunity like this one - but Orpheus could not be convinced and sadly handed in his arm band before leaving the camp. 'Completing a course like this, if it's exactly what I'm required to learn, I am going to go for it,' he said in a piece to camera. 'And if I don't want to learn it, then I am not going to learn it. And if you call that quitting, then that is quitting,' he went on. 'Completing a course like this, if it's exactly what I'm required to learn, I am going to go for it. And if I don't want to learn it, then I am not going to learn it. And if you call that quitting, then that is quitting. Otherwise that is me doing what I want for myself,' he said 'Otherwise that is me doing what I want for myself because I care about other people.' It comes after Orpheus was placed on a six month good behaviour bond after he was sprung with methamphetamine - the deadly drug ice. Due to Covid restrictions, the actor dealt with in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court 'off papers' in September instead of being hauled into court to face the music. Gone: Shocked Ant asked him if he was sure, and warned him that he would not have another opportunity like this one - but Orpheus could not be convinced and sadly handed in his arm band and left Under the 'diversion plan', Pledger did not formally plead to the charges and instead simply made admissions to the charged offences. Under Victorian law, diversion plans are often handed down to first-time offenders and are designed not to impact on a person's life going forward. Magistrate Tim Bourke also ordered the actor to donate $150 to the court fund and complete a drug awareness course. Changes: Pledger's Home and Away character Mason Morgan (left) was killed off in the 2019 season finale Daily Mail Australia revealed last year that Pledger was expected to admit to possessing a little over half a gram of meth and 30 Diazepam tablets - know by the brand name Valium. Police had arrested him on February 19 in Prahran - just outside of Melbourne's CBD - where he was allegedly found with the drugs. Pledger's life had been on a 'downward spiral' before he was charged with carrying ice. Charge: It comes after Orpheus was placed on a six month good behavior bond after he was sprung with methamphetamine - the deadly drug ice. Daily Mail Australia revealed last year that Pledger was expected to admit to possessing a little over half a gram of meth and 30 Diazepam tablets - know by the brand name Valium A chiseled Adonis on the outside, Pledger allegedly set off alarm bells late in September 2020 while in Sydney filming Channel 7's The All New Monty: Guys & Gals. A glorified strip show, Pledger appeared to relish his time getting his gear off on camera for his adoring fans. His Home And Away character had been killed off in 2019 and Covid had seen Pledger reinvent himself as an Instagram star and part-time music producer. Spiral: Police had arrested him on February 19 in Prahran - just outside of Melbourne's CBD - where he was allegedly found with the drugs. Pledger's life had been on a 'downward spiral' before he was charged with carrying ice In October 2020, he made headlines when he announced a new love interest and Pledger was reportedly 'the most happiest' he'd been in a long while. But in June 2021 he raised eyebrows when he revealed a lot more than he bargained for while filming himself in the shower. Pledger briefly exposed his manhood in the raunchy clip. He had been showing off his jacked physique before stepping out naked and preening in front of the bathroom mirror. Role: A chiseled Adonis on the outside, Pledger allegedly set off alarm bells in late 2020 while in Sydney filming Channel 7's The All New Monty: Guys & Gals (pictured) While laughed off at the time as a playful mishap, Daily Mail Australia has been told those closest to Pledger held deep concerns for his welfare. He asked the magistrate to 'be gentle' on him during a bizarre court appearance in July which saw him suck from a vape and stroke a black cat. A source close to Pledger, who asked to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia the actor had been struggling since leaving Home And Away in 2019. 'Orpheus has been exerting this problematic behaviour for a while, since he relocated back to Melbourne after his character was killed off,' a source said 'Orpheus has been exerting this problematic behaviour for a while, since he relocated back to Melbourne after his character was killed off,' the source said. This increasingly unpredictable and worrisome behaviour continued with his split from his partner in late 2020, sources said. Little has been seen on the actor's Instagram page since the charges went public in July 2021. Jamie Foxx put on a vibrant display as he headed out for dinner in West Hollywood on Monday. The actor, 54, enjoyed a night out with friends at the exclusive seafood restaurant Catch - a favourite for a host of celebrities. Known for his outlandish style, Jamie looked smooth in the colourful ensemble. Cool as a breeze: Jamie Foxx put on a vibrant display as he headed out for dinner at seafood restaurant Catch, in West Hollywood on Monday night Wrapping up on the night, he donned a unique scribble-printed fleece jacket. Keeping with the bright theme, the screen star added another layer underneath - donning a tartan shirt. He finished off the look with a pair of blue ripped jeans and some on-trend white and blue Nike Air Force One trainers. Smooth: The actor, 54, enjoyed a night out with friends at the exclusive seafood restaurant Catch - a favourite for many celebrities He opted for a pair of vintage aviator sunglasses which added to the overall animated look. Jamie who was joined by friends on the night is currently single and often referred to as one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors. He recently spoke about his desire to never settle down in a traditional manner. The father-of-two, revealed during an appearance on E! News' Daily Pop last October why he never wanted to get married. 'The 2.5 children, the wood panelling on the station wagon and the cottage, I didn't think that was for me,' he revealed. Dapper: The movie star kept it casual in the colourful display while adding some flair to the look Jamie, who has daughters Corrine Foxx, 27, and Annalise Bishop, 12, recalled watching his daughter's friends suffer as their parents struggled in their marriage. 'A lot of those marriages ended up not doing well as the kids got older. Unfortunately, we saw the kids get fractured from their families,' Jamie said. In comparison, Jamie says his family unit grew closer over the years. 'Us, we actually came together more. So I don't know what that is, I just know that it is different but it's a whole lot of love.' 'The pressure of being married, I don't think we can have a conversation about it. I just keep moving,' Jamie said. Doting dad: Jamie who was joined by friends on the night is currently single and often referred to as one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors. He has daughters Corrine Foxx, 27, and Annalise Bishop, 12 Though the traditional family life may not be for him, Jamie insists on keeping his family close. 'It was by design to have my whole family living with me, because I don't want them living away from my circumstance,' he said. 'I want them to see and share the things that I go through. There's a lot of hard work, there's a lot of disappointment, but there's a lot of things to celebrate.' Jamie has daughter Corinne with Connie Kline and Annalise Bishop with his ex Kristin Grannis. The Ray actor was famously linked to actress Katie Holmes following the end of her marriage to Tom Cruise in 2013. The couple finally took their relationship public in the summer of 2019, only to break up shortly afterward. The beloved UK sitcom The Office is getting a local Australian version. The show, which also spawned a highly successful American remake, will be coming to Amazon Prime Video. Casting is underway for the series, with big names approached, The Herald Sun reported on Tuesday. Incoming: The beloved UK sitcom The Office is getting a local Australian version. Pictured: Ricky Gervais in The Office Among the actors being considered is comedian Magda Szubanski, 60, who previously worked her sitcom chops in the hit show Kath & Kim. Wentworth's Katrina Milosevic, 45, and Muriel's Wedding actress Rachel Griffiths, 53, have also reportedly been approached. While in the British version the bumbling boss, David Brent, is played by series creator Ricky Gervais, 60, in the Aussie series, the role will go to a woman. Girl power: While in the British version the bumbling boss, David Brent, is played by series creator Ricky Gervais, in the Aussie series, the role will go to a woman. Among the actors being considered is comedian Magda Szubanski (pictured) Well versed: Magda previously worked her sitcom chops in the hit show Kath & Kim. Pictured with the cast of Kath & Kim The comedian and actor played David Brent in the BBC mockumentary for two seasons and later also reprised the role in stand-alone specials. The Office aired from 2001 to 2002, and won numerous Baftas and Golden Globes. In the American remake, also called The Office, Steve Carell, 59, played woeful boss Michael Scott for seven seasons. Hit: The Office aired from 2001 to 2002, and won numerous Baftas and Golden Globes Loved it: In the American remake, also called The Office, Steve Carell (pictured) played woeful boss Michael Scott. Running from 2005 to 2013, the U.S. version won five Emmys and had 42 nominations, including six for Carell Running from 2005 to 2013, the U.S. version won five Emmys and had 42 nominations, including six for Steve Carell. The Down Under iteration was originally touted as having Australian comedian Jim Jefferies, 45, attached, but it's understood he is no longer involved. Likewise, Aussie comedic actress Isla Fisher, 46, was reportedly approached, but has not signed on to the project. UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Ukraine tensions CGTN) 10:13, February 22, 2022 The UN Security Council on Tuesday convened an emergency meeting on Ukraine tensions. The meeting was held at the request of the Ukrainian side after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed two decrees on Monday recognizing "the Luhansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech to the Russian nation yesterday, claimed that "Ukraine was created by Lenin." The truth is that the October Revolution had the great merit of liberating the nationalities that had been oppressed by Tsarist Russia, which Lenin called a "prison of the nations", and denied all rights to ethnic minorities. We present this letter from Lenin, written in 1919, which develops in a few pages the position of Marxism on the question of nationalities. Let Lenin speak! It was the programme of the Bolsheviks, which included the right of nations to self-determination, that allowed the victory of the October Revolution, and later the birth of the Soviet Union, which in Lenin's time was a free association of nationalities, liberated from the yoke of the Tsars. In his speech, Putin reiterated that his touchstones are the Tsarist empire, great Russian nationalism and the oppression of peoples. Ours, that of the International Marxist Tendency, are Lenin and Bolshevism, with their relentless struggle for proletarian internationalism and the unity of the working class. In addition to Lenins letter, we also recommend these notes on the Ukrainian national question, which place the attitude of Lenin and the Bolsheviks in contrast both with that of the Stalinists and of Putin, while also explaining why the reactionary nationalism of the imperialist-backed Kiev regime offers no solution to workers in the region. Letter to the workers and peasants of the Ukraine: apropos of the victories Over Denikin Comrades, four months ago, towards the end of August 1919, I had occasion to address a letter to the workers and peasants in connection with the victory over Kolchak. I am now having this letter reprinted in full for the workers and peasants of the Ukraine in connection with the victories over Denikin. Red troops have taken Kiev, Poltava and Kharkov and are advancing victoriously on Rostov. The Ukraine is seething with revolt against Denikin. All forces must he rallied for the final rout of Denikins army, which has been trying to restore the power of the landowners and capitalists. We must destroy Denikin to safeguard ourselves against even the slightest possibility of a new incursion. The workers and peasants of the Ukraine should familiarise themselves with the lessons which all Russian workers and peasants have drawn from the conquest of Siberia by Kolchak and her liberation by Red troops after many months of landowner and capitalist tyranny. Denikins rule in the Ukraine has been as severe an ordeal as Kolchaks rule was in Siberia. There can be no doubt that the lessons of this severe ordeal will give the Ukrainian workers and peasantsas they did the workers and peasants of the Urals and Siberiaa clearer understanding of the tasks of Soviet power and induce them to defend it more staunchly. In Great Russia the system of landed estates has been completely abolished. The same must be done in the Ukraine, and the Soviet power of the Ukrainian workers and peasants must effect the complete abolition of the landed estates and the complete liberation of the Ukrainian workers and peasants from all oppression by the landowners, and from the landowners themselves. But apart from this task, and a number of others which confronted and still confront both the Great-Russian and the Ukrainian working masses, Soviet power in the Ukraine has its own special tasks. One of these special tasks deserves the greatest attention at the present moment. It is the national question, or, in other words, the question of whether the Ukraine is to be a separate and independent Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic bound in alliance (federation) with the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, or whether the Ukraine is to amalgamate with Russia to form a single Soviet republic. All Bolsheviks and all politically-conscious workers and peasants must give careful thought to this question. The independence of the Ukraine has been recognised both by the All-Russia Central Executive Committee of the R.S.F.S.R. (Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic) and by the Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks). It is therefore self-evident and generally recognised that only the Ukrainian workers and peasants themselves can and will decide at their All-Ukraine Congress of Soviets whether the Ukraine shall amalgamate with Russia, or whether she shall remain a separate and independent republic, and, in the latter case, what federal ties shall be established between that republic and Russia. How should this question be decided insofar as concerns the interests of the working people and the promotion of their fight for the complete emancipation of labour from the yoke of capital? In the first place, the interests of labour demand the fullest confidence and the closest alliance among the working people of different countries and nations. The supporters of the landowners and capitalists, of the bourgeoisie, strive to disunite the workers, to intensify national discord and enmity, in order to weaken the workers and strengthen the power of capital. Capital is an international force. To vanquish it, an international workers alliance, an international workers brotherhood, is needed. We are opposed to national enmity and discord, to national exclusiveness. We are internationalists. We stand for the close union and the complete amalgamation of the workers and peasants of all nations in a single world Soviet republic. Secondly, the working people must not forget that capitalism has divided nations into a small number of oppressor, Great-Power (imperialist), sovereign and privileged nations and an overwhelming majority of oppressed, dependent and semi-dependent, non-sovereign nations. The arch-criminal and arch-reactionary war of 1914-18 still further accentuated this division and as a result aggravated rancour and hatred. For centuries the indignation and distrust of the non-sovereign and dependent nations towards the dominant and oppressor nations have been accumulating, of nations such as the Ukrainian towards nations such as the Great-Russian. We want a voluntary union of nationsa union which precludes any coercion of one nation by anothera union founded on complete confidence, on a clear recognition of brotherly unity, on absolutely voluntary consent. Such a union cannot be effected at one stroke; we have to work towards it with the greatest patience and circumspection, so as not to spoil matters and not to arouse distrust, and so that the distrust inherited from centuries of landowner and capitalist oppression, centuries of private property and the enmity caused by its divisions and redivisions may have a chance to wear off. We must, therefore, strive persistently for the unity of nations and ruthlessly suppress everything that tends to divide them, and in doing so we must be very cautious and patient, and make concessions to the survivals of national distrust. We must be adamant and uncompromising towards everything that affects the fundamental interests of labour in its fight for emancipation from the yoke of capital. The question of the demarcation of frontiers now, for the time beingfor we are striving towards the complete abolition of frontiersis a minor one, it is not fundamental or important. In this matter we can afford to wait, and must wait, because the national distrust among the broad mass of peasants and small owners is often extremely tenacious, and haste might only intensify it, in other words, jeopardise the cause of complete and ultimate unity. The experience of the workers and peasants revolution in Russia, the revolution of October-November 1917, and of the two years of victorious struggle against the onslaught of international and Russian capitalists, has made it crystal clear that the capitalists have succeeded for a time in playing upon the national distrust of the Great Russians felt by Polish, Latvian, Estonian and Finnish peasants and small owners, that they have succeeded for a time in sowing dissension between them and us on the basis of this distrust. Experience has shown that this distrust wears off and disappears only very slowly, and that the more caution and patience displayed by the Great Russians, who have for so long been an oppressor nation, the more certainly this distrust will pass. It is by recognising the independence of the Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian and Finnish states that we are slowly but steadily winning the confidence of the labouring masses of the neighbouring small states, who were more backward and more deceived and downtrodden by the capitalists. It is the surest way of wresting them from the influence of "their" national capitalists, and leading them to full confidence, to the future united international Soviet republic. As long as the Ukraine is not completely liberated from Denikin, her government, until the All-Ukraine Congress of Soviets meets, is the All-Ukraine Revolutionary Committee.[1] Besides the Ukrainian Bolshevik Communists, there are Ukrainian Borotba Communists working on this Revolutionary Committee as members of the government. One of the things distinguishing the Borotbists from the Bolsheviks is that they insist upon the unconditional independence of the Ukraine. The Bolsheviks will not make this a subject of difference and disunity, they do not regard this as an obstacle to concerted proletarian effort. There must be unity in the struggle against the yoke of capital and for the dictatorship of the proletariat, and there should be no parting of the ways among Communists on the question of national frontiers, or whether there should be a federal or some other tie between the states. Among the Bolsheviks there are advocates of complete independence for the Ukraine, advocates of a more or less close federal tie, and advocates of the complete amalgamation of the Ukraine with Russia. There must be no differences over these questions. They will be decided by the All-Ukraine Congress of Soviets. If a Great-Russian Communist insists upon the amalgamation of the Ukraine with Russia, Ukrainians might easily suspect him of advocating this policy not from the motive of uniting the proletarians in the fight against capital, but because of the prejudices of the old Great-Russian nationalism, of imperialism. Such mistrust is natural, and to a certain degree inevitable and legitimate, because the Great Russians, under the yoke of the landowners and capitalists, had for centuries imbibed the shameful and disgusting prejudices of Great-Russian chauvinism. If a Ukrainian Communist insists upon the unconditional state independence of the Ukraine, he lays himself open to the suspicion that he is supporting this policy not because of the temporary interests of the Ukrainian workers and peasants in their struggle against the yoke of capital, but on account of the petty-bourgeois national prejudices of the small owner. Experience has provided hundreds of instances of the petty-bourgeois "socialists" of various countriesall the various Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian pseudo-socialists, Georgian Mensheviks, Socialist-Revolutionaries and the likeassuming the guise of supporters of the proletariat for the sole purpose of deceitfully promoting a policy of compromise with their national bourgeoisie against the revolutionary workers. We saw this in the case of Kerenskys rule in Russia in the February-October period of 1917, and we have seen it and are seeing it in all other countries. Mutual distrust between the Great-Russian and Ukrainian Communists can, therefore, arise very easily. How is this distrust to be combated? How is it to be overcome and mutual confidence established? The best way to achieve this is by working together to uphold the dictatorship of the proletariat and Soviet power in the fight against the landowners and capitalists of all countries and against their attempts to restore their domination. This common fight will clearly show in practice that whatever the decision in regard to state independence or frontiers may be, there must be a close military and economic alliance between the Great-Russian and Ukrainian workers, for otherwise the capitalists of the Entente, in other words, the alliance of the richest capitalist countriesBritain, France, America, Japan and Italywill crush and strangle us separately. Our fight against Kolchak and Denikin, whom these capitalists supplied with money and arms, is a clear illustration of this danger. He who undermines the unity and closest alliance between the Great-Russian and Ukrainian workers and peasants is helping the Kolchaks, the Denikins, the capitalist bandits of all countries. Consequently, we Great-Russian Communists must repress with the utmost severity the slightest manifestation in our midst of Great-Russian nationalism, for such manifestations, which are a betrayal of communism in general, cause the gravest harm by dividing us from our Ukrainian comrades and thus playing into the hands of Denikin and his regime. Consequently, we Great-Russian Communists must make concessions when there are differences with the Ukrainian Bolshevik Communists and Borotbists and these differences concern the state independence of the Ukraine, the forms of her alliance with Russia, and the national question in general. But all of us, Great-Russian Communists, Ukrainian Communists, and Communists of any other nation, must be unyielding and irreconcilable in the underlying and fundamental questions which are the same for all nations, in questions of the proletarian struggle, of the proletarian dictatorship; we must not tolerate compromise with the bourgeoisie or any division of the forces which are protecting us against Denikin. Denikin must be vanquished and destroyed, and such incursions as his not allowed to recur. That is to the fundamental interest of both the Great-Russian and the Ukrainian workers and peasants. The fight will be a long and hard one, for the capitalists of the whole world are helping Denikin and will help all other Denikius. In this long and hard fight we Great-Russian and Ukrainian workers must maintain the closest alliance, for separately we shall most definitely be unable to cope with the task. Whatever the boundaries of the Ukraine and Russia may be, whatever may be the forms of their mutual state relationships, that is not so important; that is a matter in which concessions can and should be made, in which one thing, or another, or a third may be triedthe cause of the workers and peasants, of the victory over capitalism, will not perish because of that. But if we fail to maintain the closest alliance, an alliance against Denikin, an alliance against the capitalists and kulaks of our countries and of all countries, the cause of labour will most certainly perish for many years to come in the sense that the capitalists will be able to crush and strangle both the Soviet Ukraine and Soviet Russia. And what the bourgeoisie of all countries, and all manner of petty-bourgeois parties, i.e., compromising parties which permit alliance with the bourgeoisie against the workerstry most of all to accomplish is to disunite the workers of different nationalities, to evoke distrust, and to disrupt a close international alliance and international brotherhood of the workers. Whenever the bourgeoisie succeeds in this the cause of the workers is lost. The Communists of Russia and the Ukraine must therefore by patient, persistent, stubborn and concerted effort foil the nationalist machinations of the bourgeoisie and vanquish nationalist prejudices of every kind, and set the working people of the world an example of a really solid alliance of the workers and peasants of different nations in the fight for Soviet power, for the overthrow of the yoke of the landowners and capitalists, and for a world federal Soviet republic. V. I. Lenin, December 1919. Jane Seymour looked every bit the Hollywood star when she stepped out for the premiere of her new movie, Ruby's Choice, in Sydney on Tuesday. The 71-year-old British-American actress looked glamorous in a slinky red floor-length dress, which showed off her svelte figure. The dress featured a one-shoulder design and ankle-length fabric, which was draped down one side of the gown. Glamorous: Jane Seymour looked every bit the Hollywood star when she stepped out for the premiere of her new movie, Ruby's Choice, in Sydney on Tuesday Jane wore nude heels and rounded out her elegant ensemble with a matching jewelled necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring. The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star wore her long honey-coloured hair loose and sleek, while her fringe framed her face. She wore natural-looking makeup and smiled confidently as she posed for photos on the red carpet outside the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace. Red hot: The 71-year-old British-American actress looked glamorous in a slinky red floor-length dress, which showed off her svelte figure Bright star: The Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman star wore her long honey-coloured hair loose and sleek, while her fringe framed her face Jane also posed alongside her co-stars in the film, including Coco Jack Gillies, as well as the film's director, Michael Budd. The Wedding Crashers actress shared a laugh with her 17-year-old co-star and pressed their heads together as they posed for pictures. Coco stepped out in a white floor-length slip dress, which she paired with strappy silver kitten-heel sandals, a pendant necklace and small hoop earrings. Crowning jewels: Jane wore nude heels and rounded out her elegant ensemble with a matching jewelled necklace, earrings, bracelet and ring Picture perfect: She wore natural-looking makeup and smiled confidently as she posed for photos on the red carpet outside the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace Teaming up: Jane also posed alongside her co-stars in the film, including Coco Jack Gillies, as well as the film's director, Michael Budd (right) Also at the film's premiere was Angela Bishop, who stepped out in a red floral-print boho-style mini-dress. The 54-year-old Studio 10 host complemented her ensemble with a pair of gold platform heels and a gold pendant necklace. Her long blonde hair was styled in loose waves, and she carried a Louis Vuitton monogram clutch purse. Close co-stars: Jane also posed alongside her young co-star, Coco Jack Gillies, showing off their close rapport Having a laugh: The Wedding Crashers actress shared a laugh with her 17-year-old co-star and pressed their heads together as they posed for pictures Slipping in: Coco stepped out in a white floor-length slip dress, which she paired with strappy silver kitten-heel sandals, a pendant necklace and small hoop earrings Wiggles star Jeff Fatt also attended the premiere, stepping out in a tailored black tuxedo. Proving old habits die hard, the 68-year-old retired purple Wiggle couldn't resist pulling out the group's trademark finger guns as he posed for photos. Actress Nicole Pastor opted for a figure-hugging black dress, which featured cut-out panels at the sides, emphasising her petite waistline. Prints charming: Also at the film's premiere was Angela Bishop, who stepped out in a red floral-print boho-style mini-dress Well-suited: Wiggles star Jeff Fatt also attended the premiere, stepping out in a tailored black tuxedo She accessorised with nude heels and carried a black and red clutch purse, while her bobbed blonde hair was styled in loose waves. Other stars from the film in attendance included Stephen Hunter and Sam Rechner, who both looked smart in their respective ensembles. Stephen, 53, stepped out in a black suit, which he paired with a patterned shirt, while Sam opted for a slightly more casual ensemble. Stepping out: Other stars from the film in attendance included Stephen Hunter (left) and Sam Rechner (right), who both looked smart in their respective ensembles On film: Ruby's Choice tells the story of a teenage girl, who is forced to share her bedroom with her grandmother, who is battling dementia Meanwhile, Suzan Mutesi showed off her eclectic style in a sheer black and gold tulle wrap dress, with leopard-print patterning along the bottom of the skirt. The 35-year-old actress also donned a pop of red lipstick, while her blonde hair was styled in long braids. Ruby's Choice tells the story of a teenage girl, who is forced to share her bedroom with her grandmother, who is battling dementia. Poppy Delevingne has taken off her wedding ring, as rumours about her eight-year marriage to James Cook continue to circulate. The model, 35, flashed her ringless hand to photographers at Monday night's Perfect Magazine's London Fashion Week party at The Standard, days after also being pictured without the sparkler at family friend Joan Collins' anniversary bash. Last month the Mail On Sunday reported that Poppy and her husband, 42, 'have consciously uncoupled' and have been little more than friends for the best part of a year. Where's the diamond? Poppy Delevingne has taken off her wedding ring, as rumours about her eight-year marriage to James Cook circulate, flashing her ringless hand at Monday's Perfect Magazine's London Fashion Week party at The Standard Poppy looked gorgeous in a striking black and white gown for Monday night's event, enjoying the celeb-packed bash with friends Georgia May Jagger and Iris Law. There was no sign of her unique blue diamond engagement and wedding rings or James, whom she married in 2014 at a lavish Knightsbridge church ceremony, with sisters Cara and Chloe Delevingne among her 17 bridesmaids. Representatives for Poppy has been contacted by MailOnline for comment. A week ago Poppy's husband was posting from Chamonix, France, enjoying a ski trip with friends. Split? Last month the Mail On Sunday reported that Poppy and her husband, 42, 'have consciously uncoupled' and have been little more than friends for the best part of a year (pictured in a 2020 Instagram photo) Solo: Poppy was also without her husband or her ring at family friend Joan Collins' anniversary party on February 17 Dazzler: James proposed in October 2012 with a bespoke jewellery box by Anya Hindmarch, containing a blue diamond engagement ring (pictured in 2018) Meanwhile Poppy recently posted about her week at Chiva-Som in Thailand, a health resort whose clients include Elle Macpherson, Naomi Campbell and Kylie Minogue. Tellingly, she appeared to be enjoying the solo tip while James celebrated his 43rd birthday back home. 'If you're searching for peace, a sanctuary where you can really stop & just BE, if you want to come home feeling like the BEST version of yourself (basically brand spanking new or a little like Beyonce must feel most days) then Chiva Som is for you,' she wrote on Instagram. The Mail On Sunday reported last month that before the transformative Thailand trip, Poppy moved into her own place in West London, with an insider spilling: 'James is refusing to accept things are over.' Wedding bells: The couple married in 2014 at a lavish Knightsbridge church ceremony, with Poppy's sisters Cara and Chloe Delevingne among her 17 bridesmaids 'Peace': Poppy recently posted about her week at Chiva-Som in Thailand, a health resort which she boasted had left her feeling like the BEST version of myself' James, who works for his family's aerospace company, proposed in October 2012 with a bespoke jewellery box by Anya Hindmarch. It contained an engagement ring alongside pictures of the couple and the words 'will you marry me?' embossed in gold. Poppy went on to have three different elaborate hen parties around the globe with her celebrity friends including Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley and Sienna Miller ahead of the lavish London nuptials. The couple, who were together five years before they wed do not have children, with Poppy musing back in 2017 about her family plans: 'You know when you have a roast dinner? My favourite bit of a roast dinner is the potatoes and gravy. So what I do is I eat around them and save them till last, because thats the best bit. And thats kind of how I feel about having children. Speaking to The Times last month Poppy didn't mention James, instead focusing on her close relationship with older sister Chloe, 35, and younger sibling Cara, 29. Just the two of us: The couple, who were together five years before they wed do not have children, with Poppy musing back in 2017 about her family plans that she was 'saving the best for last' Trio: Speaking to The Times last month Poppy didn't mention James, instead focusing on her close relationship with sisters Chloe, 35, and Cara, 29 'When my sisters and I get together it's hard for anybody else to keep up, we're very loud, finish each other's sentences and it can get quite intense,' she admitted, before revealing that she had moved in with her older sister Chloe and her family during the 2020 lockdown. I spent a lot of time with her and my niece and nephew [Atticus, six, and Juno, four] during lockdown, which bought us even closer. She's like my right arm,' Poppy gushed of her and Chloe. She also spilled on her 'exhausting' personality, admitting her sisters 'both say that I'm the archetypal middle child that I felt overlooked, so I like to shout from the rooftops about everything. I'm an exhausting person. I'm the filling in the sandwich, happiest when I'm sandwiched between those two.' Building on her close relationship with her sisters, the trio set up their own prosecco brand, Della Vite in 2020, with Poppy 'involved in the creative process'. Kate Garraway has offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek Draper as she detailed the 'vast amount' she needs to do to care for him. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 54, shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyist, also, 54, which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day. A teaser ahead of Kate's second documentary about Derek's Covid recovery - titled Caring For Derek - showed weary Kate assisting a carer as he moved Derek as well as the emotional moment he hugged his son Billy, 12, for the first time. Never ending: Kate Garraway has offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek Draper as she detailed the 'vast amount' she needs to do to care for him (pictured Kate showing her vast amount of laundry) During the opening of the clip, Kate asked Derek if he was okay as she shifted him up the bed with the assistance of one of the father-of-two's carers. Kate is then seen in the family's utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done. She said: 'This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek's laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there's a vast amount to do. Caring For Derek: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 54, shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyiest, also, 54, which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day Helping hand: A teaser ahead of Kate's second documentary about Derek's Covid recovery - titled Caring For Derek - showed weary Kate assisting a carer as he moved Derek and the emotional moment he hugged his son Billy, 12, for the first time Incredible amount: Kate is then seen in the family's utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done She said: 'This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek's laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there's a vast amount to do' Kate continued: 'So I just constantly ship it through. I think it's a symbol of how everything is scaled up by a 100.' The radio presenter revealed how Derke still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020. Another snippet released ahead of Tuesday's episode on ITV, shows the moment Kate and Derek's son Billy was able to hug his father for the first time. Recovery: The radio presenter revealed how Derke still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020 Emotional: also discussed the extraordinary moment her husband Derek was able to hug their son Bill A father's love: Kate detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion - and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage Kate also discussed the extraordinary moment during an appearance on Tuesday morning's episode of Good Morning Britain. Kate detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion - and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage. Kate shared that she'd been outside when the emotional moment happened when he came home in April 2021, and that she only saw the footage months later, when she burst into tears. During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currenty die if left unaided for three days without expert care. Candid: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currenty die if left unaided for three days without expert care Derek needs assistance walking from Kate and his carers because the tendons and muscles in his legs have seized up after being placed in an induced coma. She also recalled how Derek broke down after getting up to use the comode unaided, partly because he was happy but also because 'that's what it has come to'. Kate revealed that Derek sleeps between 16 and 20 hours a day while she survives on on around a quarter of this, while juggling his care and her work and family commitments. The TV star previously told The Telegraph how she would sit by Derek's bedside all night so that she would be there whenever he woke up. She said: 'It's tempting when he drops off to use the time to prepare for work or do the mountains of washing caring for him creates or prepare the feed for his tube. 'But I have to remind myself that it's just as important to sit with him, so that he can feel my presence and I'll be there when he wakes, even for just 10 minutes at a time.' Round the clock care: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currenty die if left unaided for three days without expert care In a promotional clip for Caring For Derek, Kate is at home with Derek and their children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, and is seen lifting Derek in and out of a special bed. In other shots, Derek is seen sitting in a wheelchair as he shares some quality moments with his family. In an interview with today's You magazine, the TV star admitted her relationship with the political lobbyist turned psychotherapist has changed since he was struck down by the virus in March 2020. 'I'm not sure that we've ever fallen out of love, but I think a new path is emerging, a new way to be in love,' said Kate. 'He puts huge trust in me. He just says, 'Whatever you think', which is wonderful, but I do get quite tearful about it. I think, 'God, I hope I'm worthy of that trust'. 'But I've got his back. That is a relationship in itself, isn't it? How many times do couples have doubts about each other? 24/7: Kate told how she often has to assist Derek's carers throughout the day and has to change Derek's bed linen seven times a day' During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition. She said that Derek is 'desperate to recover' and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight. Derek, who was admitted to hospital in March 2020, did not return home for more than a year following his hospital admission and the former lobbyist, who requires around-the-clock care, has at times felt suicidal. Pioneering: During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition (Derek pictured entering an MRI scanner) An eminent doctor in the States had reached out to veteran presenter Kate after seeing her beloved husband's health battle documented on television in March 2021. Derek has since undergone specialist treatment at a clinic in Monterrey and is set to return for 28 days next month, while healthcare professionals continue to monitor his brain, liver and lung function. Kate, who recalled to The Sun how Derek was 'excited' at the prospect of receiving treatment, explained: 'I think actually there's a huge amount of hope for him to improve. I think the treatment could be positive. I want to be slightly careful about saying too much, because I'm aware everybody will go, 'What is the trial?'' We're off: She said that Derek is 'desperate to recover' and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight (pictured Kate and Derek) But The Good Morning Britain host adetailed hopes for a 'happy ending' - not just for Derek, but for those who check in regularly to see how he's getting on. However, the level-headed presenter admitted that, despite there being 'a lot of positives', her husband-of-16-years was 'not out of the woods' and would require 'much more' treatment. Patches of white flagged up on one of his early brain scans which, a neurologist said, was usually seen more in patients with vascular dementia. Kate is yet to have an agreed diagnosis as experts still do not fully understand the long-term effects of the virus. Caring For Derek airs tonight at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub. Hopeful steps: Derek has undergone specialist treatment at a clinic in Monterrey and is set to return for 28 days next month, while healthcare professionals continue to monitor his brain, liver and lung function (pictured Derek in an MRI machine) Siannise Fudge shared a slew of sizzling snaps to her Instagram on Monday after spending time away in St Lucia. The Love Island runner-up, 27, had been enjoying a romantic holiday on the Caribbean island with male model Chris Beviere. She posed up a storm in a skimpy brown two-piece bikini that highlighted her tiny waist and peachy derriere. Island girl: Siannise Fudge, 27, looked picture perfect in her recent Instagram snaps she posted on Monday from her romantic getaway with Chris Beviere Siannise rocked wet hair and a natural makeup look as she swam in the jungle lake. She accessorised with some stylish gold hoop earrings and a matching bracelet. She updated her 1.7 million Instagram followers with the incredible snaps and captioned the post: 'Island girl' Fans and famous friends flooded the comments with compliments. With fellow Love Islander Chloe Burrows commenting 'OMG' Love Island star Faye Winter added: 'How you so beautiful' Stunning: The Love Island star flaunted her incredible figure in a skimpy brown two-piece bikini as she posed facing away from the camera Ouch: Siannise has asked her Instagram followers for advice on how to get rid of bites she was left with after her Caribbean island holiday The influencer has shared stunning snaps and videos from the Instagrammable holiday destination over the past few days. Siannise has now returned from her luxury trip away and took to her Instagram story on Monday evening to ask her followers for some advice. She uploaded a video of her bronzed legs covered in bites and said: 'Guys look at these bites I've come back with from St Lucia. They are so sore and so itchy.' 'Can anyone recommend any products to help get rid of them. I'm a bit worried they are going to scar. Help me' Hot new couple: Siannise has moved on with male model Chris Beviere as they enjoyed a romantic holiday in St Lucia... two months after her split from Luke Trotman Siannise has moved on with a handsome male model two months after her split from Luke Trotman. She was spotted on Chris Beviere's Instagram page, with the couple packing on the PDA while enjoying a romantic holiday in St Lucia together. The handsome model showed off his new girlfriend on his Story earlier this month, planting a kiss on her cheek in a clip captioned: 'I win.' Hunk: The handsome model showed off his new girlfriend on his Story recently as they made their romance Instagram official Chris also shared sweet videos of the pair dancing around to music and called Siannise a 'diamond' in another cute snap. A source told The Sun: 'Things had been difficult between Siannise and Luke for some time, but they split for good towards the end of last year. 'Siannise was inundated with attention and really hit it off with Chris. 'It's been going so well that they decided to enjoy some winter sun together and they've had a really special time together.' She confirmed a week ago that she'd split from the rapper. And on Tuesday, Julia Fox, 32, continued to wear her ex-boyfriend Kanye West's $200 blue Gap jacket, from the Yeezy Gap collection as she arrived in Milan, Italy. The actress slipped into a black corset, which she teamed with slim-fit blue trousers boasting slit-fronts at the hem. Kan-ye let it go! On Tuesday, Julia Fox, 32, continued to wear her ex-boyfriend Kanye West's $200 blue Gap jacket, from the Yeezy Gap collection as she arrived in Milan, Italy wheeling the black Bigger Carry-On from Away Julia strolled along in a heeled pair of pointed black boots and accessorised with large hoop earrings. The Uncut Gems actress shielded her eyes with quirky up-turned brown lens shades, giving her ensemble an extra edge as she wheeled the black Bigger Carry-On from Away. Last Monday, Julia took to Instagram to deny that she was in tears following her split with Kanye, 44. The star confirmed that she and Ye have called it quits, but admitted she was never 'in love' with the rapper. Edgy: The actress slipped into a black corset, which she teamed with slim-fit blue trousers boasting slit-fronts at the hem, and shielded her eyes with quirky up-turned brown lens shades Rather than be upset, rising star Julia referred to herself as a '#1 hustler' and hinted that she now plans to write a tell-all book about the short-lived romance. 'Y'all would love if I was soooo upset! The media would love to paint a picture of me a sad lonely woman crying on a plane by myself but it's NOT TRUE!!' Julia told fans in a note. 'Why not see me for what I am which is a #1 hustler. I came up yall lol and not only that but Kanye and I are on good terms! I have love for him but I wasn't in love w the man Jesus Christ what do u guys think I am 12 years old?!' Kanye and Julia met on New Year's Eve and then moved at warp speed into a full-blown relationship, with the actress even penning an essay about their romance. Doubling down on her denial of being upset, Julia added: 'and for the record the only time I cried in 2022 was on Feb 6th on my dead BFF bday,' - referring to the tragic death of good friend and celebrity manager Chris Huvane. She finished her statement by writing: 'Anyway If u want the full tea ur gonna have to buy the book when it comes out :)' All over: Kanye and Julia met on New Year's Eve and moved at warp speed into a full-blown relationship, with the actress even penning an essay about their romance (Pictured in January) Following news of the split, eagle-eyed fans had spotted that Julia had 'liked' a post from Kanye's ex-wife on Sunday. The 'like' came as Kanye - who suffers from bipolar disorder - shared a slew of Instagram posts declaring 'I wish my wife were with me' and pining for his family to be reunited. Kim Kardashian, who has been publicly feuding with her ex husband for weeks, shared a snap of herself rocking a jumpsuit and Balenciaga shades with Julia's like standing out among the 1m others. Meanwhile, all photos of Kanye have disappeared from Julia's page. Sources told E! News two weeks ago week that Julia 'doesn't have the energy' to put more into a relationship with the rapper. Telling all: Last Monday, the Uncut Gems star took to social media to set the record straight, confirming she and Ye have called it quits 'Julia is a mom first and her family and work obligations are in New York,' the source said of the actress. 'Ye did express he wanted her in Los Angeles, but she couldn't take that on.' The insider also noted: 'Although they remain close, their relationship has evolved.' A second source told the gossip site: 'When she's not around, he reverts back to his old ways with social media outbursts and public antics.' And while Julia had remained 'unbothered' by his recent pleas to estranged wife Kim to bring their family back together, she is 'focusing on her friends and family right now, and does not have the energy to put into a relationship.' Prior to their split, Julia discussed her romance with host Alex Cooper on the podcast Call Her Daddy, revealing why she wasn't intimidated by the idea that he still longs for estranged wife. The actress said: 'I'm sure there's still some residual feelings, and that's normal, it's human. I also know that he's with me now. And that's all that matters.' The Milan, Italy-born beauty told that Cooper while they had never formally discussed their romantic status, 'I call him my boyfriend and he calls me his girlfriend.' Julia, who appeared with Adam Sandler in 2019's Uncut Gems, described her romance with West as 'organic' and 'natural,' and off to a strong beginning. Isabel Webster has revealed that her mother Stephanie suffered a heart attack while she was on air presenting. Writing on social media on Tuesday, the GB News presenter, 39, recalled for the first time how she was told the 'devastating' news moments after finishing a presenting stint on Sky, one year ago. Due to Covid restrictions on hospitals at the time, Isabel was unable be at her mum's side, and so sat in the car park where she cried her eyes out not knowing if she'd see her again. Her mother, 71, later suffered another two heart attacks, which Isabel says threatened her life and 'rocked' the family. 'Hold your loved ones close!' Isabel Webster, 39, has revealed that her mother Stephanie, 71, suffered a heart attack while she was on air presenting Isabel explained that, although her mother has since made a full recovery, her father Sinclair, 73, has been left ill due to the strain of what happened. Alongside a picture of her 'beloved mumma', Isabel wrote: 'One year ago today, while I was on air at Sky News, my lovely mum suffered a completely unexpected and devastating heart attack. 'She'd never had any health complaints and was happy, healthy and living a very full life when this blindsided us all. 'It was to be the first of three, which not only threatened her life and rocked our family, it literally broke my dad who, under the huge stress, suddenly lost the ability to walk without a stick. Something gave in his spine and he had to have major surgery. Devastating: On Tuesday, Isabel recalled how she was told the 'devastating' news about her mother's heart attack moments after finishing a presenting stint on Sky, one year ago 'Horrendous year!' Isabel explained that, although her mother has since made a full recovery, her father Sinclair, 73, has been left ill due to the strain of what happened 'After many ambulance journeys, scans, blood tests, angiograms, angioplasties, stents, stints in hospital and daily medication, I am so happy to say both are now doing much better (although not quite as unstoppable as before). '2021 was a horrendous year and seeing my beloved parents so unwell - out of nowhere - was a huge reminder of the fragility of life and of the importance of appreciating the ones you love. 'I know how lucky I am to still have my beautiful mumma, after coming so close to losing her. I know many don't have the same fortune. Hold your loved ones close - you never know what is round the corner.' Loved-up: Isabel married husband Liam Pearce in 2014, and the couple are now doting parents to son William, six, and daughter Poppy, four (Pictured in February) Isabel married husband Liam Pearce in 2014, and the couple are now doting parents to son William, six, and daughter Poppy, four. The brunette beauty is now presenting Breakfast on GB News alongside her co-host Eamonn Holmes, 62. Last weekend the Irish presenter hit out at his former bosses at ITV over the way they handled his exit from This Morning. While Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Travis Scott passed on giving their eldest child, Stormi Webster, a middle name, they bucked tradition with their son. According to the infant's birth certificate, obtained by TMZ, it was revealed that the couple chose the middle name Jacques for their baby boy, three weeks. The choice seemingly paid tribute to the Highest in the Room rapper, 30, whose birth name is Jacques Bermon Webster II. Mixing it up: While Kylie Jenner and boyfriend Travis Scott passed on giving their eldest child, Stormi Webster, a middle name, they bucked tradition with their son; seen in 2019 The legal document also noted that the lovebirds' latest bundle of joy was delivered by Dr. Thais Aliabadi, who helped deliver his big sister and cousin True Thompson. Last week it was reported that the Keeping Up With The Kardashians' eldest has reportedly been 'helping out' at home. 'She is the cutest big sister,' a source told People. 'She is fascinated by her little brother and has been able to hold him.' Special: According to the infant's birth certificate, it was revealed that the couple chose the middle name Jacques for their baby boy, three weeks Previously an insider told the outlet: 'Kylie and Travis are happy together. He is working on new music, but is also around a lot. They still don't officially live together, but doing what works best for them.' The source added that the makeup mogul 'has help, but is also very hands-on' as a mom. Jenner gave birth to her son on February 2, just a day after she celebrated her daughter Stormi's fourth birthday with boyfriend Scott, 30. Sweet girl: Last week it was reported that the 24-year-old reality star has been reportedly 'helping out' at home The name Wolf is a boy's name of German origin meaning 'traveling wolf', according to Nameberry.com. The site notes the name 'is fairly common in German (where it's pronounced Vulf) and Jewish families, sometimes as a short form of Wolfgang.' The mother-of-two posted a sweet black-and-white photo on Sunday featuring her new son's tiny hand to mark the news that he arrived. 'She is the cutest big sister,' a source told People . 'She is fascinated by her little brother and has been able to hold him' Welcome to the world, Wolf: Kylie Jenner revealed her son's name to be Wolf Webster in an Instagram post shared on Friday morning Shortly after Kylie posted, fans instantly began speculating her son's name may be Angel as a slew of her famous friends and family used the moniker in comments welcoming the little one into the world. Kylie captioned the post with his birthdate, '2/2/22,' preceded with the blue heart to denote her second child's gender. Later on Sunday, sources told TMZ that Kylie was doing well after giving birth, and they noted that Stormi was 'excited' to have a younger brother. Proud mama: Kylie gave birth just a day after celebrating her little girl's fourth birthday Kylie and Travis confirmed in September that they were expecting another sibling for Stormi. In Jenner's pregnancy announcement, Stormi seemed overjoyed to help reveal the exciting baby news as she kissed her mom's baby bump in a 90-second Instagram video. Both Jenner and her man have stayed out of the spotlight since his deadly Astroworld concert in Houston on November 5, which led to 11 people being killed and a slew of wrongful death lawsuits. Striking: She shared a baby bump snap on New Years Day to her Instagram as she reflected on the 'blessings' and 'heartache' of 2021 She broke her social media silence on New Year's Day, sharing a baby bump snap to her Instagram as she reflected on the 'blessings' and 'heartache' of 2021. In the accompanying caption, she wrote: 'As 2022 is approaching I've been reflecting on this last year and the blessings that it brought but also the many heartaches it held. 'I will never forget this year and all the significant changes it made to my life. I pray this new year is filled with a lot of love for all of you and i hope everyone stays safe and healthy during this time.' Davinia Taylor has donated the notebook owned by The Beatles' tour manager Mal 'Big Mal' Evans to The Beatles Story musuem in Liverpool. The former Hollyoaks actress, 44, owned the notebook, which contains Paul McCartney's handwritten lyrics to Hey Jude, since her father bought it for her for her 21st birthday. Davinia cut a casual figure for the press launch where she donned a black shirt and a matching pair of skinny jeans. Event: Davinia Taylor has donated the notebook owned by The Beatles' tour manager Mal 'Big Mal' Evans to The Beatles Story musuem in Liverpool Pose: The former Hollyoaks actress, 44, owned the notebook, which contains Paul McCartney 's handwritten lyrics to Hey Jude, for several years Styling her blonde locks into an updo, Davinia also donned a pair of gold hoop earrings as she posed for the camera. Mal Evans served as road manager and personal assistant for The Beatles from 1963 until their breakup in 1970. The notebook covers the period from 1967-68 when The Beatles finished touring and were spending more time songwriting. The notebook, which her father paid 100,000 for, is now thought to be valued at more than 1million. She told the PA News Agency: 'At the time I was an actor in Hollyoaks playing Jude Cunningham. Beloved: For many music lovers, Hey Jude remains one of the most iconic recordings in the canon of popular song. The notebook has been lent to The Beatles (pictured) Story museum in Liverpool, where it will go on display from February 22 Band: The words were scribbled down by Paul McCartney (middle) in a notebook owned by the band's personal assistant, Mal Evans (right) 'Round about my birthday, Sotheby's had a big auction and my dad was at home in Wigan, a few bottles of wine in and started bidding against an American for the Hey Jude lyrics. 'He won he said: "It's not going to America, it's staying in Liverpool".' Davinia said her father paid 'something stupid' for the notebook, adding: 'I think he wanted to pay no more than 5,000, but a bit of vino and that Scouse swagger and I think it went for something crazy like 100,000.' The star's father Alan made his money from AM Paper, a loo roll and paper towel company that he sold in the 1990s. History: Mal Evans served as road manager and personal assistant for The Beatles from 1963 until their breakup in 1970 Gift: The notebook is now owned by Davinia after her father Alan Murphy gave it to her for her 21st birthday Details: The notebook, from 1967-68 covers the period from when The Beatles finished touring and were spending more time songwriting Davinia was famed for her position in the notorious Primrose Hill party set, where she joined her then-husband Dave Gardner in partying through the Nineties with pals including Kate Moss, Sadie Frost and Jude Law. Reflecting on the period, she told The Telegraph: 'I think those of us who lived through the Nineties and Noughties excess are all pretty lucky. Now there's camera phones and social media, there's a bit more self-regulation.' Davinia, who has been sober for 13 years after battling alcohol addiction, said: 'And to be honest, everyone was at it, because sober wasn't a thing back then. 'I think I knew one sober person. And I would think 'Oooh, that's odd! Why would you do that? Isn't that awfully boring?'. Davina has since ditched her party girl ways in favour of a cleaner existence, after a 12-week rehab stint in South Africa where she was eventually able to kick her habits. The actress described her battle with alcoholism as a an 'eternal hell', because she knew she shouldn't be drinking but was in a heavy period of withdrawal Once she got clean, Davinia said she became addicted to other areas of life, such as eating when she gained 'stones', before eventually finding a happier balance. She shares son Grey, 13, with Dave, and Luxx, nine, whose father has never been revealed, and Asa, six, and four-year-old Jude with her partner Matthew Leyden. Davinia recently told The Sun how she wishes her mother, who died in 2013, could see the woman she has become. She said: 'For her to see me now, as a mother happy, settled and not needing the fineries to support my ego would have made her really proud.' Eamonn Holmes has added fuel to the fire of his ongoing feud with Phillip Schofield by branding a TV tribute celebrating 40 years in broadcasting as 'bizarre'. The GB News presenter, 62, reacted on social media after a special edition of Lorraine honoured Phillip, 59, on Monday morning. Eamonn, who was dropped from his Friday slot on This Morning in November 2020, hinted that he was left unimpressed by the programme by 'liking' a series of tweets. Uh oh! Eamonn Holmes has added fuel to the fire of his ongoing feud with Phillip Schofield by branding a TV tribute celebrating 40 years in broadcasting as 'bizarre' One of them read: 'This #Lorraine show is bizarre.. why not celebrate 40 years on #thismorning instead of another show?' It comes after Eamonn branded Phillip 'passive-aggressive' and claimed that the broadcaster had a habit of 'snubbing' people. The TV veteran described the way he was axed from ITV morning TV as 'sly' and claimed that the channel made it look like he had decided to walk away. During his online tirade, Eamonn also referenced reports that he had become 'unpopular' with This Morning viewers during his time on the show. He retweeted a message from his Intertalent representative Jonathan Shalit who said: 'Don't believe a 'source' said anything official @ITV always respect @InterTalent. 'Bizarre': The GB News presenter, 62, reacted on social media after a special edition of Lorraine honoured Phillip, 59, on Monday morning 'Untrue research show viewers no longer want @EamonnHolmes rated better than others on @thismorning@GBNEWS show often beats @SkyNews@BBC recommissioned his Farm to Feast.' He also liked a tweet from presenter Richard Keyes who said: 'Why don't ITV just leave it alone? 'Everything I'm reading on my feed tells me this 'insider' is wrong. @EamonnHolmes ratings on @GBNEWS tell me they're wrong. Stay on the high ground legend.' No love lost! It comes after Eamonn branded Phillip 'passive-aggressive' and claimed that the broadcaster had a habit of 'snubbing' people In another liked comment, a viewer had written: 'ITV doing damage limitation for their number one this morning whilst another member of their team has lost her son, quite inconsiderate really #lorraine.' The tweet made reference to the death of Jamal Edwards, son of Loose Women presenter Brenda Edwards. ITV have been contacted for comment. It was reported by the Mail On Sunday that Eamonn was sacked from ITV's This Morning because research showed that viewers no longer wanted to watch him. He retweeted a message from his Intertalent representative Jonathan Shalit who said: 'Don't believe a 'source' said anything official @ITV always respect @InterTalent One of them read: 'This #Lorraine show is bizarre.. why not celebrate 40 years on #thismorning instead of another show?' It came after he blasted station bosses in an interview with the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine, accusing them of being 'sly' and hypocritical over his departure amid a diversity drive. But The Mail on Sunday revealed that executives carried out extensive analysis which found that his popularity had waned. The findings prompted programme chiefs to axe him from his weekly Friday slot alongside his wife Ruth , replacing them with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary. Sources also say he fell out of favour with management after casting doubt on media outlets that dismiss false claims linking 5G technology to coronavirus. According to insiders, both reasons were explained to his agent although Eamonn has insisted he received no explanation. Claims: It was reported by the Mail On Sunday that Eamonn was sacked from ITV 's This Morning because research showed that viewers no longer wanted to watch him One insider said: 'ITV is always looking at what the viewers want, what the people watching the show want. 'Put it this way, they wanted change, the viewers didn't want to watch him any more. Things have to change, they evolve and for him to say there was no explanation isn't true. 'Maybe Eamonn just didn't like the reasons given.' Eamonn also branded his former This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield as 'passive aggressive'. He added of his rival: 'I don't go for presenters who think they have special privilege or aura or influence.' While Phillip opted to remain silent on the accusation over the weekend, sources close to him said that he and ITV were left 'bemused' when a story appeared in a tabloid newspaper claiming that he and Holly Willoughby had 'snubbed' Eamonn by failing to contact him following his departure. It was published in The Sun on Sunday two days after it was confirmed that he was going to GB News. New blood: Report findings prompted programme chiefs to axe him from his weekly Friday slot alongside his wife Ruth Langsford replacing them with Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary (pictured together above) One source commented last night: 'There is no love lost between Eamonn and Phil, so it is odd that Eamonn would have expected to have any contact. 'It was more odd that it appeared in a newspaper at a time when Eamonn was publicising his new role at GB News. Things did get bad between the two men, but that all seemed somewhat sly.' Holmes, who insisted in the interview that 'I'm still at the top of my game', has previous form when it comes to publicly insulting his co-stars. In 1997 he told a Sunday newspaper that Anthea Turner, his sidekick on the now-defunct GMTV, was 'horrid' and 'unbearable', and accused her of acting like 'Princess Tippy Toes' off screen. He later also described her as the 'Queen of PR', who fought a constant battle for good publicity. ITV said: 'Eamonn was a key part of the This Morning family for 15 years and we wish him all the very best.' Eamonn Holmes' agent Jonathan Shalit told the Mail: 'I don't believe a 'source' said anything that was official as ITV have always behaved with great respect to InterTalent. 'The facts are simple. Eamonn is one of the most loved broadcasters in UK. A source at a rival newspaper confidentially told me that research actually showed Eamonn rated better than others who replaced him on This Morning. 'Eamonn's new GB NEWS show often beats his Sky News rival and the BBC have recommissioned his show Farm to Feast'. Wendy Williams released a statement through her rep in the wake of her once popular talk show, The Wendy Williams Show, being canceled on Tuesday. Her spokesperson, Howard Bragman, explained that Wendy 'understands' the business decision and expressed her gratitude to her replacement, Sherri Shepherd, Deadline reported. It wasn't all bad news for Wendy Watchers, however. The 57-year-old star is leaving open the possibility of returning to television 'should her health get to a point where she can host again'. In her words: Wendy Williams expressed her gratitude to her replacement, Sherri Shepherd, and plotted a possible return to hosting in the wake of The Wendy Williams Show being canceled 'It's been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,' Bragman said in a statement. 'She, more than anyone, understands the reality of syndicated television you can't go to the marketplace and sell a show that's the Maybe Wendy Show,' he added. The Wendy Williams Show will come to an end in June following the eponymous host's prolonged health-related absence. 'She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time,' Bragman said on behalf of Wendy. 'It's been a challenging time for Wendy as she deals with her health issues. She is incredibly grateful to Debmar-Mercury, to Sherri and everybody else who has supported the show through this time,' her rep told Deadline A rotating cast of guest hosts and panelists had stepped in for Wendy during her hiatus with Sherri Shepherd a standout among them. She will step into the vacancy left by Williams' depature. Her new daytime show, crisply titled Sherri, will 'inherit' the time slots on Fox owned-and-operated stations that have been the backbone of Williams' national syndication since 2008, producer and distributor Debmar-Mercury said. It comes after Williams took time off from the popular talk show to deal with her health issues connected to her longtime struggle with the autoimmune disorder Graves' disease. 'She understands why this decision was made from a business point of view, and she has been assured by Debmar-Mercury that should her health get to a point where she can host again and should her desire be that she hosts again that she would be back on TV at that time,' Bragman said on behalf of Wendy. Pictured: Sherri Shepherd and Wendy Williams in 2014 'Since Wendy is still not available to host the show as she continues on her road to recovery, we believe it is best for our fans, stations and advertising partners to start making this transition now,' company co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement. 'We hope to be able to work with Wendy again in the future, and continue to wish her a speedy and full recovery,' the executives said. They also expressed their 'great love and affinity for Wendy' and admiration for her success. The company declined to comment further on her recent health issues, which Williams herself has not discussed other than in generalities. Sherri also confirmed the news in her own statement, saying: 'OMG! I am so excited to have my dream come true and debut my very own talk show. Last week, Wendy made rare public comments about her health and the future of her daytime talk show in a video uploaded to Instagram. In the video, filmed by her son Kevin Hunter Jr., 21, Williams could be seen walking along the beach in Miami, Florida. Just three months prior, she was wheelchair bound. Williams began the five-minute video by reassuring fans she was doing 'OK,' which contradicts recent claims that the star's health has left her 'incapacitated' and in need of guardianship. 'It's just after 8 o'clock in the morning and I'm doing OK, you know? It's very peaceful here,' she said, before revealing that she gets up every morning and takes a walk along the beach before heading to the gym. Her time to shine! Sherri Shepherds new show, Sherri, will 'inherit' the time slots on Fox owned-and-operated stations that have been the backbone of Williams' national syndication since 2008, producer and distributor Debmar-Mercury said Williams also shared what she planned to accomplish for the day, including several phone calls to her relatives and business partners. 'What do you have to say to those people who think you're up to whatever it is?' asked Kevin, to which Williams replied: 'Excuse me, I am going back stronger. 'At [57] years old, there are things that happen to people. I would say things usually start about 40 and they go up from there, you know, so you've got to eat the right food,' she explained. She concluded the video by doubling down on her commitment to recovery and one day heading back to New York to reassume her role as host of the Wendy Williams Show. In July last year Williams announced that she would be taking some time off from her daytime show as she dealt with health concerns connected to Graves' disease. They are the proud parents of two daughters. And Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo were spotted this week stepping out in Los Angeles with one of their children. The dynamic duo have been married for nearly eight years and raise two little girls - Dusty Rose, five, and Gio Grace, four. Quality time: Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo were spotted this week stepping out in Los Angeles with one of their children Looking fab: Adam was rocking a mohawk hairstyle and showcased his sprawl of tattoos in a loose-fitted white shirt For their latest outing Adam matched white tops with Behati, who selected a simple T-shirt that was fitted to her enviably svelte frame. Letting her luxurious blonde hair flutter freely in the breeze, Behati slipped on a stylish pair of torn high-waisted black jeans. The Namibian-born supermodel, who shot to fame walking for Victoria's Secret, warded off the California rays with a sleek pair of shades. She rounded off the look with socks and sandals, slinging on a colorful backpack for her spot of quality time with her little tyke. Both mother and daughter could be seen carrying small gift bags as they made their way across a sunlit parking lot together. Meanwhile Adam was rocking a mohawk hairstyle and showcased his sprawl of tattoos in a loose-fitted white shirt. He put the body art on his legs on display in a pair of white shorts, opting for a matching pair of sneakers. Family time: The dynamic duo have been married for nearly eight years and raise two little girls - Dusty Rose, five, and Gio Grace, four Adam added a touch of contrast to the ensemble by clashing the white clothes against a pair of black sunglasses. Although he was dressed for warm weather he had come prepared for a drop in temperatures, carrying a cream sweater with him. Beanie Feldstein's brother Jonah Hill performed Adam and Behati's wedding in 2014 in San Jose Del Cabo, which is about 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas. Victoria Beckham ensured she was the centre of attention as the start of wedding and birthday celebrations for editor-in-chief of British Vogue Edward Enninful kickstarted on Tuesday. Edward, who also turned 50, is set to wed his long-term partner Alec Maxwell in the A-list event of the year at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire. And Posh, 47, would be sure to turn heads as she slipped her svelte frame into a bridal-inspired gown for the special occasion and posed for a snap with pals ahead of the celebrations. Occasion: Victoria Beckham was the picture of sophistication in a bridal-inspired gown as she joined friends to celebrate Edward Enninful's wedding on Tuesday (pictured with Anders Christian Madsen and stylist Christine Centenera) The high-profile fashion designer stood on the bottom step of a marble staircase, alongside British Vogue's fashion critic Anders Christian Madsen and stylist Christine Centenera. The silk ensemble boasted intricate lace detailing and a delicate flowing skirt, which concealed her choice of footwear for the evening. Victoria opted to sweep her chocolate tresses back in a stylish up-do, while keeping a short strand loose around her glowing, made-up face. Birthday ball: Anders shared the snap of the trio in their finery to Instagram Beauty: The high-profile fashion designer, 47, was bound to garner attention as the silk ensemble boasted intricate lace detailing and a delicate flowing skirt Anders, who shared the snap of the trio in their finery to Instagram, wrote: 'Off to @edward_enninfuls birthday ball with my two dates, because prom dreams come true [sic] Thank you @davidbeckham and @joeledgerton for letting me stand in!' Victoria's husband David, 46, is currently away skiing so friends stepped in as her plus one for the celebratory bash. Flowers arrived at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire earlier on Tuesday as preparations began for the wedding of Vogue editor Edward to long-term partner Alec in what's set to be the A-list event of the year. While the date of the nuptials is not yet known, 300 guests are expected to attend, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Moss and fashion designer Donatella Versace - who are expected at the stately home in Wiltshire that boasts a 9,000-acre safari park famed for its lions. Absent: Victoria's husband David, 46, is currently away skiing so friends stepped in as her plus one Nuptials: On Tuesday, preparations began for the wedding of Vogue editor Edward (l) to long-term partner Alec Maxwell (r) in what's set to be the A-list event of the year Prep: Flowers arrived at the Longleat estate in Wiltshire earlier on Tuesday as preparations began for the wedding of Vogue editor Edward to long-term partner Alec Setting: Richie Akiva shared a snap heading into the venue, showing the luxurious estate from both inside and out Supermodel Naomi Campbell, who had a well-publicised falling-out with Mr Enninful, a friend for 30 years, is expected at the wedding after they settled their differences. The mother-of-one was also the cover star for the most recent edition of Vogue, where she shared the first picture of her baby's face. The Vogue supremo also counts Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, Orlando Bloom and US models Gigi and Bella Hadid among his close circle, leading to speculation that they may also join the guest list. On Monday night, Edward shared a snap to Instagram at the Laylow restaurant in West London, which he captioned 'pre-birthday dinner.' It showed him on the table with a posse of models including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Maxwell, Irina Shayk as well as Burberry Vice President Rebecca Martinez and Chief Creative Officer Riccardo Tisci and stylist Zoe Bedeaux, suggesting he may be sporting the British brand for his vows. Clan: Last night he shared a snap to Instagram at the Laylow restaruant in west London, which he captioned 'pre-birthday dinner' (From L-R Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Stella Maxwell, Rebecca Martinez, Riccardo Tisci Irina Shayk and Zoe Bedeaux) Earlier today, Edward posted a snap to Instagram writing: '50th birthday on 22.2.22. Lets go'. The post was quickly flooded with comments from A-listers who couldn't wait to celebrate with him, including Poppy Delevingne, Munroe Bergdorf, Madison Headrick and Bianca Brandolini. Edward and Alec, who live in west London, are expected to bring their beloved black-and-white Boston terrier Ru to the event for a double celebration that will also mark the Vogue editor's milestone birthday. She is one of the world's most glamorous movie stars. But on Monday, Oscar-winner Halle Berry went virtually incognito as she ran errands while out and about in Los Angeles. Halle, 55, was seen wearing a patterned headscarf as she left a local Ralph's grocery store in Beverly Hills, and followed local Covid-19 guidelines by wearing a face mask. Running errands: Halle Berry is keeping a low profile while she picks up some groceries in Los Angeles on Monday Halle paired a bright bandana with a black sweater, cropped jeans and black slippers for her quick errand run. Meanwhile, on Monday, Halle posted a few still shots from scenes of her latest movie, John Wick 3. The Catwoman star tagged the location as Morocco as she posed in front of the gorgeous scenery. In one shot, she laid down on the Moroccan sand in just a white tank top. 'little moments, big memories #johnwick3,' she captioned her post. Low profile: The 55-year-old actress was spotted leaving her local Ralph's grocery store in Beverly Hills as she followed local Covid-19 guidelines and had a nude KN95 mask on Casual look: Halle paired a bright bandana with a black sweater, cropped jeans and black slippers for her quick errand run On Tuesday, the star took to her Instagram to remember a historic moment she made 20 years ago. Complex News shared an Instagram post, which Berry re-shared on her Instagram Story, that said, 'Halle Berry made history in 2002 when she became the first African American to win the best actress for her role in Monsters Ball.' 'New Black History moments are being created every day. We salute you Halle Berry.' The 2001 drama-romance landed the actress her first Oscar. In the film, she starred alongside Billy Bob Thornton, Heath Ledger, Sean Combs, Mos Def and Will Rokos. On set: On Monday, Halle posted a few still shots from scenes of her latest movie, John Wick 3 In Morocco: The Catwoman star tagged the location as Morocco as she posed in front of the gorgeous scenery Beauty: In one shot, she laid down on the Moroccan sand in just a white tank top. 'little moments, big memories #johnwick3,' she captioned her post In her personal life, the Ohio native is a mother to her daughter Nahla Ariela - turning 14 next month and her son, Maceo Robert Martinez, 8. She shares Nahla from her four-year relationship with Canadian model Gabriel Aubry, which ended in 2010. Halle shares Maceo with French actor Olivier Martinez, whom she was married to for two years before separating in 2015. Her son recently officiated a 'commitment ceremony' between Berry and her Grammy winner boyfriend Van Hunt - turning 52 next month - in the backseat of her car 'of his own volition.' Monsters Ball: Complex News shared an Instagram post, which Berry re-shared on her Instagram Story, that said, 'Halle Berry made history in 2002 when she became the first African American to win the best actress for her role in Monsters Ball' 'I think he finally sees me happy, and it's infectious. It was his way of saying, "This is good. I like this. This makes me happy,"' the Caesars Sportsbook spokesmodel told AARP last month. 'It was a very real moment for all of us. I teared up, Van was fighting back tears. Even Maceo knew he'd said something poignant. It meant a lot to us. 'I have two children with two different fathers. Van has a son. As a mom living this modern, blended family, all I care about is that my kids are okay with the decisions I'm making.' Mom duty: In her personal life, the Ohio native is a mother to her daughter Nahla Ariela - turning 14 next month and her son, Maceo Robert Martinez, 8 Netflix has released the first trailer for its controversial new reality series Byron Baes. The show will follow the lives of 14 influencers who help each other grow their businesses, connections and social followings in the idyllic Australian beach town. The promo begins with former Bachelorette star Nathan Favro sitting down at the beach, saying: 'Byron Bay is one of the most beautiful places in this world.' Byron Baes trailer: Meet the trendy hustlers, musicians and spiritual healers in Netflix's controversial new series about fame-hungry Aussie influencers 'Our crew of photographers, fashion designers, spiritual healers, we're all hustling to make a go of it,' he adds. A brunette woman is then seen complaining: 'They haven't given me a chance. I feel like I am in high school again.' The series will have no shortage of drama, with one cast member accusing another of causing 'beef between two guys', while influencer Jade Kevin Foster calls someone 'a f**king joke'. 'They come for the dreamy beaches, the beautiful sunsets and the high-impact connections,' the show's synopsis states. 'But it can be brutal - and the gossip can be fierce - if you're from out of town and trying to break into this close-knit community of locals.' Story: The show will follow the lives of 14 influencers who help each other grow their businesses, connections and social followings in the idyllic Australian beach town Drama: The series will have no shortage of drama, with a brunette complaining, 'They haven't given me a chance. I feel like I am in high school again' Joining the cast is former reality star Elias Chigros, who appeared on Love Island. Co-creative director of local boutique BISQUE Hannah Brauer will also appear, alongside Byron Bay couple Dave Frim and Saskia Wotton. Other stars include influencer Jade Kevin Foster, whose claim to fame is getting a selfie with Kim Kardashian, and 'spiritualistic therapist' Simba Ali. Remember me? Joining the cast are former reality star Elias Chigros (right) who appeared on Love Island, and The Bachelorette's Nathan Favro (left) Spiritual: Cast members Hannah Brauer (left) and Sarah Tangye snap a selfie with their crystals Rounding out the gang is Kyle Sandilands' former assistant-turned-manager Alex Reid, fashion designer Jess Bell and her model sister Lauren. The series has been hit with controversy since the moment it was announced. Netflix was recently forced to apologise to the stars of the show for painting them as 'influencers' and 'hot Instagrammers'. Others in the cast include influencer Jade Kevin Foster (left), whose claim to fame is getting a selfie with Kim Kardashian, and 'spiritualistic therapist' Simba Ali Netflix's Director of Originals in Australia Que Minh Luu confirmed the cast 'hated' a recent press release describing the upcoming series. Last year, the series received backlash for not consulting local Indigenous groups or the Byron Council before filming. According to the Echo, the Byron Council 'passed an urgency motion' that would require producers to get permission before any further filming. Conflict: One cast member accusing another of causing 'beef between two guys', while Jade calls someone 'a f**king joke' Independent Councillor Cate Coorey said: 'We need to stand up for our community.' Filming was eventually moved to the Sunshine Coast. The trailer has already caused a stir, with Today host Karl Stefanovic telling viewers he 'would rather put my eyeballs in a cheese grater' than watch it. All eight episodes of Byron Baes will be available on Netflix from March 9 Advertisement Kate Garraway left viewers in tears on Tuesday night as she admitted she's 'terribly lonely' caring for her ailing husband Derek Draper. The Good Morning Britain host, 54, who was also hailed for her 'patience and strength', provided an intimate look at caring for Derek, also 54, after his body was ravaged by Covid in her second documentary, Caring For Derek. Former lobbyist Derek was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors - with Kate revealing he would currently die if was left unaided for three days without expert care. Emotional: Kate Garraway left viewers in tears on Tuesday as she admitted she's 'terribly lonely' caring for ailing husband Derek and said a happy ending feels 'unsustainable' The broadcaster has spoken openly of her husband's recovery from the debilitating condition and gave viewers a candid glimpse into their life, and her innermost feelings, since Derek left hospital last year - 374 days after being admitted. A notably emotional Kate said at one point: 'People are really kind and say I'm an inspiration but I'm really struggling - and I think it's important for people to know that, cos I'm sure they're struggling in their life too in whatever way. 'I think one of the worst things is the terrible loneliness... from having him here but not here. It's really indescribable. It's just so hard. I can sort of see him, but he's absent - and you just feel very much on your own, all the time.' Ordeal: The Good Morning host, 54, who was also hailed for her 'patience and strength', provided an intimate look at caring for Covid-stricken Derek, also 54, in her new documentary Kate said: 'I think one of the worst things is the terrible loneliness... from having him here but not here. It's really indescribable' Hard: 'I still hope well have a happy ending, but ultimately it just feels unsustainable,' Kate admitted Kate also confessed: 'I still hope well have a happy ending, but ultimately it just feels unsustainable.' The heart-wrenching scenes left viewers in tears. Psychologist Jo Hemmings wrote on Twitter during the documentary: 'And what is most wonderful of all is that @kategarraway allows her husband to retain his dignity in the darkest of times. Her humility and kindness is just awe inspiring'. A moved viewer chimed: 'What a beautiful family you have. I'm smiling and crying watching you all this evening. Thank you for sharing and allowing your journey to support others. Wishing you all a world of love and best wishes xxx'. A third fan amplified the praise Kate was receiving via social media, writing: 'The patience and strength you and the family possess Kate is so admirable.' Response: Fans were moved by the documentary and took to social media to heap praise onto Kate, who has become Derek's carer Another moving clip saw Derek celebrate his birthday at home with his loved ones. Kate and Derek's 15-year-old daughter Darcey gushed how proud she was her dad had 'survived it'. Despite acknowledging her dad's different means of communicating, she added: 'The relationship is the same. You can see the love.' Emotions: Another moving clip saw Derek celebrate his birthday at home with his loved ones Bond: Kate and Derek's 15-year-old daughter Darcey spoke of how she was proud her dad had 'survived it' Tribute: Despite acknowledging her dad's different means of communicating, she added: 'The relationship is the same. You can see the love' When his teenage daughter presented him with a birthday card, the father-of-two could not hold back the tears as he wrapped his arms around her lovingly. Someone there to support Kate throughout filming was colleague Ben Shephard. During a heart-to-heart, Kate told her close friend and Good Morning Britain co-star, 47: 'Over the past month, the light has gone out of his eyes a bit. I feel like he is frustrated - not just frustrated but he's disappearing.' There for you: Someone there to support Kate throughout filming was colleague Ben Shephard Honest: With the pair encompassed in a heart-to-heart, Kate told her close friend and co-star, 47: 'Over the past month, the light has gone out of his eyes a bit' Throughout the documentary, Kate offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek as she detailed the 'vast amount' she needs to do to care for him. The presenter shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyist, which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day. Scenes showed weary Kate assisting a carer as he moved Derek as well as the emotional moment he hugged his son Billy, 12, for the first time. Never ending: Kate offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek as she detailed the 'vast amount' she needs to do to care for him During the opening of the clip, Kate asked Derek if he was okay as she shifted him up the bed with the assistance of one of the father-of-two's carers. Kate is then seen in the family's utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done. She said: 'This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek's laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there's a vast amount to do. Caring For Derek: The presenter shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyist which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day Helping hand: A weary Kate assisted a carer as he moved Derek Incredible amount: Kate is then seen in the family's utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done She said: 'This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek's laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there's a vast amount to do' Kate Garraway's husband Derek bursts into tears as he receives birthday card from daughter Darcy, 15 declaring him the 'world's greatest father' - as she tells her dad how 'proud' she is Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper broke down in tears as he received a loving birthday card from his daughter Darcy declaring him 'the best father in the world'. The touching moment was shown on documentary Caring For Derek, the follow up to Finding Derek, detailing his recovery from his Covid-19 battle. The ITV documentary showed the family celebrating Derek's 54th birthday after being discharged from hospital following a year-long stay when he was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors. Bond: Kate Garraway's husband Derek Draper broke down in tears as he received a loving birthday card from his daughter Darcy declaring him 'the best father in the world' The family celebrated Derek's milestone with a red velvet cake, presents and cards as they sat in the living room which had been decorated with balloons. Darcy, 15, presented her father with a birthday card, and he managed to read aloud the words inside, which said: 'To the greatest father in the world. Happy Birthday, love you so much, I am so proud of you.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 2 Next 'Everything is scaled up by a 100': Kate Garraway wearily... 'He is just so desperate to get better': Kate Garraway... 'My main job in life is as a mother': Charlotte Church... Good Morning Britain to rotate male stand-in hosts as ITV... Share this article Share As Derek, 54, reached the end of the message, the father-of-two could not hold back tears as he wrapped his arms around his daughter. Kate and Derek's daughter also spoke about how proud she was that her dad had 'survived it' [Covid] during an confessional in the programme. Sweet moment: The touching moment was shown on documentary Caring For Derek, the follow up to Finding Derek, detailing his recovery from his Covid-19 battle Love: Kate told Derek he had received many cards for his birthday (pictured Dereks sister Di, Billy and Darcy with Derek) Despite acknowledging her dad's different means of communicating, she added: 'The relationship is the same. You can see the love.' Asked if she was 'worried about anyone seeing her dad', she replied: 'Not at all. I know some people might be embarrassed by it, but I'm not embarrassed by it, just because he has survived it so it's more impressive than embarrassing.' Viewers at home couldn't help but be moved watching the scenes, and took to Twitter to voice their emotions. One wrote: 'Incredibly moved watching #CaringForDerek. The bit where he breaks down reading the Birthday card from his daughter for 'the greatest dad' has broken me.' Family: The family celebrated Derek's milestone with a red velvet cake, presents and cards as they sat in the living room which had been decorated with balloons Pride: She presented her father with a birthday card, and he managed to read aloud the words inside, which said: 'To the greatest father in the world. Happy Birthday, love you so much, I am so proud of you' Proud: Kate and Derek's daughter also spoke about how proud she was that her dad had 'survived it' [Covid] during an confessional in the programme Another echoed: 'Getting emotional already. His reaction at that birthday card. So tough for him and the whole family. Utmost respect for @kategarraway #CaringForDerek' A third chimed in to add: 'What love and devotion, the reading of the card was it for me. Pure sobs from the soul for them all.' Emotional: Viewers at home couldn't help but be moved watching the scenes, and took to Twitter to voice their emotions Advertisement Kate continued: 'So I just constantly ship it through. I think it's a symbol of how everything is scaled up by a 100.' The radio presenter revealed how Derek still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020. Another snippet released ahead of Tuesday's episode on ITV, showed the moment Kate and Derek's son Billy was able to hug his father for the first time. Recovery: The radio presenter revealed how Derek still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020 Emotional: Kate also discussed the extraordinary moment her husband Derek was able to hug their son Bill A father's love: Kate detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion - and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage Kate also discussed the extraordinary moment during an appearance on Tuesday morning's episode of Good Morning Britain. The presenter detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion - and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage. Kate shared that she'd been outside when the emotional moment happened when he came home in April 2021, and that she only saw the footage months later, when she burst into tears. During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currently die if left unaided for three days without expert care. Candid: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currenty die if left unaided for three days without expert care Derek needs assistance walking from Kate and his carers because the tendons and muscles in his legs have seized up after being placed in an induced coma. She also recalled how Derek broke down after getting up to use the comode unaided, partly because he was happy but also because 'that's what it has come to'. Kate revealed that Derek sleeps between 16 and 20 hours a day while she survives on on around a quarter of this, while juggling his care and her work and family commitments. The TV star previously told The Telegraph how she would sit by Derek's bedside all night so that she would be there whenever he woke up. She said: 'It's tempting when he drops off to use the time to prepare for work or do the mountains of washing caring for him creates or prepare the feed for his tube. 'But I have to remind myself that it's just as important to sit with him, so that he can feel my presence and I'll be there when he wakes, even for just 10 minutes at a time.' Round the clock care: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek would currently die if left unaided for three days without expert care In a promotional clip for Caring For Derek, Kate is at home with Derek and their children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, and is seen lifting Derek in and out of a special bed. In other shots, Derek is seen sitting in a wheelchair as he shares some quality moments with his family. In an interview with today's You magazine, the TV star admitted her relationship with the political lobbyist turned psychotherapist has changed since he was struck down by the virus in March 2020. 'I'm not sure that we've ever fallen out of love, but I think a new path is emerging, a new way to be in love,' said Kate. 'He puts huge trust in me. He just says, 'Whatever you think', which is wonderful, but I do get quite tearful about it. I think, 'God, I hope I'm worthy of that trust'. 'But I've got his back. That is a relationship in itself, isn't it? How many times do couples have doubts about each other? 24/7: Kate told how she often has to assist Derek's carers throughout the day and has to change Derek's bed linen seven times a day' During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition. She said that Derek is 'desperate to recover' and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight. Derek, who was admitted to hospital in March 2020, did not return home for more than a year following his hospital admission and the former lobbyist, who requires around-the-clock care, has at times felt suicidal. Pioneering: During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition (Derek pictured entering an MRI scanner) An eminent doctor in the States had reached out to veteran presenter Kate after seeing her beloved husband's health battle documented on television in March 2021. Derek has since undergone specialist treatment at a clinic in Monterrey and is set to return for 28 days next month, while healthcare professionals continue to monitor his brain, liver and lung function. Kate, who recalled to The Sun how Derek was 'excited' at the prospect of receiving treatment, explained: 'I think actually there's a huge amount of hope for him to improve. I think the treatment could be positive. I want to be slightly careful about saying too much, because I'm aware everybody will go, 'What is the trial?'' The Good Morning Britain host detailed hopes for a 'happy ending' - not just for Derek, but for those who check in regularly to see how he's getting on. However, the level-headed presenter admitted that, despite there being 'a lot of positives', her husband-of-16-years was 'not out of the woods' and would require 'much more' treatment. Patches of white flagged up on one of his early brain scans which, a neurologist said, was usually seen more in patients with vascular dementia. Kate is yet to have an agreed diagnosis as experts still do not fully understand the long-term effects of the virus. We're off: She said that Derek is 'desperate to recover' and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight (pictured Kate and Derek) Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer has revealed some of the strict rules contestants had to follow behind the scenes while filming the hit Nine show. The school administrator, 27, told Yahoo on Tuesday she went 'stir crazy' and had 'cabin fever' when they couldn't even leave their apartments without a chaperone. She said producers and minders were always around to prevent off-camera conversations, but there were some contestants who managed to break the rules. Strict: Married At First Sight star Olivia Frazer (pictured) has revealed some of the strict rules contestants had to follow behind the scenes while filming the hit Nine show 'So this year was especially isolating because for the first month of filming we weren't allowed out of our rooms without a chaperone,' she explained. 'There wasn't much else going on. It was a bit of cabin fever.' She said the contestants were eventually allowed to leave their apartments to go for a walk by themselves, but that was it. Limited: 'So this year was especially isolating because for the first month of filming we weren't allowed out of our rooms without a chaperone,' the school administrator, 27, told Yahoo Breaking the rules: Olivia revealed some contestants would sneak into their co-stars' rooms for a drink or two. Pictured: MAFS 2022 couple Ella Ding and Mitch Eynaud However, some contestants would sneak into their co-stars' rooms for a drink or two. 'There was a bit of that sort of naughty stuff going on that we definitely paid for later,' she added with a laugh. It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed Olivia and her 'husband' Jackson Lonie had recently moved in together after falling in love on MAFS. Happy ending: It comes after Daily Mail Australia revealed Olivia and her 'husband' Jackson Lonie had recently moved in together after falling in love on MAFS The pair now live together on the NSW Central Coast, where Olivia is based. Jackson, 30, is now living at his girlfriend's family home in the beachside town of Avoca, about 95km north of Sydney. 'Jack and Liv have been inseparable since filming wrapped last month,' a source said. 'Jackson is in awe of Olivia. She is honest and will say exactly what she is thinking and he just totally loves that,' they added Fashion designer Wayne Cooper and his wife, Sarah Marsh, have sold their mammoth six-level home in Sydney for a rumoured $11million. The couple, who share two children, bought the spacious five-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Tamarama for $5.5million in 2011. But according to realestate.com.au, the pair have made an impressive profit of about $5.5million after the property sold only recently. Sold! Fashion designer Wayne Cooper and his wife, Sarah Marsh, have sold their mammoth six-level home in Sydney for a rumoured $11million. Pictured here in Sydney on August 19, 2009 Cooper and Marsh are understood to be looking for a home in the Byron Bay area. The Tamarama property boasts 500 sqm of floor space, including a master suite with dressing room and private terrace. There's also a studio/home office, which can be used for guest accommodation. Meanwhile, the kitchen features a Calacutta marble benchtop and a Caesarstone breakfast island. Wow factor: The Tamarama property boasts 500 sqm of floor space, including a master suite with dressing room and private terrace There's also a cinema, a double garage and a separate single garage. The property even features an eight-person lift to carry residents between the four levels of the house. Outside, there's a north-facing mosaic-tiled lap pool with spa jets and gas heating. Luxury: The kitchen features a Calacutta marble benchtop and a Caesarstone breakfast island The address was briefly home to Gerard Butler when he filmed Gods of Egypt in Sydney in 2015. Wayne is a British-born fashion designer who, after growing up in London's East End, moved to Australia in 1985. His Australian Fashion Week shows have featured the likes of Linda Evangelista and Sarah O'Hare. He has been a regular guest on the reality TV series Australia's Next Top Model. Famous lodgers: The address was briefly home to Gerard Butler when he filmed Gods of Egypt in Sydney in 2015 In May last year, Cooper and Marsh were forced to deny rumours they had separated after 25 years of marriage. The pair were said to be 'going their separate ways', according to the Sydney Morning Herald, but the entrepreneur insisted to Daily Mail Australia the story was 'completely fabricated'. 'My wife Sarah and I are currently in Byron Bay for a friend's birthday and looking at real estate,' Cooper said. 'We are currently speaking to our lawyer regarding a course of action in response to this damaging article printed on Mothers Day.' The couple share two children, Ruby and Jude. Anti-vax influencer Kate Szepanowski has shared a sweet tribute to her jailbird boyfriend Jordan Roman Brennan. The model, who is the sister of fellow influencer Chloe Szepanowski, revealed on Tuesday she'd received a handwritten note from a male admirer, but had to turn him down because she's already spoken for. The mother of one, 26, posted a photo on Instagram of the note, which was scrawled on a paper napkin, as she sat in the driver's seat of her car. Loyal: Influencer Kate Szepanowski, 26, revealed on Tuesday a man had asked her out on a date, but she turned him down because she's loyal to her baby daddy who is in jail 'Hey, you are gorgeous. Dinner some time? From Marcus xx. Have a posite [sic] day,' the man wrote, adding his Instagram tag and a phone number. Responding to the gesture, Szepanowski wrote in her caption: 'Cuteee but I have a baby and my man's in jail. Nice try though.' Szepanowski's boyfriend, Jordan Roman Brennan, has been in custody since July 2020, and is facing up to 30 charges for his alleged involvement in the violent kidnapping of Queensland businessman Eduardus Groenewegen and his model girlfriend, Caroll Dufailly, in October 2019. Thanks, but no thanks: The mother of one, 26, posted a photo on Instagram of the note the man gave her, which was scrawled on a paper napkin, as she sat in the driver's seat of her car Police allege Brennan was part of a group that broke into Mr Groenewegen and Ms Dufailly's home posing as police officers. The men allegedly restrained and forced the couple into a white van before torturing them for information about a safe owned by Mr Groenewegen. Brennan is facing charges including torture, deprivation of liberty, kidnapping and impersonating police. Charges: Szepanowski's boyfriend, Jordan Roman Brennan (pictured), has been in custody since July 2020, and is facing up to 30 charges for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of businessman Eduardus Groenewegen and his girlfriend, Caroll Dufailly, in October 2019 In November last year, Brennan also fronted court charged over one of Queenslands biggest cocaine busts. Police alleged he was involved in bringing in a shipment of more than 500kg of the drug in refrigerated shipping containers. The drugs had an estimated street value of $124million. Allegations: Caroll Dufailly (pictured), from Belgium, was allegedly kidnapped and tortured to gain access to a locked safe in October 2019 Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Szepanowski was in any way involved with her boyfriend's alleged criminal activities. Szepanowski has had her fair share of brushes with the law. In December 2018, she was forced to hand over $2,500 in cash to police, despite claiming she had received the money from her 'sugar daddy'. In December 2018, Szepanowski was forced to hand over $2,500 in cash to police, despite claiming she had received the money from her 'sugar daddy' Szepanowski was pulled over in Bondi Junction in Sydney around 1am after police initially believed she had been driving under the influence. She told officers she'd just finished having dinner with a friend and was experiencing trouble with her hire car, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Police also spotted two mobile phones inside the car, but Szepanowski denied the second phone belonged to her, claiming someone had left it in the vehicle before she hired it. Incident: In November last year, Szepanowski charged with assault after she allegedly attacked a woman who accidentally stepped on her foot while at a music festival Police alleged Szepanowski told them various 'stories' before finally claiming the money was given to her by her sugar daddy. Upon searching her car, they allegedly found white powder residue in a clear plastic bag as well as a Xanax tablet without a prescription. Police administered both drug and alcohol tests, which came back negative. Glamorous: Szepanowski is seen here in one of her Instagram selfies The cash was seized, and she was later fined $350 for possession of Xanax and other unlawfully obtained goods. In November last year, Szepanowski charged with assault after she allegedly attacked a woman who accidentally stepped on her foot while at a music festival. The Instagram star was at the Wildlands music festival at Bowen Hills, Brisbane, on December 28, 2019, when she was bumped into by another woman. Queensland Police confirmed a man and woman were both charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and robbery with violence over the incident that saw the festival-goer knocked to the ground When the woman tried to apologise, a man who was with Szepanowski allegedly grabbed her throat and punched her in the face. Queensland Police confirmed a man and woman were both charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and robbery with violence over the incident that saw the festival-goer knocked to the ground. 'Once on the ground, the pair allegedly kicked her. When she attempted to stand up, the female offender pushed her back down and grabbed the her bag, lifting it up and over her head,' police alleged. In December last year, Szepanowski also attended Queensland's Southport Magistrates Court on charges of possessing drugs and drug utensils and two counts of fraud The woman who was allegedly attacked reported the incident to police at the time, and charges were laid after officers later found some of her belongings at a home allegedly linked with Szepanowski, the Courier Mail reported. In December last year, Szepanowski attended Queensland's Southport Magistrates Court on charges of possessing drugs and drug utensils and two counts of fraud. She was also charged with not paying for petrol on two occasions. More claims: Szepanowski was also charged with not paying for petrol on two occasions Police allege Szepanowski left a service station in Morayfield, on the Gold Coast, without paying for 34 litres of petrol on March 6. She is also alleged not to have also paid for fuel when she filled up at a petrol station in Broadbeach on November 4. Meanwhile, Szepanowski has sparked plenty of controversy by promoting anti-vax and Covid conspiracy theories on Instagram. 'This is why I would rather die than get that poison injected into me,' she captioned a recent picture of vaccine misinformation. Kyle Sandilands has come out swinging against Wil Anderson after the ABC comedian revealed he'd banned the radio presenter from his podcast. Anderson, 48, said earlier this week he refused to interview Sandilands, 50, because he has a policy of not inviting people with their own platforms and 'agenda' on his show. While the KIIS FM host was initially not bothered by the snub, he changed his tune on Wednesday and harshly criticised Anderson and his management company. 'F**k Wil Anderson': Kyle Sandilands (pictured) has come out swinging against Wil Anderson after the ABC comedian revealed he'd banned the radio presenter from his podcast 'F**k Wil Anderson. F**k off. I don't hate the bloke, but I'm not putting up with his bulls**t,' he said on The Kyle and Jackie O Show. He said his blacklisting was likely a result of him badmouthing comedians on his radio show who are on the same management roster as Anderson. 'The management company hates me because I destroyed all the big clients,' he told co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and newsreader Brooklyn Ross. Sandilands also ranted about how comedians aren't as naturally funny as radio hosts. Reasons: Sandilands said his blacklisting was likely a result of him badmouthing comedians on his radio show who are on the same management roster as Anderson (pictured) He said stand-ups have pre-prepared jokes, whereas broadcasters have to offer witty responses live on air for up to four hours per day. The Sydney shock jock also took a swipe at Anderson for quitting Triple M Melbourne's Hot Breakfast show in late 2019. He joked that Anderson was Eddie McGuire's lackey on the program, comparing his role to that of 'Intern Pete' Deppeler on Kyle and Jackie O. Initial reaction: A day earlier, Sandilands had offered a more diplomatic response to being banned from Anderson's podcast. 'I respect that he has his opinion, but he has a distorted opinion of me,' he said on air A day earlier, Sandilands had offered a more diplomatic response to being banned from Anderson's Wilosophy podcast. He said on air on Tuesday he'd suspected for a while Anderson had a problem with him, but was unsure what he'd done to offend him. 'He's not an a**ehole; I respect that he has his opinion, but he has a distorted opinion of me [from the press],' he said. He speculated that Anderson had banned him for his political views and support of former U.S. president Donald Trump. But Sandilands, who hosts Sydney's most popular FM breakfast radio show on KIIS 106.5, said he wasn't right-wing at all, but instead a centrist like many Australians. Blacklisted: Anderson, 48, said this week he refused to interview Sandilands, 50, because he has a policy of not inviting people with their own platforms and 'agenda' on his show 'Maybe Wil thinks because I like Donald Trump that I'm a right-wing lunatic because a lot of these left-wing people don't understand most people sit in the middle,' he said. 'I liked Trump because he's entertaining. He was making America money.' 'A lot of radio people are jealous that I've been able to make millions of dollars but they're barely able to pay their rent,' he added. The pair's feud erupted earlier this week when Anderson said the likes of Sandilands and right-wing pundit Andrew Bolt would never be allowed on his podcast. Mystery beef: Sandilands said on Tuesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show he'd suspected for a while Anderson had a problem with him, but was unsure what he'd done to offend him The Gruen host, 48, launched Wilosophy in 2014 and it has since become one of the most popular podcasts in Australia, attracting major celebrity guests. He told news.com.au this week he refused to interview Sandilands because he doesn't want to give a platform to people with certain 'agendas'. Anderson said: 'If you're interviewing someone with an agenda and you're asking them questions, you become a platform for spreading that agenda. 'So that's the reason Andrew Bolt and Kyle Sandilands aren't going to get an invitation to be on the show.' He continued: 'And I just think Kyle is great at generating his own publicity. He doesn't need a hand from me.' She is reguarly spotted running or going for a swim at her local beach in Coogee. And Jessica Marais showed off her very muscular figure as she left another workout in nearby Randwick on Tuesday. The former Packed To The Rafters star, 37, wore a pair of tiny burgundy shorts for the sweat session teamed with a white T-shirt and a black crop top. Strong: Jessica Marais showed off her muscular legs in a pair of tiny shorts as she left a grueling workout in Sydney on Tuesday On her feet she slipped on a pair of comfortable Birkenstocks and carried a baby pink backpack and a water bottle. Makeup free, Jessica was glowing and she bundled her blonde locks up into a bun. She appeared content after pulling out of the Packed to the Rafters reboot for mental health reasons last year. Not long after Jessica's former co-star Angus McLaren said Jessica is 'doing well'. Beating the heat: The former Packed To The Rafters star wore a pair of tiny burgundy shorts for the session teamed with a white T-shirt worn over a crop top 'Jessica is doing well... it was good to see her in Sydney,' the Melbourne-based actor told Daily Mail Australia. Jessica was initially set to reprise her role of Rachel Rafter, after previously starring on the beloved Channel Seven drama from 2008 until 2013. While she wasn't technically on set, Angus, 32, said she was a stone's throw away from him during filming. 'Yeah we definitely missed her on set, but the good thing about Jess is she lived quite close to me when I was in Sydney. So I actually got to see her, I really have a lot of love for Jess,' he added. 'It would've been great to work with her, she's certainly one of those people who brings a good vibe to the set.' Jessica is best known for her roles on Packed to the Rafters and Love Child. On Monday 21st February 2022, the Embassy of Japan in Mauritius and the Non-Governmental Organization Association des Malades et Handicapes de lEst signed the grant contract on The Project for Bus Procurement for People with Disabilities in Poste de Flacq which formalizes the amount of 45,034 euros, or approximately 2.2 million rupees through Japans official development assistance programme, Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP, or KUSANONE). The fund will allow Association des Malades et Handicapes de lEst to acquire 2 buses with the capacity of 15 seats each. The NGO will thus provide safe and free transportation to 45 beneficiaries with disabilities who come to the support centre of the NGO. This project will also provide transport for the home visiting services to 25 beneficiaries. The documents were signed by His Excellency KAWAGUCHI Shuichiro, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius and Mrs. Jennifer JACQUES, president of Association des Malades et Handicapes de lEst at the Embassy of Japan in Mauritius. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Nick Cannon celebrated his son Golden's fifth birthday with an epic Black Panther themed bash. Cannon, 41, proudly posted photos and videos of the festivities, thrown by his baby mama Brittany Bell, to his Instagram account on Monday. From the Black panther costumes to the foam dance party, there's no chance Nick's son will soon forget the incredible celebration. 'Golden turned 5 in Wakanda today!' Nick Cannon celebrated his son Golden's fifth birthday with an epic Black Panther themed bash Nick posted a video capturing all the magic, which showed guests playing in a ball pit, eating an assortment of sweets, and dancing their cares away on an illuminated dance floor. They also had a foam party, where the children played around in bubbles wearing goggles over their eyes. There was even a pinata which Golden enthusiastically swung his bat at. Nick acknowledged all the work Brittany put into organizing the party as he gushed about her in the caption of the video. Birthday boy! Golden couldn't have looked any happier in his Black Panther costume Swing it! A blindfolded Golden struck the pinata with a colorful bat Strike a pose! Video Nick posted of the party showcased all the magic 'Mommy @missbbell threw the most amazing celebration for our young King! Thank you for your tireless effort, compassion, care, strength, intuitiveness and most importantly LOVE for our family,' he captioned the photos. 'Every meticulous detail doesnt go unnoticed, you are amazing @missbbell and our 5 year old son feels it all and he is only going to continue to strive because Mommy loves so deeply and only wants him to be the best Super Hero we know he can be!! We love you King Golden!!!' In a separate post containing images of the party, Nick raved in the caption, 'Golden turned 5 in Wakanda today!!!' Bubbles of fun! There was even a foam party the youngsters took part in Having some fun! Golden wore a pair of goggles as he made his way through the bubbles Having a ball! Guests played around in a massive ball pit In character! Nick and his family were all decked out in Black Panther gear Cannon is a father of seven with another on the way. The talk show host shares son Golden and one-year-old daughter Powerful Queen with Brittany, a model who was Miss Guam 2014. He also has eight-month-old twin sons Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir with DJ Abby De La Rosa. The actor also shares 10-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe with his ex-wife, Mariah Carey. Last year, Cannon tragically lost his five-month-old son Zen following a battle with brain cancer. He is now expecting his eighth child with model Bre Tiesi. Family matters: Cannon shares son Golden and one-year-old daughter Powerful Queen with Brittany, a model who was Miss Guam in 2014 Yay! Candy fell to the floor as the birthday boy broke open the pinata Netflixs hit documentary The Tinder Swindler had left us all with so many questions. The documentary shows how Simon Leviev, a conman, managed to swindle millions of dollars from his Tinder dates. Shimon Hayut, who changed his name to Simon Leviev, told his dates that he was the son of the real billionaire Leviev family - the Diamond King of Israel. He then extracted money from his Tinder dates and left them buried under debt. According to the documentary, the victims are still clearing their debts. After the release of the documentary, more and more people became familiar with the story and The Tinder Swindler became popular. Simon was later removed from Tinder, followed by Instagram. However, he is back on Instagram with a blue tick this time on a private account. There are many other fake accounts with his name on Instagram right now. Whats more surprising is that he is still living a luxurious life. Simon is free, dating other girls or maybe conning them. For the first time after the release of the documentary, he came out and gave an interview to Inside Edition. 5 takeaways from Simon Leviev's first interview 1. 10-MILLION DOLLAR FRAUD According to the Inside Edition report, Simon has conned the three women who featured in the documentary of over 500,000 dollars. It also claims that he has managed to extract a total of 10 million dollars from women across the world. The three victims of The Tinder Swindler documentary 2. 'I WAS A SINGLE GUY. I AM NOT FAKE' Simon has denied all the claims that the documentary made. Im not this monster that everybody has created. I was just a single guy that wanted to meet some girls on Tinder, he said. 3. DENIES EVERYTHING Simon created a fake imaginary emergency to pull out money from his dates. He said some of his enemies are after him and his bodyguard had some injuries. Denying the claims made by the women in the documentary, Simon said, They werent conned. They werent threatened. I want to clear my name, I want to say to the world, this is not true. I'm the biggest gentleman in the world, he added. 4. WHO IS THE REAL SIMON? In the documentary, Simon presented himself as the son of a billionaire businessman. When asked whether he is the son of a billionaire family in the diamond business or not, he said NO. No, I am not the son of billionaire and I never presented myself so, he said in the interview. 5. 'A BUSINESSMAN' Simon still can be seen travelling in private jets, dressed in designer clothes. He is still enjoying a luxurious life... perhaps on the previous victims money. In the interview, he explained how he manages to earn this huge amount of money. I am a legit businessman. I bought bitcoin in 2011, which was then worth nothing, I don't need to say how much it's worth now, he added. After watching the Nexflix crime documentary, it became quite clear that everyone needs to stay away from any man named Simon Leviev or Shimon Hayut. But seems like this is not the case. In the interview clip, you can see his Israeli girlfriend Kate Konlin kissing him. She completely trusts him and about The Tinder Swindler, she said, My god, it's like how someone can build such a fake story. Simon Leviev with Kate Konlin. Photo: Inside Edition She also clarified that he has never borrowed money from her. After ruining so many lives, Simon roams freely and denies all the claims. Well, it tells us how carefully we should swipe right. If you are wondering how to steer clear of such romance frauds, heres a guide for you. Well, the downside is that consumerism itself is inherently unsustainable regardless of how green its advertised to be. The Covid-19 pandemic has undermined economies and dramatically changed the way we work, disrupting labour markets both across the continent and globally. What the pandemic has done is push both organisations and consumers to adopt new behaviours some of which are likely to persist. The big question is the extent to which remote working will continue to be adopted. While remote working was at first highly appealing in the early days of the pandemic and national lockdowns, the cracks soon started to appear as boredom and monotony set in. The reality is that humans are social creatures and the workplace is, amongst other things, a social environment. Face-to-face engagements and chats around the coffee machine provide a sense of belonging that the digital world of Zoom and Skype just cannot replace. There is an energy found in the workplace that is not replicated when working from home and a level of creativity that results from spontaneous collaboration. As restrictions have been eased, many organisations have allowed their employees to return to work. Others have adopted a hybrid system of both in-office and remote working. However, key to any return to work has been the need for staff to be vaccinated, to protect both themselves and their colleagues. Some countries have ruled that being vaccinated against Covid-19 is mandatory for employees working in certain sectors. Kenya, for example, ruled in 2021 that public service employees must have had at least one vaccination. Other countries, including Ghana, have ruled that health workers must be vaccinated. As employees return to the workplace, opportunities to attend conferences and events, for example, will only be accessible to those who are fully vaccinated. International travel has already opened up for those who are fully vaccinated. Bertrand from Cote dIvoire was working on a large-scale climate project for an international African organisation when the client requested that he attend COP26. Fortunately, I had already had two doses of the vaccine and was able to attend, he explains. The trip proved to be a great opportunity to meet people who are crucial to my career and business. Im very relieved that I did not miss out on attending this event as I would have done had I not been vaccinated. The lesson I learned from this experience is that its better to be proactive. Work opportunities aside, the Covid-19 vaccine protects against severe forms of the disease and offers the best and most reliable way to eradicating the pandemic and getting life back to a semblance of normality, he says. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires More than three dozen Metro-North Railroad trains will be restored on the New Haven Line as the rail agency reaches roughly 89 percent of pre-pandemic levels. The move, announced by Metro-North on Tuesday, is expected to reduce trip times at several stations. It goes into effect Sunday, March 27. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted many to remote working options, causing ridership to take a dive. Sixty-six weekday trains will be restored. On the New Haven Line, weekday service will jump from 244 trains to 278 with additional trains between Grand Central Terminal, Stamford and New Haven. Catherine Rinaldi, president of Metro-North Railroad, said in a statement Tuesday that as more riders return to their usual peak times, the agency is revising its services during the week. We have been listening to our customers and the message is clear they want more trains and seating capacity as well as faster trips, Rinaldi said. Ridership is currently recovering from an Omicron-related dip in demand. The service adjustments are intended to offer additional seating for customers, improve peak-period travel times and reduce trip times by up to 13 minutes at some locations, officials said. The changes to come in March also include an increase from 190 trains to 208 on the Harlem Line and a bump up from 142 trains to 156 on the Hudson Line. Among the changes will also be the return of the Yankee Clipper for all New York Yankees home games. The latest schedule tweak comes after the ones made in August 2021, when Metro-North increased its train service to 82 percent of pre-pandemic levels. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Srinagar: A court in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Anantnag district has asked the police to file an FIR against a local BJP leader and his accomplice accused of sexual exploitation and blackmailing of women. Earlier a group of women (names withheld) had moved an application before the Judicial Magistrate (1st class) of Anantnags Kokernag area accusing BJPs Muhammad Sidiq Khan and another person Shahid Ahmed Bhat of subjecting them to sexual exploitation and blackmailing. The court termed the allegations as serious and directed the concerned police stations to register an FIR against the accused. The court order reads that the complainants approached the Judicial Magistrate Kokernag with a prayer seeking direction for registration of FIR against the accused persons on the allegations of sexual exploitation and blackmailing. The court observed that the nature and seriousness of the allegations of the commission of cognizable crime raised by the complainants against the accused persons need proper and thorough investigation to ascertain the facts. The police sources said that the concerned police stations have, while complying with the court orders, registered an FIR under the relevant provisions of the law and taken up investigations. Kolkata: Calling Aliah University student union leader Anees Khans murder in Howrah unfortunate in a bid to douse the uproar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an impartial probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the case after the victims family refused to meet her at Nabanna, the state secreraiat, and instead asked her to visit them instead. The Trinamul Congress supremo also stunned the Opposition, which has been raising a hue and cry against her government over the polices allegedly dubious role in the murder, by praising Anees as her favourite boy for helping her during the Assembly elections last year. Anees was associated with the Indian Secular Front, which was allied with the Left Front and the Congress in their fight against the TMC. On Monday morning, state panchayat minister Pulak Roy, who is the TMC MLA from Uluberia South in Howrah, visited Anees family at Amta and requested them to meet the CM. But the victims father, Salam Khan, refused, citing his ill-health. He demanded that the CM visit them instead. Ms Banerjee said: The government will conduct an impartial probe. I have given instructions while talking to the state director- general of police on Sunday. They have arranged forensic reports. The incident is unfortunate. No death is expected to us. She added: We had good contacts with Anees. Those who are trying to hog the limelight on TV do not know that Anees was in touch with us. He also helped me a lot in the polls. So, he was our favourite boy. We are forming a SIT, which will include the CID, under the state chief secretary and DGP for the probe. Whoever is accused, even if its me, will not be spared. I am rough and tough in such cases. A report will be submitted to me after the completion of the probe within 15 days. I request the family to repose their faith in me. There will be no mercy for the accused. There will be justice. During the day, the Calcutta high court sought a report from the state government within the next three days after accepting a petition filed by a lawyer, Kaustav Bagchi, praying for suo moto cognisance of the killing. While passing the order, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha scheduled a hearing on the plea on February 24. Later, Howrah Rural superintendent of police Saumya Roy, who is under the scanner of the state police top brass over allegations of inaction, said that Anees was an accused in two cases each at Bagnan and Amta police stations. He said the Bagnan case included charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, related to sexual abuse on minors, with a court warrant pending against him. Meanwhile, Anees cellphone, which was missing since his murder on February 18 night, was found at his home in the evening. His family members, however, refused to hand it over to the police for the probe, and said they would submit it in the court. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and his wife Durga Stalin show their fingers marked with indelible ink, after casting their votes during the local body elections, outside a polling booth, in Chennai (PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar) Chennai: The gloomy prognosis on the outcome of the elections to the urban local bodies even before the counting of votes has not begun and the spate charges of irregularities levelled against the ruling party by opposition leaders, particularly from the AIADMK and BJP, point to a possible clean sweep by the DMK all over the State. BJP State President K Annamalai told the media on Monday that the DMK indulged in large scale violence and even screened video clipping to prove his point. However, while tweeting the compilation of the videos, he tagged @ECISVEEP, the Twitter account of the Election Commission of India saying that he hoped that ECI would not close its eyes on counting day. The ECI was quick to respond with documentary evidence that they do not have the mandate to hold the elections to the rural and urban local bodies and that it was done by the State Election Commission. Screenshots of the ECI tweet that also had a Do You Know clip on Article 324 attached to it went viral on social media with many people wondering how come a leader of a political party was not aware of such things. But otherwise, Annamalai levelled serious charges against the government like a DMK supporter casting his vote twice. He said there was large-scale bogus voting, pointing out that the percent of voting had seen a steep hike in the last one hour that was actually dedicated for Covid-19 affected voters. He said that many persons were injured in the violence unleashed by the DMK and that he had filed a complaint to the SEC, which had turned a blind eye to everything. In Ramanathapuram, the candidates were told that 9,790 votes had been polled but when the details were uploaded in the website it read as 11,143. Similarly he also wanted action against the official responsible for the goof up on the vote of Union Minister of State L Murugan, who was first told that his vote had been cast. He was allowed to vote after the polling officials found that another voter by name Murugan had voted and that they had marked it against the name of the Minister. Similarly AIADMK co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami also said that even if they win the elections results would be announced the other way and that the AIADMK would challenge the results in the court. He also alleged that the law and order in the State had collapsed and that people did not come out to vote fearing rowdy elements, who were on the prowl in the streets. These kinds of charges being leveled against the government ahead of the counting point to the opposition parties trying to pre-empt a possible defeat by coming out with reasons before the results are out. Indias largest insurer Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) has decided to go ahead with its initial public offering next month despite the volatility in markets due to geopolitical tensions. We are very keen on having the listing in the month of March, thats all that I can share right now, the state-run insurers chairman, M R Kumar, told reporters on Monday. The comments came at a time the Indian government faced pressure to meet its already reduced disinvestment targets before the end of the current financial year. LIC is set to file for a Rs 60,000 crore IPO on March 11 in what is expected to be the largest in Indian history. LIC, which filed its draft IPO papers earlier this month, will offer a 5 per cent stake or about 31 crore shares within this financial year, testing the appetite of investors. Kumar also said the insurer was well capitalised. Also Read: PMJJBY policyholders eligible for LIC IPO at discount As of now, we do not believe that we require capital, we are sufficiently capitalised as we see it and going forward if there is any growth capital requirement, obviously well have to approach not only the government but all the shareholders who will be part of the family by then. But going forward, I do not see any reason, Kumar said. He asked potential investors not to worry about government control post the IPO as decisions are taken by its board and not by the government, which will hold a 95 per cent stake post the IPO. It will be a board-driven organisation which will take the decisions that are required to be taken, Kumar said. Some cheered the decision. The LIC listing is a very progressive move as it will lend a lot more accountability to investment allocation decisions which will now be a lot more open to public scrutiny, said Ricky Kirpalani, the lead sponsor at First Water Capital Fund. Raising growth capital was never the primary objective for LIC as much as raising cash in the hands of the government as its key shareholder was. On Monday, the insurers chairman also talked about how its digital transactions including premium payments rose 60 per cent in the past year as the pandemic forced people to avoid unnecessary trips outside their homes. The growth has made LIC decide to boost its online insurance marketing and selling plans. I call it phy-gital and 100 per cent online services are also being made available. We expect to see a lot of digital transactions going forward, Kumar said. Kumar also said that to align with the private players of the sector, LIC has changed its profit-sharing ratio to 90:10 from 95:5. In other words, 90 per cent of the surplus generated by LIC will be distributed amongst the policyholders and government retains the rest. There is no short-changing for anybody, policy holder interests will be taken care of. There was one unified trust and we changed the rules to align ourselves with the industry for surplus distribution, Kumar said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Police have questioned the former CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and her adviser as part of an investigation into suspected corporate governance lapses at the country's biggest bourse, a police source said on Tuesday. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) police officials also visited market regulator Sebi'soffice to collect documents related to the case, the source told Reuters. The action is the latest sign the CBI is stepping up its investigation of a 2018 case involving allegations the NSE provided some high frequency traders unfair access to speed up algorithmic trading. The additional scrutiny risks further delaying a listing plan of NSE. Police officials in recent days questioned former NSE CEO Chitra Ramkrishna in Mumbai and her then-adviser Anand Subramanian in Chennai, the police official said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. Read | NSE co-location case: Probe shifts towards money trail, illicit gains The NSE and Sebi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ramkrishna and Subramanian also did not respond. The intensified police probe follows a February 11 order by Sebi that highlighted corporate governance lapses at the exchange. It said Ramkrishna over the years shared confidential NSE data and sought advice from an outsider she described as a Himalayan yogi. The Sebi order said the former CEO "arbitrarily" appointed Subramanian as her adviser, adding he had "no relevant experience". In an interview to The Economic Times newspaper published on Tuesday, the finance minister said the government was probing whether Sebi took adequate action in the NSE matter. NSE has said it is "committed to highest standards of governance and transparency", calling the issue "almost 6-9 years old". Ramkrishna told Sebi during the probe she did not compromise integrity of the exchange. Corporate governance concerns The latest regulatory order is another major setback for the NSE that has struggled to roll out its IPO for years, having already been marred by allegations of governance lapses and technical glitches. The NSE denies any wrongdoing. The regulatory order said Ramkrishna - who quit as CEO in 2016 - was "merely a puppet" of someone she described as an unnamed yogi in Himalayas who "would manifest at will". Sebi has said the former CEO made "incorrect and misleading submission" about existence of a yogi. A former NSE official said the regulatory setback risks delaying NSE's IPO by several months, while one former senior Sebi official said the NSE must review all major decisions taken by the former CEO. "It's shocking, it's very shocking. It's brought down the image of the NSE," said the former Sebi official. The NSE, started in 1994, says it is the world's biggest derivatives exchange in terms of total number of contracts traded. Ramkrishna joined NSE in the early 1990s and is credited for much of what the exchange stands for today. The police source said both the former NSE CEO and her then adviser have been prohibited from leaving India for the time being. Watch latest videos by DH here: Warehouses planned for Dutch Springs moved closer to construction Monday when Bethlehem Township gave its approval for the redevelopment. Advertisement Township commissioners voted 5-0 to grant final land development approval for their portion of a three-lot subdivision proposed by the Trammell Crow Co. that stretches into neighboring Lower Nazareth Township. The Texas developer still must go before the Lower Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors on March 9 to secure approval from that body, said Kate Durso, an attorney representing Trammell Crow. Advertisement It also must get final permission from the Department of Environmental Protection to proceed, she said. The plan for Lehigh Valley Trade Center III calls for the 100-acre parcel at 4733 Hanover Road to be carved into three sections, with Lot 1 in Lower Nazareth featuring a 287,000-square-foot warehouse. Lot 2, in both Bethlehem and Lower Nazareth townships, would be the site of a 301,000-square-foot warehouse. The structure itself would be on a portion of the property solely in Bethlehem Township, Planning Director Amanda Raudenbush said. It would also include parking for 204 cars and 60 trailers, she said. First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings > As part of the sale between Trammell Crow and Dutch Springs, the 57.1 acres where the quarry is located the third slice of the subdivision would remain open for recreational and professional scuba use, including training for first responders. The aqua park at the site would be closed. About a third of the quarry lake is in Bethlehem Township, with the remainder in Lower Nazareth. Zoning boards in both townships granted variances late last year, allowing the plan to advance, including a deed covenant by Lower Nazareth mandating that the owner of Lot 1 be responsible for maintenance of the lake should it cease to operate as a scuba site. Commissioner Melissa Davis said she wanted assurances that language was included in the boards approval Monday. Advertisement I just want to make sure that it shows up somewhere, she said. Trammel Crow hopes to break ground on the project this year, said Matthew Nunn, company principal. Kevin Duffy is a freelance writer for The Morning Call. Major gas exporting nations said Tuesday they could not guarantee prices or supplies at a summit overshadowed by the worsening Ukraine crisis which has pushed costs to record highs in Europe. Qatar's emir, who hosted the talks, said gas producers were working to ensure "credible and reliable" supplies as Europe's fears over supplies from Russia were further hit by Germany's decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. The Gulf state's energy minister said his country would help Europe as much as possible, but that the unprecedented prices paid by Europe's consumers were "in God's hands". Leaders and ministers from the 11-member Gas Exporting Countries Forum met after Russian President Vladimir Putin formally recognised two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent and sent in troops. Germany responded by freezing the huge gas pipeline from Russia. Also Read | UK to immediately impose hard economic sanctions on Russia: Johnson With Russia a key member of the exporters' forum, the Ukraine crisis was not mentioned in talks, officials said, or the final statement. Russia's Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov made no reference to the tensions but he told the forum that "Russian companies are fully committed to existing contracts" for gas supplies. The United States has asked Qatar to help Europe if supplies are cut, but its Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said that his country could not rescue Europe alone. Russia accounts for about 40 per cent of the European market and Qatar five per cent. It would be "virtually impossible" for one country to replace that amount of gas, Kaabi told a press conference. Qatar's supplies are also tied up in long-term contracts, many with Asian countries including Japan, South Korea and China. "We are ready to supply more and we are working on that," he said of requests made by the European Union. Kaabi said 10 to 15 per cent of shipments under Qatar's long-term contracts could potentially be diverted. But he insisted that the record prices in Europe had their roots in a lack of investment before the Ukraine crisis. Also Read | Why Vladimir Putin is so confident in his Ukraine strategy he has a trump card in China Qatar and other producer nations want long-term contracts of up to 25 years to "underpin" the huge investments made in extracting, processing and transporting gas. "Everything that is going on today in pricing is fundamentally because of a lack of investments and that will take time to catch up," he said. Asked whether European consumers would have to pay more because of the Ukraine crisis, he said: "Predicting how prices will be, (whether they) will go up or down, that is in God's hands not mine, I cannot comment on the future." The summit statement made no comment about increasing supplies and stressed the need for long-term contracts and investment. But Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, said forum countries were "working hard to ensure a credible and reliable supply of natural gas to world markets and preserve the stability of those markets". The emir said the forum wanted more intense talks with gas importers "to ensure the security of natural gas supplies and the stability of global gas markets". Also Read | Russia's Lavrov questions Ukraine's 'right to sovereignty' Even before the sharp rise in energy prices over the past year, the major gas-producing nations had said they needed long-term contracts to guarantee supplies to consumers. The European Union has until recently resisted the 10, 15 and 20 year contracts typical in the industry. But Qatar and others say long-term deals are necessary to cover the massive investment needed to increase production. The summit was also attended by presidents and prime ministers from Algeria, Iran, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea and Trinidad and Tobago. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi said his country wanted to increase production and exports but was being held back by what he called "cruel and unnatural" US sanctions against his country. Major powers are negotiating with Iran to revive an accord regulating its controversial nuclear programme that could provide relief from the crippling sanctions. Check out the latest videos from DH: A former Bahraini policeman-turned-professional vehicle thief has been arrested for the second time in 14 years, the city police said. Nazeer Ahmed Imran alias Pilakal Nazeer, 61, a native of Kerala, had served in the Bahraini police for nine years before returning to India. He allegedly started stealing vehicles soon after to provide treatment for his son whos suffering from cancer. Nazeer was first arrested by Ashoknagar police in 2008 but got bail later. His second arrest came this month when Byatarayanapura police apprehended him for stealing an SUV from a car service centre on Mysuru Road last month. Police believe Nazeer stole a Tata Harrier from the service centre of Key Motors Pvt Ltd near Gopalan Arcade Mall. The SUV belonged to businessman Indermal Lunker, who had left it for service in front of the centre on January 27. It was stolen around 2 pm on January 29, according to the police complaint filed by the firms manager, I M Banagar. Following the complaint, police zeroed in on Nazeer and arrested him. They seized not only the SUV but also two motorcycles stolen in High Grounds police station limits. They found out that he had created fake documents of the stolen vehicles and sold them off. Police believe Nazeer went on a vehicle stealing spree, carting away two-wheelers and automobiles in different parts of Bengaluru. Crime sheet Nazeer has been named in vehicle theft cases registered at Cubbon Park, Ashoknagar, Parappana Agrahara, Koramangala, Jayanagar, Whitefield, Commercial Street, Jeevan Bima Nagar, Indiranagar and Banashankari, Sampangirama Nagar, Bellandur, Kumaraswamy Layout, RT Nagar and Rajajinagar police stations in Bengaluru and in various places in Kerala. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Sandalwood actor and civil rights activist Chetan Kumar Ahimsa has been arrested by the Bengaluru Police late evening on Tuesday, on charges of intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace, provocation and making statements conducing to public mischief. He was taken for a medical check-up and will be produced before a magistrate. According to sources in the Bengaluru City Police, five days ago, Chetan had insultingly tweeted against a high court judge. The Sheshadripuram police had initially detained him on Tuesday evening for questioning based on a suo moto complaint and subsequently, an FIR (Cr No40/2022) was registered under sections 505(2) and 504 of the IPC. Earlier, during the day, Chetan's wife Megha alleged that her husband has been 'missing' after some police officers had "taken him from his house." Going herself live on social media platforms, Megha alleged that without any prior intimation or legal notice to the family, Chetan was taken away from his house and his whereabouts had been unknown since. Chetans phone is switched off, his gunmans phone is also switched off. I came to Sheshadripuram police station to check and they say that he is not in their custody and that he has been taken elsewhere for inquiry. This is a kind of kidnapping. Nobody has any clue where he is. Nobody is giving any answers, Megha said. She further argued that any person who has been taken into custody should have a right to legal assistance which Chetan had been deprived of. Nobody is letting us know where they have detained him for inquiry. This is a very unjust system and an act of injustice. They should at least inform his wife. She also said that she will connect with the public again when she has more information about Chetan. Check out DH's latest videos: Supplies of the Covid vaccine for 15-17-year-olds are running low across Bengaluru, less than two months after the drive to inoculate adolescents was launched. In the BBMP's Dasarahalli Zone, there's been no stock of Covaxin for three days now. Supplies are fast running out in other zones, too. The stocks aren't available in many hospitals either. Until now, Covaxin was the only Covid vaccine available for 15-17-years-olds in India. Corbevax, developed for 12-18-years-old, received emergency use authorisation only on Monday. Also Read: Indian scientists get funding to develop pan-coronavirus vaccine The vaccination for adolescents was launched in Bengaluru on January 3 with the BBMP aiming to inoculate 4.41 lakh beneficiaries. As per CoWIN data, 4,38,534 doses were administered until 7 pm, February 21. Of them, 3.6 lakh are first doses and the rest second doses. Covaxin is administered in two doses 28 days apart. The shortages are affecting the second dosage, officials said. In Dasarahalli, Covaxin stocks aren't available at any of the seven primary health centres (PHCs) where the vaccination was taking place. The PHCs are located in Nela Maheshwari, Abbigere, Mallasandra, Hegganahalli, Chikkanahalli, Rajagopal Nagar and Bagalagunte. "Despite notifying the authorities, we havent received fresh stocks," said Dr Soundarya, the nodal officer for vaccination in Dasarahalli Zone. The zone is yet to vaccinate 2,000 adolescents out of its target of 19,000. "Since we dont have stocks, we have kept the second dose on hold," she said. Sources said doses weren't available in Kengeri and BGS Global Hospital, too. "There are no Covaxin stocks anywhere," said Dr H M Prasanna, president of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes' Association. No private hospital wants to stock up given the past experience when they struggled to get the expired stock relabelled, he added. The BBMP is distributing whatever "we are getting from the union government," said Dr K V Thrilok Chandra, Special Commissioner (Health). "There has been some lag in the supply." The BBMP received the last supply four to five days ago and then 50,000 doses on Monday. "That's usually the frequency," he said. BBMP Chief Health Officer Dr AS Balasundar said the stocks arrived every three to four days. As for Dasarahalli, he said the zonal authorities notified them on Sunday and were asked to wait because the stock cannot be moved laterally. "Currently, the first dose is our priority, he added. Health Commissioner D Randeep said there were no logistical issues at the state's end. "We supply as and when we get the stock from the Centre." On February 20 and 21, Karnataka received five lakh doses at state vaccine stores in Bengaluru and Belagavi. "The allocation has been done. Districts will collect," he added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital has reported two cases of the Delta-Omicron co-infection, with hospital authorities saying the patients have been discharged. No complications have been brought to our notice, hospital dean Manoj Kumar told DH. After some cases of the Delta-Omicron co-infections from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network came to the central governments notice, the state health commissioner asked the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in Karnataka to examine similar cases in the state. One theory is that the Covid samples may have been contaminated, Health Commissioner D Randeep said. Meanwhile, the state surveillance unit has also been asked to check the genomic sequencing reports of two-third patients who died in January due to comorbidities or were aged over 60. Almost half of the 645 deaths that occurred in the month were admitted two or three days before death. I have asked the member secretary of the Technical Advisory Committee to check the genome sequencing reports in the 645 deaths. Deaths in ICUs were over 70 per cent. Paediatric deaths were 13 out of the 645 who died in January, and most had pre-existing medical conditions, Randeep said. Dr John Paul, specialist, Infectious Diseases, Sparsh Hospital, said they send Covid samples of high-risk patients, such as the ones that are immune-compromised and aged, for genome sequencing if they agree. We have found them to have Omicron, he said. Dr Swati Rajagopal, consultant, Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, said recombinant co-infection of the Delta-Omicron variants have been investigated in several parts of the world over the last one month. Theoretically, recombinant strains are highly probable with all influenza viruses, she added. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Congress could never understand the Northeast and its people and did not work to improve connectivity for development in Manipur. "Congress could never understand the people of Northeast, their feelings and their problems. Congress leaders come here, talk big but when they are out in other states, they make fun of Manipur's culture, language and costumes," Modi said while addressing a campaign rally at Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's constituency, Heingang in Manipur. Modi's attack on Congress was an apparent counter to Rahul Gandhi's jibe at him on Monday in which the latter alleged that BJP tries to impose one ideology instead of respecting the diverse culture, language and food habits in Manipur and the rest of Northeast. Also read: In Manipur, a 'predictable' election takes twists and turns "Congress created a division between the hills and the valley to stay in power. They made bandh and blockades the fate of Manipur. It is the BJP-led government that provided people with a respite from bandh and blockades and opened a new chapter of development. We brought Manipur to the railway map of the country and Imphal will soon be connected via railway with the rest of the country. Previous governments worked on only one National Highway project, we have started work on 40 National Highway projects. Once the transboundary highway connecting Myanmar and Thailand is complete, Manipur will become the centre of India's a trade and commerce with East Asian nations," Modi said. "It is the BJP government which fulfilled the long demand for Inner Line Permit in Manipur and set up a museum in the name of Rani Gaidinliu (freedom fighter)," the PM said. Assembly elections in Manipur are scheduled on February 28 and March 4. In 2017, Congress had emerged as the single largest party but BJP stitched an alliance with the National People's Party and Naga People's Front and formed its first government. BJP, this time, is eyeing the absolute majority. Modi said the BJP government in the state helped the women shopkeepers by constructing Ima Kaithal (all women market) in seven district headquarters. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress government had constructed the only women market and BJP did nothing to improve it or construct more such markets. Oil palm mission: Modi also defended the Centre's palm oil mission in the Northeast saying it would create more opportunities for farmers in Manipur. On Monday, Rahul said the palm oil mission would destroy Manipur and was for benefit of Patanjali and a few other big business groups. Modi said nearly 22 lakh people (70% of the population) have benefitted from the free ration in the past two years provided by the BJP government. "Nearly 60,000 houses have been constructed and women are owners of the maximum of them. We have provided free electricity to 1.25 lakh households and 1.5 lakh free LPG connections. Till 2017, only 25,000 houses had piped drinking water connections but it has gone up to nearly 3 lakh in the past five years," Modi said as he urged people to vote for BJP again and give it an absolute majority. "I am doing such works because you elected a government with an absolute majority in Delhi. We need the government with an absolute majority in the state also," Modi said. Check out latest DH videos on Assembly elections 2022 here A complaint has been filed against Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for violating the model code of conduct at Sefai police station in Etawah district. Sefai is also the SP chief's native village. This happened when Akhilesh Yadav had interacted with the media persons while casting his vote for the Jaswantnagar seat in Etawah on Sunday. Akhilesh Yadav spoke to the media personnel both, before and after casting his vote. Also read: Govt's bulldozer brand effective against mafia: Yogi Adityanath Initially, a notice was served by the Election Commission to the SP chief for violation of the model code of conduct. Subsequently, an FIR was lodged at Sefai police station under section 130 of the Representation of the People Act (1950, 1951,1989) and section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of Indian Penal Code. District Magistrate Shruti Singh said when polling was in progress at a polling centre in Abhinav School in Sefai, Akhilesh Yadav spoke to reporters, the video of which surfaced on social media. The Sefai SDM and the Circle Officer had been asked to probe the matter. During the probe by the SDM Sefai, it came to light that Akhilesh had spoken to the media during polling. From the site inspection, it became clear that Akhilesh Yadav spoke to the media between the main gate of the polling station and the exit gate. The Election Commission has said that talking to the media inside the polling station is a violation of the model code of conduct, said the district magistrate. Also, section 144 is also applicable in the district, under which there is a ban on gathering in large numbers at one place. Therefore, section 144 has also been violated, besides he had also violated Covid protocol, said the district magistrate. Check out latest DH videos on UP elections here European Union foreign ministers will on Tuesday adopt sanctions against Russia over its recognition of Ukrainian separatist regions and a further deployment of troops on its neighbour's territory, the bloc's foreign policy chief said. "Our response will be in the form of sanctions, whose extent the ministers will decide... I'm sure there will be a unanimous decision" required for the measures, Josep Borrell told reporters in Paris. He added that the text of the possible measures was being prepared during the morning while the ministers attend a forum with Asia-Pacific nations in the French capital. Also Read | UK to immediately impose hard economic sanctions on Russia: Johnson The decision itself would come "this afternoon" at an emergency meeting that he has called on the sidelines of the forum in Paris, Borrell said. He would not be drawn on the details of the sanctions, which are expected to fall on the same day as punitive measures by the US and Britain. Further consequences for Russia "should not be symbolic", Lithuania's deputy foreign minister Arnoldas Pranckevicius said in Brussels. Ireland's Europe minister Thomas Byrne said "we've got to ensure that whatever happens that Russian certainly feels the pain... that's going to happen". Also in the EU capital, France's Europe minister Clement Beaune said that agreeing sanctions "was a question of firmness and credibility" for the bloc. Also Read | Why Vladimir Putin is so confident in his Ukraine strategy he has a trump card in China The measures would include targeted sanctions against Russian individuals and firms, including asset freezes and travel bans, as well as potential financial measures against Russian banks, European sources told AFP. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said separately on Tuesday that Berlin will halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia, singled out by allies as a chink in Europe's united front. Washington had already banned US persons from any financial dealings with the breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine, whose independence was recognised by Russian President Vladimir Putin late Monday. Shortly after the announcement, Putin ordered troops into the two regions as part of a "peacekeeping" operation. "Russian troops have entered Donbas, we consider Donbas part of Ukraine," Borrell said Tuesday. But the EU joined the US in holding off describing the deployment as an invasion that would trigger the harshest sanctions threatened by the West in recent months. "I wouldn't say that's a fully-fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil," Borrell said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The European Union is set to activate an EU cyber response team to help Ukraine face Russian attacks, the unit's leader Lithuania said on Tuesday. Lithuania and others "are activating (the) Cyber Rapid Response Team to help Ukrainian institutions to cope with growing cyber threats," the Baltic state's Deputy Defence Minister Margiris Abukevicius tweeted. In response to #Ukraine request are activating Cyber Rapid Response Team to help institutions to cope with growing cyber threats. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/xxfsw1eiTq Margiris Abukevicius (@AbukeviciusM) February 22, 2022 The decision comes after Moscow recognised two breakaway regions in Ukraine, prompting backlash from the West and further fuelling fears of a possible Russian invasion of its post-Soviet neighbour. On Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Russia had been using hybrid tactics to "escalate the situation." "We see disinformation campaigns, we see cyber attacks. We see open fakes distributed about Ukraine, and we see increased military activity," he told reporters in Brussels. Ukrainian cybersecurity bodies warned of impending attacks earlier this week, with a couple of major attacks on government websites recently observed. Also Read Russia's upper house votes to back treaties with breakaway Ukrainian regions Kuleba called on the EU to take decisions that would "send clear messages to Russia that its escalation will not be tolerated and Ukraine will not be left on its own." "This includes not only political messaging, political signals, but also some very specific acts like supporting the development of our defence sector, supporting Ukraine's cybersecurity, imposing some of the sanctions," he said. The EU's cyber security team, established in 2019, has experts from Croatia, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Even as India advised its citizens studying in Ukraine to leave the East European nation temporarily, many of them appear to be in dilemma as uncertainty looms large over their future with the institutions not guaranteeing continuation of online classes. Hours after Russia moved to deploy troops in Donetsk and Luhansk regions after declaring the two breakaway enclaves of Ukraine as independent republics, the Embassy of India in Kyiv once again advised Indians studying in medical colleges and other academic institutions in the East European nations to leave temporarily in the interest of their own safety without waiting for confirmation on continuation of classes online. India had on Sunday asked its citizens studying in the educational institutions in Ukraine to leave the country temporarily in view of the continued high level of tension and uncertainties. Also Read | India stresses avoiding military escalation on Russia-Ukraine border, stops short of criticising Putin But many of nearly 18,000 Indians studying in Ukrainian medical colleges and other educational institutions appeared to be hesitant to leave. After the Embassy of India in Kyiv posted its advisory on its page on Facebook, one of the students, Dev Rana, replied, pointing out that the authorities of the universities had not yet confirmed if they would continue online classes. Rana requested the embassy to discuss the issue with Ukrainian Government to ensure continuation of classes online for the rest of the ongoing semester. Ashif, another student, also has similar concern. Also talk to the University and Ukrainian Government that they also give us a clear and official statement so that its easy for the students to go to their home, India, he wrote in reply to the advisory by the Embassy of India in Kyiv. The Embassy of India in Kyiv stated that it was engaged with respective authorities in Ukraine for streamlining of the education process for Indian students. Students are advised in the interest of their safety to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities, it stated in its latest advisory issued on Tuesday. A number of Indian students in Ukraine also appear to be in dilemma in view of very high air fares between Kyiv and New Delhi. One of them, Abhishek Thakur, replied to a tweet by the Embassy of India in Kyiv, stating that the air fare was almost Rs 60000 which was almost equal to the fees for one semester in the institutions in Ukraine. He stated that many students could not afford to pay so much for air fare to return to India. The Government of India has not yet decided to deploy special aircraft to evacuate Indians from Ukraine. Indians were rather advised to avail commercial flights or charter flights to leave the East European nations. An Air India Boeing 787 aircraft with more than 240 passengers from Ukraine departed from Kyiv for New Delhi on Tuesday. The Air India will operate two more flights between Kyiv and New Delhi on February 24 and 26. The Ukraine International airlines will also operate additional flights between Kyiv and New Delhi on February 25 and 27 and March 6, the Embassy of India in the capital of Ukraine posted on Facebook. Check out latest videos from DH: State police say they need to determine whether its feasible to mandate annual anti-bias training for troopers after a state commission recommended it do so to help prevent bias-based policing. That decision disappointed a Lehigh Valley resident who is part of the 27-member commission formed after the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer. Advertisement Why do they need to see if its feasible? Why not just do it? Boyer said. It just seems to me that theyre resisting, but theyre going to own the consequences if they choose not to do this. Complaints against state police are going to continue. While Boyer is glad to see state police willing to address other committee recommendations, such as better defining bias-based conduct and banning employee memberships in hate groups, anti-bias training remains a sticking point. Advertisement I consider this to be really low-hanging fruit they can easily implement, said Boyer, who also is active with the NAACPs Easton branch. Boyer is the only Lehigh Valley resident on the State Law Enforcement Citizens Advisory Commission formed by Gov. Tom Wolf as part of a nationwide movement for racial justice and equality. The commission advises on ways to improve law enforcement practices. It meets quarterly to examine bias-based, critical-incident and use-of-force cases and submits findings and recommendations. In a Dec. 10 report on its findings regarding a 2016 racial profiling complaint, the bias-based policing committee recommended state police update policies to: Better define bias-based conduct against all protected classes and, where feasible, provide examples and descriptions of what may constitute such conduct. protected classes and, where feasible, provide examples and descriptions of what may constitute such conduct. Ban employee memberships and/or affiliations with groups that may interfere with the agencys operations, limit its ability to function and/or bring it into disrepute. Ban employees from using social or other publicly accessible media to engage in bias-based or other discriminatory or offensive behavior against all protected classes. protected classes. Mandate employees to report co-workers engaging in bias-based policing and/or other discriminatory or offensive conduct. Require all investigations into bias-based policing complaints be completed in compliance with internal affairs policies and procedures, and require investigators to receive annual training in such complaints. Mandate annual in-service bias-based or implicit-bias training for all employees. Reaffirm and mandate that all bias-based policing complaints are fully and properly investigated and judiciously acted on. And, if an underlying court case is pending against the complainant, notify the complainant in writing of the investigations temporary suspension and how to refile their complaint once the case has been adjudicated. The [Pennsylvania State Police] currently mandates all members receive anti-bias and implicit-bias training, starting with cadets at the academy, state police Commissioner Robert Evanchick said in a letter to Sha Brown, the deputy inspector general who chairs the commission. While the PSP is confident all members have been adequately trained in the area of implicit bias, the PSP will review the feasibility of making this a mandatory, annual in-service requirement, Evanchick said in the letter. What does adequate mean? asked Boyer, who chairs the bias-based policing committee. How is one-time academy training for cadets, as opposed to annual training throughout their careers as troopers and investigators, sufficient in helping reduce the number of implicit-bias complaints against state police? Evanchik said in his letter that the state police Internal Affairs Division and Heritage Affairs Section investigate bias complaints. The Heritage Affairs Section ensures all members of the PSP receive anti-bias and implicit-bias training, he said. Advertisement First Call Daily Leading local stories delivered on weekday mornings > Boyer asked, But again, how often is that training? Wouldnt it be more proactive to annually train members to recognize and avoid bias, instead of letting it get to the point where there are incidents having to be reviewed by Internal Affairs? State police spokesperson Adam Reed said, We continually reevaluate ourselves to determine if there are any deficiencies with training or policy. Over the last two years, weve partnered with Strategic Consulting Partners to provide all personnel with diversity and inclusion training. It should be noted that in 2020, we had only one allegation of bias-based profiling that was sustained. The state police Heritage Affairs Section is state-recognized for building and maintaining relationships and trust between law enforcement and diverse communities, Reed said. The unit works with municipal, state and federal agencies and community organizations to engage marginalized communities in meaningful dialogue. The commission was encouraged by the many areas in which PSP agreed to implement or consider implementing the commissions recommendations, said Jonathan Hendrickson, spokesperson for the state office of inspector general. The commission looks forward to continuing to work with PSP to improve policing in Pennsylvania. Wolfs spokesperson, Elizabeth Rementer, said, The governor appreciates the commissions recommendations and the state polices thoughtful responses and commitment to explore and/or implement the recommendations. The administration will support state police in their efforts. Advertisement Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com. Three people in Japan who were forcibly sterilised under a now-defunct eugenics law were awarded damages on Tuesday in a landmark victory following court losses in similar cases, their lawyer said. Around 16,500 people with disabilities were sterilised without their consent under the law, which was in force between 1948 and 1996, according to the health ministry. Lawyers and campaigners have long criticised the government for failing to compensate the victims, and district courts have ruled against various claims in recent years, arguing that the 20-year statute of limitations had passed. But on Tuesday the Osaka High Court overturned a lower court decision, with Japanese media reporting it had ordered the national government to pay a combined 27.5 million yen ($240,000) to the elderly trio. "The disappointment of the plaintiffs and others reached the judge, and it was a moment that moved a mountain," their lawyer Tamano Tsujikawa said in televised comments. Also Read Population control: A flawed solution to an imaginary problem? The plaintiffs' demand had been struck down by a local court in 2020, citing the statute of limitations, but the High Court judge said the previous ruling "grossly violates the spirit of justice and fairness". National broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media said it was the first time damages have been awarded in court for a forced sterilisation case. The health ministry will review the case before deciding whether to appeal, government officials said. Health Minister Shigeyuki Goto told reporters the decision was a "very tough verdict for the government." The three plaintiffs were an elderly couple, both of whom have hearing difficulties, and another woman with an intellectual disability, according to a local campaign group. "I am happy our claim was accepted. But my sorrow of having to go through the operation continues even now," the woman with hearing difficulties said after the verdict, NHK reported, without disclosing her name. "I want to continue our battle" so other victims will receive compensation in future rulings, she said. The government has previously offered the victims a blanket payout of 3.2 million yen eachan amount derided by campaigners as failing to match the seriousness of the issue. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Russia is not planning to send troops to eastern Ukraine "for now" but will do so in case of a "threat", a foreign ministry official said Tuesday after Moscow's parliament ratified cooperation deals with Ukraine's separatist republics. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said the treaties include the provision of "military aid" but added that "speculation" on troop deployments should be avoided. "For now, no one is planning to send anything anywhere. If there is a threat, then we will provide assistance in accordance with the ratified treaties." Also Read World leaders condemn Russian decision on Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia's military to act as peacekeepers in the breakaway Donetsk and Lugansk regions late on Monday, just hours after he recognised them as independent. The recognition opened the door for direct Russian military involvement. Moscow provided no details or date for any deployment, with the order only saying that it "comes into force from the day it was signed". Russia has moved tens of thousands of soldiers to regions near Ukraine's borders, with the West fearing Moscow could use them for an attack at any moment. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Russian lawmakers on Tuesday voted to ratify President Vladimir Putin's agreements with east Ukraine's separatist republics, a day after the Russian leader recognised their independence and ordered troops to be sent there. The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, voted to approve Putin's friendship deals with the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LNR). The voting ended in standing applause from MPs. The agreements, published by Russia's lower house of parliament, create a "legal basis" for the presence of the Russian army in the republics. As part of the deals, both sides agreed to share military bases and jointly protect their borders. Also Read Russia's Lavrov questions Ukraine's 'right to sovereignty' Lawmakers approved the two agreements unanimously, by 400 votes for the deal with Donetsk Republic and 399 for the Lugansk deal after one MP said he did not press the voting button in time. "This is the only way to protect people, stop the fratricidal war, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and bring peace," the Duma's chairman, Vyacheslav Volodin, said in comments published on the parliament's website. Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, is due to vote on the deals later on Tuesday. Putin recognised the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist republics on Monday, despite repeated Western warnings that this would result in sanctions. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Britain on Tuesday slapped sanctions on five Russian banks and three billionaires, in what Prime Minister Boris Johnson called "the first barrage" of measures in response to the Kremlin's actions in Ukraine. Addressing the UK parliament hours after Russia ordered troops into two Moscow-backed Ukrainian rebel regions, Johnson described it as "a renewed invasion" of its western neighbour and "pretext for a full-scale offensive". "The UK and our allies will begin to impose the sanctions on Russia that we have already prepared... to sanction Russian individuals and entities of strategic importance to the Kremlin," he told MPs. The British leader said further sanctions were "at readiness to be deployed" if the Kremlin showed further aggression in what he predicted would be "a protracted crisis". The five banks targeted -- Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank -- and three people sanctioned will see any UK assets frozen. Also read: Why Vladimir Putin is so confident in his Ukraine strategy he has a trump card in China The individuals concerned -- Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg -- will be banned from travelling to Britain and all UK individuals and entities will be banned from dealing with them and the banks. "We cannot tell what will happen in the days ahead," Johnson added in the House of Commons, amid cross-party condemnation of Moscow's actions. "But... we should steel ourselves for a protracted crisis." The sanctions announcement came after Johnson chaired an early morning meeting with security chiefs, after which he vowed to hit Russia "very hard". Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the independence of the rebel-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine and instructed the defence ministry to assume "the function of peacekeeping" in the separatist-held regions. Its foreign ministry on Tuesday insisted that "for now" it was not planning to send troops to other parts of eastern Ukraine beyond the separatist areas. However, Monday's move ratcheted up weeks of tensions and Western diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation, after a massive build-up of troops on Ukraine's border. Britain's relations with the Kremlin have been frosty since the radiation poisoning death of a former Russian spy in London in 2006, and the attempted murder of another double agent in the southwestern city of Salisbury in 2018. Successive governments in London, however, have faced sustained pressure to act against illicit Russian money circulating through the city's financial markets since the fall of the Soviet Union. Johnson's spokesman said earlier Tuesday that Russia's ambassador to London had been called in for talks on Ukraine by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. Watch latest videos by DH here: Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday demanded an immediate halt to the Nord Steam 2 project and Kyiv prepared to sever relations with Moscow in response to its recognition of two breakaway regions. Zelensky also told reporters that the Kremlin was paving the way for a major military assault on Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader said Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions on Monday demanded a swift and punishing economic response from the West. He said it must include "the complete stop of the Nord Stream 2" project that takes Russian gas to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Also read: Russia's Lavrov questions Ukraine's 'right to sovereignty' The pipeline -- completed but not yet in operation -- has also angered Washington and Ukraine's close allies in eastern Europe. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz appears to have warmed to the idea of suspending the project after initially refusing to give unequivocal support to such a move. Zelensky said he has also "received a request from the foreign ministry to examine the question of breaking off relations between Ukraine and the Russian Federation". "I will now, immediately after this press conference, examine and work on this issue," he said at a joint media appearance with Estonian President Alar Karis. He called Putin's recognition of the rebel Donetsk and Lugansk regions the first step to a planned "military aggression against Ukraine". Watch latest videos by DH here: Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that he does not plan to restore Russia's empire, a day after he ordered Russian troops to be sent to eastern Ukraine and questioned Ukraine's sovereignty. "We predicted speculation that Russia plans to restore (its) empire within imperial borders," Putin said at a meeting with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev in the Kremlin, adding: "This absolutely does not correspond with reality". On Monday, Putin recognised the independence of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk separatist republics -- despite warnings from the West not to. He announced the decision after an hour-long speech heavy with historical references, in which he alleged Ukraine was "entirely created by Russia" and questioned its right to exist. The Russian leader said Tuesday that Moscow "recognised the new geopolitical realities" after the fall of the Soviet Union and works with "all independent countries in the post-Soviet space." Also read: Russia's Lavrov questions Ukraine's 'right to sovereignty' But he said Ukraine was an exception, saying "it is being used by third countries to create threats towards Russia." "Unfortunately after the coup d'etat in Ukraine, we do not see such a level and quality of interaction with Ukraine. It disappeared," Putin said, referring to Ukraine's 2014 pro-Western revolution. Putin annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. In 2008, Russia also supported two Georgian separatist regions and has backed a breakaway region of Moldova, Transnistria, since the 1990s. Putin's recognition of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics opens the door for a Russian military presence in the region. Check out DH's latest videos: Foreign companies with exposure to Russia were poring over contingency plans on Tuesday, with some looking at whether to shift production or find new supply chains to shield their businesses from new Western sanctions. Renault's carmaker Avtovaz, Finland's Nokian Tyres , soft-drink bottler Coca-Cola HBC and German retailer Metro all said they were watching the Ukraine situation closely given this week's escalation. Britain sanctioned five Russian banks and three billionaires on Tuesday and Germany halted certification of a gas pipeline in a first wave of restrictions. The EU and the United States are expected to announce measures with energy and technology potentially in the crosshairs, along with financial services and more individuals. Read more: Hungary to deploy troops near its border with Ukraine The White House has told the US chip industry, for example, to be ready for new restrictions on exports to Russia, including potentially blocking Russia's access to global electronics supplies. Avtovaz, the carmaker behind the Lada brand in which Renault has a 69% stake, said on Tuesday it was looking to secure different supplies of semiconductors in case Washington clamps down on electronics. "Of course we are also investigating possibilities to find alternatives in the case of sanctions," Nicolas Maure, Avtovaz chief executive, told reporters in the Russian city of Izhevsk. Russia relies on foreign supplies of chips and a senior Russian auto industry source said there was concern about how delivery times and new pre-orders might be affected. Nokian Tyres, which has a factory and warehouse in Russia, said it had intensified its risk management planning and was prepared to shift the manufacture of certain products between plants if necessary. Stockpiling materials Coca-Cola HBC, which bottles soft drinks in 29 European and African countries and counts Russia and Nigeria as its two biggest markets, said it had learned lessons from the Russian-Ukrainian conflict of 2014. Chief Executive Zoran Bogdanovic said it was considering stockpiling ingredients to limit any disruption in Russia and had plans for alternative sourcing of raw materials as well. Read more: US set to impose sanctions after Russian 'invasion' of Ukraine "We have looked at all types of scenarios and have ensured that we have contingency plans in place in case there is disruption," said Chief Financial Officer Ben Almanzar. Swiss consumer goods giant Nestle declined to comment on sanctions and said the safety of its staff was its highest priority. As of 2020, Nestle had six factories in Russia, including plants making confectionary and drinks. Its 2020 sales there were worth about $1.7 billion. Danone, the world's biggest yoghurt maker which controls Russian dairy brand Prostokvashino, said it too was focused on ensuring the security of its employees. German retailer Metro, which has operations in both Russia and Ukraine, said it was following the current developments with concern. "Our responsibility as a company in Russia lies primarily with our approximately 10,000 employees and 2.5 million customers," Metro spokesman Gerd Koslowski said, adding that the same concerns applied for Metro in Ukraine. Some companies, however, such as Germany's HeidelbergCement said they did not expect any major impact on their Russian operations, even if the conflict escalated. "All of our three Russian cement plants supply their respective local/regional markets and do not export outside Russia," a company spokesperson said. Energy exposure Washington and Brussels imposed sanctions on Russia's energy and defence sectors in the wake of Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014. There is now speculation that those measures could be widened and deepened, with one possible option being to prevent companies settling in US dollars. Britain's BP, the largest foreign investor in Russia with a 19.75% stake in state-run oil giant Rosneft, declined to comment when asked about potential new sanctions. Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell owns 27.5% of the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which has an annual capacity of 10.9 million tonnes and is operated by Gazprom. On Monday, Shell's head of integrated gas Wael Sawan told reporters that it would abide by any sanctions on Russia. Norway's Equinor, which has minority stakes in three Russian oilfields, said it had solid processes in place to ensure it complied with relevant sanctions. German utility Uniper, which counts Russia as one of its most important markets, declined to comment. Uniper has five power plants in Russia with a combined capacity of 11.2 gigawatts, providing about 5% of Russia's total energy needs and also imports Russian natural gas to Europe, according to its website. "On a general note, so far energy production in Russia has been excluded from EU sanctions," said Finland's Fortum , which owns 76% of Uniper. "We are of course following the situation very closely and will assess the possible impacts of sanctions and possible counter sanctions once they have been announced," it said. Watch the latest DH videos: Paul Farmer, a physician, anthropologist and humanitarian who gained global acclaim for his work delivering high-quality health care to some of the worlds poorest people, died Monday on the grounds of a hospital and university he had helped establish in Butaro, Rwanda. He was 62. Partners in Health, the global public health organization that Farmer helped found, announced his death in a statement that did not specify the cause. Farmer attracted public renown with Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr Paul Farmer, a Man Who Would Cure the World, a 2003 book by Tracy Kidder that described the extraordinary efforts he would make to care for patients, sometimes walking hours to their homes to ensure they were taking their medication. He was a practitioner of social medicine, arguing there was no point in treating patients for diseases only to send them back into the desperate circumstances that contributed to them in the first place. Illness, he said, has social roots and must be addressed through social structures. His work with Partners in Health significantly influenced public health strategies for responding to tuberculosis, HIV and Ebola. During the AIDS crisis in Haiti, he went door to door to deliver antiviral medication, confounding many in the medical field who believed it would be impossible for poor rural people to survive the disease. Although he worked in the world of development, he often took a critical view of international aid, preferring to work with local providers and leaders. And he often lived among the people he was treating, moving his family to Rwanda and Haiti for extended periods. News of Farmers death rippled through the worlds of medicine and public health Monday. There are so many people that are alive because of that man, Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a brief interview, adding that she wanted to compose herself before speaking further. Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Bidens top medical adviser, broke down in tears during an interview, in which he said he and Farmer had been like soul brothers. When you talk about iconic giants in the field of public health, he stands pretty much among a very, very short list of people, said Fauci, who first met Farmer decades ago, when Farmer was a medical student. He added, He called me his mentor, but in reality, he was more of a mentor to me. In the latter part of his career, Farmer became a public health luminary; the subject of a 2017 documentary, Bending the Arc; and the author of 12 books. In 2020, when he was awarded the $1 million Berggruen Prize, given annually to an influential thought leader, the chair of the prize committee said Farmer had reshaped our understanding of what it means to treat health as a human right and the ethical and political obligations that follow. Farmer, who never settled into the easy life of an elder statesman, was vigorously involved in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, prodding the Biden administration to drop intellectual property barriers that prevented pharmaceutical companies from sharing their technology. Its not just about health security, in the senses of defending yourself, he said. Its not just about charity, although thats not so bad. Its also about pragmatic solidarity with those in need of assistance. Paul Edward Farmer Jr. was born Oct. 26, 1959, in West Adams, Massachusetts. His mother, Ginny (Rice) Farmer, worked as a supermarket cashier, and his father, Paul Sr., was a salesperson and high school math teacher. When Paul was about 12, his father bought an old bus and fitted it with bunks, converting it into a mobile home. Paul, his parents and his five siblings spent the next few years traveling, mostly in Florida, living for a time on a boat moored on a bayou. He credited this period with giving him a very compliant GI system, a knack for sleeping anywhere, and an inability to be shy or embarrassed. One summer, he and his family worked alongside Haitian migrant workers picking oranges, listening curiously as they chatted to one another in Creole from atop ladders. That was Pauls first encounter with Haiti, the country that would captivate him in his 20s and then propel him toward a career in public health. After graduating from Duke University, he moved to Haiti, volunteering in Cange, a settlement in the central Artibonite plateau of the country. He arrived toward the end of the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier, when Haitis hospital system was so threadbare that patients had to pay for basic supplies, such as medical gloves or a blood transfusion, if they wanted treatment. In a letter to a friend, he wrote that his stint at the hospital wasnt turning out as he had expected. Its not that Im unhappy working here, said the letter, excerpted in Kidders book. The biggest problem is that the hospital is not for the poor. Im taken aback. I really am. Everything has to be paid for in advance. Farmer decided to open a different kind of clinic. He returned to the United States to attend Harvard Medical School and earn a degree in anthropology, but he continued to spend much of his time in Cange, returning to Harvard for exams and laboratory work. Over the years, Farmer raised millions of dollars for an ever-expanding network of community health facilities. He had a contagious enthusiasm and considerable nerve. When Thomas White, who owned a large construction company in Boston, asked to meet him, he insisted that the meeting take place in Haiti. White eventually contributed $1 million in seed money to Partners in Health, which in 1987 Farmer founded with Ophelia Dahl, whom he had met volunteering in Haiti; a Duke classmate, Todd McCormack; and a Harvard classmate, Dr. Jim Yong Kim. In 1996, he married Didi Bertrand, the daughter of a pastor and a school principal in Cange; she was described in Kidders book as the most beautiful woman in Cange. She became a researcher for Partners in Health and survives Farmer, along with their three children, Catherine, Elizabeth and Sebastian; his mother; his brothers, James and Jeffrey; and his sisters, Katy, Jennifer and Peggy. The clinic in Haiti, at first a single room, grew over the years to a network of 16 medical centers in the country, with a local staff of almost 7,000. Among them was a teaching hospital in Mirebalais, about 40 miles north of Port-au-Prince, that opened in 2013 and offered chemotherapy drugs, a gleaming new $700,000 CT scanner and three operating rooms with full-time trauma surgeons. There, poor patients with difficult diseases paid a basic fee of about $1.50 a day for treatment, including medication. Partners in Health also expanded into Rwanda, where Farmer helped the government restructure the countrys health system, improving health outcomes in areas such as infant mortality and the HIV infection rate. Farmer died in Butaro, a mountain town on the border of Uganda where he and Partners in Health collaborated with the Rwandan government to build a complex devoted to health and health education. Farmer had homes in Rwinkwavu, Rwanda; Cange, Haiti; and Miami. Farmer also helped develop new public health approaches in Peru, Russia and Lesotho, among other places. He was particularly proud of the fact that the clinics he helped build were staffed by local doctors and nurses whom he had trained. Im not cynical at all, he once said. Cynicism is a dead end. Over the years, he kept in touch with many of his patients, as well as their children and grandchildren. He was godfather to more than 100 children, most of them in Haiti, said Laurie Nuell, a close friend and board director at Partners in Health. Over the weekend, Farmer sent her a photo of a colourful bouquet of flowers he had put together for one of his terminally ill patients in Rwanda. Not my best work, the accompanying text said. He had a very tender heart, she said. Seeing pain and suffering was very hard for him. It just hurt him. Im a social worker by training. One thing I learned is about detachment. He wasnt detached from anyone. Thats the beauty of it. Check out latest DH videos here Hungary will deploy an unspecified number of troops near its border with Ukraine, for both security purposes and humanitarian tasks, the defence ministry said on Tuesday on the government's official Facebook page. Several countries in Eastern Europe have made preparations for potentially hundreds of thousands of people fleeing Ukraine if a crisis with Russia escalates. "Hungary's security is the most important, we are reinforcing the Ukraine-Hungary border," the statement said. The ministry said that defending the borders and preparing for a humanitarian mission were equally important tasks. The ministry did not say how many troops would be deployed. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and authorized the deployment of troops there, adding to Moscow's existing build up of forces around Ukraine and deepening Western fears of a major war in Europe. Read | Producers warn of gas price hike amid Ukraine crisis Hungarian Defence Minister Tibor Benko said the deployments were needed in case the conflict currently focused in eastern Ukraine spreads across the country toward Hungary's borders, the national news agency MTI reported. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with his national security cabinet Tuesday morning and told the defence ministry to prevent armed groups from entering Hungary and carrying out manoeuvres there, Benko said. The minister said that in the following days Hungarians will see military equipment heading towards eastern Hungary. In the western parts of the country this week the military is due to hold annual exercises along with NATO troops including a small U.S. contingent, the ministry said last week. The US has approached Hungary about an additional temporary deployment of troops in the country. Benko said on Jan 31 that there was no need for foreign NATO troops in Hungary to respond to the situation in Ukraine. Watch latest videos by DH here: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday he would like to have a televised debate with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two neighbours. The nuclear-powered rivals have shared antagonistic relations since gaining independence 75 years ago, fighting three wars, with ties strained recently over the northern Muslim-majority region of Kashmir, which both claim in full. "I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion people in the subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate. Also read: Adviser to Pakistan PM backs resumption of trade ties with India India's Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. "India became a hostile country so trade with them became minimal," Khan said, stressing his government's policy was to have trade relations with all countries. Khan's remarks follow similar comments recently by Pakistan's top commercial official, Razzak Dawood, who, according to media, told journalists he supported trade ties with India, which would benefit both sides. Khan said Pakistan's regional trading options were already limited, with Iran, its southwestern neighbour, under US sanctions and Afghanistan, to the west, involved in decades of war. Pakistan shares strong economic ties with its northern neighbour, China, which has committed billions of dollars for infrastructure and other projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. Khan's interview came on the eve of a visit to Moscow, where he will meet President Vladimir Putin -- the first visit by a Pakistani leader to Russia in two decades. The two-day visit for talks on economic cooperation was planned before the current crisis over Ukraine. "This doesnt concern us, we have a bilateral relation with Russia and we really want to strength it," Khan said of the Ukraine crisis. Check out latest videos from DH: MOSCOW A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to maintain peace. But it appeared to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Advertisement Putins directive came hours after he recognized the separatist regions in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history. The move paved the way to provide them military support, antagonizing Western leaders who regard it as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by the U.S. and others to respond. Underscoring the urgency, the U.N. Security Council held a rare nighttime emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo opened the session with a warning that the risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. Advertisement Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to project calm, telling the country: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, would be in Washington on Tuesday to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. The White House issued an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The State Department, meanwhile, said U.S. personnel in Lviv in Ukraines far west would spend the night in Poland but return to Ukraine to continue their diplomatic work and emergency consular services. It again urged any American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately. The developments came during a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the Western-looking democracy that has defied Moscows attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted todays Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russias historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic, Putin said. Afterward he signed matching decrees recognizing the two regions independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists with arms and troops, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. Advertisement At an earlier meeting of Putins Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions independence. One slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russia but Putin quickly corrected him. Recognizing the separatist regions independence is likely to be popular in Russia, where many share Putins worldview. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk setting off fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russias national anthem. Ukrainians in Kyiv, meanwhile, bristled at the move. Why should Russia recognize (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbors come to you and say, This room will be ours, would you care about their opinion or not? Its your flat, and it will be always your flat, said Maria Levchyshchyna, a 48-year-old painter in the Ukrainian capital. Let them recognize whatever they want. But in my view, it can also provoke a war, because normal people will fight for their country. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, President Joe Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could devastate Ukraine and cause huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Advertisement Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO wont allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraines accession wouldnt be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macrons office said Biden and Putin had accepted the principle of such a summit, to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. During Monday nights emergency meeting, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. Chinas U.N. Ambassador Zhang Jun called for restraint and a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Putins announcement shattered a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukraine to offer broad self-rule to the rebel regions, a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. Advertisement That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the countrys integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that the Ukrainian government has shown no appetite for implementing it. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in the eastern industrial heartland of Donbas in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday along the tense line of contact separating the opposing forces. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an incursion from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. Some residents of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk described sporadic shelling by Ukrainian forces, but they added that it wasnt on the same scale as earlier in the conflict. Advertisement The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours, and several others were wounded. Ukraines military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk insisted that Ukrainian forces werent returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the Ukraine government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns, she said, her voice trembling. And there is nowhere to run. In another worrying sign, the Russian military said it killed five suspected saboteurs who crossed from Ukraine into Russias Rostov region and also destroyed two armored vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as disinformation. With fears of invasion high, the U.S. administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by The New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Cook from Brussels. Lori Hinnant in Kyiv; Angela Charlton in Paris; Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani in Munich, Germany; Geir Moulson in Berlin; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. Slumped in a chair, red tie askew, his staccato delivery emphasizing every grievance, President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech Monday that sounded like a call to war. It was also the culmination of a propaganda barrage orchestrated by Russian state media in recent days a stark demonstration of how the Kremlin can use its dominance of the airwaves to lay the groundwork for a political decision that could cause widespread pain. By Tuesday afternoon, Russias stock market had fallen again, leaving it some 20% down in less than a week as businesses braced for damaging new Western sanctions. And the potential, far more tragic, costs if Putin were to go ahead with an invasion of Ukraine still appeared incalculable. Also Read | US set to impose sanctions after Russian 'invasion' of Ukraine But to the millions of Russians watching television, the narrative of the last days has been completely different: Booms and flashes of artillery fire. Blurred-out footage of human remains. Women and children, crying and fleeing. A separatist appeal to the president. An emergency meeting of Putins Security Council. A dramatic address to the nation. And what happens next is a mystery. For months, as Washington warned of a looming Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russias powerful propaganda machine dismissed and parodied talk of war. Then, last weekend, everything changed. From the occupied territory of Ukraine to the halls of the Kremlin, the rationale for a possible invasion was put into place, piece by piece, and presented to the Russian public in an unrelenting push on state television. By Tuesday morning, the breakfast news on state-run Channel 1 was announcing a historic moment. Eight years of fear have ended, the announcer declared, a reference to the residents of separatist-occupied eastern Ukraine who, in the Kremlins unfounded claims, are being subjected to genocide by Ukrainian forces. Also Read | EU to activate cyber response team to help Ukraine It was too soon to tell how Russians would react to Putins moves, but there was none of the widespread jubilation that accompanied his annexation of Crimea in 2014. On Tuesday, as Russian state media claimed that Ukraine was firing at the Russian-backed separatist regions whose independence Putin recognized Monday, it remained unclear how far the Kremlin would go in escalating the conflict. Hundreds and soon, tens of thousands of Ukrainians and Russian citizens may die because of Putin, Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned opposition leader, posted on social media. Sure, he wont let Ukraine develop and will drag it into a swamp, but Russia will pay the same price. On Tuesday, lawmakers in the lower house of Parliament, the State Duma, hinted that the Kremlins campaign against the pro-Western government of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine would not end with Putins recognition of the separatist territories in eastern Ukraines Donbas region. One nationalist deputy, Andrei Lugovoi, said he hoped that the recognition marked the beginning of the return of all Ukraine to its historical bosom. Another, Sergei Mironov, ripped into Zelenskyy as a coward, liar and scoundrel. The angry, righteous tone was a continuation of the flurry of weekend news reports that aimed to paint a US-backed Ukraine as the aggressor even though it insists it has no plans to mount an offensive against the separatist-held territories. State media seized upon Western warnings of a possible Russian invasion to paint the United States and its allies as warmongers. On the marquee weekly news show on Russian state television, the host, Dmitri Kiselyov, on Sunday reeled off the international leaders he insisted could profit from war: Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Everything is very serious, Kiselyov warned. Ukraine is literally being dragged into war with Russia. Later Sunday night, on a weekly show called Moscow. Kremlin. Putin, the presidents spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, reinforced the notion that while war may be coming, it would not be Russias choice. Also Read | Russia not planning to send troops to east Ukraine 'for now' Let me remind you that Russia throughout all its history never attacked anyone, Peskov said. On Monday, Russian media broadcast separatist claims of an escalating assault by Ukrainian forces and broadcast an array of unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine was shelling communications, bridges, a water filtration station and other infrastructure targets. Russian state television reported from the separatist-held city of Donetsk that Ukraine had sent saboteurs behind separatist lines. On a YouTube channel run by another state television host, Vladimir Solovyov, a reporter on the ground in the separatist territory described the death of a local resident from Ukrainian shelling. He was torn to pieces, he said. Theres a genocide going on. People are being killed. Ukrainian officials insisted their military was not preparing an assault against Donetsk and said the separatists were shelling their own territory. Oleksiy Danilov, a senior Ukrainian security official, warned Monday that Russia was waging a furious disinformation war. A great, powerful information provocation is being waged against our state, Danilov said. But it is necessary to trust only official information. But any Ukrainian protestations were ignored in Russia. The Russian military said it had destroyed two infantry fighting vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces that had crossed into Russian territory in order to try to evacuate Ukrainian saboteurs. As a result, the Russian military said, five people were killed on the Ukrainian side the first time during the crisis that the Russian military has claimed involvement in a deadly, direct clash with Ukrainian forces. Ukraine denied such an incursion had ever happened. Footage of women and children fleeing the separatist territories tugged at heartstrings. On state television Monday, a reporter described government psychologists mobilizing to support the traumatized refugees who had left husbands and fathers behind. Also Read | Vladimir Putin says he does not plan to 'restore empire' I would like to say hello to my dad, a young boy was shown saying. Soon, state television showed video of the Russian-backed leaders of the separatist territories making appeals directly to Putin to recognize their independence, neatly leading into a special meeting of the Kremlins Security Council later that day. The extraordinary televised spectacle appeared designed to legitimize Putins fateful decision, casting his decision-making as deliberative and determined a seeming rebuttal to critics who saw the president as more isolated than ever during the pandemic. On Monday afternoon, Putin gathered his senior-most officials in the Kremlins cavernous Yekaterininsky Hall, presiding over the unscheduled televised meeting of his Security Council. Because of COVID, he was seated at his own white table with gold trim, while the officials sat in chairs arrayed in front of him. I would like to underline that I did not discuss anything in advance with any of you, Putin said in the middle of the meeting, building the suspense as in a reality show. Whats happening now is happening on a blank page because I wanted to learn your view without any advance preparation. Some officials appeared visibly nervous, while others made thinly veiled calls for a large-scale military offensive against Ukraine. Putin repeatedly interrupted his foreign intelligence chief, Sergei Naryshkin, as he seemed to equivocate on whether or not to recognize the independence of the Russian-backed separatist republics in Ukraines east, prompting Naryshkin to stutter and then say he was in favor of annexing the territories. Thats not what were talking about, Putin shot back. Until recently, it appeared that many Russians had tuned out talk of an impending war. Pollsters say that while the possibility of war is one of Russians greatest fears, no anti-war movement has emerged in recent weeks because many simply cannot imagine it or see how they can influence any decisions. Russians feel they cant influence the process at all, said Alexandra Arkhipova, a Moscow social anthropologist, who found that there had been relatively little discussion of a possible war with Ukraine online before the propaganda barrage of recent days. So they try to avoid it. On Sunday, a handful of activists unfurled anti-war posters in central Moscows Pushkin Square and were promptly arrested. One of the protesters, Lev Ponomarev, a Soviet-era human rights activist, insisted that while for the moment many still could not imagine a war, most Russians would oppose it if it actually happened. There will be no support for this war, Ponomarev said in an interview Monday. It will be the collapse of this regime. Check out DH's latest videos: In his speech to the Russian nation on Monday, President Vladimir Putin buoyed his case for codifying the cleavage of two rebel territories from Ukraine by arguing that the very idea of Ukrainian statehood was a fiction. With a conviction of an authoritarian unburdened by historical nuance, Putin declared Ukraine an invention of Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin, who he said had mistakenly endowed Ukraine with a sense of statehood by allowing it autonomy within the newly created Soviet state. Modern Ukraine was entirely and fully created by Russia, more specifically the Bolshevik, communist Russia, Putin said. This process began practically immediately after the 1917 revolution, and moreover Lenin and his associates did it in the sloppiest way in relation to Russia by dividing, tearing from her pieces of her own historical territory. Also Read | Wooing allies, publicising Putins plans: Inside Bidens race to prevent war As a misreading of history, it was extreme even by the standards of Putin, a former KGB officer who has declared the Soviet Unions collapse the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century. The historical reality of Ukraine is complicated, a thousand-year history of changing religions, borders and peoples. The capital, Kiev, was established hundreds of years before Moscow, although both Russians and Ukrainians claim Kiev as a birthplace of their modern cultures, religion and language. The history and culture of Russia and Ukraine are indeed intertwined they share the same Orthodox Christian religion, and their languages, customs and national cuisines are related. But the happy brotherhood of nations that Putin likes to paint, with Ukraine fitted snugly into the fabric of a greater Russia, is dubious. Parts of modern-day Ukraine did indeed reside for centuries within the Russian empire. But other parts fell under the jurisdiction of the Austro-Hungarian empire, or Poland or Lithuania. Also Read | This is Putins war. But America and NATO arent innocent bystanders Putins argument today that Ukraine is historically subsumed by Russia is just not right, said Cliff Kupchan, chair of the Eurasia Group, a political risk consulting organization. While the themes of Putins speech were not new for the Russian leader, Kupchan said, the breadth and vehemence with which he went after all things Ukrainian was remarkable. The newly created Soviet government under Lenin that drew so much of Putins scorn on Monday would eventually crush the nascent independent Ukrainian state. During the Soviet era, the Ukrainian language was banished from schools and its culture was permitted to exist only as a cartoonish caricature of dancing Cossacks in puffy pants. Putin also argued on Monday that the myth of Ukraine was reinforced by the crumbling Soviet government of Mikhail Gorbachev, which allowed Ukraine to slip free of Moscows grasp. It was a weakened Moscow that gave Ukraine the right to become independent of the Soviet Union without any terms and conditions. This is just madness, he said. It was not Moscow that granted Ukraines independence in 1991, but the Ukrainian people, who voted resoundingly to leave the Soviet Union in a democratic referendum. Now, with an estimated 190,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine like a sickle, Putins declaration that Ukraines very existence as a sovereign state was the result of historical error threatened to send a shudder through all the lands once under Moscows dominion. It also elicited expressions of contempt from Ukrainians. For the past few decades, the West has been looking for fascism anywhere, but not where it was most, said Maria Tomak, an activist involved in supporting people from Crimea, a Ukrainian territory Putin annexed in 2014. Now it is so obvious that it burns the eyes. Maybe this will finally make the West start to sober up about Russia. It is not clear whether Putin believes his version of Ukrainian history or has simply concocted a cynical mythology to justify whatever action he plans next. But his contention that Ukraine exists solely within the context of Russian history and culture is one he has deployed at least as far back as 2008, when he attempted to convince George W. Bush, after the then-president had expressed support for Ukraines NATO membership, of the countrys nonexistence. Last summer, Putin published a 5,300-word essay that expounded on many of the themes he highlighted in Mondays speech, including the idea that nefarious Western nations had somehow corrupted Ukraine, leading it away from its rightful place within a greater Russian sphere through what he called a forced change of identity. Few observers, though, believe that historical accuracy is of much importance to Putin as he sets forth justifications for whatever he has planned for Ukraine. We can be clear that Putin was not trying to engage in a historical debate about the intertwined histories of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, said Joshua A. Tucker, a political-science professor at New York University and an expert on Russia. Instead, Tucker said, the Russian leader was laying the groundwork for the argument that Ukraine is not currently entitled to the sorts of rights that we associate with sovereign nations. It was a signal that Putin intends to argue that a military intervention in Ukraine would not be violating another countrys sovereignty, he added. Moscow had vowed to respect Ukraines sovereignty as a condition of Ukraines giving up its nuclear weapons after the Soviet collapse. But Putin, analysts said, has made clear that pledge is of little importance to him. In 2014, after protesters drove a Kremlin-backed government from power in Kiev, he ordered his military to seize the Crimean Peninsula and then instigated a separatist war that resulted Ukraines de facto loss of two rebel territories in the east. On Monday, Putin moved to formalize that separation by recognizing those territories, the Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics, as independent. Soon afterward, he ordered troops into the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics in eastern Ukraine. But Putins efforts to wrest Ukraine back into Russias orbit have, in many ways, had the opposite effect. In a country that was once ambivalent about NATO at best, or openly hostile at worst, polls show that a solid majority now favor membership in the US-led military alliance. In Kiev, where Ukrainians had been nervously awaiting Putins decision, the reaction to his speech was one of disgust and foreboding. Kristina Berdynskykh, a prominent political journalist, gathered with colleagues at a bar called Amigos and sat around a phone watching Putins speech, by turns crying and cursing. It is hatred for all of Ukraine and revenge for the countrys movement toward the EU and NATO and democracy albeit chaotic, with huge problems, slow reforms and corruption but where people elect and change power in elections or revolutions, Berdynskykh said. The worst dream for an old lunatic is both scenarios: fair elections and revolutions. Check out latest DH videos here Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces Monday to maintain peace in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognised the area's independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the US and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. The Kremlin's announcement came just hours after Putin, in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history, recognized the independence of the eastern separatist regions, paving the way to provide them military support and antagonizing Western leaders who regard such a move as a breach of world order. The US and other nations scrambled to respond, calling for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday night. The White House issued an executive order to restrict investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The developments came amid a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the western-looking democracy that has defied Moscow's attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the US-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted today's Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russia's historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, Putin said. Afterward he signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions' independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. At an earlier meeting of Putin's Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions' independence. At one point, one slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russian territory but Putin quickly corrected him. Recognizing the separatist regions' independence is likely to be popular in Russia, where many share Putin's worldview. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk launching fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russia's national anthem. Ukrainians in Kyiv, meanwhile, bristled at the move. Why should Russia recognize (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbors come to you and say, This room will be ours,' would you care about their opinion or not? It's your flat, and it will be always your flat," said Maria Levchyshchyna, a 48-year-old painter in the Ukrainian capital. Let them recognize whatever they want. But in my view, it can also provoke a war, because normal people will fight for their country. With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the US has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could cause massive casualties and huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO won't allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraine's accession wouldn't be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macron's office said both leaders had accepted the principle of such a summit, to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. Putin's announcement shattered a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukrainian authorities to offer broad self-rule to the rebel regions, a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the country's integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that Ukrainian authorities have shown no appetite for implementing it. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in the eastern industrial heartland of in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. Potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday along the tense line of contact separating the opposing forces. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an incursion from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. Some residents of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk described sporadic shelling by Ukrainian forces, but they added that it wasn't on the same scale as earlier in the conflict. The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours, and several others were wounded. Ukraine's military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk insisted that Ukrainian forces weren't returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the Ukraine government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns, she said, her voice trembling. And there is nowhere to run. In another worrying sign, the Russian military said it killed five suspected saboteurs who crossed from Ukraine into Russia's Rostov region and also destroyed two armored vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as disinformation. Amid the heightened invasion fears, the US administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by the New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of wrecking peace talks and ruled out making any territorial concessions in an address to the nation in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Zelenskiy said Ukraine was committed to peace and diplomacy after Russia formally recognized two Russian-backed separatist regions as independent on Monday evening. The president said Ukraine was expecting "clear and effective" steps from its allies to act against Russia and called for an emergency summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The United States and allied nations denounced Russia on Monday at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting over the Ukraine crisis, calling Moscows recognition of two separatist regions and the deployment of Russian troops to them a blunt defiance of international law that risks war. The unusual late-evening meeting of the Council, requested by Ukraine, quickly turned into a diplomatic rebuke of Russia and the actions announced earlier Monday by President Vladimir Putin. Russias clear attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity is unprovoked, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the American UN ambassador, told fellow diplomats. Ridiculing Putins assertion that Russian forces had been deployed as peacekeepers, she said: This is nonsense. We know what they really are. Thomas-Greenfield said Putin was testing our international system, he is testing our resolve and seeing how far he can push us all. Also read: Over 20,000 Indians live in Ukraine, their well-being is of priority to us: India at UNSC meet The representatives of France and Britain issued similar denunciations. Russia is choosing the path of confrontation, said Frances ambassador, Nicolas de Riviere. Britains ambassador, Barbara Woodward, said: Russia has brought us to the brink. We urge Russia to step back. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of the United Nations, who has said that he believed the crisis would be resolved without military force, sharply criticised the Russian actions. The secretary-general considers the decision of the Russian Federation to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Guterres said in a statement. Russia, which holds the presidency of the 15-nation Security Council for the month of February, was obliged to schedule the meeting. But as a veto-wielding permanent member, it can block any action at the meeting that other Council members may propose. The request for the meeting was announced hours earlier by the Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba. Ukraine is not a member of the Council. The request came as Putin recognised the two breakaway enclaves in eastern Ukraine, Luhansk and Donetsk, which could help lay the groundwork for Russian military forces to pour into Ukrainian territory. I officially requested UNSC member states to immediately hold consultations under article 6 of the Budapest memorandum to discuss urgent actions aimed at de-escalation, as well as practical steps to guarantee the security of Ukraine, Kuleba wrote in a Twitter post. The Budapest Memorandum refers to a 1994 agreement under which Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, former republics of the collapsed Soviet Union, gave up their stockpiles of Russian nuclear weapons from the Cold War era and joined the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in exchange for security guarantees. The efficacy of the agreement has long been called into question, however. Ukraine and Western nations have said Russia grossly violated the agreement in 2014 by seizing Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Guterres spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told journalists earlier Monday that the United Nations was allowing for the temporary relocation of some nonessential staff and dependents in Ukraine, where the organisation has about 1,500 employees, mostly of Ukrainian nationality, and nearly 1,200 dependents. Of the employees, he said, roughly 100 are in the two eastern breakaway regions. The United States said Monday it is sending all of its diplomats in Ukraine to Poland out of security fears, hours after President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two rebel-backed regions in the country. Earlier, the Kremlin leader recognised the independence of two rebel-held areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk areas of Ukraine. He then instructed his defense ministry to assume a "peacekeeping" role in the separatist regions. "Today the Department of State is again taking action for the safety and security of US citizens, including our personnel. For security reasons, Department of State personnel currently in Lviv will spend the night in Poland," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. Also read: This is Putins war. But America and NATO arent innocent bystanders "We strongly reiterate our recommendation to US citizens to depart Ukraine immediately. The security situation in Ukraine continues to be unpredictable throughout the country and may deteriorate with little notice," he added. The move comes just over a week after the US relocated its embassy in Kyiv to Lviv, citing the "dramatic acceleration" in the build-up of Russia's forces on the border. Staffing at the US embassy in Kyiv had already been drastically reduced after the United States ordered the departure of most diplomats and halted consular services. A small consular presence was already in place in Lviv, about 70 kilometres (45 miles) from the Polish border. Russia's recognition of the breakaway republics, which form an enclave held by Moscow-backed rebels since 2014, triggered international condemnation and a promise of targeted sanctions from the United States and the European Union -- with a broader package of economic punishment to come in the event of invasion. In a series of top-secret meetings in October, President Joe Bidens national security team presented grim intelligence that would soon trigger a fierce effort to prevent what could become the largest armed conflict in Europe since World War II. Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, was preparing to invade Ukraine, top intelligence and military officials told Biden. Gathering each morning in the Oval Office for the global threat assessment known as the Presidents Daily Brief, they described satellite images of Russian forces methodically advancing toward Ukraines border. Not only did the United States have images of troops moving into position, but it also had the Russian militarys plans for a campaign against Ukraine elements of which had already begun. At one of the morning meetings, Biden dispatched William J. Burns, the CIA director, to Moscow with a message for Putin: We know what youre planning to do. Also read: This is Putins war. But America and NATO arent innocent bystanders Stopping him would be a challenge. Many of Americas closest allies were sceptical that Putin a master of disinformation would actually invade. The use of US military force against Russia was off the table, so the allies would have to threaten Putin with economic pain so severe it would also have consequences in Europe and the United States. And it was far from certain that Republicans in Congress would back whatever the administration did. On Monday, after delivering a grievance-filled speech attacking Ukraines sovereignty, Putin ordered troops into two Russia-backed separatist regions in the country. But it remains unclear how far, or quickly, the Russian military will advance. And by days end, the United States and its allies imposed only limited sanctions, reserving the full might of their response for moves that Putin might yet make. The White House acknowledged from the start that its campaign to stop Putin might not actually prevent Russia from invading Ukraine. But at the very least, White House officials say, Biden exposed Putin and his true intentions, which helped unite, at least for now, the at-times fractious NATO alliance. Over the course of 3 1/2 months, Biden made three critical decisions about how to handle Russias provocations, according to interviews with more than a dozen senior administration officials and others who requested anonymity to discuss confidential meetings. Early on, the president approved a recommendation to share intelligence far more broadly with allies than was typical, officials said. The idea was to avoid disagreements about tough economic sanctions by ensuring that everyone knew what the United States knew about Putins actions. Also read: Putin says considering Ukraine separatists' independence request Biden also gave the green light for an unprecedented public information campaign against Putin. With the support of his top intelligence officials and with a promise to protect the intelligence agencies sources and methods the president allowed a wave of public releases aimed at preventing Putin from employing his usual denials to divide his adversaries. And when it became clear this year that Putin was continuing to build up forces at Ukraines border, the president approved sending Ukraine more weapons, including Javelin anti-tank missiles, and deploying more troops to other countries in Eastern Europe as a show of solidarity with Ukraine and to reassure nervous allies on NATOs eastern flank. On Sunday morning, nearly four months after those meetings, Biden once again gathered his national security team. They had been right about Putins intentions. And they had managed to secure unity among allies and even Republicans behind sanctions. But all along, the decision about whether to go to war was Putins alone. Despite all of the efforts, it looked like war was inevitable. At the meeting Sunday, the discussion shifted to new questions: whether to send more troops to NATO countries; how to support a Ukrainian resistance when Russia invades; how to deal with a flood of refugees; and how to manage the economic consequences of sanctions in Europe and the United States. The risk for the United States is that the allies dont stay together, said Jeremy Bash, a former chief of staff at the CIA and the Defense Department under President Barack Obama. This crisis and this mode of a standoff with Russia is going to be around for months and years, not days and weeks. Wooing allies Meetings with the leaders of Americas closest allies began days after the secret October briefings, during Bidens trip to Rome for a meeting of the leaders of the Group of 20 nations. There, he convened the biggest NATO members known as the quint: the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Italy. The president and his counterparts began to sketch out the response to Russias aggression that day in Rome. But soon, Bidens plan to widen the circle of trust on Ukraine was put in place, officials said. Also read: US and others blast Russia at emergency UNSC meeting In a series of secure video meetings from the White House, the president and his national security team started sharing highly classified information with a larger group, including Poland, Romania, and the presidents of the European Union and Canada, as well as the top officials at NATO. Not everyone was convinced. On November 17, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, traveled to NATO headquarters for a key presentation. Although the United States has sometimes baulked at sharing its best intelligence with the entire NATO alliance, worried about Russian moles in various governments, in this case the United States had already delivered a broad warning to Russia about what it knew. The briefing marked a significant shift in the allied view, officials said. European and US intelligence officials said that Putin initially believed Europe and the United States would remain divided and unwilling to impose strong sanctions, particularly in the defense of Ukraine. He thought that he could build up a significant force and then either attack Ukraine or extract concessions from Kyiv, without much unified opposition from Europe, the officials said. According to our assessment, at the end of summer, Putin likely gave instructions to prepare for military options against Ukraine, said Mikk Marran, the director general of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service. And in autumn 2021, we detected the attitude of President Putin: He felt the West was weak and the issue of Ukraine needed to be fixed. In fact, the alliance had its shaky moments. Four years of President Donald Trumps raging against NATO had taken its toll. And Biden had angered some key European allies by what they described as a failure to consult with them about the details of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. A spat with France over a nuclear submarine deal did not help. But Putins assessment ended up being a miscalculation, according to US and European officials. As the United States shared more intelligence both with NATO and individual allies, the positions hardened against Russia. The Eastern European intelligence official said that Putins timetable for an attack might well have been pushed back in the face of the unexpected cohesion among the allies. I have been in constant contact with our allies in Europe, with Ukrainians, Biden told reporters in early December. He said that he was putting together what he believed would be the most comprehensive and meaningful set of initiatives to make it very, very difficult for Mr. Putin to go ahead and do what people are worried he may do. But thats in play right now, he added. Going public By late November, Biden knew it was time to talk with Putin again. The Russian force was still growing and the threat of war loomed. But the president and his aides were worried that the Russian president would use a conversation as another opportunity to manipulate public sentiment by lying about the reality playing out in the frigid areas along the Ukrainian border. As he prepared for the call with Putin, Biden approved the public release of an unclassified intelligence document showing the positioning of what officials said at the time could eventually grow to be a huge force along the border, including heavy armour, artillery and other equipment. Our theory has been that putting true information into the public domain, which was bearing out in real time because everybody can see what theyre actually doing, was the best way to prevent the Russians and what they always do, which is to try to control the narrative with disinformation, a senior administration official recalled recently. The idea was a risky one. Weaponising information about Russian plans could make the administration look like it was stoking war rather than trying to prevent one. In the past, intelligence agencies had blocked American proposals to release information, which some policymakers thought of as an overly cautious blanket rejection. But in this case, Burns, a career diplomat, supported a targeted strategy to declassify and release information, if the sources and methods could be protected. Haines also backed the strategy. The December 3 document became the first of a series of efforts to declassify intelligence about Russian plans by the United States and Britain, which would come to include details of a Russian sabotage campaign, a coup plot, an elaborate effort to use a faked video to create a pretext for invasion and other false flag operations plotted by Russias military intelligence agency, the GRU. Biden and Putin spoke by secure video link for an hour and 59 minutes on the morning of December 7, just three days after the declassified document went public. According to US officials, the president offered Putin a choice: agree to diplomacy or risk severe economic and political consequences from the sanctions that would be imposed after an invasion of Ukraine. In some ways, Biden was distinctly prepared for the moment. Having visited Ukraine a half-dozen times over the past decade, he knows the country better than any other US president. His foreign policy team is made up of what are often called Atlanticists, who have spent their lives thinking about European security. (Antony Blinken, the secretary of state, grew up in Paris.) Aides also said Bidens long history with Putin made him less susceptible to the Russian presidents tactics. In conversations about Ukraine, officials said that Putin often liked to expound for long periods of time on minute details of the Minsk agreement, a complicated years-old effort at diplomacy with Ukraine, hoping to confuse the situation. Mobilising troops On Christmas Day, the Russian military publicly announced the withdrawal of 10,000 troops from Ukraines border, calling it proof that Putin had no intentions of invading his neighbour any time soon. Inside the White House, the president and his team were not buying it. Intelligence officials had seen repeated instances in which the Russians would move a battalion tactical group close to the border, set up the infrastructure necessary for a rapid invasion, and then move the troops back out, leaving a shell that could be used by other battalions, the Russian national guard or other military forces loyal to Putin. The movement of troops back and forth was not evidence of a retreat, officials said. It was evidence of the opposite: preparations for an invasion of Ukraine. But Biden had agreed to send Blinken and others for a week of intense diplomacy in Europe the week of January 10. Those talks culminated in discussions in Vienna on Thursday, January 13, with the goal of convincing Putin not to risk crippling sanctions by sending his forces into Ukraine. The next day, tens of thousands of Russian troops started pouring into Belarus, Ukraines northern neighbour, for what Russia called joint military exercises. On January 18, the administration ratcheted up their public information campaign with a State Department briefing for reporters on Belarus, revealing the extent of the Russian activity there. The next day, hours before Biden held a two-hour news conference in the East Room of the White House, he met virtually from the Situation Room with a half dozen senators Democrats and Republicans who had just returned from Ukraine. Unlike his many clashes with Republicans over domestic policy, Biden had secured largely bipartisan support. The news conference did not go well. In response to questions, Biden suggested the allies might not respond to what he called a minor incursion by Russia. His team spent the later part of the day quickly reassuring President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine, and allies that any incursion no matter how small would trigger punishing sanctions. For months, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had convened twice weekly meetings with top civilian and military leaders to hone the militarys options. The meetings, called Op/Policy Sync sessions, focused in part on one of Austins three north stars or guiding strategic principles: avoiding a direct confrontation in or near Ukraine between Russia and the United States, the worlds two largest nuclear powers. By the end of January, however, both Austin, a retired four-star Army general known for his cautious judgments, and Gen. Mark A. Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a military historian who carries with him a map of Ukraine marked with tactical details, no longer saw any possible ambiguity in what more than 100,000 Russian forces intended to do. These werent just training exercises, as the Russians insisted. Mr President, weve entered a period of unambiguous warning, Austin told Biden, according to a senior Pentagon official. Putin is putting his troops in position to attack, and its now time to be in position to respond rapidly. In a meeting on January 22 at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, senior Pentagon officials presented Biden with several options that would shift US military assets much closer to Putins doorstep, administration officials said. The options included sending 1,000 to 5,000 troops to Eastern European countries, with the potential to increase that number tenfold if things deteriorated, officials said. A week later, on February 2, the Pentagon announced the first group of nearly 5,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, would deploy to Poland to reassure a pivotal ally on NATOs eastern flank. The endgame For months, Biden had tried to avoid a war in Europe. But now, with Russian forces on the move, the president and his aides have new challenges. After Biden and his top aides predicted for weeks that Putin would likely launch an all-out assault on Ukraine, a more limited Russian incursion could undercut the resolve of the alliance that Biden has assembled. Ben Rhodes, who served as a deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration, said Putin might not immediately advance into the rest of Ukraine, avoiding the scenes of mass refugees and major battles that officials had predicted. Its easier to get leaders to do things that are hard if the more dramatic consequences are evident to everybody, he said. You could be in a strange window of time when theres disagreement. A slow-moving invasion, in which Putins forces remain in the disputed, separatist-held areas for weeks or months, could also strain the bipartisan support that had coalesced around Bidens tough approach in the months leading up to Mondays actions by the Russian leader. Also Read | Putin orders forces to 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine Some Republicans lashed out immediately, urging the president to move more quickly to impose sanctions. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wrote on Twitter that Putins moves Monday amounted to a declaration of war against the people of Ukraine. He added: His decision should immediately be met with forceful sanctions to destroy the ruble and crush the Russian oil and gas sector. And now that it appears that the Russian president is ignoring those threats, Biden risks being accused by Republicans and other critics of having failed to do enough to prevent an invasion in the first place. Rhodes said that criticism would be unfair. Sanctions can impose a cost and make things more difficult for Putin, Rhodes said. But they cant shake his calculus entirely. News Highlights: At UN, India says de-escalation of Russia-Ukraine tensions should be immediate priority A buffet dinner reception at a Bucks County church. A Deck the Halls with Doug holiday gathering at a Centre County firehouse, with sweet treats and hot cocoa. A Walk as Free People dinner at an Indiana County church, including a VIP reception. Those are among the fundraising events state Sen. Doug Mastriano now a leading Republican contender for Pennsylvania governor promoted on Facebook last year. Tickets were cheap as far as political fundraisers go $75 tops, payable to his Friends of Doug Mastriano political action committee. Advertisement But no costs associated with those events show up on Mastrianos 2021 financial report, which was made public this month. In fact, he didnt report spending much of anything last year. The filing shows just one expenditure, recorded last January $14,415.87 on processing fees for an online fundraising service. And he reported zero in-kind contributions things of value that arent direct donations, like when a supporter pays for renting an event space or catering a fundraiser. Nor did Mastriano list any debts, which candidates sometimes do when they havent paid bills yet. Advertisement The financial disclosure left some GOP insiders scratching their heads. Apart from one little-known candidate, Mastriano reported by far the least amount spent in the sprawling Republican primary field. Nche Zama, a heart surgeon running a long-shot Republican campaign, said he spent $54,000 almost four times as much. Seven other Republicans each spent at least $90,000. Mastriano built his political brand as an anti-establishment crusader often directing his harshest criticism not toward Democrats, but at fellow Republicans in Harrisburg. Along with his support for former President Donald Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, it has made him something of an icon among far-right activists. But the unusual report received by the Pennsylvania Department of State almost a week after the filing deadline raises questions about Mastrianos compliance with campaign finance laws. And it underscores Mastrianos challenge of harnessing the grassroots energy powering his candidacy to build a professional operation even as he shuns consultants and big donors. He might not need such institutional support to win the May 17 primary. Mastriano consistently has the support of about 20% of Republican voters in polls of the race often leading the field. That could be enough in a race with a dozen candidates. Mastriano didnt respond to detailed messages seeking comment. Messages left with his campaign committee and treasurer, Derek Lautenslager, also werent returned. Mastriano told Brietbart News in December that he is absolutely compliant with Pennsylvania campaign finance law and that any speculation to the contrary is entirely false. Pennsylvanias campaign finance laws are notoriously lax. There are no limits on individual contributions, though corporations and labor unions face some restrictions. Spending rules are pretty loose, too. Theres enough loopholes ... you could drive a fleet of Mack trucks from Allentown to Pittsburgh through them, said Larry Otter, an election lawyer in Bucks County whos worked for candidates of both parties. Advertisement But candidates are supposed to report just about everything they spend. The Department of State, as an administrative agency, can assess late fees. Enforcement falls to the state attorney generals office and county prosecutors. Victoria Perrone, a Democratic consultant who specializes in campaign compliance, said its strange that Mastriano didnt report any credit card processing fees after last January even though his report showed contributions throughout 2021. Either hes only getting contributions via check donations and depositing them at the bank, or this report is just not complete, she said. It just seems so unlikely that they dont have expenditures to report except for one month of fees. Mastriano had not filed an amended report as of last week, according to the Department of State. Running 626 pages, Mastrianos report did show some success in cultivating the kind of small-dollar donors who have helped fuel anti-establishment candidates in both parties. He raised about $360,000 last year, most of it in small amounts, and carried over $200,000 from the previous year. Mastriano reported having $550,000 in the bank to start 2022. Thats more than many lower-tier candidates, but hell have to ramp up considerably if he wants to compete on the airwaves with candidates like state Senate leader Jake Corman, who raised $3 million almost 10 times as much. Advertisement Mastriano does have a knack for getting attention without having to spend money on advertising. The congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol subpoenaed Mastriano last week something he promoted on Facebook. But does Mastriano really even have $550,000? Campaigns spend money on lots of things. There are the big expenditures TV ad buys, for example, which can run into the hundreds of thousands or even millions in Pennsylvania. Top consultants rake in tens of thousands of dollars. Mastriano hasnt aired TV ads and is believed to be running his own campaign without much if any help from political professionals. But theres also small, nuts-and-bolts stuff that even candidates running on shoestring budgets pay for, like registering a domain name for a website, making yard signs, and sending fundraising emails. Mastrianos political action committee has reported paying for those services in past years. Mastriano waited until January to officially launch his gubernatorial candidacy. But he openly prepared a campaign for months, even boasting last May that Trump had urged him to run. (Trumps spokesperson disputed his account.) His gubernatorial campaign website went live last year. The domain was registered in September. And Mastriano urged supporters on Facebook to donate money using his website as early as November. Advertisement Help change Senator Doug Mastrianos title to Governor! read an official Kick-Start event promoted by his page Doug Mastriano Fighting for Freedom. It doesnt cost much to register a domain name: In 2020, Mastrianos PAC paid Google $60 to renew one. Design costs can vary. Zama, the heart surgeon, spent more than $1,500 on web design, according to his financial report. Mastriano didnt report any such expenditures. Nor did he report spending on a large billboard on a Chambersburg highway touting his campaign. The sign, reported by Breitbart, says it was paid for by Friends of Doug Mastriano. And Mastriano had a busy schedule last year, attending events across the state to raise money and meet voters. Many of those events were organized by Mastrianos PAC, according to invitations posted on his Facebook page. If supporters cover the costs of an event that total less than $250, those dont have to be reported as in-kind contributions. But events that cheap are rare. Otter said the cost of fundraisers can range from a beer and brisket up to a steak dinner. Advertisement Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > A lot of fundraisers, especially when they do them in peoples houses, they tap into their circle of friends and they put out a spread. Theyve got to cater it, he said, speaking generally about such events. Thats an in-kind contribution to the campaign. It should be reported as that. If you do those around the state and get hundreds of people showing up, all of sudden youve got real money, Otter said. And Mastriano himself has used PAC money to pay for such things in the past. In 2020, he reported in-kind contributions totaling $879 on food for events and event facility fees. In September that year, he spent $1,008 at the Federal Taphouse in Harrisburg for a fundraising lunch. And that same month, his PAC spent $3,060.75 on catering for a barbecue. (c)2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Advertisement Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. An Air India plane carrying around 240 Indians from Ukraine landed at the Delhi airport on Tuesday night, amid rising tensions between the Eastern European nation and Russia. The flight AI 1946 landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here at around 11.40 pm. It took off from Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 6 pm (Indian Standard Time). The airline operated a Boeing 787 aircraft, which had left for Ukraine in the morning. Also Read | Indian students in Ukraine advised to leave temporarily 'in the interest of safety' Earlier in the day, Air India flight AI 1947 took off from the national capital at around 7.30 am and landed at Boryspil International Airport at around 3 pm (IST). In a tweet at about 9.46 pm, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said around 250 Indians and students belonging to various states are returning from Ukraine to Delhi tonight. "More flights in the coming days to help Indians return," he said. Check out DH's latest videos: India on Tuesday stressed on avoiding military escalation along Ukraines border with Russia, but stopped short of calling out President Vladimir Putin, who signed decrees in Moscow to dispatch troops to Donetsk and Luhansk after declaring the two enclaves in the East European nation as independent republics. We cannot afford to have a military escalation, T S Tirumurti, Indias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said at an emergency meeting of the Security Council. India has been avoiding siding with the United States and other western nations on the issue of Russias military build-up around Ukraine. The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, New Delhis envoy to the UN said. He, however, avoided directly criticising Putin for ordering deployment of Russian troops to the two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine. Also Read Over 20,000 Indians live in Ukraine, their well-being is of priority to us: India at UNSC meet Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US envoy to the UN, told the Security Council during that emergency meeting that Russias move to recognise Donetsk and Luhansk as independent republics was part of its attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine. She also said that Russia had completely violated the Minsk Agreements, which had been signed in 2014 and 2015 to stop fighting and find a political settlement of the crisis over Ukraine. India did call for adherence to the Minsk Agreements just as it had done during the earlier meetings of the UN Security Council on the situation in Ukraine on January 31 and February 18. The US was joined by France, Germany and the United Kingdom in condemning Russias latest move against Ukraine. They also moved to impose new sanctions on Russia. We need to give space to the recent initiatives undertaken by parties which seek to diffuse tensions. In this context, we welcome the intense efforts underway, including through the Trilateral Contact Group and under the Normandy Format, Tirumurti told the UN Security Council. We need Parties to exert greater efforts to bridge divergent interests. India has been finding it increasingly difficult to maintain the delicate balance between its ties with Russia and the US after the tension escalated over Ukraine. Though India has been speaking out against Chinas aggression along their disputed boundary, it refrained from siding with the US and abstained from voting against Russia on the issue of Ukraine at the UNSC on January 31. Even as the US has been trying to draw a parallel between China's belligerence against India and other nations in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia's military build-up around Ukraine, New Delhi last week rejected the argument, saying the situations in the two regions have not been analogous. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Greater power and stronger capabilities should lead to "responsibility and restraint" and ensure economics free of "coercion" and politics devoid of the threat of use of force, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday, spelling out challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. In an address at the European Union Ministerial Forum on Indo-Pacific in Paris, Jaishankar cautioned the 27-nation grouping that it is important to deal with the challenges in the region collectively as they could even extend to Europe as "distance is no insulation". Though the external affairs minister did not name China, it appeared that he was referring to Beijing's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-pacific region that has triggered concerns among leading global players. Read more: India, France sign roadmap to enhance bilateral exchanges on blue economy and ocean governance Jaishankar said the hosting of the forum at a time Europe was grappling with a serious crisis (in Ukraine) reflected the importance the European Union attaches to its engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. The external affairs minister said the Indo-Pacific is at the "heart" of the multipolarity and "rebalancing" that characterises contemporary changes, adding engagement of France and the EU in the region would benefit it. "But it is essential that greater power and stronger capabilities lead to responsibility and restraint. This means, above all, respect for international law; territorial integrity and sovereignty," he said. "It means economics free of coercion and politics free from the threat or the use of force. It means observing global norms and practices. And refraining from making claims on the global commons," Jaishankar said. He further said: "Today, we see challenges on that score with the clarity that proximity brings. And believe me, distance is no insulation. The issues we confront in the Indo-Pacific will extend beyond, even to Europe." Jaishankar said the EU's strategy is consistent with India's vision of a free, open, balanced and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, anchored in the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) centrality. "India's approach is broad-based and emphasises multilateralism, plurilateralism and collective action. These are combined in the Indo Pacific Oceans," he said. Jaishankar said India welcomed the EU's commitment to contribute to the security of the region. "This remains a maritime century, and the tides of the Indo-Pacific region will certainly help shape its future. Our collective efforts can keep the oceans peaceful, open and secure, and, at the same time, contribute to conserve its resources and keep it clean," he said. Jaishankar arrived in Paris on Sunday on a three-day trip after paying a two-day visit to Germany. The EU Ministerial Forum on Indo-Pacific was organised by France in its capacity as chair of the council of the Union. The external affairs minister said India appreciates the enormous contribution that Europe can make to shaping world affairs and that its considered voice and mature capabilities are key to the emergence of a multipolar world. "Through our annual summits, we have greatly enhanced the EU-India strategic partnership. The Indo Pacific will certainly be an important arena for its expression," he said. "France was among the first countries in the world to recognise this strategic geography. It is, of course, a resident power in the Indo-Pacific. And by extension, so too is the European Union," he added. Delving into key issues facing Indo-Pacific, Jaishankar said countries with shared values and vision can better ensure a regional culture of working together. "One in which all nations, irrespective of size, have sovereign options and make their own choices. That is the essence of our shared endeavours," he explained. Referring to security cooperation, he said France is already among India's foremost partners, adding "with EU too, we now have an enhanced partnership and operational level of access." The external affairs minister said France and the EU may have strong partnerships, presence and interests in the Indo Pacific as the values they espouse and the practices they follow are no less significant. "With its economic heft and expertise, the EU can also promote economic development, infrastructure, connectivity, digital transformation, climate change, biodiversity and human-centric concerns like health, besides security. For these reasons, we welcome EU's global gateway," he said. The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China's increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. In September last year, the European Union unveiled a new strategy to step up its strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific and contribute to the region's stability, security and prosperity. The strategy focused on the EU stepping up implementation of its connectivity partnerships with India and Japan and supporting partners in establishing a regulatory environment and facilitating the mobilisation of the necessary funding to improve connectivity between Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Watch the latest DH videos: Alleged murder of a student leader at Amta, in Howrah district adjoining Kolkata, has raised a furore with political and social activists jumping into the fray demanding justice. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death. Anis was allegedly pushed to death from an upper floor of his house late on Friday night. Four unidentified persons had visited him, claiming to be policemen. The local police have already clarified that no policemen visited the house on the day concerned. Also Read SFI to organise protests across Bengal over 'mysterious' death of anti-CAA leader The government is conducting an impartial investigation, Mamata said, adding that she has already given instructions and has talked to the DG (police). Calling the incident unfortunate, the chief minister said that an SIT is being put in place to investigate the incident. The SIT will submit its findings in the next 15 days after investigating, and action will be taken in accordance with the law. She promised justice to the family of the victim. The Amta residence continues to draw the attention of activists - political and social. Representatives of Left organisations - Students Federation of India (SFI), and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) also visited Amta. Political parties, and leaders, across party lines, have raised the issue of investigation. In Kolkata, several programmes - in the form of walks, protests - took place on Monday. Besides the Left-backed programmes, Chhatra Parishad, Congress Partys student wing also took to the streets. Anis, its being claimed, had been associated with different student bodies, at different points in time - SFI, All India Students Federation, Chhatra Parishad. He had campaigned for ISF (Indian Secular Front, which had fought the last state assembly election in alliance with the Left). SIT (ordered by CM) was not our demand. His father specifically demanded a CBI inquiry. We want a probe as demanded by the family. If need be, then an impartial judicial probe. As the accusation is against police, the accused cannot be given the responsibility to investigate, Srijan Bhattacharyya, SFIs state secretary, told Deccan Herald. Watch the latest DH Videos here: In view of the hijab controversy, Bengaluru police commissioner Kamal Pant has extended the prohibitory orders around educational institutions till March 8. The prohibitory orders were earlier issued for two weeks, till February 22. Protests and agitations continue in a few places of the state over the hijab row. India on Tuesday started sending wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistan five months after the World Food Programme of the United Nations started persuading India and Pakistan to set aside mutual hostilities to help starving people of the war-ravaged country now ruled by the Taliban. India has not yet recognised the government set up by the Taliban in Kabul in September 2021, but started sending out wheat as gift from the people of India to the people of Afghanistan a point clearly mentioned on each bag of grains. India committed to send altogether 50,000 MT of wheat to Afghanistan through Pakistan. Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla was in Amritsar in Punjab on Tuesday to ceremonially flag off the 50 Afghan trucks, which started from Amritsar in Punjab carrying the first consignment of 2,500 MT of wheat. The trucks will carry wheat from the Integrated Check Post at Attari (India) on Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan all the way to Jalalabad in Afghanistan. The consignment will be handed over to the World Food Programme officials in Jalalabad for distribution across Afghanistan. India also subtly sent out a message to Taliban and its mentors in Islamabad by ensuring the presence of Farid Mamundzay, the ambassador of Afghanistan to India, in the flag-off ceremony in Amritsar. Mamundzay was appointed as Kabuls envoy to New Delhi by President Ashraf Ghanis government, which the Taliban overthrew in August 2021 through a swift military blitz. He continues to be a representative of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in New Delhi as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan set up by the Taliban has not yet been recognised by the Indian government. The WFP estimated that around 22.8 million in Afghanistan face acute food insecurity, while 8.7 million face emergency-level food insecurity. A humanitarian crisis of incredible proportions has grown even more complex and severe since the Taliban took control. Job losses, lack of cash and soaring prices are creating a new class of hungry in Afghanistan, according to the WFP. The WFP in October 2021 started discussion with India and Pakistan about the possibility of India sending wheat to Afghanistan. Islamabad on December 3 decided that trucks of Afghanistan would be allowed to use the territory of Pakistan to transport wheat and medicines from India to the conflict-ravaged country ruled by the Taliban. The Centre signed an agreement with the WFP for the distribution of 50,000 MT of wheat within Afghanistan. The WFP Country Director Bishaw Parajuli was also present in the flag-off ceremony in Amritsar on Friday. New Delhi already supplied 500,000 doses of Covaxin anti-Covid-19 vaccine, 13 tons of essential lifesaving medicines and 500 units of winter clothing to Afghanistan. The consignments were handed over to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Indira Gandhi Hospital in Kabul. Watch the latest DH videos: Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily and BJP's H V Hande from Tamil Nadu were on Tuesday selected for the lifetime achievement award for their contribution to Indian politics by a private foundation that also chose 11 MPs for recognition, for their performance in Parliament. The Sansad Ratna Awards, constituted by Prime Point Foundation on the suggestion of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, for 2022 was chosen by a jury headed by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal and co-chaired by former Chief Election Commission T S Krishnamurthy. The jury has chosen eight Lok Sabha and three Rajya Sabha MPs for the Sansad Ratna Awards 2022. In addition, four Standing Committees have also been nominated for special awards. NCP's Supriya Sule, RSP's N K Premachandran and Shiv Sena's Shrirang Appa Barne have been nominated for 'Sansad Vishisht Ratna' award for their "sustained outstanding performance" while Bidyut Baran Mahato (BJP, Jharkhand), Kuldeep Rai Sharma (Congress, Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Dr Heena Gavit (BJP, Maharashtra), Saugata Roy (Trinamool Congress, West Bengal) and Sudhir Gupta (BJP, Madhya Pradesh) have been nominated for 'Sansad Ratna' awards for their performance in the 17th Lok Sabha. Also Read Hindu Mahasabha confers Godse Awards From Rajya Dr Amar Patnaik (BJD, Odisha) and Dr Fauzia Tahseen Ahmed Khan (NCP, Maharashtra) have been chosen for awards. KK Ragesh (CPM, Kerala) is nominated for the award under the Retired Members in 2021 category for his outstanding performance. The Departmentally Related Standing Committees (DRSC)Agriculture, Finance, Labour and Educationwere chosen for their outstanding cumulative performance. K Srinivasan, the Founder and Chairman of Prime Point Foundation and Sansad Ratna Awards Committee, said that 75 top-performing Parliamentarians have been honoured with Sansad Ratna awards, which were instituted on the suggestion of Dr Kalam. The first award function was held in 2010 in Chennai and Dr Kalam himself launched the initiative. The 12th edition of the award will be handed over on March 26 in Delhi, he said. Priyadarshini Rahul, Trustee Secretary of Prime Point Foundation and President of the Sansad Ratna Awards Committee, said the nominations have been made based on the cumulative performance of the members from the beginning of 17th Lok Sabha till the end of Winter Session 2021 and based on data provided by PRS Legislative Research. BJP national president J P Nadda has pulled up Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa for his controversial remarks on the Bhagwa (saffron) flag replacing the tricolour. In an interview to a private news channel, Nadda said he rebuked Eshwarappa the way he should be told, that such statements are wrong. We believe in the law. We believe in the Constitution and our duty is to protect the Constitution. We are nationalists. We dont tolerate wrong, irresponsible statements, Nadda said. Congress has been campaigning for Eshwarappas ouster for his seditious statement. Eshwarappa concurred that Nadda spoke to him. The minister, however, maintained that he had not said anywhere that he or the BJP will hoist the saffron flag in place of the tricolour. Also read: Eshwarappa asks Congress to end saffron flag issue Yes, Nadda brought it up. The CM and law minister have already responded to the Congress protest saying theres nothing wrong in my statement. I have already clarified. I had said I dont know if a situation will come when the Bhagwa will have to be hoisted in the next 100, 200 or 500 years. I didnt say we will hoist. I had said then and will say now that whoever insults the national flag is a traitor, he said. Meanwhile, a Congress delegation petitioned Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot seeking Eshwarappas dismissal. They took out a foot march from Vidhana Soudha to Raj Bhavan. The Governor is the head of the state who has to uphold the honour and dignity of the Constitution. We requested him to dismiss Eshwarappa. I hope the Governor will dismiss him, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said. Nadda has vindicated our stand. At least now, the CM should dismiss Eshwarappa, he added. KSE responsible Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar blamed Eshwarappa for the law-and-order situation in Shivamogga. Despite Section 144 being in place, a procession of the victims dead body was taken out. Eshwarappa and Shimoga MP B Y Raghavendra took part in it. Not only did they violate their own party governments curbs, but they also witnessed stone pelting and wielding of swords. Is this a civil government, Siddaramaiah asked. Shivakumar said Eshwarappa led a procession and got stones pelted and that such traitors are still in the Cabinet. Check out latest videos from DH: Amid reports of Bihar chief minister Nitesh Kumars name for presidential polls, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP on Tuesday made it clear that there is no question of support to the JD(U) stalwart till he snaps ties with the BJP. "There cannot be a discussion on this until he (Nitish Kumar) snaps ties with the BJP. First, he should break ties with the BJP and only then a thought can be given to support his candidature. Leaders of all parties will then sit together and think about it, NCP chief spokesperson and Maharashtra minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said. According to him, the BJP would face a severe drubbing in the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur. In Uttar Pradesh, they (BJP) would get less than 150 seatspeople are fed up with this (Yogi Adityanath) government, he said. In a video statement, he accused the BJP of triggering communal violence in Uttar Pradesh in 1993 when it was in power there, and said people of that state had dislodged the party because of it. The history will repeat itself in Uttar Pradesh after 30 years when the Assembly poll results are out next month, the veteran NCP leader and close Sharad Pawar-aide said. Maliks statement came days after Telangana chief minister and TRS founder-president K Chandrashekar Rao - who is playing a major role in building opposition unity - flew down to Mumbai and met Pawar and Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray. Watch the latest DH videos: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Tuesday trained guns on the Narendra Modi regime for attempts to privatise banks and railways that could lead to loss of thousands of jobs, saying a government for public welfare can never promote capitalism by creating inequality. His attack on "public welfare government" came days after the Pilibhit MP took potshots at the "strong government" for not taking "strong action" against "super corrupt system". "Privatisation of banks and Railways will leave five lakh employees forcefully retired i.e. unemployed. With jobs lost, hopes of lakhs of families are lost. A 'public welfare government can never promote capitalism by creating economic inequality at social level," Varun said in his latest tweet. 5 Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) February 22, 2022 Varun's latest attack comes following a series of tweets, letters and newspaper articles targeting the BJP over the past few months. Varun has been vocal on issues like job loss and economy, especially since the killings of farmers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri last year in which Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son is allegedly involved. Also Read | Varun Gandhi now questions strong govt on big bank loan fraud cases On February 18, Varun tweeted, "Vijay Mallya -- Rs 9,000 crore, Nirav Modi -- Rs 14,000 crore, Rishi Agarwal -- Rs 23,000 crore. When around 14 people are commiting suicide in the country due to the burden of debt, the life of these rich people are at the peak of splendour. A 'strong government' is expected to take 'strong action' against this super corrupt system." The tone of the tweet was not missed by the BJP as Varun spoke about "majboot sarkar" (strong government) and "majboot karyavahi" (strong action), key themes of the party's projection of Modi government. The almost direct attack on the BJP also comes in the midst of election campaign. On February 13 after reports of alleged bank fraud by ABG Shipyard Ltd's Agarwal came to light, he had tweeted that if farmers or small shopkeepers is unable to repay the loan of even thousands of rupees, their property will be attached or will be forced to commit suicide, but those who steal thousands of crores easily get bail. Also Read | Varun Gandhi tweets on unemployment, says situation getting dire He was also critical of the appointment of Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit as Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice Chancellor and had said that such mediocre appointments serve to damage our human capital and our youths future. Earlier touted as BJP's counter to the Congress' first family, the Gandhi family, Varun has off late fallen out with the leadership and has been raising issues. He has also been critical of the handling of the economy and has written articles on rising unemployment and farmer issues. He has been critical of the now-repealed controversial farm laws and has been demanding legal backing for Minimum Support Price (MSP). He also wrote to the Prime Minister seeking action against the Minister of State in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Check out latest DH videos here Cedar Beach is seen Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Allentown. A Coplay man was charged Tuesday with shooting at several men Monday at the park in an incident that police and witnesses said caused no injuries but alarmed hundreds of people there. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call ) A man kissed his gun while driving past several other men moments before shooting at them, destroying any sense of peace and safety for families enjoying a beautiful Monday evening at a packed Allentown park, according to police and witnesses. It sent parents and children at Cedar Beach scrambling for safety, including Gregory Edwards daughter-in-law and his three grandchildren, ages 10, 5 and 2. Advertisement My grandchildren were not shot, but certainly they are now traumatized, said Edwards, the pastor at Resurrected Life Community Church in Allentown. My heart is broken because ... we cant keep our children, our grandchildren safe. We have a responsibility to make sure all of our citizens, specifically our most vulnerable ones, are being cared for. Advertisement Tuesday, city police arrested a 25-year-old Coplay man in the shooting, which didnt cause any injuries. Carlos Medina, 25, of South Second Street, is charged with carrying a gun without a license, making terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct in connection with the 5:27 p.m. Monday incident, Allentown police Chief Charles Roca said. Police interviewed several men who returned to the scene and flagged officers down. The men said they saw Medina, who they know, at the basketball courts at 4:30 p.m. and that he tried to get one of them angry, according to an affidavit of probable cause:. They said he drove past the courts, kissing his gun and flashing it at them. Advertisement The men told police Medina and several others later began shooting at them, the affidavit says. Medina was allegedly firing from across a small bridge, where his car was parked. They said they left the park and were shot at while driving past where Medina was parked, according to the affidavit. Police later found 40-caliber casings in that area. Medina previously served county jail time after pleading guilty to simple assault and resisting arrest in a 2014 Slatington case, as well as criminal trespassing, theft and criminal mischief in a 2015 Northampton case, according to court records. He also served county jail time after pleading no contest to assault in an April incident in Allentown. Though no one was hurt, the shooting happened in broad daylight at the West Allentown park with hundreds around at the time, according to witnesses. Schools were closed because of Presidents Day, and the temperature was in the mid-50s. With 70% into cardiac heart failure, I managed to gather up my three babies and run for our lives, ducking and hiding while my baby girls were so scared, frantic, crying and yelling, Ash Leigh Adams of Allentown posted on Facebook shortly after the incident. My daughters are terrified for their lives, Adams wrote. So scared to go outside, [they] havent even stopped crying yet. These are innocent children who were innocently playing and enjoying the beautiful day. Now, theyre damaged and scarred. Advertisement Enid Santiago, an Allentown community organizer, said she fears the shooting is a preview for what we will see this summer, when gun violence tends to peak. Last Call Daily Get top headlines from The Morning Call delivered weekday afternoons. > When youre talking about a park, where is the safe space? Santiago said. We would assume a church, a school, a day care, a park is a place where we would not see violence. In remarks before the arrest, Mayor Matt Tuerk said the spring-like day was disrupted by an act that has created a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety in our community. The parks here are one of the crown jewels of our community, Tuerk said at Cedar Beach. We hate violence in Allentown, and we hate it even more when it comes to this spot. Children are experiencing trauma because of that. These types of actions are totally unacceptable. Tuerk said the police do an excellent job investigating crimes, and the city needs to invest more in the department. Advertisement We need more manpower in that police department, he said. We need more police available, who understand how to deliver trauma-informed care. ... Were all in together on public safety. Edwards, who is also director of POWER Lehigh Valley, which tries to foster healthy, inclusive, and just communities, said, So, when we talk about public safety ... poverty is an act of violence. When folks are living in abject poverty, poverty is an act of violence, and so certain types of crimes happen in certain environments. Im not abdicating personal responsibility, but certain types of crime happen in certain environments because of the lack of resources that could alter someones decision. Morning Call reporter Andrew Scott can be reached at 610-820-6508 or ascott@mcall.com. Morning Call reporter Daniel Patrick Sheehan can be reached at 610-820-6598 or dsheehan@mcall.com. Morning Call reporter Lindsay Weber can be reached at 610-820-6681 or liweber@mcall.com. A local court in Mathura has acquitted 14 accused in a case related to a shootout inside the district jail between two rival groups of gangsters in 2015 that left one person dead and two injured. The court ordered their acquittal, giving them the "benefit of doubt", as the prosecution failed to establish the case against them. Additional District and Sessions Judge Anil Kumar Pandey acquitted 14 under-trial prisoners of all charges, including murder. Most witnesses from the jail administration also turned hostile, according to the prosecution lawyer. The Additional District Government Council in Mathura Shoorveer Singh told reporters that the shootout took place inside the Mathura prison on January 17, 2015 between the two groups led by Deepak Meena and Rajesh Tonta. The firing led to the death of one of the gang members, Akshay Solanki. Another injured gangster Rajesh Sharma (Tonta) was gunned down by a group of men while he was being shifted to Agra Medical college from district hospital, Mathura in police custody. A total of 15 persons including jail police personnel, constable Kailash Gupta, were named in the shootout. After Rajesh's death, a charge sheet was filed against 14 people in the court. Gupta was accused of bringing arms inside the jail. "At least 22 people were made witnesses in this case, but seven witnesses from jail administration and one lawyer turned hostile," said Singh adding that of the 14 accused, 12 were out on bail while two are still in prison. On September 10, 2014, dreaded criminal of western Uttar Pradesh, Brajesh Mawi, was allegedly killed by one of his associates Tonta, who later surrendered along with his accomplices in Hathras, Aligarh and Mathura. Tonta was lodged in the Mathura Jail. Four months later, the shootout took place inside the Mathura jail. Check out latest DH videos here The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered the blocking of apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based 'Punjab Politics TV', which has "close links" with the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), accusing it of using online media to create trouble during the ongoing Assembly elections. The Ministry has used emergency powers under the Information Technology Rules on February 18 to block the digital media resources of 'Punjab Politics TV' after looking into intelligence inputs, an official statement said on Tuesday. The intelligence inputs suggested that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing Assembly elections, especially in Punjab. Also Read | Will look into it: Amit Shah writes to Channi on allegations against AAP "The contents of the blocked apps, website, and social media accounts had the potential to incite communal disharmony and separatism; and were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State, and public order," the statement said. It was also "observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections", the statement said adding that the union government "remains vigilant and committed to secure the overall information environment" in India and "thwart any actions having the potential to undermine" Indias sovereignty and integrity. The SFJ also came to limelight following allegations against Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal that he was supported by separatists. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking investigation into the allegations that SFJ was in touch with AAP. The SFJ was declared a terrorist organisation in July 2019 while the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had on 19 December, 2020 filed a charge-sheet against 16 Khalistani operatives based in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada in connection for launching a "concerted secessionist campaign' under the banner of Referendum 2020 for creating Khalistan. Earlier on 5 July, 2020, the government also blocked 40 websites of 'Sikhs for Justice', a day after it launched an online campaign for registering voters for its 'Referendum 2020'. Also Read | Govt blocks 40 pro-Khalistani websites seeking separate Sikh homeland The charge-sheet had said that Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a "secessionist outfit floated in the garb of human rights advocacy group", spearheaded the campaign and was a frontal organisation of Khalistan terrorist outfits operating from countries, including Pakistan. The SFJ has its offices in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia among others. Under the Referendum campaign, the NIA claimed, social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube and a number of websites have been launched. They were used to "propagate sedition as well as enmity on the ground of region and religion, radicalise impressionable youth and cause disturbance to peace and harmony and to raise funds for terrorist activities". The SFJ has been attempting to undermine the security of the Indian State by instigating Sikh personnel in the Indian Army to rise up in mutiny Check out DH's latest videos: Six migrant workers were killed and 14 others sustained burn injuries in an explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Himachal Pradesh's Una district on Tuesday, officials said. The injured included nine women, they said, adding that 11 who were in serious condition were shifted to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur directed the Divisional Commissioner to inquire into the incident and submit a report within a week. The state government announced Rs four lakh assistance to the next of kin of each of the deceased, the officials said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives and said Rs two lakh each from Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) would be given to the families of those killed in the incident. A sum of Rs. 50,000 would be given to each of the injured. Una Deputy Commissioner Raghav Sharma told PTI that the incident occurred in the Bathu industrial area in Haroli tehsil of Una district and the victims are migrant labourers from other states. He said strict action will be taken against officials who allowed the illegal factory to run. Efforts are on to apprehend the factory owners, Superintendent of Police Arjit Sen told reporters. Sharma said information regarding the factory was being verified by the police and industries department. Earlier, the state disaster management and the district administration stated that seven people were killed but later they revised the death toll as six. The deceased are yet to be identified. The injured have been identified as Narsala, Lasrat, Hasgiri, Jushi, Nasreen, Shakila, Esrat, Asma, Natisha, Muskan, Jafri, Farha, Jasheel, officials said They were currently residing at various places in the Una district while their permanent addresses are being ascertained, they added. Expressing grief over the loss of lives, the chief minister directed the district administration to immediately provide relief to the affected persons and take stern action against the guilty. Leader of opposition Mukesh Agnihotri demanded a judicial probe into the incident. He sought exemplary action against all those responsible for the mishap. Meanwhile, the village head (gram pradhan) Rekha Rana told the media that the crackers factory was being run illegally as no permission had been taken from the village panchayat. She demanded stern action against the factory owners and others responsible for the incident. Locals claimed that weighing machines were being made in the factory about a year ago and no one knew about the manufacturing of crackers. SP Arjit Sen told the media that he did not get any document that showed that the factory was legal. Officials said immediate assistance of Rs. 15,000 each is being provided to the 11 seriously injured in the tragic incident. Similarly, Rs. 5,000 each has been provided to three persons admitted at Una hospital. PTI DJI RT RT Watch latest videos by DH here: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has declared two towns, including Jain pilgrimage centre Kundalpur, as "holy areas" and said the sale of meat and liquor will be banned there. Chouhan made the announcement on Monday while participating in Panchkalyanak Maha Mahotsav of the Jain community in Kundalpur, located 285 km from the state capital Bhopal. With the inspiration of (Jain monk) Acharya Vidyasagar Ji Maharaj, I am declaring Kundalpur and Bandakpur (both in Damoh district) as 'Pavitra Kshetra' (holy areas), where meat and liquor will be completely banned, Chouhan said addressing a gathering. Bandakpur town is famous for a Lord Shiva temple. Chouhan said as per the wish expressed by Vidyasagar Maharaj, the state government will start medical and engineering course studies in Hindi within a year. He also appealed to citizens to come forward for the work of cow protection and to plant trees for a better environment. Earlier this month, state Medical Education Minister Vishwas Sarang had said the state government will start the MBBS course in Hindi in Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College from next academic session. Check out latest DH videos here At least 12 activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) were on Tuesday detained for protesting against a group of girls wearing hijab at a school in Gujarat's Surat, the police said. The VHP activists were detained from the school premises, where they had gathered to protest against girls wearing hijab, inspector M B Rathod of Kapodra police station said. The girls wearing hijab were not students of the school, but had gone there to attend a competitive exam for which the institute was a venue, the official said. Also Read Wish to finish hearing Hijab case this week: Karnataka HC Activists sporting saffron scarves protested peacefully at the school even as students gave their exams. The principal informed the police, which rushed to the site and detained them, he said. "We rushed to the school and detained 12 protesting members and brought them to the police station. No hindrance was caused to the girls taking the exam in a classroom," the inspector said. Protesters claimed that the girls were attending school wearing hijab as part of a conspiracy to turn Gujarat into Shaheen Baug, a site of sit-in protest by Muslims against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. Meanwhile, Surat Congress leader Aslam Cyclewala said some groups are deliberately trying to disturb peace in the state. "It appears to be a conspiracy of some right-wing outfits to disturb peace in Gujarat," he said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The escalation of tension along the Russia-Ukraine border is a matter of deep concern and the developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, India has told the UN Security Council, calling for restraint on all sides. During the emergency UNSC meeting, India issued a statement saying that the "well-being of Indians is of priority". "Safety and security of civilians essential. More than 20,000 Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine. The well-being of Indians is of priority to us," India's Permanent Rep to United Nations TS Tirumurti said at UNSC meet on Ukraine, according to ANI. Also read: Putin orders forces to 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine We have been closely following the evolving developments relating to Ukraine, including developments along the eastern border of Ukraine and the related announcement by the Russian Federation. "The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region, Tirumurti said at an emergency UNSC meeting on the situation in Ukraine Monday night. India called for restraint on all sides. "The immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond, Tirumurti said. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces Monday to maintain peace in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognised the area's independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelt out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the US and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. (With agency inputs) Check out DH's latest videos: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its concern over pharmaceutical companies manipulating doctors prescription by gifts such as gold coins, fridges and LCD TVs to funding international trips for vacations or to attend medical conferences, in lieu of suggesting drugs manufactured by them. A bench of Justices U U Lalit and S Ravindra Bhat said pharmaceutical companies gifting freebies to doctors, etc., is clearly prohibited by law, and not allowed to be claimed as a deduction. The top court said it is a matter of great public importance and concern, when it is demonstrated that a doctors prescription can be manipulated, and driven by the motive to avail the freebies offered to them by pharmaceutical companies. "These freebies are technically not free the cost of supplying such freebies is usually factored into the drug, driving prices up, thus creating a perpetual publicly injurious cycle. The threat of prescribing medication that is significantly marked up, over effective generic counterparts in lieu of such a quid pro quo exchange was taken cognizance of by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare," the bench pointed out. The top court dismissed an appeal filed by M/s Apex Laboratories Pvt Ltd against a Madras High Court's judgement which declined to intervene into Income Tax authorities' decision against the company to claim benefit of business expenditure towards gifting freebies to medical practitioners for creating awareness about the health supplement Zincovit'. Justice Bhat, who authored the order, said doctors and pharmacists being complementary and supplementary to each other in the medical profession, a comprehensive view must be adopted to regulate their conduct in view of the contemporary statutory regimes and regulations. "Therefore, denial of the tax benefit cannot be construed as penalising the assessee pharmaceutical company. Only its participation in what is plainly an action prohibited by law, precludes the assessee from claiming it as a deductible expenditure," the court said. The bench also pointed out that medical practitioners have a quasi-fiduciary relationship with their patients. "A doctors prescription is considered the final word on the medication to be availed by the patient, even if the cost of such medication is unaffordable or barely within the economic reach of the patient such is the level of trust reposed in doctors," it said. In the present case, the incentives or freebies by the company, to the doctors, had a direct result of exposing them to the "odium of sanctions, leading to a ban on their practice of medicine". Those sanctions are mandated by law, as embodied in the code of conduct and ethics, and have legally binding effect. The conceded participation of the assessee - the provider or donor- was plainly prohibited, as far as their receipt by the medical practitioners was concerned. That medical practitioners were forbidden from accepting such gifts, or freebies was no less a prohibition on the part of their giver, or donor, the court added. Watch latest videos by DH here: Uma Anandhan, who had termed herself as a proud supporter of Nathuram Godse, will be the lone representative of the BJP in the 200-member Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) council. Anandhan won from ward no. 134 in Chennai, triggering a volley of reactions on social media with the majority denouncing her once again for her comments on Godse, who was hanged for assassinating Mahatma Gandhi. Anandhan, who vehemently opposes the Dravidian ideology, had courted controversy a number of times for her extreme views on several issues. In an interview to a YouTube channel, Anandhan, who won against a Congress candidate, had described herself as the ideological granddaughter of Godse and proclaimed that she is his supporter. Lion always comes alone, Anandhan responded on Tuesday when asked about her being the lone member from the BJP in a DMK-dominated council. BJP had come under criticism from several quarters when Anandhan was given a ticket to contest on partys symbol after her video praising Godse went viral. This is the first time that the BJP has entered the GCC council on its own it had won seats in alliance with others. BJP had come under criticism from several quarters when Anandhan was given a ticket to contest on partys symbol after her video praising Godse went viral. This is the first time that the BJP has entered the GCC council on its own it had won seats in alliance with others. It is a shame that a hate-monger has won the ward. But I am more disappointed about the fact that, WE, at @INCTamilNadu have failed in our duty to the nation by not putting up a fight for the values that the Father of our Nation stood for. https://t.co/FoMnrAJcIx Lakshmi Ramachandran (@laksr_tn) February 22, 2022 TN Congress General Secretary Lakshmi Ramachandran said it was a shame that a hate-monger has won the ward. But I am more disappointed about the fact that WE, at @INCTamilNadu have failed in our duty to the nation by not putting up a fight for the values that the Father of our Nation stood for. A campaign taking Mahatma Gandhi's message door-to-door would have certainly helped. We owed it to our country. Who is going to take responsibility for this defeat? she asked. Congress MP from Sivaganga too joined her in demanding that responsibility be fixed on the concerned for the Congress defeat in the ward. It is most disappointing to note this result. Its an affront to the memory of the Father of the Nation. And its a failure of the @INCTamilNadu for which we all are collectively responsible but those in charge must take moral responsibility. Will anything change, I wonder? he asked. Check out DH's latest videos: The 21 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy last month for allegedly poaching in the countrys territorial waters were released on the instructions from a magistrate court, officials said on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan authorities will hand over the fishermen to the Indian Consulate after which they will be repatriated to India after completing all the necessary Covid-19 protocols. On January 31, local Sri Lankan fishermen alerted the coastguard after two Indian boats were located off the coast of Point Pedro within the Sri Lankan side of the international waters. The Sri Lankan Navy confiscated their boats and remanded them in custody till February 21. According to the Sri Lankan Navy, these arrests are part of their patrols to cut illegal fishing in the countrys waters to minimise the impact from poaching on the local fishermen and sustainability of fishery resources in Sri Lanka. Also Read | Can Sri Lanka auction Indian fishing boats? On Monday, the Point Pedro Magistrate Court ordered the release of the 21 Indian fishermen. They were given 3-year jail terms suspended for 10 years while their two boats were ordered to be confiscated, fisheries official J Sudakaran told PTI. Last month, a Sri Lankan court ordered the release of 56 Indian fishermen who were detained for allegedly fishing in the island nation's territorial waters. The issue of fishermen remains contentious in the bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka. This issue had figured prominently in the talks between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Sri Lankan counterpart GL Peiris in New Delhi earlier this month. "Exchanged views on the fishermen issue and agreed that bilateral mechanisms should meet early. Recognised the importance of greater tourism for economic recovery. Also noted the importance of P2P linkages through greater connectivity," Jaishankar had said. There have been several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats. The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. Check out the latest videos from DH: Shattered by repeated news reports and theories about the death of Bollywood talent manager Disha Salian, her parents on Tuesday appealed to leave them alone and not to malign her daughter. Pease spare us, please leave us alonelet her be at peacewe appeal to politicians, media and social media to spare us.we have lost our only child, our only daughterwe are dying daily, again and again, Dishas parents Vasanthi and Satish said. Please do not trouble usagain and again, it is now almost two years, we are facing this, they said. Vasanthi and Satish spoke to the media briefly at their Dadar residence after Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar visited them. In a related development, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) issued a notice to the Mumbai Police. We asked them to submit a report in two days including her postmortem report, the copy of FIR, and other related documents of the case," MSCW chairperson Rupali Chakankar said. Watch latest videos by DH here: Allentown police are investigating gunfire reported Monday evening at Cedar Beach. Officers who responded to the park at 5:27 p.m. for a report of gunshots found casings, police said in a news release, but did not find anyone with injuries or any property damage. Advertisement Police said there is no immediate threat to the public. Police asked anyone with information about the gunfire to contact detectives at (610)-437-7721 or to provide the information through the departments Tip411 site. Advertisement Police did not release any further details about the gunfire. Five years back, in 2017, the electorate of Manipur did not have enough reasons to send the Congress packing. The Congress party won as many as 28 seats, just three short of the majority mark, but failed to put in place a government with coalition partners. Five years later, in 2022, the Congress objective is to revive its sagging electoral prospects in the state. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which looked comfortable returning to power a month back, suddenly finds itself in a do or die battle. This issue of survival haunts, in particular, the incumbent chief minister, N Biren Singh. The saffron party queered its pitch when it dumped its allies in the run-up to the Assembly polls - the National People's Party (NPP) and the Naga People's Front (NPF) - and decided to contest all 60 seats on its own. The BJP's ambitious expansion plan is seen as the brainchild of Chief Minister Biren Singh. But now that the ticket distribution is done, dissension among the rank and file has added to the challenges of the BJP. A section of party leaders feels the over-ambition was perhaps an error of judgement. Also Read | Traditional 'Pot Lamba' gauge voters' mood in Manipur ahead of elections The BJP decided to field 60 candidates and set a winning target, mainly for media consumption, of 40. With the Congress marginalised, political observers assess the real contest in many seats could now be between the BJP and the NPP of Conrad Sangma, the chief minister of Meghalaya. Between 2017 and 2022, the NPP's had a rollercoaster love-hate relationship with the BJP in Manipur, as it broke down more than once. On the contrary, the NPF, which drew its strength from the Naga dominated hills with four legislators, stuck dutifully with the coalition under the leadership of Biren Singh. Insiders suggest if the saffron party does not perform too well, as the anti-Biren Singh camp expects within the BJP, the party could explore the option to go for a new chief ministerial face. Biren Singh now may face stiff competition from two of his colleagues, Thongam Biswajit Singh and Govindas Konthoujam. "Obviously, Biren Singh would stay if the BJP were to do well. Else, after what the BJP high command did to Sarbananda Sonowal in Assam and Amit Shah's trusted lieutenant Himanta Biswa Sarma was made the chief minister, Biren Singh may miss the second term," says a party leader from the anti-Biren Singh camp. Thongam Biswajit Singh is a key BJP leader representing the Thongju constituency in Imphal East. As the minister for public works, rural development and panchayati raj, Biswajit has worked closely with important central ministers in the Narendra Modi cabinet at the Centre, which has raised his prestige. The other contender, Govindas Konthoujam, was the Congress state president and pitted himself against that party's veteran leader and multiple-term chief minister, Okram Ibobi Singh. He joined the BJP in August 2021. But then, Biren Singh is also a former Congress leader and had joined the BJP only in 2016, less than a year before the 2017 Assembly polls. It lends grist to the theory that Biren Singh could get replaced since the BJP has surprised people with its choice of chief ministers in states in the last few years. It replaced Sonowal with Sarma in Assam in 2021. In 2017 in Uttar Pradesh, it picked Yogi Adityanath over Manoj Sinha. Last year, in Gujarat, the BJP sacked Vijay Rupani to replace him with Bhupendra Patel, a first-time legislator. Biren Singh's supporters rule out any possibility of a change at the helm. They even argue that the speculation could hamper the BJP's prospects in many constituencies. They also point out that Biren Singh, unlike Sonowal, is a shrewder operator and would outfox his rivals within the party. Just like Sarma had Amit Shah's confidence, so does Biren Singh. The Union Home Minister also showed faith in Biren Singh when the latter took up the cudgel to oppose any move by the Naga rebels for changing Manipur's territorial integrity. Biren Singh had taken a delegation of Meitei leaders to Shah, who had backed him. In the run-up to the polls, sources say, in his one-on-one meeting, Biren Singh had mooted to Shah his idea of the BJP contesting all 60 seats. Shah had readily endorsed the plan. However, Biren Singh's troubles could arise from outside the party, particularly from former allies, the NPP of Conrad Sangma, if the BJP were to fall short of the majority mark. Sangma, the Meghalaya CM, and his most trusted colleague in Manipur, former IPS officer, Deputy CM Joykumar Singh, are not against the BJP. They have problems with Biren Singh. In March 2017, after the previous Assembly polls concluded, the NPP of Conrad Sangma had bargained hard and managed to get the deputy chief minister's post for Y Joykumar Singh and ministerial berths for all other three of its legislators. It even got the finance portfolio. On the other hand, with a matching number of four MLAs, the Naga People's Front (NPF) played a low profile. Initially, it could get only one ministerial portfolio, Losi Dikho, from the Mao constituency. The NPF could secure the second ministership only in 2020 (Awangbou Newmai ), and that was also when one legislator and Congress defector was disqualified. However, Biren Singh and Y Joykumar Singh fell out during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The NPP even fielded its candidate, Thangminlien Kipgen, in the tribal stronghold Outer Manipur constituency. To the surprise of many, the NPP supported the CPI candidate, M Nara, in the Inner Manipur Lok Sabha constituency. But the NPF reached an agreement with the BJP and managed the Outer Manipur seat for Dr Lorho Pfoze. Biren Singh and NPP fought again, but the latter returned to the BJP-led coalition after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. This time, the NPP could get only two ministers. Biren Singh also has cards up his sleeves in the current political manoeuvring round. Some believe that the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), getting prominence in Manipur has to do something with Biren Singh. Curiously, many BJP ticket aspirants who were denied tickets later showed preference to join the fledgling Manipur unit of the JD(U). We shall soon know if they joined the JD(U) as it is a BJP-led National Democratic Alliance constituent or whether Biren Singh has propped up a 'B team' of the BJP. In any case, an election that had seemed predictable weeks back has turned into a potboiler. (Nirendra Dev is a New Delhi-based journalist) Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH. Check out latest DH videos here When a major conflict like Ukraine breaks out, journalists always ask themselves: Where should I station myself? Kyiv? Moscow? Munich? Washington? In this case, my answer is none of these. The only place to be for understanding this war is inside Russian President Vladimir Putins head. Putin is the most powerful, unchecked Russian leader since Stalin, and the timing of this war is a product of his ambitions, strategies and grievances. But, with all of that said, America is not entirely innocent of fueling his fires. How so? Putin views Ukraines ambition to leave his sphere of influence as both a strategic loss and a personal and national humiliation. In his speech on Monday, Putin literally said Ukraine has no claim to independence, but is instead an integral part of Russia its people are connected with us by blood, family ties. Which is why Putins onslaught against Ukraines freely elected government feels like the geopolitical equivalent of an honour killing. Also Read | UN to hold emergency Security Council meeting on Ukraine Putin is basically saying to Ukrainians (more of whom want to join the European Union than NATO): You fell in love with the wrong guy. You will not run off with either NATO or the E.U. And if I have to club your government to death and drag you back home, I will. This is ugly, visceral stuff. Nevertheless, there is a back story here that is relevant. Putins attachment to Ukraine is not just mystical nationalism. In my view, there are two huge logs fuelling this fire. The first log was the ill-considered decision by the US in the 1990s to expand NATO after indeed, despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. And the second and far bigger log is how Putin cynically exploited NATOs expansion closer to Russias borders to rally Russians to his side to cover for his huge failure of leadership. Putin has utterly failed to build Russia into an economic model that would actually attract its neighbours, not repel them, and inspire its most talented people to want to stay, not get in line for visas to the West. Also Read | Putin orders forces to 'maintain peace' in eastern Ukraine We need to look at both of these logs. Most Americans paid scant attention to the expansion of NATO in the late 1990s and early 2000s to countries in Eastern and Central Europe like Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, all of which had been part of the former Soviet Union or its sphere of influence. It was no mystery why these nations would want to be part of an alliance that obligated the US to come to their defense in the event of an attack by Russia, the rump successor to the Soviet Union. The mystery was why the US which throughout the Cold War dreamed that Russia might one day have a democratic revolution and a leader who, however haltingly, would try to make Russia into a democracy and join the West would choose to quickly push NATO into Russias face when it was weak. A very small group of officials and policy wonks at that time, myself included, asked that same question, but we were drowned out. The most important, and sole, voice at the top of the Clinton administration asking that question was none other than the defense secretary, Bill Perry. Recalling that moment years later, Perry in 2016 told a conference of The Guardian newspaper: In the last few years, most of the blame can be pointed at the actions that Putin has taken. But in the early years, I have to say that the United States deserves much of the blame. Our first action that really set us off in a bad direction was when NATO started to expand, bringing in Eastern European nations, some of them bordering Russia. At that time, we were working closely with Russia and they were beginning to get used to the idea that NATO could be a friend rather than an enemy but they were very uncomfortable about having NATO right up on their border and they made a strong appeal for us not to go ahead with that. On May 2, 1998, immediately after the Senate ratified NATO expansion, I called George Kennan, the architect of Americas successful containment of the Soviet Union. Having joined the State Department in 1926 and served as US ambassador to Moscow in 1952, Kennan was arguably Americas greatest expert on Russia. Though 94 at the time and frail of voice, he was sharp of mind when I asked for his opinion of NATO expansion. I am going to share Kennans whole answer: I think it is the beginning of a new cold war. I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anybody else. This expansion would make the Founding Fathers of this country turn over in their graves. We have signed up to protect a whole series of countries, even though we have neither the resources nor the intention to do so in any serious way. [NATO expansion] was simply a lighthearted action by a Senate that has no real interest in foreign affairs. What bothers me is how superficial and ill-informed the whole Senate debate was. I was particularly bothered by the references to Russia as a country dying to attack Western Europe. Dont people understand? Our differences in the Cold War were with the Soviet Communist regime. And now we are turning our backs on the very people who mounted the greatest bloodless revolution in history to remove that Soviet regime. And Russias democracy is as far advanced, if not farther, as any of these countries weve just signed up to defend from Russia. Of course there is going to be a bad reaction from Russia, and then (the NATO expanders) will say that we always told you that is how the Russians are but this is just wrong. Its EXACTLY what has happened. To be sure, post-Cold War Russia evolving into a liberal system the way post-World War II Germany and Japan did was hardly a sure thing. Indeed, given Russias scant experience with democracy, it was a long shot. But some of us then thought it was a long shot worth trying, because even a less-than-democratic Russia if it had been included rather than excluded from a new European security order might have had much less interest or incentive in menacing its neighbours. Of course, none of this justifies Putins dismemberment of Ukraine. During Putins first two terms as president from 2000 to 2008 he occasionally grumbled about NATO expansion but did little more. Oil prices were high then, as was Putins domestic popularity, because he was presiding over the soaring growth of Russian personal incomes after a decade of painful restructuring and impoverishment following the collapse of communism. But across the past decade, as Russias economy stagnated, Putin either had to go for deeper economic reforms, which might have weakened his top-down control, or double down on his corrupt crony capitalist kleptocracy. He chose the latter, explained Leon Aron, a Russia expert at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of Yeltsin: A Revolutionary Life, who is now writing a book about the future of Putins Russia. And to both cover and distract from that choice, Putin shifted the basis of his popularity from being the distributor of Russias newfound wealth and an economic reformer to the defender of the motherland, Aron said. And right when Putin opted for domestic political reasons to become a nationalist avenger and a permanent wartime president, as Aron put it, what was waiting there for him to grasp onto was the most emotive threat to rally the Russian people behind him: The low-hanging fruit of NATO expansion. And he has dined out on it ever since, even though he knows that NATO has no plans to expand to include Ukraine. Countries and leaders usually react to humiliation in one of two ways aggression or introspection. After China experienced what it called a century of humiliation from the West, it responded under Deng Xiaoping by essentially saying: Well show you. Well beat you at your own game. When Putin felt humiliated by the West after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the expansion of NATO, he responded: Ill show you. Ill beat up Ukraine. Yes, its all more complicated than that, but my point is this: This is Putins war. Hes a bad leader for Russia and its neighbours. But America and NATO are not just innocent bystanders in his evolution. Check out latest DH videos here Aditee Garg's sculptures adorn the Kartarpur Corridor connecting the Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan. Her 13 sculptures at the historic Indo-Pak corridor are monumental in size, with the smallest being 10 feet high and others ranging from 40 feet to 50 feet. When asked if she faced any challenges while working on the massive sculptures in marble and assorted metal, she opened up about the general assumptions regarding women sculptors. "It is assumed that women cannot handle huge sizes. That's a historical truth, bolstered by the presence of only a handful of women in the field. Even after I was selected to work for the Kartarpur Corridor, some officials openly wondered if I would be able to handle more-than-life-size sculptures," says Garg. Garg doesn't treat it as a deterrent but as an amusing distraction. She is content at having reclaimed her calling after a few years doing a corporate job and only wishes to continue creating sculptures with "emotions and energy." Garg, whose other works are currently on display in an exhibition, Moulding Thoughts, at The Lodhi in New Delhi, hosted by Apparao Galleries, is an integral part of India's art heritage. However, the 44-year-old started with an MBA in finance, followed by a stint at a prominent bank before destiny caught up and steered Garg towards her passion. The exhibition gives an idea of why it would have been a pity for Garg to have not quit banking for the sake of the arts. The most distinctive feature of Garg's works on display at The Lodhi is the artist's modernist vision that comes through her mature use of the negative space, the absences like a patch of silence in a movie or a pause in a musical note. "I've always had a deep desire to show what is missing, what is less because life is not just black and white but has all the 50 shades of grey in between," she said. The artist works across various mediaclay, marble, granite and bronze, creating figurative, abstract and semi-abstract works. It's the same thought process that makes her Kartarpur Corridor sculptures stand out, celebrating the Sikh icons and their valour. One of those works is a salute to the religious syncretism of India; it shows the Ek Omkar symbol above a lotus flower. "Even while doing the nine-to-five job, I was clear that I would eventually come to the arts," said New Delhi-based Garg. She finally found her mojo in sculpture by training under senior artist Rameshwar Broota at New Delhi's Triveni Kala Sangam. "I was learning painting under Mr Broota when he told me that I had a 3D vision and would do better working outside the studio. He sent me outdoors to work, and after a week, he asked me what I felt. I told him, 'I don't know what painting is. I want to die as a sculptor,' " said Garg. She trained for four years under Broota and acquired a two-year diploma in sculpture from the Banaras Hindu University. (The writer is a New Delhi-based journalist, editor and arts consultant.) Sunni Jam-Iyyathul Ulama Central Committee Secretary S P Hamza Sakhafi and Udupi Khazi and Sunni Jam-Iyyathul Ulama Central Committee President Khazi M Abdul Hameed Musliyar Mani have called for a harmonious resolution to the controversy surrounding hijab. They told mediapersons that they are not demanding a particular colour for headscarves. "Even the veil of the uniform can be used as a headscarf by the Muslim girl students, one of said. Sakhafi said, The controversy is a conspiracy to suppress the individual freedom enshrined in the constitution. A small issue like the controversy over hijab that erupted in a college in Udupi was made to spread to the entire state. A few are making use of the situation for political mileage. It was not an issue to be made into a controversy. Women have been using pallu of their saree to cover their head in various parts of the country. It is not the Muslim women alone who wear it. It is mandatory for Muslim women to wear it as per Islam. Muslim students were wearing headscarves in educational institutions without any worry in the past, he said. Also Read Shivamogga returning to normalcy; 450 police personnel on standby India is a country where people flaunt diverse religious symbols while maintaining communal harmony in the society by living unitedly. Students, irrespective of their caste and religion, were pursuing their education in schools and colleges. However, attempts are being made to sow the seeds of hate in the minds of students and divide them on the lines of caste and religion, which is condemnable, he said. Even the names of the children studying in educational institutions are diverse. Through the names, one will come across the religion to which he or she belongs. The contention that wearing headscarves amounts to discrimination and is against equality in the classroom is a childish argument, claimed Sakhafi. He said that the interim order of the High Court is applicable only to colleges where the College Development Committee has mandated a dress code or a uniform. Unfortunately, the order is misinterpreted and efforts are on to keep Muslim girl students out of the classrooms. Sunni Jam-Iyyathul Ulama Karnataka demanded action against such misinterpretation. We have full faith in the judiciary and believe that the High Courts judgement will be in favour of freedom enshrined in the Constitution. All the awakened citizens should unite to overcome division among the students in educational institutions in the name of religion and protect the constitutional rights, he said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Though Shivamogga seems to be returning to normalcy after violence that broke out during the funeral procession of Bajrang Dal worker Harsha on Monday, police security has been beefed up across the city to prevent any untoward incidents. Commercial establishments remained shut but the movement of vehicles is almost normal. Holiday has been declared for schools and colleges in the city. Also read: Bajrang Dal man's killing sparks Shivamogga riots Around 450 police personnel and 25 officers have been deployed across the city. Besides, 20 KSRP platoons, 10 DAR platoons and one Rapid Action Force are camping in the city. Police will take out flag march in communally sensitive areas to instil confidence among people. Check out latest videos from DH: Twenty people were injured in communal violence in Shivamogga on Monday, a day after the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Harsha (28) by a gang of five men, forcing the police to fire in the air to quell the violence. Two photojournalists, a policeman and a woman were among those injured in the violence that broke out during the funeral procession where over 100 vehicles were also torched. A curfew was enforced and will remain in force till Wednesday morning. A holiday was declared for schools and colleges in Shivamogga city on February 22. The police arrested two suspects from Shivamogga for the murder and have identified them as Khasif (30) and Syed Nadeem (20) and are trying to ascertain the motive behind the murder. Also Read: Three held in connection with murder of right-wing activist in Shivamogga, says Home Minister Jnanendra Following demands by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, the police permitted the funeral procession from the District McGann Teaching General Hospital where the postmortem was done, through Old Thirthahalli Road to Harshas house at Seegehatti, where the body was kept for public viewing for some time. After Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa and MP B Y Raghavendra paid their respects to the deceased, the procession resumed and culminated at Rotary crematorium at Vidyanagar after passing through the main streets of the city like B H Road, Amir Ahmed Circle, KR Puram, Imaam Bada, Siddaiah Road, Azadnagar, Seegehatti and Gandhi Bazaar. Harshas father Nagaraj performed the last rites. Despite police deployment, the situation went out of control as miscreants hurled stones when the procession reached Siddaiah Road. The crowd vandalised fruit stalls, torched vehicles, tyres, stoned many commercial establishments, houses and mosques. When stones were hurled at the procession, the angry crowd retaliated, leading to chaos. Stone throwing was reported again as the procession reached the mosque at Gandhi Bazaar. The crowds chanted Jai Sri Ram throughout the procession. Miscreants also damaged cameras of photojournalists. Two houses vandalised A mob of around 500 entered two houses at Rajiv Gandhi Layout near the Rotary crematorium and pulled out household goods and vandalised houses. The police, who were struggling to control the situation, initially, fired tear gas to disperse the mob. When the situation worsened, they fired in the air and resorted to caning. The fire force rushed to the spot and doused the burning vehicles. Traffic was restricted on the procession route. Most parts of the city remained tense and all shops remained shut. Schools and colleges were closed on Monday in Shivamogga and Bhadravathi. Superintendent of police B M Laxmi Prasad and ADGP S Murugan supervised security arrangements during the procession. According to the police, Harsha, a resident of Seegehatti, was an active member of Bajrang Dal and was working as an assistant to an engineer in the city. He left home saying he was going out for dinner. A five-member gang in a car attacked him with lethal weapons near Kamath petrol bunk on Bharathi Colony Road on Sunday night and fled. Harsha faces four cases at Doddapete police station and was accused of spreading communal hatred through social media. He was also accused of pasting the image of a pig on a mosque a few years ago. The police suspect this could be the reason for the attack. His parents revealed that he was receiving threat calls from some organisations. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A delegation of Congress leaders on Tuesday met Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot and submitted a memorandum seeking the dismissal of Minister K S Eshwarappa and that he be booked for sedition over a statement on the national flag. Congress leaders and legislators led by Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council B K Hariprasad, marched from Vidhana Soudha to the Raj Bhavan to submit their memorandum to the Governor. "For five days we have staged a protest in the assembly, today the house has been adjourned, so we met the Governor and submitted him a memorandum. We hope that the Governor will dismiss him (Eshwarappa). If he is not dismissed, we will go to the people's court and explain to the people of the state, his shameless act of insulting the national flag," Siddaramaiah said. Also Read | BJP doesn't tolerate irresponsible statements: Nadda on Eshwarappa's saffron flag comment Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he said, the Governor told us he will look into the matter and will take necessary action. Congress legislators had been staging 'day-and-night' protests, whereby they spent the night inside the Assembly, and staged demonstrations from the well of the House during the day, thereby disrupting the proceedings, demanding Eshwarappa's resignation from Thursday. Recently, Eshwarappa had claimed 'Bhagwa dhwaj' (saffron flag) may become the national flag sometime in the future and the same may be hoisted on the Red Fort then. He, however, had said the tricolour is the national flag now, and it should be respected by everyone. Terming Eshwarappa's statement as deliberate, Siddaramaiah said it is an insult to the national flag and an "unpardonable offence". "He is a senior Minister, he has been in the cabinet since 2006, such a person with mal-intention has insulted the national flag which is the pride and identity of the country," he said. Noting that the Congress had moved an adjournment motion in both houses of the legislature seeking legal action by booking a criminal case against Eshwarappa and that he should be dismissed from the Ministry, the Congress Legislature Party Leader said, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai did not do both, but defended him. "Both Eshwarappa and the Chief Minister's conduct is an act of treason," he said. Claiming that BJP National President J P Nadda has in an interview has termed Eshwarappa's statement as wrong, Siddaramaiah said, "according to me Bommai after seeing it at least should have dismissed him (Eshwarappa). RSS, BJP never respect national flag and constitution, they want to change them." He further said, "There is a flag code of India, also there is also Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the section 2 of this- states that whoever disrespect the national flag shall be imprisoned for the term extending up to three years, or fine or both. It amounts to sedition also." Check out DH's latest videos: An inquest into the death of a nine-year-old Derry girl whose case was examined in the Hyponatraemia Inquiry will be heard in October, a coroner has said. A barrister representing the coroner also said that Raychel Fergusons inquest would be more than a paper-based exercise and that he was proposing calling 15 medical witnesses to give evidence. Raychel, nine, from Coshquin, was one of five children whose hospital treatment was examined in the long-running investigation. She died on June 10 2001 at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Belfast, shortly after transfer from Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry following an appendectomy. Her death resulted from hyponatraemia brought on by fluid therapy which had not properly replaced her sodium levels. Inquiry chairperson, Mr Justice OHara, found in 2018 that Raychels death, and the deaths of two other chlidren, Adam Strain and Claire Roberts, were the result of negligent care. The deaths of Lucy Crawford and Conor Mitchell were also examined during the inquiry. His damning report found four of the five deaths could have been avoided. The Attorney General for Northern Ireland has directed that a new inquest be held into Raychels death. During a pre-inquest review on Monday, coroner Joe McCrisken told interested parties that he wanted the inquest to begin on October 10. He said it had the potential to run for two weeks. He added: I really do want everyone to focus on this inquest. The date of October 10 is the start date for this inquest. Dates are few and far between with court dates really stretched at the moment, so I am committed to having this inquest started, for the benefit of everyone, but more particularly for the Ferguson family in early October. A fresh inquest is to held into the death of Raychel Ferguson. Michael Chambers, counsel for the coroner, added: What we are proposing to do is to admit the entirety of the evidence that was heard at the Hyponatraemia Inquiry, but then call to give oral evidence the 15 witnesses who I have suggested in the draft witness list. We are inviting views from the parties if there are any other witnesses they think should be called to give oral evidence other than the 15 named doctors and nurses in the treatment of Raychel. What we didnt do in (the Claire) Roberts (inquest) was conduct a paper-based exercise where we simply read through the notes from the Hyponatraemia Inquiry and that is not what is being proposed in this inquest. A further review hearing will take place on April 26. The RNLI in Inishowen has issued a warning after several swimmers, including one from Derry, got into difficulty while bathing at Ludden Beach just outside Buncrana at the weekend. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when a total of 11 female swimmers took to the water during low tide. When three of the swimmers got into difficulty the remaining eight, along with two males who were in the area, used lifebuoys to pull the trio to safety. Although suffering from the freezing conditions, they did not require hospital treatment. The RNLI lifeboat, which is based in Buncrana, was alerted to the incident but was stood down before it was launched. The incident prompted the Lough Swilly RNLI to swimmers taking to the water at low tide. Stating the trio had a lucky escape, a spokesperson said: It is generally safe to swim at Ludden, but at low tide it can be dangerous. With various storms rolling in from the Atlantic at this time of year, they can dramatically shift the sand on the beach. We would urge all swimmers to avoid entering the water at low tide and stick to the safety advice from the RNLI and Water Safety Ireland. The spokesperson concluded, "Sunday could have had a completely different outcome. Interview: Chinese governance far more legitimate than Western democracy, says expert Xinhua) 11:03, February 22, 2022 NEW YORK, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese governance today "has far more legitimacy in terms of common acceptance or confidence than any Western democracy," according to one scholar in the United States. John Pang, a senior fellow at Bard College, New York, said Chinese governance strives for constant improvements in the welfare of the people and bases its legitimacy on that welfare. China's whole-process people's democracy and common prosperity are concepts that the West would have understood in its classical and Christian past under the notion of "the common good," while the idea is no longer understood in the West today. "Liberal democracy does not have a working conception of the common good," Pang said in an interview with Xinhua. He pointed out that the question of the meaning of democracy remains critical, but China shouldn't be distracted into trying to explain itself in Western liberal terms. "China has the oldest continuous political culture in the world, with nearly 3,000 years of written reflection on governance, the common good, inter-state relations, on the relationship between people, between people and state and people and nature. It has its own concept of the state, older than the West's, that integrates the individual, family, state and cosmos," Pang said. China's success in combating the pandemic is a clear demonstration that its concept of state is alive and well, and China certainly does not need the West to lecture it about how to self-govern, he added. Pang said he felt that it is now "nearly impossible" to talk about China in an objective way in Western academic and media spaces. "An escalating propaganda war is being waged against China with relentless disinformation about Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the pandemic and every facet of China's present and past. This is supposed to demonize China and (the) Chinese people when the truth is that the modern West is undeniably founded on genocide, slavery and colonialism," Pang said. "The discourse of democracy and of human rights that is being used to isolate China is a weaponized imperialist discourse," he noted. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Burley, ID (83318) Today Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 37F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 37F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Minister Coveney launches Governments Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean Press release Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney T.D., launched the Governments Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025 in a virtual event broadcast from Iveagh House on Tuesday 22 February. The Latin America and Caribbean Strategy is the most recent Strategy to be published under the Global Ireland initiative, and is a key commitment under the Our Shared Future Programme for Government. It is the first-ever Irish Strategy for this key region, which is home to 650 million people and generates billions of euro per annum in trade with Irish companies. The new Strategy is designed to provide a strong framework for deepening our bilateral and multilateral relations with Latin American and Caribbean partners. Messages of support for the Strategy were delivered by Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, Ministers from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru, and the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)[1]. In their remarks, the speakers spoke of the longstanding historical links between Ireland, their own nations and the entire region, which have created strong bonds between our peoples across a variety of sectors. Prime Minister Mottley and participating Ministers also referenced the many modern-day ties between Ireland and Latin America and the Caribbean and the strong additional cooperation that is foreseen under the Strategy. During the event, Minister Coveney spoke of the existing robust political and economic relationships between Ireland and the region, and the Strategys commitment to see these aspects strengthened through coordinated efforts by Team Ireland. He characterised Ireland and the Latin America and Caribbean region as close partners in efforts to tackle pressing global challenges such as climate change, and also spoke of the Strategys ambitions to enhance Irelands cultural and diaspora outreach. He also noted Irelands plans to step up its values-based engagement in the region, including in areas such as making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, peacebuilding, protection of human rights and assistance to the most vulnerable. These points were echoed by EU Special Representative for Human Rights and EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia Eamon Gilmore, Senator Emer Currie, and Professor Mo Hume, all of whom also delivered remarks during the launch event. In addition, the Minister referred to the long-standing multilateral cooperation between Ireland and the Latin America and Caribbean region, including at the United Nations Security Council. The Minister concluded that This Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean is truly a whole-of-Government Strategy, which has been built in consultation with Government Departments and our State Agencies. It is an ambitious Strategy; but I believe the level of potential in this relationship warrants such ambition. The Latin America and Caribbean Strategy is available to read in English, Irish, Spanish or Portuguese here. The Strategy launch can be viewed here. ENDS Press Office 22 February 2022 | Sony has just announced the launch of its new PlayStation VR 2. The announcement was made on the official Sony blog where the company posted images and broke down how the device would function. Sony also gave us a bit of information regarding the design of the PlayStation VR 2 with its circular controllers and more rounded shape of the headset. It also follows a similar design to the current PlayStation 5. Sony has not reinvented the wheel with the VR 2 but rather, improved on it. The VR 2 comes with new features such as a lens adjustment dial, so users have an additional option to match the lens distance between their eyes to optimize their view. Sony reveals new PlayStation VR 2 Yujin Morisawa, Senior Art Director at SIE stated When I started to work on the design for the PlayStation VR2 headset, one of the areas I wanted to focus on first was the idea of creating a vent in the headset to let air out, similar to the vents on the PS5 console that allows airflow. Our engineers came up with this idea as a good way to allow ventilation and avoid having the lens fog up while players are immersed in their VR games. I worked on many design concepts to achieve this, and in the final design, you can see there is a little space in between the top and front surface of the scope that contains the integrated ventilation. I am really proud of how this turned out and the positive feedback I have gotten so far. I hope our PlayStation fans will also agree, and I cant wait for them to try it out.. The PlayStation VR 2 will also come with a 4K resolution, enhanced tracking such as inside-out camera tracking, new PlayStation VR2 Sense Technology features such as headset feedback, and the new, intuitive PS VR2 Sense controller that creates an incredibly deep feeling of immersion. The company also stated that PS VR 2 development kits have already been handed out to major developers so we should be seeing more games coming out for the platform sometime soon. Cyber attacks can make it really difficult for the world to function in a sustainable enough manner, and there has been such a huge uptick in cybercrime occurrences that most organizations are struggling to figure out what if anything they can do about this. The thing is, not every sector is going to be targeted equally when it comes to these attacks. Quite on the contrary, research has shown that some sectors are considerably more vulnerable than others. just released a report that looked into the incidences of cyber attacks among various industries and sectors. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that the most vulnerable target for cyber criminals and the like turns out to be educational institutions such as schools and universities. Such establishments suffered over 1,600 attacks every single week which comes up to over 83,000 attacks in a single year.These cyber attacks resulted in teachers and students having their personal information stolen, and the problem got so bad that there were multiple instances of classes having to be suspended due to the frequency of such attacks. This obviously negatively impacted the academic progress of students and a lack of security infrastructure in colleges and the like might be the culprit because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making it a lot easier for a cyber criminal to get their foot in through the door.The second most vulnerable target was surprisingly government and military organizations. Such institutions should ideally have the highest level of security, but they also tend to be really valuable targets with all things having been considered and taken into account. That might be why government and military entities suffered 1,136 attacks per week in 2021. Communications companies and ISPs were the third and fourth most impacted respectively with 1,079 and 1,068 attacks per week each. No other sector suffered over a thousand attacks per week, so these are the industries that require the most help from a cyber security point of reference.Read next: Vishing Increased by 554% in 2021, Is It the Next Big Threat? Subscriber content preview The government is looking at ways to loosen the grip of a few big beer companies that control 65% of the market. By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press WASHINGTON The government wants to give beer lovers more choices than the usual suspects when they reach for a drink and help them pay less for whatever they choose. As part of a larger Biden administration effort to boost competition in all sorts of industries, the government is looking at ways to loosen the grip of a few big beer companies that control 65% of the market. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An industrial property on the Duwamish Waterway, at 6335 First Ave. S., sold last week for $15.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was Trent Avenue Partners LLC, associated with with Meriwether Advisors, which acquired the property in 2018 for over $5.5 million. . . . The time has come for the EU to impose sanctions on Russia, the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister said. It comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. A vaguely worded decree signed by Mr Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to maintain peace. Simon Coveney, who said there were around 60-70 Irish citizens in Ukraine, on Tuesday condemned the move as a blatant breach of international law and promised targeted sanctions by the EU against Russia. The question is how far do we go in relation to that sanctions package, he said. I think that theres no way that the EU can ignore what is a blatant breach of international law. Mr Coveney said it was nonsense to suggest that Russian troops were involved in peacekeeping functions. He said the actions of Russia and the recent comments by Mr Putin on Ukrainian sovereignty were a signal of intent. Mr Coveney said: And unless Europe and the US and the UK and others respond, I think, clearly and firmly and in a united way, then I dont think there will be a deterrent for Russia to stop there. He said discussions were ongoing in the EU over what form sanctions would take. Mr Coveney said: As we speak, theres a meeting taking place in Brussels now with senior officials to discuss and debate these things. I expect that what youll see from the EU today is targeted sanctions, not a decision to move ahead with the full package of sanctions that is certainly justified in the case of a full invasion of Ukraine, but certainly I think the EU will want to respond in a co-ordinated way with a very firm message today. On Tuesday, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun. Asked whether he agreed that a full invasion had begun, Mr Coveney said: Certainly whats happening is that a significant number of Russian troops are now moving into part of Ukraine, a part of Ukraine that President Putin last night effectively declared independent states but nobody else recognises that. And certainly international law doesnt allow for that kind of unilateral decision by one country over another. So we are seeing in many ways Russia now moving its troops into another state. People can describe that in any way they want. I think what youll hear from the EU is a very firm message to criticise Russia for that decision. He also said there were between 60-70 Irish people currently in Ukraine and urged anyone who could to leave the country. Mr Coveney warned it may be increasingly difficult to leave Ukraine and said people should not travel to the country. He added: But dont forget, there are Irish citizens who are married to Ukrainian citizens who have families in cities like Kyiv and others across Ukraine. And some of those people at least will decide to stay. Ukraine is their home. As the crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate, Micheal Martin has said he still hopes war can be avoided in Europe. Earlier, the Taoiseach stood beside Olaf Scholz as the German Chancellor announced that the country had taken steps to halt the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia as the West. Mr Scholz said his government made the decision in response to Russian President Vladimir Putins recognition of the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine that he said marked a serious break of international law. At the press conference, Mr Martin joined the condemnation of the move, which has fuelled concerns about an escalating conflict in the region and stoked fears of a full-scale assault by Russia on Ukraine. The EU is set to announce sanctions on Russia in the wake of the announcement from Mr Putin. The Irish leader told reporters after the press conference that he hoped that Europe was not heading towards war. Handout photo issued by Embassy of Ireland in Berlin of Irish Premier Micheal Martin during a press conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin Every avenue of in terms of diplomacy and in terms of dialogue will be used by Europe, the United States, the UK and others to prevent that from happening. It would be catastrophic if it was to happen, particularly for the people within Ukraine. This is not how things should be done in the 21st century. Mr Martin accused the Russian president Vladimir Putin of creating narratives that belong to the late 19th century and early 20th century. He described the German intervention on Nord Stream 2 was significant, but warned that it initiates a further spike in energy prices across the continent and at home in Ireland. It is a very significant decision by the German Chancellor to make and we shouldnt understate the significance of the statement and that announcement, because there is a major investment involved there. I think more broadly, the crisis will have a negative impact on oil prices. Honoured to lay a wreath today in memory of the victims of the Holocaust on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland. It is the responsibility of each one of us to make sure the evil of anti-Semitism, hatred and extremism can never take root. pic.twitter.com/QiurNqc1BJ Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 22, 2022 He said that already the geopolitical crisis in Ukraine had pushed up prices, alongside the re-opening of economies around the world in the wake of the worst phase of the pandemic. Combine it all and were in a very serious situation, which could get worse now because of what happened yesterday. Mr Martin, who was in Berlin for only a brief visit, was greeted with military honours upon arrival. He told reporters that he had a fruitful conversation with the German leader, with climate change and economic development on the agenda alongside Ukraine. Mr Martin said that, while Ireland was a militarily neutral nation, it was not politically neutral. The Fianna Fail leader said that the country was taking proactive steps to help solve the crisis. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Louth County Council intends to resume its annual trip to the USA for St Patrick's Day this year, with plans for officials from the Council to visit New York in 2022. The matter was raised by Cllr Paddy McQuillan at the Louth County Council February meeting, who asked if the Council was planning on sending officials abroad this year for St Patrick's Day. Cllr McQuillan asked if it was the case that Louth County Council official would be travelling, then who would be travelling, what would the cost be, where would the officials be going and what is the purpose of the visit, as well as asking if there was an agenda for the trip. Chief Executive Joan Martin confirmed that the Council was proposing to resume the annual visit, with a trip to New York at the invitaiton of the Louth Men in New York, to meet with them and attend the St Patrick's Day parade. Ms Martin told the meeting that the annual visit to the USA was always set around an agenda of meetings with, particularly the IDA's office in New York, which is of huge importance because any foreign direct investment that comes into Ireland from the US starts with the IDA staff in America, she commented. The Louth Chief Executive said that keeping Louth to the fore in terms of all that the county has to offer, including its position on the Dublin-Belfast corridor and all the advantages that goes with it, keeping all of that in the minds of staff in the IDA is very important. She added that getting to meet New York staff and the American based staff that they would normally not meet is a very useful opportunity and it is very similar to what all councils would do. Ms Martin said that she did not believe that there are any details of the trip organised yet, or what the cost would be. She added however that I think it's a very important visit. She continued by adding that very often what swings a foreign direct investment in favour of Ireland can be a very simple thing around connections and networks. It's just very hard to explain the benefits that comes from these visits, she said. I consider these visits very important and I have always believed that the very small investment that is made in them is of huge value to the county and can be of immeasurable value. Cllr Maeve Yore told the meeting that since 2014 I have objected to these junkets. She added that she has asked for tangible evidence how they impact on or increase in tourism or job creation in Louth. In my opinion, she continued, and in the public's opinion, they are junkets. She went on to say that she has asked that the trip be paid for themselves out of the Cathaoirleach's allowance. At every opportunity, our CE highlights the lack of finance and budget, she continued, mentioning the moratorium on public lights as an example. I'm really annoyed. I want to know who is going, what will it cost the Louth taxpayer and I want a report, Cllr Yore added. There's no tangible benefits. It's a junket. Cllr Paula Butterly commented on the proposed trip, saying that in her experience having worked across Europe she has always noted the positive impact these trips have had with people or businesses coming over to represent their county or their country and they are always well received. They can't be defined as junkets, she added, provided there is a small group and specific objectives and I would agree with what the CEO is saying, you can't always put your finger on it. They do have a positive benefit. Cllr Kevin Callan disagreed with Cllr Yore's comments saying that it's very easy to use words like junket and a freebie and a trip. Cllr Callan said that these trips are invaluable to County Louth and that if a representative of Louth County Council is invited by the Louth representative group in that country or in that city, to say we're just going to sit at home and do nothing about it, is just a nonsense. He went on to mention the Irish ambassador to the UN in New York, who is about to become the Irish ambassador to Washington, and who has links to County Louth and connections with members of this council, and also the President of the United States with his local links. The word junket is great for the press, I get that. He added that the trips are extremely important and he knew he dealt with the IDA that there are jobs in County Louth that were generated because of visits people from Louth made to the United States. I just want to make clear Cathaoirleach, I wish you very well in the trip to New York, to push for County Louth and to meet the right people in the right places, he added. Cathaoirleach, Cllr Pio Smith, told the meeting that when he was Mayor of Drogheda in 2018, he was at the opening of payments firm, Yapstone, in Drogheda. Tom Villante from Yapstone, he said, mentioned at the time, that Cllr Callan and others had gone to America previous to that and started laying down the groundwork in relation to bringing Yapstone to Drogheda. So I'm quite sure there are plenty of trips that are junkets and I'm sure there are plenty of trips that aren't and they result in very positive effects for the county and for the towns, Cllr Smith concluded. The reopening of the Dunleer train station would transform commuting and travel options for the constituents of Mid Louth whilst assisting in attracting significant job creation to the area, believes Louth councillor, Dolores Minogue. "This is an issue which is very close to the heart of the people of Dunleer and mid Louth", Cllr Minogue told the Dundalk Democrat. "I continue to work closely with my colleague, Deputy Fergus ODowd, to look at all avenues that would bring about the reopening of the Dunleer Train Station." Cllr Minogue explained that Deputy O'Dowd recently met with both the Chief Executives of Irish Rail and the NTA and the reopening of Dunleer was one of the key strategic issues he raised. She says that Irish Rail are on course to provide a hybrid DART service to Drogheda by 2024 ahead of electrification and "this will no doubt assist the business case for the reopening of Dunleer." "As we try to reduce our carbon footprint and persuade more people to use our public transport system", she continues, "we must go above and beyond in persuading people to leave the car at home and hop on the train but this is not an option for people in mid Louth. This has to change." Cllr Minogue continues, "I have extended an invite to the Transport Minter Eamonn Ryan to visit Dunleer and Mid Louth to see first hand the need for the railway station to be reopened. With the ever increasing numbers on our roads and the Governments recent decision to reduce public transport fares by 20% it makes more sense than ever that Dunleer is reopened." Chief Executive of Iarnrod Eireann, Mr Jim Reade, told Deputy ODowd in 2021 that Iarnrod Eireann would engage with any parties proposing such projects. Soap star Una Crawford OBrien who plays Renee Phelan in the RTE show Fair City is currently getting ready to embark on a nationwide tour. The Carrigstown star will be playing the lead role in the critically acclaimed hit show Halcyon Days which will be showing at An Tain Arts Centre, Dundalk on Thursday 31st March, as part of a 10 theatre tour across Ireland. OBrien will star in the show alongside actor Barry McGovern known for his award-winning one-man Beckett shows. Halcyon Days is written by Irish playwright Deirdre Kinahan and is a hilarious and poignant story, set in a nursing home, that dramatises the emerging friendship between Patricia played by Crawford O'Brien and Sean played by McGovern. As the pair negotiate their failing health, a combative and charming friendship begins to blossom. The show is directed by Joe Devlin of Directions Out Theatre Company and speaking ahead of the national tour Devlin remarked: Halcyon days is a play about hope. Filled with unexpected surprises the show explores the importance of companionship in life as we grow older. It is a play about staying positive despite the odds. The message is that no matter how hopeless a situation might seem we are always capable of love, laughter, and of future meaning. Halcyon Days will be showing at An Tain Arts Centre, Dundalk on Thursday 31st March at 8 pm. Tickets start at 14. For more information visit http://www.halcyondaystour.com/ A HSE prosecution against the owner of a local coffee shop for failing to ask customers to show their COVID-19 vaccine certificate, was struck out at Dundalk district court last week. Niall McGuinness of the 3rd Place Coffee House was summoned in December for allegedly failing to comply with a Compliance Notice served on 5th November last. In a post on the GoFundMe page he set up to cover his legal costs, he said: "Our customers health status is none of my business. Our cafe will never discriminate against our customers whatever the consequences. I intend to fight this all the way at the District Court and Higher Courts. It doesn't matter how many politicians and journalist endorse it or how many businesses enforce it, it will still be discrimination. Wrong is wrong we all have a moral and ethical duty to stand up and do what is right." The case had previously been adjourned by Judge Brendan O'Reilly for legal submissions to be made. Had a compliance order been granted, the business could have been closed for seven days. However, when the case was called last Wednesday, Judge Eirinn McKiernan struck out the matter 'as per the email correspondence' with no order. Over 20,000 has been donated to his on-line fundraiser. Update A statement issued by Aramark to Iconic Media on February 23 is as follows: Aramark operates 3 out of the 48 direct provision centres nationwide. Our role is to support the residents living in the three centres where we operate, and to uphold our commitment to treat all clients equally. Aramark is proud of our work and our people on the frontlines of these services, providing an important service to those living in the accommodation centres we operate, as well as to the State. We operate to the highest international standards, with our sites accredited to ISO22000 and the Q Mark. Aramark has proudly served public bodies across the length and breadth of the country for decades to bring the companys quality, expertise, and best practice to the contracts that we have been chosen to deliver. Irish Twitter users are vowing to boycott the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI) after awarding a cafe tender to a controversial food and services company. The contract to run the gallery's cafe was awarded to Aramark - owner of Irish brand Avoca and operator of several direct provision centres - following a tender process, with a statement from NGI claiming the American provider 'scored highest on the prescribed assessment criteria". However, people voiced their discontent over the news through social media: Associating with Aramark has already tarnished your reputation so thoroughly that artists are withdrawing their work. Does Aramarks effect on the institutions image also fulfil the tender criteria? I am incredibly disappointed by this statement. Anna Carey (@urchinette) February 21, 2022 State whatever ye like, if the contract with Aramark remains in place then me and mine shall not darken the door until it has expired. It's that simple. I obviously have no say on how NGI money is spent but I have a say in how I respond. We boycott. Rachel W (@walshrac) February 21, 2022 It is possible to hold a strong vocal opinion objecting to Aramark and the horror of Direct Provision. Standing in solidarity with asylum seekers and refugees is always possible. .@NGIreland you could take this stand. https://t.co/YXlfH8GI9J Lauren Foley (@foleywan_kenobi) February 21, 2022 Hugely disappointing to see this- @NGIreland cafe to be run by Aramark who profit hugely from many #DirectProvision centres. I guess Ill be adding this to the list of cafes Ill no longer visit. Well done to the staff for fighting thishttps://t.co/2gh2INIw85 M Ni Raghallaigh (@MuireannNiR) February 17, 2022 Ethics in procurement. While I completely understand people's anger at Aramark they are not the issue here. Its the Irish government who, on the face of it, allow poor service delivery on the Direct Provision contract. Unless a crime is committed, little can be done. Irish Emergency Logistics Team (@irishelt) February 21, 2022 You're supporting the imprisonment of refugees for profit with this decision. I won't attend the gallery as long as @Aramark are there. Hopefully more people will do the same Pol Mac Mathuna @pb4p #StopCETA (@Pol_Mac_Mathuna) February 21, 2022 "We are only following orders" is not the stunning defence you seem to think it is. And pointing at the shiny art is not the distraction you hope it is. T.D. Murray to be Anglicised about it. (@Mousketeer) February 21, 2022 A statement released by NGI yesterday (Monday February 21) read: "As a public sector organisation, the Gallery is bound by Irish and EU procurement law as to how external suppliers tender for, and are awarded, contracts." The Gallery went on to state they were satisfied the evaluation process was run correctly and that the contract was awarded in line with procurement rules. However, Gallery staff have come forward to voice concern over the awarding of the contract, as well as activists such as MASI (the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland) and artists Emma Roche and Brian Teeling, both of whom have pulled their art from NGI. According to Ireland's Public Procurement Guide, a contracting authority must award a contract "to the tenderer identified as submitting the most economically advantageous tender having regard to the published award criteria". Regulation 57(8) of the Public Contract Regulations lists several discretionary grounds which allow a contracting authority to exclude an economic operator from participation, however Aramark does not appear to meet any of the discretionary conditions. These include evidence that the operator is guilty of grave professional misconduct, a conflict of interest, and evidence of showing significant deficiencies in performance under a prior public contract which lead to early termination, damages or comparable sanctions. The European Commission (EC) encourages the use of socially responsible public procurement (or SRPP), particularly in the wake of the pandemic. The EC's 'Buying Social' guide states: "Socially responsible public procurement helps public authorities deliver quality services and products to their communities, to achieve additional social and ethical benefits even when budgets are limited, and can therefore contribute to countering the negative impact of the Covid-19 crisis." It recommends moving away from "lowest price logic" and states: "Moving away from a lowest price logic and introducing considerations related to social integration, equality, fair and inclusive employment and ethical supplies is key to maximize the recovery effect of these resources." However, the guide only encourages "good practice" and states it is "a non-binding document which does not affect the rights and obligations set in the EU legislation". NGI's full statement on the controversy is available here. How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. Mesa Mayor John Giles energized an audience of about 800 people with an optimistic State of the City address sponsored by the Mesa Chamber of Commerce. The EBRD and the EU recently helped professional advertising specialists Vitam LLC to implement a new ERP system in Azerbaijan.The project optimised operational efficiencies and increased productivity within the company, freeing up valuable resources and maximising the utilisation of its existing labour force of 33 employees. Established in 2004, Vitam meaning life in Latin has become one of the leading display and signage solution companies in the country. The company produces visual advertising that showcases brands, such as bespoke signage, furniture and exhibition stands, along with large-format printing and graphic design services, helping clients communicate more effectively with prospective and existing customers. Growing pains Once Vitam really started to establish itself in the marketplace, its co-founders, current CEO Tehran Aliyev and Director Vugar Maharramov, found that coping without an automated management information system was causing inefficiencies in day-to-day operations and a lack of control over business processes, ultimately hampering growth and opportunities to attract clients. To optimise the business and become more versatile and competitive, the company reached out to the EBRDs Advice for Small Businesses programme for support. Tehran says, We decided that a new management system needed to be developed for Vitam, and that it should be modern, based on data analysis and measurable. When we approached the EBRD, the sale of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software was an expensive option and we did not have the finances to cover it ourselves. However, we learned that the EBRD offers the potential for collaboration in terms of joint financing, and the opportunity was too good to pass up. Software to provide company-wide oversight Because ERP systems are capable of tracking so many moving parts, once fully integrated into a business, they provide a single source of truth that facilitates seamless management of costs, inventory, people and much more, allowing the company to act more strategically. Vitam introduced ERP software with automated financial, tax accounting and reporting systems to enhance efficiencies in the workplace. Tehran says, We applied the ERP system, which enabled us to set higher standards, decrease our expenses and start collaborating with international as well as domestic companies. We wanted to optimise our systems to enable us to analyse our activities and forecast areas of future growth potential. Transformation and resilience The project between the EBRD and the EU helped the company undergo a transformation, which has ultimately led to the expansion of its client portfolio and richly improved the business internally, allowing staff to accurately calculate production costs, monitor production processes and mitigate the risk of print production errors. Buoyed by these improvements, Vitam has even started new business lines, including the production of frames and stretched ceilings, and conceptual furniture design for restaurants and shops. The company has also developed a strategy to enter the global market, exporting to Central Asia and Europe and gaining international experience fulfilling orders for global brands. It now plans to open a production facility in Uzbekistan in collaboration with Bosch. Vitam was fortunate to remain largely unscathed by both the 2015 currency devaluation in Azerbaijan and the Covid-19 pandemic. While some companies were forced to make redundancies, Vitam maintained its entire workforce with no reduction in terms of the volume of work. Tehran says, The key to our success is that we keep an eye on innovations in our sector and are unafraid to allocate budgets to smaller projects in order to reach our objectives. A polished portfolio full of potential The business has expanded its client portfolio and signed contracts with Samsung, Sony, Bosch, GlaxoSmithKline, Optimal, Baku Electronics, SOCAR and the UN, among many others, resulting in turnover nearly doubling. The EBRD-EU project has helped Vitam improve its internal and external communication, increased customer satisfaction, and allowed the company to become more efficient, strategic and agile, says Tehran. A triumphant success story from a company that is in very safe hands under the stewardship of its two co-founders, who have the determination and vision to ensure the success of any further expansion and diversification of the business. Scientists working in Kenya are trialing an innovative way to harvest the sun twice. This means using a special solar panel technique known as agrivoltaics that installs solar panels both to generate clean energy and to shade crops. After a year of hopeful research, the University of Sheffield, World Agroforestry and the Kajiado-based Latia Agripreneurship are officially launching an agrivoltaics trial this week in open-field farms in Kenyas Kajiado county, The Guardian reported Tuesday. We needed to build a test system to see if this technology will be suitable for the region, Dr. Richard Randle-Boggis of the University of Sheffield told The Guardian. The project, officially called Harvesting the sun twice, is designed to assess whether or not agrivoltaic systems could be successfully used in rural East Africa. The project was first announced in November 2020 with 1.4 million in funds as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) Collective Program, as the University of Sheffield reported at the time. The idea was to help solve the regions energy problems without putting too much pressure on valuable land space. Seventy-three percent of East Africas population does not have access to electricity, according to the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI). Installing solar panels would seem like an environmentally-friendly solution to this problem, but it presents its own challenges. Harvesting the sun twice. Chloride Exide Ltd. [T]he land use change required for these arrays typically involves clearing land to bare soil, eliminating several important ecosystem services e.g. soil stability and water retention, carbon sequestration, food provision, and habitat for biodiversity, SEI wrote. Enter agrivoltaics. By combining the land dedicated to solar panels with the land dedicated to agriculture, it is possible to avoid some of these pitfalls. Growing plants beneath elevated solar panels protects them from the sun in hot, dry places and helps the soil retain moisture, the University of Sheffield explained. The strategy has worked successfully in Global North countries like France, Germany and the U.S., but has not been tested in the Global South, according to SEI and The Guardian. So far, the results have been promising, The Guardian reported. In Kajiado, cabbages cultivated under 180, 345-watt solar panels were a third larger and healthier than the control group. Eggplants, lettuce and corn also fared better in the panels shade. We wanted to see how crops would perform if grown under these panels, Latia Agripreneurship Institute agronomist Judy Wairimu told The Guardian. The initiative has made sure to work closely with East African solar developers and agribusiness companies, as well as local communities, political organizations and nonprofits. This exciting Programme brings together diverse expertise from across the globe, ensuring that the voices of those most impacted are empowered to drive sustainable solutions for those most in need, UKRI International Champion Professor Andrew Thompson said when the project was first announced by the University of Sheffield. In addition to finding a compromise between energy and agriculture land uses, the idea could also help rural communities to support themselves. Women here can spend up to 300 Kenyan shillings (2) on a bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) fare to the market just to buy vegetables worth 100 Kenyan shillings, Latia Agrepreneurship Institute head of training Anne Macharia told The Guardian. Fast fashion has been called the second dirtiest industry in the world, next to big oil, and how we color our clothes is a large part of the problem. Now, Colorifix, a UK biotech company founded by Cambridge University scientists, has developed a new way to dye clothes that doesnt harm the planet. Historically, natural dyes extracted from plants and flowers were used to color fabrics. The production of modern chemical dyes uses more than 8,000 chemicals, solvents and additives to create different colors and effects on fabrics, reported Pure Earth and CNN. Many, like sulfur, arsenic and formaldehyde, are harmful to wildlife and humans, and end up in industrial wastewater from the dye production process, reported CNN. In less developed Asian countries, where a large share of todays clothes is produced, weak regulations and/or enforcement allow textile manufacturers to dump toxic substances directly into local waterways, reported CNN. This has caused the dyeing industry to become one of the most environmentally harmful in the world. In fact, according to the UN Environment Program, around 20% of global wastewater is generated during textile dyeing and processing. When we realized that so much of the pollution comes from something as simple as putting color into our clothes, we thought there has to be a better way,' Colorifixs CEO Orr Yarkoni told CNN. According to Yarkoni, Colorifixs new method uses biotechnology and bacteria to eliminate the need for toxic chemicals and claims its processes use 90% less water and up to 40% less energy than conventional dyeing, reported CNN. Unlike with natural dyeing, Colorifix pigments are not derived straight or extracted from plants or animals. And, unlike with chemical dyeing, they dont use anything hazardous in the process, explained Yarkoni in a CNN video. Instead, Colorifix copies natures processes in a lab setting, by replicating the DNA message that codes for color in an organism, according to CNN. This tricks the genetically-modified bacteria to create and fill up with those exact same colors. So what we can do is take a feather off a parrot, scrape a few cells off and in those cells, look for the DNA message make red,' Yarkoni told CNN. We can then put that same message into our microorganism that will make that same red that the parrot makes the same way that the parrot makes it. Yarkonis team then duplicates the dyed bacterial cells in a fermenting machine, feeding them sugar molasses and nitrogen byproducts from the agricultural industry, LA BioTech reported. The cells duplicate themselves every 25 minutes. The fermentation process which duplicates the bacteria is similar to beer, but instead of making alcohol, Colorifix makes pigments, CNN reported. In an industry-first, the dyed bacteria are then applied onto the fabric directly and heated until they burst, releasing their dye onto the fabric, LA BioTech reported. The cell membranes then wash off but the color stays. What were doing is not just providing a new pigment. Were providing a new way of getting the pigment into the fiber, Yarkoni told LA BioTech. This new way of applying dyes to fabrics is more efficient and environmentally-beneficial because it removes the middle step of isolating dyes from microbes and applying them to textiles, which is water- and chemical-intensive, Colorifix told CNN. Yarkoni also touted the additional benefit of reducing fashions huge carbon footprint from shipping. Currently, the industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions per year than all international airline flights and maritime shipping trips combined. Rather than shipping large amounts of dye, Colorifix can send five grams of color-packed bacteria to a dyehouse, and the microorganisms will multiply within 10 days to the point where the factory can produce 50 tonnes of dye solution a day, according to CNN. Americans do love their denim, so much so that the average consumer buys four pairs of jeans a year. In Chinas Xintang province, a hub for denim, 300 million pairs are made annually. Just as staggering is the brew of toxic chemicals and hundreds of gallons of water it takes to dye and finish one pair of jeans. The resulting environmental damage to rivers, ecosystems and communities in China, Bangladesh and India is the subject of a new documentary called The RiverBlue: Can Fashion Save the Planet?. It is estimated that 70 percent of Asias rivers and lakes are contaminated by the 2.5 billion gallons of wastewater produced by that continents textile industry. In scene after scene in the film, the dark frothy spill off can be seen rushing out of dye facilities while a cadre of scientists and environmental experts detail the public health crisis that has resulted from the largely unregulated manufacturing process. Co-directed by award-winning documentarians David McIlvride and Roger Williams and produced by Lisa Mazzotta, RiverBlue has won 13 awards globally including Best Documentary at Raindance in London and will be receiving the Green Drop Award from Filmambiente at the World Water council on World Water day, March 22. Three years in the making, the film follows internationally celebrated river conservationist, Mark Angelo, as he paddles the rivers devastated by the chemical waste and the local communities who rely on these rivers for drinking and bathing. These communities suffer from a high incidence of cancers, gastric, skin and related issues afflicting both their residents and factory laborers. Mark Angelo (left) paddles a river devastated by a toxic brew of chemical waste from the denim and leather industries with Roger Williams (right). RiverBlue The Chemicals in Your Jeans What makes the process of making jeans so poisonous to people and planet? Consider just one of the most popular types of jeans todaydistressed. To get that lived in look, denim is subjected to several chemical-intensive washes. Campaigners from the environmental group Greenpeace, who tested the outflows near dyeing and finishing facilities in the top denim producing towns in Asia, found five heavy metals (cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead and copper) in 17 out of 21 water and sediment samples taken from throughout Xintang one of the locales featured in the project. Toxic campaigners in China also discovered heavy metals like manganese, which can be associated with brain damage, in the rivers. These chemicals dont stay put. They can also be transported to our North American oceans, atmosphere and food chains and accumulates in places far away from their original source. Where Should the Change Be? The question the film poses to viewers: Are brand-name clothing corporations disregarding the environment in their zeal to make their clothes faster and cheaper for the consumer? Low cost clothing has a high cost attached to it, one to the environment and public health, explains Angelo. The solution the films producers unveil is two-fold: through innovation and consumer education there can be change. Director David McIlvride was determined to find brands making jeans which didnt do damage to the environment. He found the father of distressed jeans: Francois Girbaud who introduced the eponymous stone washed jean decades ago. It took 40 yrs. before we realized what we made and what we did was wrong, says Girbaud of using permanganate in the 1970s. If people knew that the spraying of permanganate on your jeans to give you that acid- wash look was killing the guy doing the spraying, would you still want that look? I dont think the customer is aware of what is happening abroad. We have to change the process of making jeans and brands have to be willing to invest because we are destroying the planet, says Girbaud. A Better Jean Through Technology In California now, the designer was trying to re-establish himself as manufacturer of good jeans when McIlvride found him. He led us to the Spanish company, Jeanologia where they distress jeans by engraving images on the fabrics with lasers (light and air) and eliminating water without increasing the cost, says McIlvride. They are now considered a leading industry innovator. Jeanologia distressed jean. It was a trip to China in the mid 90s that made Alex Penades and the other execs at Jeanologia want to change the way they did business. At the time the company was a jeans washing consultancy for finishers researching and investigating industry solutions. Once we saw the pollution in the rivers and the workers exposed to the chemicals we knew we had to innovate. Jeanologia now creates technology to treat and finish jeans (giving them a certain feel or aesthetic). We started searching for ways to make garments in a more sustainable way. We have been dyeing clothes with water since the beginning of time and we faced the reality that even though it had been done this way in the mass consumer world, it was not sustainable, explains Penades. Jeanologia began working with Girbaud in 2003 and still does. They developed several technologies using light and air to finish jeans using little water and no chemicals. It wasnt pretty at first and for designers the look is the most important thing, he says referring to their first prototypes back in 1996. It took us a while to get better to convince industrial finishers to make that shift, says Penades who works with brands like Levi Strauss, V.F. Corp (makers of Lee and Wrangler)., PVH Corp. (Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger), Inditex (Zara), H&M, Uniqlo and Marks & Spencer among others. Today, laser technology can give a pair of jeans a worn look instead of sandblasting or hand sanding which can be lethal or detrimental to workers and the environment. Their G2 ozone treatments introduced in 2005, fade down the color of a jean instead of using chemicals like bleach or hypochloryte. In 2011, they unveiled eflow technology that uses air (nanobubbles) instead of water to dye jeans and give them properties like softness and wrinkle repelling. The company is also expanding, working on the technology for knits, wool, cottons and blends. RiverBlue Using these innovations, an average pair of jeans requires just a glass of water to finish when it used to require 300 liters. It requires a big capital investment, says Penades of the technology. Depending on the business model the capital investment is made by the dyeing and finishing facilities or brands. In the beginning it was like preaching in the desert, he says. Everyone was comfortable doing things in the same way as always. Why should anyone change their methods of production if they are doing well? Jeanologia has Environmental Impact software to measure the footprint of every style and brands know where they are and how they can improve. Penades has seen the tide started to change. Three years ago, about 16 percent of the jeans in the world were made in a sustainable way he says. Now 35 percent of the jeans are made more sustainably. About 6 billion pairs of jeans are made a year so that means 2 billion pairs are now being made in a more sustainable way. Innovation Through Science While filming the movie, most denim manufacturers barred the filmmakers from shooting inside their facilities. Italdenim, one of three denim manufacturers in Italy, invited them to film at their facility. President Luigi Caccia had been making denim for more than 40 years when he too realized rivers were dying and workers were becoming sick from the chemicals they were exposed to. In 2014, he sought to create a cleaner dyeing process. First his company invested in a machine, the only one of its kind in the world, that takes indigo dye and uses electrochemicals (Co2 and O2) and no water to make the colors for their denim. They then found a company using chitosan, which comes from the waste of the food industry (it is the natural derivative of chitin which is the exoskeleton of shrimp and crab) and applied it to the yarn after dyeing it. It creates a shell to protect the color so dyes will not rub off and less dye is needed overall to color the denim. This new process saves chemistry, water and energy and is biodegradable. Because there are no chemicals, the process doesnt create skin problems. Your skin absorbs 65% of what you put on it, good or bad. We introduce chemicals to our skin with the food we eat, the environment we live in and our clothes. You can choose if you want to smoke or not but no one tells you that your denim may be harmful to your body, says Caccia. The Cost to Make a More Sustainable Jean Italdenim sells their denim to 30-40 brands around the world including Joes Jeans and Mother Jeans in the U.S. It was important to find solutions that did not increase the cost of the fabric so it would be available to all. If a brand wants to buy a sustainable denim it should cost the same as the alternative. We should be able to produce that or we should find ourselves a new job. Penades says brands have a choice to manufacture in a traditional way or a sustainable way. The water and energy of traditional production is costly and so is pollution. Today, including the capital investment, you can produce the same product at the same price. Brands can do it. If the consumer is aware they have to request these kinds of products today. Consumers must also know what their impact on the environment is because of their acts of consumption. Its all about co-responsibility. Girbaud agrees. He now hears customers asking where things come from and how clothes are made. Brands are finally talking about this, too. I just hope I live to see the changes. Watch the trailer for RiverBlue below: The demand for flights has plummeted as the new coronavirus spreads around the globe, but some British airlines are still sending empty planes into the skies, burning thousands of gallons of fossil fuels that contribute needlessly to the climate crisis. These so-called ghost flights are taking off because of European rules saying airlines must use their airport space or give it up, The Times of London reported Friday. The situation has prompted UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to write to the independent airport slot coordinator Thursday, asking them to relax the rule in order to prevent airlines from flying nearly or entirely empty planes. Such a scenario is not acceptable, Shapps wrote. It is not in the industrys, the passengers or the environments interests and must be avoided. Aviation demand is reduced due to COVID-19, but airlines are being forced to fly some ghost flights to avoid losing their slots bad news for the environment, airlines & passengers. I've written to the regulator to request urgent reconsideration of 80% slot utilisation rule. pic.twitter.com/OsKEH2S4Ab Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) March 5, 2020 European rules stipulate that airlines taking off from the continent must use 80 percent of their slots or lose them to someone else, Business Insider explained. Airport Coordination Limited has already relaxed the rules for flights to and from Hong Kong and mainland China, but they remain in effect for all other destinations, including outbreak hotspots like Italy and South Korea, according to The Independent. Shapps isnt the only one who has spoken out. Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss also called for the rules to be suspended, as they were following 9/11 and the SARS epidemic. Passenger demand for air travel has dramatically fallen due to Covid-19 and in some instances we are being forced to fly almost empty planes or lose our valuable slots, he told The Independent. Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) returns in May to Lexington, Kentucky, US The Alltech ONE Conference (ONE) will return to Lexington, Kentucky,the United States, for a collaborative exploration of the challenges and opportunities in the agri-food industry and beyond. Alltech announced that its 38th annual flagship event will be held on May 22-24 both in person and virtually on a first-class platform, with live-streaming and on-demand presentations available. Reflecting the most relevant topics impacting the agri-food industry, the key themes of the discussions held at ONE will include science, sustainability and storytelling. "The opportunities are abundant for the global agri-food sector to shape the future of our planet," said Dr. Mark Lyons, president and chief executive officer of Alltech. "We can deliver nutrition for all, while fueling economic vitality and replenishing our Earth's resources. The potential for impact is profound, but it requires a higher level of commitment and collaboration from every one of us. "ONE is much more than a gathering; it is an invitation to step forward and share in a vision of promise for our ONE planet." ONE attendees will derive inspiration from keynote speakers who have unleashed the power of innovation and courageous leadership for positive impact. Mick Ebeling, founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs and author of "Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn't Be Done," will take the ONE mainstage in person, and his presentation will also be live-streamed for those joining virtually. Ebeling was recently named by Fortune Magazine as one of the Top 50 World's Greatest Leaders. He is a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award and is listed as one of the world's most influential creative people by The Creativity 50s. Presenting virtually is Paul Polman, who has been described by the Financial Times as "a standout CEO of the past decade". As CEO of Unilever (2009-2019), he stopped reporting quarterly earnings to focus on a long-term strategy that would successfully double revenues while reducing the company's environmental impact by half. Prior to joining Unilever, Polman served as chief financial officer and vice president for the Americas at Nestle and as president for Western Europe at Procter & Gamble. He was a member of the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel, which developed the Sustainable Development Goals and which he continues to champion, working with global organisations to push the 2030 development agenda. Polman serves as the chair of IMAGINE a social venture dedicated to systems change and of the Said Business School. He is vice-chair of the UN Global Compact and is a B Team leader and honorary chair of the International Chamber of Commerce, which he led for two years. While the world-class keynote speakers at ONE will offer universally valuable insights, the subject- and species-specific tracks will explore emerging opportunities in aquaculture, beef, crop science, dairy, pig, poultry, equine, health and wellness, business, and brewing and distilling. Confirmed speakers are currently listed on the ONE website, with more to be added. Virtual attendees of ONE will have access to live-streamed keynotes and pre-recorded track presentations that can be viewed on-demand. For in-person attendees, the ONE experience will extend into downtown Lexington with special events, dinners and tours. To learn more about the Alltech ONE Conference, including how to register, visit one.alltech.com. - Alltech Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Sponsored By: St Anthony's Hospital BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's investment and infrastructure projects in Argentina have helped jumpstart development in various underserved communities and offer dynamic business opportunities, said Alejandra Conconi, executive director of the Chinese-Argentine Chamber of Production, Industry and Commerce. On the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Argentina and China, Conconi highlighted the increase in Chinese investment in the South American country over the past decade, emphasizing renewable energy projects, telecommunications and transportation, among other areas crucial to improving quality of life. "We see that China began to invest in the country in the late 1990s and again at the beginning of the 21st century. However, the vast bulk of Chinese investment and capital began in 2010," said Conconi. "An estimated 36 billion U.S. dollars have been invested in our country through 38 companies. There has been investment in energy resources, in agri-food, and today we see with special interest investment in renewable energies, everything from solar parks and wind farms to hydroelectric dams," she said. Among the projects completed under bilateral cooperation is the photovoltaic plant in the country's northern province of Jujuy. Considered the largest of its kind in Latin America, it powers some 160,000 homes. With the solar plant in place, the net profits for the northern province at the beginning of 2021 were estimated to reach 400 million dollars, an amount earmarked for the construction of 258 schools and the renovation of another 700, the governor of Jujuy Gerardo Morales told Xinhua earlier. In the first quarter of 2021, the Chinese-constructed Loma Blanca Wind Power Projects launched a commercial operation, injecting energy into the national power grid. "Some of the Chinese investment has been made in provinces and major cities where there have already been a lot of industrial development," but recently, "it has also been made in provinces with a lower degree of development," Conconi said. Whether completed or underway, large-scale Chinese-backed infrastructure projects in Argentina have spurred the development of a "business ecosystem" that has generated greater employment opportunities and increased sources of income for residents. The projects "opened up a range of opportunities in the provinces," including long-term job opportunities and the development of the service sector, such as logistics, transportation and catering, Conconi said, adding she hopes the growth opportunities "will be sustainable over time." In addition, noting that "Argentina is a country lacking infrastructure," Conconi said the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Argentina joining China's Belt and Road Initiative would serve to broaden the country's development outlook through greater infrastructure building. There's won't be a big revival for BlackBerry phones anytime soon. OnwardMobility, the Austin-based startup that announced its plans to release a 5G BlackBerry device with a physical keyboard back in 2020, is shutting down. The company posted a notice of its closure on its website, making it clear that it won't be proceeding with the development of the smartphone. This comes a month after it responded to people asking about the status of the project with a blog post entitled "contrary to popular belief, we are not dead." While OnwardMobility didn't expound on the reason behind its closure, Android Police reported a few days ago that its license to use the BlackBerry name had been canceled. Apparently, BlackBerry wants to distance itself from its past as a smartphone manufacturer after it sold off its remaining mobile patents for $600 million in the beginning of February. OnwardMobility reportedly decided not to push through with the development of a new smartphone without the BlackBerry name, especially since it won't be easy entering the market with an ongoing global component shortage. OnwardMobility was never able to release images of the phone it was developing, but it was reportedly going to take design cues from the BlackBerry Priv. As Android Police notes, the Priv was BlackBerry's first Android phone and the only one it designed in-house before it outsourced the production of its mobile devices to TCL. If BlackBerry, in its current form, truly does want to distance itself from its past, then we might never see a new BlackBerry-branded phone again. Tesla CEO Elon Musk's lawyer has accused the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or leaking information about a federal probe to retaliate against him, CNBC has reported. "It has become clearer and clearer that the Commission is out to retaliate against my clients for exercising their First Amendment rightsmost recently by criticizing the Commission on the public docket and by petitioning this Court for relief," said Musk attorney Alex Spiro. It's the latest shot fired by Musk in his ongoing dispute with the SEC that started in 2018 when he said that he had secured funding for a private buyout of Tesla at $420 a share something many (including the SEC) interpreted as an attempt at a weed joke. The SEC fined Tesla and Musk $20 million each over that and forced Musk to step down as chairman for at least three years. Tesla also had to implement a system for monitoring Musk's statements about the company on Twitter and other media. Musk has been chafing against those rules lately, however. Earlier this month he accused the SEC of conducting a "harassment campaign," and "stifling" has First Amendment free speech rights. The SEC responded earlier this week, saying its frequent check-ins with Tesla were effectively required by the court overseeing the 2018 settlement. It also rebutted Musk's other complaint, saying that it was making progress disbursing the $40 million fine to shareholders as it had promised. Musk's lawyers alleged that at least one SEC member had leaked "certain information regarding its investigation," but it didn't say who or which information. Tesla revealed in its 2021 Q4 earnings report that the SEC subpoenaed the company and Musk, seeking information on how they're complying with the 2018 settlement. Musk previously ran afoul of the 2018 settlement a year later after tweeting information about Tesla vehicle production that wasn't approved by the company's "disclosure counsel." His lawyers accused the SEC of violating his free speech rights then, too. Musk and Tesla eventually agreed to a revised settlement that required him to get approval in advance for any tweets or other communication from an "experienced securities lawyer." While we humans can't agree where we stand on tracking devices, one group of birds assertively came out against the technology. In The Conversation , Dominique Potvin, an Animal Ecology professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, said he and his team recently witnessed a mischief of magpies display a rare cooperative rescue behavior when they attempted to track the birds. As part of their study, Potvins team developed a seemingly ingenious way of collecting data on a group of five magpies. They developed a lightweight but tough harness the birds could wear like backpacks and carry a small tracker with them as they went about their daily lives. They also created a feeding station that would wirelessly charge and download data from the trackers. It even had a magnet for freeing the birds of the harness. We were excited by the design, as it opened up many possibilities for efficiency and enabled a lot of data to be collected, Potvin said. Unfortunately, the study fell apart in mere days. Within 10 minutes of Potvins team fitting the final tracker, they saw a female magpie use her bill to remove a harness off of one of the younger birds. Hours later, most of the other test subjects had been freed of their trackers too. By day three, even the most dominant male in the group had allowed one of his flock to assist him. We dont know if it was the same individual helping each other or if they shared duties, but we had never read about any other bird cooperating in this way to remove tracking devices, Potvin said. The birds needed to problem solve, possibly testing at pulling and snipping at different sections of the harness with their bill. They also needed to willingly help other individuals, and accept help. The union that wants to represent workers at Amazons BHM1 facility in Bessemer, Alabama is accusing the company of once again violating the National Labor Relations Act. In an email the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) sent Tuesday, it said it would file Unfair Labor Practice charges against the retailer. Specifically, the organization alleges Amazon broke the law by removing pro-union posters put up by members of BAmazon, and implementing a new rule that limits the amount of time workers can spend inside the facility to 30 minutes before and after their shift. Additionally, the RWDSU alleges Amazon forced workers to attend anti-union meetings. If the NLRB finds Amazons actions violated the law, the union could then challenge the result of the ongoing second election at BHM1. That vote is currently scheduled to conclude on March 28th. While we havent seen todays filing yet, were confident that our teams have fully complied with the law. Our focus remains on working directly with our team to make Amazon a great place to work," Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel told Engadget. Last April, BHM1 became the first large Amazon facility in the US to hold a union vote. While workers there voted decisively against forming a union, the RWDSU went on to successfully challenge the vote. The NLRB ruled the company had illegally interfered with the vote and called for a rerun of the election to be held. Whether Amazon wins or loses the second election at Bessemer, it could be months before the NLRB makes a decision on the latest allegations from the RWDSU. That could set the stage for a protracted labor battle at the facility. BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to work tirelessly with the international community for the comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestine question at an early date and for peace and stability in the Middle East, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. China and Egypt on Sunday donated 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to boost its fight against the pandemic. The vaccines were locally produced in Egypt through a partnership between Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac. "This is China's latest effort to help Palestine combat COVID-19, develop the economy and improve people's welfare," Wang told a press briefing. The Palestine question is at the core of the Middle East issue. China consistently and firmly supports the Palestinian people's just cause to restore legitimate national rights, supports strengthening the authority of the Palestinian National Authority, and supports various factions in Palestine in enhancing solidarity and realizing internal reconciliation, the spokesperson said. China calls for a UN-led international peace conference participated by permanent members of the Security Council and stakeholders of the Middle East peace process, said Wang, adding that China encourages Palestine and Israel to resume peace talks on the basis of the two-state solution. All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. There are a number of ways you can make your PC gaming experience more immersive, and investing in a high-quality monitor is one of them. Samsung came out with the Odyssey Neo G9 mini-LED curved monitor last year for those who didn't want to spare any expense when building their rig. The 49-inch behemoth cost $2,500 at launch, but now it's $500 off again and back down to $2,000. That's a return to its Black Friday price, not to mention the lowest it's ever been. Given this is a mini-LED panel, you're getting super high contrast ratios and extra bright HDR performance. Samsung says the monitor has a black level of 0.0004, and it can reach a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The screen has a 5,120 x 1,440 resolution, plus a 240Hz refresh rate with a 1ms pixel response time and support for NVIDIA G-Sync and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. As far as connectivity goes, you're getting two HDMI ports, a DisplayPort and two USB 3.0 ports, and you'll be able to position the monitor however you like thanks to its swivel, tilt and height adjustments. This monitor was meant for serious gamers, and those are the people who will get the most use out of it. But if you like the Odyssey lineup but don't want to drop $2,000 on a single monitor, a few other models are on sale right now, too. The 34-inch Odyssey G5 ultra-wide curved monitor is $120 off and down to a record low of $430. This WQHD IPS monitor came out in 2020 and has a 165Hz refresh rate, plus support for HDR10 and AMD FreeSync. You can also get the 32-inch Odyssey G3 ultra-wide curved monitor for $250, or 24 percent off, and the 24-inch Odyssey G3 vertical gaming monitor for $150, or 40 percent off its normal price. Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice. Five weeks after a volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami knocked out internet access on the archipelago, Tonga is once again connected to the web. On Tuesday, Digicel , one of the countrys two main ISPs, said it had restored data connectivity on Tongatapu and Eua islands after the submarine Reliance completed repairs on the 514-mile fiber optic cable connecting the South Pacific nation to Fiji and the rest of the world. It took the underwater craft 20 days to replace a 57-mile section of the cable that had suffered multiple breaks. However, not all of Tonga has internet access yet. The domestic cable that connects the main island of Tongatapu to its outlying neighbors suffered damage during the tsunami as well. Tonga Cable CEO James Panuve told Reuters it could take six to nine months to complete the necessary repairs, with a cable shortage delaying the work. We dont have enough cable, he said. The outage underscored just how precarious internet access can be for island nations and other remote communities. The fact it only took five weeks for Tonga to get back online is thanks to telecommunication companies from neighboring islands that shared cabling with the country when it ran out of its own supply. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, including the following counties, in Oklahoma, Alfalfa, Atoka, Blaine, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Carter, Cleveland, Coal, Comanche, Cotton, Garfield, Garvin, Grady, Grant, Hughes, Jefferson, Johnston, Kay, Kingfisher, Lincoln, Logan, Love, Major, Marshall, McClain, Murray, Noble, Oklahoma, Payne, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Stephens and Tillman. In northern Texas, Archer, Clay, Wichita and Wilbarger. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - Showers and thunderstorms will develop Wednesday morning over a broad swath of the watch area. Another round of rain and thunderstorms is expected later in the afternoon and lasting much of Wednesday night before ending Thursday morning. Storm total amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected. Given recent rainfall, these additional amounts may cause flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood On the path forward 2022: Bulding a resilient community: ALL NWOK, AG AND ENERGY STORIES On the path forward 2022: Building a resilient community is a special section that will publish in the Enid News & Eagle for eight Sundays ENID, Okla. From farming to wind energy, the statewide Mesonet weather-recording sites have been providing valuable research data that has served Oklahomans for more than 25 years. Oklahoma Mesonet is a world-class network of environmental monitoring stations operated by expert scientists, researchers and technicians, according to mesonet.org Chris Fiebrich, executive director of Oklahoma Mesonet, said the story of the stations origins began in the 1980s when both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University started working together on the idea that evolved into the weather recording sites. mesonet info box The Oklahoma Mesonet is a world-class network of 120 environmental monitoring stations spread across the state and operated by expert scientists, researchers and technicians, according to information at mesonet.org. The weather side of OU and the ag side at OSU wanted this network and went in together, working through many proposals and several years of attempts and rejections before the idea became successful. Mesonet was funded in 1991 and commissioned in 1994. The two universities came together to make this statewide effort successful from the very beginning, Fiebrich said. Collecting the data There are 120 permanent data collection sites spread evenly across the state. At each site, the environment is measured by a set of instruments on or near a 10-meter-tall tower. The measurements are packaged into observations every 5 minutes, then the observations are transmitted to a central facility every five minutes, 24 hours per day, year-round. Oklahoma Climatological Survey (OCS) at OU receives observations, verifies the quality of the data and provides the data to Mesonet customers. It only takes 5 to 10 minutes from the time the measurements are acquired until they become available to the public. Before Mesonet came about, there werent many sites across the state, other than some airport stations operated by the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration. There were around 10 or 12 across the state at the time, which really wasnt enough to track all of the variety and hazards we have in Oklahoma, Fiebrich said. The network was built from scratch and sites are identical and measure the same data, which makes the data multi-purpose, he said. Oklahoma Mesonet provides data to some of the largest industries in the state: Agriculture, education, public safety and fire management. We try to hit the big economic sectors of the state, Fiebrich said. Since we are largely state funded, we want to give the state (data) that impacts the state, like ag, emergency management, education, fire. Those are things that the real-time, local climate level data can really help. Wes Lee, Mesonet agriculture coordinator, said there are other industries that utilize the data in the state, like energy, wind, oil and gas. Most of the data is created by automated algorithms; however, employees in quality control, field technicians and calibration staff are the ones who sift through critical data. We do have several quality assurance staff that are looking at the data, Fiebrich said. The uses of the data are so vital to these different sectors. We really want to make sure the data is research quality. Every day, all year, there is breaking information, with thousands of sensors all across the state detecting the whole gamut of conditions to wind, hail, sleet, dust, snow, heat. We have about 3,300 sensors in the field providing those million observations a day, Lee said. There is a lot of potential for something to happen with that many sensors and towers. Mesonet and agriculture One of Mesonets focus areas in the state is agriculture, providing data and models for farmers and ranchers to help determine the health and progression of crops, pest management, spraying and drift risks, cattle feeding schedules and volumes and much more. There are 16 different agriculture models available on the Mesonet website. In many areas of the state, the information from those models is critically important, Lee said. Some of the models are known as value-added or decision-making tools. For example, with wheat being the largest crop in the state and vitally important in Northwest Oklahoma and since it is generally dual purpose for cattle operations, Lee said, one of the models helps ranchers determine when to switch their cattle forage. We have a model for when that first hollow stem is going to happen, Lee said. It is specific for wheat varieties that a farmer can select what they have planted. It takes into account the growing conditions, the soil heat conditions from the time the wheat is planted until the current time. It helps them to estimate when they need to be out in the field to really be looking hard for that first hollow stem and when to pull cattle off. Mesonet and economic development The 120 Mesonet sites across the state were key in the assessment of the states wind energy viability. Analysts were able to use a couple decades of our data to do a wind energy analysis of wind energy resources across the state, Fiebrich said. These are things maybe locals knew, but we didnt know across the state where the highest winds were. Weatherford is the windiest area in the state, and that is where the first wind turbines began popping up, Fiebrich said. Usually a wind energy company will do its own analysis, but Mesonet has had many corporations purchase years of its data to determine wind potential. Others impacted by Mesonet data have included PhD students conducting research, utility companies that have used the data to make financially impacting decisions such as when to turn generators during a cold front or determining more power can be pumped through the lines in hot conditions if there is enough wind, Fiebrich said. The towers also measure solar radiation for solar panels, Lee said. Data about solar radiation has helped developers decide where to place solar farms in the future. Mesonet and Oklahomas partnershipThe state originally was the main funding source for the Mesonet network. Over time, Mesonet has shifted to receiving only half of its funding from the state, due to budget cuts to education over the years, and raising the rest through grants and contracts, Fiebrich said. The state is still a key funder of our funding, Fiebrich said. We are really lucky in Oklahoma that the Legislature does contribute to our funding. Mesonet hopes to be a resource and a utility for those working in the public sector and for the state overall, Fiebrich said. We want to be useful to the public and to these industries, Lee said. We think if we are, and people are able to use our products, then we will be able to show legislatures and officials that we are making an impact in local ways. Click for the latest, full-access Enid News & Eagle headlines | Text Alerts | app downloads The News & Eagle Editorial Board meets weekly to form the newspaper's stances on mostly local and state and occasionally national issues. Submit your opinion for publication to editor@enidnews.com. Find out more about submitting letters to the editor at https://www.enidnews.com/opinion/. Have a question about this opinion piece? Do you see something we missed? Do you have an editorial idea for the News & Eagle? Send an email to editor@enidnews.com. 22 February 2022 The latest two case studies from the EPO complete our series of seven technology transfer case studies demonstrating how patents support the commercialisation of technology originating from European universities. The series illustrates how research teams are able to create new companies, attract investment and customers, and enjoy European and international market success, supported by their patent strategies. One of the two case studies published today presents Perceive3D, a spin-off from the University of Coimbra (UC) which developed a disruptive surgical navigation system using augmented reality. UC's innovation ecosystem provided the necessary support and expertise, putting the researchers onto the path of becoming entrepreneurs. Patents were part of their business strategy right from the start, helping the company to target international markets and to secure continuous investment. The other case study concerns new measurement solutions for wind turbines from fos4X, a spin-off company from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) that was recently acquired by a Danish company. This successful sale was possible as a result of the company's innovative technology and strong intellectual property (IP) position, which stemmed from the conviction that patent protection is vital for innovation. Both case studies will be accompanied by podcasts featuring key contributors to the companies' success. The first podcast, published today on our channel "Talk Innovation", explains Perceive3D's technology transfer journey, and features its co-founder and CEO Joao Barreto and technology transfer expert Jose Ricardo Aguilar, who also co-authored the case study. A second podcast about fos4X will be published on Talk Innovation in March. The overall series of seven case studies includes examples from a range of different European countries, namely Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey, and is part of the EPO's collection of innovation case studies. Each case study provides advice for researchers, entrepreneurs and business decision-makers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to help them make better use of the patent system and other IP rights. The case studies show how universities can help start-ups by providing access to IP, how a company can adapt its patent strategy as it grows and how a company can secure funding until it is able to enter the market. Further information: Morocco plays an important role in the stability and sustainable development of the region and that a proposal by Rabat of autonomy for Western Sahara was an important contribution to a settlement, Germanys foreign ministry has said in a statement. This is one of the concrete signs of Germanys and Moroccos recent agreement to overcome misunderstandings and renew close amicable relations after a year-long diplomatic freeze, including over the issue of this disputed region. The announcement, released on Wednesday (16 February), came after a video conference between German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita on the eve of a summit in Brussels between the European Union and the African Union. The two leaders agreed to build on the special quality of bilateral relations in all spheres in the spirit of mutual respect, according to the joint statement. They stressed the considerable interest of both sides in close amicable relations, it added, and agreed to enter into a new dialogue to overcome the misunderstandings that have arisen. Germany is one of Moroccos main economic and trade partners. The relationship between the two countries deteriorated early in 2021 following Germanys criticism of former US President Donald Trumps recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara. Rabat controls most of Western Sahara, which it views as its own territory. Then in March, Rabat announced it was suspending contacts with the German embassy in the North African kingdom over deep misunderstandings on issues fundamental for Morocco. Two months later, Morocco recalled its ambassador to Germany for consultations and accused Berlin of unspecified hostile acts. The Morocco-Germany diplomatic rift began to ease in December when Rabat welcomed positive announcements and constructive positions from the new German government. As a result, after keeping the post some nine months vacant, Baerbock could [welcome] the return of His Majestys ambassador to Berlin, adding a new German ambassador would arrive in Rabat shortly. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has also recently invited Moroccos King Mohammed VI for a state visit to seal a new partnership between the two countries yet another concrete sign of the thaw between both countries. Meanwhile, on the occasion of the AU-EU Summit, Spanish President, Pedro Sanchez, has called on both European and African leaders to take advantage of this opportunity to set common strategies and emphasized the importance of the summit for Europe and in particular for Spain. During the summit, Sanchez also took part in a round table discussion on the subject of immigration, which was chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita. Coinciding with the current diplomatic crisis between the two countries, the summit was widely seen as an opportunity for both Spain and Morocco to bring their positions closer together on such a delicate issue as immigration. As analyst Pedro Canales points out, the solution to the bilateral crisis is not economic, but political and passes through the explicit recognition by the Government of Pedro Sanchez of the mistake committed with Operation Ghali, by not duly and previously informing Morocco. Canales adds that certainly the Spanish gestures in the economic and commercial field towards Morocco are important and from the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar they are probably appreciated as such. But the solution to the crisis is still political, and it affects credibility, confidence and the fulfillment of the commitments made between the parties. HAMBURG, Germany and LONDON, United Kingdom, February 22, 2022 Growth Equity Investor DTCP has partnered with cybersecurity company Hunters to expand its presence in Europe. DTCP recently participated in Hunters Series C round of funding, an investment that is a key milestone on the path to the companys expansion in the European market. Hunters Security Operations Center (SOC) Platform empowers security teams to automatically identify and respond to incidents that matter across the entire attack surface of their organizations. Global enterprises, including leading Fortune 500 companies in financial services, media, retail and manufacturing choose Hunters as their main SOC platform, replacing their Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions. The partnership comes at a time of unprecedented opportunity in the security market: European organizations are migrating to the cloud a significant part of their infrastructure and services; remote work has been incorporated into the lives of millions of Europeans, opening companies and individuals to new security threats; the tighter regulatory framework in the EU requires closer attention of organizations to prevent data breaches - all at times when the threat landscape continues to evolve with advanced ransomware and supply chain attacks. This has created a new paradigm for organizations and their cybersecurity needs. Cyber attacks are on the rise and require an ever-increasing level of attention, said Thomas Tschersich, Chief Security Officer at Deutsche Telekom. At the same time, we are facing a shortage of well-trained experts in the market. To counteract this trend, automation in the Security Operation Center is a key success factor for the future. With an increasing attack surface that is becoming more sophisticated and distributed, organizations are struggling to effectively respond to the evolving threat landscape in scale and power. Hunters turn-key, cloud-native data and security platform is disrupting the huge and established SIEM market with its industry-leading SOC platform, empowering security teams to aggregate and correlate all sources of security data to automatically identify and respond to security incidents that matter across the enterprise attack surface. The companys further expansion in the European market will continue to fuel their ability to meet the accelerating demand for the Hunters platform and will support the companys explosive growth, said DTCP Partner, Irit Kahan. We are thrilled about investing in the current financing round and supporting the company in the next phase of growth and their expansion in the European market. The presence of DTCP in Germany and the rest of Europe is a force multiplier in providing Hunters unique solution to Europes largest organizations,'' said Hanan Levin, VP of EMEA at Hunters. We are honored and excited to partner with DTCP and look forward to further expanding our channel and partner alliances across Europe to support our business growth and continue to hire exceptional talent to join the team in Europe." Last month, Hunters announced a $68 million Series C funding round led by growth equity firm Stripes, with participation from new investors DTCP, Cisco Investments and Databricks, and existing investors YL Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Microsofts venture fund M12, U.S. Venture Partners, Blumberg Capital and Snowflake Ventures, which brought the total investment in Hunters to $118 million. About Hunters Hunters SOC Platform empowers security teams to automatically identify and respond to security incidents across their entire attack surface. We enable vendor-agnostic data ingestion and normalization at a predictable cost. Our built-in detection engineering, data correlation, and automatic investigation helps teams overcome volume, complexity, and false positives. Hunters mitigates real threats faster and more reliably than SIEMs, ultimately reducing customers' overall security risk. Learn how enterprises like Booking.com, Snowflake, Netgear and Cimpress leverage Hunters SOC Platform to empower their security teams at https://hunters.ai. Hunters is backed by leading VCs and strategic investors including Stripes, YL Ventures, DTCP, Cisco Investments, Bessemer Venture Partners, U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), Microsofts venture fund M12, Blumberg Capital, Snowflake, Databricks, and Okta. Hunters was recognized as the SC Media 2021 Trust Award Finalist for Best Threat Detection Technology and winner of the CISO Choice Awards: Security Analytics and Security Operations. About DTCP DTCP is an investment management platform focused on growth equity and digital infrastructure. Founded in 2015, the firm has raised more than $1 billion in funds from corporate and institutional investors and invested in over 60 companies. DTCP Growth invests in leading enterprise application and infrastructure software companies. The firm has a dedicated team supporting its portfolio companies and its industrial partners. DTCP Growth is headquartered in Hamburg with offices in Menlo Park, Tel Aviv, and Seoul. To learn more about DTCP, please visit dtcp.capital. Media Contact Yael Macias Head of Corporate Marketing yael@hunters.ai Melanie Bottcher Investor Relations and Communications Manager melanie.boettcher@dtcp.capital SYDNEY, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- An international research team, led by Australians, has developed an improved form of bone implant that should reduce the chance of later complications caused by infections. Writing about their innovation in the latest edition of the ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces journal which is released to the public on Monday, the researchers estimated the safer organic implants would reduce the implant failure rate to below 1 percent, a major improvement over the current rate. They noted implant failures were becoming a growing problem in countries such as Australia where the aging population requires more treatment for degenerative conditions such as osteoporosis. In 2020, for example, more than 1.7 million hip and knee replacement procedures were done in Australia but about 20 percent of those will likely fail painfully within a decade due to infections. Lead author Professor of Nanomedicine Wojciech Chrzanowski from the University of Sydney (USYD) said the breakthrough was due to the use of a highly antimicrobial chemical element called gallium. "Gallium is an undercover agent that can be used to combat infection," Chrzanowski said. "Gallium looks like iron and can exploit bacteria's need for iron to trick them into taking it up. Once inside bacterial cells, gallium destroys them." "So, in the case of bone implants, which are highly susceptible to infection as foreign substances are introduced into the body, gallium is a superhero substance," he said. "Defensin, a kind of protein, is also active against bacteria as well as fungi and some viruses and is a natural part of our immune systems." The researchers, working with the Centre for Accelerator Science of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), "shot" gallium ions into the surface layers of implants. The researchers' next step will be to test the new implant using antibiotic resistant bacteria strains and to ensure the implants promote bone formation and healing. Some other celebrities, including comedian Bharti Singh & Sana Khan, also posted reels on Instagram dancing to the Aaj Tak tune Internet sensation Kili Pauls latest video on Instagram shows him grooving to the Aaj Tak tune, displaying his amazing dance skills. The Tanzanian teen uploaded the short clip and captioned it, My vibes as soon as I switch on the news on Aaj Tak. The video has garnered 315,523 likes so far and Pauls comment section is flooded with praises for his dance moves on the Aaj Tak tune. Paul is seen dressed in traditional Masaai clothing and his energy is spot on, taking viewers by surprise yet again. Here's the viral video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kili Paul (@kili_paul) Some other celebrities including, comedian Bharti Singh and Sana Khan, also posted reels on Instagram showing off their dancing skills on the Aaj Tak tune. Paul became a viral sensation recently by lip-syncing and dancing to popular Bollywood songs. He has also roped in his sister to dance along in a few tracks. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Commentary From Crisis Management Expert Edward Segal, Author of the Award- Winning Book "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies " (Nicholas Brealey) American companies continue to take steps to protect their employees, offices and other assets in Ukraine as apprehensions and tensions increase about a Russian invasion of that country. 'Evacuate Now' Former ambassador Sarah Mendelson is an expert on Russia and the head of Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College in Washington, D.C. She had this blunt and urgent warning today for American companies and organizations in Ukraine: "Evacuate now. Get your team to a safe place as soon as possible. Find a country that can receive them. Facilitate their evacuation. Don't wait." But some businesses are apparently taking a more cautious wait-and-see approach. San Francsico-based Just Answer, a platform for connecting consumers with businesses, has 300 employees in Ukraine. CEO Andy Kurtzig said they have been carefully monitoring the situation "so that we can support our Ukrainian team and help keep them and their families safe. We have communicated to all of our employees via emails and company meetings that we are committed to Ukraine in the long-term and will do what we can to keep them safe and productive." Kurtzig said the company has taken the following steps to safeguard its employees and business operations in Ukraine. Crisis Management Team Created a crisis management team that is regularly evaluating the situation and is ready to be activated when needed. Business Continuity Plan Created a business continuity plan to respond to different types of threats that might occur because of the escalating situation. The plan includes the following provisions. Relocation Relocation of employees and their families to cities of their choice Data Back-up Backing-up data to servers in the U.S. Internet Access Developing Internet backup options with independent internet providers Communication Establishing emergency satellite communications Documents Creating hard copies of key documents and important plans and procedures Power Getting backup power supply (diesel generator) Equipment And Supplies Stockpiling equipment, goods and supplies Succession Drafting succession plans for colleagues who might be forced to move or leave the country. 'Trying To Keep Calm' Of course, U.S. companies are not alone in closely monitoring the unfolding situation or deciding to stay at least for now in Ukraine. Ukrainian software company Alty has an office with 40 employees in Kyiv, the country's capital. PR manager Kate Derkach said that, "...we are trying to keep calm and operate in the regular regime, communicating with local and international clients and having all the processes ongoing. She noted that, "We do not insist our staff to be present in the office physically and encourage remote work. Almost all the team prefers to stay in places they feel the most comfortable and safeat home. Some of our staff left the country but mainly for vacations. They continue their work as well." Derkach said company's management provided a detailed instruction to the team, which explains the main steps of how to act if the situation escalates. It includes operational issues as well, but [is] mainly aimed to get the team ready for any scenario which may or (hopefully) may not happen." "Anyhow, we continue to monitor the situation each hour, communicate with the team in a positive manner and provide each other support mental and physical if needed," she concluded. Finding Save Haven Mykola Volkivsk, a political expert and former advisor to a top official of the Ukrainian Parliament, is president of The First International Ukrainian Foundation of Development. He said that, ''Large foreign corporations that have opened branches in Ukraine are now reorienting their work, often offering job relocations and even offers abroad to [their] best employees. "Many companies are finding cheaper and 'safer' cities - such as Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk. If it gets hot, charters are unlikely to take people out or personal transport will be provided. '"On the ground, bomb shelters have been put in place, provisions have been replenished, there are general recommendations for action, and so on. In case of prolonged hostilities, everyone will have to stay in permanent places," he predicted. Because "... there is a risk of disruption of networks, banking system, etc., it is recommended to have cash (foreign currency). Some companies have decided to make additional (premium payments0 [to] help with documentation and permits. In general, we can say that the care of employees is satisfactory," Volkivsky concluded. ### The Impossible Has Become the Plausible In the world of ultra high-stakes diplomacy there are scenarios that defy even the most outrageous B-movie plots. Then again, what the world has witnessed regardless of political leadership hue, is that the impossible has become the plausible. Russia may not be the only country or even party who has plans to create a false flag a pretext for invading Ukraine. Many scenarios have been hypothesized such as skirmishes in the Donbas region or trouble on the Ukrainian-Belarus border. However, no one has mentioned the most audacious one the sabotage of one of the gas pipelines on Ukrainian territory. This would be the terrestrial version of the USS Maine which exploded in Havana Harbor on 15 February 1898 that greased the skids to the start of Spanish-American War. This hyper-sensitive, economic and symbolic pretext might occur during the initial hours of the invasion or during the initial days which would justify Russia's increased intensity against not only the Ukrainian armed forces but the civilians too. The Flame that Ignites the Gas Leak Russia Russia is the obvious "Usual Suspect". Sabotaging a gas pipeline would achieve several objectives simultaneously. Under authorized orders by Putin, Russia can immediately place the blame on the Ukrainian government that would justify an invasion to protect Russian investment and economic lifeline in the export of gas to European countries. The Russian public relations angle would be that it would seem ludicrous to blow up its own gas pipeline, the key to its key export revenue. The other is anti-Putin elements in the Kremlin. In the Russian version of Operation Valkyrie, the invasion itself is a false flag in which collaborating generals provide unauthorized orders to sabotage a gas pipeline. The act is psychologically damaging to Putin who now knows he has formidable adversaries inside the Kremlin and a distraction from his wartime operations. As the war goes disastrously wrong for Russia it might produce cracks in the Russian leadership justifying a palace coup, Putin is arrested and Russian forces halt their advance and exit Ukraine. Ukraine There are several different elements in Ukraine who would profit enormously by sabotaging a gas pipeline. The pro-Russian Ukrainians, whether independently or under direct orders from Moscow, sabotage the gas pipeline to fuel and inspire the Russian war machine. The other possibility is that patriotic yet delusional Ukrainians who believe that US/Nato will put boots on the ground on Ukrainian territory to directly fight the Russian army or at least take a more aggressive action than merely surveillance support and arms suppliers. The Military Industrial Complex This is a worldwide confederation of arms dealers whose smell of money holds priority over the smell of death. Using mercenaries to sabotage a gas pipeline would sow confusion and provoke accusations amongst the belligerents and supporting cast. Even if the mercenaries are captured and/or identified, the accusations and denials would run rampant as to which party hired them. The biggest land war in Europe since WW II represents the biggest opportunities for the military industrial complex in decades for the sale of armaments, defensive and offensive, high-tech and low-tech. Furthermore, in a highly unstable, post-war environment, many countries worldwide will be clamoring to purchase arms because of similar situations in their regions either to defend themselves against a larger neighbor or invade a smaller one. For reference purposes, the link to the following chart entitled The Gas Pipelines Linking Russia and Europe provided by JP Morgan via The Economist present an excellent visual as to how the major pipelines linking Russia to Europe are routed. "No Honor Among Thieves" or Autocrats for That Matter The tiger and the bear both apex alpha predators by their very nature are incapable of sharing the mountaintop of anti-US autocracy. For this reason, I believe that the continental-sized egos of presidents Putin and Xi don't allow co-leadership in their efforts to challenge the west. A war in Ukraine would shake the Chinese because Russia has increasing used its vastly upgraded and modern military in increasingly larger operations and will have gained enormous experience on the battlefield. Chinese checkbook diplomacy can only go so far as Putin will indeed have the upper hand with the military "muscle". This might mean that China may be forced to engage in backdoor geopolitical maneuvering secretly seeking some arrangement with the west to counter Russian aggression. One tactic for China is to purchase far less gas from Russia which would rapidly deplete Russia's "economic fortress" of $630 billion established to withstand draconian western sanctions. This economic squeeze may force them to offer more favorable terms with US/Nato on a variety of matters. In turn the US/Nato turns a blind eye or delivers of slap on the wrist for future Chinese aggressions. Or China gains considerably more market share in Europe by extending its Belt & Road Initiative with minimal US/European interference. The Europeans might feel that it's better (and healthier) to be beaten by a wallet than a weapon. The Chinese response to Russian claims of "betrayal", in the ruthless jungle world of geopolitics, like Don Corleone in the Godfather explained, "It's nothing personal, just business." Conclusion Putin may be so laser focused on his grand scheme of reuniting the Russian speaking peoples in sovereign countries he believes were hijacked by the Us/Nato, that he is exceptionally vulnerable to a series of attacks from his enemies: internally within the Kremlin walls and his autocratic counterparts in Beijing. Copyright 2022 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient, beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopolitical dynamics and global urban security. Monday, February 21, 2022 Dining With the Devil Europes dependency on Russian gas is the deja vu historical folly oftrusting autocracies to honor binding commercial and governmental agreements.The priority of autocracies is hegemonic power & influence over economicsuccess. Furthermore, they view everyone around them, regardless how small, asan existential threat. Appeasement & acquiescence only fuels theircontempt. Its an arrangement akin to the adage, If youre going to have soupwith the devil, make sure you use a long spoon. For this reason Europes energy networks dependency and vulnerability areforever changed with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Disengaging from this high-levelof dependency will be slow and costly. The following chart entitled WhichEuropean Countries Depend on Russian Gas? provided by European UnionAgency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators present the leverage Russiangas suppliers have on the European market. The countries with the greatest dependency for Russian gas are small, thusrequire far less total gas than their far larger more industrial and populouscounterparts who, although less dependent percentage wise require far more totalgas than the smaller countries. The following chart entitled The GasPipelines Linking Russia and Europe provided by JP Morgan via TheEconomist present an excellent visual as to how the major pipelines linkingRussia to Europe are routed. Indeed as a natural gas producing powerhouse and favorable geography itmakes political and business sense to do business with Russia. The intangiblevague line that crosses from competitively-priced multi-sourcing into dangerousdependency without a sufficient alternate source is the realm of pathological naivete. Putins Peril Present-day Russia is 40% dependent on energy commodities gas, oil andcoal exports for revenue. During the buildup they are taking advantage ofsoaring energy prices thanks to the artificially low European inventories becausesome claim Russia has not delivered the requested quantities. A Cold War in politics or business is one thing. Outright mass hostilitiesagainst another European country is quite another. This is why Putin eill havecrossed the Rubicon if he wages war with Ukraine. Putin will have rebranded himself from tough talking bully to barbrawler. All his allies are either those of convenience (China) or underhistorically dark geographical shadow of the Soviet Union or Russia (Belarus), Even if Russia continues to honor their contractual obligations of gas toEuropean countries during and after the conflict, it will not mitigate Europesfury and inevitable aggressive plans to delink their energy dependency on Russia. On the other hand if the Russian armies suffer heavy or unacceptable lossesduring the invasion or are mired in a guerilla war with Ukrainian partisans whowill be generously supplied by US/Nato, this might trigger a palace coup in theKremlin and depose Putin. Nonetheless Europes new paradigm shift would be unchangedbecause whoever the next Russian president might be doesnt necessarily changeRussias aggressive policy today or in the future. Here Comes the Cavalry! The good news is that in December 2021 US became the biggest LNGexporter surpassing Qatar which can provide a stop-gap supply of liquifiednatural gas (LNG) to European countries that may be cut off from Russiansupplies. Furthermore, Qatar is negotiating an agreement to ship more LNG toEuropean countries while still satisfying their Asian market. Already Europeanfirms are seeking long-term contracts for US gas. To provide a perspective as to how LNG can satisfy European demand, a LNGlarge tanker provides enough energy to light 70,000 homes for a year because thecompressed gas to liquid, cooled at minus 260 degrees F, is 1/600thvolume. The immediate downside is the dearth of European LNG terminals to handlethese specialized shipments especially an armada of LNG vessels. Furthermore, LNGterminals are quite expensive. However in the long-term the construction of LNGterminals will be cost effective because it will handle a considerable amountmore of an essential commodity annually. With respect to environmental concerns, the EU is accelerating aproposal to reclassify certain gas investments as green to attract more buyers. China & Russia | Fair Weather Friends Historically Russo-Chinese relations are one of convenience, short-lived,with few if any binding contracts except for the occasional dog & pony showof join military maneuvers. Their series of joint declarations are not worththe paper theyre written on. Despite similar attempts at rejoining lostterritory namely Ukraine and Taiwan, neither Russia nor China have madeofficial comments confirming each others right to forcefully, if necessary,absorb those countries. In the energy sector Russia has avoided becoming an OPEC member, even wheninvited, but co-leads the OPEC+ group which produces 37% of the worlds oil, withSaudi Arabia in establishing quotas. Its a crafty policy of economic andpolitical flexibility without accountability. The Tiger at the Mountaintop There cant be both a bear and tiger at the top of the mountain. Russiadoes brisk energy export business with China. However despite Russiaseconomic fortress of $630 billion in reserves through their de-dollarisation policy,the worlds rage against Russian aggression might pressure China to slack offon energy purchases. While Russia is focusing on squeezing the west by threatening theinvasion of Ukraine, the short-term consequences might be Chinas decision to reduceconsiderably purchases of Russian energy exports thus forcing Russia to rapidlydeplete its $630 billion reserve and take the dominant and commanding leadbetween them on Chinas terms. Even if Russia continues to supply gas to Europe during the invasion andsubsequent occupation, Russia may find itself thoroughly cut-off from any legalinternational banking and payment system and unable to collect revenues. Conclusion War in Europe presents an enviable opportunity for China to apply theMiddle East adage, The enemy of my enemy is my friend. By using economicleverage by reducing the purchase of Russian energy exports, it can neutralizeRussian aggression in Europe. China would gain immediate favor to a certainextent of the US and its allies simply playing one off against the other. The fate of Putin personally depends whether or not Russian boots touchUkrainian soil. This emerging possibility may be the reason he has hesitated inmaking a decision whether to invade or not. Copyright 2022 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient,beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments ongeopolitical dynamics and global urban security. Monday, February 21, 2022 For Immediate Release CLEVELAND, February 16, 2022 Putnam Consulting Group, a global Putnam Consulting Group, a global consultancy led by philanthropy expert Kris Putnam-Walkerly, was selected as a finalist in the Philanthropy Advice category at the Family Wealth Report Awards 2022 Program. Winners will be announced on May 4, 2022, at the Gala Ceremony at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Manhattan, New York. The annual Family Wealth Report Awards Program recognizes the most innovative and exceptional firms, teams and individuals serving the family office, family wealth and trusted advisor communities in North America. In response to this news, Putnam-Walkerly, said: I am delighted to have been selected by the judges as a finalist for this prestigious award. It is a great honor to be recognized in the shortlist of finalists and this is testament to the quality of philanthropic advice we provide to affluent families, family offices and family foundations. Stephen Harris, ClearView Financial Medias CEO and publisher of Family Wealth Report, was first to extend his congratulations to all finalists, This year we had a record number of registrations and submissions for this program: more than 500 submissions in nearly 70 categories. The firms and individuals in the 9th Family Wealth Report program are worthy competitors and the ones that have reached the Finalist stage are truly outstanding. These awards are judged by an expert panel of more than 40 judges and finalists are selected on the basis of entrants submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative performance metrics. These awards recognize the very best operators in the private client industry. The judging process is rigorous and independent, and all conflicts of interest are avoided, ensuring that these awards truly reflect excellence in family wealth management. Financial institutions that serve private foundations and ultra-high-net-worth individuals seek to offer greater philanthropic value especially in the current complex investment, regulatory, and grantmaking environment. Kris shared insights and guidance that helped our clients learn how to create powerful giving plans while navigating rapidly changing circumstances, said Allen Mast, Senior Vice President and Leader, Private Foundations Specialty Practice, SunTrust (now Truist). With the biggest wealth transfer in history underway $68 trillion being passed down over the next 20 years Putnam-Walkerly says, Savvy wealth advisors understand that expanding charitable giving planning is critical to their long-term success.. Her firm created a free resource specifically for advisors of ultra-high-net-worth clients, 5 Charitable Giving Mistakes That Cost Advisors Money. The best way to retain management of clients wealth and estate planning, and attract more clients in the future, is to support their charitable giving goals and this free guide will help to expand advisors philanthropic service offerings with confidence. About Putnam Consulting Group Tuesday, February 22, 2022 Advanced technologyand globalization have enabled many countries to wage a silent war without theneed to commit soldiers. The 21st century soldiers sit behindcomputer screens whose AI-driven software provides the parameters ofdecision-making for the military and government. This WarRoom includes the economic sector which can shutdown access to capital instantaneouslyto ones adversaries. The effectiveness of sanctions is debatable and has hadmixed results as countries, at least the leadership, have survived, even thrivedwithout compromising their lavish lifestyles. Furthermore, sanctions have frequentlyhurt innocent third parties which are highly dependent on commercial relations,usually commodities, from the sanction targeted country. Nuclear Level Economic Sanctions Because of Russias first-step invasion into theDonbas region and probable subsequent invasion elsewhere in Ukraine, theforthcoming sanctions by the US and European allies will be far more draconianthan previous ones. The following chart entitled WhyHas the US Sanctioned Russia in the Past? provided by the Congressional ResearchService, indicate past sanctions against Russia and the reasons for theirimplementation. In this warenvironment western sanctions will be broad and deep encompassing all the abovecategories and possibly the creation of others. Because Ukraineis not a Nato member, the US/Nato are not legally obligated to engage Russianforces directly on Ukrainian soil. Furthermore although the vast majority ofthe US/Nato citizenry think Russias invasion is abhorrent, they are firmlyagainst their respective countries direct involvement militarily. Russian PollsterPropaganda Thefollowing chart entitled RussiasFriends and Foes provided by the Levada Analytical Center, an independentRussian non-governmental research organization, represents the results of apoll of 1,620 Russian adults in May 2021. The Enemies of Russia category in descendingorder are USA, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Latvia/Poland and Lithuania. The Friends of Russia category in descending orderare Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Armenia and India. Indeed this is an extremely threadbare pollconsisting of only 1,620 samples, not enough for a comprehensive breakdown ofsocio-economic-educational status nor one that one can extrapolate accurately.Furthermore the poll is based on the threats to their government, notpersonally. Although various western sources have confirmedthat the Levada Center has come underscrutiny and pressure by the Russian government particularly, under the Putinregime, this does not mean that there is some type of Russian government influence.The paucity of samples is outrageously unprofessional. I believe thatdespite its official independent, non-governmental status, this is a primeexample of Russian governmental coerced propaganda which severely skews Russiancitizens viewpoint of the west and contradicts the actions and experiences of manyex-pat Russians, from white collar professionals to billionaires, who investedheavily and are enjoying far better lifestyles in western societies and even seekingcitizenship in those countries. US vsRussia | Next Level Military Confrontation As thesaying goes, Heres where it gets complicated. During the Cold War theRussian and US militaries have made efforts to avoid direct militaryconfrontation by using proxies. Nonetheless there were many confrontations tookplace but were quickly negotiated and resolved, often quietly. However thePutin regime is a different Russian bear from his Soviet predecessors in theSoviet model he enthusiastically extolls. There are multiple circumstances that raise therisk of direct conflict between US/Nato forces and Russia troops during theconflict. In war non-combatant third parties provide on-the-ground, hands-on technicaland surveillance assistance, and are sometimes embedded within foreign units. Thecapture or death of US/Nato personnel could raise the intensity of the conflictproviding Putin justification to raise the stakes further before and/or after theconflict. Its one thing to capture US/Nato equipment and another to captureUS/Nato personnel within a war zone where it is not officially participating. Other scenarios include the capture of US/Nato personnelduring the extraction of key Ukrainians and their families either by land orair (helicopter). This might occur even post-invasion for those Ukrainians ofvital interest to US/Nato who stayed until the end of the war and now havedifficulty leaving the country while eluding Russian security units. Conclusion The US and its allies have declared a nuclear-leveleconomic war Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, a tactic thatRussia had factored in and is reasonably prepared to weather. The dicier threat is in the form of possible, evenprobable, direct confrontation between US and Russian military personnel inUkraine with respect to firefights. Despite all the satellite andcyber-technology, the US requires boots on the ground, primarily surveillance& technical, to assess Russias capabilities and intentions. The risk is gettingcaught too deep and risk capture if an extraction operation fails. The Cold War courtesies of quiet prisonerexchanges may not apply under a Putin led Russia and push Putins paranoia offthe rails. For this reason, Putin may employ his cyber-warfare machine againstthe US and/or other Nato member(s). Copyright 2022 Cerulean Council LLC The Cerulean Council is a NYC-based think-tank that provides prescient,beyond-the-horizon, contrarian perspectives and risk assessments on geopoliticaldynamics and global urban security. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Argyle Club in Alamo Heights has weathered the slow march of time, generation after generation. But today its rocking the boat. At least thats the case with some residents, who worry that planned construction at the property will spell trouble in the neighborhood. Built in the 1850s as the headquarters for a ranch, the mansion received a new purpose a century later: supporting the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, which owns the property. Today, the private club stands as a visible reminder of local history in the upscale enclave. RELATED: How a historic Alamo Heights club came to back the Texas Biomedical Research Institute And soon it could have a one-story addition on its north side. The permanent structure would take the place of the tent that the club sets up for gatherings in a 20-space parking lot. And weve got a beautiful plan to do it, Argyle Club board member Tibaut Bowman said, with the primary goal being to make sure that we keep the feel and the old elegance of this old house. Although the Texas Historical Commission signed off on the proposed design, the project is still in its early days. City Manager Buddy Kuhn said the city will need to look over the plans, and the architectural review board and the City Council will have to weigh in on the project down the road. Argyle Club board President Jeff Rochelle said he is unsure what the timeline will be on completing the steps required by the city. But once The Argyle gets a building permit, Rochelle said, he expects construction to take one year to complete. Although the project has the support of some nearby residents, others have been less receptive. Architects Ann and Mike McGlone, who have lived on Patterson Avenue for 30 years, said events at the club at Patterson and Argyle avenues can lead to crowded streets, among other issues. The couple, who spoke at a recent architectural review board meeting, have sought to rally opposition to the project, making yard signs and sending letters to neighbors to encourage them to write the city. They have events out on the lawn that go until midnight and beyond, said Mike McGlone, 67. You can hear the music three blocks away. The McGlones worry that a permanent structure would make the events easier to set up, which could make them more frequent. Indeed, Argyle leaders say the goal is to make the club more efficient at putting events together. But they say adding room for indoor gatherings would mean fewer disruptions for neighbors. Welcome to the club Provided by The Argyle Club The Argyle Club is a place for members a few of whom, Rochelle said, are picking up the $11 million tab for the proposed project to dine and host celebrations. It also offers some meeting space and a few small hotel rooms. Each year, club members provide a combined total of between $1 million and $1.5 million in donations to the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, said Lisa Cruz, Texas Biomed vice president of corporate communications. In an emailed statement, she said the donations represent about 2 percent of Texas Biomeds annual operating revenues. The club currently has about 1,500 members. Over the years, there have been renovations and additions to the original structure, ultimately making the three-story building about 28,000 square feet. The site also includes some outdoor dining space and detached storage. The club wants to build a one-story addition that would be called Argyle Hall. Its peak height would be 29 feet, and it would take over a 20-space parking lot that the club often covers with a large tent for outdoor events. On ExpressNews.com: Its unreal: Alamo Heights varsity cheerleaders win national championship The additional indoor event space would provide enough room for about 300 people, compared with the current 125-person indoor event capacity. It would also mean no more outdoor, tent-covered events, which Argyle General Manager Michael Vlad said can accommodate about 550 guests. The proposed Argyle Hall includes about 10,000 square feet of space: about 2,000 for a wine cellar, about 1,800 for renovations of current space and about 6,500 for new first-floor construction, Rochelle said. About 4,700 square feet of the new first-floor construction could be available for events, while the rest would be filled with things such as a screened-in porch, foyers and restrooms. There would be two outdoor patios. And according to a notice of intent, a 1,200-square-foot storage building would be added in the rear for movable furniture and dry goods. Kin Man Hui /Staff photographer Traffic Having outdoor events under a tent can be a challenge. It requires several vendors to drive in and out to provide the tent itself, as well as heating and air conditioning, a dance floor, temporary power and more. Rochelle said he thinks the expansion, which would eliminate the need for all that coming and going, would help reduce event traffic. People who live within 200 feet of certain projects receive notice of upcoming construction. Kuhn, the city manager, said the city has received phone calls and other support for the project within 200 feet of the building in addition to several calls in opposition to the project from outside a 200-foot radius. Yellow yard signs courtesy of the McGlones stand in lawns near the club, including along Argyle and Patterson, two streets where people park for the events. Argyle Avenue resident Kyle Moe worries the project could bring more loud parties to the area. You have people from outside the community that are coming into our community to party, live it up and make as much noise as they want, said Moe, 42. Rochelle said expanding the structure into one of the clubs parking lots would mean The Argyle would own 86 on-site parking spots and have permission to use about 70 more in a lot next door. Rochelle said the club is open to a discussion with neighbors about how to address on-street parking concerns. And although the proposed expansion would allow for a higher indoor capacity, Rochelle said the space can be configured to host large or small gatherings. So it might be more smaller events, he said. But overall, we think its going to lessen the traffic burden. megan.rodriguez@express-news.net Immersive Van Gogh, the big-buzz international hit that places patrons in the middle of projections of the Dutch masters paintings, finally has a location and date for its San Antonio debut. It will run May 26 through Sept. 5 at the new Lighthouse ArtSpace San Antonio at 221 Burleson St. just north of downtown. Ticket costs range from $39.99 to $79.99 for adults and from $24.99 to $39.99 for children ages 6 to 16. Children 5 and under are free. VIP tickets range from $79.99 to $109.99, and include priority access, a cushion and a limited edition poster. Tickets are available at goghsanantonio.com. Through 60,600 frames of video and more than 500,000 cubic feet of projections, the exhibit gives patrons the sense of stepping into Vincent van Goghs post-Impressionist works, including Starry Night, Sunflowers and The Potato Eaters. A classical music score plays in the space as well. On ExpressNews.com: Pixar Putt miniature golf coming to SA in April The exhibit was featured in the Netflix series Emily in Paris. It is the brainchild of noted Italian digital artist Massimiliano Siccardi. Immersive Van Gogh originally had been slated to open Nov. 18 in San Antonio, but it took time to find a venue that met all of the exhibitions needs. Patrons who purchased tickets to one of the original dates will receive tickets for new dates via email, as well as information on how to obtain refunds. Nina Westervelt /Washington Post News Service Lighthouse Immersive, which is producing the exhibition, is turning a one-time industrial space in Dignowity Hill into a gallery for the show. The company has opened 16 similar spaces across the country. This will be its third space in Texas, following galleries in Dallas and Houston. In addition to the van Gogh show, Lighthouse Immersive is currently touring an immersive look at the work of Frida Kahlo. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Treat yourself to a ball of a time at the Texas Testicle Festival in Fredericksburg next month. Hill Country Headlines: Get top stories from the region sent to your inbox The event, which will take place on March 5 at the Bankersmith Hall near Fredericksburg, will serve up pound after pound of the delicacy known as the Rocky Mountain oyster. According to the festival's event page on Facebook, the bull testicles will be celebrated and fried in tenderly love for consumption. Eating testicles from calves, lambs, roosters, turkeys and other animals is a tradition on ranches throughout Central Texas and the Western United States. The festival will also serve up sweetbreads made from an animals pancreas or thymus gland. Paired nicely with some adult beverages (and a little bit of friendly ribbing), these things go down like butter, according to the festivals website says. On ExpressNews.com: Your guide to New Braunfels German food and beer Past festivals have included turkey, lamb and veal testicles that have been served up battered, fried or grilled. There will also be a testicle eating competition with a chance to win $100 and all the testicles you can eat during the competition and free beer to wash it down, organizers said. If eating animal testicles is not your thing, hungry visitors can choose from pork chops, barbecue ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and ribeye steaks. On ExpressNews.com: Immersive Van Gogh finally announces San Antonio location, new dates You absolutely wont leave hungry, regardless of your tastes, festival organizers said in a Facebook post. The festival, which will run from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 5, is organized by Best of Texas, an event company that hosts festivals around the state. Tickets for the festival range from $10 to $65 and are available for purchase on the Best of Texas website or at Bankersmith Hall, located at 7905 Old San Antonio Rd. Festival organizers did not return a request for comment. Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net The victims of a fatal domestic violence shooting on Sunday in San Antonio may have been long-time Houston-area educators, according to Spring Branch ISD leaders. Michael Burger, 20, was arrested Sunday in connection with the shooting deaths of two unidentified people who San Antonio police say may have been his parents. Spring Branch ISD said Monday that reports suggest William Burger, assistant principal of Cornerstone Academy, and his wife, Noreen Burger, were the victims "It is with a heavy heart I share that we are aware of news coming out of San Antonio with unconfirmed reports that point to the tragic death of our beloved Bill Burger and his wife, Noreen," Angel Purdy, principal of Cornerstone Academy, wrote in a Monday email to the school community. "This is the most difficult news to share, and we know for you to learn," Purdy wrote. "We are filled with sorrow as we hear these reports. As always, our Cornerstone Family and our Spring Branch Family will rally around us and our entire community during this difficult time." On ExpressNews.com: Two people are dead, suspect is in custody after Northwest Side shooting A representative from the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office said early Monday afternoon that it had not identified the victims. Spring Branch ISD said they remain in touch with San Antonio police and the investigation remains active. A crisis team will support students and staff on Tuesday when school resumes, the district stated. William Burger has worked for Spring Branch ISD for three decades, serving as an assistant principal for the past 11 years, according to Lexi Marshall, assistant director for communications at Spring Branch ISD. Noreen Burger worked in the district for 25 years before her retirement in 2020. She has since worked as a substitute teacher. "Our hearts are heavy as we hear these reports," Marshall said in a Monday statement. "However, we cannot confirm anything past that at this time as this is a San Antonio Police Department active investigation." San Antonio Police Department On Sunday, officers heard several gunshots and responded to the 3800 block of Parkdale Street in San Antonio where they found Michael Burger armed with an assault rifle and a shotgun, according to police. Two people were dead outside of the apartment, police said. A responding officer, who has not been identified, commanded Burger to drop his weapons and then fired his duty weapon. No shots struck the suspect, who was quickly taken into custody, police said. Investigators found shell casings on the porch of the first-floor apartment, said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. The victims were in their 40s or 50s. "It appears that it could be a family violence incident," McManus said at a news briefing from the scene. "Again, probably his parents, but were not sure at this time." Staff writer Dennis Rudner contributed reporting from San Antonio. anna.bauman@chron.com BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- China has appointed Xue Bing, former ambassador to Papua New Guinea, as the special envoy for the Horn of Africa affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Tuesday. Xue is a veteran diplomat with work experience in Africa, the Americas, and Oceania, said Wang at a daily press briefing. He added that the special envoy will establish work relationship with colleagues from relevant parties as soon as possible and maintain close communication and coordination on advancing the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. During his visit to Africa at the beginning of the year, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed the Outlook, which aims to support regional countries in achieving lasting peace and security and embracing development and prosperity. As a common friend of countries in the Horn of Africa, China is ready to play a constructive role in the process, the spokesperson said. Boerne police shot and killed a man after being called to a residence Monday afternoon to check on a suicidal subject, city officials said. The man has been identified as 41-year-old Brandon Cruz, of Bexar County. About 1:30 p.m., Boerne officers received a call about a suicidal man who fled from Gillespie County and was seen heading toward Boerne on FM 1376, city officials said. Cruzs family told police that they were able to take a gun away from him before he drove away, but they werent sure whether he had other weapons. Kendall County deputies attempted to stop Cruzs vehicle near the 800 block of FM 1376, but he was driving over 100 miles per hour. Once Cruz entered Boerne city limits, Cpl. Cheyenne Weber and a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper attempted a traffic stop again but were unsuccessful. As Cruz sped down School Street to Johns Road, the law enforcement agents lost sight of him but stayed in the area looking for him. Soon after, a citizen flagged down the officers and said Cruzs car was behind the Carrington Place apartments, at 825 Johns Road. The two law enforcement agents found Cruz sitting in his vehicle, but when they tried to get Cruz out of the car, he revved the engine, backed up quickly and ran into Webers police vehicle, officials said. Weber, who was standing outside his vehicle, started firing and hit Cruz multiple times. First responders attempted to save Cruz, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. No officer was injured. Weber, an 11-year veteran with the department, was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation from the Texas Rangers per department policy. Taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press, Yi-Chin Lee/Associated Press First lady Jill Biden is expected to tour a cancer center and a child development center when she visits San Antonio on Wednesday. According to a news release, Biden will arrive at the former Kelly AFB at around 11 a.m. and then tour the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, and then participate in a listening session addressing cancer health disparities in Latino communities. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office has identified the two people killed Monday during a shootout in a North Side neighborhood. Police have arrested four males on suspicion of capital murder. All four are 21 or younger. One of the four is 21-year-old Oscar Martinez III. Enrique Bocanegra, 66, and Christopher James Mejia, 14, were killed during the incident, the medical examiner said. On ExpressNews.com: Shootout on North Side kills 2, hospitalizes 1 as police search for suspect Officials said the four suspects and Mejia pulled up next to a gas station at the corner of Mariposa and Blanco about 2:30 p.m. when a man approached their Suburban. San Antonio police Chief William McManus said Mejia got out of the passenger side of the vehicle and started shooting at the man who approached them. A shootout ensued and Mejia was hit and killed at the scene. A 17-year-old inside the Suburban also was hit and transported to the hospital. Bocanegra, who was watching TV in his home across the street, was killed when a stray bullet pierced the wall. At the scene, McManus said he was outraged about the incident and barely able to contain his emotions. This was senseless and now an innocent man is dead, McManus said. Police found multiple weapons but do not know how many people were shooting or who they all were. The man who approached the Suburban fled on foot and has not been located. He is considered armed and dangerous. Taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Mao Zedong arrived in Moscow in 1949 expecting to be feted for delivering China, the worlds most populous country, to communism. Instead, Josef Stalin humiliated him by making him wait for a meeting. Although Stalin and Mao eventually signed a Treaty of Friendship, Mao chafed at being treated like a hayseed from a backward country. By the 1960s, Mao was openly feuding with the Soviets over leadership of the communist world. The Soviet Union and China even battled each other in 1969 over disputed territory along their long border. That created an opening for Richard Nixons trip to China on Feb. 21, 1972, a diplomatic overture aimed at peeling China away from the Soviet orbit. In the short term, Nixons eight-day visit was an unambiguous success. Chinese leaders agreed to help spy on the Soviet Union. Nixon won reelection. The stage was set for Chinas eventual integration into the global economy. But as we marked the 50th anniversary of that visit, some U.S. officials and foreign policy analysts have second-guessed the wisdom of partnering with Beijing. Even Nixon apparently looked back on the strategy with mixed feelings, and possibly some regret. Russia was a military threat, but never an economic rival. China, however, is becoming the first power in a century capable of challenging American dominance on both economic and military terms. Some American policymakers felt that China would eventually rise, with or without U.S. help. If you take that view, then welcoming China as a friendly partner, instead of a hostile power, made sense. Today, China has a far bigger stake in the international system and the U.S. economy than Nixon could have imagined possible. Still, over the years, American policymakers have oversold the benefits of engaging China and have underplayed the risks. Steps by China toward a free-market economy didnt turn it into a democracy, as many argued it would. And although a lot of American businessmen grew wealthy off Chinas success, and American consumers were able to buy a lot of cheap stuff, many American workers suffered when factories moved to China. Over the last 20 years, Washington has been too preoccupied with the war on terrorism to think about how to prevent the United States from becoming too dependent on a communist country that could prove to be fundamentally at odds with us. President Xi Jinping of China makes no secret of his view that the United States is a fading superpower that is intent on blocking Chinas ascent to its rightful place in the world. Donald Trump slapped tariffs on Chinese goods, bringing an era of hopeful engagement to an end. But Trumps isolationism benefited China, which filled the void of Americas global retreat. President Joe Biden, who has rallied Europe, Australia and Japan with talk of fighting autocracy and making democracy bloom around the world, presents a thornier problem for Xi. If the United States and Europe remain united, they form an economic bloc that is still roughly twice the size of Chinas economy. But by framing the struggle as a fight between the free world and dictatorship, the Biden administration risks pushing Russia and China closer together into what some are calling a new axis of autocracy. This time, Moscow is the little brother, seeking support from Beijing. It could prove to be among the most consequential geopolitical developments in decades. What the West is doing now is the exact opposite of what Nixon did back then, Adrian Geiges, the co-author of the forthcoming Xi Jinping: The Most Powerful Man in the World, told me. Russia and China are not natural partners. They are partners because of the common enemy the United States and Western Europe. Its too early to tell how far China will stick its neck out for Russia in its confrontation with the West over Ukraine. Chinas leaders have long argued for a world free of formal military alliances. They have been cautious about getting entangled in other countries military conflicts. But President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Xi took pains to present a common front recently when they issued an extraordinary joint statement hours before the opening night of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. The statement pledged that their cooperation would be superior to the one forged between the two countries during the Cold War. No area of cooperation would be off limits, presumably including Russia giving China its most advanced weaponry. The two countries began edging closer together in 2014, after Russias invasion of Crimea prompted Western sanctions. Russia weathered the fallout with some support from China, which beefed up trade and its purchase of Russian oil and gas. This month, the friendship appeared to break new ground. The statement marked the first time that China has supported Russias demand for an end to NATO expansion. By signing onto the text, Russia also supported Chinas claim to Taiwan and both sides said they were seriously concerned about the U.S. decision to forge a military alliance with Britain and Australia and to cooperate in the field of nuclear-powered submarines. Putin and Xi might not be natural allies, but they have an awful lot in common. Both see the United States as a chaotic hegemon. Both men were profoundly shaken by the collapse of the Soviet Union, which they viewed as a cautionary tale of what not to do. Both have clamped down hard on dissent and dispensed with or circumvented presidential term limits, paving the way for the potential to rule for life. And both, longing to restore their countries role as great powers, are striving to recover territory that they see as having been lost to the West: Ukraine, in Russias case, and Taiwan, in the case of China. The most striking thing about their statement was its sweeping declarations. It reads like a manifesto calling for the United States to recognize that it is no longer the boss of the world. Two months after Biden presided over a democracy summit, Putin and Xi assailed certain states attempts to impose their own democratic standards on other countries, to monopolize the right to assess the level of compliance with democratic criteria, to draw dividing lines based on the grounds of ideology. The world has changed, they asserted. Russia and China should be respected as world powers that get to dictate what happens in their own backyards. The statement can be read as an attempt to peel Americas allies away, or to make Americans lose the will to fight. The truth is that the world has changed. American democracy doesnt look as shiny as it used to. Many people in around the world are tired of Westerners telling them what to do. And yet the world is not jumping at the chance to be bossed around by the worlds largest surveillance states, either. Its not an exaggeration to say that fate of the world depends on our ability to get the response to this axis of autocracy right. Americans have to stand up for our values and our allies without ending up in a catastrophic war. No matter how testy relations become, we should remember that the biggest threats we face today climate change, the pandemic and nuclear proliferation threaten Russia and China, too. When a major conflict like Ukraine breaks out, journalists always ask themselves: Where should I station myself? Kyiv? Moscow? Munich? Washington? In this case, my answer is none of these. The only place to be for understanding this war is inside Russian President Vladimir Putins head. Putin is the most powerful, unchecked Russian leader since Stalin, and the timing of this war is a product of his ambitions, strategies and grievances. But, with all of that said, America is not entirely innocent of fueling his fires. How so? Putin views Ukraines ambition to leave his sphere of influence as both a strategic loss and a personal and national humiliation. In his speech on Monday, Putin literally said Ukraine has no claim to independence, but is instead an integral part of Russia its people are connected with us by blood, family ties. Which is why Putins onslaught against Ukraines freely elected government feels like the geopolitical equivalent of an honor killing. Putin is basically saying to Ukrainians (more of whom want to join the European Union than NATO): You fell in love with the wrong guy. You will not run off with either NATO or the E.U. And if I have to club your government to death and drag you back home, I will. This is ugly, visceral stuff. Nevertheless, there is a back story here that is relevant. Putins attachment to Ukraine is not just mystical nationalism. In my view, there are two huge logs fueling this fire. The first log was the ill-considered decision by the U.S. in the 1990s to expand NATO after indeed, despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. ALEXEY NIKOLSKY /TNS And the second and far bigger log is how Putin cynically exploited NATOs expansion closer to Russias borders to rally Russians to his side to cover for his huge failure of leadership. Putin has utterly failed to build Russia into an economic model that would actually attract its neighbors, not repel them, and inspire its most talented people to want to stay, not get in line for visas to the West. We need to look at both of these logs. Most Americans paid scant attention to the expansion of NATO in the late 1990s and early 2000s to countries in Eastern and Central Europe like Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, all of which had been part of the former Soviet Union or its sphere of influence. It was no mystery why these nations would want to be part of an alliance that obligated the U.S. to come to their defense in the event of an attack by Russia, the rump successor to the Soviet Union. The mystery was why the U.S. which throughout the Cold War dreamed that Russia might one day have a democratic revolution and a leader who, however haltingly, would try to make Russia into a democracy and join the West would choose to quickly push NATO into Russias face when it was weak. A very small group of officials and policy wonks at that time, myself included, asked that same question, but we were drowned out. The most important, and sole, voice at the top of the Clinton administration asking that question was none other than the defense secretary, Bill Perry. Recalling that moment years later, Perry in 2016 told a conference of the Guardian newspaper: In the last few years, most of the blame can be pointed at the actions that Putin has taken. But in the early years I have to say that the United States deserves much of the blame. Our first action that really set us off in a bad direction was when NATO started to expand, bringing in Eastern European nations, some of them bordering Russia. At that time, we were working closely with Russia and they were beginning to get used to the idea that NATO could be a friend rather than an enemy but they were very uncomfortable about having NATO right up on their border and they made a strong appeal for us not to go ahead with that. On May 2, 1998, immediately after the Senate ratified NATO expansion, I called George Kennan, the architect of Americas successful containment of the Soviet Union. Having joined the State Department in 1926 and served as U.S. ambassador to Moscow in 1952, Kennan was arguably Americas greatest expert on Russia. Though 94 at the time and frail of voice, he was sharp of mind when I asked for his opinion of NATO expansion. I am going to share Kennans whole answer: I think it is the beginning of a new cold war. I think the Russians will gradually react quite adversely and it will affect their policies. I think it is a tragic mistake. There was no reason for this whatsoever. No one was threatening anybody else. This expansion would make the Founding Fathers of this country turn over in their graves. We have signed up to protect a whole series of countries, even though we have neither the resources nor the intention to do so in any serious way. [NATO expansion] was simply a lighthearted action by a Senate that has no real interest in foreign affairs. What bothers me is how superficial and ill informed the whole Senate debate was. I was particularly bothered by the references to Russia as a country dying to attack Western Europe. Dont people understand? Our differences in the Cold War were with the Soviet Communist regime. And now we are turning our backs on the very people who mounted the greatest bloodless revolution in history to remove that Soviet regime. And Russias democracy is as far advanced, if not farther, as any of these countries weve just signed up to defend from Russia. Of course there is going to be a bad reaction from Russia, and then (the NATO expanders) will say that we always told you that is how the Russians are but this is just wrong. Its EXACTLY what has happened. To be sure, post-Cold War Russia evolving into a liberal system the way post-World War II Germany and Japan did was hardly a sure thing. Indeed, given Russias scant experience with democracy, it was a long shot. But some of us then thought it was a long shot worth trying, because even a less-than-democratic Russia if it had been included rather than excluded from a new European security order might have had much less interest or incentive in menacing its neighbors. Countries and leaders usually react to humiliation in one of two ways aggression or introspection. After China experienced what it called a century of humiliation from the West, it responded under Deng Xiaoping by essentially saying: Well show you. Well beat you at your own game. When Putin felt humiliated by the West after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the expansion of NATO, he responded: Ill show you. Ill beat up Ukraine. Yes, its all more complicated than that, but my point is this: This is Putins war. Hes a bad leader for Russia and its neighbors. But America and NATO are not just innocent bystanders in his evolution. As the search for Lina Sardar Khil continues, two months and counting, hold this lost child and her family in your heart. When Lina disappeared Dec. 20, no story, globally or locally, felt more urgent. Now that her fourth birthday has come and gone, no story feels more bottomless. The family is in agony, hoping Lina is still alive. Hope is all we have. Sometimes we are amazed by how people put their hearts to words in news stories and in so doing open themselves up to the world in the most vulnerable and honest ways. So it was with the reflection of Riaz Sardar Khil, Linas father, who called on all of us to honor and remember Lina at a Sunday vigil marking her birthday. RELATED: A piece of my heart Hopes for a better life for Lina Sardar Khil dashed by her disappearance in San Antonio Today is to remember and pray for Lina, Khil said, speaking through translator Iawang Mangal. We have not forgotten her. Today is to (remind) law enforcement officers that now is two months, and we dont have Lina with us. The Islamic Center of San Antonio is now offering $200,000 for any information that leads to Linas discovery. This is in addition to Crime Stoppers $50,000 reward. We know that on Dec. 20 Lina disappeared from a playground at the Villas del Cabo apartment complex, 9400 Fredericksburg Road, where the family has lived. We know police have searched this area on numerous occasions. We know police also have searched in the town of Fredericksburg and that elite divers searched creeks near her home. I feel in my heart she is alive, Khil said. Law enforcement has never found anything that she is alive or dead. That is why I am hoping she is alive, and we will get her back. Hope is all we have. Khil said the community has come together to show unity in our concern for Lina and to remember her. As time marches on, our community cannot lose sight of this case until Lina comes home. San Antonio has another chance to fund road, bridge and drainage projects. The city is preparing for a $1.2 billion bond election, but that money barely puts a dent in the need for infrastructure. Officials have said there are $3.1 billion in drainage projects alone on its to-do list. But theres another pile of money up for grabs. City leaders plan to compete for grants available through the bipartisan infrastructure law signed by President Joe Biden in November. They arent suggesting specific projects yet. But officials expect the process to be straightforward after spending much of last fall gathering input on the citys needs through the 2022 bond and COVID-19 relief budgets. We have a lot of projects potentially in the queue, said City Manager Erik Walsh. Those are the places where we should be going to start to knock things off our list. The federal infrastructure law emerged with bipartisan support last year after Biden separated it from his larger social safety net plan a multi-trillion-dollar bill aimed at helping Americans living in poverty. The infrastructure money will be used to rebuild roads and bridges, improve public transit systems, upgrade airports, invest in broadband infrastructure, modernize the power sector and improve climate resilience. The funding differs from other federal pots of money the city has received lately. San Antonio wont get one set amount to budget on projects of its choice. Instead, the city can apply for various grants in competition with others. San Antonio will still get some funds automatically including $11.7 million planned for the airport. Other transportation funds will be sent to the state and passed down to local governments. Organizations from around the region joined an executive roundtable with the city to make sure government agencies in the metro area are on the same page when applying for the funds rather than competing against each other. The roundtable includes Bexar County, VIA, CPS Energy, the San Antonio Water System, the San Antonio River Authority, Brooks and Port San Antonio, among others. Those officials, who have been meeting every two to three weeks, agree that a $37 million reconstruction of Sidney Brooks Drive on the South Side at Brooksis a good candidate for one such grant. Two other local projects already have been picked for funding. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will put $75 million toward restoring Westside creek habitats. VIA Metropolitan Transit is slated to get $760,000 toward a rapid transit system with dedicated bus lanes. The city also hopes to compete for funds to build a new terminal at San Antonio International Airport proposed in the newly adopted airport master plan. Officials will determine what other grants to apply for by looking at existing initiatives like San Antonios climate change action plan. City leaders want the federal funds to work alongside money from the bond and the annual budget. San Antonio also will have to pick projects that align with the Biden administrations guidelines. Those include priorities like buying American, creating good-paying jobs and coordinating with other governments. Federal money a windfall for San Antonio District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez said San Antonio has grown accustomed to receiving pots of money in recent years to help fill out its budget and take on new projects. That includes federal COVID-19 relief funding from both the CARES Act early on in the pandemic and the American Rescue Plan Act, which is still sending funds to San Antonio. But that wont last forever. This may very well be the last windfall during our time up here on this council, Pelaez said. With that in mind, I think its really important that were pushing as hard as we possibly can to get the last big tranche of federal dollars. District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry echoed that. He sees the new funding opportunities as a way to get out in front of the estimated $6.6 billion in infrastructure needs in San Antonio, nearly half of which are for drainage. Money just keeps falling out of the sky here for San Antonio, Perry said. He wants to see some of the citys worst streets fixed with the money. The federal money also offers a chance for City Council to advocate and take credit for district projects that otherwise may not get a leg up. It could be a legacy opportunity to fight for what they see as big neighborhood and city-wide needs that also count as political wins. District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval made clear shes interested in continuing the millions for broken or nonexistent sidewalks in her district that didnt all get into the proposed bond. District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo wants to go big on drainage infrastructure, neighborhood connectivity and a possible tree-planting campaign. Other council members pointed to the needs theyve made a point to mention in their time at City Hall. District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran said broadband needs to be a priority because the digital divide affects her South Side residents. West Side Councilwoman Teri Castillo, a housing organizer before joining City Council, suggested shes interested in the funds going toward public housing renovations. Representing a part of the airport, District 9 Councilman John Courage said he supports a better bus route to other parts of the city where parking is a hassle. Those all are details the city will work out in the coming months. For now, the Intergovernmental Relations Committee will get monthly updates. The executive roundtable will continue to keep an eye out for updated guidance. Im hopeful with these opportunities that were mindful of what the future of our city looks like, said District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez. megan.stringer@express-news.net *Editors Note: The cost of reconstructing Sidney Brooks Drive has been updated to reflect the correct figure. For decades, the Institute of Texan Cultures has highlighted the diverse cultural heritage of the states residents. Many San Antonians have memories of visiting with classmates or attending festivals there. But the building, constructed for the 1968 Worlds Fair and cut off from the surrounding area by berms, has been hampered by decaying infrastructure, declining attendance, staff layoffs and outdated displays. Now, an Urban Land Institute panel sponsored by the University of Texas at San Antonio suggests moving it to a new spot at Hemisfair and considering the removal of its old digs to create a site for a hospitality school integrated with the urban park. The panel was part of a broader effort focused on the museums future. It was made up of representatives from development, architecture and consulting firms in San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Charlotte, N.C., and Arlington; the Capitol Riverfront BID in Washington, D.C.; and Arizona State University. They met last summer with nearly 50 community members, including staff from the museum and university, and this month released a report with their recommendations. The 182,000-square-foot museum building, which was the Texas Pavilion at the HemisFair 68, is in poor condition and not easily accessible from downtown attractions, such as the nearby Convention Center, they wrote. Massive deferred maintenance needs are causing significant risk, and it could cost more than $50 million to update the building to basic accreditation standards, they added. Without the supporting context of the 1968 amenities, the existing Texas Pavilion is not suitable for and integrated with the Hemisfair grounds, nor is the facility itself safe or suitable for ITCs continued use, they wrote. On ExpressNews.com: UTSAs Institute of Texan Cultures at HemisFair Park is a neglected treasure. Now, community leaders are negotiating to secure its future. The institute and its presentation of history and artifacts also need a refresh. The museum has the potential to be a hub for educational and community activities, drawing a wider range of visitors and featuring more digital and interactive components, they said. Adding retail and food could also generate more revenue. But that should be separate from evaluating the Texas Pavilion building, the authors wrote. Jerry Lara / Staff file photo They zeroed in on two relocation options for the museum the John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse building or a facility near the Tower of the Americas and potentially removing the Texas Pavilion building. UTSA could use the 14.7-acre site to build a hospitality school and hotel, capitalizing on the downtown location and the tourism industrys prominence in San Antonio. This approach maximizes the land value and allows UTSA to create new revenue streams and strengthen community partnerships, they wrote. The ITC can inhabit another building better suited to enhance its reimagined mission. UTSA could also keep the building and renovate it for event space shared with the Convention Center, retail or a grocery store, but rehabilitating it would be expensive, they said. In graphic representations of possible site configurations, they included mixed-use and retail components, a restaurant and food trucks. The panel also suggested that UTSA partner with the city and the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corp., which is charged with revitalizing the Worlds Fair site. Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News What is clear is this opportunity is rare, occurring once in a 50-year horizon, they wrote. It can change the trajectory of the ITC, the city of San Antonio and the region. The panel stressed the importance of rebuilding trust with community members and making them part of the process of reconfiguring the ITC and Texas Pavilion site. The University of Texas System asked developers to submit proposals for the ITC site in 2016 a decision that lacked a robust community engagement and review process and was highly controversial, the authors wrote. The request was later withdrawn, but the damage was done. UTSA announced its ITC Centennial 2068 effort in 2021, and set up a steering committee and task forces focusing on three aspects: the museum, community engagement and support, and facility and land stewardship. It conducted a survey last fall to solicit community input and submitted ideas, which included offering more activities, updating the building, putting more material online, and offering more research opportunities and classes for students and professors. The steering committee will meet over the coming months to review residents feedback and reports from the task forces, UTSA said. Final options are expected to be available for input in May. madison.iszler@express-news.net Afghan disabled people staged a protest in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2022. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Scores of disabled persons staged a protest in Jalalabad, capital of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province on Tuesday, urging the United States to return Afghan assets. The protesters described the freeze of Afghanistan's assets in U.S. banks or giving them as compensation to the families of the 9/11 terrorist attacks victims as "unjust", saying that Washington should return the assets to Afghanistan. The United States, following military defeat and complete withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan in August last year, has frozen nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars assets of Afghanistan's central bank, leading to worsening economic problems and poverty in the war-torn country. U.S. President Joe Biden, reportedly in a decree issued on Feb. 11, allocated 3.5 billion U.S. dollars of the sum to the families of the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and also diverted 3.5 billion more U.S. dollars to the Afghans as humanitarian aid without consent of the Afghan administration run by the Taliban. The disabled union's chief Masoud Safi said in his speech during the protest "No Afghan was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America and therefore allocating Afghanistan's assets to the families of the terror attacks victims is unfair." Afghans, by holding similar protests in different cities over the past week, have demanded the release and return of the assets to Afghanistan. Afghan disabled people staged a protest in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Feb. 22, 2022. (Photo by Hamidullah/Xinhua) Google Streetview / Contributed MERIDEN A man with warrants out for him in various towns was charged last week in connection with a theft of an ATM from a local business last summer, according to police. The arrest stems from an incident on July 4, 2021, at the Dawg House Bar & Grill at 999 Broad St. That day, officers responded to a report of a burglary there where an ATM was stolen, police said. Somewhere in the Middle East, a soldier dressed for battle pauses to examine the bandaged elbow of a young girl, while two older brothers look over her shoulder with obvious interest and concern as the American GI offers first aid. It would be an iconic image that is, if photos of the U.S. military providing humanitarian assistance had not become commonplace during two decades of conflict. And yet, even after military Good Samaritans became ordinary features of otherwise unpopular foreign wars, who could disagree that a combat medic attending to an injured child doesnt reflect the goodness of the United States? According to new polling by RealClear Opinion Research, the answer is very few. Across the ideological spectrum from the left to the right, from Democrats to Republicans, from the most woke to the most MAGA of voters, all seem to agree that the comforting image, more or less, illustrates what is right about America. After that, well, they disagree on just about everything else. The idea that America can be split neatly in half has been cast aside as myopic, and pollsters who still survey divisions in the national landscape as a simple chasm between Democrats on the left and Republicans on the right risk missing a diverse and varied political forest for the partisan trees. Hence the project undertaken in 2018 under the supervision of John Della Volpe, director of polling for RealClear Opinion Research. Rather than the old right-vs-left binary, Della Volpe and his team identified distinct categories that better capture the varied perspectives of U.S. voters. These are the so-called Five Tribes of American Voters: Mainline GOP and their similar but distinct MAGA counterparts; the Institutionalist Democrats and the Woke Democrats; and finally the Democratic-Leaning Multiculturalists. (A thorough definition of each camp can be found here.) Nearly four years later, a span that included both a presidential election and a once-in-a-century pandemic, those divisions have only deepened, explained Jonathan Chavez, chief analytics officer for RealClear Opinion Research, as disruptions to daily lives have caused many to re-examine some of their most closely held values. What Im most struck by from this survey is that divisions are not just partisan, Chavez added. Within both parties, we see fundamental disagreements about America, its history, and its future. For instance, show a voter in the MAGA camp a picture of Donald Trump, and 64% will respond to the image of the former president by saying that he illustrates what is right with America. Only 46% of the Mainline GOP, the tribe that nearly doubled in size since the last survey, responded the same way to that presidential portrait. Both camps on the right share a similar distaste for President Biden, with 84% MAGA and 82% Mainline GOP responding to his likeness negatively. This means that the collective right is more passionately opposed to the current leader of the opposition than they are aligned with the former president. And as Trump waits in the wings for a potential 2024 comeback, the right remains divided on perhaps his greatest accomplishment: the COVID-19 vaccine that was developed in record time. When researchers showed a photo of an older man receiving a vaccine from a clinic, Mainline GOPers thought the image of inoculation reflected what is right with America by a 16-point margin (36% to 20%). Members of the MAGA sect were less convinced with just 32% and 27% responding the same way, a net margin three times less. More than 52 million doses of that vaccine have been administered, the lions share coming during the Biden administration. Unsurprisingly, this and other accomplishments have earned the president the admiration of the Institutionalist Democrats. The majority of that camp (65%) responded to his image by saying he represents what is right with America. That sentiment wanes, however, farther to the left. The Multiculturalist camp was roughly split, with 28% saying Biden represented what is right and 24% saying he is what is wrong with the country. Among the Woke, meanwhile, just 31% said the current president is indicative of what America gets right, while 13% responded that Biden reflected what is wrong. Perhaps the ambivalence isnt unusual, given that Biden was perceived by the collective left as a unity candidate rather than a transformational one. The inverse of the two groups on the right, those three camps are overwhelmingly more opposed to Trump than they are supportive of Biden. The former president represents what is wrong with America according to majorities of Democratic-Leaning Multiculturalists (51%), Institutionalist Democrats (86%), and Woke Democrats (91%). If images of politicians elicit deeply felt attachment and resentment, it is no surprise that cultural images do the same. Here the divide is just as stark though perhaps more startling over the most mundane of images. Show the MAGA and Mainline GOP sects a picture of a little white chapel, and the responses are overwhelmingly positive 77% and 68% say that the church signifies what is right about the country. Smaller majorities of Multicultural and Institutional Democrats, 44% and 50%, report the same. The Woke, however, were inclined to say that church was a negative: 14% report that images of the church reflect what is right with America and 21% what is wrong. A different cultural signifier filled the Woke crowd with optimism: An overwhelming 63% responded to an image of an all-gender restroom sign as an example of progress. Institutional Democrats were slightly more hesitant, though they approved of the gender-neutral facilities by a 16-point margin (38% to 22%). The multi-ethnic camp was evenly split, if not out of step with those other wings of the Democratic party. About a third, 32%, responded positively to inclusive bathrooms, while another 31% replied they were another sign of what was wrong in the country. Already, politicians and their operatives are busy digging through these kinds of surveys ahead of the midterms and the looming presidential election. They will find few areas of overlap, if any, to unite the disparate tribes. Observing behavioural changes in sheep could help farmers with lambing management, according to new research. The Hartpury University study assessed the duration and frequency of behavioural observations of pregnant ewes as they approached lambing. Having a greater understanding of behavioural changes before birth may provide opportunities for enhanced visual monitoring at this critical stage in the animals life, researchers said. The hypothesis of the current study was that there is a change in sheep behaviour before giving birth, and this change can be visually observed. As sheep are often managed in large groups, close inspection of individual animals can be difficult. Developments in animal tracking technologies have helped farmers to manage individuals and to detect ill or injured animals. The insights from this study may assist lambing management, allowing sensors to make more frequent and effective behaviour observations during parturition, as problems and mortality will ultimately affect both animal welfare and farm productivity. The objective of this study was to assess the duration and frequency of behavioural observations of pregnant sheep as they approached lambing. Seventeen sheep were followed in this study, following the normal husbandry procedure of being housed as a group at about 6 weeks prior to lambing to allow for closer monitoring. While the number of sheep used for this study appears small, it is consistent with other animal studies of a similar nature. The behaviours of standing, lying, walking, shuffling and contraction behaviours, were recorded for each animal during both time periods. The study found that sheep spend most of their time either standing or lying during pregnancy. It found that pregnant ewes spend about 10 hours per day lying and 10 hours per day standing, a similar statistic to that of other ruminant animals such as cattle when indoors. This current study found an increased frequency of lying bouts, including contractions, before lambing. Pregnant ewes spent a large proportion of their time either lying or standing, with a higher frequency of standing and shuffling bouts. Ewes that required assistance at lambing had more walking bouts compared to ewes that were unassisted. The study concludes that monitoring behavioural patterns, such as lying and contractions, could indeed be used as an alert to the progress of parturition. Professor Matt Bell, Director of Agriculture at Hartpury University, said: Lambing is a critical time for sheep farmers across the UK and around the world, and large flocks present several challenges when trying to monitor individual animals. "There are surprisingly few studies investigating the duration and frequency of behaviours of pregnant sheep, so I was delighted to be able to support this important research. "The study paves the way for future research as it appears that observing changes in lying bouts and detecting contractions could assist farmers in monitoring parturition and ultimately enhancing sheep husbandry. Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions please enter here to gain access. If you are not already a Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) captured a convict that escaped from Khami Prison on Saturday. Jabson Shone was tracked down and captured by ZPCS special tactics officers along 5th Avenue on Sunday afternoon. ZPCS national spokesperson Chief Superintendent Meya Khanyezi described Shone as a dangerous inmate. We were unsettled when we realised that he was missing. He is a very dangerous man who cannot be interacting with civilians before proper rehabilitation. As ZPCS, we remain dedicated to protecting the public and make sure that inmates dont disturb daily businesses and we will continue to hunt down anyone who thinks they can undermine the law by escaping from prison, said Chief Sup Khanyezi. Shone (41) is serving 52 years in prison for four counts of armed robbery and murder after being convicted by a Beitbridge magistrate in 2019. Our special tactics officers captured the inmate after he was found loitering around the market along 5th Avenue where he was interacting with civilians. He had changed from his uniform into plain clothes as if he was someone going about his business. Let this be a warning to every inmate and those who will become inmates that as ZPCS, we are determined to make sure that all prisoners serve their terms in full and we will not tolerate anyone trying to undermine our job by disturbing our duties, said Chief Sup Khanyezi. Herald Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Alia Bhatt who has worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for her upcoming movie Gangubai Kathiawadi revealed that she wanted to work with the director for a long time. She had also auditioned for Black, at the time when she was just 9 years old. Alia said, My biggest inspiration before I began the film and through my film was my director sitting right here. I have wanted to be directed by him ever since I was 9-years-old. Thats when I first walked into his house to audition for another film he was making at that time. Alia revealed that she had auditioned for Amitabh Bachchan and Rani Mukerji starrer Black. Though her audition didnt go well, the director saw a fire in her eyes. She said, I was terrible, which is why I did not get the part. But he looked at me, and he narrates that story even now, he looked into my eyes and said to himself that she is going to be a heroine, a big actor someday. He saw that fire in my eyes when I was 9 years old. I remember very clearly from that time onwards, my one point focus became one day I had to be directed by him. Gangubai Kathiawadi marks the first-ever collaboration of Alia Bhatt and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The movie is an adaptation of one of the chapters of Hussain Zaidis book, Mafia Queens Of Mumbai. The movie also stars Ajay Devgn, Vijay Raaz and Jim Sarbh. CAMBRIDGE, England, Feb. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FlexEnable, the leader in the development and industrialization of flexible organic electronics, has raised $11M Series B financing. Coretronic, a major Taiwanese LCD backlight module manufacturer, has made a strategic investment alongside significant European family offices. The initial $11M investment includes options for a further $14m and is expected to finance FlexEnable through to mass production ramp up of flexible displays and liquid crystal optical modules at Asian display manufacturing partners. The funds will also be used to scale up the company's organic materials production capacity to meet the growing needs of display manufacturing partners entering volume production. FlexEnable's award-winning organic electronics platform comprises a complete set of manufacturing processes and FlexiOM organic semiconductor materials that, together, unlock the manufacture of glass-free, flexible organic LCD displays (OLCD) and liquid crystal optical films (LC Optics) in existing display fabs. This breakthrough allows almost any surface to display information or steer, modulate and focus light. Ultra-thin, light, flexible and even 3D conformable, OLCD and LC Optics have a US$100Bn addressable market that includes notebooks and tablets, smart home devices, AR/VR headsets, automotive, monitors and TVs. Chuck Milligan, CEO of FlexEnable, said: "Having industry heavyweight Coretronic on board as an investor and partner is further validation of both FlexEnable's business model and our technology leadership in the materials and processes which enable volume production of unique flexible optical modules and displays. As a principal player in the LCD supply chain, Coretronic's deep industry expertise will be a great benefit to us as we now move from production setup to mass production. We are very excited to have strong new investors on board, and very grateful for the on-going support from Rusnano and Novares, who have been instrumental in enabling us to develop our technology and great commercial projects over the past years." FlexEnable's business model uses existing and underutilized display production capacity to manufacture flexible displays and LC optics using its FlexiOM organic semiconductor materials and manufacturing process IP, via technology transfer, licensing and contract manufacturing arrangements with Asian flat-panel display (FPD) production lines. The company already has four active technology transfer programs underway with several leading display manufacturers in Asia, with first volume production ramp starting in second half of 2022. "Our consumer electronics partners and customers continue to demand increased functionality in their products coupled with improved form factors. The FlexEnable technology can enable new functionalities in lighter, thinner and even curved devices, and we look forward to working with the FlexEnable team to bring these new products into volume production," commented Sarah Lin, President of Coretronic. "The next 12 months are very exciting with the first of a series of manufacturing partnerships entering volume production, bringing recurring revenues and rapid revenue scale-up. In addition to manufacturing partnerships, we have significant commercial programs with several of the world's biggest OEM/brands in consumer electronics, where our technology is needed to bring game-changing functionality to the surfaces of future products," added Milligan. About FlexEnable With around 700 patents and more than 1000 engineering years in the development of organic materials and manufacturing processes, FlexEnable is the worldwide leader in organic electronics. We have developed and industrialized a complete low-temperature manufacturing process for small and large-area organic electronics on ultra-thin plastic substrates. FlexEnable also owns the best-in-class, highest-performance organic materials - FlexiOM - making us the only company to offer both organic materials and industrially-proven enabling manufacturing processes. FlexEnable is bringing organic electronics technology to market in a fabless business model. Our processes and solutions have been developed for use on existing flat panel display lines, leveraging existing assets and supply chain. Applications for FlexEnable's technology include flexible displays and flexible active optical films for consumer electronics, AR/VR and automotive applications. FlexEnable supplies FlexiOM materials and transfers and licenses its unique technology platform to display manufacturers. We also work directly with OEM and Tier 1 companies on developing next generation products, from design to prototyping and product qualification all the way to volume production. For more information please visit www.flexenable.com or contact info@flexenable.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1748627/FlexEnable_logo.jpg TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - The Japanese stock market is sharply lower on Tuesday, extending the losses in the previous three sessions, with the benchmark Nikkei index falling below the 26,400 level, following the lack of cues from Wall Street overnight, with traders remaining cautious and continuing to track the rising geopolitical tension between Russia and Ukraine. Traders also remain concerned about the domestic coronavirus cases, though the daily new cases are off their record highs. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Index is losing 537.68 points or 2.00 percent to 26,373.19, after hitting a low of 26,305.28 earlier. Japanese shares closed significantly lower on Monday. Market heavyweight SoftBank Group is losing more than 1 percent and Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing is declining almost 3 percent. Among automakers, Honda and Toyota are losing almost 2 percent each. In the tech space, Advantest and Screen Holdings are losing more than 5 percent each, while Tokyo Electron is down almost 4 percent. In the banking sector, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Mizuho Financial and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial are losing more than 1 percent each. The major exporters are lower. Panasonic is losing almost 2 percent, Mitsubishi Electric is down more than 1 percent, Canon is slipping almost 4 percent and Sony is down more than 2 percent. Among the other major losers, Sharp is plunging almost 8 percent, while Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Sumco and Kikkoman are slipping more than 5 percent each. Nippon Express Holdings and Yokohama Rubber are losing almost 5 percent, while Alps Alpine, AGC, Mitsubishi Motors, Isuzu Motors, Mazda Motor and Nissan Motor are siding more than 4 percent each. Conversely, Daiichi Sankyo is soaring more than 10 percent. In the currency market, the U.S. dollar is trading in the higher 114 yen-range on Tuesday. On Wall Street, the markets were off on Monday for the President's Day holiday and will return to action on Tuesday. The major European markets were mixed in cautious trade on the day The German DAX was up 0.1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 edged up 0.2 percent, while France's CAC 40 index slipped 0.3 percent. Crude oil prices were subdued on Monday as global leaders push for a diplomatic solution to Russia-Ukraine crisis. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for March ended lower by 0.3 percent at $89.98 a barrel. Copyright(c) 2022 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. Miami International Airport APM TOKYO, Feb 22, 2022 - (JCN Newswire) - Crystal Mover Services, Inc. (CMSI), a member of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group based in Miami, Florida, that is engaged in operation and maintenance (O&M) of automated people mover (APM)(Note) systems for U.S. airports, has successfully renewed a contract with the Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) for O&M of the "Skytrain" APM serving the North Terminal (Concourse D) at Miami International Airport (MIA). The contract covers a 5-year period commencing January 2022, with an option extendable up to a further 5 years. This new contract also covers the renewal of signal and other equipment of the APM systems, and for the manufacture and supply of two additional vehicles(4-cars).MHI Group, jointly with Sumitomo Corporation, won the original order to construct the Skytrain, which links four stations over a distance of roughly 1.1km, in 1999. CMSI has provided O&M services since the line went into operation in September 2010, achieving a safe and reliable transportation system with a high operating ratio. Currently ten 2-car trainsets are in operation, and with the newly ordered vehicles the APM's transportation capacity will be enhanced further. Their manufacture will be undertaken at the Mihara Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd. (MHIENG).CMSI was jointly established in January 2009 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc., which oversees MHI's business operations in the U.S., and Sumitomo Corporation. Since its founding CMSI has performed O&M of all APM systems delivered by MHI Group to international airports in Miami, Washington Dulles, Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa. In this way, the Company is making significant contributions to the safe and stable operation of the transportation systems serving these important hubs.Going forward, MHI Group will continue to work closely with its service bases around the world to provide solutions of high added value responding to customer needs, including equipment renewals and provision of new services incorporating digital and AI technologies. Through delivery of the electrically driven APM systems, which are clean transportation systems, the Company will provide solutions that promote economic development around the world and address regional issues including improvement of transportation convenience.APM systems are used worldwide to connect air terminals or function as transportation systems that serve areas near airports.About MHI GroupMitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com.Source: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. On February 18, 2022, Artisan Group announced the launch of its groundbreaking platform, "Integrated Healthcare Initiative: Preventive Medicine, Immunity, and Frailty Prevention," (the "Initiative"). The Initiative was launched via a sub-committee of 'First Wednesday https://fw-globalmanagement-en.com )'. With the aim of creating a community where the more you age, the happier you get, the Initiative will create a framework for sharing innovative ideas to help solve the problems faced by an ageing population. The aim is to enhance solutions currently provided under the national framework. Members of the Initiative will include managers, executives and researchers who are committed and passionate about solving these issues. At the launch, Artisan Group's CEO, Mr. Nobu Kishi, stated: "We are extremely excited by the Initiative, which will no doubt be transformative in improving the lives of many of our loved ones. The first session will be in April 2022 and the focus will be on pre-disease, immunity and frailty prevention. The conversations will be multifaceted, drawing on the collective experience of across several countries and industries. Active seniors are often isolated from their communities when they retire, and this has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a significant problem facing several countries, including Japan, and we need to do more to help those in need." About the Initiative In 2025, the baby-boom generation in Japan will reach the age of 75. As the birthrate declines and the population grows increasingly elderly, there are major concerns surrounding the collapse of Japan's healthcare system and the associated potential decline in quality of life. Extending the healthy life expectancy of the elderly population will prove vital in controlling increasingly rising healthcare costs and sustaining the quality of life of the ageing population. The current approach taken by most countries is reactive, whereby help is only provided to the elderly once they have developed problems. A pre-emptive approach through pre-disease and frailty prevention, preventing elderly people from developing lifestyle-related diseases and becoming vulnerable, would be more cost-effective, Artisan Group argue. Whilst the elderly are becoming more attuned to living healthier lifestyles, many are not aware of specific measures to prevent frailty, and this awareness is required to bring about a wider behavioral change. In addition, where pre-disease and frailty prevention measures have been explored in the past, the research has mainly focused on nutrition and exercise, as opposed to social and psychological aspects. Overseas collaboration between foreign industry and academia is perhaps more advanced than in Japan. This provides Japan with a great opportunity to leverage on insights gained overseas, as a cross-industry, cross-specialty, cross-national and holistic approach is required for the prevention of pre-disease and frailty in active seniors, particularly in Japan. Features of the Initiative: In summary: Key opinion leaders from Japan and overseas in the fields of pre-disease, immunity, and frailty prevention have been invited to participate in the Initiative. This is the first group of its kind in Japan where participants can learn from each other and provide solutions via a global and multifaceted perspective, transcending the traditional boundaries of industry, expertise, and country. The Initiative aims to: Analyze the latest national and international case studies and suggest ways of implementing best practices learnt from such case studies Contribute to the achievement of SDGs and health management goals With the launch of the Initiative, Artisan Group is now accepting applications from health-related companies. Overview of the integrative health care initiatives (pre-disease, immunity and frailty prevention): Website: https://integrated-healthcare.social/ Date of establishment: The first session will be on April 25, 2022. Participating companies: Companies in the healthcare, the food, health food, OTC, medical, medical device, pharmaceutical, nursing care, retail, service, and restaurant industries. Domestic and international research institutions, medical institutions, foundations and media. Operational structure Organizer: Artisan Group Global Advisory members: Dr. Takeo Koizumi, Agronomist, Fermentation expert. Dr. Torkel Falkenberg, CRO of Unify Platform AG https://unify21.com/company/ ), Board Member of Karolinska Institutet (Konsistoriet). Dr. Nigel Clarke, Senior advisor of Unify Platform AG, Chair of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). https://www.youtube.com/embed/dx0rD9mNxnE Schedule: First Session: Date: April 25, 2022 at 5:30pm JST, 4:30pm SGT, 1:30am PDT, 10:30am CEST Theme: Fermentation and Health Speaker: Dr. Takeo Koizumi, Agronomist, Fermentation expert Online: Webinar (ZOOM) Website: https://integrated-healthcare.social/forum0425/ https://www.youtube.com/embed/ugGr5BGbsU0 Second Session: Date: June 10, 2022 at 5:30pm JST, 4:30pm SGT, 1:30am PDT, 10:30am CEST Theme: Frailty Prevention and Community-based care Speaker: Mr. Tetsuo Tsuji, Visiting Researcher of Tokyo Univ. and Former Vice Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan Online: Webinar (ZOOM) Website: https://integrated-healthcare.social/forum-on-10th-june/ Third Session: Date: August 5, 2022 at 5:30pm JST, 4:30pm SGT, 1:30am PDT, 10:30am CEST Theme: Tackling the Challenges of the Ageing Society Speaker: Mr. Nandu Nandkishore Former Global CEO Nestle Nutrition, and EVP and Head of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Nestle S.A, Switzerland Professor of Marketing Strategy (Practice), Indian School of Business Guest lecturer, London Business School Senior Advisor, Boston Consulting Group VC and startup Mentor Online: Webinar (ZOOM) Website: https://integrated-healthcare.social/conference-on-5th-august/ https://www.youtube.com/embed/y0AV6mQiiUg Artisan Group Artisan Group focuses on three areas: (a) regional and urban development; (b) 'First Wednesday,' a members-only forum for leading global company executives http://fw-globalmanagement.com ); and (c) providing general advisory services to Japanese companies expanding overseas. First Wednesday will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year and it has held over 220 seminars. The forum is a members-only club and invites a wide range of speakers, including senior executives from Japan's leading institutions and ambassadors. A First Wednesday sub-committee is adequately placed to launch the Initiative, as dialogues to date have been transformative, where leading business executives from different industries have described their failures, learnings and real experiences. Through such rich dialogue, challenging business and social issues, such as those raised by the Initiative, can be tackled. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220217006033/en/ Contacts: Company name: Artisan Group Representative Director CEO: Mr. Nobuhisa Kishi Contact: info@artisan-group.jp Chinese envoy urges diplomacy to resolve Ukraine issue Xinhua) 13:46, February 22, 2022 Zhang Jun (C, front), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 21, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Monday called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue. "We welcome and encourage every effort for a diplomatic solution, and call on all parties concerned to continue dialogue and consultation, and seek reasonable solutions to address each other's concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect," Zhang told the Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine. "China has been paying close attention to the latest development of the situation in Ukraine. We have fully elaborated on our position at the previous two meetings of the Security Council," said Zhang, noting that all parties concerned must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may fuel tensions. The envoy underlined that the current situation in Ukraine "is a result of many complex factors. China always makes its own position according to the merits of the matter itself. We believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." The meeting was held at the request of Kiev, the United States, five European nations and Mexico. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed two decrees recognizing "the Lugansk People's Republic" and "the Donetsk People's Republic" as independent and sovereign states. Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2022 shows the scene of the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York. China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Monday called on all parties concerned to seek "reasonable solutions" to the Ukraine issue. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) A former United States soldier was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport after he was found with an unregistered gun loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition while intending to travel to Victoria Falls. Ronald Leon Johnson (56) appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with boarding an airplane with a firearm without authority, and unlawful possession of a firearm. He was not asked to plead to the charges and was remanded in custody to today for bail application. It is the States case that on February 5, Johnson, a former soldier in the United States Army, was issued with a 30-day holiday visa. On February 15, Johnson checked at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport intending to board a fastjet aircraft to travel to Victoria Falls. It is said that Johnson had not applied for authority to carry a firearm on board 24 hours prior to his travel, as required by the Civil Aviation (Security) Regulations. The court heard that Patricia Mbodza, a Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe official and Blessing Moyo, a police officer, conducted a physical inspection on Johnson leading to the recovery of a 9mm rubberised Glock17gen pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. Johnson was then arrested and taken to court charged with boarding an airline with a firearm without authority and unlawful passion of a firearm and ammunition. Herald BANGALORE, India, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) - operator of Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR Airport), one of the world's fastest growing airports has signed an agreement with ACES India Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems Company (ACES) for providing Mobile Infrastructure Services, including 5G for 10 years. The agreement aims to provide Mobile Infrastructure Services to create a modern and intelligent environment for passengers, travellers, residents and visitors of BLR Airport, for a period of 10 years. Dr. Akram Aburas, CEO of ACES explained ACES vision to expand further across the region as International Neutral Host Champion. He also confirmed that the agreement stipulates that the company will equip the airport's telecom infrastructure to cover it with the latest modern and intelligent technologies providing mobile services, secure better coverage and improve the user experience by raising mobile internet speeds in the airport and the service areas associated with the project. Thus, forming a synchronous 10-year partnership with BIAL's expansion vision for 'BLR Airport'. Dr. Khalid Al Mashouq, CTO of ACES assured that with the signing of the project, ACES is committed to provide the latest Mobile Telecom network service for the public area and thus supporting social and commercial activities to passengers at BLR Airport all year round. This airport being one of the core elements in the country's infrastructure is considered as one of the most prestigious projects. BIAL Management expressed their pride in partnering with ACES, which aims to equip and develop infrastructure with the latest means of wireless communications. The event was witnessed and attended by ACES India Pvt. Ltd. Director Mr. Mohammed N. Mazher and senior officials from BIAL's ICT, Procurement, Finance, and Legal departments. ACES India Private Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Advanced Communications and Electronics Systems (ACES). ACES is one of the leading international companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, South East Asia and the Middle East in implementing the infrastructure of mega projects. Several important projects have already been implemented, most notably the expansion of the Holy Mosque in Makkah, the Riyadh Metro Public Transport Project and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, as well as several other international projects. https://www.aces-co.com/ Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) began operations in May 2008 and plays a key role in driving the economy of the region - offering connectivity to key destinations in India and across the globe. It is currently the busiest airport in South India and the third in the Country, having welcomed 33.65 million passengers in CY 2019. BLR Airport was recognised as the Best Regional Airport in India & Central Asia at the 2020 Skytrax World Airport Awards, for the fifth time in 11 years. The Airport won the Best Airport Staff in India and Central Asia at the 2021 Skytrax Awards. It's the only Airport in the World to win the ACI-ASQ awards for three consecutive years. www.bengaluruairport.com. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1750331/ACES_BIAL_Logo.jpg - Introducing UNIPLAT Exclusive Page on Group of Nations Publication Platform - YOKOHAMA, Japan, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UNIPLAT, the world's first (*) online platform for researchers and entrepreneurs that has been opened since September 2021, and Group of Nations, the authorized longest-standing publisher of global summits (G7, G20, B20, W20, G20 YEA, and APEC summits), announced a business alliance on February 22 by launching UNIPLAT exclusive page inside Group of Nations' publication platform. The UNIPLAT exclusive page is featured to introduce researchers and entrepreneurs from all over the world not only to universities or companies but also to governments and governmental institutions of the member countries of the global summits. (*) Based on Google search results. Group of Nations' publication platform: https://www.groupofnations.com/ Group of Nations' front page: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106816/202202157380/_prw_PI2fl_m536V3u2.png Preview of UNIPLAT exclusive page inside Group of Nations' publication platform (Image from development site): https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106816/202202157380/_prw_PI1fl_rHRJ1F3E.png The UNIPLAT exclusive page is like a sneak peek of the UNIPLAT website's front page. Visitors can view the thumbnail and the description of content uploaded on UNIPLAT, the monthly researchers ranking, and the companies who are currently participating on UNIPLAT. With an average of 4 million page views from 64 countries per summit report published on Group of Nations' publication platform, the UNIPLAT exclusive page will be able to openly exhibit many possibly underexposed research and studies to the world. "We have always had the vision to showcase our work and help educate and support entrepreneurs, the business community, and government leaders from around the world. In our pursuit of continued excellence, we are incredibly excited to have teamed up with an organization with the same goals, values, and vision that Group of Nations has. As the world's first (*) online platform for researchers and entrepreneurs, UNIPLAT is a game-changer and is the ideal platform for Group of Nations to continue to gain further exposure. Therefore, we are delighted to have decided to form a business alliance with them. We believe that the collaboration between Group of Nations and UNIPLAT will enable our clients, many of which are major corporations and governments, to support many entrepreneurs and researchers around the world and help them realize their dreams," said Christopher Atkins, the founder and CEO of Group of Nations. (*) Based on Google search results. "We are deeply grateful to Group of Nations for this great business alliance. With this alliance, we strongly believe that we could create great value to provide a fair place and ecosystem where entrepreneurs and researchers can play an active role on a worldwide scale. The partnership between UNIPLAT and Group of Nations is about the living embodiment of SDGs which not only support them but also save the world from various crises like climate change and the pandemic of COVID-19. Thanks to Group of Nations' support, we look forward to building a more effective ecosystem as an unprecedented challenge in the world," said Takahisa Karita, the co-founder, CFO, and COO of Unify Platform AG, the management company of UNIPLAT. About UNIPLAT Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106816/202202157380/_prw_PI3fl_4IEZU22s.jpg UNIPLAT is the world's first (*) online platform specialized for researchers and entrepreneurs from all over the world to share their ideas and research projects and gain support from individuals or institutions. Developed and managed by Unify Platform AG (https://unify21.com/) which is based in Switzerland, UNIPLAT's mission is to accelerate the success of the SDGs. (*) Based on Google search results. UNIPLAT front page: https://www.uniplat.social/ About Group of Nations Logo: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/M106816/202202157380/_prw_PI4fl_6R35Rj2E.jpg Group of Nations, which has 26 years of experience working with the G7, G20, B20, and APEC global summits, deals with macro information on the global trends of governments and large corporations. As the longest-standing publication partner of the above-mentioned summits, Group of Nations has built an unparalleled reputation for producing and distributing both printed and digital publications and events that bridge the gap between government policy and the global business community. Group of Nations' introduction page: https://www.groupofnations.com/about The publicly listed B Corp is driving global expansion with raft of acquisitions in Europe and US LONDON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global digital transformation consultancy Kin + Carta has agreed to acquire Bulgarian software development company Melon Group and its subsidiaries, including Melon Technologies and Frakton LLC . The purchase comes shortly after Kin + Carta purchased the remaining 50% interest in Loop , the Chicago-based e-commerce consultancy. The acquisitions bolster Kin + Carta's pure-play digital transformation capabilities, while expanding the service capabilities and geographic reach of the publicly listed B Corp's purpose-driven global growth strategy. Melon Group is a fast-growing software engineering business with a 300-strong team of web, mobile, and data specialists working across Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Kosovo. Its sector experience includes medtech, fintech, banking, and human resources. It is headquartered in Sofia and led by chief executive Krum Hadzhigeorgiev. This pan-european expansion is part of Kin + Carta's expansion in South Eastern Europe and complements Kin + Carta Greece, as the company looks to build a new European delivery hub. The acquisition is subject to clearances from the North Macedonian and Kosovan competition authorities and will complete following these clearances, expected to be in the second quarter of 2022. Kin + Carta has also purchased the remaining 50% interest in Loop, the Chicago-based e-commerce consultancy. Full ownership of Loop strengthens Kin + Carta's digital commerce capabilities. Loop has delivered end-to-end commerce consultancy, integration and optimisation since 2013 in increasingly tight alignment with Kin + Carta's core technology, data, and experience services. This shared approach accelerates efficiency and speed to value for enterprise clients including Southwire and Royal Caribbean. J Schwan, Kin + Carta CEO, said: "The acquisitions of Melon Group and Loop mark a significant move in our ambition to scale globally and accelerate our growth. Identifying, acquiring and integrating brilliant new businesses into Kin + Carta broadens our reach and creates opportunities to learn from experts in their craft. In addition, expanding our nearshore production capabilities allow us to serve more clients, creating new jobs both onshore and nearshore. "Significantly, Melon's culture aligns with our own mission to build a world that works better for everyone, as we champion responsible business as a core tenant of our strategy." Krum Hadzhigeorgiev, Melon CEO, added: "Joining the Kin + Carta family enables us to make the most of the significant surge in demand for digital transformation as a result of the pandemic. It's an exciting time for our sector, a time of growth. We're excited to be part of a global business, one that is as committed as we are to building a world that works better - for everyone." Kin + Carta also recently announced the intellectual property acquisition of Octain, a responsible AI data platform. Octain provides advanced insight, predictions, and recommendations to clients governed by socially responsible AI principles. Octain will integrate into Kin + Carta's existing data and AI capabilities, which includes the December 2020 acquisition of Portland-based data science company Cascade Data Labs. Both purchases give Kin + Carta the ability to quickly and accurately predict supply chain shortages, detect fraud, measure customer retention, and accelerate data-driven decision making. The raft of acquisitions follow the divestments of CRM specialist Edit, and research and insights agency Incite. For further information, please contact: Tom Ingoldby E: tom@velvetpr.biz T: +44 (0) 7825 814 634 About Kin + Carta Kin + Carta is a global digital transformation consultancy committed to working alongside our clients to build a world that works better for everyone. Our 1,700 stategists, engineers, and creatives around the world bring the connective power of technology, data, and experience to the world's most influential companies, helping them to accelerate their digital roadmap, rapidly innovate, modernise their systems, enable their teams, and optimise for continued growth. As a Certified B Corp, our triple bottom line focus on people, the planet, and profit is at the core of everything we do. For more information, please visit www.kinandcarta.com. Paris, 22 February 2022, 8:30 am PRESS RELEASE Divestment of Aubert & Duval: Eramet signs a MoU with Airbus, Safran andTikehau ACE Capital M ajor step in Eramet's refocus on its Mining and Metal activities New perspectives for Aubert & Duval and its employees, as they join leadingplayers in the aerospace industry Eramet has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the sale of Aubert & Duval (A&D) to a consortium formed by Airbus, Safran and Tikehau Ace Capital. A&D is one of the world's leading producers of high-performance steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminum and a strategic supplier for the aerospace industry. The acquisition by the consortium would provide the necessary support for the development of the company. This transaction, expected to be completed before the end of 2022, is fully aligned with Eramet's strategic roadmap, which aims to refocus on its upstream activities and develop in metals for the energy transition. Under the terms of the transaction, A&D's divestment would be based on an enterprise value of 95m alongside with a set of specific guarantees in addition to the usual guarantees. The accounting impact is estimated to -340m1, and will be recognized in the result for the year 2021. It will have no impact on the Group's net debt at 31 December 2021. In the context of this operation, a golden share was set up by the French State within Eramet2 with the scope of certain strategic assets held by A&D. This golden share will be replaced by a similar one within A&D, upon completion of the transaction. The operation is subject to consultation with employee representative bodies and all necessary regulatory approvals. Christel Bories, Eramet group Chair and CEO, declared: "The announcement of this agreement is a very good news. Once finalized, it willenable Aubert & Duval, a strategic player in the sector, to join forces with leading aerospace players. I am confident in Aubert & Duval'sabilityto develop in a sustainable manner, in the interests of its employees and its clients. With this divestment project, Eramet is taking a major step forward in its strategic transformation and is about to write a new chapter of its history with the ambition of becoming a reference for responsible transformation of the Earth's mineral resources, for living well together." Calendar 23.02.2022: Publication of 2021 Group annual results 28.04.2022: Publication of 2022 Group first-quarter turnover ABOUT ERAMET Eramet transforms the Earth's mineral resources to provide sustainable and responsible solutions to the growth of the industry and to the challenges of the energy transition. Its 13,000 employees are committed to this through their civic and contributory approach in all the countries where the mining and metallurgical group is present. Manganese, nickel, mineral sands, lithium, and cobalt: Eramet recovers and develops metals that are essential to the construction of a more sustainable world. As a privileged partner of its industrial clients, the Group contributes to making robust and resistant infrastructures and constructions, more efficient means of mobility, safer health tools and more efficient telecommunications devices. Fully committed to the era of metals, Eramet's ambition is to become a reference for the responsible transformation of the Earth's mineral resources for living well together. www . eramet .com ABOUT AUBERT & DUVAL A subsidiary of the Eramet group, Aubert & Duval is a world leader in high-performance steels, superalloys, titanium and aluminum. Aubert & Duval designs and develops advanced metallurgical solutions in the form of long products and parts for the most demanding sectors: aerospace, defense, energy, motorsports and medical industries. www.aubertduval.com INVESTOR CONTACT Directorof Investor Relations Sandrine Nourry-Dabi T. +33 1 45 38 37 02 sandrine.nourrydabi@eramet.com (mailto:sandrine.nourrydabi@eramet.com) PRESS CONTACT CommunicationDirector Pauline Briand T. +33 6 11 85 20 57 pauline.briand@eramet.com (mailto:pauline.briand@eramet.com) Image 7 Marie Artzner T. +33 1 53 70 74 31 | M. +33 6 75 74 31 73 martzner@image7.fr (mailto:martzner@image7.fr) 1 Subject to closing adjustments 2 By decree dated February 20, 2022, in application of the provisions of the ordinance of August 20, 2014, as amended by the act of May 22, 2019. Attachment Aqara, a leading provider of smart home products, announced the launch of the Aqara Amazon.de brand store, starting from February 22, 2022. Following the brand's first two European Amazon brand stores, which were introduced in the UK and France in 2021, the launch of its Amazon.de store is expected to make a comprehensive suite of Aqara products more easily accessible for smart home users in Germany and other European countries that are covered in the Amazon network. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005544/en/ Aqara Brand Store Debuts on Amazon Germany (Graphic: Business Wire) Aqara has been selling in Germany via many local retailers and the Apple Online Store, and becomes increasingly popular among smart home users for the high product quality, the accessible prices and the seamless integration with major ecosystems including HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home. Committed to provide premium connected home experiences, Aqara also announced support to the new IoT protocols, Matter and Thread. Following the UK, France and Germany, the brand continues to expand its European presence, and plans to add brand stores on Amazon Italy and Amazon Spain later this year. The product lineup of the Aqara Amazon.de store include: Camera Hub G3 Aqara's flagship pan-and-tilt home security camera with AI-enabled facial and gesture recognition, built-in Zigbee hub function, as well as wide third-party ecosystem support (HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home); Camera Hub G2H An indoor HomeKit Secure Video camera for home security, with the Zigbee hub function to enhance home security and smart home automations; Hub M2 The versatile and future-proof smart home hub that connects all Aqara devices and allows seamless integration across Aqara sensors and home automation devices; Hub M1S The wireless control center of Aqara accessories enabling home automation, local alarm, and remote control of smart devices, while it can also be used as a night light, siren, or doorbell; Hub E1 Aqara's smallest smart home hub with a UBS-A port and adjustable shaft, allowing it to be flexibly placed and charged by USB devices such as PCs, power strips and outlets; Door Window Sensor It detects if a window or a door is open in real time, and enables push notifications or/and local siren when the door/window opens unexpectedly; Temperature Humidity Sensor It monitors temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure in real time, and can connect with other Aqara devices for home automations and scenes; Motion Sensor It detects human movements with passive infrared and can work with other Aqara products to set home automations and scenes; Water Leak Sensor It detects flood, and enables push notifications or/and local alarm activation to protect the property; Vibration Sensor It detects vibration, tilt and drop, alerts users when unexpected movement is detected, and can be used for home automations and scenes; TVOC Air Quality Monitor It detects the level of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in the air, as well as temperature and humidity, and can be used to enable push notifications, local siren, and home automations; Smart Wall Switch H1 EU Aqara's first wall switch designed for Europe, supporting both round European wall boxes and 86 mm square wall boxes and available in both With Neutral and No Neutral versions; Smart Plug EU It automates ordinary home appliances, and enables the remote control and timer switch of lights, fans, and other appliances. Roller Shade Driver E1 A retrofit roller shade controller to automate regular beaded-cord roller blinds, allowing users to set the shades by mobile control, voice command, preset schedule or via home automations; Wireless Switch H1 A remote switch with 7 configurable actions to control smart home devices or home scenes; Wireless Mini Switch A versatile and compact switch with 3 configurable actions to control smart home devices or home scenes; Cube A versatile controlling cube that recognizes 6 gestures (push, shake, rotate, tap twice, flip 90, and flip 180) for smart home control. To celebrate the launch, Aqara now offers a limited-time offer of 10% OFF for purchases on its Amazon.de store with the promo code: DEGENERAL*. The offering is valid through February 24, 2022. * The promo code applies to Amazon.de purchases made via the seller Aqara Official DE. Offer excludes G2H Camera Hub, Door Window Sensor and Vibration Sensor. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005544/en/ Contacts: Michell Li E-mail: media@aqara.com Mobile: 86-18501199430 - Financing with equal contribution by an international investor syndicate comprising of Andera Partners, Fund+, Hadean Ventures, Inkef Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures - Funds will accelerate development of first-in-class targeted thrombolytic treatment into clinical development UTRECHT, Netherlands, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TargED Biopharmaceuticals ("TargED"), a private biotechnology company focused on developing improved treatments for thrombotic diseases, today announces it has raised Series A financing of EUR 39 million to accelerate development of its lead compound, Microlyse. The financing was led with equal contribution by an international syndicate comprising Andera Partners, Fund+, Hadean Ventures, Inkef Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures, and joined by existing investors FIRST (Managed by BioGeneration Ventures), Curie Capital and Utrecht Health Seed Fund. TargED will focus development on two initial indications: acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (aTTP) and Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). TargED's lead product, Microlyse, is a first-in-class proprietary clot-busting compound which binds to a protein present in all forms of thrombosis. Microlyse is the first compound to achieve targeted enzyme delivery, using a single domain antibody (VhH), directly to blood clots. Due to the targeted nature of the therapy, it is expected to lead to a superior side effect profile alongside the potential for exceptional potency compared to current agents. Microlyse's unique mechanism of action allows for potential applications in a variety of indications involving thrombosis, including the life-threatening disease aTTP. The ground-breaking work demonstrating that Microlyse specifically targets blood clots leading to their desolution faster and safer compared to standard of care recently featured on the cover of the journal Blood (Microlyse: a thrombolytic agent that targets VWF for clearance of microvascular thrombosis). Kristof Vercruysse, Chief Executive Officer of TargED, said: "We are delighted to have the support of this international syndicate of world class life science investors, a validation of the potential of Microlyse. We are proud to be developing products that have the potential to positively impact millions of lives by enabling patient access to such lifesaving treatment." Following the closing of the financing the Board of TargED will include: Thijs Cohen Tervaert, Inkef Capital (Chair), Olivier Litzka, Andera Partners, Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, Curie Capital, Jan Van den Bossche, Fund+, Roger Franklin, Hadean Ventures and Jacob Lange Moresco, Sunstone Life Science Ventures. Thijs Cohen Tervaert, Chair of the Board of Directors, commented: "Together with Jacob, Roger, Jan and Olivier, we are very pleased to invest in this impressive TargED team. Microlyse is a therapeutic innovation that has a very strong potential to significantly lower the burden of disease related to thrombotic events. We are excited to join forces with TargED to accelerate the development of Microlyse into clinical development, both in aTTP and AIS." "We are happy that our pioneering efforts on the design of an enzyme that targets blood clots led to compelling preclinical data recently published in the journal Blood" said UMC Utrecht Associate Professor Coen Maas and scientific co-founder of TargED. "It is exciting to see that this work has been able to attract such a strong syndicate of investors, which will now allow us to develop Microlyse towards therapeutic breakthrough, potentially across a range of indications with high unmet medical need". Mariette van der Velden, Managing Partner of Curie Capital, commented on behalf of seed investors FIRST and Utrecht Health Seed Fund: "Microlyse has the potential to better address the needs of patients suffering from thrombotic diseases. With a tremendous drive, the TargED team has produced very promising preclinical results supported by our seed funding. We are excited to enter the next phase of the development of Microlyse towards patients worldwide." About TargED TargED Biopharmaceuticals B.V. is a biotechnology company that develops first-in-class biological drugs to improve treatment of thrombosis. TargED stands for Targeted Enzyme Delivery. Their biological drugs are unique by using small antibodies ("VhH") to deliver enzymes to sites of thrombosis, enabling 'targeted' thrombolysis. The lead compound is Microlyse, which is currently under development for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). The objective is to accelerate thrombolysis in all forms of thrombosis, irrespective of the thrombus composition. TargED, a spin-off of the University Medical Center Utrecht, was founded in July 2020 by Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Coen Maas, PhD, an expert in thrombosis and hemostasis, Steven de Maat, PhD, an expert in recombinant protein development and optimization, Marc van Moorsel, researcher with focus on Acute Ischemic Stroke and Kristof Vercruysse, with more than 20 years of experience in bringing biopharmaceutical compounds from pre-clinical proof of concept to market, most notably, Caplacizumab for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura at Ablynx between 2007 and 2013. For more information please visit www.targedbiopharmaceuticals.com www.linkedin.com/company/targedbiopharmaceuticals/ About Andera Partners Created in 2001, Andera Partners is a major player in private company investments in France and internationally. Its teams manage 3.2 billion in investments in life sciences (Andera Life Sciences), growth and buyout capital (Andera MidCap, Andera Expansion and Andera Croissance), sponsorless transactions (Andera Acto) and ecological transition (Andera Infra). Based in Paris, with offices in Antwerp and Munich, Andera Partners is wholly owned by its teams, which comprise more than 80 professionals, of which some 50 are investment professionals. It is structured as a partnership and managed by a board of ten partners. Responsible and committed, the management company regularly forms partnerships with non-profit sector entities and takes concrete action in the fight against global warming. Andera Partners has been certified carbon neutral since 2018. Andera's 15-person life sciences team brings together extensive experience in the life sciences industry, private equity and venture capital. Active since 2000, the team has raised 1.3 billion through its BioDiscovery family of funds and is currently investing from its new BioDiscovery 6 fund. Since inception, the BioDiscovery funds have invested in more than 80 European and US biotech and medtech companies, and generated over 20 IPOs and over 20 trade sales. For more information, please visit: www.anderapartners.com About Fund+ Fund+ is a Belgian venture capital firm that invests in innovative European Life Sciences companies developing drugs, medical devices and diagnostics, with a strong focus on patient-centric approaches and major unmet medical needs. With over 200M in assets under management, Fund+ has built a strong track record since 2015, investing in 16 portfolio companies with two major exits. The fund is managed by a specialist team of seasoned life sciences professionals with healthcare industry, corporate finance and strategy consulting experience, supporting companies throughout their growth cycle. The company aims to maintain a leading position in the Life Sciences sector, creating sustainable value for its shareholders and a tangible impact on society. For more information, please visit: www.fundplus.be About Inkef Capital Inkef Capital is a leading venture capital firm based in Amsterdam with a proven history of backing promising early-stage companies in Europe. Inkef takes pride in being a patient, long-term investor with the ability to support companies through several funding rounds all the way up to IPO. From the early stages of being a technology or life science venture, Inkef supports entrepreneurs building their ideas into successful international businesses. Inkef's investments include Onward Medical, Castor, iOnctura, Cardior and GitLab, Remote among others. For more information, please visit: www.inkef.com About Hadean Ventures Hadean Ventures is a European life science venture capital fund manager with c. 200m assets under management across two funds. Hadean Ventures has offices in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, as well as presence in Germany, Austria and the UK. Hadean invests across all healthcare verticals and stages with a focus on de-risked preclinical and clinical assets that address clear unmet medical needs. Our interest spans across pharmaceuticals & biotech, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health - we have the flexibility to invest in great ideas no matter what vertical. The Hadean team currently consists of 10 investment professionals with deep scientific, medical and business knowledge. We can add value and offer expert guidance throughout a company's development, whether early or late-stage. Our presence in Europe, and specifically the Nordics and German speaking Europe, enables Hadean to find the best opportunities at the source of innovation in regions that regularly produce world-class science, yet historically have been under-ventured. For more information, please visit: www.hadeanventures.com About Sunstone Life Science Ventures Sunstone Life Science Ventures is an independent European venture capital investment firm founded in 2007 by an international team of industry experts with combined entrepreneurial, operational and financial experience. Managing total funds of 500 million, Sunstone Life Science Ventures focuses on developing and expanding early-stage Life Science companies with strong potential to achieve global success in their markets. Since the inception, Sunstone Life Science Ventures has invested in more than 50 companies in the areas of pharmaceuticals, medical technologies and diagnostics, and has completed more than 20 successful IPOs and large M&A transactions. For more information, please visit: https://sunstone.eu/ Scottish Enterprise invests alongside Eos as Europe's first oncology biotech creation company plans further scale CEO and co-founder Clare Wareing: "With the support of our cornerstone investors, we will accelerate our business model to identify and develop new oncology treatments that target the unmet medical needs of specific cancer patient populations" Former GlaxoSmithKline veteran Dr Russell Greig joins Cumulus as Chairman Cumulus Oncology, Europe's first oncology biotech creation company, has secured a 4.1 million ($5.6 million) investment led by St Andrews-based investment firm Eos Advisory. Scottish Enterprise invested alongside Eos as Cumulus plans further scale, while an additional 1.5 million ($2 million) will follow in the coming months. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005245/en/ Left to right are Dr Diane Seimetz (Cumulus), Clare Doris (Cumulus), Mark Beaumont (Eos), Clare Wareing (Cumulus), Andrew McNeill (Eos), Nicola Broughton (Cumulus), and Dr Sally Waterman (Cumulus) (Photo: Business Wire) Cumulus was founded in 2017 to identify novel oncology assets to de-risk and add value to, before creating spin-out companies to commercialise novel cancer therapies. After founding Nodus Oncology in April 2020 to conduct research into DNA damage response (DDR), Cumulus formed Modulus Oncology in September 2020 alongside the University of Sheffield. CEO and co-founder Clare Wareing said: "With the support of our cornerstone investors, we will accelerate our business model to identify and develop new oncology treatments that target the unmet medical needs of specific cancer patient populations." Andrew McNeill, Managing Partner, Eos Advisory, said: "Clare and her team have made tremendous progress over the last few years, are at the forefront of their field in the European context, and we are pleased to continue our support of the business as Cumulus enters its next phase of growth." Kerry Sharp, Director of Growth Investments at Scottish Enterprise, said: "It's fantastic to see the progress Cumulus Oncology is making in the field of cancer therapies. With Scottish Enterprise investment, which focuses on early stage high growth potential companies, this company can continue to develop its ambitious plans." Cumulus is also announcing that Dr Russell Greig will be joining the board as Chairman. Greig, a GlobalScot, spent much of his career working on both the drug development and investment sides of the business at GlaxoSmithKline, where he held a number of positions including President, International Pharmaceuticals, and Senior Vice President, Worldwide Business Development. More recently, he has held board roles for a series of biotechs and has advised life science VCs and biotechnology companies in the USA, Europe, and Asia via his Philadelphia-based Greig Biotechnology Global Consulting business. Dr Russell Greig, Chairman, Cumulus Oncology, said: "Cumulus has established a unique position in Europe, and is set to make an impact further afield in other regions including North America. I look forward to helping to guide Clare and her expert team around strategic focus over the months and years ahead." About Eos Advisory Scottish investment firm Eos invests in four key impact areas: disease diagnosis, prevention and treatment; energy security, climate change and pollution; food and water security, and; sustainability of industrial processes and infrastructure. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005245/en/ Contacts: Nick Freer +44 (0)7841 571 871 nick@freerconsultancy.com DGAP-News: Andera Partners / Key word(s): Financing Andera Partners supports TargED Biopharmaceuticals in 39 million Series A financing to bring groundbreaking thrombolytic treatment to patients 22.02.2022 / 09:30 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PRESS RELEASE Andera Partners supports TargED Biopharmaceuticals in 39 million Series A financing to bring groundbreaking thrombolytic treatment to patients Financing by an international investor syndicate with equal contributions from Andera Partners, Fund+, Hadean Ventures, Inkef Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures Funds will accelerate development of first-in-class targeted thrombolytic treatment into clinical development Paris, 22nd February 2022 - TargED Biopharmaceuticals ("TargED"), a private biotechnology company focused on developing improved treatments for thrombotic diseases, today announces it has raised Series A financing of EUR 39 million to accelerate development of its lead compound, Microlyse. The financing was led by an international syndicate with equal contributions from Andera Partners, Fund+, Hadean Ventures, Inkef Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures, and joined by existing investors FIRST (Managed by BioGeneration Ventures), Curie Capital and Utrecht Health Seed Fund. TargED will focus development on two initial indications: acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura (aTTP) and Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). TargED's lead product, Microlyse, is a first-in-class proprietary clot-busting compound which binds to a protein present in all forms of thrombosis. Microlyse is the first compound to achieve targeted enzyme delivery, using a single domain antibody (VhH), directly to blood clots. Due to the targeted nature of the therapy, it is expected to lead to a superior side effect profile alongside the potential for exceptional potency compared to current agents. Microlyse's unique mechanism of action allows for potential applications in a variety of indications involving thrombosis, including the life-threatening disease aTTP. The groundbreaking work demonstrating that Microlyse specifically targets blood clots leading to their dissolution faster and safer compared to standard of care recently featured on the cover of the journal Blood (Microlyse: a thrombolytic agent that targets VWF for clearance of microvascular thrombosis). Kristof Vercruysse, Chief Executive Officer of TargED, said: "We are delighted to have the support of this international syndicate of world class life science investors, a validation of the potential of Microlyse. We are proud to be developing products that have the potential to positively impact millions of lives by enabling patient access to such lifesaving treatment." Following the closing of the financing the Board of TargED will include: Thijs Cohen Tervaert, Inkef Capital (Chair), Olivier Litzka, Andera Partners, Mariette van der Velden-Roesink, Curie Capital, Jan Van den Bossche, Fund+, Roger Franklin, Hadean Ventures and Jacob Lange Moresco, Sunstone Life Science Ventures. Olivier Litzka, Partner at Andera Partners commented: "Together with Jacob, Roger, Jan et Thijs, we are very pleased to invest in this impressive TargED team. Microlyse is a therapeutic innovation that has a very strong potential to significantly lower the burden of disease related to thrombotic events. We are excited to join forces with TargED to accelerate the development of Microlyse into clinical development, both in aTTP and AIS." "We are happy that our pioneering efforts on the design of an enzyme that targets blood clots led to compelling preclinical data recently published in the journal Blood" said UMC Utrecht Associate Professor Coen Maas and scientific co-founder of TargED. "It is exciting to see that this work has been able to attract such a strong syndicate of investors, which will now allow us to develop Microlyse towards therapeutic breakthrough, potentially across a range of indications with high unmet medical need". About Andera Partners Created over 20 years ago, Andera Partners is a major player in private company investments in France and internationally. Its teams manage over 3.2 billion in investments in life sciences (Andera Life Sciences), growth and buyout capital (Andera MidCap, Andera Expansion and Andera Croissance), sponsorless transactions (Andera Acto) and ecological transition (Andera Infra). Andera Partners' mission is to work alongside companies and their managers to support them in achieving strong and sustainable growth. The quality of performance offered to our investors relies on a strong partnership between the entrepreneurs in our portfolio companies and our teams, based on shared values. Performance through collective engagement, the "Power of And", constitutes Andera Partners' DNA. Based in Paris, with offices in Antwerp and Munich, Andera Partners is wholly owned by its teams, which count nearly 85 professionals, of which 54 investment professionals. It is structured as a partnership and managed by a board of 10 partners. Responsible and committed, the management company regularly forms partnerships with non-profit sector entities and takes concrete action in the fight against global warming. Andera Partners has been certified carbon neutral since 2018. About TargED TargED Biopharmaceuticals B.V. is a biotechnology company that develops first-in-class biological drugs to improve treatment of thrombosis. TargED stands for Targeted Enzyme Delivery. Their biological drugs are unique by using small antibodies ("VHH") to deliver enzymes to sites of thrombosis, enabling 'targeted' thrombolysis. The lead compound is Microlyse, which is currently under development for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). The objective is to accelerate thrombolysis in all forms of thrombosis, irrespective of the thrombus composition. TargED, a spin-off of the University Medical Center Utrecht, was founded in July 2020 by Associate Professor at the Department of Clinical Chemistry and Haematology, Coen Maas, PhD, an expert in thrombosis and hemostasis, Steven de Maat, PhD, an expert in recombinant protein development and optimization, Marc van Moorsel, researcher with focus on Acute Ischemic Stroke and Kristof Vercruysse, with more than 20 years of experience in bringing biopharmaceutical compounds from pre-clinical proof of concept to market, most notably, Caplacizumab for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura at Ablynx between 2007 and 2013. For more information, please visit www.targedbiopharmaceuticals.com or our LinkedIn page. Press Contact Nicolas DELSERT - Andera Partners - n.delsert@anderapartners.com - +33 6 70 91 25 23 Marie-Charlotte POTET - Bien Commun Advisory - mc.potet@bcadvisory.fr - +33 6 76 14 02 02 Raimund GABRIEL - MC Services AG - andera@mc-services.eu - +49 89 210 228 0 22.02.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The euro was lower against its major trading partners in the Asian session on Tuesday, as geopolitical tensions intensified after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine as independent. Putin signed a decree recognizing the independence of two breakaway regions, defying warnings from the West. Russia ordered a deployment of troops to these regions to 'keep the peace.' Washington and European nations condemned the move and the U.S. is set to impose new sanctions against Russia. The White House said that new sanctions include prohibiting 'new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in' the two breakaway regions. The euro depreciated to 1.1288 against the greenback, its lowest level since February 14. The euro is seen finding support around the 1.10 region. The euro weakened to nearly a 3-week low of 129.35 against the yen and held steady thereafter. Next near term support for the euro is likely seen around the 127.5 level. The European currency fell to its lowest level in a month against the franc, at 1.0342. The currency is likely to target support around the 1.02 level. The euro remained lower against the pound, after touching a session's low of 0.8310 at 5 pm ET. On the downside, 0.82 is likely seen as its next support level. The euro dropped to near a 5-week low of 1.5679 against the aussie and a fresh 4-week low of 1.6827 against the kiwi, from yesterday's closing values of 1.5719 and 1.6866, respectively. Next key support for the euro is seen around 1.54 against the aussie and 1.66 against the kiwi. The euro touched a 4-day low of 1.4406 against the loonie, down from Monday's close of 1.4413. If the euro slides further, it may find support around the 1.42 level. Looking ahead, German Ifo business sentiment index for February is due in the European session. U.S. consumer confidence index for February, FHFA's house price index and S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for December will be out in the New York session. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de EQT Infrastructure has agreed to acquire InstaVolt, the UK's fastest-growing independent rapid electric vehicle charging operator, from Zouk Capital InstaVolt operates rapid charging infrastructure through its nationwide network of approximately 700 charge points EQT Infrastructure is committed to invest significantly in InstaVolt's accelerated roll-out of charge points to reach a nationwide network of 10,000 rapid electric vehicle chargers by 2032 STOCKHOLM, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EQT is pleased to announce that the EQT Infrastructure V fund ("EQT Infrastructure") has agreed to acquire InstaVolt Limited ("InstaVolt" or the "Company") from Zouk Capital. Headquartered in Basingstoke, UK, InstaVolt is an operator and owner of electric vehicle (EV) charge points with a nationwide network across the UK. The Company was founded in 2016 and is built on a strong vision to enable the UK's journey to net zero through mass adoption of EVs. As a third of British households lack access to off-street charging, many rely on public charging stations. InstaVolt's mission-critical nationwide network of reliable charge points offers secure charging for EV owners to depend on. With EV sales in 2021 totalling more than the five previous years combined, and the UK banning the sale of petrol and diesel cars from 2030, the future is clearly electric. InstaVolt's charge points are most often situated at retail, food, beverage and forecourt sites, offering a convenient service for the end-user who can combine their charge with other day-to-day activities. Current partners include McDonald's, Costa Coffee and Booths, among others. By providing a reliable, easy-to-use and easily accessible service to its customers, InstaVolt has been rated the most popular open network by EV drivers consecutively for the last four years. EQT Infrastructure is committed to invest significantly to accelerate InstaVolt's expansion of charge points across the UK, and support the mission to roll out 10,000 rapid EV chargers by 2032. The Company's strong market position, combined with EQT's deep knowledge within energy transition and sustainability, will set-up InstaVolt for further success, both in the UK but also abroad. Anna Sundell, Partner and Head of EQT Infrastructure's UK Advisory Team, said, "The future is electric and InstaVolt is essential to the roll-out of EV charging infrastructure across the UK, a prerequisite for enabling mass adoption of EVs. We are excited about supporting InstaVolt in the next phase of growth and for EQT to play its part in decarbonizing the transportation sector and driving the transition towards net zero in the UK and beyond." Adrian Keen, InstaVolt's Chief Executive Officer, added, "InstaVolt has set a standard in the UK for driver experience and infrastructure, and now with support from EQT, we are in a unique position to accelerate that target and replicate our model in other geographies, transitioning the business into the next phase of growth. We want to thank our partners and customers who have supported us on our journey so far and want our customers to be reassured that what has made InstaVolt so successful, including our focus on reliability and ease of use, remains unchanged." The investment sees founding investor Zouk Capital exit after establishing the Company with the InstaVolt management team in 2016. Zouk is the manager of the Charging Infrastructure Fund ("CIIF") and has a central objective of scaling open-access, public EV charging networks for the UK's EV drivers. Massimo Resta, Partner at Zouk Capital, Massimo Resta, "The InstaVolt team and Zouk identified the opportunity in 2016 and built one of the leading rapid EV charging infrastructure companies in the UK. We believe the management team are in great hands with EQT and wish InstaVolt the very best for the next stage of their journey." RBC Capital Markets acted as exclusive financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett acted as legal advisor to EQT Infrastructure. With this transaction, EQT Infrastructure V is expected to be 65-70 percent invested (including closed and/or signed investments, announced public offers, if applicable, and less any expected syndication) and subject to customary regulatory approvals. Contact EQT Press Office, press@eqtpartners.com, +46 8 506 55 334 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/eqt/r/eqt-infrastructure-to-acquire-instavolt--one-of-the-leading-rapid-electric-vehicle-charging-network-,c3511451 The following files are available for download: A fuel tanker driver, Abraham Mutakwa (42) was arrested last week on Monday after he attempted to cross Chirundu Border Post with 39 000 litres of water disguised as diesel. Mutakwa was arrested together with Anway Ndalema (31), a Zimra sealing officer who allegedly facilitated the scam. Sources told The Mirror that such rackets have become rampant and it is the powerful politicians and business people who are behind the scams. This particular incident prejudiced Government of US$20 396,36 in duty. Documents seen by The Mirror show that Mutakwa who was driving the tanker (Reg number ACE 2957) owned by Cognitech Investments of Chitungwiza later revealed that he has been smuggling fuel for a long time assisted by Ndalema. Ndalema received US$2 600 for his effort and the truck was seized by the State, according to Police documents. The State recovered US$1 900 from Ndalema. National Police Spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he is yet to get a report from Chirundu Police over the matter. Sources told The Mirror that truckers are diverting fuel from Mozambique and South Africa destined for Zambia and offloading it in Zimbabwe where it fetches more money on the market. Diesel for example in Zimbabwe costs US$1,40 per litre. After offloading the fuel, they then proceed to Zambia with tankers filled with water to enable them to cross the border. Once in Zambia they fill up their tanks by buying fuel from local fuel stations where it is cheaper and then proceed to deliver to their actual destinations in Zambia. They make massive profits by selling fuel in Zimbabwe which is duty free. The Police papers say that a Freightliner Columbia truck registration number ACE 2957 driven by Mutakwa was dispatched at Forbes border post with 39 660l of diesel destined for Sahara Energy PVT Ltd Lusaka, Zambia. As the truck arrived at Chirundu One Stop Border Post and proceeded to ZIMRA desk on the Zambian side for acquittal, the driver was ordered to go back to the Zimbabwean side for a physical inspection to be carried on the truck. ZIMRA official Evelyn Lydia Kudzunga inspected the truck and discovered that it was loaded with 39 000 litres of water. Police later interviewed Mutakwa who implicated Ndalema. Masvingo Mirror Tech support helping spinners and weavers optimize yarns and fabrics First results of cooperation to hit stores in spring Aim to develop a strong and scalable circularity ecosystem in Europe together European retailer C&A and material sciences company Recover are joining forces in a new strategic 4-year partnership to bring high-quality recycled cotton to the everyday garment. The two companies' strong commitment to circularity will be visible this spring with the first collection made with Recover fiber due to hit stores in April, with C&A's Clockhouse range. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005229/en/ (Photo: Recover) C&A and Recover have decades of experience within their respective fields and a long track record in achieving greater circularity. The partnership is driving change to place recycled cotton as the core ingredient of a more sustainable fashion industry, using Recover, with its extensive expertise and scaling capacities, as the main cotton source. Recover will integrate its fiber into C&A's supply chain structure, as well as provide tech support to help the spinners and weavers optimize the yarns and fabrics. With C&A representing one of the leading retailers in Europe, the company brings the necessary demand to make a lasting impact on the industry. The partnership with Recover confirms C&A, who recently opened its Factory for Innovation in Textiles in Monchengladbach, as an innovative player that takes sustainability seriously and accelerates its positive momentum in the pursuit of its 2028 Global Sustainability Strategy. "More sustainable fashion must not be a niche product. Our collaboration with Recover is a milestone on our way towards a more sustainable future characterized by quality fashion available at affordable prices", said Aleix Busquets Gonzalez, Director Global Sustainability at C&A. By partnering together, Recover also further validates its innovative business model of being able to provide recycled fiber to any brand without compromising on the style, quality and price. Together the partners aim to develop a strong and scalable circularity ecosystem in Europe, with a better future based on post-consumer materials. "In alignment with our act-as-one philosophy, we are delighted to bring Recover's expertise and tech support to our partnership with C&A through the integration of our fiber within their supply chain. By combining a long-term commitment with high production volumes, we are ensuring a real lasting impact on the industry", said Alejandro Rana, Chief Business Development Officer at Recover. About Recover Recover is a leading material sciences company and global producer of low-impact, high-quality recycled cotton fiber and cotton fiber blends. Its premium environmentally friendly, cost-competitive products are created in partnership with the supply chain for global retailers and brands, offering a sustainable solution to close the loop on fashion. As a fourth-generation, family-owned company with a 70-year long history in the textile industry, Recover is on a mission to scale its proprietary technology to make a lasting positive impact on the environment and partner with brands/retailers and other change makers to meet the industry's sustainability targets. For more information, visit www.recoverfiber.com and follow @recoverfiber on social media. About C&A C&A is one of Europe's leading fashion retailers, with nearly 1,400 stores in 18 European countries and about 25,000 employees. Every day, C&A welcomes millions of visitors in its stores and online in Europe, offering high-quality, long-lasting clothes for the whole family at affordable prices. For further information, please visit our website: www.c-a.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005229/en/ Contacts: Press C&A Europe I Wanheimer Strae 70 I 40468 Dusseldorf Germany Betty Kie I Head of Corporate Communications Europe, C&A Europe press@canda.com Recover Les Molines 2 03450 Banyeres de Mariola Spain Hannah Wesselby Marketing Manager hannah.wesselby@recoverfiber.com Yugabyte, the leader in open source distributed SQL databases, has signed a strategic reseller agreement with leading South African open source software solutions company, Obsidian Systems. The partnership will allow Yugabyte to expand into a critical regional ecosystem by teaming up with trusted local expert, Obsidian Systems. This will enable Yugabyte to quickly demonstrate the value and effectiveness of distributed SQL database technology for South African enterprises planning to move transactional applications to the cloud at scale. This agreement reflects the increasing global demand for distributed SQL delivered by Yugabye's database technology and tools, as the cloud-native data layer for both systems of record and systems of engagement. Martin Gaffney, Yugabyte EMEA Vice President, says: "We see significant market opportunity by working closely with this leading regional enterprise open source specialist, as so many organisations in the region are accelerating their digital transformation plans, driving fast to the cloud and demanding cloud-native technologies for true digital business success." He continued, "South Africa has proved to be an innovative, early-adopter economy, and we've been looking for the ideal partner in this market. With this agreement, it looks like our search has ended with the perfect result for us, for Obsidian Systems, and for South African CIOs." Muggie van Staden, Obsidian Systems CEO, commented, "Obsidian endeavours to partner with like-minded open source technologies that will add value to our customers' stack. When we think about multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies and the challenges of flexibility, scalability and security, Yugabyte ticks all the boxes." Van Staden continued, "In a data-driven world, where every business looks to the CIO, CDO, and CTO to lead the enterprise into the future, platform choice must always include innovative products that meet all your potential cloud architecture needs." YugabyteDB is a natural complement to Obsidian's existing technologies and services, as they align well with the needs of the region's largest and most demanding transactional driven organisations, looking to accelerate their digital transformation strategies. The context for the move is Yugabyte's 2022 aim of expanding further into important new geographic markets and fuelling the firm's growth across EMEA. Globally, Yugabyte completed a Series 'C' funding round for $188 million in October 2021, which valued the business at more than $1.3B. Yugabyte officially established its EMEA business in May 2021 with a European HQ based in Surrey, the UK, and has been accelerating its growth across the region ever since. The firm's strategy includes the appointment of complementary strategic partners in the region. About Yugabyte Yugabyte is the company behind YugabyteDB, the open source, high-performance distributed SQL database for building global transactional applications. YugabyteDB serves business-critical applications with SQL query flexibility, high performance, and cloud native agility, thus allowing enterprises to focus on business growth instead of complex data infrastructure management. It is trusted by companies in cybersecurity, financial markets, IoT, retail, e-commerce, and other verticals. Founded in 2016 by former Facebook and Oracle engineers, Yugabyte is backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, 8VC, Dell Technologies Capital, Sapphire Ventures, and others. For more info, go to: Yugabyte. About Obsidian Systems Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg-based Obsidian Systems designs technology solutions using the best fit software and vendor partners to help customers achieve their goals and team deliverables. Obsidian Systems is an established supplier of open source software solutions for the South African market, and has been in operation since 1995. It only ever uses the very best compute services for the correct data and through Agile, DevOps, DevSecOps and infrastructure automation approaches using only vendor-certified products, training and certification, consulting, development and support. It also markets client solutions under the 'smarter' brand, including a hybrid data management platform called smarterDataPlatform based on Cloudera, and smarterEdge with Stratus Technologies. For more info, go to: Obsidian Systems. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220220005037/en/ Contacts: European Media: Simon Glazer Elate Communications Simon.glazer@elatecommunications.com +44 07767 382 946 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. Workhuman's latest research report explores employees' feelings about the state of human connection at work, and how that contributes to their future employment plans Two years ago, a global pandemic turned nearly every universal truth about work on its head, with many in-office industries shifting overnight to a work-from-home (WFH) model. In fact, according to Workhuman's research report, Two Years into COVID: The State of Human Connection at Work, most industries, including those with traditionally on-site jobs, have adjusted work environments to include more remote work, either hybrid or fully WFH. But not everyone feels confident about the adjustment. Compared to on-site workers, fully remote workers were less likely to say they feel confident (20% vs. 27%) and more likely to feel uneasy about change (38% vs. 27%). Workhuman'sresearch, based on findings from a survey of 2,268 full-time workers across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Ireland, found that both hybrid and on-site workers do feel a stronger sense of connection to colleagues and to their company culture thanks to at least some face-to-face interaction than fully remote workers. This sense of connection (or lack thereof) likely feeds into how appreciated people feel. Overall, 60% of people say they feel somewhat or very appreciated for the work they do, which is surprising considering half (49%) of all workers said they had too much work to do over the past year. This overworked, burned-out feeling has contributed to the Great Resignation, and it will continue. More than one-third (36%) of workers said they plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months, with millennials (aged 25-40) more likely than any other generation to look for a new job this year (47%). This isn't just for those who have been at an organization for a long time. While COVID-era hires are still in their honeymoon phase, it's tenuous, with 50% still saying they plan to look for a new job in the next 12 months. The report also found that employees hired during the pandemic experience higher levels of burnout, feel they are even more overworked, and are less psychologically safe than their more tenured colleagues. "Organizations are scrambling to figure out how to mitigate the detrimental side effects that it and its employees are experiencing burn out, disengagement, turnover, etc. from nearly two years of consistent upheaval," said Chris French, Executive Vice President at Workhuman. "The one easy fix that has a big impact expressing appreciation is no where near where it needs to be. It's a proven fact that recognition has a positive effect on retention, engagement, productivity and so many more factors that can help a business improve its culture and its bottom line. Organizations need to lean into their 'thank you' muscles, or they'll continue to say goodbye to their employees." When people do leave their organization, the negative ripple effect is undeniable. People who see turnover around them are more than twice as likely to be looking for a new job themselves (48% vs. 24%). Yet Workhuman's research found that "a new job" doesn't necessarily mean a completely new company. In fact, nearly two thirds of workers (62%) said they would return to a former employer something known as boomerang employees and this number only goes up for those who started a new job during COVID (69%). Additional noteworthy data points from Workhuman's research report include: DEI is a major factor: When asked how important diversity, equity and inclusion were to an employee's decision to stay at their company, 72% said it's somewhat or very important. That number is even higher for Gen Z workers (86%) and Black, African, or Caribbean workers (87%). When asked how important diversity, equity and inclusion were to an employee's decision to stay at their company, 72% said it's somewhat or very important. That number is even higher for Gen Z workers (86%) and Black, African, or Caribbean workers (87%). Working parents are feeling the burden: Working parents, especially women and parents in Ireland, feel much more stressed than their non-parent colleagues. This might explain why parents are slightly more likely (+3 percentage points) to be looking for a new job this year, with 25% of those job seekers citing the primary reason is for better flexibility and work-life balance. Working parents, especially women and parents in Ireland, feel much more stressed than their non-parent colleagues. This might explain why parents are slightly more likely (+3 percentage points) to be looking for a new job this year, with 25% of those job seekers citing the primary reason is for better flexibility and work-life balance. What is a sick day? More than half of hybrid workers (52%) and nearly half of remote workers (44%) said they feel obligated to work while sick when they're working remotely. The full research report, Two Years into COVID: The State of Human Connection at Work, can be found here. To learn more about how Workhuman's human workplace solutions can improve retention, create greater belonging, and deepen engagement, please visit www.workhuman.com About Workhuman Workhuman is pioneering the human workplace through award-winning Social Recognition and Continuous Performance Development solutions. Workhuman inspires more than six million humans across 180 countries to perform the best work of their lives. For the past 22 years, human resources and business leaders alike have used Workhuman Cloud to gain the proactive insights necessary to transform and lead a more connected, human-centered workplace that accelerates engagement and productivity. To learn more about Workhuman's mission to make work more human for every person on the planet and how you can ensure great work is celebrated and amplified in your workplace, visit www.workhuman.com To learn more: Visit: www.workhuman.com Follow: Twitter @Workhuman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workhuman/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Workhuman/ Instagram: @Workhuman View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005072/en/ Contacts: Jenna West Global External Communications Jenna.West@Workhuman.com - Vayyar Imaging's new office will open in Tokyo, Japan in February, supporting the technology company's growth strategy in the key senior care and automotive markets - Vayyar's touchless senior care technology is deployed in facilities and private homes around the world, providing activity monitoring that supports automatic fall detection and a wide range of behavioral insights - Hand-picked team of industry experts will build Vayyar's brand and business portfolio, while advancing existing commercial engagements Media assets can be downloaded here. TOKYO and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vayyar Imaging, the global leader in 4D imaging radar, is set to open a new office in Tokyo, Japan, as the company intensifies its advanced engagements with leading enterprises. Vayyar Imaging Japan LLC will spearhead the company's continued expansion in the APAC region, primarily in the senior care and automotive industries. The newly assembled team is comprised of experts from across the senior care, automotive and semiconductor sectors. The office will specialize in business development, system application and marketing. Vayyar's senior care solutions are deployed in facilities and private homes around the world, providing real-time activity monitoring that supports automatic fall detection and a wide range of behavioral insights, enabling person-centred care. Sensors mounted on walls or ceilings constantly monitor the surroundings, delivering exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all conditions, including pitch darkness and even dense steam, making them ideal for use in bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy, as well as safety, is key. The solution's multifunctionality allows facilities to reduce the number of single-purpose sensors installed in residents' rooms, providing rich data that creates a comprehensive view of health and wellbeing. "Establishing an office in Japan is a vital step in our global expansion, enabling us to deepen our existing relationships with many of the world's leading healthcare and automotive players and to redefine numerous other verticals," said Raviv Melamed, Vayyar Co-founder and CEO. "We look forward to continuing our close collaborations with Japanese partners, improving safety using best-in-class imaging radar technology." Vayyar's automotive platform enables cost-effective advanced safety applications across the In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (ICMS), ADAS/ARAS, and AV domains. Built around a high-performance radar-on-chip array of up to 48 transceivers, it delivers exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all road conditions, while protecting user privacy. "We are very proud to be advancing Vayyar's goal of providing affordable, multifunctional radar-on-chip platforms to Japan's leading automakers and suppliers and senior care providers, which can leverage our uniquely versatile technology to protect some of society's most vulnerable people," Melamed added. About Vayyar Imaging Vayyar, the leader in 4D imaging radar, has created the world's most advanced radar-on-chip platform to gather life's essential data, providing solutions for senior care, automotive, security, smart home, robotics, and more, while maintaining privacy at all times. Vayyar's mission is to deliver the next generation of sensing technology that is miniature, affordable, and versatile enough to impact everyone's lives, enabling a safer world. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1749780/Vayyar_Imaging.jpg The study "The state of digitalisation of European tourism", carried out by the innovative SME in collaboration with the research centre of the Politecnico di Milano School of Management, highlights the level of digitalisation reached by the most visited European destinations before the pandemic. MILAN, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The pandemic has indiscriminately affected the economy worldwide and, in particular, the travel sector where a change of pace in the way people travel has caused a drop in revenue of between 40% and 90%( source ). To cope with this change, many tourist sites will have to reckon with and rethink their offer, starting with their online websites. To meet the needs of travellers, UNGUESS conducted the study "The state of digitalisation of European tourism: a challenge between destinations", in collaboration with OsservatoriDigital Innovation of the Politecnico di Milano School of Management. The details: between June and July 2021, UNGUESS selected the 17 most visited European destination websites in 2019( source ) and engaged members from its community of users aged between 20 and 35 to discover the advantages and critical issues of each site (download the full study here ). The study findings: we must start from the basics of design to improve website user experience. With excursions being the first information sought by the sample before booking, only 9 out of 17 cities offer the possibility to buy excursions online. In 23% of cases, the purchasing website was not found, although it was present (UX issue). The tourist card is the tool for strengthening the brand of the location, but only 9 out of 17 cities offer the possibility to buy a card on the destination website. All sites present information on local mobility, but only 20% of cities show information on sustainable mobility. The Net Promoter Score (NPS) goes up where more services are available but especially if the website offers an effective user experience. The study revealed the need to start from the design basics of the UX of the traveller's first point of contact, especially that of a foreigner when deciding on a destination: the website. It is necessary to invest in the UI, and subsequently the UX, of the digital journey. To discover more results, you can download the study here free of charge. "The search for information is a fundamental part of the user's journey that influences both the choice of the destination and the activities to be carried out while travelling.The survey revealed the need to start from the basics in the design of the user experience at the first occasion of contact with the traveller, the website," says Eleonora Lorenzini, director of the Osservatori Digital Innovation in Tourism of the Politecnico di Milano. The study identified the information most sought after by users on tourist websites, but also highlighted how unintuitive it is to find it on websites. "Richness of functionality and user-friendliness are the most powerful driving force for generating a positive visitor attitude and consequent economic revenue. The real challenge is to keep these two often conflicting elements together. The only link that can hold this union together is the interface, the first contact that users have with what they seek. Then it is important to invest in the User Experience. End users, like real people from our community involved in this study, browse websites according to their habits. This is crucial to understanding what leads them to return to a given website or look elsewhere. These are virtuous modes of behaviour that can make the difference in the success or failure of your digital product or service," concludes LucaManara, CEO and co-founder of UNGUESS. UNGUESS's profile UNGUESS is the tech-platform to bring collective wisdom in your decision making processes, fast and at any time needed. Its three powerhouses are Technology (flexible and easy to use platform with integrated digital solutions), People (its community and the team) and Methodology (fast, effective and consistent solutions delivered successfully across different industries and geographies). Its services include Software Quality Assurance, UX Optimization, Customer Experience & Insights and Ethical Hacking. Angela Meduri, +39 3474211995, angela.meduri@unguess.io Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1750568/unguess.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1730688/UNGUESS_Logo.jpg Press Release Nokia launches Intelligent RAN Operations to manage the power of 5G with machine learning MWC22 Nokia's Intelligent RAN Operations solution goes beyond automation with machine learning to help mobile operators keep costs down with superior 5G network management Reduces base station energy consumption by up to 15 percent without compromising end-user experience Improves operational efficiency by up to 80 percent according to Nokia customer trials, boosting network quality 22 February 2022 Espoo, Finland - Nokia has today announced the launch of its new Intelligent RAN Operations solution designed to manage the increasing complexity of 5G networks through machine learning (ML). The framework and its underlying products enable mobile operators to boost 5G network quality, efficiency, and the subscriber experience while reducing operational costs, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. The solution supports Nokia's ambitious commitment to sustainability and combatting climate change. Nokia Intelligent RAN Operations implements several machine learning functionalities that help operators manage network density and complexity. It enables the automation of routine network management tasks, with a greater ability to detect, categorize and solve network issues in real-time. This saves time and eliminates human error. 5G networks have ushered in a host of new use cases as well as products and services reliant on ultra-low latency and resiliency. They also support a vast range of applications with widely varying service requirements. In this complex environment, operating cost-effective radio networks using manual intensive tools or even just automation is no longer possible. Operators trialing the solution on a live network have seen an operational efficiency gain of up to 80 percent with zero-touch optimization, and 70 percent fewer issues to resolve, reducing team workloads and helping ensure consistent network quality. The solution also includes intelligent energy-saving features that reduce base station power consumption by up to 15 percent, enabling more sustainable operating practices. Nokia has set sustainability goals to reduce its environmental impact and help its customers to do the same. The company has committed to reducing its emissions by 50 percent across both its operations and products in use by 2030 . Nokia's technology is designed to be energy efficient, contributing towards the climate and environmental targets of mobile operators. Nokia at Mobile World Congress 2022 Nokia is showcasing its Intelligent RAN Operations solution at Mobile World Congress 2022 in Barcelona, Hall 3 Stand 3A10. The demonstration shows how machine learning helps automate radio network energy-saving configuration and management while reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions. James Crawshaw, Principal Analyst at Omdia, said: "As mobile networks have evolved from 2G through 5G they have become much more performant and sophisticated. Management and configuration tools largely kept pace with this evolution - until now. To optimize operational, capital, and energy efficiency in the 5G era requires a paradigm shift. Manual configuration of the thousands of parameters available in network nodes, a ten-fold increase on 4G, is no longer feasible. Operators need automated solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to augment and relieve human intelligence which can then be brought to bear on the manifold RAN operational challenges that computers are not yet able to solve." Mark Atkinson, SVP, Radio Access Networks PLM at Nokia, said: "Nokia's Intelligent RAN Operations helps operators deliver 5G services to their customers in the most efficient and effective way possible. Through intelligent machine learning, it boosts network performance, quality, and the subscriber experience whilst reducing power consumption and operational costs. Nokia continually supports its global customer base with innovative products and solutions that help them to be more sustainable and deliver better services." Resources: Intelligent RAN Operations Nokia Zero Emission Nokia Sustainability About Nokia At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a trusted partner for critical networks, we are committed to innovation and technology leadership across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. We create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Adhering to the highest standards of integrity and security, we help build the capabilities needed for a more productive, sustainable, and inclusive world. RIDDLE&CODE, the leading European company for blockchain interface solutions, today announced the appointment of John Calian as co-CEO. John assumed his new role in January 2022. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005324/en/ John Calian, co-CEO of RIDDLE&CODE (Photo: Business Wire) Vienna-based RIDDLE&CODE has an extensive portfolio of blockchain-powered software and hardware products that span key industries, including fintech, machine identity, product provenance, renewable energy and supply chains. John is a successful innovation leader, entrepreneur and business developer dedicated to designing and selling cutting-edge products, and ensuring the highest levels of client satisfaction. Prior to joining RIDDLE&CODE, John held numerous technology leadership roles such as a Senior Vice President at Deutsche Telekom, the Head of the Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T-Labs) in Berlin, and was the founder and COO of multiple start-up software firms in the Seattle area, including Movaya and Kopo Kopo. Additionally, he was the co-founder, CEO and Managing Director of trust2core, a blockchain infrastructure start-up launched out of Deutsche Telekom and owned by T-Systems International. John holds an MBA in Technology Management from the University of Washington in Seattle, and a BA, History degree at the University of Colorado Boulder. "Having a truly multicultural and diverse career journey, John is the perfect addition for our team," said Alexander Koppel, CEO at RIDDLE&CODE. "His broad technology background combined with leadership skills and strong core values will help RIDDLE&CODE strengthen strategic partnerships, develop stellar products and expand its international presence. RIDDLE&CODE is establishing a new, decentralised operating model, and I'm excited to work with John as we continue to make a significant footprint in the industry." "Leading the blockchain teams at Telekom allowed me to leap into the world of decentralised technologies. I've never looked back," said John. "I'm very excited to join the RIDDLE&CODE team and honoured to be appointed as the company's co-CEO. RIDDLE&CODE is an impact-driven company led by the purpose of making a positive, meaningful contribution through tokenization of both physical and digital assets. I am beyond thrilled to join the team." This new appointment is a logical step in the further growth and progress of RIDDLE&CODE and its subsidiary companies. About RIDDLE&CODE RIDDLE&CODE is Europe's leading company for blockchain interface solutions. The company develops hardware and software stacks that combine the security of smart cards with blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT). Together with its tier-one clients and partners, which include Daimler Mobility, BMW, Wien Energie and leading Dutch crypto exchange LiteBit, RIDDLE&CODE brings new business models to the fintech, energy, mobility and materials industries. More information: www.riddleandcode.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005324/en/ Contacts: Media contact: Aysenur Yukselal Aji aysenur@riddleandcode.com BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks tumbled on Tuesday to hit a seven-month low after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two breakaway areas of Ukraine that he had earlier recognized as independent. Calling Russia's move as an 'act of war', the U.K. and several western allies have threatened sanctions on the country. Russian sanctions could have implications for global gas markets, particularly in Europe, which is heavily reliant on Russian gas. Europe gets nearly 40 percent of its natural gas and 25 percent of its oil from Russia. The pan European Stoxx 600 was down 0.8 percent at 451.15, after having hit as low as 445.95 earlier in the session. The German DAX was down 1.1 percent, France's CAC 40 index fell about 1 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was down about 0.4 percent. Banks Credit Agricole, Societe Generale, Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank gave up 2-3 percent. HSBC declined 1.5 percent despite the bank more than doubling its full-year pre-tax profit. German automaker Volkswagen surged 6.6 percent after saying it is in advanced discussions with Porsche Automobil Holding SE about a potential IPO of the luxury carmaker. Telecoms company Telefonica Deutschland lost 2.5 percent after extending the contract of Chief Executive Officer Markus Haas by three years. Beverage firm Coca-Cola HBC slumped nearly 6 percent despite posting annual profit ahead of market expectations. Chilean miner Antofagasta climbed 2.2 percent after posting record full-year profit. In economic releases, the headline German IFO business climate index improved to 98.9 in February from 96 (revised from 95.7 in January). Separate data showed U.K. public sector net borrowing excluding public sector banks showed a surplus of GBP 2.9 billion in January, which was GBP 5.4 billion less borrowing than in January 2021. Nonetheless, this was still a GBP 7.0 billion smaller surplus than in January 2020, before the coronavirus pandemic. Copyright(c) 2022 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. - RSVI-301, a new drug candidate adopting miRNA technology, enters the technology export process. SEOUL, South Korea, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- RosVivo Therapeutics, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "RosVivo") announced that it has signed a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) with one of the largest global pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Company (hereinafter referred to as "Eli Lilly") for commercial development of diabetes and obesity treatments. Material Transfer Agreement indicates a contract to deliver candidate substances to the other company for verifying the efficacy of the drug substances through experiments and sharing the research (experimental) results. MTA is considered as an initial step of processes towards technology export and license-out. Conducting considerable experiments with animal models in previous, RosVivo has collected strong and compelling data for RSVI-301's efficacy compared to GLP-1 receptor agonist. GLP-1 receptor agonist is currently known as a game-changer to treat diabetes and obesity in the market. Eli Lilly will review and acknowledge the animal experiment data and ensure the potential of RSVI-301 through this MTA. RosVivo's RSVI-301 pipeline is the world's first in class new drug candidate that can fundamentally treat diabetes by restoring the function of beta cells that secrete insulin, the cause of diabetes, and at the same time lowering insulin resistance. Currently, diabetes is not fundamentally treated because diabetes drugs only temporarily lower blood sugar. In addition, RSVI-301 is considered an ideal next-generation new drug candidate for diabetes treatment with fewer side effects as it shows excellent therapeutic effects on obesity, fatty liver and digestive gastrointestinal disorders in animal testing. An official from the RosVivo said, "The fact that it went through CDA with Eli Lilly, a global diabetes treatment company, proved the possibility of new drug candidates and we are also confident in licensing out." He also mentioned as, "In addition to Eli Lilly, the RosVivo received attention for its candidates from other global pharmaceutical companies." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751400/RosVivo.jpg A new variant of omicron is making the rounds, but indications are that in the U.S. at least, its not spreading very far. Health experts have been telling us there will be more iterations of the novel coronavirus and its variants, and now one of them, omicron BA.2 (as opposed to omicron BA.1, the original version), is delivering. But slight variability seems to be all that it is delivering, medical experts told the Daily News on Tuesday. Advertisement Medical staffers during the COVID pandemic. (Karen Ducey/Getty Images) This recently detected strain of the already highly transmissible omicron variant could itself be more contagious than its predecessor, health experts say. New research out of Japan this week suggests that it could also cause more severe disease, but that study has yet to be peer-reviewed. But other factors affect how that transmissibility plays out in the world. For instance, people who have recovered from the first version of omicron are probably largely protected from BA.2, Dr. Jeremy Kamil, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Louisiana State University (LSU) Health Shreveport, where he leads COVID-19 sequencing, told the Daily News. Moreover, he said, the variants trajectory in places like Denmark, where it took over quickly as the dominant strain, does not seem to be happening here. Advertisement The thing thats so important to stress is that people who have recently recovered from BA.1, in most cases they are not going to be infected by BA.2, Kamil said. The panic greatly exceeds the social media hype on this one. In places like the United States, where BA.1 had a huge head start, it ate BA.2s lunch. So BA.2 is having to eat the crumbs. That holds true for the New York region, where cases are plummeting and hospitalizations are way down, Dr. Peter Silver, chief quality officer and associate chief medical officer at Northwell Health, told The News. Elsewhere in the country, where the vaccination rate might be lower, the caseload is still high. I think there are still parts of the country, though that are still experiencing high rates of COVID, and we have to be conscious about that, Silver told The News on Tuesday. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > A new variant was not unexpected, given that the more people who are infected, the more chance there is for the virus to mutate. But it does raise the question of what the impact will be on the ebbing of the pandemic, and whether it means another, perhaps more deadly, wave is in the offing. But that does not appear likely, Silver said. In terms of severity of illness, transmissibility, its very, very similar, Silver said, comparing omicron BA.2 to the original omicron. I think what were waiting to see though, is if its causing a little bump in the incidence of COVID. Though it may be a bit more contagious, we dont necessarily think its much worse in terms of severity of illness, Silver said. We dont think more people will end up in hospital than those with first omicron or that it will cause more death than first one. If anything it may cause a little bit of a bump, but maybe not even. Were not overly concerned. At the same time, Kamil emphasized that this does not make omicron, or any variant of COVID-19 infection, something to trifle with. BA.1 is plenty dangerous, Kamil said. BA.1 is bad news, especially for unvaccinated people. Advertisement Though omicron may cause less severe illness, especially in people with vaccines and boosters, its by no means mild, Kamil said. Its fair to say the omicron variants were slightly less dangerous than delta, Kamil said. Delta was significantly more dangerous than omicron, but theyre all nasty viruses and not something you want to catch. TAIPEI, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Infortrend Technology, Inc. (TWSE: 2495), the industry-leading enterprise storage provider announces the auto-tiering function for their EonStor CS scale-out NAS. The feature optimizes read/ write performances and utilizes storage capacity for mass data analytics such as in large-scale high-performance computing (HPC). HPC has been widely used for industry innovations and academic research such as finding the oil drilling locations, weather, and genetic analysis. It paves the way for scientists to analyze complex data in less time over traditional computing. One of the key requirements of HPC storage is extremely high throughput for random and sequential read/ write speeds. This can dramatically speed up the analysis process and help organizations gain a competitive edge. The perfect solution to HPC storage is EonStor CS scale-out NAS. CS delivers up to 4.1GB/s throughput per node and the performance can be increased linearly by adding more nodes, and at the same time, the storage capacity also. In addition, it supports auto-tiering to utilize the high-performance of SSDs and the massive capacity of HDDs. The system will automatically allocate the processing "hot data" onto high-performance SSDs to meet the mass data read/ write requirements of HPC analytics. Once the data have been finalized, they are identified as "cold data" and will be moved to HDDs for archiving purposes. To build a more cost-effective solution, organizations can combine EonStor CS 4014U (supporting 2.5" U.2 NVMe SSDs) with HDD-based expansion enclosures. In this way, organizations get a high-performance PB-level storage system that offers storage efficiency while minimizing costs and satisfying the mass data analytic I/O requirement of HPCs. "EonStor CS supports the auto-tiering that allows organizations to enjoy both high performance and capacity, which means increasing storage efficiency and lowering TCO," said Frank Lee, Senior Director of Product Planning. Learn more about EonStor CS, EonStor CS NVMe Model - CS 4014U and Auto-tiering About Infortrend Infortrend (TWSE: 2495) has been developing and manufacturing storage solutions since 1993. With a strong emphasis on in-house design, testing, and manufacturing, Infortrend storage delivers performance and scalability with the latest standards, user friendly data services, personal after-sales support, and unrivaled value. For more information, please visit www.infortrend.com Infortrend and EonStor are trademarks or registered trademarks of Infortrend Technology, Inc.; other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Funding will support recruitment, commercial partnerships, and further development of Semarion's SemaCyte cell assaying platform, which turns adherent cells into liquid reagents to enable novel drug screening methodologies Investors include Parkwalk Advisors, University of Cambridge Seed Funds, Martlet Capital, and angel investors Semarion Ltd, a University of Cambridge spin-out company from the Cavendish Laboratory combining materials engineering and cell biology to tackle unmet drug screening needs, announced today that it has closed a 2.14 million GBP seed funding round. The investment round was led by Parkwalk Advisors, with the University of Cambridge Seed Funds, Martlet Capital, and angel investors also contributing to the fundraise. The funding will support the commercial development of Semarion's SemaCyte cell assaying platform. It will also enable further expansion of the team, as Semarion recruits scientists and engineers, and establishes additional research partnerships with biopharma partners for bespoke solutions to cell screening challenges. SemaCytes, developed by Semarion, are a novel class of cell carrier materials, created using microchip fabrication technologies, nanomagnetism, and smart materials. These assaying microcarriers are flat and function as ultra-miniaturized, magnetically steerable wells which carry small colonies of adherent cells into suspension to improve cell-based experiments. They enable the controlled movement of cell types which need to stick to a surface, namely those typically used for in vitro drug screening work. By facilitating workflow automation, assay miniaturisation, and cell barcoding, this technology improves the quality and reproducibility of cell screening data while reducing the time and cost to deliver research outputs. SemaCytes integrate with existing workflows and are compatible with various multi-well plate formats, liquid handling tools, and imaging tools such as high-content screening equipment. Semarion was co-founded at the Cavendish Laboratory in 2018 by Jeroen Verheyen (CEO), Tarun Vemulkar (CTO), and Professor Russell Cowburn. Jeroen's background in cell model development and Tarun's experience in advanced materials and microfabrication drive Semarion's vision to address foundational bottlenecks in drug discovery by integrating expertise across disciplines. Previously, the Company received pre-seed funding and business support from Start Codon, a UK venture builder and investor, who supported the transition of the company out of the University. Jeroen Verheyen, Co-Founder CEO, Semarion, said: "This is a crucial step towards the commercialisation of our SemaCyte cell assaying platform. We were excited to see our product testers appreciate its truly unique feature. We aim to keep working closely with biopharma partners to address their unmet cell screening needs. I would like to thank all our investors and supporters for believing in the Semarion team and the SemaCyte technology." Cassie Doherty, Investment Director, Parkwalk Advisors, commented: "There is a clear need within the industry for Semarion's new platform, to support in vitro research on cell models. We are delighted to support the Company in this initial funding round and look forward to being a part of their continued success." Dr Del Trezise, Advisor and Non-Executive director at Semarion said: "Our investors have identified the potential of Semarion's technology, which is uniquely positioned to address a significant market opportunity and revolutionise drug discovery approaches. I look forward to working with the team to support the Company as it progresses to the next stage of commercial and scientific expansion." For more information about Semarion, please visit: https://www.semarion.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005643/en/ Contacts: Lorna Cuddon Zyme Communications Tel: +44 (0)7811 996 942 Email: lorna.cuddon@zymecommunications.com Renovi, a leading Metaverse business, has today announced the signing of a strategic partnership with Threedium to offer brands a complete Metaverse fashion show solution ahead of the first-ever Metaverse Fashion Week taking place March 24-27, 2022. The show, hosted by Decentraland, will see leading names from the fashion industry come together in the 'Fashion District' to showcase the latest in Metaverse and real-world fashion. Based on a soon-to-be built 'Bond Street Plaza' in Decentraland, the companies will have the capacity to create a collection of fully branded boutique stores and wearables for use by fashion brands during the week and beyond. Renovi will work with brands to develop and build bespoke pop-up stores, design Metaverse appropriate logos and branding, and create novel internal spaces, during the first-ever fashion show of its type. Threedium will be designing and showcasing digital wearables which will enable leading fashion brands to promote their new products to the Decentraland audience. Top-tier brands around the globe, including FARFETCH, Dior, and Fendi as well as Adidas, JD Sports, and Diageo rely on Threedium to power 3D eCommerce augmented reality shopping solutions. The two companies will be joining forces to offer a complete solution to fashion labels looking to launch their brand into the space. Andy Charalambous, co-founder, Renovi, said: "We are thrilled to be partnering with Threedium ahead of what is a really important event for the fashion world. The fashion sector is really embracing the opportunities open to it in the Metaverse and progressive businesses are already looking at how they can develop their strategies using events like the Decentraland Fashion Week to launch their activity." Mike Charalambous, Threedium CEO, added: "As eCommerce has evolved 3D AR has become a required experience that customers demand and expect. And now, in the web3 era- metacommerce begins to blur the lines between digital and physical products. We are proud to work with Renovi to help usher in this new era of fashion with the first ever Metaverse Fashion Week." Lorne Sugarman, CEO, Metaverse Group, added: "As one of the largest landowners in the fashion district in Decentraland, we're delighted to see two progressive businesses partnering to offer fashion brands a complete Metaverse solution." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005639/en/ Contacts: Renovi: Piers Zangana t: +447960078935 e: piers.zangana@susacomms.com Renovi.io Threedium: press@threedium.co.uk threedium.co.uk SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The global digital health market size is expected to reach USD 295.4 billion by 2028 and is projected to expand at a CAGR of 15.1% over the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising smartphone penetration & integration of advanced technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT) & artificial intelligence (AI), and increasing implementation of mHealth technologies for self-management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are some of the major factors driving the market. Key Insights & Findings from the report: The mHealth technology segment dominated the global market in 2020 owing to the increasing penetration of smartphones and rising number of strategic alliances among mobile operators & mHealth startups. The services component segment accounted for the highest revenue share of the global market in 2020. North America was the leading regional market in 2020 owing to rise in the geriatric population and awareness regarding health & fitness among consumers. was the leading regional market in 2020 owing to rise in the geriatric population and awareness regarding health & fitness among consumers. High internet and smartphones penetration along with growing usage of medical/health-related apps is one of the key factors responsible for the market growth in North America . . However, APAC is expected to register the fastest CAGR from 2021 to 2028 due to the rising usage of tablets, smartphones, and other mobile platforms. The rising geriatric population in countries, such as India and China , and the growing burden of chronic conditions are further boosting the demand for mHealth technologies in the region. Read 150-page market research report, "Digital Health Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Technology (Healthcare Analytics, mHealth), By Component (Software, Services), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028", published by Grand View Research. Digital Health Market Growth & Trends Increasing demand for enhancing workflow efficiency in clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare centers is further boosting the demand for mHealth services thereby, aiding the market growth. Moreover, ongoing technological advancements for developing advanced digital solutions coupled with a growing number of favorable initiatives by the government & private sectors are contributing to the overall market growth. For instance, as per the data published in 2017, researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a camera to improve the diagnostic features of smartphones. In 2020, the mHealth technology type segment accounted for the highest revenue share. A rise in the number of health apps has significantly contributed to the segment growth in recent years. As per the data published by the My Health Apps blog in May 2018, a total of 325,000 health, fitness, and medical apps were available in 2017. Mobile operators are constantly leveraging mHealth technologies and solutions by supporting services, such as diagnosis, monitoring, and patient management. In addition, they are increasingly adopting strategies in the form of partnerships and agreements to enhance their product offerings, which, in turn, is contributing to the segment growth. For instance, in 2019, OneLife, a mobile medical software company, partnered with AT&T for the development of a health-tracking watch to monitor a patient's heart rate, location, sleep, and movements. In 2020, the services component segment accounted for the highest revenue share. System integration, training & education, maintenance & support, and consulting are among the few service offerings that are covered in this segment. Growing demand for continuous M2P data flows, to boost the efficiency of the medical systems, improve informed decision-making in real-time, and enhance security, is driving the segment growth. On the other hand, software is anticipated to register the fastest growth during the forecast period. The key factors that can be attributed to this growth are rising investments by the market participants to develop innovative connected solutions for the healthcare industry, technological advancements, and rising adoption of digital technologies & connected systems in the health centers. Digital Health Market Segmentation Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global digital health market on the basis of technology, component, and region Digital Health Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Tele-healthcare Tele-care Activity Monitoring Remote medication Management Tele-health LTC Monitoring Video Consultation mHealth Wearables BP Monitors Glucose Meters Pulse Oximeters Sleep Apnea Monitors Neurological Monitors Activity Trackers/Actigraphs mHealth Apps Medical Apps Fitness Apps Services mHealth Services Market, By Type Monitoring services Independent Aging Solutions Chronic Disease Management & Post-acute Care Services Diagnosis Services Healthcare Systems Strengthening Services Others mHealth Services Market, By Participants Mobile Operators Device Vendors Content Players Healthcare Providers Healthcare Analytics Digital Health Systems EHR E-prescribing Systems Digital Health Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) Software Hardware Services Digital Health Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028) North America U.S. Canada Europe U.K. Germany Spain France Italy Russia Asia Pacific Japan China India South Korea Singapore Australia Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa & UAE South Africa Saudi Arabia List of Key Players of Digital Health Market Cerner Corporation Allscripts Apple, Inc. Telefonica S.A. Mckesson Corporation Epic Systems Corporation QSI Management, LLC AT&T Vodafone Group AirStrip Technologies Google, Inc. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. HiMS Orange Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Softserve MQure Computer Programs and Systems, Inc. Vocera Communications IBM Corporation CISCO Systems, Inc. Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research: Smart Healthcare Market - The global smart healthcare market size is anticipated to reach USD 528.9 billion by 2027. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2020 to 2027. Rising adoption of mHealth, government initiatives to digitize healthcare, and the prevalence of chronic disorders are likely to accentuate the demand for smart healthcare systems. The global smart healthcare market size is anticipated to reach by 2027. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 16.2% from 2020 to 2027. Rising adoption of mHealth, government initiatives to digitize healthcare, and the prevalence of chronic disorders are likely to accentuate the demand for smart healthcare systems. Electronic Health Records Market - The global electronic health records market size is expected to reach USD 38.5 billion by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2022 to 2030. the introduction to technologically advanced healthcare services is also expected to drive electronic health record (EHR) market growth. - The global electronic health records market size is expected to reach by 2030, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2022 to 2030. the introduction to technologically advanced healthcare services is also expected to drive electronic health record (EHR) market growth. Remote Healthcare Market - The global remote healthcare market size is expected to reach USD 23.9 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.0% from 2021 to 2028. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the adoption of remote healthcare technologies by patients, payers, and providers. Browse through Grand View Research's Healthcare IT Industry Research Reports. About Grand View Research Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc. Phone: 1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com Grand View Compass | Grand View Pipeline Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661327/Grand_View_Research_Logo.jpg VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Mawson Gold Limited ("Mawson" or the "Company") (TSX:MAW)(FRA:MXR)(OTC PINK:MWSNF) is pleased to announce results and future plans for the Redcastle epizonal gold -antimony ("Au-Sb") joint venture project in the Victorian Goldfields of Australia. The project is located 120 km north of Melbourne (Figure 1) within 56.7 sq. km of granted exploration tenements, immediately along strike from Mandalay Resources' Costerfield mine (Figure 2), the sixth highest-grade global underground mine in 2020. Work at Redcastle during the 70% earn-in period has been undertaken by Mawson Victoria Pty Ltd (" Mawson Victoria "). Mawson Victoria was recently transferred from Mawson Gold Ltd to Southern Cross Gold Pty Ltd (" Southern Cross ") as part of a larger internal reorganization.Southern Cross holds three historic epizonal gold fields (Sunday Creek, Whroo and Redcastle) and is working towards a proposed initial public offering (" IPO ") on the Australian Securities Exchange (" ASX "). As at the date of this news release, Mawson holds 84.62% of Southern Cross' issued shares after recently raising A$2.725 million privately into Southern Cross to fund ongoing exploration and IPO costs. Highlights: Mawson Victoria has explored below historic mines with deep drilling and modern exploration techniques, with highlights from a 16-hole diamond drill program including: 0.5 metres @ 9.1 g/t Au from 76.3 metres in hole MDDRE010 from the Mullocky prospect; 0.1 metres @ 7.2 g/t Au from 148.2 metres in hole MDDRE008 from the Clarke's prospect; 0.3 metres @ 4.2 g/t Au and 1.2% Sb from 52.7 metres in hole MDDRE009a from the Redcastle North prospect. 1-km-long 3D induced polarization anomaly (" 3DIP ") defined under the Welcome Group of mines where 8,669.5 tonnes at 103.6 g/t Au for 28,850 oz were produced from 19th century mines. (" ") defined under the Welcome Group of mines where 8,669.5 tonnes at 103.6 g/t Au for 28,850 oz were produced from 19th century mines. Sampled 73 g/t Au/3,500 ppm Sb, 0.2 g/t Au/26 ppm Sb and 5.0 g/t Au/3,200 ppm Sb from rock chips at Black Squall coincident with a 750 metre x 500 metre Sb soil anomaly. from rock chips at Black Squall coincident with a 750 metre x 500 metre Sb soil anomaly. Six drill ready targets : the Welcome Group of Mines, Clarke's Mine, Redcastle North, Mullocky, Beautiful Venus and Mitchell's Dam. : the Welcome Group of Mines, Clarke's Mine, Redcastle North, Mullocky, Beautiful Venus and Mitchell's Dam. Seventeen kilometres of mineralized structures with historic mining, along strike from Costerfield, remain to be tested (Figure 3). (Figure 3). Mawson Victoria Earning in 70%, having provided notice of achieving its earn-in commitment (>A$1m expenditure) Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman of Mawson and Managing Director for Southern Cross, states: "Redcastle is one of those uniquely Victorian opportunities where significant historically mined epizonal gold systems remain poorly explored to depth. Despite being immediately along strike from the 2 million ounces of equivalent gold Costerfield mine corridor (pers. comm. Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), the property has previously only seen 40 m average depth for drilling, and never a test below historic workings that extend over tens of kilometres. Our 16 holes have now more than quadrupled the search space, with almost every hole intersecting gold at depth. Furthermore, across the property we have a 1 km geophysical target, a large antimony soil anomaly with a 73 g/t gold grab sample, and 17 km of structures that remain untested. With Mawson Victoria notifying our JV partners of achieving our 70% earn-in and with six fully permitted, walk-up drill targets, Redcastle remains a priority project." Mawson Victoria's exploration strategy at Redcastle during the 70% earn-in period has focused on searching for high-grade epizonal gold at depth beneath historic mines. The approach was to compile all historical mining and exploration data into a 3D model and apply large scale geophysical and remote sensing methods to identify mineral systems below 50 metres depth, followed by oriented diamond drilling to test targets. Mawson Victoria has drilled 16 drillholes for 2,786.9 metres across total of eight prospects at Redcastle (for an average hole depth of 174.2 metres). Thin to moderate grades and widths of gold were discovered in all drill holes, except those that hit historic mine workings. Many targets require follow-up drilling. A chronological summary of Mawson Victoria's drill program on each of the prospects comprising Redcastle follows. Why Not Prospect: Two drillholes (MDDRE001 and MDDRE002) under shallow historic workings with better results of 0.3 metres @ 1.4 g/t Au from 61.3 metres and 0.4 metres @ 1.6 g/t Au from 92.6 metres in hole MDDRE001. No immediate follow up is warranted. Pioneer Prospect: Two drillholes (MDDRE003 and MDDRE004) under shallow historic workings with better results of 0.1 metres @ 4.4 g/t Au from 55.7 metres in hole MDDRE003 and 0.4 metres @ 2.2 g/t Au from 40.2 metres in hole MDDRE004. No immediate follow up is warranted. Mitchell's Prospect: Two drillholes (MDDRE005 and MDDRE006) into a mineralized dioritic dyke with better results of 0.2 metres @ 1.6 g/t Au from 73.2 metres within a wider lower grade zone (no lower cut) of 13.3 metres @ 0.3 g/t Au from 72.8 metres in hole MDDRE005. An additional arsenic-rich mineralized dyke was found in the same hole with a wide lower grade zone (no lower cut) assaying 9.4 metres @ 0.2 g/t Au from 100.9 metres. The second hole at Mitchell's also had a wide lower grade dyke intersected (no lower cut) of 10.0 metres @ 0.4 g/t Au from 50.0 metres. Further analysis is required to determine if the dyke-hosted mineralization, which is interpreted to have been the source for the initial rich alluvial gold rush into Staffordshire Flats in 1859, hosted potential ore-grade mineralization below the base of weathering. Clarke's Mine: Two drillholes were drilled at Clarke's mine (MDDRE007, MDDRE008) below historic workings. Interpretation of structures in drillholes MDDRE007 and MDDRE008 revealed that MDDRE007 had drilled parallel to the Clarke's Lode and had failed to intersect it at depth. MDDRE008 intersected the mineralized lode structure (returning 0.1 m at 7.2 g/t Au from 148.2 metres ) below an east-dipping structure recorded in mine reports and intersected in MDDRE008 and MDDRE007. These reports suggest that the main lode was enriched above the east-dipping structure. The intersection of the mineralized structure and the east-dipping structure has a shallow plunge to the north, which has not been tested by drilling. Follow-up drilling is planned. Redcastle North Prospect: Two twinned holes (MDDRE009/9a), were drilled at Redcastle North (MDDRE009 was redrilled as MDDRE009a due to poor core recovery). The target was the extension of the highest-grade historic drill hole assay in the Redcastle database being 1 metre @ 16.7 g/t Au in RRC41. MDDRE009a intersected 0.3 metres @ 4.2 g/t Au and 1.2% Sb from 52.7 metres and 0.7 metres @ 1.9 g/t Au from 62.3 metres. Although the intersection is thin, structural readings show that the intersection lies within a north-striking axial surface of the north-plunging anticline, untested to depth and further drilling is warranted. Mullocky Prospect: Two holes (MDDRE010 and MDDRE011) were drilled at Mullocky where interpretation of the structural data in drilling shows mineralization is hosted by faults on the eastern shoulder of a north-plunging anticline. Historic holes in the area returned elevated gold and these intercepts, as well as 1.2 metres @ 4.3 g/t Au from 75.7 metres including 0.5 metres @ 9.1 g/t Au from 76.3 metres in hole MDDRE010. All these intercepts are located on the eastern shoulder of an anticline. The northerly plunge of the structure remains untested at depth and further drilling is warranted. Welcome Prospect: Two drillholes (MDDRE012 and MDDRE013) under shallow historic workings that extend for 600m strike. Better results included 0.4 metres @ 2.1 g/t Au from 121.9 metres from MDDRE012. No immediate follow-up is warranted. Beautiful Venus Prospect: One drill hole, MDDRE014 was drilled to target mineralization below the historic working at Beautiful Venus. Unfortunately, the drillhole intersected historic workings that were mined deeper than predicted. The project remains untested and warrants further drilling. Welcome Group Prospect: One drillhole, MDDRE015, was at the Welcome Group targeting a 1 km-long coherent induced polarization ("IP") chargeability anomaly generated by Mawson Victoria's 3D offset array IP geophysical survey that coincides with the Welcome Group of mines (of which Clarke's was one mine in that cluster). This is considered highly prospective as there are at least 9 mined structures above the geophysical anomaly where the Welcome Group of mines reported to have extracted 20,583 oz at 254.6 g/t Au over 2 km strike length down to a maximum depth of 125 metres (in the period 1859 to 1865). Drillhole MDDRE015 did not intersect the mineralized lode and nor did it explain the IP anomaly leaving an opportunity to target the IP anomaly from the opposite direction over the majority of the 1 km strike. Further drilling is planned. Interpretation of historic soil sampling data at the Black Squall project revealed a large number of soil samples collected in the early 1970s were not assayed for gold but were highly anomalous in antimony. These samples occur at the intersection of an anticlinal hinge and a NE-trending structure identified in the LiDAR interpretation (Figure 3). To validate the anomaly, three orientation soil and three orientation rock chip samples were collected from the area. Two of the soil samples were highly anomalous in gold and antimony (0.36 g/t Au/63 ppm Sb and 0.19 g/t Au/34 ppm Sb), and float from nearby hard rock workings was also anomalous in both gold and antimony (73 g/t Au/3,500 ppm Sb, 0.2 g/t Au/26 ppm Sb and 5.0 g/t Au/3,200 ppm Sb). These results indicate that the Black Squall area forms an immediate follow up for further soil sampling and drilling. Mawson Victoria has also conducted a variety of geophysical and remote sensing surveys: Ground magnetics (5.6 sq. km) over the southern part of the permit area collected continuously along 50 metre spaced east-west oriented lines; High density ground gravity (23 sq. km) survey over the central permit area on 200 metre spaced east-west oriented lines with stations spaced at 100 metres. Induced polarization ("IP") surveys: A 22 sq. km gradient array induced polarization survey collected over 32 gradient blocks each 800 metres x 800 metres optimised around 32 channel receivers, with 25 metre station spacing and 100 metre east-west line spacing was undertaken to map geology and mineralizing structure. 1.7 sq. km offset dipole-dipole induced polarization over the Welcome Group area following up a gradient array IP chargeability anomaly. A 58 sq. km LiDAR survey flown and was used to map geology and target old workings, with over 40,000 hard rock and alluvial working being identified using machine learning from the survey from the Redcastle tenement area. An Optech Galaxy sensor was employed to gather the data from 950 metre elevation, delivering swath widths of 580 metres. The laser pulse rate was of the order of 500 kHz. The quality of the ground return data was high with ground return averaging 12-15 points per metre and as a result, the LiDAR images enabled location of unknown old workings and interpretation of rock types, bedding and structures. Mandalay Resources' Costerfield mine and exploration leases are located 2km south of Mawson Victoria' Redcastle EL5546. Costerfield is the target model sought at Redcastle. The Costerfield mine corridor contains 2 million ounces of equivalent gold (pers. comm. Mandalay Q3 2021 Results), and in 2020 was the sixth highest-grade global underground mine and a top 5 global producer of antimony. Average drill hole widths and grades at Costerfield are: Brunswick lode (0.7m @ 9.0 g/t Au and 4.0% Sb), Youle lode (0.4 metres @ 47.7 g/t Au and 11.4% Sb), Kendal Splay (0.3 m @ 92.8 g/t Au and 41.3% Sb) and Peacock lode (0.4m @ 13.0 g/t Au and 6.0% Sb). The average vein width at Augusta is 0.3 m, while the Cuffley lode averaged 0.4 m. Average mined widths at Costerfield are 2.0 metres( Mandalay Technical Report, 2021 ). Mawson Victoria, Southern Cross Gold and Nagambie Resources All work at Redcastle over the last 18 months has been undertaken by Mawson Victoria. Mawson Victoria was recently transferred from Mawson Gold Ltd to Southern Cross as part of a larger internal reorganization. Southern Cross is working towards a proposed IPO on the ASX. Mawson currently holds 93,750,000 ordinary shares of Southern Cross or 84.62% of Southern Cross' issued shares after recently raising A$2.725 million privately into Southern Cross to fund ongoing exploration and IPO costs. Mawson Victoria is party to an Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Nagambie Resources Limited (" Nagambie ") for the Redcastle JV tenements. Mawson Victoria has an option over 70% of the Redcastle properties subject to undertaking A$1 million exploration by March 25, 2025, following which a joint venture between the parties will be formed. Nagambie may then contribute its 30% share of further exploration expenditures or, if it chooses to not contribute, dilute its interest. Should Nagambie's interest be reduced to less than 5.0%, it will be deemed to have forfeited its interest in the joint venture to Mawson Victoria in exchange for a 1.5% net smelter return royalty (" NSR ") on gold revenue. Should Nagambie be granted the NSR, Mawson Victoria will have the right to acquire the NSR for A$4,000,000. As of the date of this news release, Mawson Victoria has formally earnt 50% and has also provided Nagambie notice of achieving its 70% earn in and the companies will proceed to form a joint venture. Technical and Environmental Background: Tables 1-3 provide collar and assay data. The true thickness of the mineralized interval is interpreted to be approximately 60% of the sampled thickness. All drill results quoted have a lower cut of 0.3 g/t Au cut over a 2.0 metre width, with higher grades reported with a 5 g/t Au cut over 1.0 metre applied unless otherwise stated. Lab duplicates demonstrate that mineralization is homogenous with a low nugget effect evident. A diamond drill rig from contractor Starwest Pty Ltd was used in the program. Core diameter is HQ (63.5 mm) and oriented with excellent core recoveries averaging close to 100% in both oxidized and fresh rock. After photographing and logging in Mawson Victoria's core logging facilities in Nagambie, intervals were diamond sawn in half by Mawson Victoria personnel. Half core is retained for verification and reference purposes. Analytical samples are transported to the Bendigo facility of On Site Laboratory Services ("On Site") which operates under both an ISO 9001 and NATA quality systems. Samples were prepared and analyzed for gold using the fire assay technique (PE01S method; 25 gram charge), followed by measuring the gold in solution with flame AAS equipment. Samples for multi-element analysis (BM011 and over-range methods as required) use aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS analysis. The QA/QC program of Mawson Victoria consists of the systematic insertion of certified standards of known gold content and blanks within interpreted mineralized rock. In addition, On Site inserts blanks and standards into the analytical process. Qualified Person: Michael Hudson (FAusMM), Executive Chairman and a director of Mawson and Managing Director of Southern Cross, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure or Mineral Projects and has prepared or reviewed the preparation of the scientific and technical information in this press release. About Mawson Gold Limited (TSX:MAW, FRANKFURT:MXR, OTCPINK:MWSNF) Mawson Gold Limited is an exploration and development company. Mawson has distinguished itself as a leading Nordic Arctic exploration company with a focus on the flagship Rajapalot gold-cobalt project in Finland and is well placed to add to its already significant gold-cobalt resource there. Through its 84.62% ownership of Southern Cross Gold Pty Ltd, Mawson has a significant interest in the ownership or JVs of three high-grade, historic epizonal goldfields covering 471 sq km in Victoria, Australia. On behalf of the Board, "Michael Hudson" Michael Hudson, Executive Chairman Further Information www.mawsongold.com 1305 - 1090 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC, V6E 3V7 Mariana Bermudez (Canada), Corporate Secretary, +1 (604) 685 9316, info@mawsongold.com Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Although Mawson believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: believe, expect, anticipate, intend, estimate, postulate, and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Mawson cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, timing and successful completion of exploration and drill programs planned, IPO and listing of Southern Cross Gold's common shares on ASX, capital and other costs varying significantly from estimates, changes in world metal markets, changes in equity markets, the potential impact of epidemics, pandemics or other public health crises, including the current pandemic known as COVID-19 on the Company's business, risks related to negative publicity with respect to the Company or the mining industry in general; planned drill programs and results varying from expectations, delays in obtaining results, equipment failure, unexpected geological conditions, local community relations, dealings with non-governmental organizations, delays in operations due to permit grants, environmental and safety risks, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Mawson's most recent Annual Information Form filed on www.sedar.com . Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Mawson disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Figure 1: Plan location of the Southern Cross Gold's Permit Areas in Victoria Figure 2: Plan location of the Redcastle project immediately along strike from the Costerfield mine corridor, that hosts over 2 million ounces of equivalent gold (pers. Comm. Mandalay Q3 2021 Results). Figure 3: Plan showing significant historic drilling, rock chips and soils and Mawson Victoria's drill location and results. Table 1: Collar information from Mawson Victoria's drilling at the Redcastle Project Coordinate Reference System GDA94, Zone 55 (EPSG:28355) Prospect Hole_ID Easting Northing RL (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) Why Not MDDRE001 305705 5928227 211 221 -51 152.6 Why Not MDDRE002 305694 5928046 219 38 -51 150.1 Pioneer MDDRE003 305734 5929137 209 218 -41 152.7 Pioneer MDDRE004 305789 5929100 210 216 -40 151.8 Mitchell's MDDRE005 306613 5927768 206 234 -51 156.6 Mitchell's MDDRE006 306647 5927731 207 235 -50 205.9 Clarke's MDDRE007 303092 5926683 207 273 -50 254.0 Clarke's MDDRE008 302803 5926752 205 95 -55 251.9 Redcastle North MDDRE009 302595 5928086 198 90 -45 110.4 Redcastle North MDDRE009a 302592 5928086 198 92 -45 100.4 Mullocky MDDRE010 304274 5928322 200 90 -45 143.3 Mullocky MDDRE011 304274 5928322 200 80 -65 153.0 Welcome MDDRE012 306110 5927424 219 37 -50 152.7 Welcome MDDRE013 306453 5927361 217 250 -45 148.7 Beautiful Venus MDDRE014 305444 5926623 220 90 -55 152.5 Clarkes MDDRE015 302904 5926870 210 90 -65 350.3 Note: (1) The true thickness of the mineralized interval is interpreted to be approximately 60-70% of the sampled thickness. Table 2: Intersections from Mawson Victoria's drilling from the Redcastle Project. Intersections are reported with a lower cut of 0.3 g/t Au cut over 1.0 metre width. Drill Hole Prospect from to Interval Au g/t Sb ppm MDDRE001 Why Not 61.3 61.6 0.3 1.4 30 MDDRE001 Why Not 92.6 93.0 0.4 1.6 20 MDDRE003 Pioneer 55.7 55.8 0.1 4.4 200 MDDRE004 Pioneer 40.2 40.6 0.4 2.2 110 MDDRE005 Mitchell's 73.2 73.5 0.2 1.6 70 MDDRE008 Clarke's 148.2 148.3 0.1 7.2 290 MDDRE008 Clarke's 198.5 199.0 0.5 1.4 130 MDDRE009a Redcastle North 51.8 63.0 11.3 0.3 320 including 52.7 52.9 0.3 4.2 11900 MDDRE010 Mullocky 75.7 76.9 1.2 4.3 30 including 76.3 76.9 0.5 9.1 50 MDDRE012 Welcome 121.9 122.3 0.4 2.1 10 SOURCE: Mawson Gold Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689751/Mawson-Update-On-The-Redcastle-Epizonal-Gold-Project-Victoria-Australia CORONA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. (OTCQX:EVTV), a provider of new zero-emission, purpose-built electric vehicles (the "Company"), has announced Osceola, Arkansas as the site of its previously announced state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. The Company has purchased an approximately 580,000 square foot facility, located at 1425 Ohlendorf Road, and hiring for the facility will commence immediately. The manufacturing facility is expected to create more than 800 jobs as well as additional indirect jobs in Mississippi County. Phillip Oldridge, CEO of Envirotech Vehicles, commented, "We are thrilled to announce that we have chosen Osceola as the home of our first U.S.-based manufacturing facility, backed with the support of the Great River Economic Development Foundation and the state of Arkansas. We are confident that Osceola has the perfect business climate and local workforce to allow us to see growth and success in the region as the state's first commercial electric vehicle manufacturer. This, and the plant's location near the Mississippi River with access to the port of Osceola, will be vital as we position EVT to bring new innovation and technology advancements to the state." Envirotech Vehicles purchased the facility from the city of Osceola and intends to initially utilize the plant to handle the final outfitting and shipment of its imported vehicles while simultaneously converting the plant into a full manufacturing operation. The total cost of the project is an estimated investment of more than $80 million within five years, which includes the cost of the building, equipment and other costs. When asked about the impact Envirotech Vehicles will have on sustainable manufacturing in the state, David B. Burritt, U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer said, "As the only LEED certified steel mill in America, U. S. Steel's Big River Steel enthusiastically welcomes Envirotech Vehicles to Arkansas. With forward thinking enterprises such as EVTV, Arkansas is becoming a center for advanced, sustainable manufacturing in the United States. We are pleased to be partnering with Envirotech Vehicles in producing a future that is Best for All." Clif Chitwood, President of the Great River Economic Development Foundation commented, "We have been intently focused on diversifying the economic profile of Mississippi County by attracting companies from new industries. Envirotech has a long history of producing purpose-built electric trucks and vans, and we believe the Company will be a valuable addition to the area, bringing a combination of employment opportunities, including technology, manufacturing and engineering." Sally Wilson, Mayor of Osceola said, "We're pleased to welcome Envirotech Vehicles to our city and believe that their selection of Osceola for the establishment of their U.S. manufacturing operations demonstrates their confidence in our workforce and the economic strength in our area." John Ambler, Vice President Corporate Communications U.S. Steel commented, "As the only LEED certified steel mill in America, U. S. Steel's Big River Steel enthusiastically welcomes Envirotech Vehicles to Arkansas. With forward thinking enterprises such as EVT, Arkansas is becoming a center for advanced, sustainable manufacturing in the United States. We are pleased to be partnering with Envirotech Vehicles in producing a future that is best for all." The Envirotech Vehicles' team brings more than 30 years of industry expertise, as well as access to an innovative, growing customer-ready product line of vehicles, systems and green technology that serves last-mile fleets, school districts, public and private transportation service companies and colleges and universities to meet the increasing demand for heavy-duty electric vehicles. The Company is currently manufacturing and delivering three products to customers: Electric Urban Trucks, Electric Logistics Vans and Electric Cutaway Vans. The Company is recruiting for manufacturing, engineering, and other professional positions. For more information, please visitwww.evtvusa.com. For photos, video and more information, please visit bit.ly/EVTVPressKit22. About Envirotech Vehicles Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. is a provider of purpose-built zero-emission electric vehicles focused on reducing the total cost of vehicle ownership and helping fleet operators unlock the benefits of green technology. We serve commercial and last-mile fleets, school districts, public and private transportation service companies and colleges and universities to meet the increasing demand for heavy-duty electric vehicles. Our vehicles address the challenges of traditional fuel price cost instability and local, state and federal environmental regulatory compliance. For more information visit www.evtvusa.com. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release that relate to future plans, events, financial results, prospects or performance are forward-looking statements. While they are based on the current expectations and beliefs of management, such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in this press release, including the risks and uncertainties disclosed in reports filed by Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are available online at www.sec.gov. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements containing the words "planned," "expected," "believes," "strategy," "opportunity," "anticipated," "outlook," "designed," and similar words. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Envirotech Vehicles undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, changed circumstances or unanticipated events. Contact Information Investor Relations Contacts: IMS Investor Relations John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau Telephone: (203) 972-9200 Email: jnesbett@imsinvestorrelations.com Arkansas Press Inquiries Kristen Nicholson, APR Telephone: (501) 350-3658 Email: knicholson@mhpteamsi.com Envirotech Vehicles Christian S. Rodich, Chief Financial Officer Telephone: (951) 407-9860 ext. 1207 Email: sue.e@evtvusa.com.com SOURCE: Envirotech Vehicles, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689764/Envirotech-Vehicles-Announces-Osceola-Arkansas-as-Site-of-its-State-of-the-Art-Manufacturing-Facility MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The Russian ruble traded lower against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, amid an escalation of geopolitical concerns in Eastern Europe, following Russia's deployment of troops to the two breakaway republics in Ukraine. After recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to these areas to uphold the peace. The White House said that new sanctions on Russia include prohibiting 'new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in' the two breakaway regions. The Russian ruble dipped to nearly a 2-year low of 80.97 against the greenback from Monday's close of 80.36. If the currency slides further, it may find support around the 82.00 level. Copyright(c) 2022 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. Today, Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) announced long-term lease placements for nine new Boeing 737 aircraft with Corendon Airlines Group. Five new 737-8 aircraft are confirmed to deliver to Corendon Airlines (Turkey) in Spring 2022 and one new 737-8 will deliver to the Turkish airline in the first quarter of 2023. Corendon Airlines Group will lease three new 737-9 aircraft that are scheduled to deliver to the airline starting in the first half of 2023. All nine 737 aircraft will deliver from ALC's orderbook with Boeing. "ALC is a major lessor to the Corendon Airlines Group with three operating airlines in the Netherlands, Malta and Turkey, and we are pleased to announce these lease placements today," said Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corporation. "These nine new Boeing 737 aircraft offer the most modern, fuel-efficient new technology that will greatly enhance Corendon's overall fleet operations and passenger experience." "We appreciate and thank ALC for the long-time cooperation and fleet support," said Yildiray Karaer, Chairman of the Corendon Group. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission About Air Lease Corporation (NYSE: AL) ALC is a leading aircraft leasing company based in Los Angeles, California that has airline customers throughout the world. ALC and its team of dedicated and experienced professionals are principally engaged in purchasing commercial aircraft and leasing them to its airline customers worldwide through customized aircraft leasing and financing solutions. ALC routinely posts information that may be important to investors in the "Investors" section of ALC's website at www.airleasecorp.com. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to consult the ALC website regularly for important information about ALC. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, ALC's website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release. About Corendon Airlines Group Established in the Netherlands in the early 2000s, Corendon is an international tourism group specializing in air transportation. Corendon Airlines, which has three different registered airlines including Turkey, the Netherlands, and Malta, carries more than ten million passengers a year through its tourist flights from Europe to popular holiday destinations as well as direct flights from Europe to many cities of Anatolia. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005568/en/ Contacts: Investors: Mary Liz DePalma Vice President, Investor Relations Email: investors@airleasecorp.com Jason Arnold Assistant Vice President, Finance Email: investors@airleasecorp.com Media: Laura Woeste Senior Manager, Media and Investor Relations Email: press@airleasecorp.com Ashley Arnold Manager, Media and Investor Relations Email: press@airleasecorp.com MORRISTOWN (dpa-AFX) - British drug major AstraZeneca is joining with U.S. Technology major Honeywell to develop next-generation respiratory inhalers that use near-zero global warming potential or GWP propellants to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD. The new inhalers are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of propellant by up to 99.9 percent compared to the current inhaler propellant. Millions of patients with asthma and COPD need inhaled medicines, and many use pressurised metered dose inhalers or pMDIs that contain small quantities of a type of GHG which acts as the propellant to deliver the medicine into the lungs. AstraZeneca will incorporate Honeywell's Solstice Air, which uses the propellant HFO-1234ze that has up to 99.9 percent less GWP than propellants currently used in respiratory medicines. Solstice Air is the only non-flammable, near zero GWP propellant available and in clinical development at present for pMDIs used by the patients. AstraZeneca said it will extend ties with Honeywell to develop their triple-combination therapy, Breztri Aerosphere, using Honeywell's near-zero GWP propellant technology. The partnership is based on latest positive results from the first in-human Phase I trial of the GWP propellant HFO-1234ze in a pMDI. The trial of HFO-1234ze in a pMDI containing budesonide, glycopyrronium, formoterol fumarate in healthy adults demonstrated similar safety, tolerability and systemic exposure of the active ingredients when compared to Breztri Aerosphere. AstraZeneca expects Breztri to be the first medicine to transition to this new pMDI platform. In addition to offering next-generation pMDIs, AstraZeneca will continue offering dry powder inhaled medicines. Honeywell's Solstice technology helps customers lower their greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency without sacrificing end-product performance. The product line includes refrigerants for supermarkets, air conditioning for cars and trucks, blowing agents for insulation, propellants for personal and household care and solvents for cleaning solutions. The company noted that customers utilizing Solstice technology have avoided potential release of the equivalent of more than 250 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is equal to eliminating the potential emissions from more than 52 million cars for one year. AstraZeneca also announced that all its imported electricity now comes from renewable sources. In its annual Sustainability Report, which demonstrates progress on its flagship sustainability programme Ambition Zero Carbon, the company said it has achieved a 59 percent reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas or GHG emissions since 2015, including the integration of Alexion's GHG footprint. AstraZeneca's plan is to be zero carbon across global operations by the end of 2025 and carbon negative across entire value chain by 2030. The company, whose net zero targets are verified by the Science Based Targets initiative or SBTi in line with their Corporate Net Zero Standard, aims for 95 percent of its key suppliers and partners to have science-based targets by the end of 2025. Honeywell also aims to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX ASTRAZENECA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de Long before his starring role in No Exit, actor David Rysdahl made his entrance into the film industry by moving to New York City. The Harlem resident arrived in the Big Apple in 2009 after growing up in the small city of New Ulm, Minn., and briefly working in public health in Guatemala. Advertisement His interest in acting exploded after he left Guatemala in search of a career change and was cast in a stage production at the Great River Shakespeare Festival in Winona, Minn. I went and played Laertes in Hamlet, and I just had the best time, Rysdahl told the Daily News. One of the actors was like, You should go to New York. They were from New York and I was like, Yeah, why not? I had fallen in love with Bob Dylan, whos from Minnesota and had gone to New York also. I was like, Let me just see what life is. Advertisement Rysdahl starred in dozens of short films during his first eight years in New York. He more recently became a familiar face in feature-length movies, including Cathy Yans acclaimed 2018 comedy-drama Dead Pigs and last years supernatural Nine Days. His latest movie is the thriller No Exit, out Friday on Hulu, which centers on five strangers who get stranded by a blizzard at a remote rest stop. The tension grows after its revealed someone abducted a young girl and trapped her in a van in the parking lot. David Rysdahl at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. (RICH POLK/Getty Images for IMDb) Rysdahl portrays the hot-headed Lars, whom the actor describes as the consummate outsider. Right away, hes pretty off-putting, but you kind of understand why as you go through the movie, Rysdahl said. Theres a lot of heart to Lars, which I feel like people dont really see right away. I think that will come out as the movie progresses. Rysdahl says it was important to keep his performance grounded and not turn Lars into a stereotype or a joke. The film is adapted from a 2017 novel by Taylor Adams, and features a story Rysdahl believes audiences can relate to. I think people can empathize with that situation, Rysdahl said. Its not a supernatural thing. Its not ghosts. Its not demons. Its people, and thats what makes it so real and scary, in a way. [ No Exit star Havana Rose Liu says thriller about stranded strangers and a kidnapping will have viewers on edge of your seat ] A scene from "No Exit," which arrives Friday on Hulu. (20th Century Studios/20th Century Studios) In addition to his work on the screen, Rysdahl started a production company called Sleepy Poppy shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic with his life partner, actress Zazie Beetz, who stars in the FX series Atlanta and in movies such as Joker and The Harder They Fall. Zazie and I both grew up in the industry, kind of approaching it collaboratively, Rysdahl said. Sometimes as an actor you come in, do a job, and its over. Theres so much more on that bone. I want to be in the editing room. I want to help put it together beforehand. Advertisement Rysdahl said he and Beetz have about seven projects in preproduction that they plan to release through Sleepy Poppy over the next two years. She and I started coming into it as producers and saying, Can we support the voices that we care about? Rysdahl said. Can we create the stories and have a little bit more room at the table to be a part of that? Thats kind of what the impetus was behind it. NES ZIONA, Israel, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EyeYon Medical, a leading start-up company that develops innovative ophthalmic medical devices, announces Dr. Bakalash as Chief Medical Officer of EyeYon Medical. Dr. Bakalash is a seasoned biotechnology entrepreneur and an ophthalmic surgeon with more than two decades of demonstrated leadership in business, science, and medicine. Dr. Bakalash comments: "I am excited about being a part of a dedicated team focused on the development of both the revolutionary EndoArt - a first of its kind synthetic corneal endothelium, and the HyperCL. I look forward to applying my experience in clinical development and medical affairs to show how these cutting-edge technologies answer age-old unmet needs in anterior segment surgeries." Nahum Ferera, CEO & Co-Founder of EyeYon Medical said: "I am honored to have Dr. Sharon Bakalash as a leader for our global clinical activity, after successful demonstration of both safety and efficacy of the innovative EndoArt & HyperCL, the upcoming years will include extensive clinical activity. There is no better person than Sharon to lead these breakthrough innovations. I've known Sharon for years and her experience, professionalism, and personality is a perfect match for EyeYon Medical's multi-talented team." Before this step in, Dr. Bakalash headed several biotechnology companies in the ophthalmic space, including TissueGen - a drug delivery company located in Dallas, Texas. She also served as the chief medical officer of Beyeonics Surgical and Beyeonics Vision for several years and is the founder of SB Strategic Development Consultants Group, which provides clinical development, strategic planning and business development guidance. During these stints, she's worked closely with start-ups, venture funds, and global pharma companies, across the pharmaceutical, drug delivery and surgical device arenas. Prior to that, Dr. Bakalash served in various roles of increased responsibilities within the pharmaceutical industry. In her last role at Novartis, she was responsible for the US early development portfolio for both Ophthalmology and ENT-forming development strategies, enabling pipeline enrichment from both external and internal innovation. Earlier on, she headed business development at Alcon, where she evaluated, negotiated, and oversaw numerous transactions - spanning acquisitions, joint ventures, and a wide variety of co-development frameworks. Dr. Bakalash was a part of the Harvard University Office of Technology Development (http://otd.harvard.edu/), out-licensing innovations stemming from the medical school. Dr. Bakalash holds an MD from Ben Gurion University, a PhD in Neuroimmunology from the Weizmann Institute of Science, and a business degree from Northeastern University. Dr. Bakalash has also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Harvard University. About EyeYon Medical EyeYon Medical is a start-up company developing a variety of ophthalmic products for vision-threatening conditions. EyeYon Medical's flagship product is an Artificial Endothelial Layer - EndoArt, a synthetic implant, attached to the posterior corneal surface to treat chronic corneal edema secondary to endothelial dysfunction. EyeYon Medical also developed the HyperCL, an FDA-approved unique contact lens that acts as a premium therapeutic contact lens for a variety of corneal conditions which require eye drop treatment. For more information, please visit EyeYon Medical. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1747360/Dr_Sharon_Bakalash.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1086508/EyeYon_Medical_Logo.jpg Contact: Nahum Ferera info@eye-yon.com www.eye-yon.com NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Demand for plant-based milk products is increasing, which has also led to higher investment opportunities in the business. Plant-based milk companies are expanding their business in more territories and are also focusing on offering innovative product lines. Consumers' rapid inclination toward dairy-free products has created beneficial investment opportunities for major players. Hence, increasing investment activities in the plant-based milk business is one of the key driving factors for the coconut milk market. For instance, in January 2020, Califia Farms, a plant-based milk producer, announced the completion of its largest private capital raising. The company acquired a US$ 225 million of series D funding, which is led by the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Investors include the Green Monday Ventures, Claridge, Temasek, and others. Coconut milk products are also gaining rapid traction among foodservice providers, as consumers are also seeking plant-based food in restaurants and cafes. Coconut milk is expected replace a whole lot of dairy milk in the foodservice industry. Coconut milk, rice milk, and others are becoming perfect replacements for diary milk. Coconut milk is ideal for cooking & baking, and gives food a delicious aroma. It is majorly used in all kinds of dishes such as curries, soups, smoothies, and others. Moreover, a thin texture of coconut milk makes it a suitable option for many cuisines, and is considered a healthy beneficial milk for cooking. The McCormick & Company offers coconut milk products under its Thai Kitchen brand, especially for the foodservice industry. Overall, the global coconut milk market is set to witness growth at a value CAGR of 8.5% over the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. Request for the sample copy of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/32487 Key Takeaways from Market Study The market for coconut milk is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% in South Asia through 2032. through 2032. Market shares of South Asia and Oceania are 17.2% and 6.7%, respectively, in 2022. and Oceania are 17.2% and 6.7%, respectively, in 2022. The Europe coconut milk market is currently pegged at 148,011 tons. coconut milk market is currently pegged at 148,011 tons. Growing consumer preference for healthy and nutritious food products is driving the sales of coconut milk across the world. Based on nature, demand for organic coconut milk is expected to increase at a CAGR of 9%. Although by flavor, unsweetened coconut milk holds the highest market share, sales of sweetened coconut milk are set to increase at a CAGR of 8.9%. COVID-19 disrupted the supply chain of coconut milk, due to which, the market was affected. However, it is expected to witness significant growth going ahead with increasing consumer demand for healthy and nutritious food products. Know the methodology of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/32487 "Manufacturer are offering coconut milk products with diverse flavors and varieties. With the utilization of advanced ingredients and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, companies are providing pioneering solutions in regards with coconut milk," says a Persistence Market Research analyst. Competitive Landscape Key companies manufacturing coconut milk are majorly focusing on expanding the product portfolios by adding innovative flavors. Manufacturers are also participating in various exhibitions and events around the world to increase awareness about their products. In February 2020 , Vitasoy International Holdings Limited launched 12 special edition drink packs of nutritious protein-rich soy milk. The company launched these products on its 80th anniversary. Product varieties include Classic VITASOY, Malt VITASOY, Low Sugar VITASOY, and Low Sugar Malt VITASOY. , Vitasoy International Holdings Limited launched 12 special edition drink packs of nutritious protein-rich soy milk. The company launched these products on its 80th anniversary. Product varieties include Classic VITASOY, Malt VITASOY, Low Sugar VITASOY, and Low Sugar Malt VITASOY. In 2017, Nestle launched a new range of almond and coconut milk products, especially for coffee, under the brand name Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss. Get full access of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/32487 Explore More Valuable Insights Persistence Market Research, in its new report, offers an impartial analysis of the global coconut milk market, presenting historical data (2016-2020) and estimation statistics for the forecast period of 2021-2031. The study offers compelling insights based on nature (organic, conventional), product type (full fat coconut milk, low far coconut milk, coconut milk cream, coconut milk powder), flavor (sweetened, unsweetened), end use (food & beverages, foodservice, retail/household, others), and distribution channel (business to business, business to consumer), across seven major regions of the world. Related Reports: South Africa UHT Milk Market Milk Protein Concentrate Market MENA Infant Milk Formula Market About Persistence Market Research: Persistence Market Research (PMR), as a 3rd-party research organization, does operate through an exclusive amalgamation of market research and data analytics for helping businesses ride high, irrespective of the turbulence faced on the account of financial/natural crunches. Overview: Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies'/clients' shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part. Contact Rajendra Singh Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 +1-646-568-7751 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661339/Persistence_Market_Research.jpg Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - C3 Metals Inc. (TSXV: CCCM) (OTCQB: CUAUF) ("C3 Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that further to the Company's press release of August 16, 2021, the Company has purchased back the remaining 0.5% net smelter returns royalty (the "NSR") on the Company's Main Ridge and Hungry Gully properties located in Jamaica. Consideration for the NSR purchase is US$25,000 payable to Rodinia Resources Pty Ltd. Kevin Tomlinson, C3 Metals' CEO, stated, "As we move forward with our near-term drill program in Jamaica, we are pleased to have removed the remaining royalties from our Main Ridge and Hungry Gully copper-gold properties." For additional information, contact: Kevin Tomlinson President & CEO ktomlinson@c3metals.com Alec Rowlands Vice President, Investor Relations +1 416 572 2512 arowlands@c3metals.com ABOUT C3 METALS INC. C3 Metals Inc. is a junior minerals exploration company focused on creating substantive value for its shareholders through the discovery and development of large copper and gold deposits. The Company's flagship project is the 57km2 Jasperoide high-grade copper-gold skarn and porphyry system located in the prolific Andahuaylas-Yauri Porphyry-Skarn belt of Southern Peru. Mineralization at Jasperoide is hosted in a similar geological setting to the nearby major mining operations at Las Bambas (MMG), Constancia (Hudbay) and Antapaccay (Glencore). C3 Metals also holds a 100% interest in five licenses covering 207km2 of highly prospective copper-gold terrain in Jamaica and a 2% royalty in Tocvan's Rogers Creek project. Related Link: www.c3metals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution 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 belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the exploration operations of the Company and the timing which could be affected by the current global COVID-19 pandemic. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Although such statements are based on reasonable assumptions of the Company's management, there can be no assurance that any conclusions or forecasts will prove to be accurate. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect. 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 risks inherent in the exploration and development of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined, risks relating to variations in grade or recovery rates, risks relating to changes in mineral prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of minerals, risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, and regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114403 Accomplished sales leader will provide strategic insight as Bombardier grows its customer base MONTREAL, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier is pleased to announce the appointment of Christophe Degoumois, a former senior sales leader with the company, to the role of independent Executive Advisor, assisting the management team in strategic projects. Mr. Degoumois, who until recently was Vice President, Sales, International, at Bombardier, has over 17 years of experience with the company, and played a key role in instilling its customer-centric culture. "The business aviation industry continues to perform well and to attract interest from around the world," said Eric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier. "Christophe will bring valuable strategic insight to our leadership team as Bombardier executes its plan toward 2025 growth objectives, in this new era as a company focused on designing, delivering and servicing the world's best business jets." Bombardier's leading portfolio of Challenger and Global business jets is well positioned to meet a growing demand for business aviation. Bombardier aircraft are sought-after around the world thanks to their performance, unmatched cabin experience and smooth ride. About Bombardier Bombardier is a global leader in aviation, focused on designing, manufacturing and servicing the world's most exceptional business jets. Bombardier's Challenger and Global aircraft families are renowned for their cutting-edge innovation, cabin design, performance and reliability. Bombardier has a worldwide fleet of approximately 5,000 aircraft in service with a wide variety of multinational corporations, charter and fractional ownership providers, governments and private individuals. Bombardier aircraft are also trusted around the world in special-mission roles. Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Bombardier operates aerostructure, assembly and completion facilities in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The company's robust customer support network includes facilities in strategic locations in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, the UAE, Singapore, China and an Australian facility opening in 2022. For corporate news and information, including Bombardier's Environmental, Social and Governance report, visit bombardier.com. Learn more about Bombardier's industry-leading products and customer service network at businessaircraft.bombardier.com. Follow us on Twitter @Bombardier. Bombardier, Challenger and Global are registered or unregistered trademarks of Bombardier Inc or its subsidiaries. For Information Louise Solomita Bombardier 514-855-5001, ext. 25148 Louise.Solomita@aero.bombardier.com All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated PLANO, Texas, DOHA, Qatar, and TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIT (the "company"), together with its founding management and Onex Corporation ("Onex") (TSX: ONEX), today announced that Qatar Investment Authority ("QIA"), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, through its affiliates, has agreed to acquire a minority interest in AIT, the world's largest provider of factory automation to the aerospace, defense, and space launch sectors. The transaction is expected to close in 2022, subject to regulatory conditions and approvals. QIA will acquire its interest in AIT through a combination of primary capital and partial sales by the company's two existing shareholders, AIT's founding management team and Onex Partners IV. Following the transaction, all three parties will assume minority joint ownership of the company. "QIA is among the world's most sophisticated investors. We've been deliberate in our choice of partner and are excited for this next chapter in our history," commented Ed Chalupa, AIT's Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "AIT is emerging from the pandemic with the highest quality contracted backlog in its history. Our ability to attract high quality investors is testament to the critical role automation technology is playing in restoring factory production rates, easing cost pressures and enabling industry product launches after a two-year pandemic disruption." Mr. Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer of QIA, said: "We continue to target value added growth businesses in automation and productivity enhancing industries globally. We're excited to partner with AIT, as it looks to address demand post pandemic, while exploring new avenues for innovation in space launch and urban air mobility." About AIT Headquartered in Plano, TX, Advanced Integration Technology. About QIA Qatar Investment Authority. About Onex Founded in 1984, Onex manages and invests capital on behalf of its shareholders, institutional investors and high net worth clients from around the world. Onex' platforms include: Onex Partners, private equity funds focused on mid- to large-cap opportunities in North America and Western Europe; ONCAP, private equity funds focused on middle market and smaller opportunities in North America; Onex Credit, which manages primarily non-investment grade debt through tradeable, private and opportunistic credit strategies as well as actively managed public equity and public credit funds; and Gluskin Sheff's wealth management services. In total, as of September 30, 2021, Onex has approximately $47 billion of assets under management, of which approximately $7.9 billion is its own investing capital. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Boston and London, Onex and its experienced management teams are collectively the largest investors across Onex' platforms. Onex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex' security filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. Advisors Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are serving as financial advisors to AIT and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and White & Case LLP are serving as its legal advisors. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor to QIA. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain, without limitation, statements concerning possible or assumed future operations, performance or results preceded by, followed by or that include words such as "believes", "expects", "potential", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" and words of similar connotation, which would constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve significant and diverse risks and uncertainties that may cause actual operations, performance or results to be materially different from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by Canadian securities law, Onex is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or other factors. These cautionary statements expressly qualify all forward-looking statements in this press release. For Further Information: VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Goodbody Health Inc. (CSE:GDBY) (OTCQB:GDBYF) ("Goodbody Health" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has moved up a tier from the over the counter market ("OTC") pink market to the OTCQB market. Goodbody Health welcomes the increased compliance and scrutiny that demonstrates the governance of the group and allows it to be more visible to larger investors. As a verified market with efficient access to U.S. investors, OTCQB helps companies build shareholder value with a goal of enhancing liquidity and achieving fair valuation. It gives companies the flexibility to control reporting costs and complexity, while still providing investors with a premium market for their securities. The OTCQB platform enables companies to provide current public information that investors need to analyze, value and trade a security, with convenient trading through an investors preferred broker or financial advisor, transparent pricing with real-time quotes, and trusted disclosure. Geremy Thomas, Executive Chairman, said; "This move to a higher tier of the OTC demonstrates our ability, and wish, to be part of a regulated but flexible market to offer the best environment for our US investor base." The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Marc Howells Chief Executive Officer Goodbody Health Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.com www.goodbodyhealth.com Anne Tew Chief Financial Officer Goodbody Health Inc. +44 (0) 20 7971 1255 enquiries@goodbodyhealth.com www.goodbodyhealth.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Goodbody Health's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or 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" "plan is" or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur", "will be achieved" or "shortly". Although Goodbody Health believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this press release, and Goodbody Health does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. SOURCE: Goodbody Health Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689722/Goodbody-Health-Announces-Moves-up-to-OTCQB VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Legend Power Systems Inc. (TSXV:LPS)(OTCQB:LPSIF) ("Legend Power" or the "Company"), a global leader in commercial electrical system solutions, today announced it will release its Q1 2022 financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2021, on Friday, February 25, 2022. The Company has also scheduled a conference call to provide a business update and discuss its Q1 2022 financial results for Friday, February 25, 2022 at 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT). The call will be hosted by Randy Buchamer, President & Chief Executive Officer. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS: DATE: Friday, February 25, 2022 TIME: 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT) DIAL-IN NUMBERS: North America Toll Free Dial-in Number (877) 201-0168 International Dial-in Number - (647) 788-4901 ONLINE LISTENING https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=928DF40A-D3CD-478A-AEDD-C87DF875DF32 CONFERENCE ID: 6857157 REPLAY: Available at: www.legendpower.com About Legend Power Systems Inc. Legend Power Systems Inc. (www.legendpower.com) provides an intelligent energy management platform that analyzes and improves building energy challenges, significantly impacting asset management and corporate performance. Legend's proven solutions support proactive executive decision-making in a complex and volatile business and energy environment. For further information, please contact: Sean Peasgood, Investor Relations + 1 647 503 1054 sean@sophiccapital.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements other than as may be required by applicable law. SOURCE: Legend Power Systems Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689383/Legend-Power-Schedules-Q1-2022-Financial-Results-Release-and-Conference-Call WHITE ROCK, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / TDG Gold Corp. (TSXV:TDG) (the "Company" or "TDG") is pleased to report a 194 metre ("m") drill intercept (Figure 1) of 1.10 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au") and 25 g/t silver ("Ag") [1.41 g/t AuEq*] spanning the JM and Creek Zones (Figure 2) at TDG's former producing Shasta project in the Toodoggone District, B.C. DDH SH21-026 intersected: 194 m of 1.10 g/t Au and 25 g/t Ag from 33.5 m depth Figure 1. Schematic cross-section of drillhole SH21-026 displaying continuity of downhole mineralization including mineralized material before and after the main composite of 194 m. *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. Composite results were built using a 0.1 g/t AuEq cut-off, although there are intervals within the composites below 0.1g/t AuEq. "These assay results from drillhole 26 of our 2021 exploration program at Shasta are very important because they confirm continuity of mineralization between the two mineralized zones (Figure 2) that were historically mined on a small scale," commented Steven Kramar, TDG's BC Program Lead/Senior Geologist. Figure 2. Plan view of the JM and Creek Zone(s). "Our exploration concept at Shasta from the outset was that significant widths of medium to lower grade gold and silver mineralization, hosted in breccia and stockwork, occur as halos contiguous to the higher-grade pods and veins. The depth from surface perpendicular to the end of hole 26 is approximately 170 m to 175 m vertical, which makes this one of the deepest holes ever drilled at Shasta. It's still early days for us at Shasta, but we're very pleased and excited by what we've seen and learned so far, as we look to define a potentially bulk mineable gold and silver deposit." Other key intercepts in the 2021 drilling within the cross-section window are summarised in Table 1 and presented on cross-section, along drillhole SH21-026; Figure 3. A complete assay table of results for drillhole SH21-026 can also be viewed on the TDG Gold Corp. website (link). Figure 3. Cross-section of JM/Creek Zone(s). This section displays adjacent drillholes 10 m in front and behind drillhole SH21-026 along section line. Assay results were received from SGS Labs Canada ("SGS"). Internal QA/QC review by TDG, working with Moose Mountain Technical Services ("MMTS"), is ongoing and therefore results are still considered preliminary. Drillhole SH21-026 intersected variably silicified, potassic-altered plagioclase phyric crystal tuffs and lithic tuffs. Quartz/quartz carbonate veining was variable: from sparse parallel vein sets, multi-generational cross cutting composite veining to complete hydrothermal brecciation. Generally, intensity of quartz veining is indicative of higher concentrations of mineralization, but is not always the case. The dominant sulphide assemblage is pyrite and vein hosted acanthite. Photo 1 presents an example of vein style and mineralization; in this case, higher concentrations of precious metals correlate to intensity of quartz veining/brecciation (from 56 m to 57.5 m; 3.91 g/t Au & 251 g/t Ag). Photo 1. Mineralization encountered in drillhole SH21-026 from 51.81 - 58.08 m; calculated composite (absolute, no cut off) through 53.1 m - 57.5 m (4.4 m) 1.63 g/t Au, 102.7 g/t Ag, 2.91 g/t AuEq*. Drillhole SH21-026 was planned to twin historical hole SH87-23 and also to confirm mineralization past the final depth of SH87-23 across the width of the deposit westerly from the JM Zone to the Creek Zone into the Shasta Fault. The drillhole intersected a long, broad width of mineralization throughout the whole section of the conceptual pit (defined by historical data), including some low-grade mineralization after the Shasta Fault (on the hanging wall side) at approximately 267 m downhole. Table 1. Significant Results from the 2021 Drilling in the JM/Creek Zone(s) SH21-026 Section. Drillhole From To Length Au Ag AuEq* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH21-025 60.8 134.5 73.7 1.06 29 1.43 incl 67.5 79.5 12.0 3.42 93 4.57 incl 126.0 134.5 8.5 0.95 13 1.11 SH21-026 33.5 227.5 194.0 1.10 25 1.41 incl 122.6 142.0 19.4 2.03 41 2.55 incl 124.0 125.5 1.5 21.31 359 25.80 incl 214.0 223.0 9.0 8.40 25 8.72 incl 217.0 218.5 1.5 39.63 53 40.29 *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. Composite results were built using a 0.1 g/t AuEq cut-off, although there are intervals within the composites below 0.1g/t AuEq. ** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width is estimated between 75 to 95 % of core length, and core recovery is calculated to be > 90 %. ***Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and the nearest whole number for Ag. Significant intercepts from historical holes adjacent to SH21-026 are presented in Table 2. All 2021 drillholes were HQ sized drill core; historical core are NQ/BQ core size. Particulars for 2021 drillholes (location, depth, etc.)are presented in Table 3. Table 2. Significant Historical Results from the JM to Creek Zone. Hole % From To Length Au Ag AuEq** Assayed* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH83-07 66 20.0 57.3 37.3 1.2 44.3 1.70 SH87-11 72 61.4 92.3 30.9 1.83 106 3.16 SH87-23 92 32.9 88.7 55.8 0.86 36 1.32 SH88-04 42 8.6 9.2 0.6 0.99 52 1.64 64.8 67.9 3.1 0.95 1 0.96 150.7 151.7 1.0 1.03 3 1.07 SH88-16 42 68.5 105.8 37.3 1.10 26 1.43 SH91-07 19 82.0 99.4 17.4 0.97 37 1.44 113.1 119.5 6.4 0.75 17 0.96 SH91-09 12 78.3 79.9 1.5 1.09 45 1.66 84.4 88.7 4.3 0.68 31 1.06 SH06-22 31 29.3 41.2 11.9 1.15 25 1.46 43.3 50.3 7.0 1.02 45 1.58 * "% Assayed" is the assayed portion of the drillhole in the historical database compared to total length **Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. *** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width from historical core is unknown. **** Composites are constructed using available data, and a AuEq cut off of 0.25 g/t AuEq. However, there may be intervals within that are below 0.25 g/t AuEq. Table 3. 2021 Drillhole Particulars. HOLE UTME (NAD83) UTMN (NAD83) Azimuth() Dip() Final Depth (m) SH21-025 620,867 6,347,495 90 -57 176 SH21-026 621,023 6,347,534 240 -44 279 SH21-031 620,849 6,347,459 90 -58 172 SH21-039 620,935 6,347,495 90 -65 140 QA/QC Samples for the Shasta 2021 drill program followed chain of custody between collection, processing and delivery to an SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. The drill cores were delivered to the core shack at TDG's Baker Mine site, and processed by geologists who inserted certified reference materials, blanks and duplicates (pulp and coarse) into the sampling sequence. The 2021 drill core was cut in half (1/2 HQ core) and placed in zip-tied polyurethane bags, then in security-sealed rice bags before being delivered directly from the Baker Mine site, to Bandstra Transportation Systems in Prince George, B.C., and ultimately to the SGS laboratory in Burnaby, B.C. Samples were prepared and analyzed following procedures summarized in Table 4, where information about methodology can be found on the SGS Canada Website, in the analytical guide (here). Table 4. Au and Ag Analytical Methods. Drillhole Prep Method Au Method Ag Method Au-Overlimit Method Ag-Overlimit SH21-025 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH21-026 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH07-13 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH07-14 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V SH07-14 PRP89 GO_FAI50V10 GE_IMS40Q12 N/A GO_FAG37V Table 5. Comprehensive Composite Results from Drillhole SH21-026. Drillhole From To Length Au Ag AuEq* (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) (g/t) SH21-026 6 33.5 27.5 0.15 7.6 0.24 SH21-026 33.5 103.5 70 0.80 39.6 1.30 SH21-026 103.5 122.61 19.11 0.15 14.9 0.34 SH21-026 122.61 142 19.39 2.03 41.2 2.55 SH21-026 142 160.5 18.5 0.11 7.8 0.21 SH21-026 160.5 227.5 67 1.68 13.8 1.85 SH21-026 227.5 279 51.5 0.12 7.6 0.21 Total Length 273 *Gold equivalent (AuEq) is used for illustrative purposes, to express the combined value of Au and Ag as a percentage of Au. Calculations are uncut and no allowances have been made to accommodate potential recovery losses that would occur in a mining scenario. AuEq is calculated using 80:1 silver to gold ratio. Composite results were built using a 0.1 g/t AuEq cut-off, although there are intervals within the composites below 0.1g/t AuEq. ** Intervals are core-length weighted. True width is estimated between 75 to 95 % of core length, and core recovery is calculated to be > 90 %. ***Calculated composites are truncated to significant 2 digits for Au/AuEq and 1 significant digit for Ag. Quality assurance and control ("QAQC") is maintained internally at the lab through rigorous use of internal certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicates. An additional QAQC program was administered by TDG Gold through the use of certified reference materials ("CRMs"), duplicate samples and blank samples that were blindly inserted into the sample batch. If a QAQC sample returns an unacceptable value an investigation into the results is triggered and when deemed necessary, the samples that were tested in the batch with the failed QAQC sample are re-tested. For the purposes of this press release, results are 'preliminary' and thus have not undergone TDG's comprehensive QAQC investigations. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Steven Kramar, MSc., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. This news release includes historical drilling information that has been reviewed by the Company's geological team. The Company's review of the historical records and information reasonably substantiate the validity of the information presented in this news release; however, the Company cannot directly verify the accuracy of the historical data, including the procedures used for sample collection and analysis. Therefore, the Company encourages investors to exercise appropriate caution when evaluating these results. Further data review is underway, in order to verify the validity of the data for the anticipated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate. About TDG Gold Corp. TDG is a major mineral claim holder in the historical Toodoggone Production Corridor of north-central British Columbia, Canada, with over 23,000 hectares of brownfield and greenfield exploration opportunities under direct ownership or earn-in agreement. TDG's flagship projects are the former producing, high grade gold-silver Shasta, Baker and Mets mines, which are all road accessible, produced intermittently between 1981-2012, and have over 65,000 m of historical drilling. In 2021, TDG advanced the projects through compilation of historical data, new geological mapping, geochemical and geophysical surveys, and, for Shasta, drill testing of the known mineralization occurrences and their extensions. TDG currently has 78,361,085 common shares issued and outstanding. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Fletcher Morgan Chief Executive Officer For further information contact: TDG Gold Corp., Telephone: +1.604.536.2711 Email: info@tdggold.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. This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the Company's current expectations and estimates. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "suggest", "indicate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results implied or expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans to continue to be refined; possible variations in ore grade or recovery rates; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing; and fluctuations in metal prices. There may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. SOURCE: TDG Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689761/TDG-Gold-Corp-Intersects-194-Metres-of-110-gt-Gold-and-25-gt-Silver-Across-the-Creek-and-JM-Zones-Shasta-Project-Toodoggone-District-BC Enterprises can now securely control and manage their IoT cellular-connected devices NETANYA, Israel, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstPoint Mobile Guard, a world leader in cellular cybersecurity, launched its new Protected Cellular Connectivity Suite, built for IoT enterprises. The comprehensive, ultra-secure multi-functional system enables enterprises to securely manage thousands of IoT cellular-connected devices without depending on an operator. The solution reduces costs and boosts operational efficiency at scale, providing complete end-to-end protection over the connected devices with an easy-to-use multi-tenant management interface, all while delivering the best protection against cellular network attacks. Its easy set of API functions allow flexible, customizable configurations for any operational use case. FirstPoint's cellular cybersecurity technology, which is already implemented at several large IoT organizations, MNOs, MVNOs and governmental agencies, gives enterprises robust control and protection with private, isolated services, quick-start connectivity, and complete roaming control. The network-based integrated platform detects, alerts, and blocks different network vulnerabilities and threats such as denial of service, SMS attacks, malware, mobile IP-data attacks, network fraud, and more. "Enterprises now have complete control of their IoT cellular connected devices," said Dror Fixler, Ph.D., CEO of FirstPoint Mobile Guard. "At a time of hyperconnectivity and record levels of cellular hacking, our platform allows enterprises to focus on their business with peace of mind using our ultra-secure protection." FirstPoint Mobile Guard will demonstrate its new Secured connectivity suite at Mobile World Congress, Hall 5, Stand 5H12, February 28-March 3 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona. About FirstPoint Mobile Guard FirstPoint Mobile Guard delivers holistic cellular operations and security solutions, providing comprehensive oversight, control, and protection for any mobile, IoT, or IIoT device. The technologies enable service providers, MVNOs, and large cellular-IoT organizations to fully manage, control, and secure the connectivity of their cellular connected devices for any operational use case. The solutions are fine-tuned for security-sensitive organizations, including enterprises, critical infrastructure, fleets, smart cities, industrial, financial services, governments, military and more. https://www.firstpoint-mg.com/ Media Contact Amy Kenigsberg K2 Global Communications http://k2-gc.com/ amy@k2-gc.com tel: +972-9-794-1681 (+2 GMT) U.S.: +1-913-440-4072 (+7 ET) NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Falesha Homes recently announced new projects for investment opportunities in 2022. The company released exclusive details about three projects: Four Me, Nottinghill, and Hotel VIE, and plans to release more on their official website in the coming months. CEO and Real Estate Broker Falesha Raquel says, "We are committed to providing services to our clients for a better living standard within Ontario." The three projects announced by Falesha Homes are located in different locations and provide various facility benefits to the residents. Four Me are luxury apartments in Scarborough for family living, Nottinghill Cambridge is a project for elite townhomes consisting of 3 site plans, and lastly Hotel VIE, a rare suite ownership opportunity for buyers. With the slogan of "Your Dream, Our Mission!" The company is motivated to provide a luxury experience with maximum facilities to cater to the basic needs of individual and family living standards. Their custom dream home project has also grabbed many people's attention. The team predicts 2022 to be one of the defining moments for the firm. They are optimistic that the current projects will be even more impactful than last year's. Check out new investment opportunities by visiting www.faleshahomes.com or calling 647-888-7772. About: Falesha Homes Inc. is a real estate and construction firm located at 92-8321 Kennedy Rd Markham, Ontario. It follows the vision to empower communities and make their clients' property dreams come true. As a leading real estate development firm, Falesha Homes has also extended its business further by offering services for permits, architectural drawings, construction, design, financing, and the sale or purchase of the property. The firm also focuses on helping people build their custom exterior & interior designed dream homes by working with authentic Falesha contracts and builders. Contact: Falesha Raquel info@falesha.com SOURCE: Falesha Homes View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689776/Falesha-Homes-Announces-Exciting-Investment-Opportunity-Projects-for-2022 There was no turning back for No Exit star Havana Rose Liu once she began reading the freaky thrillers script. The NYU Gallatin graduate remembers being captivated by the movies many twists and turns from the moment she started the story of a recovering drug addict who finds an abducted child after getting stranded during a blizzard. Advertisement I started reading the script at night, which was a horrible choice, Liu told the Daily News. I was actually in bed reading it, and I only planned to read like five minutes of it. I was very tired. I found myself gripping onto my sheets for dear life reading this script and ended up staying up very, very late into the night finishing it. I think thats the experience I still have watching the film. Youre just on the edge of your seat the entire time. Advertisement The movie, out Friday on Hulu, marks the first leading role in a feature film for Liu, who was raised in Brooklyn. Her character, Darby, leaves a California rehab center in a stolen car to see her mother after shes hospitalized. The wicked weather forces Darby to spend the night alongside four strangers at a remote rest stop, where she finds a kidnapped little girl in the back of a van in the parking lot. Havana Rose Liu in "No Exit," out Friday on Hulu. (Kirsty Griffin/Kirsty Griffin) Darby must determine who she can trust as she tries to figure out who abducted the child and how to get her to safety. This movie is jam-packed with surprises that even maybe the most avid thriller-watcher and thrill-seeker would be surprised by, Liu said. This cast is extremely diverse and its not even ... a part of what the film is about. Its inherently people who are complicated and flawed [and have] traits that you really root for. The film serves as an adaptation of a 2017 novel by author Taylor Adams, and is directed by Damien Power. [ No Exit star David Rysdahl on his new suspense movie and how NYC launched his show biz career ] When I read the book versus the movie, they contain all of the same ingredients, all of the same thrills, but in many ways they bake a slightly different cake, Liu said. What I think is exciting about that is that watchers or audience members who did read the book might still be able to be quite excited and surprised by what happens. Liu previously appeared in the 2021 action film Mayday and in the romantic drama The Sky Is Everywhere, which debuted this month. Advertisement Havana Rose Liu stars as Darby in "No Exit." (Photo Credit : Kirsty Griffin/Kirsty Griffin) The actress says it feels exhilarating to ramp up her movie career. I started off as a multimedia artist and performer in other ways, she said. I went into performance art and dance, a little bit of music, essentially the whole hodgepodge, and then I was street-cast for modeling and acting at some point in the past, like, three years. Since then, everything sort of snowballed, and I havent even had a moment to process what that means. No Exit feels particularly relevant in todays society, Liu said. Something about isolation has been on our collective consciousness recently, she said. Maybe it has to do with the pandemic that definitely is part of it but I think the idea of being isolated and being utterly alone and not knowing who to trust or what to do is something that anyone can relate to. Copper production from the first Kamoa Copper's two phases projected to exceed 450,000 tonnes per year by Q2 2023, positioning Kamoa Copper as the world's fourth largest copper producer Construction of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 concentrator almost complete and early-stage commissioning activities underway; first concentrate production expected in April 2022 Engineering and early works for the Phase 3 expansion progressing quickly, with a third, significantly larger concentrator expected to commissioned in Q4 2024 Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Ivanhoe Mines (TSX: IVN) (OTCQX: IVPAF) Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng "Miles" Sun announced that Kamoa Copper has approved a de-bottlenecking plan for Kamoa-Kakula to increase the combined design processing capacity of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants by approximately 21%, to 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year (Mtpa), up from 7.6 Mtpa, once steady-state production is achieved at both concentrators. The de-bottlenecking initiative is expected to increase Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 and Phase 2 annual copper output to more than 450,000 tonnes by Q2 2023 - positioning Kamoa-Kakula as the world's fourth largest copper producer. Mark Farren, Kamoa Copper's CEO, said: "Kamoa-Kakula is blessed with an incredible endowment of high-grade copper resources. Given that our underground mine development and ore production are both progressing well ahead of schedule, the plant expansion will allow the operations team to process significantly more high-grade copper ore directly from the Kakula Mine in the years ahead. "Our orebody has a huge advantage in allowing us to adapt our mining cut-off to mine larger tonnages very efficiently, while maintaining grades above a desired level. The expansion also provides the team with the flexibility to utilize our surface stockpiles, for which the mining is already paid for, that totalled more than 4.4 million tonnes grading 4.61% copper at the end of January." Construction of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2, 3.8-Mtpa concentrator plant almost is complete with early-stage commissioning activities now underway. Hot commissioning of the concentrator with first ore and initial copper concentrate production are both on track for April 2022. Engineering and early works for the Phase 3 expansion, including a new box cut and twin declines to access new mining areas, is progressing quickly. A third, significantly larger concentrator is being designed and is expected to commissioned in Q4 2024. An updated pre-feasibility study, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022. Also underway are early works on a direct-to-blister flash smelter at Kamoa-Kakula that will incorporate leading-edge technology supplied by Metso Outotec of Finland, and have a nameplate capacity of 500,000 tonnes a year of approximately 99%-pure blister copper. The Phase 1 concentrator currently is running at a throughput that is in excess of its 3.8-Mtpa design capacity by more than 22%, with 112% of design throughput achieved in January. Copper recoveries of above 87% also are consistently being achieved that are in excess of design recovery of 85.6%, depending on feed grade, with January's recoveries approximately 2.7% higher. Despite the Phase 1 concentrator incurring significant downtime for critical tie ins and changes required for the commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator, the copper in concentrate produced in January totalled 18,824 tonnes - almost the same as December's record production of 18,853 tonnes. January's impressive operating performance of the Phase 1 concentrator is continuing in February. On February 7th, the concentrator set a new daily ore throughput record with 13,498 tonnes milled. Figure 1: Kamoa-Kakula's base-case, pro-forma copper production (after de-bottlenecking is complete) relative to the world's projected top 10 producing mines in 2022 by paid copper production. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_002full.jpg Source: Company filings, Wood Mackenzie (February 2022). Note: Kamoa-Kakula production of 435 kt paid copper production, or 450 kt copper in concentrate, is based on expected Phase 1 and 2 steady state production, following de-bottlenecking of both Phase 1 and 2 concentrators. Steve Amos, Ivanhoe Mines' Head of Projects, DRC, commented: "After successfully operating the Phase 1 concentrator for more than eight months, we've identified a number of relatively minor modifications to the concentrator that should increase ore throughput from the current design of 475 tonnes per hour to 580 tonnes per hour. These modifications include increasing the diameter of a number of pipes, replacing a number of motors and pumps with larger ones and installing additional flotation, concentrate-thickening, concentrate-filtration and tailings-disposal capacity. "We expect the de-bottlenecking project to cost approximately US$50 million and take approximately 12 months to complete. These modifications will allow the team to consistently operate the concentrator plant at the increased throughput without compromising plant availability, copper recovery or copper concentrate grade. Engineering design is under way and procurement of long-lead items already has started. We expect to be in a position to increase Kamoa-Kakula's combined processing capacity to 9.2 million tonnes of ore a year by Q2 2023." As announced earlier this year, the 2022 production guidance for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate. The figures are on a 100%-project basis and copper reported in concentrate is prior to refining losses or deductions associated with smelter terms. The Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, with the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrator plants circled in red. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_004full.jpg Another view of the Kamoa-Kakula Mining Complex, with the Kakula North ore stockpiles in front and the Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators in the rear. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_005full.jpg Commissioning team observing the delivery of first ore to Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 high-pressure-grinding-rolls (HPGR) stockpile on February 18th. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_006full.jpg Assembly of Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 2 flotation cells now is complete and early-stage commissioning activities are underway. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_007full.jpg Mill operator Rachel Museka, collecting pulp-density samples at Kamoa-Kakula's Phase 1 concentrator. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_008full.jpg Gracia Mbaka Indundu, Senior Operator, at the first two concentrate filter presses, which were supplied by Metso Outotec of Espoo, Finland. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_009full.jpg Priscille Mandandj, Rachel Museka, Esther Kabiz and Flora Kaj Somp, celebrating the completion of construction of the Phase 2 ball mills. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_010full.jpg Excavating crew at Kamoa-Kakula's new box cut for the twin declines that will provide access to the Phase 3 mining areas. (L-R) Katshaba Gracien, Milto Bikos, Nkulu Mwepu, Maseo Kabey, Mandew Jean, and Mutomb Jasue. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_011full.jpg Excavation work is advancing quickly at Kamoa-Kakula's new box cut for the twin declines that will provide access to the Phase 3 mining areas. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3396/114398_b4409b55a44efab4_012full.jpg About the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex Kamoa-Kakula is the world's fastest growing major copper mine. Kamoa-Kakula began operations in May 2021 and produced approximately 106,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate in 2021. Kamoa-Kakula's 2022 production guidance is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate. Based on independent benchmarking, the project's phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world's second-largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes. The Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project is a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines (39.6%), Zijin Mining Group (39.6%), Crystal River Global Limited (0.8%) and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (20%). A 2020 independent audit of Kamoa-Kakula's greenhouse gas intensity metrics performed by Hatch Ltd. of Mississauga, Canada, confirmed that the project will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced. Qualified Persons Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature regarding development scenarios at the Kamoa-Kakula Project in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Steve Amos, who is considered, by virtue of his education, experience and professional association, a Qualified Person under the terms of NI 43-101. Mr. Amos is not considered independent under NI 43-101 as he is Kamoa Copper's Head of Projects. Mr. Amos has verified the technical data disclosed in this news release. Ivanhoe has prepared an independent, NI 43-101-compliant technical report for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, which is available on the company's website and under the company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com: Kamoa-Kakula Integrated Development Plan 2020 dated October 13, 2020, prepared by OreWin Pty Ltd., China Nerin Engineering Co., Ltd., DRA Global, Epoch Resources, Golder Associates Africa, KGHM Cuprum R&D Centre Ltd., Outotec Oyj, Paterson and Cooke, Stantec Consulting International LLC, SRK Consulting Inc., and Wood plc. The technical report includes relevant information regarding the assumptions, parameters and methods of the mineral resource estimates on the Kamoa-Kakula Project cited in this news release, as well as information regarding data verification, exploration procedures and other matters relevant to the scientific and technical disclosure contained in this news release. About Ivanhoe Mines Ivanhoe Mines is a Canadian mining company focused on advancing its three principal projects in Southern Africa: the development of major new, mechanized, underground mines at the Kamoa-Kakula copper discoveries in the Democratic Republic of Congo and at the Platreef palladium-rhodium-platinum-nickel-copper-gold discovery in South Africa; and the extensive redevelopment and upgrading of the historic Kipushi zinc-copper-germanium-silver mine, also in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kamoa-Kakula began producing copper concentrates in May 2021 and, through phased expansions, is positioned to become one of the world's largest copper producers. Kamoa-Kakula is being powered by clean, renewable hydro-generated electricity and is projected to be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of metal produced. Ivanhoe Mines has pledged to achieve net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1 and 2) at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Mine. Ivanhoe also is exploring for new copper discoveries on its Western Foreland exploration licences in the Democratic Republic of Congo, near the Kamoa-Kakula Project. Information contacts Investors: Bill Trenaman +1.604.331.9834 / Media: Matthew Keevil +1.604.558.1034 Forward-looking statements Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release. Such statements include without limitation, (i) statements regarding plans to expand processing capacity of Phase 1 and Phase 2 concentrators by 21%, to a combined total of 9.2 million tonnes of ore per year; (ii) statements regarding the copper production from the first Kamoa Copper's two phases projected to exceed 450,000 tonnes per year by Q2 2023, positioning Kamoa Copper as the world's fourth largest copper producer; (iii) statements regarding hot commissioning of the Phase 2 concentrator with first ore and initial copper concentrate production are both on track for April 2022; (iv) statements regarding the 2022 production guidance for the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex is between 290,000 to 340,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate; (v) statements regarding expectations that the de-bottlenecking project will cost approximately US$52 million and take approximately 12 months to complete; (vi) statements regarding the Phase 3 expansion is expected to be commissioned in Q4 2024; (vii) statements regarding an updated pre-feasibility study for the Kamoa-Kakula Project, including the Phase 3 expansion, is expected in Q3 2022; (viii) statements regarding Kakula is projected to be the world's highest-grade major copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 Mtpa at an estimated, average feed grade of more than 6.0% copper over the first five years of operations and 5.9% copper over the initial 10 years of operations; (ix) statements regarding based on independent benchmarking, the project's phased expansion scenario to 19 Mtpa would position Kamoa-Kakula as the world's second largest copper mining complex, with peak annual copper production of more than 800,000 tonnes; and (x) statements regarding Kamoa-Kakula will be among the world's lowest greenhouse gas emitters per unit of copper produced. Forward-looking statements and information involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indicators of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements or information, including, but not limited to, the factors discussed below and under "Risk Factors", and elsewhere in this release, as well as unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with the company to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; and the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this release are based upon what management of the company believes are reasonable assumptions, the company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. The company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of the factors set forth below in the "Risk Factors" section in the company's 2021 Q3 MD&A and its current annual information form. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114398 NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Facilio, the property operations software platform leader, today announced it has raised $35 million in Series B financing led by Dragoneer Investment Group with participation from Brookfield Growth and existing investors Accel India and Tiger Global Management. Founded in 2017, Facilio offers a unified software platform that leverages an AI-led predictive engine to help real estate portfolios digitize processes and optimize their property operations. Replacing the traditional and siloed software landscape that has frustrated the market for decades, the solution aggregates data from multiple, disconnected systems across portfolios into an integrated, cloud-based platform, helping operations & maintenance [O&M] teams become data-driven and agile. The platform encompasses a suite of SaaS applications for maintenance [CMMS/CaFM solutions] and operational visibility, sustainability, and remote equipment performance monitoring. This modern approach allows customers to reduce operating costs, exceed sustainability targets, and elevate customer experiences. "Our customers understand that success in a post-pandemic world will be achieved by driving efficiency gains and delivering smooth customer experiences," said Prabhu Ramachandran, Founder & CEO, Facilio. "We are uniquely positioned to accelerate digital transformation in the built world and lead the industry's transition towards IoT-led connected buildings. This investment will allow us to extend our market leadership, expand sales and marketing, and enable more companies to reach success through a predictive, connected model of real estate operations." Facilio has emerged as a next-generation leader in the $50 billion commercial real estate-focused operations software market. It has established a broad, global customer base and is rapidly gaining share with faster-than-market sales growth across multiple geographies. Facilio's growing list of portfolio-scale deployments includes commercial office buildings, retail chains, hospital systems, and higher-education campuses. "Facilio has unlocked a world of potential with its AI-based predictive approach to increase operational effectiveness," said Eric Jones, Partner at Dragoneer Investment Group. "We were blown away by the customer love that Facilio receives from their diverse roster of global clients. The company is on its way to revolutionizing operations for real estate portfolios and we are proud to support this customer-obsessed team." Facilio excels in guiding real estate portfolios through their digital transformation journey with its advanced IoT-native and mobile-first product offerings. As a result, many leading organizations dealing with outdated solutions from incumbent vendors are turning to Facilio. "We have been customers of Facilio and now it's incredible to be a partner in their journey," said Josh Raffaelli, Managing Partner at Brookfield. "What Prabhu and the team are building isn't merely a great product portfolio but a movement towards data-led property operations. The company is writing the blueprint for how modern real estate portfolios will operate in the next decade and beyond." Founded four years ago by Prabhu Ramachandran, Rajavel Subramanian, Krishnamoorthi Rangasamy, and Yogendra Babu, Facilio has been defining and building the category growth. Similar to how Salesforce is to customer management and ServiceNow is to IT services management in today's enterprise software categories, Facilio aims to build the operations management cloud platform unifying field workforce processes and infrastructure IoT data, in one place. For more information on Facilio and data-led property operations, please visit facilio.com/ About Dragoneer Investment Group Dragoneer is a growth-oriented investment firm with over $25 billion in long-duration capital. Dragoneer has a history of partnering with management teams growing exceptional companies characterized by sustainable differentiation and superior economic models. The firm's track record includes public and private investments across industries and geographies, with a particular focus on technology-enabled businesses. Dragoneer has been an investor in companies such as Airbnb, Alibaba, Atlassian, AppFolio, Bytedance, Ceridian, Chime, Datadog, Doordash, Duck Creek, Innovaccer, PointClickCare, Procore, Slack, Samsara, ServiceTitan, Snowflake, Spotify, Uber, UiPath, Urban Company, Zomato, and others. About Brookfield Asset Management Brookfield (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM.A) is a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately US$690 billion of assets under management across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power and transition, private equity, and credit. Brookfield owns and operates long-life assets and businesses, many of which form the backbone of the global economy. Utilizing its global reach, access to large-scale capital, and operational expertise, Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world-including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies, and private wealth investors. Brookfield Growth is the technology investment arm of Brookfield. Founded in 2017, Brookfield Growth seeks to partner and invest growth equity into market-leading technology companies that can leverage the diverse real assets and operating businesses that make up the $690 billionBrookfield economy. For more information, please visit brookfield.com/brookfield-growth About Facilio Facilio's AI-driven property operations platform allows real estate owners to aggregate building data, optimize performance, and control portfolio operations - all from one place. Customers in the commercial office, healthcare, retail, education, and other real estate categories across the world use Facilio to reduce operations costs, increase net asset value, and de-risk operational liability. Headquartered in New York City with offices in Dubai, Chennai, Singapore, and Sydney, Facilio is a global company backed by leading investors including Accel India, Tiger Global Management, Dragoneer Investment Group, and Brookfield Growth. Media Contact Mukil Ganesan press@facilio.com North America: Kristen Hoff kristenehoff@gmail.com MENA: Neha Kaul neha@yourwordsmiths.com APAC: Sneha Gupta sneha.gupta@2020msl.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Lobe Sciences Ltd (CSE: LOBE) (OTCQB: LOBEF) today announced that Philip Young CEO will be attending the Q1 Virtual Investor Summit. During this presentation Lobe's CEO Philip Young will provide highlights of the Company's plans for for advancing into human clinical trials in 2022. The presentation will be webcast and an archived recording will be made available in the investors' section of the Lobe Sciences website. 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. BANGALORE, India, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ion Exchange Resins Market is Segmented by Type (Anion Exchange Resin, Cation Exchange Resin), Application (Water Treatment, Food Industry, Pharmaceutical, Chemical & Petrochemical, Others). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecasts from 2022 to 2028. The Ion Exchange Resins market was valued at USD 2115.1 million in 2022, and it is expected to reach USD 2671.6 million by 2028, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.0% during the forecast period (2022-2028). Major Factors Driving The Growth Of Ion Exchange Resins Market Are : Ion Exchange Resins market growth is expected to be aided by rising demand for water treatment chemicals, as well as a significant increase in the volume of waste generated by the industry. In addition, rising demand from the food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and petrochemical industries is expected to propel the Ion Exchange Resins market forward. Ion exchange resins are also cost-effective when compared to other purification methods. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the ion exchange resins market. Get your sample today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-2B486/Ion_Exchange_Resins_Market Trends Influencing The Growth Of Ion Exchange Resins Market : Ion exchange resins market growth is expected to be aided by rising demand for water treatment chemicals and a significant increase in the volume of waste generated by the industry. Ion exchange resins soften water by replacing the cations of sodium chloride with sodium ions (and possibly the anions with chloride ions). They can also be used to demineralize water by replacing the cations with H+ ions and the anions with OH ions. Petrochemicals require a lot of capital, rely on a lot of technological innovation, and operate in a global market. Resin technology can be found within or supporting many production processes as petroleum-based products evolve. Common applications for ion exchange resins for chemical processing and petrochemicals include Amine reclamation, Bisphenol-A synthesis, Chlor alkali, Condensate polishing, Dealkalization, Demineralization, Esterification, Water softening, Monoethylene glycol (MEG), Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) production, Oil removal from condensate, etc. Thus the growing use of Petrochemicals is expected to drive the growth of the ion exchange resins market. The ion exchange resins market is expected to grow in popularity due to the rising demand for ultrapure pure water from the pharmaceutical and electronic industries. During the forecast period, rising demand for semiconductors and microelectronics, which consume large amounts of ultrapure water for chip rinsing, washing, and etching processes, is expected to boost the market for ion exchange resins. Growing use in the food industry is expected to drive the Ion exchange resin market. Ion exchange resin (IER) technology is a low-cost option that meets purification requirements in a variety of food processing schemes with few drawbacks. Solid polymers developed by IER technology are capable of removing ions and organic contaminants from solutions as they pass through them. Ion-exchange resins have found use in pharmaceuticals as inactive ingredients, particularly as disintegrants (inactive tablet ingredients whose function is to rapidly disrupt the tablet matrix on contact with gastric fluid). Topical products for local application to the skin, such as those where drug flux is controlled by a differential electrical current, have also used ion-exchange resins (iontophoretic delivery). This in turn is expected to propel the ion exchange resins market. Browse the Table of Contents and List of figures at: https://reports.valuates.com/reports/QYRE-Othe-2B486/ion-exchange-resins Ion Exchange Resins Market Share Analysis: Based on region, China is the largest market of ion exchange resins with a share over 37%, followed by Europe and North America. North America is expected to be the most lucrative region. This is due to a rise in demand for ion exchange resins from end-user industries such as pharmaceuticals, mining, and nuclear power. In addition, rising investments in the pharmaceutical sector in the United States are expected to boost demand for ion exchange resins in the coming years, boosting the market growth. The cationic resin segment is expected to be the most lucrative region. Cationic resins are used for dealkalization, highly saline water treatment, and demineralization in a variety of end-use industries. Report Customization Request: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Othe-2B486/Ion_Exchange_Resins_Market Key Market Players: The global key players of ion exchange resins include DuPont, Purolite, LANXESS, Samyang Corp and Mitsubishi Chemical, etc. Global top 2 players have a share of nearly 37 percent. DuPont Purolite LANXESS Mitsubishi Chemical ResinTech Samyang Corp Finex Oy Aldex Chemical Company Thermax Chemicals Hebi Higer Chemical Ningbo Zhengguang Suqing Group Jiangsu Success Shandong Dongda Chemical Suzhou Bojie Resin Jiangsu Linhai Resin Sunresin Felite Resin Technology Anhui Wandong Chemical Dongyang Mingzhu Anhui Sanxing Resin KaiRui Chemical Bengbu Dongli Chemical Shanghai Huazhen Pure Resin Tianjin Nankai Hecheng Aqua Chem Ion Exchange ( India ) ) Jacobi Carbons Others Chapter Cost Request: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Othe-2B486/Ion_Exchange_Resins_Market Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-2B486&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS The global Chlor-Alkali market size is projected to reach USD 94200 Million by 2027, from USD 76090 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.1% during 2021-2027. size is projected to reach by 2027, from in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.1% during 2021-2027. The global Sodium Chloride (Salt) market size is estimated to be worth USD 17450 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 19760 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.1% during the review period. size is estimated to be worth in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.1% during the review period. The global Divinylbenzene (DVB) market size is estimated to be worth USD 79 Million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 99.7 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.9% during the review period. size is estimated to be worth in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of by 2028 with a CAGR of 3.9% during the review period. The global Chlor-alkali Ion Exchange Membrane market size is estimated to be worth USD 461.6 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 510.7 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 1.7% during the review period. size is estimated to be worth in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of by 2028 with a CAGR of 1.7% during the review period. The global Chromatography Resin market size is estimated to be worth USD 1578.5 Million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 2290.3 Million by 2028 with a CAGR of 6.4% during the review period. size is estimated to be worth in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of by 2028 with a CAGR of 6.4% during the review period. The global Ion-exchange Membrane market was valued at USD 12 Million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 52 Million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 23.0% during 2021-2027. was valued at in 2020 and it is expected to reach by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 23.0% during 2021-2027. Global and United States Water Treatment Chemicals Market Insights, Forecast to 2027 Global Cation and Anion Exchange Resins Market Research Report 2022 Global Semiconductor Grade Ion Exchange Resins Market Outlook 2022 To see the full list of related reports on the Ion Exchange Resins ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains detail research methodology employed to generate the report, Please also reach to our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources CONTACT US: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Follow on Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Follow on Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Follow on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - The United States has imposed financial sanctions against eastern Ukraine's breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in response to Russia recognizing these rebel territories. Washington has indicated that tough sanctions targeting Russia were ready if necessary. President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order to 'prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine,' the White House said, referring to Donetsk and Luhansk. The order will 'provide authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine.' The Department of the Treasury is issuing six General Licenses to ensure that humanitarian and other related activity can continue in these regions. Senior Administration Officials said at a press call that the U.S. Government will take further measures Tuesday 'to hold Russia accountable for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as of Russia's own international commitments.' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, 'these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with Allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine.' The latest developments impacted oil and gas prices, which went up over fears of disruption in supplies. The price of Brent crude reached a seven-year record high price of $99.38 per barrel on Tuesday. The retaliatory action by Washington came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics as independent states. In an emotionally charged late-night televised speech from the Kremlin, Putin made a scathing attack of the West. Putin has ordered troops into Donetsk and Luhansk for 'peacekeeping functions.' Russian military vehicles are reportedly heading towards the Ukrainian border. 'This wasn't a speech just about Russia's security, it was an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine,' according to the White House. Russian troops have continued to move closer to the border in what looks like plans for an invasion at any moment, most likely in response to attacks Russia falsely claims are occurring in the Donbas, it added. Following Putin's speech, President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and held a joint call with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. 'We will continue to consult with our Allies and partners about both diplomatic solutions and the consequences we will impose on Russia should it further invade Ukraine,' Senior Administration Officials told reporters. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that his government will introduce sanctions against 'Russian irrational behavior.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Coffee Fest regional trade shows attract independent specialty coffee and tea operators and baristas across the United States Planting Hope's Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk will be showcasing the new Non-GMO shelf-stable sesamemilk line and offering sesamemilk lattes made with the new Hope and Sesame Barista Blend at booth #2121 Expo West update: Planting Hope has relocated its North Hall booth location from booth N1138 to corner booth N147 CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV: MYLK)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a plant-based food and beverage company focused on producing the world's most nutritious and planet-friendly products, is pleased to feature its full lineup of Hope and Sesame shelf-stable sesamemilk at Coffee Fest New York 2022, March 6-8, 2022 at the Javits Center, booth #2121. Coffee Fest is an important trade event uniting independent coffee shops and baristas across the United States, providing education and access to the latest new products and ideas that impact the evolution of cafe culture. "We are excited to return to Coffee Fest New York and debut our new Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk Non-GMO shelf-stable line in our new branding to influential industry leaders and coffee lovers, educating them on the sustainability and nutrition of sesamemilk," said Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-founder of Planting Hope. "Baristas have told us repeatedly that sustainability is a topic of top concern to cafes; we are proud to offer the most sustainable plant milk option available in our new sesamemilk, which uses 95% less water than almond milk and 75% less than oat milk." Hope and Sesame has unlocked the dense nutrition in tiny sesame seeds to create a delicious plant milk that is both ultra-nutritious and highly sustainable. Sesame is sustainable, requiring very little water to cultivate, is naturally drought- and pest-resistant, and can self-pollinate. The Hope and Sesame line of shelf-stable sesamemilk in 1L Tetra Pak cartons are ideal for independent cafes and foodservice, as they are shelf-stable and require no refrigeration, an advantage for coffee shops with limited refrigerated storage space especially for high-turn items like non-dairy milk. Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk is available in shelf-stable 1L cartons in all flavors, including Unsweetened Original, Unsweetened Vanilla, Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Hazelnut, and new Barista Blend, specially formulated for top performance in hot and cold beverages. Planting Hope will showcase the full lineup of product lines from Hope and Sesame at booth #2121, including the following: Hope and Sesame Barista Blend 4g complete plant-based protein per serving (provides all 9 essential amino acids) Excellent source of Calcium and a good source of Vitamin D and Phosphorus Vegan / Soy-Free / Dairy-Free / Gluten-Free Certified / Kosher Certified Froths, foams and steams like a dream, great for latte art! Delicious in any hot or iced drink Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk Vegan A complete source of protein: 8 grams of protein per serving (complete protein = contains all nine of the essential amino acids that humans need to obtain from food sources) An excellent source of vitamin D and calcium Certified Gluten-Free Certified Kosher Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified by the Plant Based Foods Association Three flavors in refrigerated 48 oz bottles (Unsweetened Original, Unsweetened Vanilla, and Chocolate Hazelnut) Six flavors in shelf-stable 1L Tetra Pak cartons (Unsweetened Original, Unsweetened Vanilla, Original, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Chocolate Hazelnut) Ideal for hot and iced specialty beverages, including hot chocolates, horchatas, and smoothies The Unsweetened flavors contain 0 grams of sugar and are keto-friendly Coffee Fest New York 2022 Exhibition Hours Sunday, March 6 th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday, March 7 th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Tuesday, March 8th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST Planting Hope also plans to exhibit at all of the Coffee Fest 2022 regional shows: Coffee Fest Chicago 2022, June 24-25, 2022 at Navy Pier Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2022, August 28-30, 2022 at Los Angeles Convention Center Coffee Fest Pacific Northwest/Seattle 2022, October 7-8, 2022 at Washington State Convention Center Natural Products Expo West 2022 Update Planting Hope will have two booths at Expo West, showcasing its full lineup of brands and products, as well as serving complimentary sesamemilk lattes made with the new Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk. The Company has relocated its North Hall booth location from booth N1138 to booth N147, a corner booth with no obstruction. Booth N147 (North building/hot products hall) is open (all times in PST): Wednesday, March 9 th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 10 th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 11 th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Booth #5194 (main building/hall E) is open (all times in PST): Thursday, March 10 th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, March 11 th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 12 th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. About Hope and Sesame Hope and Sesame has cracked the code on unlocking the dense nutrition in tiny sesame seeds, creating an important new trend in plant milk: sesamemilk, both ultra-nutritious and highly planet-friendly. Sesame is sustainable, requiring very little water to cultivate, is naturally drought- and pest-resistant, and can self-pollinate. Sesamemilk is nutritionally comparable to dairy milk, delivering 8g of complete protein per serving (including all 9 essential amino acids) - that's 8x the protein in most nut milks and 3x the protein in most oat milks! Specifically developed for and tested by top baristas, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend froths, steams, and foams like a dream, great for latte art, and delivers 4g of complete protein per 8 oz serving. All Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk products are vegan, an excellent source of vitamin D and calcium, are Certified Gluten-Free and Certified Kosher, are free from soy and dairy, and are Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified by the Plant Based Foods Association. Hope and Sesame was awarded Best Milk Alternative and Best Plant-Based Sustainability in FoodBev's 2021 World Plant-Based Food Awards and signature Chocolate Hazelnut flavor received the 2020 Sofi Award for Best New Product, Plant-Based Milk from the Specialty Food Association. About The Planting Hope Company Inc. Planting Hope develops, launches, and scales uniquely innovative plant-based and planet-friendly food and beverage brands. Planting Hope's award-winning and cutting-edge products fill key unmet needs in the skyrocketing plant-based food and beverage space. The Planting Hope brand family includes Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, RightRice Veggie Rice, Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, and Veggicopia Veggie Snacks. Founded by experienced food industry entrepreneurs, Planting Hope is a women-managed and woman-led company with a focus on nutrition, sustainability, and diversity. For more information visit: www.plantinghopecompany.com. Contacts Company Contact: Julia Stamberger CEO and Co-founder (773) 492-2243 julia@plantinghopecompany.com Media Contact: Rachel Kay Public Relations Becca Stonebraker (818) 383-3929 becca@rkpr.net Investor Relations Contact: Caroline Sawamoto Investor Relations (773) 492-2243 ir@plantinghopecompany.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statement This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about the Company's ability to execute on its goals, the timing pertaining to these goals the potential demand for the Company's products, the timing and success of anticipated product launches and distribution of the Company's products, and the Company's business prospects, future trends, plans and strategies. In some cases, forward looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "continues", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. In preparing the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that demand for the Company's product will be sustained or increase in accordance with management's projections, that the Company's current business objectives can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry can be found in the Company's annual information form dated January 6, 2022 and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. 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 required by applicable law. SOURCE: The Planting Hope Company Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689762/Planting-Hope-Features-Hope-and-SesameR-Product-Lines-at-Coffee-Fest-New-York-2022 -- MHRA grants permission for UK clinical trials for AI-discovered drug combination that reduces length and severity of symptoms and could lower hospitalizations -- -- Approval expands Skymount Medical's global reach -- CALGARY, Alberta and BATON ROGUE, La., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Skymount Medical, a drug discovery company using an artificial intelligence (AI) platform developed by Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers to repurpose and build new drugs, announced today that it has received approval from the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to conduct a human clinical trial of its novel oral therapeutic for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. The study will be a double-blind intervention comparing a two-drug combination and a single antiviral drug to a placebo. It will determine the impact these therapies will have on the length and severity of COVID-19 symptoms. The two-drug combination was discovered using the DeepDrugTM AI platform and is comprised of a cancer medication already approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and an FDA-approved anti-parasitic agent. Designed to address both the viral load and the inflammatory aspects of COVID-19, the treatment has shown up to 97% efficacy in reducing the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in cell and animal studies, without negative side effects. "This is a significant milestone for Skymount Medical, the LSU DeepDrugTM AI platform, and patients suffering from mild to moderate COVID-19. There are currently limited approved oral medication options to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms in adult patients who are not hospitalized, and the drug combination or single drug would be administered at the first sign of infection, reducing the amount and duration of symptoms, and allowing patients to avoid hospitalization," said Dr. Kishor Wasan, PLC (Harvard Kennedy School), R.PH., PH.D., FAAPS, FCAHS, FCSPS, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer of Skymount Medical & Distinguished University Scholar Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia. "With our drug combination already in a human pilot study in the United States, we are pleased to expand the reach of this combination therapy internationally." "Receiving MHRA approval for UK clinical trials is very exciting," said Dr. Supratik Mukhopadhyay, DeepDrugTM team leader and professor in the LSU Department of Environmental Sciences. "Getting to this point this quickly demonstrates the power of AI and our DeepDrugTM platform. Our AI was trained to recognize similarities between existing drugs and antiviral peptides, which target coronaviruses, and was then tested on unseen pairs where it achieved an accuracy of 97.28%-unrelated to the efficacy of the drugs themselves. Next, we asked the AI to predict which FDA-approved drugs could act in a similar way, and found several good candidates, with one of the most promising combinations now entering human trials in the UK." As a next step prior to initiating the clinical study, Skymount Medical will obtain the appropriate UK Ethics Committee approval and identify suitable clinical sites. It is expected that 150 patients will participate in the UK study. About DeepDrug The DeepDrug artificial intelligence platform was developed by an interdisciplinary team of Louisiana State University (LSU) researchers led by Dr. Supratik Mukhopadhyay, professor in the LSU Department of Environmental Sciences, and Dr. Michal Brylinski, associate professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences with a joint appointment in the LSU Center for Computation & Technology. The DeepDrug platform uses several key components to deliver a state-of-the-art compound and formula generation capability that greatly reduces the time and cost associated with traditional drug discovery. About Skymount Medical Skymount Medical is a technology company that uses DeepDrug?, a patent-pending artificial intelligence platform, to drastically reduce drug discovery time. Alongside Louisiana State University, the company is currently developing combination therapies to fight COVID-19 and all coronavirus strains, including SARS, MERS, SARS-CoV-2 and future SARS-CoV variants. In addition, Skymount Medical is planning to develop therapeutics for other infectious diseases as well as new antibiotics that target antibiotic-resistant bacteria and rare diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosisto learn more. Investors Relations and Media Contact Lisa M. Wilson, In-Site Communications, Inc. T: 212-452-2793 E: lwilson@insitecony.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Huntsman Exploration Inc. (TSXV:HMAN); (OTC PINK:BBBMF) (the "Company" or "Huntsman") is pleased to announce that it has commenced a 5,000m drilling program at Company's wholly owned Canegrass Nickel Project in Western Australia. Huntsman Highlights Include: Major ~5,000m drill program has now commenced with both Reverse Circulation and Diamond Drill rigs on site to complete the following: ~3,500m Diamond Drilling ~1,500m Reverse Circulation Drilling has now commenced with both Reverse Circulation and Diamond Drill rigs on site to complete the following: Diamond Drilling to follow up on exceptional previous intercepts at three key prospects Tulloch and Sunline including: 14.25m @ 0.69% Ni, 0.82% Cu and 0.05% Co from 243m, including 4.9m @ 1.33% Ni, 1.26% Cu and 0.10% Co (Tulloch) 3.1m @ 2.2% Ni, 0.2% Cu from 312m (Tulloch) RC drilling to focus on Tobin Bronze, Bonecrusher and Saintly with additional new anomalies emerging in Northeast potentially to be followed up this campaign Exploration strategy to date has focussed on identification and testing of MLEM and FLEM targets Existing exploration strategy has returned exceptional results within all targets identified and assessed to date that yielded significant nickel mineralisation values between both 2018 and 2020 drill programs Scott Patrizi, President and CEO commented, "I am excited, we are entering a pivotal stage for the Company. With both RC and Diamond Drill rigs on site we will now have a steady stream of news flow over the coming months and with any luck, we will be able to repeat and build upon the fantastic results we received last campaign. This campaign is certainly a big step up in the risk reward stakes, but I think it is time to test the true potential of this fantastic ground package." Drilling Program Strategy 2022 The current 2022 drilling program is looking to build on the previous success of both the 2018 and 2020 historical programs with a focus on expanding the 5 previously defined targets being Tulloch, Sunline, Tobin Bronze, Bonecrusher and Saintly, with an emphasis on a more aggressive exploration strategy. In addition, the Company will plan to test additional anomalies in the northeast of the project's tenure. With the RC rig on site, drilling the casing for the large EM platform hole will now commence. This will be followed up with the Diamond Rig which is due to arrive at site in the coming week. The RC rig will then move to the prospects at Tobin Bronze, Bonecrusher and Saintly where we will look to increase the scale of those existing prospects. Drilling of The EM Platform Hole will allow the Company to aggressively pursue its DHEM strategy in identifying additional geophysical anomalies and allow for increased accuracy when targeting key mineralisation at depth. Figure 2: Cross section of Tulloch zone with modelled EM conductor and historical drilling. Figure 1: Reverse Circulation Rig on site drilling 2022 collar for EM platform hole at Tulloch. Figure 3: Key Prospects at the Canegrass project. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release with respect to Canegrass has been reviewed and approved by Nathan Tribble, P.Geo., a director of the Company and a Qualified Person pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The qualified person has not yet visited the Canegrass Project and therefore has not yet verified the data disclosed, including sampling, analytical, and test data underlying the information or opinions contained in the written disclosure. About Huntsman Exploration Inc. Huntsman is a mineral exploration company focused on the exploration and development of the Canegrass Nickel Sulphide project in Western Australia under the Company's Huntsman Nickel division, and the exploration and development of the Company's gold projects under the Huntsman Gold division, specifically the Baxter Spring historical gold discovery in Nevada and the Flint property in Idaho. On Behalf of the Board of Huntsman Exploration Inc. Scott Patrizi President and Chief Executive Officer For more information, please contact 1-855-584-0160 or info@huntsmanx.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements: Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainness and other factors that may cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may vary, and we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. SOURCE: Huntsman Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689745/Major-Drill-Program-Commenced-at-Canegrass-Nickel-Project-in-Western-Australia TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Novamind Inc. (CSE:NM)(OTCQB:NVMDF)(FSE:HN2) ("Novamind" or the "Company"), a leading mental health company specialized in psychedelic medicine, today launched Healing Stories, a series of case studies with first-hand accounts of patient experiences with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy at Novamind clinics ("Healing Stories"). Healing Stories was commissioned by Novamind as part of the Company's ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental illness and to educate the public on psychedelic medicine. While promising data from clinical research and advocacy supported by Novamind and other mission-driven organizations continues to increase awareness and public education, negative perceptions of mental health conditions are frequently cited as a barrier to seeking help.1 Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director, commented, "We know one of the most powerful ways to break down stigma is through sharing lived experiences. Whether they see their own experiences reflected or those of their loved ones, we hope that Healing Stories will resonate and empower people to reach out for help." The first two Healing Stories feature frontline healthcare workers who found relief through ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP) when the stress of the pandemic destabilized their mental health and exacerbated pre-existing conditions. A third Healing Story features a patient with severe depression who was ready for a new solution after traditional therapy and medications were no longer effective treatment options. Mr. Conforti continued, "The stories are in the voices of patients who are new to KAP, helping to shed light, dispel fear and educate the public and referring clinicians about this novel treatment option. We're incredibly grateful to everyone who has shared their deeply personal story-it is creating hope for healing." To read Healing Stories, please visit this link. About Novamind Novamind is a leading mental health company enabling safe access to psychedelic medicine through a network of clinics and clinical research sites. Novamind provides ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and other novel treatments through its network of integrative mental health clinics and operates a full-service contract research organization specialized in clinical trials and evidence-based research for psychedelic medicine. For more information on how Novamind is enhancing mental wellness and guiding people through their entire healing journey, visit novamind.ca. Contact Information Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director Telephone: +1 (647) 953 9512 Samantha DeLenardo, VP, Communications Email: media@novamind.ca Investor Relations Email: IR@novamind.ca Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. 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 including the risks detailed from time to time in the Company's public disclosure. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable laws. 1. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2787280 SOURCE: Novamind Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689754/Novamind-Publishes-Psychedelic-Therapy-Patient-Case-Studies SALT LAKE CITY, UT / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Pacific Energy Group, LLC (Pacific Energy), through its subsidiary, Eleris Energy Limited, Hong Kong, has signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) with the Bangladesh Army Welfare Trust, to build a 1,000MW, $1.7 billion (US) alternative energy solar field in Bangladesh. Upon completion, the solar field will be tied with the 5th largest solar field in the world, and discussion continues to expand the project to become the largest solar field in the world. The JVA contract is the next step in the process to begin construction, which is targeted to begin in mid- 2022, based on receiving a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) from the Bangladesh Power Board. The Bangladesh Army Welfare Trust will receive land-use payments, and equity in the project, as part of the agreement. "We are committed to supporting our friends in Bangladesh in accomplishing their goals as a country and to become green energy independent. We praise Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in working with an American company like Pacific Energy to help her meet the commitment she made at COP26 to reduce carbon emission and supporting positive climate change," states Governor William Richardson Senior Advisor to Pacific Energy. "Upon completion of the 1,000MW solar project, this Bangladesh solar project will be tied with the 5th largest solar field in the world and will help Bangladesh become a world leader in reducing their carbon footprint to fight climate change. We are excited to work closely with the Bangladesh Army, the Bangladesh Welfare Trust, and the Bangladesh Government to expedite this process so we can begin building and producing clean green energy for the benefit of the Bangladesh people, and the world," states Douglas Anderson, Chairman of Pacific Energy. According to the local Bangladesh newspaper article, this project will play a vital role as a milestone in implementing the 'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan' announced by prime minister Sheikh Hasina at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2021 held in Glasgow, Scotland. https://www.newagebd.net/article/163013/army-welfare-trust-us-company-signs-agreement-over-solar-power-project About Pacific Energy Group, LLC. Pacific Energy Group, LLC., and its subsidiaries are international carbon-reducing green energy development companies that develop solar, wind, natural gas co-generation, and upstream natural gas energy plants throughout the world. Pacific Energy's goal is to reduce carbon emissions, create positive carbon credits, and support climate change by building energy plants that produce power derived from the utilization of the sun, the wind, and natural gas resources in underdeveloped countries. For more information: press@pacificenergy.io SOURCE: Pacific Energy Group, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689691/Pacific-Energy-Signs-Joint-Venture-Agreement-with-Bangladesh-Army-Welfare-Trust-to-Build-a-1000MW-Solar-Field Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP) New Yorks Ukrainian community, rattled by the imminent threat of a Russian attack on their homeland, hoped for the best Tuesday while bracing for the worst. Its a very disconcerting, very sad situation about whats going on there, said Lower East Side restaurant owner Jason Birchard, whose grandfather fled Russia for Ukraine in the late 1940s. As a Ukrainian, I know were very proud people. But whos there to fight? With what weapons? Its a very saddening situation. Advertisement Jason Birchard, third generation owner of Veselka and Ukrainian American. (Ellen Moynihan /New York Daily News) Birchard, the third generation owner of Veselka, spoke after Russian lawmakers unanimously authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside their country. The decision could signal a wider attack on Ukraine, where U.S. officials said an invasion was already underway. If this escalates, theres going to be a lot of loss of life, said Birchard. The staff that has family there are very worried. Weve been a sovereign country now for 30 years. Advertisement Vitallii Desia, 30, a native of the Ukraine capital of Kyiv, was back in New York after a visit home with her parents just one month ago. Theyre happy that Im here and Im not back in Ukraine, said Desia. Im not super-happy theyre still there ... Today they say they buckled up their belts and stocked up on groceries, bought some extra gas. Theyre just preparing for the worst, just in case. According to European leaders, Russian troops were already into rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized their independence although the specifics remained sketchy. An eight-year battle in the region has already left nearly 14,000 people dead. Putin talks like Fidel Castro or Hitler or Khadafy, said Oleaksandr Matsuka, 65, of Butler, N.J. What will happen depends on the collective West. If that moron from Moscow will just be slapped on the wrist, he will invade. All he needs is a victory. He doesnt care about price. Oleaksandr Matsuka (Ellen Moynihan /New York Daily News) The bottom line is its not the end of the story, its the beginning of the story. Its the beginning of war. East Villager Iryna Kuwowyckyj noted Ukraine was hardly ready to do battle with a global superpower. Ukraine is a beautiful country, she said. We must unite to help them. But (we) cant fight for the Ukraine because they have no armies, they dont have ammunition. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > A Bay Ridge immigrant, whose mother and father still live in Ukraine, said the world needed to collectively push back against the threat of a Putin-led assault. Advertisement Iryna Kurowyckyj (Ellen Moynihan /New York Daily News) Of course the U.S. and other western countries have to do something right now to prevent the situation, not after they take part of the Ukraine, because its going to be too late, said the 36-year-old man, who wished to remain anonymous. Of course theyre worried. Innocent people are dying every day. One-time Soviet dissident Stefania Hulyk-Hnatenko, 76, of the East Village, was waiting for the Biden Administrations response to the aggression. Stefania Hulyk-Hnatenko (Ellen Moynihan /New York Daily News) And she had nothing good to say about Putin: Hes talking nonsense all the time. Biden later leveled heavy U.S. financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, accusing Putin of launching what the president described as beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. But Desia was skeptical about the initial White House response, suggesting the U.S. failed to go far enough while wondering if any presidential action will sway Putin. The first wave of sanctions, I dont think Russia cares about them much, she said. I dont think theres anything that would be enough. Clickatell investors now include Arrowroot Capital, Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, Sequoia Capital, DAG Ventures, Endeavor Global and Harvest REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clickatell, the CPaaS innovator and Chat Commerce leader, today announces it has secured $91 million in their Series C round. This round was led by Arrowroot Capital, with participation from Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, Endeavor Global and Harvest. Clickatell, which has delivered double-digit profitable growth for several years, will use the Series C capital to scale and expand three key areas: (i) Accelerated development and innovation of its Chat Commerce offering, (ii) Expansion of its footprint in the U.S., and (iii) Scaling of sales and marketing efforts on the back of growing demand from leading brands. Clickatell's platform has been recognized as a global leader in powering mobile messaging / CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) and payments within chat. Clickatell processed more than 30 billion interactions, and 2 billion commerce transactions during the COVID-19 period alone as it enabled customer-centric brands to connect, interact and transact with their customers wherever they were sheltering in place during the pandemic. Clickatell boasts an industry-first ability to combine communication and commerce in one comprehensive Chat Commerce proposition and introduced one of the world's first chat banking solutions on WhatsApp, the world's largest chat platform. Today, Clickatell is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the intersection between communications (CPaaS, CCaaS) and commerce (digital payments) - offering a complete end-to-end Chat Commerce Platform. Clickatell serves more than 10,000 customers, many of which are Fortune 500 companies and leading global brands such as Coca Cola, Deloitte, GT Bank, Booking.com, GoDaddy, IKEA, Novartis, Standard Bank, Tangerine, Telegram, US Foods, Visa, Zipcar, Capitec and others. Clickatell's low / no-code, feature-rich Chat Commerce orchestration capability includes assisted (chat desk) and unassisted (bots) chat and secure payments capability in its recently launched Chat 2 Pay offering. "Chat Commerce is the future of digital commerce and engagement - it's already happening at scale in markets such as China -- and soon every consumer in the US will engage family and friends via chat plus connect, interact and transact with the brands they love through their favorite chat platform; and we are excited to be a leader in this digital engagement revolution," said Pieter de Villiers, Co-Founder and CEO at Clickatell. "We believe brands want to avoid placing their customers on hold and it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to download their apps; Clickatell's Chat Commerce platform enables brands to serve their customers where they are, in the chat platform they already use." With a massive $80+ billion Total Addressable Market (TAM), the Chat Commerce market is viewed as the third big wave of digital commerce, following the eCommerce and App Commerce markets. Chat is the largest digital platform in the world, with 7.7 billion users compared to 4.7 billion internet users, making it next to impossible for businesses to operate without communicating and transacting with consumers in chat channels. Chat Commerce enables businesses to easily facilitate significantly improved customer experiences through chat, with the added benefit of being far more efficient for customers and operational costs. "We have a shared vision with Clickatell that brands will need to invest in Chat Commerce to transform their customer experience," said Matt J. Safaii, Founder and Managing Partner at Arrowroot Capital. "With 93% of conversations that transpire on its Chat Commerce Platform ending in a transaction, Clickatell is sure to continue to make waves in this growing sector. We're delighted to support them on their way to becoming the category-defining, global leader in Chat Commerce." "Clickatell is an inspiring example of how a company from South Africa can pull the future forward. Clickatell was the pioneering company that successfully first sent messages from the internet to mobile phones, and today they power some of the biggest names in communications, like WhatsApp," said Endeavor Catalyst Managing Director Allen Taylor. "With this new funding round, we are proud to partner with Pieter and the Clickatell team and work with them on what's next." *Gartner has recognized Clickatell as a "Who's Who in CPaaS Payments and How They Are Going About It" within their August 27, 2021 "Digital Payments as Part of Communications Platform as a Service Offering" report. Gartner stated, "Currently there are a limited number of CPaaS providers that provide the payment capability." Additionally, the Gartner report predicts "by 2025, around 50% of CPaaS vendors will enable the functionality as part of their communications modules and offerings." Read more about how Clickatell is a Representative Vendor in 2021 Gartner Market Guide for Communications Platform as a Service. For more information about Clickatell and the Series C round, visit www.clickatell.com. Macquarie Capital acted as exclusive financial advisor and placement agent for Clickatell. *Gartner disclaimer GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Clickatell Clickatell is the global Chat Commerce leader powering businesses to connect, interact, and transact with consumers anytime, anywhere in chat. The low / no-code, feature-rich Chat Commerce Platform sits at the intersection of communications (CPaaS, CCaaS) and commerce (digital payments). Clickatell serves over 10,000 customers, many of which are Fortune 500 companies and leading global brands activating their own digital commerce transformations. Clickatell is headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA, and has offices in Canada, South Africa and Nigeria. Learn more at www.clickatell.com. About Arrowroot Capital Arrowroot Capital is a global growth equity firm based in Los Angeles, CA focused on minority, majority, and buyout investments in B2B software companies. The firm serves as a catalyst for growth-related initiatives by partnering with management and leveraging its deep enterprise software expertise to deliver meaningful, tangible value. Arrowroot has the flexibility to pursue opportunities of varying sizes, as well as a broad range of transaction types. Arrowroot also assists in targeting and executing add-on acquisitions for its portfolio companies to help drive growth and increased market position. Learn more at www.arrowrootcapital.com. Media Contacts Clickatell, Andrea Mahoney , andrea.mahoney@clickatell.com, 415-846-1543 Clickatell, Nadia Louw , nadia.louw@clickatell.com, +27 (21) 910 7700 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751387/Clickatell_Executive_Team.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751388/Clickatell.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751389/Clickatell_Pieter_de_Villiers_CEO_and_Co_Founder.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1164580/Clickatell_Logo.jpg Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of up to 10,000,000 units of the Company ("Units") at a price per Unit of $0.40 for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $4,000,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share at a price of $0.50 at any time on or before the 36-month anniversary of the date of issuance of the Warrants. Currently there are 50,000,000 Shares issued and outstanding. It is anticipated that John Lee, Executive Chairman, will subscribe for up to 1,500,000 Units (being 15% of the Offering) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $600,000. The issuances of Units to insiders pursuant to the Offering will be considered related party transactions within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company intends to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 on the basis that participation in the Offering by insiders will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. The Company expects to file a material change report in respect of the related party transactions in connection with the Offering. The Company has engaged Canaccord Genuity Corp. to act as its financial advisor for the offering and may compensate persons who act as finders in connection with the Offering. The Offering proceeds are expected to be used for the Company's mineral project development, application for stock exchange listing, and for general working capital purposes. The Company may increase or decrease the size of the Offering in its sole discretion. All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a hold period of four months. Closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about March 4, 2022. All dollar amounts referred to in this news release are in Canadian funds. About Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp. is a Canadian reporting issuer, holding a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium project in Nevada. The Company is a spin-out from Silver Elephant Mining Corp. (TSX: ELEF). Silver Elephant owns 39% of Battery Metals Royalties Corp., which owns 45% of Nevada Vanadium, resulting in Silver Elephant indirectly owning 17% of Nevada Vanadium. Further information on the Company can be found at www.nevadavanadium.com. NEVADA VANADIUM MINING CORP. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Ron Espell Chief Executive Officer ron@nevadavanadium.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Reader Advisory Certain statements contained in this news release, including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Offering, the completion of the Offering, the size, amount and type of securities issued under the Offering, participation in the Offering by related parties and the amount of such participation, and the payment of any finder's fees, among other things, and statements which may contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", or similar expressions, and statements related to matters which are not historical facts, are forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, which reflect management's expectations regarding the Company's future growth, results of operations, performance, business prospects and opportunities, are based on certain factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the documents incorporated by reference herein are reasonable based on information available to it, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct. In addition, although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any future revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as expressly required by law. Not for dissemination in the United States or for distribution to U.S. newswire services. The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, a person in the United States or a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or compliance with an exemption therefrom. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Investors are cautioned that, the securities of the Company are not currently traded on any stock exchange or market and there is no guarantee that the securities of the Company will ever be listed for trading, and accordingly, securityholders may not be able to sell their securities through the facilities of any stock exchange or market at any time. This means that the securities of the Company may be difficult to trade or sell. Even if a listing is achieved, trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative and investors should only invest if they are ready to lose all their investment. /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/114431 Canadian shoppers can now split online and in-store purchases into four, interest-free payments with no interest or fees Klarna's all-in-one shopping app allows users to unlock loyalty rewards, manage payments, view delivery tracking, and more Adidas, Harry Rosen , L'Oreal, Mejuri, Sephora and more join Klarna's rapidly-growing network of retail partners in Canada Opening of new North American tech hub and office space will bring over 500 jobs to local economy TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global retail bank, payments, and shopping service that helps consumers save time and money, be informed and in control, today announced its expansion into Canada in partnership with several of the market's leading merchants. Starting today, Canadian shoppers can pay using Klarna's "Pay in 4" service online, in-store and via the Klarna app while checking out with Klarna's integrated retail partners including Canadian brands Harry Rosen, Mejuri, and Frank And Oak, and global retailers such as adidas, Sephora Canada, L'Oreal Canada, and GameStop. "Consumers across the world are moving away from traditional credit models to alternatives that better meet their expectations by offering smarter and more transparent ways to purchase, and the Canadian shopper is no different. Recent Klarna research has found that at least half of Canadian shoppers ages 25-56 are looking for flexible payment options at checkout1," said Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-Founder and CEO, Klarna. "With our expansion to Canada, we are bringing consumers the more sustainable, flexible payment alternatives they are looking for, empowering them to save time, money and make more informed financial decisions." With "Pay in 4," consumers who use Klarna at a retail partner's checkout will be able to split their purchases into four interest-free payments paid every two weeks from the time of purchase, benefiting from greater transparency, financial control and choice. Similarly, Canadian consumers can "Pay in 4" at integrated partner merchants using the Klarna App. With over 23 million monthly active users globally, the Klarna App also offers a broad range of solutions and features designed to make shopping easier and more enjoyable, including the ability to track and manage Klarna payments, access to exclusive rewards via Klarna's Rewards Club, along with price drop notifications, curated content, and delivery tracking. Canadian consumers will soon be able to access additional app features including Klarna's innovative "Shop Anywhere" service that allows users to "Pay in 4" at any online store, regardless of whether they are a Klarna retailer or not; as well as money saving tools, live shopping experiences and more. On top of providing a superior shopping and payments experience for consumers, Klarna serves as a growth engine to its 250,000 merchant partners worldwide and will help Canadian retailers - both big and small - evolve their shopping experience to meet consumers' changing preferences, while unlocking a much wider community of global consumers. "With over 100 million consumers and operations live across 20 global markets, Klarna's position at the center of the shopping ecosystem enables us to make the shopping and payments process smoother for consumers, while also offering significant growth opportunities for our partners," said Kristina Elkhazin, Head of Canada, Klarna. "We look forward to working closely with our fast-growing network of Canadian retail partners to help them to navigate the increasingly omnichannel retail landscape, adapt to new consumer demands, and help them reach new audiences." With its expansion into the Canadian market, Klarna opens its first North American product development and tech hub in Toronto, with plans to hire 500+ engineers by 2025. Klarna will also continue its recruitment efforts from coast to coast, with plans to open offices in Vancouver and Quebec in the future. With these developments, Klarna is investing in Canada's economic recovery by tapping local talent and partnering with local academic institutions to help develop a skilled workforce that will deliver new innovative solutions, and, in turn, help other businesses thrive and grow. Mayor of Toronto John Tory added, "As Toronto looks to rebuild itself post-pandemic, attracting businesses from all over the world will play a big role in boosting our economy and creating more jobs. The latest news with Klarna is a vote of confidence in our city's thriving and successful technology and innovation sector and an exciting moment for our city as we look to attract more people and businesses to our city. I want to thank Klarna for choosing our city for its expansion into Canada. I look forward to seeing this company grow and succeed." As part of Klarna's entry into the Canadian market, they have also partnered with Moneris Solutions Corporation, one of Canada's largest providers of innovative, unified solutions for mobile, online and in-store payments, processing more than one in three transactions across Canada. More information about Klarna's offering in Canada can be found at klarna.com/ca. 1) 2021 Klarna survey of 1060 Canadian consumers ages 18-66+, fielded August 2021, conducted by the research agency Dynata. About Klarna Since 2005 Klarna has been on a mission to revolutionize the retail banking industry. With over 100 million global active users and 2 million transactions per day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers by saving them time and money while helping them be informed and in control of their personal finances. Over 250,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, and Nike have integrated Klarna's innovative technology to deliver a seamless shopping experience online and in-store. With over 5,000 employees, Klarna is active in 20 markets and is one of the most highly-valued private fintechs globally, with a valuation of $45.6 billion. For more information, visit Klarna.com. For additional information, please contact: Klarna: Adaline Colton press@klarna.com +1(614) 687-9357 Mint: Laura Trubkin Steuer lauras@themintagency.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Goldshore Resources Inc. (TSXV: GSHR) (OTCQB: GSHRF) (FSE: 8X00) ("Goldshore" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that its President and Chief Executive Officer, Brett Richards is presenting at the Gravitas 5th Annual Growth Conference on March 3, 2022 in Vancouver, British Columbia. About Goldshore Goldshore is an emerging junior gold development company, and owns the Moss Lake Gold Project located in Ontario. Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. is currently a strategic shareholder of Goldshore with an approximate 26% equity position in the Company. Well-financed and supported by an industry-leading management group, board of directors and advisory board, Goldshore is positioned to advance the Moss Lake Gold Project through the next stages of exploration and development. About the Moss Lake Gold Project The Moss Lake Gold Project is located approximately 100 km west of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario. It is accessed via Highway 11 which passes within 1 km of the property boundary to the north. The Moss Lake Gold Project covers 14,292 hectares and consists of 282 unpatented and patented mining claims. Moss Lake hosts a number of gold and base metal rich deposits including the Moss Lake Deposit, the East Coldstream Deposit (Table 1), the historically producing North Coldstream Mine (Table 2), and the Hamlin Zone, all of which occur over a mineralized trend exceeding 20 km in length. A historical preliminary economic assessment was completed on Moss Lake in 2013 and published by Moss Lake Gold1. A historical mineral resource estimate was completed on the East Coldstream Deposit in 2011 by Foundation Resources Inc2,3. In addition to these zones, the Moss Lake Gold Project also hosts a number of under-explored mineral occurrences which are reported to exist both at surface and in historically drilled holes. The Moss Lake Deposit is a shear-hosted disseminated-style gold deposit which outcrops at surface. It has been drilled over a 2.5 km length and to depths of 300 m with 376 holes completed between 1983 and 2017. The last drilling program conducted in 2016 and 2017 by Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. ("Wesdome"), which consisted of widely spaced holes along the strike extension of the deposit was successful in expanding the mineralized footprint and hydrothermal system 1.6 km to the northeast. Additionally, the deposit remains largely open to depth. In 2017, Wesdome completed an induced polarization survey which traced the potential extensions of pyrite mineralization associated with the Moss Lake Deposit over a total strike length of 8 km and spanning the entire extent of the survey grids. The East Coldstream Deposit is a shear-hosted disseminated-style gold deposit which locally outcrops at surface. It has been drilled over a 1.3 km length and to depths of 200 m with 138 holes completed between 1988 and 2017. The deposit remains largely open at depth and may have the potential for expansion along strike. Historic drill hole highlights from the East Coldstream Deposit include 4.86 g/t Au over 27.3 m in C-10-15. The historically producing North Coldstream Mine is reported to have produced significant amounts of copper, gold and silver4 from mineralization with potential iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit style affinity. The exploration potential immediately surrounding the historic mining area is not currently well understood and historic data compilation is required. The Hamlin Zone is a significant occurrence of copper and gold mineralization, and also of potential iron-oxide-copper-gold deposit style affinity. Between 2008 and 2011, Glencore tested Hamlin with 24 drill holes which successfully outlined a broad and intermittently mineralized zone over a strike length of 900 m. Historic drill hole highlights from the Hamlin Zone include 0.9 g/t Au and 0.35% Cu over 150.7 m in HAM-11-75. The Moss Lake, East Coldstream and North Coldstream deposits sit on a mineral trend marked by a regionally significant deformation zone locally referred to as the Wawiag Fault Zone in the area of the Moss Lake Deposit. This deformation zone occurs over a length of approximately 20 km on the Moss Lake Gold Project and there is an area spanning approximately 7 km between the Moss Lake and East Coldstream deposits that is significantly underexplored. Table 1: Historical Mineral Resources1,2,3 INDICATED INFERRED Deposit Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Tonnes Au g/t Au oz Moss Lake Deposit1 (2013 resource estimate) Open Pit Potential 39,795,000 1.1 1,377,300 48,904,000 1.0 1,616,300 Underground Potential - - - 1,461,100 2.9 135,400 Moss Lake Total 39,795,000 1.1 1,377,300 50,364,000 1.1 1,751,600 East Coldstream Deposit2 (2011 resource estimate) East Coldstream Total 3,516,700 0.85 96,400 30,533,000 0.78 763,276 Combined Total 43,311,700 1.08 1,473,700 80,897,000 0.98 2,514,876 Notes: (1) Source: Poirier, S., Patrick, G.A., Richard, P.L., and Palich, J., 2013. Technical Report and Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Moss Lake Project, 43-101 technical report prepared for Moss Lake Gold Mines Ltd. Moss Lake Deposit resource estimate is based on 0.5 g/t Au cut-off grade for open pit and 2.0 g/t Au cut-off grade for underground resources. (2) Source: McCracken, T., 2011. Technical Report and Resource Estimate on the Osmani Gold Deposit, Coldstream Property, Northwestern Ontario, 43-101 technical report prepared for Foundation Resources Inc. and Alto Ventures Ltd. East Coldstream Deposit resource estimate is based on a 0.4 g/t Au cut-off grade. (3) The reader is cautioned that the above referenced "historical mineral resource" estimates are considered historical in nature and as such is based on prior data and reports prepared by previous property owners. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current resources and Goldshore is not treating the historical estimates as current resources. Significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling and data verification may be required by a qualified person before the historical estimate on the Moss Lake Gold Project can be classified as a current resource. There can be no assurance that any of the historical mineral resources, in whole or in part, will ever become economically viable. In addition, mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Even if classified as a current resource, there is no certainty as to whether further exploration will result in any inferred mineral resources being upgraded to an indicated or measured mineral resource category. Table 2: Reported Historical Production from the North Coldstream Deposit4 Deposit Tonnes Cu % Au g/t Ag Cu lbs Au oz Ag oz Historical Production 2,700,0000 1.89 0.56 5.59 102,000,000 44,000 440,000 Note:: (4) Source: Schlanka, R., 1969. Copper, Nickel, Lead and Zinc Deposits of Ontario, Mineral Resources Circular No. 12, Ontario Geological Survey, pp. 314-316. Peter Flindell, MAusIMM, MAIG, Vice President - Exploration of the Company, a qualified person under NI 43-101 has approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For More Information - Please Contact: Brett A. Richards President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Goldshore Resources Inc. P. +1 604 288 4416 M. +1 905 449 1500 E. brichards@goldshoreresources.com W. www.goldshoreresources.com Facebook: GoldShoreRes |Twitter: GoldShoreRes | LinkedIn: goldshoreres 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 the Company'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. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding the exploration and development of the Moss Lake Gold Project, including planned drilling activities, an update to the historical preliminary economic assessment, and other statements that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance; and the impact of COVID-19. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114345 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Humana Inc. (HUM) announced a Board refreshment plan under which the Humana Board will appoint two new independent directors mutually agreed upon by the company and Starboard, the first before 2022 Annual Meeting and the second following. The company noted that one incumbent director will not stand for re-election at the 2022 Annual Meeting and a second incumbent director will not stand for re-election at the 2023 Annual Meeting. Humana also reiterated its goal of delivering long-term adjusted earnings per share growth of 11 to 15 percent. The company will accomplish this in part by achieving the $1 billion value creation target by 2023, and expects to improve individual Medicare Advantage pre-tax margins by at least 50 basis points in 2022. Copyright(c) 2022 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. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - KWESST Micro Systems Inc. (TSXV: KWE) (OTCQB: KWEMF) ("KWESST" or "the Company") today provided an update and commentary for shareholders regarding media reports that police in Ottawa, Canada used the Company's ARWEN anti-riot device on aggressive protesters in Ottawa. The ARWEN fires various kinds of anti-riot munitions including a blunt impact "baton" round intended to temporarily stun an aggressive subject without causing serious injury. KWESST acquired the ARWEN product line in December 2021. The Company stated that the ARWEN system is used routinely throughout North America and overseas and has a tremendous safety record. Greg Sullivan, who heads KWESST'S ARWEN business unit, said, "We do not normally comment on incidents but are providing information for investors in this instance because the media has reported on the product by name and because there has been global coverage and attention to the trucker protest in Ottawa." According to various international media reports over the past two days, law enforcement agencies on site at the Ottawa protest used the ARWEN system to stop demonstrators who were exhibiting aggressive or violent behaviour. The media also reported no serious injuries were sustained by demonstrators or police. Media reports also state that the incident is under investigation by the Ontario Special Investigation Unit ("SIU"). The Company noted that such an investigation is mandatory under the Ontario Special Investigations Unit Act anytime police use a firearm of any kind whether or not injuries were sustained. Greg Sullivan, himself a former police officer and trainer, added: "It is always challenging for authorities to deal in a measured way with protesters when they turn aggressive, especially in a major high-profile incident that has attracted world attention. Our goal is to protect life on both sides. We are therefore pleased to hear reports of a safe conclusion to this incident, which is precisely the intended purpose of the ARWEN system." About ARWEN KWESST acquired the ARWEN non-lethal product line in December 2021. KWESST has since announced an increase in orders including one order from an overseas national police agency for approximately $250,000 to be shipped this month. ARWEN is an acronym for "Anti-Riot Weapon Enfield" and was originally developed by Royal Ordnance in the United Kingdom. ARWEN products are used by dozens of law enforcement agencies across North America and internationally. ARWEN is a 37 mm less-lethal system which is based off two firing platforms: a multi-shot launcher and a single-shot launcher, both with multiple versions. ARWEN's full line of munitions covers the range from impact to irritant rounds and has proven highly effective in any dynamic situation to bring a safe conclusion to a potentially violent incident. About KWESST KWESST develops and commercializes high-value ultra-miniaturized technology applications that make a critical difference to the safety and operational effectiveness of personnel in the defence and security industries. The company's current portfolio of unique proprietary offerings include: its signature TASCSTM (Tactical and Situational Control System) for real-time awareness and targeting information from any source (including drones) streamed directly to users' smart devices and weapons; the autonomous Grey GhostTM soldier-portable micro drone missile system that defends against small hostile drones including swarms using high-speed kinetic impact; a Ground Laser Defence system to counter the emerging threat of weaponized lasers against personnel; and, the PhantomTM electronic battlefield decoy system to mask the electromagnetic signature of friendly forces with decoy signatures at false locations to deceive and confuse adversaries. All systems can operate stand-alone or integrate seamlessly with OEM products and battlefield management systems including Frontline, Edge, Killswitch and ATAK (Android Tactical Assault Kit) among others. KWESST also has developmental "smart ordnance" projects including its "Shot Counter" system, which records the number and type of rounds fired, for optimized firearms maintenance and performance. The Company is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with representative offices in Washington, DC, London, UK and Abu Dhabi, UAE. KWESST trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol KWE. Contact: Jason Frame, Investor Relations. Email: frame@kwesst.com For more information please visit www.kwesst.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the timing for the commencement of trading and the plans and operations of KWESST after giving effect to the Qualifying Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. 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. KWESST 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. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114406 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Investment firm KKR & Co. Inc.(KKR) has inked a definitive deal with PAI Partners and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation or BCI, to acquire a majority stake in soft drinks firm Refresco Group B.V., for an undisclosed sum, the two companies said on Tuesday. Despite the transaction, PAI and BCI will continue to remain as shareholders in Refresco with significant minority positions. Hans Roelofs, CEO of Refresco, said, 'The investment by KKR is an incredibly positive development for the company. Like our existing shareholders, KKR is supportive of our strategy and will bring operational expertise, access to capital and a well-established network to support us in our growth, innovation and M&A strategy.' Founded in 1999, Refresco is an independent beverage solutions provider for retailers and branded beverage companies with pan-regional coverage in Europe and North America. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX KKR & CO-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / E2Gold Inc. (TSXV:ETU) (the "Company" or "E2Gold") is pleased to announce the promotion of Ellie Owens, J.D. and M.Sc., from Vice President to President, while Eric Owens remains as Chief Executive Officer and board member of the Company. As a Co-founder of the Company, Ellie has been a key member since it's inception, and will continue to serve in her role as in-house general counsel. Eric Owens, CEO, commented, "This is a timely move as we build for the future, and we know that Ellie will be key to that future. She has proven herself to be instrumental in all aspects of the day-to-day workings of the Company and in bringing E2Gold to where it is today." Dr. Owens went on to add, "The company has grown rapidly and it has become advantageous to split the roles of CEO and President to prepare for further growth." David Good, Chairman of E2Gold, said "Ellie's energy and focus have excited and motivated every member of the team, and she is uniquely qualified for her new role given that she is an experienced geologist and a securities attorney. She has excelled in all her previous endeavours and I have no doubt she will continue to do so as President." The Company is also pleased to announce that it has received approval for trading its common shares in the United States on the OTCQB Market, under the symbol "ETUGF", effective February 23, 2022. The Company's common shares will continue to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ETU". In other matters, the Company is in the final stages of its 10,000 m, Phase 2 step-out drill program, to help determine the potential footprint of the McKinnon Zone, an at-surface Inferred Resource, based upon 1980's Falconbridge drilling. 1 This drill program is the first since that time to test the broader potential of the Zone. The Company recently released the first set of assay results from the program, including a high grade result, 14.7 g/t Au over 1.0 m in DDH MK-21-028, some 300 m below the McKinnon Zone Resource (See Press Release, February 1, 2022). To-date, 19 holes have been drilled in this programme, and two are remaining to be completed. Assays are pending for 14 holes; the Company expects these data to be released in the coming weeks. Note (1): NI 43-101 compliant, Inferred Resource estimated by P&E Mining Consultants, containing 6.2 million tonnes, at a grade of 1.65 g/t Au, for 328,800 ounces of gold, found in the Company's Final Long Form Propsectus, December 2020. ABOUT E2GOLD INC. E2Gold Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company with focus on Its large flagship property, the Hawkins Gold Project in north-central Ontario, about 140 km east of the Hemlo Gold Mine. The district-scale, 80 km long project is anchored by the McKinnon Zone Inferred Resource, with 328,800 ounces of gold hosted in 6.2 million tonnes at 1.65 g/t gold, 1 open in all directions. In addition, the Company has 3 other mineral properties in the region, including the Band-Ore gold project west of Thunder Bay. For further information please contact: Eric Owens Chief Executive Officer Tel. (416) 509-5385 Email: eric.owens@e2gold.ca Ellie Owens President Tel. 647-575-2888 Email: ellie.owens@e2gold.ca 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. Forward Looking Statements - Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the Offering may not be completed on the terms currently proposed or at all. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of E2Gold, including with respect to the potential size and composition of the Offering and the receipt of all regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. SOURCE: E2Gold Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689809/E2Gold-Announces-Promotion-of-Ellie-Owens-to-President-Trading-to-Begin-in-the-US-on-the-OTCQB Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Angold Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AAU) (FSE: 13L) (OTCQB: AAUGF) ("Angold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has identified new zones of gold mineralization to the north and west of the historic resource at Iron Butte, with samples of up to 0.6 g/t gold and high mercury (a pathfinder for gold in low sulfidation systems) at surface. An additional 77 claims have been staked adding to this Northern Extension Area for a total contiguous claim area of 267 claims over 5,340 acres. The combined strike of anomalous mineralization in the Northern Extension Area and the historic resource zones is approximately 5 km. Figure 1. Coincident gold-mercury (Au-Hg) anomalies (red ovals) within the North Extension Area. Anomalies are open to the east within the Caetano Caldera and to the north under shallow gravel cover. Blue outline area is the newly acquired claims while the green is existing claims. Geology from Colgan et al., 2011. Key Highlights Historic Resource: Iron Butte boasts an historic resource of 606,186 oz Au at 0.62 g/t (not 43-101 compliant) with multiple opportunities for expansion. Large Mineralized Strike: of approximately ~5 km in length, with consistent gold mineralization along the entirety of the range front on the Company's claims. Multiple Targets: includes the Northern Extension Area as well as open mineralization along strike to the north and south of the historic resource area. Higher Grade: near paleosurface (shallow) level of exposure within the epithermal system and potential for higher grade gold mineralization at depth. Geophysics: has identified shallow structures in the Northern Area Extension as well as at depth in the historic resource area. Permitted: for drilling in 2022. Expect further news soon. Adrian Rothwell, President & Chief Executive Officer, said, "These results indicate the presence of a potentially large zone of mineralization to the north of the historic resource, in an area never before tested and where pediment remains shallow. We are excited to commence drilling at Iron Butte in the coming months to grow resources on multiple targets. Interpretation of geophysics and drill targeting is ongoing, to be released soon." Figure 2. Location of the IP section in Figure 3 (A to A') and Figure 4 (B to B'). Figure 3. Leapfrog section showing resistivity in the North Extension Area onto the newly acquired claims. Figure 3B. Leapfrog section with interpreted geology and target zones, conceptual drill holes. Note the shallow nature of gravel cover and high resistivity at depths sufficient to be within the most prospective depths of an idealized low-sulfidation epithermal system. To the south in the known mineralization areas Tertiary volcaniclastic rocks are poorly altered and appear to form a cap to stronger alteration within rhyolite tuffs below. Tvc = Tertiary volcaniclastics, Tct = Tertiary Caetano intra-caldera rhyolite tuff, Trt = Tertiary Caetano outflow tuffs, PPhs = Pennsylvanian-Permian Havallah Sequence sedimentary rocks. Figure 4. Leapfrog section showing resistivity in the North Extension Area onto the newly acquired claims. Key as for Figure 3/3B. Figure 4B. Leapfrog section with interpreted geology and target zones, conceptual drill holes. Anomalous geochemistry in the Northern Extension Area is open along a strike of 1.1 km before dipping under shallow cover and the geophysical expression of resistivity is continuous for 2.1 km from the historic resource to the north. This is likely silicification, the key indicator of mineralization in the historic resource. This discovery resulted from a comprehensive program of IP/resistivity, soil and rock sampling, and mapping commenced in Summer 2021 on areas surrounding the heavily oxidised historic gold resource of 606,186 ounces at 0.62 g/t. For further information on the Company's pre-drilling program, please refer to the news release on October 6, 2021. The new gold bearing structures will be tested by drilling in the upcoming program, beginning shortly. These targets augment those identified at depth and along strike where the historic resource remains open. Angold has received permits to drill. Historic drilling averaged less than 250 m in depth and provides excellent expansion potential at depth and along strike between the Red Ridge and North Zones of the historic resource. Mineralization is open to the south of the Red Ridge Zone where there has been limited drilling. Northern Extension Area: Surface rock chip and soil sampling identified strong, consistent and coincident Au-Hg anomalies within rhyolite tuffs of the Caetano Caldera and in basement rocks below comprised of the Havallah Sequence. The anomalous area as defined to date is approximately 900 meters by 900 meters and is open to the north and east. Based upon the strength and consistency of the identified anomalies and geophysical expression, 77 additional lode claims were staked to cover extensions and sampled areas beyond existing claims. Figure 1 illustrates the general area of the soil-rock Au-Hg anomalies and the additional area staked with lode claims. Figure 2 shows the location of the resistivity section in Figures 3 and 4. Figures 3 and 4 illustrates the resistivity section across the northern extension showing silicified structures that rock sampling has shown to be gold bearing. Note the survey also illustrates the shallow nature of gravel cover on the west and north, interpreted to be due to the recessively weathering nature of the rocks below, projected to be post-Caetano volcaniclastic rocks. Gold values in soils in anomalous areas range from 25 to 162 ppb, while mercury values in soils in the same areas range from 0.5 to 228 ppm. Selenium and silver are also commonly elevated in Au-Hg anomalous samples. Rock chip samples yielded gold and mercury values to maximums of 0.606 ppm and >100 ppm, respectively. Quartz-silica textures and geochem suggest a near paleosurface (shallow) level of exposure within the epithermal system and the potential for higher grade gold mineralization at depth is good. Sinter-like silicification in Havallah siltstone, chalcedonic quartz veins, bladed quartz after calcite and drusy quartz matrix breccias were all observed. In addition, coarse crystalline adularia was identified, which may be dated at a later date. Figures 5 through 8 below illustrate some of the Au-Hg bearing surface mineralization textures observed in the North Extension Area. Additional rock and soil sampling will be carried out this spring on the newly acquired claims. Drill targeting work is currently ongoing. Figure 5. Sinter-like opaline silica veining in silicified Havallah siltstone. Figure 6. Drusy quartz matrix Caetano tuff breccia with hematitic iron oxide staining. Figure 7. Float of bladed quartz after calcite vein material. Figure 8. Coarse adularia crystals on fracture face, Caetano rhyolite tuff. New Website: Investors are encouraged to visit our new website that outlines our company, team and projects in more detail. Visit www.angoldresources.com. Qualified Person Galen McNamara, P. Geo., Director and Chairman of the Company and a Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Angold Angold is an exploration and development company targeting large-scale mineral systems in the proven districts of the Maricunga, Nevada and Ontario. Angold owns a 100% interest in the Dorado, Cordillera and South Bay-Uchi projects, and certain claims that append the optioned Iron Butte project. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ANGOLD RESOURCES LTD. "Adrian Rothwell" Chief Executive Officer Further information on Angold can be found on the Company's website at www.angoldresources.com and at www.sedar.com, or by contacting the Company by email at investors@angoldresources.com or by telephone at (855) 917 4091. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and includes expectations of the resumption of trading of the Company's common shares on the Exchange. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and information are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "appear", "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "approximate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe", "would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114290 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires") is pleased to announce that on February 18, 2022 it entered into a marketing services agreement (the "Services Agreement") with Toronto-based marketing firm, North Equities Corp. North Equities Corp. ("North Equities") specializes in various social media platforms and will be able to facilitate greater awareness and widespread dissemination of the Company's news. In connection with the Services Agreement, the Company will pay North Equities CAD $100,000 for an initial 6-month period. In addition, the Company will issue 850,000 stock options to North Equities pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. The options have an exercise price of CAD $0.10 and expiring on February 18, 2022. The Services Agreement may be cancelled before the 6-month mark of the campaign on mutual consent of the parties. North Equities currently does not own any shares of the Company. About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is Canadian-based nanotechnology company which has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The technology was developed by a team of highly accredited scientists and confirmed by independent third-party validation including peer reviewed studies and publications in scientific journals. Aires' Lifetune products specifically target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, Wi-Fi radiation, including the rapidly expanding next-generation high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTCQB under the symbol 'AAIRF.' Learn more at www.airestech.com . On behalf of the board of directors Company Contact: Dimitry Serov, CEO Email: dimitry@airestech.com Telephone: (905) 482-4667 Website: www.airestech.com For further information please contact: 5 Quarters Investor Relations, Inc. Cindy Gray, CEO & Managing Director Email: wifi@airestech.com Telephone: (403) 705.5076 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114394 Three masked gunmen were caught on camera bursting into a Manhattan barbershop with a famous clientele and ripping $150,000 worth of jewelry off a man inside, police said. The 26-year-old victim was sitting on a bench next to a man inside Jordan MVP Barbershop on Broadway near W. 189th St. in Inwood when the trio of crooks burst through the door with guns drawn about 12:10 a.m. on Sunday, cops said. Advertisement The first gunman through the door was wearing a black ski mask while the two just behind him wore black face masks over their mouths and noses. If you move, Im going to shoot you! one crook yelled. Advertisement Give me your jewelry! another hollered. Surveillance video captures armed robbery at Manhattan barbershop. (NYPD) One gunman hovered near the door with his weapon trained on the victim from a distance while the other two rifled through his belongings. At one point, one of the victims chains dropped to the floor and one of the robbers stooped to snatch it up, the video shows. The crooks ran off with the victims Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch worth $58,000 as well as gold chains worth $30,000, $13,000 and $10,000, a $15,000 pendant ring and other high-priced gems. Cops are asking the publics help identifying the robbers and tracking them down. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential. New HOWTIAN corporate brand name reflects the company's expanded global footprint and a strengthened dedication to sustainability ZHUCHENG, China, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zhucheng Haotian Pharma Co., Ltd (ZCHT) - maker of SoPure, the world's leading commercial brand of natural stevia, and also the world's #1 manufacturer of inositol - has announced it will now be operating as HOWTIAN. The new brand name and corporate identity reflects the substantial growth and evolution of the business since its inception in 1999. It began as a small manufacturer of inositol, a versatile health ingredient that belongs to the Vitamin B family and that is commonly used in human and animal nutrition for its variety of benefits. Today, the business is one of the world's largest naturally processed stevia companies, with over 1,000 employees operating in 80 countries and with customers across the food, beverage, nutrition, and pharmaceutical industries. "Having expanded into new markets with our expertise in innovative ingredient solutions and product formulation, we wanted this new brand name - which pays homage to our original name - to represent our diversified product portfolio and to consolidate our operational capabilities into one entity," says Tom Fuzer, VP of Marketing at HOWTIAN. "We're excited to launch this new chapter and we are looking forward to innovating more and accelerating our growth internationally." The HOWTIAN identity also represents a renewal of its mission to sustainably produce and supply premium natural ingredients at virtually any scale for business around the globe. The new corporate logo consists of three leaves in the shape of an "H" in green and yellow, representing HOWTIAN's flourishing, naturally farmed crops. Its design signifies the company's commitment to natural products, ethical farming, and sustainability. In recent years, the business has made significant investments in building broader, end-to-end solutions and services. Its Technical and Application Groups provide customized formulation support for customers in the food, beverage, and nutritional sectors, as well as pre-mixing and blending services. Trained sensory teams are also available to support product testing. In-house regulatory teams provide guidance on meeting compliance requirements around the world. In little more than two decades since its founding, the company has undergone rapid growth. In 2012, SoPure Stevia was launched, and on its way to becoming the largest stevia manufacturing operation in the world today, as well as one of the world's top seven sweetener businesses. Since this time, it has continued to develop a number of other ingredients as additions to its portfolio of inositol and stevia. This includes functional ingredients such as PureQQ Pyrroloquinoline Quinone, baicalin, and vitamin E powder. For more information, please visit the new website at https://howtiangroup.com/. To contact HOWTIAN, please email Tom Fuzer at info@howtiangroup.com. Related Images Image 1: New HOWTIAN Logo HOWTIAN's new logo consists of three leaves in the shape of an 'H' in green and yellow, representing HOWTIAN's flourishing, naturally farmed crops. Its design signifies the company's commitment to natural products, ethical farming, & sustainability. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment HungerRush's OrderAI solution enables Jet's Pizza to streamline ordering processes and better service the needs of customers HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / HungerRush, the leading cloud software provider for the restaurant industry, today announced that Jet's Pizza, a leading pizza franchise brand servicing hundreds of locations, has fulfilled 2 million text orders with OrderAI, the text-to-order AI solution offered by HungerRush. HungerRush's OrderAI solution simplifies the ordering process for customers, allowing them to submit, review and pay for their order - or simply reorder - with a text to their local Jet's Pizza establishment. Jet's Pizza was the first company to introduce text ordering via AI to its customers, and since rolling out in 2020, the platform has generated nearly $54 million in sales by enabling customers to order via text, submitting directly to Jet's online ordering system. That growth is anticipated to continue, with text order sales generating as much as $100 million over the next two years. "Using digital to create experiences that are just as good as our pizza has been a high priority for us, said Aaron Nilsson, CIO of Jet's Pizza. "We have expanded to more than 400 stores in 19 states, and this is the first experience that many customers have with us. They love it." "Since beginning to leverage OrderAI in 2020, text and our other enhancements have helped us triple our digital sales in 30 months. Currently, our stores average 350 orders per month over text and we continue to be shocked at how many new customers it helped us get." Nilsson continued, "Compared to a phone call, and with labor rates being what they are, text orders are profitable on day one, and the program has added on average double-digit growth to stores. Our customers love it, and we now have a new marketing opportunity with great extensions to the technology, such as party ordering, curbside delivery, reviews, and phone bots - all on the same platform." Nilsson said, "We have pulled off a technological and marketing feat that brands 10 and 20 times our size have yet to accomplish, and we have a 2-year head start." Jet's Pizza is also currently piloting HungerRush's OrderAI talk solution, which gives customers the freedom to place orders over the phone by interacting with an AI voice bot. By empowering locations with talk AI technology, Jet's Pizza has been able to reduce labor shortage and ensure customer orders are fulfilled in a timely fashion. The voice bot is currently operating in 72 stores, and Jet's Pizza plans to launch it across all stores this year. "We're thrilled to see how Jet's Pizza has been able to increase sales with OrderAI," said Perry Turbes, CEO of HungerRush. "OrderAI was developed to provide the easiest, most user-friendly order experience to all customers. With a simple text message, any customer can use their mobile device to order or reorder their favorite Jet's pizza. For Jet's, the text-to-order technology makes receiving orders seamless, as processing, payment, and confirmation are all handled within the system. It's exciting to see how OrderAI has helped Jet's connect with its customers, boosting operations and building a loyal following through curated marketing and reward programs." The HungerRush OrderAI SMS ordering solution helps restaurants drive more orders and stay in touch with customers via text message. Harnessing the predictive power of artificial intelligence on the mobile phone, OrderAI anticipates and automates every order while curating offers based on history and preferences. By offering an out of the box solution without additional software additions or downloads, OrderAI helps restaurants achieve profitable digital transformation. About Jet's Pizza Jet's Pizza is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. It was founded as Jetts Party Shoppe and Pizzeria in 1978 by brothers Eugene and John Jetts, which has now grown to nearly 400 stores in 19 states. Jet's Pizza is known for its Detroit-style, deep-dish pizzas, and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Every morning the dough is prepared by hand, premium mozzarella is grated, vegetables are hand-cut, and sauce is made with fresh vine-ripened tomatoes mixed with Jet's proprietary spice and herb blend. For more information, please visit www.jetspizza.com. About HungerRush HungerRush is a leading provider of integrated restaurant solutions. HungerRush 360 is our flagship cloud POS system that makes it easier to delight guests, drive loyalty, and manage restaurants from anywhere. The all-in-one system integrates digital ordering, delivery, customer engagement, restaurant management, and payment processing features with flexible software designed to give operators of all sizes more insight into their customers, more control over their operations, and more power to profitably grow their business. Visit HungerRush.com. CONTACT: Michelle Doss HungerRush 512.365.9358 Michelle.Doss@hungerrush.com Kelli Fletcher PAN Communications 910.538.2183 Kfletcher@pancomm.com SOURCE: HungerRush View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689546/Leading-Pizza-Chain-Jets-Fulfills-2-Million-Text-Based-Orders-with-HungerRushs-OrderAI TACOMA, WA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Today Greenlink unveiled Suncliff Terpene Gems, marking the first-ever category expansion into one of the most underserved sectors of the cannabis and hemp industry. Suncliff Terpene Gems open the door for consumers to explore a full range of experiences to manage their needs throughout the day without intoxication. The initial launch includes: Calm, Creative, Social and Energetic as the core experiences that are 100% free of controlled substances and can be sold globally. Terpene Gems were developed to improve control over the user experience in a very specific way. Using the plants existing terpene profiles, Suncliff can replicate popular strains or build targeted formulas that can be used as stand-alone products or paired with CBD and THC to further impact the customer experience. Terpene Gems are curated blends that allow the consumer to have a new level of influence over their next experience. "12 years ago, I launched our first product built on a specific terpene profile. But because it was ahead of its time, we couldn't scale the product due to supply limitations and it was difficult to educate the retailers, never mind the customers. Science and the general public have come a long way and I think the world is ready for this conversation." Greenlink International CEO, Jake George. Terpene Gems were created by Jake George and the Greenlink International team using an approach that is almost as innovative as the products themselves. Social media, specifically TikTok, is where Mr. George began posting about his experience with cannabis and the topic of terpenes. The goal was to explore consumer interest and build an engaged community, within a year @jakegeorge.official had over a million views, nearly 40 thousand followers, and one of the most engaged audiences in the cannabis sector. "It was immediately obvious that people were passionate about the subject of terpenes and it came from the most important group: the people who want to buy the products," says George. Armed with the feedback loop coming from thousands of consumers, Suncliff was able to thoughtfully curate terpene products that cover the full range of experiences from day to night. "Our terpene formulations are the foundation for all future Suncliff products, which I believe makes us the most approachable brand in the entire industry. If someone wants to experience the effects of a specific terpene profile by itself, we've got them covered, and for those looking for products with cannabinoids (CBD/CBG/THC) we are on the leading edge of those sectors as well," continues George. "One of the areas I was most excited to discover through social media was tolerance breaks, as daily use increases across the country, people are taking regular tolerance breaks from THC to prevent over-use and Terpene Gems are an incredible option during that time as well." Suncliff Terpene Gems are made of the purest form of terpenes on the market and utilize science-backed processes from extraction to formulation. No additional flavors are added to the Terpene Gems to ensure the experience profile is not altered, and because they are not controlled substances they can be sold and shipped virtually anywhere. Suncliff Terpene Gems 4 Curated Experiences: Calm, Creative, Social, Energetic Sold in packs of : 12 Terpene Gems $15 MSRP 48 Terpene Gems $45 MSRP (12 of each experience) For more information on these new products, please visit experiencesuncliff.com. Explore greenlinkholdings.com for information about corporate partnerships and affiliate programs. About Us GreenLink, a Colorado corporation based in Washington State, is a public quoted OTC Markets issuer under the ticker symbol "WSHE." The company is a diversified holding company with operating segments in investment, equipment, technology, brands, textiles and real estate that are leased or licensed to legally compliant CBD and cannabis entities. GreenLink's subsidiary and partner companies possess key competitive strengths and/or leading market positions. Greenlink is committed to becoming a global leader in the hemp and legal cannabis markets. GreenLink will continue to leverage decades of experience in the hemp and cannabis industry to expand existing operations and develop partnerships across a wide range of industries. Forward Looking Statement Certain statements that we make may constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include information concerning future strategic objectives, business prospects, anticipated savings, financial results (including expenses, earnings, liquidity, cash flow and capital expenditures), industry or market conditions, demand for and pricing of our products, acquisitions and divestitures, anticipated results of litigation and regulatory developments or general economic conditions. In addition, words such as believes, expects, anticipates, intends, plans, estimates, projects, forecasts, and future or conditional verbs such as will, may, could, should, and would, as well as any other statement that necessarily depends on future events, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, and they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Although we make such statements based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. We caution investors not to rely unduly on any forward-looking statements and urge you to carefully consider the risks described in our filings with OTC Markets Group and the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including our most recent Annual Report and subsequent Flings, which are available on Otcmarkets.com. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the event it later turns out to be inaccurate, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. CONTACT: Greenlink International, Inc. Tacoma, Washington Stakeholders@greenlinkholdings.com SOURCE: Greenlink International, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689773/SuncliffTM-is-Targeting-a-New-Sector-of-the-Cannabis-Industry-Everyone Proceeds from Tranche 1 Financing of $20 million and a concurrent $250 million (project development equity financing) facility to be allocated to direct investments into Andion's pipeline of projects will rapidly accelerate development of Andion's operations in North America and Europe ANDION Global Inc. ("Andion"), a global leader in delivering proven and comprehensive waste-to-energy solutions, announced today the company has secured a $20 Million multi-partner financing from three investment partners: a private fund managed by Spring Lane Capital, a private equity firm focused on providing catalytic project capital for sustainability solutions in the energy, food, water, waste and transportation industries; Equitix Infrastructure Investments Limited ("Equitix"); and Business Development Bank of Canada ("BDC"). This new capital will be used initially to expand Andion's operations and to acquire equity stakes in existing projects, and to accelerate the development of Andion's projects located in North America, Italy and the Nordics. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005613/en/ The $250 million project development equity facility will be allocated concurrently by Spring Lane Capital and Equitix, and used to finance the development, construction and acquisition of projects in Andion's North American and European markets. "We are very excited to have closed the first tranche of this financing with a distinguished group of strategic investors which will allow us to rapidly propel the development, deployment and operation of our own waste-to-energy facilities," said Phillip Abrary, CEO of Andion. "The proven proprietary technologies used in Andion's anaerobic digestion plants have the additional benefit of countering climate change by transforming waste into a renewable fuel." "Renewable natural gas (RNG) solutions are increasingly playing a key role in helping corporations and municipalities meet their carbon targets. We are excited to partner with Andion as this long-term secular trend presents a tremendous opportunity for institutional investors in the global sustainable finance markets," said Nathaniel Lowbeer-Lewis, Vice President, Canada for Spring Lane Capital. "We have witnessed first-hand more and more interest from investors in waste diversion solutions and we are very impressed with Andion's pedigree in the RNG space. With over 20 years of experience, their team brings deep technical competency that is unmatched in the sector, and we expect our collaboration to serve as a platform to foster additional organics and RNG investment opportunities." "We are very pleased to partner with Andion as an investor, as well as entering into a framework agreement to invest in future projects developed by the Andion Group in Europe," said Hugh Crossley, CEO of Equitix. "This investment is fully in line with Equitix's core strategy of making long-term investments into infrastructure with positive environmental characteristics. Our goal is to support Andion's continuing development and focus on strengthening the company's position as a responsible supplier of renewable energy to the market." "As the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, we are pleased to support Andion's innovative solutions and projects to divert waste from landfills to create value, which is an important part of our energy transition needs and will help Canada reach its climate targets," said Vivan Kan, Director of BDC Capital's Cleantech Practice. Andion's technology makes organic waste handling and conversion to biogas efficient, sustainable and economically viable. The company has successfully delivered more than 50 complete anaerobic digestion facilities as well as over 130 complex wastewater treatment plants throughout North America and Europe. This new capital provided by Spring Lane Capital, Equitix and BDC will allow the company to expand operations and acquire equity stakes in these projects. Andion's waste-to-energy facilities provide environmental and socio-economic benefits for cities facing waste challenges in North America and Europe. Current methods for managing organic waste include: sending waste to landfills; waste-to-energy recovery through incineration; composting; and anaerobic digestion. Sending waste to landfills contributes to the production of methane while managing waste through anaerobic digestion is carbon-negative. Anaerobic digestion reduces greenhouse gas emissions, eliminates odours, does not require a large footprint, and as well, supports the circular economy as the waste is recycled into biogas, compost and fertilizer. Andion's facilities have the ability to process hundreds of thousands of tons of a variety of organic waste, reducing greenhouse gases from transportation, landfills and burning of waste. This process creates renewable energy (biogas), a sustainable source of fuel for communities around the world. Desjardins Capital Markets acted as exclusive financial advisor to Andion in this Tranche 1 Financing of $20 million and an additional project equity facility of $250 million. ABOUT ANDION GLOBAL Andion Global Inc. specializes in the development, deployment and operation of renewable energy facilities. The company is based in Vancouver B.C., with operations in Milan and Stockholm. Andion has a portfolio of technologies and proven processes for converting complex and variable organic wastes to renewable energy, having successfully delivered more than 50 complete anaerobic digestion facilities as well as over 130 complex wastewater treatment plants. With more than two decades of expertise and a portfolio of patents pertaining to the processing of organic waste, Andion's integrated solutions cover every aspect of the waste-to-energy and wastewater treatment value chain. ABOUT SPRING LANE CAPITAL Spring Lane Capital is a private equity firm based in Boston, MA and Montreal, QC focused on providing catalytic project capital for sustainability solutions in the energy, food, water, waste and transportation industries. The firm's structured financial model seeks to tap into some of the fastest growing segments of these markets, that more traditional forms of project capital cannot access due to their scale and the limitations of existing investment models. ABOUT EQUITIX INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS LTD. Equitix is an established, international investor, developer and fund manager of core infrastructure assets focused on building long-term partnerships to support, develop and invest in a range of large-sale infrastructure projects, while delivering first class service and value. Launched in 2007, Equitix now operates from 16 global locations, with over 300 dedicated professional staff, collectively managing c. 8bn AUM, operating across Social infrastructure, Transport, Renewable Power, Technology, Media, Telecommunications (TMT), Network Utilities and Environmental Services. Equitix has developed its reputation as a successful, principled developer and manager, acting as custodian of the core infrastructure assets that provide essential services to communities. ABOUT BDC CAPITAL BDC Capital is the investment arm of BDC, the bank for Canadian entrepreneurs. BDC Capital serves as a strategic partner to the country's most innovative firms. It offers businesses a full spectrum of capital, from seed investments to growth equity, supporting Canadian entrepreneurs who have the ambition to stand out on the world stage. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005613/en/ Contacts: Andion Global Inc. Phillip Abrary, President CEO, Andion Global mail: fpabrary@andion.ca mobile: (604) 506-2855 Spring Lane Capital Cindy Stoller, Confluence Partners mail: cstoller@confluencepartners.com mobile: (917) 331-0418 Equitix Gillian Wilson mail: gwilson@equitix.co.uk mobile: +44 (0)7384 817 218 BDC Media Relations Mail: mediainfo@bdc.ca New dataset showcases investor interest for individual fixed income securities across both mutual funds and ETFs BOSTON, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- EPFR, a subsidiary of Informa Financial Intelligence and worldwide industry leader in providing fund flows and allocation data to financial institutions, launches the EPFR Fixed Income Flows and Holdings dataset providing exclusive monthly, fund-level securities data. The new dataset helps clients strengthen their understanding of ownership and demand for over 50,000 fixed income securities. The EPFR Fixed Income Flows and Holdings dataset provides insight into bond ownership across multiple fund groups and gives clients a wide range of tools to filter the data. These include fund geo-focus, sector focus, trading currency and maturity date. Clients can also run comparative analysis using active vs passive, institutional vs retail and foreign vs domestic filters. The dataset currently offers history back to 2018, opening the door to quantitative analysis and modeling. "We are delighted to release this new EPFR data offering, to provide clients with the ability to view individual securities that are held by funds, as they are bought and sold and roll up to various allocations-and gain access to data updates on a monthly, rather than quarterly basis," said Mike Digris, EPFR Head of Data. "Access to this information and the associated securities metadata paves the way for better investment decisions." Clients such as Debt Capital Markets (DCM) desks can use this data to provide corporate issuers with a clear picture of who is holding their debt, which managers are increasing their positions and which funds are attracting inflows. DCM desks can incorporate data insight into pitch books to distinguish themselves from competitors when vying for business from those issuers. "We know DCM teams work in fast-paced environments and require very up-to-date data on fixed-income markets," said Cameron Brandt, EPFR Director of Research. "With the Fixed Income Flows and Holdings dataset, they have a far more granular view of the markets. They can sharpen their competitive edge with fresh, individual security level insights on the impact of major market forces." The Fixed Income Flows and Holdings dataset utilizes a subset of the 142,500 globally domiciled funds tracked by EPFR on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. By combining the flows, allocations and holdings information reported by over 2,000 funds, the new dataset provides clients with a window into the appetite of mutual funds and ETFs for individual corporate, sovereign and other bond types. With historical data dating back to October 2018, quant analysts can run regression analysis and back tests to create investible signals based on how individual and groups of bonds trade. "Our combination of flows, and holdings level data is not available anywhere else in the marketplace," said Digris. "Quant analysts now have the ability to run analysis using these smaller building blocks to create whatever they imagine." Findings from the EPFR research team determined that the data has predictive capabilities. "Among the bonds tracked in the new dataset, several are issued by Chinese real estate developer, Evergrande," noted Brandt. "Applying an EPFR Smart Factor - in this instance, a simple factor, 'Fund Count' - showed that funds holding this debt began shedding it before Evergrande's problems hit its market valuation." About EPFR: EPFR, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LSE: INF), provides fund flows and asset allocation data to financial institutions around the world. Tracking over 142,000 traditional and alternative funds domiciled globally with more than $52.5 trillion in total assets, we deliver a complete picture of institutional and retail investor flows and fund manager allocations driving global markets. Our market moving data services include daily, weekly and monthly equity and fixed income fund flows and monthly fund allocations by country, sector and industry. For more information, please visit https://financialintelligence.informa.com/epfr. MEDIA CONTACT: Zach Allegretti, JConnelly 973-850-7341 zallegrettiII@jconnelly.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1032624/EPFR_Logo.jpg VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / CMC Metals Ltd. (TSX-V:CMB) (Frankfurt:ZM5P) (CMCXF:OTC PINKS) ("CMC" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the terms to its proposed non-brokered private placement. The proposed terms are to sell up to 8,500,000 flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.17 per FT Unit and up to 4,500,000 non-flow-through units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.15 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$2,120,000 (collectively, the "Offering"). Red Cloud Securities Inc. and German Mining Network will be acting as finders on behalf of the Company in relation to the Offering. Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one-half of one transferrable non-flow-through share purchase warrant (each full warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a "Unit Share") and one-half of one Warrant. Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one non-flow-through common share of the Company (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.20 per Warrant Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering. Proceeds from the sale of FT Shares to eligible investors in Canada will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" and "flow through mining expenditures" as these terms are defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada). Such proceeds will be renounced to the subscribers with an effective date not later than December 31, 2022, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Shares. The net proceeds from the sale of Units will be used to fund the Company's exploration program at its silver-lead-zinc properties in the Rancheria Silver District, Yukon/British Columbia and its polymetallic copper-silver-lead properties in central Newfoundland, as well as a range of other exploration activities, as well as general corporate purposes. A major focus of the funding will be directed towards exploration drilling on the Company's flagship Silver Hart Project. The Company may pay finders' fees comprised of cash and non-transferable warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") in connection with the Offering, subject to compliance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The terms of the Finder's Warrants will be the same as the Warrants distributed in the FT Units and the NFT Units. All securities issued and sold under the Offering will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from their date of issuance. Closing is subject to customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, the negotiation and execution of subscription agreements and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities being offered will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. persons," as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Qualified Person Kevin Brewer, a registered professional geoscientist, is the Company's President and CEO, and Qualified Person (as defined by National Instrument 43-101). He has given his approval of the technical information pertaining reported herein. The Company is committed to meeting the highest standards of integrity, transparency and consistency in reporting technical content, including geological reporting, geophysical investigations, environmental and baseline studies, engineering studies, metallurgical testing, assaying and all other technical data. About CMC Metals Ltd. CMC Metals Ltd. is a growth stage exploration company focused on opportunities for high grade polymetallic deposits in Yukon, British Columbia and Newfoundland. Our polymetallic silver-lead-zinc CRD prospects include the Silver Hart Deposit and Blue Heaven claims (the "Silver Hart Project") and Rancheria South, Amy and Silverknife claims (the "Rancheria South Project"). Our polymetallic projects with potential for copper-silver-gold and other metals include Logjam (Yukon), Bridal Veil, Terra Nova and Rodney Pond all of which are in Newfoundland. On behalf of the Board: "John Bossio" John Bossio, Chairman CMC METALS LTD. For Further Information and Investor Inquiries: Kevin Brewer, P. Geo., MBA, B.Sc. (Hons), Dip. Mine Eng. President, CEO and Director Tel: (604) 670-0019 kbrewer80@hotmail.com Suite 615-800 West Pender St. Vancouver, BC V6C 2V6 To be added to CMC's news distribution list, please send an email to info@cmcmetals.ca or contact Mr. Kevin Brewer at 604-670-0019. 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. "This news release may contain certain statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law, including without limitation, statements that address the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles and exploitation activities and developments. In this release disclosure regarding the potential to undertake future exploration work comprise forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks, including the ability of the Company to raise the funds necessary to fund its projects, to carry out the work and, accordingly, may not occur as described herein or at all. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, the impact of the constantly evolving COVID-19 pandemic crisis and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Readers are referred to the Company's filings with the Canadian securities regulators for information on these and other risk factors, available at www.sedar.com. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty of such statements. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation." SOURCE: CMC Metals Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689770/CMC-Announces-Terms-Private-Placement-Units-to-Raise-C2120000 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / DLT Resolution Inc. (OTC PINK:DLTI), a Distributed Ledger Technology ("Blockchain") Data Management, Information Technology and Telecommunications company, confirms that Union Strategies Inc, its wholly owned subsidiary, has been running hundreds of the elections within the last year - nearly double since the COVID 19 pandemic took a turn back in March 2020. The pandemic caused a lot of Union locals to eliminate the traditional use for ballot boxes and take the leap of faith into electronic voting. USI has again successfully launched a new client in the manufacturing sector to utilize YOUnified's TM election platform. The client was reluctant when looking at other voting services, but once presented with YOUnified TM, was ready to dive into both the elections and YOUnified TM itself. This client will begin using YOUnified TM as soon as they complete their election, which will be taking place early next week. This particular local is not super tech savvy, and say that it is one of the most user friendly platforms they've seen and are looking forward to being able to set up their election themselves, all while being able to send out collateral like eblasts, text blasts, and robo calls. With every election which takes place weekly, the winner must win by 50%+1, or the election will go into a run-off until a candidate receives 50%+1 of the votes. About DLT Resolution Inc. DLT Resolution Inc. currently operates in three high-tech industry segments: Blockchain Applications & Cyber Security; Telecommunications; and Data Services which includes Image Capture, Data Collection, Data Phone Center Services, and Payment Processing. Its clients represent some of the top businesses from a variety of sectors. DLT Resolution helps organizations that have invoices, ledgers, statements, applications, surveys, employee and customer rewards programs and a wide range of other non-core functions benefit from data management. DLT Resolution also operates a Health Information Exchange providing the ability to request and retrieve medical information & records while meeting all of today's Security & Compliance demands for HIPAA, PIPEDA and PHIPA. Through RecordsBank.org, the Company offers an easy to use online gateway to its centralized system for patients, lawyers and insurers to retrieve and access medical records. Learn more at: DLTResolution.com and DLTTelecom.com. About Union Strategies Inc. (USI) USI has been providing a suite of products and services to Unions for over 10 years. The company designs, builds, and executes programs resulting in greater success for unions. Programs are designed to engage the membership, decrease expenses, and save time for a more productive business. The Company's suite includes Telecommunications, Event Management, Professional Writing, Social Media Management, Web Design, Graphic Services, and Promotional Offerings. The company is a one-stop-shop for all things union. The company has more than 130 clients that are considered "mid-market" in terms of overall size of the particular local with 450,000 members. USI operates nationally in Canada and looks to expand into the USA in 2020. Learn more at: UnionStrategiesinc.com. SOURCE: DLT Resolution Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689731/Union-Strategies-USI-Continues-to-Hold-Electronic-Elections-for-Locals-Across-Ontario-as-the-COVID-19-Pandemic-Continues-Making-it-Impossible-to-Hold-in-Person-Elections CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / CADUCEUS SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, CORP. (OTC Pink:CSOC) ("Caduceus" or the "Company"), a consumer goods focused holding company and owner of McLovin's Pet Food, Inc., announces that its wholly owned subsidiary has recorded sales of USD 1.25M for the last quarter. The Company would also like to announce that it has received additional funding of USD 500,000. During the last quarter ending in on December 31st, 2021, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary McLovin's, has recorded revenues of USD 1.25 million. Assets increased to USD 3.84 million from USD 1.99 million in the previous quarter. Following the end of the last quarter, the Company has also received additional funding of USD 500,000. "The McLovin's team continues to push forward with its sales plans. We increased our sales in the last quarter while maintaining the same gross profit margin. We are looking forward to the next phase of our plan to increase our sales through the various distribution agreements we have been working tirelessly to finalize as well as the deployment of our e-Commerce initiative.", said Alex Chen, Chief Executive Officer of Caduceus Software Systems, Corp. About Caduceus Software Systems, Corp. Caduceus Software Systems Corp is a Wyoming-based holding company with its wholly owned subsidiary McLovin's, a Pet Food and Pet Care company. The Pet Food and Pet Care market size was USD 207 Billion in 2020 with a stellar growth of 28.11%. The industry is expected to grow to USD 325 Billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 5.6%. The Pet Food and Pet Care products include food, hygiene, toys, and other accessories. The Company is traded on the OTC Markets under the trading symbol" CSOC". For more information: OTC Markets: (OTC Pink: CSOC) Website: https://caduceuscorp.co Email: info@caduceuscorp.co Discord: https://discord.gg/apolloassets Twitter: https://twitter.com/caduceuscorp About McLovin's Pet Food, Inc McLovin's, Inc. is a California company specialized in the manufacturing and distribution of quality pet foods. We believe in real food. What you'll find in McLovin's is similar to what you'll find in your own grocery cart. In the case of our premium treats, it starts (and ends) with real beef, chicken and salmon. Our products are developed using responsible sourcing and quality is a key part of every single part of our manufacturing process. Corporate Website: https://mclovinspetfood.com/ Forward-Looking Statements: Safe Harbour Statement - In addition to historical information, this press release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include the intent, belief, or expectations of the Company and members of its management team with respect to the Company's future business operations and the assumptions upon which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to, failure to complete anticipated sales under negotiations, lack of revenue growth, client discontinuances, failure to realize improvements in performance, efficiency and profitability, and adverse developments with respect to litigation or increased litigation costs, the operation or performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its common stock. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated within this press release can also be found on the Company's website. The Company disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Caduceus Software Systems, Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689815/Caduceus-Receives-Additional-Funding-of-500000-Records-125-Million-Revenue-for-the-Quarter Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Bolt Metals Corp. (CSE: BOLT) (FSE: A2QEUB) (OTCQB: PCRCF) ("Bolt" or the "Company") announces it's Indonesian subsidiary received notification from the Head of BKPM (Investment Coordinating Board)/Minister of Investment for Indonesia that the mining permit (IUP) for the Cyclops nickel/cobalt Project has been revoked. Bolt, through its Indonesian subsidiary has, for the last 4-years, been working with government agencies to register its license into the Directorate General Mineral and Coal, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources database, a requirement for the extension of the Cyclops project IUP. The license was successfully registered in July 2020. The Company's application for IUP extension commenced in 2021 with all the demanded requirements from the Directorate General Mineral and Coal having been fulfilled, including submission of certificates of bank deposit of a joint TNM/Directorate General Mineral and Coal Account for Reclamation and Post Mining bonds. The Company's Indonesian advisors have suggested several strategies to have the IUP extended and intends to pursue one or more courses of action. When available, the Company will provide updates regarding a possible reinstatement of the mining permit for Cyclops as well as any impact to the conditional sale of the Cyclops Project announced December 23, 2021 (the Transaction). About Bolt Metals Bolt Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on the acquisition and development of production grade nickel and cobalt deposits, key raw material inputs for the growing lithium-ion battery industry. Visit https://boltmetals.com/ to find out more. Bolt Metals Corp. Ranjeet Sundher - President and CEO (604) 922-8272 rsundher@boltmetals.com Steve Vanry - CFO & Director (604) 922-8272 steve@vanrycap.com Sean Bromley - Director & Investor Contact (778) 985-8934 sean@theparmargroup.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the timing and terms of the Transaction, satisfaction or waiver of closing conditions to the Transaction, receipt of regulatory and shareholder approval for the Transaction and the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "potential", "should", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the status of the Transaction, fluctuations in market prices, successes of the operations of the Company, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114441 CoinCoffee, LLC. is an Indianapolis, IN-based company that plans to disrupt the coffee category by launching the world's first premium crypto coffee smart contract token on the Solana Blockchain. ZIONSVILLE, IN / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / Among thousands of emerging crypto projects, none stand out as CoinCoffee, LLC. In partnership with Julian Coffee Roasters, this project is launching the world's first premium crypto coffee and aims to reshape the landscape of the coffee industry by introducing the CoinCoffee token, and a new coffee experience through its re-imagined retail coffee shops throughout the country. The project's leaders point out that they wish to make IPO investments more approachable and quality coffee more accessible, stating: "When it comes to traditional IPO investments, the average consumer is faced with a barrier to getting in at the ground floor because that is typically reserved for investment bankers. CoinCoffee is disrupting this model by making the ground level (the pre-sale and initial coin offering) easily accessible to all its customers when a bag of CoinCoffee is purchased." CoinCoffee is in phase I of its roadmap, which includes finalizing its smart contract on the Solana blockchain, expanding its leadership team, and onboarding new partners. Coin Coffee's CEO, Andre Ramsey announced in January the expansion of its ecosystem by partnering with ThorGaurds. TheJordude, Lead at ThorGuards stated: "We're excited to expand the ThorGuards ecosystem further by partnering with a brand that connects the metaverse with real-life products. With all the grinding and research done in crypto and NFTs, I'm sure everyone needs a cup of coffee. By having an inclusive and low entry barrier product, I think this partnership can open many doors of opportunity for both the ThorGuards community and CoinCoffee." CoinCoffee, LLC. introduces the Blockchain "O.G.," an organic medium roast coffee with notes of chocolate and brown sugar, as well as the Rocket Fuel, which is a double-caffeinated dark roast brew with an earthy aroma. Both products can be ordered in whole bean and ground variants. Customers can order CoinCoffee, LLC. products online and use both traditional and crypto to purchase. The project's leaders emphasize that "buying a bag of CoinCoffee automatically adds customers to our whitelist to be notified of the details just by scanning the barcode on the bag. It allows each customer to participate in both the pre-sale and initial coin offering of our token and NFTs when released." By creating convenient whitelists, CoinCoffee strives to build a community of coffee enthusiasts and "remove the barriers long-coveted by investment bankers." With the launch of its smart contract token, CoinCoffee strives to improve fair-trade by funneling a portion of its revenue back to the farmers within its supply chain and plans to launch retail coffee shops in every major city, making mainstream crypto adoption more accessible. CoinCoffee, LLC. was soft-launched in the final months of 2021, and with its premium coffee now available online, thousands are eagerly waiting for the arrival of CoinCoffee tokens & NFT's. About CoinCoffee CoinCoffee is the first premium crypto coffee, and they seek to disrupt the coffee category through the launch of its smart contract token on the Solana Blockchain. Investors of the project can get details and participate in the upcoming pre-sale and initial coin offering by buying a bag of CoinCoffee, which adds customers to a list for notifications. This removes the barriers long owned by whales and investment groups and makes getting involved early in a crypto project as simple as buying a bag of coffee. About Julian Coffee Roasters Julian Coffee Roasters est. in 2004 is an awarding-winning coffee roaster that offers hand-crafted coffee carefully chosen and ethically sourced from around the world and believes in giving back to the community through its purpose-driven coffee initiatives. JCR is located in Zionsville, IN About ThorGuards ThorGuards is a collection of 9,999 NFT characters on the Ethereum Blockchain, inspired by THORChain, Norse mythology, and cyberpunk aesthetics. Each ThorGuard is a completely original combination of hundreds of potential attributes. The collection features rich and powerful 3D artwork and offers each NFT holder first-of-its-kind utility and benefits across the THORChain ecosystem. More information about CoinCoffee, LLC. is available on the brand's official website . Contact details: Company: CoinCoffee, LLC. Email Address: andre@coincoffee.life Contact: Andre D. Ramsey Address: 10830 Bennett Pkwy Suite N. Zionsville, IN 46077 Country: United States Website: http://www.coincoffee.life SOURCE: CoinCoffee, LLC View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689525/Indianapolis-based-CoinCoffee-LLC-Launches-the-Worlds-First-Premium-Crypto-Coffee An NYPD detective talked himself into a drunken driving arrest after he reported his car stolen and responding officers determined he was driving while intoxicated, cop sources said. Det. Edgar Guerrero, 30, called to report his Honda Accord stolen on Dyckman St. near Nagle Ave. in Washington Heights early Monday. He appeared drunk when police arrived, sources said. Advertisement (ShutterStock) Guerrero told the officers he was getting food when his car was stolen. Police never recovered the Accord, sources said, but the officers determined Guerrero had driven while drunk. Cops charged him about 5 a.m. with driving under the influence, driving while ability impaired and refusing to take a blood alcohol test. Advertisement He awaits arraignment in Manhattan criminal court. PARIS, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Collins English Dictionary, an NFT is "a unique digital certificate, registered in a blockchain, that is used to record ownership of an asset such as an artwork or a collectible". In reality, non-fungible tokens can designate a wide variety of assets (works of art, pieces of music, fashion accessories, etc.) that may be tangible or intangible, and some of these appear to be posing typological problems for collectors as well as for legislators. According to thierry Ehrmann, CEO and Founder of Artmarket.com and its Artprice department, "The technology surrounding NFTs has opened up completely new artistic perspectives attracting a wide range of artists and projects. From the drops initiated by @muratpak which combine inside our wallets, to the British Museum NFTs minted by @LaCollectionOff, NFTs have given birth to new works of art and made it possible to duplicate works that we already love and treasure in the digital sphere". Where a physical work does not exist Originally, NFTs were designed to indicate ownership of digital works that can travel from one computer to another and be copied endlessly. We can all save a work by Beeple posted on Instagram on our smartphones; however only one individual (or a very limited number) actually owns the NFT. As a result, the image of a digital work can circulate freely on the Internet, while the artist and collectors retain control over its ownership. In the case of Pak or Mad Dog Jones, the works have no vocation to exist in the real world, because no support lends itself better to their display than a screen. Where a physical version could be created After with the record price recorded by Beeple at Christie's in March 2020, the painter David Hockney (born in 1937) regretted that Beeple's The First 5,000 Days does not 'really' exist. To which Beeple replied via twitter, "OK well nobody told me you need to print them out to magically turn them into art!! ! and he continued "Guys I really wanna go legit, looking for printer recommendations.. budget is $69 million" Behind the ironic nature of this exchange, there lies a genuine demand for a physical counterpart to NFTs. This need was recently the subject of an article in the Wall Street Journal: NFT Art Exists in the Digital World. Collectors Want to Put Them on the Wall. Swiping through a vast inventory of images on a cell phone or laptop isn't doing it anymore for digital art owners (Kelly Crow, 2 February 2022). https://www.wsj.com/articles/nfts- hang-digital-art-real-life-11643761088 Already, Samsung and Infinite Objects are offering elegant solutions enabling the display of digital works in our living rooms, and Beeple himself has finally agreed to accompany his NFTs with digital print-outs. Where a physical work exists and can also be acquired NFT technology also makes it possible to duplicate the property of a painting, a sculpture, a photo or even an installation in the digital universe in such a way that the NFT and the physical work coexist and can be purchased separately. However, this duality raises several questions as to the links between them. In March 2021 the BurntBanksy collective, backed by Injective Protocol, burned a Banksy print, acquired for $95,000, and, at the same time, minted a digital copy with an associated NFT which it immediately resold on OpenSea for $380,000. This operation, prohibited by law, very clearly aimed to transfer the work and its entire value into the digital universe: in the eyes of the collective, the value of the NFT copy would have always remained subordinate to that of the original work. By destroying the latter, they found a radical and illegal solution to resolve a paradox and simultaneously add a lot of value. Where the physical work exists but cannot be acquired Lastly, it is now technically possible to acquire the ownership of digital copies of masterpieces belonging to the world's most prestigious museums. Some major institutions, such as the Uffizi Museum in Florence and the Hermitage Museum in Saint-Petersburg have embarked on this adventure. London's British Museum has also started selling several pieces from its collections in the form of NFTs via the LaCollection.io platform. Although you won't yet find NFTized versions of the Parthenon Friezes or the Rosetta Stone, the museum and the LaCollection.io platform has already begun to build a community of digital collectors around works by Hokusai and JMW Turner: "Acquiring an NFT issued by the British Museum is a way of supporting the institution, living a new experience as a collector and contributing to Art History's initial exploration of the Metaverse." https://www.artprice.com/artmarketinsight/the-british -museum-offers-certified-nfts-of-works-by-jmw-turner Image: [https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2022/02/Schema-NFT-EN.jpg] Copyright 1987-2022 thierry Ehrmann www.artprice.com - www.artmarket.com Don't hesitate to contact our Econometrics Department for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: econometrics@artprice.com for your requirements regarding statistics and personalized studies: econometrics@artprice.com Try our services (free demo): https://www.artprice.com/demo Subscribe to our services: https://www.artprice.com/subscription About Artmarket: Artmarket.com is listed on Eurolist by Euronext Paris, SRD long only and Euroclear: 7478 - Bloomberg: PRC - Reuters: ARTF. Discover Artmarket and its Artprice department on video: www.artprice.com/video Artmarket and its Artprice department was founded in 1997 by its CEO, thierry Ehrmann. Artmarket and its Artprice department is controlled by Groupe Serveur, created in 1987. See certified biography in Who's who : Biographie_thierry_Ehrmann_2022_WhosWhoInFrance.pdf Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 770,000 artists. Artprice by Artmarket, the world leader in information on the art market, has set itself the ambition through its Global Standardized Marketplace to be the world's leading Fine Art NFT platform. Artprice Images allows unlimited access to the largest Art Market image bank in the world: no less than 180 million digital images of photographs or engraved reproductions of artworks from 1700 to the present day, commented by our art historians. Artmarket with its Artprice department accumulates data on a permanent basis from 6300 Auction Houses and produces key Art Market information for the main press and media agencies (7,200 publications). Its 5.4 million ('members log in'+social media) users have access to ads posted by other members, a network that today represents the leading Global Standardized Marketplace to buy and sell artworks at a fixed or bid price (auctions regulated by paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article L 321.3 of France's Commercial Code). Artmarket with its Artprice department, has been awarded the State label "Innovative Company" by the Public Investment Bank (BPI) (for the second time in November 2018 for a new period of 3 years) which is supporting the company in its project to consolidate its position as a global player in the market art. Artprice's 2020/21 Contemporary Art Market Report by Artmarket.com: https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-contemporary-art-market-report-2021 Artprice by Artmarket's 2020 Global Art Market Report published in March 2021: https://www.artprice.com/artprice-reports/the-art-market-in-2020 Index of press releases posted by Artmarket with its Artprice department: serveur.serveur.com/Press_Release/pressreleaseEN.htm Follow all the Art Market news in real time with Artmarket and its Artprice department on Facebook and Twitter: www.facebook.com/artpricedotcom/ (over 5,4 million followers) twitter.com/artmarketdotcom twitter.com/artpricedotcom Discover the alchemy and universe of Artmarket and its artprice department https://www.artprice.com/video headquartered at the famous Organe Contemporary Art Museum "The Abode of Chaos" (dixit The New York Times): https://issuu.com/demeureduchaos/docs/demeureduchaos-abodeofchaos-opus-ix-1999-2013 L'Obs - The Museum of the Future: https://youtu.be/29LXBPJrs-o www.facebook.com/la.demeure.du.chaos.theabodeofchaos999 (4.4 million followers) https://vimeo.com/124643720 Contact Artmarket.com and its Artprice department - Contact: Thierry Ehrmann, ir@artmarket.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1751566/Artmarket_Artworks.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1009603/Art_Market_logo.jpg NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / 1 People is a sustainable luxury fashion brand that designs and creates timeless looks for stylish, tech-savvy, and conscious-minded women. 1 People make it possible for buyers to be both luxurious and responsible. Having Danish DNA, the company promotes minimalism, simplicity, and the joy of conscious, slow fashion. 1 People maintain high standards for all fashion products ensuring transparency throughout the process and ensuring all people involved in the manufacturing are treated fairly. The company focuses extensively on certifications and thorough checkups on suppliers to ensure happy working conditions of workers while making sure that sustainable practices are followed religiously. Artisans meticulously handcraft all products and provide a sustainable solution for women wanting more from their wardrobes. The company is sufficiently transparent in providing consumers with sufficient information to understand each look's efforts, sustainability ideals, and ethics. Jonathan Tjoa Algreen wears the hat of CEO of 1 People and has extensive experience in building and scaling businesses. According to Jonathan, real change comes from consumers and companies that drive positive change. Today's world needs a significant shift to sustainability and ethical companies to survive and thrive in the future. 1 People have been reshaping fashion since its inception. Jonathan's ambition is to revolutionize business trends by addressing social issues while also serving people with high-end, sustainable products. Known for creating modern and chic garments that exude natural confidence, the brand is a pioneer of people and a plant-centric approach to luxury. There is no compromise regarding sustainability, and the company prides itself on its excellent and fair treatment of employees and suppliers. 1 People vow to reduce their carbon footprint and adopt a minimal waste approach while being safe for humans, animals, and the environment. 1 People is paving the way to a more socially responsible retail opportunity that can contribute to a better tomorrow for both the people and the planet. Jonathan and company are dedicated to playing a pivotal role in changing how business is done, encouraging eco-friendly products, and contributing to poverty eradication through the sustainable shopping experience, philanthropic services, and education. Furthering the agenda of serving the planet, the company donates a fair amount of the profits to Business for Planet, a free program for the education and empowerment of new social entrepreneurs across the globe. As the Danish sustainable luxury brand owner, Jonathan ensures that 1 People thrive on a 'people and planet driven' mindset. He prioritizes innovation, sustainability, equality, and diversity. And when it comes to leading the way in sustainability and building a better planet, luxury label 1 People dominates the social and environmental landscape. Contact: Jonathan Tjoa Algreen jonathan.algreen@1people.com Office: 1 People A/S Venedigvej 5,2300,Copenhagen Phone: +49 163 5350739 Email: support@1people.com SOURCE: 1 People View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/688145/Danish-Fashion-Label-1-People-by-Jonathan-Tjoa-Algreen-Is-Leading-the-Way-in-Sustainability-and-Building-a-Better-Planet The XACT ACE Robotic System addresses the limitations of traditional manual methods and other image-guided percutaneous intervention systems. SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan recently evaluated the North American percutaneous procedure system industry and, based on its findings, recognizes XACT Robotics with the 2021 North American Percutaneous Procedure System Technology Innovation Leadership Award. The company's robotic system addresses the limitations of manual methods and other image-guided percutaneous intervention systems. It can accurately reach the required anatomical targets, improve clinical workflow efficiency, and support use in different service sites. The system improves the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous procedures, which has the potential to support shorter recovery times and improve patient health outcomes. XACT ACE Robotic System combines precise robotic insertion and non-linear steering with advanced image-based planning and real-time monitoring to deliver various instruments to selected targets during CT-guided percutaneous procedures. The XACT ACE Robotic System consist of a tablet-sized robot and a console. The console enables interventional radiologists to assess real-time patient CT images and plan the procedure, including selecting the target, the entry and checkpoints (if necessary), and monitoring instrument advancements. The robot is placed on the patient's body after confirmation of the procedure's trajectory and the robot then inserts the instruments and steers them to the target site using its five degrees of freedom. "XACT ACE Robotic System's small footprint and mobility allows for efficient set up for use within minutes and does not require a dedicated specialized space, preventing disruption of clinical workflow. This also allows easy transportation across multiple procedure rooms and locations outside the CT suite," explained Neeraj Nitin Jadhav, industry analyst at Frost & Sullivan. "Since the system manages the technical aspects of instrument insertion and steering, even other health professionals-physician assistants and nurse practitioners can perform the procedures regardless of their experience level. This maximizes efficiencies." The system uses advanced algorithms to achieve remarkable non-linear steering capabilities, enabling it to accurately access even hard-to-reach specified anatomical target inside the patient's body. The system compensates for target location changes due to patient's breathing or movement without the need for manual instrument adjustments. This results in unparalleled accuracy of less than 1.7mm average tip to target (validated in more than 200 pre-clinical and clinical cases), enabling earlier interventions, access to smaller targets, and reduced watchful waiting. It reaches the site quickly (less than 8.5 minutes) with a single insertion to target. Other system benefits include: It significantly reduces the need for frequent instrument reinsertion, leading to more predictable and consistent procedure times and overall procedure efficiency. It reduces physical strain and minimizes radiation exposure and associated health risks for interventional radiologists and other support staff. It delivers instruments to the target site in a precise timeframe and on the first attempt, allowing physicians to better plan operative suite time. It improves staff utilization and facility resources, increasing hospital profitability and revenue. It results in fewer complications and shorter recovery times for patients. Facilitates earlier interventions to potentially enable earlier diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening conditions. "XACT Robotics' groundbreaking hands-free robotic system addresses the barriers to efficiency in percutaneous procedures and its compatibility with different medical instruments enables use across a broad application spectrum," Jadhav said. "XACT Robotics is a leader in tech innovation because of how its platform stays true to its mission of democratizing percutaneous procedures , reducing reliance on physicians' technical skills at wielding instruments and addressing clinical variability." Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has developed a product with innovative features and functionality that is gaining rapid acceptance in the market. The award recognizes the quality of the solution and the customer value enhancements it enables. 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 us: Start the discussion. Contact: Bianca Torres P: 1.210.247.8860 E: bianca.torres@frost.com About XACT Robotics Founded in 2013, XACT Robotics is advancing the field of radiology with the introduction of the XACT ACE Robotic System, the world's first and only comprehensive robotic system that integrates image guided planning and real time monitoring with non-linear steering and precise robotic insertion of various instruments to a desired target during CT-guided percutaneous procedures. With unparalleled accuracy of less than 1.7mm and one insertion to target, the XACT ACE Robotic System has shown to improve accuracy, consistency and efficiency with the potential to support earlier patient diagnosis and treatment. XACT Robotics is a privately held company with offices in Hingham, MA, USA and Caesarea, Israel. For more information, visit www.xactrobotics.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1750848/XACT_Robotics_Award.jpg BANGALORE, India, Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Industrial Salt Market By Type - Sea Salt, Well and Rock Salt, Lake Salt, Market By Application - Chemical Processing, De-Icing, Oil & Gas, Water Treatment, Agriculture, Others. Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2022 - 2028. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Chemicals Industry Category. The global Industrial Salt market size is estimated to be worth USD 13750 million in 2022 and is forecast to be a readjusted size of USD 14970 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 1.4% during the review period. Major Factors Driving The Growth Of The Industrial Salts Market Are Increasing use in various end-user industries for chemical processing, water treatment, De-Icing, Oil & Gas, and agriculture is expected to drive the growth of the industrial salts market. Browse The Table Of Contents And List Of Figures At https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-15X214/global-industrial-salt TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRIAL SALTS MARKET The chemical industry relies heavily on industrial salt to manufacture various chemicals. This factor is expected to drive the growth of the industrial salts market. It is frequently used as a raw material in the production of chlorine, caustic soda, and soda ash. Aside from these, industrial salt is used to make caustic soda, sodium sulfate, sodium carbonate, hydrochloric acid, sodium bicarbonate, liquid sodium, metallic sodium, chlorine, and sodium nitrate, among other things. Furthermore, industrial salts are actively used in the chlor alkali process to manufacture products such as ethylene dichloride, which is stimulating demand for industrial salts due to a lack of cost-effective substitutes. The industrial salts market growth is driven by the rising demand for clean water. In most water softening systems, industrial salts are used for water treatment. Water softening systems use an ion exchange process with resins to effectively remove calcium and magnesium salts from water. For resin regeneration, industrial salts are used, which improves the resin's as well as the system's performance. For these purposes, coarse, granulated, or salt pellets of various geometries are used. Industrial salts are also used as a source of chlorine in the treatment of drinking water and swimming pools as disinfectants. Industrial salt is often used in an oil drilling rig to make it more efficient and safer. Other than this, industrial salt is utilized as an additive in mud used as a drilling fluid. Industrial salt increases the density of the soil and thus makes the drilling process safer. Industrial salt applications in mud used as drilling fluid act as a lubricant and coolant for the drilling head. Salt applications in the oil industry can also serve as flocculants, diverting agents, acidizing specialty additives, thinners/dispersants, and stabilizers. The growing use of industrial salts for de-icing is expected to drive the growth of the industrial slats market. The vast majority of industrial salt is used to keep roads, sidewalks, and platforms in good working order. De-icing road salt is frequently spread across the roads before the surface freezes, forming a layer of brine. This process slows or prevents the formation of ice. When roads or sidewalks are already frozen or covered in snow, industrial salt is used to lower the freezing point of water. As a result, industrial salt melts the snow and prevents the formation of ice. As a result, salt de-icing makes roads safer and helps to prevent accidents. Get Your Sample Today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-15X214/Global_Industrial_Salt_Market INDUSTRIAL SALT MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS Based on region, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the most lucrative region, with China holding the majority share of about 80%. IT was followed by India and Japan, both having a share of over 15 percent. Based on the product, Well and rock salt is expected to be the most lucrative with a market share of 45%. Based on application, the largest application is (Chemical processing) Chlor-Alkali, followed by Soda ash, etc. Inquire For Customization: https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/QYRE-Auto-15X214/Global_Industrial_Salt_Market Market By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Industrial Salt Market By Companies Archean Group Ahir Salt GHCL Sojitz Naikai Salt China National Salt 9D Grou Yunnan Salt Lantai Industry Chengyuan Salt Jingshen Salt & Chemical Longwei Chengkou Lubei Chemical Dadi Salt Inquire For Chapter Cost: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-15X214/Global_Industrial_Salt_Market Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact: https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-15X214&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - The global Iodate Salt market was valued at USD 9140.4 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 10210 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 1.6% during 2021-2027. - The global Sodium Chloride (Salt) market size is estimated to be worth USD 17450 million in 2022 and is forecast to a readjusted size of USD 19760 million by 2028 with a CAGR of 2.1% during the review period. - The global Oral Rehydration Salt market was valued at USD 613.2 million in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 906.2 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% during 2021-2027. - The global Nickel Sulfate market was valued at USD 2054.9 million in 2020 and it is expected to reach USD 2579.2 million by the end of 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.3% during 2021-2027. - Global Salt Market Outlook 2022 - Global Salt Lake Battery Grade Lithium Carbonate Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - Global Celery Salt Market Insights and Forecast to 2028 - Global Industrial Grade Salt Market Research Report 2021 - Global Bagged Salt Market Outlook 2022 - Global Poly-L-Glutamic Acid Sodium Salt Market Research Report 2021 - Global Nylon 66 Salt Market Outlook 2022 Click Here To See Related Reports on Industrial Salt Market About Us: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. Contact Us: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports LinkedIn - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2022 / AIO Energy Services, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Veteran-Owned Small Business, and Minority-Owned Business, ("AIO") announced today the launch of its energy consulting and brokerage services division. This new division will focus on providing efficient placement of renewable and conventional energy into the wholesale/retail markets, advising businesses on energy sector matters, and working with them to interface with their utilities and municipalities. In addition, to support its successful launch, it has engaged global management consulting firm NMS Consulting, Inc., an energy and infrastructure sector specialist, to advise on its business processes outsourcing, business origination, corporate strategy, sector market expansion, and compliance programs. The company name is an adaptation of the unofficial motto of many Marines, and stands for Adapt, Improvise, Overcome. AIO was founded by its CEO, Derek Stegall, a decorated disabled US Marine Corps. veteran who proudly served his country for 8 years, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom 1 & 2, along with several other global hot spots. Following his distinguished service, Mr. Stegall worked within the industry and energy sectors upon his honorable discharge from the USMC. "Recognizing the global shift to renewables and clean energy coupled with the continued dependence on conventional energy, I can't think of a better time to expand into energy brokerage services to establish AIO as the leading premier DVBE and MBE energy services firm." said, Derek Stegall, CEO of AIO Energy Services, LLC. Paul "Jay" Purcell, Managing Director, Partner, and Head of the Global Energy Practice at NMS Consulting, will lead the project mandate team for AIO. Mr. Purcell commented, "I have had the privilege and honor of knowing Mr. Stegall, on a personal and professional basis, for over twenty years. As a former Marine, it will be a pleasure to re-engage with Mr. Stegall on this remarkable journey to bring energy and energy services to businesses and to support the veteran and disabled veteran communities further." Media Contact: Lili Swanson NMS Consulting, Inc. T: 310.855.0020 E. news@nmsconsulting.com SOURCE: NMS Consulting, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689729/AIO-Energy-Services-Launches-New-Division WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the world's animals face what scientists call a "Sixth Mass Extinction," with up to one million species in foreseeable danger of disappearing forever, extraordinary e?orts to preserve the creatures of the Earth are more vital than ever - as are the scientists, researchers and advocates who devote their lives to these e?orts. To award those who achieve signi?cant positive change in the ?eld of conservation practice, theory, and research, American Humane, the country's ?rst national humane organization, today is proud to launch the Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation. This award was created in honor of Wolfgang F. Kiessling, the founder of Loro Parque and globally acknowledged leader in the ?eld of conservation and will be awarded annually. "There is simply no higher purpose than that to protect and preserve our world's most precious asset - animal life. It brings me great honor and pleasure to bestow this award on those who are leading the way in the field of conservation," said Wolfgang Kiessling, president and founder of Loro Parque and Loro Parque Foundation. The Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize committee will be led by Wolfgang Kiessling, Christoph Kiessling, Cybell Kiessling, Dr. Javier Almunia, Dr. Robin Ganzert and Brad Andrews. Additional Kiessling Foundation leaders and family members may be elected to the committee as needed. The committee will screen and vote for applicants, ultimately choosing one who will be awarded the Kiessling Prize and a grant of US $80,000 to further their work to make signi?cant contributions to the practical application, research and theory of species protection. "Wolfgang Kiessling is a renowned conservationist and founder of Loro Parque, one of the most well-respected zoological institutions in the world for its beauty, the excellence of its facilities and its incredible work to save species on the brink of extinction," said Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane. "We are thrilled to establish this prestigious conservation award in his honor and hope to inspire generations of fellow conservationists to continue his legacy of leadership." Founded in 1972 by Kiessling, Loro Parque was initially created as a paradise for parrots and began its journey with only 150 parrots. The park, located on the island of Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands, now has more than 4,000 specimens of 350 different species and subspecies of parrots, demonstrating its outstanding success in boosting the parrot population. Loro Parque is also home to flamingos, cranes, penguins and swans, as well as many species of reptiles, mammals and marine life. As billions of human beings exhaust the world's resources, Loro Parque plays a critical role in education, science and conservation. In 2017, Loro Parque became the first zoo in Europe to receive American Humane Certification, reinforcing its recognition as a global leader in animal welfare. Applications will be open from February 15 through April 15, 2022 and a recipient of the Wolfgang Kiessling International Prize for Species Conservation will be named in May 2022. Applicants can learn more about the prize and submit their credentials by visiting https://humaneconservation.org/kiessling/. About American Humane American Humane is the country's first national humane organization. Founded in 1877, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare, and well-being of animals, and our leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and people. For more information or to support our work, please visit www.americanhumane.org. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagramand YouTube. Media Contact Laura Sheehan lauras@americanhumane.org A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f69242c-74e8-4c05-bf14-3e164cc08518 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the signing of a Mineral Exploration Agreement (MEA) with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) for a 20-year mining lease on a 2,665-hectare property (Project Nagvaak), located approximately 20 km west of the Company's Mel property on the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada. This property is an excellent addition to the Company's portfolio as it is a targeted area not previously recognized for hosting energy transition metals specifically, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, molybdenum, copper, and platinum group elements. The polymetallic target is hosted in an underexplored regional-scale early Proterozoic sedimentary basin (Penryhn Group). Surface results to date confirm an extensive mineralized system over 7 kilometres long by 500 metres wide. Project Nagvaak Highlights StrategX has identified a regional sedimentary-hosted basin with similar geological characteristics to other sedimentary basins hosting world-class deposits of energy transition metals. Highly anomalous polymetallic values returned from a majority of 144 surface rock grab samples outlining 8 target areas for follow-up. Significant anomalous surface values in rock grab samples up to 0.84% nickel (Ni), 0.94% vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ), 440 ppm cobalt (Co), 4,650 ppm molybdenum (Mo), 1.68% copper (Cu), 9.09% zinc (Zn), 48.3 g/t silver (Ag), and 1.23 g/t palladium (Pd). In 47 out of 144 rock grab samples, the average nickel equivalent* (NiEq*) grade is 1.18% and includes highly anomalous average vanadium pentoxide grade of 0.42%. Vanadium (V) was recently designated by the Canadian and U.S. governments as a critical mineral due to its importance to the energy storage and defense sectors and there being a shortage in domestic production with most of the supply imported from Russia, China, and South Africa. A total of 144 rock grab samples were collected from sulphidic graphite schist and quartzite in float, sub-crop boulders and outcrop. The area has less than 5% outcrop in this part of the Melville Peninsula region. The results of these samples can be viewed in a table on the Company's site here. Table 1 below lists 47 select rock sample results coming from 8 target areas on the property representing an average NiEq* of 1.18%. These target areas can be viewed here. Anomalous samples are considered significant when they represent 10x's the average crustal abundance for an element typically in the two-to-three-digit ppm value range (10-100+ ppm) (Interpreting Multielement Geochemistry data, Scott Halley 2016). Sampling at Project Nagvaak returned anomalous metal values in the four to five-digit range (1,000 to 10,000's ppm). The nickel concentration levels are in the range for many of the samples from 1,000 ppm to greater than 5,000 ppm Ni or 0.5%. A calculation in nickel equivalence by grouping the elements was deemed appropriate based on the nature of the observed mineralization and for comparative economic evaluation purposes. Table 1: 47 select rock grab sample results (of 144) from 8 target areas on Project Nagvaak To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/114446_img.jpg *Note: PGE's + Au are not included in the NiEq* calculation. Includes nickel price of US$22,000/tonne, V2O5 price of US$21,000/tonne, Cu price of US$9,500/tonne, Zn price of US$3,500/tonne, Mo price of US$44,000/tonne, and Ag price of US$23/oz. NiEq* formula uses the following formula: NiEq* = Ni % + (V205% X 0.9545) + (Cu % X 0.4318) + (Zn % X 0.1591) + (Mo % X 2.000) + (Ag Oz X 0.0010). The NiEq* calculation will be lower if the metallurgical recovery of the metals is below 100% and will be determined when a resource deposit is defined. Note : Sample #'s beginning with B were taken by BHP Minerals in 1996, and #'s without a letter and beginning with A are by StrategX. The Nagvaak project area was previously explored for zinc by Aquitaine during the early 1970's and by BHP during the 1990's and was never approached as a polymetallic sedimentary-hosted deposit type. Initial exploration by StrategX was focused on identifying extensive mineralized areas hosted in the Penrhyn Group metasedimentary rift basin on the Melville Peninsula. Two major surface anomalies have been interpreted based on previous grid till geochemistry completed by BHP and correlate with rock samples collected in these areas by the Company. Visuals of select rock samples with a brief description in the Company's project gallery can be reviewed here. Additionally, the surface anomalies can be viewed on a plan map here. The V-Mo-Ag-Cu anomaly is 4km long by 200m wide defined by 95 till samples returning from 560 ppm (1,000 ppm V2O5) up to 3,530 ppm (6,315 ppm V2O5) vanadium, 55 samples returning from 200 ppm up to 1,580 ppm molybdenum, and 57 samples returning 1.0 to 26.3 ppm silver. This anomaly occurs internal to a highly anomalous electromagnetic (EM) conductor detected by geophysical surveys completed by prior operators - currently under review by the Company's inhouse geophysicist. The Ni-Co-Cu-Zn anomaly is 1km long by 100m wide defined by 13 samples that returned 546 to 4,200 ppm nickel, 19 to 162 ppm cobalt, 313 to 2,070 ppm copper, and 195 to 7,400 ppm zinc and is located along the north side of the EM conductor mentioned above. These till sample results are historical and have not been confirmed with modern sampling; however, it will be reviewed and confirmed in more detail as part of the next field exploration program. Deposit type analog Nagvaak and other targets on the Melville Peninsula are hosted in a metal-rich sedimentary belt that could rival other deposits such as Talvivaara, Kainuu belt, located in Finland. Talvivaara is a giant, low-grade, polymetallic (Ni-Zn-Cu-Co) black schist-hosted deposit of similar age and host lithology to the Penryhn Group. The estimated size of the deposit is 2,053 Mt of 0.22% nickel, 0.49% zinc, 0.13% copper, and 0.02% cobalt, as defined under the JORC code (Talvivaara Mining Company, 2013). The Nagvaak polymetallic target has the potential to be a major discovery enriched in a number of energy transition metals. More information on energy transition metals (critical minerals) and its role on transitioning into a 'green' renewable future can be viewed here. Exploration plans StrategX plans to advance the targets in the next field season and is applying for the necessary permits and licenses to also complete a drill program. The next phase of exploration will include more prospecting, sampling, mapping, and advanced geophysics to prioritize the drill targets. NTI partnership StrategX is pleased to partner with Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. who is responsible for the sustainable and economic development of Inuit Owned subsurface lands under the Nunavut Agreement. This partnership is of critical importance to StrategX with respect to both organizations having similar mandates in responsible exploration and development and respect for the people and the land. An agreement between both parties was executed on October 25th, 2021. Qualified Person & QA/QC Samples were flown directly from site to ALS Canada Ltd.'s preparatory laboratory in Yellowknife, NT. ALS Yellowknife prepares a pulp from each sample and sends the pulps directly to its analytical laboratory in North Vancouver, Canada for analysis. A QA/QC program was implemented at the laboratory by ALS by inserting standards and blanks into the sample stream. ALS Global is accredited in accordance with the recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17025. The sample preparation in 2021 included crushing the entire sample and using riffle splitter and then pulverizing up to 250g whereby 85% < 75um. Pulverizing QC Test were performed on every 20 samples. The pulverized material was then analyzed using ALS's ME-MS61 48 Element four acid ICP-MS. The geological and technical data contained in this news release pertaining to Nagvaak Project was reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, MSc, PGeol, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About StrategX StrategX (STGX) is a new Canadian-based exploration company poised to be a significant contributor in the natural resources sector and emerging low carbon economy. The Company is currently focused on the discovery of cobalt and associated energy transition metals in northern Canada. The Company's property portfolio includes two new regional plays: Project 939 & EA South situated near the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories, and Project Nagvaak & Mel on the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, located near tidewater. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Signature To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8512/114446_fefeaf0b641299c7_002full.jpg Darren G. Bahrey CEO, President & Director For further information, please contact: StrategX Elements Corp. Email: info@strategXcorp.com Phone: 1-855-STRATGX (toll-free) For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114446 Quantinuum announces a new investment by IBM, extending capabilities with IBM Quantum systems in joint commitment to grow the quantum ecosystem Quantinuum Joins IBM Quantum Ecosystem to Advance Quantum Computing Applications CAMBRIDGE, England and BROOMFIELD, Colo., Feb. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Quantinuum today announced an agreement with IBM to expand the IBM Quantum Hub with Cambridge Quantum Computing Limited, providing clients with greater access to IBM's quantum computing systems, including IBM's recently announced 127 qubit processor, "Eagle," as well as to IBM's quantum expertise and Qiskit, to drive and develop the quantum ecosystem. IBM's investment in Quantinuum was facilitated by IBM Ventures. "We are excited to expand access to IBM Quantum hardware and Qiskit, providing our clients with solutions developed for state-of-the-art quantum computing hardware. We continue to utilize a broad range of quantum processors including IBM, given their position as a leader in superconducting quantum computers, a critical and important part of the growth in the capabilities of quantum computers," said Quantinuum CEO Ilyas Khan. "IBM has been a great advocate for the creation of a growing quantum ecosystem as well as an early investor in Cambridge Quantum and now Quantinuum. We look forward to opening up a wide range of possibilities to further advance quantum computing industry applications." Quantinuum is a result of the combination of two leaders in the global eco-system for quantum computing: Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum. This new investment and business collaboration provides an example of how Quantinuum is poised to accelerate the development of quantum computing and innovation of quantum technologies to deliver real-world quantum-enabled solutions for some of the most intractable problems that classical computers have not been able to solve. For more information, visit www.quantinuum.com. This release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such forward-looking statements. The Honeywell trademark is used under license from Honeywell International Inc. Honeywell makes no representations or warranties with respect to this service. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The U.S. dollar firmed against its most major opponents in the European session on Tuesday, as U.S. treasury yields rose and growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine boosted the demand for safe-haven assets. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced economic sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals in response to Russia's deployment of troops to the two breakaway republics in Ukraine. The White House said that President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to 'prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in' Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he has suspended the approval of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia in light of the deteriorating situation. Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to recognize the two breakaway regions as independent states and mobilize the troops into these areas escalated conflict with the West. The greenback appreciated to a 4-day high of 115.24 against the yen, from nearly a 3-week low of 114.50 seen at 6:15 pm ET. Against the pound, it touched 1.3538, its highest level since February 16. The next likely resistance for the greenback is seen around 119.00 against the yen and 1.31 against the pound. The greenback reversed from an early low of 0.9151 against the franc, gaining to 0.9210. On the upside, 0.94 is likely seen as its next resistance level. In contrast, the greenback eased to 1.1367 against the euro, after climbing to an 8-day high of 1.1288 at 10:30 pm ET. If the greenback falls further, 1.15 is likely seen as its next support level. The greenback depreciated to near a 2-week low of 0.7233 against the aussie, 4-day low of 1.2719 against the loonie and near a 5-week low of 0.6747 against the kiwi, off its early high of 0.7172, 1-week high of 1.2769 and a 5-day high of 0.6680, respectively. The greenback is poised to find support around 0.74 against the aussie, 1.25 against the loonie and 0.70 against the kiwi. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc. (CSE: VEGI) (OTCQB: VGGIF) (FSE: 77I) ("Boosh" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in connection with the acquisition of Beanfields it is paying a referral fee related to the Beanfields transaction in an arms length third party (the "Consultant") in the amount of US$92,000 payable in cash and 564,000 common shares, each with a deemed price of $0.93 per share. The referral fee shares will be subject to four month hold period required under Canadian securities laws expiring on June 23, 2022 and applicable restriction under U.S. securities laws. The Company also announces it has engaged the Consultant to provide strategic, acquisition and operational expertise as Boosh continues to expand. The Consultant will be engaged for a two year term and receive compensation if US$5,000 in cash, and 25,000 shares per month, provided that the share compensation will cease at the end of the first year of the term. All shares issuable as compensation will be issued quarterly in arrears and will be subject to a four month and one day hold period in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. On behalf of the Board of Directors Jim Pakulis Chief Executive Officer jpakulis@booshfood.com Telephone: (833) 882-6674 www.Booshfood.com About Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc.: Boosh Plant-Based Brands Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary, Boosh Food (www.booshfood.com), offers high quality, non-GMO, gluten free, 100% plant-based nutritional comfort foods for the whole family. We currently offer 24 plant-based SKU's ranging from frozen meals, to refrigerated entrees to shelf stable Mac & Cheezes, and are sold throughout Canada. Boosh, good for you and good for planet earth. The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the Company's plans in respect of the Assets, the potential revenues of the Assets and the Company's intention to complete the acquisition of the Assets.. Any number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements as well as future results. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in forward looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward looking statements or otherwise. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114454 A man was fatally shot in a home on a residential Queens street Monday afternoon, police said. Daniel Ortiz, 23, was struck in the shoulder, chest and thigh about 4 p.m. in a house on Mexico St. near Turin Drive in St. Albans, police said. He was laying face-up in a basement apartment when police arrived, cops said. Advertisement Police investigate a shooting inside 116-19 Mexico St. in Queens on Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) Medics took the man to Jamaica Hospital, but he couldnt be saved. Ortiz lived in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, cops said. Its not clear why he was at the Queens location. Advertisement I saw them taking him out. They were pumping his chest hard, said a neighbor, who didnt give her name. Other neighbors said they were shocked violence had come to their block. Things like that just dont happen around here like that. Its like a quiet neighborhood. Everybody stays inside, and so for this to happen was, you know, really shocking, said Rori Davis, 31, who lives across the street from the home where the violence erupted. Police investigate a shooting at a home in St. Albans, Queens on Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) Davis recognized the victim from the neighborhood, but didnt know him personally. I didnt really expect for him to, you know, be the one thats being involved in all of this. That was kind of strange and weird, Davis said. Police found eight shell casings on the scene, cops said. Cops have made no arrests in the killing. 2021 Full-year revenue of 285.5m, an organic decline of 2.7%, in line with the announcement of January 19, 2022 ? Dynamic Subscription activity, with organic growth of 18.9% over the year ? Recurring revenue representing 82% of total revenue and 93% of product revenue ? Margin on operating activities up 110 basis points year-on-year to 11.5% of revenue, or 32.9m Regulatory News: Axway Software's (Paris:AXW) Board of Directors, chaired by Pierre Pasquier, today conducted an in-depth review of the consolidated and annual financial statements1 for the year ended December 31, 2021. Axway announces the following results for 2021: Axway Software: 2021 Full-year results Key income statement items* 2021 2020 (m) (% Rev) (m) (% Rev) Revenue 285.5 297.2 Organic growth - 2.7% Growth at constant exchange rates - 2.7% Total growth - 3.9% Profit on Operating Activities 32.9 11.5% 30.8 10.4% Profit from Recurring Operations 19.9 7.0% 17.6 5.9% Operating Profit 17.3 6.1% 17.6 5.9% Net Profit attributable to the Group 9.6 3.4% 8.5 2.9% Basic earnings per share (in ) 0.45 0.40 * Alternative performance measures are defined in the glossary at the end of this document Patrick Donovan, Chief Executive Officer, declared: In 2021, I was pleased with our teams' efforts to implement our new strategy. Although we faced unusual buying patterns in Q4, which, as announced a few weeks ago, prevented us from achieving our annual growth target, we still had several positive results for the year. First, it should be noted that our sales teams met or exceeded their objectives for 7 consecutive quarters before the Q4 2021 challenge. In fact, our main products grew year over year. In addition, as in 2020, we continued to move forward, by improving our profitability through a stable gross margin and lower operating expenses. The continued growth of our Net Promoter Score confirmed the high level of customer satisfaction and we also managed to maintain strong engagement among our employees despite the significant attrition observed in our markets. The pipeline reassessment we have just completed, and the technological excellence of our products allow me to reiterate my confidence in our project and our strategy. Thanks to its clearly differentiating added value, the Amplify API platform will drive Axway's future growth and we will therefore continue to invest to fuel its development. Organizational and strategic adjustments are underway to enable us to sustain the independent, growing, and profitable model we believe in for Axway. We therefore begin 2022 with commitment, ready to meet the challenges of a market with limited visibility and strong competition, leveraging the solid foundation we have built since 2018." Comments on business activity in 2021 In 2021, in an economic and health context that remained highly uncertain, Axway launched a new 3-year strategic plan based on a strong product vision. There were a number of important developments throughout the year: Axway strengthened its business model, aiming to capitalize on its leader position in its most dynamic market, that of API management. While the anticipated spread of APIs is now a market reality, investment in Amplify over recent years has made it one of the first offerings capable of addressing the complex data governance issues faced by large organizations. This vision has enabled the company to continue to win new customers at a sustained pace and has largely fueled the business pipeline throughout the year. Efforts to constantly improve the Axway customer experience continued and were reflected in important reorganizations. To strengthen the privileged partner relationship that the company seeks to offer each of its customers, teams were created to unify a global vision by product line. Several major contracts were won with long-standing customers who were particularly satisfied with the relationship of trust established with Axway. Over the year, the customer satisfaction indicator increased 4 points compared to 2020, with a Net Promoter Score reaching 29. Axway employee engagement remained strong despite the turbulent environment. The Employee Engagement Score was 66% for the year, once again reflecting the regular and transparent dialogue established with all employees. Marketing investments were continued and bore fruit. The digitalization of events and campaigns did not prevent Axway from interacting effectively with its existing customers and prospects, as evidenced by the 25% growth in Amplify's pipeline over the year. Comments on operational performance in 2021 In 2021, Axway generated revenue of 285.5m, down 2.7% organically and 3.9% in total. While the scope of consolidation did not change during the year, exchange rate fluctuations negatively impacted revenue by 3.7m, mainly due to the depreciation of the US dollar and the Brazilian real against the euro. Profit on operating activities improved for the second year in a row, finishing at 32.9m for the period, or 11.5% of revenue, compared to 10.4% in 2020. Optimized cost management and the planned reduction in Research Development expenses after several years of major investment made it possible to improve profitability despite lower business volumes. Axway Software: Revenue by business line Full-year 2021 (m) 2021 2020 Restated* 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 18.6 25.3 25.8 28.0% 26.6% Subscription 114.2 96.1 97.3 17.4% 18.9% Maintenance 119.0 136.6 138.2 13.9% 12.9% Services 33.8 35.6 36.0 6.0% 4.9% Axway Software 285.5 293.5 297.2 - 3.9% - 2.7% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates License revenue was 18.6m in 2021 (6% of total revenue), an organic decrease of 26.6%. As customers favor more than ever the economic and technological flexibility of subscription offers, the License activity fell sharply over the year as expected. This decline is explained in particular by the drop in the number of significant contracts signed by the company at the end of the year. The Subscription activity generated revenue of 114.2m in 2021, with organic growth of 18.9% and 17.4% in total. Having grown steadily over the past three years, the activity now represents 40% of Axway's annual revenue. New customer wins accelerated throughout the year for key products in Axway's portfolio, including the Amplify API management offering which won 51 new customers in 2021. Certain specialized products operating in the cloud suffered from a high attrition rate, slowing overall activity growth. Sales performance over the period was satisfactory, as evidenced by the signing of new subscription contracts for an annual contract value (ACV) of 33.2m, up 4.2% compared to the very high comparison base in 2020. The Signature Metric therefore fell 2.2% in 2021. Maintenance revenue was 119.0m in 2021, or 42% of total revenue. As expected, and in line with the first nine months of the year, the activity reported a full-year organic decline of 12.9%. This trend is explained by the migration of the value of certain maintenance operations to the Subscription revenue line, as customers adopt more flexible contractual models. Axway's recurring revenue, which includes Subscription and Maintenance contracts, represented 82% of the company's revenue in 2021, i.e., 233.2m, an increase compared to 2020 (79%). This includes 51.5m of upfront revenue, recognized on the signing of subscription contracts. Recurring revenue also represented 93% of Axway's product revenue (Licenses, Maintenance and Subscription) over the year, confirming the effective transition to recurring contracts, which should offer better visibility and more stable forecasts from 2023. Still impacted by the health crisis and associated restrictions, the Services activity generated revenue of 33.8m (12% of total revenue) in 2021, down 4.9% organically. While activity grew in some regions where remote services are possible, the situation was much less favorable in most major European countries and in the United States. Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area Full-year 2021 (m) 2021 2020 Restated* 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 81.4 93.5 93.5 12.9% 12.9% Rest of Europe 67.4 62.9 62.3 8.1% 7.2% Americas 119.4 120.8 125.3 4.7% 1.2% Asia/Pacific 17.3 16.4 16.1 7.4% 5.8% Axway Software 285.5 293.5 297.2 - 3.9% - 2.7% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates France reported revenue of 81.4m in 2021 (28% of total revenue), an organic decline of 12.9%. In the country, at the end of the year, several large deals were postponed, causing a significant decrease in sales compared to the particularly high comparison base of Q4 2020. The Rest of Europe region achieved organic growth of 7.2% in 2021, with revenue of 67.4m, representing 24% of total revenue. The robust momentum of the Subscription activity (+50.9%) and the resilience of the License activity (+6.7%) helped offset the decline in other activities. The Americas (USA Latin America) generated revenue of 119.4m over the year (42% of total revenue), with an organic decrease of 1.2%. Although not sufficient to compensate for the decline in License activity, Subscription activity accelerated significantly over the year as expected (+18.4%). Asia/Pacific achieved annual revenue of 17.3m (6% of total revenue), with organic growth of 5.8%. Thanks to growth in excess of 20% in the Subscription and Services activities, and more generally a return to normal business levels, Axway enjoyed a good year in the region. Comments on 2021 net profit Profit from recurring operations was 19.9m in 2021, or 7.0% of revenue, compared to 5.9% the previous year. It includes amortization of allocated intangible assets of 8.6m and a share-based payment expense of 4.4m. Operating profit for the year was 17.3m, or 6.1% of revenue. Net profit for the period was 9.6m, representing 3.4% of revenue compared to 2.9% (8.5m) in 2020 and 1.8% (5.4m) in 2019. Basic earnings per share were 0.45 for the year, up from 0.40 in 2020. Financial position at December 31, 2021 At December 31, 2021, Axway's financial position was solid, with cash of 25.4m and bank debt of 61.8m. Free cash flow was 2.9m in 2021, compared to -0.7m a year earlier. The accumulation of Subscription contract signatures should lead to an improvement in net cash from operating activities from 2022. Shareholders' equity stood at 372.2m at December 31, 2021, compared to 355.5m at the end of 2020. As a reminder, Axway renegotiated its bank lines until 2026, thereby securing financing of up to 125.0m. Change in the workforce At December 31, 2021, Axway had 1,712 employees compared to 1,888 at December 31, 2020. Proposed dividend for financial year 2021 At its upcoming Annual General Meeting scheduled for May 24, 2022, Axway will ask shareholders to approve the distribution of a dividend with a value of 0.40 per share. 2022 Targets Outlook For 2022, Axway's objective is to achieve organic revenue growth of between 1% and 3%. The company also aims to improve its profitability, with a margin on operating activities of between 12% and 14% of revenue for the year. In the medium term, Axway's ambitions remain: to achieve revenue of 500m through organic growth in sales and through acquisitions to return to operating margin on business activity rates above 15% to sustainably increase earnings per share to above 1 Today, Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 6.30 p.m. (UTC+1): 2021 Full-Year Results Virtual Analyst Conference Virtual conference registration: Click here Or join by phone by dialing one of the numbers below and announcing "Axway" at the operator's request: - International: +44 (0) 33 0551 0200 France: +33 (0) 1 7037 7166 USA: +1 212 999 6659 Please note that the meeting will be held in English. Financial Calendar Thursday, March 24, 2022: Filing of the 2021 Universal Registration Document Thursday, April 28, 2022, before market opening: Publication of Q1 2022 Revenue Tuesday, May 24, 2022, 2:30 p.m. (UTC+1): Annual Shareholders' Meeting Tuesday, July 26, 2022, after market closing: Publication of 2022 Half-Year Results Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 6:30 pm (UTC+1): 2022 Half-Year Results Virtual Analyst Conference Glossary Alternative Performance Measures Restated revenue: Revenue for the prior year, adjusted for the consolidation scope and exchange rates of the current year. Organic growth: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period, restated for consolidation scope and exchange rate impacts. Growth at constant exchange rates: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period restated for exchange rate impacts. ACV: Annual Contract Value Annual contract value of a subscription agreement. TCV: Total Contract Value Full contracted value of a subscription agreement over the contract term. Signature metric: Amount of license sales plus three times the annual contract value (3xACV) of new subscription contracts signed over a given period. Net Signature metric: Signature metric net of the maintenance attrition by migration to new subscription contracts Profit on operating activities: Profit from recurring operations adjusted for the non-cash share-based payment expense, as well as the amortization of allocated intangible assets. NPS: Net Promoter Score Customer satisfaction and recommendation indicator for a company. Employee Engagement Score: Measurement of employee engagement through an independent annual survey. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that may be subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning Axway's growth and profitability, notably in the event of future acquisitions. Axway highlights that contract signatures, which represent investments for customers, are more significant in the second half of the year and may therefore have a more or less favorable impact on full-year performance. In addition, Axway notes that potential acquisition(s) could also impact this financial data. Furthermore, activity during the year and/or actual results may differ from those described in this document as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties set out in the 2020 Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers, AMF) on March 18, 2021, under number D.21-0147. The distribution of this document in certain countries may be subject to prevailing laws and regulations. Natural persons present in these countries and in which this document is disseminated, published, or distributed, should obtain information about such restrictions, and comply with them. About Axway Axway (Euronext: AXW.PA) empowers customers to succeed using hybrid integration to connect people, systems, businesses, and digital ecosystems. Axway's hybrid integration platform, Amplify, helps enterprise power users, IT specialists, developers, and partners accelerate digital transformation, create captivating experiences, and innovate new services. Amplify speeds integrations by combining traditional integration patterns with API Management and Application Integration (providing over 150 prebuilt connectors). Over 11,000 organizations in 100 countries rely on Axway for their data integration challenges. To learn more, visit www.investors.axway.com/en Appendices (1/5) Axway Software: Revenue by business line 1st Quarter 2021 (m) Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Restated* Q1 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 3.8 3.7 3.9 -2.0% 2.8% Subscription 23.7 14.8 15.7 50.9% 59.6% Maintenance 29.8 34.1 35.4 -15.9% -12.7% Services 9.0 9.0 9.3 -3.1% 0.1% Axway Software 66.3 61.7 64.4 3.1% 7.5% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by business line 2nd Quarter 2021 (m) Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Restated* Q2 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 5.4 6.3 6.6 -17.4% -13.7% Subscription 28.1 20.9 21.5 30.5% 34.6% Maintenance 30.2 34.1 35.3 -14.3% -11.4% Services 8.3 8.6 8.8 -6.0% -3.1% Axway Software 72.1 69.9 72.2 -0.2% 3.2% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by business line 3rd Quarter 2021 (m) Q3 2021 Q3 2020 Restated* Q3 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 4.7 8.1 8.3 -42.8% -41.3% Subscription 27.8 21.9 21.9 26.9% 27.2% Maintenance 29.5 33.7 33.6 -12.2% -12.5% Services 7.7 8.9 8.9 -13.5% -13.4% Axway Software 69.8 72.6 72.8 -4.1% -3.8% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by business line 4th Quarter 2021 (m) Q4 2021 Q4 2020 Restated* Q4 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 4.6 7.2 7.0 34.9% 36.8% Subscription 34.6 38.5 38.1 9.3% 10.1% Maintenance 29.4 34.7 33.9 13.1% 15.0% Services 8.8 9.1 8.9 1.5% 3.3% Axway Software 77.3 89.4 87.9 - 12.0% - 13.5% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Appendices (2/5) Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 1st Quarter 2021 (m) Q1 2021 Q1 2020 Restated* Q1 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 18.8 17.9 17.9 5.1% 5.1% Rest of Europe 16.7 13.6 13.5 23.2% 22.9% Americas 26.5 27.4 30.1 -11.8% -3.1% Asia/Pacific 4.4 2.9 2.9 50.7% 50.8% Axway Software 66.3 61.7 64.4 3.1% 7.5% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 2nd Quarter 2021 (m) Q2 2021 Q2 2020 Restated* Q2 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 20.6 23.0 23.0 -10.6% -10.6% Rest of Europe 17.3 16.2 16.0 7.7% 6.8% Americas 30.6 26.7 29.2 4.7% 14.5% Asia/Pacific 3.6 4.0 4.0 -8.2% -8.8% Axway Software 72.1 69.9 72.2 -0.2% 3.2% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 3rd Quarter 2021 (m) Q3 2021 Q3 2020 Restated* Q3 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 19.3 20.3 20.3 -4.9% -4.9% Rest of Europe 14.0 14.3 14.2 -0.9% -2.1% Americas 32.2 32.8 33.2 -2.9% -1.7% Asia/Pacific 4.3 5.2 5.2 -17.1% -17.9% Axway Software 69.8 72.6 72.8 -4.1% -3.8% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 4th Quarter 2021 (m) Q4 2021 Q4 2020 Restated* Q4 2020 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 22.8 32.3 32.3 29.5% 29.5% Rest of Europe 19.4 18.8 18.6 + 4.4% + 3.4% Americas 30.1 34.0 32.8 8.4% 11.5% Asia/Pacific 5.0 4.3 4.1 + 22.6% + 18.1% Axway Software 77.3 89.4 87.9 - 12.0% - 13.5% * Revenue at 2021 scope and exchange rates Appendices (3/5) Axway Software: Consolidated Income Statement Full-year 2021 2021 2020 2019 m Rev. m Rev. m Rev. Revenue 285.5 297.2 300.0 of which License 18.6 25.8 52.8 of which Subscription 114.2 97.3 59.6 of which Maintenance 119.0 138.2 146.7 Sub-total Products 251.7 261.3 259.1 Services 33.8 36.0 40.8 Cost of sales 83.3 87.6 88.4 of which License and Maintenance 24.6 24.9 23.4 of which Subscription 27.0 28.3 26.7 of which Services 31.7 34.4 38.3 Gross profit 202.3 70.8% 209.7 70.5% 211.5 70.5% Operating expenses 169.4 178.8 185.6 of which Sales and marketing 89.0 92.9 99.1 of which Research and development 55.3 60.4 61.3 of which General and administrative 25.0 25.5 25.1 Profit on operating activities 32.9 11.5% 30.8 10.4% 25.9 8.6% Stock option expense -4.4 -5.1 -2.7 Amortization of intangible assets -8.6 -8.2 -8.6 Profit from recurring operations 19.9 7.0% 17.6 5.9% 14.6 4.9% Other income and expenses -2.7 0.0 -0.3 Operating profit 17.3 6.1% 17.6 5.9% 14.3 4.8% Cost of net financial debt -1.3 -1.4 -1.6 Other financial revenues and expenses 0.5 -2.7 -0.6 Income taxes -6.9 -5.1 -6.8 Net profit 9.6 3.4% 8.5 2.9% 5.4 1.8% Basic earnings per share (in ) 0.45 0.40 0.25 Appendices (4/5) Axway Software: Simplified Balance Sheet Full-year 2021 31/12/2021 31/12/2020 31/12/2019 (m) (m) (m) Assets Goodwill 348.3 330.3 350.0 Intangible assets 15.1 23.4 33.9 Property, plant and equipment 14.3 15.4 12.5 Lease right-of-use assets 23.5 28.9 23.5 Other non-current assets 23.4 24.9 22.8 Non-current assets 424.6 422.9 442.7 Trade receivables 105.1 88.1 71.9 Other current assets 27.8 32.2 33.2 Cash and cash equivalents 25.4 16.2 21.1 Current assets 158.3 136.4 126.2 Total Assets 582.9 559.3 568.8 Equity and Liabilities Share capital 43.3 42.7 42.5 Reserves and net profit 328.9 312.8 320.1 Total Equity 372.2 355.5 362.6 Financial debt long-term portion 60.1 37.3 39.2 Lease liabilities long-term portion 27.2 32.2 22.9 Other non-current liabilities 13.6 13.1 13.6 Non-current liabilities 100.9 82.5 75.7 Financial debt short-term portion 1.7 2.9 3.5 Lease liabilities short-term portion 6.2 5.6 6.8 Deferred Revenues 55.8 54.7 60.6 Other current liabilities 46.0 58.1 59.7 Current liabilities 109.8 121.4 130.6 Total Liabilities 210.7 203.9 206.2 Total Equity and Liabilities 582.9 559.3 568.8 Appendices (5/5) Axway Software: Cash Flow Statement Full-year 2021 2021 2020 2019 (m) (m) (m) Net profit for the period 9.6 8.5 5.4 Net charges to amortization, depreciation and provisions 20.2 19.9 20.5 Other income and expense items 3.9 4.4 2.8 Cash from operations after cost of net debt and tax 33.7 32.8 28.7 Change in operating working capital requirements (incl. employee benefits liability) -26.2 -23.7 -19.3 Cost of net financial debt 1.3 1.4 1.6 Income tax paid net of accrual 4.1 1.6 2.6 Net cash from operating activities 12.9 12.1 13.6 Net cash used in investing activities -2.8 -8.1 -5.2 Proceeds from the exercise of stock options 2.0 0.6 0.0 Purchases and proceeds from disposal of treasury shares -9.5 -0.2 -1.2 Dividends paid -8.6 0.0 -8.5 Change in loans 21.5 -2.4 -3.6 Change in lease liabilities -6.7 -4.4 -7.7 Net interest paid -0.6 -0.7 -0.8 Other flows 0.1 -0.9 -1.5 Net cash from (used in) financing activities -1.7 -7.9 -23.2 Effect of foreign exchange rate changes 0.7 -1.1 0.1 Net change in cash and cash equivalents 9.0 -4.9 -14.7 Opening cash position 16.2 21.1 35.8 Closing cash position 25.2 16.2 21.1 Axway Software: Impact on revenue of changes in scope and exchange rates Full-year 2021 (m) 2021 2020 Growth Revenue 285.5 297.2 - 3.9% Changes in exchange rates -3.7 Revenue at constant exchange rates 285.5 293.5 - 2.7% Changes in scope +0.0 Revenue at constant scope and exchange rates 285.5 293.5 - 2.7% Axway Software: Changes in exchange rates Full-year 2021 For 1 Average rate 2021 Average rate 2020 Change US Dollar 1.183 1.142 3.4% Brazilian Real 6.378 5.894 7.6% 1 Audit procedures have been carried out on the financial statements. The Statutory Auditors' report is in the process of being issued. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005925/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations: Arthur Carli +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 acarli@axway.com Press Relations: Sylvie Podetti +33 (0)1 47 17 22 40 spodetti@axway.com DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation RNS Number: residue number system Frankfurt am Main, 22. February 2022 Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Pre-Stabilisation Notice Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: KfW Guarantor (if any): Federal Republic of Germany Aggregate nominal amount: EUR Benchmark Description: 0.125%, due 30. Juni 2025 Offer price: 99.914% Other offer terms: Payment 1. Marz 2022, denoms 1k/1k, soft bullet Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: DZ BANK AG Bank of America ML Deutsche Bank Morgan Stanley Stabilisation period expected to start on: 22.02.2022 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Regulatory News: Forsee Power (FR0014005SB3 FORSE the Company ) (Paris:FORSE), the expert in smart battery systems, is partnering once again with the South Korean manufacturer LG Energy Solution, who will provide it with very high energy density cells to be integrated into its ZEN 42 battery systems. Forsee Power is a main customer of the new LG Energy Solution cell dedicated to intensive use, offering an excellent total cost of ownership for vehicle operators. LG Energy Solution, world leader in advanced battery technologies With 30 years of experience in the production of advanced electrochemical cells, LG Energy Solution is positioning itself in the energy industry of the future by developing advanced solutions for automotive batteries, mobility and IT batteries that respect the environment. The Korean manufacturer is developing next-generation cells based on innovative technologies and continuous investments in R&D. Committed to offering its customers the best combination of power and energy, Forsee Power once again relies on the expertise of LG Energy Solution: the Korean leader has developed a lithium-ion NMC electrochemical cell based on new technologies of materials that meet the highest safety standards. The pouch cell is dedicated to commercial and industrial applications, which are more intensive and demanding than passenger cars. "Amid the growing calls to cut tailpipe emissions around the world, LG Energy Solution believes the renewed partnership with Forsee Power will help generate green energy," said Dong-Myung Kim, Executive Vice President of LGES Advanced Automotive Battery Division." "We believe the strategic cooperation will work as a major milestone in tackling EU's eco-friendly commercial vehicle sector FORSEE ZEN 42, the first ever battery pack to use the new LG cell Forsee Power is the valued customer of LG Energy Solution to use this new cell. Integrated into the high energy ZEN range, the ZEN 42 is a night charging battery pack for heavy-duty all-electric and hybrid vehicles. It is a modular 42 kWh system whose mechanical design has been optimized for integration into the roof and rear of vehicles. It offers 20% more energy density compared to ZEN 35, in the same format. Its very good energy density allows vehicles to operate all day without being recharged. In addition, the LGES cells that are integrated into the battery pack provide excellent lifespan, offering an excellent total cost of ownership (TCO) to manufacturers and customers with intensive commercial or industrial use. 180 Heuliez buses soon equipped with Forsee Power's ZEN 42 In July 2021, Forsee Power was awarded -through its partner IVECO HEULIEZ- the biggest lot in the call for tenders launched by RATP as part of its Bus2025 plan to make the Paris bus fleet more ecological. Forsee Power will therefore equip 180 HEULIEZ GX 337 ELEC standard buses with its new ZEN 42 battery systems. Both committed to the fight against climate change, Forsee Power and LG Energy Solution offer OEMs solutions to support them in the transition to zero-emission mobility thanks to ZEN 42. The Korean leader is very committed to sustainable development and has just joined the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), rewarding its sustainable approach throughout its supply chain. The manufacturer actively engages in social responsibility by thoroughly integrating global expectations into its management strategy with respect to five critical sections of the RBA code work, health and safety, environment, business ethics and management systems. "Forsee Power is constantly improving its offer to adapt its innovations to the market needs while limiting the environmental impact of its products. With LG Energy Solution, Forsee Power offers battery systems that will further lower the carbon footprint of its customers' vehicles thanks to significant gain in energy density. Our battery systems can then be integrated into second life solutions for stationary energy storage applications further extending the battery life and lowering its environmental impact. Our mission, with our suppliers, is to offer manufacturers and cities sustainable solutions, optimizing the life of our batteries, both in the vehicle's first life and in the second life" explains Christophe Gurtner, Chairman and CEO of Forsee Power. Forsee Power batteries are produced at its industrial site in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou in France. Dedicated to the manufacture of batteries for European heavy transport (road, rail and marine), the site already employs 200 people. About Forsee Power Forsee Power is a French industrial group specializing in smart battery systems for sustainable electric transport (light vehicles, off-highway vehicles, buses, trains and ships). A major player in Europe, Asia and North America, the Group designs, assembles, and supplies energy management systems based on cells that are among the most robust in the market and provides installation, commissioning, and maintenance on site and remotely. Forsee Power also offers financing solutions (battery leasing) and second-life solutions for transport batteries. The Group recorded revenue from sales of EUR 72.4 million in 2021 and has more than 600 employees. For more information: www.forseepower.com @ForseePower About LG Energy Solution LG Energy Solution is a global leader delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for Electric Vehicles (EV), Mobility IT applications, and Energy Storage Systems (ESS). With 30 years of experience in advanced battery technology, it continues to grow rapidly towards the realization of sustainable life. With its robust global network that spans the US, Europe, Asia, and Australia, LG Energy Solution is more committed than ever to developing innovative technologies that will bring the future energy a step closer. Under its ESG vision "We CHARGE toward a better future," LG Energy Solution is doing its utmost to prioritize environment, fulfil social responsibilities and shape sustainable future. For more information, please visit https://www.lgensol.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222005995/en/ Contacts: LG Media Contacts Ashlee Semin Shin Communications Team LG Energy Solution ashin0@lgensol.com +82 2 3773 4381 Forsee Power Contacts Forsee Power Sophie Tricaud Director of Communication, Sustainability Public Affairs investors@forseepower.com NewCap Thomas Grojean Quentin Masse Investor Relations forseepower@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media Relations forseepower@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Battery Mineral Resources Corp. (TSXV: BMR) (OTCQB: BTRMF) ("Battery" or "BMR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce encouraging drill core assay results from the on-going 2021 exploration and in-fill drill program at the San Andres zone of the Punitaqui mine complex ("Punitaqui") in Chile. Punitaqui is slated for resumption of copper concentrate production in the second half of 2022. San Andres is the "normal" fault displaced upper portion of the adjacent Cinabrio copper deposit that is part of Punitaqui. Cinabrio was the primary source of copper for the Punitaqui mill which typically produced between 20 and 25 million pounds of copper annually and was operated for nine plus years by each of Glencore and Xiana Mining. The San Andres zone is one of several historic zones within BMR's Punitaqui project with partially delineated resource potential and established underground access. Historic wide-spaced drilling completed by the previous operators between 2011- 2020 totaled 9,676 meters in 76 holes. Highlights The San Andres drill program is designed to confirm resource potential identified over a 600-meter ("m") strike length by previous drilling programs. Final assay results from remaining San Andres drillholes have been returned with encouraging results as follows (see Table 1): SAS-21-36: 37.6 meters ("m") at 1.36% Copper ("Cu") including 27.4m at 1.55% Cu and including 14.7m at 2.12% Cu SAS-21-35: 25.1m at 0.54% Cu including 6.9m at 1.10% Cu SAS-21-34: 9.2m at 1.57% Cu SAS-21-31: 2.8m at 1.74% Cu SAS-21-25: 4.6m at 0.82% Cu SAS-21-32: 4m at 1.44% Cu SAS-21-38: 2.2m at 1.10% Cu SAS-21-33: 2.0m at 0.73% Cu SAS-21-37: 2.1m at 0.66% Cu 8,156m of drilling in 38 diamond core holes were completed in the Phase 1 drill program at San Andres and final complete multi-element analytical results have been received for all samples. Drilling tested the Target Stratigraphic Unit ("TSU") sediments to the north and south along strike and at depth. In total, 36 holes reached target depth and intersected the favorable mineralized horizon. Of those, 29 drillholes produced significant copper intercepts during the program. Cross-sectional geological interpretation sections have been compiled and a three-dimensional San Andres zone geological model has been completed. The geological model and corresponding assay database have been forwarded to JDS Energy & Mining to complete a resource estimate for San Andres. A composite drillcore metallurgical sample from the San Andres zone was shipped to SGS Lakefield in Ontario where preliminary metallurgical testwork is underway. Battery CEO Martin Kostuik states; "The completion of the first phase of drilling at the San Andres zone brings us one step closer to providing the market with BMR's maiden resource statement for Punitaqui. We believe these new drilling results complement the prior successful drilling at San Andres and, together, demonstrate that this drill program has the potential to provide the Company with an additional source of copper ore for the Punitaqui mill and longevity for the project. We look forward to providing further exciting updates for the drill program as we progress towards the 2022 resource update and funding the potential near term resumption of operations and cashflow at Punitaqui" Previously released copper assay highlights include those as follows (see Table 2): SAS-21-01: 3.0m grading 1.52% Cu SAS-21-03: 11.0m at 1.39% Cu including 8.0m at 1.63% Cu including SAS-21-04: 16.7m grading 1.37% Cu including 11.7m at 1.64% Cu and a second interval of 9.0m at 1.75% Cu including and a second interval of SAS-21-05: 9.0m at 2.06% Cu SAS-21-07: 3.4m at 2.10% Cu and a second interval of 4.0m at 1.56% Cu and a second interval of SAS-21-08: 5.3m at 1.39% Cu and a second interval of 3.8m at 1.85% Cu and a second interval of SAS-21-11: 2.0m at 0.91% Cu SAS-21-12: 7.0m at 1.81% Cu and a second intercept of 2m grading 1.04% Cu and a second intercept of SAS-21-13 : 3.0m at 1.96% Cu , 3.0m grading 0.87% Cu and a third interval of 1.8m at 0.83% Cu , and a third interval of SAS-21-14: 28.1m at 0.98% Cu including 10.1m at 1.44% Cu and a second intercept of 9.4m grading 1.24% Cu including and a second intercept of SAS-21-15: 3.0m at 0.5% Cu , 3.0m grading 0.48% Cu and a third interval of 2.0m at 0.51% Cu , and a third interval of SAS-21-17: 3.6m at 1.04% Cu SAS-21-19: 5.0m at 1.08% Cu including 4.0m at 1.24% Cu including SAS-21-20: 2.4m at 0.70% Cu SAS-21-21: 25.0m at 0.88% Cu including 13.0m at 0.96% Cu and 4.0m at 1.19% Cu and a second intercept of 2.0m at 1.12% Cu including and a second intercept of SAS-21-23: 2.8m at 1.00% Cu SAS-21-24: 3.0m at 0.82% Cu SAS-21-27: 11m at 2.16% Cu SAS-21-29: 16m at 1.49% Cu SAS-21-30: 5m at 1.39% Cu San Andres Drill Program The San Andres target is a zone of copper mineralization located 500m southwest of the high-grade Cinabrio deposit mined by Glencore and Xiana Mining (see Figure 1).San Andres is a tabular sedimentary horizon within a volcanic sequence. This sedimentary horizon is variably mineralized and has a variable width ranging from 5m - 30m. It consists of an interlayered volcano-sedimentary sequence composed of dark colored laminated and unlaminated shales, volcanoclastic sandstone, conglomerates and breccias and tuff breccias. There is a variable component of syngenetic pyrite. The horizon dips 40 to 50 degrees to the east and is cut-off at depth by the moderately west dipping San Andres fault (see Figure 3). Mineralization consists of veinlets and irregular disseminations in both the fine and coarse-grained clastic rocks and locally within the volcanic rocks above and below the host unit. The host horizon is also cut and offset by other faults with a wide range of orientations. The fundamental orientations identified to date include: moderately west dipping splays of the San Andres fault, generally with downward and westward movement steep dipping northeast to northwest trending faults with both sinistral and dextral offsets Faults parallel and sub-parallel to stratigraphy Historic wide-spaced drilling completed by the previous operators between 2011- 2020 totaled 76 holes / 9,676.65m. Significant historic drilling intercepts (see Table 3) included: SAS-20-07: 16m at 2.52% Cu SAS-07-50: 11m at 2.39% Cu SAS-20-01: 11m at 2.16% Cu SAS-20-08: 17m at 1.74% Cu BMR's Phase 1 San Andres diamond drilling program comprised of 8,156 meters of diamond core drilling in 38 drill holes (See Figure 1 and Figure 2). Sample assay results, reported herein, are from the final nine drill holes and are in addition to the results reported previously from the first 29 drillholes completed at San Andres (see Table 1 and Table 2 below). SAS-21-37: 2.1m at 0.66% Cu from 210.1m SAS-21-38: 15m at 0.40% Cu from 218m including 2.2m at 1.10% Cu from 230.8m. Drillhole SAS-21-25 was designed to test San Andres targeted stratigraphic unit ("TSU") 60m down-dip from the SAS-21-08 intercept (5.3m at 1.39% Cu and a second interval of 3.8m at 1.85% Cu). This down-dip test resulted in an intercept of 4.6m at 0.82% Cu from 245m confirming the mineralized zone at depth at about the same width. Drillhole SAS-21-31 targeted the TSU about 50m up-dip from hole SAS-21-06 that intersected an 18.2m downhole interval of the TSU consisting of shales and volcanoclastic sandstone and conglomerates with abundant pyrite and trace chalcopyrite. Further down, the hole intersected a thick section of the TSU with abundant pyrite with weak copper sulphides that yielded an intercept of 2.8m at 1.74% Cu from 169.8m. Drillhole SAS-21-32 was planned as an infill hole targeting the gap between SAS-21-04 (16.7m grading 1.37% Cu including 11.7m at 1.64% Cu and a second interval of 9.0m at 1.75% Cu) and SAS-21-20(2.4m at 0.70% Cu). This hole successfully intersected 36m of the TSU including a 7m interval of mineralized shaley sediments. Two mineralized intercepts were reported 5.3m at 0.70% Cu from 212m and 4m at 1.44% Cu from 230m. Drillhole SAS-21-33 targeted the gap west of the underground workings in the northern part of the San Andres zone. The drillhole intersected a 36m section of the TSU with disseminated chalcopyrite mineralization. A narrow, mineralized intercept of 2m at 0.73% Cu from 99m was reported. Drillhole SAS-21-34 was designed to test the "drilling gap" between SAS-21-14 (28.1m at 0.98% Cu including 10.1m at 1.44% Cu and a second intercept of 9.4m grading 1.24% Cu) and SAS-21-07 (3.4m at 2.10% Cu) and a second interval of 4.0m at 1.56% Cu). SAS-21-34 intercepted 32m of the TSU with variable chalcopyrite and bornite sulphides that resulted in an encouraging assay of 9.2m at 1.57% Cu from 232m. Drillhole SAS-21-35 tested the "drilling gap" between the high-grade intercept in SAS-21-27(11m at 2.16% Cu) and SAS-21-17 (3.6m at 1.04% Cu). The hole cut a 37m long section of the targeted stratigraphic unit with pyrite and chalcopyrite. The mineralized horizon produced a broad anomalous intercept of 25.1m at 0.54% Cu from 206.9m including 6.9m at 1.10% Cu from 225.1m. Drillhole SAS-21-36 was designed to test the "drilling gap" between SASA-21-03 (11.0m at 1.39% Cu including 8.0m at 1.63% Cu) and historic hole SAS-20-02 (16m at 1.05% Cu). Hole SAS-21-36 positively intersected a strongly mineralized 51m of the TSU with pyrite and chalcopyrite that produced assays of 37.6m at 1.36% Cu from 178.4m including 27.4m at 1.55% Cu from 178.4m including 14.7m at 2.12% Cu from 191.1m and 7.1m at 1.16% Cu from 209.0m and including 3.2m at 1.93% Cu from 212.9m. Drillhole SAS-21-37 was designed to test the "drilling gap" between SAS-21-03 (11.0m at 1.39% Cu including 8.0m at 1.63% Cu) and SAS-21-23(2.8m at 1.00% Cu). The hole intersected 10.2m of the TSU with pyrite and chalcopyrite. The hole successfully returned an intercept of 2.1m at 0.66% Cu from 210.1m. Drillhole SAS-21-38 was designed to test the "drilling gap" between SAS-21-14 (28.1m at 0.98% Cu including 10.1m at 1.44% Cu and a second intercept of 9.4m grading 1.24% Cu) and SAS-21-24(3.0m at 0.82% Cu). The infill hole successfully intersected the TSU within which were 6.4m of shaley sediments with pyrite and copper sulphides of the TSU that produced 15m at 0.40% Cu from 218m including 2.2m at 1.10% Cu from 230.8m. Table 1: San Andres Drilling Latest Significant Assays Results - November 2021 Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) Sample Interval (m) Copper Cu (%) Silver Ag (g/t) SAS-21-25 and 237.2 245 239 249.6 1.8 4.6 0.68 0.82 0.7 1.6 SAS-21-31 169.8 172.6 2.8 1.74 4.1 SAS-21-32 212 217.3 5.3 0.70 2.6 and 230 234 4 1.44 2.9 SAS-21-33 99 101 2 0.73 11 SAS-21-34 including 232.0 235.0 241.2 241.2 9.2 6.2 1.57 2.10 4.4 6.4 SAS-21-35 including and 206.9 206.9 225.1 232.0 213.2 232.0 25.1 6.3 6.9 0.54 0.80 1.10 4.8 13.1 4.5 SAS-21-36 including including and including 178.4 178.4 191.1 209.0 212.9 216.1 205.8 205.8 216.1 216.1 37.6 27.4 14.7 7.1 3.2 1.36 1.55 2.12 1.16 1.93 10.3 12.4 16.6 6.5 12.8 SAS-21-37 210.1 212.2 2.1 0.66 2.8 SAS-21-38 including 218.0 230.8 233.0 233.0 15 2.2 0.40 1.10 1.4 1.8 Note: All intervals reported as downhole core intervals Table 2: San Andres 2021 Drill Program Significant Drillhole Intercepts Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) Sample Interval (m) Copper Cu (%) SAS-21-01 180.2 183.2 3 1.52 SAS-21-02 185 188 3 0.04 SAS-21-03 including 195 201 209 209 14 8 1.19 1.63 SAS-21-04 including and 185 190 223 201.7 201.7 232 16.7 11.7 9 1.37 1.64 1.75 SAS-21-05 including and 200 203 220 210 207 229 10 4 9 0.52 0.87 2.06 SAS-21-07 including and 241.4 244.7 257 263.7 249 261 22.3 4.4 4 0.71 1.94 1.56 SAS-21-08 including and 221.8 221.8 232.9 236.6 227 236.65 14.8 5.3 3.75 0.95 1.39 1.85 SAS -21-11 53 55 2 0.91 SAS-21-12 and including 162 176 176 164 194 183 2 18 7 1.04 1.18 1.81 SAS-21-13 and and including 199 211 217 217 202 212.8 221 220 3 1.8 4 3 0.87 0.83 1.59 1.96 SAS-21-14 including including including 203.2 203.2 207 227 239 216 216 239 35.8 12.8 9 12 0.98 1.45 1.83 1.25 SAS-21-15 and and 116 133 139 119 136 141 3 3 2 0.50 0.48 0.51 SAS-21-17 241.4 245 3.6 1.04 SAS-21-19 including 74 74 79 78 5 4 1.08 1.24 SAS-21-20 266.9 269.3 2.4 0.70 SAS-21-21 including including and 106 106 115 136 131 119 119 138 25 13 4 2 0.88 0.96 1.19 1.12 SAS-21-23 194 196.8 2.8 1.00 SAS-21-24 231 234 3 0.82 SAS-21-27 213 224 11 2.16 SAS-21-29 218 234 16 1.49 SAS-21-30 including 50 52 55 55 5 3 1.39 1.89 Note: All Intercepts reported as downhole core intervals Table 3: San Andres Significant Historic Drillhole intercepts Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) Sample Interval (m) Copper Cu (%) SAS-20-07 180 196 16 2.52 SAS-17-04A 209 213 4 2.52 SAS-07-50 128 139 11 2.39 SAS-17-06 and 189 216 197 223 8 7 2.30 1.87 SAS-20-01 186 197 11 2.16 SAS-17-05 229.15 234 4.85 1.80 SAS-20-08 183 200 17 1.74 Note: All intervals reported are downhole core lengths Figure 1: Cinabrio - San Andres Area Geology and Targets Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/114451_b74fc1e764b52b6a_002full.jpg Figure 2: San Andres Drillhole Location Map To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/114451_b74fc1e764b52b6a_003full.jpg Figure 3: San Andres 3D Geological Model View Looking Along Strike South to North To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/114451_b74fc1e764b52b6a_004full.jpg Quality Control Sample preparation, analysis and security procedures applied on the BMR exploration projects is aligned with industry best practice. BMR has implemented protocols and procedures to ensure high quality collection and management of samples resulting in reliable exploration assay data. BMR has implemented formal analytical quality control monitoring for all field sampling and drilling programs by inserting blanks and certified reference materials into every sample sequence dispatched. Sample preparation is performed ALS Global - Geochemistry Analytical Lab in La Serena, Chile and sample analyses by ALS in Lima, Peru. ALS analytical facilities are commercial laboratories and are independent from BMR. All BMR samples are collected and packaged by BMR staff and delivered upon receipt at the ALS Laboratory. Samples are logged in a sophisticated laboratory information management system for sample tracking, scheduling, quality control, and electronic reporting. Samples are dried then crushed to 70% < -2 millimeters and a riffle split of 250 grams is then pulverized to 85% of the material achieving a size of <75 microns. These prepared samples are then shipped to the ALS Laboratory in Lima Peru for analyses by the following methods: ME-MS61: A high precision, multi-acid digest including Hydrofluoric, Nitric, Perchloric and Hydrochloric acids. Analysed by inductively coupled plasma ("ICP") mass spectrometry that produces results for 48 elements. ME-OG62: Aqua-Regia digest: Analysed by ICP-AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry) or sometimes called optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for high levels of Co, Cu, Ni and Ag. Certified standards are inserted into sample batches by ALS. Blanks and duplicates are inserted within each analytical run. The blank is inserted at the beginning, certified standards are inserted at random intervals, and duplicates are analysed at the end of the batch. Additional Information Michael Schuler, Battery Mineral Resources Corp. Chile Exploration Manager, supervised the preparation of and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release pertaining to the Punitaqui Exploration Drill Program. Mr. Schuler is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Battery Mineral Resources Corp. A battery mineral company with high-quality assets providing shareholders exposure to the global mega-trend of electrification and focused on growth through cash-flow, exploration, and making acquisitions in the world's top mining jurisdictions. BMR is currently developing the Punitaqui Mining Complex and pursuing the potential near term resumption of operations for second half of 2022 at the prior producing Punitaqui copper-gold mine. The Punitaqui mine, operating as recently as April 2020, has typically produced 20 to 25 million lb. of copper in concentrate during its 9 plus year operating history and is located in the Coquimbo region of Chile. BMR is engaged in the discovery, acquisition, and development of battery metals (cobalt, lithium, graphite, nickel and copper), in North and South America and South Korea with the intention of becoming a premier and sustainable supplier of battery minerals to the electrification marketplace. BMR is the largest mineral claim holder in the historic Gowganda Cobalt-Silver Camp, Canada and continues to pursue a focused program to build on the recently announced, +1-million-pound high grade cobalt resource at McAra by testing over 50 high-grade primary cobalt silver-nickel-copper targets. In addition, the Company owns 100% of ESI Energy Services, Inc., also known as Ozzie's, a mainline pipeline and renewable energy equipment rental and sales company with operations in Leduc, Alberta and Phoenix, Arizona. ESI, established in 1979, typically generates positive EBITDA in the range of C$4-$5 million and is poised for growth in 2022 and 2023. For more information on the business of Ozzie's Pipeline Padder, see http://ozzies.com For further information, please contact: Battery Mineral Resources Corp. Martin Kostuik Phone: +1 (604) 229 3830 Email: info@bmrcorp.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of the Company on the date the statements are made and are 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 uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual 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 and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to complete exploration and development activities, risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, government regulation and fluctuating metal prices. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Battery undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114451 DGAP-News: Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. / Key word(s): Preliminary Results/Preliminary Results Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A.: Majorel Announces Strong Preliminary Results for FY 2021 with +31% Growth in Net Revenue, Execution of Strategy Fully on Track 22.02.2022 / 18:14 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. News Release Majorel Announces Strong Preliminary Results for FY 2021 with +31% Growth in Net Revenue, Execution of Strategy Fully on Track Luxembourg, February 22, 2022: Majorel Group Luxembourg S.A. (Euronext Amsterdam ticker symbol: MAJ) ("Majorel", the 'Company"), a leading global provider of next-generation end-to-end customer experience (CX) solutions for digital-native and vertical leading brands, today announces selected preliminary results for the fiscal year 2021[1] ended December 31, 2021. BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS - Net revenue[2] of 1,752 million (+31% YOY) coming in at the top end of the latest guidance of 1,700-1,750 million with all three Segments contributing to Majorel's strong development in 2021. - Operating EBITDA[3] of 315 million (+61% YOY) is above of the latest guidance of 290-310 million; Operating EBITDA as a percentage of net revenues is at 18.0% (2020: 14.6%) and thereby in line with the provided guidance to be above 16.5%-17.0%. - Organic expansion and M&A are well under way: Successful launch of three new countries in the recent months (Croatia, North Macedonia and Ghana) and one of Turkey's leading independent CX providers, Mayen, became a member of the Majorel family on January 1, 2022. - Continued strong momentum for digital: 45% of net revenue is generated from Global Internet clients, including Content Services, Trust & Safety that is contributing 21% to net revenues. Tech & Expert Services is 9% of net revenues during 2021. - Sustainable growth with existing clients: Net revenue retention[4] of 116% (2020: 113%) OVERVIEW Continued strong top-line growth momentum at top end of latest guidance Net revenue for 2021 amounted to 1,752 million, representing an increase of +31% compared to the previous year's net revenue of 1,340 million. This development was driven by the strong growth in net revenue coming from Global Internet clients, continued growth with existing clients while also winning new logos. Net revenue in 2021 was also impacted by special effects from the Covid-19 related business (102 million) and the first-time consolidation of the China business contributing 98 million to group net revenue. The China operations became part of the Majorel Group as of January 1, 2021. Without the two afore mentioned special effects, like-for-like net revenue growth was +16%[5]. - Europe, Africa & South America (EASA) Segment With an increase of 19%, the EASA Segment has seen strong YOY growth in net revenue for 2021, reaching 1,290 million in 2021 (2020: 1,086 million). Main drivers for this development were: the continued expansion with Global Internet and BFSI clients; as well as the contribution of Covid-19 related services, which was accounted for in this Segment. - Global English, Middle East & South East Asia (GEMS) Segment The GEMS Segment made a significant contribution to the Company's success with an annual growth in net revenue of 44%. Net revenue for GEMS was 364 million in 2021 compared to 253 million in 2020. This strong increase has been driven by Majorel's continued expansion with Global Internet Clients, particularly in the Philippines, Canada, the US, Malaysia, India, and Kenya. - China & East Asia (CEA) Segment The CEA Segment reported net revenue of 98 million for the year 2021 - in line with the Company's guidance that the CEA segment would contribute 5-7% of group net revenue. The positive contribution from this regional segment has been driven by further expansion of the footprint in China, the continuing growth of digital consumer engagement services, and the focus on consumer products and digital clients. Strong Operating EBITDA above latest guidance Operating EBITDA3 of 315 million exceeded the latest, increased guidance from November 4, 2021 (290-310 million) and grew strongly by 61% compared to 2020 (196 million). The drivers of this positive development were: operational excellence; more complex, value-added services; client portfolio management; improved global delivery mix; Covid-19 related services; and continued high work-from-home (WFH) rate of 63%8. Majorel's Operating EBITDA margin expanded by 340bps to 18.0%, compared to 14.6% in 2020. Continued global expansion The Company delivered on its strategy to further increase its geographic footprint through M&A and organic expansion. Following the November 2021 announcement of the acquisition of Mayen, one of Turkey's leading independent CX providers with more than 3,500 team members, it became a member of the Majorel family as of January 1, 2022. Mayen's contribution will be accounted for in the Company's EASA Segment. With the launch of new service centers in Croatia (December 2021), North Macedonia and Ghana (January 2022), the Company strengthens its global delivery network. The new site in Ghana adds to Majorel's already leading position in Africa, where the Company has around 20,000 team members. All three new countries will be accounted for in the Company's EASA Segment. With the latest additions, Majorel now has a presence in 35 countries6 worldwide, advancing towards its mid-term target of 40 countries. During 2021, Majorel expanded its workforce by around 13,000 and had around 69,000 team members as of December 31, 2021. Continued strong momentum for digital 45% of the Company's net revenue in 2021 was from Global Internet Clients (approaching the Company's mid-term guidance of >50%) and 21% of net revenue from Content Services, Trust & Safety (already within the Company's mid-term guidance of 20%-25%). In addition, Tech & Expert Services represented 9% of net revenue - fully in line with Majorel's stated intention to increase the contribution from this business line to 10%-15% in the mid-term. Sustainable growth with existing clients and adding new logos Majorel serves more than 400 clients around the world, many of them in long-term partnerships. The strategy to retain and expand its business with existing clients is demonstrated in the net revenue retention4 figure of 116%. On February 10, 2022, Majorel announced that it had entered into an agreement with Booking.com to transfer 12 of Booking.com's 14 internal CX service centers in Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas to Majorel. The new partnership agreement is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2022 after the transfer of the service centers from Booking.com to Majorel takes place, which is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and completion of works council consultations. Further to deepening and extending its long-term partnerships with existing clients, Majorel also succeeded in adding more than 40 new logos to its client portfolio during 2021. Majorel is delighted to bring forward the release date of its audited full year 2021 results to March 17, 2022 as opposed to March 30, 2022 as previously communicated. Please see herewith the updated indicative financial calendar for 2022: FINANCIAL CALENDAR (INDICATIVE) Audited Full Year 2021 Results March 17, 2022 Q1 2022 Results May 5, 2022 Annual General Meeting June 20, 2022 H1 2022 Results August 30, 2022 Q3/9M Results November 3, 2022 ABOUT MAJOREL We design, build and deliver next-generation end-to-end CX solutions for many of the world's most respected digital-native and vertical leading brands. Our comprehensive east-to-west global footprint in 35 countries[6] across five continents, with around 69,000 team members[7] and 60 languages, allows us to deliver flexible solutions that leverage our expertise in cultural nuance, which we believe to be essential for true excellence in CX. We have deep domain expertise in tech-augmented front to-back-office CX. Additionally, we offer Digital Consumer Engagement, CX Consulting, and an innovative suite of Proprietary Digital Solutions for industry verticals. We are a global leader in Content Services, Trust & Safety. We believe the 'Majorel difference' to be our culture of entrepreneurship. CONTACT Investor Relations Insa Calsow EVP, Investor Relations ir@majorel.com Media Relations Andrew Slater SVP, Global Marketing & Communications media@majorel.com DISCLAIMER All financial information in this announcement is preliminary, unaudited and not reviewed, partially based on management reporting. It does not purport to contain all information required to evaluate the Company and/or its financial position. All forward-looking statements are based on the Company's present expectations of future events and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. For a detailed description of these factors and uncertainties, please refer to the "Risk Factors" section of our Prospectus, available at https://www.bourse.lu/issuer/MajorelGroupSA/105258. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements. [1] All financials are preliminary, unaudited and not reviewed, partially based on management reporting. [2] "Net Revenues" for the group correspond to revenues as reported in our management reporting less certain direct, order-related external costs which are part of external expenses and costs of materials and consist mainly of cost of services purchased (subcontracted or outsourced services). Net Revenues for each segment correspond to the according segment revenues less certain direct, order-related intersegment and external costs. Management reporting data exclude revenues from minor activities (primarily the Sonopress Business) outside the Majorel Group's core business which are reported in the consolidated income statement (the "Sonopress Business" is defined as certain non-core business activities historically carried out by Arvato de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which was wound down in 2021). [3] "Operating EBITDA" is defined as EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) adjusted for depreciation/amortization, impairment and reversal on intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets, adjusted for (i) impairment on goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite useful life as well as gains from business combinations, (ii) carrying amounts on assets held for sale, (iii) impairment/reversals on other financial assets at amortized cost, (iv) impairment/reversals on investments accounted for using the equity method, (v) results from disposals of investments, (vi) fair value measurement of investments, and (vii) restructuring and other special items. We use Operating EBITDA to assess the operating performance of our business as Operating EBITDA shows our EBIT as adjusted for depreciation and amortization, which are non-cash charges, and specific periodic outcomes to enhance comparability of results over periods. When comparing Operating EBITDA with peer group data, it should be taken into account that the total adjustments in a given year do not represent the full amount of all special effects incurred in a given year, as rather only material effects subject to certain thresholds will be considered for the purpose of calculating Operating EBITDA. The Sonopress Business contributed with low single-digit millions to the preliminary Operating EBITDA numbers for 2021. [4] Net revenue retention" means net revenues generated by clients in 2021 divided by net revenues generated by the same cohort of clients in 2020 (excluding China business). [5] Excluding Covid-19 business and the China business [6] As per February 18, 2022 [7] As per December 31, 2021 [8] WFH rate is based on productive team members working at home divided by the total number of productive team members. 22.02.2022 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Regulatory News: OVHcloud (Paris:OVH) is extending its data storage solution portfolio by providing its customers with a new storage offering for unstructured data. High Performance Object Storage combines high performance and scalability with a transparent and ultra-competitive pricing model. It meets the requirements of Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, as well as being suitable for e-commerce and streaming platforms. The vast amount of data being created is growing exponentially each year, and by 2025, 80% of global data will be unstructured data1. As organizations adopt a cloud-native approach, in order to modernize their information systems or build new applications, they face many challenges. These include managing the complexity inherent in unstructured data, storing massive amounts of data whilst controlling their associated costs, and delivering the performance required by applications that utilize this data. High performance to meet business requirements High Performance Object Storage offers organizations high performance, highly scalable storage at a competitive price. Specifically designed for Big Data, artificial intelligence (AI), high performance computing (HPC), and applications that require high throughput and low latency, the solution is equally well suited for static data such as documents and media content. High Performance Object Storage can store massive amounts of data and scale up quickly to one petabyte, at an excellent price/performance ratio. The pricing model is completely transparent to the customer: 25 excl. tax per terabyte per month, 0.01 excl. tax per outbound gigabyte, while API requests and private outbound traffic are included without any extra charge. Easy to access, the solution is fully available through the S3 API and the OVHcloud Customer Panel. A storage solution that maintains data sovereignty and privacy With over two decades of expertise in digital infrastructure services, OVHcloud has developed an industrial model that preserves the technological and operational sovereignty of customers, while deploying environmentally friendly and resource-efficient technologies. Designed and engineered in the Group's own data centers, all OVHcloud solutions guarantee total data reversibility and immunity to extraterritorial laws. The infrastructure operated by OVHcloud meets the highest security and data protection standards, in line with the ISO 27001 certification, as well as GDPR compliance. Like all the leading European cloud provider's solutions, High Performance Object Storage features an industry leading price/performance ratio and allows organizations to maintain control of their cloud strategy with predictable pricing and eventually the choice of data location. Availability High Performance Object Storage is already available in the Strasbourg data center (France). The service will be deployed in Gravelines (France) by April 2022. It will be available internationally in OVHcloud's Canadian-based and US data centers in May 2022. About OVHcloud OVHcloud is a global player and Europe's leading cloud provider operating over 400,000 servers within 33 data centers across four continents. For 20 years, the Group has relied on an integrated model that provides complete control of its value chain-from the design of its servers to the construction and management of its data centers, including the orchestration of its fiber-optic network. This unique approach allows it to independently cover all the uses of its 1.6 million customers in more than 130 countries. OVHcloud now offers its customers latest-generation solutions combining performance, price predictability and total sovereignty over their data to support their growth in complete freedom. 1 Source: IDC, Worldwide Global DataSphere and Global StorageSphere Structured and Unstructured Data Forecast, 2021-2025 https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=US47998321 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220222006000/en/ Contacts: Media relations Marie Vaillaud Corporate Communication Manager media@ovhcloud.com + 33 (0)6 49 32 74 02 Investor relations Marisa Baldo Head of Financial Communications investor.relations@ovhcloud.com + 33 (0)6 62 75 63 04 SENS ANNOUNCEMENT (the "Notice" or "Announcement") ISSUER ZCCM INVESTMENTS HOLDINGS PLC ("ZCCM-IH") [Incorporated in the Republic of Zambia] Company registration number: 119540000771 Share Code: ZCCM-IH ISIN: ZM0000000037 Authorised by: Chabby Chabala - Company Secretary SPONSOR Stockbrokers Zambia Limited [Founder Member of the Lusaka Securities Exchange] [Regulated and licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia] Contact Number: +260-211-232456 Website: www.sbz.com.zm APPROVAL The captioned Notice or Announcement has been approved by: the Lusaka Securities Exchange ("LuSE") the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") Stockbrokers Zambia Limited ("SBZ") RISK WARNING The Notice or Announcement contained herein contains information that may be of a price sensitive nature. Investors are advised to seek the advice of their investment advisor, stockbroker, or any professional duly Alicensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia to provide securities advice. ISSUED: XX 2021 ZCCM INVESTMENTS HOLDINGS PLC [Incorporated in the Republic of Zambia] Company registration number: 771 Share Code: ZCCM-IH ISIN: ZM0000000037 ["ZCCM-IH" or "the Company"] TRADING STATEMENT In accordance with Section 3.4(b) Lusaka Securities Exchange ("LuSE") Listings Requirements, the Board of Directors of ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc (the "Company" or "ZCCM-IH") hereby advises the Shareholders of the Company that the Earnings Per Share ("EPS") for the Group and Company for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 is expected to be approximately 594% and 273% higher respectively, than the nine (9) months financial period ended 31 December 2019. ZCCM-IH with effect from 1st April 2019, changed its financial year end from 31st March to 31st December to comply with the provisions of section 71 of the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018. The movement in EPS for the Group is primarily attributed to the increase of ZMW1.067 billion in share of profit of equity accounted investee companies coupled with exchange gains recorded from the Group's United States Dollars (US$) denominated assets. The movement in EPS for the company is attributed to increase in investment and net finance income. Shareholders are advised that the information contained in this trading statement has not been reviewed or reported on by the external auditors of the Company. The Company expects its audited Abridged Financial Results for the year ended 31 December 2020 to be released on Securities Exchange News Services ("SENS") and published in the local press on or about 23 February 2022. Accordingly, shareholders are advised to exercise caution when dealing in the Company's securities until publication of the results. By Order of the Board Chabby Chabala Company Secretary Issued in Lusaka, Zambia on 22 February 2022 Lusaka Securities Exchange Sponsoring Broker T | +260-211-232456 E | advisory@sbz.com.zm W | www.sbz.com.zm Stockbrokers Zambia Limited (SBZ) is a founder member of the Lusaka Securities Exchange and is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia First Issued on 22 February 2022 ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: nZhsaJVsYpzImWqak52YapJompuWx2XFZmPHxZNqk5ybbWuVyJeWnMrJZnBkmGhn - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-73331-zccm-ih-trading-statement-december-2020-results-sens-22022022.pdf WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Oil prices moved up sharply on Tuesday amid concerns over supplies following Russia's aggressive move into Ukraine. It is feared that a full-blown conflict in Ukraine could cause major disruption to crude supplies. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for April ended higher by $1.70 or about 1.9% at $91.91 a barrel. Brent crude futures are up $0.60 or 0.65% at $93.59 a barrel. Tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalated after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent entities and ordered the army to launch what Moscow called a peacekeeping operation into the area. Putin subsequently ordered troops into the territory as 'peacekeepers,' intensifying a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war. Following this, the U.K. has announced a 'first tranche' of sanctions on Russia, targeting five Russian banks and three 'very high net worth' individuals. Germany has also halted the certification of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, while the U.S. plans to announce additional sanctions on Russia later in the day. US President Joe Biden has announced what he called the 'first tranche' of sanctions against Russia, including steps to starve the country of financing, saying Moscow had started an invasion of Ukraine. He also warned of further sanctions. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg described the actions by Russia as moving 'from covert attempts to destabilize Ukraine to overt military action.' Copyright(c) 2022 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk has accused the Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC of purposely giving out information regarding a federal investigation in retaliation against his vocal critique of the federal financial bodies. In a letter dated Monday sent to US District Judge Alison Nathan, Musk's attorney Alex Spiro wrote: 'It has become clearer and clearer that the Commission is out to retaliate against my clients for exercising their First Amendment rights, most recently by criticizing the Commission on the public docket and by petitioning this Court for relief.' The letter was sent four days after Musk first alleged that the SEC was always troubling him by launching fresh investigations, curtailing his right to free speech among others. Musk also alleged that the SEC had not done its duties properly and had not remitted $40 million to shareholders, which the company and Musk paid in fines in settlement of securities fraud charges. Musk's lawyer did not give details about which investigation or what type of information may have been leaked and to whom. The letter also alleged that at least one member of the SEC had leaked 'certain information regarding the investigation' without providing any supporting evidence. The conflict between Musk and the SEC began in September 2018 when the latter charged Musk with making 'false and misleading' statements to investors after he wrote on social media platforms in August that he had secured enough funding for a massive private buyout of Tesla at $420 a share. The stock went up and down the whole month and the deal never happened. Following the SEC allegations, Tesla had to pay $20 million in fines each, and Musk had to step down as chairman for at least three years as part of a revised settlement agreement the agency reached with the automaker and CEO in 2019. The company also has introduced a system for monitoring Musk's statements to the public about the company whether be it on Facebook or Twitter. Steven Buchholz, a member of the SEC, while replying to the earlier allegations said that the agency was working on the task of disbursing the $40 million to shareholders. He referred to the task as complex and said that SEC staff expects to submit a 'proposed plan of distribution' to the court for approval by the end of March 2022. Buchholz also wrote that ongoing communication with Tesla was what Nathan and the revised settlement agreement had called for, and that if Musk objected to any subpoena his attorneys should address that in a different motion. There's a different federal statutory scheme for objecting to a subpoena, he added. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX TESLA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Describing the latest actions by Russia as the beginning of an 'invasion' of Ukraine, President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the 'first tranche' of U.S. sanctions. 'I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response, far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014,' Biden said from the White House. 'And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as with sanctions.' Biden said the U.S. will impose sanctions on two large Russian financial institutions, VEB and Russia's military bank, and Russia's sovereign debt as well as Russian elites and their family members. The president also announced the U.S. has worked with Germany to ensure the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline will not move forward, with Germany previously halting certification of the pipeline. The sanctions announced by Biden come a day after the Russian government recognized two Ukrainian separatist regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as sovereign states. Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently ordered troops into the territory as 'peacekeepers,' intensifying a crisis the West fears could unleash a major war. The U.K. also announced a 'first tranche' of sanctions on Russia, targeting five Russian banks and three 'very high net worth' individuals. Biden also revealed that he has authorized additional movements of U.S. forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to strengthen Baltic allies but argued the moves are 'totally defensive.' 'We have no intention of fighting Russia,' Biden said. 'We want to send an unmistakable message though: that the United States together with our allies will defend every inch of NATO territory. And abide by the commitments we made to NATO.' Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de One man was fatally stabbed and another shot in the arm during an assault in Queens Monday night. Police responding to a 911 call found one victim dead from multiple stab wounds on Merrick Blvd. near 108th Drive in Jamaica about 6:30 p.m., cops said. Advertisement Police investigate a shooting on Merrick Blvd. and 109th Rd. in Queens on Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) Around the same time, a 39-year-old man arrived at Jamaica Hospital, shot in the arm, cops said. Police determined he was wounded at the scene of the deadly stabbing, and was ]in stable condition at the hospital. Police have not yet identified the stabbing victim; there were no immediate arrests, cops said. Advertisement Police were at the scene of a fatal shooting at Merrick Blvd. and 109th Rd. in Queens on Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) There were no additional details immediately released about the violence. The killing comes about 2 hours after a 23-year-old man was shot to death in nearby St. Albans. DGAP Voting Rights Announcement: QIAGEN N.V. Correction of a release from 16/02/2022, 22:04 CET/CEST - QIAGEN N.V.: Release according to Article 40, Section 1 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 22.02.2022 / 22:02 Dissemination of a Voting Rights Announcement transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The AFM (the Netherlands Authority For the Financial Markets has informed us on February 17, 2022 that a notification related to our institution has been released by the AFM. The following notification has been disclosed in the relevant register on the AFM website: Date of transaction: 11 feb 2022 Person obliged to notify: PSquared Asset Management AG Issuing institution: Qiagen N.V. Registration Chamber of Commerce: 12036979 Place of residence: VENLO Distribution in numbers Type of share Number of shares Number of voting rights Capital interest Voting rights Manner of disposal Settlement Ordinary share 6.204.979,00 6.204.979,00 Real Real Directly Call Option 708.000,00 708.000,00 Potential Potential Directly Convertible bond 27.254,00 27.254,00 Potential Potential Directly Convertible bond 26.161,00 26.161,00 Potential Potential Directly Distribution in percentages Type Total holding Directly real Directly potential Indirectly real Indirectly potential Capital interest 3,02 % 2,69 % 0,33 % 0,00 % 0,00 % Voting rights 3,02 % 2,69 % 0,33 % 0,00 % 0,00 % QIAGEN N.V. is not responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the notification above. The content has been taken from the relevant register of the AFM: https://www.afm.nl/en/professionals/registers/meldingenregisters/substantiele-deelnemingen/details?id=120227 22.02.2022 The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.dgap.de Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Xplore Resources Corp. (TSXV: XPLR) ("Xplore" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an Option Agreement (the "Agreement") with 1544230 Ontario Inc. and Gravel Ridge Resources Inc. (together the "Optionors") to earn a 100% ownership interest in eight (8) unpatented contiguous mining claims (3416 ha) that make up the Surge Property (the "Property" or "Surge") located in the Patricia Mining District, Ontario, Canada approximately 150 kms east of Red Lake, Ontario. The Property is in the Superior Province of the Canadian Shield, along the 450 km, E-W trending Sydney Lake - Lake St. Joseph ("SL-LSJ") fault, separating dominantly intrusive rocks and greenstones of the North Caribou superterrane to the north from the metasedimentary rocks of the English River terrane to the south. (Ref. Figure 1.0). Wes Hanson, P.Geo., President and CEO of Xplore, comments: "The fundamentals of the lithium sector are extremely robust with strong demand and limited supply. Most analysts agree that the increased demand for lithium batteries to supply manufacturers of electric vehicles will exceed lithium supply for the foreseeable future. The Allison Lake batholith represents a premium address for lithium exploration in Ontario. Our Perrigo Lake property is adjacent to the batholith and the Surge agreement increases our land position to over 6700 hectares in this highly prospective, road accessible lithium district, which also happens to be highly prospective for gold as well. Both properties are close to the major, regional scale break subdividing two superterranes of the Superior province. Historical mapping by the Ontario Geological Survey has identified key indicators of fractionation of the Allison Lake batholith. Peraluminous granite intrusions are scattered through the region, one of which transects the Surge claims. Lithium bearing pegmatites, have been identified at Root Lake, 12 kms to the west, where a historical Li2O resource was established at the McCombe lithium deposit in the mid 1950s. Ardiden Ltd. (2016) reported channel sampling returned 14.0 meters averaging 1.67% Li2O, two kms east of the Property. Our plan is to aggressively evaluate the lithium potential at both Perrigo and Surge, deploying our existing exploration capital immediately." The Property is located 12 kms east of the Root Lake pegmatite group which includes the McCombe lithium deposit, (historic mineral resource of 2.3 million tons @ 1.3% Li20 as per Mulligan R., Geological Survey of Canada, 1965) (Ref. Figure 2.0). The Root Lake pegmatite group lies within the Pakwash - Lake St. Joseph ("PLSJ") rare element pegmatite trend, a 20 kilometer wide, +100 km long trend containing multiple peraluminous (Al-rich) granitic intrusions, rare earth pegmatites and lithium bearing pegmatites, including the Allison Lake batholith, a large, tadpole shaped, peraluminous granitic intrusive described by the Ontario Geological Survey ("OGS") in OFR 6099 (2003) as "the largest known fertile peraluminous granite mass in northwestern Ontario" (Ref. Figure 1.0). The southeast trending tail of the Allison Lake batholith trends into the PLSJ and a series of peraluminous granitic intrusions, including the one dominating the center of the Spark claims, outcrop along this E-W trend. Terms of Transaction Under the terms of the Agreement, Xplore will acquire a 100% ownership interest in the Property by completing the following: The Company obtaining all necessary approvals from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX.V" ); and Incur Expenditures in an aggregate amount of $60,000 on or before the first anniversary; and Make four (4) cash payments to the Optionors totalling $110,000.00 and issue 400,000 shares of the Optionee in accordance with the following schedule: Making a cash payment of $20,000.00 cash payment upon the signing of this Agreement (the "Initial Payment"); and 400,000 shares of the Optionee (the "Payment Shares"); and Making a cash payment of $25,000.00 cash payment on or before the first (1st) anniversary; and Making a cash payment of $30,000.00 on or before the second (2nd) anniversary; and Making a cash payment of $35,000.00 on the third (3rd) anniversary. On completion of the above noted cash payments and share issuances, Xplore will have earned a 100% interest in Surge and upon commencing any commercial production of any minerals from the Property, the Company will pay the Optionors a royalty on production equal to a 1.5% net smelter return royalty (the "NSR"). The transaction and the issuance of the shares contemplated by the Agreement are subject to the acceptance of the TSX.V. Any securities issued will be subject to applicable statutory hold periods for a period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance. Figure 1.0 - Allison Lake Batholith - Regional Geology To view an enhanced version of Figure 1.0, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7519/114484_45876023d4f83b5d_002full.jpg About Xplore Resources (TSXV: XPLR) Xplore Resources is a Toronto based mining exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under symbol XPLR and is focused on the acquisition and development of mineral projects in the Americas. The Company is led by a highly experienced management team and is comprised of industry experts with executive and senior management experience in geology, banking, private equity, investor relations and law. Qualified Persons Mr. Wes Hanson, P. Geo., President & CEO of Xplore and registered in the Province of Ontario is the "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is responsible for the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein. Figure 2.0 - Surge Project - Root Bay District, Ontario To view an enhanced version of Figure 2.0, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7519/114484_45876023d4f83b5d_003full.jpg ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Wesley C. Hanson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Phone: +1 647-362-9675 Email: info@xploreresources.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE ANY SECURITIES REFERRED TO HEREIN WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "1933 ACT"), AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE 1933 ACT. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC. HAS IN NO WAY PASSED UPON THE MERITS OF THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE. Notice on forward-looking statements: Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. Xplore cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Xplore's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Xplore's ability to complete the proposed Transaction; and other risks and uncertainties, including those to be described in the Filing Statement to be filed by Xplore on SEDAR.com. Accordingly, actual, and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Xplore undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114484 IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 22, 2021 / Award-winning e-liquid and cannabinoid-infused products manufacturer Savage Enterprises ("Savage") (www.SavageEnterprises.com) announced today that it has signed a letter of intent to purchase an 21% stake in the Oklahoma based cannabis brand, Candice Group, D.B.A. Oryon Canna (https://oryoncanna.com/). This transaction is expected to occur within the next 45 days from the initial signing of the letter of intent. Savage Enterprises has established itself as a dominant leader in the e-liquid, hemp, and cannabinoid-derived products industries as a retailer and wholesaler. Savage has stayed committed to improving the community it serves with superior, consumer-centered, and cost-effective products that are third-party lab tested with quality assurance, consistency, and traceability. Candice Group, D.B.A. Oryon Canna, provides exceptional quality disposable vape products available in hundreds of retail locations across Oklahoma and remains one of the most innovative brands in the space. With the collaboration between Candice Group's experience in Oklahoma-based retail locations and Savage Enterprises' expertise in scaling businesses in various industries, Savage Enterprises, and Candice Group plans to synergize strategy between companies to further growth in the business-to-consumer model nationwide. KC Gates, Dan Carmel, Jonny Tabares, and Brandon Lineberger, Managing Partners of Candice Group, elaborate on the acquisition, stating "We are thrilled to partner with Savage Enterprises who is an industry leader. Candice Group has had a great introductory year in the ever-growing Oklahoma market with the Oryon Canna brand. The strategic partnership with Savage will not only solidify the brand foundation but will provide ample opportunities for growth. We look forward to continued product innovation and service excellence in Oklahoma and future emerging marketing with the support and guidance of Savage." Chris Wheeler, CEO of Savage Enterprises, furthers, "I am blown away by the guys at Candice Group and Oryon Canna out of Oklahoma. They have built an incredibly amazing brand with incredibly amazing people. For me, this will bring tremendous value to Savage Enterprises by furthering our strategy to offer legal products in every state. In return, we plan to bring tons of value to Oryon by offering infrastructure and insight to other markets." Matt Winters, CFO of Savage Enterprises, concludes, "This is an extremely exciting time for Savage Enterprises and Candice Group. We are thrilled to establish a relationship where we can provide further growth for the product innovation and brand foundation for Oryon while providing insight and experience into the many industries that Savage Enterprises services. We think this will be a great opportunity for both companies and we couldn't be more excited." About Savage Enterprises: Based in Irvine, California, Savage Enterprises was founded in 2014 by co-owners Christopher G. Wheeler and Matt Winters with the vision of bringing innovation to the counter-culture space. Savage has been committed to improving the community it serves by providing superior, consumer-centered, and cost-effective products that are third-party lab tested with quality assurance, consistency, and traceability. Savage's goal is to create the benchmark for quality and assurance in the industry. Under its flagship Delta Extrax brand and Chronix sub-brand (www.DeltaExtrax.com), Savage Enterprises sells hemp-derived delta-10-THC cartridges, disposables and tinctures, delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC-infused shots, cartridges, concentrates, disposables, edibles, delta-8-THC-infused hemp flower, pods, tinctures, THC-O, HHC, THC-V, and THC-P products. Under Vix (www.ThisIsVix.com), Savage sells male enhancement products. Under Savage CBD (www.SavageCBD.com), Savage sells CBD cartridges, disposables, edibles, tinctures, topicals, vape juice, and CBD for pets. Under its Vape 100 brand, Savage produces nicotine-infused e-liquids. Under its Zen Panda brand, Savage sells various kratom and kava-based products. Savage also sells disposable nicotine vapes. The team at Savage is currently developing at least three other products in the supplement arena, as well as innovative apparatuses for marijuana consumption. For more information about Savage Enterprises, please visit www.SavageEnterprises.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the acquisition, financing, revenue growth, profitability, and product strategies, plans, and expectations of Savage Enterprises and Candice Group D.B.A. Oryon Canna. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause or contribute to the actual results of these companies' merger plans, financing plans, operations, or the performance or achievements of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These companies undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors. CONTACT: Savage Enterprises Attn: Brittany Warner Phone: 714-612-1091 Email: Bwarner@savageenterprises.com Website: www.SavageEnterprises.com SOURCE: Savage Enterprises View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/689930/Industry-Leading-Savage-Enterprises-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-to-Purchase-21-Stake-in-Oklahoma-Based-Company-Candice-Group-DBA-Oryon-Canna Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Galleon Gold Corp. (TSXV: GGO) (the "Company" or "Galleon Gold") is pleased to announce that further to its news release dated February 9, 2022, the TSX Venture Exchange has approved the consolidation of the Company's issued and outstanding common shares (the "Common Shares") on a basis of one post-consolidation Common Share for every ten pre-consolidation Common Shares. Effective at the opening of the market on February 24, 2022, the Common Shares will start trading on the TSX Venture Exchange on a consolidated basis under its existing name and trading symbol. The post-consolidated Common Shares of the Company have been assigned a new CUSIP number (36381N409) and ISIN number (CA36381N4093). Following the consolidation, the Company will have approximately 47,091,565 Common Shares issued and outstanding. As is customary, to reflect the consolidation, all outstanding warrants and incentive stock options will be adjusted to increase their exercise price by a factor of ten and to reduce the number of Common Shares issuable upon exercise by dividing by ten. No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the consolidation. All fractions of Common Shares will be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number. No cash consideration will be paid in respect of fractional shares. The principal purpose of the consolidation is to enhance the Company's liquidity and the marketability of its Common Shares. Holders of Common Shares who hold uncertificated shares (that is shares held in book-entry form and not represented by a physical share certificate), either as registered holders or beneficial owners, will have their existing book-entry account(s) electronically adjusted by the Company's transfer agent or, in the case of beneficial shareholders, by their brokerage firms, banks, trusts or other nominees that hold in street name for their benefit. Such holders generally do not need to take any additional actions to exchange their pre-consolidation Common Shares for post-consolidation Common Shares. If you hold your shares with such a bank, broker or other nominee, and if you have questions in this regard, you are encouraged to contact your nominee. Registered shareholders holding share certificates will be mailed a letter of transmittal advising of the consolidation and instructing them to surrender the share certificates representing pre-consolidation Common Shares for replacement certificates or a direct registration advice representing their post-consolidation Common Shares. Until surrendered for exchange, each share certificate formerly representing pre-consolidation Common Shares will be deemed to represent the number of whole post-consolidation Common Shares to which the holder is entitled as a result of the consolidation. About Galleon Gold Galleon Gold is an exploration and development company focused on advancing the West Cache Gold Project in Timmins, Ontario. The project is situated along the Porcupine-Destor gold belt, approximately 7 km northeast of Pan American Silver's Timmins West Mine and 14 km southwest of Newmont's Hollinger Mine. Since acquiring the project the Company has demonstrated significant resource growth while providing a strong valuation in its maiden Preliminary Economic Assessment. Permitting and baseline studies in support of a bulk sample are currently underway. Eric Sprott holds approximately 23% of the Company's outstanding Common Shares. For further information: Galleon Gold R. David Russell Chairman and CEO T. (416) 644-0066 info@galleongold.com www.galleongold.com Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements that reflect the current views and/or expectations of Galleon Gold with respect to the timing and completion of the consolidation and the Company's long-term strategy, proposed work, plans and other reports including the PEA for its projects. Forward-looking statements are based on the then-current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about the business and the markets in which Galleon Gold operates. Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, expectations, plans, and objectives of Galleon Gold are forward-looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause Galleon Gold's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, risks related to infectious diseases, including Covid-19 and the uncertainty of future exploration activities and cash flows, and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Galleon Gold undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114479 Wasabi Dividend and Disposal of Animoca Brands Shares Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Cypherpunk Holdings Inc. (CSE: HODL) (OTC Pink: KHRIF) ("Cypherpunk" or, the "Company"), a sector leader for blockchain, metaverse, privacy and cryptography focused investments, is pleased to announce recent events related to the Company's portfolio. The Company recently sold an additional 350,000 ordinary shares of Animoca Brands Corporation Limited ("Animoca") at an average price of CAD $3.73 for a total proceeds of CAD $1,305,500. Cypherpunk still holds 1.2m Animoca shares and continues to pursue a strategic relationship with Animoca as per the Company's recently closed investment into TheGoats.io. In total the Company has realized a profit of 265% on its shares sold over the last 5 months. Dividend from Wasabi Wallet The Company is also pleased to announce the receipt of a dividend for the Fiscal Year 2021 from its portfolio company zkSnacks Limited, the developer of Bitcoin wallet "Wasabi Wallet.' Wasabi Wallet is an industry leading desktop wallet software that enables users to enhance their privacy while transacting on the Bitcoin Blockchain. This is the second dividend received from Wasabi that was paid entirely in Bitcoin, totalling 3.06 BTC with a recorded value of CAD $168,810. Wasabi declared a 68 BTC dividend in January 2022, compared to a 60 BTC dividend in January 2021, representing a 13.3% increase. In November 2019, Cypherpunk Holdings acquired ordinary shares of zkSnacks from its founding shareholders, representing 4.5% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of zkSnacks, for an aggregate purchase price of $337,500 USD. Jeff Gao, CEO of Cypherpunk commented: "Wasabi is highly profitable and is paying out just under half its net profits in dividends. To date Cypherpunk Holdings has received 5.76 bitcoins in dividend from Wasabi and we expect this trend to continue." About Cypherpunk Holdings Inc. Cypherpunk was established to invest in currencies, companies, technologies and protocols, which enhance or protect privacy. Its strategy is to make targeted investments in businesses and assets with strong privacy attributes, often within the blockchain ecosystem, including select cryptocurrencies. Current equity investments include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Samourai Wallet, Wasabi Wallet, Chia, NGRAVE, and Animoca Brands. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Generally, any statements that are not historical facts may contain forward-looking information, and forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be" taken, "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the Company's expectation or belief regarding its investment in shares of Animoca Brand and Animoca Brand's future performance or business. There is no assurance that the Company's plans or objectives will be implemented as set out herein, or at all. Forward-looking information is based on certain factors and assumptions the Company believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by law. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. Officer/Director Contact: Jeffrey Gao Chief Executive Officer jeff@cypherpunkholdings.com Office: 1-647-946-1300 Investor Relations Contact: Veronika Oswald Investor Relations veronika@cypherpunkholdings.com Office: 1-647-946-1300 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114477 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Synex Renewable Energy Corporation (TSX: SXI) (formerly, Synex International Inc.) (the "Company" or "Synex") announced today that Victor Leung has resigned as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. The board of directors of the Company wishes to thank Mr. Leung for his contributions to the Company. Concurrently with the resignation of Mr. Leung, Hari Rupawala was appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. About Synex Renewable Energy Corporation (formerly, Synex International Inc.) Synex is a Vancouver, British Columbia based company engaged in the development, acquisition, ownership, and operation of renewable energy projects in Canada. It has ownership interests in 12 MW of operating hydro projects in British Columbia and owns a Vancouver Island grid connection and utility carrying on business as Kyuquot Power Ltd. The Company also has 24 potential hydroelectric sites totaling over 150 MW of capacity, and approximately 17 wind development sites that could provide up to 4,850 MW of clean power in British Columbia. For further information, visit www.synex.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Daniel J. Russell President & CEO, Synex Renewable Energy Corporation. (formerly, Synex International Inc.) 524 Locust St., Burlington, ON, L7S 1V2 Phone (905) 329-5000 E-mail: daniel.russell@synex.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114510 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 22, 2022) - Royalty North Partners Ltd. (TSXV: RNP) (the "Company" or "RNP") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated February 17, 2022, the terms of its subscription receipt financing (the "Private Placement") have now been set. The Private Placement is being conducted pursuant to the previously announced reverse takeover transaction (the "Transaction") with Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm") whereby RNP will acquire certain copper-gold assets from Sandstorm, repositioning RNP as a high-growth copper mining company. The assets acquired by RNP include a 30% equity interest in the Hod Maden copper-gold project and approximately 49.7 million shares in Entree Resources Ltd. Pursuant to the Private Placement, RNP will issue up to 41,666,667 Subscription Receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.60 per Subscription Receipt for total gross proceeds of up to $25,000,000, which funds will be held in escrow by the Company until the closing of the Transaction and the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions (collectively, the "Release Conditions"). Each Subscription Receipt, upon satisfaction of the Release Conditions, will automatically convert into one unit (a "Unit"), with each Unit comprising of one common share of the Company and one common share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.80 for a period of five years following the automatic conversion of the Subscription Receipts. If the Release Conditions are not met within 180 days of closing of the Private Placement then all funds will be released from escrow and returned to subscribers. The Private Placement will be conducted on a non-brokered private placement basis and finder's fees may be paid on all or a portion of the Private Placement. Closing of the Private Placement is anticipated to occur on a date in March 2022 to be determined by the Company. The Private Placement remains subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). The net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to help fund the Company's interest in the Hod Maden asset, the potential acquisition of other assets, as well as for general working capital. All securities issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four month hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSX-V acceptance and, if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is 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 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 RNP should be considered highly speculative. The TSX-V has in no way passed upon the merits of the Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Trading in the common shares of RNP is currently halted and it is not anticipated that trading in the common shares of RNP will resume prior to completion of the Transaction. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell and is not a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States. The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to "U.S. Persons" (as defined in the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration. For more information, please contact: Victoria McMillan, Chief Financial Officer Royalty North Partners Ltd. Phone: (604) 628-1033 www.royaltynorth.com Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms of the Private Placement and the Transaction. Although RNP believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. RNP cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by RNP is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking information as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to: RNP's ability to complete the Transaction; the expected timing and terms of the Transaction, the Private Placement; the state of the financial markets for RNP's securities; the state of the natural resources sector in the event the Transaction is completed; recent market volatility and potentially negative capital raising conditions resulting from the continued COVID-19 pandemic and risks relating to the extent and duration of such pandemic and its impact on global markets; RNP's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that RNP is unaware of at this time. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. RNP disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/114514 With heavy rain forecast for the region this week, local officials are urging caution and for residents to remain vigilant for potential flooding. Floyd Judge-Executive Robbie Williams said the county is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. We do calls with the NWS three times a day. Our call this morning, we have been placed under a Flood Watch in effect from 1 a.m. Feb. 22 through 6 a.m. on Feb. 23, Williams said. According to Williams, the NWS has stated up to 1 to 2 inches of rainfall are possible, however, he has seen conflicting numbers by others. Some of the local weather stations are giving from 1 to 3 inches. Williams continued, We tend to go with the NWS, we feel good about it, more accurate and have been in the past. Portions of Floyd County were devastated on New Years Day 2022, with many families currently still picking up the pieces of what they have left or can salvage, something Williams said the county is keeping in mind. We had this flooding event on January 1, we had some snow, the ground is saturated, we just to make sure we take the necessary precautions in the next few days, said Williams. As of 10:59 a.m. on Feb. 21, the weather service was forecasting between 2 and 3 inches of rain for areas of Eastern Kentucky, with much of the region forecast to receive 1.5 to 2 inches between midnight Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday, with locally higher amounts possible. Much of Kentucky, including Eastern Kentucky, has been placed under a flood watch due to the potential for heavy rainfall. South Africa: SA sees increase in political party funding declarations There has been a notable increase in the number of political parties making declarations in terms of the Political Party Fund Act, compared to the first and second quarters of the 2021/22 financial year. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said in the third quarter of the 2021/22 financial year, 11 political parties made declarations totalling R46 036 589.97, in terms of section 9 of the Act. The number of declarations has shown a noticeable increase in the third quarter. The Commission believes that this is partly a reflection of an improved understanding and wider acceptance of the Act and the need for greater transparency with regard to political party funding, the Commission said. In the two preceding quarters, only three and six parties, respectively, made declarations. Noting the increase in declarations, the Commission said it would like to see this trend continuing. It is important to recognise that this period coincided with an election period, i.e., the 2021 Local Government Elections. There seems to be a positive correlation between the number and size of donations on one hand, and the election period on the other. There is also a pattern of donors making donations to different parties in more or less the same way that the Multiparty Democracy Fund (MPDF) is intended to operate. Donors such as Harmony Gold Mining Company, African Rainbow Minerals, South African Breweries (SAB) and 3Sixty Health are among the corporates that made donations to multiple parties, the IEC said. Out of the total declarations made, four were made by unrepresented and seven by represented parties. The unrepresented parties are: Abantu Integrity Movement (AIM) R100 000.00 ActionSA R5 072 348.50 Patriotic Alliance (PA) R430 000.00 Shosholoza Progressive Party R150 000.00 The represented parties are: African National Congress (ANC) R22 803 969.00 African Transformation Movement (ATM) R200 000.00 Democratic Alliance (DA) R12 519 623.47 Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) R3 148 176.00 Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus) R484 438.00 GOOD R340 447.00 Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) R787 588.00 Funds declared According to the Commission, the cumulative amount declared in the third quarter is R46 036 589.97. This amount is greater than the R30 008 841.74 declared in the first quarter, but short of the R56 880 644.47 declared in the second quarter. A total value of in-kind donations declared is R5 679 086.97. The total value of monetary donations, on the other hand, is R40 357 503.00, the IEC said. ActionSA is the party with the largest amount of in-kind donations declared, amounting to R4 922 348.50. Of this amount, a total of R4 212 340.50 was made by a single donor in the form of personal protective equipment (PPE) comprising face masks, hand sanitizers, face shields, etc. In this regard, face masks accounted for the largest proportion of the value of in-kind donations, totalling R3 000 000. The largest amount of a single monetary donation declared is the R15 000 000 donated by Batho Batho Trust and declared by the ANC. Furthermore, the ANC is the party with the largest value of donations declared amounting to R22 803 969.00, followed by the DA at R12 519 623.47, ActionSA at R5 072 348.50 and EFF at R3 148 176.00. The rest of the parties declared total donations that fell below R1 million, the IEC said. Foreign donations Two political parties, ActionSA and DA, made declarations of donations from foreign sources. The combined value of these foreign donations is R1 370 191.47. The DA received the largest amount of foreign donations totalling R840 191.47, followed by ActionSA at R530 000.00. The foreign donation received by ActionSA was received from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German political party foundation and was used for production of training material for candidates and elected councillors, localised policy manifestos and handbooks. This usage of foreign donations is compliant with the provisions of the Act, the IEC said. In respect of the DA, three separate foreign donations were received from a single donor, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), also a German foundation, which has made donations to the DA in the previous two quarters. To date, cumulative donations of R1 284 526.94 have been made by the FNF to the DA, of which R329 400.00 was monetary and the balance was in-kind. The cumulative amount falls within the stipulated maximum of R5 million by any foreign donor to a single party and has been used for training and skills development. Based on the information declared, the foreign donations are compliant with the Act and the regulations, the IEC said. Multi-Party Democracy Fund (MPDF) In addition to the R2 000 that was received from Paul Malcolm Graham during first quarter, the Multi-Party Democracy Fund (MPDF) received contributions of R5 005 000.00 during the third quarter. This makes the total value of contributions to the MPDF R5 007 000.00 to date. The largest contribution, totalling R5 million, was made by one of the largest telecommunications company in the country, Vodacom. The Commission is exceptionally grateful to all those that responded to the call for supporting multi-party democracy and made contributions to the Fund. We call on other corporates to make contributions to the MPDF to strengthen multi-party democracy in the country, the IEC said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-02-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Australian military urged to stop provocative acts 15:25, February 22, 2022 By ZHAO LEI ( China Daily Photo shows a sonobuoy the Australian jet dropped near a Chinese ship. (Photo/Ministry of National Defense) China urged the Australian military to stop spreading false information and making dangerous, provocative acts following an encounter between a Chinese warship and an Australian aircraft, a military spokesman said on Monday. Over the past two days, Australia has accused a Chinese naval ship of shining a "military grade" laser toward one of its warplanes, claiming such an act was "unprofessional, unsafe and reckless". When responding to a request for comment on Australia's allegation, Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, said what the Australian defense ministry said was totally inconsistent with the facts. "On Feb 17, an Australian P-8 anti-submarine patrol plane flew near a Chinese naval fleet and the closest distance was only 4 kilometers. During the encounter, our ships operated in a safe, standard and professional fashion and their operations conformed to international laws and common practices," he said, also making public two pictures of the Australian jet and a sonobuoy it dropped near a Chinese ship. "From the photos you can see that the plane is very close to our ships Such malicious provocation is prone to misunderstanding and misjudgment that will compromise the safety of personnel, ships and aircraft of both sides," Tan said. "Meanwhile, the Australian side deliberately disseminated false information about the incident to libel China. We strongly oppose the Australian side's behaviors and demand that it must stop such dangerous provocations immediately and drop the groundless accusations against China to avoid further damage to the relations between the two countries and militaries." According to reports, the Chinese vessel involved in the encounter was sailing in the Arafura Sea off northern Australia when the incident happened on Thursday. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) A suspect has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a 44-year-old mentally ill Bronx man who had hoped to move south with his baby daughter, police said. Jose Santos, 43, was nabbed Monday and charged with murder and gun possession for the slaying of Angel Ortega, who was shot five times in the back near E. Tremont and Belmont Aves. Saturday afternoon. Advertisement Santos, according to records, was paroled in 2013 after he was sentenced to up to three years in prison for felony drug possession. A year later, police sources said, he was busted for burglarizing several Bronx storage units, but pleaded guilty to criminal trespass in 2017 and given a conditional discharge. Victim Angel Ortega, 44 (Obtained by Daily News) Ortega lived in Norwood with his girlfriend and 1-year-old daughter. Advertisement His mother, Dinorah Valois, told the Daily News surveillance video recovered by police shows the killer lying in wait outside a store. He changed his clothes and ran off after shooting her son, she said. We always spoke, every day, she said of her son. He was very sweet, caring, very generous. He was really a good person. Ortega suffered from schizophrenia but took medication, his mother said, so his behavior would not have provoked anyone. His nephew, Johan Feliz, said Ortega badly wanted to move his family to North Carolina. The way he was living it wasnt what he wanted anymore, Feliz said. The medicine he was on wasnt making him feel good. It was not immediately disclosed why Santos targeted Ortega, but the gunman did admit his role in the killing to police, according to court papers. Santos was ordered held without bail following a brief arraignment Monday night, prosecutors said. This was one of several illegal marijuana cultivations that was shut down by authorities. (Contributed photo by San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department) I'm in a similar truck as you. 2016 F350 Super Crew with 6.2 and 3.73 gearing. I have the 18" wheels though. Bone stock with the exception of airbags in the rear and upgrades shocks. I'm pulling a 39ft 5er at about 12,500lbs loaded. I'm also in the Midwest, so not too many big hills to pull up. The first year with this rig, I averaged about 9mpg when towing. A couple of years ago we did a 1200mi trip to South Dakota which was a fairly easy run. The only time I really wished I had more grunt was up the big hill going up to Mt Rushmore. I was able to keep the 35mph speed up the hill, but I was in 2nd gear letting her scream at about 4500rpm. Last year we did a 3500mi trip down to South Padre, TX and back up the coast. I averaged about 6-8mpg on both trips. I found at the end of last year that I had 2 coils that were arcing to the intake/block. Replaced both coils and unloaded MPG increased from 13 to 15-16ish overall. I'll be hooking up again in April to see how the towing performance is after fixing the coils. Have trips to Colorado and Texas planned this summer for some good testing.Overall, there are many times going up long hills that I wished I had a diesel so I'm not watching the tach run up to 3k+ but that's just where these engines make their power. Big bore and short stroke engines make tons of power in the high RPM range. The great news is that the 6.2's are fairly bulletproof and the transmissions are crazy over spec'd for these gas motors. Just envious of the 10 speed owners though. Others here may have more experience with this western hills pulling with a 6.2, but my vote is if it makes it up a hill, and can keep up with the loaded semis in the slow lane, I'm good.Edit: I should mention that if you haven't tried using the Manual mode with shifting while towing, give it a try. Once you get the hang of predicting the hills and what power you'll need to pull the hill, you can drop to that gear sooner and keep in the power band you need. I really dislike the shifting patterns while using cruise control while towing. Seems to wait too long to downshift and loses mementum causing the transmission to drop to a really low gear to catch up. I seem to stick to 4th gear most of the time and drop to 3rd when approaching long hills in manual mode. When in automatic, cruise control will go from 5th to 2nd which I feel is too harsh and almost dangerous as it catches me off guard. This is our best offer! You get home delivery Monday through Saturday plus full digital access any time, on any device with our six-day subscription delivery membership. This membership plan includes member-only benefits like our popular ticket giveaways, all of our email newsletters and access to the daily digital replica of the printed paper. Also, you can share digital access with up to four other household members at no additional cost. Subscriptions renew automatically every 30 days. Call 240-215-8600 to cancel auto-renewal. Most subscribers are served by News-Post carriers; households in some outlying areas receive same-day delivery through the US Postal Service. If your household falls in a postal delivery area, you will be notified by our customer service team. A teenage girl was left clinging to life after the 15-year-old boy operating a motorcycle she was riding on the back of crashed into a car in front of a Queens cemetery. The 16-year-old girl was seated behind the boy operating a 2021 Yamaha motorcycle on Cooper Ave. in Glendale when he slammed into the front of a Mazda CX-30 in the intersection at 88th St. just outside St. John Cemetery at 3:13 p.m. Monday. Advertisement Both teens were thrown from the bike and found sprawled out on the street, cops said. The NYPD Highway Patrol investigates a collision on Cooper Ave. near 88th St. in Queens on Monday. (Gardiner Anderson/for New York Daily News) Medics took the boy to Cohen Childrens Medical Center for a leg injury. The girl suffered a head injury and was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where she was in critical condition. Advertisement The 30-year-old man driving the Mazda and his 27-year-old female passenger were taken to Jamaica Hospital with minor injuries. No charges were immediately filed. Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. A Sweet Home man has been arrested for allegedly assaulting an infant in his care. The Sweet Home Police Department arrested Carl Edwin Steinborn, 24, on Friday, Feb. 18. Steinborn was arraigned in Linn County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Feb. 22 on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree assault and first-degree criminal mistreatment. Court documents allege on or between Oct. 16 and Feb. 11 Steinborn caused serious physical injury to a child under 6 months of age. In a notice filed with the court Feb. 22, prosecutor Jonathan Crow, on behalf of the state, asked the court to impose an enhanced sentence should Steinborn be found guilty. The notice lists the following allegations as reasons for an enhanced sentence: The victim was particularly vulnerable. The alleged incident involves deliberate cruelty to the victim. The degree of loss or harm was much greater than usual for this type of offense. The alleged actions resulted in permanent injury to the victim. Steinborns actions were allegedly premeditated. During Tuesday's arraignment, Linn County Circuit Court Judge Rachel Kittson-MaQatish set Steinborn's security at $50,000. Steinborn is currently lodged at Linn County Jail. His next court appearance in the matter is set for March 7. According to Oregon's online court database, Steinborn was convicted of two counts of third-degree sexual abuse in 2015. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 15 The three men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery violated his civil rights and targeted him because he was Black, a jury ruled Tuesday. The jury made up of eight white members, three Blacks and one Hispanic person deliberated for less than five hours before finding Gregory McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Roddie Bryan guilty of federal hate crimes. Wednesday will mark the two-year anniversary of Arberys slaying. Advertisement The family and attorneys of Ahmaud Arbery raise their arms in victory outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Ga., after all three men involved in his killing were found guilty of hate crimes Tuesday. (Lewis M. Levine/AP) Arbery, 25, was jogging through a Brunswick, Ga., neighborhood on Feb. 23, 2020, when the McMichaels, a father and son, and Bryan, their neighbor, grabbed their guns and began chasing him in a pickup truck. Bryan filmed as Travis McMichael fired the fatal shot at point-blank range. Two months later, footage of the killing went viral online and the three men were arrested. Advertisement All three were convicted Tuesday on a federal hate crime charge. Travis McMichael, 36, Gregory McMichael, 66, and Bryan, 52, were also found guilty of attempted kidnapping; the McMichaels were found guilty of one count each of brandishing or discharging a firearm during a violent crime. Ahmaud Arbery (HANDOUT) Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, thanked supporters at the end of their long, stressful fight, but also called out the Department of Justice for initially accepting a plea deal from these three murderers who took my sons life. Judge Lisa Godbey Wood rejected the plea deal in early February. What the DOJ did today is what they were made to do today, Cooper-Jones said outside the courthouse. They were made to do their job today. From left, Travis McMichael, William "Roddie" Bryan, and Gregory McMichael. (AP) Despite the conviction, Cooper-Jones said the family will never get justice because Ahmaud is gone forever. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday afternoon, in response to Cooper-Jones comments, that he cannot imagine the pain that a mother feels. No one in this country should have to fear the threat of hate-fueled violence, he told reporters. No one should fear being attacked or threatened because of what they look like, where they are from, whom they love, or how they worship. And no one should fear that if they go out for a run, they will be targeted and killed because of the color of their skin. Advertisement The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > Ben Crump, the Arbery family lawyer, called the convictions full justice, not partial justice. Ahmaud Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones speaks to reporters Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. (Lewis Levine/AP) Defense attorneys for the three men argued there was no racial animus, but that they assumed Arbery was a burglar. Prosecutors however showed jurors dozens of racist text messages and social media posts from the McMichaels and Bryan. One woman testified that Travis McMichael, who she served with in the U.S. Coast Guard a decade ago, called her a [N-word] lover after learning she had dated a Black man. Another woman testified Greg McMichael told her in 2015, All those Blacks are nothing but trouble after the death of civil rights activist Julian Bond. They were motivated by racial assumption, racial resentment and racial anger, Justice Department civil rights division counsel Christopher Perras said on Monday. They saw a Black man in their neighborhood, and they thought the worst of him. Ahmaud Arbery's father Marcus Arbery addresses the media, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick, Ga. (Lewis Levine/AP) All three men were convicted of murder in a Georgia state court last year and sentenced to life in prison. Advertisement Each faces an additional life sentence for the federal hate charges. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Gettysburg, PA (17325) Today Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 55F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Cloudy with periods of rain. Low around 55F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch. A Houston man strangled a woman to death, dismembered her body, buried the remains and then tried to set his apartment on fire while attempting suicide, according to police. Henry David Cossette, 27, has been booked and charged with the murder of 18-year-old Sara Goodwin, who was reported missing on Feb. 6, the Houston Police Department announced Tuesday. Advertisement Goodwins friends, who said she was involved in sex work, tracked down surveillance footage that showed her getting into a four-door, gray Honda CRV, local activist Quanell X said at a press conference last week, according to KHOU. Sara Goodwin (Texas Center for the Missing) Other sex workers in the area claimed the person inside the car had a gun. Advertisement The same car was spotted driving around after Goodwins disappearance as well, Quanell X said. Police responded to a Houston apartment in the same area Saturday and found Cossette, who confessed to killing Goodwin and directed officers to her body, according to police. Henry David Cossette (Houston Police Dept.) An official identification of the remains is still pending an investigation by the medical examiners office. Goodwin is survived by her 15-year-old brother who she practically raises, her friend told KHOU. Gillette, WY (82718) Today Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low around 40F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investor protection law firm Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating Butterfly Network, Inc. (Butterfly) (NYSE: BFLY), f/k/a Longview Acquisition Corp. (Longview) (NYSE: LGVW), on behalf of the companys long-term stockholders. Butterfly, a digital health company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes ultrasound imaging solutions. The current business entity was formed in February 2021 through a business combination between then-private Butterfly and Longview, a special purpose acquisition company, with Butterfly as the surviving, publicly traded entity. According to a recently filed stockholder complaint, the proxy statement filed in connection with the business combination made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Butterfly had overstated its post-Merger business and financial prospects; (ii) notwithstanding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Butterflys financial projections failed to take into account the pandemics broad consequences, which included healthcare logistical challenges, and medical personnel fatigue; (iii) accordingly, Butterflys gross margin levels and revenue projections were less sustainable than the Company had represented; (iv) all the foregoing was reasonably likely to have a material negative impact on Butterflys business and financial condition; and (v) as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Current Butterfly stockholders who purchased or acquired LGVW or BFLY shares prior to January 25, 2021 are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 0750, or by email at abell@kaskelalaw.com, to discuss this investigation and their legal rights and options. Additional information may also be found at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/butterfly-network-inc/. Kaskela Law LLC represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. A man fed up with an erroneous fast-food order at a McDonalds outlet told his 4-year-old kid to shoot a cop, police in Utah said Monday. The unidentified man was arrested. Advertisement McDonald's in Midvale UT. (Google ) The father was in the drive-through at Midvale, Utah, when his order came back wrong, KTVX-TV reported. When employees asked him to move to the front of the restaurant, he pulled out a gun. Employees called the cops, who arrived at around 1:30 p.m. to find the man noncompliant, KTVX reported. They tried to get him out of the car voluntarily but he refused, so they opened the door and pulled him out. Advertisement While he was being cuffed, an officer turned toward the car and noticed a gun pointing out the back window, police told KTVX. The cop deflected the gun as it was fired, then realized it was in a childs grip. There were two children in the backseat, a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old. Witnesses said they heard the father tell his child to shoot. The bullet ripped through the McDonalds banner, and the officer was slightly injured, KTVX reported. This is a sad day for law enforcement and our community, Midvale police said in a statement obtained by KTVX. To have an adult think it is okay to encourage a 4-year-old to pull a firearm and shoot at police illustrates how out of hand the campaign against police has gotten. This needs to stop, and we need to come together as a community to find solutions to the challenges we face in our neighborhoods. Officers are here to protect and serve, and we are beyond belief that something like [that] could happen. An investigation was ongoing. Pune, Feb. 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The D istributed Energy Resource Management System Market size was USD 0.36 billion in 2020. The market is projected to grow from USD 0.42 billion in 2021 to USD 1.33 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 18.0%during the 2021-2028 period. This vital information is presented by Fortune Business Insights, in its report, titled, Distributed Energy Resource Management System Market, 2021-2028. Factor such as growing energy demand to support current population growth along with increasing development pace will boost market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, rising smart grid deployment by government bodies and rising deployment of EVswill increase the market footprint. Get Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/distributed-energy-resource-management-system-market-100825 Prominent Players Present in the Distributed Energy Resource Management System Market are : Hitachi ABB (Switzerland) Siemens (Germany) General Electric (U.S.) Engie (France) Itron (U.S.) Oracle (U.S.) Generac (U.S.) Energy Hub (U.S.) Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) AutoGrid Systems (U.S.) Opus One Solutions (U.S.) Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (South Korea) Blue Pillar (U.S.) Kitu System (U.S.) Enel (Italy) Open Access Technology International, Ltd. (U.S.) Sunverge Energy Inc. (U.S.) COVID-19 Impact Production Delays & Lockdowns to Hamper Market Growth The COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic effect on every sector worldwide and the sector of distributed energy resource management systems is no different. Severally imposed lockdowns and restrictions on the movement of the general population decreased industrial and commercial output to a new low. As the market is entirely dependent on energy, decreased energy requirements impacted investments opportunities, thereby, limiting the growth of the market. To get to know more about the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market, Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/distributed-energy-resource-management-system-market-100825 Segments On the basis of software, the market can be divided into virtual power plants (VPP), management and control, and analytics. By application, the market can be broken down into solar, energy storage, wind, EV charging stations, and others. With respect to end-user, the market can be classified into residential, commercial, industrial & utilities. In terms of geography, the market can be categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Report Scope and Segmentation- Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 18.0% 2028 Value Projection USD 1.33 Billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 0.36 Billion Historical Data for 2017 to 2019 No. of Pages 210 Segments covered By Software, By Application, By End-User, By Region Growth Drivers Increasing Demand Response Requirement to Drive Market Increasing Demand for Renewable Energy to Drive Distributed Energy Resource Management System Demand Pitfalls & Challenges Cyber Security Risks Associated with IoT to Limit the Technology Adoption Report Coverage The sector of distributed energy resource management system is broken down into a regional and country-level analysis for our readers to get a better grasp on the market. Additionally, the report also provides insights into the market by encompassing the ongoing market trends along with the latest industry developments. The report also covers the factors that are expected to affect the market in a positive/negative manner simultaneously. Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/distributed-energy-resource-management-system-market-100825 Drivers & Restraints Rising Demand for Renewable Energy to Bolster Market Growth Factors such as increasing demand for renewable energy have been triggered by external factors such as increasing population and increasing production activities. Additionally, increased digitalization and rising consumerism will boost the distributed energy resource management system market growth during the forecast period. Rising consumer awareness and increasing government activities in the hydro, solar, wind and tidal sector will increase the market footprint. However, rising cyber security risks associated with IoT will limit the market growth during the forecast period. Regional Insights Asia Pacific to Hold Largest Market Share due to Rising Power Generation Demand The region of Asia Pacific will capture the largest distributed energy resource management system market share during the forecast period due to rising investment in renewable energy projects by government bodies and increasing power generation activities. North America will hold a considerable market share in terms of global contribution owing to rising government investments in renewable projects along with various countries promising net zero emissions by 2050. Europe will witness significant growth during the forecast period owing to increasing investment in the renewable sector along with rising reliance on renewable energy sources to name a few. Competitive Landscape Prominent Players to Launch Novel Players to Dominate Market Share The market for distributed energy resource management systems compromises various prominent players that provide varying levels of services. Prominent players are developing novel products for capturing a wider consumer base. For example, in December 2020, EnergyHub partnered with EnelX for optimal distributed energy resource management towering 60,000 charging stations across the United States. Increasing usage of renewable energy resources is expected to push the developmental pace of the sector to a new horizon.Like-minded players are joining hands for accelerating product development and increasing market presence. Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/distributed-energy-resource-management-system-market-100825 Industry Development August 2021: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced that they planned to acquire Smarter Grid Solutions for expanding the latters distributed energy resources customer for effective energy management enterprise software. Table of Content Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Key Insights Key Emerging Trends For Major Countries Latest Technological Advancement Regulatory Landscape Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Analysis Impact of COVID-19 Impact of COVID-19 on the Distributed Energy Resource Management SystemMarket Steps Taken by the Government to Overcome the Impact Key Developments by Industry Players in Response to COVID-19 Potential Opportunities and Challenges due to COVID-19 Outbreak Global Distributed Energy Resource Management SystemMarket Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Software Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Management & Control Analytics Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Solar Energy Storage Wind EV Charging Stations Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By End-User Residential Commercial Industrial & Utilities Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa North America Distributed Energy Resource Management SystemMarket Analysis (USD Billion), Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Toc Continued .. Quick Buy Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100825 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Control Valve Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Motion (Linear, Rotary), By Component (Actuator, Valve Body, Others), By Application (Flow Control, Pressure Control, Others), By End-Use Industry (Oil & Gas, Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage, Others) and Geography Forecast till 2022-2029 Compressed Natural Gas Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Source (Associated Gas, Non-Associated Gas, Unconventional Sources), By Application (Light Duty Vehicles, Medium/Heavy Duty Buses, Medium/Heavy Duty Trucks, Others), and Geography Forecast Till 2022-2029 Emission Monitoring System Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Type (Predictive Emission Monitoring System, Continuous Emission Monitoring System), By Component (Hardware, Software, Service), By End User (Oil and Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers, Iron and Steel, Pharmaceutical Bioethanol Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Feedstock (Starch-Based, Sugar-Based, Cellulose Based, Others), By Application (Transportation Fuel, Power Generation, Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Others) and Geography Forecast till 2022-2029 Surge Arrester Market Size , Share and Global Trend By Voltage (Low, Medium, High, Extra High), By Material (Polymeric, Porcelain), By Class (Distribution, Intermediate, Station), By Application (Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Utility) and Geography Forecast till 2022-2029 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortune-business-insights Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortuneBusinessInsightsPvtLtd English French Pixium Vision announces its unaudited financial results for 2021 and provides a business update Cash position on 31 December 2021: 14.5 million Cash runway to end of Q4 2022 Clinical development, activating multiple clinical sites and successfully implanting patients enrolled in our PRIMAvera pivotal study Paris, 22 February 2022 7.00 a.m. CET - Pixium Vision (FR0011950641 - PIX), a bioelectronics company that develops innovative bionic vision systems to enable patients who have lost their sight to live more independently, announces its financial results for 2021 and provides a business update. The 2021 financial statements were approved by Pixium Visions Board of Directors at its meeting on 17 February 2022. Lloyd Diamond, CEO of Pixium Vision commented In 2021, we continued to deliver on our promises, and we progressed significantly on our journey to create a world of bionic vision for those who have lost their sight. In spite of the Covid-19 pandemic, we continued to make strong progress on many fronts throughout 2021, progressing through our PRIMAvera pivotal study, the last step of clinical development in Europe and continuing to strengthen our presence in the US in anticipation of increasing clinical development in this key market. We are well positioned drive the Prima System through these important stages, having successfully extended our cash runway to end of 2022. 2021 annual results (unaudited) - Excerpts Income statement summary In thousands of euros 2021 2020 (*) Change Revenue and other income 2,655 2,092 +26.9% Operating expenses (12,916) (10,526) +22.7% Research and Development (7,282) (6,152) +18.4% General and administrative expenses (5,633) (4,374) +28.8% Operating income (loss) (10,260) (8,435) +21.7% Net income (loss) (11,051) (9,134) +21.0% Net earnings per share (0.23) (0.27) (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) Statement of cash flows summary In thousands of euros 2021 2020 (*) Opening cash and cash equivalents 10,566 6,791 (Decrease)/Increase in cash position 3,939 3,774 O/W net cash flows from operating activities (8,829) (6,906) O/W net cash flows from investment activities (52) 197 O/W net cash flows from financing activities 12,818 10,482 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 2 - Closing cash and cash equivalents 14,505 10,566 (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) Update on Pixium Visions business Pixium Vision made important clinical and business progress during 2021. Pixium Vision accelerated the clinical development of our highly innovative Prima System*, activating multiple clinical sites and successfully implanting patients enrolled in our PRIMAvera pivotal study in France, Germany, and the UK, including at the prestigious Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. The pivotal PRIMAvera trial in atrophic dry age-related macular degeneration (dry AMD) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of the Prima System and is expected to be the last clinical step before seeking market approval in Europe sometime in 2024. The Companys first feasibility study of the Prima System, that started in 2017, continues to generate extremely positive and promising data. Indeed, Pixium announced positive long-term follow-up data that showed the state-of-the-art PRIMA chips were readily implanted and well tolerated and worked reliably in patients for over 36 months post-implantation. Based on this, Pixium Vision believes the PRIMA implants and the whole Prima System are a realistic solution to help, over the long term, patients suffering from dry AMD, a large patient population with no treatments currently on the market. Alongside our clinical developments, Pixium Vision has been advancing technologically, beginning work on the second generation of implants for the Prima System and expanding our collaboration agreement with its long-term academic partner Stanford University. This follows the original agreement the Company signed with Stanford University in 2014, which laid the foundation for the creation of the current PRIMA design. The Company has also strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Offer Nonhoff as Pixiums Chief Financial Officer. Offer is a seasoned financial executive with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare and other industries and a proven track record in funding and growing companies. He has raised more than $180 million in capital, led a successful initial public offering, and is a considerable asset for Pixium as the Company prepares for its commercialization and value driving events. Pixium Vision continues to engage with investors and increases its visibility through participation in investor-related events, such as last Investir Day in Paris in November 2021. The Company remains very active within the broader scientific community, regularly attending and presenting at industry conferences as well as hosting its own KOL events to present the progress made with the Prima System. Additionally, in 2021, Pixiums groundbreaking work was recognized at the MedTech Forum in April when the Company received the HealthTech Award in the category of Best Product/Deal for the Prima System. The awards highlight the most promising game-changers developing emerging technologies for healthcare in Europe, which was an honor to receive the award, and it is an attestation to the dedication of the Pixium team and collaborators for their dedication in developing the Prima System and, the hard work throughout the year. The Company capital increase of around 8 million in July last year through a private placement came primarily from US investors, which has helped expand its shareholder base. Pixium Vision is currently considering its fundraising options to provide it with the means to accelerate its clinical development, as the Company prepares for the potential commercial launch of our Prima System in Europe at the end of 2024. In addition, the company takes its ethical obligations seriously and will ensure the continuing support of its ongoing clinical trials. These developments have reinforced the Companys belief in the potential of its Prima System to compensate for profound vision loss and improve the quality of life for patients suffering from retinal degenerative diseases. Analysis of 2021 results (unaudited) In financial year 2021, the Group did not generate any sales. Revenue and other income amounted to 2.7 million, compared to 2.1 million the previous year. In 2021 revenue and other income are comprised essentially of a Research Tax Credit (CIR) in the amount of 1.6 million and 0.8 million for contractual indemnities paid by Second Sight Medical Product Inc. (SSMP). These indemnities were paid following the unilateral termination of the MOU between the two companies concluded on 5 January 2021 by SSMP. Operating expenses amounted to 12.9 million, compared to 10.5 million in 2020. Operating expenses increased by 22.7% for 2.4 million of which 1.1 million in research and development and 1.3 million in general and administrative expenses. Research and Development expenses totalled 7.3 million, compared to 6.2 million the previous year. In 2021, Pixium Vision strengthened its clinical team and opened several clinical centers in Europe as part of its PRIMAvera pivotal study. In addition, the Group continued to develop and manufacture its Prima bionic vision system to ensure the progress of its ongoing clinical studies. totalled 7.3 million, compared to 6.2 million the previous year. In 2021, Pixium Vision strengthened its clinical team and opened several clinical centers in Europe as part of its PRIMAvera pivotal study. In addition, the Group continued to develop and manufacture its Prima bionic vision system to ensure the progress of its ongoing clinical studies. General and administrative expenses totaled 5.6 million compared to 4,4 million in 2020. The increase is mainly linked to the costs incurred by the Company for legal services in preparation for its business combination with Second Sight Medical Product. Operating income (loss) for 2021 was a loss of 10.3 million, compared to a 8.4 million operating loss in 2020. Net income (loss) was a loss of 11.1 million (compared to a loss of 9.1 million in 2020). In 2021, the Group recognised financial expenses of 0.7 million (compared 0.7 million in 2020). The Group did not recognize corporate income tax expense for 2021. The loss per share was 0.23 and 0.27 per share in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Net cash flows from operating activities increased in 2021 to 8.8 million in outflow, compared to 6.9 million in 2020. The increase in net cash outflow reflects the initiation of the PRIMAvera study, the continuation of the US feasibility study, as well as the spending associated with the preparation of the business combination with Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. Net cash flows from investment activities amounted to 0.1 million and mainly correspond to IT equipment. Net cash flows from financing activities totalled 12.8 million in inflow in 2021. They reflect mainly a capital increase of approximately 8.0 million in gross proceeds and the drawdown of 5 ORNAN tranches for a total of 6.25 million in gross proceeds under its agreement with ESGO. Following the drawdown of the last tranche on 12 May 2021, there is no longer any outstanding warrants as the entire 10 million financing has been drawn. Pixium Vision ended 2021 with a net cash position of 14.5 million, compared to 10.5 million at the end of 2020. Contacts Pixium Vision Offer Nonhoff Chief Financial Officer investors@pixium-vision.com Media Relations LifeSci Advisors Sophie Baumont sophie@lifesciadvisors.com +33 6 27 74 74 49 Investor Relations LifeSci Advisors Guillaume van Renterghem gvanrenterghem@lifesciadvisors.com +41 76 735 01 31 ABOUT PIXIUM VISION Pixium Visions mission is to create a world of bionic vision for those who have lost their sight, enabling them to regain partial visual perception and greater autonomy. Pixium Visions bionic vision systems are associated with a surgical intervention and a rehabilitation period. Pixium Vision is conducting clinical feasibility studies of its Prima system, its miniaturised wireless sub-retinal implant, in patients who have lost their sight due to retinal degeneration associated with the dry form of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Pixium Vision works closely with world-renown academic partners, such as Stanford University in California, Institut de la Vision in Paris, Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, Institute of Ocular Microsurgery (IMO) in Barcelona, and UPMC in Pittsburgh, USA. The company is EN ISO 13485 certified. Pixium Vision has been qualified as an Innovative Company by Bpifrance. * CAUTION - Investigational device. Limited by United States law to investigational use. For more information: http://www.pixium-vision.com/fr Follow us on @PixiumVision ; www.facebook.com/pixiumvision www.linkedin.com/company/pixium-vision Disclaimer This press release, implicitly or expressly, contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Pixium Vision and its business. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Pixium Vision to be materially different from the results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Pixium Vision issues this press release as at this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether in response to new information, future events or otherwise. For a description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Pixium Vision to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, please refer to section 3 Risk Factors of the Companys 2019 Universal Registration Document, which was filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers under number D.20-0350 on 24 April 2020, and which can be viewed on the websites of the Autorite des Marches Financiers - AMF (www.amf-france.org) and Pixium Vision (www.pixium-vision.com) and in the Financial Report for the 2020 financial year (Appendix 1), available free of charge on the Pixium Vision website (www.pixium-vision.com) Notes Risk factors The risk factors to which the Group is exposed are described in Annexe 1 Risques et incertitudes auxquels la Societe est confrontee of the Financial Report for the 2020 financial year. Managements assessment of the nature and level of risks has not changed during the last year. The Financial Report for 2020 is available on the Companys website: https://www.pixium-vision.com/financial-reports-documents/ Major financial events in 2021 On January 6, 2021, Pixium Vision and Second Sight Medical Products announced entry into a Memorandum of Understanding for a combination of their businesses. The transaction would have consisted of the contribution of a complete and independent business branch (partial asset contribution) comprising all of the Companys assets and liabilities, including employees, to a permanent establishment that Second Sight will create in France. In consideration, Pixium Vision would hold 60% of the Second Sights capital on a post-transaction basis. The transaction was subject to obtaining commitments from investors for a capital increase of Second Sight for a minimum amount of US$ 25 million. On January 7, 2021, Pixium Vision announced that it had drawn down a further tranche, with a nominal value of 1.25 million, under the financing contract with ESGO. On March 9, 2021, Pixium Vision announced the continuation of the proposed business combination with Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. On March 18, 2021, Pixium Vision announced that it had drawn down a further tranche, with a nominal value of 1.0 million, under the financing contract with ESGO. On April 3, 2021, the combination with Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. was abandoned. On April 7, 2021, a US$ 1 million payment representing a termination fee was received from Second Sight Medical product Inc. (See Note 18) On April 21, 2021, Pixium Vision received HealthTech Award for Prima System at the MedTech Forum. On May 19, 2021, Pixium Vision filed a claim of 5.2 million in front of the French court (Tribunal de commerce de Paris) against Second Sight Medical Products, Inc. for the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the Company in the preparation for the business combination between the parties. On July 13, 2021, Pixium Vision announced a capital increase of approximately 8 million through a private placement. Significant Accounting Policies of Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) Main impact of new and amended Standards and Interpretations that are effective for the current year IFRIC May 2021 IAS19 Retirement Benefits At the end of the first half of 2021, the IAS Board published the IFRIC's interpretation of IAS 19 on the allocation of employee benefits into the period of service. In particular, it clarifies the period of attributions to be taken into account in determining the costs of service / benefit. In France, the IFRIC's clarifications have resulted in a change in the method for measuring obligations relating to end-of-career indemnities (IFC), for collective bargaining agreements whose indemnity rights are capped or (and) defined by length of service. The national collective bargaining agreement for the French metal industry, which covers the Group's French employees, provides for a ceiling on entitlements and for increments based on seniority. The Company has restated the comparable information presented, which consequently differs from previous reports disclosed. The retrospective impact of the change of method at the beginning of the first period presented has been recognized in equity in accordance with the provisions of IAS 8. in thousands 2020 2020 (*) 2021 Balance at January 1, 187 187 97 Impact IFRIC* - (88) - Current service cost 29 12 11 Actuarial losses/(gains) (40) (14) (6) Balance at December 31, 176 97 102 (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) The following discussion sets forth certain components of our Statement of income (loss) as well as factors that impact those items. Revenue To date we have not generated any revenues from device, collaboration agreements or R&D services, or otherwise, and we do not expect to recognize any such revenues, even if we obtain regulatory approval for the products, in the near term. Our ability to generate revenue in the future will depend almost entirely on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for and then commercialize our device candidates. Government financing for research expenditures Government financing for research expenditures consists of research tax credits (Credit dimpot recherche, or CIR) and subsidies which are both recognized within total revenue and other income in our consolidated statement of income (loss) in accordance with IAS20 Accounting for governments grants and disclosures of governments assistance ("IAS20"). We benefit from the provisions of Articles 244 c B and 49f F of the General Tax Code in France relating to research tax credits. These amounts are recognized as income tax benefits in the year to which the qualifying research expenses relate and represent open claims for reimbursement with the French tax authorities. The research tax credit is given to companies by the French tax authorities to encourage them to carry out technical or scientific research. Companies that justify the expense and meet the required criteria, receive a tax credit that can be used to pay corporate income tax due in respect to the financial year in which the expenses were incurred, and the following three financial years or, where applicable are compensated for the difference. Only research expenditure is considered when calculating the research tax credit. We have received the research tax credit since its creation. We received the 2020 research tax credit in 2021 and the 2021 research tax credit will be received in 2022 in accordance with the Community Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) scheme. The expected research tax credit for fiscal year 2021 is recorded as Government Financing for Research Expenditures for an amount of 1.6 million. Grants We benefit from government funding, in the form of conditional advances which are fully repayable advances based on the recognition of a technical or commercial success of the related project by the financing entity. They are recognized in accordance with IAS 20, Accounting for Governments Grants and Disclosures of Governments Assistance. The details of this funding are recorded in the non-current liabilities section of the statements of consolidated financial position. Additionally, the benefit arising from a preferential interest rate compared to market rates is considered as a subsidy which is recognized as grants in our consolidated statement of income (loss). Research and development expenses Research expenses are recognized as expenses when incurred. Nonrefundable advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities are capitalized and expensed as the goods are delivered or the related services are performed. Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs (including salaries, bonuses, employee benefit obligations, and stock-based compensation expense) for employees, subcontractors, collaborations, consultants research supplies, leases, depreciations, amortization, Impairment on tangible and intangible assets, conferences, travel, license fees, and miscellaneous. Other development expenditures that do not meet these criteria are recognized as expenses when they are incurred. Development costs previously recognized as an expense are not recognized as an asset in a subsequent period. Historically, all of our research and development costs have been charged to expenses. Clinical development expenses for our device candidates are a significant component of our current research and development expenses as we advance our device candidates through clinical trials. Device candidates in later stage clinical development generally have higher research and development costs than those in earlier stages of development, primarily due to increased size and duration of the clinical trials. We recognize costs for each grant project, preclinical study or clinical trial that we conduct based on our evaluation of the progress to completion, using information and data provided to us by our research and development vendors and clinical sites. Due to the uncertainty associated with the successful development of one or more commercially viable products based on our research efforts and any related patent applications, all costs to maintain and defend existing patents, including patent-related legal, filing fees and other costs, including internally generated costs, are expensed as incurred, and are included in research and development expenses. General and administrative expenses General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel-related costs (including salaries, bonuses, employee benefit obligations, and stock-based compensation expense) for employees, finance, accounting, corporate development, insurances, communication, leases, fees, and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include legal fees, professional fees paid for accounting, auditing, consulting, tax, and investor relations services in relation to our current listing on Euronext, insurance costs, and facility costs not otherwise included in research and development expenses. Interest Expenses Interest expenses include interest expenses on debt, mainly on refundable advances, on loans granted from the state, and on leases (IFRS 16). Income Tax We file our tax returns in France. Deferred taxes are recognized for all timing differences arising from the difference between the tax base and the accounting base for assets and liabilities appearing in the financial statements. The main timing differences are linked to tax losses carried forward. The tax rate in effect as of December 31, in each year has been used to determine deferred taxes. Deferred taxes are recorded to give recognition to temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recorded as deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in future years. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent items that have been deducted for tax purposes but have not yet been recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss) and comprehensive income (loss). To the extent there are deferred tax assets that are more likely than not to be realized, a valuation allowance would not be recorded. Deferred tax assets are recognized only if it is likely that there will be sufficient future results to absorb the losses carried forward. In view of our development stage and doubts concerning the date on which taxable income will be made, we have recorded a full valuation allowance against any deferred tax assets on the consolidated balance sheet. We had no unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. We are subject to potential income tax audits on open tax years by any taxing jurisdiction in which we operate. For French tax purposes, the statute of limitations is five years. The tax rate applicable to us is the rate in effect in France, which is 28% for the first 500,000 of profits and 31% above 500,000 of profits. The tax rate will be gradually lowered to 28% on all profits in 2020 and to 26.5% on all profits in 2021. Consolidated Statement of Income (Loss) (unaudited) Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 ( in thousands) At 31 December 2021 2020 (*) Change Revenue Government financing for research expenditures 1,615 1,383 +16.8% Grants 176 661 (73.4%) Other income 863 48 +1,697.9% Total revenue and other income 2,655 2,092 +26.9% Research and development expenses (7,282) (6,152) +18.4% General and administrative expenses (5,633) (4,374) +28.8% Total operating expenses (12,916) (10,526) +22.7% Operating income (loss) (10,260) (8,435) +21.6% Interest expense (790) (699) +13.0% Income (loss) before taxes (11,051) (9,134) +21.0% Corporate tax benefit (expense) Net income (loss) (11,051) (9,134) +21.0% Actuarial gains/(loss) on pension assets 6 14 (57.1%) Change in fair value of derivative instruments 31 (21) (247.6%) Total comprehensive income (loss) (11,013) (9,141) +20.5% Earnings (loss) per share Basic (0.23) (0.27) Diluted (0.23) (0.27) (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) Government financing for research expenditures During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, we recorded a research tax credit of 1.6 million compared to 1.4 million in 2020. Grants We benefit from certain targeted strategic innovation focused government funding, in the form of grants. Grant income recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, amounted to 0.2 million and 0.7 million, respectively, and primarily consisted of benefit arising from preferential interest rate compared to the market rates related to conditional advances into Sight Again project and PGE in accordance with IAS 20. Other income In 2021, we received 0.8 million for contractual indemnities paid by Second Sight Medical Product Inc. (SSMP). These indemnities were paid following the unilateral termination of the MOU between the two companies concluded on 5 January 2021 by SSMP. Research and development expenses In 2021, research and development expenses amounted to 7.3 million compared to 6.2 million one year earlier. The increase of 1,1 million is mainly related to strengthening of its clinical team and the opening of several centers in Europe as part of its Primavera study. Research and development expenses break down as follows: R&D expenses ( in thousands) 31/12/2021 31/12/2020 (*) Wages and salaries 3,493 2,998 Subcontracting, collaboration and consultants 2,153 1,319 Research supplies 478 476 Leases 267 256 Conferences, travel expenses 222 105 Licence fees 176 65 Amortization, depreciation and increase in provisions 117 161 Miscellaneous - Services provided (1) 319 283 Impairment of intangible assets 448 Other 58 41 Net total 7,282 6,152 (1) Service contracts associated with leases (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) General and administrative expenses In 2021, general and administrative expenses amounted to 5,6 million compared to 4,4 million in 2020. The increase of 1,2 million is mainly linked to the costs incurred by the Company for legal services in preparation for its business combination with Second Sight Medical Product and the preparation for future funding. General and administrative expenses break down as follows: General and administrative (Amounts in euros) 31/12/2021 31/12/2020 (*) Wages and salaries 1,474 1,579 Fees 3,012 1,853 Leases 92 96 Insurance 48 45 Communication, travel and entertainment expenses 322 262 Postage and telecommunication costs 87 72 Administrative supplies and equipment leases 23 20 Amortization, depreciation and increase in provisions 405 236 Miscellaneous - Services provided (1) 61 59 Other 108 152 Net total 5,633 4,374 (1) Service contracts associated with leases (*) 2020 restated: impact of change in IAS19 calculation (cf. note IAS19 Retirement Benefits) Interest Expenses Interest expense was 0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to 0.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Corporate Tax Benefit (Expense) We have incurred significant losses in 2021 which has resulted in a nil tax charge for the year. Historically we have generated a total of 124 million of tax losses that can be carried forward indefinitely in France. Net Loss Our net loss was 11.1 million in the year ending December 31, 2021, as compared to 9.1 million in the year ending December 31, 2020. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) ( in thousands) At 31 December 2021 2020 (*) Cash flows from operating activities Net Income (Loss) (11,051) (9,134) Amortization and depreciation of intangible and tangible assets 549 814 Increase in provisions, net of reversals (35) (189) Share based compensation 487 436 Net pension expense (recorded net of tax effect) 6 14 Unwinding of conditional advances 508 284 Leases 333 349 Other liabilities 54 (76) Operating cash flows before change in working capital requirements (9,149) (7,502) Change in working capital requirements: Decrease (increase) in other receivables (258) 159 (Decrease) increase in accounts payables 670 396 (Decrease) increase in tax and social security liabilities (73) 43 (Decrease) increase in other creditors and miscellaneous liabilities (19) (2) Net cash used in operating activities (8,829) (6,906) Cash flows from investing activities: Acquisition of intangible and tangible assets (48) (82) Decrease (increase) in deposits (4) 278 Net cash used in investing activities (52) 197 Cash flow from financing activities: Proceeds from share capital increase 14,214 9,677 Costs paid in relation to equity transactions (1,115) (621) Subscription of warrants (BSA) 51 Exercise of warrants (BSA) and founders warrants (BSPCE) 20 Proceeds from conditional advances, net of repayment 2,268 Repayment of non-convertible bonds (36) (509) Repayment of lease liabilities (316) (331) Net cash provided by (used in) finance activities 12,818 10,482 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 2 Cash and cash equivalents: Net increase (decrease) 3,939 3,774 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 10,566 6,791 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 14,505 10,566 Net cash flows from operating activities increased in 2021 to 8.8 million, compared to 6.9 million in 2020. The increase in net cash outflow reflects the initiation of the PRIMAvera study, the continuation of the US feasibility study, as well as the spending associated with the preparation of the business combination with Second Sight Medical Products, Inc and the preparation of future funding. Net cash flows from investment activities amounted to 0.1 million and mainly correspond to IT equipment. Net cash flows from financing activities totalled 12.8 million in 2021. They reflect mainly a capital increase of approximately 8.0 million in gross proceeds and the drawdown of 5 ORNAN tranches for a total of 6.25 million in gross proceeds under its agreement with ESGO. Following the drawdown of the last tranche on 12 May 2021, there is no longer any outstanding warrants as the entire 10 million financing has been drawn. Attachment NovoBiome and Inserm form new collaboration to simulate human intestinal physiology Integration of Inserms leading technologies related to human stem cell-derived intestinal epithelial cells and enteric nervous system to NovoBiomes organoid on a chip platform Collaboration aims to complete NovoBiomes disruptive NovoSift ex-vivo research and discovery platform to analyze the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and the human intestine Paris, France 22 February 2022: NovoBiome ("the Company"), a drug discovery company developing breakthrough Live Biotherapeutics Products (LBPs)1 targeting the microbiome-gut-liver axis, announces today that it has signed a new collaboration with the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), a scientific and technological institute which operates under the joint authority of the French Ministries of Health and Research. The collaboration will see the development of an innovative intestinal organoid on a chip technology that will complete the functionality of NovoBiomes disruptive NovoSift platform, an ex-vivo research and discovery platform to analyze the symbiotic relationship between the microbiota and the human intestine. The collaborative agreement has been negotiated and signed by Inserm Transfert, the private subsidiary of Inserm, on behalf of Inserm and Nantes University. NovoSift not only aims to emulate the complexity of the interactions between the epithelium and the intestinal microbiota, but also to take into account the relationships with the enteric nervous system and the immune system. The Joint Research Unit Inserm TENS (U1235 Inserm/Nantes University) has developed a recognized expertise in the field of human intestinal stem cell biology and in the interactions and cellular functions between the epithelium, the enteric nervous system and the microbiota. This new collaboration will allow to scale up NovoBiomes ambition to have a robust and dynamic human relevant model to evaluate the mechanisms at work after the oral administration of a food, a drug or a LBP1 aiming to modulate the intestinal microbiota. Embedded in the robotic high-throughput functional metagenomics units of MetaGenoPolis (French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment INRAE), and associated with NovoBiomes artificial intelligence algorithm, this technology will also enable NovoBiome to combine multi-OMICS and state of the art live imaging analysis to cover all fields of research and development. Pierre-Yves Mousset, Chief Executive Officer of NovoBiome, said: The implications of understanding the host-microbiota relationships are considerable in human health. However, this major part of physiology is currently a black box that the exceptional cooperation between NovoBiome and two French academic structures of excellence, Inserm and INRAE, will seek to decipher. We are extremely proud of the trust placed in us and are particularly eager to see the first results. Working in close partnership with NovoBiome represents a unique opportunity to accelerate and foster the transfer of discoveries on health beneficial effects of the gut microbiota from the lab to the benefit of patients and of the overall general population. commented Michel Neunlist, Director of the TENS unit at Inserm. -End- About NovoBiome NovoBiome is a biotech company developing Live Biotherapeutics Products, a novel and emerging class of drugs, defined by the EMA as medicinal products containing living micro-organisms such as bacteria or yeasts, which have a positive influence on the health and physiology of the host. NovoBiome is developing a proprietary platform, NovoSift, that rationally identifies Live Biotherapeutics based on a deep understanding of functions and mechanisms. For more information, please visit: www.novobiome.eu About Inserm / TENS TENS (The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain diseases) is a research laboratory in translational Neurogastroenterology labelled by Inserm and Nantes University. TENS aims to understand the role of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in gastrointestinal dysfunctions observed during chronic gut (IBD) and brain diseases (neurodevelopmental neurodegenerative neurotraumatic). Combining multi-omic and imaging techniques as well as organoids based approaches, TENS aims at identifying defects in the interactions between the gut microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells and the ENS as a causal factor responsible for GI dysfunctions in diseases of interest and also as a source of novel microbiota based therapeutical approaches. About Inserm Founded in 1964, the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) is a public science and technology institute, jointly supervised by the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, and the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Womens Rights. Inserm is the only French public research institute to focus entirely on human health and positions itself on the pathway from research laboratory to the bed of the patient. The mission of its scientists is to study all diseases, from the most common to the rarest. www.inserm.fr About Inserm Transfert Inserm Transfert, the private subsidiary of the French National Institute of the Health and Medical Research (Inserm), is responsible for value creation of innovations of Inserm and its academic partners in human health and promotes long-term technology transfers in line with international best practices. Inserm Transfert SA was founded in 2000, and manages, under a Public Service Management Contract (Delegation de Service Public), the entire promotion and transfer of knowledge emerging from the Inserm research laboratories to the industrial world, from invention disclosure to industrial partnerships and startups incorporation. Inserm Transfert also offers services relating to setting up and managing national, European and international projects, as well as supporting the technology transfer of clinical research and health data/databases. In 2009, Inserm Transfert and Inserm established an investment fund to finance proofs of concept. In 2005, Inserm Transfert Initiative, a dedicated seed money fund for life sciences, was created. Since 2017 a pathway for pre-entrepreneurship supports researchers/inventors who aspire to become involved in entrepreneurship. www.inserm-transfert.com For more information, please visit: www.inserm-tens.com and www.inserm.fr Contacts NovoBiome Pierre-Yves Mousset, Chief Executive Officer +33 (0) 616 310 400 py.mousset@novobiome.eu INRAeTransfert Anne-Sophie Alvarez, Microbiome Communication Manager anne-sophie.alvarez@inrae.fr Inserm Transfert Ingrid Hargot, Communication Manager Ingrid.HARGOT@inserm-transfert.fr Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Suki Virji, Genevieve Wilson +44 (0) 203 709 5000 eurekare@consilium-comms.com 1 LBPs are medicinal products containing living micro-organisms such as bacteria or yeasts, which have a positive influence on the health and physiology of the host. Source: Ph. Eur. Monograph 3053 (EDQM, 2019) New York, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global COVID-19 Vaccines Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06097782/?utm_source=GNW -Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates -Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform -Complimentary updates for one year After months of what seemed to be a receding pandemic supported by vaccines and adherence to new COVID appropriate protocols as the new normal, the world is witnessing the ghosts of the past rising once again. Barely months after the Indian strain called the Delta, or B.1.617.2 which was 40-60% more transmissible than Alpha and almost twice as transmissible as the original Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2 took over the world as a dominant strain, a new variant dubbed as "Omicron (B.1.1.529)" has emerged. Originally detected in South Africa in mid-November 2021, Omicron is now spreading across the globe with Asia, Europe, and North America reporting infections from this strain. In addition to acquiring the mutations of the delta variant, the Omicron variant has over 50 mutations with 32 of them seen on its spike protein, two times higher than Delta, indicating that the virus has further adapted to the human species. Even more worrisome and unsettling is the fact that the variant also includes the vaccine-resistant alterations seen in Beta variant. The worst variant the pandemic has thrown up till date and carrying the mutations P681H and N679K, Omicron is feared to reduce vaccine effectiveness by close to 40% to 50%. There are fears that this strain is capable of outsmarting monoclonal antibodies, such as Regeneron`s treatment, since these therapies target parts of the virus that have now mutated. Currently classified as `variant of concern`, fears over the spreading Omicron have once again pushed countries across the globe to re-impose international and domestic travel restrictions. Omicron is now expected to displace the circulation Delta and other variants. It`s only a matter of time before a newer more competitive virus emerges. With Europe already battling fourth and fifth waves of infections, the new Omicron variant is bringing back ghosts of the past year. Fears are again rising over possible increase in infections, mortalities, overburdened hospitals, healthcare systems and lockdowns resulting in yet another economic nightmare. Lockdowns, travel and movement restrictions will be back once again if infection from this new strain fails to be controlled. India which is just recovering from the intense second wave with hopes of the disease reaching an endemic state, the new variant is reigniting fears of a possible third wave. With several countries facing repeated waves of infections, the world is up against a new challenge in this war against the virus. An uphill challenge confronts governments in rapidly stepping up efforts to accelerate the pace of vaccine administration, despite numerous challenges. It`s a race against time and to successfully end the pandemic, mass vaccination drives must outpace the speed with which the coronavirus is currently mutating. After a sharp drop in cases throughout the second half of the year 2021, cases have begun to spike again led by infections from the Delta variant. This variant now accounts for the vast majority of new infections. With the rise in vaccination rates especially in developed countries, measures designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 like mask mandates and capacity limits have been relaxed. The subsequent relaxation strengthened consumer confidence and allowed economic activity to return to normalcy. However, with the Covid-19 virus rapidly mutating, new variants have emerged in many parts of the world, posing a threat of potential future waves. Different parts of Europe are currently witnessing fourth and fifth waves of infection spread. These new variants are more deadly than the original virus, more easily transmissible and can impact the effectiveness of vaccines. Prolonging pandemic and new mutant strains means that immunity among vaccinated population is beginning to slip, throwing the focus on booster doses. The leading vaccine makers, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca announced plans to pursue development of booster shots to address the emerging threat of new virus variants. The booster shot will be essential to keep the immune system to the optimum level. A number of wealthy countries like the US, Germany and Israel are considering booster shots to increase protection against Covid-19. Germany is expected to roll out booster shots to vulnerable individuals. mRNA-vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna will be offered as booster shots, regardless of the vaccine administered previously. In India, Bharat Biotech, the makers of Covaxin, received regulator`s approval for conducting trials for a third shot that will be administered as a booster dose. While a booster dose is typically an exact replica of the initial vaccine, it can also be tweaked. Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer are working on variant-specific booster shots. Recently, Moderna announced positive initial data from its ongoing phase 2 study. The data revealed that the booster dose increased neutralizing antibody responses against the original virus as well as B.1.351 and P.1, in previously vaccinated individuals. Studies suggest that a third dose can boost antibodies even in immunocompromised patients. The rapid pace at which new strains capable of evading antibodies are rising is throwing the focus on vaccine tweaking and researchers are already working on updating vaccines with the new spike proteins to prepare for new variants with a new version of the vaccine. This however requires additional clinical trials, more time consuming research work, and regulatory approvals. The time-to-market remains a main challenge with the process taking six to eight months before vaccines can be updated and commercialized. This time-consuming development process is a major setback when compared to the rapid rate of infection spread from new strains. In this race against virus evolution, swift and rapid vaccinations are the need of the hour to limit the spread of mutant strains, notwithstanding the fact that vaccines themselves are contributing to virus mutations. Rapid mass vaccinations will make the mutation process and threat more manageable. It is an undeniable fact that vaccines will see a slow erosion in efficacy and effectiveness over the long-term. Therefore it is important to slow the spread of the virus by vaccinating as many people as possible at the earliest. To end the pandemic, which currently seems to have received yet another setback will require more dedicated focus on vaccine equality, international cooperation in COVID research, more transparent information transfer and alert systems on new emerging strains, waiver of IP on vaccines, and science-based swift decisions regarding travel bans. All of these are vital to prevent squandering away "hard won gains" achieved against the virus over the last 2 years. Select Competitors (Total 358 Featured) - Moderna, Inc. Pfizer Inc./BioNTech AstraZeneca/University of Oxford Johnson & Johnson CanSino Biologics, Inc. China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm) Sinovac Biotech Ltd. Novavax, Inc. Inovio Pharmaceuticals Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06097782/?utm_source=GNW I. METHODOLOGY II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY MARKET OVERVIEW Omicron Spreads Panic Worldwide; Omicron Variant Brings Back Memories & Fears of the Worst Part of the 2020 Pandemic Table 1: Time is of Essence! What We Know So Far - ?Vaccine Efficiency Against New Strains is Decreasing? South Africa: Omicrons Origin Location Omicron: Impact on Travel Industry Countries that have Already Detected Omicron Cases Steps taken by the Countries to Prevent Transmission of Omicron Variant Fears of Tourism Industry Industry Response to the Travel Curbs Short-term Impact of Omicron on Travel Financial Impact Scientists Seek to Gather More Information on Omicron Pharma Firms Aim to Improve Existing Vaccines to Counter Omicron With New Strains Emerging at an Alarming Rate, Focus Shifts to Booster Doses & Vaccine Tweaking. But How Practical Is It to Implement Them? Table 2: With Vaccinated Population Showing Signs of Declining Clinical Protection, Booster Doses Are Emerging Into a Necessity to Restore Vaccine Effectiveness, but this Strategy is Not Within Reach for Most Countries: Number of Booster Doses Administered Per 100 People by Country as of December 2021 At the Dawn of 2022, We Leave Behind Millions of Deaths Due to New Strains & Once Again Stare at an Impending Catastrophe Split Scenarios Unfold: The Great Vaccine Divide Emerges Amid this Prolonged Pandemic, Why Should Businesses Care About Progress on Vaccinations? With IMF Making an Upward Revision of Global GDP for 2021, Companies Are Bullish About an Economic Comeback Despite a Continuing Pandemic Table 3: A Strong Yet Exceedingly Patchy & Uncertain Recovery Shaped by New Variants Comes Into Play: World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2022 Table 4: Easing Unemployment Levels in 2021 & 2022 Although Moderate Will Infuse Hope for Industries Reliant on Consumer Discretionary Incomes: Global Number of Unemployed People (In Million) for Years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Widening Revenue Gap between mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines & their Rivals COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Set to Reap Rich Dividends from Booster Shots Are COVID-19 Boosters Going to Follow Flu Shot Pattern? Covid-19 Vaccine Shortages Hit Global Supply Initiative Despite US Donation, Global Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines Remains Far Short of Target Anti-Vaccine Movement Poses Significant Threat Table 5: COVID-19 Cases Worldwide by Country: As on November 21, 2021 Table 6: COVID-19 Cases in the US by State: As on November 21, 2021 COVID-19 Vaccines - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E) THE VARIOUS COVID-19 VIRUS VARIANTS Widening Revenue Gap between mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines & their Rivals COVID-19 Vaccine Makers Set to Reap Rich Dividends from Booster Shots Are COVID-19 Boosters Going to Follow Flu Shot Pattern? Covid-19 Vaccine Shortages Hit Global Supply Initiative Despite US Donation, Global Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines Remains Far Short of Target Anti-Vaccine Movement Poses Significant Threat COVID-19 Cases Worldwide by Country: As on November 21, 2021 Emergence of Delta Variant Sparks New Wave of Infections Is South African Variant a Formidable Threat? E484K Mutation Challenges Vaccine Developers California Strain Emerges to be More Contagious and Deadly Is COVID-19 Virus Increasingly Resorting to Mutation to Outsmart Vaccines? Less Effectiveness of AstraZeneca Vaccine Against South African Variant Leads to its Halt Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Demonstrates Low to Modest Level of Efficacy against South African Variant US Government Unveils Covid-19 Vaccine Booster Shot Plan to Maximize Vaccine Protection Against Emerging Variants AstraZeneca Vaccine Effective against New Emerging Variants Sinovac Vaccines Effective against Mutated Variants of Coronavirus AN OVERVIEW OF COVID-19 VACCINE ROLLOUT COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Details Table 7: Production Capacity by Company for Frontrunners in Millions of Doses for 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine Funding Details Pfizer/BioNTechs COVID-19 Vaccine Receives Worlds First Authorization UK Clinches the First Position in the World to Approve Pfizers Vaccine After UK, Pfizers Vaccine Gains Approval from the US and EU UK Clinches the First Position in the World to Approve Pfizers Vaccine After UK, Pfizers Vaccine Gains Approval from the US and EU Novartis Inks Agreement with Pfizer-BioNTech to Support Covid- 19 Vaccine Production After Pfizer, Moderna Vaccine Bags Coveted EUA from US FDA Moderna Kick-Starts Inoculation in the US AstraZenecas Vaccine - Third Globally to Obtain Approval J&Js Single Shot Vaccination Resumes after Temporary Suspension Pfizer/BioNTech vs. Moderna vs. AstraZeneca vs. J&J Vaccine A Comparison of Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Johnson & Johnsons Adenovirus-based COVID-19 Vaccine vis-a-vis Moderna or Pfizer Russia Commences Mass Vaccination from Mid-December, 2020 China Awards Conditional Approval to First COVID-19 Vaccine from Sinopharm WHO Approves China`s Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine for Emergency Use China Issues License for Vaccine Production to Overseas Partners Brazilian Authorities Approve Sinovacs CoronaVac AstraZenecas Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin Receive Emergency Use Approval in India Sanofi-GSK to Offer Vaccine at a Discounted Rate CanSinoBIO Claims No Blood Clot Issues from COVID-19 Vaccine Novavax Obtains First Authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine VARIOUS COVID-19 VACCINES UNDER CLINICAL TRIALS Table 8: COVID-19 VACCINES UNDER DEVELOPMENT Table 9: Vaccines in Pipeline by Technology Table 10: Vaccine Technologies in Pre-Clinical Studies mRNA: A NEW APPROACH TO MEDICINE mRNA Vaccine Marks Dawn of New Era of Vaccines & Medical Therapies RNA Technology: Benefits & Potential for Future Outbreaks Key Challenges mRNA Vaccines Could Vanquish COVID-19 and Cancer Efforts to Target New Application Areas MARKET DYNAMICS Rise of Vaccine Passports: Key to Ease COVID-19 Restrictions & Ensure Public Safety Developments Regarding Digital Certificates COVID-19 Vaccine Passport: Insights & Progress Why Digital Format Holds Merits? What Information a Vaccine Passport Would Contain? Regions/Countries Planning to Seek Vaccine Passport mRNA Vaccines Offer More Protection Against Newer Variants Vaccine Companies Stress on Booster Dose Longer Interval between the Two Doses of Pfizer Vaccine to Boost Antibody Levels Mix and Match is the New COVID-19 Vaccine Mantra Long-Haul COVID-19 Holds Potential to Become a Public Health Issue Vaccine Alliances Ensure Supplies for All Table 11: Select Funding Deals for COVID-19 Vaccine R&D: 2020 & 2021 Licensing and Partnership Deals Worldwide Propel Vaccine Production Table 12: COVID-19 Deals Worldwide - Jan 2020 to July 2021 GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 13: Global Percentage of Individuals Vaccinated by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific (India, Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America), Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Percentage of Individuals Vaccinated for 2020 through 2025 Table 14: European Percentage of Individuals Vaccinated by Geographic Region - France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Rest of European Markets - Independent Analysis of Percentage of Individuals Vaccinated for 2020 through 2025 Table 15: Global Number of Annual COVID-19 Vaccine Doses (In Million) for Years 2020 through 2025 by Geographic Region/Country - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific (India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), Middle East, and Africa Markets Table 16: World 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Million Doses for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific (India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), Middle East, and Africa Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 Table 17: World Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific (India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), Middle East, and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Doses in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 18: World 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific (India and Rest of Asia-Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America), Middle East, and Africa Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 VACCINES FOR KIDS Kids: A Key to COVID-19 Controlling Efforts US FDA Approves Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine in Kids aged 5-11 Years, and 12 to 15 Years Age Pfizer Approves Vaccine for Kids Aged 5-11 Years Moderna Begins Testing its Vaccine on Children Aged Below 12 Years (March, 2021) Oxford University Halts AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial on Children over Perceived Safety Concerns COVID-19 Vaccine Spikevax Approved for Children aged 12 to 17 in EU REGIONAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE THE UNITED STATES MARKET ANALYSIS Current Vaccine Scenario New Delta Variant Cases Cause Concern Deceleration in Economic Activity Likely Due to Omicron Effect US Recommends COVID-19 Booster Shots Pfizer and Modernas COVID-19 Vaccine Secures US FDAs Emergency Use Approval for Booster Shot for Vaccinated Adults US FDA Authorizes Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 Vaccine for Booster Shot Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Gets Emergency Use Nod in US for Children 5-11 Years Moderna Aims to Achieve Approval for its COVID Vaccine for Children Reopening of Borders & Inflow of International Travelers to US Spurs Demand for Digital Vaccine Certificates Federal Health Agencies End Temporary Pause of J&Js Covid-19 Vaccine Use Sanofi Joins Hands with Moderna to Produce COVID-19 Vaccines for Global Supply The ?Operation Warp Speed Program Expedites Vaccine Development Table 19: US GOVERNMENT DEALS WITH VACCINE DEVELOPERS MARKET ANALYTICS Table 20: USA Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Table 21: USA Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 CANADA MARKET ANALYSIS Vaccination Gathers Steam Across Canada Canada Expands Approval for Pfizer-BioNTech & Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines to Cover Adolescents 12 Years & Above MARKET ANALYTICS Canada Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Canada Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 JAPAN MARKET ANALYSIS Slow Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines in Japan Japan Ropes in Armed Forces to Expedite Vaccinations Slow Vaccination Rates Affect Olympics Japan Looks Forward to Double Supply of COVID-19 Vaccines to Other Countries Daiichi Sankyo Eyes on Booster Shots in Local Market for Impending COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccine Passports Japan Inks Deal with Pfizer to Secure 50 Million Additional Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine Japan Pushes Shipments of Pfizers COVID-19 Shots to Vaccinate Elderly Takeda Obtains Approval for Modernas Vaccine AnGes Fast Tracks COVID-19 Vaccine Development Program for 2021 Rollout Japan Commences Production of AstraZenecas Vaccine VLP Therapeutics Japan Commences Trial of Replicon RNA COVID-19 Vaccine MARKET ANALYTICS Table 22: Japanese Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Table 23: Japanese Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 CHINA MARKET ANALYSIS Chinese Vaccine Development Scenario China Reaches Milestone of Administering over Billion Covid-19 Vaccine Doses Vaccine Candidates in China CoronaVac from Sinovac Obtains Emergency Use Authorization in China for Children WHO Recognizes Sinopharms COVID-19 Jab as Effective & Safe Chinese Regulator Gives Nod to COVID-19 Vaccine from Sinovac Life Sciences China Approves Sinopharms Vaccine BioNTechs Shot to Become First Western COVID-19 Vaccine to Secure Authorization in China Countries Relying on the Chinese COVID-19 Vaccines Trials Indicate Neutralizing Effect of Chinese COVID-19 Vaccines on South African & UK Variants MARKET ANALYTICS Table 24: Chinese Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Table 25: Chinese Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 EUROPE Covid-19 Scenario in Europe, Rise in Cases Noted New Covid-19 Variants Skepticism Regarding the Vaccination Europe Witnesses Increase in COVID-19 Cases, Turns to Booster Doses EMA Approves Use of COVID-19 Vaccine of Pfizer for Children EU to Recommend 9-MonthTime Limit for COVID-19 Vaccine Validity for Travelers EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation to Aid Free Cross- Border Movement EU Digital COVID Certificate: Eligibility, Process & Free Movement Pfizer & Moderna Escalate Unit Price of COVID-19 Vaccines in Latest EU Contracts EU Obtains 1.8 Billion Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine European Agency Makes Changes to Ramp Up Supply & Manufacturing Capacity of Pfizer & Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines BioNTech to Scale up Vaccine Production to Fill Supply Gaps and Support Vaccination Efforts in the EU Europes Horizon 2020 EC-AstraZeneca Settlement Deal Ends Legal Dispute over COVID-19 Vaccine Supplies Johnson & Johnson to Resume Shipment of Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine to Europe Apparent Side-Effects Prompt Denmark to Extend Suspension of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED KINGDOM Vaccine Passport UK Wins COVID-19 Vaccine Race with Approval of Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccine Vaccine Distribution Challenges The UK Approves AstraZenecas Vaccine Oxford-AstraZenecas COVID-19 Vaccine in the form of Nasal Spray, to be Tested Soon (March, 2021) Moderna Modifies Supply Contract with UK to Deliver Additional Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine UKs Independent Vaccine Deals GSK to Aid Production of Novavaxs COVID-19 Vaccine for Distribution within UK FRANCE France Embarks on Plans to Offer COVID-19 Vaccine Free to Citizens France Suggests mRNA Vaccines for Second Coronavirus Shot After AstraZenecas First Shot GERMANY Germany Allows the Use of J&J Vaccine SPAIN Spain Prioritizes Frontline Healthcare Providers for Immunization Policy Spain to Donate Vaccines to Latin America and Caribbean ITALY Italy Plans to Produce mRNA Vaccines Domestically RUSSIA Gamaleya Institutes Sputnik V Vaccine Trials Show Promise with 92% Efficacy CanSino Obtains Approval for Phase III Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine in Russia NORWAY Norway Bans AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine MARKET ANALYTICS Table 26: European Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of European Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Doses in Millions for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 27: European 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Million Doses for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of European Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 Region 2021 2025 Table 28: European Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of European Markets - Independent Analysis of Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 29: European 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales for France, Germany, Italy, UK, Spain, Russia, and Rest of European Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC MARKET ANALYSIS INDIA Second Wave of Covid-19 in India Attributed to Delta Variant Indian Government Initiates COVID-19 Vaccination Drive India Makes Notable Contribution in Production of Vaccines AstraZenecas Covishield Receives Emergency Use Approval in India Spike in New Cases Coerces India to Briefly Suspend Export of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Bharat Biotech`s Covaxin Gets Approval Bharat Biotech Obtains Government Financial Backing to Ramp up Production of Covaxin Panacea Biotec Obtains DCGI`s Nod for Manufacturing Sputnik V vaccine Bharat Biotech & SII on Capacity Expansion Mode Trial Indicates Decent Efficacy of Covaxin against B.1.617 Variant of COVID-19 IIL Partners with Bharat Biotech to Produce Active Drug Substance for Covaxin Johnson & Johnsons Covid-19 vaccine, Produced by Biological E, Ready for Export Serum Institute Obtains Approval for Novavax Vaccine Trial in 7-11 Age Group Increasing Commitments of SII and Novavax Dr Reddy`s Rolls out Sputnik V Covid-19 Vaccine in India DCGI Yet to Approve COVAXIN for Children DCGIs Approval Mandatory for the Covaxin to be Administered for Children Sanofi, GSK Obtains Approval to Conduct Phase 3 trial of their Covid-19 vaccine in India Zydus Vaccine Approved for Kids AUSTRALIA Australia to Invest on Novel Coronavirus Vaccines for Wider Region NEW ZEALAND New Zealand Acquires Ultra-Cold Freezers to Store Pfizers COVID-19 Vaccine SOUTH KOREA With the Spread of Delta Plus Variant, Fresh Covid Cases Witness a Sharp Increase South Korea Extends its Vaccination Programme to the Workers of Electronics and Chip Manufacturing Industries J&J Covid-19 Vaccine Receives Approval in South Korea INDONESIA Indonesia Negotiates Additional COVID-19 Vaccines from China and GAVI Indonesia Gets First Consignment of COVID-19 Vaccine from Chinas Sinovac Chinese Vaccine Sinovac Allowed for Use in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh but restricted in Malaysia BANGLADESH Serum Institute of India to Offer 3 Crore Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine to Bangladesh MYANMAR China Meets Myanmars Requirements MARKET ANALYTICS Table 30: Asia-Pacific Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Doses in Millions for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 31: Asia-Pacific 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Million Doses for India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 Table 32: Asia-Pacific Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets - Independent Analysis of Dollar Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 33: Asia-Pacific 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales for India, and Rest of Asia-Pacific Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 THE MIDDLE EAST MARKET ANALYSIS BAHRAIN Bahrain Becomes the Second Country to Offer Emergency Use Approval to Pfizers Vaccine Sinopharms Vaccine Doses Reach Bahrain COVID-19 Vaccine Production in the UAE SAUDI ARABIA IRAN Iran Procures Vaccine Doses AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan to Procure COVID-19 Vaccines TURKEY COVID-19 Vaccines in Turkey ISRAEL Israel Reimposes Restrictions COVID-19 Vaccines for Israel SYRIA Syria Obtains AstraZeneca Vaccines, the first for the Country MARKET ANALYTICS Table 34: The Middle East Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Table 35: The Middle East Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 AFRICA MARKET ANALYSIS UNICEF Enters into Agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica for Supply of Vaccine to African Union Relief for Countries in Africa that Finally Receive Vaccine Shipment as third wave Creates Havoc Takeaways from Covid-19 Vaccine Program in Africa SOUTH AFRICA Approach of South Africa towards Covid-19 Vaccination Program New Virus Variant in South Africa Creates a Challenge South Africa Halts AstraZenecas Vaccination Highly Infectious COVID-19 Variant Spurs Countries to Impose Travel Ban from South Africa South Africa: The First Country in Africa to Start Vaccine Clinical Trial South Africa to Resume J&J Jab Vaccination Aspen to Manufacture Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 Vaccine in South Africa China to Deliver Potential COVID-19 Vaccine to Africa for Free CEPI Identifies Biovac Institute as Potential Manufacturer in South Africa EGYPT MARKET ANALYTICS Table 36: African Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in Million Doses for the Years 2020 through 2025 Table 37: African Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines Market: Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2025 LATIN AMERICA MARKET ANALYSIS Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Campaigns Launched in Latin American Countries BRAZIL Brazil Signs Deal to Buy Additional 100 Million Doses from Pfizer/BioNTech Brazilian Town Serrana Beats COVID-19 with China`s Sinovac Vaccine Brazil, Turkey Announce Vaccination Plans for Chinese Vaccine GSK to Aid Production of Novavaxs COVID-19 Vaccine for Distribution within UK Brazil Blocks Import of Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine over Efficacy & Safety Concerns Covaxin Clinical Trials Stopped in Brazil but Supply Continued in India MEXICO Mexicos Cofepris Approves Emergency Use of Pfizers COVID-19 Vaccine Tulane University, Childrens Hospital Launch Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine trial for Childre ARGENTINA Argentina Secures 22 Million Doses of AstraZenecas COVID-19 Vaccine CHILE AND PERU Chile, Peru Approve Clinical Trials for AstraZenecas COVID-19 Vaccine Chile Struggles with Escalating Cases of COVID-19 despite Massive Rollout of Vaccine CanSinoBIO Secures Emergency Use Authorization for COVID-19 Vaccine in Chile MARKET ANALYTICS Table 38: Latin American Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin American Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Doses in Millions for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 39: Latin American 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Million Doses for Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin American Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 Table 40: Latin American Current & Future Analysis for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin American Markets - Independent Analysis of Dollar Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2025 Table 41: Latin American 5-Year Perspective for COVID-19 Vaccines by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Dollar Sales for Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin American Markets for Years 2021 & 2025 Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E) FOCUS ON THE FRONTRUNNERS Moderna, Inc. (USA) Pfizer Inc./BioNTech (US/Germany) AstraZeneca/University of Oxford (The UK) Johnson & Johnson (USA) CanSino Biologics, Inc. (China) China National Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd. (Sinopharm) (China) Sinovac Biotech Ltd. (China) Novavax, Inc. (USA) Inovio Pharmaceuticals (USA) Sanofi/GlaxoSmithKline (France/UK) INITIATIVES FOR EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES Fair Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccine Vaccine Nationalism Hampers Equitable Distribution of Vaccines COVAX Created to Ensure Fair and Universal Access to COVID-19 Vaccine COVAX Inks Additional Deals for Global Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines African Countries Become Part of the COVAX Facility for Timely Access to Successful Vaccines COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC) World Economic Forum to Push COVID-19 Vaccine Production Capability Pushing Manufacturing Capacity to Fulfil Global Demand Technology Transfer and Other Payments KEY VACCINE TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS Inactivated Vaccines Inactivated Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Development: As on Nov 19, 2021 Protein-Subunit Vaccines Protein-Subunit Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Development: As on Nov 19, 2021 Non-Replicating Viral-Vector Non-Replicating Viral Vector Vaccine in Preclinical Development: As on Nov 19, 2021 Replicating Viral Vector Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Development: As on Nov 19, 2021 Nucleic Acid Vaccines RNA Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Studies: As on Nov 19, 2021 DNA Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Studies: As on Nov 19, 2021 Replicating Bacteria Vector Live Attenuated Vaccines (LAVs) Live Attenuated Virus Candidate in Preclinical Studies: As on Nov 19, 2021 Live Attenuated Bacterial Vector Candidate in Preclinical Studies: As on Nov 19, 2021 Virus-like Particle Vaccines Virus-like Particles (VLP) Vaccine Candidate in Preclinical Development: As on July 27, 2021 WORLD COVID-19 VACCINE BRANDS SELECT CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COVID-19 VACCINE MARKET: 2021 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 358 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06097782/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ All amounts in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated PLANO, Texas, DOHA, Qatar, and TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AIT (the company), together with its founding management and Onex Corporation (Onex) (TSX: ONEX), today announced that Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar, through its affiliates, has agreed to acquire a minority interest in AIT, the worlds largest provider of factory automation to the aerospace, defense, and space launch sectors. The transaction is expected to close in 2022, subject to regulatory conditions and approvals. QIA will acquire its interest in AIT through a combination of primary capital and partial sales by the companys two existing shareholders, AITs founding management team and Onex Partners IV. Following the transaction, all three parties will assume minority joint ownership of the company. QIA is among the worlds most sophisticated investors. Weve been deliberate in our choice of partner and are excited for this next chapter in our history, commented Ed Chalupa, AITs Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. AIT is emerging from the pandemic with the highest quality contracted backlog in its history. Our ability to attract high quality investors is testament to the critical role automation technology is playing in restoring factory production rates, easing cost pressures and enabling industry product launches after a two-year pandemic disruption. Mr. Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, Chief Executive Officer of QIA, said: We continue to target value added growth businesses in automation and productivity enhancing industries globally. Were excited to partner with AIT, as it looks to address demand post pandemic, while exploring new avenues for innovation in space launch and urban air mobility. About AIT Headquartered in Plano, TX, Advanced Integration Technology (AIT) is the worlds largest provider of automation, factory integration and tooling solutions dedicated to the global aerospace, defense, and space launch vehicle industries, as well as new manufacturing solutions for commercial urban air mobility markets. AIT serves a wide range of global, blue-chip OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, including Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Spirit AeroSystems. AIT has facilities in the United States, Canada, Spain, and Sweden. For more information on AIT, visit its website at www.aint.com. About QIA Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. QIA was founded in 2005 to invest and manage the state reserve funds. QIA is among the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds globally. QIA invests across a wide range of asset classes and regions as well as in partnership with leading institutions around the world to build a global and diversified investment portfolio with a long-term perspective that can deliver sustainable returns and contribute to the prosperity of the State of Qatar. For more information on QIA, visit its website at www.qia.qa. About Onex Founded in 1984, Onex manages and invests capital on behalf of its shareholders, institutional investors and high net worth clients from around the world. Onex platforms include: Onex Partners, private equity funds focused on mid- to large-cap opportunities in North America and Western Europe; ONCAP, private equity funds focused on middle market and smaller opportunities in North America; Onex Credit, which manages primarily non-investment grade debt through tradeable, private and opportunistic credit strategies as well as actively managed public equity and public credit funds; and Gluskin Sheffs wealth management services. In total, as of September 30, 2021, Onex has approximately $47 billion of assets under management, of which approximately $7.9 billion is its own investing capital. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Boston and London, Onex and its experienced management teams are collectively the largest investors across Onex platforms. Onex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the stock symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex security filings can also be accessed at www.sedar.com. Advisors Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are serving as financial advisors to AIT and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP and White & Case LLP are serving as its legal advisors. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal advisor to QIA. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain, without limitation, statements concerning possible or assumed future operations, performance or results preceded by, followed by or that include words such as believes, expects, potential, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans and words of similar connotation, which would constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve significant and diverse risks and uncertainties that may cause actual operations, performance or results to be materially different from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by Canadian securities law, Onex is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or other factors. These cautionary statements expressly qualify all forward-looking statements in this press release. For Further Information: Waterloo, Ontario, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), today announced it has achieved a valuation greater than US$1 billion, as it raised US$325 million in funding through a binding agreement with Georgian and Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ). Warburg Pincus remains eSentires majority shareholder. This investment in eSentires future growth marks a major milestone as the firm has surpassed US$100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) and plans to scale go-to-market operations across Europe and APAC to meet increasing enterprise demand. Over the next 18 months, eSentire will continue to invest significantly in research and development as it expands its patented Atlas XDR software as a service (SaaS) offering and will hire more than 400 team members globally in all facets of the business, bringing its employee count to over 1000. eSentire has established itself as the leading provider of Managed Detection and Response cybersecurity services, protecting the reputations and operations of more than 1200 organizations in over 75 countries from business disruption, with a Mean Time to Contain (MTTC) active cybersecurity threats of less than 15 minutes, said Kerry Bailey, Chief Executive Officer, eSentire. We are a people-first, mission-driven organization. I am incredibly proud of the resilience and grit of our team, and the lengths they go to protect our global customers 24/7. We are excited to welcome CDPQ to Team eSentire and look forward to our continued partnerships with Georgian and Warburg Pincus. Combining XDR technology at the edge, the industrys top cybersecurity experts and more than two decades of security operations leadership in threat containment & remediation, eSentire puts businesses ahead of threat disruption. eSentire has been recognized by its customers for its personal commitment to their protection with an impressive 72 Net Promoter Score, coupled with customer success survey respondents highlighting 100% satisfaction in deployment time to value in a matter of days, and 98% confirming overall better protection from business disruption with eSentire MDR. The firm delivers proactive protection with a service portfolio that includes strategic Managed Risk services, 24/7 multi-signal MDR, and Digital Forensics and Incident Response services. We are thrilled to partner with Team eSentire in the next phase of their growth journey, said Simon Chong, Co-Founder, Georgian. eSentire has a well-documented history of making original threat discoveries and protecting its customers from ransomware battles and zero-day attacks. The team continues to exceed customer expectations by staying ahead of the threat curve through rapid threat detection, deep investigation capability, and complete threat response. We are proud to be part of eSentires global expansion plans across EMEA and APAC as the company delivers best-in-class security services to enterprises globally. As eSentire prepares for its next phase of growth, its Atlas XDR Cloud Platform will continue to deliver an unmatched Artificial Intelligence advantage whereby customer security postures are hardened as each threat detection model and expert response action are proactively pushed at scale across the eSentire global customer base. This Security Network Effect enables a level of protection that cannot be underestimated in todays evolving cybercrime ecosystem and has been an integral driver of enterprise adoption of both eSentire MDR and the overall Atlas XDR SaaS offering. eSentires solutions are more critical than ever for any organization, given the heightened risk environment characterized by sophisticated cybersecurity attacks, the global need for talented cyber experts and the accelerating digitalization of the workplace, said Thomas Birch, Managing Director, Global Venture Capital and Technology, CDPQ. As a global technology investor, we are proud to support Team eSentire as they continue to revolutionize how organizations protect themselves with leading threat detection and response solutions. eSentire provides the most complete suite of technologies and services in the Managed Detection and Response market and has experienced industry-leading growth over the past few years, supported by a strong customer service team and continued product innovation. The additional investment will allow eSentire to build upon its leadership position, said Cary Davis, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. We are excited to continue to support Kerry and the eSentire team through their next phase of growth," added Brian Chang, Managing Director, Warburg Pincus. This US$325 million raise completes a tremendous year for eSentire, including: Evercore acted as the exclusive financial advisor to eSentire in connection with the transaction. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., is the Authority in Managed Detection and Response, protecting the critical data and applications of 1200+ organizations in 75+ countries from known and unknown cyber threats. Founded in 2001, the companys mission is to hunt, investigate and stop cyber threats before they become business disrupting events. Combining cutting-edge machine learning XDR technology, 24/7 Threat Hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire mitigates business risk, and enables security at scale. The Team eSentire difference means enterprises are protected by the best in the business with a named Cyber Risk Advisor, 24/7 access to SOC Cyber Analysts & Elite Threat Hunters, and industry-leading threat intelligence research from eSentires Threat Response Unit (TRU). eSentire provides Managed Risk, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services. For more information, visit www.esentire.com and follow @eSentire. About Georgian At Georgian, were building a platform to identify and accelerate the best growth-stage software companies. We believe that a digital approach can provide a better experience of growth capital to software company CEOs and their teams. We invest in high-growth companies that harness the power of data and trust. Based in Toronto, Georgians team brings together software entrepreneurs, machine learning experts, experienced operators, and investment professionals. About CDPQ At Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), we invest constructively to generate sustainable returns over the long term. As a global investment group managing funds for public retirement and insurance plans, we work alongside our partners to build enterprises that drive performance and progress. We are active in the major financial markets, private equity, infrastructure, real estate, and private debt. As of June 30, 2021, CDPQs net assets total CAD 390 billion. For more information, visit cdpq.com, follow us on Twitter or consult our Facebook or LinkedIn pages. About Warburg Pincus Warburg Pincus LLC is a leading global growth investor. The firm has more than $73 billion in assets under management. The firms active portfolio of more than 235 companies is highly diversified by stage, sector, and geography. Warburg Pincus is an experienced partner to management teams seeking to build durable companies with sustainable value. Founded in 1966, Warburg Pincus has raised 20 private equity and 2 real estate funds, which have invested more than $100 billion in over 1,000 companies in more than 40 countries. The firm is headquartered in New York with offices in Amsterdam, Beijing, Berlin, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Mauritius, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Singapore. For more information please visit www.warburgpincus.com. Follow us on LinkedIn. For More Information eSentire Elizabeth W. Clarke 678-361-8684 elizabeth.clarke@esentire.com Georgian David Poole 647-705-7558 david@georgian.io CDPQ Conrad Harrington 514-847-5493 charrington@cdpq.com Warburg Pincus Sarah McGrath Bloom 212-878-6378 sarah.bloom@warburgpincus.com LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission , a managed cloud services provider and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Consulting Partner , today announced that CRN , a brand of The Channel Company , has named Mission to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Tech Elite 150 category. CRNs annual MSP 500 list identifies the leading service providers in North America whose forward-thinking approaches to managed services are changing the landscape of the IT channel, helping end users increase efficiency and simplify IT solutions, while maximizing their return on investment. Mission had a tremendous 2021, said Mark Medina, Vice President Marketing, Mission. We added several new managed and professional services that enable our diverse customer base which includes startups, mid-sized companies, and global enterprises to unlock the technical and competitive advantages that AWS and cloud modernization can deliver. For some customers, that means saving them tens of thousands of dollars off their monthly cloud bills with pinpoint optimization. For others, it is architecting a seamless cloud migration from legacy on-prem environments, or enabling them to launch new products with machine learning on AWS, or any of the other cloud strategy, automation, security, backup, and performance capabilities we bring to customers every day. Were proud to continue to earn CRN recognition for our customer growth and the continually expanding managed cloud services we deliver. Throughout the past year, Mission has added new managed services and significantly expanded others to address customer demand. For example, Missions popular Mission Cloud One service now includes a security component as part of the uniquely comprehensive offering. It also has grown to encompass Mission Cloud Care , delivering proactive AWS guidance and hands-on support. Among the new managed services is Mission Cloud Elevate , which provides customers with an agile, flexible, and team-based way to architect, build, and optimize their AWS environments. The popular and comprehensive service is designed to meet customers at any stage of their cloud journey: from initial strategy and design, to ensuring best practices are applied to ongoing cloud optimization and performance on AWS. Mission also added a dedicated data, analytics, and machine learning practice , which has empowered customers to take advantage of next-gen solutions on AWS without the need to find and hire expensive in-house talent. Missions customer success with the practice recently earned the company the AWS Data and Analytics Competency , its eighth Competency designation from AWS. In addition to having to adjust their own business operations to account for the changed conditions during the pandemic, MSPs have also seen increased demand for their managed communications, collaboration and security services, said Blaine Raddon, CEO of The Channel Company. The solution providers on our 2022 MSP 500 list deserve credit for their innovative and game-changing approaches to managed services in these unpredictable times, as well as their ability to optimize operational efficiencies and systems without straining IT budgets. The MSP 500 list will be featured in the February 2022 issue of CRN and online at www.crn.com/msp500 . About Mission Cloud Services Mission accelerates enterprise cloud transformation by delivering a differentiated suite of agile cloud services and consulting. As an AWS Premier Partner, Missions always-on services enable businesses to scale and outpace competitors by leveraging the most transformative technology platform and enterprise software ecosystem in history. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter , LinkedIn , and Facebook . 2022 The Channel Company LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact: Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company jhogan@thechannelcompany.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/da7bc618-ebe1-43ad-8be1-6c4d266ec501 Pune, India, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fortune Business Insights report, The United States hair extension market size was valued at USD 1.72 billionin 2020 and is anticipated to grow from USD 1.92 billion in 2021 to USD 3.44 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 8.71% during the 2021-2028 period., in the report U.S. Hair Extension Market, 2021-2028. According to our expert analysts, the surging occurrence of hair problem spooled with a promptly aging population is estimated to increase the product demand. Moreover, the rising demand for Vietnamese hair in this region is another factor responsible for the market growth, owing to the fact that the quality of the hair imported from Vietnam is superior. COVID-19 Impacts: U.S. Hair Extension Market Demand Hindered Amid COVID-19 Pandemic The coronavirus pandemic has impacted businesses with fluctuating grades of intensity across commodities as well as diverse stages of the value chain. The industry is currently changing its present replicas to direct the sways of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is set to definitely involve committed determinations on the basis of innovation and technology progression. Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/u-s-hair-extension-market-106378 List of Key Players Mentioned in the United States Hair Extension Market Report: Hidden Crown LLC (Arizona, U.S.) Mayvenn Inc (Oakland, U.S.) SO.CAP.USA (New York, U.S.) ONYC Hair (Washington, D.C., U.S.) EasiHair Pro (California, U.S.) Cinderella Hair Extension (California, U.S.) Klix Hair, Inc. (Michigan, U.S.) Shake-N-Go Fashion, Inc. (New York, U.S.) Halocouture Hair Extensions (California, U.S.) Great Lengths S.p.A. (Lazio, Italy) Segmentation: Type and End-User are Studied On the basis of type, the market is further branched into synthetic, human, and animal. The human hair weaves segment was responsible for the largest U.S. hair extension market share (63.71%) in 2020 and is anticipated to observe commendable growth in the coming years. In terms of end-user, the market is classified into male and female. Report Coverage: The research report focuses on assessing the market by taking into consideration all the contributions, prospects as well as development trends. It provides detailed profiles of pivotal players operating in the market to regulate their competences in each segment. Moreover, it assures to help our customers with an augmented comprehension of competitive scenarios such as mergers& acquisitions, new product presentations, joint ventures as well as collaborations. Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/u-s-hair-extension-market-106378 Drivers and Restraints: Rising Implementation of Remy Hair Pooled with Optimistic Insights toward Indian Hair to Bolster Growth Remy hair is measured as the best quality of human hair available for commercial use, as their cuticles are integral in contrast with most of non-remy hair weaves. India is a chief medium of remy hair in the universal markets, comprising the U.S. The existence of Indian hair weaves companies in the U.S. accentuates the admiration of Indian hair for artificial hair combinations in the country. This is estimated to amplify the U.S. hair extension market growth. The comparatively great worth of natural/human artificial hair integrations is frequently on account of the idealistically lower rates linked with synthetic hair weaves. Consequently, demand for substitute products and high cost of the product make it difficult for artificial hair integration brands to attain development. Competitive Landscape: Significant Players to Aim on Launches to Reinforce their Market Opportunity The market holds a large number of perceptible companies that are persistently trying to invent exceptional devices to aid the demand from patients around the globe. In order to do so, they are forming partnerships with domestic as well as international and respectable organizations, introducing novel resolutions, initiating partnerships, and entering into collaborations to strengthen their portfolio in the market. Inquire Before Buying Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/u-s-hair-extension-market-106378 Detailed Table of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities Emerging Trends Key Insights Overview of Wig and Hair Extension Products Market Qualitative Analysis on Raw Materials Industry SWOT Analysis U.S Imports & Exports of Hair Extension and hair Products Supply Chain and Regulatory Analysis Recent Industry Developments - Mergers & Acquisitions, Product Launches, Expansions Consumer Preferences on Hair Extension Product United States Hair Extension Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2017-2028 Key Findings / Summary Market Size Estimates and Forecast By Type Synthetic Hair Extension Human Hair Extension Animal Hair Extension By End User Male Female TOC Continued! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/u-s-hair-extension-market-106378 Key Industry Developments: June 2021: Mayvenn Inc. introduced its primary retail shop on Fry Road in the Katy Area, Texas to provide its hair extension products to novel users and offer numerous facilities to its users such as connecting the gap among customers and hair stylists. This is expected to aid the market growth and bolster demand for the product. Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Shampoo Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Medicated and Non-medicated), Form (Liquid, Solid, and Others), Application (Household and Commercial), Distribution Channel, and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028 Luxury Goods Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Watches & Jewelry, Perfumes & Cosmetics, Clothing, Bags/Purses, and Others), End-user (Women and Men), Distribution Channel (Offline and Online), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027 About Us: Fortune Business Insights delivers accurate data and innovative corporate analysis, helping organizations of all sizes make appropriate decisions. We tailor novel solutions for our clients, assisting them to address various challenges distinct to their businesses. Our aim is to empower them with holistic market intelligence, providing a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune-411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com KELOWNA, British Columbia., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Corp . ("Allied" or the Company) (OTCQB: ALID) is pleased to commend the Colombian Government for passing Regulation 227 (the "Regulation") on February 20, 2022, which aims to enable the export of cannabis flower from Colombia. On July 23, 2021 the President of Colombia, President Ivan Duque, signed Decree 811 lifting the prohibition on exportation of dried cannabis flower from Colombia. In October 2021, Allied was asked to provide first comment on the Regulation and then in November 2021, second comment. On February 20, 2022, Regulation 227 was officially announced by the President of Colombia introducing the practical regulations and implementation plan. This, among other important advances, will enable Allied to begin exporting dried cannabis flower internationally. In the coming weeks, the Colombian government is expected to release further technical commercial guidelines. While only a few Colombian companies have been able to successfully export cannabis derivatives such as CBD distillate and isolate, up until now, the export of dried flower from Colombia has been prohibited. Allied has successfully shipped to several international markets and will now be able to enact the commercial contracts and import approval permits that it has ready to activate. Dried cannabis flower is the fastest growing product segment of the multi-billion dollar global cannabis industry (Source: Fortune Business Insights). The enactment of this Regulation has been a 6 month process that we have been anticipating with contracts in hand. We have spent our efforts wisely during this time and to continue to build our cannabis flower inventory, gain import approvals for the receiving countries and prepare the product and supply routes for dried cannabis flower export. Unlike processed products such as isolate, high quality cannabis flower must come to market with the aesthetics and terpene/cannabinoid profile that the customer wants. This is where Allied excels. This is exactly the regulatory advancement we have been waiting for in order to action the commercial contracts that we have in place. said Mr. Calum Hughes, CEO and Chairman of Allied Corp. About Allied Corp. CLICK HERE Click here for Allied Inside business model website: CLICK HERE Allied Corp. is an international cannabis company with its main production center in Colombia and is one of the few companies that has exported from Colombia internationally. In preparation for the possible legalization of cannabis by the US Federal Government, Allied also has the option to purchase a US cannabis license in the US (Nevada) exercisable if such were to happen. In addition to this, Allied has three CBD-brands to market with products selling in the United States. Lastly, Allied has both Cannabinoid and psilocybin products in the pharmaceutical development track seeking pharma drug indications for depression, anxiety and PTSD. Investor Relations: ir@allied.health 1-877-255-4337 Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada or the United States ( forward-looking information). Forward-looking information may relate to the Companys future outlook and anticipated events, plans or results, and may include information regarding the Companys objectives, goals, strategies, future revenue or performance and capital expenditures, and other information that is not historical information. Forward-looking information can often be identified by the use of terminology such as believe, anticipate, plan, expect, pending, in process, intend, estimate, project, may, will, should, would, could, can, the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is based on the Companys opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of managements experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that management currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Forward looking statements in this press release include the following: that Allied is leveraging the conditions in its Colombia grow operation and future Kelowna location to support its Research and Development efforts; that Allied is making important strides forward to position itself as a leader in the medical cannabis space, that Allied intends to make a series of proposed trademark and other intellectual property protection filings, as part of the Companys Intellectual Property and Pharma Development (IP&PD) Strategy, statements respecting the joint development, manufacturing, and the introduction of TACTICAL RELIEF branded products. There can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information in this release include: the Companys exposure to legal and regulatory risk; the effect of the legalization of adult-use cannabis in Canada and Colombia on the medical cannabis industry is unknown and may significantly and negatively affect the Companys medical cannabis business; that the medical benefits, viability, safety, efficacy, dosing and social acceptance of cannabis are not as currently expected; that adverse changes or developments affecting the Companys main or planned facilities may have an adverse effect on the Company; that the medical cannabis industry and market may not continue to exist or develop as anticipated or the Company may not be able to succeed in this market; risks related to completion of the greenhouse construction in Colombia, risks related to market competition; risks related to the proposed adult-use cannabis industry and market in Canada and Colombia including the Companys ability to enter into or compete in such markets; that the Company has a limited operating history and a history of net losses and that it may not achieve or maintain profitability in the future; risks related to the Companys current or proposed international operations; risks related to future third party strategic alliances or the expansion of currently existing relationships with third parties; that the Company may not be able to successfully identify and execute future acquisitions or dispositions or successfully manage the impacts of such transactions on its operations; risks inherent to the operation of an agricultural business; that the Company may be unable to attract, develop and retain key personnel; risks resulting from significant interruptions to the Companys access to certain key inputs such as raw materials, electricity, water and other utilities; that the Company may be unable to transport its cannabis products to patients in a safe and efficient manner; risks related to recalls of the Companys cannabis products or product liability or regulatory claims or actions involving the Companys cannabis products; risks related to the Companys reliance on pharmaceutical distributors; that the Company, or the cannabis industry more generally, may receive unfavorable publicity or become subject to negative consumer or investor perception; that certain events or developments in the cannabis industry more generally may impact the Companys reputation or its relationships with customers or suppliers; that the Company may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage in respect of the risks that it faces, that the premiums for such insurance may not continue to be commercially justifiable or that there may be coverage limitations and other exclusions which may result in such insurance not being sufficient; that the Company may become subject to liability arising from fraudulent or illegal activity by its employees, contractors, consultants and others; that the Company may experience breaches of security at its facilities or losses as a result of the theft of its products; risks related to the Companys information technology systems; that the Company may be unable to sustain its revenue growth and development; that the Company may be unable to expand its operations quickly enough to meet demand or manage its operations beyond their current scale; that the Company may be unable to secure adequate or reliable sources of necessary funding; risks related to, or associated with, the Companys exposure to reporting requirements; risks related to conflicts of interest; risks related to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to the Companys potential exposure to greater-than-anticipated tax liabilities; risks related to the protection and enforcement of the Companys intellectual property rights, or the intellectual property that it licenses from others; that the Company may become subject to allegations that it or its licensors are in violation of the intellectual property rights of third parties; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of the clinical trials or studies that it participates in; that the Company may not realize the full benefit of its licenses if the licensed material has less market appeal than expected and the licenses may not be profitable; as well as any other risks that may be further described in and the risk factors discussed in the Company's continuous disclosure including its Management's Discussion and Analysis sections in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed under the Company's profile at www.sec.gov. Although management has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information in this presentation, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information in this presentation. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers and viewers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made. The forward-looking information contained in this release represents the Companys expectations as of the date of this release or the date indicated, regardless of the time of delivery of the presentation. The Company disclaims any intention, obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws. Richmond, Virginia, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Virginia Venture Partners (formerly CIT GAP Funds), the equity investment program of Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC), today announced an investment in RegScale. Arlington, Va.-based RegScale delivers a continuous compliance automation software platform for highly regulated public and private sector entities. RegScale is leveraging this investment to scale the company, accelerate innovation and lower the costs of manual compliance documentation to meet customer demand. Many organizations are using out-of-date compliance processes and tools, such as Word and Excel, to meet regulations such as GDPR, NIST 800.53 rev5, and CMMC. However, due to ever-changing technology, these documents become out of date the moment theyre created. RegScale was built to help organizations in heavily regulated industries continuously manage the massive year-over-year growth in their compliance burden as they deal with fines that have reportedly increased more than 500% in recent years. The companys continuous compliance automation solution moves organizations from manual compliance approaches and processes to an API-centric, automated approach. To address twenty-first-century laws and regulations, we set out to modernize compliance to move at the rapid speed of business, said Anil Karmel, Co-Founder, and CEO, RegScale. We are bringing the principles of DevOps to compliance to solve the most difficult compliance headaches that companies face. RegScales mission is to free organizations from (digital) paper and transform compliance by helping organizations transition their manual, static compliance documentation and processes into a dynamic, automated, and collaborative platform. We appreciate the support of VIPCs Virginia Venture Partners in our early funding round and look forward to continued growth in 2022. Customers can integrate their existing security and compliance platforms with RegScale, supporting both manual and real-time automated assessments to help organizations better understand and holistically manage compliance risks in a proactive manner. The collaborative capabilities of the platform allow all stakeholders and data owners in the compliance process to work together in one platform to dramatically improve productivity and lower costs. The burdens of collecting documentation and fulfilling reporting requirements are significantly reduced for RegScale customers via its API-centric approach. Cybersecurity and compliance are top of mind for heavily regulated organizations, and the RegScale founding team has deep expertise in government regulations and the industries they affect, said Tom Weithman, VIPC Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Virginia Venture Partners. Companies are moving at incredible speed to deliver innovation and value in a business environment that grows increasingly complex year over year. We see immense business value in the benefits of the RegScale platform, and look forward to the impact they will make in this space. In 2021, RegScale had more than 5,000 downloads of its freemium Community Edition and signed on five major customers for its Enterprise Edition platform. Early customers include the U.S. Air Force (USAF), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a Fortune 500 financial services company, and Johnson Controls Federal Systems, which is using RegScale to manage compliance to the Department of Defenses Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) standard. About RegScale Founded in 2021, RegScale delivers continuous compliance automation for heavily regulated industries, freeing organizations from paper via its security and compliance automation software. Through its Continuous Compliance Automation platform, RegScale helps organizations continuously meet any compliance obligation including laws and regulations such as GDPR, NIST, CMMC, and CCPA leveraging an API-centric approach. For more information, visit: https://www.regscale.com/. About Virginia Venture Partners Virginia Venture Partners, formerly CIT GAP Funds, is the equity investment program of VIPC that makes seed-stage equity investments in Virginia-based technology, clean energy, and life science companies with a high potential for achieving rapid growth and generating a significant economic return for entrepreneurs, co-investors, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Since its inception in 2005, Virginia Venture Partners has deployed $32.4 million in capital across more than 250 portfolio companies, including 17 companies in designated Opportunity Zones. Virginia Venture Partners investment decisions are guided by the Virginia Venture Partners Investment Advisory Board (IAB). This independent, third-party panel has drawn from the expertise of leading regional entrepreneurs, angel, and strategic investors, and venture capital firms such as New Enterprise Associates, Grotech Ventures, Harbert Venture Partners HIG Ventures, Edison Ventures, In-Q-Tel, Intersouth Partners, SJF Ventures, Carilion Health Systems, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, and Alpha Natural Resources. For more information, please visit www.virginiaipc.org/vvp. About Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) Connecting innovators with opportunities. The nonprofit operations arm of the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA), VIPC is the commercialization and seed stage economic development driver in the Commonwealth that leads funding, infrastructure, and policy initiatives to support Virginia's innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and market development strategies. VIPC collaborates with local, regional, state, and federal partners to support the expansion and diversification of Virginias economy. Programs include: Virginia Venture Partners (VVP) | Virginia Founders Fund (VFF) |Commonwealth Commercialization Fund (CCF) | Smart Communities | Unmanned Systems | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Regional Innovation Fund (RIF) | Federal Funding Assistance Program (FFAP) for SBIR & STTR | University Partnerships | Startup Company Mentoring & Engagement. For more information, please visit www.VirginiaIPC.org. Follow VIPC on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Attachments An Alabama death row inmate who had long protested his conviction for the 1987 murder of a convenience store clerk succumbed to cancer following an unsuccessful battle to prove his innocence. William Ernest Kuenzel died on Saturday at Holman Correctional Facility, a spokesperson for his legal team confirmed Monday. He was 60. Advertisement Kuenzel was convicted in 1988 of killing Linda Offord during a robbery the year prior at a small store in the east Alabama city of Sylacauga. His guilty verdict was primarily based on testimony provided by his roommate, who was offered a plea deal in exchange for his cooperation. While he admitted that he was present when the robbery took place, he said it was Kuenzel who gunned down Offord. Defense attorneys said they later uncovered evidence that challenged both the witness and the plea deal testimony, but they were never properly investigated due to a missed filing deadline. The U.S. Supreme Court also declined to review Kuenzels case in 2016. Advertisement A legal team spokesperson said 60-year-old William Ernest Kuenzel died at Holman Correctional Institution on Saturday. (Alabama Department of Corrections) Decades after his conviction, his legal team learned a teenage witness who testified she saw both Kuenzel and his roommate at the crime scene initially said she could not definitively say who she saw. His attorneys said they also learned that the roommate, who had blood on his pants following the murder, as well as a shotgun of the same gauge used to kill Offord. Billy was sentenced to death in 1988 without any jury ever hearing the full evidence of his innocence because he had supposedly missed a filing deadline, his obituary reads. Born in the town of Rockford in Coosa County, Kuenzel dropped out of school after eighth grade to help raise his siblings and cousins. He went on to work on offshore oil rigs in Louisiana and a textile factory in Alabama. Behind bars, he trained as a paralegal and became a lay faith leader through a prison program called Kairos Prison Ministries, according to his obituary. Despite his wrongful imprisonment, Billy led a life of purpose and meaning, it reads. He is survived by his son, William, his daughter-in-law Lacy, three grandchildren and several cousins. With News Wire Services U.S. Exhibition Debuts March 18, Captivating Porcelain Ramen Bowls Designed By 30 World-Renowned Artists LOS ANGELES, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What goes into a perfect bowl of ramen? JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, a Japanese cultural destination in the heart of Hollywood, answers this question with its upcoming exhibition The Art of the Ramen Bowl spotlighting imaginative porcelain ramen bowls (donburi) and spoons (renge) designed by 30 world-renowned artists who share a love for ramen. Seen for the first time outside of Japan, the exhibition includes a giant, Instagram-worthy ramen bowl created by well-known Japanese plastic food sample manufacturer Iwasaki Mokei, and an introduction to the noodle dish itself and to ceramics from Mino, a major Japanese ceramics center for over 500 years. The complimentary exhibition is on display from March 18 July 5, 2022. The main display of designer ramen bowls featuring some of Japans most significant contemporary artists such as Akira Minagawa, Hisashi Tenmyouya, Keiichi Tanaami, Tabaimo, Tadanori Yokoo, and Taku Satoh presents a uniquely Japanese approach to decoration and its placement in everyday ceramics and promotes the idea that utilitarian vessels can also be works of art. The fully immersive experience includes programs such as special ramen pop-ups in the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles restaurant space, films, and educational webinars. The first webinar "Delicious Design: Conversation with The Art of the Ramen Bowl Exhibition Curators" takes place March 22, 2022 from 5-6 p.m. PST. The Ceramics of Mino: 500 years of Beauty and Innovation takes place April 5, 2022 from 5-6 p.m. PST. Check the events page for more details. Since ramen was first introduced in Japan in the late 19th century, this everyday dish has become ubiquitous around the world. Yet the quality of the ramen bowls which enhances the entire ramen experience is rarely explored, said Yuko Kaifu, president, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles. Were excited to offer a new perspective on ramen and allow visitors to experience ramen with all five senses. "The Art of the Ramen Bowl explores how a common street food brought to Japan from China in the mid-1800s evolved to become one of Japans most beloved dishes, and a complex culinary artform. The exhibition will lead guests through the origins and anatomy of the wheat noodle dish, showcasing the diversity of styles, flavors, ingredients, and styles of ramen and ramen bowls available in Japan. One of the many captivating bowls on display is by leading postwar Japan pop artist Keiichi Tanaami and recalls a shocking moment in college when a spider fell into his bowl of ramen and drowned in the hot soup. Traumatized by the experience, he gave up eating ramen altogether; the moment is powerfully conveyed by his vibrant skull-spider. Immersive video artist Tabaimos bowl design offers a whole new take on immersive art, in her depiction of a male and female figure in the well of the ramen bowl. When the bowl is full of ramen, the couples relationship is glimpsed from different viewpoints as the diner consumes the ramen suggesting the many different phases of relationships. Admission to the exhibition is complimentary. Walk-ins are invited and the gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. 6 p.m. Exhibition Credits: Presented by JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles; Organized by TSDO Inc. and Ceramic Valley Council; Curation: Taku Satoh, TSDO Inc. and Mari Hashimoto; Art Direction: Taku Satoh, TSDO Inc.; Graphic Design: Ayame Suzuki and Momo Hasegawa, TSDO Inc.; Exhibition Photography: Yusuke Nishibe; Curatorial Support provided by: Akira Tachibana, Takahiro Tsuchida, Gifu Prefectural Ceramics Research Institute, Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu; Special Exhibition Assistance provided by: Ceramic Park Mino, Iwasaki Mokei Seizo Co., Ltd., Gifu Prefecture, Tajimi City, Mizunami City, Toki City, Kani City. For more information, visit the JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles website and social channels: Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and LinkedIn . ABOUT JAPAN HOUSE JAPAN HOUSE is an innovative, worldwide project with three hubs London, Los Angeles and Sao Paulo conceived by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. It seeks to nurture a deeper understanding and appreciation of Japan in the international community. Occupying two floors at Hollywood & Highland, JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles offers a place of new discovery that transcends physical and conceptual boundaries creating experiences that reflect the best of Japan through its spaces and diverse programs. Location: 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 Website: www.japanhousela.com Media Contacts: Nerissa Silao | 310-874-9230 | nerissas@ca.rr.com Lisa Nakanouchi | 323-904-9298 | lnakanouchi@japanhousela.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/622a31bd-9092-4ae0-92c9-50f95cbe2a4d Smithtown, N.Y., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Americas VetDogs, a national nonprofit that provides specially trained guide and service dogs to veterans and first responders with disabilities, announces its collaboration with BAE Systems, Inc., a leading aerospace and defense technology company. Americas VetDogs joins BAE Systems Tech Power: Innovating for Impact program to bring together veterans, leading engineering programs at colleges and universities, and the companys mentors. Americas VetDogs matches candidates from its program with an engineering student team to create innovative, custom-designed devices to aid the veteran in their everyday life. Five colleges and universities across the country are participating in the program, which spans the 2021-2022 academic year. Each school will complete up to two projects for veterans in their region. Projects will be completed in a group setting with four to six students supported by three industry mentors. For most colleges and universities, student teams spent the first semester developing a design before transitioning into the building phase in the second semester. The completed technologies will be presented to the local veterans in May 2022. Americas VetDogs is thrilled to collaborate with BAE Systems and innovative, engineering students who have a passion to give back to our nations heroes, said John Miller, president and CEO of Americas VetDogs. It is so impactful to see our graduates receive individualized support, work with the next-generation to bring awareness to veterans with disabilities, and further increase their independence through the Americas VetDogs program. Colleges and universities participating in the Tech Power: Innovating for Impact program include: Binghamton University, NY Prairie View A&M University, TX University of San Diego, CA Trine University, IN Kirkwood Community College, IA Were proud to work with Americas VetDogs to advance our shared mission of improving the lives of veterans through innovative technologies, said Melissa Bernard, head of the Tech Power: Innovating for Impact program at BAE Systems Electronic Systems sector. It is remarkable to see the connection between our employee volunteers and these talented engineering students, as they create unique and meaningful solutions for our veteran community. To learn more about Americas VetDogs and their mission, please visit VetDogs.org. For more information regarding BAE Systems Tech Power: Innovating for Impact program, visit BAESystems.com. About Americas VetDogs Since 2003, 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, 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. 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 over $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 BAE Systems BAE Systems, Inc. and its 35,000 people are part of a global defense, aerospace and security company with 89,600 employees worldwide. We deliver products and services for air, land, sea and space, as well as advanced electronics, intelligence, security, and IT solutions and support services. Our dedication shows in everything we design, produce and deliver to protect those who protect us in a high-performance, innovative culture. We push the limits of possibility to provide a critical advantage to our customers where it counts. ### Attachments SALISBURY, N.C., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Food Lion is helping to provide 246,000 meals three meals for a full day of nourishment on behalf of each of its 82,000 associates to thank associates for their ongoing commitment to help nourish neighbors in the towns and cities the omnichannel retailer serves. The donation is to recognize Supermarket Associate Day, which is part of a national effort to honor frontline grocery workers. The donated meals will help Feeding America, Food Lion Feeds national hunger-relief partner, in its ongoing mission to end hunger. Our 82,000 associates are committed to nourishing their neighbors and setting them up for success, and its important that we take time to share our appreciation for everything they do, said Meg Ham, President, Food Lion. Eliminating difficult choices between gas and groceries and dinner and rent is part of what drives us. Many associates work every day to select food donations from their store to distribute to local feeding agencies and ultimately neighbors in need. This is personal to us, and thats why were donating a complete day of nourishment in our associates honor to support their commitment to the towns and cities they serve. With more than 38 million people facing hunger, Feeding America is grateful to Food Lion for their continuous commitment to help provide meals to families who are struggling to put food on their tables, said Lauren Biedron, Vice President of Corporate Partnerships, Feeding America. We appreciate Food Lion associates and their efforts to help communities in need as we celebrate them on Supermarket Associate Day. Each of Food Lions more than 1,100 stores participates in Food Lions food rescue program, where each store donates excess food to a local feeding agency. Food Lion helped create the food rescue program more than 20 years ago in partnership with Feeding America. In 2021, more than 52 million meals* were donated through the Food Rescue program. Recently, Food Lion Feeds reported it donated the equivalent of 152 million meals* in 2021. Since 2014, Food Lion has donated more than 900 million meals* through a combination of product, financial and equipment donations; disaster relief and recovery efforts; capital campaign support for feeding agencies; and volunteer hours by associates, based on various meal equivalent formulas. *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. About Food Lion Food Lion, based in Salisbury, N.C., since 1957, has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states and employs more than 82,000 associates. By leveraging its longstanding heritage of low prices and convenient locations, Food Lion is working to own the easiest full shop grocery experience in the Southeast, anchored by a strong commitment to affordability, freshness, and the communities it serves. Through Food Lion Feeds, the company has donated more than 900 million meals to individuals and families since 2014 and has committed to donate 1.5 billion meals by 2025. Food Lion is a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the U.S. division of Zaandam-based Ahold Delhaize. For more information, visit www.foodlion.com or job applicants may visit www.foodlion.com/careers . CONTACTS: Food Lion Media Relations 704-245-3317 publicrelationsteam@foodlion.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/832234fb-7b3c-416e-a778-3cfab467614a Sales for 2021: 449.0m, up 21% from 2020 and 3.4% from 2019 Sales for Q4 2021: 147.5m, up 45% from Q4 2020 Net margin for 2021: 44.3m (9.9% of sales), up 14.0m from 2020 Normalised profit before tax for 2021: 12.5m, up 7.5m from 2020 Normalised profit before tax in Q4 2021: 4.4m, up 2.3m from Q4 2020 Net profit for 2021: 8.8m compared to 0.8m in 2020 Basic earnings per share (EPS) for 2021 were 0.3337 cents per thousand shares compared to 0.0306 cents per thousand shares for 2020 Excellent results in VA S-Europe Division, driven by strong sales and margins from both Icelandic cod products and Argentinean shrimp Good performance of the Irish operation, sales increased by 8% on a like for like basis from 2020 UK merger process and integration more complex and costly than anticipated, impacted by extreme external challenges. Glen Mathews starting as Managing Director at end of February Improved sales and profitability in the S&D division, excellent sales in all product categories out of Iceland Total assets of 279.4m at end of the year, increased by 37.9m from beginning of the year. Equity ratio of 32.8% compared to 31.2% at end of 2020, but still under the target ratio of 35%. Return on equity for 2021 is 10.5%. Disruptions and cost increases in various supply chains will negatively impact results in the short term, especially in UK. Actions have been taken to pass on cost increases but it will take time, especially with retail customers Outlook range for Normalised PBT 14.0-19.0m for the year 2022 Solid Group results for the year 2021, sales of 449m were 21% higher than last year and normalised PBT in the year was 12.5m, an increase of 7.5m from 2020. Excellent performance by the VA S-Europe division was the key driver for the results, with significant sales growth between years and strong margins from Icelandic cod products, Argentinean shrimp and other product categories. The S&D division also saw a significant increase in both sales and profitability, whilst results of the VA N-Europe were negatively impacted by a costly and complex integration process in the UK. Total assets at the year-end of 279.4m were 37.9m higher than at the start of the year. The increase was driven by the acquisition of Ahumados Dominguez, which was completed at the end of September, as well as an increase in trade receivables due to higher sales. Net debt of 94.2m was 5.7m higher than the start of the year, driven by an increase in assets and the equity ratio was 32.8% compared to 31.2% at the start of the year. Cash position of 27.8m at the year end was above the optimal level. With less uncertainty the aim will be to decrease the cash position and increase the equity ratio. Results of the VA S-Europe division were excellent during the period, with sales 44% up on last year and Normalised PBT 10.9m higher than 2020. Good market conditions both in terms of light salted cod products and Argentinean shrimp resulted in excellent sales and margins during the year. The integration after the merger of IS Spain and Icelandic Iberica (and Elba) was mostly completed in the year with positive effects on the results. All production is now in one place instead of three, reduction in overhead and admin has been fully implemented. Full integration of logistics has taken longer than anticipated due to Covid 19. The central cold store location will be in Barcelona from now on, which will generate synergies in logistics from 2022 onwards. Previously announced synergies of 3.0 - 3.5m will be fully achieved in 2022. The addition of Ahumados Dominguez will further strengthen the divisions position in the retail market and create a platform for selling high quality cod products from Iceland under a strong consumer brand. The Irish operation was well prepared for Brexit from the start of the year and therefore was in a better position to service local customers than suppliers from the UK. This resulted in sales growth of 8% on like for like basis. Cost increases impacted profits in Ireland, especially at the back end of the year. The integration process after the merger of IS Barraclough and Havelok in the UK, has proven to be more complex and costly than anticipated, severely impacted by both Brexit and Covid 19. Disruptions and cost increases in various supply chains and a difficult labour market have also impacted the process. Actions were taken at back end of 2021 and the start of 2022 to strengthen the local management team. Glen Mathews, the former production director of Hilton/Icelandic Seachill will be joining the business as Managing Director from end of February 2022. The S&D division performed well in the year, driven by strong demand for Icelandic products, especially frozen at sea and pelagic products. Divisional sales increased by 12% from the previous year and normalised PBT of 2.9m increased by 1.3m from 2020. Supply chain disruption, especially related to transportation to and from Asia, positively impacted demand for certain Icelandic products both in Europe and the USA. Iceland Seafoods outlook range for 2022 normalised PBT is set at 14.0m - 19.0m. Sales in the beginning of the year were impacted by the outbreak of the Omicron Covid 19 variant in key markets. With recent easing of restrictions and levels of herd immunity being reached, sales have started to pick up in the last few weeks. On the other hand, disruptions and cost increases in various supply chains and difficult labour markets will continue to negatively impact results, especially in the UK. Actions have been taken to pass on cost increases, but it takes time to get price increases through. Iceland Seafood is in a good position to manage its operations through these challenges and take advantage of opportunities that will come up. Investments in automation and energy projects, with short payback time are being implemented, which will help increase efficiencies and deal with labour shortages. Bjarni Armannsson, Group CEO: The full year 2021 results were overall at the lower end of our expectations , but given the highly volatile and rapidly changing external environment, we are satisfied to have navigated well in turbulent waters. Our VA-S-Europe division had exceptionally strong results and we are reaping the benefits of the merger between IS Spain and Icelandic Iberica in 2019 as well as the acquisition of Elba in early 2020. This has created a strong entity that really shined in 2021 being a key driver for majority of the group profit generation. Similarly, our S&D division had its best year ever resembling the groups strong position in trading and its long-term relationship with suppliers, especially in Iceland. In our VA-N-Europe division, UK merger of Barraclough and Havelok and the build-up of our facilities in Grimsby has proven to be more complex and costly than anticipated by group management. We highly welcome Glen Mathews and have high expectations of him and the management team in the UK. We believe that in the long term, well be well positioned and that our investment will result in a strong market position for the future in UK retail and foodservice. As of now, we are convinced that restrictions due to Covid-19 are being lifted, which supports our foodservice sector demand a highly important factor to Iceland Seafood. The challenges we generally face at this moment are significant price increases of raw materials, packaging and logistics as well as labour issues in the form of insufficient supply. These, along with pushing price increases through onto our customers, will be a challenge in the coming months. At the same time, we are very proud that we have throughout the pandemic continued to build up the company through organic growth as well as adding quality companies to the group. Our investment in Ahumados Dominguez at the end of Q3 last year was a milestone in having a premium brand in Spain, our key market in smoked salmon products, one of our key categories. Our consequent investment in branding campaigns shows our seriousness and strong intention in investing in our brands and in our consumers share of mind. Those investments, along with investments in automation in our processing units are a unique opportunity for us to be more efficient with the objective of increasing our sales and profitability. Those investments along with our increased focus in ESG matters and related investments in for example power generation both in Ireland and Spain are important projects for 2022. All this helps to increase profitability, address labour shortages as well as reduce our carbon footprint. Last year we saw our top line grow to 449m a 21% increase. Our profitability rises to PBT of 12.5m. Our balance sheet is very strong giving us opportunities to continue to invest and fulfil our strategy. Q4 was acceptable with PBT of 4.4m up from 2.1m in 2020. Finally, Id like to express my gratitude to all employees of Iceland Seafood, Im very proud of all the people who every day serve our customers and are the representation of our brand to the world. You are the bedrock for our future. Similarly, we are very grateful to our shareholders for their continued backing and to our suppliers and customers the alfa and omega of our existence. Looking towards 2022 we are mindful of current challenges, but see good opportunities in the market . Electronic investor meeting Today at 4.15pm GMT, Iceland Seafood will host a meeting for investors and market participants, where management will present and discuss the 2021 results. The meeting will be held at the companys premises at Kollunarklettsvegur 2 and also be webcasted live in Icelandic on https://vimeo.com/event/1846481/embed/c1e963e15f and recording will be available after the meeting on www.icelandseafood.com/investors Participants to the meeting can send questions in writing prior and during the meeting to the email investors@icelandseafood.com. Disclaimer This announcement is furnished and intended for European market participants and should be viewed in that light. Any potential forward looking statements contained in this announcement reflect the management's current views on future events and performance, whilst those views are based on positions that management believes are reasonable, there is no assurances that the stated events and views will be realized. Forward looking views naturally involve uncertainties and risks, and consequently actual results may differ from the statements or views expressed. For more information: Iceland Seafood International hf. http://www.icelandseafood.com/Investors Bjarni Armannsson, bjarni.armannsson@icelandseafood.com Attachments AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uptime.com which provides website monitoring peace of mind to thousands of customers like Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, Kraft and BNP Paribas announced the release of advanced Real User Monitoring (RUM) to its suite of uptime and performance monitoring tools. Uptime.com's new Real User Monitoring gives customers significantly upgraded tooling to analyze real website visitor data by device, OS, browser, or geographic location and compare current metrics to pre-set performance baselines to fix speed and error issues impacting users. One of the most common mistakes businesses make is reporting on website performance without understanding website user experience. This is especially important when considering a Stanford web credibility study, which found that 75 percent of consumers admit they judge businesses' credibility based on their website. Although no two websites - or performance thresholds - are exactly alike, all businesses should use real visitor session data to optimize front-end performance. Experienced Uptime.com customers will note that Real User Monitoring (RUM) has been part of the website monitor's solution set since 2016. However, this highly anticipated release gives thousands of customers the ability to comprehensively analyze website visitor data through the lens of: User Satisfaction Time to Interactive (TTI) Error Rate (and most changed) Load Time (AJAX and page load) As performance data is collected, Uptime.com empowers its RUM users to either customize or default to industry Apdex standards. These standards measure response time against thresholds which indicate user satisfaction levels: Satisfied: Website response times with high speeds users prefer. Tolerated: Website response times deemed slow - but tolerable - by users. Frustrated: Website response times deemed unacceptably slow by users. "There's much more to website performance than up or down, especially if users can't interact with pages elements, forms, and buttons effectively," said Mike Welsh, Chief Executive Officer at Uptime.com. "We're thrilled to introduce our comprehensive Real User Monitoring to thousands of websites so they can report on site performance and user experience in one monitoring platform." "We use Real User Monitoring to monitor our many partners' sites for immediate visibility when anything goes wrong so that Elsmere Education partners can continue normal business operations and achieve their goals," said Paul Birza, Web Developer at Elsmere Education. "Monitoring uptime and RUM performance within a single solution like Uptime.com reduces incident response time and keeps us from having to check multiple services and different notification systems." Businesses can learn about Uptime.com's enhanced RUM for their websites and SaaS apps here. Real User Monitoring is fully available to both thousands of current Uptime.com customers and users on the company's 21-day website monitoring free trial. About Uptime.com Uptime.com provides peace of mind to thousands of customers like Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, Kraft and BNP Paribas, who trust us to monitor website downtime, performance, speed, and domain health. We've been recognized as one of the world's best web monitoring solutions by G2 and TechRadar Pro for several consecutive years - including this one. Monitor uptime in minutes with our 21-day free trial at www.uptime.com. Media Contact: Mike Albanese Mike.albanese@newswire.com Related Images Image 1: Real User Monitoring (RUM) This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment San Diego, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Associa N.N. Jaeschke, Inc. and Professional Community Management (PCM) were named to the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in San Diego for 2022. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For designation honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource and employee enrichment practices. Winning companies are assessed by an independent research firm that reviews several key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. These measures include compensation, employee enrichment, engagement and retention, education and development, diversity, corporate responsibility and leadership strategy, among others. Only those companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative business acumen and human resource practices can be recognized with this honor. Associa, together with the other 2022 winners, will be honored during a week-long virtual conference that will feature educational seminars, interactive elements, and a digital awards presentation. Professional Community Management is honored to join this elite community of Best and Brightest-winning companies, stated PCM president Matthew Williams, CCAM, PCAM. We are dedicated to cultivating an employee culture where every team member is valued and has access to the best possible continued education resources, benefits, and opportunities for growth. We are proud to be recognized as a top employer in the San Diego area with a proven commitment to the best human resource practices, stated Eli Crenshaw, CMCA, AMS, Associa N.N. Jaeschke president. Our team members play a key role in our success every day, so our leadership remains dedicated to supporting them with an elevated employee experience. We look forward to celebrating this accomplishment with each individual who makes our success possible. About the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Program The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For program identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that lead to increased productivity and financial performance. About Associa With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa is building the future of community for nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise, and trailblazing innovation. For more than 43 years, Associa has brought positive impact and meaningful value to communities. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected: Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa -30- Attachment Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (BOSTON/CAMBRIDGE, Mass.) A newly launched startup is building upon innovations developed over several years at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering & Applied Sciences (SEAS), and Brigham and Womens Hospital (Brigham) to engineer functional kidney tissue for renal repair and replacement therapy. San Diego-based Trestle Biotherapeutics has been granted a license, by Harvards Office of Technology Development(OTD), to commercialize a suite of stem cell- and 3D bioprinting-based kidney regenerative medicine technologies developed at Harvards Wyss Institute, SEAS, and Brigham. Founded in 2020, Trestle is led by Ben Shepherd, Ph.D. and Alice Chen, Ph.D., both with deep experience in commercial efforts focused in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and 3D bioprinting. The lack of transplantable kidney tissues and whole organs is an enormous challenge in the treatment of chronic and end-stage kidney disease. As of 2021, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 550,000 dialysis-dependent patients and 100,000 patients waiting for kidney transplants, yet only about 20,000 transplants are performed each year, with nearly 5,000 patients on waiting lists dying each year without receiving a transplant. Beyond kidney failure, there are more than 60 genetic diseases that directly or indirectly affect renal function, many of which cannot be appropriately treated with existing therapeutics. The foundational technology was pioneered by researchers in the lab of Jennifer Lewis, Sc.D., who is a Wyss Core Faculty member, leading the Wyss Institutes Organ Engineering Initiative, the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard SEAS, and a Affiliated Faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). Lewis lab has collaborated with several clinicians, including Joseph Bonventre, M.D., Ph.D., Chief of the Division of Renal Medicine and Founding Chief of the Engineering in Medicine Division at the Brigham, and Ryuji Morizane, M.D., Ph.D., who is now an Assistant Professor at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), an Affiliated Faculty member at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and a Visiting Scholar at the Wyss Institute. Were very excited to bring the biofabrication and stem cell biology technologies developed in the Lewis and Morizane labs into what we are building at Trestle. The teams at Harvard, Wyss, and the Brigham have a renowned track record in translational innovation, and were thrilled with the opportunity to carry their work forward for patients benefit, said Shepherd, the CEO of Trestle. More than a dozen members of my lab contributed to the innovations in tissue engineering that have created this technology platform, said Lewis. Most recently, we developed a new biomanufacturing method, known as sacrificial writing in functional tissue (SWIFT), that enables the fabrication of vascularized kidney tissues. Im pleased that Trestle has now launched to translate this robust technology to address the growing need for kidney tissues and organs. Supported in part by Harvard OTDs Physical Sciences & Engineering Accelerator, and later by the Wyss Institute's Organ Engineering Initiative, Lewis and her colleagues at the Wyss and SEAS made seminal contributions to the field of multimaterial 3D bioprinting. Using their platform technology, Lewis and her collaborators have created 3D kidney-on-chip models for drug screening and disease modeling and have established foundational technology for rapidly generating vascularized kidney tissue at scale for repair and regeneration. Central to the success of this approach was a collaboration between the Lewis Lab and researchers at the Brigham. Morizane, Bonventre, and other clinicians had developed a method for generating kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells in vitro. These tissue constructs contained large numbers of well-organized nephrons, but lacked a vascular network that could be perfused with blood. This deficiency was overcome by subjecting the organoids to the flow of fluids on bioengineered devices. In a collaborative effort published in Nature Methods, the joint team succeeded in generating vascularized kidney organoids with enhanced nephron maturation in vitro. We were able to demonstrate for the first time a more advanced kidney architecture and functionality in human kidney organoids, which is important for creating tissue segments for use in drug testing and disease modeling and, ultimately, in vivo therapeutics, said Morizane. Lewis and Morizane are members of Trestle Biotherapeutics scientific advisory board. By combining these approaches with additional solutions for cell and tissue manufacturing, internal expertise in stem cell and kidney organoid biology, and the commercialization of 3D bioprinted human tissues, the team at Trestle will work towards its goal of creating a new standard-of-care option for patients with kidney failure through the development of bioengineered kidney tissue with the ability to assume vital kidney functions. The move of this visionary technology, developed by Jennifer Lewis, Ruji Morizane, and their colleagues, out into the world where it will contribute to kidney repair and replacement therapies that patients so urgently need is a testament to the Wyss Institutes unique focus on advancing research and technology development that result in positive near term impact. Now with Trestle, we look forward to seeing this technology rapidly advance to the clinic, said Wyss Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., who is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at HMS and Boston Childrens Hospital, and Professor of Bioengineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. ### The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (https://wyss.harvard.edu) uses Natures design principles to develop bioinspired technologies that will transform medicine and create a more sustainable world. Wyss researchers are developing innovative new solutions for healthcare, energy, architecture, robotics, and manufacturing that are translated into commercial products and therapies through collaborations with clinical investigators, corporate alliances, and formation of new startups. The Wyss Institute creates transformative technological breakthroughs by engaging in high risk research, and crosses disciplinary and institutional barriers, working as an alliance that includes Harvards Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Design, and in partnership with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University, Tufts University, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, University of Zurich, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD) promotes the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard University into useful products that are available and beneficial to society. Our integrated approach to technology development comprises sponsored research and corporate alliances, intellectual property management, and technology commercialization through venture creation and licensing. More than 90 startups have launched to commercialize Harvard technologies in the past 5 years, collectively raising more than $4.5 billion in financing. To further bridge the academic-industry development gap, Harvard OTD manages the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator and the Physical Sciences & Engineering Accelerator. For more information, please visit https://otd.harvard.edu. Trestle Biotherapeutics, Inc. is a pre-clinical stage company developing bioengineered therapies for patients living with end-stage renal disease. Once implanted, these bioengineered stem cell-derived tissues will get patients off dialysis, delay their need for transplantation, and one day become replacement organs. Learn more at trestlebio.com. NEW YORK, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NFT marketplace, Mintable, is sending 3 NFTs that were stolen in a recent OpenSea exploit, back to their rightful owners. They found the NFTs on the LooksRare marketplace, which has garnered its own reputation for over USD 10 billion in wash trading and stolen NFTs, while acquiring NFTs for Mintables most recent flash sale. In an exploit on 19 Feb, OpenSea users had about USD 1.75 million worth of NFTs stolen by a phishing scam. Mintable was buying Azuki NFTs for their flash sale on 20 Feb, which is part of Mintables ongoing floorbuster campaign to sell trending collections below floor prices. They came across listings for the stolen NFTs and bought Azuki #1178, #4176 and #1180 for about 13.35 each and would like to return them to their previous holders. This exploit was possible because of a bug on OpenSea, and If OpenSea isnt going to make it right, someone has to, stated Mintable founder and CEO, Zach Burks, For some of these people, all their net worth is tied up in their NFTs and its horrible to have them stolen. We like the Azuki community and we want to help give back to the people who lost over $140,000 through the exploit. Maintaining a Safe Space for NFT Communities The OpenSea hack highlights security risks in Web3, and the imperative that users are well-informed about potential threats in the evolving landscape. While 3 NFTs have been recovered and will be returned by Mintable, over a million dollars worth of NFTs remain lost. A leading technology platform in the space, Mintable has pioneered gasless minting, batch minting and credit card purchases of NFTs. Burks believes it is now time to take another kind of step forward. Mintable is first reaching out to the Azuki project to help identify the community members who own the recovered NFTs, and then to open up a channel of communication to ensure that the NFTs returned remain secure. Understanding the vital importance of communities in the NFT space, Mintables most recent gesture reflects the platforms commitment to building and maintaining a secure space where NFT buyers and holders can transact with their peace of mind intact. ABOUT MINTABLE Mintable is a utility-focused marketplace, with every feature dedicated to improving the NFT trading experience. As the top technology platform in the space, Mintable has pioneered gasless minting, batch minting, and credit card purchases of NFTs. In 2021, Mintable announced the backing of a list of high-caliber investors including renowned venture capitalist and television personality, Mark Cuban; Sound Ventures, a venture capital firm founded by Ashton Kutcher and Guy Oseary; and TIME Ventures, the investment fund for Marc Benioff. To date, Mintable has sold and auctioned works by Grammy-Award-winning artists, 20th-century avant-garde artists, and various high-profile artists and celebrities. In addition to the Marketplace, the Mintable ecosystem also includes Mintology, an NFT solutions provider for enterprise, and Mintable Go!, an investment fund dedicated to driving innovation in the NFT ecosystem. For more information, please visit: https://www.mintable.com Mintable Official Channels Website: https://mintable.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/mintable_app Discord: https://discord.com/invite/FB2br9Q Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpX0bACIfqMCuyXOSudx1mQ Media Contact pr@yourprstrategist.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: https://prdesk.globenewswire.com/ResourceLibrary/ResourceLibrary/GetDynamicThumbnailContentContent/?resourceId=bea963e9-771a-4f04-9c3d-b60a2826f80e&maxHeight=280&maxWidth=280 Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evolving Gold Corp. (the Company) (CSE: EVG) announces that, further to its news release of October 29, 2021 regarding its proposed acquisition (the Transaction) all of the outstanding share capital of Elephant Capital Corp. (Elephant Capital), the Company today received shareholders approval to the Transaction. At the Companys annual and special shareholders meeting held today, shareholders approved, among other things, the following matters: the acquisition by the Company of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Elephant Capital; the election of Charles Jenkins, William Majcher and David Velisek as directors of the Company to hold office until closing of the Transaction; subject to, and conditional upon, completion of the Transaction, the election of Adam Cegielski, Joel Shacker and Stephen Goodman (representatives of Elephant Capital) as directors of the Company; the re-appoint of Smythe LLP as the Companys auditors; and conditional upon the completion of the Transaction, the appointment of Crowe MacKay LLP as the Companys auditors; and a new 20% rolling equity incentive plan. Elephant Capital is an arms-length resource exploration company, which controls the rights to a lease of a mineral property comprising approximately 6,700 acres of mineral rights and 5,700 acres of surface rights located in west-central New Mexico and commonly referred to as the Cebolleta Uranium Project. Cebolleta is an advanced exploration uranium project located within the Grants Mineral Belt of New Mexico; an area that is host to one of the largest concentrations of sandstone-hosted uranium in the world. Completion of the Transaction remains subject to a number of conditions, including the completion of satisfactory due diligence, the negotiation and finalization of definitive documentation, completion of a concurrent financing, receipt of any required regulatory and third-party consents, approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange, and the satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The Transaction cannot close until the required approvals are obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Trading in the Companys common shares is currently halted, and it is anticipated that trading will remain halted until completion of the Transaction. Further information regarding the Transaction, including financial information of Elephant Capital, and details regarding the proposed board and management of the Company following completion of the Transaction, will be made available in due course. Elephant Capital has commissioned a geological report on the Project, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects. Readers are encouraged to review the listing statement which will be prepared by the Company in connection with the Transaction along with a copy of the geological report on the Project, both of which will be made available under the Companys profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). For further information, contact info@evolvinggold.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors, EVOLVING GOLD CORP. Charles Jenkins Acting Chief Executive Officer The Canadian Securities Exchange has in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, the acceptance of the Canadian Securities Exchange. 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 listing statement 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 the Company should be considered highly speculative. This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will proceed on the terms contemplated above or at all and 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. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The defense rested Monday after a third former Minneapolis officer charged with violating George Floyds civil rights testified the Black man appeared fine while handcuffed facedown in the street. Thomas Lane told federal court in St. Paul, Minn., it was only when paramedics arrived that he saw Floyds face didnt look good. Advertisement Prosecutor Samantha Trepel questions Thomas Lane before U.S. District Judge Magnuson during his trial in the killing of George Floyd in federal court in St. Paul, Minn., on Monday. (Cedric Hohnstadt/AP) Lane, 38, testified he had seen Floyds chest rise, but the 46-year-olds appearance as he was loaded onto a gurney told a different story. Lane and co-defendants Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng are charged with depriving Floyd of his right to medical care. Kueng and Thao are also charged with failing to intervene in Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvins deadly restraint of Floyd during the May 25, 2020, incident that sparked protests around the country. Advertisement During cross-examination, Lane said officers are required to provide medical care and intervene when necessary, something they failed to do because Floyd struggled with officers as they attempted to put him into a squad car. FILE - This photo provided by the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota on Wednesday, June 3, 2020, shows Thomas Lane. (AP) Floyd was accused of trying to use a counterfeit $20 bill before his arrest. During this time, the officers decided against using a restraining device called a hobble that would have better facilitated Floyds breathing. It seemed kind of excessive because we had an ambulance coming, Lane said. Lane testified that Floyd stopped resisting after about four minutes, but Chauvin kept his knee on the mans neck for several more minutes. Lane recalled Chauvin being concerned Floyd had an adrenaline overdose and needed to continue being restrained. Former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin is pictured during the arrest of George Floyd. (Handout) Lane then told a bystander concerned that Floyd wasnt breathing that his chest was moving up and down, but Lane could not find a pulse on his ankle. He said Floyds veins on his arm appeared to be raised. Lane further assumed Floyd was fine when a paramedic arrived and checked Floyds neck for a pulse and did not express concern. George Floyd When Floyd was put into the ambulance, Lane was asked to get in and stop chest compressions. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > At that point, I wasnt sure if he was breathing or not, Lane said. The defense attorneys for all three former officers have maintained their training was inadequate and they were conditioned to defer to Chauvin, a more senior officer. However, during cross-examination, Lane told prosecutor Samantha Trepel the arrest could have been handled differently if they followed standards and protocol for those situations. FILE - This image from surveillance video introduced into evidence during court shows Minneapolis police Officers Thomas Lane, left and J. Alexander Kueng, right, escorting George Floyd, center, to a police vehicle outside Cup Foods in Minneapolis, on May 25, 2020. (AP) During testimony last week, Thao said he was doing crowd control as the others restrained Floyd. Kueng, a rookie like Lane, said he deferred to Chauvins experience. The three former officers are also charged with aiding and abetting murder and manslaughter in a state trial set for June. Closing arguments in their federal trial will start soon. Chauvin was found guilty of murder in his state trial in spring 2021 and sentenced to 22 years in prison. He has also pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights charge. Advertisement With News Wire Services Kody Aten, pictured here on the steps at the Beeman Memorial Elementary School where his son is a kindergartner, is the lead pastor of Freedom Church, a new church in Gloucester. The church plans to start holding services in the school starting May 1. Residents are concerned about water contamination in a stream near the former Varian site on Sohier Road in Beverly. Water samples taken from a spring in the stream and tested at professional labs showed levels of toxic chemicals well above Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection groundwater cleanup standards. MANSFIELD [mdash] Patricia Ann Thursby-Daniels, 77, of Mansfield, Texas, formerly of Elkhart, Indiana, died Sunday April 10, at Mansfield Hospital in Mansfield, Texas. She was born May 30, 1944, in Elkhart, Indiana, to Robert James and Opal Mae (Allison) Thursby. On Feb. 14, 1965, she marrie From the Rat Pack to the mob, allegedly, different crews used to hold court and run the Lake Tahoe area in California. They have been replaced by a massive bear. For the last seven months, residents of the west coast resort community have lived in fear of property damage as Hank the Tank, a 500-pound black bear, has repeatedly broken into homes, chowed down on whatever he can get his mighty paws on and absconded back into the wooded areas around Tahoe. Advertisement if the world is against hank the tank, then I am against the world https://t.co/L2sEW3csgN ravi high life (@cowtoolsexpert) February 21, 2022 The bear also goes by the aliases Jake, Yogi, Chunky and Big Guy. Whats problematic about this bear is how large it is, Peter Tira, a spokesman for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told SF Gate. Its learned to use that size and strength to break into a number of occupied residences, bursting through the garage door or front door. Its pretty frightening. Advertisement Not content with ignoring the concept of private property and the boundaries of a home, the bear also pays no mind to the boundaries of man and state, racking up more than 150 incident reports in California and Nevada. Residents say the bear has broken into almost 30 homes. According to CBS Sacramento, Hank the Tank broke into a house last Friday by smashing a window and squeezing through while the residents were home. When police arrived, they banged on the outside of the house, which caused the bear to flee out a back door and into the woods. Tira said Hank the Tank is a severely food habituated bear and has lost all fear of people. The animal has learned that humans live in dwellings and tend to keep food around for quick and easy access. Hank the Tank is not your average bear. State wildlife personnel are in the area once again to try to capture the bear but have failed in previous attempts to corral the bear in a residential area. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Tira said the authorities have DNA evidence, likely scat, which will allow the bear to be properly IDed if captured. Hank the Tank would likely be sentenced to life at a zoo or bear sanctuary. Tira said the bear would not survive if he was relocated to a forest because he has likely forgotten how to hunt. Ultimately, the fate of Hank the Tank, and other bears like him, is up in the air. According to the department of fish and wildlife, adult bears may be poor candidates for placement [in a sanctuary] due to the chronic stress of adjusting to captivity after living in only wild conditions. Advertisement Residents hope the worst doesnt happen. To kill the bear because we didnt secure our own garbage just rubs everyone the wrong way, Brooke Laine told the LA Times. The bears just got used to having plentiful food at their disposal. With News Wire Services Michael Masi is no more. The Australian, who succeeded Charlie Whiting after his sudden passing in 2019, has left his FIA Race Director role. Christian Danner sees two key moments where Masi was not completely blameless. "I spoke to Masi on the phone many times. But he made two questionable decisions, one at Spa. He didn't have to start. That earned Williams a lot of points - but what does Alfa Romeo say? Then also Abu Dhabi, where he just passed on what he was told by Red Bull Racing," Danner told Sport und Talk im Hangar 7 on ServusTV. Read more Has Red Bull found the new double diffuser with this innovation? The former Formula One driver does not necessarily blame Masi for things, because he knows that the shoes that had to be filled were huge. Replacing Whiting is not something you do lightly, and 2021 proved that once again."The 'problem' is Charlie Whiting, he was so incredibly good. He had everything memorised, he knew every single key player. That was impossible for Masi. Now we do it with two people, ok." Two matches the solution? Eduardo Freitas and Niels Wittich are Masi's replacements. Danner is not sure if it is a good move by the FIA to go with two race directors. "When Vettel called Whiting out over the radio one time, they met Charlie a week later and they could talk about anything. And it was always the case that Charlie was right. It won't be like that now, because the other guy won't be there next weekend. Authority is the most important thing, otherwise you have the drivers right on your nose." Freitas and Wittich will already be in Spain this week to oversee the test days. Undoubtedly, a first meeting with all the drivers and team bosses will also be on the program then. Two Jefferson Parish, La., sheriffs deputies have been charged with manslaughter for fatally shooting a man last week while responding to a noise complaint. Isaac Hughes, 29, and Johnathan Louis, 35, were not justified in shooting Daniel Vallee last week, Sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto III said during a press conference Monday night. Advertisement Five police officers responded to the complaint around 2 a.m. Wednesday and found Vallee, 34, sitting in his car outside a known crack house, Lopinto said. The officers ordered Vallee to get out and he refused. During the 12-minute standoff, Vallee locked the doors and started the car engine, leading officers to believe he was going to flee. That, of course, escalated the situation, Lopinto said. Numerous of my deputies drew their weapons at that point in time, expecting him to try to take off. Advertisement Daniel Vallee At some point, Vallee accidentally set off the cars horn and two deputies responded with gunfire, killing him inside his car. The other three deputies did not fire. My opinion, that horn, whether it scares my deputy or whether my deputy reacts to the shot of the horn, ends up firing his weapon, Lopinto said. The second deputy fired his weapons reacting to that gunfire. Vallee was unarmed. Vallees family said he had a drug problem, but wasnt violent. Hes a struggling addict, his aunt, Tara Phillips, told NOLA.com. That doesnt mean he should have been shot and killed in the manner that he was. If convicted of manslaughter, Hughes and Louis face up to 40 years in prison. Both deputies were also fired. Yes, it's OK to forgive the loans now No, past borrowers paid their loans, so should today's borrowers Uncertain Vote View Results An Atlanta transgender woman who spent nearly six months in jail after she was arrested over false drug charges in 2015 was awarded $1.5 million, a federal judge ruled last week. JuZema Goldring said she was walking with some friends when she was stopped by two Atlanta police officers who accused her of jaywalking a crime she says she didnt commit. Advertisement During the arrest, officers found a stress ball in her purse. They cut the ball open and tested the substance inside for narcotics. Even though the Georgia Bureau of Investigation found no evidence of illegal drugs, Goldring was charged with trafficking cocaine. She was arrested on Oct. 11, 2015, and remained behind bars until March 22, 2016 a day after charges against her were dropped. Advertisement She filed a federal lawsuit against the city and the two police officers in March 2018. According to the complaint, Goldring, whos Black, said she had been targeted because she was apparently transgender and homeless. Judge William Ray II awarded the money to Goldring on Thursday, after a grand jury found that officer Vladimir Henry should pay that amount. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > She spent nearly six months in the Fulton County jail based on this seemingly bogus charge, Ray wrote in his written judgment. The test was negative, and he charged her anyway, one of her attorneys, Jeff Filipovits, said in a statement. Everyone on the jury saw that the test was negative. It should not have taken seven years and a federal jury trial to bring this to light. Its terrifying to think what other abuses the City of Atlanta has tolerated that havent gotten our attention. Our client was obviously profiled, as are so many others, he added. The judge also noted two injustices brought to light by Goldrings case. For one thing, any arrest, even for a low-level offense like jaywalking, can seriously disrupt a persons life, including by making it harder for him or her to obtain employment, he wrote. Beyond that, the time it takes for an officer to arrest someone for jaywalking arguably could be better spent on more pressing activities, such as addressing violent crimes, which seem so prevalent in recent times, or with engaging with the community. He also criticized the Atlanta Police Department for using a point system to track officers performance, which may create perverse incentives for officers to arrest people. Consider an officer who is at the end of his shift and has not yet hit that days points target; rather than writing a citation for someone speeding on the highway (or jaywalking across the street), it would seem the officer might be tempted to instead arrest that person for just a couple extra points, the judge said. Advertisement With News Wire Services Commentary: Washington needs to steer China policy back onto track of reason, pragmatism Xinhua) 15:42, February 22, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- This week marks the 50th anniversary of then U.S. President Richard Nixon's ice-breaking visit to China in 1972. This historic event remains immensely inspirational after half a century, notably for Washington. Today, what many deem as the world's most important bilateral relationship has arrived at another critical juncture. Waves of anti-China sentiments inside the United States seem to be eating away the rational foundation for Washington's China policy and decision-making. As a saying goes, a politician thinks of the next election, and a statesman thinks of the next generation. One key legacy of Nixon's China trip worth highlighting is that Nixon, who rose to political fame because of his anti-communism credentials, had chosen to transcend America's domestic politics and join then Chinese leaders to overcome huge ideological gaps, testifying to the statesmanship of foreseeing the trend of times. Looking back, their political courage and wisdom has laid the groundwork for the formal establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1979, and brought immense benefit for the two nations and the rest of the global community. Today, the decision-makers in Washington need to learn from this legacy, and steer their China policy back onto the track of reason and pragmatism at an early date for the benefits of both countries. Since the normalization of bilateral ties, China-U.S. cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, as well as in cultural and people-to-people exchanges have brought tangible benefits to both nations and the entire human community. Meanwhile, their coordination on international issues has largely made the Asia-Pacific region and the wider world safer. Bilateral exchanges over the past half a century have testified to the fact that China and the United States both profit from cooperation and lose from confrontation, and so does the world as a whole. A China-U.S. cooperative relationship is of more relevance and significance to the present-day world, where desperately needed is stronger synergy to cope with such urgent matters as COVID-19, climate change and economic recession. Regrettably, the bilateral relationship, bereft of such a positive momentum for cooperation over the past years, and has been thrown into a quandary by the confrontational approach taken by China hawks in Washington. Moreover, Washington repeatedly challenged Beijing's red line over the Taiwan question, flagrantly violating basic principles regarding bilateral exchanges laid down in the three China-U.S. joint communiques and pushing bilateral ties to the edge of abyss. If in confrontation, China and the United States as well as the rest of the world will suffer. How China and the United States handle their relationship thereby bears heavily on the future of the world. In a virtual meeting held in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping told his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, that the most important event in international relations over the past 50 years was the reopening and development of China-U.S. relations, which has benefited the two countries and the whole world. The most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be for China and the United States to find the right way to get along, Xi said. China's stance has been consistent of seeking to foster a healthy and stable relationship with the United States that features mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. More importantly, Washington needs to take a more rational and pragmatic approach and explore more possibilities for the China-U.S. relationship. The dichotomy of categorizing a country as either a friend or a foe as in a Cold War mindset has already been obsolete in today's increasingly complicated and interdependent world. More specifically, Washington must bear in mind that the one-China principle is nonnegotiable. It is natural for China and the United States to have some differences, be they on political systems or on development paths, and as two great nations, to have some fair and healthy competition. As long as they respect and truly understand each other, none of these can get in their way of working together to beat pandemics, curb global warming and build a more resilient global economy. A fair judge is history, in which what a statesman does, be it right or wrong, be it an accomplishment or a failure, will all be recorded. It is hoped that Washington's decision-makers will, as Nixon ever did, make the right choice for China-U.S. relations that can stand the test of history. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Teenager Kyle Rittenhouse went on Tucker Carlsons Fox News program to announce that hes launching a Media Accountability Project to make sure no one experiences the grief he endured after shooting three people at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020. The 18-year-old from Antioch, Ill., said Monday that me and my team have decided to launch The Media Accountability Project as a tool to help fund-raise and hold the media accountable for the lies they said and deal with them in court. Advertisement [ Tucker Carlson books Kyle Rittenhouse immediately after teen gunmans acquittal ] The media Rittenhouse targeted on his Fox News appearance includes The View host Whoopi Goldberg, who Rittenhouse said called him a murderer even after a Kenosha, Wisc., jury acquitted him in the killing of two unarmed people and the shooting of a third man, who had a gun. He said he also had his sights set on politicians and athletes who are on the list of people he may sue. Kyle Rittenhouse speaks at a panel discussion at the Turning Point USA America Fest 2021 event, Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, in Phoenix. (Ross D. Franklin/AP) I want to hold them accountable for what they did to me, because I dont want to see anybody have to go through what I went through, he told Carlson. Advertisement The Fox News primetime star was the first TV host to interview Rittenhouse following the teens trial in November. He also produced a documentary that was sympathetic to Rittenhouses perspective. Among Rittenhouses grievances is the fact he was labelled by some as a white supremacist after a photo emerged of him posing for photos in a Wisconsin bar making a hand-sign associated with the White Power movement. He blamed that incident on a former lawyer who he said set up that photo op, which he claimed is not representative of his character. Carlson has been repeatedly accused of harboring such politics. Rittenhouses defense attorney successfully argued his client acted in self-defense in the three shootings he committed using an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle that is expected to be destroyed in April following a January court ruling. During his homicide trial, Rittenhouse said he was a student at Arizona State, where he was studying nursing. The school later clarified he had signed up for non-degree online courses, but was not a student on campus. Rittenhouse, who become a right-wing media darling after the shootings, said on a conservative podcast in December that he planned to attend Arizona State University in the spring. According to Forbes, he had not yet applied to the school. [ George Zimmerman event canceled by Idaho hotel after learning the man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin was speaking there ] The announcement of Rittenhouses new initiative comes a day after former president Donald Trump launched the Truth Social media platform, which is being promoted an alternative to conventional social media networks like Twitter and Facebook. Those outlets where Trump was repeatedly flagged for disseminating misinformation banned the former president following the violence of Jan. 6. Trump said he met with Rittenhouse after the teens acquittal and found him to be a really nice young man. MAN Truck & Bus is accelerating the production of heavy-duty e-trucks in Munich to as early as the beginning of 2024 with prompt delivery of an initial 200 units. This is almost a year earlier than originally planned. In addition, the depth of added value for battery-electric commercial vehicles is to be increased, with in-house assembly of the so-called battery packs. MAN began building up its own expertise in the assembly of battery packs as early as spring 2021. The nucleus for this is the eMobility Technical Center at the Nuremberg site, where the first battery packs for e-vehicle testing and internal tests have since been produced in individual production. MAN presented a near-production prototype of the new electric truck at an event in Nuremberg. In front of the near-production prototype of the MAN electric trucks, which was shown for the first time in Nuremberg (from left to right): Hubert Aiwanger, Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs, Alexander Vlaskamp, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus, Dr. Markus Soder, Minister President of Bavaria, and Dr. Frederik Zohm, CTO of MAN Truck & Bus In addition to the new emission-free drives, MAN is developing comprehensive eMobility solutions that prepare customers for vehicle use at an early stage. In addition to accelerating the ramp-up of electric mobility, the commercial vehicle manufacturer is intensifying its research into hydrogen mobility. To this end, Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soder and Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger presented a funding commitment of 8.5 million for the Bavarian Fleet (Bayernflotte) project. In 2024, MAN trucks with hydrogen fuel cells are to prove their suitability at five customers in Bavaria. MAN is accelerating its transformation and taking big steps towards emission-free drive systems. Our focus at MAN and in the TRATON Group is clearly on battery-electric drives. They form the basis for our heavy-duty e-trucks, which we will be launching on the market from 2024. Only when sufficient green hydrogen and the corresponding infrastructure are available well after 2030 do we expect to use H 2 trucks in selected areas of application. That is why we are researching the topic of hydrogen and the funding from the state of Bavaria enables us to build up further expertise in the field. Alexander Vlaskamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of MAN Truck & Bus In the Bayernflotte project, MAN is developing a fuel cell truck together with its industrial partners Bosch, Faurecia and ZF. This will be delivered to five customers in mid-2024. The companies BayWa, DB Schenker, GRESS Spedition, Rhenus Logistics and Spedition Dettendorfer will test their hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks in real-life operations for one year. The writer is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Copyright 2022 Joe Guzzardi, distributed by Cagle Cartoons newspaper syndicate. Bernie Madoffs sister, Sondra Wiener, allegedly fired the shots in the suspected murder-suicide that left her and her husband dead last week. Wiener, 87, shot husband Marvin, 90, then died by suicide, BocaNewsNow.com reported. Advertisement Police have not confirmed who did the shooting and a spokesperson for the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office did not return a request for comment from the Daily News Tuesday. An official cause of death is still pending an investigation by the medical examiners office. Advertisement [ Details of Bernie Madoffs sister and brother-in-laws murder-suicide may be shielded by Florida law ] Bernie Madoff's sister and brother-in-law were found dead at their Florida home. (Louis Lanzano/AP) The Wieners were found dead Thursday at their Valencia Lakes home in Boynton Beach, about 60 miles north of Miami, the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office confirmed Sunday. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded to a call about a suicide attempt around 1 p.m., but found two people with gunshot wounds, according to BocaNewsNow.com. A gun was found at the scene. The couples family has already invoked Marsys Law, which protects the privacy rights of crime victims and their families. Sondra Wiener was the sister of the disgraced financier, who died last year while serving a 150-year sentence in federal prison for a $65 billion Ponzi scheme. A Manhattan federal judge denied his bid for early release in June 2020 after Madoff argued that he had less than 18 months to live. Madoff died 10 months later. Madoffs older son, Mark, died by suicide in 2010 on the anniversary of his fathers arrest, and his younger son, Andrew, died of cancer in 2014. His wife, Ruth Madoff, 80, is still alive. She previously claimed that she and her husband attempted suicide as they faced Madoffs scheme unraveled. The Wieners allegedly lost millions of dollars in Madoffs Ponzi scheme. Other victims included former New York Mets owner Fred Wilpon, Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax, director Steven Spielberg, actors Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, John Malkovich and Rue McClanahan, and Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. Investigators believe as many as 37,000 people in 136 countries were bilked across four decades. As police struggled to arrest a man who allegedly pulled a gun on McDonald's workers for messing up his order, one of the officers turned toward the man's car. He saw a gun pointed at his fellow officers. The officer swiped the gun to the side as it fired, the bullet grazing his arm and shooting up into the awning above the McDonald's drive-through. It was then that he got a look at the shooter - a 4-year-old boy. Police said the boy fired because his father, Sadaat Johnson, had told him to shoot the officers. Aside from the intervening officer, no one was hurt. Johnson, 27, was arrested during the Monday afternoon incident and charged with felony child abuse and the threatening use of a dangerous weapon. Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera told KTVX she's never seen anything like a 4-year-old shooting at law enforcement and that it is evidence that "the campaign against police" has gotten out of hand. "Every officer that's here today just can't believe it," Rivera told the station. "We're beyond belief." Johnson is locked up in the Salt Lake County jail, according to sheriff's records. It's unclear if he has an attorney. Around 1:30 p.m., Johnson went through a McDonald's drive-through in Midvale, Utah, with two children: the 4-year-old and the boy's 3-year-old sibling, the Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake told The Washington Post in a statement. After McDonald's workers gave him the wrong order, Johnson allegedly flashed a gun. Employees asked him to drive to the front of the restaurant while they fixed his order, the statement said. Instead, they called the police. After arriving at the McDonald's, officers ordered Johnson to get out of his car, according to the statement. When he didn't obey, police said, they opened one of the car doors and dragged him out. As they did, one of the officers turned toward the car and saw a gun pointing out of the back window, police said. That officer alerted the others that he'd seen a firearm while knocking it to the side as it went off. The bullet grazed that officer, causing a minor injury, and then shot upward, lodging in the awning above the drive-through window. Officers arresting Johnson at first didn't know the shooter was a child and could have easily returned fire, Rivera told KUTV. But the officer who sent the bullet off target yelled out "Kid!" to the others as soon as he saw the young face in the back seat, Unified police said in the statement. Officers did not fire any shots in return. Rivera praised the officer who sent the bullet away from his peers and then let everyone know the gunman wasn't a man at all. "He's a hero in my mind," Rivera told KUTV. "He saved a life today." Rivera told the station that her investigators believe Johnson told his son to shoot the officers. "This is a sad day for law enforcement and our community," the sheriff said in a statement. "To have an adult think it is OK to encourage a 4-year-old to pull a firearm and shoot at police illustrates how out of hand the campaign against police has gotten. This needs to stop." After the shooting, state social workers took custody of both children, Unified police told The Post. COVID cases have sharply declined in Connecticut schools in recent weeks as the statewide mask mandate for students and teachers is expected to be lifted at the end of the month. The latest state data shows there were just over 1,000 student cases in the last week, down significantly from the 16,000 infections that were reported during one week in January when the omicron wave was peaking in Connecticut. Staff cases showed a similar trajectory, with 202 reported in the most recent week of data, down from around 3,000 infections for two weeks in early to mid-January. Those trends mirror the wider decline in cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 as the omicron-led surge fades almost as quickly as it slammed the region late last year. The seven-day rolling average of new cases in Connecticut now sits at under 1,000 infections per day, and less than 400 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, state figures show. The number of daily deaths, on average, has fallen by more than half since the latest surge peaked late last month. On Friday, the state reported 1,263 new cases out of 32,916 tests for a daily positivity rate of 3.84 percent. The number of patients hospitalized with the virus fell by 35, bringing the states census to 290. The falling metrics come a little more than a week before the state is due to hand over decisions on masking in schools to local boards of education, amid a wider push by leaders of Democratic states to scale back or eliminate masking and other restrictions. The plan, opposed by some parents and lawmakers who say it should be up to parents to decide whether their child wears a mask during the school day, requires the continuation of one of Gov. Ned Lamonts COVID-19 executive orders. Those powers expired this week, but Lamont had asked the legislature to carry forward around a dozen orders including one that gave the state Department of Education and Department of Public Health to issue a state mask mandate. Those agencies plan to revise the rules to allow districts to decide whether to require masks as of Feb. 28. The response from districts has been mixed. Some have already said they will extend masking in local schools a little longer. Soon after Lamont announced the change, New Haven schools said they would continue to require masks in part citing a citywide mandate. Hartford schools have announced they will keep masks in place at least through March, while nearby West Hartford will let masks come off at the end of the month. Waterbury schools on Friday became the latest district to say it would hold off on dropping its mask mandate, setting a series of thresholds that need to be met before the mandate is lifted. And while Dariens school board voted unanimously to make masking optional, nearby Norwalk remains undecided about whether to drop school masking. Westport officials said Friday they expect the school board will drop requirements on Feb. 28, the same day town officials plan to lift a mask requirement for municipal buildings. The patchwork of shifting mask rules also comes as a subvariant of omicron researchers were concerned could prolong the end of the surge appears not to be taking hold in the state. To date, only 27 cases of the omicron subvariant, known as BA.2, have been identified in Connecticut through genetic sequencing. The variant comprised just over 1 percent of all cases sequenced in the last three weeks, according to the latest report from the Yale School of Public Health. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Guam Police Department officers investigate the scene of an auto versus pedestrian accident at the top of the Barrigada overpass on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. A man with a previous drunken driving arrest has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run traffic crash in Hagat Tuesday night. Have you ever thought about working in the National Weather Service? Many people ask me about my job for the National Weather Service. What is it like? What do you do on a daily basis? Do you just watch the radar spin? Is there a lot of math? Whats the hardest part of the job? Whats the easiest part? Is it stressful? Are you on TV? And many, many more questions. Before COVID, we would open our office to students from elementary school through college for visits, to learn about weather and climate, and to learn about careers in the NWS. Meteorologists would also visit schools to participate in Career Days and Science Fair events. These are some of my favorite activities, as I would have the opportunity to inspire young minds and make a difference. We still participate in school events, but primarily through virtual platforms due to COVID protocols. Once in a while, we have internship programs for students to work in our office for a couple of months to learn about the NWS, experience the office culture and work on projects that assist in office operations or impact the community in some form of educational engagement. We currently have two openings in our office for a two-month summer internship. This is an opportunity I wish I had while in school to visit a weather service field office and experience what it is like in that career. My first time in a field office was here in the NWS Guam office, on day one of my career in the NWS. This is a great summer opportunity for students on Guam or in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, who may be interested in a career in meteorology, math, science, computers or as an electronic technician. Requirements So what are the requirements and how do you apply? First, you have to set up an account at www.usajobs.gov, the U.S. Governments federal jobs page. Second, look for the job series 1399 or Physical Scientist. Third, select the location you would like to apply to, type Barrigada for Guam. There will be several locations to choose from, with two openings here on Guam. Be sure to carefully read through the job overview, duties, qualifications and requirements. It can be a tedious and complicated process; focus and you will succeed. A couple of key requirements are: you must be a U.S. citizen, a student enrolled in a qualifying educational institution and registered for the Selective Service. When should you apply? Now! The window for applications for the summer internships is open from Feb. 22 to March 1, so do not delay! I hope to see you this summer! A stretch of beach in Southern California was forced to close Monday after about 50,000 gallons of raw sewage spilled into the ocean. The Orange County Health Care Agency said the massive leak was caused by a backed up sewer line at a restaurant in nearby Newport Bay, about 45 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Advertisement The OCHCA said the beach would be closed off to swimmers and surfers until follow-up testing determines water levels are safe. According to OCBeachInfo.com, the stretch of beach remained closed as of Tuesday afternoon. The incident is the latest sewage spill to occur in the region in recent months. Advertisement In December, a sewage main failed and sent 4 million gallons of waste into Los Angles Harbor, closing beaches in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Last July, a spill at a water reclamation plant spilled 17 million gallons of waste into Santa Monica Bay. With News Wire Services After several months of absence, Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes made her return to the session hall of the Guam Legislature Monday morning. The vice speaker left the island last July, and spent time in Arizona with an immediate member of her family who had to receive serious medical treatment from a specialist. Legislative records show that she has been excused from voting in session since August 2021. Several lawmakers on Monday appeared unaware of Muna Barnes presence in the session hall until Speaker Therese Terlaje greeted her. If I may say, welcome back to the vice speaker. Good to see you, Terlaje said. Si Yuus maase madam speaker, yan manana si Yuus to you and to my colleagues. Its literally good to be home. And thank you to everyone who took the time to wish me and my family the very best and for their continued prayers. I love Guam, and this is where my heart is, Muna Barnes said. Last September, the vice speakers office reported that she and her family were involved in a serious car accident in Arizona. According to her office, early this year she was receiving medical consultations for injuries sustained during the accident. Muna Barnes last voted in the July session of the Legislature, records show, and has been mostly absent from public hearings, though several pieces of legislation introduced by her have been signed into law. During her absence, she has appeared remotely for meetings with the Guam Transshipment Task Force, which she helped create through legislation in 2021, and met with advisers for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With resurfacing on six lanes on Marine Corps Drive completed, the Department of Public Works is turning its attention to Ysengsong Road. Public Works Director Vince Arriola told the Islandwide Beautification Task Force Tuesday that the notice to proceed on the project has been given and construction will start in the next 30 days. Work will last about 10 months, according to Arriola. Next will be Route 5 in Santa Rita-Sumai, with construction set to start in April. Work will be conducted from the Pay-Less Supermarkets store to the intersection with Route 17. The main contractor, Hawaiian Rock Products, is finishing work on village streets in Santa Rita-Sumai, Hagat and Talofofo, Arriola said. Work in other villages will start soon. The contract for the first phase of the Ypao Road project in Tamuning has yet to be awarded, but will happen sometime in the next 60 days. Construction will start in the summer. Thats a badly needed road thats going to be totally reconstructed with a retaining wall, sidewalks and guardrails, said Arriola. Major paving and other road repairs have been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday nights when there is less traffic, but some work will occur during weekdays to fix manhole covers and storm drains. Abandoned vehicles A progress update on the removal of abandoned vehicles was given by Michelle Lastimoza, deputy administrator of the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. As of Feb. 16, 1,932 vehicles have been collected, based on invoices received by the agency. The Mayors Council of Guam signed an agreement with the agency and the Office of the Governor, which released $850,000 to mayors for abandoned vehicle removal. A lot of the mayors have really hit the ground running in collecting the vehicles, said Sinajana Mayor Robert Hofmann. He said the Dededo mayors office collected about 100 cars in a week, with more to come. Arriola said a staging area is needed for the cars collected by the mayors, as well as vehicles his department collects from public roadways and easements. He said Public Works is looking at a property in Yigo. The Utah National Guard said Tuesday that two of its helicopters crashed in a training accident. We can confirm that two Utah National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters were involved in a training accident at approx. 9:30 a.m. near Mineral Basin. No crew members were injured in the accident. Both UH-60s were damaged. The incident is under investigation, the Utah National Guard wrote on Twitter. Advertisement A National Guard helicopter is pictured in this file photo. (MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND/Getty Images) The crashes occurred in Little Cottonwood Canyon near the Snowbird Ski Resort, within the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, about 28 miles from Salt Lake City. The resort said it closed two trails as a result of the crash. It flipped on landing maybe because of blowing snow obscuring landing area. Blade flew quite a ways into the trees, witness Jani Radebaugh wrote on Twitter. Advertisement A spokesperson for the Utah National Guard told KUTV, a CBS affiliate, that the helicopters were both landing in an approved area when a blade came off one of the helicopters and hit the other. The crash occurred on a trail, but no skiers were hurt. Video appears to show the helicopters flying low and practicing maneuvers as they entered Mineral Basin, shortly before the crash. I did not see the crash. Big rotor wash and I saw parts flying out. Here is their approach. pic.twitter.com/mi8Niurx8o Michael (@LifterMike93) February 22, 2022 Witness Robbie Shine told the Associated Press the sound of the crash as nothing you could ever describe because you never hear it. Youre in the middle of the Wasatch wilderness and its a sound you dont want to hear. I saw rotor fly off and it was scary because it just started twisting around in the air, Kaia, Shines 8-year-old daughter, said. With News Wire Services This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Haiti - FLASH : Dr. Paul Farmer, co-Founder of Zanmi Lasante died The renowned American doctor and philanthropist Paul Farmer, (62), co-founder of the NGO "Partners in Health" Zanmi lasante died on the night of February 21, 2022 while he was at the Rwanda. He is survived by his wife (Haitian), Didi Bertrand Farmer and their three children. Let's recall that "Zanmi Lasante" in Haiti is one of the most important care providers, present in practically all the communes of the Center and in some regions of Artibonite. Dr. Sheila Davis, President and CEO of Partners In Health, said, "The loss of Paul Farmer is devastating, but his vision for the world will live on through Partners in Health. Paul taught everyone around him the power of companionship, love for one another and solidarity. Our deepest condolences go to his wife Didi and his three children. Learn more about Dr. Paul Farmer : Paul Farmer, MD, Ph.D., was Kolokotrones University Professor and Chairman of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Chief of the Global Health Equity Division at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and co-founder and chief strategist of Partners In Health. Paul Farmer also co-led United Nations efforts in Haiti during the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti. He is the author of several books, including "In the Company of the Poor"; "Conversations with Dr. Paul Farmer and Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez"; "Reimagining Global Health: An Introduction, and To Repair the World"; Paul Farmer Speaks to the Next Generation. His most recent book came out in November 2020 "Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History". Rain of reactions : Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry : "I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Paul Farmer, a prominent American physician and anthropologist. This philanthropist was a great friend of Haiti whose works, notably through his NGO 'Zanmi lasante' continue to benefit our population." Dr Laure Adrien, Director General of the Ministry of Health : "It is with great sadness and broken hearts that we learned the sad news of the passing of Dr Paul Farmer, a great friend, what am I saying ? A 'son' of Haiti. His works in the field of health need no introduction. We hope that his contribution to humanity will serve as an inspiration to many. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, his collaborators close to 'Zanmi Lasante' and to all those who are affected by this premature departure of a man who knew how to understand and make his own the following formula : Do the most good to the greatest number because your works will survive you. The Haitian health system has lost one of its most ardent defenders." Former President Martelly : "Dr. Paul Farmer has left us. This is a major loss for Haiti and for the medical community. Throughout his life, he gave everyone a lesson in courage and dignity. I extend my condolences to his family and to his collaborators who are grieving over this loss." Former First Lady of Haiti Sophia Martelly : "It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of Dr. Paul Farmer, renowned physician and co-founder of Partners in Health (Zanmi Lasante). I am grateful to him for his support for health in Haiti. The country is indebted to him for countless lives saved. Rest in peace." Former Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant : "I am devastated by the death, on February 21, 2022, of a friend and close family member, Doctor Paul Farmer, founder of Zanmi Lasante. His leadership and his commitment alongside Haiti were undeniable. I salute his departure and may God keep him in peace." Ex-senator and doctor Carl Murat Cantave : "I am literally shaken by the sudden death of Dr. Paul Farmer, a friend, a collaborator, a visionary who has served Haiti better than anyone through his unwavering commitment to health. Sincere condolences to his family" Ex-MP Gary Bodeau: "Paul Farmer, the philanthropist who showed NGOs the way forward in the health sector in Haiti, passed away today. I mourn the departure of a sincere friend of Haiti and its people." Bill Gates also reacted by saying on twitter that he had "...never known anyone who was more passionate about reducing the worst health inequalities in the world" Other personalities, Amina J. Mohammed, Under-Secretary General of the United Nations, Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) and former US President Bill Clinton also praised Dr. Farmer. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : End of subsidies for textbooks in French for the first cycle of fundamental school The Ministry of National Education informs of a decision by Minister Nesmy Manigat on the exclusive financing of teaching manuals in Creole for the 1st cycle of the fundamental school. Text of the decision: "Taking into account the provisions enacted by the educational reform and the recommendations of all the studies carried out to date for the improvement of learning from the 1st to the 4th year of the fundamental school; In accordance with the actions undertaken for the curriculum reform and the place of Creole, which is both a teaching tool and a learning object (language of teaching and learning) from the 1st year of the fundamental education to the last year of end of secondary education; Considering the need to promote the development of teaching materials in Creole, particularly at the level of the first cycle of basic school; Considering the prescriptions of the Decree of March 30, 1982 advocating learning in the mother tongue, Creole; Considering the Presidential Order of September 1, 2014 relating to the 12 measures in support of the reform of the education system https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11781-haiti-education-exam-results-disappointing-the-minister-manigat-announced-a-package-of-measures.html ; Considering the requirements of the detailed programs of the Fundamental for Creole as the language of instruction for all subjects during the 1st cycle of the fundamental school; After consultation, evaluation and several consultation meetings, it was decided that from the 2022-2023 academic year, no funding will be granted either as an endowment or as a subsidy for textbooks in French intended for learners for the first cycle of the fundamental school. Moreover, also taking into account the evolution of time and the global environment of Haiti in the Caribbean, Latin American and North American concert, the Ministry also wants to strongly encourage, from the first years of the fundamental school, oral communication of the French, English and Spanish languages. [...]" HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Economy : Concrete local and international solidarity against the unemployment of young Haitians Local and international actors have committed via the "Solidarity Network for Support to Business Creation" (ReSACE) Program, to contribute to the economic integration of Haitian students and graduates over a period of 2 years (2022- 2023) in a constructive and innovative partnership to meet the challenges related to the employability of young graduates in Haiti. This historic commitment was made during the official launch of the Center d'Employabilite Francophone (CEF) in Port-au-Prince, on Friday, February 18, 2022 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35995-icihaiti-economy-launch-of-the-francophone-employability-center-of-port-au-prince.html Let's remember that the ReSACE program, an initiative of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF), supports the development of skills and financial autonomy of students and young graduates, mainly women. This program, created in partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland in Haiti, thanks to the support of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH), the Knowledge and Freedom Foundation (FOKAL) and the Sogebank Group Foundation, provides beneficiaries with a sustained support for the launch of businesses with a strong social impact, from project design to financing. In 2022-2023, the second cohort of the ReSACE program will incubate more than 200 business projects and create 60 companies, which will be funded up to 10,000 US dollars each. See also : https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35995-icihaiti-economy-launch-of-the-francophone-employability-center-of-port-au-prince.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-31023-icihaiti-aufbrh-6-business-creation-projects-selected-in-haiti-will-be-funded.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29582-haiti-economy-25-business-creation-projects-selected.html HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2022/02/21 | Source Actor Kim Si-eun-II will work with actors Kang Ha-neul and Lee Yoo-young in "Insider". Advertisement Management Nangman said on the 16th, "Kim Si-eun-II has been cast in JTBC's new drama "Insider"". "Insider" is an action suspense drama in which Kim Yo-han (Kang Ha-neul), a judicial trainee who falls into abyss during the infiltration investigation, struggles to grab his fate. Previously, Kang Ha-neul, Lee Yoo-young and Kim Sang-ho confirmed their appearances and Moon Man-se, who wrote OCN's "Priest" is in charge of the script and it is directed by Min Yeon-hong. According to Management Nangman, Kim Si-eun-II plays the role of Park Ro-sa, the inspector in charge of the inspection office. Kim Si-eun-II starred in recent dramas, "Nobody Knows" and "Homemade Love Story" as well as "Drama Special - Modern Girl". "Insider" is scheduled to air in the first half of this year. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help A Georgia woman gave birth prematurely after she said she was shot by an Uber driver during a dispute, according to her father Kenneth Anderson told 11 Alive news that he was initially comforted when he saw his pregnant 36-year-old daughter being dropped off in from of his family home around 10 p.m. Saturday night in College Park, Ga. That changed quickly. Advertisement A couple of seconds later, I got off the bed to go to my bathroom and I heard gunshots, Anderson said. A pregnant woman in Georgia gave birth to her miracle baby after being shot three times after getting into an argument with her Uber driver. (GoFundMe) When he looked out from a window, Anderson said he saw his son lying on top of his injured daughter on the ground outside their apartment complex. He ran outside and saw the siblings standing. Anderson said his daughter, who is not named in the report, was seven months pregnant with her first child and was bloody all over. Advertisement The frightened father dialed 911 and waited for rescue workers to arrive. In the interim, he said, his daughter told him that shed argued with the Uber driver taking her home from a friends house after he showed up in a car that was different from the one the app she used to book the ride indicated hed be driving. Once getting the victim to her destination, the driver allegedly opened fire. The woman was said to have been shot in her stomach and in her leg. She prematurely gave birth to a daughter at Grady Memorial Hospital, where Anderson said his daughter and granddaughter were in intensive care, and in stable condition. Were going to have a lot of hospital bills, Anderson worries. He said that he is on disability and works a part-time job seven days a week. Anderson said his daughter doesnt work. Aint been able to get much stuff for the baby yet, he said. Uber said that after learning of Andersons allegations, the driver was deactivated from its system. The details surrounding the horrific act of violence toward the rider and her newborn are nauseating and our thoughts are with them as they recover, a company representative told the Daily News by email. We stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation. Thank you for reading! You have reached our free-content limit. If you are a current subscriber, please log in to continue viewing content or purchase a subscription by clicking the Subscribe button below. Thank you for supporting independent Journalism. Since this is International Dark Sky Week, it seemed like a perfect time to addres Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Henderson, NC (27536) Today Mostly clear skies early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms late. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Mostly clear skies early then increasing clouds with some scattered thunderstorms late. Low near 65F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. A Black teenager who was arrested last week after a fight with a white teen at a New Jersey mall was told by security his family was financially responsible for a table that was broken while police physically detained the 13-year-old. The incident occurred Feb. 12 at Bridgewater Commons Mall, about an hours drive from New York City, when the two kids got into a fight in a seating area. Advertisement Video of the fight shows both kids falling to the floor as two police officers arrive. One pulls the white boy away from ZKye, the Black teenager, while the other officer tackles ZKye. Bridgewater Commons Mall (Google Maps) The officers then roughly handcuff ZKye and leave the white boy unattended, sitting on a nearby couch. The full names of the two children have been withheld as they are underaged. Advertisement According to NJ.com, neither boy has been charged with any crimes. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who the family of ZKye hired last week, released a statement with an update about the case on Monday. It has just been discovered that the mother of ZKye, the Black teenager involved, was told by the head of mall security when she went to pick him up that she would be responsible for the cost of a broken table that law enforcement knocked over as they used explicit bias and excessive force, slamming her 13-year-old son to the ground, face first, and putting a knee in his back, Crump said in a statement. We have an update in the case of Black 8th grader ZKye, who NJ Bridgewater Township police officers FORCEFULLY detained after a physical altercation at a mall. At the same time, they presumed a white teen who instigated the incident as innocent and DIDNT use force on him. pic.twitter.com/wleuhiAiWC Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) February 21, 2022 This offensive and unacceptable demand of payment continues to exemplify the disparate treatment of white families and Black families in America. The only people who should be asked to pay for the damaged table are those who engaged in biased policing and caused it to be damaged the Bridgewater Police Department. Crump has previously represented the families of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > Over the weekend, the other teen involved, Joseph, told NJ.com he isnt even white and that the police were racist for arresting ZKye. I dont understand why they arrested him and not me, the teen, 15, who said he is Colombian and Pakistani, Joseph, told NJ.com. I say that was just plain old racist. I dont condone that at all. Like I said, I even offered to get arrested. According to the report, rumors circulated online about a fight between other teens and police were stationed at the mall after learning about the planned fracas. Advertisement I knew that was really bad, Joseph told NJ.com. I even offered to get handcuffed, I offered to get detained after Kye was detained, and they turned my offer down. I even asked they why they detained Kye and not me, and they said because Kye was resisting. Joseph said he had been cyber-bullied since the fight and regrets it happened. Gov. Phil Murphy said he was deeply disturbed by what appears to be racially disparate treatment. The Somerset County Prosecutors Office is investigating the incident and the conduct of the officers, who have not been identified. HMS celebrates Ninth Avenue School Day Nationally recognized artist Frankie Zombie helped Hendersonville Middle School students celebrate Ninth Avenue School Day. On Friday Hendersonville Middle School students decked out in blue and gold instead of Bearcat red and white huddled around a neon-streaked Dodge Challenger parked in front of their school, awestruck by its bold style, vivid colors and dancing geometric patterns. Seated atop the car was nationally recognized artist Frankie Zombie, encouraging students to draw from their circle of influence to tap into their ideas and dreams. Zombie, whose niece Kaliyah is a 7th grader at HMS, was an invited guest to the schools third annual observation of Ninth Avenue School Day. Proclaimed as such by Hendersonville Mayor Barbara Volk in 2006, Feb. 18 is a day HMS celebrates its history as the site of the Ninth Avenue School dedicated on October 28, 1951 as a consolidated school for Black American students in Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties. From 1951 to 1965, the Ninth Avenue School was a segregated school for African-American students, before area schools were integrated in 1965. Hendersonville Middle School was built on and around the original Ninth Avenue School building, and the historical marker still stands on North Main Street. On Friday, the whole school swapped their Bearcat red and white for the Tiger blue and gold, and kicked off the day with a walking pep rally headed by the HMS cheer team and Ninth Avenue alum Jasper Hopper, who led students in singing the Tigers fight song. In class, students watched video interviews of Ninth Avenue alumni sharing their stories, and worked on content-driven classwork with a focus on Black History Month. HMS principal Joni Allison said the school has taken on the tradition of honoring Ninth Avenue School Day to inspire students to value history and to learn from it in meaningful, real-world ways. This year, that also included a visit from Zombie, who shared with students that Black history isnt just about what can be read in textbooks. Its important for you to see examples in your life of what you can do and what you can be, said Zombie, who is a native of New York but raised nearby in Spartanburg, S.C. Anything we can do to increase opportunity and exposure for our children makes the learning that much more exciting," Allison said. Its important for kids to not only see influencers and grab inspiration from social media and TV and movies, but to know that they can physically see it in person in their communities, added Zombie. As an artist, Zombie has worked with stars like Pharrell Williams, John Legend and Miley Cyrus and has created accessory lines with Urban Outfitters and Adidas. Had it not been for cousins, moms, dads, and teachers heroes in my eyes I would not be where I am today, Zombie said, his hand on his chest. So, my biggest message is to listen to those who are trying to guide and help you, mentally, physically, and spiritually, he said. You dont need to listen to those on the left or the right telling you that you cant do what you dream to do - try everything youve always wanted to try. Start now. Zombie said it remains important to him to focus on community as a way to stay grounded while inspiring the next generation. This is what its about, he said. We are here to be a service and inspiration to others. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to premium content on HenryHerald.com, including local news, local sports, obituaries, legal notices, local features, and the e-edition. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@henryherald.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. Gov. Hochul on Tuesday announced the creation of a statewide cybersecurity task force that she said would bolster the states defenses against potentially hobbling attacks. The governor presented the new statewide office, the Joint Security Operations Center, as a nerve center meant to improve coordination between local cybersecurity offices and to provide real-time advice when attacks strike. Advertisement She joined local officials, including Mayor Adams, in opening the center housed in a gleaming, screen-filled downtown Brooklyn office as cyber concerns emanate from the conflict in Eastern Europe. Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a joint press conference addressing the state of cybersecurity Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) With Russias invasion of Ukraine seemingly tugging America back into a Cold War that could be fought on digital wavelengths, officials across the U.S. have put cybersecurity under the microscope in recent days. Advertisement We realize that were only as strong as our weakest link, Hochul said. Our cities and our counties theyre connected to our state operations. So, an attack on them could lead to a larger attack and disruption. New York, a hub of finance and other industries, faces unique risks, Hochul warned. She gathered her cabinet Sunday for a review of the states cybersecurity defenses. Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a joint press conference addressing the state of cybersecurity Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) And on Tuesday, she said the state was looking to hire 70 cybersecurity professionals and to send some $30 million toward local cybersecurity efforts. The threat of cyberattacks is very real, particularly now, Hochul said. That is the warning were receiving out of Washington. Particularly for a place like New York. And therefore, our state and our city should be taking a leading role in fortifying our defenses. Adams, who noted that his predecessor Bill de Blasio warned him that cybersecurity risks posed the top threat to New York City, echoed the governors warning, saying that attempted digital attacks ripple through the city each day. The city launched its cyber command center in 2017, under an executive order from de Blasio. But the city governments cybersecurity infrastructure has shown cracks: a hack of the Law Department last June cut workers off from their emails. The threat is not going away, Adams said. Its going to continue to grow. Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a joint press conference addressing the state of cybersecurity Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. (Barry Williams/for New York Daily News) The mayor said he signed a directive Tuesday that will require that each city agency designates an officer to coordinate with the state cyber command center. This is a threat that touches all New Yorkers, every agency, he said. Advertisement The launch of the new command center comes after Hochul asked the state Legislature to earmark $62 million to beef up New Yorks cyber defense system this year, more than double the amount allocated last year. New York and other U.S. cities have been on alert for cyberattacks since Friday, when the White House said it believed that Russian hackers had tapped into computer systems belonging to Ukraines defense ministry. As America and its allies line up sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, concern has grown that a spiraling conflict could lead the Kremlin to target American infrastructure with cyberattacks. But the mayor said the threat extends beyond risks emanating from Russia. Technology, if we like it or not, is at the heart of everything we do: running water, electricity, Adams said. When you hack that technology, you are hacking our entire city. And its not only limited to the fearfulness of whats happening in Ukraine. But its also here in the United States. We must be vigilant, he said. If we fail, we are going to make New Yorkers vulnerable. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we've all known individuals who have done more than their share to help their neighbors and communities with food, comfort, care, companionship and dozens of other needs. If you know of such a person, you can nominate them to be featured in our upcoming H On-demand grocery apps would be banned from advertising 15-minute delivery times to Big Apple customers under a new bill set to be introduced in the City Council. The bill, crafted by downtown Manhattan Councilman Christopher Marte, is expected to be part of a legislative package aimed at beefing up labor protections for delivery workers, many of whom use electric bikes to drop off food and groceries directly to New Yorkers doorsteps. Advertisement Marte told the Daily News on Tuesday that the promise of 15-minute grocery deliveries which is being advertised by apps like Getir, Gorillas and Fridge No More puts workers in danger as they might have to run lights and ride on sidewalks to make the stiff deadline. We are also working on limiting the weight of deliveries and how workers have to carry them, since if they are hit by a car it could cause greater injury, and carrying this amount of weight on their backs and up stairs puts them at long-term risk for spinal issues, Marte said. Advertisement Food delivery messenger wearing a facial mask and gloves is seen on his e-bike on Times Square in Manhattan, New York. (Luiz C. Ribeiro/for New York Daily News) The legislative package is still in its early stages, and Marte did not give a time line for when he expects to be able to officially introduce it in the Council. But the Democratic councilman said the legislation is likely to also touch on the impact delivery app companies are having on New Yorks beloved bodegas. These venture capital-backed delivery apps are offering lower prices (because they arent looking to make a profit for five-to-10 years) and door-to-door delivery. They also take up valuable storefront space while offering no sense of community to the neighborhood, unlike bodegas, said Marte, whose father owned a bodega that he had to shut down because of rent hikes in Manhattan. The push for better delivery worker protections comes in the wake of a string of accidents involving e-bikes. In 2020, at least 20 deaths in the city were connected to e-bikes, according to data from the Department of Transportation. In a more recent example, e-bike delivery worker Taurino Rosendo Morales died this past Christmas Eve after a truck driver plowed into him on the Upper East Side. Uniontown, PA (15401) Today Mostly cloudy skies early then periods of showers late. Low 59F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early then periods of showers late. Low 59F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Mayor Adams tapped ex-City Councilman Fernando Cabrera late Monday to serve as a faith adviser in his administration after the controversial Bronx politician apologized for his history of anti-gay views and remarks. Cabrera, a Christian pastor who was initially under consideration to become the citys top mental health official, will act as a senior adviser in the newly formed Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, Adams said in a statement. Advertisement I hope New Yorkers will give Fernando the opportunity to show his commitment to bringing together all New Yorkers, regardless of who they love or how they identify, Adams said. Senior adviser in the newly-formed Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, Fernando Cabrera. (Angus Mordant/for New York Daily News) About an hour before Adams announcement, Cabrera wrote a lengthy Facebook post in which he apologized for his various anti-gay comments over the years, including praising Ugandas notoriously homophobic governments ban on same-sex marriage while on a trip to the country in 2014. Advertisement He claimed he made the 2014 comments while being unaware of the Ugandan governments egregious treatment of the countrys LGBTQ+ population, such as making homosexuality a crime punishable by years in prison. I understand how these words caused some to believe that I condone and support the Ugandan governments historic denial of their LGBTQ+ populations civil and human rights, but nothing could be further from the truth, Cabrera wrote. Unquestionably, being LGBTQ+ should never be criminalized in any way, anywhere in the world. Uganda has a shocking history of condoning and exercising such practices which I denounce and wholly reject. He added, I am deeply sorry for the hurt my previous words have caused, and I look forward to serving all New Yorkers to the very best of my abilities. New York City Mayor Eric Adams (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News) After declining for weeks to address Cabreras anti-LGBTQ views, Adams gave the ex-councilman credit for apologizing. Fernando Cabrera has acknowledged the pain that his past comments have caused and has apologized for the words he used. I heard and accepted his apology, Adams said in his statement. As a man of faith, I have made clear that our administration will serve all New Yorkers equally and fairly. Hours before making the hire official, Adams received a letter from the Councils seven-member LGBTQ caucus pleading with him to not appoint Cabrera because hes a bigot with a dangerous worldview. The appointment caps weeks of speculation over whether Cabrera would serve in Adams administration given his anti-gay views. Adams initially wanted to pick Cabrera to lead City Halls Office of Mental Community Health, but abandoned that plan after it drew intense backlash from LGBTQ leaders and lawmakers. Advertisement As first reported by the Daily News, Adams then moved to quietly find a faith-based position for Cabrera. Cabrera isnt the only Adams hire that has stirred outrage among the LGBTQ community. Last week, Adams also appointed Erick Salgado, a Brooklyn pastor with a history of anti-gay and anti-abortion views, as an assistant commissioner for immigrant affairs. While Adams accepted Cabreras mea culpa, LGBTQ critics of the mayor were not prepared to do the same late Monday. Apologized for the pain??? but not for his actions! The words he used?? That is NOT the issue, tweeted Christine Quinn, the Councils first openly gay speaker who at one point served alongside Cabrera. The fact he is a homophobe & a danger that is the issue & this apology does NOT address that! Bombastic Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene entertained supporters with a rant about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in which she implied the bartender-turned-politician is dumb. Marjorie Taylor Greene insinuates that AOC isnt smart because she was once a bartender and conservative Republicans are the ones who have small businesses. pic.twitter.com/Lxu7OTjQsE PatriotTakes (@patriottakes) February 21, 2022 Greenes comments, posted to Instagram by Patriot Takes, came during an appearance in Texas where the far-right wing provocateur was speaking about manufacturing energy. Advertisement Yall, solar and wind! she mocked. Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens, Bronx) is one of the architects behind the ambitious Green New Deal environmentalism proposal. Advertisement AOC is so much smarter than all of us, Greene told her audience. She was a bartender. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (Getty Images) Critics of the 32-year-old Bronx native frequently deride Ocasio-Cortez for having worked in New Yorks hospitality industry after graduating with honors from Boston University with a degree in International Relations and Economics. But Greenes fixation with her fellow congresswoman is no joke. Video of the Georgia representative leading a small group through the U.S. Capitol in 2019 shows Greenes crews attempts to taunt Ocasio-Cortez through her closed office door and the doors mail slot. During that visit, Greene rambles about illegals and New Yorks abortion laws. In May 2021, Greene aggressively confronted AOC outside the House chamber and tried to argue with her about topics including economics and environmentalism. Greene had earlier recorded a video in which she challenges AOC to a debate, calling her a scared little girl who is pretty stupid and doesnt know anything about the economy or economics. Ocasio-Cortez then expressed concern over Greenes fixation with her, called the 47-year-old former gym operator deeply unwell and questioned her relationship with reality. [ NYDNs Tin Foil Hat Awards honor 2021 top conspiracy theories ] While appearing on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones InfoWars program Sunday, Greene complained about the way shes seen by people in the mainstream. It bothers me so much, she said. They treat me as if Im some kind of crazy person, or like I have three horns coming out of my head. Like Greene, Jones has suggested that school shootings are faked by crisis actors pushing for stricter gun ownership legislation. The host empathized with his guest and claimed theyre trying to gaslight us. Advertisement Greene also supported the conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was rigged and once claimed wildfires in California may have been caused by space lasers controlled by a prominent Jewish banking family. Footage of Greenes unhinged speech Sunday showed her blasting not just Ocasio-Cortez, but fellow Republicans including former president George Bush and his vice president Dick Cheney as well. She also called for her supporters to embrace the civil war in the GOP. Local customs in China report fruitful results after RCEP implementation (Global Times) 15:44, February 22, 2022 Since the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP) trade pact came into force at the start of the year, local customs in China have reported fruitful achievements from the implementation of the trade pact, with some saying that exports to Japan appear to be key beneficiaries thanks to preferential duties under the deal. Under the RCEP, China reached its first free-trade arrangement with Japan, and the mega trade pact has offered a boost for regional trade against the backdrop of pandemic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. From January 1 to Sunday, Shijiazhuang customs in North China's Hebei Province issued 597 preferential certificates of origin under the RCEP for exports worth $44.21 million, statistics sent by Shijiazhuang customs to the Global Times showed on Monday. Among them, 93 percent of the certificates were issued to exports to Japan and 2.8 percent to goods headed for Thailand, the customs said. Major exports to Japan were nuts, textiles and garments, plastic products, and mechanical and electronic products. A company exporting shoes and hats to Japan in Shijiazhuang said the benefits have been tangible. "The RCEP trade deal has greatly lowered the costs for our company to export shoes and hats to Japan. For instance, Japan's duty on imports declined from around 7 percent to 3 percent. That allowed us to enjoy duty preferences worth more than 300,000 yuan ($47,370) in only one month," Chen Yanli, manager of Shijiazhuang Jin Ri Tai Chang Trading Co, told the Global Times on Monday. She estimated that the company could get duty exemptions or reductions from the RCEP with 3.8 million yuan in 2022. In addition to Shijiazhuang, customs in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province said exports to Japan were the biggest beneficiaries in January. In January, Fuzhou customs issued 307 preferential certificates of origin under the RCEP and 96 percent of them were given to exports to Japan, the Fuzhou News reported on Sunday. Exports worth 109 million yuan enjoyed duty preferences under the RCEP trade pact in Fuzhou, while 97 percent of the goods were exports to Japan, including frozen seafood, agricultural products, shoes and chemicals. In Zhejiang, one of China's richest provinces and a major manufacturing hub, 5,190 certificates of origin were issued in January once the RCEP took effect, for goods valued at more than $240 million. More than 13 million yuan of duties were exempted or reduced. Wuhan customs in Central China's Hubei Province said companies with large amounts of exports to Japan, including Dongfeng Motor and Hubei Xingfa Chemical Group, benefited from the RCEP significantly, the Changjiang Times reported. Other RCEP members such as Thailand have also encouraged domestic companies to take advantage of the RCEP to increase exports. In the first month of the implementation of the RCEP, the value of Thai exports involved hit 285 million baht ($8.52 million) and the major export markets were Japan and China, taizhonghua.com reported. With the deal setting out to promote greater regional trade, investment and supply chain integration over the coming years, Singapore's leading consumer bank DBS said in a recent report that it expected Vietnam to be a key beneficiary within ASEAN, beyond biggest winners such as China, Japan, and South Korea. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) UNITED NATIONS The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has dismissed as nonsense Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement that he is putting Russian troops in separatist areas of eastern Ukraine as peacekeepers, saying their presence is clearly the basis for Russias attempt to create a pretext for a further invasion of Ukraine. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday night that this move and Putins earlier announcement that Russia will recognize the separatist areas as independent states are also an unprovoked attack on Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. By his actions, she said, Putin has torn the Minsk Agreement to shreds. Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addresses the United Nations Security Council, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield is seated, background left. (Richard Drew/AP) Thomas-Greenfield said Putin has put before the world a choice and it must not look away because history tells us that looking the other way in the face of such hostility will be a far more costly path. She said Putin is testing to see how far he can push us all, and all countries must stand up for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries. Advertisement Ukraine's Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya addresses the United Nations Security Council, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (Richard Drew/AP) Thomas-Greenfield warned that the consequences of Russias actions will be dire across Ukraine, across Europe, and across the globe. Leading global hospitality company Hilton(NYSE: HLT) today announced the signing of an LXR Hotels & Resorts property in Bali, Indonesia with PT Surya Semesta Internusa Tbk. Set to open as the first LXR-branded resort in South East Asia in late 2022, the 72-all villa resort will join a collection of unique, independent luxury properties around the world, which includes the recently opened ROKU KYOTO, LXR Hotels & Resorts in Japan. Perched 70 meters above the sea along Uluwatu's magnificent limestone cliffs, the resort is a 45-minute drive away from the Ngurah Rai International Airport in the southern tip of Bali. Pura Uluwatu, one of the island's most revered holy sites dating back to the 11th century, is a short drive away, whilst Uluwatu Temple sits in close proximity. In addition, the pristine Melasti beach which sits beneath the resort and is renowned as one of the major sites for the Balinese Hindu purification ceremony of Melasti, has recently gained popularity as a key destination on the island. Featuring a picturesque landscape with an all-rounded leisure hub comprising beach clubs, a retail area and an amphitheater, the beach will offer guests an all-encompassing leisure experience within walking distance of the resort. Nestled amidst the verdant landscape, the resort will feature 72 luxurious suites and villas that offer unobstructed panoramic views of the Indian Ocean. The resort will offer five dining concepts, including an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a beach club and two bars. A clifftop chapel will set the stage for memorable weddings against Bali's iconic sunsets, and other facilities include inspiring event spaces, a fitness centre, spa and kids club. The resort will lean into the core values of the LXR brand, which focus on providing unique, immersive experiences defined by the local cultures and traditions of each destination. From local folklore, heritage crafts and ancient healing techniques, to authentic epicurean experiences and traditional Balinese culinary arts, guests can look forward to a natural connection to the destination, at every facet of their journey. Hotel website Alwadi Doha, MGallery Hotel Collection, has brought in a new general manager. Ramsey Saarany has worked in the Accor family since 2013 and is now taking up his first GM position. In 2004, Saarany joined the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah as a management trainee, moving up to guest services manager a year later. Next, he became assistant front office manager of Mina A'Salam Jumeirah Hotel for two years, later moving up to front office manager and rooms division manager. His first stint with Accor was at the Sofitel Downtown Dubai as its director of rooms from 2013 to 2015. He would later move up to EAM and hold the post until 2017. He then joined Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort as director of operations, moving up to hotel manager. EXPE:US" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Expedia Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Kern believes that 2023 will be the year that we stop predicting a travel recovery and actually start enjoying it. But before then, he forecasts something bolder: Summer 2022 will be the busiest travel season ever, he tells Bloomberg, speaking over Zoom from his home in Wyoming. Weve been talking about pent-up demand for a long time, but until now there have been too many restrictions in place for people to do too much with it, he explains. With Europe expected to relax restrictions, mask mandates falling even in liberal U.S. states, and borders reopening in parts of the world such as Australia that had not yet welcomed back international tourism, many pandemic-era travel barriers will start to recede. Its not just the ease of travel that will portend its comeback; its the combination of high volumes and high prices. Airlines are expecting to be back to historic levels by August, Kern continues. And yes, prices will be high. But at this point, I think people are willing to pay whatever the hell it takes to get away and go to a place they want to go. After all, he explains, a part of pent-up demand is pent-up savingspeople tired of spending on material home goods are ready to shell out for experiences, be it in cash or loyalty points that have been gathering dust since 2020. As for where they might be going, Kern is looking at cities. People are tired of going to national parks. They want to go to New York and go to a Broadway show, he says, adding that cities in Europe with loads of cultural attractions and dining optionsthink Florence, Paris, Londonwill also sustain enormous demand. Read the full article at Fortune.com MOSCOW (AP) A long-feared Russian invasion of Ukraine appeared to be imminent Monday, if not already underway, with Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. A vaguely worded decree signed by Putin did not say if troops were on the move, and it cast the order as an effort to maintain peace. But it appeared to dash the slim remaining hopes of averting a major conflict in Europe that could cause massive casualties, energy shortages on the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Advertisement A woman crosses a checkpoint from the territory controlled by Russia-backed separatists to the territory controlled by Ukrainian forces in Novotroitske, eastern Ukraine, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Putins directive came hours after he recognized the separatist regions in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history. The move paved the way to provide military support, antagonizing Western leaders who regard such a move as a breach of world order, and set off a frenzied scramble by the U.S. and others to respond. Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Russia's Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, raising tensions with the West. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) Underscoring the urgency, the U.N. Security Council held a rare nighttime emergency meeting on Monday at the request of Ukraine, the U.S. and other countries. Undersecretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo opened the session with a warning that the risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. Advertisement Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, sought to project calm, telling the country: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. The White House issued an executive order on Monday to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday and in coordination with allies and partners. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The State Department, meanwhile, said U.S. personnel in Lviv in Ukraines far west would spend the night in Poland but return to Ukraine to continue their diplomatic work and emergency consular services. It again urged any American citizens in Ukraine to leave immediately. The developments came during a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the Western-looking democracy that has defied Moscows attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted todays Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russias historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP) I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic, Putin said. Afterward he signed decrees recognizing the two regions independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Ukrainian border guard officers patrol the Ukrainian-Belarusian state border at a checkpoint in Novi Yarylovychi, Ukraine, Monday, Feb.21, 2022. (Oleksandr Ratushniak/AP) With fears of invasion high, the U.S. administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by The New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Advertisement Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University joined forces with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) to publish the tenth in their series of Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts reports, providing the regions travel and tourism sector, hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with much-needed projections of tourist numbers in the coming years. The Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2022-2024 were the work of the SHTMs Hospitality and Tourism Resource Centre headed by Professor Haiyan Song, SHTM Associate Dean, Chair Professor and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism. Along with colleagues from other institutions, the team included Professor Gang Li of the University of Surrey, Dr Vera Lin of the Zhejiang University, Dr Anyu Liu and Ms Yangting Cai of the SHTM, Dr Richard Qiu of the University of Macau, as well as Dr Long Wen of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Covering a three-year horizon, the report features the latest scenario forecasts for International Visitor Arrivals into 39 Asia Pacific destinations between 2022 and 2024 while presenting three possible scenarios for every destination describing mild, medium and severe effects of the pandemic. Among the projections essential to tourism planners and operators, what they can expect is that total visitor arrival numbers across the region are predicted to recover from 129.4 million in 2020 to 817.7 million, 702.5 million and 501.9 million under the mild, medium, and severe scenarios, respectively by 2024. Compared with the 2019 level of visitor numbers, the recovery rates of which are forecast to be 116.2%, 99.8% and 71.3% respectively. Amongst the six destination regions and sub-regions of Asia Pacific, South Asia is expected to have the highest recovery rate of 123.3% under the mild scenario as it returned to more than 90% of the 2019 volume of visitors, in 2021. International visitor numbers into the Pacific and the Americas are projected to increase faster than other regions/sub-regions with the same recovery rate of 105% under the medium scenario and 80.3% and 79.2% respectively, under the severe scenario. The lowest recovery rate under the mild scenario is likely to be for Northeast Asia which is expected to return to 112.6% of the 2019 level of visitor numbers in 2024. Under the medium scenario, South Asia is predicted to be the slowest recovering sub-region with a recovery rate of 95%, while under the severe scenario it is expected to be West Asia with a rate of 61.3%. Although these forecasts are contingent on the developments in COVID-19 and the economic recovery over the forecast period, the robust and considered research conducted by the SHTM and PATA offers informed optimism. Whilst the overall trends in these latest forecasts are positive, recovery will however depend on both the containment of the global pandemic and economic growth which will create the conditions for tourism to pick up, noted Professor Haiyan Song. With the new landscape of tourism becoming very different in the post-pandemic era, these forecasts provide crucial insights for the global industry to develop better recovery strategies for the post-pandemic era. To maintain the regions competitive edge, the PATA Visitor Forecasts Report serves as a reliable and effective forecasting system essential to assist destinations in the development of strategies for the years to come. The SHTM prides itself on its forecasting expertise and is proud to have joined hands with PATA to release the publication Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2022-2024. Members of the Schools Hospitality and Tourism Resource Centre publish world-leading research and provide consultancy services for tourism organisations worldwide. We are delighted to be a part of the PATA forecasting initiative, as transferring our knowledge to practice is high on the Schools research agenda, Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management said. About PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management For over 40 years, PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category according to ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2020, placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2019/2020 and ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism. The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 70 faculty members with diverse cultural backgrounds, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry. The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With more than 70 academic staff drawing from 21 countries and regions, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate degrees to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry. Pauline Ngan Marketing Manager +852 3400 2634 Hong Kong Poly Hapimag, one of the leading European Holiday apartment sharing companies has chosen ReviewPro, leaders in guest experience feedback management, to improve the stay experience and create magic moments for its guests. Hapimag will do this by leveraging the insights provided by the ReviewPro solutions to make data-driven operational and service improvements. Source: ReviewPro ReviewPro provides a fully integrated platform that allows Hapimag to view guest feedback from both online reviews and guest surveys in one place, highlighting the departments, concepts, or categories that are most affecting the stay experience. This insight allows Hapimag to gain better understanding into the guest experience and make changes where needed, thus improving online reputation, increasing bookings, and boosting revenue. Even though our world is becoming more and more digital, the impact of the analogue experience of hospitality will remain at the top of the list when it comes to satisfaction, said Hassan Kadbi, CEO of Hapimag. ReviewPro helps us to react to guest feedback more efficiently and effectively thereby contributing to the satisfaction of our guests. It is about time for our industry to start asking guests if they are happy while they are living the experience and not when they get back home, as this is the way to ensure that this precious time of our holiday makers is unforgettable. Source: ReviewPro After evaluating numerous providers, Hapimag selected ReviewPro for the following functionalities: Ability to view guest feedback data from reviews and surveys in one place, enabling a holistic guest feedback management strategy. The in-stay survey feature allows problems to be addressed at an early stage and offers the information needed to create very individual magic moments for guests. Facilitates responding to guest feedback directly from the platform, allowing for a faster and more personalized management response strategy. Guest feedback is translated from different languages directly within the ReviewPro tool, allowing visibility and flexibility for international staff. Segmented views are filtered and saved according to individual criteria so that the right information can be efficiently kept track of by the right person or department. The platform enables Hapimag to track and benchmark its local or regional competitors, as well as other Hapimag resorts. We are very pleased to support Hapimag to make data-driven operational decisions that will help improve the guest experience and ultimately increase its revenue, said Michael Kessler, CEO of ReviewPro. Capabilities like in-stay surveys are especially important for apartment brands because it ensures guests have a way to communicate their needs, ensuring issues are dealt with well before check-out. We look forward to being a part of Hapimags growth and success and we hope that there is more that ReviewPro can offer them in the future such as creating remarkable guest experiences with Guest Experience Automation. Source: ReviewPro About Hapimag We are a holiday apartment sharing community. We jointly own 56 holiday resorts with over 5000 holiday apartments in 15 countries by the sea, in the mountains, and in cities. Why? Because we want to go on holiday in a relaxed and mindful way. More on www.hapimag.com. +41 41 767 82 02 [email protected] About ReviewPro ReviewPro is the world leader of Guest Intelligence solutions, with more than 60,000 hotels in 150 countries. ReviewPros Global Review Index (GRI), the industry-standard online reputation score, is based on review data collected from 175+ OTAs and review sites in 45+ languages. The companys cloud-based Guest Experience Improvement Suite includes Online Reputation Management, Guest Satisfaction Surveys, and Auto Case Management. ReviewPro also provides an AI-driven innovative Guest Experience Automation product to automate guest experience management for hotels. These tools and processes enable clients to prioritize operational and service improvements to deliver better guest experiences and increase guest satisfaction, online rankings, and revenue. For more information go to www.reviewpro.com View source London, UK - New research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed Chinas Travel & Tourism sectors contribution to GDP could reach CNY 11 trillion this year, just 5.2% short of pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, before the pandemic struck, Chinas Travel & Tourism sectors contributed CNY 11.5 trillion to GDP (11.6% of the countrys economy). However, in 2020 the pandemic had a major impact on the sector and Travel & Tourisms contribution to the Chinese economy fell by a staggering 59.9%, to CNY 4.6 trillion. Latest research from the global tourism body shows that as the national economy begins to recover, the contribution of the sector to the countrys economy and jobs could reach almost pre-pandemic levels this year. WTTC research shows that if China, with more than 87% of its population already fully inoculated, begins to ease restrictions throughout the year, the sectors contribution to GDP could reach CNY 11 trillion in 2022, just 5.2% behind pre-pandemic levels. After a loss of more than 16 million jobs in 2020, when Travel & Tourism businesses in China suffered serious losses due to severe travel restrictions and complete border closures, most of these could be recovered if the country continues to focus on its Travel & Tourism sector and particularly reopening its borders to international visitors. The sector could recover more than 14 million jobs to reach nearly 81 million jobs in 2022 - just 1.7% below 2019 levels. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: China is a critical player in the global Travel & Tourism sector. It has done well to drive domestic tourism during the pandemic, but international travel has come to a halt. The benefits to opening borders represent a boost in both economic wealth and jobs." Our latest research shows 2022 could bring a strong recovery for Travel & Tourism globally, with pent-up demand and vaccination rates driving the recovery of this economically boosting sector." Millions of livelihoods depend on a thriving Travel & Tourism sector, but there is still work ahead if we want to achieve a full economic recovery and bring back all the jobs that were lost. A look at the Asia Pacific region WTTCs research shows the forecast for the Asia Pacific region could be equally positive, with the regions Travel & Tourism sector also approaching pre-pandemic levels this year. According to the research, the sectors contribution to the regions GDP could reach CNY 20 trillion (USD 2.9 trillion), near pre-pandemic levels, while employment could reach over 190 million jobs, surpassing 2019 figures and providing an additional five million jobs to the sector. To reach close to pre-pandemic levels this year, WTTC says the Chinese government and governments around the world must continue focussing on the vaccine and booster rollout - allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely without the need for testing. The global tourism body also urges governments to ditch the patchwork of restrictions and enable international travel using digital solutions that allow travellers to prove their status in a fast, simple, and secure way. About WTTC The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) represents the global travel & tourism private sector. Members include 200 CEOs, Chairs and Presidents of the world's leading travel & tourism companies from all geographies covering all industries. For more than 30 years, WTTC has been committed to raising the awareness of governments and the public of the economic and social significance of the travel & tourism sector. According to WTTC's 2021 Economic Impact Report, during 2020, a year in which it was devasted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Travel & Tourism made a 5.5% contribution to global GDP and was responsible for 272 million jobs. WTTC Press Office WTTC Alexandria, VA Business travel is starting to come back but, according to a new study, it might not be business-as-usual post-pandemic for corporate travel managers, programs and policies. How will the pandemic and business travel recovery change corporate travel programs going forward? Are pandemic-related changes to company travel policies likely to remain permanent? Will the business travel ecosystem and travel programs in 2022 look vastly different than they did in pre-pandemic 2019? These topics are explored in a new report released today"The Return to Business Travel: A New Paradigm on the Evolution of Buyers and Stakeholders Post-COVIDfrom The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the worlds largest business travel association, and made possible by travel and expense technology company, Serko. Based on survey responses from U.S. and Canadian travel managers, the study outlines how the return of business travel might look post-pandemic from the lens of corporate travel managers and especially for managed online business travel bookings. Now is the moment that corporate travel managers are moving from triage and temporary solutions that may have been required to address business travel during the pandemic, to a longer range, more considered view based on new requirementsfrom technologies to policies to processes that will be the basis for the next chapter and best outcomes for companies, business travelers and managed business travel programs, said Nick Whitehead, CMO, Serko. When the pandemic brought almost all travel to a halt there was a recognition of the important role of business travel in helping companies grow their revenue, workforces and share prices. But as we get back to business travel, the landscape has changed. Travel managers are actively embracing evolution to determine what will be needed next, said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA. Here are survey highlights on whats next for post-pandemic corporate travel management: TEMPORARY TIGHTENING. OR IS IT? The pandemic forced many corporate travel programs to introduce more booking policy restrictions. Seven in ten (71%) travel managers report their companys booking-related travel policies have become stricter due to the pandemichowever, six in ten (61%) of those expect the changes to be temporary. The pandemic forced many corporate travel programs to introduce more booking policy restrictions. Seven in ten (71%) travel managers report their companys booking-related travel policies have become stricter due to the pandemichowever, six in ten (61%) of those expect the changes to be temporary. UPTICK IN ASSISTED BOOKINGS . Booking business travel via an online booking tool (OBT) has declined during the pandemic, forcing a greater reliance on agent assisted bookings. Pre-pandemic, only 9% of travel managers said their company had a high touch model where travelers typically made managed bookings directly with a travel agent. Now, one in five (20%) say their company has a high touch model.To restore confidence in moving bookings back online, travel managers most pointed to the need for key features such as integrated destination health and safety information (85%), automatic ticket credits (77%), contextual policy applications (57%), and visually highlighted hotels that meet COVID safety protocols (53%). . Booking business travel via an online booking tool (OBT) has declined during the pandemic, forcing a greater reliance on agent assisted bookings. Pre-pandemic, only 9% of travel managers said their company had a high touch model where travelers typically made managed bookings directly with a travel agent. Now, one in five (20%) say their company has a high touch model.To restore confidence in moving bookings back online, travel managers most pointed to the need for key features such as integrated destination health and safety information (85%), automatic ticket credits (77%), contextual policy applications (57%), and visually highlighted hotels that meet COVID safety protocols (53%). APPROVALS GO MANUAL AND MULTIPLE . In the current COVID-19 environment, travel programs not only require manual approval of business trips, but many require manual approval by multiple people. Of those that do, two in five (42%) respondents say most of their manual processing requires multiple approvers (e.g. employees manager and HR employee). . In the current COVID-19 environment, travel programs not only require manual approval of business trips, but many require manual approval by multiple people. Of those that do, two in five (42%) respondents say most of their manual processing requires multiple approvers (e.g. employees manager and HR employee). REELING BOOKINGS BACK IN . Addressing leakage i.e. business travel bookings made outside a companys preferred channels has become an even greater priority. Half of travel managers (46%) say reducing leakage is a greater or much greater priority than before the pandemic or equal priority (40%) today as before the pandemic. Travel managers identified OBT features that would help reduce leakage including rich airfare information and imagery and NDC-enabled bookings. . Addressing leakage i.e. business travel bookings made outside a companys preferred channels has become an even greater priority. Half of travel managers (46%) say reducing leakage is a greater or much greater priority than before the pandemic or equal priority (40%) today as before the pandemic. Travel managers identified OBT features that would help reduce leakage including rich airfare information and imagery and NDC-enabled bookings. OBT EVOLUTION. A sizeable number of travel managers are open to changing their companys OBT in the next two to three years. Four in ten report they are likely (13%) or considering (31%) changing their companys OBT. Key features of most interest include enhanced user experience and innovations, enhanced content, easier management, and increased traveler satisfaction.When it comes to OBT innovation, travel managers are seeking to streamline the booking process and ensure alignment with corporate policies and goals. OBT features of most interest include personalized itinerary recommendations (78%) and conversational chatbot booking (73%) using intelligent technology (i.e., artificial intelligence) as well as insights into the environmental impact of the travel itinerary (61%). The survey was conducted from September 20-October 3, 2021, by GBTA with full or partial responses received from 161 corporate travel managers in the U.S. and Canada. Those respondents indicated they were involved in managing or procuring travel on behalf of their company and whose business travelers used corporate online booking tools prior to the pandemic. GBTA members can access the complete survey report and infographic in the GBTA Hub. About Zeno by Serko Dont just return to travel. Come back safer, leaner, smarter with Zeno. As this report highlights, the way we book, manage and travel for business has fundamentally changed. There is no return to travel, only a unique opportunity to come back better. Zeno helps travel managers seize this unique re-set opportunity to upgrade your travel program with a platform built around the priorities of the new world of travel. Zeno is the online booking tool built for the needs of modern business travel, and were continuing to innovate and iterate our solution to meet the evolving needs of travel managers and their organizations; empowering you to deliver a safer, leaner and smarter travel program. www.zeno.com About the Global Business Travel Association The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world"s largest business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations across four continents. GBTA"s members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA delivers world-class education, events, research, advocacy and media to a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. To learn how business travel drives lasting business growth, visit www.gbta.org. Debbie Iannaci GBTA Global Communications, PR & Research +1 305 301 7057 GBTA Hosco has just secured 3.4 million for its unique SaaS-enables marketplace in a funding round led by Aldea Ventures and Torsa Capital, with existing investors Nauta Capital, Athos Capital and Business Angels joining. Based in Barcelona with offices in Gevena, Hosco was founded by Olivier Bracard and Carl Julien to make hiring top talent in hospitality more efficient. Since launching in 2011, the startup has supported bout 1.3 million professionals and students in their careers with jobs, career inspiration and guidance as well as learning opportunities. Recruitment is a sector coming up against talent challenges across sectors, and within hospitality, theres been a notable shortage across the globe. Hosco is connecting hospitality professions with first-class companies and giving the industry a growing and global talent pool. Olivier Bracard, Hoscos Co-Founder and CEO explained: Hospitality is all about people and theres never been a more challenging time for employers to source talent. While the industry has so much to offer, from international careers to rapid career progression, there are many critical gaps to fill around industry perception, benefits, talent matching, guidance, mentoring and training. The industry must do better at shaping exciting careers and thats what Hosco is committed to. Hosco also now partners with over 400 specialist education centres in hospitality to better prepare, orient and place their students and alumni at over 10,000 registered employers across the globe. The new funding will be used to consolidate this reach that Hoscos solution has, as well as further product development and expand even further. Alfonso Bassols, Managing Partner at Aldea Ventures, commented: We are impressed by the companys vision, track record and resilience throughout the turbulent times of the pandemic. Hosco has become the go-to-place for many in hospitality and we feel theyre just getting started. Were excited to contribute to the journey. About hosco Hosco (www.hosco.com) was created in 2011 with one idea in mind: to unite, inspire, and provide opportunities to all hospitality professionals worldwide. Since then, weve built a unique network that connects qualified talent, companies, and schools around the globe. The Opening Party for the 2022 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC) will be an Orlando-style event that makes a splash. Presented by VENZA and CyberTek, the party will be at SeaWorld Orlando on June 27, 2022 from 6:00 11:00 p.m. with ticket proceeds directed towards hospitality scholarships. Attendees will get to enjoy the numerous park attractions, private Dolphin Adventures Show, the Electric Ocean: Ignite fireworks and light show, and one-hour exclusive ride time at the end of the evening. Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), the producers of HITEC, is a top-level sponsor of the event. This year HITEC is celebrating its 50th anniversary which led to us starting the week off with a momentous event, said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH. The opportunity to collaborate with long-time exhibitors VENZA and CyberTek for an epic party could not be passed up, especially since it is tied to fundraising for hospitality education, an important tenet for HFTP. VENZA/CyberTek is excited to be working alongside HFTP to help raise funds to support the future work-force of the hospitality industry, said VENZA President Joshua Bergen, CHAE, CHTP. This is an important endeavor not only for VENZA but for me personally. As a graduate of Rosen College in my hometown of Orlando, and as a volunteer for NAF.org (Orlando and now Indiana), the importance of supporting the next generation of hospitality delegates is vital. We have a 14-year history of annual fundraisers, and we want to turn the current hospitality staffing trend into the #TheGreatStay, not #TheGreatResignation, said Bergen. Entrance to the party is included with specific HITEC registration types (see the HITEC site for details). For those who do not have the party included with their registration, tickets to the event will be sold separately. The party will follow the HITEC Opening Headliner session at the Orange County Convention Center, where buses will shuttle party-goers to SeaWorld and back to the official HITEC hotels. Proceeds from this event will be directed to four separate hospitality education-focused organizations: Rosen College of Hospitality Management Situated in the heart of hospitality, the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management provides students with an unrivaled opportunity to learn and work in the industrys leading market. Valencia College The Hospitality and Tourism Management Associate in Science (A.S.) degree at Valencia College is a two-year program that prepares students to go directly into a specialized career within the hospitality industry. NAF NAF works with high schools across the country to prepare students for careers in hospitality, tourism and more. HFTP Foundation As the philanthropic arm of HFTP, the Foundation assists HFTP to secure nonprofit funding for hospitality and travel industry-related research, educational projects and scholarships. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2022, HITEC North America will take place on June 2730 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida USA. HITEC is the world's largest hospitality technology exposition and conference. It offers a unique combination of top-notch hospitality technology education, led by industry peers and experts, and an unparalleled trade show showcasing the latest hospitality technology products and services. Registration for HITEC Orlando is now open. Opportunities to be a sponsor of this event are available, with several tiers offered. If interested, contact Josh Bergen, VENZA president at [email protected] or Anne Boon, VENZA project manager at [email protected]. About VENZA Drawing on decades of hospitality industry experience, VENZA can help you mitigate your data security vulnerabilities and ensure compliance, keeping your guests and their data safe from breaches. By delivering a security solution for readiness, reassurance, and response, VENZA offers 360 degree visibility for proactive management of risks - so you can focus on guest service and building trust in your brand. Hotel employees are the first line of defense and VENZA arms them with prevention, protection and intelligence tools to help them become your strongest asset in fighting security and data fraud. Better visibility means better defense. Know your risks, protect your enterprise with VENZA. About CyberTek MSSP Drawing on decades of managed security services, CyberTek MSSP, a VENZA company, is an award-winning MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider) that offers a wide range of business IT services and solutions. CyberTek MSSP provides advanced on-demand remote management to deliver real-time protection, detection and response with certified firewall engineers and a team of customer service representatives. Their unrivaled end-to-end cybersecurity and IT services are available at a moments notice, so clients can focus on their organization and on maintaining trust in their brand. Founded in 1997 with decades of service managing IT operations and infrastructure for organizations, CyberTek MSSP is a solely owned subsidiary of VENZA with regional offices in Pensacola, Fla. and New Albany, Ind. About HFTP Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), established in 1952, is a hospitality nonprofit association headquartered in Austin, Texas USA with offices in United Kingdom, Netherlands and Dubai. HFTP is recognized as the spokes group for the finance and technology segments of the hospitality industry with an international network of members and stakeholders. HFTP uniquely understands the industry's pressing issues and assists its stakeholders in finding solutions to their challenges more efficiently than any organization. HFTP offers expert networks, educational resources, career development programs, research, leadership opportunities and conferences and events. HFTP Is the publisher of the Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry (USALI). For more information about HFTP, visit www.hftp.org. For the latest news, visit the HFTP News page at news.hftp.org and the HFTP Connect blog at blog.hftp.org. Eliza Selig Staff VP, Marketing and Communications +1 512 220 4026 HFTP Amongst global sustainable hospitality experts there seem to be two co-existing, and sometimes contradictory, concepts for structuring sustainability agendas. On the one hand, there is an appeal to comply with and be guided by recognized global standards and certification schemes. Sound arguments include the ability to benchmark performance and ambitions, foster transparency and ensure a common and global approach and understanding of what sustainable hospitality is and includes. On the other hand, sustainability agendas must address local realities. A global hospitality relies on local infrastructure and responds to local stakeholder expectations. Local infrastructure such as energy grids, waste management facilities, access to water supplies and operational supply chains all impacts the sustainability performance of hotels. Some experts might argue that there is no sustainability unless created locally and locally only. Following the logic, the question arises whether such a high degree of individualization can be standardized at all. Now, whilst both approaches have their advocates, the majority seems to be trying to figure out how to combine the best of both worlds. Where is the sweet spot between standardized frameworks for sustainable hospitality and individualized, local sustainability action plans? Which standards provide sufficient space for adjustments on the basis of local realities? What further arguments strengthen or weaken the application of both approaches? How much does the size and structure of the business influence the approach? Natasha Montesalvo Principal Consultant Destination, Strategy and Insight at EarthCheck Agenda 21 (turning 30 this year) was designed with this in mind to create a global standard that we could rally behind but that could be delivered on a local level, bringing benefits to local communities. Standards based on Agenda 21 principals should reflect the lofty global goals but offer the individualized opportunity to create local outputs. Global, standardised frameworks contribute to efficiency and provide consistent, comparable and reliable results. They ensure that we are all talking the same language and provide us with a framework to create efficiencies. Yet they must offer a localised focus. No two businesses are the same; therefore, no two sustainability journeys will be the same. Frameworks should allow for contextualization, local solutions and regional interpretation. Without the ability to embed the local outcomes, there will not be positive community, economic and environmental outcomes and therefore, objectives will not be met. To reflect on my own organisation, at EarthCheck, our suite of certification programs are based on Agenda 21 principles, mapped to the SDGs, and align to other sector-based standards and methodologies, including several ISO standards, the GHG Protocol and the CDP. But our clients operate in 70 countries worldwide. That's 70 unique policy environments and an array of communities. They are participating to achieve different goals and visions some with a focus on social, others on environmental, some to preserve the unique heritage and culture of the destination, yet they've all been independently audited and assessed their localised approach contributing to global goals. After all, we all breathe the same air. Marloes Knippenberg CEO of Kerten Hospitality Where is the sweet spot between standardized frameworks for sustainable hospitality and individualized, local sustainability action plans? How important is knowing the local community around your hotel, mixed-use project or a resort destination? We seek the answer in multiple variables ranging from the initial process of creating or choosing frameworks, guidelines, or policies, to personal adaptivity to each location. Standardized frameworks provide a much-needed basis and grounds in allowing for a mutual understanding and guidance for all members in their varying locations. They should function as a guideline in what is trying to be achieved, why and the importance, not a one size-fits-all, step by step of what to do exactly. However, it is equally important for sustainability values and beliefs to be engrained within the DNA of all team members and as the basis of referral for all decision making and operational plans. It is important to both stick to a framework and to establish an inner/mutual sustainable value system amongst employees and to have that impact and influence also following through into supply chains. For sustainability action plans and goals to be truly effective, they must be specifically tailored to meet each community and location needs in order to really have an impact in community developments and appropriate support. If the top sustainability goal and focus is locality, then locals should be the basis and starting point of the framework, of decision making, of operations and overall way of business. Setting all policies and guidelines to surround the importance and idea of 'locality' encourages all hotels to first consider the local community, and possibilities surrounding. Having the basis and priority set as 'locality' now sets a clear action plan and thought process guidance for all properties globally to adapt and follow to meet their specific community and hotel needs. Which standards provide sufficient space for adjustments on the basis of local realities? Standards that are specifically created to outline the company's specific goals, values and targets while upholding the possibilities of adaptivity and personalization, are most efficient when really trying to highlight the individuality of each local community. First, being aware that there are differences this means studying the various locations and their specific ESG needs and allowing for independency and personalization in the different properties rather than making one standardized process to be implemented globally. How much does the size and structure of the business influence the approach? With private, individual properties, they have the advantage to truly focus on their one surrounding community: in creating and maintaining beneficial, supporting relationships and truly being a positive community symbol and economic driver. The benefit and opportunity with smaller, individual properties is they can become very personal with their collaborations and community outreach. The larger the organization, and more of a global footprint they have means also more resources and opportunities to really drive an impactful sustainability framework and monitoring system. This should also translate to a greater effort and resources dedicated to positively impacting the surrounding communities. Larger, international firms are in the position to invest in and truly drive economic profitability within the communities. What further arguments strengthen or weaken the application of both approaches? Complying with global standards and guidelines carries the benefit of a trusted entity or organization validating your sustainability efforts and practices. It is also a good source for creating a base line and in-depth understanding of the core inefficiencies within the industry and how to go about tackling them. Sustainable hospitality, however, does not mean the same for every hotel property operating globally which further stresses the importance for each hotel to develop their action plans uniquely. There is definitely the possibility to combine both, integrating the approach of global frameworks by creating a benchmark and structure for measurements, and tracking but having that done individually for each hotel and community depending on their overall hotel and community need needs and local industry standards. Patrick OMeara Interim CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance While some sustainability issues are truly global (e.g. climate change), the majority are regional issues (including water stewardship, biodiversity and youth employment) that require locally applicable and accessible solutions that account for geographical specificities, and local regulations and restraints. That being said, there is recognisable value in overarching frameworks in their ability to offer strategic guidance, identify the most meaningful areas to focus on, and form the foundation for joined-up action across all stakeholders in the complex hospitality value chain. Importantly, they also serve to set ambitions for the industry, and motivate everyone as part of the global effort towards a sustainable future. To truly support organisations of all sizes, geographies and sustainability maturity, a combination of the two is required. The UN Sustainable Development Goals are built upon this very premise of thinking globally and acting locally. It is with these values in mind that we have developed the Pathway to Net Positive Hospitality; a guidance framework laying out the full journey hotels need to take to reach a global ambition of net positive environmental impacts, which will be launched in March. The Pathway is designed to provide a clear direction for hospitality, setting out four stages with increasing ambition, with accompanying resources to enable users to build individualised action plans which are relevant to their specific situation and location. The Pathway also accounts for the fragmented nature of the industry by providing guidance for the buildings as well as operations. By establishing a long-term vision whilst simultaneously providing users with the tools and resources for relevant practical action, the Pathway aims to fall into this sweet spot between standardised frameworks and individualised plans. Arjan van Rheede Senior Research Fellow in Sustainability at Hotelschool The Hague Considering Materiality Rene Dubos, warned shortly after the 1972 Stockholm Conference on the Environment, that global programs cannot be easily translated everywhere into local actions (Gerlach, 1991). Version 1.0 of the slogan 'Think Globally and Act Locally' was born (see also my viewpoint December 2021). The importance of translating and adjusting general insight into a specific context can also be found in Hotel programs, certification schemes and reporting tools. Accor's Planet 21 uses a system of 10 mandatory actions and a free selection of a big set of initiatives to let each hotel make their own priorities and include the local context. This system of mandatory and free elements is also used in the Greenkey certification. In the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) these principles are captured in the concept of Materiality. A good definition of Materiality is: ..topics that represent an organization's most significant impacts on the economy, environment, and people, including impacts on their human rights. (GRI, 2021, p. 4) So I really belief that using this notion of Materiality is helpful in formulating and implementing sustainable strategies both at the head office and at the level of the individual hotel. This can create the right balance between: what is needed at the global level (e.g. the energy transition) and how the most (positive) impact can be created from the perspective of the 'local' hotel ecosystem! Gerlach, L. P. (1991). Global Thinking, Local Acting: Movements to Save the Planet. Evaluation Review, 15(1), 120148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X9101500107 GRI, 2021, GRI Standards, GRI 3: Material Topics 2021, accessed on 18 February 2022 https://www.globalreporting.org/... Jonathon Day Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director School of Hospitality and Tourism Management Of course, the question is a false dichotomy. We must do both - Think and act locally; think and act globally. Global standards, like the GSTC criteria, provide comprehensive frameworks designed to ensure holistic approaches to sustainability. As such they provide great value in showing the big picture. Managing sustainability must be more than a couple of loosely linked programs. A plastic reduction program here and a food waste reduction program there are important tasks and great places to start - but they aren't comprehensive approaches to sustainability. But that is not to say you have to eat the whole steak in one mouthful. Or rather - that is not to say that every destination or business must meet every criterion from the beginning. It is true that there are core elements at the foundation of almost every sustainability plan. For instance, at the heart of environmental sustainability is the management of water, energy, and waste. And even though these elements should be core to any plan, the importance of these items may vary depending on whether the business is located in a water-scarce location or a community where businesses use energy generated by fossil fuels. And beyond the core, the activities businesses and destinations choose to make their first priorities will vary based on the perceived needs of key stakeholders. As the first priorities are addressed, other sustainability issues can be addressed. Ultimately, sustainability management is a process of performance improvement. Perhaps the more important issue is that we need to learn the meaning of our measures. Comparing data across types of business or even between different environments is both nuanced and fraught. As we standardize measures, we must be careful not to create disincentives for businesses to engage in the process. Even as destinations find solutions to their specific issues, it is important to recognize that unique is an overused term. In my experience so far, there are very few unique challenges and there is much to be learned from others facing similar issues. Wicked problems need customized solutions, and the implementation of sustainability programs is a wicked problem. Nevertheless, while every problem is unique many of the challenges faced by businesses and destinations are the same and we don't have to reinvent the wheel in every business or every destination community. Standards, while setting a minimum, need to be aspirational as well. But in the end, there must exist a path to reach or achieve those standards. Having said that, existing globally recognized standards hold a lot of value in their ability to promote the recipient of the standards' certification but may miss the mark in driving an impact across different geographies, given the local context of an area. Local standards, however, may not have the reach or comparability that global standards have, but they are able to highlight more locally critical sustainability factors. A solution we would propose for the hospitality industry, given its diversity, is establishing an international body that will set and enforce standards on important sustainability indicators at a global level but weighing the significance of those indicators based on specific geographical regions to best fit their unique conditions and variables. The weights to be applied to the agreed upon indicators should be developed for the different regions of the world to account for their specific realities. While some indicators, (e.g., climate impact) are measured and addressed based on a global snapshot, others are highly local. As an example, certain locations have abundant freshwater supplies. Measures to limit water consumption are much less critical than they are in water stressed locations. To further illustrate this point, let's consider the LEED standard for buildings where most points that can be earned revolve around a building's mechanical system. For example, regions that rely on mechanical systems for cooling and heating have a better chance of meeting and proving compliance compared to regions where natural airflow is used for cooling. The simple reason for this disparity is these points may not be pursued by properties in those areas because of the added difficulty of proof inherent in the standard. Imagine that, under this global standard, it is harder to earn the same credits when using natural ventilation, even though it is the more sustainable option. The design of such a global standard would require participation from local entities who can bring the regional knowledge in addition to the global experts. It's establishment and worldwide adoption would create a mechanism by which properties could truly be compared, and assign meaning to any certification based on these standards. For the consumer, it will mean confidence, trust, and peace of mind when selecting accommodations with the lowest impact on the environment, and/or the highest social impact on local communities. Not to mention the added bonus of knowing what it means when we see certifications on websites and in lobbies, thus limiting opportunities for greenwashing. Where is the sweet spot between standardized frameworks for sustainable hospitality and individualized, local sustainability action plans? Standardized frameworks for the hospitality world serve to manage internal sustainability impacts and costs. Research we have done on the report, Destinations at Risk, the Invisible Burden of Tourism asks industry to consider how we will manage the operational externalities of tourism around the world at the destination level. In our publication, we suggest that the future of tourism will depend on industry and government's ability to efficiently and effectively measure and manage the full cost per tourist. There are many reasons to consider a new set of consistent public private annual accounts that can offer a better look at the specific costs for managing tourists at the local level. These are not theoretical costs. And they are not terribly unique for each destination. They include the use of water and energy, management of waste and wastewater, the GhG emissions per tourist, and the cost of greening infrastructure for tourism and residents at the local level. Action plans can proceed for hotels via public private cooperation on the vital questions of how to improve energy, water, waste and wastewater treatment per tourist at the local level. Which standards provide sufficient space for adjustments on the basis of local realities? Combined efforts to lower the invisible burden of tourism over time could without question be highly responsive to local realities and would remove overlap between private sector monitoring and government cost accounting for improving the destinations utilities while motivating investment in destinations. What further arguments strengthen or weaken the application of both approaches? As we all try to cope with the enormous task of lowering the total environmental and social impacts of tourism on destinations, the benefits of getting joint public private operational accounting systems in place are numerous, including: Energy systems in destinations will be designed to incorporate tourism uses in the most efficient manner Greenhouse Gas Emissions will be measured and lowered as part of tourism policy formulation to meet national goals Ecosystem management for tourism will include the protection of parks, coastal zones, dunes and other important biodiversity sites resulting in more stability, resilience and social well-being in the face of climate change, extreme weather and sea level rise How much does the size and structure of the business influence the approach? The size and structure of business will matter much less if businesses become part of operational accounting systems at the destination level. It will supply them with the data required for lowering their footprint, e.g. what it will take to improve destination utility services for their properties. While training is required at the local level to undertake this kind of accounting, it is already feasible and Cornell University is working now to launch this training as part of the new Sustainable Tourism Destination Management on-line certificate to come out in the Fall of 2022 with the support of GIZ and eCornell. Cooperation between hotels and such regional accounting systems will allow them to jointly manage operational externalities, and improve on deficient infrastructure at the local level. These improvement costs can be computed and audited to ensure that business and government can rely on the overall operational costs derived. Once operational externality costs are accounted for as illustrated here, there will be a greater chance that the budget to improve destinations will begin to be formulated. This will support the improvement of hotel sustainability frameworks worldwide. Celine Vadam Founder & CEO of WE(i) Think Mixing global and local frameworks are necessary to set up efficient sustainability measures. While a global setting is a good way to enforce measures and make them understandable and recognizable to the public, it is unrealistic to assume that there will be a one size fits all template in our global environment. Global and local measures should complement each other when it comes to sustainability. Location specificities have a big impact on various factors impacting sustainability measures, from climate to natural environment, local population and isolation of the place, size of the building and level of finishing, city vs seaside vs countryside vs mountain,... Although having global standards is a good way to set the tone and give guidelines and a framework for investors, developers and operators, it is important to tailor them to reflect the local realities, allowing structures who do not tick all the boxes because of their circumstances to still be part of the collective effort to make our industry more sustainable. Having said that, it would be interesting to work on regional models/case studies with variable locations and sizes that can be used as best case for properties and highlight what they should be aiming for, using data and monitoring to set targets in terms of sustainability measures, which can cover various topics from energy and water use, CO2 emissions, local procurement, employment of local population, Nicolas Dubrocard Founder & Director, Audit Diagnostic Solutions Tourism Having worked in 35 countries to implement sustainability programs, I could witness first-hand the difficulties to bridge international standards and local eco systems. Hotels and restaurants are willing to reach international standards and benchmark their results with fellow businesses but at the same time each destination particularities should be acknowledged. To implement a successful sustainability programme there is a need to understand the local context, to learn from it and identify the priorities to deal with. Does the destination face water shortages? Are the human rights flouted? How could local entrepreneurs become reliable suppliers?... These are some questions that international chains and standards should bear in mind when they create and wish to implement their systems. There should be core values that every different destination can adopt and then room for local context. When we created the Asian Captive Elephant Standards, we realized from the beginning that we should consider each country specificities and we have decided to adapt our criteria to the risks of extinction depending on the country. We wanted to secure strong commitment to international values and at the same take into account the local situation. Such an approach means that there is an understanding of local contexts and the acceptance that international standards need to adapt. This prerequisite will make them stronger in the long run. Benjamin Lephilibert Founder & CEO, LightBlue Environmental Consulting I believe that the need for global standards is obvious, but ones that include a certain level of flexibility when the compliance is being audited. Take the example of The PLEDGE on Food Waste Certification (www.thepledgeonfoodwaste.org ) for hotels' outlets, restaurants and canteens. There are 95 criteria, 78 of them are compulsory, and 17 are bonus points. The compulsory criteria are the minimum expected by restaurants, wherever they are in the world. However, the 17 bonus criteria are used not only to identified those keen to go the extra mile (and become bronze, silver, gold or ALL STAR) , but also those who will try to connect to the local ecosystem of food waste solutions providers, such as food rescue organisation, local animal farms, bio-digesting services, etc, to strive for Zero Food Waste to Landfill. However, I can't stress enough the importance of training auditors to intelligently assess the compliance of the adopters, based on the local reality of the operations! It is to me a good illustration that a so-called "micro" certification can be global, with a strong local component. Andreas Koch Managing Director at blueContec GmbH For me it is not an either Think global, act local or Think local, act global question. We need both. We need a global understanding, a global framework and globally accepted and transparent certification standards as any global challenge can only be addressed globally. The opposite is also true: We need local solutions to global challenges, more local supply chains and local networks of best practice actors to showcase that change is possible. The question for me is rather more, how to translate the necessity to change based on the global challenges to the day to day operations. This gets even more complicated the smaller the business is. The solution derived out of many project in this area - is that we need to better understand and apply the way we humans learn to the way we teach, apply and implement any global standard. The boil it down to one point: We need to make it personal. The why is more important at least in the beginning than the how and what. This is true when we talk about large cooperations as well as small enterprises. Why do we do what we do, why is sustainability a success factor for our business and me privately. The answers could be: Because it is healthier, because it is more fun, because I can apply it at home as well. If we do inspire and create a better understanding of these very personal questions, we will create a local movement resulting in global results. If not, any sustainability system will stay a concept, any certification will not stay for long. Any successful best practice let it be a destination, a tour operator or a hotel has answered this question in the beginning. Of course, we then need standardized global systems to benchmark and report on in order to move on. Nia Klatte Sustainability Project Manager at the Considerate Group With the abundant availability of sustainability certifications these days and the often-mismatched communication, which comes with it, how can we expect guests to use certifications and standards as an influence on the choice they make? Sadly many most of the certification schemes, local as well as international, have missed out a clear B2C positioning with guests or travellers over the last year, with little market awareness being the result. This therefore raises the question of what impact certifications really have. Often it seems that official standards or certifications replace the much-needed reporting instead of showing progress and achievements, a badge substitutes in-depth communication and transparency. I still believe that a well-developed ESG strategy with advanced reporting paired with transparent communication is as good as a certification. The goals should be to showcase your progress what has been achieved, how did your measure and how do you monitor progress. And an individually developed ESG strategy, with company specific targets and priorities automatically allows to integrate the local environment and its characteristics. On the other hand, standardized frameworks provide a great tool for implementing change within a business. Staff, who have not worked on sustainability before, can achieve a sense of ownership and understanding of the initiatives. When working towards a common goal, i.e. the certification, staff can get motivated and engaged the process can feel almost like a competition - who can implement criteria the best or the fastest? Gaining a seal of approval at the end can help everyone in the organization to understand their individual impact, while at the same time, it can nurture a sense of pride. Standards break down the very complex issue of sustainability, the criteria provide a step-by-step process to tackle ESG, while providing milestones to achieve. Standardized frameworks are a great way to support hospitality businesses to implement ESG strategies and to get teams started on their journey. Their real impact however often cannot be measured: did guests choose the property because of the certification? Or did they book a hotel because it has a clear transparent way of communicating its ESG projects, goals, initiatives on their websites or through a publicly available report? Tricky to measure. Marco Bevolo Founder of Marco Bevolo Consulting In order to grasp a vision for a preferable future, it might be useful to rewind to our past. According to Prof. Em. Conrad Lashley, the origins of tourism and hospitality lie in "hospitableness", or the human faculty to welcome and host strangers. At the origin of contemporary hospitality, our Latin mothers and fathers used to exchange visits in family networks, with multiple social purposes and value generation, from the experience of faraway places to relationships. Fast forward to the 2020's, a great divide might be observed between international chains with standardized formats, and increasingly so by proptech solutions and pervasive digitalization; versus local providers at micro-level, e.g. family owned Bed & Breakfast structures with a couple of rooms available, e.g. as in the Italian "agriturismo" phenomenon, or even www.airbnb.com managed rooms in private housing facilities, with families or single owners who de facto become service providers in a grey zone between informal economy and hospitality / tourism enterpreunership. Then, the question is, what format and what dimension or scale might be more attractive for the future? Reality might be, between the connection between the family dimension and the direct relationship with the territory, the hyperlocal synergies between humans and land translate in the most natural route to true sustainability. While global formats might ensure efficiency and effectiveness through scalability, cultural differences do and will increasingly play a role in determining longer term social sustainability profiles and performances of hospitality venues and businesses of tomorrow. Kathy McGuire Principal Sustainable Development at 3 Pillar Solutions, LLC Certifications that I am familiar with that have the most flexibility are EarthCheck and ISO 14001. As management systems, they are not points-based checklists that many times allow a property to be doing well in one area, without a focus on other areas. They are beneficial for small properties, as well as large. Whether or not hospitality companies are going to follow a certain standard has and will always depend on the answer to the question: "Whats in it for me?" Currently, standard benefits focus on visibility, recognition and giving access to certain client groups. Their promise is a kind of sustainability guarantee stamp. However, with increasing understanding from the consumer side of what sustainability means and encompasses, standards might lose some of its appeal. This is why, in my eyes, standards should focus on a different kind of promise. Especially those companies only starting their sustainability journeys search for orientation, guidance and tools. Standards can and should be a great asset for those lost in the jungle. As such, they should also advise on how to approach local measures, how to engage with stakeholders and understand impact factors. Standards have to have the flexibility those local approaches require. And most of them do already. Still, a bit less of "criteria" and more "how to" would be useful. When it comes to the benefit of benchmark, there might be more companies shying away from it rather than opting for it. The idea of a global sustainable hospitality ranking might be a dream for some, but a nightmare for others. Suzann Heinemann Founder and CEO of InfraCert GmbH With the growing demand for sustainability holiday offers, touristic enterprises are required to develop strategies that comply with future-proof guiding principles of eco-friendly tourism. Although several standardized frameworks have come to existence, such as certification systems and environmental programs, there is no one universal strategy for sustainable tourism yet. This is why standardized frameworks can only act as a supporting element on the path to green holiday offers. At the end of the day, each enterprise is responsible for identifying and implementing individual concepts and action plans based on their local circumstances, their size, their number of employees, the structure of their business, their financial capabilities etc. A proper and credible certification system can provide very useful guidelines and examples in order to identify these individual action plans. Randy Durband CEO at Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) This discussion strikes me more about choosing to comply with a broad set of criteria (attributes) versus a narrower wet than about local vs global standards. I mean that in two ways: even with differences in local priorities, the essential set of criteria to follow are truly universal, and the range of capacity to achieve higher levels of sustainability being limited by local infrastructure doesn't diminish the need to "do your best" regarding those essential and universal criteria. Water issues and waste management always stand at or near the top of attributies in this type of discussion. The quality of both water and waste, and the quantity of fresh, clean water avaialabe at specific locations vary more widely from place to place than many other attributes. But the imperative to strive for the greatest efficiency in your hotel for either is still an imperative no matter the range of potential for improvement. For example criterion D1.4 of the GSTC Industry Criteria for Hotels starts with reference to assessing water risk at individual properties, and you go from there to assign the degree of priority of that issue for your hotel...it will differ in Las Vegas versus Dublin. But the criterion is relevant to both. Assessing risk and prioritizing attributes for each particular destination and each particular hotel is called for. But that doesn't mean any sustainability criteria should be ignored. In short, local conditions set priorities for action and continuous improvement approaches, but all universal criteria matter in all locations. Size and structure clearly drive that risk assessment process which drives prioritization. Henri Kuokkanen Associate Professor at Institut Paul Bocuse As in many things, I believe that also here extremes do not work. In thinking, the big picture is always necessary. Without global thinking there would be an enormous difference between the developed and the developing worlds, while, in the end, the planet faces the same set of grand challenges. On the other hand, planning actions only based on global considerations would miss the mark in many local communities with specific issues at hand. There is no "one size fits all" solution. Major multinational entities have better opportunities to employ global standards and have a positive impact on stakeholders compared to local or regional players. They should assume the responsibilities this position brings and accept to be held to a different standard that is not higher but covers a wider range of topics. Subsequently, the standards created and applied must allow adaptation to local situations without jeopardizing the purpose of standardization. The "gold standard" is a standard that allows a business to adopt a local goal and demonstrate how striving for this goal fulfills the criteria set. Otherwise, a meaningful purpose for standardization that leads to action could be lost. Willy Legrand Professor of Hospitality Management at the IU International University of Applied Sciences, Germany Texas led the nation in installing wind and solar power capacity in 2021, accounting for 17 percent of all new renewable energy projects in the United States last year, according to an industry trade group. More than 7,300 megawatts of clean power came online last year in Texas, compared with 2,697 megawatts in California and 1,543 megawatts in Oklahoma, according to the Washington, D.C.-based American Clean Power Association. Across the country, a total of 27,700 megawatts of clean energy projects were installed, the group said. One megawatt is enough to power about 200 homes on a hot summer day. The additions meant the U.S. surpassed a milestone, according to the association: The country now has more than 200,000 megawatts of utility-scale renewable energy capacity. Heather Zichal, the groups CEO, said that despite that growth, lawmakers could do more to drive forward the energy transition. Last years growth represents about 45 percent of what is required to stay on track for an emissions-free power sector, Zichal said. Although the U.S. has reached this incredible achievement, more needs to be done, at a faster pace, to reach the climate goals and targets our country needs to achieve, she said. We urge Congress to take action to create a clean energy future that will help create more good-paying American jobs and combat the climate crisis. Installations in 2021 fell short of 2020s record year, with a three percent decline by comparison. A large number of projects totaling 11,400 megawatts were pushed back from their 2021 original completion dates. Supply chain issues snarled some projects, but the Association said trade policies affected the availability of solar panels coming into the country. And wind projects may have been stalled by the looming expiration of tax credits that have helped buoy the industry. On HoustonChronicle.com: Fed-up Texans are creating their own tiny power grids. Here's how. Still, renewable energy remains popular. Power purchase agreements reached record highs in 2021, at 28,000 megawatts. A power purchase agreement is a financial arrangement in which a developer arranges the construction and financing of installations on a customers property at little to no cost to the property owner. Corporate buyers beat out utilities for this type of energy procurement for the first time last year, announcing deals for a total of more than 14,000 megawatts. Utilities, meanwhile, entered contracts for more than 10,000 gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage. Issues still plague the industry, however, in the transition to cleaner power. Utility-scale battery storage is still overmatched by the amount of solar and wind generation online. And European countries that have aggressively pivoted to renewables suffered from an energy crisis this winter as natural gas shortages plagued the continent and renewable power supplies fell far short of demand. shelby.webb@chron.com Curious to see what the ever-inventive Nikki Tran would do with a lobster banh mi, at the urging of a friend I dined at her restaurant for the first time since the pandemic hit. The very idea of the dish made me smile, from the advertised nuoc mam butter, to the promise of a little house pate tucked into the French bread, to the cheek of luxe-ing up this everyday Houston staple. Chef Tran has never been lacking for cheek. Or charm, either. Her Kau Ba Saigon offers a transporting patio on its shady corner in Montrose, aswirl with a floral mural, bright coated-wire chairs and a wooden lattice overhang from which a regiment of old-fashioned metal fans hangs suspended. Squint and you could be somewhere else entirely, an effect which I prize more as I travel less. Its not the hurly-burly of Saigon, where Tran first made waves with her Cajun-inflected Vietnamese cooking. But sitting here with a golden cocktail as the sun went down, I could have been at a neighborhood spot in Mexico Citys Roma, or Brooklyn, or Buenos Aires. That gin-based cocktail was my first clue that things had been happening here since my last in-person visit. It wasnt quite the restaurant I remembered. Picking food up to go, I hadnt realized that the bar at Kau Ba Saigon has leveled up to meet Trans food. More Information Kau Ba Saigon 2502 Dunlavy, 713-497-5300 See More Collapse Lately they offer provocative, well-made cocktails and a wine list thats refreshing and affordable, including some welcome choices by the glass. Those improvements can be credited to beverage director Chris Morris, a veteran of cocktail competitions who is also a sommelier. I first ran into him tending bar at the late Hunky Dory, and Im impressed with the excitement hes added to Kau Ba. Morris has a deft touch with complex flavors that made my Flora the Explorer cocktail interesting to the last drop. Its Hendricks gin base got its sunny flush from Manzanilla sherry; then herbal (Thai basil), vegetal (celery bitters) and floral flavors (lavender bitters and Austin-made honeysuckle liqueur) balanced each other out. It made me curious to see what Morris and his team are doing with their jackfruit-infused rye, their infusions of lemongrass, their crawfish aromatics, and a cocktail that involves Chartreuse, pandan, ube and egg white, among other things. A dinner here was always fun for me; but now it feels like an occasion I want to share with my pickiest friends. My meal was just as gripping as that cocktail. Chef Tran has come up with a cold mussel salad that shot right to the top of the Years Best Dishes list that I am always compiling in my head. The briny poached shellfish had been neatly halved, for easier eating, and their Thai chili marinade was a rollercoaster of tartness and heat shot through with an intoxicating bloom of lemongrass. The lemongrass stalks were young enough, and had been sliced thinly enough, that they were completely edible, a rare treat. I ate every last shred of green papaya, sliver of red onion and ribbon of mint leaf, too. Then I marveled at the fact that for seven bucks I had just eaten a brilliant dish in a real appetizer portion. It wasnt a small plate, or a junior entree with a tab to match. The cold mussel salad really did set the stage for the quieter, richer lobster banh mi. They call it a mini banh mi, and its a good half-sized sandwich of crackly-crusted, airy French baguette swiped with a gentle house pate inside, and filled with carefully poached lobster chunks. The shellfish is bathed in butter thats been made savory with nuoc mam, the Vietnamese fish-sauce dip, then showered with a crunch of fried garlic and onion. It works. Especially with a nice glass of Macon to go along, which made this French-Vietnamese-New England hybrid feel like an inspired mashup of worlds. alison.cook@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate February 23 Music department to perform works Lone Star College-Tomball presents a Faculty Musical Moment on Feb. 23 at 2-3 p.m. at the colleges commons. Admission is free. On HoustonChronicle.com: Tomball library upgrading teen space with new technology The event features music faculty from the college sharing some of their favorite works. Led by Fine Arts Department Chair and Music Program Director Lisa Morales, the event offers an opportunity for the public to engage with the colleges music department and learn about upcoming classes, performances and available scholarships. Lone Star College-Tomball Commons is located at 30555 Tomball Parkway. Learn more at www.lonestar.edu. School offers free MusicTogether class The Ethos School of Music is offering a free MusicTogether demo Class from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Feb. 23. The class, for children ages 0 through 5 and their parents, offers a way for families to begin to build a musical foundation. The full price for participating in the 10-class weekly group is $300. Email info@ethos.school to reserve your spot in the class. Ethos School of Music is located at 33211 Buckshot Lane in Magnolia. Learn more at www.ethos.school. February 24 Marketing agency owner speaks at Express Network Luncheon The Cy-Fair Express Network presents a luncheon at 11 a.m. on Feb. 24 at Springhill Suites by Marriott on the Northwest Freeway. Advance tickets are $30. This months speaker is Valeria Collier-Vick, the owner of Val Vick Content & Copywriting. A content marketing strategist for entrepreneurs and engineers, Collier-Vick will deliver a program titled 3 Content Marketing Strategies for Busy Entrepreneurs Guaranteed to Grow Sales in 2022. Springhill Suites by Marriott is located at 20350 Northwest Freeway in Houston. Learn more at www.cyfen.org. February 25 Drowsy Chaperone at Crighton Theater Stage Right presents The Drowsy Chaperone at The Crighton Theater, which runs through Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Adult tickets are $30. The Drowsy Chaperone is a self-described musical within a comedy set in the 1920s during prohibition and first performed in 1998 in Toronto. It opened on Broadway in 2006 and has won five Tony awards. Crighton Theater is located at 234 N. Main Street in Conroe. Learn more at www.stage-right.org. Stageworks presents God of Carnage play Stageworks Main Stage presents God of Carnage, which continues through Feb. 27. Tickets start at $21. On HoustonChronicle.com: Stageworks God of Carnage tackles controversial topics to provide an honest look at ourselves The comedy, written by Yasmina Reza and translated by Christopher Hampton, centers on four adults who meet each other after their kids get in a playground altercation. The performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25 and 26. The show is directed by Matthew C. Logan. The play contains adult language and themes. Stageworks Theatre is located at 10760 Grant Road in Houston. Learn more at www.stageworkshouston.org. February 26 Kinsmen Lutheran Church celebrates 50 years In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Kinsmen Lutheran Church will host a weekend of gatherings Feb. 26-27. On Feb. 26, a dinner at 6 p.m. will celebrate the milestone anniversary and the next day brunch beginning at 9:45 a.m. will be served in the Community Life Center for visitors to enjoy after worship services. Tickets for the dinner are $30 before Feb. 21 and $50 after, while donations are accepted for the community brunch. The events mark when the congregation was formally organized as Kinsmen Lutheran Church in February 1972. Kinsmen Lutheran Church began as an ecumenical house church in 1971, with support from the American Lutheran Church. Folk services with singing and guitars were held in many members homes during the first year, then moved to Greenwood Elementary School. In 1972, 15 acres were purchased on Champion Forest Drive and the Rev. John Wayne Harpel, who had been leading this mission from the start, was formally called as pastor of the congregation. Kinsmen Lutheran Church is located at 12100 Champion Forest Drive in Houston. For more information please visit www.kinsmenlutheran.org. Fab 5 covers hits from The Beatles The Fab 5 a British invasion and golden era cover band specializing in the works of The Beatles will perform at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26 at Main Street Crossing in Tomball. Tickets start at $25. Based in Houston, the band has performed corporate parties, New Years Eve celebrations, music festivals and has appeared at many of the citys best known music venues. The band has been performing for more than 15 years and won the Houston Press music award for best cover band for five recent consecutive years. Main Street Crossing is located at 111 W. Main Street in Tomball. Learn more at www.mainstreetcrossing.com or call 281-290-0431. February 27 Brides compete for prizes at Bridal Wars Houston The Bridal Wars Houston event and festival is from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Feb. 27 at Majestic Oaks in Tomball. Advance registration starts at $10 per person, or $20 per person for team registration. The event pits brides and their teams of family, friends and supporters against each other in a series of challenges to compete for prizes. Challenges include a lip sync battle, a mug shot station, a bouquet toss, balloon pop, relay races and more. Wedding vendors will also participate and offer freebies as well as food and drink vendors. Majestic Oaks is located at 20125 Cedar Lane in Tomball. Learn more at www.bridalwarsevent.com. March 4 LAs Tab Benoit performs two nights at Dosey Doe Blues guitarist Tab Benoit will perform two nights at 8:30 p.m. on March 4-5 at Dosey Doe The Big Barn. Alistair Greene opens at 7:30 p.m. and tickets start at $88 and includes a three-course meal served until 7:30 p.m. The southern Louisiana based artist performs with a simple set up: a Fender Telecaster Thinline, a cord, a mic and an amp. He is also the founder of the group Voice for the Wetlands, which advocates and raises money for Louisianas coastal preservation. Dosey Doe The Big Barn is located at 25911 I-45 North in The Woodlands. Learn more at www.doseydoe.com or call 281-367-3774. Quilt show returns to Berry Center The Tri-County Quilt Guild presents a quilt show March 4-5 at The Berry Center in Cy-Fair. Admission is $10 at the door, and the event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 4 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 5. More than 200 unique quilts will be on display and various vendors will participate. More than 60 gift baskets will be part of the tin can raffle and club members will sell gently used sewing and quilting items. The Berry Center is located at 8877 Barker Cypress Road in Cypress. Learn more at www.tricountyquiltguild.org. March 6 Church offers blood drive Messiah Lutheran Church in Cypress presents a blood drive from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on March 6 in the fellowship hall. The church also offers regular Sunday worship times at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and an education lesson for kids who have completed kindergarten through the sixth grade at 9:15 a.m. Messiah Lutheran Church is located at 11522 Telge Road. Learn more at www.commitforlife.org or email hughesguyz@aol.com. March 10 Weekend lineup of events feature young artists Young Texas Artists presents the 2022 YTA Fine Arts Weekend March 10-13 at various locations in Conroe. Tickets start at $100. The weekend includes a Bach, Beethoven & Barbecue dinner at the Crighton Theatre Grand Pavilion at 5 p.m. on March 12, a Concert of Classics featuring YTA Finalists at 7:30 p.m. on March 12 at Crighton Theatre, a Fine Arts Show at 1 p.m. on March 11 at 202 Main Street, a contemporary dance showcase at 2 p.m. on March 11 at 202 Main Street and a Young Texas Poets Showcase at 3:30 p.m. on March 13 at Red Brick Tavern. Crighton Theatre is located at 234 N. Main Street in Conroe. Learn more at www.ytamc.com. Entertainment roundup is a weekly feature compiled by freelance writer Brandon Moeller. Send entertainment submissions to Brandon at moellerbrandon@gmail.com . Firefighters work to extinguish a fire after an airstrike hit a tire shop in Lviv, Ukraine, Monday, April 18, 2022. Russian missiles hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine on Monday, killing at least six people, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow's troops stepped up strikes on infrastructure in preparation for an all-out assault on the east. (Mykola Tys/AP) President Biden on Tuesday responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by verbally lacing into President Vladimir Putin and outlining an initial raft of economic sanctions that he said would escalate in turn with the advance of Russian soldiers. The U.S. sanctions, combined with other measures cobbled together by Western powers on Tuesday, marked a strike against the Russian economy after Putin ordered troops into his countrys western neighbor in the early morning hours on Tuesday. Advertisement Who in the Lords name does Putin think gives him the right to declare new so-called countries on territory that belonged to his neighbors? Biden said as he detailed the penalties in a 10-minute speech from the East Room of the White House. This is a flagrant violation of international law, and it demands a firm response. President Joe Biden speaks about Ukraine in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (Alex Brandon/AP) The White House said it was slapping sanctions on two Russian financial institutions that hold more than $80 billion in assets, and on the nations sovereign debt, a move to cut the countrys access to foreign financing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had called off a meeting with his Russian counterpart. Advertisement The president has made clear that he does not intend to send troops into Ukraine, but sought to underscore Western unity in the face of Russias stunning advance on its neighbor. Whatever Russia does next, were ready to respond with unity, clarity and conviction, Biden said. Front page for Feb. 22, 2022: Putin orders troops into Ukraine. Biden, Europe vow stiff sanctions. Gov girds for cyberthreat to N.Y. Russian forces hold recent exercises. On Monday, Vladimir Putin ordered "peacekeeping troops" into parts of Ukraine as the UN was to meet on the crisis. (New York Daily News) The president also warned Americans that defending freedom will have costs for us as well, here at home, alluding to a possible increase in energy prices. But he said he would take pains to ensure Russia feels the brunt of the pain and limit the cost to American workers. The U.S described the Russian advance as an invasion for the first time on Tuesday, hours after Putin ordered troops into Ukraine. The U.S. initially shied away from using the term after Putin ordered the soldiers into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine Donetsk and Luhansk. The Russian president claimed the soldiers were moving in for peacekeeping purposes and recognized the separatist areas as independent. The American sanctions and rhetorical shift arrived as Europe girds for an armed conflict that threatens to devolve into the largest on the continent since World War II. Russia has massed almost 200,000 troops in and around Ukraine, surrounding it on three sides, according to the U.S. Russian armored vehicles stand on the road in Rostov region, Russia, on Tuesday. (YURI KOCHETKOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/YURI KOCHETKOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock) Russian lawmakers authorized Putin to use military force outside his countrys borders on Tuesday, another bleak signal of a possibly brutal war to come. It is not clear what shape Russias invasion might take. Analysts have wondered whether Putin will opt for a slower, smaller incursion into eastern Ukraine, or direct a swift offensive on Kyiv, the path Biden has predicted. Advertisement Kyiv, the capital, is located in the north-central portion of the country, and an enormous buildup of Russian troops in Belarus to Ukraines north has led many Western officials to expect that Putin will choose the bolder, bloodier path. People wait to cross from Ukrainian government controlled areas to pro-Russian separatists controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) Some Republicans panned Bidens response as overly tepid given Putins aggressive actions. Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, called it a step in the right direction but pushed for punishing sanctions. I wouldnt even call it a half-measure, Cotton told Fox News. Its probably more like a quarter-measure. But Biden and other Western leaders seemed to be engaged in a balancing act, hoping to reserve stricter measures as punishments for more hostile Russian action. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced criticism from the Labor Party to his left for not issuing harsher sanctions. A Ukrainian serviceman checks the documents of a woman crossing to government controlled areas from pro-Russian separatists controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) The British government said it had frozen the assets of five Russian banks and three Russian billionaires Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg and that it had imposed travel bans on the trio of influential Russian elites. Johnson, like Biden, did not hold back in his verbal recriminations against the Kremlin. Describing Putins moves, Johnson said it was a struggle to contemplate how in the year 2022, a national leader might calmly and deliberately plot the destruction of a peaceful neighbor. Advertisement And yet the evidence of his own words suggests that is exactly what President Putin is doing, Johnson said in Parliament. We must now brace ourselves. Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (AP) Biden, wary of direct conflict with a nuclear-armed state, has ruled out sending troops into Ukraine, but has worked with Britain and other European powers to plan severe economic costs for Russia. Germany said Tuesday that it would freeze certification of the Nord Stream 2, a planned natural gas pipeline to Russia that has become a significant bargaining chip during the tensions. Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, tweeted Tuesday that Biden had made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward. We have been in close consultations with Germany overnight and welcome their announcement, Psaki wrote. An armored vehicle rolls down a street outside Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, late Tuesday, Feb. 22. (AP) Johnson, meanwhile, said Putin had completely torn up international law and that the British intended to target Russias economy as hard as we can. Advertisement We expect, Im afraid, that there is more Russian irrational behavior to come, Johnson said in a video published by his office on Twitter. Putin delivered a rambling, grievance-laden speech on Monday, claiming that Ukraine lacked the traditions of statehood and presenting the country of 44 million as a terminal threat to Russia. The former KGB foreign intelligence officer described Ukraine as fundamentally Russian, and his address was viewed by the West as a breathtaking act of historical revisionism. Military trucks move down a street outside Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, late Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (AP) Ukraine, which declared independence three decades ago after the Soviet Union fell, has shifted toward the West in recent years. Monuments to its Soviet past have declined, replaced by tributes to its battles for freedom. Observers have wondered about the mindset of Putin, who has spent the pandemic almost entirely isolated, and ensconced by a web of hard-line advisers. But analysts noted that Putins thirst to expand Russias sphere of influence has been fermenting for years. Looking at it from the outside, its hard to see how either a small war or a big war leaves him and Russia better off, said Brian Taylor, a professor at Syracuse University who studies Russia and international security. Advertisement But for Putin, Taylor added, the ultimate geopolitical prize has always been Ukraine: the closest, largest East Slavic quote-unquote brother nation. OnScene.Tv A man was fatally shot Monday night on top of an apartment complex parking garage in west Houston, according to Houston police. The man was shot about 9:30 p.m. at the parking garage at 8800 block of Westheimer Road, east of Fondren, according to HPD Lt. Ronnie Wilkens. He was shot several times and pronounced dead at the scene. Leaders of Texas A&M Universitys Faculty Senate this week voiced their support of academic freedom in response to Lt. Gov Dan Patricks recent attacks on the tenure process and critical race theory. Members of the Faculty Senate's executive committee at the state's largest university are the latest to affirm professors ability to decide what they teach. University of Texas at Austins Faculty Council last Monday issued its own nonbinding resolution upholding their freedom to teach about race and gender theory, causing Patrick to announce his intention to end eligibility for tenure for all new hires at public universities. Patrick, a conservative Republican who leads the Texas Senate, also said he hopes to introduce legislation designating the teaching of critical race theory as good cause for tenure revocation. The executive committee's statement on Monday openly criticized state officials but did not name Patrick, who is up for reelection. Whereas the recent rhetoric of Texas state officials opposed to tenure and teaching about issues of race in the classroom is damaging the reputation and future of public higher education in Texas... the statement begins. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas A&M students to weigh in on newspapers future as some raise censorship concerns Critical race theory, an academic movement now more than 40 years old, views racial discrimination as deeply embedded in social structures and the legal system. It has become a flashpoint among many conservatives who dispute that white privilege and systemic racism continue to pose obstacles to the advancement of minorities. The Republican-led Legislature last year approved a measure that would ban the subject from being taught in K-12 schools, although critics have noted that any efforts to limit the discussion of racism in the classroom could have broader negative impacts. Patricks announcement Friday worried many scholars, who cited academic freedoms bearing on tenure and faculty recruitment. The A&M Faculty Senate executive committee members noted the same in their statement, adding that academic freedom is the foundation of universities and is affirmed in the 1940 statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, from the American Association of University Professors. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. Educators, not politicians, should make decisions about teaching and learning, the committee wrote, citing the associations stance. Tenure is an employment status in colleges and universities that denotes an indefinite appointment, preventing faculty from being terminated unless for cause or under extraordinary circumstances -- such as financial constraints and program discontinuation. The faculty board also said it stands with UT professors, the Texas Council of Faculty Senates and others who are opposed to interference in academics and curriculum. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the statement was adopted by the Faculty Senate's executive committee, not the full Senate. It also clarifies the definitions of critical race theory and tenure. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Galveston's two year-round cruise lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival, will soon reduce their face mask requirements for passengers, according to company statements. The cruise lines announced their new policies days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its pandemic guidelines for cruise ships on Feb. 17. The CDC's voluntary COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships, which sets out public health restrictions based on cruise ship vaccination levels and caseloads, now permits "Highly Vaccinated" ships - those with at least 95 percent of crew and passengers fully vaccinated - to make masks optional for crew and passengers. Carnival and Royal Caribbean both participate in the CDC program. Royal Caribbean will no longer require fully vaccinated passengers to wear masks onboard for cruises departing on or after Friday, Feb. 25. The cruise line will still require unvaccinated passengers, including children older than 2, to wear masks indoors or in crowded spaces. But masks will be optional for all passengers at the cruise line's two private resorts, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas and Labadee in Haiti. Carnival went further in relaxing its mask policy, which no longer requires passengers on cruises departing on or after March 1 to wear masks in most places onboard, regardless of vaccination status. Specific events and spaces will indicate whether masks are required, the company said. The changes signify a shift in CDC guidance as the federal agency monitors the nationwide surge of COVID cases caused by the omicron variant. The agency in late December warned all Americans, vaccinated and unvaccinated, against going on cruises due to the spike in cases. But local authorities in Galveston said the advisory, which lasted until Feb. 15, did not seem to lower demand for cruises. charlie.zong@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The family of Arlene Alvarez has supported Spanky's for years, but now the local pizza parlor decided it was time to support them in their time of grief after losing the 9-year old last week. Alvarez was shot and killed by a robbery victim on Feb. 14 as she was heading to the pizza parlor with her family. Within two days, the pizza parlor called on the community to rally around the family. The local family-owned business committed to donating 30 percent of its total sales on Monday from its flagship Telephone Road location to the Alvarez family. This included all orders from dine-in, to-go and orders from third party delivery services. "We hope you will come support this family and celebrate and honor the life of Arlene," the Facebook post read. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Alvarez family during this difficult time." After receiving overwhelming support, the pizza parlor added a donation box at the restaurant and included the familys cash app QR code for other ways to support the family, and a Valentines Day box for sympathy cards to write to the family. On Saturday, the Alvarez family called for an end to gun violence in a march with demonstrators toward Loop 610 from the Chase bank at Woodridge and Winkler, where the robbery occurred. By Monday morning, the southeast Houston restaurant was inundated with hundreds of guests. Spanky's Pizza "We sincerely appreciate your patience as we have never been this busy in our 45 year history," the restaurant wrote on its Facebook page. The restaurant, known for its homepage pizza and bar and signature margaritas, was so busy that within a few hours they had to temporarily stop taking phone and online orders to give their kitchen staff time to catch up to meet the demand. courtesy of Gwen Alvarez / courtesy of Gwen Alvarez Among the lunch crowd were Arlenes cousin, Samantha Castellanos, and her family, according to KHOU 11. "Every time I think about her, I just break down into tears," Castellanos told the station. "And it just hurts me so much that I can never see her again. Spanky's Pizza said via Facebook message Tuesday that they are keeping the total amount of donations from Monday's contributions confidential out of respect for the family's wishes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of imprisoned Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, was transferred to a minimum-security penitentiary in Texas from an undisclosed place. Coronel was registered Monday as an inmate at FMC Carswell, a federal medical center in Fort Worth with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp, Federal Bureau of Prisons record shows. She was previously held at an undisclosed facility, reportedly for security reasons. On HoustonChronicle.com: What notorious drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's mom thinks of him Coronel, a dual U.S.-Mexican citizen born in California, was arrested in February 2021 at Washington Dulles International Airport and charged with participating in a conspiracy to smuggle cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana into the United States for unlawful distribution. The 32-year-old former beauty queen was sentenced to three years in prison and is expected to be released from the Texas facility in September, 2023, records show. The sentence also includes 48 months of parole under specific restrictions and a fine of $1.5 million. Coronel married Guzman when she was 18 years old and has twin daughters with the notorious drug lord, who led the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. PREVIEW HOUSTON: Silk Road chronicles Texas mans drug empire on the dark web Coronel attended proceedings of her husband's trial in a New York federal court in 2018. Guzman was extradited from Mexico the previous year and found guilty of 10 counts related to drug trafficking and engaging in an international criminal enterprise. He was sentenced to life in prison. Court documents in the case against Coronel say that she is the daughter of Ines Coronel Barreras, a convicted high-ranking deputy in the Sinaloa Cartel who handled drug transportation operations for Guzman. Coronel served as a messenger to facilitate some of Guzman's criminal enterprises, court documents show. She helped facilitate El Chapos escape from the Mexican Altiplano maximum-security prison in 2015, when he disappeared through a hole in the shower of his prison cell to an underground mile-long tunnel that hed ordered built for that purpose. Mexican media reported that Coronel and Guzman met at her fathers home in a small town in the state of Durango, Mexico, where she grew up. Guzman supposedly helped her win a beauty pageant contest at the Great Coffee and Guava Festival in a nearby town in 2007. Local media said they agreed to marry at the time. On HoustonChronicle.com: Man accused of killing Houston deputy has potential gang or cartel ties, DA Ogg says While El Chapos wife is serving her sentence, the U.S. government in December offered rewards of $5 million for each of his four sons allegedly involved in drug trafficking. They are Ovidio Guzman Lopez, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez. All four are high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel and are each subject to a federal indictment for their involvement in the illicit drug trade, the Department of State announced in December, as part of a campaign to disrupt transnational criminal activities. olivia.tallet@chron.com A man accused in the shooting of a 9-year-old girl contends that a robber outside a Chase bank opened fire on him first setting into motion the events that ended Arlene Alvarez's life, lawyers said Monday. Tony D. Earls was shot at by another man when he stepped out of his car, prompting him to return fire, lawyer Brennan Dunn said. Earls, free on a $100,000 surety bond, and his wife sat next to Dunn at press conference held to respond to the charge of aggravated assault causing serious bodily harm. There was at least one round fired before Mr. Earl returned fire, Dunn said. Houston Police investigators have said Earls fired at the robber but have not indicated that Earls was shot at. Police say a man robbed Earls and his wife at gunpoint around 9:45 p.m. in the Chase bank drive-thru at 2900 Woodridge. A check and wallet were taken and the thief threw their keys to the ground. Dunn contends Earls was fired at when he got out of the car to grab the keys. Earls shot back at the man and returned to the vehicle with his wife. He then spotted a slow-moving truck that he thought was the suspects getaway vehicle, gets out and fires in that direction. One of the rounds penetrated the vehicle, striking Arlene in the back of the head, according to authorities. She had headphones on and may have not heard her fathers warning to get down at the sound of the gunfire, her family said. Earls, who remained silent, appeared shaken throughout the 20-minute briefing in which his wife, Deyonna Hines, read a statement addressed to the Alvarez family. As the parents of six children, we understand the unconditional love you have for your children and the overwhelming desire to protect them, Hines said. My husband told me he felt the same desire to protect us. Dunn believes that Earls life was still in danger when he opened fire on the Alvarez familys vehicle. While its an unfortunate series of events, he was justified in his actions, Dunn continued. At a separate news conference Monday evening, the Alvarez familys lawyer, Rick Ramos, argued that Earls defense team was misleading the public to gain sympathy ahead of Earls trial. He said that there is no evidence to suggest that the robbery suspect fired at Earls first, pointing to a screenshot of a nearby surveillance video to claim that the only gunshot the robber fired was in the direction of a nearby Home Depot warehouse after Earls had already fired several shots an apparent blind attempt to defend himself from the barrage of gunfire being shot at him by Earls. Ramos said that because the robbery suspect had already fled, and was not actively firing a weapon, that Earls had no reason to fear for his life or further loss of property. Mr. Earls behavior, based on the circumstances that youre seeing, shows a complete reckless disregard for human life with the intent to cause bodily injury or death as defined by Texas law, Ramos said. Hines said the robbery suspect once apprehended should be held accountable for Arlenes death. His identity remains unknown, even following the release Friday of surveillance footage showing his flight from the robbery. The video shows a man jumping a fence along Winkler Drive after running from the direction of the bank. Earls was charged Feb. 15 with aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury in connection to the girls death. Prosecutors will leave it to a grand jury to decide if more serious charges against Earls such as manslaughter or murder are merited. Staff writer Sam Gonzalez Kelly contributed to this report. nicole.hensley@chron.com The states child welfare agency says it will investigate instances of transgender youth receiving gender-affirming health care as possible child abuse, after it received a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott based on a recent legal opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton. Paxton, in a non-binding opinion issued Monday, concluded that sex reassignment surgery, as well as hormonal medications, fall under the states broad definition of child abuse that includes mental or emotional injury as well as physical injury. Abbott in a letter Tuesday directed state agencies to abide by the opinion. Children and adolescents are promised relief and asked to consent to life-altering, irreversible treatmentand to do so in the midst of reported psychological distress, when they cannot weigh long-term risks the way adults do, and when they are considered by the state in most regards to be without legal capacity to consent, contract, vote, or otherwise, Paxton wrote in the opinion. The immediate ramifications were unclear Tuesday, as the offices opinions are not law but rather interpretations of law. The Texas Department of Family Protective Services has said previously that it would investigate surgical treatment of transgender youth as potential child abuse, but a spokesman said Tuesday that there are no pending cases. The opinion runs contrary to the recommendations of the largest professional medical organizations in the state and nation. If it were to be adopted statewide, it would make Texas one of the most restrictive states in the nation for transgender youth seeking medical treatment. Despite Paxtons focus on surgery, that medical option is not recommended for patients who are under their countrys legal age of maturity, which is 18 in the United States, and who have not lived continuously for at least 12 months in the gender role that is congruent with their gender identity, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, or WPATH, which advises doctors on best practices. NEWSLETTERS Join the conversation with HouWeAre We want to foster conversation and highlight the intersection of race, identity and culture in one of America's most diverse cities. Sign up for the HouWeAre newsletter here. DFPS said Tuesday its Child Protective Investigations unit would look into any future allegations. Paxtons opinion and Abbotts directive are merely opinions and ultimately will need to be settled in court, said ACLU staff attorney Brian Klosterboer. Legally, it does not change anything, Klosterboer said. The opinion of the attorney general and the governor is just that: an opinion. It does not change what Texas law is. And it also doesnt not change the constitutional rights of transgender youth, their parents and guardians and the ability of of doctors and therapists to provide these youth with highest possible standard of care. Klosterboer added that no court here in Texas or the entire country has ever found that gender-affirming health care can possibly constitute child abuse. The push from two of the states top Republicans follows the failure last year of a GOP-backed bill that would have explicitly banned gender-affirming care for transgender children. The resurfacing of the topic also comes as Abbott and Paxton angle to avoid runoffs in the March 1 primary, in which both face competitors. State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, had asked Paxton for clarity on the issue in August as he considered running for attorney general himself. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In response to an inqury by Abbott that month, family and protective services Commissioner Jaime Masters wrote that the agency considers surgery for transgender children to be abuse and committed to investigating any violations. But Krause said the letter was not specific enough about what procedures or treatment is abuse and asked Paxtons office for clarification. The American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Pediatrics have said health care decisions for children who experience gender dysphoria psychological distress over conflicts between a childs gender identity and their sex assigned at birth are best left between patients, their families and physicians. Already there are signs that the policy will be challenged. Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee, whose office represents the state in civil child abuse cases in the county, said Tuesday that his office will not adhere to guidance from Paxton and Abbott, saying they are ignoring medical professionals and intentionally misrepresenting the law to the detriment of transgender children and their families. My office will not participate in these bad faith political games, Menefee said. As the lawyers handling these cases, we owe a duty of candor to the courts about what the law really says. Well continue to follow the laws on the books not General Paxtons politically motivated and legally incorrect opinion. Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales denounced Abbotts directive, saying Thursday that simply declaring medical care abusive does not make it so and that his office would continue to focus on cases where there is demonstrated child abuse and neglect. Parents will not be prosecuted for protecting their children. Grandparents will not be prosecuted for loving their grandchildren. Doctors will not be prosecuted for providing medical care for their patients, Gonzales said in a written statement. The governor has chosen to involve several state agencies in matters best left to the family, in particular where there is no abuse, Gonzales said. Even as its legality remains untested, Klosterboer said Abbotts reminder to state agencies of their obligation to report child abuse creates a palpable fear among Texas families of transgender youth. It is very worrying that someone could try to rely on this opinion to start the first case of its kind in the country, he said. But if anyone is affected by this, if anything happens, we encourage parents to reach out to us and other nonprofits also working on this. At the start of last year, lawmakers in at least 15 states had introduced bills that would have stopped or even criminalized providing gender-affirming health care to minors, according to the ACLUs bill tracker. More than 100 bills targeting transgender people, most of them focused on children, were brought by mostly Republican state lawmakers that year, the data showed. At least one bill author, South Dakota state Rep. Fred Deutsch, said the idea had come from a summit held by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, whose leaders have confirmed their role in drafting Republican legislation and promoting it through grassroots groups. Just two states ultimately passed laws, Arkansas and Tennessee. The Arkansas law is being challenged in court by the ACLU, and a federal judge has blocked its enforcement while the case is underway. In November, Paxton was among a group of 19 attorneys general to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Arkansas that claimed the science in this area is largely unsettled and far more research is needed. Advocates accused Paxton and Abbott of using the issue to prop up their campaigns at the expense of Texas transgender children. We urge all Texans to be skeptical about campaign stunts disguised as legal opinions from a corrupt politician who has built their career spreading disinformation about marginalized communities and who has no expertise in health care, said Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas, an LGBT rights advocacy group. Staff writer Elizabeth Zavala contributed to this report. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com Several high-level whistleblowers, who helped spark an FBI investigation of Attorney General Ken Paxton after accusing him of corruption, are now calling out what they say are false and misleading statements hes been making about them on the campaign trail. The group, which includes three former deputy attorneys general, issued a statement Monday highlighting the embattled Republicans unchallenged assertions in interviews with friendly media outlets about the whistleblowers case against him. The broadside comes as Paxton faces the fight of his political life in the March 1 GOP primary. Eight whistleblowers accused Paxton of bribery and corruption tied to a series of acts and favors he allegedly performed for multi-millionaire Austin investor Nate Paul, just as his real estate empire was falling on hard times. The whistleblowers describe several instances in which Paxton allegedly used his taxpayer-funded office to assist the once high-flying businessman, including: ordering up a legal opinion that helped property owners like Paul avoid foreclosure, mysteriously walking off with sensitive law enforcement files Paul was trying to get his hands on, and improperly hiring an outside lawyer to go after Pauls adversaries. Their stories about Paxtons efforts on behalf of Paul, which leaked out into news reports and eventually court papers, helped trigger an FBI investigation of Paxton, who was already under unrelated state felony indictment for securities fraud. Paxton and Paul deny any wrongdoing. All of the whistleblowers got fired or resigned, and Paxton has called these former top aides representing the top echelon of the attorney generals office rogue and disgruntled employees. The four speaking out now filed lawsuits against the attorney general, who is trying to win the Republican Party nod for a third four-year term in office. Paxtons three Republican rivals are citing the FBI investigation and the whistleblower allegations in their pitch to voters that Paxton needs to go. Paxton in turn has sought to undermine the whistleblowers when hes been asked about it. And thats the rub. Though the four former Paxton aides said their preference was to remain silent while the wheels of justice turned, they decided they could no longer stay quiet. In recent weeks, Paxton has made numerous false and misleading public statements that we feel obligated to correct, the four former Paxton aides said. The people of Texas deserve the truth. The four include former Deputy Attorneys General James Blake Brickman, Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar; and former Director of Law Enforcement David Maxwell. Paxton spokesman Alejandro Garcia, contacted by phone and email Sunday afternoon, declined to respond Sunday evening after objecting to the short notice and the Houston Chronicles refusal to agree to run his entire statement without regard to its length or content. Paxton attacked the whistleblowers in a Jan. 31 interview with conservative North Texas radio host Mark Davis and during a Feb. 9 appearance in a video posted on YouTube by Texas Scorecard, a conservative media outlet started by the far right group Empower Texans. In the exchange with Texas Scorecard, which touched on the attorney generals efforts to launch a criminal investigation Paul wanted, Paxton said he didnt create this issue it was referred to me from Travis County. But the Travis County district attorney at the time, Margaret Moore, said Paxton was the one pushing for the investigation, not the other way around. She wrote in an Oct. 9, 2020 letter that her brief involvement in the matter done at his behest cannot be used as any indication of a need for an investigation. She later instructed her employees to have no further contact with (Paxton or his) office regarding this matter. Paxton also said in the interviews that he was blindsided by the allegations, first aired publicly in late 2020, and still has no idea why the whistleblowers publicly accused him of committing crimes. I didnt know why they did it. They didnt explain it to me. They didnt come to me and say you did this. Likewise, in the Scorecard interview Paxton asserted that his aides never specified their allegations against him. No specific allegation, just youve done something wrong. Now youre in trouble. And then everybody points to me as like, youve done something wrong, Paxton said. I still to this day, I have no idea what crime I committed. Yet the whistleblowers write in court papers that they pushed back against Paxton in real time as he went to bat for Paul. And the lawsuits themselves identify at least six federal and state criminal laws that we accused Ken Paxton and his office of violating, including bribery, obstruction of justice and abuse of office, the whistleblower statement noted. They also say in the lawsuit that they reasonably concluded that Paxtons bizarre, obsessive use of the power of his office to help Nate Paul was part of an effort to repay him for giving Paxtons longtime mistress a job, helping him remodel his house and other assistance. Paul also gave Paxton a $25,000 campaign donation and a political action committee headed up by his lawyers gave another $25,000. All that went unmentioned in the friendly media interviews. In the Scorecard appearance Paxton theorized, but offered no actual proof, that the FBI was out to get him before his top aides publicly accused their boss of corruption and went to the federal law enforcement agency to file a formal criminal complaint against him. His rationale: The FBI was upset that Paxtons office was investigating FBI agents for the way they handled a summer 2019 raid of Pauls offices. What it looks like is the FBI had already infiltrated my office, Paxton said. And they found a way to work with people in my office without me even knowing. He added: When you investigate the FBI it can be turned on you, and it was, and these guys were involved in it. The whistleblowers say thats false. They went to the FBI on Sept. 30, 2020 after we could not convince Paxton to abide by the law, according to their statement. We had no previous contact with the FBI before that date and believe this was the first time the FBI became involved with the investigation of Paxton and his office, the four whistleblowers said. Paxton has tried to stop the lawsuits by arguing that as an elected official he is not subject to the Texas Whistleblower Act. Hes already lost the first two rounds of that argument first at the trial court level and then on appeal. In turning Paxton down, the 3rd Court of Appeals wrote that if his view of elected leaders immunity from the law were upheld it would have the effect of stripping whistleblower protections from employees who might report misconduct by the thousands of elected officials throughout the State particularly by those who direct and lead the agencies of this State. The attorney general is now asking the Supreme Court to overturn the appeals court decision, a move the whistleblowers say is designed simply to keep the lawsuit from moving forward while hes fending off GOP primary challengers. Ken Paxtons cynical, baseless argument has won him what he most wanted, a delay in the truth coming out so that he can travel the state misleading Texans, the whistleblowers said. jay.root@chron.com An explosion at a gold mine in Burkina Faso killed 59 people and injured more than 100 others Monday. The explosion, near Gbomblora, about 240 miles southwest of the capital of Ouagadougou, is believed to have been caused by chemicals used in the mining and treating process that were stored in large quantities at the mine. The first blast occurred around 2 p.m. but several other blasts followed as workers tried to flee the scene. Advertisement A power plant supplying the Canadian mining company Iamgold's Essakane gold mine on its inauguration on March 16, 2018 near Dori in northern Burkina Faso. (AHMED OUOBA/AFP via Getty Images) I saw bodies everywhere. It was horrible, Sansan Kambou, a forest ranger who was at the site during the explosion, told The Associated Press by phone. Burkina Faso is the fifth-largest gold producer in Africa, with about $2 billion dug up in 2019. About 1.5 million people, 7% of the population, work in gold production in the country. Advertisement However, gold from smaller mines, like the one in Mondays incident, is often smuggled across the border into neighbors Togo, Benin, Niger and Ghana and has been linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State. Gold mining in many African nations is lightly regulated and routinely dangerous. In December 2021, at least 38 workers were killed when a mine collapsed in Sudan. With News Wire Services Texas businessman Mauro Garza, who is trying for a third time to win a seat in Congress and facing a crowded field of Republican primary opponents, is airing an ad that repeated a false conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Over images of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, a narrator in Garzas TV ad said: "They call it an insurrection. But what really happened January 6th? Were FBI agents used as political agitators?" The ad ends with the narrator saying that in Congress, Garza "will join other pro-Trump patriots to expose the truth, bring justice to political prisoners and take on the Washington swamp." We have repeatedly debunked the claim that the FBI agents instigated or participated in the attack on the Capitol. There was never compelling evidence that the FBI or any other government agency instigated the attack and, with more than 700 people facing charges related to the days events, there still isnt. What the evidence does show is that hundreds of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a brazen attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election. A House select committee is investigating a range of activities by Trump, his aides and his supporters seeking to disrupt the counting of electoral votes and overturn the legitimate results of that election. Garzas claim follows a pattern of Republican officials and candidates, Trump sympathizers and right-wing media figures trying to redirect blame for the attack, or play down its significance, a campaign we called our Lie of the Year for 2021. Origins of the false FBI theory The false-flag theory of FBI involvement in the attack grew out of a misinterpretation of the federal charging documents against the alleged rioters. Because some of the documents also mentioned unindicted, unnamed co-conspirators, the theory went, it would be reasonable to assume that those people were FBI informants or agents. The theory also raised the issue of whether these figures were "instigators" during the storming of the Capitol, suggesting not only that the government was involved, but also that its agents caused violence and damage, rather than stopping it. In June, we reported on why the premise of the theory is wrong. Experts explained that under almost no circumstances can undercover government operatives and informants be described in government filings as co-conspirators. The main reason: A component of criminal conspiracy is the agreement to commit a crime. That isnt what undercover operatives do. Even so, Trump sympathizers have continued to push the false theory. In November, Fox News talk show host Tucker Carlson claimed, without any credible evidence, that federal agents directly incited people on Jan. 6, and "intentionally entrapped" American citizens. Our rating was False. In January, Ray Epps, an Arizona man whom Carlson and others held up as a possible undercover FBI agent or informant, said he had no ties to the FBI; and Rally Runner, another man singled out on Carlsons show, said on Carlsons segment that suggesting he was a federal agent was a "false story." Garza in competitive race We sent emails to the address listed on Garzas campaign website and on his campaign organization statement, but did not receive a reply. Garza describes himself as an entrepreneur in commercial real estate, consumer products and hospitality. A news article on his 2020 campaign described him as the owner of a popular San Antonio nightclub. Garza is vying for an open seat in Texas reorganized 15th Congressional District, which includes areas around San Antonio, Corpus Christi and communities to the south. The seat is open because the incumbent, Democrat Vicente Gonazles, chose to run for House District 34 after Republican redistricting made District 15 more competitive. The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections and Sabatos Crystal Ball all rate the race as "lean" or "tilt" Republican. Garza is one of nine Republicans running in the March 1 primary, along with six Democrats. This is Garzas third run for the House. In 2018, he won less than 1% of the vote in the GOP primary in the 21st district; in 2020, he won the GOP primary in District 20, but lost to the incumbent, Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro. Our ruling Garzas ad stated: "They call" Jan. 6 "an insurrection," but "were FBI agents used as political agitators?" He repeated a claim that has been repeatedly debunked, as there is no evidence that the attack on the Capitol was instigated by FBI agents. We rate Garzas claim False. Sources Mayor's Office PRess Release Houston Solar Co-Op Launches Following Anniversary of Winter Storm Uri February 22, 2022 -- The Mayors Office of Resilience and Sustainability (MORS) and the nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) announced the launch of the 2022 Houston Solar Co-op. The co-op will help area property owners install rooftop solar and battery storage systems. The announcement comes in the days following the one-year anniversary of Winter Storm Uri. Houstons energy transition is a community-wide effort, said Mayor Sylvester Turner. The solar co-op is a great way for Houstonians to take part and learn about solar energy to determine if its right for their families, small business, or non-profit. We are excited to again partner with Solar United Neighbors for this effort. As Chair of Climate Mayors, I encourage everyone to understand the importance of renewable energy sources as we build towards a more resilient and sustainable future. This is the second city-wide solar co-op that SUN has coordinated in collaboration with the City. The solar co-op will help property owners go solar and contribute to local investments in renewable and resilient energy. These are important components of our Resilient Houston strategy and Climate Action Plan. Last years co-op attracted nearly 300 members. More and more Houstonians are turning to solar and battery storage for self-sufficiency, which has the added benefit of making our grid more resilient, said Hanna Mitchell, Texas Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. Together, were building a movement to create a more sustainable electricity system that directly benefits households and small businesses in the community, while reducing strain on the grid. Last year, Winter Storm Uri hit Texas with a one-two punch. The state's electricity grid failed as temperatures dropped below freezing and electricity demand skyrocketed. At the same time, the storm damaged critical energy supply infrastructure. The result was large-scale blackouts that had devastating consequences on the health and safety of people across the state. During the storm, solar and storage proved resilient. Adding more solar energy will ease the strain on the electric grid that future storms could cause. The co-op is free to join. Joining is not a commitment to purchase panels. It is open to homeowners and business owners, as well as churches and other non-profit groups in Houston. Together, co-op members will learn about solar energy and leverage their numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a discounted group price. Members have the option to individually purchase panels, batteries, and electric vehicle chargers based on the installers group rate. SUN has hosted 10 other solar co-ops in Texas since 2018. According to the groups estimates, homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent: 1.35 MW of solar power, $1.7 million in local economic spending, and nearly 20,000 tons of lifetime carbon offset. Along with community partners including Greentown Labs, Houston Renewable Energy Group, South Union CDC, local chapters of the Sierra Club, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Interfaith Power and Light, SUN will host several free informational webinars to educate community members about solar energy and the co-op. Individuals interested in going solar can sign up for the co-op or one of the upcoming information sessions at the solarunitedneighbors.org/houston. Informational webinars are planned for the following times: About Solar United Neighbors Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit organization that works in Texas and nationwide to represent the needs and interests of solar owners and supporters. Solar co-ops are part of the organizations mission to create a new energy system with rooftop solar at the cornerstone. Solar United Neighbors holds events and education programs to help people become informed solar consumers, maximize the value of their solar investment, and advocate for fair solar policies. High Point, NC (27260) Today Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy early with increasing clouds overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An aggrieved President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine, allegedly for peacekeeping purposes, after recognizing the areas as independent and delivering an intense speech in which he said his countrys western neighbor lacked the traditions of statehood. Putins dramatic moves on Monday seemed to set the stage for an invasion that the U.S. has said was approaching, and the West moved quickly in response. The European Union said that it would impose sanctions, and the White House promised an executive order that would set a framework for American sanctions. Advertisement The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said in a statement that the measure would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) The U.S. estimated last week that Russia had massed between 170,000 and 190,000 troops in and around Ukraine, and President Biden said he was convinced that Putin had decided to order an invasion that would strike at the capital city Kyiv. Advertisement The European Commissions president, Ursula von der Leyen, tweeted Monday that Putins recognition of the two separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk amounted to a blatant violation of international law. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, chairs a Security Council meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (AP) Putin ripped into the West in his speech, describing NATO as a terminal threat to his country. He suggested that Ukraine, a nation of 44 million people that sits in what was once the Soviet Union, was connected inextricably to Russia. Breaking News As it happens Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. > And he declared that it was madness that former republics of the Soviet Union had been allowed to leave. Ukraine has never had traditions of their own statehood, Putin said in the address from Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a document recognizing the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. Russia's Putin has recognized the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, raising tensions with the West. (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) Western observers said the Russian presidents remarks represented a flagrant rewriting of Ukraines history. Putins speech is truly mind-boggling, tweeted Gerard Araud, a former French ambassador to the U.S. A paranoid delirium in a parallel universe. Ukraine declared itself independent in 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has drifted toward the West in recent years. Statues honoring its Soviet past have fallen; tributes to battles for its Moscow-free present have risen. People from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the territory controlled by a pro-Russia separatist governments in eastern Ukraine, watch Russian President Vladimir Putin's address at their temporary place in Rostov-on-Don region, Russia, Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. (Denis Kaminev/AP) But Ukraines independent future seemed in deep jeopardy, with an emboldened Putin on the precipice of launching the largest battle in Europe since the close of World War II. A round of furious diplomatic efforts by European leaders appeared to have come up empty. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, pleaded in recent days for the West to order sanctions on Russia before it began its advance. He said he spoke to Biden about the alarming developments on Monday, and that he planned to speak with Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, too. People wave Russian national flags celebrating the recognizing the independence in the center of Donetsk, the territory controlled by pro-Russian militants, eastern Ukraine, late Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. In a fast-moving political theater, Russian President Vladimir Putin has moved quickly to recognize the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine in a show of defiance against the West amid fears of Russian invasion in Ukraine. (Alexei Alexandrov/AP) The situation for Zelenskyys country looked increasingly bleak. Bill Browder, a British-based financier who was once the largest foreign investor in Russia, said he was shocked by Putins address. Advertisement Ive watched many Putin speeches over the last two decades and this was the most unhinged, most disconnected from reality and most dangerous speech Ive ever seen, Browder, a longtime Putin critic, said in an email. This is clearly the setup for Putin to launch a vicious and bloody war where there will be substantial loss of life on all sides. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain late. Low near 50F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Black-owned music, media and businesses that deserve your support The team at The Orchards Daily Rind blog put together a list of U.S. black owned business that include music, media, food and culture. Its fare from a complete list, but its a great place to start. A guest post by MEREDITH NADEAU of The Daily Rind. The Orchard and our affiliates took this call to action very seriously, launching additional resource groups, investing in employees, partnerships, internal development, education and new hiring practices. The Orchard employees got serious as well, sharing personal experiences, resources, and doing the work as individuals and in their local communities. Artists such as ENNY and Jorja Smith used their platforms to do the same. Many artists developed campaigns that included items from Black-owned businesses and partnered with organizations to spread awareness, raise funding and advocate for social justice, equity and inclusion. In honor of Black History Month, we asked our employees to share their suggestions. Below are various resources, and black-owned businesses our team has selected to amplify. Organizations Nashville Music Equality I learned how to get involved in changing the landscape of the music industry in Nashville to be more diverse, equal, and inclusive. I think others can best utilize this resource by attending some of their virtual programming, donations, and reaching out to get involved. Rio The Black Opry Black Opry has been instrumental in lifting up Black artists and voices in the Country and Americana communities, as well as being a vocal opponent of the very white-centric status quo in these genres. This is a great place for folks to discover amazing new Black artists, especially for fans of Americana or Country music. Derek Businesses WeBuyBlack By supporting black-owned businesses, we can celebrate diverse cultures, support local communities, and ultimately take a step towards closing the racial wealth gap by putting economic resources towards entrepreneurs who are making positive contributions daily to our society. WeBuyBlack is a global marketplace that promotes everyday items from black companies toothpaste, laundry detergent, clothing, toys, beauty products, etc so that anyone can help build wealth amongst black families who contribute $1.2 trillion to the US gross domestic product every year. Sammy Pisano Black & Mobile This national food delivery service was founded by two brothers from Philly. They have a food delivery service for Black-owned restaurants in various cities across the country. Naledi Reparations Club This is a Black-Woman owned bookstore in the Crenshaw / Mid-City area of Los Angeles. Its a super-cute, tucked away location which has hosted a number of in-person events, talks, author conversations, etc. If youre ever looking to buy any type of book selection, magazine, or other literary item, I would HIGHLY recommend supporting this store and buying from them! Ibi Simply Wholesome Simply Wholesome is a Black-owned restaurant and store in South Los Angeles. They offer great food and natural/organic products. They have been highlighted by many artists including BLXST in his Guide to LA Tour. Naledi Brooklyn Tea I learned a new appreciation for tea and its healing properties and also get to feel fancy drinking loose leaf tea. Kiara Maurys Hive Tea I drink green tea every morning and order from Maurys every month! They have granulated honey inside of the tea bags so you dont have to add any sweetener. Great idea! Naledi The Woven Kente A black-woman-owned business, I bought a mask on Etsy from The Woven Kente over a year ago. The masks are so well made and reversible with gorgeous bold prints. I highly recommend them and just noticed theyre making a ton of other accessories lately too like hats, jewelry, incense, soap and more. Meredith Genesis Tires and Auto Center Genesis Tire and Auto Center taught me about the importance of entrepreneurship. I can count on this business for literally everything. A true One-Stop-Shop whether it be Oil Changes, Brakes, Tires, Detailing, or finding a used car Daved (the owner) never turns me away. If you are in the NJ/NY or surrounding areas and need a trustworthy car dealership this is your place! Jaloni Chicer Collegiate Its an official school licensed apparel company started by a Morehouse College alum. It includes great swag for my alma mater, Spelman College. Naledi Actively BLACK A premium athleisure brand. Naledi Home Jewels Co A fragrance line producing assorted candles, soaps and more. Dark Sugars Artisan Chocolates and vegan treats based in Greenwich, UK. Boucleme A health and beauty line created specifically for natural curly hair. Kiya Cosmetics Hair & Skincare For The Whole Family The Happy Hair co Provides protective products for natural curly hair such as satin pillowcases, bonnets and more. Liha Beauty Shifting beauty culture. Natural African Roots & a Quintessentially British Attitude. Narloa A vegan skin and bodycare brand rooted in nature and cruelty-free. Thes Lac Rose Handmade high-quality tea blends. Collective Closets Angolan born, Melbourne/Naarm made clothing and accessories. Earth Jiinda Aromatherapy and essential oils. Unlax Candles Scent shop with candles, sprays and more. Mollie Makes US-based Satin-lined hair accessories. Willow Co Organics Aboriginal Remedies to Modern Beauty. Organic products for improved skin & hair care. Bread Beauty Supply Hair care products and oils. Media Joe Madison: The Black Eagle (Podcast) Ive been listening to Joes show for a long time. Amazing content Greg The Last Black Man in San Francisco by Joe Talabot (Documentary) I learned how the black community struggles and faces difficulties everywhere, even in progressive cities like San Francisco. Hugo Earn Your Leisure [A podcast, YouTube channel community, Earn Your Leisure share information about] financial literacy, understand how to get started and navigate the stock market. Lamar I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free by Nina Simone (Song) One of the most potent and important protest songs of the Civil Rights era, this version by Nina Simone had a massive impact on me when I first heard it, whilst studying Civil Rights at university. The emotion in her delivery offered a human connection to the African American struggle that history books could not convey and made me realise the importance of music as a form of Black expression and protest. Ben S History of the Black Dollar by Angel Rich (Book) This book taught me the importance of building wealth in the Black community. Economic social justice is crucial for members of marginalized cultural groups and this book explores the ways we can identify and overcome these barriers. Jaloni Jordxn.simone (TikTok Content Creator) Lets be honest, our generation suffers from being chronically online in the echo chambers known as social media. Social Media algorithms are designed to keep you in the app, not to educate you, so if you scroll through your Tiktok For You page and see only one color.Tiktok has no reason to intervene. The value of social media comes from the power of hearing perspectives from one and all, big and small, so take this as a sign to take a look at what the algorithm gives you, and if it doesnt serve you content from POC voices, seek them out in whatever communities / interests you identify with! They are for sure out there, and could use your like, follow, or subscribe~ Heres one of my favorite accounts, @jordxn.simoneshes currently doing a series called Black History Fast Facts with one fact for every day in February on TikTok. *the always necessary disclaimer, try and cross reference your facts whenever you see them online, especially when they come from internet personalities and not collective/scholarly orgs, and always always take it with a grain of salttruth is complicated. Ally Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham (Book) This book offers a collection of stories, images, poems, memes, recipes and more to convey the vibrant, and powerful landscape of Black creators. Naledi Share on: YouTubes Content ID System doesnt work Youtubes Content Id System proves faulty when it recently flagged a video of a cat purring for copyright infringement, writes Timothy Geigner of Techdirt. Op_Ed by Timothy Geigner from TechDirt. YouTubes Content ID automated copyright system sucks. There, I said it. Any review of the different posts weve done specifically on the topic of Content ID can only leave you with one impression: the system doesnt work. Not that it never works, of course, but when you build a system that is designed specifically to allow 3rd parties to take down speech content, that system had damned well better not be wide the hell open for abuse or laughable errors. Well, guess what? Youve got your music labels getting works taken down that were specifically designed not to not be infringing, news organizations managed to claim their own live streams as copyright infringing, and music labels being able to demonetize videos of a guy singing public domain Christmas carols. Its all very stupid, very much the tip of the iceberg, and very much an indication that Content ID, in its current state, is broken. Whats that, you say? You need more? Fine, a guy uploaded videos of his cat purring and those got claimed by two different labels as infringing on their copyrights. YouTubes automated takedown tool is known for its flaws, but this week it crossed a line by attacking a purring cat. According to YouTubes Content-ID system both EMI Publishing and PRS own the rights to a 12 second purring loop. Last March, YouTube user Digihaven uploaded one hour of video loops featuring his cat Phantom, purring, as cats do. The video didnt go viral but appealed to a niche public, and more recently also two major music publishers. Nearly a year after the video was posted Digihaven was informed by YouTube that Phantom is pirate purring. Apparently, part of the 12 second loop belongs to EMI Music Publishing and PRS. Yes, this is sort of funny, but only after youve encountered so many Content ID problems just like this that you become dead inside, like me. Ive made statements like this before, but Ill repeat it again: your automated copyright system doesnt have to be perfect, but if your system is so flawed that a 12 second video of a cat purring can be flagged by multiple music labels then your system sucks so badly that you need to completely start from scratch on a new one. Now, Ive done some haphazard searching for songs entitled Focus by artists on the EMI label and, frankly, I gave up. There are a ton of search results for songs that include that word in their titles. That being said, Im fairly certain that EMI doesnt have a band with a song that is 12 seconds of a cat purring or, if that in fact is a thing, that such a video would be copyrightable. In other words, either way, EMI and PRS should not be monetizing Phantom the Cats musical stylings. Im sure EMI/PRS made Phantom a sad kitty. It seems like companies such as EMI are pirating ads on peoples legit videos, so Im wondering if they apologize to, or reimburse people for those false claims, he tells TF. Hoping to clear his cats name Digihaven decided to file a dispute. This was partially successful, as EMI lifted its claim shortly before publication of this article. Which, absurdly, means now Phantom just has to figure out what PRS problem is. Or, hey, maybe we could all just admit together that Content ID in its current form doesnt work and should be done away with in some organized and planned fashioned. Replace it with a better automated system. Replace it with more humans doing moderation. Admit that content moderation at scale is completely impossible and stop trying. Anything would be better than living under a automated system we all know sucks. Share on: Vladimir Putin is wily, they say; hes steps ahead of naive Western counterparts, ruthless at wielding his power for maximum advantage. And sure enough, there was the former KGB colonel Monday signing a piece of paper that Russia has recognized two breakaway Ukrainian regions, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent a move widely seen as a precursor for an invasion of his neighbor, a democratic nation of 44 million people. Not long after the announcement, very well-armed peacekeepers (right) arrived on the scene. On the warpath? (Alexei Nikolsky/AP) Call us rubes, but we dont see how on earth a Russian military occupation of Ukraine serves Putins ends. Advertisement It might feel good in the moment to bring a former Soviet Republic back into Moscows orbit, but what does he really gain by engaging his massive military with his neighbors 250,000-strong armed forces, bolstered by cash and arms from the West, in a war that would almost certainly make the Soviet Unions disastrous invasion of Afghanistan look like whatever the Russians call a picnic (granted, picnics arent much fun in the dead of a Kyiv winter)? What does he gain by inviting the punishing economic sanctions President Biden and European powers have rightly promised to levy, which are likely to choke off his countrys ability to obtain integrated circuits necessary for a range of technologies, while freezing out large Russian banks and potentially jeopardizing German acceptance of the lucrative Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline bringing liquid gold to Europe? If anything, Putin makes it likelier that his biggest fear that Ukraine might someday join NATO will ultimately come to pass, by showing the world that Russian aggression remains a growing threat. Advertisement Its clear enough why Putin might want to distract his population, which has already been hammered by COVID and a faltering economy and increasing repression; theyve been souring on his leadership for some time now, and nothing helped his popularity like the 2014 annexation of Crimea. But Putin must know that beyond that, an invasion will only deliver misery. Right? Vladimir Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he views Ukrainians and Russians historically as one people, divided by malign Western forces. He has further implied that the Western-leaning Ukrainian government is engaging in a genocide of ethnic Russians in the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine. Neither of these propaganda talking points bear any relationship to the truth. Apart from the German Holocaust against Jews, the only 20th-century genocide in Ukraine was the Russian genocide of 1932-33, known as the Holodomor or Great Famine, when Stalinist-era Russia killed some 7 to 10 million Ukrainians through starvation, forced collectivization and brutalization. There has never been any meaningful persecution of Russians in Ukraine, particularly in modern times. The Russian language is freely spoken, and there are hundreds of Russian-language schools and libraries in Ukraine. (There are no Ukrainian language schools or libraries in Russia.) Advertisement Thus, Putins false narrative of Ukrainian oppression of ethnic Russians has about as much credibility as a neo-Nazi revisionist history of the Holocaust. People sing the Ukrainian national anthem during a rally in support of Ukraine held during Maidan Revolution commemoration ceremonies on February 20, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. In February 2014, the months-long Euromaidan protests culminated in violent clashes between protesters and riot police, leading to the deaths of over 100 people and the ousting of president Viktor Yanukovych, who had sparked the protests by rejecting a pact with the European Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. Eight years later, the country again finds itself at center stage in the geopolitical tussle between Russia and the West. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images) Ukrainian history long predates Russian history. The city of Kyiv was a thriving city long before Moscow ever existed. Moreover, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was the original Christian Church in Eastern Europe, founded in 988 when the early Ukrainians converted to Christianity. The name Russia derives from the name Ukrainians gave their far northern neighbors, The Scattered Ones. When Russia eventually developed its own national identity, the newly established Russian Orthodox Church borrowed heavily from the religious and cultural traditions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Much of the Russian language also finds its roots in Ukrainian, and many Ukrainians feel comfortable speaking either one of these languages. Advertisement Since the Orange Revolution in late 2003 established an independent democratic government in Ukraine, the country has oscillated between Western-leaning pro-democracy periods and pro-Russian, more autocratic periods, such as during the presidency of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, who took over the leadership of the country in a closely contested election in February 2010. Yanukovych was forced to flee Kyiv and to seek asylum in Moscow following the Maidan Revolution of February 2014, where scores of pro-democracy demonstrators were killed in or near Independence Square in downtown Kyiv. I was in Kyiv in February of 2014, shortly before the pro-Russian puppet Yanukovych government was overthrown. Prior to this popular uprising, no amount of talking or handwringing about the civil and human rights violations of that regime made any difference to the pro-Russian apparatchik in power at the time. It was only when the pro-Western opposition forces acted boldly, taking to the streets and seizing control of the square in downtown Kyiv that the political bullies in control backed down and were eventually run out of town. Putin countered this 2014 Revolution of Dignity with a de facto annexation of Crimea and Russian backing of pro-Kremlin separatist movements in the Donbas. Since then, more than 10,000 Ukrainians have died in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and now since Putins imperial ambitions are still not satisfied tens of thousands of more Ukrainians will be killed in the coming anticipated Russian invasion. One of the unexpected consequences of Putins aggressive actions threatening Ukraines territorial integrity and its freely elected government is that many ethnic and Russian-speaking Ukrainians now consider themselves to be staunch Ukrainian nationalists, ready to defend their country with their lives if necessary to try to stop the Russian juggernaut. Many Ukrainians who grew up in Russian-speaking homes now choose to speak Ukrainian exclusively, and in some cases have refused to teach the language of their parents to their children. For the younger generations of Ukrainians born after 1990, the fresh air of democracy and other attributes of Western culture that permeate the country are now part of their political and social DNA. The idea of losing that freedom through the return of Ukraine to a subservient vassal state is totally unacceptable. Older Ukrainians, including those with Russian cultural roots, have generally closed ranks in support of Ukrainian political independence. Indeed, Putin and his constant saber-rattling and fantasies of a re-establish Russian Empire have arguably done more to unify the Ukrainian people into one cohesive nation than anything else. Putin is not Hitler, but there are similarities here. Hitler swore that he only wanted peace and a little bit of territory in the Sudetenland so that the German people would have a little more living space and elbow room. He also railed against the supposed mistreatment of ethnic Germans in the Sudetenland, and used this as a pretext for an invasion. Putin is ripping pages from this old playbook to justify the invasion of Ukraine. So far, the U.S. and its NATO allies have forged a surprisingly united front in the face of Russian aggression. Only time will tell if that unity front will hold. McCallion is a former federal prosecutor specializing in Russian organized crime and money laundering cases. He was also the attorney representing former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in a civil racketeering and money laundering case. Pakistani media stakeholders have widely condemned the presidential ordinance amending the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) laws, which they claim will stifle the flow of information in the country and limit free, independent, and responsible media. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its Pakistan affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), demand that the ordinance be repealed immediately. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of media stakeholders, comprising representatives of media organisations All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors (CPNE), Pakistan Broadcasters Association (PBA), Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists and Association of Electronic Media Editors and News Directors (AEMEND), collectively issued a statement condemning the amendments to the PECA, stating that they blatantly stifle media independence, freedom of speech and dissenting voices. The Pakistani Government recently issued a presidential ordinance in which section 20 of the PECA was amended to increase the jail term for defaming any person or institution from three to five years. Further, the complainant has been defined as the aggrieved person, their authorised representative, their guardian if they are a minor, or "a member of the public in respect of a public figure or a holder of public office". Online public defamation is now a cognisable and a non-bailable offence. The definition of a "person" has been broadened to include any company, association, or group of people, whether incorporated or not, as well as any institution, organisation, authority, or other body established by the government under any law or otherwise. The committee said that all media bodies will take any and all legal actions to challenge any attempt to curb medias independence and its right to raise voice against any steps to curb freedom of expression as guaranteed in the constitution. Pakistani media stakeholders claimed that it would go against the democratic norms that Pakistan should uphold as a democracy. In protest, members of the JAC walked out of the Information Ministry meeting on Monday in protest of the PECA Amendment Ordinance. The JAC said, if necessary, it will use the full force of its constituent bodies and individual members to oppose the amendments. According to the IFJs South Asia Press Freedom Report 2020-2021, during 2020 and 2021, Pakistan experienced the harshest crackdown on dissent by any government. The report found that media rights and freedom of expression were severely harmed, with the government rushing to deprive the media of both freedom and funds, further destabilising an already troubled media industry. PFUJ General Secretary, Rana Muhammad Azeem, said: These amendments are another attempt to curb freedom of speech and expression and announced to challenge it in the court of law. The IFJ said: This new ordinance would essentially deprive Pakistan of the media freedoms established in the Pakistani Constitution, which have been fought for and defended by journalists and unions for decades. The IFJ urges the Pakistani government to ensure freedom of expression in accordance with the Constitution of Pakistan and its international commitments and obligations. Whether operating as solopreneurs or leading enterprise companies, the business world is seeing more female founders than ever before. Many female founders are even finding themselves on lists for the best-led companies. Despite this, women continue to face many obstacles as they try to get their business ideas off the ground. While VC funding has increased in 2021, total VC allocations to women-led companies continue to be in the single digits, percentage-wise. And female-led firms continue to be the minority. However, there is no denying the obvious: this is the best time to empower and encourage female founders. Outperforming the average. Women-owned businesses have continually demonstrated their potential for success. According to the National Association of Women Business Owners, there are over 11.6 million firms in the United States that are owned by women, generating roughly $1.7 trillion in yearly sales. Of all companies in the United States with revenue exceeding $1 million, one in five are owned by a woman. Research has consistently backed the importance of having women in leadership positions -- even in companies that aren't woman-owned. An analysis from McKinsey & Company shows that companies with the most gender-diverse executive teams are 25 percent more likely to achieve above-average profits than their less gender-diverse peers. Interestingly, these odds for above-average success have increased each time this analysis has been performed. Women have repeatedly shown that they have the talent, ingenuity and grit to turn an idea into a thriving, successful business. Quite often, the only thing standing in their way is a lack of funding. However, as the results have shown, any funding that goes into a woman-owned business will deliver significant returns. Finding underserved niches. Part of what makes female founders such a smart investment is that they often serve overlooked market niches. It isn't that these niches aren't popular or profitable -- rather, they just have a tendency to get overlooked by the mainstream business world. Women are also often able to draw from their own unique experiences to find (and fill) gaps in otherwise crowded niches. This became especially apparent during a recent conversation with Alyssa Maccarthy, co-founder of Sunnie Hunnies. The founder of a business that focuses on swimwear for newborns to five-year-olds, Maccarthy and her sister wanted to design children's swimwear in part due to a lack of soft swimwear that was gentle on the delicate skin of babies and toddlers. This was a problem that they had identified firsthand through their own experiences -- it wasn't thought up in a board meeting or pitch session. The most successful business ideas tend to come from a founder trying to solve their own problem, and it was no different for Maccarthy. However, there is no denying that focusing on how swimwear affects the skin of young children is something that probably would not have been a top of mind priority for male founders. This is just one example of how women will so often use their own unique experiences and insights to generate new business ideas. From introducing original services to providing a noteworthy improvement to existing products, such ideas also form an immediate connection with customers who feel underserved by what is currently offered by major brands. Female founders are the future. While female founders remain the minority, the numbers show that more and more investors are paying attention. Data from 2020 and 2021 reveals that startups with female founders are exiting one year faster than the market average while seeing the value of these exits skyrocket 144 percent -- over 40 percentage points higher than the rest of the market. When female founders are given the right opportunities, they quickly turn the business into a worthwhile investment. As in so many other areas, early adopters (or in this case, early investors) are poised to see the biggest returns. Female founders have proven time and time again that they have what it takes to launch and lead successful businesses -- even with the systemic challenges that the corporate world often stacks against them. From the first approval of the first Covid-19 vaccination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has held that employers can have mandatory vaccinations for their employees who work with other people (customers or coworkers), as long as businesses respect the Americans with Disabilities Act and Religious Exemptions. United Airlines implemented a mandatory vaccination requirement and granted employees around 2,000 religious and medical exemptions. Their accommodation for these employees was an unpaid leave of absence. In November, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth, Texas, said that the airline had not put the employees in an "impossible position," choosing between job or jab, and allowed the airline to move forward with their unpaid leave plan. In December, the Fifth Circuit upheld this decision in an emergency decision. Then it went back to a three-member panel at the Fifth Circuit to review at their leisure. They reversed the district court and sent it back. The Per Curium (unsigned) decision states: The question we address here is narrow. If United's policy is not preliminarily enjoined, are plaintiffs likely to suffer irreparable harm? For the two plaintiffs who received religious exemptions and remain on unpaid leave, we hold that they are. We therefore REVERSE the decision of the district court and REMAND for consideration of the other factors courts must evaluate when deciding whether to issue a preliminary injunction. The decision notes that they are not rejecting vaccine mandates as a whole. ("Critically, we do not decide whether United or any other entity may impose a vaccine mandate.") They said the district court improperly denied an injunction preventing United Airlines' policy from going into place on "narrow grounds," and they were sending it back for further hearings. What this means for your business Employment attorney and partner at Fisher Broyles, Eric B. Meyer, says it means practically nothing. If you "operate a business anywhere outside of [Texas, Mississippi or Louisiana]," you should disregard this opinion. But, even if you do live in these states, it's a "non-precedential, non-binding" opinion that is limited to the very narrow cause of "irreparable harm." As long as your accommodation for people with religious or health exemptions is not unpaid leave, then, Meyer says, that should be enough. This ruling has nothing to do with vaccine mandates as a whole and doesn't state if the plaintiffs can succeed on the merits. Will this be overturned? Of course, this falls into the realms of guessing, but with the scathing dissent, you can guess that not every Judge feels the way the majority felt. Circuit Judge Jerry E. Smith wrote a signed dissent that leaves little doubt about how he really felt. If I ever wrote an opinion authorizing preliminary injunctive relief for plaintiffs without a cause of action, without a likelihood of success on the merits (for two reasons), and devoid of irreparable injury, despite the text, policy, and history of the relevant statute, despite the balance of equities and the public interest, and despite decades of contrary precedent from this circuit and the Supreme Court, all while inventing and distorting facts to suit my incoherent reasoning, "I would hide my head in a bag." It's quite likely that the phrase, "I would hide my head in a bag," has never been used before in a court opinion, and it demonstrates just how strongly Smith felt and how tenuous the majority opinion is. While I strongly agree that putting someone on an unpaid leave of absence is not an appropriate accommodation, the plaintiffs' chances to prevail back at the federal court are slim, and the chances of them succeeding and the course upholding this decision are even slimmer. Changes you can make. Send to Email Address Your Name Your Email Address Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Email check failed, please try again Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In early August of 2020, a serial offender lets call him John was arrested and arraigned in Manhattan criminal court, according to anonymized data released by the New York State Office of Court Administration. John, a 55-year-old Black man, was charged with assault with intent to cause physical harm with a weapon, a class D felony. He had two prior violent felony offenses, two misdemeanor convictions and a third pending misdemeanor on his record. Yet that same day, Judge James Clynes released John on his own recognizance, with neither bail nor other restrictions imposed. Also that same day, OCA data show, John was rearrested for another violent felony, the second such offense in 24 hours. Advertisement Why was someone with a history of violent offending, who had been arrested for a violent felony, rereleased into the community to commit another violent felony, rather than detained in jail? The answer likely has something to do with New York States bail reform law, which mandates that judges release offenders under the least restrictive conditions necessary to ensure they reappear in court, even if they obviously pose a risk to the community. Adams is right. (Seth Wenig/AP) Mayor Adams has been asking Albany to modify the 2020 law, to permit judges to consider offenders dangerousness in arraignment decisions. New York is peculiar in not already having such a dangerousness standard, which is already the law in 49 states and in the federal system, as well as in many countries across the world. But state Democrats seem uninterested: Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins has insisted that she wont vote to criminalize poverty. And decarceration advocates have contended that dangerousness would only introduce more racial bias into the system. Advertisement In reality, cases like Johns reveal a gaping hole in bail reform, one that Albany continues to refuse to fix. A dangerousness modification to the law, as both Adams and my Manhattan Institute colleague Rafael Mangual have called for, would allow the courts to detain serious, serial offenders before they re-offend, potentially preventing thousands of violent crimes. To be sure, violent reoffense is uncommon, as uncommon as violent offense is. Between January 2020 and June 2021, about 11% of cases were charged with a violent felony at arrest. Of those released at arraignment (a selected population), about 3% were subsequently rearrested for a violent felony, OCA data show. The Daily News Flash Weekdays Catch up on the days top five stories every weekday afternoon. > But that small percentage obscures thousands of preventable offenses: at least 5,204, 70% of which took place in New York City limits. That number is also an undercount, as the data it is based on omits violent felonies committed after the first rearrest. If someone is picked up for misdemeanor harassment, and then again for homicide, only the misdemeanor would be counted. What is more, these future violent offenders can be recognized at arraignment. Relative to those who were released on bail and did not commit a violent offense, bailed re-offenders were twice as likely to have a prior violent felony, twice as likely to have been charged with a violent felony at arraignment, and three times as likely to have another open violent felony case. Those with a history of violence are significantly more likely to commit another violent offense or other offenses, given that nearly half of those with a pending violent felony case are rearrested on some charge after release. That prior offenders account for a large share of offenses is a common criminological observation; a dangerousness standard would merely allow judges to recognize and respond to it. Critics of the dangerousness standard argue that it is just an opportunity to introduce racial and socioeconomic bias into the system, not to improve public safety. Such fears are unwarranted or misleading, assuming the change is made appropriately. In principle, the goal of bail reform was to reduce the use of cash bail, which can put a wealthy, high-level offender back on the streets while leaving a poor, low-level offender in Rikers. Nothing about a dangerousness standard violates this principle. Rather, it empowers judges to put the riskiest behind bars regardless of ability to pay. Advocates argue that judges will measure dangerousness based on their own inherent biases. But subjective judgments can and should be supplemented with data. An algorithmic risk assessment tool, of the type successfully adopted in New Jersey, can use offenders observed characteristics to predict their violent reoffense risk, agnostic to their race or income. Critics have argued that New Jersey is still locking up many offenders, but that misses the point: a rationalized system is a fairer one, regardless of the outcome. Permitting judges to keep those at risk of violence in jail pretrial, in other words, need not mean making the criminal justice system more racially unfair. Rather, it means making it more effective, and keeping New Yorks streets safer for everyone. Advertisement Lehman is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and a contributing editor of City Journal. Jalan Kalrock Consortium, the Successful Resolution Applicant and new proposed promoters of Jet Airways today announced the appointment of Vipula Gunatilleka as Chief Financial Officer. Mr Gunatilleka will be joining from March 1, 2022.Mr Gunatilleka was the CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022 and had the most daunting task of leading the national carrier during the pandemic.Mr Gunatilleka was head hunted by the Board in 2018 to re-structure SriLankan Airlines and in less than two years after assuming the duties as the CEO, the airline recorded positive EBITDA/Cash Flow for the Fiscal Year 2019/20 notwithstanding the devastating effects of the terror attacks in April 2019 in Sri Lanka followed by the global pandemic in early 2020. As a result of key initiatives introduced to improve the service standards and operational efficiencies, the airline was accredited with the Worlds Most Punctual Airline twice in 2019.Prior to joining SriLankan Airlines, Mr Gunatilleka was the CFO & Board Member of TAAG Angola Airlines from November 2015 to July 2018 under Emirates Management. He played a pivotal role to turnaround the loss-making national carrier of Angola.Mr. Ankit Jalan, Member of the Monitoring Committee of Jet Airways and part of Jalan-Kalrock Consortium said We are excited to welcome Mr. Vipula Gunatilleka to our young and energic team . Vipula is an aviation expert and regarded as a turnaround specialist in the industry. He has been shortlisted after a rigorous process run by our Executive Team over the last several months. I am certain Vipula will be an asset to the organization and will provide the necessary vision to revive the operations of Jet Airways as per the plans of the Consortium.Mr. Gunatilleka qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the year 1987 after which he did his MBA from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Mr. Gunatilleka is also a qualified Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA) from UK and Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) from Australia.Mr. Gunatilleka is known for his astute knowledge in aircraft financing, strategic planning, cost-efficient business modelling and openness to adopt hybrid models to keep business costs low and efficiency high.Speaking on his plans, Mr Vipula Gunatilleka said I am very excited to join the company and I look forward to contributing my knowledge of last 30 years in Jet Airways resurgence in its new avatar. We will capitalize on the strong brand value which Jet Airways has in the market and use it to re-build the lost ground.Mr Gunatilleka further added I first joined SriLankan Airlines as its CFO in 2001, when it was part of the Emirates Group and was establishing its feet in the Indo-Pacific Sub-Continent. Having spent sufficient time in leadership roles in the aviation industry including as CEO of SriLankan Airlines until January 2022, I am aware of the responsibility that lingers on the shoulders of the leadership team, especially the CFO and I am confident Jet Airways will soon regain its lost glory. SJVN Arun- 3 Power Development Company, a subsidiary of SJVN Limited in Nepal, today signed Term Loan Documents for drawl of Rs6333.40 crore Loan with the consortium of banks from India & Nepal. The consortium, led by SBI India and PNB, have Exim Bank, Canara UBI & Everest Bank, Nepal & Nabil Bank, Nepal as consortium members.The term loan signing ceremony was performed in the presence of Sh. Nand Lal Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, SJVN and Sh. A. K. Singh, Director (Finance) besides senior officers Sh. Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Chief GM (BDE)/Head (LO), Sh. A.M. Jha, Chief GM (F&A).Speaking on the occasion Nand Lal Sharma re-affirmed SJVNs commitment to complete the construction of 900 MW Arun 3 HEP in Nepal in the FY 2023-24, one year ahead of the scheduled commissioning of the Project in February 2025, as required under Project Development Agreement and Financing Documents.The documents were signed by Sh. Jitendra Yadav, Chief Finance Officer, SAPDC, Nepal on behalf of SAPDC & respective signatories of consortium Banks.Sharma said that SJVN is implementing the 900 MW Arun 3 Hydroelectric project in Nepal through its wholly owned subsidiary SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company. The project, he told, is in an advanced stage of construction and is targeted to be completed in the financial year 2023-24. The project completion, Sharma told, had been advanced by about a year which will immensely benefit not only SJVN but also the government of Nepal who will start getting power supply as a basic infrastructure for the industrial development of the country.Sharma further said that as a result of trust gained by SJVN by efficient implementation of the project, the Government of Nepal has also allocated Lower Arun Hydro Power Project to the company.Presently SJVN has a portfolio of more than 16000 MW, with 2016.50 MW installed capacity and rest under various stages of development. This tremendous growth in the portfolio has enabled SJVN to revise and upgrade its Shared Vision. Now, the company is set out to achieve 5000 MW by 2023, 25000 MW by 2030 and 50000 MW installed capacity by year 2040. Nifty Bank & Financial Services remained under pressure as the domestic equity market tumbles owing to the rising conflicts between Russia and Ukraine. The index remained in sync with the overall slump in broader markets as elevated oil prices left investors muddled.Heavyweights SBI (-2.70%), IndusInd Bank (-0.75%), IDFC First Bank (-1.48%), Bandhan Bank (-1.96%), and Axis Bank (-1.07%) remained the top laggards. Whereas, HDFC Bank (-0.29%), AU Bank (-0.28%), Federal bank (-0.20%), and RBL Bank (-0.18%) struggled to maintain previous positions with marginal downfalls. Kotak Bank (+1.03%) and ICICI Bank (+0.35%) uplift the chart, whilst Kotak Bank remained the top gainer.At around 3.15 PM, Nifty Bank was trading at 37,521.45 points against its previous closing of 37,685.60 points, down by 0.44%. It touched the days high and low of 37,659.40 and 36,818.10 points respectively.On the financial services index, Cholamandlam Investment and Finance Company (+2.33%), Muthoot Finance (+2.05%), Bajaj Finserv (+0.99%) led the chart on the back of marginal gains in Kotak Bank (+0.87%), ICICI General Insurance (+0.75%), HDFC AMC (+0.69%), HDFC (+0.73%) and Bajaj Finance (0.06%). SBIN (-2.71%), SBI Life (-2.60%), PEL (-2.45%), HDFC Life (-1.57%), and REC Ltd (-1.35%) blood baths accompanied by Shri Ram Transport Finance Company (-1.25%), Mahindra & Mahindra Finance (-0.98%), and PFC (-1.01%).Nifty Financial Services was trading 0.41% down at 17,457.55 points against its previous closing of 17,530.15 points. It touched days high and low of 17,567.85 and 17,129 points respectively in todays trade. After years of struggle, not only Nawazuddin Siddiqui but his fans are also proud of his achievements. One of the most sought-after actors currently, started his career with blink-and-miss roles. From sharing a flat with four people to buying a plush bungalow in Mumbai, he has come a long way. AFP Do you know the bathroom of his new bungalow is bigger than the house Nawazuddin Siddiqui once lived in "Aaj jitna bada mera personal bathroom hai, utnasa mera ghar hua karta tha (Today, my personal bathroom is as big as my house)," he shared with Bombay Times. Twitter Nawazuddin Siddiqui cannot forget the older days though. Talking about the apartment he shared with other budding actors, he said, "Woh kamra itna chhota tha ki agar main door kholu toh kisi ke pairon mein lag jata tha, because, we all used to lay our beds on the floor when we slept there. Dheere dheere, I started sharing my room with three people, then with two, and it is only from 2005 that I started living alone". Twitter Siddiqui has named his new bungalow after his later father Nawabuddin Siddiqui. He wishes his father could see his new home. "I remember when my father visited me in Mumbai a few years ago, he got very upset and said, 'Yeh kis tareeque ke kabootar khaane mein rehte ho tum log.' I was staying in a 3 BHK apartment then, which was really small compared to the huge place in our hometown, which dad loved. Unka mann Mumbai ke ghar mein nahi lagta tha. So, I always had this thing in my mind that I would get him to a bigger place in Mumbai one day, but he passed away before that. I wish my dad could see this bungalow'. Twitter Nawazuddin Siddiqui comes from a humble zamindari Muslim family of Lambardars and was born in the small town in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh. He has seven siblings and he is the eldest of all. All his fans would know that he started his journey with National School of Drama in New Delhi. After graduating from the acting school in 1999, he moved to Mumbai with big dreams in his eyes. For a long time, he could only bag small cameo roles in films like Sarfarosh, Shool, Jungle, Munnabhai MBBS. Between 2002 and 2005, he was largely out of work and survived in a flat he shared with four others by conducting acting workshops. When he couldn't pay rent, he moved in with an NSD senior and cooked meals for him. People only took notice of him in Peepli Live, in which he essayed the role of a journalist. His claim to success was 2012 film Kahaani and Anurag Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur. From here, there was no looking back. (For more news and updates from the world of celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment, and let us know your thoughts on this story in the comments below.) Are you travelling to Dubai? Are you planning a trip abroad? If yes, we have information that might come handy to you. As per the latest guidelines issued on Tuesday, Indian nationals travelling to Dubai no longer need to undergo a rapid COVID-19 test at the airport before departure. The new guidelines came into effect on Tuesday. An advisory issued by the Dubai Airport updated the travel requirements for passengers from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. AFP Fresh advisory for Indians But, here's what you need to do when travelling to Dubai. The fresh advisory requires Indian nationals to produce a negative COVID-19 test certificate taken up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the flight, from an approved health service provider. The passengers will require to undergo a PCR test upon their arrival in Dubai. The travellers will have to self-quarantine till the results are declared. Passengers who test negative can continue their travel plans while passengers who test positive will undergo quarantine and treatment as laid down by Dubai authorities. BCCL Who can travel? Passengers (vaccinated or not) with all types of visa and/or entry permissions granted by the appropriate authority in the United Arab Emirates permitted to travel to Dubai from Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Liberia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia. For transit passengers, the rules governing entry at the final destination will be applicable. The responsibility of ensuring that the conditions of travel are met will lie with the airline operators. The revision in travel requirements will ease the situation for a large number of Indians who either reside in or travel frequently to the city. AFP COVID in India India recorded 13,405 fresh Covid-19 infections in 24 hours on Tuesday. The active cases in the country now stand at 1,81,075, while the daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.24 per cent. The total recovery stands at 4,21,58,510 and the total death toll at 5,12,344. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Jai Anmol Ambani, the elder son of businessman Anil Dhirubhai Ambani, tied the knot with Khrisha Shah in a intimate ceremony on Sunday (20 February) in Mumbai. The couple had got engaged back in December 2021. After being in the news for a long time, Jai finally got hitched to his fiancee Khrisha in a dreamy affair surrounded by family and friends. Instagram/@antara_m The wedding was was star-studded affair which saw a number of prominent personalities marking their attendance for the wedding festivities. The celebrations were held at Anil Ambani's Cuffe Parade home Sea Wind. Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and his family members attended the wedding. Also present were other members of the Ambani family Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani and Isha Ambani. Who is Khrisha Shah? Khrisha Shah is a Mumbai-based business woman who founded the professional networking platform and community, Dysco, in 2016, along with her brother Mishal Shah. Khrisha holds a degree in Social Policy and Development from the London School of Economics. She has also studied Political Economics at the University of California. Medium Khrisha worked at Accenture in the UK for some time but returned to India in 2016 to become an entrepreneur. She also initiated a mental health campaign with the name of #Lovenotfea concerning mental health problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. dysco.in Khrisha Shah's father, the late Nikunj Shah, was the chairman and managing director of Nikunj Enterprises Limited. He passed away in 2021. Nikunj was also the director of the company SVS aqua technology. Khrisha's mother used to work as a designer for an export firm but after her marriage with Nikunj, she became a hands-on mother of three kids. She returned as a fashion designer in 2010. For more from trending, click here. A heart-stopping video is going viral showing a man's quick thinking saving a child from being run over by an approaching truck. The clip was posted on Reddit by a handle named 'r/HumansBeingBros', and it has since gone viral and attracted tons of reactions. In the short clip, a toddler abruptly tries to run towards a seemingly busy road. An alert man, on witnessing the incident, quickly runs towards the child to save him from an approaching truck. Fortunately, the child was saved in the nick of time and the truck then came to a halt. The clip has garnered several reactions from people. Reddit "Good thing it has a great steering wheel that doesn't whiff out of the window while driving," one user commented. "Damn, that was close. Great Save, good guy," another user commented. "Impressive brakes on that truck and reaction from its driver," a third user said. "Jesus. You look away for one second and the kid darts off for no reason into a busy street and almost gets meat crayoned. Just that anxiety alone would be too much for me," another user added. Earlier this month, a crossing guard was hailed a hero after her quick thinking saved a school student from being hit by a car. The incident took place in Maryland, U.S., and was caught on camera by a nearby school bus. In the video, a crossing guard is seen stepping into the crosswalk to stop traffic while a student from North East Middle School jogs across to cross the road. A car is seen approaching the crosswalk, and when the crossing guard realises the car is not stopping in time, she throws the student out of harm's way, and is struck by the car herself. The crossing guard was identified as Annette Goodyear of the North East Police Department, ABC13 reported. Goodyear was taken to hospital as a precaution but was quickly released, according to Cecil County Public Schools. She suffered minor injuries, the report said. School officials added that Ms Goodyear later visited the student at their home to check in. Were just extremely proud of her actions. It was a split-second reaction that saved a child from potential injury. A job well done," Cpl. John Fakner of the North East Police Department told WJZ. For more from trending, click here. Internet star and content creator Kili Paul is popularly known on Instagram and other social platforms for lip-syncing popular songs from Indian movies. He has made quite a name for himself by doing so and has gotten quite famous among his Indian fans. Now, the internet sensation has been honoured by the High Commission of India in Tanzania for the content he creates. The Indian commission posted about the same on their Twitter handle. Indian Diplomat and High Commissioner of India in Tanzania, Binaya Pradhan posted about this on his Twitter account. Today had a special visitor at the @IndiainTanzania; famous Tanzanian artist Kili Paul has won millions of hearts in India for his videos lip-syncing to popular Indian film songs #IndiaTanzania (sic). Today had a special visitor at the @IndiainTanzania ; famous Tanzanian artist Kili Paul has won millions of hearts in India for his videos lip-syncing to popular Indian film songs #IndiaTanzania pic.twitter.com/CuTdvqcpsb Binaya Pradhan (@binaysrikant76) February 21, 2022 People on social media lauded the internet star and praised him and his sister for bringing two countries together through their content. One user said, "Fantastic. Well deserved recognition. We should invite him for the next Independence Day Celebrations and honour him. His videos have bought the countries together more than any other cultural events." Another user said, "Im proud of him, it is a message to youth social media can be a source of opportunities rather than the source of moral decay." A third user said, "Allow him to perform before or in front of famous and notary Bollywood artists in India prepare him a visa with her sister this will increase public awareness and cultural transformation as well as States corporation. TRUST ME." Fantastic. Well deserved recognition. We should invite him for the next Independence Day Celebrations and honour him. His videos have bought the countries together more than any other cultural events. Suresh K R Kumar (@krsureshkumar) February 21, 2022 Im proud of him, it is message to youth social media can be source of opportunities rather than source of moral decay Emmanuel Mwang'onda (@emmerleo) February 21, 2022 This was such a good gesture. Made me so proud. Kili is my favourite. His simplicity, native dressing, the beauty of his country, his sister and sometimes his friends in it- all add to the beauty of his video. Congratulations to Kili! Varsha (@Varrsha2) February 22, 2022 I am very happy to hear that the song of our country is playing at the global level and people are making reels on its feet. Debi Prasad rout ray (@DebiPrasadRou15) February 22, 2022 Allow him to perfom before or infront of famous and notary bollywood artists in India prepare him a visa with her sister this will increase public awareness and cultural transformation as well as States corporation. TRUST ME. Francis Samaito (@AdvSamaito) February 21, 2022 Kili Paul is extremely famous on Instagram and has over 2 million subscribers on the social media platform. Many Bollywood stars including the likes of Ayushmann Khurrana, Gul Panag, Richa Chadha follow him. Along with lip-syncing to popular Hindi movie songs, Kili Paul also presents his dancing skills in the videos. He and his sister have lip-synced to several popular songs such as Raataan Lambiyan from Shershaah and the viral song 'Kacha Badam' with the caption, Since everyone wanted to see @neemapaul155 dance to this, here it is the best she can do. Two days ago, he uploaded a video with his sister Neema Paul lip-syncing to the song Pal from the movie Jalebi. The internet star is known for combing Indian culture along with his own by wearing his country's traditional attire while lip-syncing to Indian music. For the latest from trending, click here A woman who sued her employer for age and sex discrimination after her male boss shouted she 'must be in her menopause' has won a 20,000 (Rs 20 lakh) payout. Leigh Best, worked at pet food store Embark on Raw in Essex, England, when she became embroiled in a disagreement with shop owner David Fletcher. Solent News and Photo Agency/Facebook Fletcher reportedly shouted the inappropriate and derogatory remark at the top of his voice saying that the then 52-year-old "must be in her menopause". He made the remark even after married Best had covered her ears and said: "I don't want to hear about it" when a customer mentioned having a "hot flush". Solent News and Photo Agency As per Metro, an employment tribunal in east London was told: "A customer had been describing a 'hot flush'. [Mrs Best] put her hands over her ears and said, I am having none of that, I dont even want to hear about it, I dont want to know. Mr Fletcher continued to pursue the topic even after the customer had departed and that was unwanted conduct which had the effect of violating [her] dignity and of creating a humiliating environment for her at work." When Best complained about the comments to his wife and fellow owner, Andrea, she was told to stop moaning, and a month later she was fired. Best took her employers to the tribunal and will now receive the payout after winning claims of age and sex discrimination and unfair dismissal. Solent News and Photo Agency The tribunal, headed by Employment Judge Bernice Elgot, found Fletcher had broached a "highly sensitive topic" and acted "tactlessly" when he asked her about the menopause. "Mr Fletcher invaded the claimants privacy, broached a highly sensitive topic for her and acted tactlessly in directly asking her, as an employee having the protected characteristic of sex as a woman, whether she was menopausal. He asked that question even after she had made it quite clear she did not wish to participate in any such discussion," the judge ruled. "We are satisfied that part of the reason for the companys decision to dismiss Mrs Best is that she made a significant allegation of sexism and ageism against Mr David Fletcher," The tribunal ordered Embark on Raw to pay Leigh Best 20,057.74 in compensation. For more from trending, click here. Woodbridge, VA (22192) Today Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Robert Hayes, 39 of West Palm Beach, was arrested in 2019 for the killing of a 32-year-old woman in 2016. He currently stands trial for the murder of three women in 2005 and 2006. (Volusia County ) A Volusia County jury will soon decide the fate of a man accused of killing three women between 2005 and 2006, according to a various news outlets. Closing arguments were made Monday for the trial of Robert Hayes who is charged for the murders of 45-year-old Laquetta Gunther, 34-year-old Julie Green and 35-year-old Iwana Patton, according to Volusia County court records. If convicted he could face the death penalty. Advertisement Gunther, Green and Patton were all known to have engaged in prostitution, and were all found naked and dead with gunshots to the back of their heads, records show. Investigators found the same male DNA evidence on both Gunther and Pattons person. The investigation also found that the same .40 caliber American Eagle shell casings at both Green and Pattons crime scene. However the investigation into the killings went cold until 2016 when a fourth victim was found. Advertisement Rachel Bey, 32, was found naked and dead March 7, 2016 in a construction zone in Palm Beach County. She too was known to engage in prostitution, records show. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > In 2019, Hayes was arrested and was suspected of Beys murder, Palm Beach County court record show. Later, Hayes was transferred to Volusia County Jail after investigators found a match in DNA evidence collected in the 2006 murder investigation and Beys death. The Palm Beach County trial is on hold while Hayes stands trial in Volusia. On Friday afternoon, prosecutors pointed toward weapon evidence suggesting Hayes used the same gun and type of ammunition on at least two victims, according to a WESH News report. However, the defense argued that .40 caliber handguns were very popular at the time of these crimes, and that there is no evidence that suggests that Hayes pulled the trigger. The defense also pointed out that two victims were found in remote areas, meaning whoever killed them needed a vehicle, and no evidence suggests Hayes owned or drove a vehicle in 2006, WESH reported. A jury could deliver a verdict on Hayes later Tuesday. Jpedersen@orlandosentinel.com Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. This post is part of a series sponsored by Old Republic Surety. Do you want to build a book of surety business at your agency, but youre not sure how to get started? Have you been selling surety bonds, but want to increase your business? Old Republic Surety offers solid marketing advice for surety newbies and veterans alike. How does an insurance agency go after surety business if theyve never sold surety bonds before? Chances are if you are an established insurance agency, youve got some of your markets established. However, be sure to consider surety-only markets, such as Old Republic Surety, as there are ample benefits of having a surety-only surety company in your wheelhouse and thats a different subject. This article will help you put a marketing plan together, so you can establish a solid stream of surety business and help your agency grow. How do you develop a marketing plan to write surety bonds? Start with a strategy that fits your target market. For surety business, thats most often contractors for contract bonds. The target market for commercial bonds can be an extremely diverse list of businesses. Starting with your agencys own book, look at the customer profiles. Is there an existing construction book? Investigate what types of contractors are already customers and what types of projects those contractors work on. Another great place to look for basic P&C prospecting as well as surety bond business is the certificate of insurance (COI). These certificates list additional insureds (subcontractors) for a contractors project. Perhaps these subcontractors need surety bonds? They most certainly need P&C insurance, and there is an established relationship with the contractor that could help you get in the door. Besides contractors, look at the other businesses within the agencys existing book. Nearly every type of business requires some sort of commercial bond. That includes retailers, attorneys, financial institutions, car dealers, healthcare service companies, government employees and even insurance agencies. Old Republic Surety came up with this terrific Bond Prospecting Guide to help agencies look within their own book their vertical markets to find the commercial bond opportunities that can be turned over. If you have, for example, a book of business with municipalities, then you have bond prospects among public officials, tax collectors, notaries public and sheriffs the list goes on. Writing the commercial bonds for these vertical market customers is a great way to secure what is called an exit barrier. The more obstacles, or exit barriers, your agency can put in place, the harder it is for the business to move to another agency. Be an expert in your field Consider becoming a member of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers (NASBP), which is the dedicated solely to the needs of surety bond producers, their interests, and their businesses. There are ample ways to network within the organization, as well as numerous education tracks to help bond producers step up their game. Become a knowledgeable source for surety bonds Identify forums, communication channels and support organizations and explore how to get your agency known as a bond producer. Unlike a field of dreams, customers wont just come because youre set up as a surety bond agency. Consider joining those ponds you want to fish in. General contractors and sub-contractors belong to contractor organizations such as the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Associated Builders and Contractors Inc. (ABC), utility contractor organizations, etc. For illustration purposes, here are a few organizations that an agency in Wisconsin should consider being involved in: AGC of WI; ABC of WI; and WUCA: Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association. To continue the illustration, in Wisconsin there are also publications that can be great lead sources for a bond producer, such as The Daily Reporter, which is dedicated to publishing bid requirements and results, and Dodge Global Network for General Contractors. Most major metropolitan areas have construction-oriented associations and publications that can be great resources to help you network and find prospects. Messaging and online presence Map messages to your targets. Messages should communicate that you understand the challenges that your prospects might up come against. Think of this as your sales pitch the story you can quickly tell on a street corner or on an elevator. Articulate the pain your bond services can eliminate or mitigate for a customer. Tell the prospective surety bond buyer what they should look for to get the best product and associated service. Identify how your background and business can uniquely meet the needs of the clients you want. Find excellent sources of content to share with your customers and prospects. The more you know and share, the higher the value your prospects will place on you. Share surety blog articles from your surety companies. Hint: You are reading one right now. Subscribe to industry podcasts, webinars, blogs, newsletters, etc. Join construction groups within LinkedIn. Contribute and share the content that you find within these groups. You will quickly find that your status is elevated the more you share and engage. Share what you find within your own agency. Hold a lunch-n-learn for your P&C producers. The more comfortable they are with you and your surety knowledge, the more likely they will be to bring you along on their next customer review or jobsite visit. Incorporate your surety bond knowledge into your agencys existing website. Make it your digital calling card. Weave your messages into the copy. Businesses, organizations and government entities may search online to identify surety bond agencies, to learn about bond products that exist, and to determine where they will get the best value. Talk about your experience. Tell prospects why they should consider your agency. Add customer endorsements if youre able as your business grows. Educate your prospects about the variety of surety bonds and their importance. Explain your value as their advisor, facilitator and intermediary with a surety company. Select communication channels that reach your sales targets, such as the local paper, talk radio, or a trade magazine. Evaluate the readership or audience, and determine whether the ad cost is worth it. Is there a relevant business topic that would make you a good subject expert for a local talk radio channel? Could you pen an article for the local business publication about how to select a bond underwriter or why a business should be bonded? Use social media. Always connect to your agencys website. Facebook to target individuals. Create a page for your business and link it to your web site. Be sure to have your own professional page and invite people to connect with your agency. Share relevant news in addition to posts directly tied to your business, products and services. Include pictures that showcase your agency involvement in the community and relevant charities. Create a page for your business and link it to your web site. Be sure to have your own professional page and invite people to connect with your agency. Share relevant news in addition to posts directly tied to your business, products and services. Include pictures that showcase your agency involvement in the community and relevant charities. Tweet about the bond business. Share relevant news stories. Like and comment on posts of those whom you want to follow you. Link your tweets to your agencys website. Demonstrate that youre a good citizen to earn good will. Use tweets to show support for local charities, health care workers on the COVID front line, local fire department, etc. Share relevant news stories. Like and comment on posts of those whom you want to follow you. Link your tweets to your agencys website. Demonstrate that youre a good citizen to earn good will. Use tweets to show support for local charities, health care workers on the COVID front line, local fire department, etc. LinkedIn. Create a page for your agency and pages for key personnel. Connect with each other and your network. Look at your connections connections. Consider who could help you reach people who make the decisions about buying bonds. Dont be afraid to reach out and make the case for why an introduction might be advantageous to those involved. Stay on your customers radar. Be sure your customers are staying happy with your service, and simply stay connected. That can help you sustain and grow the business. Customers oftentimes need to shop for additional bond products in the future. They also may refer your agency to others. Tap into your surety companies Lastly, but certainly not least, ask for help from your surety companies. At Old Republic Surety, we love helping our agents grow. Here are just a few things we continue to do for our agents: Lets prospect together! Just like you, wed like to write key contractors. Just like you, wed like to write key contractors. Surety 101 sessions for you and your agency. for you and your agency. Contractor meetings to help educate them on surety, contract language, indemnity and more. to help educate them on surety, contract language, indemnity and more. Help on content. Weve got a world-class, stellar marketing department that can help you with content, flyers, social and online posts and more. Use these basics to get started and stay tuned to Old Republic Surety for upcoming blogs detailing more specific marketing tips for your surety bond agency. We look forward to helping you grow your surety bond business! Topics Agencies Profit Loss Property Casualty Contractors Wisconsin Irwin Siegel Adds to Executive Management Team Rock Hill, New York-based program manager Irwin Siegel Agency (ISA) announced two additions to its executive management team. Jennifer Johnston has joined the company as vice president of Underwriting in ISAs newly formed Excess & Surplus division, and Karen Skiba comes onboard as assistant vice president of Claims. Johnston will lead the development of ISAs new E&S program, focusing on underserved and loss sensitive human service organizations. Skiba has joined the claims team. With 20 years of experience, she will be responsible for the daily operations of the claims division, third party administrator management, and claims benchmarking and analytics. Skiba has previously worked at Cabot Risk Strategies, Alan Gray LLC and. for more than 15 years. in various claims capacities at AIG. ISA is a Ryan Specialty Group managing general underwriter focused on the human and social service industry. RSG acquired ISA in 2018. MEMIC Group Adds Newton, Cosey in Key Roles Workers compensation carrier The MEMIC Group has hired Bill Newton to serve as director of Financial Reporting and L.C. Cosey to serve as Small Business Express production underwriter for the Southeast region. Newton has more than 13 years of experience in accounting and finance roles, most recently reporting to the Securities and Exchange Commission on behalf of publicly traded companies. Newton also spent three years in financial accounting for an insurance company and three years in public accounting at Baker Newman Noyes, the Portland-based firm. Cosey has more than a dozen years of experience in insurance underwriting, most recently as senior field underwriter for middle-market businesses at Builders Insurance Group of East Providence, R.I. Cosey also served as director of sales and marketing for Smart Choice Agency in the Southeast, and as senior underwriter in Georgia and Tennessee for Atlas General Insurance. ONeill Joins McGriffs Executive Risk Advisors Group McGriff hired Jim ONeill as a senior vice president and New York City-based producer in the firms Executive Risk Advisors group. ONeill joins McGriff with nearly 40 years of experience as an underwriter and broker working with large multinational companies and investment banks. His expertise ranges from standalone single-coverage risk transfer programs to fully integrated and blended deals. ONeill also has experience in wholesale distribution and product development. ONeill is a past presenter on gaming industry topics, including legal, regulatory and social issues. He also has served as a panelist at the Professional Liability and Underwriting Societys Directors & Officers Liability conference. Topics Underwriting Massachusetts General Hospital will pay $14.6 million to settle a lawsuit that alleged overbilling for double-booked surgeries that were simultaneously overseen by the same surgeon. Its the third time since 2019 that the Harvard-affiliated teaching hospital agreed to pay millions to resolve a claim stemming from the controversial practice, the Boston Globe reported. The three out-of-court settlements total $32.7 million, the newspaper said. Massachusetts General officials sent an email to the hospital community saying it is pleased to resolve the matter without further litigation. The letter from the Massachusetts General president and the president of the hospitals physician organization said the hospital always has complied with legal requirements regarding overlapping surgery. Massachusetts health insurers will share in the settlement money, said Attorney General Maura Healey, whose office approved the settlement. The case stemmed from a whistleblower who said five orthopedic surgeons kept patients under anesthesia longer than necessary because they were juggling procedures in dual operating rooms. Dr. Lisa Wollman, an anesthesiologist, alleged the hospital violated Medicare and Medicaid rules that require surgeons to be present for critical parts of operations and also failed to designate a backup surgeon for trainees who might need immediate help. The lawsuit alleged government insurance programs were overbilled for anesthesia services because procedures were prolonged by surgeons moving back and forth between operating rooms. Wollman told the newspaper that her career has suffered but that she feels she did the right thing by speaking up. I did this entirely for patient safety and transparency, said Wollman, who now works at New England Baptist Hospital. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Massachusetts Maine lawmakers are going to consider more funding to fight forever chemicals as more farms discover contamination. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS have been found in hundreds of farm sites where sludge or papermaking waste containing the toxins was spread. PFAS are also being found in wells and landfills. PFAS are often described as forever chemicals because some dont degrade naturally and are believed capable of lingering indefinitely in the environment. The chemicals are linked to cancer and other health problems, and Gov. Janet Mills is proposing to add another $9 million into fighting the contamination, with more than a third going to improved testing. The proposed additional funding contained in the governors supplemental budget is on top of $30 million already dedicated to testing and mitigation efforts, the Bangor Daily News reported. The funding follows state officials estimates that it could cost tens of millions of dollars a year to detect and remediate contamination. A diverse group of interests from environmentalists to sportspeople have called for an ambitious state response to the problem. The additional funding included in the governors supplemental budget would help abate PFAS hazards, support research and purchase testing equipment. The state would also create five new agricultural bureau positions and three at the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The Sportsmans Alliance of Maine a group organized to be an advocate for hunters, anglers, trappers and gun owners was one of the key interest groups lobbying for PFAS mitigation funding to understand the scope of the problem and to allow the state to be at the forefront of mitigation, said David Trahan, the groups executive director. I think Maines positioned now to be ahead of the other states that are just figuring out that theyve got a real problem, he said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Chemicals Maine The Massachusetts House has approved a bill that would let immigrants in the country illegally obtain state drivers licenses. If passed into law, Massachusetts would join 16 other states and the District of Columbia which already have similar laws. The legislation, approved on a 120-36 vote, would require individuals provide documentation to obtain a license including proof of their identity, residency in the state and date of birth. The new rules would apply to those who do not have proof they are in the country legally, including those not eligible for a Social Security number. Those seeking a license must present at least two documents. The first must be either a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired consular identification. A second kind of identification could include an unexpired drivers license from any U.S. state or territory, a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card or foreign drivers license, or a marriage certificate issued in Massachusetts. At least one document must contain a photograph. The bill also states that immigrants eligible for the drivers licenses would not be registered to vote as a result. Under the legislation, the Registry of Motor Vehicles would be required to come up with regulations about what specific kinds of documentation are acceptable. The licenses would not become available until July 1, 2023. Immigration activists have long lobbied for the measure, saying it will help improve public safety including for those who already have drivers licenses by requiring that immigrants demonstrate they can properly operate a car and that they have obtained the needed insurance in the event of an accident. The bill would also make it less likely for immigrants to leave the scene of an accident because they would face less of a threat of deportation with a drivers license, backers said. The bill has won support from many of the states sheriffs and district attorneys and the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs of Police. Critics of the measure have argued that drivers licenses are a privilege that should not be offered to those not in the country legally. The bill may look simple, but the issue, as we know, is complicated, said Democratic state Rep. William Straus, co-chair of the Legislatures Joint Committee on Transportation. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has expressed opposition to similar efforts in the past. An aide to Baker said he supports existing state laws that allow those in the country legally to obtain drivers licenses. Skeptics and opponents of the bill should look to the experience of the 16 states that have already adopted similar measures, said Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, a Springfield Democrat and son of immigrants. All the fears and the arguments and the objections have fallen short, said Gonzalez. While some in law enforcement have backed the bill, many have declined to take a position, according to Republican state Rep. Timothy Whelan, of Brewster. Whelan said the new rules would put too heavy a burden on those issuing licenses. Are we demanding too much of our Registry of Motor Vehicle clerks? Are we asking them to become experts in foreign documentation and forgery detection? Whelan said. This isnt a slam dunk in the world of law enforcement by any reasonable measure. The bill could also act as a lure to those in the country illegally knowing they could get a drivers license in Massachusetts, said Republican Rep. Paul Frost, of Auburn. It sends the wrong message, he said. The 120-36 vote means the bill won the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled House _ enough to override a potential veto by Baker. The bill still must be approved by the Massachusetts Senate, also controlled by Democrats, before heading to Baker. Senate Democrats are also hoping for a two-thirds majority vote. The formal legislative session ends July 31. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Personal Auto Massachusetts Britain will unlock tens of billions of pounds of insurance sector capital that should boost the economy through infrastructure investment, financial services minister John Glen said on Monday. The six-year-old Solvency II capital requirements were inherited from the European Union when Britain left the blocs orbit at the end of 2020. EU Plans to Ease Capital Rules for Insurers to Provide 120 Billion Economic Boost The long-flagged reform is seen by insurers and Brexit supporters as an early test of how Britain can exploit its freedom to write its own financial regulations, and the government is keen to show tangible benefits from leaving the EU. EU regulation doesnt work for us anymore and the government is determined to fix that by tailoring the prudential regulation of insurers to our unique circumstances, Glen told the Association of British Insurers (ABI) annual dinner. Policyholder protection will remain a top priority, he said. The Association has said changes to the risk margin, matching adjustment and reducing reporting requirements were its top priorities to unlock 95 billion pounds ($129.25 billion) of capital. Glen said a full consultation document in April will include all three steps, followed by more detailed technical consultation by the Bank of England later in the year. The proposals will include a substantial reduction in the risk margin, as much as 60% to 70% for long term life insurers, he said, referring to capital required in case policies must be transferred to another insurer in the event of a collapse. There will be a more sensitive treatment of credit risk in the matching adjustment, or the capital relief from matching long term assets with liabilities. Insurers will see a significant increase in flexibility to invest in long-term assets such as infrastructure to help the economy combat climate change and a meaningful reduction in reporting and administrative burdens, Glen said. This announcement is a positive step that sees us well on the way to ensuring that we have a package that provides additional investment in the UK, without undermining the high standards of policy holder protection we have, said Charlotte Clark, the ABIs director of regulation. The EU has already proposed a draft law to reform Solvency II, saying it could release 90 billion euros ($101.88 billion) of capital in the short term, followed by about a third of this annually in the longer term. ($1 = 0.7350 pounds) (Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Tomasz Janowski) Topics Carriers Legislation Europe Prospective investors in Life Insurance Corp. of Indias (LIC) $8 billion IPO are seeking assurances from company management that it will not sacrifice their interests to meet the goals set out by the government, its controlling shareholder, sources said. In virtual roadshows for Indias biggest ever public listing, LIC management and the IPO bankers have been peppered with questions about the insurers past investments and their quality, four people with knowledge of the matter said. Indias State-Run Insurer LIC Set to Launch Record $8 Billion IPO on March 11: Sources LIC has in recent years been a key buyer of shares in state-owned firms sold off by New Delhi, often bailing out less-than-successful public issues of shares. It has also been tapped to rescue struggling financial institutions. Potential conflicts of interest issues are taking center-stage in the IPO roadshows that began last week and are expected to go on till the end of the month, the sources said. The government tends to act as a regulator, manager and shareholder and it tends to get its position confused at different points of time, said Shriram Subramanian, founder of proxy advisory firm InGovern, who has not attended the roadshows. The government ministries may tend to think that LIC is 100% under their control and would like to exert that kind of an influence whenever required and that is a concern for investors, Subramanian added. How effectively LIC and its investment bankers are able to address the investor concerns will help in determining the insurers valuation in the float, and consequently the state of finances of the Indian government which is banking on proceeds from the IPO to plug an annual fiscal deficit hole. The Finance Ministry did not respond to emails seeking comment while LIC declined. The sources declined to be identified as the discussions are private. In its draft prospectus, the insurer cited involvement of the government, which owns 100% of LIC now and is expected to own about 95% after the IPO, as a risk factor and said that minority shareholders could be disadvantaged by government action. LIC chairman M R Kumar told a news conference on Monday that potential investors should not worry about government control post the IPO as decisions are taken by its board and not by the government. Parallels to Coal India? LIC, which was formed six decades ago when Indias insurance sector was nationalized, straddles the business in the country, with more than 280 million policies and over 60% of the insurance segment. It is also a big investor, owning as of March last year 23.5 trillion rupees ($315 billion) worth of government securities, higher than even the central bank, out of the total central and state government securities worth 115.2 trillion rupees, according to the prospectus. In 2019, it took over troubled IDBI Bank IDBI.NS as the government struggled to find a viable buyer for the lender whose shares had tanked and nearly a third of its book had gone bad. LIC said in its draft papers that it may have to infuse more capital into IDBI Bank even though it has been pursuing a buyer for its more than 50% stake in the lender. Some market analysts and fund managers are drawing parallels of LIC with Coal India COAL.NS, which made its market debut in 2010 and, despite being a monopoly, has lost over half its equity value. In its last earnings call, Coal India chairman and managing director Pramod Agrawal said one of the reasons for its current low market valuation could be because sometimes government takes steps that are not appreciated by shareholders. If LIC makes decisions that are not beneficial for the shareholders then they will raise concerns, said Ashvin Parekh, an independent financial services consultant. We have seen that happen earlier when Children Investment Fund exited from state-owned Coal India after listing as it had concerns over what the majority shareholder was doing and LIC could also face similar pushbacks from its shareholders. (Reporting by Nupur Anand in Mumbai, Aftab Ahmed in New Delhi and Scott Murdoch in Sydney; editing by Sumeet Chatterjee and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Topics Carriers India An Orange County man has been arrested by federal authorities, accused of using online aliases to coerce a 12-year-old girl into sending nude images which later made their way to her middle-school classmates. Thomas Zayas, 45, who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs, faces a charge of sexual exploitation of children, according to a criminal complaint filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Advertisement The investigation began in August, when a parent of a former student at the girls middle school reported having received a collage of nude photos of the victim in various sexually suggestive poses, the complaint said. The parent whose child uses the device to which the collage was sent alerted the schools principal, who identified the photos as a 12-year-old current student and alerted the schools resource deputy. Advertisement The principal and school were not identified in the complaint against Zayas. According to the complaint, a message that accompanied the explicit images claimed that the girl had a sexually transmitted disease and was spreading it to multiple boys. The deputy spoke to the girl, who explained that she had taken the photos at the direction of two people Romeo and Millie whod been harassing and manipulating her via the messaging service WhatsApp. Federal agents later determined that Romeo and Millie were both aliases adopted by Zayas, according to the complaint. He first contacted her using the Romeo alias, the complaint said, claiming to be a sibling of a friend of hers and making unwanted romantic advances, which the girl rebuffed before blocking his account. Then, Zayas contacted the girl as Millie, authorities said, claiming to be Romeos sister and threatening to hurt the girl if she didnt resume talking to Romeo. The middle schooler eventually relented. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Soon, Zayas began using the Millie account to demand nude photos and videos from the girl, investigators said sometimes extorting new images by threatening to expose ones shed provided previously. Investigators traced the aliases back to Zayas through phone and police records, the complaint states as well as an online order for flowers that he allegedly had delivered to her school in the guise of Millie. Advertisement The internet protocol address for the flower delivery order traced back to Zayas work-issued laptop from the VA, investigators said. According to the complaint, when confronted, Zayas denied even knowing the girl during a recorded interview but confessed after agents stopped recording, calling himself a pathetic loser. Authorities said Zayas claimed his interactions with the girl began as a joke but that changed when she blocked the Romeo alias, which prompted Zayas to create Millie in order to teach [the girl] a lesson. As of Monday, Zayas was being held at the Seminole County jail. jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com This edition of International People Moves details appointments at insurtech BOXX Insurance, Hiscox and AXA XL. A summary of these new hires follows here. Cyber Insurtech BOXX Canada Hires Beazleys Baker as President Toronto-based global insurtech BOXX Insurance announced the appointment of Phil Baker as president of BOXX Canada. Baker will also be responsible for delivering BOXXs insurance strategy globally as its global head of Insurance. Prior to joining BOXX, Baker headed Beazley Canada where he was board chairman and head of broker relations. Baker joined Beazley when it acquired Creechurch Underwriters, where he was president and CEO of the highly regarded MGA that focused on insuring risks in the emerging technology space. Before joining Creechurch, Baker headed the financial and professional lines business unit for Travelers Canada. BOXX also announced the addition of Zurich Insurance and Hartford Steam Boiler as new insurance providers for BOXX. Baker will manage these relationships as well as cultivate new ones as BOXX expands into selected new markets and segments. Phil will play an integral role in expanding relationships with the insurance brokers that fuel our business in Canada, said Vishal Kundi, BOXXs CEO and co-founder. Under Phils technical leadership, we can step up the pace to enhance and extend our insurance products to meet the demands of partners and customers we are seeing across the world. *** Williams Takes Role of Managing Director, Hiscox Guernsey Hiscox Ltd., the specialist insurer, has announced that Mike Williams, divisional director of Crisis Management, has been appointed to the additional role of managing director, Hiscox Guernsey. Williams, who is based in Guernsey, takes on the role from Steve Camm who will continue as a non-executive director for Hiscox Guernsey. He leads an existing team of underwriting and claims professionals with nearly 200 years of cumulative experience in delivering specialist insurance services for both corporate and private clients ranging from kidnap and ransom insurance through to insurance for fine art collections and classic cars. Williams has held several senior roles across Hiscox London Market over the last 11 years including major property line underwriter, director of Specialty, and most recently director of Crisis Management, a role he assumed in September 2020. Williams originally joined Hiscox in 2004, working in the retail business, specifically the Art and Private Client division, before leaving to join Lancashire Insurance Co. in 2007. He moved to Lloyds market with Pembroke Syndicate 4000 in 2010 and Hardy Syndicate 382 in 2012. He returned to Hiscox in 2013, working primarily in property and specialty lines. *** AXA XL Names Wells Sr. U/W, Marine UK & Lloyds AXA XL announced it has appointed Matthew Wells as senior underwriter, Marine UK & Lloyds, effective immediately. In his new role, Wells will be responsible for developing and managing underwriting strategies for both renewing and new business within AXA XLs marine book of business in the UK. He will also work closely with AXA XLs team of risk engineers in supporting clients to navigate the challenges and opportunities that currently exist in the market. Wells has spent 15 years in the marine insurance industry, having begun his career as an underwriting assistant at Mercia Marine (Underwriting) Ltd. in 2006. He later spent more than 10 years at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, most recently as a senior underwriter within their Marine Hull & Yachts business. Topics InsurTech Tech Excess Surplus Underwriting Canada Lloyd's AXA XL Human Resources Hungary was ordered by the European Union to cancel its decision to block the sale of Dutch insurers Aegon NVs local unit to Vienna Insurance Group AG. The European Commission gave Hungary a March 18 deadline to withdraw the deal veto or it would take Hungary to the EU courts for violating the EUs exclusive right to approve the deal. Its unclear how the acquisition by VIG of AEGONs Hungarian assets would pose a threat to a fundamental interest of society, the EU said in an e-mailed statement on Monday. The veto was incompatible with EU rules on the freedom of establishment. Vienna has previously agreed to share ownership of its Hungarian operations with a state investment in order to salvage the deal. Photograph: The logo of Dutch insurer Aegon is seen at the firms headquarters in The Hague are seen on Oct. 27, 2008. Photo credit: Koen Suyk/AFP/Getty Images Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Europe A Dubuque firefighter who sued the city for sexual harassment and gender discrimination has been awarded $575,000 in damages. Jami Boss sued the city of Dubuque and Fire Chief Rick Steines in September 2020. She contended she had suffered years of sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. A jury on Friday found she proved her claims of harassment and discrimination but not prove a claim of retaliation, The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reported. Boss said she hoped the verdict would hold someone accountable for the treatment she received at the fire department, where she has worked since 2011. The lawsuit included allegations that a male co-worker put his hands down the back of Bosss pants, she was passed over for promotion several times for male coworkers and that a new practical exam was started when she became eligible for promotion. The city said in a news release that it would use the jury finding as an opportunity for review and growth. Les Reddick, the attorney representing the City of Dubuque and Steines, said he could not say if his clients would pursue the matter further. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Iowa Originally posted on Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. Inside a partially completed Amazon warehouse here, workers last summer walked on conveyor belts four stories high without safety harnesses, welders used plasma torches while surrounded by flammable cardboard boxes, and laborers raised metal racks alongside a moving forklift, putting their feet in danger of being crushed. Contractors and subcontractors who spoke to Stateline on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation said supply chain issues and other COVID-19-related delays put the warehouse construction behind schedule. In the rush to complete the project on time, they said, safety standards fell by the wayside. Amazon did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Everyone thats spoken up has been fired for holding up production, said a contractor who spoke to Stateline on condition of anonymity. Its going to sound bad, but whistleblowing is not going to pay my bills. Federal and state agencies tasked with enforcing workplace safety rely on whistleblower complaints, but the agencies are so understaffed it can take years for complaints to be investigated, experts say. Advocates say the delays and the stigma associated with whistleblowing dissuade most workers who witness unsafe conditions from speaking up. Despite this, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA, the enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Labor, received more than 4,600 whistleblower complaints in fiscal 2021, more than double the average number of complaints made over the previous five years. More than half were related to COVID-19. But complaints to federal and state authorities rarely result in fines or legal action, especially in states such as Texas where there are no state-enforced worker protections. That leaves countless workers at risk of serious injury or death, experts say. Texas falls under federal OSHA rules; the agency did not respond to multiple requests for comment on this story. Jose Rodriguez, a previous safety inspector at the Fort Worth Amazon site, was fired by his consulting company shortly after reporting health and safety issues at the site in February 2021. He was still looking for work when Stateline spoke to him in December. I did what I had to do to save people from getting badly injured or from losing their lives, and Id do it again if I had to, Rodriguez said. But Ill tell you what, its hard to find employment when youve been branded as the whistleblower. Two states, Colorado and New York, have strengthened whistleblower protections in response to pandemic-related workplace safety concerns. Lawmakers in six statesArizona, Maine, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Washington and West Virginiaare considering similar legislation. Colorado state Rep. Leslie Herod, a Democrat and primary sponsor of the bill in her state, said protecting whistleblowers is about saving lives. Id say that its imperative that we have these remedies and protections for those who raise health and safety concerns, she said. Workers are not protected right now without these laws. Rodriguez said OSHA could not help him recoup any lost wages or compensation, even though he followed the agencys protocols when he reported the safety hazards at the Amazon construction site in Fort Worth. He said an agent at the regional office told him there was nothing they could do for him because he was hired as an independent contractor. It was basically an open-shut case for me, Rodriguez said. Failed Statute The 1970 law that created OSHA guarantees all employees a safe workplace, the right to report unsafe conditions and the right to refuse hazardous work. The reality rarely lives up to that ideal, said Stephen Kohn, an attorney and chair of the board of directors at the National Whistleblowers Center, an advocacy group. Kohn said in the past 35 years hes worked with thousands of whistleblowers, but hes never recommended that any of them file an OSHA complaint. I know walking in that the odds that this worker will get satisfaction out of OSHA is like 1 in 100, but the odds they are stigmatized for filing the complaint are 100%. In fiscal 2021, OSHA made determinations in 2,263 whistleblower complaints under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the highest number since at least 2016, according to agency data. OSHA dismissed 54% of complaints and took legal actions in about 27%. Only 21 cases, less than 1%, were found to have merit, meaning the agency asked for the employee to be reinstated or paid for damages, administration data shows. Kohn estimates that 95% of potential whistleblower retaliation cases nationwide are never filed with OSHA. Kohn noted that under federal law, whistleblowers must file a complaint within 30 days of the violation, and workers dont have a private right of action, meaning they cant sue their employer if they are fired for speaking up. Only the U.S. Department of Labor or the 22 states that have their own OSHA plans that cover private employers can file lawsuits. The federal OSHA approves and monitors all state plans and provides up to 50% of the funding for each program. Some states provide protections over and above those offered by the federal government. California, for example, has enacted 53 laws that protect workers from retaliation and discrimination, according to state officials. Of the states considering added whistleblower protections, only Arizona, Minnesota and Washingtons plans cover private employers. Debbie Berkowitz, a former OSHA chief of staff and senior policy adviser under President Barack Obama, said in the 24 states without their own OSHA plans, it is nearly impossible for federal officials to enforce worker safety and health laws. Workers can only enforce their rights under the law by asking OSHA to inspect, and OSHA resources are so scarce that it would take 160 years to inspect every workplace under its jurisdiction just once, Berkowitz said in an interview. A 2020 report by the National Employment Law Project, a workers rights advocacy group, found the number of federal OSHA inspectors had fallen to a 45-year low. At the beginning of 2020, OSHA had only 862 inspectors to cover millions of workplaces. That was down from 952 inspectors in 2016 and 1,006 inspectors in 2012, according to the report. Most workers cant wait a few years, said Berkowitz, adding that OSHAs Whistleblower Protection Program is virtually useless. These protections, the program, is a farce. New Protections Colorados new law allows the states Department of Labor and Employment to seek remedies on behalf of workers and expands the statute of limitations to two years. But the new law protects workers only during a public health emergency, which Democratic Gov. Jared Polis declared in March 2020 at the outset of the pandemic and lifted in July. At least 126 complaints alleging retaliation have been filed since the new law went into effect in July 2020. As of last week, the department had reviewed 96 complaints and issued 33 right to sue notices, according to Herod. On Feb. 1, Herod and three other Democratic lawmakers introduced a version of the 2020 bill that would expand its protections beyond the pandemic. The pandemic exposed many health and safety concerns in the workplace, but those concerns existed long before COVID and will continue to exist after the emergency declaration and after we are through this pandemic, Herod said. More than 1 in 4 U.S. workers said fear of employer retaliation might prevent them from reporting unsafe conditions, according to an August report by the National Employment Law Project that surveyed 3,100 workers in all 50 states. Workers in New York were most likely to fear reprisal, according to the report. New Yorks new whistleblower protection law took effect last month. It lengthens the statute of limitations to two years, expands protections to contractors and subcontractors and redefines law to include executive orders and administrative decisions. New York state Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Democrat and primary sponsor of the bill, said she heard from her constituents about dangerous working conditions at construction sites where developers were accelerating projects that had been delayed by pandemic-related shutdowns. Ramos said most of the calls were coming from Ecuadorian men in her district, which includes part of Queens. Construction deaths accounted for 22% of worker deaths in New York City and 24% of worker deaths in New York state, compared with 21% nationwide, according to a February report by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, an advocacy group. Latinos made up a disproportionately high percentage of worker fatalities in New York. An estimated 10% of New York states workers are Latino, but in 2020, 18% of worker fatalities were Latino workers, according to the report. So often this country thinks of Latinx lives as disposable, and were not, Ramos said. Our only purpose in life is not to work for you. The Ramos bill also expanded protections for immigrant workers. Amazon Site Last February, Rodriguezthen a certified safety inspector at Amazons new Fort Worth sitefiled a complaint against Amazon and a half dozen contractors and subcontractors involved in the construction of the online behemoths new warehouse. Rodriguez, who worked for California-based Safety 1st Consulting, sent a detailed report to the federal OSHA, including photos of workers walking on elevated conveyor belts without wearing a harness and laborers working on dimly lit, uneven platforms. Safety 1st Consulting fired Rodriguez shortly after he filed his complaint. Safety 1st did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Rodriguez waited for OSHA to respond, but after a week with no answer, he called the local newspaper and shared the evidence hed provided to federal regulators, even though he knew hed be blacklisted by construction companies. Rodriguez said he was not surprised that similar safety violations were still taking place six months after he was fired. Injuries and fatalities are daily workplace hazards, he said. At the end of the day I just want companies to be held accountable so that all workers can return to their home safely. Texas, which doesnt have its own OSHA plan, had 469 workplace deaths in 2020, more than any other state. Hispanic or Latino employees had the highest number of fatal injuries with 221 incidents47% of all fatalities. Construction workers suffered the most casualties with 127 fatal injuries, according to an annual report by the Texas Department of Insurance, the state department responsible for tallying worker deaths in the state. In March 2021, after Rodriguez filed the complaint against employers at the Amazon site in Fort Worth, OSHA fined CJ Rack Installation Inc.the company hired to install thousands of four-story tall racks in the warehouse$2,386 for serious violations involving the use of a forklift and a scissor lift, according to documents obtained by Stateline. CJ Rack did not return multiple requests for comment. Robert Thomas, the former commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission, said worker safety has declined during the boom in construction thats been happening in the state for more than a decade. The rate of construction worker deaths in Texas rose from 9.9 per 100,000 workers in 2019 to 12 per 100,000 workers in 2020. He said Texas employer-friendly laws and courts leave workers like Rodriguez no choice but to go to federal OSHA for safety and health complaints. But OSHA fines and investigations are so rare and insignificant that employers just accept them as a cost of doing business, he said. Its been a horrific problem for decades, and its not getting any better, Thomas said. Its going to require, at least in Texas and Im assuming it would be similar elsewhere, for the voting population to demand from their elected officials that they provide these kinds of protections that they recognize the risk and exposure to human beings. Topics Legislation USA COVID-19 Texas Workers' Compensation New York Colorado Contractors Construction Amazon The Sackler family owners of Purdue Pharma LP have proposed a new and larger settlement worth up to $6 billion to resolve allegations that the OxyContin maker and its owners contributed to the deadly U.S. opioid epidemic, a mediators report showed on Friday. The mediator, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Shelley Chapman, has been overseeing talks between Sackler family members and eight states and the District of Columbia. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in December blocked an earlier $4.33 billion proposed settlement that would have legally shielded the family members, a decision that threatened to upend Purdues bankruptcy reorganization. The Sackler family members are trying to win support for a new settlement that could allow Stamford, Connecticut-based Purdue to emerge from bankruptcy. The proposed framework would add at least $1.175 billion in cash, plus up to $500 million in proceeds from the sale of other companies owned by the family members, according to the mediator. While the agreement is not final, the mediator revealed the framework under discussion for the first time on Friday. All of the funds would be directed toward abatement of the opioid crisis, including support and services for survivors, victims and their families, according to Chapman. We remain focused on achieving our goal of providing urgently needed funds to the American people for opioid crisis abatement, Purdue said a statement. We believe a global settlement is the swiftest and most cost-effective exit path from Chapter 11 and we will continue working to build consensus. Not all of the states have agreed to the deal, and Chapman asked for permission from U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain, who is overseeing the Purdue case, to continue negotiations until Feb 28. That date would fall close to the March 3 expiration of legal protections that prevent the Sacklers from being sued while Purdue remains in bankruptcy. Purdue, maker of the highly addictive OxyContin opioid pain drug, filed for bankruptcy in 2019 in the face of thousands of lawsuits accusing it and Sackler family members of fueling the opioid epidemic through deceptive marketing. The company pleaded guilty to misbranding and fraud charges related to its marketing of OxyContin in 2007 and 2020. Sackler family members have denied wrongdoing. McMahon ruled in December that the bankruptcy court lacked the authority to approve sweeping legal protections to shield the Sacklers from the opioid lawsuits. Purdue and Sackler family members have appealed McMahons decision to the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to reinstate legal protections for the family members. Oral arguments in that appeal are scheduled for April 25. The size of the Sackler contribution was a source of controversy throughout Purdues bankruptcy case. Sackler family members took out more than $10 billion from the company in the decade before it filed for bankruptcy, and they had a net worth of $14 billion in 2015, according to McMahons decision. The bankruptcy court also evaluated the Sacklers withdrawals from the company, but it concluded that there were legal and practical hurdles that made it difficult to recoup anything close to the $10 billion withdrawn. (Reporting by Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by Will Dunham, Nick Zieminski and Alistair Bell) Topics USA Three of the men who pleaded guilty in connection with what a prosecutor called the nations worst dumping of explosives still owe substantial restitution _ one for nearly all of the $34.8 million he was ordered to pay, federal prosecutors say. Two others have paid all they were assessed. Explo Systems Inc. co-owner David Alan Smith, director of support technology Charles Ferris Callihan, and program manager Kenneth Wayne Lampkin were among five company officials who pleaded guilty after an investigation of a huge explosion in 2012 at a rented bunker on Louisiana National Guard property. The blast shattered windows 4 miles (6.4 kilometers) away from Camp Minden and prompted evacuation of nearby Doyline. Officials said it consumed 21 tons (19 metric tons) of M6 artillery propellant and 62 tons (56 metric tons) of nitrocellulose igniter. Explo Systems had an $8.7 million Army contract to demilitarize more than 1.3 million artillery charges and safely store and get rid of the components. The company went under in 2013, leaving 7,800 tons (7,100 metric tons) of M6 artillery propellant and 160 tons (145 metric tons) of igniter, much of it outdoors or otherwise stored unsafely. It all had to be moved safely to bunkers. Then, after years of debating how to get rid of the M6 and other materials, the National Guard hired Explosive Service International of Baton Rouge for $32 million to design a chamber to capture any pollution and to burn the materials. U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote ordered the five in 2018 to pay a total of $35.4 million, which includes the cost of the contract. Smith, one of the companys two owners, was ordered to pay nearly $34.8 million. He has paid about $11,000, Vicki Chance, spokeswoman for the U.S. attorneys office in Shreveport, said in an email. His outstanding balance is $34,787,792.66, she wrote. Foote signed garnishment papers on Monday for Callihans pension account and for his community interest in his wifes 401(k) account, with the money to go toward his $197,000 remaining debt, online court records show. He also has paid nearly $11,000, with most of it coming from Social Security, Chance said Program manager Kenneth Wayne Lampkin, of Haughton, has paid about $6,700 and still owes more than $142,000. Inventory control manager Lionel Wayne Koons, of Haughton, and Vice President of Operations William Terry Wright, of Bossier City have paid their restitution assessments, Chance said. Wright paid about $149,000 and Koons nearly $93,000. Sentenced in December 2018 to four years and seven months in prison, Smith was released Jan. 14, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons website. He had been on home detention in Johnson City, Tennessee, since February 2021 under the first COVID-19 relief bill, court documents show. In March 2021, prosecutors asked for information about his property, business interests and bank accounts, saying he had paid $400 before sentencing and nothing since. Smith pleaded guilty in December 2017. Co-owner David Fincher died in June 2018, days before a scheduled trial. Koons and Lampkin had pleaded guilty before Finchers death. Callihan and Wright did so before the rescheduled trial date. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics USA Louisiana The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) has issued a series of regulatory actions, including cease-and-desist orders, license suspensions, and a license revocation and fine, against four insurance producers. Brandi Crawford was issued a Cease-and-Desist Order and License Suspension for allegedly collecting at least $4,152.64 in policyholder premiums that was not deposited with the insurer. LDI records show Crawford was issued an insurance producer license for Life, Accident and Health or Sickness, and Industrial Fire on Oct. 15, 2019. Houston Thomas was issued a Cease-and-Desist Order and License Suspension for allegedly creating a fraudulent flood insurance policy declarations page and submitting the fraudulent document to a lender. LDI records show Thomas was issued an insurance producer license on Sept. 17, 2016. Lucas King was issued a Cease-and-Desist Order and License Suspension for allegedly misappropriating over $7,000 in premiums. LDI records show King held a non-resident individual producer license in Louisiana effective May 31, 2019, until Aug. 30, 2022. Wendy Fox-Breaux, an individual producer and owner of Fox Insurance Agency, was issued a License Revocation and $5,000 Fine Notice following several complaints. These alleged violations include collecting policyholder premiums that were not deposited with insurers and failing to return unearned commissions or premiums. LDI records show Fox-Breaux was issued a producer license on Nov. 18, 2019, and Fox Insurance Agency, LLC has been a producer agency since Feb. 20, 2013. All producers listed above have 30 days from the time of service to request an administrative appeal or the actions will become final. Source: LDI Topics Legislation Agencies Louisiana Just as some insurers have tightened requirements for underwriting high-rise condominiums in the wake of the Champlain Towers collapse in Miami Beach last year, now mortgage banks are starkly revising lending rules. The moves could make sales of some condo units difficult or impossible, especially if banks determine that major repairs are needed. More required inspections could ultimately make it even harder to place insurance coverage for creaky condos, according to news and insurance industry reports. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two federally chartered corporations that buy loans from mortgage lenders and help determine lenders willingness to issue mortgages, are now requiring banks to evaluate the condition of buildings before approving a loan, the Miami Herald reported. The corporations said they will no longer back condo mortgages in buildings facing critical repairs or material deficiencies, such as water intrusions or even mold, or that have deferred maintenance that has resulted in advanced deterioration. Routine maintenance or repairs likely wont be an issue under the new lending rules, the Herald noted. But buildings that have not set aside sufficient funds to pay for needed critical work will be ineligible for loans in most cases. Condominium attorneys, real estate brokers, bankers and association leaders say the rules will make it significantly harder for buyers to obtain financing to buy units in certain buildings, or for owners in those condos to refinance, until their associations can show that buildings are sound or repairs are completed and approved. If there is in fact any outstanding work to be done, the project is ineligible, said Eric Intihar, mortgage planner with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation in Boca Raton. Essentially, its kryptonite. The Fannie Mae rules took effect Jan. 1. Freddie Mac officials said that under temporary rules that will likely become permanent later this year, all mortgages that close after Feb. 28 must comply. Fannie Mae, the Federal National Mortgage Association, buys most of its mortgages from larger, commercial banks. Freddie Mac, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., buys them from smaller banks. Fannie Mae is also requiring that condo boards set aside 10% of operating costs every month in a special reserve to pay for needed future repairs before it will back mortgages in a condo building. And bankers will have to cull through six months of condo board minutes to see if any discussions of maintenance or repair issues have come up, and will have to request copies of engineering inspections conducted in the previous five years. To qualify for loans, condo associations will have to answer detailed questionnaires about inspections, repairs, structural and mechanical issues and fees that have been assessed to pay for repairs. Older condo buildings will be the ones most affected by the new rules, experts said. The Miami area is home to one of the largest concentrations of high-rise condos in the country, many of them more than 30 years old. The Champlain Towers collapse in June killed 98 people and set off a flurry of lawsuits, investigations, recommendations, new concerns by insurers and lenders, and efforts to pass new legislation designed to prevent deferred maintenance. Florida Senate Bill 1702 would require more frequent and more extensive inspections of condos over three stories tall, statewide, not just in the Miami areas as is now required. The bill has passed two Senate committees and is now on the agenda for the Rules Committee meeting Wednesday morning. The potential changes have raised questions for insurers and insurance agents. As you can imagine, those state-mandated inspections will likely become part of a companys underwriting process, Kyle Ulrich, president of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, wrote in a recent memo to agents. If carriers know additional information is available on a risk, why wouldnt they ask for it? Florida law now requires condo associations to carry adequate property insurance. Even though SB 1702 and other legislative proposals would not directly change statutory condo insurance requirements, they will likely have unintended consequences on the availability and pricing of insurance for many condo properties, Ulrich noted. If condos are not maintained, the associations may not be able to obtain adequate insurance. If an agent cannot procure adequate coverage, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) would not take action against an insurance agent, Ulrich said. But the agency could penalize the condo association if it is in violation of the statute. The FAIA is encouraging agents to have their client condo associations ask DBPR for a declaratory statement on how regulators would handle the situation. Topics Agencies Florida Condominium The Alabama House of Representatives could vote as soon as today on legislation to do away with the requirement for a person to get a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon said there is a good chance representatives will vote on the bill today, Feb. 22. House Republicans, who hold a lopsided majority in the chamber, have named the legislation as a priority for the year. The bill would do away with permits for people who carry a handgun under their clothes or in a purse or bag when they go in public. It would also do away with the current requirement for people without concealed carry permits to keep handguns unloaded and secured when driving. The bill has been championed by gun-rights groups who argue that people shouldnt have to get a permit, which requires paying a fee, to carry a handgun they legally own. State sheriffs and other law enforcement officials have opposed the legislation, arguing that the permits provide a crucial tool to combat crime and enhance public safety. There are 21 states that allow concealed weapons in public without a permit, according to Stateline, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trust. If approved in the House, the bill will then go to the Senate. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Alabama An intense fire burned a downtown Los Angeles commercial building early Friday. More than 100 firefighters were brought in to battle the fire, which was declared a major emergency, the Fire Department said. Firefighters made quick progress against flames on the first floor but the fire had extended through the second floor and into the attic, according to department spokesperson Margaret Stewart. Firefighters working in thick smoke on the roof cut holes to vent the heat to prevent total loss of the structure, which had signage indicating it was a toy company. Preliminary information indicated that the fire began outside and extended into the building. Arson investigators were called in. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Commercial Lines Fifty years after Nixon's visit, US businesses urge 'continued cooperation' with China (Global Times) 15:47, February 22, 2022 Five decades after then US President Richard Nixon made an ice-breaking visit to China in 1972 that helped start bilateral diplomatic engagement, US business leaders in China voiced hope for continued commercial communication between China and the US and rejected a decoupling between the two economies. Monday marks the 50th anniversary of Nixon's historic visit to China, during which the two countries issued a document known as the Shanghai Communique, which became the political foundation for the normalization of China-US relations. "We as a US business chamber still hope that China and the US continue to maintain at least economic and trade interactions amid relatively complex global geopolitics... we don't want the so-called decoupling," Eric Zheng, President of AmCham Shanghai, told the Global Times on Monday. According to him, the changes and challenges emerging in the two countries' economic relations in the past few years, especially the trade war, had exerted negative impact on the markets and enterprises in both countries, and they didn't help solve the specific problems. "We hope that the two sides could figure out a more positive mechanism to resolve their trade and commercial disputes...instead of by increasing tariffs, which actually bring harm to both countries," he said. Zheng also noted that the AmCham Shanghai has been communicating with US policymakers, including the US Congress, the administration, and US think tanks, to provide accurate information on US companies' operations in China. Although bilateral relations had encountered many uncertainties, with disputes and sanctions, economic interactions seemed to have reached a new pinnacle with the entrance and success of many US companies like Tesla and Disneyland in the Chinese market in recent years. Bilateral trade is also flourishing. Last year, China-US trade surged by 28.7 percent on a yearly basis to $756 billion, data from Chinese customs showed. "(The trade growth) is sufficient evidence that the economies of China and the US are highly complementary, and that the two sides' cooperation is in accord with the two countries' interests," Eddy Chan, senior vice president, head of China, FedEx Express, said on Monday. He said that FedEx is confident and supportive of the flourishing development of China-US trade, noting that his company currently runs about 300 flights each week serving the Chinese market. Zheng also said that US companies, both manufacturers and service providers, see China as a top strategic market, as they not only source products from China, but also sell to this market. He cited the example of a recent survey conducted by AmCham Shanghai that US companies are still positive about the potential of the Chinese market, as nearly 80 percent of the respondents said they are optimistic or relatively optimistic about the business outlook in China in the next five years. "Besides, we don't see a clear trend of (US companies) shifting supply chains out of China. And even if some are shifting or considering shifting, they are not planning to move to the US," Zheng said. The comments are the latest examples of such appeals from US business circles, at a time when bilateral relations are on a bumpy road with economic disputes ranging from the trade war to US restrictions on supplies to Chinese tech companies. Experts said that it's possible for China and the US to go back to a "free state" in terms of trade, in spite of competition in other fields. "There are some voices in the US hoping to develop business with China as a trade war will harm US businesses as well, while China is also making efforts to improve the business environment to let more US businesses have confidence to develop in China," Xiao He, an expert from the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Science, told the Global Times on Monday. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) An unidentified 911 caller reported an irate, intoxicated man shoving fellow guests at a wedding reception Saturday night in Winter Park, according to a recording released Monday by the Police Department. I have a very irate, drunk guest, the caller said about 9:40 p.m. He has no shirt on. ... Hes trying to beat people up. Hes yelling. Hes very drunk. Advertisement Officers arrived at the end of the 3 minute call, the audio indicates. According to Winter Park PD, they tried to calm the situation, but were attacked by the man, later identified as Daniel Patrick Knight, 39. One officer shot Knight during the fracas, killing him, officials said. According to a report by WESH-Channel 2, Knight is the uncle of the bride whose wedding was being held at the citys new $42-million Winter Park Library and Events Center, which opened in December. Advertisement In a statement provided to the news station, the family described Knights killing as unjustified. He was a kind gentle soul, and his only crime committed that night was drinking and having a good time with his family, the statement said, according to WESH. ... This shooting was unjustified and we are working with a lawyer and the FDLE to get the entire truth out. In the 911 audio, the caller says that Knight was outside the building, just outside the door by the ballroom, in an area with some dumpsters on the librarys east side, near Lake Mendsen. Asked if Knight had shown or mentioned having a weapon, the caller said he had not, but had taken two people to the floor and was grabbing people by their necks and shoving them. Its getting bad, the caller said. ... Anybody of authority is making him angry. In a statement Monday, WPPD Lt. Lisa Suepat said arriving officers tried to separate Knight from another guest but he punched an officer in the face, knocking him unconscious, before turning toward a second officer, who stunned him with a Taser. The stun didnt work and Knight hit the officer, who also fell, Suepat said. Mr. Knight continued to advance, again striking at the fallen second officer. Mr. Knight was shot by the second officer, Suepat said. Officers then rendered medical aid to Mr. Knight until members of the Winter Park Fire-Rescue Department arrived on scene and he was transported to the hospital. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > Knight died from his injuries. The officers were also taken to the hospital but released the same day. The Winter Park Police Department on Monday released the 911 call and a brief incident report which described only the call, not the shooting but said it would not yet release any footage of the incident, which Suepat said is part of the on-going investigation. The agency also refused to identify the officers involved, citing Marsys Law, the recent victims rights amendment to Floridas constitution. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, as is typical in shootings by police. This is a tragic event that has resulted in a loss of life and we empathize with all those involved and impacted, Acting Police Chief Pam Marcum said in a statement. Advertisement jeweiner@orlandosentinel.com Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue. Feedback policy If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com). Column Policy Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions. Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020 Farmers have welcomed a 72% majority in a full European Parliament vote on farm animal welfare. MEPs voted on a report addressing EU legislation on the welfare of food-producing animals, which included proposals for new rules for animal transport and slaughter. EU farmers and co-op organisations welcomed the confidence they showed in the ability of farmers to put in place the most advanced animal welfare legislation worldwide. Despite the regular livestock-bashing at EU level, we are pleased to see that the European Parliament recognises this fact and is encouraging livestock farmers to pursue their efforts, said the Copa-Cogeca agricultural organisations. The favourable vote came as a relief to Irish farmers, who recently welcomed a similarly favourable European Parliament vote on animal transport standards, which safeguarded Irelands vital live export trade in livestock. That vote included compromises on the transport of pregnant cattle and unweaned calves, and an amendment to limit journey times to eight hours was defeated. Last week's vote concerned the protection of laying hens, chickens for meat production, calves, pigs, and other farm animals. The outcome seemed to take animal cruelty campaigners by surprise, with Olga Kikou, head of Compassion in World Farming EU, saying: This is another very disheartening result from the EU Parliament. The assembly has voted for a report that completely fails to meet its stated goal of protecting and improving the welfare of farmed animals. Instead, it has endorsed a text that reads as if it was written 50 years ago, that pays no attention to the cruelty, health risks and environmental damage caused by the factory farming system that prevails today, and ignores scientific advances that can address these problems. But Copa-Cogeca in a joint statement said the Parliament sent a signal of confidence to European livestock farmers when it comes to the enforcement of on-farm animal welfare. "Today the question of animal welfare is at the centre of many farmers' and cooperatives' thoughts, so it is essential that the EU offers coherency and support at various levels to support farm initiatives. "The issue of animal welfare is complex and evolving, we agree that it is essential that decisions on this matter are based on solid scientific evidence, including impact assessments," said Copa-Cogeca. "Animal welfare also involves the welfare of farmers. Therefore, it is important that the EU doesnt forget that one of its essential missions is to support farmers in providing EU citizens and the global market with high-quality, affordable and safe food, produced in a sustainable manner. By approving the report on on-farm #AnimalWelfare, @Europarl_EN actively ignored the concerns of citizens, sending a message that is completely out of step with the times Citizens expect much more from MEPs! Our opinion https://t.co/VQ4JZ4eYCt Compassion in World Farming EU (@CIWF_EU) February 18, 2022 "Farmers and their cooperatives are fully aware that consumers trust in the high value and quality of the European agricultural and food sector depends on maintaining high standards for animal health and welfare." Farmers will hope that the approach proposed by the European Parliament will be taken into consideration by the European Commission in its upcoming revision of animal welfare legislation. Olga Kikou said: "To say that the report on on-farm animal welfare adopted today by the European Parliament is a missed opportunity is an understatement. CIWF was particularly upset by the voted text implying that farmers force-feeding geese and ducks in the production of foie gras comply with animal welfare criteria. Ms Kikou claimed MEPs chose to ignore "horrendous animal welfare problems" that are widespread on EU farms, "and instead issued a thinly disguised call for farmers to seek more funding just to maintain the cruel status quo". Britain will hit five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals with sanctions, Boris Johnson announced under a first barrage of punitive measures ahead of a feared full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The British Prime Minister described on Tuesday the troops being sent by Vladimir Putin into the Donbas region under the guise of being peacekeepers as a renewed invasion of Ukraine. Legislators have given Russian President Vladimir Putin permission to use military force outside the country a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the US said an invasion was already under way there. Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Mr Putin recognised their independence. But it was unclear how large the movements were, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops are fighting in the region. Moscow denies those allegations. Members of the upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Mr Putin to use military force outside Russia effectively formalising a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. The White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the US levying severe sanctions against Moscow. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, in an interview on CNN. An invasion is an invasion and that is what is under way. The White House decided to begin referring to Russias actions as an invasion because of the situation on the ground, according to a US official. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, the official added. White House press secretary Jen Psaki also alluded to the Russian action as being an invasion in a Twitter post commenting on German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs decision to halt the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in response to Russias actions. The US president made clear that if Russia invaded Ukraine, we would act with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 does not move forward, Ms Psaki said. For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for an invasion as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighbouring Ukraine. They warned an attack would cause massive casualties, energy shortages in Europe and economic chaos around the globe and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialised. The European Union and Britain announced on Tuesday that some of those measures were coming. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come on Monday, when Mr Putin recognised as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels in a conflict that has killed more than 14,000 people. Russian troop build-up around Ukraine. Picture: Graphic News The Kremlin then raised the stakes further on Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia has recognised the rebel regions independence in borders that existed when they proclaimed their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under rebel control and that include the major Black Sea port of Mariupol. Mr Putins move to recognise the territories independence opened the door for him to formalise his hold on them and send forces in, though Ukraine and its Western allies have claimed Russian troops have been fighting there for years. 'The invasion of Ukraine has begun' Condemnation from world leaders was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While the US clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, the name for the area where the two separatist regions are located, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But in a distinction that could complicate a European and Western response, he added: I wouldnt say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Polands Defence Ministry and British health secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered Ukraines east, with Mr Javid telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares noted if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive. The Kremlin has not confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that the Russian troops had already moved in, but more senior rebel leaders did not confirm that. Late on Monday, convoys of armoured vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It was not immediately clear if they were Russian. Further sanctions to be imposed on Russia In response to the moves thus far, top EU officials said the bloc was prepared to impose sanctions on several Russian officials and banks financing the Russian armed forces and move to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. EU foreign ministers are meeting later on Tuesday to discuss the measures but they did not appear to include the massive punishment repeatedly promised in case of a fully fledged invasion. UK prime minister Boris Johnson also said the UK would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. While he said that Russian tanks have already rolled into eastern Ukraine, he warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. The White House has also moved to respond, issuing an executive order to prohibit US investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures probably sanctions were to be announced on Tuesday. US President Joe Biden. Picture: AP Photo/Susan Walsh Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official. The Russian moves also pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the US and others to halt the project. As world leaders scrambled to decide on their response, legislation that is likely to set the stage for a deeper move into Ukrainian territory moved through Russias parliament. The Bills, which sailed quickly through the Kremlin-controlled parliament, envisage military ties between Moscow and the separatist regions, including possible deployment of Russian military bases in the separatist regions. Even as alarm spread across the globe, Mr Zelenskyy sought to project calm, telling Ukraine in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba will be in Washington on Tuesday to meet secretary of state Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the US and its allies for the current crisis and describing Ukraines bid to join Nato as an existential challenge to Russia. Mr Putin reiterated those accusations in an hour-long televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognise the rebels. Ukraines membership in Nato poses a direct threat to Russias security, he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Picture: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP Russia says it wants Western guarantees that Nato will not allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Mr Putin warned on Monday that the Western rejection of Moscows demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security. Sweeping through more than a century of history, Mr Putin painted todays Ukraine as a modern construct used by the West to contain Russia despite the neighbours inextricable links. In a stark warning to Ukraine, the Russian leader claimed that it has unfairly inherited Russias historic land granted to it by the Communist rulers of the Soviet Union and mocked its effort to shed the Communist past in a so-called decommunisation campaign. We are ready to show you what the real decommunisation would mean for Ukraine, Mr Putin added ominously in an apparent signal of his readiness to raise new land claims. Amid the soaring tensions, Mr Biden and Mr Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. But the US always said that if Russia moved in, the meeting would be off. Burma Cobra Gold Military Exercise Kicks Off in Thailand Without Myanmar US Marines gather after the joint Cobra Gold exercise in the coastal Thai province of Rayong on Feb. 28, 2020. / AFP / Lillian SUWANRUMPHA For the second year in a row Myanmar will not observe the Cobra Gold joint military exercise, which has kicked off in Thailand with military personnel from the US, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia taking part. The exercise will last until March 5. About 2,000 Thai and 1,200 US troops will be involved in field and humanitarian assistance drills. After Myanmar began opening up to the outside world in 2012 Myanmar was for a number of years invited by Thailand to observe the annual exercise. This proved controversial as Myanmars armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, never implemented any reforms. The controversy was sharpened in 2018 after the Myanmar militarys brutal crackdown on Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State the previous year shocked the world. Thailands decision to invite the Tatmadaw to observe Cobra Gold that year drew criticism, including in the US, whose government labeled the operation against the Rohingya ethnic cleansing. Since staging a coup against Myanmars elected government in February 2021, the Tatmadaw has committed atrocities and human rights violations throughout the strife-torn country, prompting the West and some neighboring countries to condemn the regime. The US has imposed sanctions on military leaders, family members and business tycoons who have close relations with the military. The military ousted the elected civilian government and has detained government leaders and politicians. Launched in 1982, Cobra Gold is the worlds longest-running multinational military exercise and is seen as a platform for the US to forge alliances in Asia at a time of increasing competition with China. This year, the exercises will not feature the usual live-fire drills, amphibious landings and evacuation operations. Also absent, according to officials, will be the iconic cobra-blood drinking ritual that gives the wargames their name, according to The Bangkok Post. Thai Defense Ministry Spokesman General Kongcheep Tantravanich said the exclusion of Myanmar, previously a Cobra Gold observer, for the second consecutive year was not related to the crisis in the country since last years Feb. 1 military coup. Meanwhile, the isolated regime in Naypyitaw announced that it will send the Myanmar warship Sinphyushin to the Indian Ocean to take part in the India-led Multilateral Naval Exercise (MILAN-2022). The exercise will last from Feb. 25 to March 4. A junta state-run paper claimed that a total of 24 warships from 16 countriesIndia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Australia, the US, Britain, South Korea, Japan, France and Seychelleswill join the activity and a related seminar. The US, UK and France have condemned the coup in Myanmar. You may also like these stories: EU Adds More Myanmar Companies, Regime Officials to Sanctions List Junta-Appointed Chief Minister Attacked For Sixth Time in Upper Myanmar Myanmar People Urged to Join Six Twos Revolution General Strike Against Regime Burma Junta-Appointed Chief Minister Attacked For Sixth Time in Upper Myanmar Junta-appointed Sagaing Region Chief Minister U Myat Kyaw A motorcade carrying the junta-appointed Sagaing Region Chief Minister, U Myat Kyaw, was attacked with remote-detonated mines by resistance groups on Sunday, resulting in casualties, according to local residents. The North Yamar Peoples Defense Force (PDF) reportedly ambushed the chief ministers motorcade in a rural area of Yinmabin Township, where anti-regime resistance groups are especially active. Sundays attack was the sixth of its kind targeting the Sagaing Chief Ministers motorcade. Military regime troops searched nearby villages following the ambush. Local residents confirmed the attack. It is true that Chief Minister U Myat Kyaws motorcade was attacked when he was travelling from Monywa to attend the opening ceremony of an oxygen plant in Yinmabin. The attack happened near Poe Win Hill [10 kilometers southeast of Yinmabin]. There might have been casualties. We saw vehicles carrying injured people, said a Yinmabin resident.U Myat Kyaw was travelling to attend the opening of an oxygen plant at Yinmabin Peoples Hospital, as well as to offer robes to Buddhist monks at a local monastery, according to Yinmabin PDFs.However, the Chief Minister escaped the attack. He reportedly returned to Monywa by military helicopter. Resistance groups in Sagaing Region including Triple Two Guerrilla, Chindwin Galone Yarzar Guerrilla Defense Force, Alpha Special Force, Yinmabin PDF and Monywa Truth of Force also attacked a six-vehicle junta convoy with mines on Sunday at noon in Yinmabin. One of the vehicles plunged off the road and went up in flames in the attack. You may also like these stories: Myanmar People Urged to Join Six Twos Revolution General Strike Against Regime Junta Airstrikes Hit Lower Myanmar as Fighting Intensifies Myanmar Junta Rejects ASEAN Envoys Request to Meet Shadow Govt Representatives Burma Myanmar Junta Asks UN's Top Court to Drop Rohingya Genocide Case at Hearing in The Hague The juntas delegation defends Myanmar in the genocide case at a public hearings at the ICJ on Feb. 21, 2022. / ICJ Myanmar hit out Monday at a genocide case brought against it by Gambia for alleged persecution of Rohingya Muslims, urging the UNs highest court to drop the claim on legal grounds. Gambia dragged Myanmar before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2019, accusing the predominantly Buddhist country of genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority after a bloody 2017 military crackdown. When the case opened in December 2019, Myanmars State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi personally represented the country at the Hague-based ICJ, but she was ousted as the Asian countrys civilian leader in a military coup last year. The Nobel peace laureate, who faced criticism from rights groups for her involvement in the case, is now under house arrest and on trial by the same generals she defended in The Hague. Myanmar is not seeking to impede the judicial process of the court, its agent Ko Ko Hlaing told the judges in the imposing courtroom at the Peace Palace in The Hague. On the contrary it is seeking to answer the proper administration of justice, Myanmars international cooperation minister said. EU sanctions Both Ko Ko Hlaing, who was in court, and Myanmars attorney general Thida Oo, who was attending virtually, have already been hit with US sanctions over the coup. And on Monday the European Union added 22 officials from the junta, taking the total to 65, and four companies tied to the regime, making 10 overall, to the blocs sanctions list. Among those targeted were the ministers for investment, industry and information, officials at the election commission and senior members of the military. The European Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence in Myanmar and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications, the bloc said in a statement. Since the military coup, the situation has continuously and gravely deteriorated. Proxy applicant Christopher Staker, another lawyer for Myanmar, said the ICJ did not have jurisdiction because it was not a case brought by two states, as required by the ICJs statutes. The application is inadmissible because the real applicant in these proceedings is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Staker said. He accused Gambia of not acting in it own rights but stepping in on behalf of the OIC, referring to the 57-member body set up in 1969 to represent global Muslim interests. It was only after the OIC proposed that the case should be brought against Myanmar at the ICJ that Gambia agreed to step forward, not the other way around, Staker argued. Set up after World War II, the ICJ rules in disputes between states, and bases its findings mainly on international treaties and conventions. The OIC is an international organization, not a state, Staker noted. It cannot be possible for an international organization to bring a case before the court by using a state as a proxy applicant, he said, adding, The Gambia has never objected to this. The ICJ made a provisional order in January 2020 that Myanmar must take all measures to prevent the alleged genocide of the Rohingya while the years-long proceedings are under way. While its rulings are binding, the court has no real means to enforce them. Bloody crackdown Gambia will make its counter-arguments on Wednesday. Around 850,000 Rohingya from Myanmar are languishing in camps in neighboring Bangladesh while another 600,000 Rohingya remain in Myanmars southwestern Rakhine State. The Rohingya case at the ICJ has been complicated by the coup that ousted Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her civilian government and triggered mass protests and a bloody military crackdown. More than 1,500 civilians have been killed, according to a local monitoring group. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi now faces trial herself in Myanmar on a raft of charges that could see her jailed for more than 150 years. Ahead of the hearing, the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) dominated by lawmakers from Daw Aung San Suu Kyis ousted National League for Democracy said that the NUG, not the junta, is the proper representative of Myanmar at the ICJ in the case. It also rejects Myanmars preliminary objections, saying the hearings for these should be canceled and the court should quickly get down to the hearing of the substantive case. The NUG holds no territory and has not been recognized by any foreign government, and has been declared a terrorist organization by the junta. Gambia accuses Myanmar of breaching the 1948 UN genocide convention. It says its case is backed by the 57-nation OIC, Canada and the Netherlands. You may also like these stories: Cobra Gold Military Exercise Kicks Off in Thailand Without Myanmar EU Adds More Myanmar Companies, Regime Officials to Sanctions List Junta-Appointed Chief Minister Attacked For Sixth Time in Upper Myanmar Burma Pregnant Woman Miscarries, 4 Detained as Myanmar Regime Cracks Down on Six Twos Protest Activists wearing T-shirts bearing the 2 logo and traditional Myanmar face powder on their faces, and holding flowers, gathered in Yangon on Tuesday in protest at the military regime as part of the Regathering for the Six Twos Revolution, a reference to the date, 22.2.2022. / Lu Nge Khit Myanmar junta forces arrested at least four people including a young protester and forced a pregnant woman to miscarry in Sagaing Regions Monywa during a violent crackdown against a demonstration held as part of the nationwide Six Twos Revolution strike on Tuesday. A two-months pregnant woman who took part in the strike suffered a miscarriage after junta forces rammed the motorbike she was on. On Tuesday morning, plainclothes regime forces tried to ram the protesters with a car on a road in Monywa City, the capital of Sagaing. The pregnant woman and another young woman, both in their 20s, were on the motorbike and scattering anti-regime leaflets and roses. The pregnant woman lost her child in the afternoon after discharging blood clots, according to the Monywa Strike Committee. Before the ramming, a young man was arrested after being shot and wounded in the thigh. When the two women were scattering the anti-regime leaflets, the plainclothes regime forces tried to hit them with a car. But the cars tire was punctured. The motorbike fell over and the rider picked up the bike and drove away, leaving the two women behind, said the leader of the Monywa protest committee. The pregnant woman asked for help from other motorbike riders but they refused to assist her. When she asked for help from another rider and tried to get on, the rider saw the roses in her hand and pushed her from the bike. Due to that pressure, she lost her pregnancy, said the committee leader. Both women escaped arrest, however. People across Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions and Shan and Karen states joined the Six Twos Revolution, a reference to Tuesdays date, 22.2.2022. Earlier, people were urged to join a nationwide strike on the one year anniversary of the Five Twos strike on the same day last year, when millions of Myanmar people took to the streets. People participated in Tuesdays strike wearing bamboo and other hats, as well as Thanakha, a traditional face powder, and holding flowers and bouquets to show their continued defiance of the military regime. Some people posted photos of themselves wearing bamboo hats and holding flowers and shared them on social media. Young people and activists across all townships continue to defy the junta, said Maung Seint, a member of the General Strike Committee in Yangon. He said, Our people continue to support the anti-regime movement in whatever ways possible, by clapping and shouting slogans, amid the juntas oppression. The junta forces arrest and kill civilians, but we vow to continue our fight to achieve our goals [of restoring democracy and building a federal union]. A strike leader in Magwe, the capital of Magwe Region, said, Today, we people are proving that we totally reject the military dictatorship. People take part in any strikes they can; today many have taken part by bravely wearing hats and Thanakha and holding flowers on the street. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Asks UNs Top Court to Drop Rohingya Genocide Case at Hearing in The Hague Cobra Gold Military Exercise Kicks Off in Thailand Without Myanmar EU Adds More Myanmar Companies, Regime Officials to Sanctions List This image provided by U.S. Coast Guard a Coast Guard Air Station Miami MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew rescues a man after he was bitten by a shark while fishing aboard a vessel near Bimini, Bahamas, on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022. The man was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he was in stable condition. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP) (AP) A 51-year-old Florida man was rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard Monday after a shark bit him near Bimini, Bahamas, according to the Coast Guard. The man was fishing at around 12:50 p.m. on a boat when the shark attacked his arm. Advertisement Bystanders on the boat were able to tie a tourniquet on the mans arm, preventing further blood loss. A Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter arrived to transport the man to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for emergency medical attention. He is now in stable condition. Advertisement This was the best possible outcome to a truly terrifying situation, said Sean Connett, command duty officer at Coast Guard District Seven. This individual was fortunate a fellow crew member was able to render aid prior to the Coast Guards arrival which, allowed for a quick extraction from the vessel. Jpedersen@orlandosentinel.com Guest Column Myanmar Junta Turns to China for Help Policing Internet Use Anti-military regime protesters in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon in February 2021 / The Irrawaddy Since the coup on Feb. 1 last year, Myanmar has earned the dubious distinction of being the worlds second worst jailer of journalists after China. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated in a December report that at least 26 journalists had been imprisoned in Myanmar for their reporting since the takeover, compared with none behind bars in 2020, adding that the actual number of jailed journalists in Myanmar may be much higher than CPJs tally. Many news organizations are reluctant to identify their detained freelancers, stringers, and other non-staff reporters they rely on for news, photographs, and video, due to concerns they could face harsher penalties if they are found to be associated with their news outlets. According to a report issued in February this year by Reporters Without Borders, as many as 60 media workers are currently held in Myanmar. Many have been tortured in custody and at least three have been murdered by junta soldiers. Turning to China But when those brutal measures did not halt the flow of information to people in and outside the country, the junta turned to a logical and experienced partner for censorship and surveillance assistance: China. At the end of last year, security officials in the region found out that Chinese internet technicians were helping their Myanmar counterparts develop blocking and monitoring capabilities. The aim, they say, is to establish firm and effective control over what can and cannot be accessed online in Myanmar, similar to the infamous Great Firewall of China, which Chinas security officials have used for years to police online activities of known dissidents and even identify anonymous users. In essence, it means that the authorities would be able to block access to selected foreign websites and to slow down internet traffic in and out of the country. Among foreign internet tools that have been blocked in China are Google Search, Facebook, Twitter and Wikipedia; that has been done by using hardware from Huawei and Semptian, two major Chinese service providers. It is unclear whether the same hardware is being used in Myanmar, but, if that is the case, it would make it possible for Chinas security services to tap into the Myanmar militarys computers and collect sensitive and classified information that would have been hard to come by with only human intelligence. China has every reason to watch not only Myanmars dissidents but also the often unpredictable generals, whom they do not fully trust, and that is actually not new. Technicians working for companies close to the Ministry of State Security (MSS), Chinas main intelligence agency, are known to have been hacking into the computers and databases of the state-owned Myanmar Post and Telecommunications, a major internet service provider and operator of mobile phones also used by the military, and that has been going on for years. The close relationship between Chinese hackers and the MSS was revealed when two US-based hackers, Li Xiaoyu and Dong Jiazhi, were indicted in Spokane, Washington on July 7, 2020. According to court documents, they had on behalf of the Chinese government gained unauthorized access to computers around the world and stole terabytes of data. Apart from collecting information from a host of Western countries, among them the US, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Britain, the indictment states that they provided the MSS with email accounts and passwords belonging to a Hong Kong community organizer, the pastor of a Chinese church in Xian, and a dissident and former Tiananmen Square protestorand the office of the Dalai Lama. Curiously, the MSS, the court document says, provided Li with malware to help him compromise the mail server of a Burmese [Myanmar] human rights group. The identity of that human rights group was not revealed during the hearings in Spokane, but it shows to what length MSS and its hackers are going to monitor a wide variety of governmental as well as civilian actors in countries of interest. Alarming developments For the Myanmar public, the most alarming aspect of these developments is that Chinese technicians have been training junta operatives to obtain information on political dissidents and protesters, including how to bypass Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, and monitor SMS traffic on mobile phones. As The Irrawaddy reported on Jan. 24, the junta banned social media after last years coup, including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, but people continued to access those sites using VPNs. Then the junta presented the draft for a new cybersecurity law that would give it the right to imprison anyone who accesses banned sites with the help of VPNs. According to a Feb. 11 Al Jazeera report, the junta has increased taxation of the telecom sector leading to prices being doubled in the past two monthsand thus making it expensive and more difficult for ordinary people to use the internet altogether. The draft law, The Irrawaddy reported, would grant the junta unlimited power to access user data, ban content it dislikes, restrict internet providers and intercept data, and imprison those criticizing the regime online and employees of non-compliant companies. Recent reports of random arrests in Yangon and Mandalay of people who have used VPNs also show that the Chinese-installed firewall is working. While it is difficult to see exactly what a VPN user has accessed, the firewall will reveal who is using it and if that is against the law, the user could be arrested. If the Chinese experience is anything to go by, there are ways around all those repressive measures, there are ways users have managed to bypass the rules. In 2017, the Chinese government declared all unauthorized VPN services to be illegal and there, as in Myanmar, people have been arrested for using them. But, as writer Daniel Anderson pointed out in technology publication ACM Queue as early as 2012, the basic censorship circumvention strategy is to use proxy nodes and encrypt the data. Bypassing the firewall in China is known as fanqiang, or climb over the wall. Freegate, Ultrasurf, Psiphon and Lantern are free software that can be used to bypass Internet censorship firewalls using an HTTP proxy server combined with encryption protocols. Some people are using SIM cards from foreign countries to access VPNs and there are also certain VPNs which still work in China. According to Reporters Without Borders, China may have exported Internet surveillance technology not only to Myanmar but also Cuba, Iran, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and Belarus. Roskomnadzor Agency, the Russian states agency for monitoring, controlling and censoring mass media, is also known to have at least in the past collaborated with Chinese firewall officials. But in none of those countries has the firewall been 100 percent effective, which goes to show that the technology is not perfect or without loopholes. Exactly how Myanmars military authorities are going to use its firewall and enforce those new laws remains to be seen. But given the number of VPN users in Myanmar who would have to be identified and monitored, and the limited knowhow of the juntas own internet technicians, it is hard to imagine that tech-savvy young people will not find their own ways of climbing over the wall. Recent arrests may just be attempts at intimidating the public by picking up a few unlucky users. Once a country has opened its doors to the outside world via cyberspace, it cannot close them again. And the Myanmar junta may be playing with fire when it comes to using imported technologies such as the Chinese firewall. As we have seen, Chinas security agencies will be spying on them too. You may also like these stories: UN Contributing to Myanmars Drug Problem Cambodia, ASEAN and Myanmar UN Envoy Joins Her Predecessors in Myanmars Graveyard of Diplomats Trinity, TX (77320) Today Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. GitHub announced today there's a new hubber on deck. Sharryn Napier joins as VP of sales, APAC and has her eyes firmly fixed on how to help enterprise and government clients use GitHub to get to market sooner. Sharryn Napier is no stranger to running the APAC region. She describes herself as a builder and an architect and loves the challenge set before her - a challenge to explode GitHubs reach in the region as well as the depth of how customers can leverage the platforms capabilities to maximise their efficiency. Napier is based in Sydney, is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and sits on the National Board of the AIIA. Strategically, she is charged with accelerating GitHubs go-to-market for APAC, providing the overall strategic direction across the region, driving business growth, and capturing the region's enormous opportunity by embracing direct and indirect channels to market. GitHub's San Francisco HQ has an impressive library, in which every new Hubber is asked to contribute a title that is meaningful to them. Napiers recommendation is Radical Candour, by Kim Scott, a book on building strong teams through meaningful dialogue. Previously Napier ran the APAC region for Computer Associates for nearly nine years as well as for Serena Software for a further three years. She moved sideways into more local roles while her son was growing up, but that son is now a young man of 26 years of age and so when the GitHub opportunity presented itself to once again run the helm of building and developing the APAC region she embraced it with both hands. Of course, it wasn't purely the role itself that appealed to Napier; she explains it was the right role at the right company with the GitHub culture and developer-first mentality striking the right chord. A big part of Napier's focus will be people; "I'm a big people person," she says, also describing herself as a bit of a mother hen. "I like talking to customers," she says. "Why do they use the software? What do they get out of it? - these are the things Napier is bursting to learn from customers of all sizes and to aid them in solving their own business problems and reaching their customers and citizens. Napier sees her role at GitHub as being at the heart of this. She explains while GitHub has over 73 million users globally, with over 960,000 developers in Australia alone, the enterprise and government sales in our region is still embryonic. The potential user base is vast, but for Napier, its not simply a sales game; its about demonstrating to organisations the efficiencies and collaboration GitHub offers to them. This is the real value they can get from the platform, she says. It enables enterprises and governments to get more products to market, or to deliver more features. Napier also looks forwards to forging cross-collaboration across countries. "We can see what's going well in India and Japan, for example, and then say lets explore that in Australia and take it to Singapore or Korea. Make no mistake, a lot of hard work has already been invested in the region by GitHub through a solid tactical approach in building out the business. However, the time is ripe for a strategic play, and here is where Napier fits in. Its time to put that glue in - and Im that glue, Napier jokes. We're really on the cusp of something," Napier says. Cross-border commerce technology specialist Zonos has opened its first international office in Queensland, and appointed Travis Robinson to the role of APAC general manager. Zonos' SaaS tools and services give online retailers, marketplaces, logistics providers, trade organisations and others the only true landed cost solution on the market. International ecommerce calls for accurate cross-border duty and tax calculations, VAT compliance, and HS code classification, and Zonos aims to make this accessible to everyone. "Expanding to Australia is the next step towards executing our mission to create trust and transparency in global trade with our world-class tech that can connect the world through trade," said Zonos CEO Clint Reid. Robinson has been with Zonos for seven years, most recently serving as vice president of engineering. He previously worked in the general engineering sector, and holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Southern Utah University. "We are delighted with our decision to base ourselves on the Gold Coast," said Robinson. "The level of talent that we have been able to access locally is exceptional and I'm excited at the potential our new team has to both better support our current customer base as well as expand throughout Australia and the rest of the APAC region." The selection of the Gold Coast was in line with the company's culture of supporting healthy work-life balance by living and working where others play. Zonos acknowledged the assistance provided by Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ). TIQ CEO Michael Carey said "It's great to see Zonos choose Queensland and be based on the thriving Gold Coast. "Zonos have been able to tap into a reserve of skilled, professional local staff. I can't wait to see them grow in the future." And Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, San Francisco Nick Nichles said "Austrade welcomes Zonos' expansion into Australia, creating a new hub in the Asia-Pacific region. "There are obvious benefits for the Australian business community: from new exporters to more mature businesses seeking to expand and diversify into new markets. "It comes at an exciting time, as borders reopen to international travellers, restoring aviation capacity and supply chain crunches that have plagued global trade over the past two years." Telstra and TPG Telecom announced a ten-year regional Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) commercial agreement, which will provide significant value to Telstras wholesale mobile revenues, while providing TPG Telecom groups subscribers with 4G and 5G services within a defined coverage zone across regional and urban fringe areas. Under the innovative deal TPG Telecom will gain access to around 3,700 of Telstras mobile network assets, increasing TPG Telecoms current 4G coverage from around 96% to 98.8% of the population, the companies stated. Telstra said it will gain access to TPG Telecoms spectrum across 4G and 5G, which will allow it to grow its network, increase capacity and continue to provide the countrys largest and fastest network. Under the MOCN arrangement Telstra will share its Radio Access Network (RAN) for 4G and subsequently 5G services in the defined coverage zone, however both carriers will continue to operate their own core network where key differentiating functionality resides. Telstra will also obtain access to and deploy infrastructure on up to 169 TPG Telecom existing mobile sites, improving coverage for TPG and Telstra customers in the zone. The non-exclusive agreement includes the option for TPG Telecom to request two contract extensions of five years each, under the existing terms and conditions. Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said the deal provided significant value to shareholders and customers and was a continuation of Telstras strategy to maximise the utilisation and monetisation of its assets. This additional spectrum will mean that all Telstra customers will continue to experience Australias best and fastest network across the country, in combined 4G and 5G speeds. In particular, the spectrum agreement will ensure that regional and rural customers will now experience faster speeds in more locations on their mobiles. TPG Telecom CEO Inaki Berroeta said the landmark network sharing agreement would significantly expand TPG Telecoms mobile network footprint in regional Australia and enable growth of its customer base in regional and metropolitan areas. It represents a material uplift in the capability of our network and will provide significant value for TPG Telecom shareholders over the medium and long term. We will be open for business in regional and rural Australia like never before, offering a 4G network that provides 98.8% population coverage and rapidly growing 5G coverage across the nation. The agreement demonstrates best-practice asset utilisation and a commitment to rationalising our operations to deliver a better customer experience, while increasing capital efficiency. Penn said, With more people moving to regional areas as a result of COVID, congestion in some areas has increased. This additional spectrum will also ensure that Telstra customers will experience significantly reduced congestion at busy times. Telstras network has always been and will continue to be the best network the structure of the deal ensures that we will continue to differentiate in network leadership for our customers in coverage and services. We can do that because we will maintain our one million square km competitive advantage in mobile coverage where no other operators have invested. Mobile coverage is often talked about as population coverage, however we all know that its the square kilometres of coverage when you travel between towns and cities that also matters. It is the fabric of our mobile network. This is critical for customers living and working in those areas. It provides security and safety when travelling long distances on major roads and is only available for our customers travelling through or working or living in those areas. Penn said the innovative deal would realise more value from Telstras network infrastructure for shareholders while making a very significant contribution to Telstras wholesale mobile revenues. The deal provides TPG Telecom with the opportunity to access some of our network assets within the defined zone. The access is similar to the way Telstra currently provides wholesale services to its MVNOs and Belong in this zone. Similar to monetising our passive infrastructure, it allows Telstra to have an innovative way of monetising some of our active mobile infrastructure, in areas where the population coverage is much smaller and more challenging in terms of returns and further investment and where there are already a number of competitors. Additional scale from this agreement therefore supports return on invested capital in these areas and makes ongoing investment in the network and innovation more sustainable. Berroeta said the agreement was a win for TPG customers who would have access to a significant part of the best regional network in Australia. The deal will give TPG Telecoms consumer, enterprise and wholesale customers seamless access to a national network. This will enable TPG Telecoms Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, Lebara and felix brands to improve their services for regional Australians. Access to this additional coverage will be automatic for all of TPG Telecom groups customers and will appear to them as being provided by their current TPG Telecom group provider. TPG Telecom will continue to operate its own 3G, 4G and 5G networks in metropolitan areas reaching around 80% of the population, which includes its network infrastructure sharing arrangement with Optus in those areas. TPG Telecom will decommission the 725 mobile sites it currently operates within the MOCN coverage area, reducing environmental impact, energy consumption, operating costs and future capex. On a Telstra briefing call following the announcement Penn talked about three zones: The first 80% city/metro population coverage zone where TPG Telecom and Telstra will run their own independent radio access networks. The second 80% - 98% population coverage zone consisting of urban fringe, rural and regional towns, that is the subject of this arrangement, is the extent of coverage that Telstra provide to their MVNOs including its own budget brand Belong. The third zone, that is only available to Telstra retail customers, provides an additional 1 million square kilometres of coverage, e.g., roads and in outlying areas. Telstra's retail mobile business still retains its coverage competitive advantage under the MOCN arrangement. The added spectrum from TPG Telecom will help relieve congestion in the second zone, allowing Telstra to add considerable capacity to these sites, far above the demand from the incremental TPG Telecom customers. Once all spectrum is deployed at a site, then the tools generally open to carriers are increased sectors, or cell splitting. Increasing the number of sectors adds capex to a site; cell splitting involves building multiple new sites adding significant amounts of capex. Access to this spectrum is a boon for Telstra and its customers within the second zone. Telstra said the deal was expected to add $1.6-1.8 billion in incremental revenue over the term of the deal. For TPG Telecom the deal provides a step jump in coverage from 96% to 98.8% population coverage, allowing them to compete in the regional areas more effectively. Telstra was quietly confident that the ACCC would see that the deal would improve competition in regional areas and provide better mobile service for customers. However, given the recent track record of the ACCC with the merger of VHA and TPG, who knows how the ACCC will land when comes to mobile telecommunication infrastructure sharing arrangements. The companies said that subject to the ACCC approval MOCN is expected to be available to TPG customers by the end of the year. MOSCOW The East-West faceoff over Ukraine escalated dramatically Tuesday, with Russian lawmakers authorizing President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside his country and U.S. President Joe Biden and European leaders responding by slapping sanctions on Russian oligarchs and banks. Both leaders signaled that an even bigger confrontation could lie ahead. Putin has yet to unleash the force of the 150,000 troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, while Biden held back on the toughest sanctions that could cause economic turmoil for Russia but said they would go ahead if there is further aggression. Advertisement The measures, accompanied by the repositioning of additional U.S. troops to the Baltic nations on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia, came as Russian forces rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin said he was recognizing the independence of the separatist region in defiance of U.S. and European demands. Speaking at the White House, Biden said the Kremlin had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. He warned of more sanctions if Putin went further. Advertisement We are united in our support of Ukraine, Biden said. We are united in our opposition to Russian aggression. When it comes to Russian claims of a justification or pretext for an invasion, Biden said, None of us should be fooled. None of us will be fooled. There is no justification. Hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the threat of invasion, which U.S. officials have for weeks portrayed as all but inevitable, appeared to evaporate. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled plans for a Thursday meeting in Geneva with his Russian counterpart, saying it would not be productive and that Russias actions indicated Moscow was not serious about a peaceful path to resolving the crisis. Western nations sought to present a united front, with more than two dozen European Union members unanimously agreeing to levy their own initial set of sanctions against Russian officials. Germany also said it was halting the process of certifying the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia a lucrative deal long sought by Moscow but criticized by the U.S. for increasing Europes reliance on Russian energy. The U.S., meanwhile, moved to cut off Russias government from Western finance, sanctioning two of its banks and blocking it from trading in its debt on American and European markets. The administrations actions hit civilian leaders in Russias leadership hierarchy and two Russian banks considered especially close to the Kremlin and Russias military, with more than $80 billion in assets. That includes freezing all of those banks assets under U.S. jurisdictions. Biden, though, did hold back some of the broadest and toughest of the financial penalties contemplated by the U.S., including sanctions that would reinforce the hold that Germany put on any startup of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline; an export ban that would deny Russia U.S. high-tech for its industries and military; and sweeping bans that could cripple Russias ability to do business with the rest of the world. Biden said he was moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltics, though he described the actions as purely defensive, asserting, We have no intention of fighting Russia. The U.S. is sending about 800 infantry troops and 40 attack aircraft to the Baltics and NATOs eastern flank from other locations within Europe, according to a senior defense official. In addition, a contingent of F-35 strike fighters and AH-64 Apache attack helicopters will also be relocated. Earlier Tuesday, members of Russias upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly afterward, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and global economic chaos. Advertisement Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He added that its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action - it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. The EU announced initial sanctions aimed at the 351 Russian lawmakers who voted for recognizing separatist regions in Ukraine, as well as 27 other Russian officials and institutions from the defense and banking sectors. They also sought to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that Biden had said would result in severe sanctions. We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel-region Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending troops to eastern Ukraine. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about the sanctions targeting the breakaway region noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. Advertisement Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Putin said Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in the borders that existed when they made their declaration in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under separatist control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Condemnation from around the world was quick. In Washington, lawmakers from both parties in Congress backed an independent Ukraine and vowed continued U.S. support, even as some pushed for swifter and even more severe sanctions on Russia. Senators had been considering a sanctions package against Putins regime but held off as the White House pursued its strategy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > If Putin pushes further into Ukraine, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg insisted the West would move in lockstep. If Russia decides once again to use force against Ukraine, there will be even stronger sanctions, even a higher price to pay, he said. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. He warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. Advertisement Zelenskyy said he was calling up some of the countrys military reservists but added there was no need for a full military mobilization. In an address to the nation, Zelenskyy said his decree applied only to those assigned to the so-called operational reserve, which is typically activated during ongoing hostilities, and covers a special period of time, without clarifying what that means. Today there is no need for a full mobilization. We need to quickly add additional staff to the Ukrainian army and other military formations, he said. National Security and Defense Council Oleksii Danilov said earlier this year that Ukraine can call up to 2.5 million people. Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. Madhani and Tucker reported from Washington. Jill Lawless in London; Lorne Cook in Brussels; Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal; Dasha Litvinova in Moscow; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations; Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, Chris Megerian and Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report. This story has been updated to correct that Mariupol in on the Azov Sea, not Black Sea. Donate Now As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support. MOSCOW (AP) President Joe Biden announced the U.S. was ordering heavy financial sanctions against Russian banks and oligarchs on Tuesday, declaring that Moscow had flagrantly violated international law in what he called the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. None of us will be fooled by Russian President Vladimir Putins claims about Ukraine, the U.S. President said. And he said more sanctions could be on the way if Putin proceeds further. Advertisement Biden said he was also moving additional U.S. troops to the Baltic states on NATOs eastern flank bordering Russia. Biden joined the 27 European Union members who unanimously agreed on Tuesday to levy their own initial set of sanctions targeting Russian officials over their actions in Ukraine. Advertisement THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. APs earlier story follows below. Russian lawmakers on Tuesday authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country a move that could presage a broader attack on Ukraine after the U.S. said an invasion was already underway there. Several European leaders said Russian troops rolled into rebel-held areas in eastern Ukraine after Putin recognized their independence. But it was unclear how large the deployment was, and Ukraine and its Western allies have long said Russian troops were fighting in the region, allegations that Moscow always denied. Members of Russias upper house, the Federation Council, voted unanimously to allow Putin to use military force outside the country effectively formalizing a Russian military deployment to the rebel regions, where an eight-year conflict has killed nearly 14,000 people. Shortly after, Putin laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatened to plunge Europe back into war, raising the specter of massive casualties, energy shortages across the continent and economic chaos around the globe. Putin said the crisis could be resolved if Kyiv recognizes Russias sovereignty over Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Moscow annexed from Ukraine in 2014, renounces its bid to join NATO and partially demilitarizes. The West has decried the annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has previously flatly rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO. Asked whether he has sent any Russian troops into Ukraine and how far they could go, Putin responded: I havent said that the troops will go there right now. He added coyly that its impossible to forecast a specific pattern of action - it will depend on a concrete situation as it takes shape on the ground. A woman holds her dog as she waits with others to cross from Ukrainian government controlled areas to pro-Russian separatists' controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (Vadim Ghirda/AP) With tensions rising and a broader conflict looking ever more likely, the White House began referring to the Russian deployments in the region known as the Donbas as an invasion after initially hesitating to use the term a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow. He scheduled an address for later Tuesday. Advertisement We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russias latest invasion into Ukraine, said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said on CNN. An invasion is an invasion, and that is what is underway. The Biden administrations rhetoric hardened considerably in less than 24 hours. The White House announced limited sanctions targeting the rebel-region Monday evening soon after Putin said he was sending troops to eastern Ukraine. A senior Biden administration official, who briefed reporters about the sanctions targeting the breakaway region, noted that Russia has occupied these regions since 2014 and that Russian troops moving into Donbas would not itself be a new step. The administration initially resisted calling the deployment an invasion because the White House wanted to see what Russia was actually going to do. After assessing Russian troop movements, it became clear it was a new invasion, according to a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. For weeks, Western powers have been bracing for this as Russia massed an estimated 150,000 troops on three sides of neighboring Ukraine and promised swift and severe sanctions if it materialized. The European Union and Britain announced Tuesday that some of those measures were coming and more were expected from the U.S., too. Western leaders have long warned Moscow would look for cover to invade and just such a pretext appeared to come Monday, when Putin recognized as independent two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, where government troops have fought Russia-backed rebels. The Kremlin then raised the stakes further Tuesday, by saying that recognition extends even to the large parts now held by Ukrainian forces. Putin said Russia has recognized the rebel regions independence in the borders that existed when they declared their independence in 2014 broad territories that extend far beyond the areas now under separatist control and that include the major Azov Sea port of Mariupol. He added, however, that the rebels should eventually negotiate with Ukraine. Advertisement Condemnation from around the world was quick. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider breaking diplomatic ties with Russia and Kyiv recalled its ambassador in Moscow. A family crosses from pro-Russian separatists controlled territory to Ukrainian government controlled areas in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) But confusion over what exactly was happening in eastern Ukraine threatened to hobble a Western response. While Washington clearly called it an invasion, some other allies hedged. Russian troops have entered in Donbas, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in Paris. We consider Donbas part of Ukraine. But he added: I wouldnt say that (it is) a fully fledged invasion, but Russian troops are on Ukrainian soil. Polands Defense Ministry and British Health Secretary Sajid Javid also said Russian forces had entered eastern Ukraine, with Javid telling Sky News that the invasion of Ukraine has begun. Not all in Europe saw it that way. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares noted if Russia uses force against Ukraine, sanctions will be massive. Advertisement The Kremlin hasnt confirmed any troop deployments to the rebel east, saying it will depend on the security situation. Vladislav Brig, a member of the separatist local council in Donetsk, told reporters that the Russian troops already had moved in, but more senior rebel leaders didnt confirm that. Late Monday, convoys of armored vehicles were seen rolling across the separatist-controlled territories. It wasnt immediately clear if they were Russian. Ukrainian servicemen scan belongings of people crossing from Ukrainian government controlled areas to pro-Russian separatists' controlled territory in Stanytsia Luhanska, the only crossing point open daily, in the Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. (VADIM GHIRDA/AP) In response to the moves thus far, top EU officials said the bloc was prepared to impose sanctions on several Russian officials and banks financing the Russian armed forces and move to limit Moscows access to EU capital and financial markets. They gave few details. EU foreign ministers met Tuesday to discuss the measures but they did not appear to include the massive punishment repeatedly promised in case of a full-fledged invasion. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also said the U.K. would slap sanctions on five Russian banks and three wealthy individuals. While he said that Russian tanks have already rolled into eastern Ukraine, he warned a full-scale offensive would bring further powerful sanctions. The White House has also moved to respond, issuing an executive order to prohibit U.S. investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. Advertisement The Russian moves also pushed Germany to suspend the certification process for Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was to bring natural gas from Russia. The pipeline was built to help Germany meet its energy needs, particularly as it switches off its last three nuclear power plants and phases out the use of coal, and it has resisted calls by the U.S. and others to halt the project. Even as alarm spread across the globe, Zelenskyy sought to project calm, saying in an address overnight: We are not afraid of anyone or anything. We dont owe anyone anything. And we wont give anything to anyone. His foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, is in Washington to meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the State Department said. Russia has long denied it has any plans to invade Ukraine, instead blaming the U.S. and its allies for the crisis and describing Ukraines bid to join NATO as an existential challenge to Russia. Putin reiterated those accusations in an hourlong televised speech on Monday, when he announced that Russia would recognize the rebels. Ukraines membership in NATO poses a direct threat to Russias security, he said. The Western rejection of Moscows demands gives Russia the right to take other steps to protect its security, Putin said. Advertisement Breaking News As it happens Be the first to know with email alerts on important breaking stories from the Orlando Sentinel newsroom. > The Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it will evacuate its diplomatic personnel from Ukraine in the nearest time, pointing to attacks on diplomatic buildings, cars and physical threats against diplomats in the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv and Kharkiv. ___ Karmanau reported from Kyiv, Ukraine, and Madhani from Washington. Jill Lawless in London, Lorne Cook in Brussels, Barry Hatton in Lisbon, Portugal, Zeke Miller and Aamer Madhani in Munich, Germany; Geir Moulson and Frank Jordans in Berlin; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, and Eric Tucker, Ellen Knickmeyer, Robert Burns, Matthew Lee and Darlene Superville in Washington, contributed. ___ This story has been updated to correct that Mariupol in on the Azov Sea, not Black Sea. ___ Advertisement Follow APs coverage of the Ukraine crisis at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine They deserve our thanks and admiration for their commitment and for publicly admitting their failure, though through no fault of their own, in meeting that commitment. They're a model of corporate responsibility and integrity. Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Joplin, MO (64801) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 46F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. More residents from Florida have been charged in the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol than from any other state. Some of the most prominent leaders of the far-right patriot movement are from here, too. The state now has 68 hate groups, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the second highest number in the nation after California. Last month, neo-Nazi groups demonstrated openly in Orlando. FILE - In this March 4, 2021, file photo the Capitol dome is seen beyond a perimeter security fence at sunrise in Washington. Far right extremist groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are planning to attend a rally in September at the U.S. Capitol that is designed to demand justice for the hundreds of people who have been charged in connection with Januarys insurrection, according to three people familiar with intelligence gathered by federal officials. As a result, U.S. Capitol Police have been discussing in recent weeks whether the large perimeter fence that was erected outside of the Capitol after Januarys riot will need to be put back up, the people said. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Florida has an extremist problem, and we need to confront it head on. Advertisement Floridas role in the attack of Jan. 6 , 2021, should put us all on notice about whats brewing in this state. So far, 79 out of a total 734 federal Jan. 6 cases involve Florida residents, according to stories in the Miami Herald that focused on far-right groups, including the Oath Keepers. Based on population, that means the state is over-represented, as are other states, such as Pennsylvania. Eleven people are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit sedition, including the founder of the Oath Keepers and four people from Florida who are either Oath Keepers or affiliates. These charges mark the first time the Justice Department has accused Jan. 6 attackers of sedition, an exceptionally serious crime that strikes at the heart of democracy. It means the Justice Department believes that Jan. 6 amounts to one of the most serious attacks on democracy in U.S. history. Advertisement Seeing the signs There are additional warning signs for the state. National figures associated with far-right groups are here, with strong political connections. Three the Herald named: Roger Stone, a Donald Trump confidante who has associated with both Proud Boys and Oath Keepers; Miamis own Enrique Tarrio, head of the Proud Boys and former Florida state director of Latinos for Trump; and Michael Flynn, the former Trump national security advisor who has flirted with the QAnon conspiracy movement. Why here? Part of this concentration of extremism is, no doubt, linked to the rising national threat posed by militias and white supremacists, outlined in a U.S. intelligence report last March. But surely another steaming vat of blame must be placed squarely on the doorstep of Floridians for the government we have elected. When Gov. Ron DeSantis refused to publicly condemn the Orlando neo-Nazis last month, he essentially shrugged off overt hatred, dismissing them as jackasses for local law enforcement to handle. His spokeswoman, Christina Pushaw, added to the perception when she asked on Twitter whether the demonstrations were orchestrated by Democratic staffers. She later deleted her tweet and backpedaled, but that theres no eraser big enough to make that go away. Put them together, and its hard to avoid the conclusion that the highest-ranking Republican in the state views a parading of Nazism through the streets of Florida as no biggie. Thats precisely the kind of message that resonates with extremists. At the same time, efforts are under way by much of the Republican Party to sanitize the Jan. 6 insurrection attempt as mere political discourse rather than actual political violence. Our governor chimed in, refusing to call the attack an insurrection because, a year later, nobody has been charged with that. Two days later, on Jan. 8, they were. Once again, though, his point no doubt resonated with the audience he was aiming for. Florida doesnt need to be this way. We dont have to signal acceptance to extremist groups. And if the Republicans in power wont do it, regular people need to call it out, in public and at the ballot box. This editorial reflects the opinion of the Miami Herald Editorial Board. Suspending the renewals of state licenses for shelters that give the grace of protection to unaccompanied children is denying the most vulnerable among us the charisms of hospitality that have made Florida world-renowned. Sheltering children fleeing chaos, danger and other traumas is a means of grace more powerful than allowing visiting children multiple opportunities to escape reality to visit fantasy worlds. Operation Peter Pan offered children real hope, not in an imaginary adventure to a land where they would never grow up, but to a land where they were safe to grow up. The hope of their escape was realized in that they were sheltered in a land of real opportunity that allowed them to achieve great things. This hope is a promised land where they could be audacious enough to believe they could grow up and achieve a dream. The great state of Florida participated in building up thousands of unaccompanied minors in the 1960s. These minors grew up to be leading businesspeople, famous politicians, neighbors, friends, and the people we married or welcomed into our own families. Advertisement Gov. DeSantis reported rebuke of Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski and comments that it is disgusting to compare the child at the border with our neighbors who arrived here as children in the 1960s are unfortunate. In the Incarnation, Jesus Christ identified with all human suffering and offered Himself to provide hope and salvation to a hurting world. All human suffering is an injury against the image of God in all people. All suffering experienced by children is disgusting. There is nothing to be gained for the good of our shared community to discount someones suffering merely because it is politically expedient to do so. It is time that we stand up for children and stop being complicit in the suffering of others. The Gospels remind us that not only Herod was disturbed by Jesus birth but all of Jerusalem with him. Let us not be like Jesus neighbors. Let us not be complicit in executive actions that punish nonprofit, religious, and humanitarian organizations from providing a means of grace through hospitality. Advertisement We have a duty of care to protect children. The child at the border misses and yearns for their mother and father, cries, hurts, is afraid, and needs rescue and protection in the same way that the children that came here from Cuba in the 1960s. One of the few differences between the children we welcomed into our community in the 1960s and the children at the border today is that the children we welcomed in the 1960s came to Florida during a time of segregation and during a time when it was acceptable to be offended that a despised group would be considered as an equal to a preferred group. I stand with Archbishop Thomas Wenski and our Roman Catholic and other Christian brothers and sisters. We believe the State of Florida can do better than executive actions that prevent children from coming to Florida. We proclaim that the Governor of Florida will not divide our Hispanic community between those he tolerates and those whose suffering he finds disgusting. We stand as a united Latino community. We stand with all people of faith, denouncing the Governors actions and his comments. Gov. DeSantis we ask you: Let the little children come. Do not hinder them. Florida is a place with enough opportunities for all its children and those who want to be with our children. The opportunities and dreams that have made Florida famous are like the dreams of opportunity these children desire and deserve. All children deserve rescue and protection from suffering. The column is cosigned by: Jose Rodriguez, Episcopal Priest; Alicia Pelaez, former Pedro Pan Cuban child refugee; Andrea Mercado, Co-Executive Director Florida Rising; Maruxa Cardenas, Executive Director La Mesa Boricua; Marcos Vilar, Executive Director Alianza for Progress; Tessa Petit, Co-Executive Director Florida Immigrant Coalition; Isabel Vinent, Co-Executive Director Florida Immigrant Coalition; Maria Revelles, Executive Director Chispa Florida; Ana Sofia Pelaez, Executive Director Miami Freedom Project; Ricardo Negron, Co-Chair Del Ambiente Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. UN Security Council members China and Russia, as well as Serbia have continued supplying Myanmars junta with weapons used to attack civilians since last years coup, a UN rights expert said Tuesday. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights situation in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, urged the Security Council to convene an emergency session to debate and vote on a resolution to, at a minimum, ban those arms transfers that the Myanmar military are known to use to attack and kill Myanmar civilians. He released a long-awaited report Tuesday detailing where the junta is getting its weapons from, highlighting that two permanent members of the Security Council itself, who hold veto power over its decisions, remain among the main suppliers. Despite the evidence of the military juntas atrocity crimes being committed with impunity since launching a coup last year, UN Security Council members Russia and China continue to provide the Myanmar military junta with numerous fighter jets, armoured vehicles, and in the case of Russia, the promise of further arms, Andrews said in a statement. During this same period, Serbia has authorised rockets and artillery for export to the Myanmar military, said Andrews, who is an independent expert appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, but who does not speak on behalf of the world body. Crimes against humanity In his report, he maintained that the arms transfers by the three countries had occurred with the full knowledge that they would be used to attack civilians, in probable violation of international law. Myanmar has been in chaos, its economy paralysed, and more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in a military crackdown since the putsch in February 2021, according to the UN. Since the February 1, 2021 coup, at least 12,000 people have been detained, including the de facto head of the civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, while more than 440,000 people have been forcibly displaced. Andrews reiterated in his report that there is strong evidence the junta has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, sexual violence and torture. The situation of human rights in Myanmar is dire and deteriorating, it said. The report provides an overview of countries that have authorised the transfer of weapons to Myanmar since 2018, when the militarys attacks on the Rohingya ethnic minority were widely documented and after a UN fact-finding mission had urged an arms embargo. Israel, India, Pakistan, South Korea, Belarus and Ukraine also figure on that list, although only China, Russia and Serbia have continued their transfers since the coup. Imperative The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution last June calling for countries to prevent the flow of arms to Myanmar, but Andrews said that it had failed to have any discernible impact on the crisis and the capacity of the junta to launch attacks on civilians. He pointed out that while none of the Security Council members had voted against that resolution, the council had also not even considered voting to make the text binding for member states. It is imperative that member states and the Security Council act urgently to stop weapons sales to the military junta. Human lives, and Security Council credibility, are on the line, he said. The report acknowledges that China and Russia might very well use their veto power to block any such text, but stressed that this should not deter other members from placing a resolution before the Council for consideration, debate and a vote. The people of Myanmar deserve to have a strong resolution. The Security Council should consider, at the very least, a resolution to ban weapons that are being used by the Myanmar military to kill innocent people, Andrews said. Theres a line attributed to the German poet Heinrich Heine: When the world ends, then Ill go to the Netherlands, because everything happens there fifty years later. Indonesian historian Joss Wibisono notes its applicability to the 70 years it has taken since the end of the colonial war, after a distressing report released last week, to acknowledge that the use of extreme violence by the Dutch armed forces was not only widespread but often deliberate, too, and that It was condoned at every level: political, military and legal. In the report, commissioned by the Dutch state from several Dutch researchers who collaborated with Indonesian colleagues, many details emerged of what the soldiers had done to prevent the colony from achieving independence after the Second World War. What we see over the past 70-75 years is a constantly reappearing of this information, says Remco Raben, one of the researchers, from the University of Amsterdam. And constantly, a government that has been able to avoid taking responsibility for what happened. Notably in the 1960s a government inquiry had declared that while excesses had taken place, the military as a whole had behaved correctly. The government was able to shove it under the carpet says Raben. Politicians encouraged the violence The official government position, held since a 1969 government report into the militarys behaviour, that regrettable excesses had occurred but the armed forces as a whole in Indonesia and acted correctly () is no longer tenable, says Ben Schoenmaker, director of the Netherlands Institute for Military History at a press conference, held on Thursday 17 February to summarise the findings of the new report. On the contrary, he adds during the war, the Dutch armed forces used excessive extreme violence in a structural way violence occurred frequently and was widespread. And in addition, the politicians responsible, as well as the military, civil and judicial authorities, tolerated or condoned this violence. They encouraged it. They concealed it, and they did not punish it. There was a collective willingness to condone, justify and conceal it, and to let it go unpunished. All of this happened with a view to the higher goal: That of winning the war, notes the report. And the researchers found the army frequently and structurally guilty of extrajudicial executions, ill-treatment and torture, detention under inhumane conditions, the torching of houses and villages, the theft and destruction of property and food supplies, disproportionate air raids and artillery shelling, and what were often random mass arrests and mass internment. A very important pressure to re-examine what had happened, described by the researchers, came with the case brought by Jeffry Pondaag through the Dutch courts on behalf of Indonesian widows who survived a massacre, resulting in damages paid by the state in 2011. Several years later the government agreed to fund this extensive research, which will be published this year in 14 volumes, following the release of this synthesis report. It was conducted by the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV), the Netherlands Institute of Military History and the Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies (NIOD). The research shows that the vast majority of those who bore responsibility on the Dutch side politicians, officers, civil servants, judges and others had or could have had knowledge of the systematic use of extreme violence, points out Raben. The military defined the narrative. The civil authorities in Indonesia, and in the Netherlands, were completely dependent on the military as a source of information, he says. They list, they do a body count. Thats reported in fairly euphemistic terms. And then moving upwards on the on the hierarchy of the military, this message becomes more abstract and more manipulated. Nevertheless, there are people who sent this information about atrocities, et cetera, to the Netherlands and in particularly in the course of the war, people knew. Extreme violence, not war crimes The terminology used by the researchers has come under scrutiny. After the 1960s adoption of excesses, more recently in 2020 the Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, apologised when visiting Indonesia for the excessive violence inflicted during colonial rule. Now it is the term extreme violence that is used, which Gert Oostindie director of KITLV explained was an overarching term for really a whole range of different forms of violence, at the press conference. Its a broad umbrella concept, but also it has no strict legal connotations, he said, which left some like Wibisono to think its a euphemism. While he understands the researchers arguments he notes that the report stops short of using the word war crimes which would be clearer to the Indonesian public. Raben himself admits he struggled with the term extreme violence, because he wanted instead to foreground the actual experience of Indonesians. He notes that the military and with them the civil authorities in the colony and in the Netherlands have been able to isolate certain events as possible war crimes. Theyre called the excesses. That is part of the politics of manipulating information. Apologies to all those affected In response to the report The Netherlands Prime Minister Mark Rutte apologised on the same day, not only for the atrocities committed at the time, but for the failure of past Dutch governments to acknowledge it. For the systematic and widespread extreme violence from the Dutch side in those years and the consistent looking the other way by previous governments, I apologise deeply to the people of Indonesia, says Rutte, saying the government takes full responsibility for the collective failure. But the apology is addressed to all those affected, including the Dutch forces. Raben was disappointed: He apologised to everybody who was around at that time. That didnt give me much hope. And Wibisono doubt it very much that its going to be a step towards, you know, making the perpetrators accountable for what they did. Its another cover up. Thats what Im afraid of. I was just surprised that it takes 70 years for the Dutch to come to terms with what they did in Indonesia, says Wibisono, who is based in Amsterdam and follows Dutch politics. Controversial History The end of the colonisation is a period of history that remains raw to many in the Netherlands. One of the controversies has been around whats known as the bersiap [be prepared] period a Dutch term drawn from Indonesian to describe the violence committed by independence activists during the 1940s against the Indonesians who were seen as part of the colonial infrastructure. That violence was used as the justification for the Dutch reoccupation war. But in the report researchers show that the decision to intervene was not a response to violence. That decision have been made much earlier said Oostindie. They also downgraded estimates of how many had died in that bersiap violence. Heres a maximum of six thousand victims, thats a lot of victims stressed Oostindie, it is very painful, but its not the 20 or 30 thousand that you also hear mentioned sometimes. Earlier researchers had extrapolated that higher number from incomplete sources. In terms of the total numbers of those who died the researchers say the generally-accepted figure of 100,000 Indonesian casualties is surrounded by much uncertainty, but it is absolutely clear that the casualty ratio in the fighting was extremely unequal. Oostindie acknowledged the difficulty many Dutch people would have in hearing the specifics of what their colonial army had done in the 1940s, the Dutch politicians and a Dutch society as a whole [have] found it very difficult to move away from the very rosy picture of itself. That rosy idea of the self, that we simply dont do that kind of thing. Human Rights Watch highlighted Tuesday Russias track-record for bombing civilian infrastructure in Syrias conflict and voiced fear war crimes strategy could be repeated in Ukraine if the conflict escalates further. Following Moscows recognition of two self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine, HRW chief Kenneth Roth cautioned that the region could be on the verge of a significant armed conflict. Given Russias recent behaviour during Syrias civil war, that was a deeply worrying prospect, he told Geneva-based reporters during a video briefing. In late 2020, HRW issued a report on how the Syrian government and its Russian ally showed callous disregard for civilian life as they strived to retake the Idlib province and surrounding areas in northwest Syria. The nearly year-long Idlib bombing campaign that began in April 2019 gives us a sense of the way the Russian military has been fighting recently, Roth said. HRW, he said, had found repeated instances of deliberately targeting civilian institutions, that is to say hospitals, schools, markets, apartment buildings. The report documented 46 cases of direct attacks on civilian infrastructure where there was no evidence of opposition military weapons, equipment or personnel in the vicinity at the time of the attack Roth said, that in those cases, the strategy was blatant. Russian bombers were deliberately attacking civilian institutions to try to make life unlivable and make it easier for the Syrian military to roll in. During this time, he said, Russian President Vladimir Putin had command responsibility, and had given top honours to the commanders who were overseeing this war crimes strategy. We are deeply concerned that this war crimes strategy (could) be replicated in the case of Ukraine should armed conflict break out there, Roth said. Beyond the situation in Ukraine, the HRW chief also voiced alarm at the deteriorating rights situation inside Russia. He pointed to the case of imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, to electoral charades without meaningful political opposition, and the extensive use of extremist or foreign agent labels to shut down legitimate organisations like Russias leading rights group Memorial. Weve seen very substantial backtracking, Roth said. All of this adds up to an abysmal human rights situation within Russia that is rapidly approaching the level of repression that we saw in the Soviet era. Shortly before the coronavirus pandemic, Tesco, the UK supermarket chain, held a conference with its suppliers. Silviu Popovici, European chief executive at PepsiCo, recalls that the then Tesco chief executive, Dave Lewis, held up a multipack of Walkers crisps. According to Popovici, Lewis gestured at the crisps and told the attendees: We dont sell air we dont transport air and we dont sell air. He then warned all suppliers that, if they did not address the problem of overpackaging, their products were at risk of being removed from Tescos range. PepsiCo, which owns Walkers, listened: it began cutting down on packaging and bringing in more eco-friendly materials, such as cardboard. Now, the $235bn drinks and snacks group is looking to exert a similar influence on its own suppliers. Like many consumer goods companies, PepsiCo recently set out ambitious climate goals, as it seeks to meet targets set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement on change. Last year, the company said it would cut greenhouse gas emissions throughout its value chain including its suppliers and customers by at least 40 per cent by 2030, compared with a 2015 baseline. That presents a significant challenge because, according to Popovici, some 92 per cent of PepsiCos total emissions come from outside its own operations. The upshot is that it has to persuade suppliers and customers to cut emissions amounting to 22.6mn tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year equal to taking about 5mn cars off the road. Adding to the challenge, Popovici says, is the fact that only 8 per cent of its suppliers have climate targets approved by the Science-Based Targets initiative a well-regarded standard-setter that are in line with its own. Its still very, very early, Popovici says. Were saying You need to step up your game. The maker of Mountain Dew, Doritos and Quaker Oats is not alone in the scale of the challenge it faces. According to a report released this month by climate disclosure group CDP, the companies that participate in its supply chain programme which include PepsiCo, and collectively spend $5.5tn a year on procurement risk falling behind on their climate aims because more than half of their suppliers lack any climate targets at all, and only one in 40 have science-based targets. Crunch time: PepsiCo is piloting a scheme to help potato suppliers cut emissions Shutterstock / Brookgardener Ambitious environmental action is not yet cascading down the supply chain, said CDP, while warning that addressing supply chain emissions is the only way to leverage change at the scale required. PepsiCo will make changes to its transport and to the coolers used for its drinks, and will also push its suppliers to switch to renewable energy. But, to achieve its emissions goals, it must also look back along its supply chain and persuade farmers who produce millions of tonnes of commodities annually to change their own practices. When it comes to Walkers crisps, this is comparatively straightforward. While PepsiCo does not own potato farms, it often buys the crop directly from potato farmers, so it is piloting a scheme in the UK to process potato peelings into low-carbon fertiliser on its supplier farms. It calculates that this has the potential to reduce fertiliser emissions by about 70 per cent. One hurdle is winning the confidence of hard-pressed farmers. Farmers are a very conservative business community and the only way to convince them is to test and learn, says Popovici. But still more difficult is addressing the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of commodities bought from traders. Every year, PepsiCo buys about 450,000 tonnes of palm oil a commodity that has been blamed for deforestation. Now, increased efforts are being made to enable the traceability of the crop through groups such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. A palm oil plantation in Malaysia. PepsiCo buys 450,000 tonnes a year of the commodity Lai Seng/Reuters Popovici says PepsiCo wants similar mechanisms to develop for other commodities, and is trying to use its scale as a supplier to push for change. At the same time, the group wants to cut 3mn tonnes of GHG emissions by introducing regenerative farming practices such as measures to enhance soil health across 7mn acres, an area it says is equivalent to its whole agricultural footprint. This will be partly achieved through a network of more than 350 demonstration farms, and the project will be monitored by an independent group. Such projects, sometimes known as insets, are preferred to carbon offsets which consist of closer emission reduction or sequestration projects, such as tree planting, outside a companys own value chain because they combat emissions to their source. In northern Illinois, for example, PepsiCo and ingredients group Ingredion are working with the Soil and Water Outcomes Fund, which pays farmers for switching to greener farming methods such as no-till cultivation and cover crops, to target 20,000 acres of land. But that will need to scale up rapidly if PepsiCo is to reach its goals at the same time as addressing other urgent societal issues, such as plastic pollution and obesity. To try to move these practices on to a very fragmented supplier base is a bit harder . . . we need to signal to the farmers that there will be a market for products that are produced differently, says Popovici. There are only eight harvest cycles until 2030 thats not so many. By MICHAEL MILLENSON Health cares much-trumpeted transition from volume to value care remains more tepid than transformational, according to a new study. Looking at 22 health systems nationwide, RAND researchers found that compensation continues to be dominated by volume-based incentives designed to maximize health systems revenue. Although confusing payment schemes bear part of the blame, there are deeper problems that appeared in sharp relief when I chanced upon a long-ago PowerPoint from a prominent political strategist and early advocate of data-driven reimbursement. I refer, of course, to Newt Gingrich. His recommendations from 2007 about designing transformational change in health care provide a perspective that remains useful today in addressing what is ultimately a political problem. Frankly, value-based care (VBC) advocates perform dismally. Going Along the Gingrich Roadmap Back in 2004, Gingrich and I both served on a commission seeking to improve the quality of long-term care. This was during a period when a neutered Newt, out of power, was undergoing a political makeover by championing bipartisan health reform ideas such as electronic health records (EHRs) and evidence-based care. He even shared an award from NCQA with then-New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. What Gingrich also shared, often, were his thoughts about what was necessary to drive the kind of sweeping alteration of the status quo represented by his leading Republicans to their first House majority in decades. Reviewing that roadmap, its not surprising that VBC advocates remain far from their destination. The journey starts off in the right direction, with VBC advocates following Gingrichs advice to focus on large changes. Trying to upend the way physicians have been paid since Hippocrates made his first house call certainly qualifies. But ambition has to be articulated as part of an organizing and attractive vision. In 1997, in a book called Demanding Medical ExcellenceI summarized the urgency of what we now call value-based care this way: Tens of thousands of patients have died or been injured years after year because readily available information was not used and is not being used today to guide their care.(The health care delivery system) must be restructured according to evidence-based medical practice, regular assessment of the quality of care, and accountability. In a similar vein, Gingrich in 2007 emphasized a clear and compelling vision for quality that would appeal to patients and medical professionals by promising safe care (no preventable deaths or injuries); consistent clinical excellence (appropriate and effective evidence-based care) ; and clinicians and staff partnering with patients. Language Thats Bureaucratic, Not Bold In contrast, the coalition sponsoring last months Health Care Value Week positioned transformation as a series of models addressing a bureaucratic checklist of health care challenges. The same type of language is used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Even what the policy community believes are catchy labels may resonate very differently with ordinary people. Value care sounds like the medical equivalent of a meal at Taco Bell. (Also, if your child falls sick, do you want best care or best value for the money?) Accountable care has overtones of treatment decisions made by CPAs. And a medical home is where Mom says shed rather die than go to. What is glaringly absent is a clear vision of a health care system where sick people are not injured, killed or suffer economically in ways we know how to avoid; where there is an explicit emphasis on maintaining health; and where clinicians and health care organizations are enabled and rewarded for achieving these goals. Unfortunately, the health maintenance organization was already taken. The Case That Could Be Made The reluctance to present straightforward arguments for VBC is particularly frustrating in light of recent studies in JAMA Health Forum and JAMA Open that highlight current system failures. For instance, when an organization exits a VBC program such as a Medicare accountable care organization, provider behavior changes along with payment. There were fewer preventive services and lower quality of care, a University of Michigan-led team concluded. In a similar finding of current incentives impact, Johns Hopkins researchers singled out investor ownership of hospitals as an important factor in the overuse of 17 different (!) low-value medical services. This, at a time when the Wall Street Journal has chronicled the growing ownership of hospitals by private equity firms. But perhaps the greatest effect on individual patients from the lack of feedback or accountability mechanisms was shown in a study led by Harvard researchers that analyzed the records of nearly 9,000 physicians treating commercially insured patients. The results, although part of a long-known pattern, are still startling. Pregnant? Your odds of getting preventive care as simple as prenatal screening from your obstetrician vary from a low of 31 percent to a high of 94 percent. Heart disease? The chances your cardiologist gives you needed statins to vary from 31 percent up to 71 percent . (Results were adjusted for the patients clinical profile.) But the most jarring variations related not to what wasnt done, but to what shouldnt have been done, but was; ie, care without value. For instance, among patients with newly diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee or the hip, the top-ranked quintile of orthopedic surgeons, following professional guidelines, performed an arthroscopy just two to three percent of the time. The bottom quintile of surgeons used the arthroscope 31 to 66 percent of the time. As for patient safety, a separate study found that professional guidelines meant to reduce surgical infections are not being followed over a third of the time. This severe lapse is exposing thousands of Americans to possible life-changing consequences such as prolonged hospitalization, sepsis or even death, according to the studys lead researcher. A Willingness to Subvert the Status Quo? Sixty years ago, science historian Thomas Kuhn wrote a groundbreaking book about what it takes to change an established paradigm. Kuhn demonstrated that logical appeals to evidence dont work, even with scientists. Instead, paradigm change only occurs when defenders of the old ways can no longer evade anomalies that subvert the existing tradition. Bringing accountability to a medical culture that prizes autonomy, whether done through systemic professional feedbackfinancial incentives or both requires a genuine paradigm shift. Unfortunately, attacking the status quo of misplaced incentives, ingrained habits and an absence of good information systems is much trickier than proclaiming, Paper kills, Gingrichs pitch for EHRs. There are no easy villains greedy insurers, rapacious drug companies, high-priced hospitals, or a lack of consumerism to blame. Moreover, as Eric Patashnik, a Brown University professor and co-author of a book on the politics of evidence-based medicine, told the Washington Postthe public assumes doctors already do the right thing. The political constituency for evidence-based medicine is weak. Certainly, a coalition of provider groups (and others dependent upon their goodwill) is never going to attempt to whip up public support by vividly describing a current-state system riven with crazy-quilt practice variation and tolerating persistently unsafe care. The wiser course is to describe better quality with touching anecdotes about home visits by nurses. Theres another important problem, not spoken about publicly, but epitomized by the RAND study mentioned earlier on compensation. Consider Gingrichs admonition that a vision of transformational change must be functionally accurate you must walk your talk. Now, look at the organizations sponsoring Health Care Value Week. How many of them or their parent organizations still depend heavily on revenue maximization from high volume and high prices? Democracys Deus Ex Machina is Government Do these mean that the move from from volume to value, first promised in the Affordable Care Act in 2010, is only slightly more likely than New Newt (v. 2022) reuniting with Hillary? Allow me to suggest a slightly sunnier scenario . Gingrichs pro-computerization push worked not only because he was going with the tide of societal change, as his strategy outline put it, but also because many others supported the same goal. Even that larger effort ultimately succeeded, however, only after the economic crisis of 2008 prompted federal intervention. With the HITECH Act, the government authorized billions of dollars in payments to physicians and hospitals to subsidize the switch to EHRs. VBC, however abysmal its advocates communication efforts, nonetheless commands strong and broad-based support due both to self-interest (to prevent possibly more radical solutions) and genuine selflessness (its the right thing to do). As a result, I believe that the federal government, with private sector support, will via subsidies or mandates do for VBC what was done for EHRs when the opportunity arises. One can only hope that hard lessons learned from the EHR experience will inform the VBC one. At the Value Health Week summit, Dr. Farzad Mostashari, Aledades founder and the former head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, pointed the way forward. Said Mostashari: There needs to be a sense of inevitability. Michael L. Millenson is president of Health Quality Advisors LLC, an author and a visiting scholar at the Kellogg School of Management. He can be reached at [email protected] To the person who prefers renting. Im guessing you didnt hire an inspector prior to buying your home? As a renter youre at the mercy of the landlord raising rent, selling, or moving into their property. I have a friend whos had to move five times in the past seven years. Its like leasing a vehicle, continued payments with nothing to show for it. Im ticked off at drivers that dont know what a blinking amber turn signal means, You can, and should, turn if there is no oncoming traffic. If you just sit there, you are wasting the time of everyone behind you! What are you, stupid? Advertisement Am I the only person vowing never again to purchase Dr. Pepper products because of the small man commercials? Please spare me and also remove the Steals and Deals on local evening news! Bicycles should have never been allowed on roads. Paths for bikes should have been installed along sidewalks. Roads are for motorized vehicles with people with places to go, not for getting exercise. Advertisement I bought a five pound bag of Florida oranges bagged by Florida Citrus. Three were unusable and a fourth had to be used immediately before it rotted further. When my daughter was in college our agreement was that if she paid for a class and passed we would reimburse her at completion. Student government loans should operate under the same condition. Many students need that motivation to finish a class. Otherwise, t is easy to drop a class after getting the loan. How can anyone believe that they can own a house and rent for the same money? Take a tour of the home improvement and hardware stores and think about what it cost to maintain a dwelling. Then, what is provided in utilities, replacement or repair of appliances, heating and cooling mechanicals, roofs. that is provided by a rental property owner along with always increasing taxes. I heard someone say I get nothing by renting. What about a roof over their head, plumbing, kitchen and bathroom and many utilities and services. The flip side Thank you to the Plant City strawberry growers. The strawberries are so sweet and humongous. Yeon Woo Jin oozes charisma and bravado in the newly released Arena photos! To see what's keeping the actor busy, keep on reading! Yeon Woo Jin Oozes Charisma in New Pictorial In a recent pictorial with Arena, actor Yeon Woo Jin flaunted his sexy body with great proportions, exuding his natural manly charms. In particular, the actor also sat down with Arena after their shoot and talked about his upcoming plans for his career. Wearing monochromatic colors from head-to-toe, the 39-year-old actor didn't fail to show off his golden ratio, attracting attention. The actor is currently starring in the drama "Thirty-Nine" with Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun. The drama tells the stories of three 39-year-old best friends and their struggles, unexpected problems and victories in their daily lives. Since the drama is a pre-recorded work, they finished filming it prior to the much anticipated premiere. Yeon Woo Jin described the drama as "a story of living during a confusing stage in life, between being carefree and complete, mature adults." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Fall in Love With Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Sejeong in New Sweet Couple Photos for 'A Business Proposal' For the actor, being 39 is much different from being 29 as love, separation and more serious things start to unfold in this age. Through the drama, Yeon Woo Jin wants to look back on one's current youth and enjoy life. Yeon Woo Jin on 'Serve the People,' What to Expect From the Film, More While he's enjoying his acting role as a 39-year-old dermatologist in the on-going romance drama "Thirty-Nine," Yeon Woo Jin transforms into a model soldier who faces a huge struggle in the forthcoming movie "Serve the People." It follows the torturing and riveting story of Mu Kwang, a soldier working as a cook at the division commander's house who falls in love with the division commander's wife. "Serve the People" is a story of love and dignity. Yeon Woo Jin first received the script for the film in 2014. It's a film that's been a long time coming, but guarantees a high quality work. The new action romance film "Serve the People" airs sometime in 2022. On the other hand, Yeon Woo Jin's "Thirty-Nine" meets the public every Wednesday and Thursday on JTBC at 10:30 p.m. KST. YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Veterans Hwang Jung Min, Jung Woo Sung, Park Hae Joon To Team Up in New Historical Film 'Seoul's Spring' Follow KDramaStars for more KDrama, KMovie and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Wi Seung Hyun (Kang Daniel), Go Eun Gang (Chae Soo Bin), and Kim Tak (Lee Shin Young) will finally experience real cases outside the university in "Rookie Cops" episodes 9 and 10. 'Rookie Cops' Spoiler: Wi Seung Hyun and Go Eun Gang's Romance to Level Up After Wi Seung Hyun and Go Eun Gang shared their first kiss under the beautiful fireworks, it also marked their confession to each other. It is the beginning of a new chapter in their lives who are enjoying their youth. Secret dates and sweet moments between them are expected to continue since the students at the university are prohibited from dating. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Rookie Cops' Episode 8: Kang Daniel Confesses Feelings to Chae Soo Bin In the teaser released by Disney+ Korea, the young couple will spend more time together. The teaser also showed Wi Seung Hyun accidentally getting drunk and ending up inside Go Eun Gang's house. Kim Tak, Go Eun Gang, Wi Seung Hyun and KNPU Students to Go Undercover as Real Police Officers Apart from the romance, viewers should look forward to how the "Rookie Cops" squad will face new challenges as they are expected to have their first mission as police officers outside the university. In the next episode, an uncommon situation will occur. A former police academy student who had been killed after his involvement in an undercover operation was disclosed and is connected to Kim Tak, Wi Seung Hyun's roommate and best friend. Ki Han Na (Park Yoo Na) will also be entangled in a complicated situation. Meanwhile, Yoo Dae Il (Park Sung Joon), Seo Bumju (Kim Woo Seok), Shin Ah Ri (Cheon Young Min), and Woo Ju Young (Min Do Hee) will experience training in and out the Korean National Police University from profiling to field training as they start to level up to become real police officers. The promising police officers learn new interesting plans on how to examine and find clues in analyzing the crime scene to know the criminal's personality and method of crime and find the culprit based on it. Wi Seung Hyun, in one snap, passionately briefs the case to his classmates. Everyone looks serious and focused during the lesson as it is a preparation for them on how they will deal with the criminals once they are already thrown in the field. In addition, a representative from the drama shared that the upcoming episodes will be more fun to watch as the young students of KNPU continue to evolve to pursue their dreams of becoming cops. Can't wait for the upcoming "Rookie Cops" episodes? Share your comments with us! For more Korean drama updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Jin Goo's life takes a dark turn in OCN's "A Superior Day" teaser after his beloved daughter gets kidnapped by the murdering serial killer next door. What will happen to his family? Jin Goo Determined to Hunt Down Town's Killer in 'A Superior Day' OCN's forthcoming thriller drama "A Superior Day," starring Jin Goo, Lee Won Geun and Ha Do Kwon, released a heart-stopping teaser on February 22. "A Superior Day," which is based on a well-received webtoon of the same title, centers around the 24-hour psychological warfare of a fireman whose daughter gets kidnapped by the murdering serial killer next door. Jin Goo stars as Lee Ho Chul, a firefighter who hunts down the kidnapper who took his daughter. Ha Do Kwon plays the role of the professional hit man Bae Tae Jin, and Lee Won Geun becomes Kwon Si Woo, the notorious murdering serial killer. The teaser video begins with Bae Tae Jin, the hitman in prison who gets into an intense brawl with a fellow inmate. A female voice reminds him, saying, "Even if you saw him, pretend you didn't, understood? Even if you remember, you're not going to say anything." In the next scene, Lee Ho Chul gets frazzled after his daughter gets taken away by a mysterious person. The captions on the screen read, "You need to become a monster if you want to catch one," hinting at the changes the character has to go through in looking for his beloved child. Lee Ho Chul then declares, "The only one who knows his face is me." On the other hand, Kwon Si Woo's calm yet spine-chilling voice says, "Run. I think you need to run." However, Lee Ho Chul is not swayed. His determination became firmer. The video teaser ends with Kwon Si Woo saying, "I'll show you how superior I am right now." Curiosity about what Kwon Si Woo will do to Lee Ho Chul's daughter is heightened. How Lee Ho Chul and hitman Bae Tae Jin work together to take down the killer is also one of the things viewers need to anticipate in the drama. 'A Superior Day' Premiere, Pre-Production and Where to Watch OCN's "A Superior Day," starring Jin Goo, Lee Won Geun and Ha Do Kwon, which started filming in late October in 2021, is now in its post-production. It is helmed by director Jo Nam Hyung and writer Lee Ji Hyun for Studio Dragon. Apart from the trio, Kim Do Hyun, Lim Hwa Young and Lee Seo Joon are also part of the cast ensemble. "A Superior Day" airs every Sunday at 10:30 p.m. KST on OCN. It is scheduled to air for the first time on March 13. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. A bill to help veterans suffering from toxic burn pit exposure takes a key step forward in Congress. Pictured is a burn pit in March 2013 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Convicted felons could gain the right to vote if Oregon House Bill passes 'We're doing everything we can to survive': As the US looks to move on from Covid-19, high-risk and disabled Americans feel forgotten The Woodstock of conservative politics is back in Orlando this week. Last years CPAC in the City Beautiful featured a golden Donald Trump statue, squabbles over mask rules, denials of a Nazi-influenced stage design, and a rival white nationalist event down the road, all capped off with Trumps first hints that he might run again for president. Advertisement On Thursday, the Conservative Political Action Conference returns for four more days of drama, including scheduled appearances from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, conservative media figures such as Glenn Beck, and celebrities including actor Kevin Sorbo and sportscaster Michele Tafoya. But a new piece from Tommy Zegan, the artist behind last years Trump statue, wont be there this year. Advertisement Super Trump, his larger-than-life-size figure of a golden Trump in a caped superhero outfit, complete with a giant T on his chest, was held up in customs, Zegan said Monday. This years event comes amid reports of a rift between the events two headliners, Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis over their shared 2024 ambitions and COVID-19 vaccines. This DeSantis-Trump thing is real, said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from St. Petersburg whos now an independent Trump critic and TV commentator. A lot of people describe DeSantis as the guy who could win the nomination if Trump doesnt run. Ive started reframing this lately. This is DeSantis party now. And the only person that can stop Ron DeSantis is Donald Trump. According to a schedule released Monday, DeSantis will be speaking on Thursday afternoon, while Trump will give a Saturday night address. Trump vs. DeSantis The pandemic led CPAC to shift to Orlando from Maryland last year to get around COVID restrictions issued by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. Tommy Zegan, pictured in the black and white shirt, is the artist behind a gold Trump statue featured in one of the ballrooms at CPAC 2021 in Orlando. He said he hopes it ends up in Trumps presidential library someday. (Steven Walker) DeSantis eagerly welcomed conservatives to Florida, calling the state an oasis of freedom. Since his initial stay-at-home order in April 2020, and a continued shutdown of bars later that summer, the governor had made opposition to COVID restrictions a key part of his agenda. One year later, though, things are more complicated. Trump and DeSantis are reportedly at odds over DeSantis unwillingness to say hed step aside to allow Trump to run unopposed for the 2024 nomination. Trump acolyte Roger Stone has repeatedly threatened to run a third-party bid for governor against DeSantis unless he makes it clear he wouldnt challenge Trump for the nomination. Advertisement The biggest divide is over COVID vaccines. Trump has repeatedly praised the vaccines of late and revealed had received a booster shot, to the point of getting booed at appearances in Orlando and elsewhere. DeSantis has increasingly surrounded himself with vaccine skeptics such as Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. After DeSantis refused to say whether he received a COVID booster shot in January, Trump called politicians who wouldnt answer such a question gutless. DeSantis later told a conservative podcast his biggest regret was not pushing back against Trump over shutdowns in early 2020. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis waves to a cheering crowd at CPAC at the Hyatt Regency in Orlando on Friday, February 26, 2021. (Stephen M. Dowell / XX) It may be having an effect. A CNN poll released this month showed just 50% of Republican and GOP-leaning independent voters wanted Trump to run again. Of those opposed to Trump, DeSantis was the choice given by 21%, the highest of any named alternative, although 60% just wanted someone other than Trump. Last year, the straw poll results of CPAC attendees were announced shortly before Trumps appearance closing CPAC. It showed just 68% wanted Trump to run again in 2024, a smaller number than expected considering his 97% job approval among participants. The other 32% either said he shouldnt run or had no opinion. Trump was the clear favorite over all other GOP candidates, with 55%, while DeSantis came in a distant second at 21%. Bur in a separate straw poll with Trump out of the mix, DeSantis was first with 43%, more than 30 points ahead of any other hopeful. Advertisement The results this year will be highly watched. The longer Trump has been out of office, and the longer DeSantis has been more in the conservative limelight, perhaps you start to see some attendees beginning to think, Trump was great for the past, but DeSantis might be the future, said Aubrey Jewett, a professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. Hes younger, hes in office right now. It will be interesting to see. It will be an early sign of the strength of both. Jolly said many more conservatives might be ready to move on already. We very well could soon be where DeSantis and Trump hold equal weight within this party, Jolly said. Republican leaders across the country would prefer DeSantis over Trump as the nominee in 24. They just cant come out and say it, because the backlash is too strong right now. But the party wants to move past Trump, and DeSantis is the perfect off-ramp. And hes disciplined enough to see that and just bide his time until it happens. Masks and vaccines Last year, CPAC organizers were booed and met with chants of Freedom! when they asked the crowd to comply with county and hotel rules that required masks because of the raging pandemic. Hyatt Hotels later said attendees showed disrespect to employees who asked them to follow company policy and the Orange County ordinances. Advertisement This year, there are no COVID restrictions after DeSantis signed a law stripping local officials of that power. And the event has moved up the road from the Hyatt to the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, where the company policy is that masks are highly encouraged indoors but not required, according to its website. In this Sunday Feb. 28, 2021, file photo President Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando (John Raoux/AP Photo) Its unclear how many of the attendees would actually be vaccinated, as vaccine skepticism and outright anti-vax sentiment have become a key marker in much of the conservative world. There are certainly some anti-vaxxers in that movement, Jewett said. But I think many of the attendees will have been vaccinated. Even if they dont all say it. Nazi symbol on stage? Mask policy enforcement wasnt the only issue between Hyatt and CPAC. The hotel chain criticized CPAC over the main stages resemblance to an Odal rune, a symbol used on some Nazi uniforms and used by white nationalist groups at the Charlottesville protest in 2017. CPAC denied the claim and said it had worked closely with Hyatt to design the stage. Political Pulse Weekly Get latest updates political news from Central Florida and across the state. > The charge of white nationalism was one CPAC wanted to avoid. White nationalist Nick Fuentes was kicked out of CPAC last year when he tried to promote his own separate event a few blocks away at the Hilton Orlando. Advertisement Hyatt criticized CPAC over its Orlando stage's resemblance to a Nazi symbol. The resemblance was first reported by Andrew Hamilton and Daily Beans Podcast. Photo courtesy Daily Beans Podcast. Fuentes, who was subpoenaed by the Jan. 6 House Committee last month, said his own AFPAC, or America First Political Action Conference, wouldnt have homosexuals speaking on stage. He warned attendees at AFPAC, which included GOP U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, about America losing its white demographic core. Fuentes is again scheduling his own conference in Orlando to coincide with CPAC, according to the Daily Dot, joining up with the far-right social media platform Gab to promote it. Just like last year, no details were given in advance of where in Orlando it will be held. Hilton Hotels declined comment last year when asked about its hosting Fuentes event and whether it would host it again. A spokesperson for Hilton again declined to comment about this years AFPAC on Wednesday. So after all that in 2021, what drama might CPAC 2022 bring? Well see the bizarre and the crazy, Jolly said. And honestly, this is a conference that now embraces the bizarre and the crazy. Women pray in Kyiv, during the funeral of army captain Anton Sydorov, killed in eastern Ukraine, on Tuesday. Leaders of a group representing the 14,000 Ukrainian-Canadians living in greater Kelowna fear Russian military moves into Ukraine are only just beginning. A photograph of an Ontario provincial licence plate with a renewal sticker is shown in Mississauga, Ont., on Tuesday, February 22, 2022. The Ontario government is scrapping licence plate renewal fees and corresponding stickers for passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, motorcycles and mopeds. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette 1 Shares Share I started this commentary when the initial COVID spike involving the mass hospitalization of unvaccinated individuals occurred, and non-COVID patients requiring hospitalization were turned away because no beds, especially in intensive care, were available. Some patients traveled hours to find vacant beds, and a few even died! I put the draft aside as COVID declined and hospital beds became available. Then, Omicron joined Delta, and cases climbed once again. Hospital beds refilled with COVID patients, the majority of whom reported as high as 93 percent, were unvaccinated, and the exclusion of other patients was excluded reprised. Presently, many people bloviate about individual rights to refuse vaccination, claiming justification in the Bill of Rights, yet lacking an understanding of the document and its originating milieu. A significant factor lost in their assertions is that they reside in society, and each right has a social responsibility or consequence. Their concept of rights fits well only if one lives in isolation. The desire for rights without responsibilities as they espouse can be traced back to the citizens of Athens, circa 6th Century BCE, who, for their rights, were expected to vote and to serve a term as a government official. Many tried to shirk their responsibilities, were fined and compelled to fulfill their obligations. What about those individuals who presently choose to remain unvaccinated? What consequence should they incur? I suggest two possibilities. The first is a monetary penalty. This can be a higher health insurance premium to partially offset the $100,000-plus average cost of a severe COVID infection. A major airline has implemented this strategy, and it could be scaled based on income and family size. Alternatively, a non-inoculated but employed COVID positive individual could pay a portion of their hospital bill (i.e., $500 or $1,000) in advance of admission. An employer may terminate an employee who refuses vaccination. Some employees may quit because of such a dictum, but given the present tumultuous job market, vaccination may be preferred. An employer has a responsibility (ideally) to other employees as well as to the business. Allowing a non-vaccinated individual, a possible carrier, to continue working could infect many employees, causing a massive sick-out that can cripple business functioning, as is presently occurring. One needs to ask if hospitals are fulfilling their community responsibility by filling beds with COVID patients to the exclusion of others? Doing so assigns unvaccinated COVID patients a higher value for care than other society members. At best, these patients should receive equal, but ideally, lower valuation for admission, as non-vaccination is in many instances an individual choice for which denial of health care or certain treatments can be a just societal consequence. My suggestions are oversimplified, and there are many qualifications for deferral, and we cannot always easily determine what is or is not defensible. What about a 14-year-old whose parents refused permission for the injections? What qualifies as a religious objection: Ones personal faith as the Supreme Court recently ruled, or the tenets of organized religion as the Founders intended? Is suspicion of medical care based on the Tuskegee Experiment, which ended 70 years ago, still valid? And the list of potential exemptions could continue ad-infinitum. As I was taught decades ago, with a communicable epidemic in public health law, the health of the populace, the necessity of isolation and mandatory vaccination overrode individual choice. Since the Constitution was written, there has been concern about federal overreach of state powers and individual rights. Still, this fear has yet to materialize, despite several instances of federal usurpation, and when problems are of national scope, they necessitate national action. COVID transcends the powers of individual states and demands federal control until it is managed. I admit that the federal response to the plague has been (much) less than ideal, with both Trump and Biden, despite expert assistance, acting maladroitly. Nonetheless, actions by governors, perhaps especially in the South, have exceeded this level. A simpler alternative for preventing the exclusion of non-COVID patients would be to determine an average daily number of these patients receiving ICU treatment, including the equipment, materials and personnel (EMP) necessary for their care, with remaining EMP being available for COVID patients, vaccinated and unvaccinated, with preference given to the former. Thus, when all EMP for COVID patients is exhausted, admission of COVID patients is halted until COVID patients expire. The EMP allocated to non-COVID patients cannot be reallocated to COVID care. A similar procedure would be used to allocate non-ICU beds. In this manner, resources would be equitably divided among all patients and any denial of care would be based solely on resource availability. Not touched upon, but of equal importance to treating non-COVID patients, are a medical centers ethical responsibilities to its staff during a pandemic? Is working nurses, physicians, and others past exhaustion, into possible mental illness and suicide justifiable, especially when many cases of COVID could have been prevented if a patient chose inoculation? If a RN is denied a mental health day and dies by suicide, can the denying agency be held responsible? M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 1 Shares Share Management of medications is sometimes handled sub-optimally, at least in the United States. At the extreme, physicians who prescribe multiple medications prescribe some medications that treat the side effects of other medications. This could be considered physician negligence in extreme cases. An example was given in a class I took at UCSF (the University of California at San Francisco). UCSF physicians jointly provided remote advice for a physician treating a developmentally disabled patient living in a rural area of Northern California. The patient could no longer stand. The UCSF physicians recommended changing medications because some of the medications might have been prescribed to treat the side effects of other medications. Afterward, the patient was not only able to walk but run. This situation of prescribing a medication to treat the side effect of another medication is sometimes done knowingly rather than mistakenly. For example, a necessary medication may have a significant side effect for example, a medication could cause a patient to gain weight but the medication is so important that this side effect is tolerated. In one case I know, the patient was given another medication to suppress her appetite in this situation. A logical solution to the problem is to try to find a medication that is equally effective that does not cause weight gain. A knowledgeable pharmacist is a more logical person to find such a replacement drug than the physician. I propose that there be consultant pharmacists that should devote their time to resolve such situations. The consultant pharmacist would work with the physician to identify effective medications without the side effects or without drug interactions. To avoid any conflicts of interest, a consultant pharmacist should not profit from the sale of medications. A consultant pharmacist could also meet directly with patients in the following situations: When a patient receives a new medication to inform the patient on how to take the medication When the patients physician identifies a possible drug side effect or interaction Periodically for patients taking a large number of medications. The consultant pharmacist could suggest medication changes to the patients physician, or provide a simplified schedule for taking medications. A consultant pharmacist could also ensure a patients safe transition from a hospital stay to back home. When a patient is admitted to a hospital, the patients current medications are recorded, and any medications the patient brings are usually taken away for the duration of the stay. Medications for the hospital stay are prescribed or re-prescribed; a physician can do this with consultation from the consultant pharmacist. At discharge, a physician and a consultant pharmacist could meet with the patient to restore the individuals at-home medication regimen, possibly adding or changing medications. A consultant pharmacist would ensure there are no medication errors and ensure efficacy. There are a number of up-and-coming drug-connected areas that require further research: The effects of genes on the metabolism of drugs The effect of bacteria in a patients gutreferred to as the patients microbiomeon the actions of drugs. In the future, this information could be used to provide dosing advice to physicians prescribing medications. Genes and drugs There are two categories of drugs that may require different doses dependent upon the genetics of the patient: Active drugs that work before they are metabolized Prodrugs that work after they are metabolized. A physician prescribing one of these categories of drugs, to ensure the drugs work and do not have side effects, will adjust the dosage as necessary for slow metabolizers and ultra-fast metabolizers (as identified by a patient having certain CYP gene variants, genes that produce enzymes that control the synthesis and breakdown of chemicals in cells). Given normal dosing, a slow metabolizer may get too large a dose of an active drug, while an ultra-fast metabolizer may get too large a dose of a prodrug. For example, the milder narcotic codeine, a prodrug, metabolizes to the narcotic morphine; with normal dosage, an ultra-fast metabolizer could get a toxic dose of morphine. The microbiome and drugs It is known that different people have different bacteria within their gut; this bacteria is called their microbiome. Some types of bacteria store a drug without chemically modifying it, whereas others modify drugs to make them more or less effective; in either case, this can change the effects of the drug. Conversely, a drug could change the makeup of bacteria in a microbiome, which could affect health. Another research area may be the effect of drugs on paraplegics, quadriplegics or other persons confined to a wheelchair. Drug doses are often given based upon weight. In my experience with a paraplegic patient, she was given too high a dose of pain medication once and too high a dose of an anesthetic during an operation another time, failing to wake up quickly. Some possible problems with drug doses for such patients are the following: Difficulty weighing the patient: It is difficult to weigh a quadriplegic, paraplegic or other person confined to a wheelchair. The person must be weighed in the wheelchair, then the wheelchair is weighed, and the weight of the chair is subtracted. Some medical personnel may be too lazy to do this, or this may be too difficult to do. Patient looks heavier: Another possibility is that non-use of muscle results in greater flabbiness, making the patient look heavier than she is. Different effects of drugs: The extra fat in place of muscle may have an effect upon how the medication works. In any case, when a physician suspects that a patient has received too high or too low a dose of a medication, the physician could send a referral to the consulting pharmacist. The consultant pharmacist could then try to identify factors that resulted in the over or under-dose, e.g., incorrect measurement of weight, prodrug or active drug, patient genetics or microbiome. The consultant pharmacist could then provide advice for future physicians who would prescribe medications for the patient. The use of consultant pharmacists could significantly improve medical care. What would be useful for a consultant pharmacist is to have a verifiably correct list of a patients medications. This could be done with a universal patient medical record. A universal patient medical record with a complete list of a patients medications could also enable an ordering physician to be informed of duplicate medication orders and enable a personal physician for the patient to identify when the patient is not refilling a vital medication. Further, a universal patient medical record could enable automated clinical checking upon ordering, including checking for drug interactions and dosage appropriateness for the patient. Michael R. McGuire is the author of A Blueprint for Medicine. Image credit: Shutterstock.com French President Emmanuel Macron delivers his speech during an informal meeting of European space ministers, in Toulouse, southwestern France, Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022. (GONZALO FUENTES/AP) BERLIN (AP) Europe needs a bolder space policy, French President Emmanuel Macron declared Wednesday, warning that Europes sovereignty is at stake if it falls behind rival powers in a key field for technology, science and military competitiveness. Speaking at a meeting in Toulouse, France, Macron said recent events had shown how crucial it is to be able to monitor troop movements from orbit a reference to satellite images showing Russias mass military deployment near Ukraine that raise fears of an imminent invasion. Advertisement There is no full power or autonomy without managing space, Macron said. Without (it) you cant conquer new frontiers or even control your own. Europe has a strong record when it comes to launching satellites for telecommunications, global positioning services and scientific research. But it has lagged behind rivals such as the United States, Russia and China on human spaceflight, having no ability to launch crewed missions of its own. Advertisement The head of the European Space Agency last month backed calls to develop its own crewed spacecraft, although member states have yet to approve. Macron said Europe needs to consider whether it wants to pursue that path, and if so, what the goal should be. One option would be to follow the United States in aiming for Mars, while another would be to focus on a replacement for the aging International Space Station. With hundreds of thousands of jobs tied to the space industry, Macron warned that Europe faces tough competition not just from major powers but also emerging rivals such as India and private companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX. Unfortunately theyre not European, but they took a bet, he said, adding that the companies had benefited from significant public funding in the form of government-sponsored launches. Macron said Europe should consider that option, too, for its home-grown launchers like the upcoming Ariane 6. In other moves, Europe is competing to match the private constellations of satellites planned in the near future by private companies such as those of Elon Musk (with 42,000 satellites planned) and Kuiper of Jeff Bezos (3,200 satellites). There is also Oneweb of the British government, which plans 650 satellites. This European constellation, whose first satellites are set to be operational in 2024, aims to provide EU internet networks connections and commercial communication coverage across the EU and Africa. We have a political agreement to deploy an independent constellation, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on the sidelines of the meeting. Local featured Measurements show poor water quality at two Key West beaches Measurements taken as a part of the Florida Healthy Beaches Program found that Higgs and Smathers beach have water quality that is considered poor as of Feb. 1. The tests take measurements for the bacteria enterococci, which has been recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as an indicator of salt water quality since 2004. According to studies conducted by the EPA, enterococci have a greater correlation with swimming-associated gastrointestinal illness in both marine and fresh waters than other bacterial indicator organisms and are less likely to die-off in saltwater, reads the Healthy Beaches Program website. A designation of good means 0-35 enterococci were found per 100 milliliters of marine water. Moderate means 36-70 and poor is given for 71 or more per 100 milliliters. In addition to Smathers and Higgs, Annes Beach, Bahia Honda Oceanside and Sombrero Beach all received a moderate designation. James Rachal, environmental manager at the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, said the department would need to find the source of the pollutant to be able to mitigate it, which is a difficult task. Unfortunately, we dont have the funding to go out and do that kind of investigation, Rachal wrote in an email. So all we can do at this point is issue an advisory for people to be informed (of) our last sampling. The Healthy Beaches Program states that Enterococci are a bacteria normally found in the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of which can be an indication of fecal pollution and can come from stormwater runoff, human sewage or pets and wildlife. Rachal said birds can be a contributor to enterococci levels. High concentrations in recreational waters can cause disease or infection if they are ingested or enter through a cut or sore. Beach water quality measurements began in Florida when five counties joined a grant-funded program to test for enterococci. The Beach Water Sampling Program was extended to 30 counties by 2000 when the state Legislature passed funding for it. Sampling has been biweekly since 2011. For information, visit https://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/index.html. eweld@keysnews.com The figure of Rapunzel from Disney's "Tangled" with sidekick Pascal are seen installed as the stern characters on the Disney Wish during construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. (Walt Disney Imagineering) Each ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet has a unique stern character ornately interacting with paint brushes as if theyre putting the finishing touches on each of the vessels names. For Disney Magic its Goofy. For Disney Wonder its Donald Duck and his nephews. For Disney Dream its Fantasia Mickey directing some mops. For Disney Fantasy its Dumbo. Advertisement Disney Wish is the name of Disney Cruise Line's fifth cruise ship, due for delivery in late 2021 with first sailing slated for January 2022. (Disney Cruise Line/Disney Cruise Line) The announcement of Rapunzel from Tangled along with sidekick Pascal the chameleon came in 2019 with a rendering showing the long blonde hair of the princess supporting her while holding brush to hull and Pascal holding her palette. In a recent post on the Walt Disney Imagineering Instagram page, progress and final touches were revealed on the final product ahead of the ships float out this month at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenberg, Germany. Advertisement Recently, our WDI team in Germany completed a very exciting milestone the installation of Rapunzel onto the stern of the #DisneyWish! The entire figure is over 30 feet wide, with Rapunzel herself being 9 feet tall big enough to wear a US womens sized 22 shoe! according to the post. After two years of design and fabrication work with a team spread across 3 different time zones, we are all so thrilled to see Rapunzel adorning the stern of the ship where she and her side kick, Pascal, will welcome our Guests for many years to come! We cant wait for the world to see her! The figure of Rapunzel from Disney's "Tangled" with sidekick Pascal are seen installed as the stern characters on the Disney Wish during construction at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. (Walt Disney Imagineering) The end product looks very close to the rendering revealed back in 2019 with Rapunzels bare foot outstretched in the same manner her character accomplished wall paintings in her tower in the 2010 Disney film. My job at Imagineering is to make sure that our creative and show teams are successful to bring an amazing product to life for our guests, said Alyssa Markfort in one of the videos on the Instagram post. Disney Wish is the first new ship for the line in a decade, and the first of three in the new Triton class of vessels, similar in size to Dream and Fantasy coming in at 144,000 gross tons with 1,254 staterooms, The ship is set to arrive in Port Canaveral in early June, according to port officials, but wont have its debut sailing until July 14. The next two unnamed vessels are slated for delivery in 2024 and 2025 that will also be built at Meyer Werft. The Wish is set to take over from the Disney Dream the three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas including stops at Disneys private island Castaway Cay. The Dream is moving to Miami on June 7 while Disney Fantasy remains at Port Canaveral for seven-night sailings. The Wine Centre in Kilkenny City has been crowned The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 at this year's National Off-Licence Association (NOffLA) Awards. The renowned John Street establishment fought off some stiff competition once again to claim the award for a remarkable ninth time in ten years! Speaking about the awards and the standard of entries this year, Gary ODonovan, chairman, NOffLA, said, "The impact of the pandemic and closure of the hospitality sector for the best part of two years has had a devastating impact on the wider drinks sector. Their lack of trade has also had significant knock-on implications for our suppliers, as the overall industry has declined significantly. "In this context, Government must now seriously consider policy measures to assist the sector to get back on its feet and this must start with Irish excise rates which remain the highest in Europe." According to NOffLA, judging for the awards involves an examination of over 100 aspects of each entrants business and the process was altered this year to align with Government Covid-19 guidelines. Notable 2022 Award Winners: The Champagne Ayala Best First Time Entrant 2022 - Carry Out Ballinasloe The Peroni Nastro Food Retailer Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - 64 Wine Glasthule The El Coto Customer Service Award of the Year 2022 - Molloys Clondalkin The Redbreast Spirit Specialist of the Year 2022 - Higgins Off-Licence Clonskeagh The Guinness Beer Specialist of the Year 2022 - James Redmond & Sons Ranelagh The Dona Paula Wine Specialist of the Year 2022 - Jus De Vine Portmarnock The Hennessy Munster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - Carry Out The Reeks Killarney The Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin Connacht/Ulster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 Dice's Off-Licence Ballyshannon The Alpha Zeta Leinster Off-Licence of the Year 2022 - The Wine Centre Kilkenny The Bombay Sapphire Dublin Off-Licence of the Year 2022 McHugh's Off-Licence Malahide Road The NOffLA RTC Online Trainee of the Year 2022 Robert O'Brien, McHugh's Off-Licence Malahide Road The NOffLA Responsible Retailer of the Year 2022 O'Donovans Off-Licence Group The NOffLA National Off-Licence of the Year 2022 Galvins Carry Out Carrigaline According to NOffLA, the awards recognise and showcase excellence in the independent off-licence sector, which represents 315 specialist businesses throughout the country. The awards highlight those retailers that offer exceptional service to customers and demonstrate excellence in retail standards, it added. Usually held at the Honorable Society of Kings Inns, the awards were hosted online again this year, with plans to return to the in-person ceremony for next years event. In conjunction with the nationwide Climb With Charlie event to be held on April 2, Cllr Joe Malone has announced that a series of walks will be organised across County Kilkenny on each Saturday in March. Below are the details for each of the planned walks, subject to change: Walk 1) Saturday, March 5, Silaire Wood, Graignamanagh, 11am Walk 2) Saturday, March 12, Inistioge, 11am Walk 3) Saturday, March 19, Kilkenny Castle Park, 11am Walk 4) Saturday, March 26, Castlecomer Discovery Park, 11am These walks are designed to be family fun days, Joe said. It is important to raise awareness around Motor Neurone Disease as it has taken so many amazing people from us. He took some time at the end of his announcement to pay tribute to popular local man Joe Brennan, who recently lost his battle against MND. MISSION TO MEDJUGORJE A few weeks ago, Cllr Malone confirmed that he would be climbing Cross Mountain in Medjugorje with hurling legend DJ Carey on April 2 as part of their Climb with Charlie campaign. The Climb with Charlie campaign encourages people all over Ireland to arrange their own climb, with monies raised going to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House. Each climb is designed to highlight the vast mountains that so many people have to climb in their everyday lives due to severe illness, physical and mental. Cllr Malone has set up a charity donation page where people are able to sponsor the climb. The cost of the trip over will be covered separately at their own expense. Cllr Malone was particularly moved by the idea of the campaign after witnessing firsthand the devastating impact of Motor Neurone Disease on his mother and friends. "There are so many people affected by this terrible illness and we still havent found a cure," he said. "I knew we had to do something special to raise awareness." Chinese FM calls on all parties to remain calm, resolve Ukraine issue through dialogue Xinhua) 16:02, February 22, 2022 BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday called on all parties on the Ukraine issue to remain calm, ease tensions and resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Members of the reconstituted ECOWAS Council of the Wise (CoW) have been urged to play a more active role in mediation and consultations to prevent or resolve conflicts in the region Two Easy Ways To Subscribe! The Kodiak Daily Mirror offers full-service, five-day a week subscriptions with home delivery in addition to unlimited access to our online services (including our e-Edition). Online-access-only subscriptions include unlimited access to the Mirror's online services without delivery of the printed newspaper. (Note: New users: You must register and login before purchasing a subscription. Support local journalism Local news, sports and entertainment when you want it. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the best local news, sports and entertainment coverage. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: There could still be criminal charges filed. An MU Police investigation into the incident "remains open and active." U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on Russia and Ukraine in the East Room of the White House on February 15 in Washington, DC. President Joe Biden's executive order will also allow the US to impose sanctions on anyone operating in those areas. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a greenhouse farm in South Hamgyong Province, Friday, in this photo provided by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Yonhap China's Paralympics, two significant political meetings may affect Pyongyang's decision By Kang Seung-woo As the Beijing Winter Olympics have come to a close, North Korea is anticipated to restart its show of force in the near future amid an impasse in nuclear talks with the United States, according to diplomatic observers. Pyongyang carried out an unprecedented seven rounds of missile launches in January, including a test-firing of an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), but has since refrained from saber-rattling in what seems to be a move to not steal attention from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olymmpic Games hosted by China, its lone economic pipeline and diplomatic protector. The quadrennial sporting event held its closing ceremony on Sunday. "I think North Korea refrained from any missile launches or other activities that could have interfered with media coverage of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Now that the Olympics are over, it's likely we'll see a resumption of missile launches from North Korea, possibly to include an ICBM launch," said Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy for negotiations with North Korea. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at King's College London, presented a similar view, citing the absence of North Korea's negotiations with South Korea and the U.S. "Once testing resumes, I would imagine that it will involve short-range ballistic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and technologies useful for intercontinental ballistic missiles," he said. Amid growing speculation that North Korea is likely to soon pick up its saber-rattling where it left off to capture U.S. attention for its missile and nuclear threats, the South Korean unification ministry urged the North to return to dialogue, Monday. However, experts differed on the timing of the North Korean weapons tests as China is scheduled to hold the Winter Paralympics at the same time as two major sessions from March 4 to 13. The two sessions are the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislative body, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body. "North Korea does not seek approval from China for its testing schedule, but Pyongyang is sensitive to the impact these tests will have on relations with Beijing," U.S. Naval War College Professor Terence Roehrig said. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Tuesday, its leader Kim Jong-un has sent a verbal message to Chinese President Xi Jinping to congratulate China on the "successful" closing of the Beijing Winter Olympics in an apparent effort to strengthen ties with his country's traditional ally, according to the unification ministry. "I think it is likely North Korea will hold off on any further testing until after China holds its March meetings, but after that, there could easily be a restart," Roehrig said. Pacheco Pardo also said, "The dates of the conference overlap with the Paralympics. I think that this will make North Korea reluctant to conduct any tests then." However, DeTrani said China would have no interest in North Korea's weapons tests, unless it detonates a nuclear bomb. "I doubt that China's National People's Congress scheduled to be convened in March will affect North Korea's decision to launch one or more missiles," DeTrani said. "It probably will, however, influence the North not to have a seventh nuclear test during the NPC." Roehrig and Pacheco Pardo said Kim may also wait until South Korea's March 9 presidential election is over to see how the new administration's North Korea policies take shape. Recently, the North Korean regime threatened to lift its self-imposed moratorium on nuclear and ballistic missile tests in protest of Washington's "hostile" moves. The North Korean leader declared a halt to all nuclear and ICBM tests in April 2018, during talks with then-U.S. President Donald Trump. In that respect, the pundits speculate that North Korea may reach out to the U.S. in order to offer a formal testing moratorium in exchange for sanctions relief. "Talks on a formal testing moratorium are certainly possible, but so far North Korea has shown no interest in talking and Pyongyang will expect something in return, most likely some level of sanctions relief," Roehrig said. "(U.S. President Joe) Biden might be willing to offer some concessions in return for a formal agreement on a testing moratorium, but that is unclear." DeTrani added, "If they did, it's likely the subject of a moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests in exchange for the lifting of selective sanctions will be discussed." Pacheco Pardo said North Korea will want to talk with both the U.S. and South Korea if it sees a window of opportunity with the new South Korean president. "I think that the Biden administration would agree, since it has openly called for dialogue," he said. "Plus, the Biden administration will want the new South Korean president on its side with its China policy. Reducing U.S.-North Korea tensions would help with this." By Lee Kyung-min Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook visited Jakarta, Indonesia, from Sunday to Tuesday (local time), to strengthen cooperation with the Southeast Asian country, the trade ministry said Tuesday. Indonesia is a key country for Korea's New Southern Policy, a diplomatic initiative spearheaded under the Moon Jae-in administration to diversify trade partners and better respond to global value chain (GVC) disruptions. The minister reviewed the progress of the policy in Indonesia and reiterated the importance of continued economic cooperation between the two countries, a critical step to stabilizing the supply of raw materials and new growth industries, including electric vehicles (EVs), charging stations and rechargeable EV batteries. In a congratulatory speech made at the opening of a business forum attended by key local and Korean business figures, Moon cited the growth of trade in recent years. The trading volume between Korea and Southeast Asia rose to $220 billion (262 trillion won) last year, up 49 percent from $134.9 billion in 2016, he said. "The Southeast Asian nations have emerged and solidified themselves as key trading partners of Korea under the Moon administration," the minister said. Bilateral relations will be bolstered further by closer cooperation in pillar industries including steel, petrochemical, cars and battery manufacturing, in what he characterized as a successful combination of Korea's high-tech major industrial capabilities and Indonesia's abundant raw materials. Further underpinning the robust ties are economic exchanges expected following a slew of trade agreements either in effect or set to take effect soon. They include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and Korea-Singapore Digital Partnership Agreement (KSDPA). Moon visited a Hyundai Motor car manufacturing plant under construction in Kota Deltamas, scheduled to begin operation next month. Internally displaced Syrians are pictured in front of tents in a camp, before being transported to a new housing complex in the opposition-held area of Bizaah, east of the city of al-Bab in the northern Aleppo governorate, built with the support of Turkey's emergencies agency AFAD, on Feb. 9. AFP-Yonhap Syrian mother of four Maryam al-Hussein was relieved to have a roof over her head as she moved from a tent camp into a housing complex built with Turkish support. "When I first heard that we were moving into a house, I couldn't believe it," the 28-year-old widow told AFP in opposition-held northern Syria. "I was so happy that I couldn't think of anything other than the move," she said, sitting outside her new concrete home. The housing complex built near the Turkish-held Syrian city of Al-Bab is the latest in a series of residential projects sponsored by Ankara. Turkey's goal is to create a so-called "safe zone" along its border to keep Syrians displaced by war from crossing into its territory, and to allow it to send back some of the millions who already did. The housing units, branded by local officials and their Turkish sponsors as a humanitarian action to assist displaced families, could also serve as a model for initiatives to resettle Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Turkey and its proxies have seized control of territory inside Syria during several military operations launched since 2016. In these regions, the Turkish lira has become the main currency and Ankara has helped set up hospitals, post offices and schools that teach the Turkish language. Turkish non-governmental group the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said it has supported the construction of more than 18,000 residential units in Syria's north since 2019. "More than 50,000 people have settled in the houses we have built so far," said IHH secretary general Durmus Aydin. Aydin said that twice as many will be sheltered in a total of 24,325 homes due to be completed by April. 'Temporary shelters' The latest housing complex was built near the opposition-held area of Bizaah with the support of Turkey's AFAD emergencies agency, local officials said. It consists of 300 one-storey concrete units with large metal doors and small side windows. Each unit is made up of two rooms, a kitchen and a bathroom, and is equipped with its own water tank and costs about $2,500 to build, Aydin said. They will be home to residents of a nearby displacement camp who were transferred there this month. The complex which is one of many similar housing projects supported by AFAD includes a mosque and a school. A medical center is currently under construction, local officials said. For Maryam, the move marks a major upgrade from the dilapidated tent camps where she had lived with her father, brother and four children under harsh conditions. Maryam, whose husband was killed in battles between rebels and Syrian regime forces, was displaced by war in 2019 and moved from one camp to another seeking refuge. "In the winter, a house is better, because the rain does not seep in and in the summer it remains cool because stone deflects heat better than tents that turn into furnaces," she said. Local official Hussein al-Issa, who oversees the resettlement of displaced families, said the Bizaah housing complex was built on land managed by an opposition-affiliated local council with "the full cooperation" of Turkey. "These houses are temporary shelters for our displaced brothers," he said. Internally displaced Syrians unload their belongings from trucks upon arrival at a new housing complex in the opposition-held area of Bizaah, east of the city of al-Bab in the northern Aleppo governorate, built with the support of Turkey's emergencies agency AFAD, on Feb. 9, after leaving a nearby camp. AFP-Yonhap By Mark Leonard BERLIN A 21st century war in Europe is no longer unthinkable. After weeks of speculation about whether Russia will invade Ukraine, a clear majority of respondents in a recent pan-European poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think that a war is likely and that Europe should respond. Different countries are driven by different fears, partly depending on their own recent experiences. In Poland, which has been dealing with Belarus's attempts to funnel Middle Eastern migrants across its border, there are heightened fears of new refugee waves. In France and Sweden, cyberattacks are the primary concern, reflecting Russia's recent interference in their national elections. And for Germans, Italians, and Romanians, energy shortages are the biggest fear. But more is at stake than Europeans' differing perceptions of external threats. The great German strategist Carl von Clausewitz famously described war as the continuation of politics by other means, and in the early weeks of the Ukraine crisis, how countries responded to the threat of war spoke volumes about their domestic politics. Consider the United Kingdom. Many suspect that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's sudden interest in Eastern Europe has less to do with his concern for Ukraine than with his desire to divert attention from the revelations that his office held parties at Downing Street while the rest of the country was in lockdown. Beyond that, the crisis also may present an opportunity for him to demonstrate to the United States that post-Brexit Britain still matters. As for U.S. President Joe Biden, his number-one goal is to minimize the resources and time needed to deal with the crisis. His mission, upon assuming office, was to deliver policies that would benefit the middle class, and to shift the focus of U.S. foreign policy to the Indo-Pacific and the challenge posed by China. With Donald Trump threatening to return to power, it is not just America's policy toward Ukraine and Russia that is at stake. So, too, is the future of American democracy. America's position is of great concern to Eastern and Central Europeans. They are increasingly anxious about America's deteriorating politics and questionable resolve in the face of Russian aggression. Their biggest fear is that if Russian tanks are allowed to roll into Ukraine, their next destination could be Tallinn, Riga, or even Warsaw. Meanwhile, countries like Germany, Italy, Austria, and Greece fear that a conflict over Ukraine will close off the possibility of establishing a more normal relationship with Russia. Germany is torn between its Western values, its solidarity with fellow Central and Eastern Europeans, and its postwar pacifist tradition. Hence, Chancellor Olaf Scholz has reassured other Western leaders that Germany will be a solid ally in the case of war, while also signaling that it will avoid taking a leadership role in any common European response. Scholz's position stands in stark contrast to that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who sees the crisis as an opportunity to demonstrate European "strategic autonomy," a policy goal that he has pursued since the start of his presidency. Of course, by assuming a visible leadership role in resolving the Ukraine crisis, Macron also can burnish his image in the run-up to France's presidential election this spring. With its member countries divided by geography and history, the European Union has often struggled to write itself into the story. Generally appearing passive, weak, and immobile, the stereotype is that it is unwilling either to defend or revise the existing security order. Critics regard it as being paralyzed by the prospect of two nightmare scenarios: an all-out war or some Yalta 2.0 scenario, whereby Russia and America broker a new settlement for Europe without bothering to consult Europeans. But underlying the obvious differences are key interests that all Europeans share: namely, the desire to prevent another war in Europe; the need to preserve NATO's credibility; and a sense of responsibility to save Ukraine from being forced back under a Russian yoke. The genius of European policymaking is its ability to reconcile domestic political imperatives with the need for international diplomacy. The ECFR poll shows that, over the last few weeks, there has been a convergence among European polities about the need to respond. At the same time, European governments are finding better ways to manage their own divisions. Though many Central and Eastern Europeans are uncomfortable about diplomatic talks, they have not sought to prevent the Americans or Macron from exploring options for engagement with Russia. And for his part, Macron has been careful to consult other countries and to stick to agreed principles concerning European security and Ukrainian sovereignty. Moreover, after initial hesitations and silence, Germany has signaled that it is willing to put all sanctions on the table. And as one EU foreign minister confided to me recently, even Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban mostly stuck to the common EU line when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month. The fact that war is no longer unthinkable in Europe could force Europeans to make tricky compromises to preserve their collective peace. Though it certainly wasn't his goal when he started amassing troops on the Ukrainian border, Putin may unwittingly have helped EU member states transform themselves from a fragmented assemblage of apprehensive observers into a bloc of determined defenders of their own security. Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, is the author of "The Age of Unpeace: How Connectivity Causes Conflict (Bantam Press, 2021)." This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Fishermen in South Jeolla Province hold a rally at a port in Mokpo urging the government to scrap its plan to install offshore wind power facilities, Feb. 16. Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul The Moon Jae-in administration's drive to increase the use of solar, wind and other renewable energy has been facing resistance from farmers, fishermen and environmental activists after spawning a range of side effects, according to critics, Tuesday. Fishermen are protesting the installation of wind power generators in the sea citing harm to the marine ecosystem and endangering their livelihoods. In addition, solar power generation facilities have been extensively installed in fields and on mountains, leading to opposition from residents of those areas for damaging the natural environment. Experts pointed out that the government is trying to forcefully increase the proportion of renewable energy in line with its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. "Nowadays, offshore wind power operators do not gain control through auctions as in the United States. Instead they can acquire business rights by attaching wind power measuring tools in the sea. Local governments are also offering licenses to comply with the central government's carbon neutrality drive," Park Ho-jeong, a professor at the Department of Food and Resource Economics at Korea University, said. "In this way, various problems, such as waste disposal from offshore wind power, will be a big headache for the country in the future. For example, there will be continuous issues, such as why we are moving waste from the coast of Sinan County to North Gyeongsang Province," he added. In 2021, Korea became the 14th country in the world to legislate the Carbon Neutrality Act, deciding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 2018 levels by 2030 and consequently achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. To that end, the government said it would raise the share of renewable energy in the total energy mix to 30.2 percent by 2030. As of 2020, the share of Korea's energy mix consisted of 35.6 percent coal power generation; 29 percent nuclear power; 26.5 percent gas; 3 percent solar power; and 0.6 percent wind power. Fishermen protest expansion of wind power On Feb. 16, more than 250 fishermen in South Jeolla Province boarded fishing boats off Mokpo and protested at sea. They argued that the government allowed private wind power operators to conduct wind power generation projects throughout the nation without sufficient research on their effects or countermeasures, threatening their livelihoods. In response to the fishermen's protest, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said it will give local fishermen the authority to invest in wind power generation so that the residents there can also benefit from wind power generation projects. However, the fishermen argued that the creation of a wind power generation complex could reduce the number of areas available for fishing and devastate the fishing grounds due to noise generated from wind power generators. "Wind power business operators, powered by the government's Green New Deal policy, are threatening our livelihoods. They have installed more than 200 wind power measurement tools in waters all around the country," the fishermen said in a statement. "We need to immediately abolish the private-led offshore wind power development method." If the wind power generation project continues at the current pace, there are also fears that most related business opportunities could go to foreign companies, Park at Korea University said. "Overseas companies are paying a lot of attention to Korea's wind power generation business. Rather than simply increasing the volume of wind power generation, the government should properly adjust the speed of the project so that domestic companies can foster their capabilities," he said. Data suggests the rapid expansion of the country's wind power generation business has been a boon for foreign companies. Rep. Han Moo-kyung of the People Power Party said in October, 2021, that a total of 87 wind power plants with a capacity of over 30 megawatts each on land and at sea were licensed from 2004 to 2021, and domestic companies took part in only 20 of those projects. "If the government tries to meet its target volume, it will have no choice but to attract more overseas capital and contract foreign companies. Then, it is difficult for domestic firms to advance into the business. The local firms will also have difficulties in carrying out ongoing research and development," the professor added. Rep. Han said that it is mostly foreign companies that are so far the beneficiaries of the taxes invested in the government's expansion of renewable energy. Solar panels lie damaged after a landslide in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, in this Aug. 8, 2020 photo. Yonhap Solar panel installations harm environment In addition to the wind power generation issue, what appears to be indiscriminate installations of solar power generation facilities in rural areas have caused damage to natural ecosystems. In particular, in cases where solar power generators have been installed in mountainous areas, landslides occurred during the summer rainy season causing extensive damage. A civil engineer, who declined to be named, said that solar power generation facilities could significantly damage forests and weaken the ground through the construction process. "Installing solar power generation facilities in mountainous areas requires excavation and the environment is damaged in the process. This increases the risk of landslides when heavy rainfall occurs. Installation should be made in consideration of topography and geology, and attention should also be paid to landslide prevention," he said. Some politicians and academics have said that in order to compensate for these drawbacks of pushing renewable energy too quickly to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, existing power generation methods such as nuclear power generation should not be ignored. "If the government normalizes the operation of nuclear power plants, it will be possible to achieve the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, even if the proportion of the renewable energy generation is maintained at between 17 percent and 20 percent," Lee Jong-ho, a researcher at Seoul National University's Nuclear Research Institute for Future Technology and Policy, said at a recent conference. "If the construction of Shin Hanul power plant reactors No. 3 and No. 4 is resumed and if we continue to operate eight to 10 nuclear power plants, whose operating permits expire by 2030, Korea can achieve the greenhouse gas reduction target and prevent an increase in electricity fees by 14 percent," Lee added. Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition People Power Party, has pledged to resume the now-halted construction of Shin Hanul nuclear power plant reactors No. 3 and No. 4 in order to retain nuclear power's proportion of the energy mix at 30 to 40 percent. By Kim Hyun-bin The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) announced that it held the Korea-Indonesia Business Forum jointly with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), Tuesday, to discuss ways to expand bilateral economic cooperation. Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Moon Sung-wook, who is on an official visit to Indonesia, participated in the forum from Jakarta. On the Korean side, about 20 people including KCCI Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee and Korean company heads took part. From the Indonesian side, Economic Coordination Minister Airlangga Hartarto, KADIN Vice President Shinta Widjaja Kamdani and representatives from about 30 major Indonesian companies attended. "The KCCI established the Korea-Indonesia Economic Cooperation Committee in 1974 to discuss economic cooperation plans between the two countries," Vice Chairman Woo said. "We expect that the ODA business agreement will serve as a good example of cooperation in nurturing human resources necessary for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation between the two countries as well as developing a global standard certification system." At the event, in-depth discussions were held on successful cases of advancing into the two countries' strategies to expand economic cooperation in the future. "It is important to harmonize Korea's technological prowess with Indonesia's resources and young talent. It means a lot," Minister Airlangga said. Meanwhile, SK E&S, which is pursuing the development of LNG terminals in Indonesia, also signed an MOU with Indonesia Gas Corporation at the forum. SK E&S signed a long-term LNG supply contract with Indonesia's Tangguh in 2005 and has been directly importing 500,000 tons to 600,000 tons of LNG annually since 2006. Lotte Chemical also announced plans to build a petrochemical complex capable of producing 1 million tons of ethylene per year in Indonesia's Banten province. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Girls' Generation YoonA is finally putting speculations to rest when it comes to her and her "Big Mouth" co-star Lee Jong Suk. Read below to know what happened. Girls' Generation YoonA, Lee Jong Suk's Sweet Encounter In 2016, Girls' Generation YoonA hosted the MBC Drama Awards together with ZE:A Im Siwan. At the time, YoonA presented two awards to Lee Jong Suk. The first award was the Daesang (grand prize) and the second one was the Top Excellence Award for an Actor in a Miniseries. But when Girls' Generation YoonA handed the award to Lee Jong Suk, they shared this ~ moment ~ before smiling at each other. I'm still sad that they didn't do the couple photoshoot for ELLE I guess global luxury brands don't allow another brand appear along in one shoot? That's why they have to do it individually cuz both are ambassador for those brands?#YoonA #LeeJongSuk #BigMouse https://t.co/LIJyjJk3sZ pic.twitter.com/k15Fy8Icxy ForYoonA #BigMouse #HappyNewYearInDec (@Rainie_mikevid) February 18, 2022 Eagle-eyed fans noticed YoonA slowly removed her hand after shaking hands with the handsome star. When the K-pop idol turned to face the camera, she had a sweet smile all over her face. Even though the sweet moment between Girls' Generation YoonA and Lee Jong Suk happened six years ago, fans couldn't stop talking about it. Up until recently, they had been demanding answers, especially since YoonA and Lee Jong Suk will play husband and wife in the forthcoming K-drama "Big Mouth." Girls' Generation YoonA Reveals What Lee Jong Suk Told Her In her interview with Elle Korea, Girls' Generation YoonA was shown a photo of the sweet moment she shared with Lee Jong Suk. Finally, she explained what happened. The 31-year-old idol-actress said she couldn't stop smiling at the time because Lee Jong Suk told her she's beautiful. She also said the moment seemed a bit awkward because she congratulated him on his awards and that was the actor's response. YoonA also said that she and Lee Jong Suk were both nervous during the award ceremony. And when they saw each other years later, Lee Jong Suk told her that it was just his way of selling hello. Lee Jong Suk, YoonA Talk About Acting Careers During their interview with Elle Korea, YoonA and Lee Jong Suk also talked about their upcoming series. Lee Jong Suk plays the role of Park Chang Ho, a third-rate lawyer, while YoonA plays the role of Go Mi Ho, a nurse. According to Lee Jong Suk, he wants to show a different side of himself when he portrays his new character. He also wants to focus on his inner weaknesses. The actor also said that his support system is what gives him a sense of accomplishment. And he also has the desire to pay them back for their love and support. As for Girls' Generation YoonA, she said that her experiences help her with her acting. The more experiences she has, the more she brings to the table when the cameras start rolling. Girls' Generation debuted in 2007 with their song, "Into the New World." In 2009, they rose to fame following the release of "Gee." Check out Girls' Generation YoonA's fun interview with ELLE Korea here! Camille Heimbrod wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. There's no stopping BTS Jungkook's success with his new single, "Stay Alive." Read to know BTS Jungkook's latest recognitions. BTS Jungkook's 'Stay Alive' Gains More Success BTS Jungkook is the first and only Korean soloist to make it to the Top 3 on India's IM International Top 20 Singles Chart. "Stay Alive" also holds the highest debut and peak for a K-pop soloist on the chart. Jungkook is the First & Only Korean Soloist to enter Top 3 on Indias IMI International Top 20 Singles Chart. Stay Alive holds the Highest Debut & Peak for a Korean/K-Pop Soloist on the said chart at #3. Congratulations pic.twitter.com/0od7ae3Rqz Jungkook SNS (@Jungkook_SNS) February 21, 2022 [INFO] Top Debuts of K-Pop Soloist on India IMI International Top 20 Singles #3 Stay Alive Jungkook #6 Christmas Tree V #6 Lalisa Lisa #12 Money Lisa #13 Girl Of My Dreams SUGA #14 Yours Jin Listening to #StayAlive by #Jungkook (Prod SUGA) @BTS_twt JUNGKOOK SINGAPORE (@Jeonjungkook_SG) February 21, 2022 Other K-pop artists and songs that made it to the list include "Christmas Tree" by BTS V at number 6, "LALISA" by BLACKPINK Lisa at number 12, "Girl of My Dreams" by BTS Suga at number 13, and "Yours" by BTS Jin at number 14. INFO | Jungkook is the First and Only Korean Soloist to enter the Top 5 and Top 3 on Indias IMI International Top 20 Singles Chart with Stay Alive at #3. Congratulations Jungkook #Jungkook #StayAlive (Prod by #Suga) pic.twitter.com/F1WzMoJr1x JUNGKOOK INDIA | JK OST (@Jungkook__INDIA) February 21, 2022 Of course, ARMYs took the time to congratulate BTS Jungkook on his latest recognition. They have also been congratulating the K-pop idol in the past couple of weeks since "Stay Alive" debuted on Feb. 11. "Stay Alive" also set a new record on the UK singles chart after it was named as the first and only Korean OST to debut on the chart. The track also ranked 89 on the UK Official Singles Top 100 Chart from Feb. 18 to 22. On Feb. 17, BTS Jungkook also achieved a new milestone on the iTunes charts with "Stay Alive." He was also named as the second K-pop artist to ever receive this recognition since PSY. BTS Jungkook also conquered more international artists on the Worldwide iTunes Songs Chart after beating Dr. Dre, Ed Sheeran, Elton John, and more on February 15. "Stay Alive," which was produced by BTS Suga, also ranked no. 1 on iTunes Top Songs Charts in 51 countries three hours after it was released. After six hours, it became the top song in 80 different regions. And after 14 hours, "Stay Alive" reached the no. 1 spot on the iTunes Top Song Charts in 93 regions around the world. By the looks of it, "Stay Alive" will continue to receive recognition in the coming days. BTS Jungkook Gets Candid About the Pressures of BTS Success In July 2021, BTS Jungkook told Billboard that he doesn't concern himself with the rankings of his and the group's songs. After all, it just gives him more pressure than he can handle. He also said that the success of "Dynamite" and "Butter" left him feeling weighed down because he didn't expect that the songs would make it big across the globe. Camille Heimbrod wrote this. KpopStarz owns this article. FILE - This April 27, 2010 file photo shows an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico near the Chandeleur Islands, off the Southeastern tip of Louisiana. The Biden administration is once again pausing oil and gas leases as it appeals a judges ruling that higher federal estimates for the cost of greenhouse gas emissions were too burdensome for energy-producing states. The Guardian, February 12, 2022 The Taliban have detained 29 women and their families in Kabul, a senior US diplomat said on Saturday, adding to concerns about rising numbers of people seized and held indefinitely in Afghanistan. Rina Amiri, US special envoy for Afghan Women, Girls and Human Rights, said that women were among 40 people seized on Friday. These unjust detentions must stop, she said in a tweet. It has since been deleted, but other sources confirmed that multiple women had been detained in Kabul. The state department did not respond to requests for comment on why it was removed. Earlier on Friday, the Taliban released a group of journalists including two foreigners, after news of their detention caused an international outcry. They also freed an activist who had disappeared after a womens rights protest, amid mounting diplomatic pressure including from the UN secretary general. I am increasingly concerned about the wellbeing of missing women activists in Afghanistan. Several have disappeared, some not heard from in weeks, Antonio Guterres had said on Twitter on Thursday. I strongly urge the Taliban to ensure their safety so that they can return home. But other female activists, some of who were abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, have not been set free. The Taliban police and the interior ministry denied any role in their arrests. Rights groups denounced the disappearances as a campaign of intimidation, after the Taliban brought in oppressive rules including barring girls from secondary education, and women from most work outside the health and education sectors. Every disappearance highlights one of the huge gaps in Afghanistan today, the lack of rule of law, said Heather Barr, associate womens rights director at Human Rights Watch. This is not how you act when you are trying to be a government, and it highlights the callousness with which they seem to think they can just abduct women and sloppily deny it. There are also concerns about Alia Azizi, a senior prison official who has been missing for more than four months after reporting for work. Several women who worked for the security forces under the previous government have been attacked and killed since the Taliban came to power. While we welcome the release of Parwana, these families and others, including Alia, are still detained, Amiri said in her tweet. None of those held have been charged with any crime, or able to contact lawyers or speak to their families. The British government has also raised concerns about citizens who have been held for several months. The family of cameraman-turned-businessman Peter Jouvenal have gone public with their concerns about hishealth since he was seized in December.He is married to an Afghan citizen and was in Kabul for work and to settle family affairs. Friends are concerned about his health and safety; he requires medication for high blood pressure and Covid is rampant in the Afghan prison system. MISSOULA, Mont. - A new terminal at the Missoula Airport is targeted to open just a head of what's expected to be a busy summer travel season. As travel bounces back, the mobile-app Hopper is predicting airfares will continue going up through June. Airport Director Brian Ellestad said that's also the case for flights out of Missoula. As construction begins to finish up, airlines are also finalizing their summer flights. Ellestad advised travelers to book flights as soon as possible for the best price. He reported most airline schedules are already set, except for Alaska and Delta who are still fine tuning. Ellestad predicted 2022 will be a record-breaking year with more than 455,000 passengers departing from Missoula. However, despite more travelers and a new terminal, no more new flight announcements are on the horizon at this point. The new terminal will support the new flights sparked during the pandemic. If you're thinking about traveling this summer, you're encouraged to book early. "Everything is based on demand," Ellestad said. "As flights book fuller, the airlines yield management and the prices do go up. I always say book early, and if you know your summer plans now, book early. Hopper predicts both domestic and international airfares will jump the most in March as demand recovers from the omicron variant, with an estimated total increase of about 35% by the end of May. On top of the pandemic, jet fuel prices and pilot shortages are also contributing the these higher prices, Ellestad and Hopper report. Construction at the Missoula Airport continues to move along. The new terminal is targeted to open early to mid-may. LOVELL, Wyo. - Brother and sister Phoenix (15) and Peiton (17) Hackenberg died in a fatal car accident on the morning of Feb. 16 on Highway 14 between Powell and Lovell. According to reports, the road was slick with ice and snow, causing a loss of control that slid them into the oncoming lane, colliding with another vehicle. The siblings were pronounced dead on scene. This tragedy follows one of many for the Hackenberg family. They lost their father four years prior, leaving their mother to raise them alone as she worked as a teacher at Lovell Middle school. In light of this tragedy, the community has gathered together to help the Hackenberg family out. Tiffany Taylor Anderson has organized an online auction through Facebook, where people can donate goods for others to bid on. All sales will be donated to the Hackenberg family to help with costs. The auction closes on March 13, after which instructions will be given for the transactions to take place to ensure the family receives all donations. A GoFundMe was set up by the Ordinance Marine Richard Perreault to help pay for travel costs for the siblings' brother, LCpl Hackenberg. So far, the fundraiser has more than doubled its goal of $2,000. In the face of such unimaginable tragedy, it's heartening to see so much support for the family in its wake. If you'd like to support either of these fundraisers, there's still time to do so. Have a news tip or would like to report a typo? Email Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@kvoa.com. Posted by Liam on at 08:27 AM CST Greetings,fans! This week on the site were diving into the epic battle between the First Order and the Resistance on the fearsome Starkiller Base during the climax of. Stay tuned throughout the week for more articles, insights, videos, and merchandising information for collectors.sequel trilogy had been endlessly rumored about for literally decades. Lucas hinted as early as the 70s that he was interested in telling a trilogy of trilogies with a nine picture saga, but following the release ofhe was insistent that the Anakin Skywalker story would only be six films and that he was concluded with the saga. Lucas worked on getting some of thetelevision projects off the ground while he prepared other films includingand his passion projectAlthough Lucas had initially thought about directing a seventh film himself, he ultimately decided that the franchise and its future belonged to the next generation who he could pass the torch to. The announcement that Walt Disney Studios would be purchasing Lucasfilm would have been shocking in its own right, but fans were flabbergasted when news broke that the long discussed sequel trilogy was finally coming.Screenwriter Michael Arndt, acclaimed for his work onand, was brought in to pen the first draft of the script, but the search for a director became a popular topic of Internet conversation immediately following the projects announcement. J.J. Abrams was actually brought in early on, but initially passed on the opportunity due to the overwhelming nature of the project.Kathleen Kennedy andproducers met with any other potential filmmakers. Brad Bird, who had shown his skills outside of animation with, was approached, but turned it down due to his commitments to his passion project. The eccentric Matthew Vaughn ofandfame had his own story ideas, but ultimately passed for creative differences. Other top rate filmmakers including David Fincher, Guillermo del Toro, Jon Faverau, Ben Affleck, and Colin Trevorrow were considered.Ultimately, Abrams was suggested again as an option upon a suggestion by Steven Spielberg himself to Kennedy. Abrams had shown his expertise in telling long form storytelling with, and, and as a cinematic filmmaker hed helmed successful reinventions of popular franchises. He righted the course on Tom Cruises action series withand spawned a new generation of Trekkies with the reboot of thefranchise. Abramss passion projectwas set in the 1970s and contained many references toAbrams worked with legendary, andscreenwriter Lawrence Kasdan on a new version of the script, and one of their first tasks was re-imagining thegalaxy with a new major conflict. In the place of the Empire lies the fascist extremist group the First Order, and the New Republics Resistance became underdogs when their new opponent unveiled a monstrous new battle station: Starkiller Base.What do you think,fans? What are some of your favorite Starkiller Base toys? Would you side with the Resistance or the First Order? Let us know in the forums , and as always, may the Force be with you!Check out Rebelscum.com merch!Be sure to follow us on all of our social media platforms: The three men convicted in Ahmaud Arbery's murder, left to right: Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William "Roddie" Bryan. Starkville, MS (39762) Today Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly cloudy with a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. The Northern New England Red Cross is installing smoke detectors this weekend. Do you have a fire evacuation plan for your home? How about when you are traveling? SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. Fire damaged a home in Sunrise Beach Sunday night, and authorities say it might have been set intentionally. Firefighters were called to the home at 126 Crazy Horse Road, at 9:57 p.m. According to the Gravois Mills Fire Protection District, when firefighters arrived, the home was already 50% engulfed in flames. Although it took Gravois Mills and Sunrise Beach fire departments only 10 minutes to put out the fire, there was still extensive interior damage. There were no injuries, and at the time of the fire there were no people or pets in the building. But firefighters reportedly found evidence that the fire may have been set deliberately. Due to its possibly incendiary nature, the investigation has been turned over to the Office Of The State Fire Marshal and the investigation is still searching for the owner of the house. There are reasons that led us to believe that the fire was incendiary, said a spokesman for Gravois Mills FPD, But its an ongoing investigation so I cant really comment at this point. The Office Of The State Fire Marshal has an Arson hotline (1-800-39-ARSON or 1-800-392-7766) and a $5,000 reward fund is in place for information leading to an arrest. Lake Genevas Gage Marine has been ordered to pay a $25,000 monetary penalty steaming from a recorded petroleum storage tank leak in 2019 located in a tank at the Riviera. The tank has since been replaced, but the state alleged that Gage Marine did not act quick enough. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced the civil judgment against Gage Marine on Feb. 9. The judgement requires the marine to pay a $25,000 penalty for the alleged violations of the States underground petroleum storage tank laws. If an underground tank might be leaking, actions must be taken to stop gasoline from being discharged into the environment, Attorney General Kaul said in a news release announcing the civil judgement. Underground storage tank owners and operators must pay attention to, and act upon, the information they are receiving from tank monitors and inspections. The release also stressed the danger of the situation saying, Gasoline discharged into the environment can contaminate soil, groundwater, and nearby surface waters. Exposure to spilled gasoline can significantly harm the health of humans and wildlife. According to the complaint cited in the release, starting in January 2019, Gage Marines premium unleaded underground storage tank (unleaded UST) regularly contained excess amounts of water, which indicated that the unleaded UST might be leaking gasoline. However, the release from the attorney generals office states, It was not until June 2019 that Gage Marine tried to determine the cause of the water in the unleaded UST. Unfortunately, the actions taken by Gage Marine in June 2019 did not stop the unleaded UST from accumulating water. Twice during June 2019, the unleaded UST failed a leak detection test. Product inventory verification records between June 19 and 21, 2019 showed that approximately 235 gallons of gasoline were missing from the unleaded UST. Dave Freese, vice president of operations for Gage Marine, said they were not on site at the Riviera until about April and when they first realized there was a problem they thought the issue was coming from the top of the tank. They made repairs, but then realized that was not the issue. By the end of June all the fuel was pumped out of the petroleum tank, Freese said. That summer of 2019, the public was not able to get fuel from the Gage Marine tanks at the Riviera because they were empty. The release from the attorney general also states that, on July 18, 2019, Gage Marine had a camera inspection performed on the inside of the unleaded UST that confirmed that the unleaded UST had a hole in it and had released gasoline into the environment. However, Gage Marine did not remove the unleaded UST or take actions to clean up the gasoline contamination until December 2, 2019 when it removed the unleaded UST from the site. Freese explained that from the end of June to December the tanks were empty. They waited until December, after the busy boating tourism season, to remove the tanks. We replaced everything to the highest level we could possibly do, Freese said. Everything is brand new. He also said the new system includes remote monitoring of the tanks. In the case against Gage Marine, Assistant Attorney General Bradley J. Motl represented the State and worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to obtain this judgment. The order for judgment was signed by Walworth County Circuit Court Judge David M. Reddy on Feb. 7. Chinas gigantic consumer market to steam ahead at a quickened pace in 2022 People's Daily Online) 16:20, February 22, 2022 Chinas consumer market is expected to see faster growth in 2022, thanks to the countrys strong consumption potential and more supportive measures in the pipeline. A duty-free store in Riyue Plaza in Haikou city, capital of south Chinas Hainan province, is crowded with customers, Jan. 1, 2022. (Peoples Daily Online/Wang Chenglong) Last year, final consumption expenditure contributed to 65.4 percent of the countrys economic growth, indicating that consumption was the main driving force pushing the economy forward. With a country of more than 1.4 billion people, China is the worlds most promising consumer market, with its per capita GDP already exceeding $12,000. Such a large market means that China is confident in its keeping consumption stable, said Wang Yun, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, a think tank under the National Development and Reform Commission. Chinas middle-income population is constantly expanding, while Chinese residents incomes are rising at a steady pace. In 2021, residents per capita disposable income reached 35,000 yuan (about $5,524.6), up 9.1 percent from the previous year, laying the foundation for greater consumption. Meanwhile, the fundamentals of the Chinese economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential and long-term sustainability, remain unchanged. China is, therefore, well equipped to maintain steady, healthy, and sustainable economic development, which will better support future consumption. Moreover, Chinas regularized COVID-19 containment policies, which are more targeted and science-based, have helped stabilize consumer expectations. For instance, the countrys domestic hospitality industry and housekeeping industry are expected to see stable growth. As China has coordinated its COVID-19 response with economic and social development, our business will become booming, said Wang Lewen, a homestay hotel owner in Yanqing district, Beijing. Wang temporarily closed his hotel in early 2020 due to the local epidemic situation. After constantly adjusting his business model and improving epidemic prevention and control measures, Wang is now doing a brisk homestay business. Policies to boost consumption are taking effect, underpinning a rebound in consumption across the country. Guanxian county in east Chinas Shandong Province held its first e-commerce Lunar New Years shopping festival, expanding sales channels for local farm produce and specialties while unleashing the consumption potential of urban and rural areas. During the 14-day shopping festival, the total combined sales for participating enterprises exceeded 10 million yuan. Last year, Guanxian established a task force to cultivate rural e-commerce talents and help us explore more e-commerce opportunities through favorable policies and e-commerce skills training. As a result, we saw a huge boost in sales, said Liu Dongtian, general manager of Guanxian Dongyuan Agricultural Produce Co., Ltd. This year, Chinas Ministry of Commerce will firmly implement its strategy of expanding domestic demand, coordinating work on epidemic prevention and control and boosting consumption, in addition to working to promote continued recovery and the upgrading of consumption, according to Xu Xingfeng, an official with the ministrys Department of Market Operation and Consumption Promotion. Chinas consumer market will embrace broader prospects as long as targeted pro-consumption policies are in good shape, said Chen Lifen, a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council. China will continue to upgrade its traditional consumption sectors. Wang Yun suggested that the country should deepen reforms regarding the circulation of automobiles, encourage household appliance and furniture consumption, and push for service consumption, such as catering, to further boost economic development. The country will also accelerate new types of consumption. Chen encouraged the development of new business forms and models and new scenarios, as well as new types of consumption, such as the consumption of smart products and tailored products. China will also step up upgrading urban consumption. The sheer size of urban consumption in the country means that it takes up a large proportion of the overall consumption sector. According to Wang Yun, China needs to speed up the fostering and building of key international consumption cities, accelerate the high-quality development of commercial pedestrian streets, and pilot the building of smart shopping districts and smart stores to provide urban residents with more quality service options. Moreover, China will address weak links in rural spending, as rural areas boast enormous consumption potential and great prospects. Chen meanwhile suggested that the country needs to advance the construction of a modern logistics system and facilitate the flow of industrial goods into rural areas and the flow of agricultural products to cities. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Nina Coolidge, Pennsylvania FFA state secretary, shares her thoughts on the importance of stepping out of one's comfort zone in order to grow. Weather Alert ...RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY FOR THE NORTHEAST HIGHLANDS, NORTHEAST AND EAST CENTRAL PLAINS, SANDIA, MANZANO AND GALLINAS MOUNTAINS, WEST CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, AND MIDDLE RIO GRANDE VALLEY DUE TO STRONG WINDS, LOW HUMIDITY, AND AN UNSTABLE ATMOSPHERE... .Strong west to northwest winds will develop Wednesday with very low humidity and unstable conditions across much of central, eastern, and southern NM. Temperatures will be below normal over most of northern and western NM however elevated critical fire weather conditions are still possible. Winds will taper off by sunset when critical conditions slowly improve. Humidity recovery Wednesday night will however be poor in most areas. ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM TO 9 PM MDT WEDNESDAY... * AREA AND TIMING...Northeast Highlands, Northeast and East Central Plains, Sandia, Manzano, and Gallinas Mountains, West Central Highlands, and Middle Rio Grande Valley from 10 am to 9 pm MDT Wednesday. * 20 FOOT WINDS...West to northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph Wednesday. * RELATIVE HUMIDITY...7 to 13 percent Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Outdoor burning should not be done. Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Please advise the appropriate officials or fire crews in the field of this Red Flag Warning. && ...AIR QUALITY ALERT... The following message is transmitted at the request of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Environment. * WHAT...Southwest transport winds will carry smoke toward the northeast during the remainder of the daytime hours today before winds shift back from the west Wednesday. Lighter wind conditions and nighttime inversions tonight will focus the greatest overnight impacts close to and down-drainage of the large fires. * WHERE...Smoke will continue to significantly impact areas across much of southern Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora, southern Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Miguel, Santa Fe, and Taos counties during the next 24 hours. This includes but is not limited to the following communities: Espanola, Kewa Pueblo, La Cueva, Las Vegas, Los Alamos, Mora, Ocate, Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Pueblo of Cochiti, Pueblo of San Felipe, Pueblo of Santa Clara, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Santa Fe, Sapello, Taos, Watrous and White Rock. * WHEN...Remainder of this afternoon through noon MDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Those with conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer, and heart disease will be especially vulnerable to impacts from poor air quality, as will adults over age 65, young children, and pregnant women if smoke concentrations become unhealthy. * HEALTH INFORMATION...Remember, your eyes are your best tools to determine if it is safe to be outside. Use the 5-3-1 Method available at https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/FireAndSmoke.html. If visibility is: Under 5 miles, the air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. Outdoor activity should be minimized. Around 3 miles, young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities. Around 1 mile, the air quality is unhealthy for everyone. People should remain indoors and avoid all outdoor activities including running errands. Unless an evacuation has been issued, stay inside your home, indoor workplace, or in a safe shelter. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic affecting New Mexico and with the wildfire season underway, New Mexicans will need to take extra precautions. Smoke from wildfires may cause people to have more severe reactions if they are infected COVID-19. The best way to protect against the potentially harmful effects of wildfire smoke and to reduce the spread of COVID-19 is to stay home and create a clean indoor air space. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/environment/air/IndoorQuality.html and https://cv.nmhealth.org New Mexicans will also need to take steps to keep their homes cool to avoid heat-related illnesses. NMDOH offers tips here: https://nmtracking.org/health/heatstress/Heat.html. For smoke forecast outlooks from the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program please visit: https://outlooks.wildlandfiresmoke.net. Champawat (Uttarakhand) [India], February 22 (ANI): Eleven people were killed and two injured after a vehicle carrying wedding guests fell into the gorge near Sukhidang Reetha Sahib Road in Budam village of Uttarakhand's Champawat on Tuesday morning. "11 dead and 2 injured when a vehicle fell into a gorge near Sukhidang Reetha Sahib Road. The victims were returning from a wedding party held in Panchmukhi Dharamshala, Tanakpur," informed Kumaon Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Nilesh Anand Bharane. Also Read | Twitter May Soon Let You Untag Yourself From Threads: Report. The seriously injured driver and another person have been brought to the district hospital for treatment, added the DIG. The deceased persons belonged to the Danda and Kathoti villages of Kakanai in Uttarakhand. (ANI) Also Read | NEET 2022: Tufail Ahmad, Tribal Boy From Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar Cracks National Eligibility Entrance Test. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 22: The special flight of Tata-owned Air India (AI) will take back Indian nationals, including students, who had registered for safe return from Ukraine (Boryspil) airport tonight. "The first special flight of Air India (AI-1946) out of the three to be operated from Ukraine to India will fly tonight with Indian nationals tonight," an airline official told ANI on the condition of anonymity. An Air India ferry flight on Monday left for Ukraine to take back Indians who wished to return home. Air India had already announced that a total of three flights from Ukraine to India would operate for Indian nationals, including students, during the state of war in Ukraine. "Air India is operating three flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26," Air India said.The Boeing Dreamliner AI-1947 flight from Delhi has taken off as part of the special operation for Ukraine. It has a capacity of over 200 seats. "A Dreamliner Boeing B-787 took off from Delhi airport for Ukraine (Boryspil) in the morning," an airport official told ANI. Concerned over the escalating tension along the border of Ukraine with Russia, India on Tuesday strongly emphasized in the special meeting of the Security Council of the United Nations the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. Ukraine Urges International Talks Over Russias Decision. This statement was made at the UNSC in the backdrop of Russia's recognizing the independence of breakaway regions Donetsk and Luhansk of Ukraine. The United States and allies requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Russia's recognition of separatist territories in Ukraine as Independent. Russia-Ukraine Conflict: President Vladimir Putins Move Clearly an Attempt To Create Pretext for Invasion, Says US Representative at UNSC Meet. Speaking on the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine, India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti said that the escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with Russia has the potential to undermine peace and security of the region. Tirumurti called for restraint on all sides. "The immediate priority is a de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long-term peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said. The Indian representative emphasized that this issue can only be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. (ANI) Panaji, Feb 22 (PTI) Goa Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Kiran Kandolkar has claimed that their political consultant I-PAC abandoned the party candidates after the state Assembly polls held last week. Also Read | OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G First Online Sale Today in India at 12 Noon, Check Offers Here. Talking to reporters here on Monday, Kandolkar also said he was not quitting as TMC's Goa unit chief, but was upset with I-PAC head Prashant Kishor and his team. Also Read | YouTube Rolls Out TikTok-Style Live Rings To Show When Someone Is Streaming. There have been speculations since some time about a rift between the TMC and I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee), which had helped the Mamata Banerjee-led party during the West Bengal Assembly polls. The TMC contested the Goa Assembly elections in alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP). Polling was held on February 14 and the counting of votes will be done on March 10. Kandolkar had contested the election from Aldona Assembly seat, while his wife Kavita contested from Thivim on TMC's ticket. He claimed that most of the TMC candidates in Goa felt they were abandoned by the I-PAC after the polls. "All candidates fielded by the TMC have some or the other issues with the I-PAC. When the candidates told me about their issues with Prashant Kishor and his I-PAC team, I discussed the matter with my party workers, who advised me to quit as the TMC Goa president," he said. I am not quitting as TMC Goa head, but I am upset with Prashant Kishor and the I-PAC team," he said. A meeting of all party candidates has been called on Tuesday to discuss the polling in their respective Assembly constituencies, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt co-chaired the Apex Committee meeting for DefExpo-2022 at Gandhinagar on Tuesday. DefExpo-2022 is Asia's largest exhibition on land, naval and homeland security systems which will showcase India's defence manufacturing capabilities and includes participation from world's top defence manufacturing companies, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Woman Kills Husband Over Alleged Illicit Affair With Tenant of Family in Rithala. This 12th edition is being held in the capital of Gujarat, Gandhinagar from March 10-14 this year and the ministry said that it is the "biggest ever so far." Reviewing the planning and arrangements for the event, Bhatt expressed that DefExpo would give a great opportunity to investments being sought for defence based industries, especially in Gujarat. He brought out that there would be wider participation as the government is very keen in indigenization of defence manufacturing sector. India is heading towards becoming self-reliant in terms of Defence production and is now on the path to being recognized as a net defence exporter. The Minister appreciated the arrangements made by Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Government of Gujarat for the smooth conduct of DefExpo-2022. Also Read | Delhi: Doctors Save 2-Year-Old Boy With Cardiac Arrest and Multiple Organ Failure, Post-COVID-19. This mega event will provide an opportunity to major Foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to collaborate with the Indian Defence industry and help promote 'Make in India' initiative envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Bhatt said that the 12th Edition of DefExpo-2022, the premier Defence Exhibition to be conducted under the aegis of Ministry of Defence, will be magnificent in many aspects as it is in line with the celebrations of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' where we are commemorating 75 years of progressive India. The theme for the event 'Path to Pride' will showcase the glorious history of India's people, culture and achievements. The Gujarat Chief Minister thanked the Prime Minister for giving the opportunity to host this mega event in Gujarat and applauded the Prime Minister for his vision of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. He termed it as a matter of pride to host DefExpo-2022 in Gujarat and assured that his Govt would extend its full support to Ministry of Defence for the successful conduct of the event and make it a grand success. During the meeting, Chief Secy of Gujarat, Pankaj Kumar briefed on various initiatives of Gujarat Govt. Senior officials of Ministry of Defence and Gujarat Govt, Top officials from all Armed Forces viz Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Coast Guard & Paramilitary officials from CISF, CRFP, NDRF, NSG, BSF & Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - the nodal agency of event also attended the meeting. Total 973 exhibitors including 121 foreign Exhibitors from 63 countries have already registered and numbers are likely to increase in the coming days with relaxation in COVID-19 restrictions. DefExpo-2022 will be held in hybrid format, with stalls in both physical and virtual realms to ensure greater engagement as the exhibitors will be able to cater to both physical and virtual attendees. Exhibition is being planned in a three venue format - exhibition at the Helipad Exhibition Center (HEC); Events and Seminars at the Mahatma Mandir Convention & Exhibition Center (MMCEC) and live demonstration for public at Sabarmati Riverfront. Safety protocols as instituted by Health Ministry will be ensured and followed. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 22 (ANI): The Mechanical Engineering Department of the Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up a snow control room in Srinagar to monitor the level of snowfall and respond to any emergency calls in case of a snowstorm. The snow control room is equipped with the latest machinery along with expert staff to respond to heavy snowfall to solve the problem in a short time and depute machinery all over the city after receiving weather forecast warnings from the administration. Also Read | Power Outages in Chandigarh as Electricity Employees Go On Strike Against the Privatisation of the Department. Speaking to ANI, Abdul Rashid Dar, Chief Engineer Mechanical Division Kashmir said, "This control room automatically starts working whenever snowfall starts here. We reinforce the deployment of mankind forces and machines to the required areas after receiving the emergency calls. We try to resolve every issue at the earliest." "For now, we have around 11-12 machines to clear snowfall that are installed especially near hospitals, roads to avoid traffic movement, PSUs, etc," Dar added. Also Read | LIC IPO: Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana Policyholders Are Not Eligible For Quota Benefits, Says Life Insurance Corporation. Mudasir Ahmad, Assistant Executive Engineer MED informed that the snow control room starts functioning from November 15 to March 15 every year. "This snow control room starts working from November 15 to March 15. These machines require a lot of maintenance and we try to address the problems as soon as possible," Ahmad told ANI. Pankaj Kaul, incharge of the snow control room, stated that they try to resolve every problem within 1-2 hours and the department has many standby machines for the clearance of snow. "Whenever we receive any complaint, we try to resolve the problems within 1-2 hours and deploy the machines to clear the snow. We have many standby machines at present," he added. This control room is the backbone of the Srinagar city during the snowfall to make roads clear and make movement easier for the public. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 22 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday filed about 1000-page charge sheet against three accused in an acid attack case in Srinagar. Charge sheets have been filed against two adults-Sajid Altaf Sheikh and Mohamad Saleem Kumar both residents of Srinagar's Dal Gate; a juvenile, in the acid attack on a 24-year-old woman in the Nowhattaa area of Srinagar on February 1. Also Read | Weather Forecast: IMD Predicts Rainfall Over Northwest and Northeast India During Next 5 Days. "It has been also prayed before the Hon'ble JJB court that this juvenile may be tried as an adult as per the provisions of section 15 of the Juvenile Justice Act as he falls in range of more than 16 years and less than 18 years and he has committed a heinous crime", stated the Police. The two accused persons were produced in the CJM Court, while the charge sheet against the juvenile has been produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Also Read | Tecno Spark 8C Affordable Smartphone With Unisoc T606 SoC Launched in India. "The sections invoked in the charge sheet call for a punishment ranging from ten years to Life imprisonment. We are hopeful of a maximum punishment as per the extreme heinous nature of this crime", said the Police. Srinagar police assured all the citizens that they will remain associated with this case by coordinating with the prosecution till the speedy and exemplary judgement in this case comes. SSP Srinagar and all ranks of Distt police assure the general public that crime against women will be dealt strictly. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Howrah (West Bengal) [India], February 22 (ANI): Days after protests erupted over the death of a student from Aliah University, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that will be presided by the Director-General of Police to look into the matter. The student was found dead outside his home in Howrah's Amta area on Friday night Also Read | YouTube Rolls Out TikTok-Style Live Rings To Show When Someone Is Streaming. Anis Khan was a student of Aliah University His parents have alleged that he was thrown off the roof of the building by four police officers, who had come to search for their son. The police, however, have denied the allegations. Also Read | Pegasus Row: Supreme Court to Hear Batch of Pleas on Pegasus Spying Allegations on February 23. Addressing a public gathering in Howrah, Banerjee said, "I have asked to form an SIT that will be presided by DG. I have asked for the report within 15 days. A thorough enquiry will be done and culprits will be punished." The Chief Minister requested people to not fall prey to misinformation on the matter. West Bengal Police formed a Special investigation team to investigate the Anis Khan murder case. ADG CID Gyanwant Singh and DIG CID Special Meeraj Khalid will head the SIT, says IPS Manoj Malviya, DGP of WB Police in a press conference on Monday in Kolkata. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) A special court here has observed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not taken an "active approach" to begin the trials in money laundering cases that are pending since a long time. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Address Webinar On Positive Impact Of Union Budget 2022 On Water & Sanitation Under 'Har Ghar Jal' Tomorrow. Special judge M G Deshpande had made the observation on February 16 while granting bail to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor, his wife Bindu, businessman Gautam Thapar and seven others in a case pertaining to the sale of a property at a prime location in Delhi. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Bajrang Dal Activist Murder in Shivamogga, Curfew Extended Till Friday, Arrests Rise to 6. The detailed order was made available on Tuesday. "It is a fact that ever since this special court for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases has been established not a single such case has been disposed of by judgment. The ED has not shown any active approach to begin the trials of the cases, which have been pending since long," the court noted, in its order. Further, the judge said a PMLA case trial is in fact a trial of two cases. It is a very big and lengthy trial as the trial case pertaining to a scheduled offence has to be conducted simultaneously with the trial of the PMLA case, the court added. The case against Kapoor pertains to allegations in the sale of a property situated on Amrita Shergill Marg in Delhi to a company owned by Kapoor's wife Bindu, for which a separate FIR had been registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Mumbai last year. Later, the ED had filed a money laundering case against Kapoor, Bindu, Gautam Thapar and seven others based on the CBI's FIR. The judge, in his order, stated, " I strongly feel that, at the relevant time ED has not exercised their power and arrested the accused." "In my opinion, the accused is undertrial prisoner in a number of cases and there is no likelihood of his release in near future. Therefore, the question of his absconding does not arise," the judge noted. The court also ruled that no incident of any tempering, pressurising the prosecution witness or attempt to abscond has been reported on the part of accused before the court. The judge has made similar observations in bail order of the other accused. The ED is probing the alleged transaction between Thapar's Avantha Realty, Kapoor and his wife, and has filed a money laundering case after taking cognisance of the CBI's FIR. The FIR claims that Kapoor, the then MD and CEO of Yes Bank Limited, had obtained illegal gratification in the form of a property belonging to Avantha Realty Ltd (ARL) at a prime location in Delhi at much less than the market rate after Thapar's firm was given a loan as well as concessions in existing credit facilities by the lender. The ED, in its chargesheet, has alleged that Kapoor connived with ARL to wrongfully gain or get transferred a property situated at a prime location in New Delhi to a firm named Bliss Abode, which is owned by his wife Bindu. In order to get the property, Kapoor created a monthly lease-rent agreement between the two group companies of Avantha and got a loan of Rs 400 crore sanctioned from Yes Bank by getting mortgaged the said property to the bank, it alleged. The ED probe further revealed that by projecting the accounts of the said group of companies as stressed accounts or NPA accounts, the said property was put up for sale by the bank. When the account of ARL group company was on the verge of turning into NPA, Bliss Abode (beneficially owned by Kapoor) offered Rs 378 crore for acquiring the said property. The said property had been valued at Rs 550 crore, the ED said. The above stated property was further placed as a collateral security to IBHFL by companies owned by Bindu in order to get a loan of Rs 685 crore. Thus, the property which was fraudulently purchased for Rs 378 crore was further put on as a collateral security to get a loan of Rs 685 crore, the probe agency said. Kapoor and his family have benefited to the tune of Rs 307 crore from the proceeds of the crime generated from the fraud/criminal conspiracy, it added. Thapar is currently in judicial custody in Delhi's Tihar jail after being arrested in August last year in a related case, while Kapoor is lodged in Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai after his arrest in the Yes Bank scam in March 2020. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, February 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday will address election rallies in Manipur's Imphal and Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich. Last week Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had released its election manifesto for the 2022 Manipur assembly polls and promised host of 'freebies' while focusing on the protection of territorial integrity and preserving the rights of the indigenous people of Manipur and its rich culture. Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022: PM Narendra Modi Equating Cycle' with Terrorism' is Attack on Poor, Says Arvind Kejriwal in UP. Among the BJP's top promises are two free LPG cylinders to be provided annually to all the PM Ujjwala beneficiaries of the state. Free scooty would be provided to all meritorious college-going girls of the state. Girls from EWS and backward sections will be provided with an incentive of 25,000 under the Rani Gaidinliu Nupi Maheiroi Singi Scheme. Manipur will go to the polls in two phases on February 28 and March 5. Amid the ongoing Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh, BJP has intensified its campaigning for the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh phases of the election. Home Minister Amit Shah will also hold roadshows today in the Raniganj, in Koraon, and in the western, northern, and southern parts of Prayagraj. Along with this, Home Minister may also campaign in Prayagraj (Gangapar). National President JP Nadda will be campaigning in Prayagraj's western, North and South parts of the metropolis today. The seven-phased Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh commenced on February 10. As voting for 172 of 403 seats of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly has been completed in the first three phases, another 60 constituencies will go to the polls in nine districts in the fourth phase. Polling for subsequent phases will take place on February 23, 27, and March 3 and 7. The counting of votes will take place on March 10. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, Feb 22 (PTI) In view of the situation in Ukraine, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Tuesday that the Rajasthan government, in coordination with the Centre and the Ukrainian Embassy, will help students of the state return. Gehlot tweeted, "Concerned about Rajasthani students residing in Ukraine in view of the current situation prevailing there." Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Address Webinar On Positive Impact Of Union Budget 2022 On Water & Sanitation Under 'Har Ghar Jal' Tomorrow. He said that students, who want to return, the state government in coordination with the embassy and the government of India will do everything possible to bring them back. A large number of family members of medical students living in Ukraine had demanded their safe return in view of the conditions there. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Bajrang Dal Activist Murder in Shivamogga, Curfew Extended Till Friday, Arrests Rise to 6. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, Feb 22 (PTI) Voting for 59 assembly constituencies spread in nine districts of Uttar Pradesh will take place on Wednesday in the fourth phase of the polls. The high-decibel campaigning for this phase ended on Monday as sparring among political rivals intensified during the last-minute canvassing. Also Read | Instagram Silently Limits 'Daily Time Limit' Option: Report. The fourth phase of polling on February 23 will decide the fate of 624 candidates in 59 Assembly segments in the districts of Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur, Hardoi, Unnao, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Banda and Fatehpur. Of the 59 seats, the BJP had won 51 in the 2017 Assembly elections, four had gone to the Samajwadi Party, and three to the Bahujan Samaj Party. The BJP's ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) had bagged one seat. Also Read | Twitter May Soon Let You Untag Yourself From Threads: Report. Lakhimpur, which had hogged national news headlines after eight people, including four farmers, were killed in violence on October 3 will go to the polls in the fourth phase. Among the prominent candidates in this phase is Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brijesh Pathak who is facing Samajwadi party candidate and two-time corporator Surendra Singh Gandhi in the Lucknow Cantonment seat. Pathak had won the Lucknow Central seat in 2017. Another minister Ashutosh Tandon is in the fray from the Lucknow East seat and is being challenged by SP's national spokesperson Anurag Bhadauria. The Sarojini Nagar Assembly segment will witness a battle between former ED officer Rajeshwar Singh fielded by the BJP and Abhishek Mishra who had been a minister in the Samajwadi Party government. Deputy Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Nitin Agarwal, who had crossed over to the BJP from the Samajwadi Party, will face the electoral test in this phase. Rae Bareli considered a Congress bastion will also go to the polls in this phase, with BJP's Aditi Singh in the fray from Rae Bareli. She was earlier with the Congress. The polling will begin at 7 am on Wednesday and will continue till 6 pm. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) Vistara plans to significantly ramp up its staff strength to a total of 5,000 by the end of this year as the full service carrier focuses on increasing capacity utilisation, expanding fleet and further improving overall services. Currently, the airline has around 4,000 people. Also Read | Sunflower Oil Makers Concerned Over Possible Price Hike Due to Russia-Ukraine Crisis. After being significantly hit by the coronavirus pandemic, including the third wave that negatively impacted air traffic which was on the recovery path late last year, the airline industry is again seeing an improvement in traffic numbers. Against this backdrop, Vistara CEO Vinod Kannan, in a not-so-common move, last week, admitted that the airline did not live up to customers' expectations and assured that steps are being taken to address the "gaps on a war footing". Also Read | Realme V25 With Triple Rear Cameras Teased Online, Launch Soon. "We wanted to make sure that we explain our side of the story... In February what we have seen is that demand has come back and people have started to travel and I think with cases going down, this, touch wood, will be the trend for the future," Kannan told PTI in an interview on Tuesday. While emphasising that the airline is working on a multi-pronged strategy, he said that currently, it operates more flights compared to that in the pre-COVID period. "We have about 220 to 250 departures a day. Since we have hit that momentum, (we have to look at) how do we continue to grow and how to make sure that the commitments we have made remain as we scale up. It also involves engaging our staff, partners...," he noted. The airline, which currently has 50 planes, aims to have 70 planes by the end of 2023 after taking into account some aircraft that will be returned to lessors. Vistara, a joint venture between Tatas and Singapore Airlines, started hiring for operational roles sometime in October last year before the third coronavirus wave. "Our current staff strength is about 4,000... so, we expect to go up to 5,000 as we ramp up through the year. As we take new aircraft, deliveries and as we increase capacity utilisation, I think we will look at that number towards the end of this year. "This will include everyone on Vistara's payroll but that will not include outsourced third party partners such as call centres or ground handling agencies," Kannan said. Prior to the pandemic, the airline, which started international operations in August 2019, had a fleet of around 40 aircraft and the number has increased to 50. "There is a requirement since we are utilising the aircraft better. Last two years, even though the fleet count increased, the utilisation of aircraft was lower... so there was no need to scale up. That process has now commenced and is in full swing," the Vistara chief said, adding that people are also being hired for backoffice work. Vistara carried 4.79 lakh domestic passengers in January and had a market share of 7.5 per cent, according to data available with aviation regulator DGCA. Last month, IndiGo carried the maximum number of passengers at 35.57 lakh, followed by SpiceJet (6.80 lakh), Air India (6.56 lakh) and Go First (6.35 lakh). To a query on Air India, Kannan said the airline's acquisition by Tatas is positive for the whole industry and will give a viable competitor which is always good for the customer. "We do continue to operate independently and compete with it... What is important for us is to ensure that what we have built up in the last seven years of operations continues... customer will be looking at various options and we believe that we have a proposition that will continue to remain strong," he said. In his message to customers last week, Kannan promised that many changes and enhancements are in the works, including fast-tracking of initiatives across its IT infrastructure to make the digital experience more convenient. "I have taken stock of things as they stood, and I want to assure you that we are addressing some of the gaps on a war footing. "We are actively working with our partners to significantly reduce the length of time it takes for you to connect with us over a phone call and to ensure a consistent airport and on-ground experience," he had said in the message. The airline has restored some of its onboard services to pre-pandemic standards, including restarting non-vegetarian meals in Economy Class on all domestic flights. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Feb 22 (PTI) Foreign lender HSBC's profit before tax (PBT) from India rose marginally to USD 1.11 billion in 2021. The bank's PBT had stood at USD 1.024 billion in 2020. Also Read | Realme V25 With Triple Rear Cameras Teased Online, Launch Soon. The country is the fourth biggest profit centre for the UK-headquartered lender, after Hong Kong, the UK and Mainland China, according to an official statement. Courtesy back-office operations, India retains the top ranking in terms of employees but the number of people employed declined by 1,000 to 38,000. The total number of employees had declined by 1,000 in 2020 as well. Also Read | Motorola Edge 30 Pro Price & Offers Revealed Ahead of Its Launch: Report. Among its business lines, the commercial banking segment showed one of the fastest growth at nearly 42 per cent to deliver a profit before tax (PBT) of USD 265 million as against USD 187 million in the year-ago period. The profits from the wealth and personal banking vertical increased to USD 20 million in 2021 from USD 16 million, while the same for global banking and markets were maintained at USD 593 million. The 'corporate centre' function saw an increase in the overall profit contribution to USD 232 million as against USD 228 million, according to the statement. In 2021, equity capital markets (ECM) team completed 10 transactions cumulatively aggregating USD 4.8 billion across IPOs (initial public offerings) and other follow-on issuances, it said. It also has established a USD 125-million credit programme for technology-led start-ups in the country, the statement said. The overall customer accounts in India increased to 24,507 as against 20,199 in the year-ago period, and the statement said there was a significant growth on this side despite the "challenging economic environment". Its wholesale lending practice of loans and advances to customers at amortised cost saw an increase to USD 12.224 billion as against USD 10.298 billion in the year-ago period. As of 2021-end, it had assets of USD 1.786 billion from real estate as against USD 1.951 billion, and USD 4 billion from the non-bank lenders as against USD 3 billion. In India, the ban contributed an additional USD 10 million towards COVID-19 relief efforts in the last year, which witnessed the second wave of infections playing havoc across the country. HRS hrs (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 22 (ANI): It was just a fine Tuesday morning when people were waking up and preparing themselves for the day when suddenly everyone's phones started beeping... Unlike the usual 'Good Morning' thoughts and eye-opening unwanted quotes, this time, the messages were about 22.02.2022 being a palindrome and an ambigram! A palindrome is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of characters that reads the same backward as forward. This solved the mystery of the new word added to our dictionary on 22.02.2022 (pun intended). Words like 'madam', 'refer', 'dad', 'redivider' etc., are some examples of a palindrome. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: Youth Dies After Being Beaten Up by Unidentified Goons in Sikar; FIR Lodged. But what about the other new entry to our dictionaries, ambigram? Well, an ambigram means a visual that is the same even upside down. It is a rare occurrence in calendars compared to a palindrome. It was indeed a special day as 22.02.2022 also happened to be on a 'Tuesday'. Hence, the people on Twitter had a field day connecting the dots and declaring the day as 'TWO's Day! Also Read | 6 Authentic Gujarati Dishes One Must Definitely Eat Once!. While some people posted generic reactions, defining and celebrating the special day, others were simply having fun. One Twitter user posted a famous comic strip from 'Spiderman', in which three Spidermans pointed at each other. Another user took a mathematical dig on the date. Telecom giant Vodafone's UK handle also joined the bandwagon. The official handle of Delhi Police posted a precautionary tweet, smartly gelling in Two's Day in it. Other hilarious memes were: Celebrities also took to their social media handles to celebrate the day. Samantha Ruth Prabhu, posted a hilarious poster, with plenty of 'two' references, from her upcoming film, 'Kaathuvaakula Rendu Kaadhal', along with a song, which coincidentally had the lyrics "two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two-two, I Love you really I love you too", signifying two lovers of the male hero. Raveena Tandon posted about the significance of the day on her Instagram Story. Neha Dhupia, who was recently seen in 'A Thursday', posted a beautiful photo of herself with her two children while wishing everyone a happy 'Two's day'. There are 12 Palindrome Days in the 21st century in the MM-DD-YYYY format. The first one was on October 2, 2001 (10-02-2001) and the last one will be on September 2, 2090 (09-02-2090). The last double (both a palindrome and ambigram) was on February 12, 2021. The next double will apparently be on Feb 8, 2080, which is, safe to say, 'too' far away. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra, whose upcoming projects include the Sooraj Barjatya directorial 'Uunchai', has thanked the filmmaker for enriching her as a performer on the occasion of his 58th birthday. Stating that Barjatya is the gentlest and the most amazing human being that she has ever met, Parineeti said, "He is so simple, so wise and so intelligent as a creative force, that someone like me, who is a complete director's actor, can gain tremendously and sharpen one's skill-set." Uunchai: Anupam Kher Shares Glimpse of His First Look From Sooraj Barjatya's Next (View Pic). "Working with Sooraj ji on the sets of 'Uunchai' is like me going back to school because there is so much learning and unlearning at the same time that you feel creatively satiated after a shoot day," she continued. Parineeti further said that the filmmaker has enriched her as an artist and that she is grateful to him for choosing her to be a part of his vision. She added, "He deserves all the happiness and love on his birthday because, through his films, he has spread so much love and joy to people. He has taught everyone so many values that are rooted in our Indian culture for generations.We are blessed to have had someone like Sooraj sir shaping Hindi cinema. His contribution is simply timeless." Parineeti Chopra Thrilled To Be A Part Of Uunchai! Actress Says Sooraj Barjatya Is The Torchbearer Of Indias Family Entertainers. In 'Uunchai', which is touted as a film based on friendship, Parineeti will be seen acting alongside megastar Amitabh Bachchan and acting icons like Anupam Kher and Boman Irani. Meanwhile, apart from this project, she will next be seen in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's film 'Animal', alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, and Bobby Deol. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Feb 22: US President Joe Biden on Monday signed an executive order blocking trade and investment in parts of Ukraine that have been recognised as independent by his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. The White House, which described the Russian actions as blatant violation of Moscow's international commitments, said that economic sanctions are in the pipeline. The move came as Putin escalated the Ukrainian crisis by recognising two Russian separatist-held regions in Ukraine as independent. Joe Biden Speaks With Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Condemns Russia's Independence Recognition to Ukraine Breakaway Regions. We have anticipated a move like this from Russia and are ready to respond immediately, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said. The Executive Order signed by Biden prohibits new investment, trade and financing by US persons to, from, or in the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine, she said. The executive order also provides authority to impose sanctions on any person determined to operate in those areas of Ukraine. To be clear: these measures are separate from and would be in addition to the swift and severe economic measures we have been preparing in coordination with allies and partners should Russia further invade Ukraine, she said, adding that the US is continuing to closely consult with allies and partners, including Ukraine, on next steps and on Russia's ongoing escalation along the border with Ukraine. Biden on Monday spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about Russia's ongoing escalation along the borders of Ukraine. The leaders strongly condemned President Putin's decision to recognise the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine as independent. They discussed how they will continue to coordinate their response on next steps, the White House said. Soon thereafter, Biden also spoke with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Biden strongly condemned Russian President Putin's decision to purportedly recognise the independence of the so-called DNR and LNR regions of Ukraine. He updated President Zelenskyy on the United States' response, including our plan to issue sanctions, the White House said. Biden reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lock-step with its allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine, it added. In a joint statement, House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul and House Armed Services Committee Lead Republican Mike Rogers demanded that the US must immediately impose real costs for this blatant act of aggression and flagrant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Unfortunately, the sanctions previewed by the White House thus far are the definition of impotence. With reports that Putin is now sending troops into the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk under the guise of peacekeepers,' now is not the time for symbolic pinpricks that will serve only to embolden Putin and endanger our friends in Ukraine, they said. Now is the time for President Biden to impose sanctions that strike at the heart of the Russian economy, and permanently end Nord Stream 2 once and for all, as he promised the world he would do, the two Republicans said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Brussels, Feb 22 (AP) A top European Union official said Tuesday that serious concerns remain about the respect for rule of law in Poland despite plans by the country's president to abolish a disputed legal chamber. Vera Jourova, a European Commission vice president, said the EU's executive arm is currently analyzing a proposal by Polish President Andrzej Duda to replace the so-called Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Conflict: 27 European Union Nations Unanimously Approve Russian Sanctions. The chamber has the power to suspend judges whose rulings are disliked by the ruling authorities. The European Court of Justice said last year that it violated EU laws and ordered its temporary suspension pending a verdict. It fined Poland 1 million euros ('$1.1 million) for each day the chamber continues to operate. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: President Vladimir Putin Gets OK to Use Military Force Outside Russia. Duda has proposed amending the law on the Supreme Court and closing the court's controversial chamber. He said his proposal was aimed at helping Poland end its conflict with the European Commission. Under his proposal, the chamber would be replaced with a smaller, 11-member body tasked with the professional vetting of judges, called the Professional Responsibility Chamber. Jourova, who is in charge of upholding the rule of law in the 27-nation bloc, said Duda's plan is a positive step, but insisted that it will be the scope and content of the legislation adopted that will ultimately matter. None of the judges who have been subject to a decision of the Disciplinary Chamber have been reinstated to work," Jourova said after a meeting of EU ministers for European affairs. This issue is crucial, because despite all the legal complexity, the question is simple: Will Poland respect the rulings of the European Court of Justice or not?" In recent years, the right-wing government has repeatedly clashed with the EU, which says the changes Warsaw has made to Poland's justice system undermine the principles of democracy and the rule of law. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Feb 22 (AP) The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a new clash between religious rights and the rights of LGBT people. The high court said Tuesday it would hear the case of Colorado-based web designer Lorie Smith. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine Crisis: 'Soldiers Seen All Around', Says MBBS Students After Returning to India. Smith offers graphic and website design services and wants to expand to wedding website services. But Smith says her religious beliefs would lead her to decline any request from a same-sex couple to design a wedding website. She also wants to post a statement on her website about her beliefs. But that would run afoul of a Colorado anti-discrimination law. Smith argues the law violates her free speech and religious rights. The case is expected to be argued in the fall. (AP) Also Read | China Calls for Restraint on Ukraine But Silent on Vladimir Putins Declaration of Independence of 2 Separatist Regions. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Feb 22 (PTI) The US-India relationship has become weaker under the Biden administration, according to Indian-American Kash Patel, who served as the chief of staff to the acting United States Secretary of Defence in the last few weeks of the previous Trump administration. Patel, in an interview to PTI, said that there is a pretty good possibility of former president Donald Trump running for re-election in 2024. Also Read | Truth Social: Donald Trump Launches His Twitter-Alike App on iOS After Banned From All Social Media Platforms. Observing that the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated after the withdrawal of American troops, the former Pentagon chief of staff said he believes that the US would have no other option but to send its troops on the ground in 18 months. The United States, in the middle of the Ukrainian crisis, needs a strong leadership, which the current occupant to the post of President Joe Biden has miserably failed, Patel said. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protests: Canadian Authorities to Freeze Financial Assets of Those Participating in Ongoing Agitation. It takes a strong position of leadership to do that (punitive steps) from a national security perspective. We just don't have that, he said. Patel, who traces his origin to Gujarat, was in news early this month as he aired an interview with Trump on Epoch Times TV. While he did not ask the question on the 2024 election bid, Patel feels that his former boss is headed that way. I didn't ask him if he was going to run again in 2024. But I think it's a pretty good probability, he said. Patel said that Trump strongly feels that the country needs a change in leadership and the leadership needs to be strong. Unfortunately, from everything from the Afghan evacuation disaster under President Biden, to how China and Russia have risen to power, and now we're talking about the Ukrainian situation, I just think it shows how much footage the American national security apparatus has lost on the world stage. That's because I believe there is a shift in priorities a stark shift when President Trump was in power versus now when President Biden is in power, he told PTI. They are focused on the politicisation of the national security apparatus and more focused on headlines and the mainstream media than (on) the mission. And that's what we were always focused on with a mission-oriented approach under President Trump. And that's the main difference, Patel said. Responding to a question, Patel said that the situation in Afghanistan has worsened now. I think unfortunately, conventional forces will be back in Afghanistan, probably in around 18 months or so. That's because I believe that there is a rise in ISIS and al-Qaeda and the Taliban insurgency. That's not good for not just America, that's not good for the world in terms of security, he said. The situation in Afghanistan is already deteriorating and Russia and China have now gone in to exploit the mineral wealth of Afghanistan for their own purposes, which is another national security issue that the Biden administration has permitted for and it's not being counteracted, he said. Observing that the rise of China is very similar to how Russian President Vladimir Putin is playing on the world stage, he said what Putin is doing in Ukraine, Chinese President Xi Jinping is using Taiwan similarly. On the global stage, Xi is using propaganda machines to win supremacy over American national security interests and American national security priority, he said. We are only starting to scratch the surface of all the monetary interest the Biden family has had, not just in the Ukraine, but in China. And I think unfortunately, nobody is really focusing on that, he said. Patel, who attended both the Houston and Ahmedabad rallies of Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2019 and February 2020, said that the bilateral relationship has deteriorated under the Biden administration. The relationship has gotten weaker, he told PTI. President Trump and Prime Minister Modi had an extraordinary relationship with respect. And they were working together to counteract the things like Chinese aggression, not just on the Indian border but on the global stage. They were also working together to counteract things in Pakistan when it came to counterterrorism matters and hostage situations, Patel said. The two leaders knew that not only the strong relationship but also allowing the economies of scale to be built in India and America were mutually beneficial, Patel added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Riyadh, Feb 22 (AP) Saudi Arabia's state-run news agency said 16 people of different nationalities were wounded Monday at an airport in the south as a result of the interception and destruction of a drone carrying explosives launched from Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition that's battling Yemen's Houthi rebels was quoted as saying that the bomb-laden drone was targeting King Abdullah Airport in the Saudi city of Jizan, near the border with Yemen. Saudi defense forces allege the drone was launched from Sanaa's airport in the Yemeni capital. Also Read | Truth Social: Donald Trump Launches His Twitter-Alike App on iOS After Banned From All Social Media Platforms. Saudi state TV reported three travelers were in critical condition. It aired a short video clip of the aftermath that showed glass shattered across the floor inside the airport near a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store. The state-run Ekhbariya news channel later showed travelers moving about within Jizan's airport and reported that flights were back to operating normally. Saudi Arabia has been involved in Yemen's civil war since 2015, fighting against the Iranian-backed Houthis who overran the capital of Sanaa and ousted the internationally recognised government from power. Despite seven years of fighting and war, the Houthis remain in control of Sanaa and much of northern Yemen. Also Read | Canada COVID-19 Protests: Canadian Authorities to Freeze Financial Assets of Those Participating in Ongoing Agitation. The attack against Jizan, a region near Saudi Arabia's border with Yemen, comes on the eve of a patriotic day in the kingdom as the nation prepares to celebrate its first-ever Founding Day. The date, which is different from the traditional national day, is meant to symbolically commemorate the founding and unification of the Saudi state by its Al Saud rulers. Nationwide celebrations have been planned and the king has deemed it a holiday for both the private and public sectors. The incident also comes less than two weeks after a similar attempted drone attack and interception resulted in 12 people wounded at an airport in the southern Saudi region of Abha, also near the kingdom's border with Yemen. The war in Yemen has killed tens of thousands of people, both fighters and civilians, and spawned the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Many more have been internally displaced. The United Nations said January's civilian casualties were the highest in at least three years. More than 650 civilians were killed or injured last month by airstrikes, shelling, small arms fire and other violence. A coalition airstrike hit a detention facility in the Houthi stronghold of Saada in January, killing or injuring more than 300 detainees. Fighting in the strategic city of Marib in past months has led to increased Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which is part of the Saudi-led coalition and backs Yemeni militias fighting the Houthis. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Feb 22: The customs officials at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata seized 4.8 lakhs sticks of cigarette worth Rs 48 lakhs from a domestic cargo complex on Monday. The action was taken based on an intelligence input. The official said that a case in this respect was lodged. "Based on a specific intelligence on February 21, a flight from Dimapur to Kolkata was intercepted and examined by AIU at NSCBI Airport wherein 4.8 lakh sticks of cigarette worth 48 lakh was seized from Domestic Cargo Complex," said a customs officials. Delhi: 305 kg Ganja Valued at Rs 2 Crore Seized; One Arrested. The cigarettes were seized under Section 110 of the Customs Act. "It is an offence punishable under various sections of NDPS Act. Further investigation in the matter is under progress to trace the carrier of the said narcotic substance," said the official. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 22, 2022 04:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The income tax department on Tuesday issued a notice to caution the public against falling prey to fraudulent job offers. The IT Department said that aspirants should only consider advertisements appearing on either its official website or that of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC). Check Tweet: Income Tax Department cautions the public not to fall prey to fraudulent persons misleading job-aspirants by issuing fake appointment letters for joining the Department. A public notice in this regard has been issued, which is available at this link:https://t.co/7imrJHapGg pic.twitter.com/j5ZbPF5zMw Income Tax India (@IncomeTaxIndia) February 22, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) On July 4, 1831, James Monroe died from heart failure and tuberculosis at his daughters house in New York City. The fifth U.S. president had attempted to write an autobiography, but was unable to complete it as his health slowly deteriorated after his wife died the year before. Thousands of mourners crowded the narrow New York City streets to see the 73-year-olds hearse make its way to the family vault in Marble Cemetery. With his death came an eerie coincidence that many people couldnt ignore: Monroe had become the third president and Founding Father to die on the Fourth of July. Five years earlier, on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, longtime friends and occasional rivals Thomas Jefferson and John Adams also died. Thomas Jefferson survives, were rumored to be among Adams last words from his deathbed in Quincy, Mass. He was unaware that his friend died that day, July 4, 1826, at his beloved Monticello estate more than 500 miles away in Virginia. Advertisement To many Americans in the early 19th century, the timing of the deaths of three men who helped found and guide the young United States went beyond sheer coincidence. Again our national anniversary has been marked by one of those events, which it may be scarcely permitted to ascribe the chance, the Boston Traveler newspaper wrote on July 8, 1831. Three of the four presidents who have left the scene of their usefulness and glory expired on the anniversary of the national birthday, a day which of all others, had it been permitted them to choose [they] would probably had selected for the termination of their careers, wrote the New York Evening Post the day after Monroes death. Adams served as the second president from 1797 to 1801, followed by Jefferson, who served until 1809. But long before the 13 colonies had won their independence, Adams and Jefferson played vital roles in creating the document that declared men were created equal and entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Adams, in a letter to a friend in 1822, recalled how Jefferson was placed on the committee to write the document. Mr Jefferson came into Congress in June 1775 and brought with him a reputation for literature, science, and a happy talent at composition. Writings of his were handed about, remarkable for the peculiar felicity of expression, Adams wrote. The irascible Adams also described why he insisted that Jefferson write the draft: Jefferson proposed to me to make the draught. I said I will not; You shall do it. Oh No! Why will you not? You ought to do it. I will not. Why? Reasons enough. What can be your reasons? Reason 1st. You are a Virginian, and Virginia ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason 2d. I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular; You are very much otherwise. Reason 3d: You can write ten times better than I can. Well, said Jefferson, if you are decided I will do as well as I can. The importance of July 4 might have surprised some Founding Fathers. The Continental Congress declared freedom from Britain on July 2 and approved the Declaration on Independence on July 4. Most members signed the document in August. Adams thought Americans would remember July 2 as their Day of Deliverance from Britain. In a letter to his wife, Abigail, he wrote, It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. While Adams and Jefferson represented their states in the Continental Congress, a teenage Monroe dropped out of college in 1776 to fight in the Revolution, enlisting in the 3rd Virginia Regiment, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Many historians consider Monroe the last president from the Founding Fathers. Adams and Jefferson would live to see the country expand well beyond the original 13 states. Adams was 90 when he died of a heart attack. Jefferson had been in declining health for years before dying at 83. People interpreted their deaths in a religious manner, said Michael Meranze, a U.S. history professor at UCLA. It was clearly taken symbolically as both the birth and growth of the early republic. In 1826, for instance, Rep. Daniel Webster of Massachusetts delivered a two-hour-long eulogy in Boston suggesting their deaths were a sign that God was protecting the nation. As their lives themselves were the gifts of Providence, who is not willing to recognize in their happy termination, as well as in their long continuance, proofs that our country and its benefactors are objects of His care? Webster said. Religion played a prominent role in the lives of many Americans during the early 19th century an era known as the Second Great Awakening that took off around the late 1820s and early 1830s. It was only natural that many Americans of the era saw religious significance in the timing of the deaths of Adams, Jefferson and Monroe. Although scholars are typically weary of analyzing unexplained phenomena, in 2005 historian Margaret P. Battin entertained the meaning behind the same-day deaths of Adams and Jefferson by offering six possibilities: Coincidence. Divine intervention. Hanging on to life in order to ensure death on July 4. Caused to die by others. Allowing oneself to die. Causing oneself to die. Each of these theories, she said, lacks historical evidence. Its been 186 years since the last U.S. president died on the Fourth of July. And history tells that only one president was ever born on the nations birthday: Calvin Coolidge in 1872. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad ALSO Hiroshi Miyamura and his hometown had a lot in common. They believed in America. Meet the 6 governors leading the charge against the Senate health plan New Yorks subway has always been a chamber of horrors. But when did it get this bad? Queen Elizabeth was not spared by the coronavirus, as she tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday. According to BBC, Buckingham Palace confirmed the queen's condition on Sunday, claiming that the royal will receive "medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines" in connection to the disease. Buckingham Palace also revealed that Queen Elizabeth is experiencing "mild cold-like symptoms" as of Sunday, per Deseret News. However, Buckingham Palace did not further on how Queen Elizabeth is doing while recovering from COVID-19. Despite contracting COVID-19, CNN mentioned that the queen is expected to continue "light duties" in the Windsor over the coming weeks. According to U.K. media, Queen Elizabeth and her late husband, Prince Phillip, were vaccinated against coronavirus. The two royals were reportedly vaccinated for their first doses in January last year. Palace officials did not reveal any more information about the queen's vaccination, but BBC noted that she is believed to have her follow-up jabs after her first dose. Meanwhile, USA Today noted that Queen Elizabeth received three shots against the disease. READ NEXT: Queen Elizabeth Fails to Attend on Remembrance Sunday Over Sprained Back Queen Elizabeth Was Not the Only COVID Positive: Royal Source A royal source told CNN on Sunday that Queen Elizabeth was not the only one from her circle who was positive for COVID-19. The royal insider revealed that there were a "number of cases" that were diagnosed with COVID-19 from the Windsor Castle team. However, the source did not specify or identify the names and the number of personnel stricken by the virus. Ten days ago, Prince Charles also caught the virus. His wife Camilla on Monday confirmed that she also tested positive. The royal source noted that Prince Charles "recently" met with Queen Elizabeth. Meanwhile, BBC said that Prince Charles met with Queen Elizabeth on February 8, then the Prince of Wales tested positive for COVID on February 10. Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla were reportedly fully vaccinated and had received their booster shot. Under the restrictions set in the United Kingdom, people who tested positive for COVID-19 should undergo five days of isolation. The said restriction was placed by the British government, which was intended to be lifted this week, per USA Today. U.K. Officials Wish Queen Elizabeth II Recovery Government officials in the United Kingdom wished Queen Elizabeth II her recovery after contracting the notorious disease. Prime Minister Boris Johnson took to Twitter to express his thoughts about Queen Elizabeth's medical condition. Im sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from Covid and a rapid return to vibrant good health. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 20, 2022 "I'm sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health," Johnson said. On behalf of myself and the whole of @UKLabour, wishing Her Majesty The Queen good health and a speedy recovery. Get well soon, Maam. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 20, 2022 Opposition Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer also jumped in to wish the queen a "speedy recovery." Queen Elizabeth's COVID-19 diagnosis came after her first in-person engagement since she returned to Windsor from Sandringham, where she marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne. READ NEXT: Prince Charles 'Deeply Conscious' About Queen Elizabeth's Desire About His Wife Camilla Being Called 'Queen' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Queen Elizabeth Diagnosed With COVID-19 l WNT - From ABC News The City of Huntington Beach in California on Sunday mourned the death of a police officer after their helicopter plunged into Newport Beach on Saturday night. According to ABC 7, the police officer who died in the tragedy was identified as Nicholas Vella, a 14-year veteran from the Huntington Beach Police Department. CBS News noted that the first responders on the scene led a procession with Vella's casket draped in an American flag. The procession led by the responders came a day after Chief Eric Parra announced Vella's death during a press conference. "The city of Huntington Beach, the residents of Huntington Beach, the Huntington Beach Police Department, and the law enforcement community have lost an officer who was truly dedicated to his job and was doing what he loved doing," Parra said. On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a statement following Vella's death, saying that the officer's "bravery and commitment to protecting his community will not be forgotten," per Fox 11. ABC 7 noted that another officer was with Vella during the helicopter crash. The said officer was reportedly taken to a hospital in critical condition, but he was released from the hospital Sunday. READ NEXT: California Wildfire Near Airport Scorches Nearly 4K Acres; Evacuation Orders Raised California Helicopter Crash Vella's death and the injury of the other officer who survived the tragedy came after the helicopter they were riding crash-landed around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Reports noted that the officers responded to a call from Newport Beach as a fight reportedly erupted near 18th Street and Balboa Boulevard. Elliot Simpson, from the National Transportation Safety Board, said that the pilot of the helicopter reported that they encountered "mechanical difficulties." A few seconds later, Simpson added that the pilot transmitted that they were going down. It was unclear who was operating the helicopter during the crash. According to CBS, a home security video captured the police helicopter spun out of control and then hit the water, almost instantly sinking in Newport Beach. Reports added that two blades of the helicopter came off during the crash. Witnesses to the California helicopter crash recalled what they saw as the tragedy unfolded. "All of a sudden, I hear something sputtering really close, and it didn't sound like a normal helicopter... Somehow he [a helicopter passenger] managed to get it into the bay to save everybody's life. If he had landed on a house, there would be a lot of casualties. I feel very fortunate," the woman told Eyewitness News via ABC 7. Investigations on California Helicopter Crash Underway As the helicopter crashed on Newport Beach on Saturday, dive teams were reportedly in the water all day to search for clues that will lead to what caused the sudden crash. Rescue on the site began minutes after the tragedy as locals, firefighters, and lifeguards worked to rescue the two California officers trapped underwater. Chief Parra said that the National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the Orange County Sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team, are leading the probe on the crash. The Huntington Beach Police Department described the helicopter that crashed as an air support unit. As of Sunday afternoon, the helicopter was pulled from the California waters. READ NEXT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom Nominates First Latina Judge to State's Supreme Court This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Huntington Beach Police Helicopter Involved in Fatal Crash Pulled From Ocean - From FOX 11 Los Angeles The government of the Dominican Republic on Sunday commenced the construction of the border wall with Haiti, claiming that the said barricade would curb several issues in their country. Reuters reported that the border wall that is being built by the Dominican Republic will cover almost half of the 392-kilometer border with Haiti, which is the country's land neighbor. The said border wall will be made from a 20-centimeter thick concrete wall and then topped with a metal mesh, per DW. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic's army said that at least 70 watchtowers will also be made aside from the walls. The border wall is said to be 3.9 meters high from the ground and will include cameras, drones, fiber optics, movement sensors, and radars will also be included in the wall's construction. Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader said that the first phase of the project will be completed within nine months at the latest. The country started building the wall ahead of the anniversary of its independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844. READ NEXT: Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry Found to Be Involved in Former President Jovenel Moise, Judge and Investigators Confirm Dominican Republic Builds Border Wall With Haiti The construction of the border wall in the Dominican Republic was first announced by the authorities in February last year, according to BBC. During that time, President Abinader told his country's Congress that they wanted to put an end to several issues concerning Haiti in a span of two years. On Sunday, Abinader underscored that the border wall would curb the smuggling of commercial goods and weapons and help fight organized crimes in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. "The benefit for both nations will be of great importance," Abinader said on Sunday. Aside from issues such as smuggling, authorities also noted that the border wall would also stop irregular migration from Haiti. Although President Abinader highlighted the benefits of the border wall, Dajabon mayor told AFP that he was not in favor of the barricade as he accused soldiers of accepting bribes to allow the passage of non-registered migrants enters their country, per DW. An immigration survey conducted in 2018 revealed that around half a million people from Haiti and tens of thousands of their descendants are living in the Dominican Republic, while its total population accounts for 11 million. Haiti and the Dominican Republic Haiti and the Dominican Republic are both countries located on the island of Hispaniola. However, the two countries are different when it comes to their economy. Haiti, which is plagued with crime, is known to be one of the poorest nations in the Americas, while the Dominican Republic is known to be a popular Caribbean tourist destination as the country has prospered in recent decades. Because of this, reports noted that Haitian go to the Dominican Republic seeking jobs in the country's fields and construction industry. Reuters stressed that around 500,000 Haitians currently live in the Dominican Republic. "The severe institutional and security crisis that [Haiti] is going through has brought its people to a worrying situation of social and political instability," President Abinader said, referring to the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. The Dominican Republic president noted that the crisis Haiti is facing should be dealt with by Haitians on their own. READ NEXT: More Than 170 Haitian Migrants Arrived in the Florida Keys in Overloaded Sailboat, Coast Guard Says This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Dominican Republic to build wall in bid to keep out Haitians - From Al Jazeera English The resilience of Mexicans can be seen on the art painted on their place of worships where angels held harps, guitars, and violins in their hands, their Baroque lips smiling, like an image of heaven replete with music and joy, set in iridescent medallions against a blue-green field twisted with gold and crimson filigree. The first thing that residents of the Mexican village of Nurio saw when they walked through the hefty wooden doors of their mud-plastered church for centuries was an orchestra of angels. Believed to be completed in the mid-1600s, the images were painted on pine panels mounted in an arch beneath the choir. It is less than 150 years since the first Franciscan missionaries arrived in the Meseta Purepecha, or Tarascan Plateau, a highland region in the Michoacan state named for the Indigenous community that resides there. Nurio's Church Indigenous Resilience After Fire, Interventions On March 7, 2021, a fire broke out among the church's thin ceiling shingles, allegedly caused by a short circuit under the roof or a firecracker that blew off course. However, the winds that day were particularly fierce, and every time they managed to put out the flames, a new gust would reawaken them. People in the community removed what they only could from the smoke-filled hall, including a crucifix in a glass and an image of Nurio's patron. The fire wreaked havoc on Nurio's 5,000 residents, but before the incident, Nurio's church had seen several interventions since the '70s. In the 2010s, community members asked the National Institute of Anthropology and History (I.N.A.H.), who safeguards Mexico's constructed legacy, to replace the historic shingles with low-maintenance galvanized steel. The ministry of culture, which supervises I.N.A.H., resisted and offered its own repair project two years later; state and federal institutions were still discussing funding when the church caught fire. Authorities pledged to rebuild the church exactly as it had been, and its reconstruction began within the month. Such approaches to conservation first emerged in the mid-19th century, primarily through the work of French architect Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, reaching apotheosis in the neo-Gothic spire. A contemporaneous and ideological adversary, the English writer John Ruskin, argued alternatively for the valorization of decay. In his 1849 treatise "The Seven Lamps of Architecture," structures from the past "are not ours." Over the next 50 years, theorists came to see architectural monuments as "an indispensable link in the developmental chain of art history," the Austrian academic Alois Riegl wrote. As the 20th century progressed, nationalist movements in countries like Italy, Germany, Poland, and Mexico turned to their built heritage to fortify a fragile sense of shared cultural identity. After the damage wrought by World War II, the rhetoric of conservation turned toward universalism, as enshrined in 1964's Venice Charter. Signatories from 19 countries, including Mexico, affirmed the agreement, which said that historic monuments reflected "the unity of human values" and a shared inheritance, to "safeguard for future generations." The Venice Charter made a nod to the importance of modern use, but strict conservationism prioritizes the past almost by definition, leaving little room for what they called "the restless and discontented present." ALSO READ: Travel in Brazil Amid Pandemic: Here Are Things You Should Be Aware of Before Visiting the Latin American Country Churches Found in Central Michoacan Defined by Its History Nurio's church, like the few others scattered across central Michoacan, is neither monument nor memorial, but the history that produced it, is defined as much by violence and subjugation as it is by resistance and resilience. Though painted churches may be found all over Mexico, few compare to Meseta's chapels in terms of the stunning contrast of simplicity and decoration, as well as the precise use of color. The figurative depictions of angels, virgins, saints, and martyrs that adorn the wooden ceilings of these modest structures bear little resemblance to the puzzle-like geometry of many pre-Hispanic paintings. Yet the Indigenous dyes and pigments they likely used connect them to a previous world, turning every panel into a document of culture in the midst of devastating change. In the seminal 1948 book titled "Mexican Architecture in the Sixteenth Century" of American art historian George Kubler: "Each building, and each colonial artifact, was nourished by the destruction of a culture, and the decline of a race." Images, on the other hand, are infinitely mutable, their meanings shifting as cultures develop. The churches of the Meseta, and the paintings they contain, were built to eliminate a civilization, but they now stand as precious artworks and historical records, as well as sacred sanctuaries through which a long-suppressed culture can rewrite its story on its own terms. READ MORE: Argentina: 5 Traditional Foods You Have to Try to Get a Taste of Argentine Culture This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Why Is There A Pink Gothic Church In This Mexican City? | Curious Traveller | Absolute History - from Absolute History Colombia's high court on Monday made a historic decision on abortion, as its high court authorized the procedure among women up to 24 weeks of gestation. The decision was ruled out by Colombia's Constitutional Court after the decision of a tribunal composed of at least nine judges, Associated Press reported. Under the decision, Colombia's high court legalized abortion until the 24th week of pregnancy, without requiring women to justify their decision. France 24 noted that protesters, composed of anti and pro-abortion, gathered outside the capitol building in Bogota. Women wearing green scarves, which is the color of the pro-abortion movement, cheered as the court announced the 5-4 decision on the procedure. Meanwhile, anti-abortion protesters waved blue flags when the decision was announced. The anti-abortion protesters reportedly knelt on the ground and prayed. "This is a historic decision not only for Colombia but for all Latin America because it establishes abortion should be completely taken out of criminal code," Colombia-based lawyer Mariana Ardila said, per Axios. READ NEXT: Dominican Republic Starts the Construction of Border Wall With Haiti | Here's Why a Wall is Being Built Between the Caribbean Countries Colombia Authorizes Abortion for Up to 24 Weeks of Pregnancy Although the high court allowed abortion for women until 24 weeks of pregnancy, the entirety of the procedure is not decriminalized in the country. "The performance of an abortion will only be punishable when it is carried out after the 24th week of gestation," the Constitutional Court said in a statement, via France 24. However, the previous decision of the Constitutional court to allow abortion in some cases rape, concerns on mother's health, and concerns on fetus' health will still be accepted. Before the latest ruling was issued, abortion was allowed to be performed on the said three scenarios, according to a ruling by Colombia's high court in 2006. France 24 noted that with the latest ruling, abortion will be made outside the 24 weeks and the three exceptions will be criminalized. Women and doctors who perform the procedure outside the said criteria will face sentences ranging from 16 to 54 months of jail time. Axios mentioned a study that revealed, Colombia records at least 400,000 abortions yearly. Of that number, 12 percent take place in official health centers. Colombia's health ministry confirmed that an estimated 70 women die every year due to unsafe abortion practices. Women's rights group told Axios that women do not seek the procedure on official health centers over fears of getting charges. Ardila said that 70 percent of criminal cases in connection to abortion originated that way. Other Latin American Countries on Abortion Colombia is not the only Latin American country that expanded the access of abortion among women. It can be recalled that Argentina, Uruguay, and Cuba allow abortions without restriction at certain stages of pregnancy. In September, Mexico's Supreme Court ruled that criminalizing abortions are unconstitutional. Ecuador's National Assembly last week established new regulations that allowed abortions in cases of rape or if a woman's life is at risk because of the pregnancy. Meanwhile, Chile voted in February to include abortion in their new Magna Carta. Abortion is legal in Chile, in cases of sexual violence and when the mother and fetus' health is in danger, since 2017. READ NEXT: Mexico: U.S. Lifts Ban on Avocado Imports, Expert Predicts Short-Lived Shortage This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Colombia despenaliza el ABORTO - From El Pais While heart disease has been one of the major health concerns in India, Covid-19 has exacerbated the condition significantly, said experts on Monday. According to the Global Burden of Disease, nearly a quarter (24.8 per cent) of all deaths in India is due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD). "Heart disease and Covid are intricately linked. If you remove the 'O' and 'I', Covid becomes CVD. Covid- 19 is like a stress test for the heart," Dr Ramakanta Panda, cardiac surgeon and head of Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai, told IANS. "Covid affects the heart in 20 per cent of the cases," added Dr Bipin Kumar Dubey, Head of Department and Consultant, Cardiology, HCMCT Manipal Hospitals, New Delhi. The cardiologists explained that Covid affects the heart in two ways: first it blocks the coronary artery, second it results in the weakening of the heart muscles. For people who already have a blockage, Covid can cause a full blockage. In those that do not have a blockage, sudden clots can form, leading to a heart attack. In the case of weak heart muscles, these cannot pump blood, patients become breathless, and the risk of an attack increases. Typically, Covid causes heart conditions in those above 60, and with some form of blockage in their body, or co-morbidities like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, or are smokers. However, Dubey noted: "In the last few days, I have seen asymptomatic patients come in, and complain of pain and then suffer from a heart attack. "It is not dependent on how severe Covid is. Even asymptomatic patients can suffer from heart attacks and heart related issues." Even a mild case of Covid-19 can increase a person's risk of cardiovascular problems for at least a year after diagnosis, according to a recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine. Researchers found that rates of many conditions, such as heart failure and stroke, were substantially higher in people who had recovered from Covid than in similar people who hadn't had the disease. "The logic is simple: Covid is known to affect the lungs. The air we breathe contains oxygen and goes to our lungs. When the lungs don't do their job, the heart gets stressed and has to work harder. This increased demand for oxygen may cause heart rhythm disturbances; which in turn might lead to heart attack or heart failure," Panda said. He stated that Covid unmasks silent cardiac symptoms among people with previously undiagnosed heart disease. Further, Panda noted that several chemicals are released by the body to fight the Covid virus. "These can also weaken heart muscles causing clotting of blood among infected patients. Hence, Covid-19 can also present itself as heart disease," he said. A Utah dad was placed under the custody of the police on Monday after he allegedly instructed his 4-year-old child to shoot at the law enforcement officer who pulled him out from his car. According to ABC 4, the incident took place in Midvale McDonald's around 1:30 in the afternoon on Monday. The police noted that the incident with the officers stemmed out when the unnamed Utah dad received the wrong order at the drive-thru of the fast-food chain, per CBS News. READ NEXT: California Gov. Gavin Newsom OKs New Bill Allowing Residents to Sue Gun Makers, Citing Texas Abortion Law As Its Blueprint Witnesses Overheard Utah Dad Telling Child to Shoot As the Utah dad received his order wrong, the man reportedly "brandished a firearm" and the fast-food crews asked the man to drive in front of the store while they fix his order. Unified Police Department Sgt. Melody Cutler said that the workers from the fast-food chain immediately called the law enforcement authorities to ask for help, Khon 2 reported. According to reports, officers issued "several verbal commands" to the Utah dad for him to exit the car. However, the man refused to respond to their pleas. As the police were getting the suspect from custody, an officer turned back and was surprised that a gun was pointing at them from the back window of the car. The gun was reportedly swiped by an officer, but it was fired. Cutler said that the officer then noticed that the shooter was a child and then he yelled "kid" to alert the other officers who responded at the scene. Witnesses mentioned that they heard the Utah dad instruct the child to shoot. While the gun was fired by the child, the police noted that another 3-year-old kid was also present at the back of the car. The said bullet shot through the banner of McDonald's and the officer who wiped the gun sustained minor injuries. Utah Shooting Incident Under Investigation Authorities underscored that the shooting involving the Utah dad and his four-year-old child is still under investigation. The Utah dad was reportedly placed under the custody of the police. However, officials did not mention where he was held at the moment. CBS News noted that the Utah dad is interviewed while he was held under the custody of the law enforcement officers. Meanwhile, it was still unclear about what happened to the child who shot at the officer, and the other 3-year-old that was present after the incident. In the light of the shooting, The Unified Police Department released a statement, calling the incident a "sad day for law enforcement" and their community. "To have an adult think it is okay to encourage a four-year-old to pull a firearm and shoot at police illustrates how out of hand the campaign against police has gotten," the Unified Police Department said, per ABC 4. The Department then underscored that the law enforcement officers are present "to protect and serve" the community. READ NEXT: Alec Baldwin Firing Gun in 'Rust' Shooting Without Actually Pulling the Trigger Possible? District Attorney Says It Is This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH 4-Year-Old Fires Gun at Officers During Midvale Shooting Incident - From FOX 13 News Utah Leftist Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, also known by his initials AMLO, won Mexico's presidential election at the third attempt in 2018. His victory was the first time a leftist politician has been elected in Mexico in three decades. According to the BBC, AMLO has promised to carry out a "radical transformation" in the country and end corruption. Lopez Obrador has also slammed the "power mafia" that has ruled the country for decades. His plans also include increasing scholarships and expanding social welfare programs for the elderly. AMLO had also promised to achieve peace and end the war in Mexico at a time when the murder rate jumped through the roof due to the Mexican drug cartels' feud. But recently, he was criticized for the killings of Mexican journalists in the country. His politics and policies are not the only things under scrutiny, with Lopez Obrador's family, especially his son, facing a new series of scandals. READ NEXT: Mexico City Replacing Christopher Columbus Statue With One of Indigenous Woman; City Mayor Says It's to Deliver "Social Justice" Scandal Involving Family of Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Jose Ramon Lopez Beltran, son of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, recently made the headlines due to his controversial house in Texas. Lopez Beltran's wife, Carolyn Adams, claimed that she rented the house formally and under the rules of the United States. However, Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI) got other information, The Yucatan Times reported. In a press release, the civil organization said the house was never registered for the rental of the property in the Texas real estate system. A real estate agent licensed to operate in Texas told the group that if they rented the house, they had to declare it in the HAR system, which is the system used by agents in Houston. Reports noted that this could mean that the transaction was carried out outside, between private parties, and paid no rent. A former Baker Hughes executive cited for leasing his Houston home to Lopez Obrador's eldest son said he has no prior knowledge of who the lessee was. Keith Schilling, who worked for Baker Hughes from 2016 to 2019, told Bloomberg that he had no prior relationship, personal connection, or familiarity with the lessee or the lessee's family. He added that in any of his roles at Baker Hughes, he "had no responsibility for any business activity related to or in Mexico." Several shareholders of the U.S. company requested a probe for a possible conflict of interest and irregularities. It was found that Baker Hughes has contracts with Lopez Obrador's government for more than $151 million in works for Mexico's state-owned oil company, Petroleros Mexicanos (Pemex). The Lopez couple reportedly occupied the property between 2019 and 2020, coinciding with the time when Pemex granted significant extensions and cost increments to contracts with Baker Hughes. A letter by Juan Carlos Luna, sent to the Department of Justice, noted that "these facts create the perception of a possible conflict of interest and a potential scenario that could have crossed the line of Baker Hughes' legal and ethical obligations." Luna, who wrote on behalf of a certain group of Baker Hughes shareholders, added that as such, a complaint is warranted, and a probe is necessary. According to MCCI, AMLO's son and wife have lived in two Texas homes. The first, located in the north of Houston, had its own cinema room and pool. The couple later moved into a newly built 548-square-meter property near Houston. Lopez Obrador's government was under fire for reports that his son has been living an "affluent lifestyle in Texas." But the Mexican president defended his son and said that his son has no influence in his government, adding that his son's wife is also from a wealthy background, The National Post report. The Mexican president said critics were using the story against him to impose a perception that he is no different from others that came before him. Lopez Obrador noted that he is "not interested in money." Wealth and Salary of Mexico's President AMLO As of February 2022, the Mexican president has a net worth of $600,000, which comes from his salary. According to Wealthy Persons' profile, he took a 60 percent pay cut after becoming the president in 2018. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador earlier said he does not own any real estate, vehicles, or personal property. However, a spokesman for the president's office said that Lopez Obrador's real estate, vehicles, possessions, and household goods, such as works of art and other valuable objects, were disclosed in his wife's name, according to Reuters. Lopez Obrador once said in a press conference that his principal asset had been property in the southern state of Chiapas, which he inherited from his parents. It is now registered under his children's names. He then said that money has never interested him, adding that he fights for "ideals, for principles." Alexandra Zapata of the Mexican Institution for Competitiveness (IMCO) noted that Lopez Obrador had lost credibility in how he talks about his property, assets, and interests. IMCO is a think-tank that promotes good governance and fights corruption. Mexican politicians have been accused of hiding their wealth by registering their assets under relatives' names. In 2019, the Mexican president disclosed a monthly net income of $5,600 from his government work. READ MORE: Parts of Amazon Rainforest in Brazil Are Being Illegally Offered for Sale on Facebook Marketplace This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Lopez Obrador Ataca a Periodista Que Investigo a Su Hijo - From DW Espanol The Colorado police discovered drugs laced with fentanyl on a home, where five people suffered fatal overdoses on Sunday. According to Fox News, the detectives from the Commerce City Police Department in Colorado were the ones who discovered the drugs in an apartment on East 104th Avenue in Commerce City. It can be recalled that five people, two men and three women, were found dead at the said apartment on Sunday afternoon. 9 News reported. On Monday, 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason said the tainted batch of drugs might still be circulating in the community, The Denver Post reported. "There are other people out there who might have the drugs from that same batch or have drugs from the same dealer who could take those drugs tonight. And we have more deaths. It's terrifying public health, public safety crisis," Mason noted. READ NEXT: Utah Dad in Custody After Allegedly Instructing 4-Year-Old Child to Shoot at Police 5 Dead Over Fentanyl Overdose, Colorado Authorities Say The discovery of the fentanyl-laced drugs came after the Colorado Police responded at the site around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday. Officials found five people dead at the apartment. Authorities did not release the names of the deceased, but they said they were a 28-year-old woman, a 32-year-old woman, a 29-year-old woman, a 24-year-old man, and a 32-year-old man. A four-month-old infant and a 29-year-old woman were also found inside the apartment, and they were brought to a hospital. The woman reportedly received medical care while the infant underwent a checkup and is currently doing fine. Commerce City Police Chief Clint Nichols said the infant's mother was among the deceased. Mason noted that the Commerce City Police led the investigation with the help of the Metro Drug Task Force and the district attorney's office. The Commerce City Police said its investigators were "aggressively pursuing leads" so they could "vigorously pursue charges" for those who sold or provided the drugs. According to Mason, preliminary testing and other evidence suggest the five victims believed they were ingesting cocaine and did not realize the drug had been laced with fentanyl. He noted that all of the victims likely died almost instantly. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. It is commonly mixed with drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Colorado's Fentanyl Problem Colorado's crisis against fentanyl continued to surge. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment noted that approximately half of the 1,581 drug overdose deaths last year were attributed to fentanyl. Of those numbers, 618 died of methamphetamine, 227 of cocaine, and 167 died from heroin. The 2021's records on drug overdose deaths in Colorado also showed a 43 percent increase from the 540 deaths on drug overdose in 2020. Meanwhile, state data currently shows that at least two people from Colorado die of fentanyl overdose daily in the first nine months of 2021. READ MORE: California Helicopter Crash: 1 Dead, Another Injured After Tragedy in Newport Beach This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Fentanyl Responsible for Half of Colorado Overdose Deaths in 2021 - From Next 9News Light rains in Argentina that started over the weekend were anticipated to help firefighters put out raging wildfires that have damaged farmlands, wildlife, and plants in the country's north, including the Ibera National Park, an important wetland area. According to officials, eight separate fires in the province of Corrientes in northeastern Argentina have already devastated almost 800,000 hectares (1.98 million acres). Al Jazeera reported that the thick smoke turned the day to look like night as flames destroyed roughly 30,000 hectares (74,130 acres) per day, consuming up to 9 percent of an agriculturally-dependent region. Strong Winds, Drought Fueled' Historic' Argentina Wildfires Local resident Jorge Ayala described the incident as "atypical" and "historic," since this has never happened in the province before. The flames, which began in mid-January, were reportedly fueled by strong winds, low humidity, and dryness from drought. According to forecasters, light rains that began falling on Sunday were expected to continue throughout the week, offering a prospect of relief to a region that has suffered drought and extreme heat. The mainly rural province of farms, ranches, and forests that borders Paraguay typically sees abundant rain. Luis Candia was among the residents who assisted firefighters in putting out the wildfires in Corrientes. Carrying a water pack on his back and covering his face to protect him from the smoke and flames, he told Reuters that the region was fighting for its future. "There is a lot of loss of animals, the issue of flora and fauna. On top of that, this was our source of work. If we lose this, what will become of us tomorrow?" he noted. For weeks, firefighters, police, and volunteers have been trying to put out the fires, which have erupted during a drought connected to the La Nina climate phenomena as global temperatures have climbed. READ NEXT: Travel in Brazil Amid Pandemic: Here Are Things You Should Be Aware of Before Visiting the Latin American Country Authorities Estimate Losses to More Than 26 Billion Argentine Pesos Images from the scene show large burnt fields, smoldering tree roots, animals lifeless or fleeing the fire, and tired firefighters. Firefighting units have begun to arrive from all corners of Argentina: Brazil and Bolivia. Authorities estimate that the province has already lost more than 26 billion Argentine pesos (more than $240 million), and experts warn it will take years to recover. Due to shortfalls of rain this year, Argentina has reduced its beef exports. In the Ibera National Park, the fires have affected diverse wildlife, including threatened animals such as marsh deer, alligators, and more than 380 species of birds. Artists and public figures have launched fundraising campaigns for the victims while donations for basic necessities pour in. According to volunteer Laura Nez, people are bringing fruit, water, and ice, and the donors are getting everything possible while Nez's team focuses on the fire and tries to help. The firefighters cheered because of the light rain. Volunteer Estefania Riveiro, who was carrying buckets of water to help the animals, said the rainfall was a "blessing from God" and "God took pity on" them. Last month, U.S. government scientists reported that 2021 was the sixth-warmest year on record and blamed climate change for it. READ MORE: Argentina: 5 Traditional Foods You Have to Try to Get a Taste of Argentine Culture This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Argentina Wildfires: Corrientes Declared 'Ecological and Environmental Disaster Zone' - From NBC News Australia Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, has been transferred to a minimum-security federal prison as she continued to serve her three-year sentence. According to The Sun, Coronel Aispuro will be spending the remainder of her sentence in Forth Worth, Texas. Coronel Aispuro was sentenced to three years in prison on November 30 for helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar drug empire. At her sentencing hearing in a Washington court, Judge Rudolph Contreras has also ordered El Chapo's wife to forfeit $1.5 million tied to her criminal activities and serve four years of supervised release when she leaves prison. Coronel Aispuro was also directed to find work after her release from prison and work at least 30 hours per week. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons earlier said that El Chapo's wife is set to be released on September 13, 2023. Coronel Aispuro's lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman has told La Opinion that this was not a reduction in his client's sentence. He noted that El Chapo's wife could even get out of prison four months earlier or in May 2023. Lichtman noted that Coronel Aispuro is allowed by law to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence and has the option to serve the remaining 10 percent of her sentence at home or a place that will help her rejoin society. The lawyer added that El Chapo's wife would also be credited for the months she had already served. Coronel Aispuro has been incarcerated in a jail in Virginia since February last year when she was arrested at Dulles International Airport. READ NEXT: Sinaloa Cartel Founder 'El Guero' Is Still in Custody of Mexican Authorities El Chapo's Wife Pleads Guilty in Engaging in Financial Dealings With Sinaloa Cartel Emma Coronel Aispuro has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and engage in financial dealings with the Sinaloa Cartel in June. She also admitted to conspiring to distribute heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana for import into the U.S. for several years. She also admitted to helping her husband escape from a Mexican prison. As part of her plea agreement, El Chapo's wife admitted acting as a courier between his husband and other members of the Sinaloa Cartel, while El Chapo was being held in Altiplano prison in Mexico following a 2014 arrest. When her case was presented in court last year, Judge Robin Meriweather said if El Chapo's wife is found guilty, she could face a maximum sentence of life in prison with a $10 million fine. U.S. prosecutors initially asked the court to sentence Coronel Aispuro to four years in prison in relation to the drug distribution and money laundering charges. But the prosecutors later agreed to a shorter sentence after she expressed remorse. Emma Coronel Aispuro and the Sinaloa Cartel Emma Coronel Aispuro first met El Chapo after being crowned in a Sinaloa beauty pageant in 2006. She was only 17 years old at the time, and El Chapo was 49. The two exchanged vows the following year on her 18th birthday. The California-born ex-beauty queen gave birth to their twins in 2011. As El Chapo's wife, the complaint filed against Emma Coronel Aispuro said she understood the scope of the Sinaloa cartel's drug trafficking, CNBC reported. Before her sentencing, former DEA chief of international operations Mike Vigil told CNBC that Coronel Aispuro can provide a lot of information such as "the drug routes, the sources of supply for cocaine, corrupt public officials, (and other) members of the Sinaloa cartel." Vigil added that El Chapo's wife also "knows where all the bodies are buried," and "she can do a lot of damage to the Sinaloa cartel." The Sinaloa cartel is considered to be one of the most powerful drug-trafficking syndicates in the world. The Mexican drug cartel has been known for carrying out assassinations, murders, and torture to protect its turf. The group was founded in the late 1980s and headed by El Chapo. Under El Chapo's leadership, the Sinaloa Cartel earned its reputation through violence and outfought several rival groups. El Chapo was arrested and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 1993. He escaped from prison in 2001 and was apprehended again in 2014 in Sinaloa, Mexico. The Sinaloa cartel boss again escaped from prison through a tunnel the following year. In January 2016, Mexican officials announced that El Chapo has been captured again. He was extradited to the U.S. the next year. El Chapo was sentenced to spend the rest of his days in the ADX Florence "supermax" prison after being sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019. READ MORE: El Chapo's Wife Emma Coronel Could Dismantle Sinaloa Cartel by Cutting Deal With U.S.: Report This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Wife of El Chapo Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Charges | Emma Coronel Aispuro - From WION Need help logging in? We have transitioned to a new user-friendly interactive website. You will need an account and a subscription to see the site in its entirety. HOME DELIVERY subscribers get online access for free with their subscription. If you are a home delivery subscriber, create a new account and follow the directions to validate your home delivery subscription. If you were a previous ONLINE ONLY subscriber, you should have received an email with directions on how to log in. If you are still experiencing issues contact us at bulletincirc@gmail.com. Indian students pursuing higher education in Ukraine have been caught in an uncertain and difficult situation amid the eastern European country's growing tensions with neighbouring Russia. While parents are worried about the well-being of their children, the students are going through the hectic process of looking for flight tickets to return to India. Students at the Ternopil Medical University in Ukraine capital Kyiv are in constant touch with the Indian Embassy. The varsity is also extending assistance to the students. There are around 20,000 Indian nationals in Ukraine. Most of them are medical students. Nirdesh Dosi -- a resident of Rajasthan, who is pursuing MBBS -- told IANS: "In both the advisories issued by the Indian Embassy, it has been mentioned that the situation is 'bad'. After the second advisory, even students are thinking to return to India. Besides, the university has also kept the option of going home open." Considering the rise in tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Indian citizens -- whose stay in the country is not essential -- have been advised to leave Ukraine, for now. The Indian Embassy has further told the students to keep checking its social media handles such as Facebook and Twitter for all the updates. Around 50 per cent of Indian students have already booked tickets for home while the rest of them are trying to book one. An air ticket from Kyiv to India costs around Rs 25-30,000. Air India is currently operating three special flights. The price of tickets is, however, on the higher side at Rs 60,000 due to which the students are facing difficulties to book one. Air India's special flights would be operated on February 22, 24 and Feb 26. Another student from Gujarat, requesting anonymity, told IANS: "We need to look for tickets at least a week before... Moreover, the university has stated that online classes won't be held. We have been allowed to leave for a month but at the same time, asked to rejoin classes after a month. But we will miss out on the syllabus." "Parents are quite worried. I am being told daily to book ticket and come back... things, however, don't look easy," he added. Portland, TN (37148) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 55F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government to "completely stay its hand" against former Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh, while it decides whether criminal cases registered against him could be handed over to the CBI. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh expressed concern over the ongoing legal battle between Singh and the Maharashtra government, terming it a "messy state of affairs" and also a "very unfortunate situation". "We have had occasion to say earlier that it is a messy state of affairs. Very unfortunate situation... having the propensity of shaking the confidence of people in the police system and the elected system. Process of law must carry on..." Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who was accused by Singh of corruption, is already under arrest for offences, including money laundering. The top court also stayed all proceedings against Singh, probe and filing of charge sheet, and listed the case for final disposal on March 9 on the question of transfer of investigation of cases against Singh to the CBI. The bench also asked the Maharashtra government to completely keep its hands off with regards to the ongoing investigation till the top court decides Singh's plea to transfer all cases against him to the CBI. Justice Kaul told senior advocate Darius Khambata, representing the Maharashtra government: "Meanwhile, you please completely stay your hand. We do not know if the investigation has to be transferred to the CBI...". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, said all the FIRs must come to the central investigating agency. He added that there would be a possibility that statements may point to a particular direction or colour the case, making things difficult for the investigating agency. The bench remarked that if it were to be inclined to pass an order of transferring the cases to the CBI, investigation being completed would cause problems. Khambata assured the bench that, in all senses, the matter will be on hold, and the court took it on record. The bench noted: "We have now put down matter for final hearing and if we were to be inclined to pass an order as per what the CBI and petitioner says, investigation being completed would cause problems." Senior advocate Puneet Bali, representing Singh, complained against the Maharashtra government, saying that it has filed challans in one of the FIRs. "They have presented challan in one of the FIRs. This is absolutely going out of hand," he said. After hearing arguments, the bench said it will take a call as to whether the investigation is to be transferred to the CBI or not. Singh has claimed to be a whistle-blower in exposing the alleged wrongdoings of the former Home Minister. In November last year, the top court had granted him protection from arrest in the cases and directed him to cooperate in the investigations. The bench was hearing a plea by Singh against the Bombay High Court judgment passed in September last year, dismissing his plea challenging the two inquiries ordered by the Home Ministry for allegedly violating service rules and corruption charges, as non-maintainable. A full review of Portlaoise's almost 3,000 streetlights has been called by councillors concerned for safety of women. The town's amber streetlights have almost all now been phased by white light LED bulbs which shine straight down on the ground, rather than outwards lighting up a wider area. It has brought many complaints of fear for walkers who say areas are now darker, and now Portlaoise Municipal District is calling for a full review, following the reported recent attacks around Ireland on women in public areas. Cllr Thomasina Connell tabled a motion to the February meeting, asking for a particular focus on the Linear Park and People's Park. "People in my own area asked me to raise this following the recent event. People feel anxious. They are not going exercising where they would have gone before. We as a council need to step up. I know it's not practical to have lights everywhere, but there are needed in particular secluded areas like the two parks. "I am happy to raise this with the Chief Superintendent at the next Joint Policing Committee meeting and I know he will receive it well. I don't want the can kicked down the road. I'd like a commitment from the council. "It won't cost much just to review what we all can see. I don't think it's absurd to want to feel safe at 5 in the evening," she said. Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald seconded. "While lighting won't solve all the problems, we need to do everything we can to provide good lighting in all our public areas, our streets and alleys," she said. Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agrees. "I fully support this, not just in recent times after the dreadful incident. Particularly for women and children's safety. We have had many residents associations come to us over public lighting. They are anxious. I know we must lower the carbon footprint but we have to be safe, in our own housing estates as well as public areas," she said. "We also need a Garda presence and empowerment to deal with people when caught with those crimes," said Cllr Noel Tuohy. "Every time you turn on the radio there is an incident. Maybe all of us, if we see something suspicious, should be looking out for one another," agreed Cllr John Joe Fennelly. "The ultimate thing is safety in your home. I am very disappointed in Portlaoise to see a security man stabbed. We are not used to it. We can't allow this to escalate," said Cllr Willie Aird. Cllr Aird had also tabled a motion requesting more lights in the Triogue Linear Park. In reply to the request, Laois County Council said that safety is one of their considerations in designing new and improved public areas. They say that the Triogue Way Urban Regeneration and the Active Travel Project will make places more accessible so more people will use them, making them safer. There is to be better lighting installed along the river walk and the parks in the next 18 to 24 months. Consultation with the Joint Policing Committee may also bring about opportunities to enhance safety at these and other public spaces also, engineer Paul McLoughlin said. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh OBrien TD, and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O'Gorman TD, have today called on members of the public to help develop a new Youth Homelessness Strategy through a public consultation. The finalised Youth Homelessness Strategy will outline the causes of youth homelessness and what actions are required to help young people who are aged 18 24 and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The Strategy is in response to the need for an integrated, whole-of-Government approach to addressing youth homelessness, with a multitude of key stakeholders required to play a vital role in addressing the fundamental issues. The Government is seeking a wide range of views as part of the process in developing the Strategy. The Ministers intend to publish a finalised Youth Homelessness Strategy in Q2 2022. Among the issues the Ministers are asking views on are: How the housing needs of young people (age 18-24) differ from those of other age groups. The main risk factors that can result in a young person becoming homeless. The top five priorities the Youth Homelessness Strategy should focus on The Government has stated its commitment to working towards eradicating homelessness by 2030. Housing for All, the Governments housing plan to 2030, commits to developing a Youth Homelessness Strategy, which is one of the first priorities for the National Homeless Action Committee (NHAC). NHAC was established on foot of another commitment under Housing for All and held its first meeting in December 2021. Members include representatives from key Government Departments, statutory bodies and stakeholders. This Strategy is also a commitment in the Programme for Government. Speaking on the launch of the public consultation, Minister OBrien said: This Strategy will consider the causes of youth homelessness and what actions are required to help young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Reducing and eventually eliminating homelessness, including youth homelessness, will involve significant action by all sectors and the Government is committed to leading this national effort. Cooperation through joined-up policy and action are key to addressing homelessness. A key initiative that I have now put in place is the National Homeless Action Committee, which I chair. This is a cross-departmental structure with all of the key Government agencies and bodies involved in addressing homelessness. It will drive delivery of homeless actions, including those under the Governments Housing for All plan. At the first meeting of the National Homeless Action Committee in December 2021, it was agreed that immediate priority would be given to the development of this Youth Homelessness Strategy. Minister OGorman added: My Department is committed to realising a fair, equal and inclusive society where rights are respected and where everyone can reach their potential. The development of policies and the provision of services that effectively address youth homelessness are key elements of this commitment. In preparing this Youth Homeless Strategy, it is imperative that we hear and incorporate the views of the public and in particular those at risk of homelessness. I look forward to working with Minister OBrien and all the partner organisation in preparing and implementing this strategy. Submissions are welcomed from all interested parties and should be no more than 2,000 words. Interested parties can complete the survey here or send their submission to nhac@housing.gov.ie or by post to the Homelessness Policy, Funding and Delivery Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Custom House, Dublin 1, D01 W6X0. For more information on the Youth Homelessness Strategy, click here. Closing date for receipt of submissions is close of business, Tuesday March 15, 2022. Kildare innovators are being encouraged to "be the change you seek" and apply to Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (SEI). The SEI has announced that it is encouraging people from the county have an innovative idea to solve a particular social problem to apply for a place on its Ideas Academy, which is aimed at those with an early-stage idea to solve a social problem, or its Impact Programme, which aimed at high-potential social entrepreneurs looking to grow the impact of their organisation. SEI has said that it's vision "is an Ireland where people solve every social problem, and its mission is to find people with solutions to these problems and support them on every step of their journey." "Since its foundation in 2004, SEI has supported more than 500 social entrepreneurs all around Ireland who have directly impacted the lives of millions of people and contributed significantly to creating employment opportunities." Pic Supplied by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Commenting on the national call for applications, the group's CEO, Tim Griffiths, said: "Every day, in every community across Ireland, we see people stepping up with solutions to solve social problems, taking action and being the change they wish to see. "We call these people social entrepreneurs, and at SEI, were looking to find and support even more of them in Kildare. "Were encouraging anyone with even the seed of an idea to create positive change, or anyone who needs help to take their solution to the next level, to apply to SEI for support on your journey," he added. IDEAS ACADEMY SEIs Ideas Academy has up to 45 places available for people with innovative early-stage ideas to solve social problems. The three-month programme will be delivered online in 2022 and will provide participants with the support and direction they need as they take the first steps from idea to action, sparking a new generation of social entrepreneurs. Participants will be supported to clearly articulate, refine and progress their solution, to build skills and accelerate learning in core areas of importance to social entrepreneurs, and to move from idea to action. They will also have the opportunity to pitch for a portion of a 40,000 seed fund at the end of the programme to pilot their idea. IMPACT PROGRAMME Meanwhile, SEIs prestigious Impact Programme aimed at high-potential social entrepreneurs has up to five places and 100,000 in unrestricted funding available in 2022. Awardees will join a nine-month accelerator programme, where they will receive mentorship, training, and consultancy in areas such as leadership development, fundraising, governance, strategic planning, and communications: Awardees each receive 20,000 in direct funding, pro-bono support from partner organisations and access to a network of fellow social entrepreneurs and business experts. UPCOMING EVENT SEI will host an informative Spark Session event for potential applicants on Monday, March 7 at 1pm. The event will outline the supports available through the two programmes, and on the eve of International Womens Day, attendees will hear from two SEI alumni Madeleine Murray, co-founder of Change by Degrees and Sinead Ryan, founder of Little Fitness. SEI staff and alumni will be on hand to answer questions about the application process over the course of 90 minutes: registration for the Spark Session can be viewed by clicking here. DCC plc, the international sales, marketing and support services group, is the flagship supporter of Social Entrepreneurs Irelands national call for applications. Commenting, Chief Executive of DCC plc, Donal Murphy said: "At DCC, our purpose is to enable people and businesses to grow and progress. "As proud supporters of SEI for more than a decade, we passionately believe in the creativity and courage of social entrepreneurs and have seen first-hand the incredible supports provided through SEIs Ideas Academy and the Impact Programme and the difference SEI alumni make across Ireland. "We would encourage all budding and ambitious change-makers to apply to SEI today," he added. Applications for the Ideas Academy and Impact Programme are open until midnight on Tuesday, April 5. Interested candidates can apply or find out more at www.socialentrepreneurs.ie. A call has been made for a controlled pedestrian crossing - one which is activated by pushing a button to halt passing traffic - near Naas General Hospital. Naas Councillor Colm Kenny said the crossing is needed especially for people going to the hospital who may be visiting seriously ill or terminally ill relatives. People visiting the hospital are not always in the same frame of mind as other people visiting the area, he told a Naas Municipal District meeting. Read more Kildare news Cllr Kenny said the crossing should be provided on Craddockstown Road at the raised table crossing point linking Fairgreen and the Ballymore Road lakes area. He pointed out that an increasing number of vulnerable road users and elderly pedestrians walk to the hospital and exercise around the lakes. Cllr Kenny has asked Kildare County Council to write to the NTA seeking funding for a pilot Safe Routes to Healthcare scheme which would be similar to the Safe Routes to School initiative, which is being rolled out nationwide with Scoil an Linbh Iosa, Ballycane, Naas, among the first in Kildare to be included. Naas is unique because of the close proximity of the hospital, the community care offices in St Marys and a primary healthcare centre with an out-of-hours service. As a healthcare worker I recognise that people attending these different facilities as patients, service users or visitors are often distracted or even distressed and not always in a good frame of mind because of health concerns for themselves or their loved ones, said Cllr Kenny. Therefore health facility attendees are vulnerable road users and should be regarded as somewhat similar to children en route to schools However Kildare County Council has no plans or funding to modify the crossing point to a controlled crossing point. KCC official Pam Pender indicated that this would be reviewed along with a number of other locations this year to consider whether a controlled crossing point is warranted. There will be no legal requirement to wear a mask in Ireland from February 28, the Tanaiste has announced. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said there will be no legal requirement to wear a mask in any setting, but it will still be advised on public transport and in healthcare settings. Speaking after a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar also announced the requirement for pods, staggered breaks, masks and physical distancing in schools will also end on February 28. He said while it will be a more normal school and childcare experience from Monday, some measures will remain in place including recommendations around good hygiene, ventilation and advice for children to stay at home when sick. In relation to testing and close contacts, Mr Varadkar said those who test positive for Covid-19 in Ireland will still be required to isolate for seven days, and on days eight, nine and ten to wear a mask. However, rules will change for close contacts, with the requirement to restrict movements to be lifted from February 28. Testing will be reserved for those who are vulnerable, with those under 55 and in good health and over 55 and fully vaccine boosted no longer advised to take Covid tests from February 28. Mr Varadkar also said there will be no vaccine mandates for the public or healthcare workers, but they will be encouraged to have a jab. All of those changes are coming into place on February 28 and this is the next step that we are taking towards living with Covid as an endemic virus, one that we manage in the way that we have managed viruses like the flu, for example, in the past, he said. The Cabinet will meet again over Covid on February 28 to consider the next steps. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney indicated that the Government was likely to approve the recommendations from health officials at a meeting of the Cabinet. Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed last Friday that the Government would be accepting the guidance from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) that will bring an end to mandatory mask wearing. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan recommended an end to the mandatory wearing of masks, but they will be advisory in healthcare settings and on public transport. In his letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Dr Holohan said: Nphet concluded that there is no longer a continuing public health rationale for retaining them and advised that the following measures could be removed with effect from February 28 as planned. Mandatory mask wearing in areas where it is currently regulated for, including: public transport, taxis, retail and other indoor public settings, and staff in hospitality settings. Public health measures in early learning settings, school-aged childcare, primary and secondary schools, including physical distancing measures such as pods, and mask wearing. Mr Coveney told RTE radio: Weve listened to our medical experts, right the way through Covid, thats what Nphet has been there for. I think theyve done an incredible job. Sometimes theyve had to recommend decisions to Government that were unpopular and theres been a lot of public debate around that. But the recommendations now coming from our Nphet team are clear. And I think were likely to discuss that in Cabinet this morning and accept those recommendations whereby masks would remain in medical settings in particular. I think wed also be advising people to use their own judgments. And I think a lot of people will continue to wear masks on public transport, for example, and in other potentially crowded settings. The disabled parking bays present on the Main Street on Newbridge have drawn ire from a number of advocates for those with disabilities. One such activist is Tipperary native Sean OConnor, who said that the bays in Newbridge are not fit for purpose. Mr OConnor works on behalf of Ireland Tourist Trail 21, which he explained is a voluntary group with the intention to set out a tourist trail, especially for persons with disabilities, across the country and also on Irelands waterways. He also said that the group has investigated a total of 3,105 bays in Ireland since last December, and he also appeared on his local Tipp FM last December to discuss the issue. While Mr O Connor has no disabilities himself, he says that he has a huge passion for promoting the rights of people with disabilities. 'THIS IS DANGEROUS' Mr O Connor also brought the Leader on a tour to various different bays in Newbridge, in order to show us firsthand how difficult it was entering and exiting the bays. As he investigated the difficulties, two other Newbridge residents came up to Mr O Connor in order to vent their frustrations about the bays. "While every town in Ireland has issues with disability access, Newbridge is just one of the latest examples," Mr OConnor explained. An example of a disabled parking bay in Newbridge He added that he has also investigated other bays in Athy, Naas, and Castledermot, with plans to investigate Maynooth in the near-future. In addition, he has been in contact with a number of local politicians in the hopes of bringing the issue to Kildare County Councils (KCC) attention. "I am willing to take this issue to Europe if need be... those with disabilities deserve more respect. "We have consulted with wheelchair users and access groups, we know what were talking about. "Its just common sense; the street plan in the town is not safe, for both abled and disabled people, Mr O Connor said. "No more red tape, and no more dilly-dallying." Previously, the Newbridge Access Group said it had "serious concerns" for the safety of disabled drivers in the town, in addition to passengers and other motorists and cyclists, and raised them at a public consultation meeting in October of last year. The public consultation concerned the controversial proposal of temporary cycle which has now been installed and seating infrastructure along the Main Street of the town. A spokesperson of the group explained to KCC in their submission: "The existing bays were installed in strategic locations after consultation with our organisation taking ease of use, safety for wheelchair users/ vision or mobility impaired, other vulnerable citizens pedestrians motorists and cyclists into consideration. "This proposed design for temporary cycle lanes and parklets puts many people at risk of serious injury as cars are parked closer to traffic and passengers must alight across cycle lanes," the spokesperson added. The group also specifically voiced concerns over the "safety and dignity" of disabled parking permit holders at the Riverbank Arts Centre, as the parklets are located adjacent to parking bays. "It can be difficult for disabled parking permit holders to disembark in full view of onlookers as they try to ensure their wallets, purses or personal documents stay safe and dignity is preserved," they explained. THE LAW NEEDS TO BE PROPERLY ENFORCED The Leader also got into contact with Peter Gohery, an above-knee left leg amputee from County Galway. The chairperson of Physical Impairment Ireland (PII), Mr Gohery also voiced his disapproval of bays on a national basis, similar to Mr OConnor. Mr Gohery said: "County councillors and Ministers are patting each other on the back, but they arent actually enforcing it. "For example, Eamon Ryan raised the fine for those who park in disabled bays from 40 to 80, but nothing seems to be done to actually enforce it. "I dont care if they introduce a fine of a thousand euro: what matters is the law needs to be properly enforced." DIFFERENT NEEDS Mr Gohery also emphasised that all disabled people have unique needs: "I am an above-knee left leg amputee, while a friend of mine is an above-knee right leg amputee, and as such we require different needs. "The current situation is unfair to people with disabilities," he concluded. KCC was contacted for a response by the Leader, to which a spokesperson replied: "The Transportation Department has commenced a countywide review of Pay Parking Bye Laws. "The Draft Bye Laws will be placed on public display and members of the public and community groups are encouraged to participate in the public consultation process." Alan Harte has launched a High Court challenge aimed at setting aside both the conviction and the 30-year prison sentence he received from the Special Criminal Court for his role in the kidnapping and attack on businessman Kevin Lunney. In his action Harte challenges the constitutionality of Section 40 of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act which directs that a person who comes before the three-judge court cannot be told if they have been convicted by a majority decision or a unanimous decision. The 1939 Act provides for the establishment of the non-jury Special Criminal Court (SCC). Last year Harte (aged 41 years )was sentenced to 30 years in prison by the SCC for committing serious harm and falsely imprisoning the Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director at a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan in September 2019. Due to section 40 of the Act Harte claims he does not know if all three judges of that court found him guilty, or if he was convicted on a majority decision. This, it is claimed, is in contrast to a jury trial, where since 1984 at least ten jurors must decide if an accused is guilty or not guilty of an offence they have been tried for. A simple 2-1 majority decision of the SCC, it is submitted, is a major divergence from what is required from a jury hearing a criminal trial. Section 40, Harte's lawyers claim, annuls the constitutional guarantees of equality, and amounts to a form of unacceptable discrimination. The fact that Section 40 of the A prevents the announcement whether the SCC's verdict is unanimous, or a majority decision breaches the constitutional requirement that justice be administered in public, it is also claimed. He has brought judicial review proceedings challenging the constitutionality of the section against Special Criminal Court, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ireland and the Attorney General. Represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, with Michael Hourigan BL, Harte seeks various including an order setting aside the conviction and sentence imposed on him by the SCC. He also seeks declarations including that the Section 40 of the 1939 Act breaches the Irish Constitution because it does not allow an accused person to be informed if they have been convicted by a majority or unanimous decision of the SCC. He further seeks a declaration from the court that his trial before the SCC was unfair, not in accordance with the law and in breach of his constitutional rights. The matter came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan on Monday, who adjourned the ex-parte application for permission to bring the challenge. The judge said he wanted further submissions from Mr Harte's lawyers on the legal issues raised in the action before deciding on whether to grant leave. The issues include the identification to the court of precisely which of Harte's Constitutional rights were affected by the fact he did not know if he had been convicted on a majority decision or a unanimous decision of the SCC. Mr O'Higgins said his side will furnish those submissions to the court. The case will be mentioned before the court in two weeks' time. A new tourist brochure, specifically designed to showcase the rich heritage and ancestry of Longfords Farrell Clan, has been launched. It comes as preparations continue for the return of the Farrell Clan Rally to the county from July 18 - 22. The rally, which has taken place every year since 1993, is a five-day gathering of Farrells from every corner of the globe who come together in celebration of their shared ancestral roots. Fundraising of Marys Meals Longford volunteers helping to feed hungry children around the world Marys Meals Longford held their fundraising draw in St Pauls Centre, Connolly Barracks on Friday last, February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Peggy Nolan said its wonderful to see events like the rally coming back again. Time after time, the Farrell Clan has boosted Longford in so many different ways and particularly after the last four years that we have had, we are simply thrilled to have the rally taking place again this summer.Chief Executive of Longford County Council Paddy Mahon agreed, we look forward to welcoming clan members from all around the world when they come to visit in July and hope that they get to enjoy some of Longfords new and improved tourism infrastructure.Chairperson of Longford Farrell Clan committee John Farrell explained, The Farrell Clan Rally is a very important event for County Longford bringing a large gathering of people together from all around the world. We will have a readymade itinerary and we plan to visit local attractions and places of interest in County Longford. We really want to put our best foot forward and showcase Longfords hidden gems. Photo caption: Farrell Clan Chieftain Connie OFarrell and his wife Rose are pictured here (centre) with (L-R) Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon; Tara Cunningham of Longford Tourism; Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Peggy Nolan and Longford Tourism Officer Dympna Reilly The Brochure To celebrate the upcoming Farrell Clan Rally in July of this year, Longford Tourism, in conjunction with the Farrell Clan has compiled and designed a brochure. It is one element of a larger promotional plan of action for the Farrell Clan, which includes a newly launched website www.farrellclan.ie , a social media strategy and an International Clan Ambassador program. Anyone who is interested in the new brochure can pick one up from Longford Tourism Office or can request one to be sent via post by contacting Longford Tourism. Clan member, Anna D Atkinson, who worked closely with local designer Mary Fleming in creating the brochure said, This brochure is designed to accompany our new clan website and is one of the key pieces of literature we will use for promoting Longford abroad. It will help raise the profile of both our clan and county at international level. Its a project that has been close to my heart for quite some time, so Im grateful that Longford Tourism agreed to work with us on it and delighted to have it come to fruition. She also praised the support of County Archivist Martin Morris, and Australian photographer John Riddle who provided the beautiful photography. Longford Tourism Officer Dympna Reilly has also welcomed the move. I am delighted with the finished brochure which has benefitted greatly from all of the contributors involved. It is excellent to have this available for members of the Farrell Clan when they arrive in County Longford as a welcoming gesture. The Farrell Clan history The Farrells have been associated with this midland region for more than 1,000 years, in that time having built many castles and fine tower houses of note including their main fortress at Longford Town. The Farrell Clan lost its control of the area by the mid-1600s when leading military members were forced to take flight and joined the armies of France and Spain. The majority remained settled in County Longford and the surrounding counties of Roscommon and Westmeath. Others moved to the cities in search of a livelihood with Dublin being the most popular destination. Farrells are very plentiful in the county of Longford but there are also thousands elsewhere in Ireland and across the world with the majority of these able to trace their ancestry right back here to the Hidden Heartlands of Ireland and the county of Longford. Internationally most people with Farrell origins are in the UK, USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. There are also Farrell Clan members from South Africa, Zimbabwe, France, Germany, Spain and Belgium. The Longford-based clan have a dedicated core committee, comprised of Farrell family members, relatives, and friends who meet regularly throughout the year to discuss how best to promote the Farrell Clan activities, celebrate important dates for members, organise mini-gatherings, dinners, and daytrips, and also just to catch up on local news, events, and projects of interest. To read more about the history of the Farrell Clan, visit the Diaspora and Genealogy page on Longford.ie here or see www.farrellclan.ie. For information on things to do in County Longford, visit www.longford.ie and find out all you need to know about accommodation, food and drink, activities, events and more. Youll also find ready-made itineraries listed to help visitors plan ahead. Follow Longford Tourism on social media for further great ideas and activities. The local monthly events guide is also available on www.longford.ie Steven Matthews TD, Green Party Spokesperson for Planning and Local Government, and Chair of the Oireachtas Housing and Planning Committee, has today (22nd February) launched the Vacancy, Dereliction and Regeneration Bill 2022. The Bill seeks to amend existing legislation in relation to vacant and derelict property, taxation measures and the processes of upgrading existing property. Deputy Matthews said; Housing, along with the cost of living, is the most critical issue in Ireland at the moment, spanning every sector of society and every age group. We know there are at least 90,000 vacant homes left idle across the country and our villages, towns and cities are blighted with neglected and derelict buildings. Time is of the essence; we must do everything we can to ensure that as many of these buildings can be added to our housing stock and once again become homes. Under the Bill, homes that are vacant for at least 180 days in the preceding year would be subject to a new vacant home tax at 3% of the market value of the property, to be collected by revenue as part of the local property tax. This would be re-paid to the local authority where the vacant property lies, to fund housing needs in the area. The tax would not apply to the principal private residence of the owner and includes a number of key exemptions, including if an owner is in care; if the occupant has moved temporarily for work purposes; if the property is a holiday home; or if the property is undergoing major renovations. An initiative introduced in Vancouver has seen a 25% decrease in vacant property since introducing similar tax measures in 2017. Deputy Matthews added; For decades weve seen decline in our communities across Ireland, in urban and rural locations. We need to reimagine our existing built environment to create vibrant, liveable villages and towns that will also bring jobs and enhance security and safety. The Green Party is committed to rejuvenating our towns, villages and cities and ensuring they are fit for purpose for individuals and families to live, work and play. In addition to addressing vacant property, this bill also simplifies the planning process and makes it easier for over the shop units to be brought back into residential use. This bill is in line with the objectives for the Government Housing for All and Town Centres First strategies. Architect Mel Reynolds, whose recent Joint Oireachtas Committee submissions includes papers on building control and costs in the residential sector and the re-use of vacant buildings, said; We need a multi-strand approach to address our housing crisis in Ireland that will bring both immediate and long-term solutions to our shortage of homes and struggling communities. Building new houses and apartments is an important part of this but the level of vacant property across the country clearly indicates a huge opportunity in existing building stock, which has potential for single people and families alike. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been provided Z-plus security cover during his 21-day release on furlough from a Haryana jail, officials said on Tuesday. He has been given the high security cover due to threat to his life from 'pro-Khalistan' extremists, officials added. Rahim is on 21-day furlough from Sunaria jail and is camping in Gurugram. He will be getting 10 NSG security personnel for mobile security and eight security personnel for his residence security. The Haryana government's recommendation to grant the top layer security cover to the convicted sect leader comes following his request. The Dera chief was released on furlough on February 7 after the Haryana government's conclusion that he does not fall in the category of hardcore prisoners. Incidently, the 21-day furlough had come just days ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab that was held on February 20 and he has a large number of followers, particularly in Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Muktsar. The sect chief has been currently serving life imprisonment for the murder of former journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati and the rape of two Dera disciples. He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in 2017. Soon after his release from the Sunaria jail in Rohtak, he was brought to his ashram in Gurugram. The Haryana police has deployed a heavy security in and near his ashram. Work at the site of the notorious Tuam mother and baby home could begin by the end of the year, as a new Bill to allow the exhumation and identification of bodies at such institutions enters the Irish parliament. The Irish Government on Tuesday gave its backing to a long-awaited Bill it promised would deliver dignity to children buried at the site of the former mother and baby home. However, it has been warned that the project will be of unprecedented complexity and it remains unclear how long such work might take. Work by historian and campaigner, Catherine Corless, revealed that 796 babies and young children had died and been indecently buried in a defunct sewage system at the Co Galway home between 1925 and 1961. Minister for Children and Equality, Roderic OGorman, who published the proposed legislation on Tuesday, said that he hoped that work to finally begin exhumation and identification work might begin either at the end of this year or the start of next year. Campaigners and families have long expressed deep concerns about the delay in publishing the Bill, while worries have also been raised about possible deterioration of the remains at the site, making the identification process even more difficult. Mr OGorman said that what happened at Tuam is a stain on our national conscience. The uniquely tragic nature of the Tuam means that legislation is required to undertake this work. This will be one of the most complex, forensic-excavation-in-recovery efforts ever undertaken, not only in Ireland, but anywhere in the world. It will encompass a DNA identification process on the scale never done before in Ireland. The legislation we are announcing today gives us the best possible chance of recovering remains from the site and re-uniting them with their loved ones, he said. The Government has said that the new legislation will provide a legal basis for a forensic excavation, recovery and analysis of remains. It will also permit DNA identification of remains and begin the process of giving child victims a dignified burial. Mr OGorman said that the process would follow international standards and did not rule out experts from beyond Ireland being appointed to help lead the project. He said that changes to the Bill had been made after listening to the concerns from family representatives. The minister said that any restriction on the jurisdiction of the coroner has been removed, while a new advisory board will be chaired by a former coroner, or someone with similar experience, as well as scientific experts, family members and former mother and baby home residents. The identification process has also been expanded to allow grandparents, aunts, nephews and nieces, the minister said. Mr OGorman insisted that while the legislation will allow work to start at Tuam, it is not specific to any single mother and baby home site. We can finally get some dignity back to these children. This is the central reason behind this legislation, he said. The minister said that he did not underestimate the scientific challenges involved. This is difficult language but in many situations, we are reassembling skeletons of incredibly delicate bones of infants and children. But this legislation requires that to be done, and that then gives us the best chance in terms of the next step, which is the DNA processes. We designed this Bill to provide every chance of identification, both in terms of the forensic approach that must be taken, to their actual recovery from the site. I am really conscious of the delay of the five years since the initial investigation work took place. The legislation will come before the Dail next week, with the Government hoping that it could be enacted by the end of the year. The Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) and The Housing Agency have announced details of a competition that is looking for innovative ideas to improve Irelands housing sector, including in Leitrim. Called Housing Unlocked, the initiative is calling for architects, together with people from a variety of disciplines and members of the public with a common interest in housing, to team up and submit ideas to solve housing issues in towns and villages in Leitrim. Entries are now open, with practical ideas and creative thinking being sought in the areas of density, construction technologies, social inclusion, environmental and other issues. A jury of high-profile judges will select around eight submissions which will each receive funding of 7,500 to develop their proposals into an exhibition piece. The exhibition will open to the public in September this year. Nathalie Weadick, Director of the IAF, said: Public contributions at recent IAF debates have shown that there has never been a better time for design to rethink how we can deliver homes for sustainable communities in urban areas. Housing Unlocked is driven by the need to apply innovation and expertise, not just to the final product, but to the entire system that delivers homes in towns, cities and villages. A simple idea can produce a powerful effect. Bob Jordan, CEO of The Housing Agency, said: The Housing Agency is looking forward to being part of this project. We are seeking innovative and practical solutions that address the housing issues in Ireland. We are asking applicants to share practical solutions to the everyday issues that they are facing when it comes to delivering homes. We would like to invite architects, in collaboration with all those who are interested, to apply for the opportunity to be featured in the public exhibition later in the year. All submissions must be made through an online form on the Housing Unlocked website at www.HousingUnlocked.ie, where further information is available. Entering teams must include at least one member with a qualification in architecture. The closing date is midnight on 24th April 2022. Hello, its lunchtime in Paris and eight presidential candidates will meet and chat with young voters. An event organized by the French public radio Radio France. Young voters participation is an issue of concern on the eve of an election in which voter abstention may be higher than usual. What happened yesterday? Vladimir Putin put an end to the diplomatic efforts deployed, notably by Emmanuel Macron, by recognizing two separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and sending troops there. Why does it matter? The Ukrainian crisis could further delay the announcement by the outgoing president of his re-election bid. It could shorter a presidential campaign already stifled by the last wave of Covid. Until today, French Sovereignist candidates had straight ideas about the Ukrainian crisis. Their motivations were different because some come from the left and others from the right or the far-right. However, they were essentially putting all the blame on the West, and, of course, on the outgoing president and likely candidate Emmanuel Macron, who worked tirelessly to maintain a diplomatic channel with Moscow. Sovereignists share the same disgust of the European Union, Nato, and the United States of America. They are however among the fiercest defenders of Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has just caused them a major problem by trampling on the sovereignty of Ukraine. By recognizing, on Monday night, the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine and subsequently sending "peacekeepers" (ie armed forces) there, the Russian president further increased already high tensions. A few days earlier, when asked about the Ukrainian conundrum, leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon defended the concept of a "non-aligned France." He said the Russians should "not cross Ukraines border" and the Americans should "not seek to annex Ukraine into NATO," even if it had never been on the table during this crisis. He also hoped that France would become an honest broker by withdrawing from NATOs integrated military structure. On the far-right, Eric Zemmour took a similar position. "For me, things are clear: the extension of NATO to Russias doorstep has no justification for Europes security and I am resolutely hostile to it. The Russians are neither our allies nor our enemies," he added. Despite the belligerent posture of Moscow, he also considered that "NATO has no reason to exist, in all truth." Neither Jean-Luc Melenchon nor Eric Zemmour or Marine Le Pen, a long time Vladimir Putin sycophant, had forseen the present situation. "The borders of Ukraine must be recognized by Russia," Eric Zemmour said earlier this month. Marine Le Pen had suggested a barter: "To demand from Russia the definitive exit from Donbas" and "to recognize the integration of Ukrainian Crimea into Russia." She had not anticipated the gluttony of the Russian president. His decision has led to a split in the sovereignist camp. Its left-wing has seceded. It was a wake-up call for Jean-Luc Melenchon. "A line has been crossed" and "whatever one thinks of the ulterior motives or the logic of the situation, the fact remains that it is Russia that has taken responsibility for this episode," he acknowledged late Monday night. The far-right tried to stand firm. Marine Le Pen expressed some doubts, noting "an eminently regrettable act." "Everything must be done to find the path to dialogue to ensure peace in Europe," she added. "From now on, the solution probably lies in the organization of an international conference," she said. More on this topic: Whos who in the 2022 French presidential election Eric Zemmour spoke about a decision which "violates the sovereignty of Ukraine and the principle of the intangibility of borders," but refrained from condemning Vladimir Putin. Instead, he preemptively blamed future U.S. and EU sanctions, predicting they would be "ineffective" and go "against our economic interests." To avoid "another war," he proposed "a treaty to stop the expansion of NATO" in other words, precisely what the Russian president has strongly been demanding. A division of the candidates into two camps will quickly become clear during the campaign. On the one hand, the alleged sovereignists will minimize the consequences of the latest Russian annexation and refuse to attribute the sole responsibility for the crisis to Vladimir Putin. On the other, the so-called globalists will speak out for respecting Ukrainian sovereignty and against Moscow. Environmentalist Yannick Jadot, Socialist Anne Hidalgo, and Conservative Valerie Pecresse who criticized Vladimir Putins "violence" in strong terms on Tuesday will probably join this camp, along with Emmanuel Macron once he is a candidate. If the current crisis turns into a war, this division could have consequences for the voters who are likely to act strategically. Jean-Luc Melenchon could lose the potential support of some of the center-left voters, while Eric Zemmours pro-Russian blind conformity could discourage conservative voters to support him. Emmanuel Macron, well-positioned in the middle of the political spectrum, would have none of these problems. More on this topic: French presidential election, how does it work? Quote of the day "End-of-campaign low blows" Valerie Pecresse brushed aside on Tuesday the accusations of Ile-de-France ecologist elected representatives for her supposed links with giant company Alstom of which her husband was a senior executive. The head of the Ile-de-France region which includes Paris denied any unlawful conflict of interest and mocked "the end-of-campaign low blows". Communist candidate Fabien Roussel also denied on Monday accusations by Mediapart, a French investigative website, that he was employed as an assistant to a member of parliament and paid from public funds without actually working. Countdown 47 Days until the presidential elections first round 61 Days until the presidential elections second round Thanks for reading, see you tomorrow. Read the previous column: Panic in campaign headquarters Gilles Paris(Columnist) LIMERICK City and County Council are undertaking a survey to asses the impact of the pandemic on the arts and culture sector in Limerick. The purpose of the survey is to quantify the challenges and assess the opportunities that have arisen from the pandemic and understand what sustainability will look like for the arts and culture sector in the years ahead. Limerick has a new SPC Sub-Committee on the impact of Covid-19 on the arts and culture sector to assess the impact of Covid-19 on the sector in Limerick. The committee will also make recommendations to the SPC on policy, to address supporting the recovery of the sector, in the coming two to three years. The committee is comprised of councilors and sectoral representatives from the SPC and has been set up under the auspices of the Community, Leisure and Culture Strategic Policy Committee A report on the findings of the Sub-Committee will be presented to the Community, Leisure and Culture Strategic Policy Committee for their consideration later on this year. The survey is open until Sunday 6 March and can be completed here. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 3,294 PCR-confirmed cases of COVID-19. Yesterday, there were 3,473 PCR-confirmed cases of Covid-19. In addition, on Monday 21st February, 4,060* people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal. As of 8am today, 608 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of whom 54 are in ICU. Yesterday, there were 634 COVID-19 patients hospitalised, of whom 53 were in ICU. The Department of Public Health Mid-West are advising people in Limerick to avail of the flu vaccine in order to reduce the risk of severe illness associated with the flu. Those who are immunocompromised are also being encouraged to avail of their fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. This call is in conjunction with the UL Hospitals Group, and HSE Mid West Community Healthcare, who have all come together to encourage those in this group to receive an additional dose. This dose can be given at a HSE community vaccine centre, hospital if you are an inpatient, or a GP. THE UL Hospitals Group has denied a "party" took place, following claims made by Deputy Richard O'Donoghue under parliamentary privilege. In the Dail last week, the Independent TD said on May 29, 2020 there was a "retirement party" in University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for Dr Gerry Burke. UL Hospitals Group said flowers and cake were presented in lieu of a celebration. Deputy O'Donoghue said he knows the date in question because it was his 50th birthday. "We were not permitted to have my birthday party with my family and friends. However, on that day, there was a retirement party in UHL for Dr Gerry Burke. Professor Paul Burke, the CEO, Professor Cowan, and others attended. There were no masks or 2m distancing and no accountability or sanctions against management. Photographs were posted on Twitter before being removed subsequently," said Deputy O'Donoghue. In response to a query from the Limerick Leader, a spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said the event referred to by Deputy Richard O'Donoghue on the date in question was "not a party". "This was a presentation of a cake and flowers to mark the retirement of a senior clinician, and took place in UHL at the end of a meeting of the Hospital Crisis Management Team (HCMT) on May 29, 2020. "The clinician, Dr Gerry Burke, was retiring after many years of service, and the flowers and cake were presented in lieu of a celebration that would in pre-pandemic times have been properly due to a professional of Dr Burke's standing. At the time, Dr Burke was the Groups Chief Clinical Director," said the spokesperson. The response continues: "The HCMT meeting at UHL on May 29, 2020, was physically attended by a small number of colleagues, who at all times were in compliance with national guidance on the use of surgical masks in healthcare settings, issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC)." The spokesperson said the photographs of the presentation were posted on the UL Hospital Groups official Twitter account that day, at 3.30pm on May 29, 2020. Thank you @drgerryburke for everything. You will be missed. We wish you the very best of health & happiness in your retirement. Dr Gerry Burke retired today as Chief Clinical Director of @ULHospitals. Read about his legacy & his outlook as he says farewell https://t.co/lFPY1eQfiM pic.twitter.com/VM7LphVEqI UL Hospitals (@ULHospitals) May 29, 2020 The spokesperson added that the images have never been removed and remain publicly available. A UNIVERSITY of Limerick study has revealed that the ideological gap between Republicans and Democrats has widened over the last three election cycles in the United States. The analysis of US election data shows a trend of increasing polarisation and a growing ideological distance between Republicans and Democrats from 2012 to 2020. The data came from the American National Election Survey who recruit around 5,000 participants prior to each US presidential election. The UL research found that ideological distance and polarisation increased with each election cycle since 2012, with a striking increase from 2016 to 2020. The lead author of the study was Alejandro Dinkelberg, a PhD student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at UL.. It is interesting to see that the Republicans are spread out and move further away from each other, Alejandro observed. The researchers show that the trend to 2020 illustrates that Democrats and Republicans in this sample become more distinct from one another, but also that Democrats generally become ideologically more similar to each other. Republicans become more scattered, possibly showing that Trump-era politics resulted in polarisation within the Republican identity as well as between Republicans and other parties. We might not see political attitudes drift off to extremes, however, we can observe missing common ground between Republicans and Democrats, clarified UL postdoctoral researcher and co-author of the study Dr Padraig MacCarron. Polarisation and the hardening of attitudes could put brakes on Americas ability to find popular solutions to pressing social issues, he added. Nowadays, people are more likely to connect with people with similar opinions due to the omnipresence of opinions, comments and identifications in online social networks like Twitter. We want to understand how this happens and what the important influential factors are, Dr Quayle, of ULs Psychology Department concluded. THE OLDEST church in Limerick celebrated some of the citys everyday heroes at a special ceremony this week. Congregants returned to St Marys Cathedral for their first evensong in two years, where they also gave out four special community awards, acknowledging those who have gone above and beyond in their service to the city. The recipients were Ann Curley, Mohamed Ferhat, Dolores OMeara and Mary Keogh. Continue reading below or click 'Next' for more photos While Mary could not be present, the other three were present to receive a special certificate from cathedral Dean Niall Sloane, and Mayor Daniel Butler. Ann, who is known to generations of youngsters for the help she has provided, said: I feel honoured being given this. Years go on, but it's good to say people are so kind, and are aware of what is going on in the city. It's an award, but I'm glad to see my work is still remembered." Coonagh resident Ann has provided a childrens holiday camp at Ballycotton, Co Cork, and its her hope that it gets going again this summer after a Covid-19 enforced absence. Dolores, meanwhile, chairs the Limerick Fair Trade City Group. Its her hope now to continue to raise awareness of the designation, and try and have areas across the county known as Fair Trade Towns. Throughout Covid-19, Mohamed, or Mo to his friends, was a well-known face around the city. Alongside the Tidy Towns group, he cleaned every nook and cranny to keep our streets looking spick and span. Its a real honour for me to be given this award, he said. Helen ODonnell, who chairs Limerick Tidy Towns, added: We are privileged to have him as one of our volunteers. He does incredible work. *PICTURES: Brendan Gleeson After signing a decree to recognise Ukraine's rebel regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as independent states, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered more troops to perform "peacekeeping functions" in the conflict-hit eastern region, raising fears that they could soon cross the border into Kiev Currently, Ukraine is being surrounded by more than 150,000 Russian troops on its borders. On Monday night, Putin inked the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and "the Luhansk People's Republic (LPR)" and "the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)" with the heads of the two Moscow-backed separatist regions, Xinhua news agency quoted a Kremlin statement as saying. "I consider it necessary to make a long overdue decision -- to immediately recognise the independence and sovereignty of the DPR and the LPR," Putin said in an hour-long televised address to the nation. "Russia has done everything to preserve the territorial integrity of Ukraine" by fighting for the implementation of 2015 Minsk agreements, but all the efforts ended up in vain, he told said. According to Putin, nearly everyday there is Ukrainian shelling of settlements in the Donbas region, that comprises Luhansk and Donetsk, and "there is no end in sight". The crisis of European security occurred due to the eastward expansion of the NATO, which has led to the loss of mutual trust with Russia, the President stressed. He called it just "a matter of time" for NATO to accept Ukraine as a member state and then build facilities on its territory so that the level of military threats to Russia will rise dramatically. Putin said modern Ukraine had been "created" by Soviet Russia, referring to the country as "ancient Russian lands", the BBC reported. He referred to Russia having been "robbed" during the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, accused Ukraine of being a "US colony" run by a puppet government, and alleged that people were suffering under its current leadership. Responding to Putin's announcement, Ukrainian President resident Volodymyr Zelensky said the country wanted peace, but declared that "we are not afraid" and "will not give anything away to anyone". He added that his country now needs "clear and effective actions of support" from its international partners. "It is very important to see now who our real friend and partner is, and who will continue to scare the Russian Federation with words only," the BBC quoted Zelensky as saying. Putin's move has been widely condemned by the international community. While US President signed an executive order that prohibits new investment, trade and financing by Americans in the breakaway regions, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Russia's actions amounted to "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine" that breaks international law. The European Union has pledged to "react with unity, firmness and with determination in solidarity with Ukraine". US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has warned that the consequences of Russia's move will be dire across Ukraine, Europe and worldwide, adding that Putin "has torn the Minsk agreement to shreds". While Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the move "unacceptable, unprovoked, unwarranted", Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly called it "a serious threat to the security and stability of the region". In 2014 soon after Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula, the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk proclaimed their independence. Peace agreements were signed during 2014-15, but the conflict remained which led to hundreds of thousands of people leave the regions. An estimated 14,000 people have died since 2014. Nearly 9,000 homes and businesses were without power on Monday evening, after Storm Franklin hit the island of Ireland. In the Republic of Ireland, 8,600 customers were without power on Monday evening, while in Northern Ireland the figure had fallen to 350 from a high of around 10,000. The damage and disruption was a result of the third storm to pass over the island in recent days, after Storm Dudley and Storm Eunice wreaked havoc. This latest storm brought coastal flooding and fallen trees to parts of the island once again, with the north and north west worst affected. Met Eireann said gusts of more than 130kph were recorded in Co Galway and Co Donegal. Very windy with some severe gusts, but easing through the morning while scattered showers in the NE gradually die out By late morning it will be dry & bright for most but cloud will extend into the west this afternoon, followed by outbreaks of rain Highs of 7 to 11C pic.twitter.com/2HRApJXPCe Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 21, 2022 Status orange wind warnings issued for parts of the north and north west lifted early on Monday, while a yellow wind warning for the entirety of the Republic of Ireland expired at 9am. A yellow wind warning for the counties of Wicklow and Wexford had also been issued, as the storm passed over the island. A spokesperson for ESB said that the majority of people in Ireland will have power restored by Monday evening. However, it was expected that some people in the north west could remain without power into Tuesday. Apologies to 29,100 customers who are without power following #StormFranklin. Our crews are working to repair the damage and reconnect customers. To report an outage or check estimated restoration times see https://t.co/EU6R9nRfwR. pic.twitter.com/RW0k3N0wec ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) February 21, 2022 Storm Franklin arrived as parts of the country were still clearing up after Storm Eunice. Brian Tapley, from ESB, warned on Monday that his companys technicians had been working for three to four days and that there were worries about fatigue. Precautions had been put in place, with Sligo County Council making the decision in advance to close certain coastal roads, as well as the popular Strandhill promenade, due to fears of flooding at high tide. Council staff in Sligo and elsewhere were still working on Monday evening to clear debris and reopen blocked roads. Met Eireann has warned that the poor conditions will not disappear this week, with the weather set to remain unsettled. The national forecaster has said that some parts of the country could see snow later this week. Irelands representative to the United Nations has called for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis instead of allowing a grim new chapter of conflict to eventuate. Speaking at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said: (We) have the responsibility to work to resolve this conflict, rather than yield to a grim new chapter, which will inflict further misery on Ukraine and its people. Ms Byrne Nason said those in the room all need to demonstrate our faith in the value of diplomacy tonight. The #SecurityCouncil and its members have the responsibility to resolve this conflict & ensure the core principles of the @UN Charter are upheld. At tonight's meeting on #Ukraine, Amb. Byrne Nason once again called for calm, de-escalation & the pursuit of diplomacy. pic.twitter.com/G8u54nJsR6 Ireland at UN (@irishmissionun) February 22, 2022 It comes after the Irish government branded Russias recognition of two separatist Ukrainian regions as a blatant violation of Ukraines territorial integrity. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said Ireland would stand in solidarity with Ukraine. Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Irelands support for Ukraine was unwavering and said Dublin would support additional EU sanctions on Russia in response to the move by President Vladimir Putin. Tonights announcement by President Putin recognising the separatist territories of Ukraine is a violation of international law, and breaches Ukrainian sovereignty. With our EU partners, we will stand in solidarity with Ukraine. Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 21, 2022 The Ukraine crisis escalated on Monday when Mr Putin announced he would recognise the two breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. Ms Byrne Nason said the move was a flagrant violation of international law. She told the late-night meeting of the security council: This is the second time in less than ten years that the Russian Federation has violated Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is a flagrant violation of international law. In taking this unilateral step, Russia has abandoned the Minsk Agreements and cast into doubt all the diplomatic efforts of past weeks. Ireland commends Ukraine for the restraint it has shown in the face of Russias military build-up at its border and the provocation of the recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The meeting was led by Russia, which currently holds the rotating chair of the council. The next hours and days will be critical, UN under-secretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs Rosemary Dicarlo told the council. The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs. A LIMERICK-based crime series has been nominated in several categories as part of the prestigious Irish Film and Television Academy Awards. Six-part Belgian and Irish series Hidden Assets, which was partially filmed in locations across Limerick and Shannon, has been nominated under the Best Drama 2021 category. Also featured in this category is Dublin based cartel series Kin, County Clare based drama Smother and Vikings: Valhalla, picking up 100 years after the internationally acclaimed original Viking series. #IFTA 2022 NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE IRISH ACADEMY AWARDS View the full list here! https://t.co/07ipta9gPu pic.twitter.com/PkP6BvCSGF February 22, 2022 Over the past few months, Irish Academy Members have been busy viewing, deliberating, and shortlisting the very best work from across great Irish films, dramas, performances, and craftsmanship. IFTA Chief Executive Aine Moriarty said that the work being recognised this year showcases to the world the talent that the Irish industry has to offer. What a spectacular line-up of Nominees that have been shortlisted for Irish Academy Awards this year, after a record-breaking production year for the Irish industry, she said. In the Supporting Actress Drama Category, Hidden Assets stars Cathy Belton and Simone Kirby are nominated for their roles as forensic accountant Norah Dillon and wealthy businesswoman Bibi Melnick respectively. Peter Coonan, who played Fionn Brannigan has also been nominated in the Supporting Actor Drama Category, one of 25 categories across the awards, which first began in 1999. The top numbers have revealed that Hidden Assets placed joined-second with Vikings: Valhalla in terms of highest number of nominations (7), only behind RTEs gangland series Kin (13). Angeline Ball received a nomination in the Lead Actress Drama category, whilst Morna Regan and Peter McKenna also received nominations under the best Script Drama. Its an incredible reflection of the high caliber of Irish talent, filmmaking and storytelling that we have in this country, at world-class standards. "The Irish Academy is proud to acknowledge and reward their great achievements, Chief Executive Moriarty concluded. NEW DELHI : The government is likely to infuse 15,000 crore into state-run banks in the second half of March to help the lenders meet tighter capital-reserve requirements, according to two people privy to the development. Punjab and Sind Bank and Central Bank of Indiathe only lender that still faces lending curbsare likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of the latest funding plan, though the exact quantum of support is to be decided, the people said, requesting anonymity. The governments massive recapitalization of banksit has pumped in more than 3.10 trillion over five years since FY17was prompted by a pile-up of soured loans that cast doubts on the survival of some lenders. The mountain of stressed assets on balance sheets crimped their ability to lend and slowed down the economy. This year, the government allocated 15,000 crore in the revised budget estimates, and the entire amount may be distributed next month as the government has not provided for public sector banks recapitalization in the year starting 1 April, the people said, requesting anonymity. Public sector banks have been asked by the department of financial services to send their capital requirements for the current fiscal as it is formulating the recapitalization plan for the budgeted amount," one of the two people cited above said. Queries emailed to a finance ministry spokesperson seeking details of the capital distribution to public sector banks remained unanswered until press time. The government had initially budgeted 20,000 crore for bank recapitalization for the year but cut it to 15,000 crore in the revised estimates in an acknowledgement of the improving health of PSBs. The number of weak banks has drastically reduced as better recognition and provisioning for bad debt and adequate capital support from the government has helped banks to improve financials, with most now showing a rise in profitability. Even the number of banks under the Reserve Bank of Indias prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, under which the regulator imposes curbs on lending, has now come down to just one. The finance ministry is also expected to provide capital to Indian Overseas Bank, which is among candidates identified for privatization, along with Central Bank of India. Additional capital is expected to shore up their financials and help the government realize better valuations. In this fiscal, all 12 public sector banks have posted profits. Though the government has not budgeted for bank recapitalization in FY23, an assessment would be made for such support, depending on the health of banks balance sheets. In the previous fiscal, the government infused 20,000 crore into five PSBs. Out of this, 11,500 crore was given to three banks under PCAUCO Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, and Central Bank of India. A big chunk of government funding has been via recapitalization bonds. Budgetary support stood at 34,997 crore in the five years since FY17. Banking sector experts said the improving financial health of banks would allow them to tap markets for funds, cutting their reliance on the government. Also, the setting up of a bad bank and the government guarantee extended to security receipts issued by it constitutes an indirect way of capitalization, they said. On its part, the government is strengthening the banking segment by merging weaker state-run banks with stronger counterparts. Since 2017, this exercise has resulted in seven large and five small PSBs. The measures (based on bad loans and regional factors) were intended to help manage capital more efficiently. An Air India plane carrying more than 240 passengers from Ukraine is likely to land at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after 11.30 pm on Tuesday, said officials. The airline is operating a Boeing 787 aircraft to bring back Indians amid rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia. The flight AI 1946 took off from Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv at around 6 pm. Earlier, the flight had taken off from Delhi at around 7.30 am and landed at Boryspil International Airport at around 3 pm IST (Indian Standard Time). Air India, on 19 February, announced that it would operate three flights between India and Ukraine on 22, 24 and 26 February to bring Indians back. According to a civil aviation ministry official, some other Indian operators are also expected to operate flights to Ukraine depending on the demand. Meanwhile, full-service carrier Vistara's CEO Vinod Kannan on Tuesday said Vistara has no plans at this time to operate flights to Ukraine. "At this time, we are not planning flights to Ukraine because of aircraft limitations and other reasons," PTI quoted him as saying. On 17 February, the civil aviation ministry asked Indian carriers to look at the possibility of operating flights to Ukraine due to the increase in demand. The ministry had removed the curbs on the number of flights that can be operated between India and the eastern European nation under the bilateral air bubble arrangement to facilitate the travel of Indians from that country. Indian embassy's advice This comes as the Indian embassy in Ukraine's capital Kyiv has yet again advised students to temporarily leave the country rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities. "The embassy of India is receiving a large number of calls asking about the confirmation of online classes by Medical Universities. In this regard, as informed earlier, the embassy is engaged with respective authorities for streamlining of the education process for Indian students," said the embassy. "Students are advised, in the interest of their safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities," it added. The embassy had on Sunday asked its nationals, whose stay is not essential, to leave the country temporarily. It also asked the family members of its staff in Ukraine to return home. Further, amid escalating situation at the Russia-Ukraine border, the Indian embassy in Kyiv is organising additional flights out of Ukraine. "In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised," the Indian embassy said in an advisory. It listed the available flights from Kyiv to New Delhi with the booking procedure. A total of four flights are scheduled to depart between 25 February and 6 March. Scheduled flights of Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, etc are continuing to operate their routine flights from Ukraine to India. Amid growing tensions in the region, the Indian embassy in Ukraine's capital Kyiv has yet again advised students to temporarily leave the country rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities. "The embassy of India is receiving a large number of calls asking about the confirmation of online classes by Medical Universities. In this regard, as informed earlier, the embassy is engaged with respective authorities for streamlining of the education process for Indian students," said the embassy. "Students are advised, in the interest of their safety, to leave Ukraine temporarily, rather than wait for an official confirmation from universities," it added. The embassy had on Sunday asked its nationals, whose stay is not essential, to leave the country temporarily. It also asked the family members of its staff in Ukraine to return home. The advisory issued had also asked Indian students to contact the associated persons for flights back to India. Further, amid escalating situation at the Russia-Ukraine border, the Indian embassy in Kyiv is organising additional flights out of Ukraine. "In view of the continued high level of tensions and uncertainties of the current situation in Ukraine, additional flights are being organised," the Indian embassy said in an advisory. It listed the available flights from Kyiv to New Delhi with the booking procedure. A total of four flights are scheduled to depart between 25 February and 6 March. Scheduled flights of Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Qatar Airways, etc are continuing to operate their routine flights from Ukraine to India. During the UNSC briefing on developments in Ukraine on Tuesday, India strongly emphasized the need for all sides to exercise the utmost restraint and intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure a mutually amicable solution. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, TS Tirumurti reiterated that the safety and security of civilians are essential to India. "More than twenty thousand Indian students and nationals live and study in different parts of Ukraine, including in its border areas. The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us," he added. Meanwhile, the United States and its European allies are set to announce fresh sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, deepening Western fears of a new war in Europe. The Ukrainian military said two soldiers were killed and 12 wounded in shelling by pro-Russian separatists in the east in the past 24 hours, the most casualties this year, as ceasefire violations increased. Putin's announcement on Monday, and his signing of a decree on the deployment of Russian troops to the two breakaway regions, drew international condemnation and immediate US sanctions, with President Joe Biden signing an executive order to halt US business activity in the breakaway regions. 10 min read . Updated: 23 Feb 2022, 05:05 AM IST Russia Ukraine crisis LIVE: The UN Security Council has scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday night, and the U.S. has moved to impose sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered forces Monday to maintain peace" in separatist regions of eastern Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin recognized the areas independence. The announcement raised fears that an invasion was imminent, if not already underway. The Kremlin decree, spelled out in an order signed by Putin, left unclear when, or even whether, troops would enter Ukraine. But it brought swift promises of new sanctions from the U.S. and other Western nations and underscored the steep challenges they face in staving off a military conflict they have portrayed as near-inevitable. The Kremlin's announcement came just hours after Putin, in a rambling, fact-bending discourse on European history, recognized the independence of the eastern separatist regions, paving the way to provide them military support and antagonizing Western leaders who regard such a move as a breach of world order. The U.S. and other nations scrambled to respond, calling for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday night. The White House issued an executive order to restrict investment and trade in the separatist regions, and additional measures likely sanctions were to be announced Tuesday. Those sanctions are independent of what Washington has prepared in the event of a Russian invasion, according to a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity. The developments came amid a spike in skirmishes in the eastern regions that Western powers believe Russia could use as a pretext for an attack on the western-looking democracy that has defied Moscows attempts to pull it back into its orbit. Putin justified his decision in a far-reaching, pre-recorded speech blaming NATO for the current crisis and calling the U.S.-led alliance an existential threat to Russia. Sweeping through more than a century of history, he painted todays Ukraine as a modern construct that is inextricably linked to Russia. He charged that Ukraine had inherited Russias historic lands and after the Soviet collapse was used by the West to contain Russia. I consider it necessary to take a long-overdue decision: To immediately recognize the independence and sovereignty of Donetsk Peoples Republic and Luhansk Peoples Republic," Putin said. Afterward he signed decrees recognizing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions independence, eight years after fighting erupted between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces, and called on lawmakers to approve measures paving the way for military support. Until now, Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists, but Moscow has denied that, saying that Russians who fought there were volunteers. At an earlier meeting of Putins Security Council, a stream of top officials argued for recognizing the regions independence. At one point, one slipped up and said he favored including them as part of Russian territory but Putin quickly corrected him. Recognizing the separatist regions' independence is likely to be popular in Russia, where many share Putins worldview. Russian state media released images of people in Donetsk launching fireworks, waving large Russian flags and playing Russias national anthem. Ukrainians in Kyiv, meanwhile, bristled at the move. Why should Russia recognize (the rebel-held regions)? If neighbors come to you and say, This room will be ours, would you care about their opinion or not? Its your flat, and it will be always your flat," said Maria Levchyshchyna, a 48-year-old painter in the Ukrainian capital. Let them recognize whatever they want. But in my view, it can also provoke a war, because normal people will fight for their country." With an estimated 150,000 Russian troops massed on three sides of Ukraine, the U.S. has warned that Moscow has already decided to invade. Still, Biden and Putin tentatively agreed to a meeting brokered by French President Emmanuel Macron in a last-ditch effort to avoid war. If Russia moves in, the meeting will be off, but the prospect of a face-to-face summit resuscitated hopes in diplomacy to prevent a conflict that could cause massive casualties and huge economic damage across Europe, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Russia says it wants Western guarantees that NATO wont allow Ukraine and other former Soviet countries to join as members and Putin said Monday that a simple moratorium on Ukraines accession wouldnt be enough. Moscow has also demanded the alliance halt weapons deployments to Ukraine and roll back its forces from Eastern Europe demands flatly rejected by the West. Macrons office said both leaders had accepted the principle of such a summit," to be followed by a broader meeting that would include other relevant stakeholders to discuss security and strategic stability in Europe." U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan, meanwhile, said the administration has always been ready to talk to avert a war but was also prepared to respond to any attack. Putins announcement shattered a 2015 peace deal signed in Minsk requiring Ukrainian authorities to offer broad self-rule to the rebel regions, a major diplomatic coup for Moscow. That deal was resented by many in Ukraine who saw it as a capitulation, a blow to the countrys integrity and a betrayal of national interests. Putin and other officials argued Monday that Ukrainian authorities have shown no appetite for implementing it. Over 14,000 people have been killed since conflict erupted in the eastern industrial heartland of in 2014, shortly after Moscow annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. Potential flashpoints multiplied. Sustained shelling continued Monday along the tense line of contact separating the opposing forces. Unusually, Russia said it had fended off an incursion" from Ukraine which Ukrainian officials denied. And Russia decided to prolong military drills in Belarus, which could offer a staging ground for an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. Ukraine and the separatist rebels have traded blame for massive cease-fire violations with hundreds of explosions recorded daily. While separatists have charged that Ukrainian forces were firing on residential areas, Associated Press journalists reporting from several towns and villages in Ukrainian-held territory along the line of contact have not witnessed any notable escalation from the Ukrainian side and have documented signs of intensified shelling by the separatists that destroyed homes and ripped up roads. Some residents of the main rebel-held city of Donetsk described sporadic shelling by Ukrainian forces, but they added that it wasnt on the same scale as earlier in the conflict. The separatist authorities said Monday that at least four civilians were killed by Ukrainian shelling over the past 24 hours, and several others were wounded. Ukraines military said two Ukrainian soldiers were killed over the weekend, and another serviceman was wounded Monday. Ukrainian military spokesman Pavlo Kovalchyuk insisted that Ukrainian forces werent returning fire. In the village of Novognativka on the Ukraine government-controlled side, 60-year-old Ekaterina Evseeva, said the shelling was worse than at the height of fighting early in the conflict. We are on the edge of nervous breakdowns," she said, her voice trembling. And there is nowhere to run." In another worrying sign, the Russian military said it killed five suspected saboteurs" who crossed from Ukraine into Russias Rostov region and also destroyed two armored vehicles and took a Ukrainian serviceman prisoner. Ukrainian Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko dismissed the claim as disinformation." Amid the heightened invasion fears, the U.S. administration sent a letter to the United Nations human rights chief claiming that Moscow has compiled a list of Ukrainians to be killed or sent to detention camps after the invasion. The letter, first reported by the New York Times, was obtained by the AP. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the claim was a lie and no such list exists. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops into two breakaway regions of Ukraine after recognizing their independence, a move that threatened to scuttle negotiations with the West over the future security of Eastern Europe. His two decrees were published on the Russian governments legal portal after a televised address late Monday in which Mr. Putin laid out grievances about the Wests support of Ukraine after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Western arms deliveries to Kyiv against the backdrop of a massive Russian troop buildup near its borders. A column of Russian military vehicles entered Donetsk overnight, according to witnesses and footage posted on social media. The local authorities, however, havent made any announcements. Eduard Basurin, one of the leaders of the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, said he wasnt aware of the Russian troops arrival, according to the Moscows RIA news agency. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that Russias decision to recognize the Donetsk and Luhansk statelets simply legalizes its troops that were in fact already deployed in the occupied regions of Donbas since 2014." A country that has been fomenting war for eight years cannot be working for peace as it claims," he said in a past-midnight speech to the nation. He urged Ukrainians to keep calm. We know the difference between provocations and an offensive by the aggressor troops," he said. For now, there is no reason for chaos. We have long been ready for anything. There is no reason for you to have a sleepless night." A senior Biden administration official said that in response, the U.S. will impose new sanctions on Russia by Tuesday. Mr. Putin said the unspecified number of Russian forces would act in a peacekeeping role once Russia has signed mutual assistance with the two regions. The situation in Donbas is becoming critical," Mr. Putin said of the eastern area of Ukraine, where the two breakaway regions are located. Ukraine is not just a neighbor. It is an inherent part of our own history, culture and spiritual space," he said. Mr. Zelensky gathered his national security and defense council for a permanent meeting following Mr. Putins speech. He also discussed the crisis with President Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In his late-night address, Mr. Zelensky said Russias latest actions amounted to a breach of Ukrainian sovereignty, but he continued to urge calm in the face of the threat. Truth is on our side. We will never hide the truth from you," Mr. Zelensky said. As soon as we see a change in the situation, as soon as we see an increase in risk, you will know all about it. There is currently no reason for chaotic actions." Condemnation from the international community was swift. The White House said that Mr. Biden strongly condemned" Mr. Putins decision to recognize two breakaway regions of Ukraine and said it planned to issue sanctions. Mr. Biden also reiterated that the United States would respond swiftly and decisively, in lockstep with its Allies and partners, to further Russian aggression against Ukraine." Mr. Biden also spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The White House said the leaders condemned Mr. Putins announcement and discussed next steps. Mr. Biden issued an executive order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons in the breakaway areas. Mondays order bans new investment and financing in the separatist regions and U.S. trade with the areas. Investors or company executives that do business with the breakaway areas will have their U.S. assets blocked. Press secretary Jen Psaki said the White House would also announce additional measures. She said those moves would be in addition to economic measures the U.S. has been preparing with allies. This wasnt just a speech about Russias security, it was an attack on the very idea of a sovereign and independent Ukraine," the senior Biden administration official said. Mr. Putin made clear that he views the claim historically as part of Russia, and he made a number of false claims about Ukraines intention that seems designed to excuse possible military action." The White House on Sunday said that Mr. Biden was prepared to meet with Mr. Putin in principle," if Moscow refrained from further invading Ukraine. The senior official said that the White House cant commit to a meeting that has a predicate that Russia wont take military action when it looks as imminently like it will." The official added that following Mr. Putins speech Monday, the administration received information that Russian troops deployed into the Donetsk and Luhansk regions for so-called peacekeeping functions," adding that U.S. officials are still assessing the situation. We are going to respond to any actions Russia takes in a way that we believe is appropriate to the action. There will be additional steps taken tomorrow, likely sanctionsif Russia takes further action," the official said Monday. Russian forces annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Following Mr. Putins action, the remaining U.S. diplomats currently stationed in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv have been cleared to leave by land to Poland. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken cited security reasons for the move and added, Our personnel will regularly return to continue their diplomatic work in Ukraine and provide emergency consular services," he said. U.S. military personnel didnt participate in the evacuation, defense officials said. News of Mr. Putins decision to recognize the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, which is expected to include financial assistance and help with infrastructure development and security, was greeted with cheers on the streets of the breakaway territories. Russian state media showed people waving Russian flags, embracing and hoisting bottles of champagne. The celebrations came as Ukraine asked the U.N. Security Council for an urgent meeting to tackle the threat of a Russian invasion. Ukraines foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said he made the request Monday after a substantial escalation in military activity between Russian-backed forces and Kyiv government troops. The Security Council, whose rotating presidency is held by Russia this month, met Monday night on the Ukraine crisis. Despite facing criticism over its action from most members, Russias veto power on the Security Council appeared to shield the country from significant U.N. trouble. The United States will impose sanctions on Russia for this clear violation of international law and Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity," U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield said after the Security Council meeting. Deciding to recognize the two territories in Donbas would likely grant the Kremlin greater sway over these regions, already proxies of Moscow, and hand Mr. Putin an additional trump card in negotiations in his current standoff with the West. Russias Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, will consider the move to recognize the breakaway regions at a closed meeting Tuesday, the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported, a necessary move to formalize the decrees under Russian law. In a statement Monday evening, the European Unions top officials called the step by Mr. Putin a blatant violation of international law." They said the EU will react with sanctions against those involved in this illegal act." No further details were provided. The French leader, Mr. Macron, who holds the EUs rotating presidency, called on Europe to respond with targeted sanctions. This is clearly a unilateral violation of Russias international commitments and an attack on Ukraines sovereignty," Mr. Macrons office said. Mr. Macron also called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Tensions have been steadily rising across the region, despite signs that diplomatic initiatives had been making tentative progress. Mr. Blinken has proposed a meeting with Sergei Lavrov, his Russian counterpart, this week in Europe that could lead to a summit between Messrs. Biden and Putin. But on Monday, Mr. Putin appeared to make the case for invading Russias smaller neighbor, describing Ukraine as a tool being used by the West for confrontation with Russia that poses a very large threat" to the country. Sitting behind a large desk flanked by the flag of the Russian Federation and the Presidential Standard, his fingers pressed into the edge of the tabletop, Mr. Putin spoke directly into the camera to deliver a lengthy and at times rambling monologue. He shrugged and sometimes appeared irritated as he explained his interpretation of the intertwined history of Russia and Ukraine. He questioned the territorial legitimacy of the former Soviet Republic, saying that modern Ukraine was entirely created by communist Russia" in a process that began immediately after the 1917 revolution." Ukraine, in fact, has never had a stable tradition of its true statehood," he said. Mr. Putin also accused Ukraine of taking a hostile stance toward Russian-controlled areas of Donbas and said the government in Kyiv wasnt willing to implement the Minsk cease-fire agreement signed after Ukrainian forces were routed in Donbas in 2015. Ukraine has rejected Moscows interpretation of the deal, which it says provides Russias proxies in the region a veto over any attempt to align Ukraine more closely with the West. The Russian leader also repeated his objections to Ukraine being allowed to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying that Kyiv would use it as an opportunity to forcibly try to retake the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. If Russia faces such a threat as the admission of Ukraine to NATO, then the threats to our country will increase," he said. Biden administration officials said that Mr. Putins address was a speech to the Russian people to justify a war." Markets were unsettled by the latest developments. Russian stocks, the ruble and European shares had tumbled Monday, while oil prices had risen, as investors grew nervous at signs of escalation between Moscow and the West. U.S. stock markets were closed on Monday. The MOEX, Russias benchmark stock index, dropped 10.5%, which was the largest daily percentage decline since March 2014 during Russias invasion of Crimea. On Tuesday, global stock indexes and U.S. futures fell and Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, rose 1.9% to $97.24 a barrel. On Monday, Russias military said it destroyed two Ukrainian armored vehicles and killed five Ukrainian personnel inside Russian territory Monday, but offered no evidence of the alleged incursion, as Ukrainian and Western leaders warned Moscow was seeking pretexts to mount an attack. Ukrainian military spokesman Lt. Col. Pavlo Kovalchuk said no such incident occurred. This whole false claim of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance team being caught somewhere near the Russian border is completely false," he said. Kyiv says it isnt carrying out any offensive operations now that some 190,000 Russian troops have massed on Ukraines borders and that its forces have been holding back on returning fire to avoid giving Moscow any excuse for an invasion. Russia, stop your fake-producing factory now," Mr. Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign minister, tweeted on Monday. Western intelligence officials said Russian forces have continued to build along Ukraines borders in the past 72 hours, including the deployment of its S-400 air-defense systems. They said there are now about 100 battalion tactical groups in the area of operations, with more on the way. Around two-thirds of the units are within 31 miles of the border with Ukraine and primed to make an offensive strike. One official described it as a move from being postured for military operations to being poised for military operations," with indications pointing to a possible large-scale invasion. The official said it is believed that the final order to invade hasnt been given and a window for de-escalation remains. Also on Monday, a Russian-installed leader of a breakaway part of eastern Ukraines Donbas region assertedalso without offering evidencethat Kyiv had launched an offensive and said he would welcome financial and military assistance from Moscow. Shelling all along the cease-fire line separating Ukrainian-controlled parts of Donbas from those held by Russian-installed administrations has escalated in recent days amid U.S. warnings of an imminent Russian invasion. On Monday, a major power station in the Ukrainian-controlled town of Shchastia stopped operations because of damage sustained from Russian artillery, according to local officials. While Russia has aided and armed Donetsk and Luhansk since the Donbas conflict erupted in 2014, it has long insisted that its own armed forces arent directly involved in the fightingwhich has claimed roughly 14,000 livesan assertion ridiculed by Kyiv and the West. Some 700,000 Donbas residents hold Russian passports and around one million applied for passports in recent days, Russian officials said. Mr. Putin has long put the defense of Russian citizens and Russian speakers at the heart of his assertive policies toward former Soviet neighbors. When Russia invaded the Caucasus country of Georgia in 2008, for example, it said it was defending its citizens from an attack by Georgias army. If Moscow openly enters the fighting in Donbas, its overwhelming advantage in aviation and missiles could allow its forces to punch through Ukrainian defenses and potentially encircle some of the Ukrainian armys best fighting units. Military assistance is needed, in different directions," Mr. Basurin said on Russian TV on Monday. The U.S. has told the U.N. that it has reliable information that the Kremlin plans to hunt down Ukrainians who oppose a Russian attack if Mr. Putin decides to invade the country. We have credible information that indicates Russian forces are creating lists of identified Ukrainians to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation," Bathsheba Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. office and other international organizations in Geneva wrote a top U.N. human rights official. Russian forces will likely use lethal measures to disperse peaceful protests or otherwise counter peaceful exercises of perceived resistance from civilian populations." Dissidents from Belarus and Russia who have sought refuge in Ukraine would also likely be targeted, as would journalists, anticorruption activists, religious and ethnic minorities and LGBTQ people, Ms. Crocker wrote. The letter, which was first reported by the Washington Post, was sent to Michelle Bachelet, the U.N.s high commissioner for human rights. Russian-installed authorities in Donetsk said that several civilians and troops were killed and injured by Ukrainian fire Sunday, and released footage of a severed leg of what they said was a Ukrainian saboteur who had an accident while trying to plant a bomb. They also said Ukrainian forces tried Monday morning to break through front lines along the Azov Sea coast, heading toward the Russian border. Ukraine dismissed these allegations as a disinformation campaign. Russia on Monday also said a Ukrainian shell hit a border outpost in its southern Rostov region, destroying the building. Nobody was hurt in the incident, according to Moscow. Ukraine said its forces were far from that area, which abuts a part of Donbas controlled by Russia, and didnt fire in that direction. They are in search of a casus belli," said Ukraines national security adviser, Oleksii Danilov. But the desire of the Russian federation to provoke us to begin active operations will fail." Lt. Col. Kovalchuk said Russian-backed forces were deliberately destroying civilian infrastructure on their own territory to escalate hostilities. Our positions and the Russian border are separated by the temporarily occupied territories, and our artillery is currently drawn back to the rear of our positions," he said. It would be absolutely impossible for us to shoot over the temporarily occupied territories to shoot all the way to Rostov." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the end of all domestic Covid-19 restrictions in England in a process starting later this week. The Prime Minister on Monday announced the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with Covid", Xinhua news agency reported. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate will be removed from Thursday of this week, Johnson has announced. "From April 1, when Winter is over and the virus will spread less easily, we will end free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public," he said. Johnson said it will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in history as Britain begins to learn to live with Covid-19. "The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others," he said. More than 91 per cent of people aged 12 and over in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 85 per cent have received both doses, according to the latest figures. More than 66 per cent have received booster jabs, or the third dose of a coronavirus vaccine. "Britain will move from government restrictions to personal responsibility," said Johnson, adding contingencies will be maintained to tackle any future virus variations. Saying people in Britain need to get their confidence back, Johnson added: "We chose to compel people to be considerate to others. We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another by providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to avoid infecting loved ones." He said Britain's aim would be to manage future risks. However, leading academics, medics and scientists expressed concern about the move, with many saying it is too early to ease restrictions while so many daily cases and deaths continue to be registered. More than 1,300 scientists and medics have sent an urgent message to Britain's top two government medical advisers, England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Patrick Vallance, expressing concern about the government plans to end testing, surveillance surveys and legal isolation of Covid-19 cases. They called on the two to clarify the scientific advice underpinning the policy decisions. They said in an open letter: "We do not believe there is a solid scientific basis for the policy. It is almost certain to increase the circulation of the virus and remove the visibility of emerging variants of concern. We believe humanity is in a race against the virus." "The government cannot wave a magic wand and pretend the threat has disappeared entirely," said Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the National Health Service (NHS) Confederation. In what some have speculated could be the last ever Downing Street Covid-19 briefing on Monday, Vallance started on a downbeat tone, with a warning the pandemic is not over and "the virus has got a lot of room to evolve". It will continue to do so at a fast pace "probably for the next couple of years" and there is "no guarantee that the next variant is of as reduced severity as Omicron". "And we must maintain the ability to get everything going again within a "couple of weeks," he said. The British Medical Association (BMA) which represents doctors across the country said ending the restrictions was premature and not based on current evidence. The BMA, often described as the doctor's "trade union" warned dropping testing for the virus and self-isolation could lead to a surge in cases. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA council, said the decision hasn't been guided by data or done in consultation with the healthcare profession. Nagpaul said Covid-19 infections need to fall further before the rules were relaxed. "It does appear as if the government is trying to pretend that Covid doesn't exist in the day-to-day lives of so many people," he said. Scientists working together, in a body known as Independent SAGE, to provide independent scientific advice on the Covid-19 crisis, has condemned plans to stop free tests and payments to support self-isolation in England. "Our concerns about removing access to free tests include increased risk of spread of Omicron and any subsequent variants, leading to more illness, death and burden on the NHS and more risk of new variants emerging," said Independent Sage. As of Monday, Britain had recorded 18,654,572 Covid-19 cases and 160,610 related deaths, according to official figures. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The two teen drivers involved in a car crash that killed one of them and injured several others in September were intoxicated, according to Laredo police. Eric Bryan Heard, 19, was identified as the driver of a Lexus L43. He had a 0.09 blood alcohol concentration. Although a grand jury returned a no bill on Feb. 2 on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxicated assault, there was sufficient evidence to charge Heard with driving while intoxicated, authorities said. Heard was served with the DWI warrant on Wednesday. The case is still being considered for other possible charges, according to the Webb County District Attorneys Office. Heard was released on bond that same day. Further investigation also revealed that Julio Jesus Lerma-Montemayor, 17, had cocaine, marijuana and alcohol in his system while driving his white Dodge Ram. He, too, had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.09, according to police. Lerma-Montemayor died at the scene. It appears that this crash was the result of a road rage incident as survivors involved the crash stated that they were not racing, as per the affidavit. The case unfolded when officers responded to a motor vehicle crash at about 1:42 a.m. Sept. 11, 2021 near the intersection of International Drive and Santiago Drive. Initial reports indicated that multiple people were thrown out of one of the vehicles. Laredo Fire Department crews and police officers responded and encountered a tan Lexus and a white Ram. The driver of the Lexus was identified as Heard, who did not appear to sustain any injuries. He was alert and responsive at the scene. Authorities identified the driver of the Ram as Lerma-Montemayor. He died after being thrown out of the vehicle, authorities said. Teen passengers in the Ram who were believed to have been ejected were identified as Faraon Garcia, Armando Perez, Marcelo Palomo and Rafael Cisneros. Garcia, Palomo and Perez were taken to Laredo Medical Center with apparent minor injuries. Cisneros had a severed hand and was taken to Doctors Hospital in serious condition. He was then airlifted to San Antonio due to the nature of his injuries. Moderate odor At the time, Heard had acknowledged having consumed alcoholic beverages prior to driving. He also failed a standardized field sobriety test, according to police. Investigators noticed he had a moderate odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from his breath. Heard also had watery, bloodshot eyes, court documents state. In an interview with police, Heard stated he was traveling alone in his car and mentioned that he had just left a house party in the 100 block of Chisos Oak Drive. While at the party, Eric (Heard) acknowledged that he had consumed a shot of liquor and multiple bottles of beer, states the affidavit. Heard stated that the party host required guests to take one shot of liquor before entering the residential portion of the home. Heard stated he was driving west along Bob Bullock Loop from Crepusculo Drive when he noticed Lerma-Montemayor in a Ram aggressively following him at a close distance. Lerma-Montemayor kept flashing the headlight repeatedly. As Heard turned onto International Boulevard, he noticed the Ram pulling up next to him. The Rams occupants began yelling at him for no apparent reason. Heard added that Lerma-Montemayor kept driving recklessly and speeding. Heard believed the occupants of the Ram were yelling at him because he had accidentally cut them off prior to the incident. Heard continued driving on International to try to get away from the Ram. At one point, Lerma-Montmayor accelerated and got onto the opposite side of traffic to pass Heard. As Lerma-Montemayor tried to merge back in front of Heards Lexus, the two vehicles collided, causing Lerma-Montemayor to lose control of the Ram. Lerma-Montemayor crashed into landscaping, causing some occupants to be ejected. Heard stated he quickly went to check on the occupants and noticed Lerma-Montemayor dead, according to court documents. Heard provided a breath specimen. He had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.078. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. Record with police Further investigation revealed that Lerma-Montemayor had also been drinking alcoholic beverages before driving. Investigators found out that Lerma-Montemayor had documented history with police of evading arrest with a motor vehicle and several citations for driving at excessive speed, according to authorities. Authorities would recover surveillance video from the area. At the time of the crash, it appears that Julio Lerma-Montemayor attempts to overtake Eric Heard by illegally traveling in the center lane (turning lane) to get ahead of the Lexus, states the affidavit. When attempting to obtain more information, police spoke to Cisneros mother. She stated that Cisneros had undergone multiple surgeries, which resulted in an infection. The infection led to doctors having to remove his entire left arm, which was severed, states the affidavit. Garcia did speak to police. Garcia stated they were coming from some house parties in north Laredo. When exiting the neighborhood on Crepusculo, the Lexus was stopped in the middle of the road. Lerma-Montemayor flashed the headlights to the driver of the Lexus, Heard, to move. Garcia stated that the Lexus and Lerma-Montemayor turned west on Loop 20. Heard kept zig-zagging and did not allow Lerma-Montemayor to overtake him. Garcia confirmed that he and the other occupants Perez, Cisneros, Palomo and Lerma-Montemayor began yelling at Heard to ask him why he was driving erratically. Garcia added that Lerma-Montemayor was simply trying to overtake the Lexus at the time of the crash, states the affidavit. Garcia added that he did not believe Lerma-Montemayor was engaged in racing. Heard also maintained that he was not drag racing with the Ram, according to court documents. Simply trying to get away During the investigation, police learned that Heard had his girlfriend, Kaitlyn Martinez, in the front passenger seat. Martinez stated she and Heard got scared because they suspected the occupants of the Ram were attempting to harm them. Martinez added that Heard was simply trying to get away from the Ram at the time of the accident, states the affidavit. When asked why she fled the scene, Martinez stated she was in shock and scared after seeing all the injured people from the crash, police said. An investigation revealed that Heard was traveling at 78 mph five seconds before the crash. Police could not determine the speed of the Ram since its black box was crushed as a result of the crash. Authorities further stated that the Lexus had a 12-pack of Michelob Ultra. Perez also spoke to police. He stated that Heard would not allow Lerma-Montemayor to pass him. Perez stated that he did not remember yelling at Heard. He could not recall the specifics of the crash. Armando (Perez) stated that he only remembered crashing and then seeing Rafaels (Cisneros) hand cut off as he screamed in pain and stating for Armando (Perez) to call his (Cisneross) mother. Armando (Perez) then noticed Julio (Lerma-Montemayor) lifeless and unresponsive on the ground, states the affidavit. Palomo did not provide a statement to police. Cocaine, marijuana and alcohol Police received Heards toxicology results from the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab on Oct. 11. Heard had a 0.091 blood alcohol content at the time blood was withdrawn from him at LMC. The legal limit in Texas in 0.08. Based on evidence, it was apparent and confirmed that Eric Heard was intoxicated at the time of the crash, states the affidavit. On Nov. 16, Webb County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Corinne Stern told police that the toxicology results had returned for Lerma-Montemayor. Pursuant to obtaining the toxicology report, it was revealed that Julio (Lerma-Montemayor) was under the influence of cocaine, marijuana and alcohol at the time of the crash as he had a (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.09, states the affidavit. Investigators presented their findings to the Webb County District Attorneys Office, who would then take the case to a grand jury. On Wednesday Feb. 2, 2022, the case was presented to a grand jury from the 341st District Court Upon reviewing the evidence, the grand jury returned a no bill of intoxication manslaughter and intoxicated assault charges against Eric Bryan Heard, states the affidavit. The evidence, nevertheless, supports that Eric Bryan Heard operated a motor vehicle while intoxicated in a public place. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar was briefed Friday with a presentation regarding the ongoing planning for the proposed Binational River Park project that would further bolster the cooperation and relationship between Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. The park presentation highlighted multiple goals including the restoration of the ecology of the environment surrounding the river, embracing cultural identity, promoting economic vitality, enhancing safety and being a symbol of binational cooperation and affection. "The journey has begun, and we are ecstatic to engage in the beginning phases of this rewarding project alongside our sister city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz stated. We had the honor of welcoming U.S. Ambassador for Mexico Ken Salazar and presenting him with our ideas and vision for the Binational River Park. This project will rescue the Rio Grande by enhancing its ecology and the quality of our main source of water. It will also strengthen tourism, security, economic prosperity, our binational ties with Mexico and quality of life. Both cities look forward to presenting this project at a binational level and as a model to the world with the objective of keeping Los Dos Laredos as one river, one community." According to Tricia Cortez, Binational Working Group member and Executive Director of the Rio Grande International Study Center, the meeting was a success as members of both the working group and Overland Partner the firm designing the park had an additional hour to present the design to Salazar. Members from both Nuevo Laredo and Laredo provided their input, and Overland Partners rendered a sprawling green space on the banks of the river that would span approximately 6.2 river miles. Furthermore, Overland proposed that the bridge should become an extension of the park to act as a gathering place for residents of both cities. The presentation put forth the missions of the binational park, where it reiterated its goals and emphasized how the project is a historical conservation project and would serve as a prototype for border cities around the world to follow. Two Nations. One Community. One River. One Park, the mission states. However, the work is just getting started. The park will need to be presented to multiple facets of government from the state to federal levels. A binational project of this scale has been unprecedented, and factors such as funding will need to be evaluated on both sides of the river. We finally have a chance at that level of government that wants to make this happen, Cortez said. We get to tell our story, and its going to shift the negative images that are told about us into something completely different. Its going to highlight the deep history, culture, ecology and beauty of this place, and that is finally going to get to happen. Nuevo Laredo Director of Public Works Ignacio Quinones Pena said that the project is the first of its kind and hopes to see it spur similar projects in the future that benefit both cities. Within Nuevo Laredo, the local team of talented architects have been pleased with the project, and support garnered from both leaders of the Dos Laredos including Saenz and Nuevo Laredo Mayor Carmen Lilia Canturosas. The strongest thing (both Laredos) have is not money, freight transportation, trade customs it is our cultural inheritance, Pena said. That is what will save us and rescue the dignity of both of these cities. Our brotherhood, our traditions, our general culture is what is most important. Taking care of the traditions and what unites both Laredos is a top priority, he said, emphasizing that taking care of the river is integral to any plan involving both cities. After Fridays closed meeting, Salazar visited Nuevo Laredo where a proposal and investment to stop wastewater flow from Nuevo Laredo was signed by North American Development Bank, the citys water utility COMAPA, Mexican National Water Commission CONAGUA and the Tamaulipas State Water Agency CEAT. According to NADBank, they will commit up to $200,000 in grant funding through its technical assistance program to COMAPA for a study to provide a needs assessment of the operation and sustainability of the facilities and develop preliminary engineering for the projects. Quinones-Pena said that they are doing everything possible to not dump wastewater into the river and ensure that the Los Dos Laredos have a clean and healthy river. The park project has garnered support from a number of supporters throughout the city, state and federal government. It was also brought up by IBC Bank Executive Vice President Gerardo Schwebel during the Abrazo Children International Bridge Ceremony on Saturday, when he emphasized how the project continues to see Nuevo Laredo and Laredo as one. We must continue to work together as one city, one culture, one river and soon one park and two nations, he said. In January, Interim City Manager Samuel Keith Selman said that the binational park project had potential and could bring awareness to Los Dos Laredos on a global scale. That could be a benchmark type of project, Selman said. A project like that, if really developed to its fullest, could turn Laredo into an international destination. cocampo@lmtonline.com Oliver Furrer/Getty Images/Cultura RF WALLER, Texas (AP) A skydiving instructor was killed after his parachute failed to open during a tandem jump in the Houston area, authorities said. A student who was doing the tandem jump with the instructor was seriously injured Saturday, Skydive Houston said. Lockport, NY (14094) Today Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch. Lockport, NY (14094) Today Rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. As the UN Security Council met for a late-night emergency session, India warned that the latest actions of Russia in regard to Ukraine could "undermine peace and security" and called for restraint and de-escalation. Addressing the Council late Monday night, India's Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti said: "The escalation of tension along the border of Ukraine with the Russian Federation is a matter of deep concern. These developments have the potential to undermine peace and security of the region." He reiterated his earlier calls "for restraint on all sides" and added: "The immediate priority is de-escalation of tensions taking into account the legitimate security interests of all countries and aimed towards securing long term peace and stability in the region and beyond." Calling for the protection of civilians, Tirumurti noted that about 20,000 Indians lived in Ukraine, some of them in border areas, and said: "The well-being of Indian nationals is of priority to us". The emergency meeting requested by the US, France and the UK capped a day of sudden actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin recognising the breakaway rebel regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent nations, announcing a security pact with them and ordering Russian troops to those areas as "peacekeepers". Earlier, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told the Council that "the next hours and days will be critical. The risk of major conflict is real and needs to be prevented at all costs". She said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres considers Russia's decision "to recognise the independence of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the UN". Guterres cancelled a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo in view of the developments in Ukraine. As this month's Council President, Russia's Permanent Representative Vasily Nebenzia chaired the session. As neither he nor China's Permanent Representative Zhang Jun objected to the meeting's agenda, there was no vote during the session that started shortly after 9 p.m. on Monday (EST) and lasted nearly 90 minutes. Russia was isolated in the 15-member Council without even China openly supporting its action. Nebenzia said that most members of the Council "did not find a place" for the people of the breakaway regions. Zhang said in a short statement said: "We believe that all countries should solve international disputes by peaceful means, in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter". The parties to the conflict should "seek reasonable solutions to address each other's concerns on the basis of equality and mutual respect", he said. India's statement was one of the mildest straddling the East and the West while most of the members roundly criticised Putin's actions. African nations, Kenya, Ghana and Gabon made surprisingly strong criticism against Russia. Kenya's Permanent Representative Martin Kimani linked the situation to the colonialism that ravaged his continent. US Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Putin wanted "the world to travel back in time to a time before the United Nations, to a time when empires ruled the world". "Other members of this Council even those who often align with Russia on other matters have been clear that the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of every UN Member State should be respected and safeguarded, including Ukraine." The Council itself is powerless to take action against Russia as Moscow has veto power, but the US, the UK and France and their European allies have on their own threatened strong sanctions against Russia. The UK's Permanent Representative Barbara Woodward warned Russia that it will face "severe economic consequences to its economy" should it invade Ukraine. "In cooperation with our European partners, we are preparing targeted sanctions against those who took part in this illegal decision," France's Permanent Representative Nicolas de Riviere said. In response to the development US President Joe Biden has imposed sanctions on Donetsk and Luhansk regions banning investments, trade and financial transactions. Thomas-Greenfield said: "Tomorrow (Tuesday), the US will take further measures to hold Russia accountable for this clear violation of international law and Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." She denied what she said were Putin's claims that Ukraine sought nuclear weapons and said: "The US and our allies have no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Ukraine, and Ukraine doesn't want them". Nebenza said that the West has "been unashamedly cramming weapons" into Ukraine and "sending instructors to essentially nudge the Ukrainians" towards an armed provocation against Donetsk and Luhansk. "The joint efforts of the West and Ukraine have inflated an air bubble that simply had to burst", he said. Nebenza said that it is "now it's important to focus on how to avoid war", adding: "We remain open to diplomacy for a diplomatic solution". But he asserted that Ukraine was attacking Donetsk and Luhansk and warned, "allowing you a bloodbath in the Donbas is something we do not intend to do". Check out our latest E-Edition Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. The Lodi News e-Edition is enhanced with the latest digital tools, including RSS feeds, social networking and much more. Check out our latest E-edition! There will be no legal requirement to wear a mask in Ireland from February 28, the Tanaiste has announced. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said there will be no legal requirement to wear a mask in any setting, but it will still be advised on public transport and in healthcare settings. Speaking after a meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar also announced the requirement for pods, staggered breaks, masks and physical distancing in schools will also end on February 28. He said while it will be a more normal school and childcare experience from Monday, some measures will remain in place including recommendations around good hygiene, ventilation and advice for children to stay at home when sick. In relation to testing and close contacts, Mr Varadkar said those who test positive for Covid-19 in Ireland will still be required to isolate for seven days, and on days eight, nine and ten to wear a mask. However, rules will change for close contacts, with the requirement to restrict movements to be lifted from February 28. Testing will be reserved for those who are vulnerable, with those under 55 and in good health and over 55 and fully vaccine boosted no longer advised to take Covid tests from February 28. Mr Varadkar also said there will be no vaccine mandates for the public or healthcare workers, but they will be encouraged to have a jab. All of those changes are coming into place on February 28 and this is the next step that we are taking towards living with Covid as an endemic virus, one that we manage in the way that we have managed viruses like the flu, for example, in the past, he said. The Cabinet will meet again over Covid on February 28 to consider the next steps. Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney indicated that the Government was likely to approve the recommendations from health officials at a meeting of the Cabinet. Taoiseach Micheal Martin confirmed last Friday that the Government would be accepting the guidance from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) that will bring an end to mandatory mask wearing. Six teens appear charged with alleged violent disorder at Longford school Six teenagers have appeared in court charged with allegedly committing violent disorder at a Longford secondary school. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan recommended an end to the mandatory wearing of masks, but they will be advisory in healthcare settings and on public transport. In his letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Dr Holohan said: Nphet concluded that there is no longer a continuing public health rationale for retaining them and advised that the following measures could be removed with effect from February 28 as planned. Mandatory mask wearing in areas where it is currently regulated for, including: public transport, taxis, retail and other indoor public settings, and staff in hospitality settings. Public health measures in early learning settings, school-aged childcare, primary and secondary schools, including physical distancing measures such as pods, and mask wearing. Mr Coveney told RTE radio: Weve listened to our medical experts, right the way through Covid, thats what Nphet has been there for. I think theyve done an incredible job. Sometimes theyve had to recommend decisions to Government that were unpopular and theres been a lot of public debate around that. But the recommendations now coming from our Nphet team are clear. And I think were likely to discuss that in Cabinet this morning and accept those recommendations whereby masks would remain in medical settings in particular. I think wed also be advising people to use their own judgments. And I think a lot of people will continue to wear masks on public transport, for example, and in other potentially crowded settings. A Longford man who became embroiled in a violent row outside a petrol station in Longford over the shooting dead of a relative in Northern Ireland almost seven years ago has pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Hugh Patrick McGinley (21), of 5 Glack View, Longford, was the fifth person to tender guilty pleas before Longford Circuit Criminal Court to an incident at Hanlons Gala, Dublin Road, Longford on June 3, 2019. The court heard previously how the incident was connected to "differences" which had arisen between the "Longford McGinleys and McGinleys from Athlone" over the murder of Bernard 'Barney' McGinley in Northern Ireland in 2015. At an earlier sentencing in relation to four other co-accused, the court was told how patrolling gardai came across the incident at around 8:30pm when a large group of people were observed in a fight in full view of startled members of the public. Garda Rachel Dillon said the violence on display was so grave, customers had to lock themselves in their cars while staff had to close the main door of the shop "to keep customers safe". Judge Keenan Johnson expressed his disgust at the level of violence which emerged and how Longford was once again in the national spotlight over feud related incidents. These feuds are far, far too prevalent in Longford, he said. Senior defence counsel, Dara Foynes said the her client was full of remorse over what occurred and was more than willing to display that level of contrition by way of a concrete monetary submission to the court. Judge Johnson said given the circumstances of the case, he was of a view to impose a one year prison sentence on the accused, suspending the term for a period of five years. He also ordered Mr McGinley to hand in 2,000 within six months to the garda charity 'Little Blue Heroes'. The Cabinet has officially signed off on recommendations to end the mandated wearing of masks in certain sectors from next week. Last week, NPHET recommended that masks become optional in settings like schools, public transport and retail outlets from the end of February. The Taoiseach said on Friday that the government would be accepting that advice and today they have officially signed off on the lifting of measures. Longford man sentenced over violent row outside filling station A Longford man who became embroiled in a violent row outside a petrol station in Longford over the shooting dead of a relative in Northern Ireland almost seven years ago has pleaded guilty to violent disorder. From next Monday, February 28, masks will only be mandatory in healthcare settings. They will be optional on public transport, in shops and in schools. The Cabinet has further agreed to lift many of the remaining measures in schools. From next Monday, classroom pods will be scrapped along with staggered breaks, masks and physical distancing in schools. Also from Monday, February 28, close contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 will no longer be required to restrict their movements or isolate, unless they are symptomatic. It has also been confirmed that those aged under 55s will not be offered PCR tests and instead will take antigen tests. Some exceptions will be made on this age restrictions for those with compromised immune systems or pregnant women. Longford's Wendy Louise Designs will be among the exhibitors at Showcase 2022 at the RDS, Dublin from Sunday, February 27 to Wednesday, March 22 with 300 exhibitors and over 4,000 visitors from Ireland and overseas expected to attend. Showcase was founded in 1976 by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and is delivered with support from Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices. It generates over 20 million of sales orders over the four days of the show. After a break to the physical show in 2021 due to the pandemic, the new hybrid trade only show (both an in person and digital event) will be an enthralling reflection of the changed design and craft landscape in Ireland and internationally. While there were challenges, the last two years have marked a period of innovation and creativity, giving rise to exciting new ideas and approaches, products and entrants to the craft and design sector that will be presented to trade buyers at Showcase. Trends include a heightened focus on sustainability and the increased appreciation for quality crafted products and the stories behind them. These are aspects that Irish craft and design is renowned for the world over, and which have been drawing domestic and international buyers to Showcase for the last 45 years. There is a hunger among buyers to attend physical shows again, registration is at an all-time high. As Irelands eighth largest employment sector, contributing 2.9 billion in Gross Value Added, this expo of design and craft will prove a significant catalyst to the recovery of the Irish economy. A new digital experience will link international and national attendees who cant travel this year with the event, and Showcase 2022 promises to see an expansion of buyers across all segments. This augurs an increase of domestic buyers whose consumer-driven demand for locally made products can be satisfied. The new digital marketplace, Showcase Connect, features all exhibitors, made fully accessible to registered buyers, 24/7/365. Using the platform, registered trade buyers can browse products and engage with exhibitors before, during and after the event. They can browse and favourite products, send instant messages and set up 1:1 meetings. Showcase is an annual destination for retail buyers from Ireland and more than 20 other countries, including the UK, USA, Mainland Europe and Asia, all keen to see the very latest designs from Irelands top brands and craft producers. The fair is an international launch pad for the 300 Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople who unveil their new season collections across fashion, jewellery, home and giftware. Each year, a particular emphasis is placed on a kaleidoscope of new products to market, providing retailers with opportunities to discover and stock up on the latest design-led products, many of which are unique to the show. Brian McGee, Enterprise and Market Development Director at DCCI, says: Showcase Ireland is a unique trade fair for designers and makers meet retail buyers, show their new work and secure orders for the year ahead. Buyer registrations are currently +65% ahead of 2020, which was the last year that the physical show was held at the RDS Dublin. Already we have a significant increase in Irish buyers showing the rapid improvement in confidence since the lifting of restrictions. There are also strong numbers for USA, Canada and UK. This year there is also a free Digital platform for all exhibitors which enables exhibitors to reach out to the more than 9,000 buyers on the database. Showcase has a limited additional number of exhibition spaces available for creative enterprises who wish to engage with the retail trade for 2022. All the details are available on www.Showcaseireland.com or email info@showcaseireland.com Showcase 2022 runs from Sunday, February 27 to Wednesday, March 2 and is for trade attendance only. For further details on the event or to register to attend, please visit www.showcaseireland.com . The Local Enterprise Offices of Longford, Cavan, and Leitrim, in association with the Upper Shannon Erne Future Economy Project (USEFE) will host a Virtual Jobs Fair on Wednesday, February 23. The online event will bring together leading companies from across Longford, Cavan, and Leitrim with local talent. Over 20 companies from the region will take part on the day, from sectors including Medtech, Hospitality, Social Care, Manufacturing, Engineering, Pharmaceutical, Horticultural and Quantity Surveying. Over 200 roles will be available, with positions ranging from entry level to managerial positions. According to Michael Nevin, Head of Enterprise with Longford County Council, the event is the first of its kind in the region and will allow people from anywhere in Ireland or abroad to seamlessly meet employers from this region to discuss potential job opportunities. He added that some of the regions largest employers will be available to meet potential recruits on the day and it is a great opportunity for anyone interested in working in or moving to the region to look at employment options. The online event takes place from 10am 3pm on February 23 and is free to register and take part. The virtual platform will simulate a live jobs fair, where jobseekers can meet with the employers, explore available roles, & apply directly for the positions through the platform on the day. How to register for the jobs fair Jobseekers can register for the event anytime at www.usefejobsfair.ie They can upload their CV, book an appointment with one or more preferred employers and meet them at the event on February 23. For further information please contact Patricia at pmcweeney@longfordcoco.ie China urges Australia to stop spreading disinformation: spokesperson (People's Daily App) 16:39, February 22, 2022 China on Monday refuted Australia's allegation that a Chinese naval vessel pointed a laser at an Australian defense plane last Thursday, urging the Australian side to stop spreading disinformation about China. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily press briefing. The information released by the Australian side was found to be untrue after checking with relevant Chinese authorities, the spokesperson noted, adding that the Chinese vessels were navigating normally in the high seas in line with international law and practice, which is totally legitimate and lawful. "We urge the Australian side to respect the legitimate rights of Chinese vessels in relevant waters in accordance with international law and stop maliciously spreading disinformation about China," Wang said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said today that he would like to have a televised debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to resolve differences between the two nations. India and Pakistan have shared strained relations since gaining independence 75 years ago and fighting three wars since. "I would love to debate with Narendra Modi on TV," Imran Khan told Russia Today in an interview, adding that it would be beneficial for the billion-plus people in the Indian subcontinent if differences could be resolved through debate. The Irish Cancer Society is seeking a Daffodil Day community organiser for Longford town. The Irish Cancer Societys National Flag Day, Daffodil Day, is taking place this year on Friday, March 25 and the society are looking to recruit a coordinator and a group of volunteers particularly in the Longford town area. If anyone is interested in this rewarding volunteer role, please contact Ena Barrett, Community Fundraiser for Ulster Connaught on 087 7381055. Ena explained, "This year we ring in our 35th Daffodil Day. Thanks so much to the people of Longford for their amazing support over the years, and for bringing Daffodil Day to their community. "Behind every daffodil is a community organiser, rallying groups of friends, co-workers, neighbours and families, to come together and raise vital funds in creative and innovative ways. For this we cannot thank you enough. "Cancer hasnt stopped during the pandemic and neither has the demand for our service and thats why this years Daffodil Day is so important. "Its absolutely vital that were there to support cancer patients and their families, when they need it most. Irish Cancer Society services rely heavily upon Daffodil Day to take some time back from cancer not only through this one precious day of awareness and support, but through all the progress that can be achieved as a result of volunteers and the ongoing support of your communities. "This year we need help to identify a co ordinator and volunteers in Longford Town. As Daffodil Day Community Organiser, this volunteer will: Source and organise volunteers to help with the sale of Daffodil Day merchandise at various locations in Longford Town. Volunteers can include family, friends, or local school students etc. Order and distribute Daffodil Day merchandise Supervise Daffodil Day activity in Longford Town on March 25, 2022 Collect and lodge all funds raised throughout the day at your local AIB or post office "The suitable volunteer will need to be able to dedicate at least one hour a week from March April 2022, peaking during the week of Daffodil Day on March 25 when the volunteer will be required from 8am 6pm on March 25. "This is an exciting opportunity to get involved in a high level volunteer role in Irelands national cancer charity. The funds you raise ensure cancer patients and their families get the help they need, from a volunteer driver bringing patients to their treatment or a researcher working to find better ways to diagnose and treat cancer. "The important thing is just to get involved and to get others involved, too. The last two years have been especially difficult for cancer patients and their families, who have been relying on our support services more than ever before. By taking part, youre once again making a real, practical difference to thousands of cancer patients and their families. Spurring on research and progress. Keeping vital services available and supporting people along the way. Apply Now If interested in the role of Community Organiser for Longford Town, please contact Ena, your community fundraiser on 087 7381055 or enbarrett@irishcancer.ie who is happy to talk through this role and give you all the support you will need. A new bill has been launched to tackle the scourge of 90,000 vacant homes in the country. Steven Matthews TD, Green Party Spokesperson for Planning and Local Government, and Chair of the Oireachtas Housing and Planning Committee, launched the Vacancy, Dereliction and Regeneration Bill 2022. The Bill seeks to amend existing legislation in relation to vacant and derelict property, taxation measures and the processes of upgrading existing property. Longford man sentenced over violent row outside filling station A Longford man who became embroiled in a violent row outside a petrol station in Longford over the shooting dead of a relative in Northern Ireland almost seven years ago has pleaded guilty to violent disorder. Deputy Matthews said: "Housing, along with the cost of living, is the most critical issue in Ireland at the moment, spanning every sector of society and every age group. We know there are at least 90,000 vacant homes left idle across the country and our villages, towns and cities are blighted with neglected and derelict buildings. Time is of the essence; we must do everything we can to ensure that as many of these buildings can be added to our housing stock and once again become homes. Under the Bill, homes that are vacant for at least 180 days in the preceding year would be subject to a new vacant home tax at 3% of the market value of the property, to be collected by Revenue as part of the local property tax. This would be re-paid to the local authority where the vacant property lies, to fund housing needs in the area. The tax would not apply to the principal private residence of the owner and includes a number of key exemptions, including if an owner is in care; if the occupant has moved temporarily for work purposes; if the property is a holiday home; or if the property is undergoing major renovations. The Green Party says an initiative introduced in Vancouver has seen a 25% decrease in vacant property since introducing similar tax measures in 2017. For decades weve seen decline in our communities across Ireland, in urban and rural locations. We need to reimagine our existing built environment to create vibrant, liveable villages and towns that will also bring jobs and enhance security and safety," Deputy Matthews said. "In addition to addressing vacant property, this bill also simplifies the planning process and makes it easier for over the shop units to be brought back into residential use. This bill is in line with the objectives for the Government Housing for All and Town Centres First strategies. Architect Mel Reynolds, whose recent Joint Oireachtas Committee submissions includes papers on building control and costs in the residential sector and the re-use of vacant buildings, said: We need a multi-strand approach to address our housing crisis in Ireland that will bring both immediate and long-term solutions to our shortage of homes and struggling communities. "Building new houses and apartments is an important part of this but the level of vacant property across the country clearly indicates a huge opportunity in existing building stock, which has potential for single people and families alike," he said. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) Weather Alert ...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Louisiana... Mississippi River At Red River Landing affecting West Feliciana, East Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee Parishes. For the Lower Mississippi River...including Red River Landing, Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, Reserve, New Orleans...Minor flooding is forecast. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. Additional information is available at www.weather.gov/lix. Click on the Rivers and Lakes menu for forecasts and observations. The next statement will be issued when updates are needed. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL SATURDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Mississippi River At Red River Landing. * WHEN...Until Saturday evening. * IMPACTS...At 51.0 feet, All river islands along the reach from Red River Landing to Baton Rouge will be inundated. Recreational camps and river bottom farm land will be under water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 8:00 PM CDT Tuesday the stage was 49.9 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to fall below flood stage early Saturday, May 7 and continue falling to 38.5 feet Tuesday, May 31. - Flood stage is 48.0 feet. - Flood History...This crest compares to a previous crest of 48.8 feet on 04/22/2014. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && A new genus and species of abelisaurid theropod has been identified from a partially complete skull found in northwestern Argentina. The newly-identified dino species lived approximately 70 million years ago during the Early Creataceous epoch. Scientifically named Guemesia ochoai, the ancient beast was a type of abelisaurid. The fossil record of abelisaurid theropods in South America is mostly limited to Brazil and Argentina, said lead author Dr. Federico Agnolin, a paleontologist at the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales Bernardino Rivadavia and CONICET, and his colleagues. In Argentina, abelisaurids are generally known from Patagonia, where their record is relatively abundant and includes well-known and complete specimens. However, for northwestern Argentina, abelisaurids are represented by incomplete and isolated bones and teeth that remain largely unpublished. The paleontologists found a nearly complete braincase including the upper and back parts of the skull of Guemesia ochoai in reddish sandy siltstones of the Los Blanquitos Formation that crop out in the south part of the Amblayo valley, close to Amblayo town, in Argentinas Salta province. The specimen had typical abelisaurid features: a thin skull roof, absence of skull projections like horns or bulges, and low and narrow parietal eminence at the same level as the sagittal crest. It shows a unique combination of characters, including striking plesiomorphic features for an abelisaurid, such as dorsoventrally thin frontal bones and a narrow and relatively low parietal eminence, the researchers said. It also has a unique set of internal cavities within the frontals that communicate with the dorsal surface, perhaps implying a pneumatic and vascular origin. Further, as inferred from preserved elements, Guemesia ochoai is a relatively small taxon, much smaller than derived abelisaurids such as Abelisaurus and Carnotaurus. During the Late Cretaceous epoch, South America was divided into northeastern and southwestern realms by a sea corridor which acted as a filter for some vertebrates. The strong morphological differences exhibited by Guemesia ochoai in contrast to other abelisaurid dinosaurs may be an additional proof of the biogeographic distinctiveness of northwestern Argentina during the Late Cretaceous. Guemesia ochoai is quite unusual for its kind, said co-author Professor Anjali Goswami, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum, London. It has several key characteristics that suggest that is a new species, providing important new information about an area of the world which we dont know a lot about. It shows that the dinosaurs that live in this region were quite different from those in other parts of Argentina, supporting the idea of distinct provinces in the Cretaceous of South America. It also shows us that there is lot more to be discovered in these areas that get less attention than some of the more famous fossil sites. The findings were published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. _____ Federico L. Agnolin et al. First definitive abelisaurid theropod from the Late Cretaceous of northwestern Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, published online February 10, 2022; doi: 10.1080/02724634.2021.2002348 A 38-year-old man appeared in court on Monday, having been taken to Son Espases Hospital on Friday night, suspected of having concealed packets of cocaine in his body. The National Police's narcotics operations unit at Madrid-Barajas Airport had informed colleagues in Palma that a suspected drugs "mule" was travelling to the island. He was intercepted on arrival and searched. No drugs were found on him or in his luggage. He was taken to Son Espases, where X-rays detected "foreign bodies" in his abdomen and rectum. Placed in a room in the detainees unit at the hospital, he started to evacuate the first of what, in total, were 103 date-shaped packets of cocaine with a street value of some 38,000 euros. MANISTEE COUNTY According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019 a 40% increase since 2009. The coronavirus pandemic is unlikely to have helped matters. Manistee County school districts are putting a lot of effort into increasing mental health and support services for students, and funding from the State of Michigan is going a long way in helping schools give students the support and programs they need. "We've got two separate grants: 31N and 31O," said Kim Rinehart, Manistee Intermediate School District general education coordinator. "... We have hundreds of thousands of dollars that we can allocate for curriculum, for counselor support, assessments and other things." Lori Bullis, 31N coordinator and a counselor at Bear Lake Schools, told the Manistee ISD school board during its Feb. 15 meeting those dollars are creating opportunities for school districts they wouldn't otherwise have. "(Manistee Area Public Schools) is in the process of hiring three consultants new to the district that will support students' mental health. It falls within the requirements for the 31N funds," she said. "CASMAN had the ability to hire a full-time school therapist. ... And then Onekama (Consolidated Schools) and Bear Lake, they already have some supports in place, but it's mainly on a part-time basis. With some of the funds we're able to hopefully turn part-time positions into full-time so that more kids are receiving the services under this umbrella." Bullis said 31N funding is given by the state to help Michigan schools improve behavioral health programs currently in place, or create new ones if necessary. "The money has to be used in pretty specific ways, all of which really comes back to the improving and supporting of students' mental health," she said. Local districts are creating a plan by breaking the various levels of support into three tiers. "The goal here is to create really a comprehensive behavioral health program that will support mental health needs for the students," Bullis said. "The way in which we're proposing to do this is to really address Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3, meaning that all kids are getting the level of care that they need to improve their mental health." Bullis said Tier 1 includes all interventions and supports that go to all students, Tier 2 supports are targeted toward at-risk students and Tier 3 supports are for high-risk students. Bullis said Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools already has a full-time therapist in their building thanks to a separate grant, as well as a dean of students, school counselor and SafeNet worker. "They feel like they've kind of got some things in place that maybe the other schools are still working toward. And MAPS also has some things in place prior to this," she said. "There aren't as many questionmarks with MAPS. They have a pretty clear direction of where they're going, but I think some of the smaller schools have had a hard time extending their dollars to create some of these positions." The 31N funding is helping Onekama and Bear Lake bolster their behavioral health programming, Bullis said. "It's allowing Onekama and Bear Lake to go from part-time to full-time with their SafeNet workers, which provides preventative services, kind of more like at Tier 1 and Tier 2, and then the full-time therapist which will really address the Tier 2 and Tier 3," Bullis said. "We're really excited about the opportunity to create a position for a school nurse to support Bear Lake and Onekama, and possibly KND. It's been kind of cool because all the schools are thinking, 'How can we shift people to make things work?' It's been pretty exciting." Bullis said the local districts are looking to implement BH-Works, a behavioral health care platform powered by mdlogix aimed at facilitating communication between those who need help and providers on a community, school or statewide basis. "The idea behind this is to roll it out to schools to support, track, build for behavioral health services.... Within this software there's these needs, assessments and surveys that you can cherry-pick from," she said. "We could choose to do a Manistee ISD-wide survey just to kind of get a feel of how our kids and staff are doing. ... You can look at things like trauma, or substance abuse or take your pick, but there's probably about 50-100 within that software, so we're excited to bring that on board." BH-Works has a telehealth option which would allow students to continue to receive behavioral health supports even when out of school. "They can still continue with their mental health needs and receive the support that they are maybe missing in the summer months without this option," Bullis said. "Also, if a kid get suspended or if they're sick or whatever, there's no interruption in care, as well." Bullis said the goal is to have BH-Works up and running in the Manistee County school districts for the 2022-23 school year. "It's a pretty cool program. It speaks directly with PowerSchool, which all of our schools use, so there's basically this onboarding of demographic information," she said. "The two programs do speak to each other, so it should be a pretty seamless, easy process once we figure out the next steps." If the owner of the former Le Sueur Box Office doesn't pay taxes owed by mid-July, it will go up for sale. If that happens, a group wants to repair the dilapidated building and run a nonprofit cinema and community performing arts space. Weather Alert ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of Arkansas and Oklahoma, including the following counties, in Arkansas, Benton, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Madison, Sebastian and Washington AR. In Oklahoma, Adair, Cherokee, Choctaw, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Haskell, Latimer, Le Flore, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Pushmataha, Rogers, Sequoyah, Tulsa, Wagoner and Washington OK. * WHEN...From Wednesday morning through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff will likely result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, especially in areas that have already received heavy rainfall over the past few days. Several main-stem rivers could go into flood. A few locations could see significant flash flooding. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - A slowly moving upper low will move across the area Wednesday into early Thursday. Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are likely with the potential for very heavy rainfall. Widespread 2 to 3 inches of rain is expected with locally higher amounts of 5 to 6 inches. The heavier rain will begin to shift east of far southeast Oklahoma and northwest Arkansas early Thursday afternoon. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. && Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Page Content Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley announced that Sint Maarten will begin transitioning into the endemic phase of COVID-19. The Minister stated that recently the word endemic is being used as a term to reference exiting the pandemic. Minister Ottley stated that misconceptions about the word endemic may encourage a misplaced complacency. He further stated that entering into the endemic phase of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus, doesnt mean that COVID-19 will come to a natural end. It just means that COVID -19 will now be considered an endemic infection, one in which overall rates are static not rising, not falling. Which is why we have been working on policies to shape the years to come. These policies, continued health hygiene measures and individual behavior will determine what form the endemic COVID-19 takes. With that being said, the Minister elaborated on the first transitional steps to be taken in his back to normalcy strategy; as of Friday February 25th the night life business hours will be extended to 3am. The Minister also wants to notify the local population and the rest of the world that as of March 1st 2022, we will revert back to allowing persons who received their booster shot or two(2) doses of an approved vaccine, two(2)weeks or more prior to traveling, may enter the Country without requiring a test. Persons who have recovered from COVID-19 up to 9 months post infection, will also be allowed entry to the country without requiring a test. These first steps are a phased approach towards the normalcy strategy. Said Minister Ottley. In the next phase other mandates and restrictions will be lifted in a careful and safe manner to ensure a safe and effective transition into normalcy. In Mumbais Versova, stands a stunning white bungalow that belongs to Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The actor has come a long way from doing small roles and sharing a small apartment with three other struggling actors to becoming one of the most bankable stars who now owns a house in the city of dreams. Instagram/Nawazuddin Siddiqui He recently opened up about what his early days in Mumbai looked like when he shared a small space with a bunch of other men. And, its nothing but a testimony of how hes made it big. Aaj jitna bada mera personal bathroom hai, utna sa mera ghar hua karta tha (Today my bathroom is as big as the house I once lived in), he recalled in an interview with Bombay Times. BCCL He said, When I moved to Mumbai, I stayed in such a small place, which I shared with four other budding actors. Woh kamra itna chhota tha ki agar main door kholu toh kisi ke pairon mein lag jata tha (That room was so small that if you opened the door, it hit someone's feet), because, we all used to lay our beds on the floor when we slept there. Dheere dheere (Gradually, with time), I started sharing my room with three people, then with two, and it is only from 2005 that I started living alone. Instagram/Nawazuddin Siddiqui Siddiqui named his bungalow Nawab after his fathers name to honour him but he, unfortunately, passed away before he could see the lavish house his son had built. He said, Unka mann Mumbai ke ghar mein nahi lagta tha (He didn't like the flats of Mumbai). So, I always had this thing in my mind that I would get him to a bigger place in Mumbai one day, but he passed away before that. I wish my dad could see this bungalow. BCCL He didnt even intend on building the house that he owns today. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he said, "To tell you the truth, I didnt consciously plan that I want a new house. Ghar hona chahiye iss concept mein mera belief hi nahi tha (I didn't have belief in the concept that one should have a house). Someone showed me the plot, so I thought lets do it no harm. Things kept happening. Instagram/Nawazuddin Siddiqui The fact that he came all the way from living in a cramped space to building his own villa in a posh locality in Mumbai speaks of his success. However, whats more inspirational and commendable is that he has not forgotten the time he was just an aspiring actor and now looks back at the struggling time, sitting in his grandeur bungalow. Submitted photo Meridian Community College students, staff and faculty visited the Capitol on Feb. 16, advocating for community colleges because of the critical role community colleges play in higher education, said Brandi Pickett, (2nd from right), wellness instructor at the school. Senators Tyler McCaughn, Jeff Tate and Rod Hickman visited with them to discuss the appropriation process. A Memorial Service of Christian Burial will begin at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home Chapel. Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements. Mrs. Cobb, 68, of Meridian, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Bedford Care Ce System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: %method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: %perl> 28: